Activities of Cristina MAESTRE
Plenary speeches (6)
Outcome of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture (debate)
Droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change (debate)
One year after the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas (debate)
Question Time with Commissioners – Situation of animal health in Europe: how to prevent and prepare for future sanitary crises in agriculture
Tackling the steel crisis: boosting competitive and sustainable European steel and maintaining quality jobs (debate)
The devastating floods in Spain, the urgent need to support the victims, to improve preparedness and to fight the climate crisis (debate)
Written explanations (5)
Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3), and (4)(c): Maximum residue levels for carbendazim and thiophanate‐methyl
Los socialistas españoles en el Parlamento hemos apoyado esta oposición al Reglamento de la Comisión que fija límites máximos de residuos (LMR) de carbendazima y tiofanato-metilo, ya que ambas sustancias están prohibidas en la Unión por motivos de salud pública.La legislación alimentaria debe perseguir los objetivos generales de protección de la vida y la salud humana. En este marco, aunque la Comisión propone reducir algunos LMR para ciertos usos, no todos los LMR propuestos garantizan un alto nivel de protección para la salud de los ciudadanos en Europa ni una producción de alimentos sostenible y saludable tanto dentro como fuera de la Unión.Además, la práctica de establecer LMR altos promueve un doble estándar entre los agricultores de la Unión y los de terceros países, que pueden seguir produciendo alimentos utilizando carbendazima y tiofanato-metilo y exportarlos a la Unión, lo que coloca a los agricultores de la Unión en desventaja competitiva.Por ello, respaldamos esta oposición que insta a la Comisión a presentar una nueva propuesta que reduzca todos los LMR para carbendazima y tiofanato-metilo al límite de detección relevante o al valor predeterminado de 0.01 mg/kg para todos los usos y a rechazar cualquier solicitud de tolerancias de importación.
Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3), and (4)(c): Maximum residue levels for cyproconazole
Los socialistas españoles en el Parlamento hemos apoyado esta oposición al Reglamento de la Comisión que actualiza los límites máximos de residuos (LMR) de ciproconazol, al ser una sustancia prohibida en la Unión por motivos de salud pública.De acuerdo con los Reglamentos 396/2005 y 1107/2009, no deben establecerse LMR para sustancias activas que no estén aprobadas en la Unión por motivos de salud. Por tanto, no deben establecerse tolerancias de importación para esta sustancia que está clasificada como tóxica para la reproducción de categoría 1B.Además, la propuesta socava el objetivo de establecer una competencia justa a nivel global y en el mercado interno. En un contexto donde los agricultores de la Unión están preocupados por el riesgo de competencia desleal de productos importados desde terceros países, las regulaciones europeas deben garantizar que el uso de sustancias prohibidas en la Unión no sea apoyado ni amplificado por la importación de productos agrícolas de terceros países que autorizan estas sustancias.Por todo lo anterior, respaldamos esta oposición y pedimos a la Comisión que presente una propuesta nueva que reduzca todos los LMR al límite de detección relevante para todos los usos y rechace cualquier solicitud de tolerancias de importación.
Situation in Venezuela
Los socialistas españoles en el Parlamento Europeo no hemos apoyado esta Resolución escrita y firmada por el Partido Popular Europeo y la extrema derecha de Patriotas por Europa y ECR.El conjunto de los socialistas hemos apoyado una serie de enmiendas presentadas por varios grupos (S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE) denunciando la terrible situación que vive el país y la falta de transparencia y legitimidad de los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales del 28 de julio publicados por las autoridades.Sin embargo, no hemos apoyado el conjunto del texto final, que incluye de forma apresurada un reconocimiento de Edmundo González como presidente electo y legítimo, por razones de legitimidad, coherencia y utilidad. Tampoco hemos apoyado la Resolución, puesto que supone la rotura del cordón sanitario a la extrema derecha, con la inclusión de la firma de Patriotas por Europa.El compromiso de los socialistas con el retorno de la democracia a Venezuela y con una transición pacífica, dialogada y negociada en el país continua intacto, y rechazamos cualquier tipo de instrumentalización política del sufrimiento del pueblo venezolano.
Devastating floods in Central-Eastern Europe, loss of lives and EU preparedness to act on such disasters
Los socialistas españoles en el Parlamento Europeo hemos apoyado esta Resolución, convencidos de que las catástrofes naturales como la vivida en Europa oriental y central son un recordatorio contundente de que no podemos retrasar la acción. Si bien es esencial centrarnos en el alivio inmediato y el apoyo a las víctimas, también debemos mirar hacia el futuro y a la forma en la que prevenir estos desastres.En este punto, hemos subrayado que los planes nacionales de restauración de la naturaleza que los Estados miembros tienen que desarrollar en el marco de la Ley de Restauración de la Naturaleza son cruciales, ya que representan una oportunidad única para restaurar ecosistemas clave como ríos de flujo libre y llanuras aluviales o humedales, que pueden mitigar de manera natural los impactos de las inundaciones al absorber el exceso de agua y reducir la severidad de los desbordamientos de ríos. La restauración no se trata solo de reparar daños, sino de prevenir futuros desastres.Asimismo, los socialistas ponemos de relieve la urgente necesidad de ser ambiciosos en nuestras políticas climáticas, ya que el cambio climático está agravando estos fenómenos extremos y, sin una acción decidida, solo se volverán más frecuentes y severos.
Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
El Parlamento Europeo ha aprobado la posición del PE sobre el presupuesto de la UE para 2025. Los socialistas estamos satisfechos con el acuerdo sobre las cifras para aumentar la financiación para programas tan importantes como Erasmus+, Horizonte Europa, EU4Health, la ayuda humanitaria, la respuesta a los desastres naturales, más financiación para los jóvenes agricultores, para los programas de suministro de frutas y verduras en las escuelas, para el programa LIFE sobre acción medioambiental y climática, para el programa Derechos y Valores de la UE, incluidas las acciones contra la violencia de género y contra las personas LGBTQI+ entre otros. En cambio, en relación al texto que acompaña la posición sobre las cifras, el PPE decidió ponerse del lado de los grupos de extrema derecha de esta Cámara apoyando ideas y enmiendas que atentaban contra los valores en los que se basa la Unión. El PPE rompió el pacto alcanzado por los grupos europeístas. Por este motivo, he votado en contra de este texto.Hay mucho en juego para nuestros ciudadanos y nuestra economía. Los socialistas, no lo consideramos un gasto, sino una inversión en las personas y las empresas en tiempos de creciente incertidumbre y populismo tanto en Europa como en el mundo.
Written questions (2)
Cofinancing for bluetongue serotype 3 vaccines in the Union
Launch of European humanitarian corridors from Lebanon to the EU
Amendments (1564)
Amendment 11 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas cohesion policy is the main investment policy for the EU’s regions and cities, consistently serving as a first choice for financial assistance facing unforeseen events that shake our socio-economy, and the Territorial Agenda is the guiding instrument for the European Union’s territorial policy;
Amendment 13 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas it is at territorial level where the challenges facing European regions are identified and managed;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. Whereas Article 7 of the European Regional Development Fund Regulation (1301/2013) refers to Sustainable urban development based on integrated sustainable urban strategies as the framework for the selection of single operations;
Amendment 15 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. Whereas the previous and current Common Provisions Regulations make no specific reference to the Territorial Agenda 2020 and the Territorial Agenda 2030 respectively;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas it considers the richness of Europe's territorial diversity as a dynamic and complex system in which each region faces development challenges according to its particular characteristics;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas there is great potential for the Union in their national programmes and projects for spatial planning and regional development;
Amendment 23 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas it is important to incorporate territoriality into EU funds, especially cohesion policy;
Amendment 26 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Article 28 CPR designates integrated territorial investments (ITIs) and community-led local development (CLLD) as the instruments for implementing territorial development strategies and calls for coherence and coordination among the Funds when several are applied to the same strategy for territorial or local development;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas it acknowledges the efforts made by our regions to meet the new objectives (PO); thus asks the EC to allowing flexible implementation of PO5 without strict requirements regarding strategies and governance (CPR Title III, Chapter II) thereby opening it to all kinds of initiatives contributing to regional and urban development, e.g. allow transnational Interreg programmes to choose PO5 in future programming;
Amendment 28 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. Whereas these instruments aim at bottom-up territorial development with the active participation of local stakeholders;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. Whereas the European Urban Agency, through the Leipzig Charter, supports the objectives of the Territorial Agenda 2030;
Amendment 39 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. Whereas both documents share common principles such as a local approach, policy coordination and effective multi-level frameworks;
Amendment 41 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. Whereas the driving principles of the Territorial Agenda 2030 are encompassed in the two priorities "People and places are drifting apart" and "Sustainable development and climate change";
Amendment 43 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Id. Whereas territorial priorities set by the Territorial Agenda 2030 for a fair and green Europe;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. Whereas the EU Territorial Agenda 2030 calls for the territorial dimension of sectoral policies to be strengthened at all levels of governance;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. Whereas a better data collection and a coherent revision of the Territorial Agenda 2030 is needed;
Amendment 49 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)
Recital J c (new)
Jc. Whereas to date, 7 pilot actions have been carried out in the implementation of the Territorial Agenda 2030, serving as an example of the application of its objectives on the ground, at local and regional level;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J d (new)
Recital J d (new)
Jd. whereas it takes into account the limited geographical balance in the development of these actions;
Amendment 51 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J e (new)
Recital J e (new)
Je. whereas it takes into account the administrative difficulties encountered by the pilot actions when they were financed by several programmes or funding sources;
Amendment 60 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Handbook of territorial and development strategies and the Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies as guides for all administratives levels for the design, implementation and monitoring of territorial and urban development strategies;
Amendment 67 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need forTakes into account the capacities demonstrated by local and regional authorities in the implementation and management of territorial tools, and considers necessary a paradigm shift in the involvement of local and regional authorities in the implementation and management of territorial tools;
Amendment 70 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights the impact of the EU Semester decisions on territorial cohesion and, consequently, on the development capacity of territorial programmes;
Amendment 74 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for territorial or local development strategies funded by more than one programme to merge into a single track, in accordance with Article 28 of the CPR and in order to prevent delays and administrative obstacles;
Amendment 75 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the data shown in the STRAT-Board for the period 2014-2020 and notes that CLLDs played a major role in the development of territorial strategies, highlighting the strong interest of the local level in actively participating in the development of these strategies;
Amendment 76 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the Commission, in view of the successful use of CLLDs in the 2014-2020 period, to simplify the administrative process for the management of funds, especially where CLLDs draw from more than one distinct fund;
Amendment 77 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Stresses that the ITIs are the main tool used by those Member States with a larger allocation of ERDF funds, as they quickly absorb the amounts and are able to cover several main axes at the same time, present in one or several operational programmes;
Amendment 84 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers TA2030 to be a real and proper instrument that ensures the EU’s cohesion through the management of each of its regions and their particularities; calls on the EC to consider modifying the role of the Territorial Agenda beyond that of a territorial management guide;
Amendment 93 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for greater flexibility for the regions in the fulfilment of the PO5 objective and for the actions to achieve it to be aligned with those set out in the Territorial Agenda 2030;
Amendment 95 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the need to involve the European Parliament, - in particular its competerelevant Committee on Regional Development, - in the pilot actions, in order to ensure that they are in line with current EU priorities, and to extend their results of pilot actions at European level, which can be integrateding and coordinateding them with initiatives such as cohesion policy, including particular the ERDF and Interreg;
Amendment 98 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for a strategy for merging funds or for the administrative simplification for pilot actions financed by more than one fund, so as to lower administrative barriers and facilitate applications for these projects;
Amendment 100 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the need for greater dissemination of the actions and achievements of the pilot projects as examples of the implementation of European funds; stresses the importance of communicating the results of the pilot actions, that a biennial conference is organised to showcase the pilot actions to local and regional authorities, as well as to relevant actors at national and EU level, linking it with other events such as the Rural Pact or the Cities Forum;
Amendment 103 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to develop their territorial agendas in line with the TA2030 as a basis for programming their territorial strategies, taking into account the specificities of each of its regions and serving as an incentive, and in order to stimulate the decision-making process and the design of territorial and urban policies;
Amendment 105 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to promote the implementation of the TA2030 beyond pilot actions, making this instrument a reference framework for action that provides concrete and adapted guidelines for EU territories to improve their performance; highlights the opportunity to make regional funding conditional on achieving TA2030 priorities and calls on the Commission to develop monitoring indicators linking the TA2030 and the use of cohesion policy funds, in particular the ERFD;
Amendment 111 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the proper implementation of funds and the implementation of territorial instruments, favouring easy management without bureaucratic barriers;
Amendment 112 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to carry out a coherent review of the Territorial Agenda 2030 by 2024, including a thorough review of its governance system, the progress made in implementation and the relevance of its priorities, as outlined in the Territorial Agenda 2030;
Amendment 114 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a single framework for strategies aimed at both urban and wider territorial development, treating territorial requirements as a whole by taking as a basis unit functional areas at level 3 of the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS); stresses that this could significantly reduce bureaucratic barriers in the acquisition of funds, homogenising the process for European regions;
Amendment 117 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recognises the Council's initiative in its role in the development of the territorial activities of the Member States;
Amendment 120 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to increase its involvement in territorial policy through cohesion policy and to strengthen the governance of regions in order to promote cohesion and micro- cohesion by covering the particularities of each region, improving decision-making at local and regional level and applying existing tools in order to improve the management of legislative instruments; calls on the Commission to strengthen the value of Cohesion Policy Funds to be sufficiently resilient, thus being able to cushion the effects of future unexpected events and to avoid regions suffering the consequences, thus upholding the principle of do not harm to cohesion;
Amendment 123 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the EC to carry out a study of each region's capacity to cushion future global challenges affecting territorial cohesion. This would provide a rapid response tool that would allow for flexibility in the allocation or reinforcement of these resources, according to the real time situation of our regions;
Amendment 126 #
2023/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the EIB to increase the financial allocation foreseen for Cohesion Policy funds, dedicated to safeguarding the balance and proper functioning of our regions;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU’s population has grown steadily over the last 50 years; increasing by 92.3 million people from 354.5 million in 1960, to 446.8 million in 2022; whereas population growth has slowed in recent decades; haltering during the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas current predictions point to growth at a limited rate until 2029, from which date population growth will begin to slow down13 ; __________________ 13 See the Commission Staff Working Document entitled ‘The impact of demographic change – in a changing environment’ of 17 January 2023 (SWD(2023)0021).
Amendment 17 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas demographic movements vary significantly between regions, with some Member States being projected to experience a decline in their population in the coming 7 years, and others projected to see population growth over the same period; whereas such demographic movements also take place between regions, generally translating into exodus between rural to urban areas within Member States;
Amendment 24 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas population loss is a sustained trend over time, particularly affecting rural areas with older populations on average than those found in cities and suburbs14 ; whereas young people are on average more likely to leave rural areas, actively contributing to the phenomenon of rural exodus; whereas the loss of population in rural areas is deeply linked to the lack of connectivity, public services and employment; whereas the posting of young workers poses significant challenges to demographic structures; whereas mountainous, isolated and outermost regions are particularly affected by these phenomena; __________________ 14 See the Commission Staff Working Document entitled ‘The impact of demographic change – in a changing environment’ of 17 January 2023 (SWD(2023)0021).
Amendment 25 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas population loss is a sustained trend over time, particularly affecting rural areas with older populations on average than those found in cities and suburbs14 ; whereas young people are on average more likely to leave rural areas; whereas the loss of population in rural areas is deeply linked to the lack of connectivity, public services and quality employment; whereas the posting of young workers poses significant challenges to demographic structures; whereas mountainous, isolated and outermost regions are particularly affected by these phenomena; __________________ 14 See the Commission Staff Working Document entitled ‘The impact of demographic change – in a changing environment’ of 17 January 2023 (SWD(2023)0021).
Amendment 31 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU labour market faces a shortage of workers with skills adapted to the new socio-economic realities, as well as the green and digital transitions; whereas the positive migration of workers with or without tertiary education is one of the solutions to address the challenges faced by Member States and their regions with the highest percentage of population loss;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the talent drain is closely related to the need to improve the working and living conditions of people living in regions with low incomes across sectors and positions, social gaps and other socio- economic disparities; whereas reducing such disparities is a commitment which has been reiterated through the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 42 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, considering their proximity to the citizens and their know- how, regional and local authorities are best placed to create the socio-economic conditions for attracting talent; whereas these administrations need economic reinforcement;
Amendment 43 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the regions in which the knowledge economy is better developed tend to be those that have a better technological infrastructure, high quality education systems, a dynamic cultural and artistic environment and a modern network of public healthcare, social services and conciliation services;
Amendment 44 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas it is demonstrated that the participatory governance model, in which co-governance is promoted through cooperative work with social partners, organised civil society and public entities, offers better responses adapted to the specific reality of the territories, generating synergies focused on the identified needs;
Amendment 45 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas physical distance to education infrastructure poses a challenge for young and adult population who want to acquire the skills needed by the labour market in regions in a talent development trap; thus increasing the mismatch between education levels and vacant posts offered;
Amendment 47 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas talent retention does not refer exclusively to stopping the emigration of highly qualified persons from one country to another, or from one region to another, but also to attracting populations whose professional background is related to tourism, agriculture, art, crafts, sports and other jobs that are still in high demand in rural and sparsely populated areas; whereas 'brain waste' is defined as the phenomenon experimented by migrants with advanced degrees and professional qualifications who are either unemployed or employed in jobs that do not match their educational background and professional qualifications;
Amendment 51 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas there is a significant exodus of highly skilled young people, especially women, who are leaving rural areas and less developed areas in search of environments conducive to personal and personal growth; whereas recent data shows that highly skilled people were amongst the most mobile workers in the 2012-2019 period1a, proving that a knowledge-based economy is a key determinant for mobility within the EU, with "sending" regions showing a lower GDP (64%) than the EU average, in comparison with the 10% GDP of the EU's average1b; __________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools- databases/regprof/index.cfm 1b See Busetti et all; 2017 apud Cavallini y otros, 2018, p.9
Amendment 52 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas there is still a deep digital divide in the EU in terms of geography, gender, educational attainment, socio- economic status and income that prevents some individuals and businesses from reaping the benefits of the digital transformation; whereas this gap can deepen the isolation of certain regions;
Amendment 56 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas EU policies addressing the brain drain and the negative effects of demographic trends must respect the four freedoms, with particular reference to the free movement of persons, and in no case should they prohibit the migration of citizens of Member States from one EU country to another, or to third countries;
Amendment 57 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the concept of rural proofing has become more prevalent after the publication of the "Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas" and should not only consist of a revision in general terms of all EU public policies through a "rural lens" in order to adapt them to such environments, but must also include demographic aspects, gender impact, consequences in work-life balance and job creation, as well as the possibility of attracting talent to sparsely populated areas, making sure that EU legislation includes these aspects when concluding impact assessments prior to the design of public policies for rural and sparsely populated areas;
Amendment 58 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas current ERDF-CF pays specific attention to the development challenges at NUTS 3 and local administrative unit levels that are sparsely populated, and in particular those that have a population density of less than 12.5 inhabitants per square kilometre, or areas that have suffered from an average annual population decline of at least 1% over the 2007-2017 period; whereas according to ERDF-CF, Member States can, under Cohesion Policy, develop specific voluntary action plans at local level for such areas to counter such population challenges; whereas these areas tend to fall under the category of 'less developed' regions;
Amendment 59 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas Annex XXVI of the Common Provisions Regulation laying down the methodology on the allocation of global resources per Member State for the political objective of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund (ERDF-CF)17 of investment in jobs and growth, and, in particular, for the regions classified as ‘less developed’, goes beyond GDP and the percentage of the unemployed; and now includes elements such as the education rate and net migration, therefore reflecting a more pluralistic reality than the related exclusively to income per country; __________________ 17 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of 24 June 2021on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p.60.
Amendment 61 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas amongst the lessons learned through the use of former ERDF in times of crisis, greater flexibility for the use of the remaining part of the previous programming period has been welcomed by regional and local authorities and stakeholders, ensuring that affected regions receive the necessary support and resources to mitigate the negative effects of such crisis, enabling a faster decision- making, paving the way for new flexibility elements to be included in the design of the future Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 62 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the Commission communication entitled ‘Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions’ sets up the Talent Booster Mechanism with the objective of stimulating supply and demand for skills, taking into account the different economic contexts faced by each region; whereas this mechanism includes a new strategy on ‘Smart adaptation of regions to demographic transition’ and direct financial support under existing instruments, thus opening the door to innovative solutions for the different demographic realities not contemplated so far;
Amendment 65 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission communication on ‘Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions’ and its overall objective of promoting, retaining and attracting talent to transform all regions into dynamic places; appreciates the strategies presented as a mechanism to avoid economic, social and gender disparities between citizens affected by the green and digital transitions; considers it fundamental that the concept of ‘rural proofing’ include assessing the demographic impact, the issue of job creation, the impact on the educational framework and the gender impact on rural areas when designing EU policies;
Amendment 70 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that policy objective four (PO 4) of ERDF-CF18 already envisages the achievement of a more social and inclusive Europe through the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights; is of the belief that improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through the development of accessible infrastructure is crucial to achieving these objectives; considers it essential for PO 4 to go hand-in-hand with the premises contained in the Long- term vision for rural areas, as demographic challenges are a multidimensional phenomenon affecting regions differently across the EU; __________________ 18 Article 3(1)(d)
Amendment 81 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the creation of the Talent Booster Mechanism and its eight specific pillars aimed at boosting talent in regions facing, or at risk of facing, what the Commission calls a talent development trap; calls for clear and objective criteria regarding the definition of regions in, or at risk of, a talent development trap; highlights the potential of the Technical Support Instrument and considers it essential for the Commission to develop tailor-made support for each region;
Amendment 102 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the financing of specific measures through the multiannual financial framework to address the demographic challenges, with a specific budget for regions with severe and permanent demographic difficulties; in this context, considers it necessary to reformulate the specific instruments of the cohesion policy by assigning greater weight to depopulation for the allocation of funds as well as providing greater flexibility within the thematic objectives framework;
Amendment 106 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers it necessary to promote a reformulation of the Cohesion Policy allocation method an d co-financing criteria, taking into account a greater number of indicators such as population developments, territorial dispersion and negative economic growth; calls for a greater weight of demographic variables in the allocation of cohesion funds;
Amendment 110 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers it essential to improve the executive and managerial capacity of local administrations and to reduce bureaucracy, as well as to promote closer cooperation between the different institutions with a view to increasing the development and competitiveness of research centres, universities and other knowledge and professional development institutions ;
Amendment 123 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that it is essential that Member States, their regions and local authorities come up with innovative solutions tailored to each territory and stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all problematics; welcomes the Commission’s proposal that Member States set up thematic and regional working groups to address specific challenges under the Talent Booster Mechanism;
Amendment 136 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to finance and promote specific projects for the development of initiatives to ensure young people’s access to training, with a particular focus on deficit or high-demand occupations, to stimulate the creation of quality jobs and to guarantee paid traineeships and to encourage the participation of young people in their design;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages the Member States to align their specific priorities with their demographic needs in future Partnership Agreements; recalls that it is key to take into account the demographic consequences when implementing ERDF- CF in specific projects;
Amendment 143 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to make progress towards the digitalisation of public services, integrating schools, universities, research centres, public transport, efficient governance and digital administration into this transformation;
Amendment 150 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Acknowledges that direct financial support to regions in or at risk of a talent development trap will be provided under existing instruments, including the Interregional Innovation Investments instrument, that will now take into account such regions; regrets nonetheless that no specific and dedicated financial support has been established for this purpose; suggests that the new programming period should include the creation of a dedicated fund addressing the brain drain, education and job creation;
Amendment 155 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Agrees with the mid-term review of the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy programmes, providing an opportunity to assess the situation of regions in a or at risk of being in a talent development trap, thus having the opportunity to align the programming of Cohesion Policy funds where appropriate;
Amendment 157 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Underlines that Member States and their regions and local authorities should undertake a thorough and comprehensive analysis in order to understand the status of the talent to be targeted; in this regard, believes it is key that mechanisms that provide the means for such talent to voice their requirements and needs are put in place in order for public policies to be as tailor-made as possible;
Amendment 160 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Recalls that the establishment of research institutes and networks of researchers can help to tackle the brain drain faced by territories with highly qualified scientific researchers; encourages Member States and their regions to set up networks of researchers and institutes to facility the mobility of such professionals, paying particular attention to sciences related to rural areas such as innovation in the agri-food sector and sustainable development, among others;
Amendment 161 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Considers the world of the arts and creative industries as key drivers for attracting population, with particular attention to medium-sized urban areas; suggests the further development of informal networks of cities with creative industries in order to assess and develop new policy instruments with the aim of strengthening territorial economies to address the common challenge of the brain drain of creative talent;
Amendment 162 #
2023/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. Believes that further expanding the concept of ‘smart cities’ as part of specialisation strategies in given regions or cities is key for developing R&D projects that can attract highly skilled workers to those areas;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes with regret that the CETA agreement does not apply the regionalisation principle generally, solely considering the EU as a single area with regard to livestock production, but not with regard to the fruit and vegetable sector, which means that each Member State has to individually negotiate and agree on export requirements for each product; calls for this flaw be remedied as soon as possible within the framework of the EU-Canada Joint Management Committee;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Commission to promote and support, in the next Management Committee meeting, matters relating to exports in sectors experiencing difficulties, such as the Spanish sheep sector, so that these sectors can access the Canadian market as is already the case for sheepmeat from other EU Member States;
Amendment 96 #
2023/0226(COD)
(21) Decisions declaring the category 1 NGT plant status should assign an identification number to the NGT plant concerned in order to ensure transparency and traceability of such plants when they are listed in the database and for the purpose of labelling of plant reproductive material derived from them.
Amendment 114 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Provision should be made to ensure transparency as regards the use of category 1 NGT plant varieties, to ensure that production chains that wish to remain free from NGTs can do so and thereby safeguard consumer trust. NGT plants that have obtained a category 1 NGT plant status declaration should be listed in a publicly available database. To ensure traceability, transparency and choice for operators, during research and plant breeding, when selling seed to farmers or making plant reproductive material available to third parties in any other way, plant reproductive material of category 1 NGT plants should be labelled as category 1 NGT.
Amendment 159 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Herbicide tolerant plants are bred to be intentionally tolerant to herbicides, in order to be cultivated in combination with the use of those herbicides. If such cultivation is not done under appropriate conditions, it may lead to development of weeds resistant to those herbicides or to the need to increase of quantities of herbicides applied, regardless of the breeding technique. For this reason, NGT plants featuring herbicide-tolerant traits should not be eligible for incentives under this framework. However, tThis Regulation should not take other specific measures on herbicide tolerant NGT plants, because such measures are taken horizontally in [the Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material in the Union].
Amendment 168 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) The special rules laid down in this Regulation concerning the authorisation procedure for category 2 NGT plants are expected to result in more cultivation in the Union of category 2 NGT plants compared to the situation so far under the current Union GMO legislation. That renders necessary for Member States’ public authorities to define coexistence measures for category 2NGT plants to balance the interests of producers of conventional, organic and GM plants and thereby allow producers a choice between different types of production, in line with the Farm to Fork Strategy’s target of 25 % of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
Amendment 206 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘targeted mutagenesis’ means mutagenesis techniques resulting in modification(s) of the DNA sequence at precisetargeted locations in the genome of an organism;
Amendment 229 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b a (new)
(b a) for which it is not feasible to provide an analytical method that detects, identifies and quantifies;
Amendment 237 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12
(12) ‘NGT product’ means a product, other than food and feed, containing or, consisting of aor produced from NGT plants and food and feedother products containing, or consisting of or produced from such a plants;
Amendment 252 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) the plant is a category 2 NGT plant and has been granted consent or has been authorised in accordance with Chapter III.
Amendment 254 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
(2 a) The implementation, enforcement and application of this Regulation shall not have the object or effect of preventing or impeding imports from third countries of NGT plants and products that meet the same standards as those laid down in this regulation.
Amendment 278 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. NGT CAT 1 (conventional-like) plants and to products produced from or by such plants, are not subject to provisions established in Article 26b of Directive 2001/18/EC.
Amendment 302 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – title
Article 6 – title
Verification procedure of category 1 NGT plant status for request submitted prior to the deliberate release for any other purpose than placing on the market
Amendment 314 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7
Article 6 – paragraph 7
7. The other Member States and the Commission may make commentreasoned objections to the verification report within 20 days from the date of receipt of that report. These reasoned objections must solely refer to the fulfilment of the criteria as set out in Annex I and must include a scientific justification.
Amendment 331 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8
Article 6 – paragraph 8
8. In the absence of any commentreasoned objections from a Member State or the Commission, within 10 working days from the expiry of the deadline referred to in paragraph 7, the competent authority that prepared the verification report shall adopt a decision declaring whether the NGT plant is a category 1 NGT plant. It shall transmit the decision without undue delay to the requester, the other Member States and to the Commission.
Amendment 341 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 9
Article 6 – paragraph 9
9. In cases where a comment isreasoned objections are made by another Member State or by the Commission by the deadline referred to in paragraph 7, the competent authority that prepared the verification report shall forward the the comment(s)reasoned(s) objection (s) to the other Member Sates and to the Commission without undue delay.
Amendment 357 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 10
Article 6 – paragraph 10
10. The Commission, after having consulted the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’), shall prepare a draft decision declaring whether the NGT plant is a category 1 NGT plant within 45 working days from the date of receipt of the commentreasoned(s) objection(s), taking the latter into account. The decision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 28(2).
Amendment 373 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – title
Article 7 – title
Verification procedure of category 1 NGT plant status for request submitted prior to the placing on the market of NGT products
Amendment 403 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Amendment 437 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point l
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) methods for sampling (including references to existing official or standardised sampling methods), detection, identification and quantification of the NGT plant. In cases where it is not feasible to provide an analytical method that detects, identifies and quantifies, if duly justified by the notifier, the modalities to comply with analytical method requirements shall be adapted as specified in the implementing act adopted in accordance with Article 27, pointNGT 2 plant should be considered to fall under category 1 as to Article 3 (e7) and the guidance referred to in Article 29(2(ba);
Amendment 465 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. The incentives in this Article shall apply to category 2 NGT plants and category 2 NGT products, where at least one of the intended trait(s) of the NGT plant conveyed by the genetic modification is contained in Part 1 of Annex IIIicle 52(1) of Regulation (EU) .../... (of Plant Reproductive Material) and it does not have any traits referred to in Part 2 of that Annex.
Amendment 478 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Member States shall take appropriate measures to avoid the unintended presence of category 2 NGT plants in products not subject to Directive 2001/18 or Regulation 1829/2003. These provisions shall not apply to category 1 NGT plants and products produced from or by such plants.
Amendment 486 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 26b of Directive 2001/18/EC shall not apply to category 2 NGT plants.
Amendment 497 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1
Annex I – paragraph 1
A NGT plant is considered equivalent to conventional plants when it differs from the recipient/parental plant by no more than 20 genetic modifications of the types referred to in points 1 to 5, in any DNA sequence sharing sequence similarity with the targeted site that can be predicted by bioinformatic toes not include foreing genetic material from outside the breeder´s gene pools.
Amendment 562 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Traits justifying the incentives referred to in Article 22: are listed in article 52(1) of Regulation (EU) .../... ( of Plant Reproductive Material).
Amendment 565 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Amendment 568 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Amendment 569 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Amendment 573 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Amendment 575 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Amendment 576 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Amendment 578 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Annex III – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Amendment 580 #
2023/0226(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Part 2
Annex III – Part 2
Amendment 11 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Annex I point (1) of Directive 2001/110/EC considers honey as a substance. In order to define honey more precisely, as well as to highlight its characteristics and nutritional properties, and to have greater legal certainty, honey should be legally defined as a food and not as a substance, since the latter term is ambiguous and lacks a legal definition.
Amendment 12 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
Amendment 31 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
Amendment 40 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) Annex I point 2(b) of Directive 2001/110/EC establishes the type of honey according to the mode of production and/or presentation including in (viii) filtered honey. Since filtration implies a modification of the natural properties of honey, it would be necessary to categorize this type of honey as "honeys for industrial use".
Amendment 44 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 c (new)
Recital 3 c (new)
(3c) Since heating the honey may involve modifying the natural properties of honey, it is important to establish a threshold above which the baker´s honey is considered as overheated in Annex I point 3 Directive 2001/110/EC.
Amendment 68 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2
Article 2
Amendment 70 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
(1a) Article 2-paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: 2. The product names referred to in Annex I, points 2 and 3, shall apply only to the products defined therein and shall be used in trade to designate them. These names may be replaced by the simple product name ‘honey’, except in the case of comb honey, chunk honey or cut comb in honey and baker's honey. However:
Amendment 73 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
(1b) Article 2- paragraph 2 point (b) is replaced as the following: (b) except in the case of baker's honey, the product names may be supplemented by information referring to:
Amendment 78 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) The country or countries of origin wherein which the honey hwas been harvested shall be indicated on the label. If the honey originates in more than one country, the countries of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the label of packs contain indicating, in the case of blends, the share of each in descending more than 25 gder;
Amendment 109 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2– paragraph 4– point b a (new)
Article 2– paragraph 4– point b a (new)
(ba) Paragraph (ba) new is added: (ba) For packs containing less than 30 grams of blended honey sourced from more than one country, the label may indicate the country of origin using the ISO 3166 alpha-2 country code.
Amendment 117 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 3
Article 3
Article 3 of Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows: In the case of baker's honey, bulk containers, packs and trade documents shall clearly indicate the full product name, as referred to in Annex I, point 3.
Amendment 123 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a (new)
New Article 4 (a) is added: In accordance with Article 4(1) the Commission shall adopt an implementing act in a period of 3 years from the entry into force of this Directive.
Amendment 156 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph -1 (new)
Annex I – paragraph -1 (new)
Directive 2002/110/EC
Annex 1
Annex 1
-1 Annex I to Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows:
Amendment 157 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph -1 a (new)
Annex I – paragraph -1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
-1a Annex I, paragraph 1 is replaced as follows: Honey is the natural sweet food produced by Apis mellifera bees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plants or excretions of plant-sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform by combining with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store and leave in honeycombs to ripen and mature.
Amendment 160 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph -1 b (new)
Annex I – paragraph -1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 1 – paragraph 2 – point b – point viii
Annex 1 – paragraph 2 – point b – point viii
-1b Annex I- paragraph 2-point (b)(viii) is deleted
Amendment 161 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph -1 c (new)
Annex I – paragraph -1 c (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 1 – paragraph 3 – indent 3
Annex 1 – paragraph 3 – indent 3
-1c Annex I- paragraph 3- indent 3 is replaced as follows: – have been subjected to a heat treatment of more than 50 °C.
Amendment 162 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph -1 d (new)
Annex I – paragraph -1 d (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 1 – paragraph 3 – indent 3 a (new)
Annex 1 – paragraph 3 – indent 3 a (new)
-1d A new indent is added to Annex I- paragraph 3 – have been filtered, understanding as such honey obtained by removing foreign inorganic or organic matter to the honey in such a way as to generate a significant removal of pollen
Amendment 208 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 2001/113/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point a – indent 1 – subparagraph 3 – sub indent 1
Annex 1 – part 1 – point a – indent 1 – subparagraph 3 – sub indent 1
– 4350 g as a general rule,
Amendment 234 #
2023/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 2001/113/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point a – indent 2 – subparagraph 4 – sub indent 1
Annex 1 – part 1 – point a – indent 2 – subparagraph 4 – sub indent 1
– 5450 g as a general rule,
Amendment 44 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas on 24 February 2022 the Russian Federation illegally invaded Ukraine and, as a result, severely disrupted global food security, with the most vulnerable countries being hardest hit;
Amendment 51 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the war against Ukraine and the ensuing significant increases in input prices resulting from the conflict are leading to a significant cumulative distortion on global agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture markets, in particular on the cereals and vegetable oil markets; whereas food production and access to food must not be endangered or used as a geopolitical weaponand must under no circumstances be used as a geopolitical weapon, as this will have an impact on economies worldwide;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas climate change and the extreme weather related to it pose a threat to food production worldwide; whereas efforts to combat global warming are required to ensure that agriculture is resilient and sustainable in the long term;
Amendment 118 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas, according to the FAO, one third of all food produced globally is lost at some point in the food chain between the producer and the consumer; whereas, in the EU, that figure amounts to 87.6 million tonnes of food each year;
Amendment 148 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas generational renewal is one of the biggest challenges for a resilient agricultural sector in the EU; whereas young farmers in particular are innovativeconnectivity to high-capacity broadband networks is crucial for the modernisation of farms and, if properly motivatedn order to increase productivity and eimpowered, are willing to make investments that may increase the sustainability of agriculturerove efficiency; whereas there is a need to provide incentives for and promote IT training for farmers;
Amendment 164 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the sharp rise in global fertiliser prices, together with the sharp rise in other input costs for farmers, threatens food security; whereas in September 2022 the prices of nitrogen fertilisers increased by 149% compared to the previous year, and whereas those fertilisers are vital in guaranteeing food security globally;
Amendment 202 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have once again demonstrated the need for the EU to strengthen its food security and reduce its dependence on imports from outside the EU; welcomes the adoption, due to the exceptional current circumstances, of temporary and exceptional measures to increase EU production and guarantee the survival of farms during the 2022/23 harvest season, which will contribute to food security;
Amendment 213 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the need to continue regarding fertilisers as a key production sector in view of a hypothetical scenario in which gas is rationed as a result of the war in Ukraine, something the Commission contemplates in its communication entitled ‘Ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers’ (COM(2022)0590) as a way of guaranteeing food security globally;
Amendment 289 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that the current geopolitical context requires a series of time-bound, extraordinary measures from the European Commission in order to ensure the viability of farms and agricultural production in the Union as well as exports to third countries, whose food security could be jeopardised;
Amendment 357 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that faster introduction of the legislation would give European farmers a sustainable alternative to fertilisers and pesticides and thus help them achieve the goals of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 402 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises that supply chains must not become a geopolitical tool to destabilise and jeopardise food security at global level; calls on the Union to continue its efforts to guarantee the crucial global supply of food products and raw materials, such as wheat and vegetable oils, in order to avoid a potential food crisis, especially in the most disadvantaged and vulnerable countries;
Amendment 488 #
2022/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Union to promote campaigns to raise awareness among producers and consumers of the importance of avoiding all types of food waste and the economic, social and environmental repercussions of such waste;
Amendment 9 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas in 2020, a majority (57.6 %) of farm managers (all genders) were at least 55 years of age and approximately only 10 % of farm managers were under 40 years old; whereas a relatively high proportion of farmers have 65 years of age or more in many Member States;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas almost all EU regions are experiencing a steady increase in average farm sizes and a concentration of production on fewer and larger farms; whereas the number of farms in EU-27 declined between 2013 and 2016 from about 15 to 10 million (-32%) with the strongest decline being among small farms 1a; _________________ 1a The Future of the European Farming Model: Socio-economic and territorial implications of the decline in the number of farms and farmers in the EU, 2022
Amendment 24 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas farms run by managers of 40 years old or younger have the lowest income on average at EU level and that farms run by women have lower incomes in comparison with men 1a; _________________ 1a EU Farm economics overview, 2021
Amendment 25 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas in 2020 slightly more than two thirds (68.4%) of farm managers in the EU’s 9.1 million holdings were male;
Amendment 28 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas 72.3% of farm managers in the EU in 2020 had only practical experience, while barely 10.2% had full agricultural training and the remaining 17.5% only basic agricultural training;
Amendment 32 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas farming remains a predominantly family activity as in 2020 almost nine in ten (86.1%) people who worked regularly in agriculture in the EU were the sole holder (farmer) or members of his/her family;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the low level of intergenerational renewal in farming, while part of a larger trend of demographic decline, is a general EU concern for the sector, affecting particularly remote rural areas; ;
Amendment 70 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a fair and dignified income and quality of life for farmers and their families is essential in attracting young and new people to the sector and that Member States must devote at least 3% of their direct payments envelope to this objective;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. 6. Recalls that although the number of new entrants from outside the agricultural sector is growing, intra- family succession is still the dominant form of entry into farming;
Amendment 102 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out that the Court of Justice of the European Union has been recognising in its rulings the specific nature of agricultural land as well as a set of public interests and objectives that can justify the establishment of land market regulation measures;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that fears of retirement, primarily due to inadequate safety nets for pensioners, leads older farmers to use direct payments as a form of support in retirement and retain land;
Amendment 112 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Acknowledges the positive effect of CAP young’s farmers measures on the number of young farmers, in particular those located in more peripheral rural areas 1a; _________________ 1a SWD (2021) 78 final
Amendment 113 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Highlights the positive contribution of LEADER projects and initiatives to social inclusion and to challenges faced by young people, notably when prioritising youth in selection criteria and in setting up youth local action groups;
Amendment 157 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to develop coherent strategies to promote generational change, combining different measures in a complementary way, such as financial support, tax breaks and incentives, to improve links between EU policies and national and regional policies; calls on the Commission to promote the sharing of best practices between Member States in this regard, with a focus on increasing efficiency, simplification and accessibility when designing measures for young farmers;
Amendment 183 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that generational renewal needs both younger and older generations and therefore intergenerational cooperation and dialogue must be fostered;
Amendment 188 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to promote innovative models of intergenerational collaboration, such as partnerships, share farming or land- matching services; recalls the potential of the cooperation measures under the CAP Strategic Plans in this regard and regrets that only 5 Member States have made use of this possibility; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure an enabling administrative framework that facilitates the adoption of these innovative approaches;
Amendment 224 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States to regulate agricultural land markets in order to promote land access for young farmers by all means available, such as pre-emptive rights in favour of young farmers, price controls, acquisition caps or obligations to maintain agricultural activity; calls, furthermore, for the establishment of national plans aimed at facilitating land mobility;
Amendment 237 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Member States to ensure the transparency of the rural land market, while maintaining up-to date public information on land markets and land planning, planning and ownership, communicating about land sales and monitoring land concentration;
Amendment 245 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to establish an EU observatory on farmland, as part of the Rural Observatory, to monitor, in particular, trends and prices for land sale and rental, tenancy regimes, as well as changes in farmland use and land abandonment;
Amendment 255 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Highlights that land lease is a viable alternative to gain access to land, locking fewer resources; calls on Member states to adopt policies to promote long- term land leasing, such as tax exemptions, providing security of tenure and time to invest
Amendment 310 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Insists that generational renewal remain a high priority in the future programming period in order to receive, namely on the CAP, to be supported in a mandatory and increased supportway;
Amendment 313 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Encourages politicians, schools, media, farmers, local associations, to work together in promoting a positive image of farming and rural areas and to communicate on the farmer’s role in food production and environmental services;
Amendment 314 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Amendment 315 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Stresses the importance of providing tailored advisory services, in particular to support young farmers and new entrants, prior to their installation and in the following years; highlights the potential of diversifying the models of advice to better address farmers diversity (e.g. peer-to-peer learning, mentoring schemes);
Amendment 316 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. Highlights the importance of integrating in the training schemes for new entrants and young farmers, in addition to the technical, business and digital contents, also contents on soft skills, communication, leadership, mental health and well-being, among others;
Amendment 317 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 e (new)
Paragraph 27 e (new)
27e. Considers that diverse options of facilitating the farm transmission process should be fostered in public policies at European and national level, such as existing farms acting as incubators for start-up businesses or new models of business allowing progressive transfer of land and assets between a farmer and his/her successors
Amendment 322 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Underlines the role of young farmer’s organisations, cooperatives and farmer organisations in helping young farmers overcome barriers to installation, providing guidance services and enhancing their participation in the policy dialogue; calls for the gender-balanced representation of young farmers’ in their governance bodies to be ensured;
Amendment 328 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the impact and potential of digital technologies onfor young farmers' activities and business opportunities, and that a strong political commitment is required at all levels of policy implementation to ensure connectivity andbroadband infrastructure and connectivity and a particular focus on digital inclusion;
Amendment 331 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Highlights the importance of reliable internet access for young farmers quality of life in rural areas, namely to overcome social isolation, access education and training opportunities, as well as for service provision;
Amendment 1 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to Article 349s 174, 349 and 355 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which grants the outermost regions (ORs) of the EU their status,
Amendment 2 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas agriculture is a key sector for the economy, employment and territorial and social cohesion of the outermost regions;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the Final Declaration of 15 November 2022 of the 27th Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions of the European Union,
Amendment 14 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) should be strengthened; calls, in this regard, for an increase in the budget of POSEI fromand for its adjustment to improve aid for agriculture and livestock in the ORs in the forthcoming CAP reform in 2027;
Amendment 14 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the Final Declaration of 18 and 19 November 2021 of the 26th Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions of the European Union,
Amendment 15 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
— having regard to the Council Conclusions of 1 December 2022 on a European Agenda for Tourism,
Amendment 17 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the fact that the new revised strategy of the ORs recognises the agricultural sector as crucial for the creation of jobs and economic growth in the ORs; welcomes the increased cooperation between the Commission and the Member States to enable them to adapt and modernise their POSEI-funded activities;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution on a new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy (T9- 0369/2021)1a, _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2021-0369_EN.html
Amendment 19 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 b (new)
Citation 25 b (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution ‘Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors’ (T9-0135/2022)1a, _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0135_EN.html
Amendment 20 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 c (new)
Citation 25 c (new)
— having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning1a, _________________ 1a OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 135.
Amendment 21 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 d (new)
Citation 25 d (new)
— having regard to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources1a, _________________ 1a OJ L 328 21.12.2018, p. 82.
Amendment 22 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls that the effects of COVID- 19, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the current context of inflation have had particularly harmful effects on the ORs; calls for specific measures to address the consequences of higher prices of livestock inputs; suggests that POSEI and other financial instruments include flexibility measures in the face of unforeseen circumstances in the current geopolitical context;
Amendment 22 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 e (new)
Citation 25 e (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380), and the European Parliament resolution of 9 June 2021 (P9_TA(2021)0277),
Amendment 23 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 f (new)
Citation 25 f (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy –putting European transport on track for the future’ (COM(2020)0789),
Amendment 24 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 g (new)
Citation 25 g (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 19 November 2020 entitled ‘An EU Strategy to harness the potential of off shore renewable energy for a climate neutral future’ (COM(2020)0741),
Amendment 25 #
2022/2147(INI)
— having regard to the Commission Study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outermost regions (ORs)1a, _________________ 1a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/2216604f-7420-11ec- 9136-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Amendment 26 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the outermost regions (ORs) represent major assets, but also face permanent difficultiegeostrategic assets to the European Union (EU) and their Member States, but face also permanent structural constraints as a result of their insularity (except for French Guiana), geographical dispersion, remoteness, small size, rough terrain and harsh climate, and economic dependence on a few products;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission to increase and speed up the financial allocations for POSEI in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, such as those faced by the agricultural sector in La Palma after the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano; recalls that the consequences of this volcanic eruption have affected more than 370 hectares of agricultural cultivation worth EUR 200 million; calls on the Commission to give greater flexibility and speed to the funds earmarked for such natural disasters;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2147(INI)
A a. whereas these structural constraints are a serious handicap for the development of the ORs and therefore specific measures need to be taken to establish the conditions for the harmonious application of the Treaties, including common policies, without undermining the coherence of the Union legal order;
Amendment 38 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 38 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas GDP per capita in the ORs is below the EU average, including below their own countries’ averages; whereas the ORs economies have suffered heavy consequences following the introduction of restrictive measures due to the pandemic in March 20201a; _________________ 1a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/2216604f-7420-11ec- 9136-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Amendment 41 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas these regions have high levels of young people who are not in employment,in unemployment, low rates of education orand training (NEETs) and early school leavers,and a high dropout school rate; whereas those rates are higher than the EU and national averages7 ; _________________ 7 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/source s/policy/themes/outermost-regions/pdf/rup- 2022/comm-rup-2022-glance_en.pdf
Amendment 46 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed even more the fragilities of the ORs’ economies; whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the economic impact of the pandemic, in particular in the functioning of the supply and consumption circuits, as a consequence of their insularity and/or geographical situation; whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the economic impact of the pandemic, namely through the increase in the price of fuel and certain raw materials such as cereals for animal feed;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas it has been predictedesteemed by the European Commission that economic recovery from COVID-19 will be slower in the ORs when compared to national macroeconomic averages8 ; whereas the EU should support the ORs to help them to respond to the continuous rise of inflation that heavily affects the ORs’ primary economic sector; _________________ 8 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/source s/policy/themes/outermost- regions/pdf/covid19_or_study_en.pdf
Amendment 51 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas air and maritime transport are essential for connecting the ORs to the European mainland; whereas the ORs depend strongly on the good state of conservation and sustainable development of ports, as they play a crucial role on the connectivity, economy and cohesion of this regions;
Amendment 53 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the outermost regions are home to ecosystems with a high ecological value, which should not be seen as a threatening factor for the balanced development of productive work in the agricultural sector;
Amendment 54 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses the important role that a successful extension of high-capacity digital networks in the outermost regions can play as a tool to facilitate the modernisation and transformation of farms towards more sustainable agriculture;
Amendment 55 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Points out that the use of new technologies and precision farming can facilitate the transformation towards more efficient and competitive agriculture, saving costs, improving performance and minimising environmental impact;
Amendment 59 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the proposal for a farm to fork strategy requests the EU to further limit the use of plant protection products; stresses, in this context, that the specific characteristics of the tropical and sub- tropical climates in the ORs must be taken into account; calls on the Commission to offer farmers alternatives to these plant protection products in order to ensure farmers’ viability and not to compromise agricultural production in the outermost regions;
Amendment 60 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the primary economic sector is very important for the ORs; whereas the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) agriculture scheme is therefore essential for the ORs, as was the former POSEIessential for the socio-economic development and territorial cohesion of the ORs, as was the former specific financial operational program for fisheries schemein the ORs;
Amendment 61 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the ORs are heavily dependent on blue economy sectors, in particular fisheries and sustainable maritime tourism, for their socio- economic development; whereas sustainably developing the blue economy sectors in the outermost regions could boost job creation and economic growth;
Amendment 70 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas the continuous loss of marine biodiversity will cause major environmental, social and economic impacts in the EU fisheries sector and in particular in the outermost regions, and must be therefore urgently reversed;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
G c. whereas marine protected areas (MPAs) need to be established to comply with the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; whereas the creation of those areas should be seen as a tool for reconciling the protection of habitats and ecosystems with the socio-economic sustainability of the blue economy;
Amendment 74 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to establish a separate chapter dedicated to the ORs in its impact assessments of the farm to fork and biodiversity strategies; similarly, and in the context of increased demand for a principle of ‘rural proofing’ in European legislation, calls for impact studies for the ORs in the creation of European policies, especially as regards emissions trading, agricultural funds and cohesion;
Amendment 79 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the Commission commitment under the Communication on the Long-term vision for rural areas to include the outermost regions analysis within the EU Rural Observatory’s scope; considers that the proposed rural observatory could be a valuable opportunity to identify data gaps and improve statistical databases on the outermost regions, in order to fully capture the needs of their rural population;
Amendment 79 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)
Recital G d (new)
G d. whereas the creation of the MPAs have to take place, taking into account public consultation with local authorities and stakeholders, in particular fishers;
Amendment 82 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G e (new)
Recital G e (new)
G e. whereas the risks of major/regional natural disasters and health emergencies have become systemic and the least developed and most fragile territories, such as the ORs, are often the most affected by such catastrophes;
Amendment 84 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G f (new)
Recital G f (new)
G f. whereas the ORs are genuine natural laboratories, due to their unique biodiversity that makes them crucial to the promotion of research and conservation of marine resources;
Amendment 92 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the need to maintain and strengthen coordinated action at EU, national, regional and local level; supports the greaterfull involvement of regional and local authorities in the design of EU policies;
Amendment 93 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 93 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 96 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses the importance of maintaining the EAFRD co-financing rate at 85 % for the outermost regions in order to achieve the development of their rural areas and their agriculture and livestock;
Amendment 96 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that Article 349 of the TFUE is still not being automatically applied in every, where appropriate, in legislative initiatives from the Commission, while recognising that some progress has been made; highlights that the article 349 of the TFUE should be applied in a transversal way to all Union policies and initiatives where appropriate;
Amendment 99 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the Commission to exercise the utmost vigilance in the liberalisation of the EU market and the proliferation of trade agreements between the EU and partnernsure full compliance with social, labour and environmental standards in its trade policy with third countries; recalls that agriculture in the outermost regions is more sensitive to the effects of free trade agreements because their products often coincide with those from third countries;
Amendment 101 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Considers that the EU should be more ambitious in deepening integrated policies for the ORs, through a proactive and consistent EU approach and through a clear and robust support for the sustainable endogenous development of each of these regions;
Amendment 103 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to expatend the POSEI model to other sectors and circumstances such as those faced by the various economic sectors on the island of La Palma following the Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption; recalls that the consequences of this volcanic eruption have affected more than 370 hectares of agricultural cultivation worth EUR 2000 million;
Amendment 105 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to expand the POSEI model to other sectorcreate more specific measures based in the POSEI model to other economic sectors of the ORs, such as on transport, connectivity, energy and digital transition; stresses that these specific measures are fundamental to the promotion of the sustainable green and blue economies in the ORs;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that the outermost regions are more exposed to the problems arising from price increases due to their geographic allocation; stresses that these regions have an absolute dependence on maritime and air transport for the arrival of raw materials and that there is no alternative to this means of transport;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to show greater flexibility and speed in the deployment of funds earmarked for the effects of natural disasters in the ORs;
Amendment 112 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 123 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of ensuring the continuity of all existing tax regimes in the ORs, given their impact on the local economies;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Cautions that any change to the current provisions regarding animal transport has stronger impacts on regions such as the outermost regions, namely due to their remoteness, archipelagic condition, insularity and small size, which cause notably their strong dependence on sea transport; insists that pursuant to Article 349 TFEU, the special characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions in this regard must be taken into account in the context of the forthcoming review of European rules on animal welfare, notwithstanding the continuous efforts that must be made to reduce the need for the transport of live animals;
Amendment 126 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that in order to better tackle the ORs’ structural problems, it is necessary to analyse the specificities of each of them and to conceive measures within a specific plan, with specific and adequate financial allocations, that take into account the characteristics, assets and challenges of each OR;
Amendment 130 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Considers that for ORs to feel a true part of the EU, imbedded into EU’s political action, the EU should be more politically proactive and deliver specific measures to help the sustainable growth of the ORs;
Amendment 144 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the importance of young people for the revitalisation of traditional sectors in the ORs; calls for measureson the Commission and the Member States to promote measures that improve labour conditions, fair and adequate salaries, gender balance, personal and professional life balance, in order to attract young people into the primary economic sector;
Amendment 147 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 152 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Defends the creation of Blue Erasmus, based on the model of the Erasmus+, to enable young people to take advantage of the opportunities ofcreated within the blue economy sectors;
Amendment 154 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Stresses that it is crucial to increase the participation of the ORs in all Erasmus+ program actions, to promote strong cooperation, mobility and knowledge exchange between education, research and technological innovation institutions, companies and citizens;
Amendment 158 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to launch a pilot projectassist the Member States to launch an action plan, as soon as possible, aimed at combating early school leaving in the ORs;
Amendment 159 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Highlights that the promotion of training and certification in the ORs can create more highly qualified and skilled professionals that are normally more attentive and open to implementing behavioural changes, such as more openness to the use of new technologies; recalls that the digital transition and the use of new technologies should be duly accompanied by a proper training for all, local and regional authorities and civil society;
Amendment 160 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Stresses that specific training on blue economy activities would contribute to awareness raising for marine ecosystems and the need to protect them;
Amendment 164 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that the call for proposals ‘Empowering youth in the EU Outermost Regions’ did not have the expected participation levels; defends an enlargement of the initiative to people up to the age of 30 and asks for the involvement of regional and local authorities in its promotion;
Amendment 187 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the ORs’ fishing fleet is old and obsolete; regretis, in certain cases, very degraded, which constitutes a danger for fishers and for the environment ; underlines the fact that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) still does not support the renovation of fleets by covering the purchase of new vessels;
Amendment 188 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Stresses the need to continue investing in the modernization of the traditional small-scale fishing fleet especially in solutions meant to improve safety and working conditions for fishers, to reduce CO2 emissions, and to improve storage and conservation conditions of the captures; highlights that these measures are crucial for the fisheries’ sector to be able to keep safely and securely providing healthy food, with less negative environmental impact and without increasing the capacity to catch fish;
Amendment 196 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recalls that the Commission has pledged to write an interim report on the EMFAF chapter on the ORs and to analyse the ORs’ need for an autonomous regulation for fisheries; reiterates its appeal for the re-establishment of the POSEI fisheries scheme in 2027calls on the Commission to establish a specific financial operational programme for the fisheries sector in the ORs in 2027, similar in functioning to the POSEI programme;
Amendment 197 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Stresses that the fishing and aquaculture sectors play a key role in the sustainable socio-economic development of the ORs, responsible for the creation of jobs and for the supply of a high nutritional value food;
Amendment 198 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Defends the importance of effectively compensating the ORs’ fishermens for their efforts to meet the Commission’s goal of protecting 30 % of the EU’s marine areas; considers that the marine protected areas should be a tool for reconciling the protection of habitats and ecosystems with the socio-economic viability of the fisheries' sector;
Amendment 200 #
2022/2147(INI)
19 a. Points out that defining protected marine areas has allowed local fishers to increase their income, leading to an increase in local employment in the fisheries’ sector and to an increase recreational activities, boosting opportunities for growth in sectors such as sustainable tourism; underlines that, if properly created, with due public consultation with local authorities and stakeholders, in particular fishers, the definition of these protected areas is fundamental for the protection and the recovery of species, as well as for the coastal sectors that depend on them1a; _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank /en/document/IPOL_STU(2022)733087
Amendment 202 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the role that the ORs could play in combating illegal fishing and ocean pollution; urges the Commission and the Member States, due to the impact of serious loss of marine biodiversity in the ORs, to take all necessary measures to address the causes of over-exploitation, pollution and climate change in the ORs, and to reform their sectoral policies accordingly;
Amendment 207 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Considers that due to their geographic position, the ORs have the ability to lead the blue economy in areas such as offshore renewable energy technologies, development of nature- based activities, like sustainable tourism, but also to help fisheries and aquaculture sectors become fully part of sustainable, resilient and safe food system;
Amendment 210 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Highlights the importance of collaborative, inclusive and cross-sectoral maritime spatial planning in the ORs that takes socioeconomic, environmental and biodiversity concerns into account;
Amendment 230 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the creation of a POSEIspecific financial operational programme for the ORs transport, scheimilar to the POSEI programme, in order to tackle the rising costs resulting from insularity and remotenessremoteness and/or insularity; highlights that a derogation for the ORs regarding integrating maritime transport of goods and persons in the ETS system is fundamental; considers of an utmost importance the development of a EU strategy regarding mobility and transport in the ORs, taking into account the specificities of each OR;
Amendment 248 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the crucial role of sustainable tourism for the development of the ORs, which are highly exposed to externalitclimate change effects, natural disasters and health emergencies; urges the Commission to develop a truly European sustainable tourism policy and to launch further measures to promote the recovery of the sector;
Amendment 251 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the Commission to set up a European Tourism Agency with antennas in each of the ORs’ geographical areas, thus drawing on the experience and dynamism of the sector in these regions for the benefit of the entire EU, in keeping with the Final Declaration of the 26th Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions of the European Union;
Amendment 262 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Regrets the fact that the specificities of the ORs have not been systematically taken into account in the ‘Fit for 55’ package; stresses that the EU's environmental objectives and targets need always to take into account the remoteness, isolation and/or insularity of the ORs, particularly with regard to the objectives on transport to and from each OR;
Amendment 272 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the ORs’ vulnerability to climate change effects, in particular to extreme weather events; defends the position, therefore, that the EU Solidarity Fund should be revised to enable it to respond to smaller-scale disasters and to include the costs associated with prevention, evacuation and the disruption of local economies in the event ofdisasters such as extended seismic activity, fires or floods;
Amendment 302 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Commission to support regional and local authorities in designing and funding plans to attract and retain health professionals;
Amendment 327 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Regrets that the already small number of programmes, public policies and funds specific to the outermost regions have been disappearing in favour of their integration in horizontal European programmes, thus diluting the tailor-made approach needed for ORs;
Amendment 331 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Suggests that the resources of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund be mobilised to provide adequate support to Member States’ efforts in the area of migration, in particular to those Member States which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their asylum and reception systems;
Amendment 334 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)
Paragraph 43 c (new)
43c. Insists on the need for the EU to allocate specific funds to enable regions under greater migratory pressure, mainly those at the EU’s external borders, such as the outermost regions, to be able to cope with the reception and assistance of unaccompanied minors arriving on their territories, facilitating the relocation of these minors as soon as possible to the Member States and the rest of the EU if they have relatives elsewhere;
Amendment 1 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the original idea behindExpresses its satisfaction that the Conference on the Future of Europe was regardsa very successful participatory exercise and therefore, it further enlarged the citizens’ information and participation in democracy at Union level, aiming at making the Union more understandable and accessible; Considers that the Conference has led to innovative and successful participation by European citizens and has provided an additional opportunity for the European institutions, leading to a comprehensive dialogue between citizens, national parliaments, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society organisations on the future of the Union;
Amendment 7 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. NWelcomes the conclusions of the Conference and notes that many of the proposals endorsed by the Conference on the Future of Europe do not require Treaty change but instead camendments to the Treaties and that, especially forllowing the most rengthening of existing policies and instruments; takes the view tcent crises, the Treaties need to be amended urgently to make sure the Union hats the division of competences provided for in the Treaties, and in particular Articles 4 and 5 TEU, should remain unchangedcompetence to take more effective action during future crises;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the right to petition is a citizen’s right which plays a fundamental role as a direct participatory democracy tool; recalls that petitions can be used as means of creating opportunities for public debate and of initiating policy and legislative changes; calls on the Member States and the Commission to do their utmost to ensure that petitions are adequately followed up;
Amendment 27 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the right to petition remains underused at Union level when compared with the situation at national level; recalls, also, that about a quarter of the petitions submitted to the European Parliament are declared inadmissible, mainly because the matter falls outside the Union’s fields of activity, which points out the lack of understneed to work on enhandcing, among Union citizens, the citizens’ awareness of the Union’s remit of competence;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses, therefore, the need to increase citizens’ knowledge of their right to petition as well as their understanding of the scope of the Union’s responsibilities; calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt measures to make public information and awareness more efficient at Union and national levels in order to improve access to the right to petition and with the aim to reduce the number of inadmissible petitions.
Amendment 36 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Supports summarizing elements of citizens’ participation in a Union Charter for the involvement of citizens in EU- affairs;
Amendment 37 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Invites the Union institutions to work on establishing a user-friendly digital platform where citizens can share ideas, put forward questions to the representatives of the Union institutions and express their views on important EU matters and legislative proposals, in particular youth;
Amendment 5 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its concern as regards the significant delay in the implementation of cohesion policy for the 2021-2027 period, as well as its call for the Commission and the Member States to speed up the adoption of the partnership agreements and programmes, without undermining their quality and while respecting the EU’s political priorities and the applicable principles; reiterates the need for special consideration to be given to less-developed and transition regions and islands in this context, as well as to urban areas with high levels of inequalities;
Amendment 11 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many negative social consequences throughout Europe, such as the digital and gender gaps, that have been broadened; Underlines the need for specific assistance to address these consequences;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the necessity of providing the regions with appropriate financial means in order to deal with the waves of migration caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and itss well as the waves of migration caused by other crises and their multifaceted consequences; emphasises the need to address the grave difficulties that the current rise in energy costs is causing for the regions, and to identify suitable financial instruments to deal with them at a regional level through a bottom-up approach involving local and regional authorities;
Amendment 27 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for a significant increase in the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) budget, which would help regions to anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change, which causes large population displacements, and for the scope of the EUSF to be broadened, so that it can also support more climate-resilient restoration or construction of public and private infrastructure;
Amendment 36 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that the existing possibility of transfers from the cohesion policy funds to other EU instruments of up to 5 % of the initial allocation provides for sufficient flexibility; strongly opposes the proposal of additional transfers from the cohesion policy funds put forward under the RePowerEU initiative. and instead calls on additional financial resources to be made available to reach these objectives;
Amendment 38 #
2022/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines that promoting gender equality, paying special attention to women with disabilities, is crucial for reducing regional economic and social disparities and ensuring the long-term development of regions; deplores that EU's budget cycle to date has not adequately taken gender equality into account; Highlights the Commission's commitment to gender mainstreaming in the EU budget; calls on the Commission ro strengthen the institutional framework for supporting gender budgeting, to carry out gender analyses of the needs and impacts, to systematically collect, analyse and report on existing sex-disaggregated data for EU funding programmes, to make use of gender-related objectives and indicators to monitor progress and to develop a system for tracking the funds allocated and used to support gender equality;
Amendment 43 #
2022/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. considering that cohesion policy is the main instrument to reduce the differences between the different territories of the EU; considering that one of the main axes of the New European Bauhaus is inclusiveness and reaching those who need it the most through the transformation of the built environment;
Amendment 192 #
2022/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is convinced that the role of small cities, towns and villages should be bolstered in order to support local economies and address demographic challenges; backs, therefore, the reinforcement of the second pillar of the common agricultural policy, the EAFRD and that in this respect the contributions of the New European Bauhaus should also be taken into account;
Amendment 196 #
2022/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes the increasing emergence of less developed, disadvantaged and impoverished areas that are embedded in developed areas; it therefore calls on the European Commission to enhance micro- cohesion in these less developed areas through specific funds for this new type of vulnerable areas;
Amendment 269 #
2022/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Supports the increase in the budget allocated for the period 2021-2027 for the new cohesion policy which, in line with the strong focus on smart, green and social actions, will provide sufficient confidence for new innovative projects; calls for strong coordination between these funds and NEB programs and actions;
Amendment 273 #
2022/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Asks the Commission to present as soon as possible a proposal for the NEB to become an EU program for the next MFF, with a specific and stable budget based on new resources, through which to measure the evolution of our territories and cities, providing solutions for the development of sustainable and innovative urban areas, such as: sustainable mobility solutions, inclusive public spaces and nature-based solutions;
Amendment 14 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls on the Member States to carry out national disability awareness- raising campaigns promoting the CRPD and the European Disability Strategy 2021-2030 that area accessible for all and involve PwD and the family members and organisations that represent them; calls on the Member States to adopt ambitious timelines for the implementation of the strategy; calls on the Commission to develop a set of detailed indicators in the forthcoming delegated act on the revised social score board to measure the progress toward the goals and objectives of the strategy and to ensure compliance by all those involved with the commitments outlined in these documents;
Amendment 15 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 2 (new)
(2) Takes note of the progress made by the Member States in effectively implementing and monitoring the CRPD and in adapting accessibility measures to comply with the standards of the CRPD; calls on the Member States to designate, without further delay, responsible authorities to serve as focal points, and to establish coordinating mechanisms at all administrative levels, in accordance with Article 33 of the CRPD, for its implementation and monitoring; stresses that the Member States should ensure that a significant number of persons with disabilities are involved in the work of these authorities;
Amendment 25 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
(1) Considers the Optional Protocol to be an indivisible part of the CRPD; points to the fact that the Optional Protocol provides citizens with a forum to communicate alleged violations of the provisions of the convention by a State Party, and allows the CRPD Committee to initiate confidential inquiries when they receive information indicating that a State Party has committed a grave or systematic violation;
Amendment 26 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 2 (new)
(2) Stresses that the Optional Protocol to the CRPD has not been ratified by the EU and five Member States; calls on all Member States that have not yet ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRPD to do so without further delay, and for the EU to fully ratify it; calls on the Council to take the necessary steps to ensure the accession of the EU to the Optional Protocol;
Amendment 27 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 3 (new)
(3) Notes that there is no mutual recognition of disability status between Member States; calls on the Member States to work together in a spirit of mutual trust to recognise the status assigned in another Member State; emphasises the Commission’s goal of working with Member States to expand the scope of the mutual recognition of disability status in areas such as labour mobility and the benefits related to the conditions of service provision; highlights the need to extend the benefits of the EU disability card so that mutually recognised health access benefits are also included; underlines, in this context, the importance of swift action in terms of implementation of the European Disability Card; reiterates the need for mutual understanding of deinstitutionalisation, its implementation and independent living in the community, with a view to better aligning the Member States’ strategies and the EU funds with the CRPD;
Amendment 28 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 4 (new)
(4) Welcomes the Commission’s initiative, by the end of 2023, for the creation of an EU disability card to be recognised in all Member States, with a view to scaling up the pilot projects for the EU disability card and the EU parking card for PwD; is of the opinion that the EU disability card, which should be adopted and recognised in all Member States, and cover all areas of life, including transport, will be an important instrument to help PwD to exercise their right to free movement in a barrier-free EU;
Amendment 29 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 5 (new)
(5) Notes the Commission’s proposal for the creation of the ‘AccessibleEU’ resource centre by 2022; calls on the Commission to create an EU agency on accessibility (EU Access Board) that would be in charge of developing technical specifications on accessibility in support of specific EU policies and legislation, carrying out consultations with rights-holders, stakeholders and non- governmental organisations, helping Member States and EU institutions to implement accessibility in a harmonised way for the benefit of the single market, and raising awareness of the importance of accessibility for equal societies;
Amendment 38 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses that Article 19 of the CRPD sets out the right to live independently and be included in the community; calls on the Member States to ensure a process that provides for a shift in living arrangements for PwD, from institutional settings to a system enabling social participation and in which services are provided in the community according to individual will and preference; calls on the Member States to include specific targets with clear deadlines in their deinstitutionalisation strategies and to adequately finance the implementation of these strategies;
Amendment 39 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 2 (new)
(2) Recalls that in order to develop appropriate and effective policies and find solutions tailored to the needs of PwD in all their diversity in the EU, there is a need for comparable and reliable EU data; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to intensify their efforts for a common framework for European statistics on individuals and households to collect reliable data on the participation of PwD, also disaggregated by gender, in the various levels and types of education and labour and in social life;
Amendment 40 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 3 (new)
(3) Stresses that there is an urgent need to conduct a study and a research to collect data disaggregated by different types of disability and different barriers faced by the different groups of PwD, in particular when trying to access the labour market, which would greatly improve understanding of how unemployment impacts PwD and help the European Commission and Member States in their aim and efforts to improve labour market outcomes for PwD in the EU;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 4 (new)
(4) Stresses that cost of living with a disability is one of the greatest challenges faced by PwD; underlines, in this respect, an urgent need to collect data to further analyse the issue of living costs for PwD; stresses that this data will help to understand why it is that PwD are so disproportionately affected by poverty, and why the issue of losing one’s disability allowance when a person starts earning a wage can be so problematic and dangerous; underlines that the loss of disability allowance following the take-up of paid work is one of the principle reasons that PwD cannot easily transfer to the labour market, and that puts them at the greatest risk of in-work poverty;
Amendment 42 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 5 (new)
(5) Stresses that the Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities clearly calls for every effort to be made to allow PwD to find employment in the open labour market; underlines the key importance to monitor the developments in the EU Member States on fulfilling their obligations under the UNCRPD, or in employing people in sheltered forms of work that lead to in-work poverty; underlines, in this regards, an urgent need to conduct a research on sheltered workshops and insight into how many PwD, including women with disabilities, are in employment in the open labour market; stresses that the Eurostat figures show what percentage of PwD are employed in each Member State, but the quality of employment that each person finds themselves in remains unknown;
Amendment 43 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 6 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 6 (new)
(6) Recalls the high number of EU citizens deprived of their right to participate in elections, including European Parliament elections, because of their disabilities or mental health problems; calls on the Commission and Member States to guarantee the political rights of PwD by ensuring voting and eligibility rights to all PwD and right to stand for election, without exemptions, and by implementing ad hoc measures aiming at making the next European elections more accessible to PwD and respectful of the right to vote autonomously and in secrecy, or otherwise with the choice of one’s assistant;
Amendment 54 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
(1) Regrets the fact that the European Accessibility Act fails to address accessibility of the built environment and of the physical world in general; calls on the Commission to use the European Accessibility Act as a basis for adopting a robust EU framework for an accessible and inclusive environment with fully accessible public spaces, services, including public transport, communication, administrative and financial services, and the built environment; welcomes the Commission’s ‘Access City Award’ initiative;
Amendment 55 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
(2) Outlines that petitioners’ most common concerns regarding the equality of PwD centre around accessibility and social protection, along with employment rights and the right to live independently in the community; calls, therefore, on the Member States to fully implement and continuously monitor all accessibility- related legislation, including Directive (EU) 2019/882 (the European Accessibility Act) in order to effectively and definitively remove and prevent barriers for workers with disabilities, and to improve and ensure the availability of accessible services and the suitability of the conditions under which these services are provided; calls, in this context, on the Member States to consider, when transposing the European Accessibility Act into national legislation, the interconnectivity between the accessibility of services and the accessibility of the built environment;
Amendment 56 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 3 (new)
(3) Calls on the Member States to ensure the swift and efficient implementation at all levels of Directive2016/2102 on the accessibility of public sector bodies’ websites and mobile applications, in order to guarantee that PwD are able to access all information they require in an accessible format, including national sign languages; welcomes the Commission’s initiative for an action plan on web accessibility for all EU institutions, bodies and agencies with a view to ensuring the compliance of EU websites, and the documents published on these websites and online platforms, with European accessibility standards, which need to be broadened; urges all EU institutions, bodies and agencies to comply with the European accessibility standards in 2022 at the latest; calls the Commission to pay particular attention, as a matter of priority, to the accessibility of its public consultations, especially where they target PWD and their organisations;
Amendment 57 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 4 (new)
(4) Urges the EU institutions to improve the level and quality of accessibility in all of their buildings and remove the existing barriers to their websites, debates and documentation, i.e.to make the information produced accessible by, for example, providing translation into the sign languages of the different Member States and producing documents in Braille and in easy-to-read language;
Amendment 68 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to reaffirm their commitment to realising equality and inclusion for PwD and to fully implement the CRPD, including its Article 27on work and employment;
Amendment 69 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
(2) Highlights that sheltered workshops should aim to ensure inclusion, rehabilitation and transition to the open labour market, but are often segregated environments in which workers with disabilities do not have employee status or enjoy labour rights, which clearly constitutes a violation of the CRPD; stresses that inclusive models of supported employment can, if they are rights-based and recognised as employment, respect the rights of PwD and serve inclusion in and transition to the open labour market;
Amendment 80 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes the fact that Member States are willing to implement inclusive educational policies; calls on the Member States to further increase their education systems’ capacity to provide high-quality accessible education for all learners by promoting specific measures and personalised support, such as accessible and tailored curricula and learning materials, accessible ICTs and appropriate digital education calls on the Commission to strengthen the role of the Child Guarantee, giving consideration to an accessible school award scheme, in ensuring the equal treatment of children with disabilities;
Amendment 81 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 6 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls on the Commission and the Member States to invest in training professionals regarding the needs of PwD; reiterates that the implementation and allocation of the relevant EU funding programmes should contribute to the transition towards inclusive education; stresses that PwD should be guaranteed access to education, including during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and others, and that Member States should tackle all forms of discrimination and exclusion in this area;
Amendment 84 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates that PwD, including those with mentintellectual and psychosocial disabilities, should have the right to the highest attainable state of health and access to healthcare, free from discrimination, of the same scope and quality as other EU citizens13 ; _________________ 13 Petitions Nos 0687/2020 and 0470/2020.
Amendment 93 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that PwD are exposed to discrimination most frequently, in particular those with intellectual, and psychosocial and mental disabilities, and women and girls, migrants and racialised people, including Roma, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community with disabilities; callstresses, in this respect, for athat the proposed Anti- dDiscrimination legislation to protect the rights of PwD and for the horizontal Anti- Discrimination Directive to be unblocked in the Council14 ; _________________ 14 Petitions Nos 0164/2020 and 0226/2021.directive, which would provide greater protection against discrimination of all kinds through a horizontal approach, still remains blocked in the Council for over a decade;
Amendment 97 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point a (new)
Paragraph 8 – point a (new)
(a) Stresses the urgent need for EU legislation aimed at protecting citizens against all forms of discrimination in the EU and considers this to be primordial for the correct implementation of CRPD policies; urges the Member States to adopt the EU horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive tabled by the Commission in 2008; calls on the Commission to present an alternative solution in order to move forward in tackling discrimination across the EU, in all areas of life, as soon as possible;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 1 (new)
(1) Acknowledges the Commission’s call for all EU institutions, bodies, agencies and delegations to designate ‘disability coordinators’; reiterates its call for focal points to be established in all EU institutions and agencies, including Parliament and the Council, with the central focal point within the Commission’s General Secretariat and supported by an appropriate interinstitutional mechanism; calls on the EU institutions to prioritise the appointment of PwD to the role of disability coordinators;
Amendment 107 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 2 (new)
(2) Stresses that the right to petition and the petition process should be more visible and accessible to all individuals and organisations in the EU, including PwD; recalls the Committee on Petitions should ensure better visibility and sufficient information in this respect through targeted information and awareness-raising campaigns, with a special focus on vulnerable groups, including PwD; stresses that the Parliament has not yet developed an index of effectiveness for its petition system nor has it collected statistical data on the processing of petitions;
Amendment 108 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 3 (new)
(3) Encourages the relevant Parliament services to continue their efforts and finalise the project on the inter-service working group on sign language in the shortest possible time frame in order to meet the requests of petition1056/2016 to allow for the tabling of petitions in international and national sign languages used in the EU and thereby make the fundamental right to petition more accessible for sign language users;
Amendment 109 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 4 (new)
(4) Highlights the importance of swiftly addressing accessibility concerns in all relevant policies and instruments, including concerns about public procurement rules and the accessibility of petitions to Parliament;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2026(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 5 (new)
(5) Highlights the need to provide sign language interpretation services and easy- to-read language translations for committee meetings, plenary meetings and all other Parliament meetings, in order to make them accessible for PwD;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the purpose of the annual report on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions' deliberation is to present an analysis of the petitions received in 2021 and of relations with other institutions, and to present an accurate picture of the objectives achieved in 2021;
Amendment 12 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition, or of its possible usefulness as a means of drawing the attention of the EU institutions and the Member States to matters that affect and concern them directly; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, of the 1 392 petitions submitted in 2021, 368 were declared inadmissible and 17 were withdrawn; whereas the relatively high percentage (26.5 %) of inadmissible petitions in 2021 demonstrates that there is still a widespread lack of clarity about the scope of the Union’s areas of responsibility; whereas to remedy this situation, communication with citizens needs to be encouraged and improved;
Amendment 20 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas each petition is considered and examined carefully, efficiently and transparently;
Amendment 21 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas petitioners tend to be citizens engaged in safeguarding fundamental rights and in the improvement and future wellbeing of our societies; whereas the experience of those citizens in regard to the processing of their petitions is very influential in determine their perception of the EU institutions and respect for the right to petition contained in EU law;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens; whereas the right to petition provides EU citizens and residents with an open, democratic and transparent mechanism to address their elected representatives directly and is therefore essential to enable citizens to participate actively and effectively in the life of the Union; whereas, through petitions, EU citizens can complain about failures to implement EU law and help detect breaches of EU law;
Amendment 26 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by EU citizens; whereas the right to petition offers Parliament the opportunity to enhance its responsiveness to complaints and concerns relating to the respect for EU fundamental rights and compliance with EU legislation in the Member States; whereas petitions are therefore a useful source of information on instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law and, thus, enable Parliament and other EU institutions to assess the transposition and application of EU law and its impact on the rights of EU citizens and residents;
Amendment 29 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas the Committee on Petitions is best able to show citizens what the European Union does for them and what solutions it can provide at European, national or local level;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
J b. whereas the partisan use of the Committee on Petitions can lead to its inappropriate use and, therefore, to the deterioration of citizens' trust in this body and in the rest of the European institutions; whereas the discussions of the Committee on Petitions are sometimes used to address national or regional issues outside the scope of competence attributed by the Treaties and that the study of petitions is exclusively conditioned by criteria of majorities, ignoring the minorities and thus preventing serious debates or complaints;
Amendment 35 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
Amendment 36 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2021 related to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, as well on the freedom of movement and the right to work, as well as a large number of petitions related to LGBTQ+ rights in the Union), health (notably questions on the public health crisis resulting from the persistence of the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including vaccination policy, to the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States and the alleged discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons), the environment (mostly concerning mining activities and their impact on the environment, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), minority rights and discrimination (including the rights of national or linguistic minorities), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to education or contested national reforms of the law on education), the situation of EU students in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+, and employment (in particular questions relating to national treatment of work contracts), in addition to many other areas of activity;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)
Recital R a (new)
R a. whereas the European Commission has an essential role in the Committee on Petitions as guardian of the Treaties and the information provided by the petitioners is useful to discover possible breaches or misapplications of the European law;
Amendment 48 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a (new)
(a) Recalls that, in 2021, there were considerable differences in number of petitions submitted to the Committee on Petitions from the 27 EU Member States, with most of the petitions concerning Spain (17%),followed by Germany (9,7%), Italy (9,2%), Greece (5,9%), Romania (4,1%), Poland(4,0%) and France (2,6%); the number of petitions concerning the remaining Member States was less than 2% per Member State;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Is of the opinion that the Committee on Petitions is equally available to citizens and residents in all 27 Member States and that the treatment of petitions should be geographically balanced and proportionate to the size of each Member State; believes in this respect that the European Parliament should increase the efforts to promote the role and work of its Committee on Petitions and raise all EU citizens’ awareness of the possibility to address a petition to the European Parliament;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Warns of the risk of potential reputational damage to the Committee on Petitions and the European Parliament as a whole if the treatment of petitions were politicised or used for domestic party- political objectives; recalls in this context the very European dimension of the Committee on Petitions whose role it is, in accordance with Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to treat petitions on matters which come within the European Union's fields of activity;
Amendment 53 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Recalls the agreements between the political groups represented in the Committee on Petitions are essential to provide a balanced and understandable response to the petitioners; regrets the lack of agreement experienced in the last year; expresses concern about the problems caused by partisan use of the Committee on Petitions;
Amendment 55 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s field of activity in order to ensure that citizens are correctly informed about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making; calls, in this regard, for broader awareness raising campaigns, through the active involvement of communications services, to help increase citizens’ knowledge about their right to petition, as well as the scope of the Union’s responsibilities and the competences of the Committee on Petitions, with a view to reducing the number of inadmissible petitions and better responding to citizens’ concerns;
Amendment 66 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions: reiterates its cCalls on the Commission forto regularly update the Committee on Petitions on developments in infringement proceedings and forto ensure that the Committee on Petitions gets access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed;
Amendment 68 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Reminds that the e-Peti database is an important internal tool that allows the Members of the Committee on Petitions to access all necessary information in order to follow up on the state of play of each individual petition and to being able to make informed decisions when it comes to the petitions’ ongoing treatment or possible closure; to this end, thee-Peti database should be regularly updated and, if possible, linked to the European Commissions’ list of infringements;
Amendment 70 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Finds it worrying that the European Commission does not provide updated information on petitions under infringement procedures and on their state of play; deplores in this regard the lack of systematic follow-up in the communication with the Committee on Petitions; therefore, calls on the Commission to provide the Committee on Petitions with regular and updated information on infringement procedures which were launched based on the petitions received;
Amendment 75 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Encourages the European Parliament and the European Commission to develop a joint one-stop- shop IT tool which would include all the available information on the Commission’s follow-up actions taken on petitions, including the infringement procedures and other legislative or non- legislative actions;
Amendment 97 #
2022/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Considers that a binding inter- institutional agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on treatment of petitions would be the best way forward in order to ensure a transparent and efficient process and thus to strengthen the citizens’ rights to address a petition to the European Parliament on a matter which comes within the Union's fields of activity, as enshrined in the Article 227 of the EU Treaty;
Amendment 15 #
2022/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. In order to avoid possible limitations in the practical implementation of EU financial instruments for urban mobility funding, which have a direct impact on the equitable development of EU territories, calls on the Commission to increase the amount earmarked for directly funded programmes and instruments in the next MFF.
Amendment 30 #
2022/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes the trend of replacing fossil fuel vehicles with electric or alternative energy vehicles. However, the associated cost of acquiring or converting to such vehicles is not affordable for all social groups and would not reduce the volume of the EU's vehicle fleet, and could generate or further increase the associated spatial and territorial development differences.
Amendment 32 #
2022/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Taken into account the creation of marginalised, mobility-poor areas with less direct access to cities caused by the transfer of public space to the construction of infrastructure dedicated to private mobility, which further increase the gap between urban and non-urban regions, but also to cohesion at European level; stresses the need to reorganise the public space of our cities, allocating more funds and infrastructure to active mobility and micro-mobility styles, accessible to all levels of society, ensuring adequate inter- and intra-territorial connectivity and access, so as to avoid territorial divisions and thus social divisions, while ensuring that social cohesion remains intact.
Amendment 36 #
2022/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Stresses that the EU now has pioneering technology to support interconnectivity between urban-non- urban areas, between suburban areas within a city and their interconnection with peri-urban, rural and peripheral areas.
Amendment 39 #
2022/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the Commission, within the framework of Horizon Europe, to prioritise projects aimed at improving urban mobility and the interconnection of cities and their peripheries, in addition to the cohesion funds earmarked for this purpose
Amendment 4 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reminds the Commission and the Member States that Cohesion Policy is already playing a crucial role in redirecting our societies towards sustainable development; points out in this connection that each region has its own particular characteristics and needs that must be addressed in order to outline a New Industrial Strategy that is geographically tailored to each location; recommends that other public policies and financial instruments be mobilised at the European level;
Amendment 6 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses that the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis and the Russian invasion and subsequent war in Ukraine provide an opportunity for Europe to develop sustainable and autonomous communities and industries, taking full advantage of digitalisation and innovation processes; insists that, despite the crisis, the industrial transformation towards climate neutrality and sustainability must continue; calls on Member States in this regard not to seize on the current crisis a pretext for delaying EU initiatives and ambitions;
Amendment 8 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls that the Multiannual Financial Framework and Next Generation EU instrument constitute the largest financial stimulus package in the EU to date, seeking to create a greener, more digital and resilient Union in the post-COVID-19 era; similarly, considers that the new Cohesion Policy also presents an unprecedented opportunity for Member States to push through industrial transformation, for example by requiring Member States to earmark minimum amounts for the digital transition and ensure compliance with certain funding criteria detailed in the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy investment framework;
Amendment 10 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Stresses that the objectives in providing companies with Structural and Investment Fund support should be, on the one hand, an innovative, digital, knowledge-based transformation and, on the other, a fair transition towards a green, resource-efficient, diversified and climate-neutral EU; considers that these objectives should result in a more connected and cohesive Union seeking the creation of lasting, sustainable and quality employment and the diversification, growth and competitiveness of existing industries, while mitigating the adverse effects of industrial relocation;
Amendment 12 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes firmly that digital infrastructures and tools have proven to be crucial, especially in view of the increase in teleworking, telemedicine and distance learning; believes that digitalisation processes play a crucial role in the modernisation of industry in the regions, especially in remote areas and in those whose populations are declining; stresses in this regard the importance of ensuring consistency between the various European initiatives and programmes intended to address digitalisation and of coordinating them with cohesion policy instruments; urges Member States to take into consideration the need for investments in digitalisation to be aligned with sustainable economic growth strategies, avoiding duplication;
Amendment 15 #
2022/2008(INI)
2b. Notes that the ORs, areas with low population density, mountainous areas and areas lagging behind in terms of access to connectivity face specific difficulties in transforming their industries; considers it vital to provide them with tailor-made solutions, such as access to high-capacity networks for private homes and SMEs;
Amendment 16 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Supports the economic diversification of the European regions most dependent on the service sector; considers the climate-neutral reindustrialisation of these territories to be necessary to increase their resilience to economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the war in Ukraine following the Russian invasion;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Amendment 61 #
2022/0432(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
Amendment 81 #
2022/0432(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) It is normally not possible to sufficiently assess the endocrine disrupting properties for human health and the environment and the persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile properties of a mixture or of a multi-constituent substance on the basis of data on that mixture or substance. The data for the individual substances of the mixture or for the individual constituents of the multi- constituent substance should therefore normally be used as the basis for hazard identification of those multi-constituent substances or mixtures. However, in certain cases, data on those multi- constituent substances themselves may also be relevant. This is the case in particular where that data demonstrates endocrine disrupting properties for human health and the environment, as well as persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile properties, or where it supports data on the individual constituents. Therefore, it is appropriate that data on multi-constituent substances are used in those casixtures.
Amendment 138 #
2022/0432(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
Article 2 – paragraph 7a
Article 2 – paragraph 7a
Amendment 25 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Many territories in the Union are subject to large and increasing water constraints. In this sense, the current large and persistent droughts of these years, especially in the Mediterranean regions, are putting agricultural production at risk and causing a serious decline in surface and groundwater reserves1a. __________________ 1a https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/w ater-and-agriculture/
Amendment 32 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) In order to facilitate a transition to a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector that is resistant to water constraints, incentives for farmers should be put in place to improve water management and modernisation of irrigation systems and techniques.
Amendment 42 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The new Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 makes it mandatory to respect environmental and climate objectives, as well as eco-schemes, including, for example, improving the Union’s water management.
Amendment 50 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
Amendment 51 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 b (new)
Recital 9 b (new)
(9b) Member States are obliged to identify affected and at-risk waters, designate nitrate-vulnerable zones, develop action programmes and implement relevant measures. In this regard, there is still a need for an improvement in the harmonisation of control measures and water quality measurement systems between Member States so as to allow for homogenised standards across the Union that make comparability between Member States possible, thus avoiding competition problems in the European agricultural sector, resulting in disturbances to the internal market.
Amendment 54 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Substances such as microplastics, pose a clear risk to public health and the environment, but also to basic activities such as the development of agriculture. The presence of these and other particles can have implications not only on the water received by livestock and crops, but also on soil fertility, thereby compromising the health and good development of present and future crops10a. __________________ 10a https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti cle/pii/S2352186422000724
Amendment 67 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) In order to ensure consistency and clarity of the rules within the Union, it is necessary that this revision is in line and consistent with other rules linked to the same topic and which are currently under review or negotiation within the co- legislators.
Amendment 68 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
(27a) Water as an essential resource for agriculture can be ensured through the application of novel technologies, the modernisation of irrigation systems, as well as by recognising the importance of investing in research to boost and promote techniques such as precision agriculture to ensure land and water management that can meet challenges27a. __________________ 27a https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti cle/pii/S037837741500089X
Amendment 69 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) Considering the increases in unforeseeable weather events, in particular extreme floods and prolonged droughts, and in significant pollution incidents resulting in or exacerbating transboundary accidental pollution, Member States should be required to ensure that immediate information on such incidents is provided to other potentially affected Member States and effectively cooperate with potentially affected Member States to mitigate the effects of the event or incident. In this regard, it is essential to take into account in this revision that there are European regions that are particularly exposed to this type of extreme weather phenomena, as well as to water pollution, due to their particular geographical and climatological characteristics. It is also necessary to reinforce cooperation between Member States and streamline procedures for transboundary cooperation in case of more structural, i.e. non accidental and longer term transboundary issues which cannot be solved at Member State level, in accordance with Article 12 of Directive 2000/60/EC. In case European assistance is necessary, competent national authorities may send requests for assistance to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the Commission, which will coordinate possible offers of assistance and their deployment through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in accordance with Article 15 of Decision 1313/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council64 . __________________ 64 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924).
Amendment 85 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Directive 2000/60/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Where a Member State identifies an issue which has an impact on the management of its water but cannot be resolved by that Member State or could likely affect another Member State, it shall notify the issue to the Commission and any other Member State concerned and make recommendations for the resolution of it.
Amendment 105 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive 2006/118/EC
Article 6 a (new) – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 6 a (new) – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
In selecting the representative monitoring stations, the monitoring frequency and the seasonal timing for each substance or group of substances, Member States shall take into account the use patterns and possible occurrence of the substance or group of substances. The frequency of monitoring shall be no less than once per year. and it will be based on the most updated data available.
Amendment 83 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘installation’ means a stationary technical unit within which one or more activities listed in Annex I, in Annex Iab or in Part 1 of Annex VII are carried out, and any other directly associated activities on the same site which have a technical connection with the activities listed in those Annexes and which could have an effect on emissions and pollution;;
Amendment 90 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d a (new)
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23
(da) Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23 is replaced by the following: "‘poultry’ means poultry as defined in point 19 of Article 24 of Council Directive 90/539/EEC of 15 October 1990 on animal health conditions governing intra- Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs(25); Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases81a;" _________________ 81a OJ L84, 31.3.2016, p.1-208 Or. en (Directive 2010/75/EC)
Amendment 93 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23b
Amendment 100 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 23c
‘livestock unit’ or ‘LSU’ means the grazing equivalent of one adult dairy cow producing 3 000 kg of milk annually, without additional concentrated foodstuffs, which is used to express the size of farms rearing different categories of animals, using the conversion rates, with reference to actual production within the calendar year, set out in Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014**’.a standard unit of measurement that allows for the aggregation of the categories of livestock unit relevant for the purposes of this Directive, in order for those categories to be compared; notwithstanding Annex Ia, those livestock categories cover pigs and poultry whose unit coefficients are listed in Annex Ib;
Amendment 106 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – second subparagraph
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – second subparagraph
‘By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States may set a procedure for the registration of installations covered only by Chapter V or Chapter VIa.’.
Amendment 116 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Directive 2010/75/EU
Chapter VIa – title
Chapter VIa – title
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INTENSIVE REARING OF POULTRY, AND PIGS AND CATTLE
Amendment 123 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70a
Article 70a
This Chapter shall apply to the activities set out in Annex Ia which reach trearing of pigs or poultry in installations of 750 livestock units (LSU) or more. The capacity thresholds proximate equivalent in LSU shall be basetd out in that Annex. n the coefficients that are established in Annex Ib to this Directive.
Amendment 130 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70b – first paragraph
Article 70b – first paragraph
If two or more installations are located close to each other and if their: (a) they are operator ised by the same or if the instalperator, or (b) on a lastions are under the control of operators who are engaged in an economic or legal relationship, the installations concerned shall be considered as a single unit for the purpose of calculating the capacity threshold referred to in Article 70a. ng basis all their management and operational functions are preformed as if they were a single economic entity and they are operated by entities participating in a same group, as defined in Article 2, point (11), of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, they shall be considered as a single unit for the purpose of calculating the capacity threshold referred to in Article 70a. The simple fact of being members of a same cooperative shall not entail that the requirement set out in point (b) of the first subparagraph is met.
Amendment 135 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70c – Title
Article 70c – Title
Permits and simplified registration procedure
Amendment 140 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70c – paragraph 1a (new)
Article 70c – paragraph 1a (new)
By way of derogation from the first paragraph to this Article, Member States may set a specific procedure for the registration of the installations only covered by this Chapter. The procedure for the registration shall be specified in a binding act and include at least a notification to the competent authority by the operators of the intention to operate its activity. Member States may use any similar pre- existing procedure for the registration. They shall avoid administrative burden and additional costs for the operators. Member States shall issue the permits within six months from the date of the operator's application.
Amendment 153 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70c – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 70c – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) the nature and quantities of foreseeable emissions from the installation into each medium under normal operating conditions.
Amendment 158 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70c – paragraph 3
Article 70c – paragraph 3
3. Applications shall also include a non-technicalIn duly justified cases, applications may include a summary of the information referred to in paragraph 2.
Amendment 159 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70c – paragraph 4
Article 70c – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take necessary measures to ensure that the operator informs the competent authority, without delay, of any planned substantial change to the installations falling within the scope of this Chapter which may have consequences for the environment. Where appropriate and within two months from the notification of the operator, the competent authority shall reconsider and update the permit.
Amendment 168 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70d – first paragraph – second subparagraph
Article 70d – first paragraph – second subparagraph
The operator shall keep a record of, and process, all monitoring results, for a period of at least 62 years, in such a way as to enable the verification of compliance with the emission limit values and environmental performance limit values set out in operating rules referred to in Article 70i.
Amendment 170 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70d – paragraph 2
Article 70d – paragraph 2
2. In the event of non-compliance with the emission limit values and environmental performance limit values set out in the operating rules referred to in Article 70i, Member States shall require that the operator takes the measures necessary to ensure that compliance is restored within the shortest possiblein a reasonable period of time.
Amendment 172 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70d – paragraph 3
Article 70d – paragraph 3
3. The operator shall ensure that any land spreading of waste, animal by- products or other residues generated by the installation is undertaken in accordance with the best available techniques, as specified in the operating rules referred to in Article 70i, and other relevant Union legislation and that it does not cause significant pollution of the environment, in accordance with relevant Union legislation.
Amendment 173 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70e – paragraph 3
Article 70e – paragraph 3
3. The operator shall, without delay, make available the data and information listed in paragraph 2 of this Article to the competent authority upon duly justified request. The competent authority may make such a request in order to verify compliance with the operating rules referred to in Article 70i. The competent authority shall make such a request if a member of the public requests access to the data or information listed in paragraph 2 of this Article. Nonetheless, without prejudice to Article 4(2) second subparagraph of Directive 2003/4/EC, at the request of the operator, those parts of such reports that involve sensitive commercial or industrial information, or which include personal data within the meaning of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 that are not strictly necessary for the purpose of this Article, shall not be published.
Amendment 189 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70g – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 70g – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) the reports of inspections of the installations falling within the scope of this Chapter. Nonetheless, without prejudice to Article 4(2) second subparagraph of Directive 2003/4/EC, at the request of the operator, those parts of such reports that involve sensitive commercial or industrial information, or which include personal data within the meaning of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 that are not strictly necessary for the purpose of this Article, shall not be published.
Amendment 194 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70h – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 70h – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) they have a sufficientlegitimate interest;
Amendment 204 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70i – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 70i – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The Commission shall establish operating rules containing requirements consistent with the use of best available techniques for the activities listed in Annex Iab, which shall include the following:
Amendment 213 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 70i – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 70i – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The operating rules shall take into account inter alia the nature, type, size and density of these installations and the specificities of pasture based cattle rearing systems, where animals are only seasonally reared in indoor installations.
Amendment 227 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 74 – paragraph 2
Article 74 – paragraph 2
2. In order to allow the provisions of this Directive to meet its objectives to prevent or reduce pollutants emissions and achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act, in accordance with Article 76, to amend Annex I or Annex Ia by including in those Annexes an agro- industrial activity that meets the following criteria:
Amendment 231 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (a)
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (a)
Amendment 233 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (b)
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (b)
Amendment 235 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (c)
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (c)
Amendment 237 #
2022/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 27
Directive 2010/75/EU
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (d)
Article 74 – paragraph 2 – point (d)
Amendment 2 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, which is intended to round offeinforce the European Green Deal and complement strategies for territorial, social and economic cohesion with its values of beautiful, sustainable and inclusive solutions, thereby improving quality of life for people in the EU by transforming the places they inhabit;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that opportunities to participate in the NEB must be fully inclusive and accessible to all EU citizens and all regions and territories, including peripheral urban areas and less populated, rural and mountain areas and islands well as islands and outermost regions; emphasises that local and regional authorities and respective stakeholders as civil society and above all residents must be the drivers of NEB projects;
Amendment 18 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls the importance of geographical balance for this initiative, which should seek to be equally present in all EU territories, and to maintain an appropriate balance between urban and rural areas; calls for the NEB to reduce existing disparities in the development of regions in the EU and to address problems as depopulation, lack of infrastructure, ageing population, etc. suffered by some areas in the EU, providing solutions based on respect for heritage, the environment and rural areas;
Amendment 19 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Believes that cities and regions are crucial actors in driving culture forward, and that the local and regional levels have key responsibilities for sustainable urban, regional and cultural policies; therefore, local and regional elected representatives are key in making the NEB more accessible and involving citizens in the participation processes;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the fact that NEB projects should contribute to the affordability and accessibility of the green and digital transitions in urban and spatial planning, housing, resilient and sustainable renovation, building conversions, and the recreation of public space as the centre of community life, particularly for those groups and areas that needfor everyone, everywhere itn the mostEU;
Amendment 29 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on the European Commission to study the creation of European harmonised and sustainable urban development indicators to measure the evolution of our cities and territories through the correct application and development of European funds, and especially of NEB projects;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the NEB encompasses many dimensions and policy areas, which may make it difficult forpresents a challenge to regional and local authorities to fully understand how to make the most of its opportunities; underlines the crucial role of local and regional authorities in implementing the NEB; calls on the Commission, therefore, to provide specific and targeted information on projects, funding, technological and capacity- building opportunities as well as clear definitions of award criteria;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that the NEB links the three pillars of the Urban Agenda for the EU, calls for the NEB to be linked to EU Urban Agenda partnerships, as this Agenda has been working on concepts related to the Green Deal and the NEB for nearly four years, especially in relation to climate action capacity, the Greening Cities proposal and use of public spaces;
Amendment 49 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Highlights the successful work carried out by URBACT on developing tools which should build synergies with the NEB to foster territorial cooperation and encourage innovation in the exchange of good practices in urban regeneration;
Amendment 51 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. IRegrets the lack of clarity on funding for the NEB from 2023 onwards; insists that appropriate and accessible public funding is crucial for encouraging and implementing NEB ideas and projects at a local and regional levels; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to provide local and regional authorities with relevant and user-friendly information on all financial possibilities and to support the sharing of best practices.
Amendment 58 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission to table a proposal as soon as possible to make the NEB an EU programme by the next MFF, with a dedicated and stable budget based on fresh resources;
Amendment 59 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 60 #
2021/2255(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Support the increased budget allocated for the period 2021-2027 for the new Cohesion Policy which in line with the strong focus on smart, green and social actions, will provide confident enough for new innovative projects; to this, ask for a strong coordination between this funds and NEB programmes and actions;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. 1. Whereas farmers’ associations in businesses such as agri-food cooperatives play a fundamental role in rural areas as businesses owned by farmers that add value to their products, reduce production costs, set people in the villages where the farmers live, create jobs in rural areas and diversify the local economy;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Article 174 of TFEU states that the Union shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions, with particular attention to be paid to some regions, notably rural areas;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the Rural Development Groups (RDGs), following the30 years as a permanent management tool in the EAFRD, have proven to be an effective tool for public/private territorial partnership, since they have experienced and versatile technical teams committed to the European rural areas; Whereas, moreover, these groups have succeeded in placing the following elements into the same equation: territory, revitalisation, bottom-up approach, innovation, integrated approach, decentralised management, networking integration and cooperation;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the overall share of population in rural areas has been slightly decreasing at EU level in the past decade, namely due ageing and outmigration (urbanisation); whereas populations are likely to shrink in four out of five rural regions by 2050 of the EU1a ; whereas remote rural areas are set to further lose inhabitants; _________________ 1a EUROSTAT 2021(https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/pr oducts-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210520-1)
Amendment 54 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas the share of people older than 65 years is generally the highest in rural areas, and is expected to increase in the future;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas the average employment rate in the EU’s rural areas evolved favourably from 2012-2020 although differently between Member States and with variation in the quality of employment offer; whereas the share of population that is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, is higher in rural areas than in cities and towns
Amendment 59 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas transport infrastructures and connections were identified by citizens as the key needs in rural areas 2a; _________________ 2a Flash Eurobarometer 491 - A long term Vision for EU Rural Areas, April 2021
Amendment 60 #
2021/2254(INI)
Af. whereas very-high-speed connections are available only to one out of six rural residents; whereas there is a substantial gap between rural and urban areas concerning basic digital skills, with 28% of the adults living in rural areas had basic or above basic digital skills, compared to 62% for adults living in cities (2019);
Amendment 62 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)
Recital A g (new)
Ag. whereas one of the objectives for the Common Agriculture Policy for the current programming period is to promote employment, growth, gender equality, including the participation of women in farming, social inclusion and local development in rural areas;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)
Recital A h (new)
Ah. whereas in 2016, for every farmer younger than 35 years, there were more than six farmers older than 65 years 3a; whereas the share of young female farmers is especially low; _________________ 3a CAP specific objectives explained - Structural change and generational renewal,https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/def ault/files/food-farming- fisheries/key_policies/documents/cap- briefs-7-structural-change_en.pdf
Amendment 66 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)
Recital A i (new)
Ai. whereas rural areas can play a major role in achieving the Paris Agreement target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG);
Amendment 82 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that policies and actions at EU level combined with national and, regional and local ones are key to securing the prosperity and well-being of rural European citizens, as well as tackling the challenges they face, namely population decline and ageing, fewer quality job opportunities, a lack of access to high- quality services and public facilities of general interest, climate and environmental pressures, lower digital connectivity and a wider gender equality gap, together with a limited access to innovation;
Amendment 101 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the central role rural areas can play in addressing societal challenges, by providing ecosystem services to mitigate climate change and environmental deterioration, ensuring sustainable food production, preserving rural heritage, fostering nature protection and biodiversity and contributing to a just, green and digital transition;
Amendment 102 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the central role rural areas can play in addressing societal challenges, by providing ecosystem services to mitigate climate change and environmental deterioration, ensuring sustainable and sufficient food production, preserving rural heritage, and contributing to a just, green and digital transition;
Amendment 116 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that demographic change and ageing will affect all regions but most particularly rural areas which will influence negatively their growth potential, skills development and access to services, as presented in the 8th Cohesion Report;
Amendment 117 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that rural areas are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of crisis, such as the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine but are also capable of offering new opportunities in response to such crisis; highlights that the covid-19 pandemic resulted in new behaviours in living, working and interacting that generates new opportunities for rural areas
Amendment 134 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Draws attention to the important function of small and medium-sized farms in maintaining rural populations, preserving land management and related landscape shaping and ecological functions, and mitigating shrinking demographic trends for rural areas.
Amendment 165 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Agrees on the need for a common, EU-wide, functional definition of rural areas, while recognising its various specificities and urges the Commission to quickly develop and operationalise such a definition;
Amendment 169 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Supports the development of a Rural Pact; considers that it needs concrete objectives, deliverables, multilevel governance and monitoring systems, and institutional responsibilities; stresses the importance of involving local and regional authorities and stakeholders in its governance structure for the successful outcome of the initiative;
Amendment 175 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the announcement of a Rural Observatory to improve data collection and analysis on rural areas; considers it a valid instrument for informing, designing and monitoring better public policies, as well as to monitor progress on the implementation of the long-term vision and future rural strategies; considers that the rural observatory should be an opportunity to identify data gaps, promote a more granular statistical approach and to develop indicators at an adequate geographical level to capture population’s needs;
Amendment 181 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the importance of implementing a rural proofing mechanism for EU initiatives so as to assess their potential impact on rural areas; urges the Member States to promote the development and implementation of effective mechanisms for rural proofing at national level and calls on the Commission to assist them; underlines the importance of involving local and regional authorities in the definition and implementation of rural proofing mechanisms, as well as in their governance at both European and national level
Amendment 192 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Insists that rural citizens must benefit, like any other citizen, from equitable conditions for achieving their professional, social and personal goals, with a particular focus on more vulnerable groups, thereby effectively upholding the European Pillar of Social Rights; stresses that targeted interventions fostering effective generational renewal are essential as well as the promotion of decentralized and modern educational structures in order to establish equivalent living conditions between urban and rural areas;
Amendment 193 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Insists that rural citizens must benefit, like any other citizen, from equitable conditions for achieving their professional, social and personal goals, with a particular focus on more vulnerable groups, thereby effectively upholding the European Pillar of Social Rights; underlines that services of general interest in rural areas need to be of comparable quality with those in urban areas; stresses that targeted interventions fostering effective generational renewal are essential;
Amendment 203 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Asks the European Commission to pay particular attention to the implementation of article 174 of the EU treaty and ensure that all EU policies will apply the "do no harm to cohesion" principle, particularly in the rural areas;
Amendment 204 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses the need for rural areas to provide quality infrastructure to enable their inhabitants to live in dignity, especially in the areas of public health, transport, housing and the provision of banking services;
Amendment 209 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to develop specific actions, in line with article 10 of the European Pillar on Social Rights, to improve the working conditions, safety and health of workers in the rural areas, including the living and working conditions of seasonal and migrant workers;
Amendment 231 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines the central role agriculture and the agrifood sector plays in rural areas; insists that sustainable agriculture, providing fair income to farmers, is crucial for the vitality of these territories;
Amendment 232 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines the central role agriculture and forestry plays in rural areas; insists that sustainable agriculture, providing fair income to farmers, is crucial for the vitality of these territories;
Amendment 242 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Draws attention to the role of agri- food cooperatives in the environmental, economic and social sustainability of rural areas by adding value to their members’ products, diversifying the local economy, and making joint environmental investments for their members which are more efficient than if farmers do so individually, urges the European Commission and the Member States to promote through their policies the creation and integration processes of cooperatives in rural areas.
Amendment 259 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recognises the importance of geographical indications as tools for rural development, given their usefulness in generating economic activity and establishing a population in the territory, highlighting their excellence in both the agricultural and artisanal sectors;
Amendment 267 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that diversification of and innovation in the rural economy with a more territorial and less sectoral approach, based on local potential are crucial to drawing opportunities from the digital and green transition; calls on the Member States to put in place measures to support the fair transition and diversification of the rural economy; Moreover, it is necessary for the various administrations to coordinate efforts and resources in order to avoid bureaucratic duplication;
Amendment 282 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets that the work of rural women is still not properly recognised; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action to design and implement measures to fight gender gaps and to promote the inclusion of women in farming, in particular by exploring the possibility of supporting shared co- ownership of European farms as an instrument to increase the transparency of women’s agricultural work and as a new formula that creates rights for them;
Amendment 283 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets that the work of rural women is still not properly recognised; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action toby designing and implementing measures to fight gender gaps, , namely to increase women’s participation in representative bodies and in decision making positions, facilitate co- ownership of businesses, provide targeted training and skills development and counteract the migration of high qualified women form rural areas;
Amendment 304 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Highlights the central role of rural areas in the transition to a low-carbon economy; stresses that initiatives in rural areas, such as renewable energy infrastructure, must contribute effectively to the economic and social vitality of such areas; calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate and enable the uptake of initiatives by local actors, namely the creation of rural energy communities;
Amendment 347 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that the digital transition brings about new opportunities for rural areas, which are only accessible if there is adequate, stable and accessible broadband coverage; warns of the risks of the widening of the rural digital gap as a result of the lack of 5G coverage, and calls on Member States to mobilise all available instruments to prevent it, particularly with the support of the EU cohesion policy and MS´s recovery and resilience plans;
Amendment 356 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Draws attention to the fact that the comparative lack of digital skills in rural areas can preclude rural communities from benefiting from the opportunities of digitalisation; calls for measures that ensure digital inclusion and support an enabling environment for rural digital innovation; welcome initiatives pursued by national and regional administrations to developed measures and strategies to promote digital skills in rural areas and within the agrifood sector
Amendment 359 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Draws attention to the fact that the comparative lack of digital skills in rural areas can preclude rural communities from benefiting from the opportunities of digitalisation; calls for measures that ensure digital inclusion, especial in the context of population ageing, and support an enabling environment for rural digital innovation;
Amendment 378 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Highlights that rural communities vitality depend on the existence and maintenance of different types of local meeting places, which are a strong marker for place-based identity and for social interaction;
Amendment 390 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the REPowerEU plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels but is strongly concerned with the proposals to increase significantly the transfer possibility of resources from shared management funds, which, if followed, will be detrimental to medium and long -term policy planning towards a fair green and digital transition, including/especially for rural areas
Amendment 410 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Regrets the persistent obstacles to the multi-fund approach, which hamper the deployment of integrative approaches in rural areas and asks for clear guidelines on the multi-fund implementation; calls on the Commission to improve synergies and coordination between EU funding instruments, and with national instruments, and to pursue simplification, in particular for smaller projects, which are key for rural areas and to consider the application of simplified costs as the most effective measure to achieve administrative simplification;
Amendment 415 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to advance in 2022 a targeted legislative proposal enabling the possibility of the transfer of resources between all shared management funds when supporting rural territorial strategies, allowing to address rural areas needs in an holistic way, in order to promote employment, growth, gender equality, social inclusion and local development in rural areas
Amendment 418 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Call on the Commission to advance in 2022 a targeted legislative proposal extending the scope of the “Lead Fund” approach to interventions co- financed by more than one shared management fund as well as to further simplifying it by specifying that the rules of the Lead Fund shall apply in its entirety.
Amendment 420 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the role that all EU policies and funds, both shared and those under direct management, must play in supporting rural areas by incorporating a rural dimension in the design of their measures and interventions; calls on the Commission to develop a mechanism to assess and monitor the contribution each fund makes to the rural areas;
Amendment 430 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights the Commission study’s conclusions on LEADER’s effectiveness in delivering solutions to address economic, social and development challenges and opportunities at local level and in contributing to for sustainable rural development1a ; calls on Member States to support LEADER/Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), thereby facilitating and promoting multi-fund approaches; considers that the meaningful earmarking of assistance for CLLD under all relevant funds at EU level, including the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), would contribute to stronger and more sustainable territorial development; _________________ 1a European Commission, Directorate- General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dwyer, J., Kubinakova, K., Powell, J., et al., Evaluation support study on the impact of leader on balanced territorial development : final report, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2762/01039
Amendment 435 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on Member States to make better use of all available tools to support rural areas, such as tax incentives to individuals and businesses looking to settle in rural areas, aimed at creating jobs and incentivising the establishment of new residents, as well as to encourage private companies to promote remote working, aiming at actively combat depopulation;
Amendment 442 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses that empowering rural communities, which requires capacity building, particularly in the most remote and less populated areas, will promote greater social cohesion, innovation, entrepreneurship and a stronger sense of belonging;
Amendment 461 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that while EU legislation envisages multilevel governance approaches and partnerships, there is resistance to their application in a meaningful way; calls on Member States to support these approaches by allocating responsibility at the appropriate local level and ensuring political ownership and strong coordination of policies and investments across all levels of governance; recalls that Eurobarometer showed that rural residents have stronger confidence in regional and local governments;
Amendment 465 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Draws attention to the role of agri- food cooperatives in the environmental, economic and social sustainability of rural areas, adding value to the products of their members, creating employment, diversifying the local economy and contributing for the fixation of rural population; urges the Commission and the Member States to promote, with their policies, the processes of creation and integration of cooperatives in rural areas.
Amendment 467 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Draws attention to the need to improve coordination between the different administrative levels in order to promote measures to actively combat depopulation, including the establishment of tax incentives for new residents in rural areas.
Amendment 471 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Takes note of the Commission’s intention to take stock by mid-2023 of the actions taken by the EU and Member States for rural areas and to produce a public report on that basis in early 2024; considers that this evaluation could pave the way to a fully integrated Rural Action Plan in the 2028-2034 programming period; invites therefore the Commission to directly involve all relevant stakeholders and managing authorities to this evaluation exercise through a large consultation process and the setting up of working groups within the Rural Pact community;
Amendment 491 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls for the long-term vision to be developed into a true rural strategy at EU level to be fully integrated into future programming periods and calls on all Member States to develop rural strategies at national leveland regional level; in those countries where regions have territorial competences, as is the case in Spain;
Amendment 492 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls for the long-term vision to be developed into a true rural strategy at EU level to coordinate the contribution of all EU funds and policies in rural areas, to be fully integrated into future programming periods and calls on all Member States to develop rural strategies at national level and regional level;
Amendment 499 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls for the implementation of a Rural Proofing mechanism to ensure that the legislation adopted adequately meets the demands of rural territories, since legislation sometimes tends to have a focus on urban areas;
Amendment 500 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Commission to assess in a timely manner the potential impact of the EAFRD’s detachment from the common provisions for shared management funds, Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, in the development of integrated territorial approaches in rural areas and to draw lessons for the next programming periods;
Amendment 501 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Invites the Commission to explore alternative policy strategies and approaches for funding articulation in the next programming period that would allow for a truly integrated territorial development in rural areas, including examining the option of one national strategy and one regulation for all shared management funds.
Amendment 502 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Calls on the Commission to assess in a timely manner to what extent Member States have developed measures to support social and territorial cohesion in rural areas within national Recovery and Resilience Plans;
Amendment 508 #
2021/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Highlights the importance of the strategic links between Africa, Latin America and Europe, building on the progress made in the Africa-Europe rural transformation action agenda, which sets out initiatives designed to sustainably strengthen Africa’s agri-food sector and rural territories;
Amendment 5 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, after 12 months the list of almost all of the secondary legislation needed for the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is now ready, although that is not the case for the Delegated Regulation regulating organic salt; whereas this text will have to give priority to the natural processes, without additives or carbon emissions during preparation, that characterise sea salt, for it to be given organic certification;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the ‘Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030’ were published in May 2021 and will be developed in the National Strategic Plans;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s recognition of organic farming as one of the important components on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems and the ambition of increasing the EU’s agricultural area under organic farming by 2030; recognises, at the same time, the potential for other sustainable farming methods, such as integrated production and biocontrol, to contribute to the Green Deal’s objectives;
Amendment 86 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that for an EU action plan to succeed, it must stimulate and mobilise the Member States; expresses the view, therefore, that Member States should be encouraged to develop their own national OAPsand/or regional OAPs, in coordination with their National Strategic Plan, with concrete, time-bound actions;
Amendment 100 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that Member States should engage all stakeholders, especially organic farmers and associations, cooperatives, local and regional authorities, consumer and private sector representatives and the hospitality industry, in a consultative process when adopting their national and/or regional OAPs to achieve the best possible synergies;
Amendment 120 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the importance of speeding up the development of organic aquaculture in the EU; notes that a quarter of all fisheries products come from aquaculture; points out, however, that most aquaculture consumption comes from imports, which represent 60% of the total supply; notes, therefore, that there is potential for enormous growth, which we must harness in order to develop European aquaculture, especially organic aquaculture;
Amendment 127 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines the need to coordinate the measures on organic aquaculture with the new Strategic Guidelines for European aquaculture for 2021-2030 and its development in the Member States and the regions;
Amendment 135 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Supports the Commission in further promoting the EU organic logo among consumers, including through organic school schemes; emphasises that it is of paramount importance that consumer surveys on organics are followed by actions to further raise awareness of organic farmingthe intrinsic value of organic farming and to provide accurate information to ensure that the new initiatives on sustainable food labelling do not weaken the EU organic logo or create confusion among consumers regarding the scope and meaning of each;
Amendment 142 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises the role to be played by supermarkets and the various food supply chains in promoting and supporting the EU organic logo, highlighting its value and avoiding confusion among consumers, for example in cases where organic livestock production must have additional animal welfare stamps when the official organic livestock certification already comprises 14 animal welfare checks;
Amendment 148 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that increasing green public procurement (GPP) in the Member States can serve as a strong stimulus for action towards the organic target; believes that in order to increase the use of GPP, it is essential to incorporate coordination with the sector, through its representative organisations, with a view to ensuring that the procurement runs smoothly; believes that the EU institutions should lead by example; calls on the Commission to research current structural and logistical barriers and to promote the use of GPP criteria in the Member States, as well as actions to improve information, education and the promotion of organics in order to make this measure more effective;
Amendment 203 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that an adequate common agricultural policy (CAP) budget, and compatibility with funding from other European funds or programmes, should be provided to create incentives for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming practices at national level, through rural development measures or newly introduced eco-schemes, or a combination of the two; calls on the Member States to support generational renewal in organic farming;
Amendment 278 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for more research and information on the potential benefits of using plant biostimulants in organic farming, and how they contribute to nutrient absorption and better performance in this production model;
Amendment 292 #
2021/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Underlines the need for harmonised European systems for the certification of inputs for organic farming in order to prevent the proliferation of private certifications with different requirements and control systems; calls on the Commission to accelerate its EU- wide harmonisation through the PADPE;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas fragmented and insufficient cross border cooperation can lead increased vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme weather events in border regions;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that the challenges border regions face vary from one region to the next depending on the legal, administrative, economic, demographic and geographical circumstances pertaining in the region concerned; emphasises the need for an effective use and greater coordination of EU funds to ensure a more comprehensive approach to before mentioned challenges; calls for bespoke approaches to be taken, to a certain extent, that are integrated and region-specific;
Amendment 64 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages advancing the programmes for cooperation between the EU border regions at the external borders of the Union and the border regions of the neighbouring countries; recognises the challenges of this cooperation given the difference in relevant regulations that apply; considers this cooperation to be an important tool in advancing the EU enlargement policy;
Amendment 69 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Emphasises the role of cohesion policy in addressing the main challenges facing the Union’s transport sector, including developing a well-functioning Single European Transport Area, connecting Europe through modern, multi-modal and safe transport infrastructure networks and shifting to low-emission mobility, inter alia through support for the completion of missing small cross-border rail links, thereby contributing to the European integration of border regions;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for increased digitalisation of public services and reinforced interoperability policies to ensure that digital public services are interoperable and cross-border by default; Highlights the importance of support for digital innovation of public services and companies in cross-border regions and welcomes in this regard the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH);
Amendment 83 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure, asa matter of urgency, proper implementation and enforcement of relevant EU legislation as regards the rights of cross-border and frontier workers, improve their employment, working and health and safety conditions, address the need to revise the existing legislative frame work including Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems in order to strengthen the portability of right and ensure adequate social security coordination, review the role of temporary work agencies, recruiting agencies, other intermediaries and subcontractors with a view to identifying protection gaps in the light of the principle of equal treatment; urges Members States, in the context of the increased teleworking, to guarantee that those teleworking from their country of residence, have access to social security rights, labour rights and tax regimes, and certainty as regards the competent authority for their coverage; Underlines the need for strengthened cooperation between the Member States regarding the exchange of information on workers’ applicable legislation and collection of data on cross-border workers in order to bridge gaps in national practices, gain better access to available information, and create a predictable and accessible internal labour market;
Amendment 84 #
2021/2202(INI)
16 b. Believes that digitalisation provides an unprecedented opportunity to facilitate labour mobility while making compliance with applicable EU provisions faster and easier to control; calls on the Commission, in close cooperation with the European Labour Authority, to put forward a legislative proposal for a European social security pass for all mobile workers and non-EU nationals who are covered by EU rules on intra-EU mobility without further delay, which would provide the relevant national authorities and social partners with an instrument ensuring effective identification, traceability, aggregation and portability of social security rights and improving the enforcement of EU rules on labour mobility and social security coordination in the labour market in a fair and effective way in order to ensure a level playing field in the EU;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2202(INI)
17. Points out that there is already an important EU legal framework – including in particular the Birds, Habitats and Water Framework directives, as well as the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 – that must be fully, systematically and jointly implemented by the Member States in cross-border regions; points out that nature, the climate, natural disasters and diseases do not stop at national borders and calls for coordinated and coherent protection of Natura 2000 sites to ensure more integrated implementation measures;
Amendment 92 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Highlights the obligation for Member States under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism to regularly conduct risk assessments and analyses of disaster scenarios which covers cross- border cooperation as well as reporting on key risks having a cross-border impact; calls on the Commission and Member States to increase cooperation on disaster risk management including improved early warning across in border regions; Welcomes in this regard the Interreg Rhine-Meuse projects on public safety, data collection, cross-border river management and administrative cooperation in the field of spatial planning for flood risk reduction;
Amendment 96 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that border regions reap too few benefits from the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and underlinesthe need to build on regulatory advances; highlights the potential of the European Cross-Border Mechanism in this context;
Amendment 101 #
2021/2202(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that cooperation among neighbouring Member States will be a central element in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and calls on the Member States to make the most of existing opportunities for cooperation under the applicable EU legal framework;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses concern about the number of petitions setting out cases of discrimination; in this context, stresses that discrimination remains one of the most serious and unacceptable threats to fundamental rights and that it has no place in any aspect of life; recalls that the EU is built on diversity, pluralism, tolerance, and non-discrimination; stresses that discrimination undermines human dignity, life opportunities, prosperity, well- being, and often safety; regrets the fact that the proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (COM(2008)0426) (the ‘horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive’) remains blocked in the Council, and calls on the Commission to unblock this situation by proposeing a new anti- discrimination legislation if the Council does not approve the text as its stands since 2008; calls, therefore, on the Member States to effectively tackle every alleged case of discrimination and to deal with it in accordance with EU and national law;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses concern about the number of petitions setting out cases of discrimination; in this context, stresses that discrimination remains one of the most serious and unacceptable threats to fundamental rights and that it has no place in any aspect of life; recalls that the EU is built on diversity, pluralism, tolerance, and non-discrimination; stresses that discrimination undermines human dignity, life opportunities, prosperity, well- being, and often safety; regrets the fact that the proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (COM(2008)0426) (the ‘horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive’) remains blocked in the Council, and calls on the Commission to propose new anti- discrimination legislation; calls, therefore, on the Member States to effectively tackle every alleged case of discrimination and to deal with it in accordance with EU and national law;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls for full implementation of legislations and stronger sanctions against any discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, membership of a national minority, disability, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, residence status or health;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Calls on the Member States to ensure the effective practical enforcement of the Race Equality Directive (2000/43/EC) and to ensure effective enforcement of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia to combat persisting afrophobia, antigypsyism, antisemitism and islamophobia; points out that the Member States should put forward or review national inclusion strategies to ensure that all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or any other status are empowered to actively participate insocial, economic, political and cultural life;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that LGBTI people face some of the biggest challenges as far as fundamental rights are concerned, and, in particular, the right to non-discrimination; stresses that the right of a person to self- determination of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity is inviolable; highlights that in spite of the progress made in recent years with regard to LGBTI acceptance,, and that sexual orientation and gender identity have increasingly been recognised as discrimination grounds in international law; highlights that in spite of the progress made in recent years with regard to LGBTI acceptance, only in the field of employment EU law protects LGBTIQ persons from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and regrets that the situation of LGBTIQ people in the EU still remains critical, as they continue to be the targets of discrimination across all areas of life, becoming vulnerable to verbal and physical attacks that remain largely invisible out of fear of negative consequences;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that LGBTI people face some of the biggest challenges as far as fundamental rights are concerned, and, in particular, the right to non-discrimination; stresses that the right of a person to self- determination of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity is inviolable; highlights that in spite of the progress made in recent years with regard to LGBTI acceptance,, and that sexual orientation and gender identity have increasingly been recognised as discrimination grounds in international law; highlights that in spite of the progress made in recent years with regard to LGBTI acceptance, only in the field of employment EU law protects lesbian, bisexual and gay people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and regrets that the situation of LGBTI people in the EU still remains critical, as they continue to be the targets of discrimination across all areas of life, becoming vulnerable to verbal and physical attacks that remain largely invisible out of fear of negative consequences;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that LGBTI people face some of the biggest challenges as far as fundamental rights are concerned, and, in particular, the right to non-discrimination; stresses that the right of a person to self- determination of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity is inviolable; highlights that in spite of the progress made in recent years with regard to LGBTI acceptance, the situation of LGBTI people in the EU remains critical, as they continue to be the targets of discrimination; Is deeply concerned about a backlash in rights and attitudes to LGBTI persons and a sharp rise of hate speech, often carried out by public figures; Strongly condemns anti-LGBTI rhetoric and the proclamation of "LGBT-free zones" or "zones free from LGBT ideology";
Amendment 25 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Conveys worries about the on- going attacks on the independence of the juridicary in some EU Member States; expresses grave concern about the negative developments which took place in both Hungary and Poland; is concerned about the lack of progress in the article 7 proceedings in the Council
Amendment 31 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the landmark judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Common case in June 2018, which clarified that term ‘spouse’ within the meaning of the provisions of EU law on freedom of residence for EU citizens and their family members includes spouses of the same sex; Urges the member states in the EU that do not recognise either same- sex partnerships or marriages to amend their national laws in such a way as to provide a legal framework for ensuring that the CJEU’s ruling is properly implemented. Urges the Commission to propose without delay a New proposed EU legislation on mutual recognition of parenthood
Amendment 39 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Expresses concern about the number of petitions setting out cases of gender discrimination, and especially on measures which impact women's rights as such as abortion rights and violence against women and girls. Is deeply concerned about the increasing of attacks against women's rights in the European Union. Regret that six EU Member States, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention; Calls the Commission to take urgently further actions to protect women's rights and especially on the implementation of the Istanbul convention at the European level by appropriate legislations and recommandation for Member states.
Amendment 51 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Recalls that the protection of natural persons in relation to the processing of personal data should be a fundamental right; alerts that although the GDPR provides ways for people to protect their personal data, and by extension their privacy, data breaches occur resulting in a breach of confidentiality, availability and integrity, and posing individuals’ rights and freedoms at risk or at high-risk; urges the Commission and the European Data Protection Supervisor to continue their efforts to oversee the implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures by the responsible entities to avoid such data breaches;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Points out that EU and its Member States should combat effectively discriminatory or violent treatment and reactions against the schooling and participation of children from minority backgrounds especially migrant, refugee and Roma children, both through law enforcement and by promoting mutual understanding and social cohesion; calls on Member States to structurally address respect for diversity, intercultural understanding and human rights, including children’s rights, in regular school curricula;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Recalls that the freedom of expression, to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas is a fundamental right; shows concern over the creation, dissemination and amplification of false or manipulated information using digital technologies for political, ideological or commercial motives; notes that such actions unleash immediate disruptive effects in our societies and can have serious consequences for democracy and human rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to launch initiatives calling for multidimensional and multistakeholder responses to counter disinformation, enhancing the role of free, independent and diverse media, investing in media and digital literacy, empowering individuals and rebuilding public trust.
Amendment 55 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Expresses its concern at the lack of reporting of hate crimes by victims owing to inadequate safeguards and to the failure of authorities to investigate properly and obtain convictions for hate crimes in the Member States; Calls the Council to proceed with the assessment of the Commission proposal for a Council decision on hate crime and hate speech and to formally notify the Parliament with no delay of its unanimous decision
Amendment 56 #
2021/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Welcomes the European Commission’ proposal for an inter- institutional European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles as a reference point to guide the European digital transformation and Europe’s pioneering role in digital policies; recalls that “the Charter” dates from a time when digital economy was not contemplated as it is today; consequently, efforts to protect our citizens’ in the digital sphere have been scattered in a myriad of proposals, resolutions and legislative acts; calls for a European Charter for Digital Rights that responds to the EU rights in the digital age and recognises, among others, the access to the internet as a human right;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises the important role of the Committee on Petitions in identifying and flagging possible breaches of the rule of law, taking into account the numerous petitions received from citizens concerned about breaches of the rule of law in several Member States; strongly believes that full protection of all EU citizens and their fundamental rights can only be ensured throughout the Union if all Member States fully comply with all principles of the rule of law;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Stresses that the rule of law is among the common values of the Union and thus essential to achieve its objectives; points out that its promotion and upholding is a shared responsibility between the EU and the Member States;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the rule of law includes principles such as legality, legal certainty, the separation of powers, the prohibition of the arbitrary exercise of executive power, effective judicial protection by independent and impartial courts in full respect of fundamental rights, the enforcement of judgments including the permanent subjection of all public authorities to established laws and procedures, and equality before the law; underlines that such principles are common to all Member States regardless of their distinct legal systems;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points to the high amount of petitions1 in relation to the impact and challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for an investigation into whether COVID-19-related measures were limited in time and whether their necessity andin this regard, reminds that the Venice Commission is currently monitoring the measures taken in the Member States as a results of the pandemic and their impacts on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights and its monitoring should be an opportunity to investigate whether such measures were always proportionality waste and justified; requests an assessment of the checks and balances during the pandemic,in this regard, stresses that Member States should capitalise from the COVID-19 esxpecially given that courts in several Member States have already ruled that certain measures were not consistent with the national constitution; underlines the need to have a clear legal regime in place before a crisisrience to make sure that future crises will be handled with the necessary accountability and transparency; commends the efforts made by the Ombudspersons and human rights institutions to ensure the continuity of their work in spite of the great challenges they were facing; _________________ 1 Petitions No 1438/2020, 1469/2020, 1493/2020, 1501/2020, 0038/2021, 0046/2021, 0053/2021, 0106/2021, 0152/2021, 0186/2021 and 0533/2021.
Amendment 34 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to improve the effectiveness of the judicial system also by developing the digitalisation processtructural reforms and high- level of digitalisation, which has proven effective in backlogs ' prevention, especially during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses that adequate financial and human resources are key to develop effective justice systems;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is deeply concerned about the status of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, the close connection between prosecutors and the government (in particular the Public Prosecutor General/Minister of Justice) and the complete disregard for not only EU law requirements, but also European Convention on Human Rights and Polish Constitutional requirements2 ; is further concerned about the impartiality of the judiciary in Hungary3 and the independence of the judiciary in Spain4 ; _________________ 2 Petitions No 0559/2020, 1154/2020, 1246/2020, 1360/2020 and 0869/2021. 3 Petition No 1512/2020. 4 Petitions No 1180/2020, 1182/2020, 1326/2020, 1367/2020, 1561/2020 and 0353/2021.
Amendment 66 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Regrets the fact that that the safety of journalists is not universally guaranteed; underlines the importance of media pluralism and the need to protect journalists against threats and attacks in order to assure freedom of expression and the right to information and safeguard the journalistic profession; stresses the difficulties faced by journalists and media in providing citizens with fact-check information about the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 70 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Expresses its concern about journalists’ deteriorating economic and working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing crisis, underlining a substantial increase in the unemployment rates in the sector; welcomes the use of compensatory measures to support the sector; reminds that such measures should always comply with the principles of transparency, fairness, equal and non-discriminatory access;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Urges Member States to pay close attention to abuse of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and particularly on how they affect smaller news outlets and freelancers; notes that SLAPPs abuse and lawsuit increasing, including intimidating actions, may easily lead to media self- censorship;
Amendment 84 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is concerned about the increase in hate crimes against minorities, in particular those related to religious beliefs, political ideas and sexual orientation12 ; is awdeplores the large of the difficult balance betweennumber of petitions received in 2021 reporting hate speeches and freedom of expression and acknowledges that the boundaries are hard to definehate crimes against LGBTQI+ people13a as well as restriction of the freedom of expression14a ; notes that most of them refer to a substantial lack of legal protection for LGBTQI+ citizens in some Member States; _________________ 12 Petitions No 0354/2020, 0657/2020, 1038/2020, 0471/2021, 0480/2021, 0667/2021, 0704/2021, 0725/2021, 0820/2021, 0855/2021 and 0894/2021. 13a Petition No 0436/2021, 0471/2021 and 0480/2021 14a Petition No 0436/2021 and 0471/2021.
Amendment 102 #
2021/2180(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines that the role of civil society organisations and NGOs is of particular importance recalls that civil society organizations must be able to operate without unjustified interference by state authorities; calls on the Commission to foster debates with civil society organisations and NGOs in order to take note of all their concerns and involve them more effectively in follow-up meetings; highlights the need to offer longer consultation periods to guarantee proper participation of all civil society organisations. and NGOs, including smaller ones; calls on Member States to apply the principles of transparency and disclosure with regard to the selection of the civil society organisations and NGOs involved;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas Article 15 of the TFEU states that ‘in order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible’ and that ‘any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, shall have a right of access to documents of the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies’; whereas ensuring that high- quality services are provided to EU citizens and that the EU administration is responsive to their needs and concerns is crucial in protecting citizens' rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas Article 41(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights states that ‘every person has the right to have his or her affairs handled impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time by the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union’;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas Article 43 of the Charter states that ‘any citizen of the Union and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State has the right to refer to the European Ombudsman cases of maladministration in the activities of the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the Union, with the exception of the Court of Justice of the European Union acting in its judicial role’;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Ombudsman receives a large number of complaints from individuals and organisations about the EU administration every year, and whereas the top three concerns in the inquiries closed by the Ombudsman in 2020 were transparency, accountability (access to information and documents) (25 %), culture of service (24 %) and proper use of discretionary powers, including in infringement procedures (17 %); whereas other concerns include ethical issues, respect for fundamental rights, sound financial management, whistleblowing, respect for procedural rights, recruitment and good management of EU personnel issues;
Amendment 15 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the main priority of the European Ombudsman is to ensure that citizens’ rights are fully respected and the right to good administration of EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies reflects the highest standards;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
S a. whereas the Ombudsman launched an inquiry on how the Commission ensures that Hungary and Portugal’s use of ESI funds for care facilities for persons with disabilities is in line with the legal obligations stemming from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the ESI funds Regulation and the UNCRPD
Amendment 36 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomApproves the annual report for 2020 presented by the European Ombudsman, and commends its excellent presentation on the most important facts and figures concerning the Ombudsman’s work in 2020;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point a (new)
Paragraph 4 – point a (new)
(a) Emphasises the essential role of transparency, good administration and institutional checks and balances in the work of the EU institutions;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point a (new)
(a) Stresses that trust between citizens and the institutions is of paramount importance, especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis;
Amendment 63 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Commends the Ombudsman’s determination to achieve the highest level of transparency in the EU decision- making process; stresses the need to monitor the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations for transparency in trilogues; Reiterates its call for the publication of all trilogue documents in order to uphold citizens’ democratic rights, as full transparency at all stages of the legislative process, including in the informal negotiations between the three main EU institutions, is crucial to enabling citizens to hold their elected representatives and governments accountable;
Amendment 87 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – point a (new)
Paragraph 18 – point a (new)
(a) Calls on the Ombudsman to continue her work to ensure the timely publication of the names of all EU officials involved in ‘revolving door’ cases and to guarantee full transparency with regard to all related information;
Amendment 91 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a (new)
Paragraph 19 – point a (new)
(a) Welcomes the Ombudsman’s inquiries following complaints by persons with disabilities, and encourages her work as an active participant in the EU Framework for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Amendment 94 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – point a (new)
Paragraph 20 – point a (new)
(a) Urges the Commission to investigate the use of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI funds), which were allocated for the construction of institutional care facilities for persons with disabilities in Hungary and Portugal;
Amendment 95 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – point b (new)
Paragraph 20 – point b (new)
(b) stresses that ESI related funds have been allocated to promote the rights of persons with disabilities to live independently and to be included in the community; stresses that it is essential to monitor the allocated EU funds, which should be used to support deinstitutionalisation in Member States;
Amendment 96 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – point c (new)
Paragraph 20 – point c (new)
(c) Stresses that while Member States’ obligations as regards the principle of non-discrimination, including giving particular attention to accessibility to persons with disabilities throughout the preparation and implementation of projects should be respected;
Amendment 97 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – point d (new)
Paragraph 20 – point d (new)
(d) Emphasises the Ombudsman’s inquiry on how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) deals with alleged breaches of fundamental rights, in particular on their transparency and effectiveness of their complaint mechanism and the role and the independence of their Fundamental Rights Officer; calls on the Ombudsman to follow up with the Commission’s future actions on how its established monitoring mechanism will control the effectiveness of border management operations that are funded by the EU;
Amendment 103 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point a (new)
Paragraph 21 – point a (new)
(a) Commends Ombudsman’s activities on digital platforms raising awareness to EU citizens about her work; notes that the fastest-growing channel in 2020 was Instagram, where the audience grew by71% during the year (1 068 new followers); on LinkedIn, the number of followers increased by 34% (+ 1 237), while on Twitter, where the Ombudsman has the largest audience, the number of followers reached 29 200 in December 2020,which represents an 11% increase (+ 2 870);
Amendment 105 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Stresses the importance of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) and annual meetings hosted with national and regional ombudsmen through the European Network of Ombudsmen to further raise awareness of what the Ombudsman’s Office can do for European citizens;
Amendment 106 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Welcomes the Ombudsman’s actions during the pandemic to keep regular contact with her fellow national colleagues from the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) and to organise and host webinars throughout 2020 on topics such as implications of the pandemic, sharing experiences and promoting best practices in the crisis response, and on the impact of Artificial Intelligence;
Amendment 107 #
2021/2167(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22 c. Welcomes the Ombudsman’s initiative on fast track procedure related to access to documents cases, aiming to have a decision on the requested documents within 40 working days; notes that in 2020 the average time to handle public access complaints is one third what is was before2018 when this procedure was introduced;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to the Committee on Regional Development’s study “Islands of the European Union: State of play and future challenges” (March 2021),
Amendment 5 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
— having regard to the Committee on Regional Development’s study “Cohesion Policy and Climate Change” (March 2021),
Amendment 6 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas agriculture on islands is hampered by their remote location, insularity and environmental specificities, small holdings, limited diversity in production, dependence on local markets, the climate crisis, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and a lack of energy, limitations in the access to fresh water and digital infrastructure;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas three Member States of the European Union are islands;
Amendment 12 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas islands often suffer from a combination of multiple and permanent structural handicaps, such as small size, lowchallenges related to population density, small market, double insularity (island and archipelago), difficult topography very similar to mountainous regions, a dependence on maritime and air transport or a dependence on a small number of products;
Amendment 14 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas insular territories in the Union account for 80% of European diversity and represent a landscape and environmental treasure that requires specific protection;
Amendment 14 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the specific characteristics of islands are recognised by Article 174 TFEU and whereas they, whereas the European Union still misses a concrete application of this article with specific regard to its insular territories and whereas the specific characteristics of islands should be taken into account in EU policies, in particular by drawing up a dedicated strategy and a European action plan;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas a substantial part of the socio-economic development of islands is based on sectors with a high temporary rate as it is the case for agriculture and tourism; whereas this socio-economic development is sometimes threatened by the islands’ own geological, geographical, climatic specificities, and diverse characteristics;
Amendment 17 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the islands’ physical disconnection from the mainland acts as a permanent impediment in many areas, including the labour market, access for island products to neighbouring external markets, education, health care, business, water and energy supply and waste management facilities; whereas this geographical disconnection adds important difficulties to the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy of such territories;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas islands have faced specific difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their geographical isolation and difficulties in accessing basic supplies from mainland territories, such as fuel or water;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the long-term social, economic, environmental and cultural consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on the island territories of the Union are of particular concern, and whereas Europe’s recovery must not create further regional disparitieseveral European islands are home to communities with their linguistic heritage, culture and traditions; whereas this diversity should be further promoted and valorised, including in educational settings;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Amendment 23 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas specific and disproportionate pressures on asylum and reception systems in some Member States with ultra-peripheral territories are faced; whereas these require coordinated solutions at European level;
Amendment 27 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas, in many islands, inland areas lag behind coastal regions in terms of economic development and service accessibility;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to maintain appropriate funding, including through thedequate levels of funding via POSEI programmes for the outermost regions and smaller Aegean islands in its entirety within the CAP and without budget cuts, to enhance agricultural competitiveness, ensure sustainable management of natural resources and support balanced territorial development on EU islands;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the outermost regions and islands are particularly at risk from natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and storms; whereas this is the case of the island of La Palma (Spain), which since 19 September has suffered the effects of a volcanic eruption burying more than a thousand hectares of land and housing and caused multiple economic, social and environmental damages in the area;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the outermost regions and islands are particularly at risk from natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and storms, storms as well as other risks such as floods, desertification and drought, which can have negative effects on agriculture and food supply;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on the Commission to maintain the long-term co-financing rate for the outermost regions at 85% for the EAFRD in order to ensure the socio- economic development of these territories and thereby alleviate the problems arising from their remote location;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Urges the Commission to increase the financial allocations for POSEI in the event of exceptional situations, such as the current one faced by the agricultural sector in the island of La Palma (Canary Islands) after the eruption of the volcano which began on 19 September 2021; calls for urgent action by the EU to ensure that the aid reaches the affected farmers in a rapid and effective manner; recalls that the eruption endangers a unique agricultural sector such as the Canary Islands banana industry, with estimated losses that exceed 100 million euros;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need to strengthen both the integrated territorial development approach towards islands and initiatives such as those on smart villages and digital innovation hubs with regard to islands in order to support sustainable agriculture and food production; highlights the importance of promoting the smart use of energy and water in order to ensure that islands make the most out of their scarce resources available;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recognises insularity as a permanent structural handicap;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that Articles 174 and 349 TFEU recognise insularity as a permanent structural handicap and TFEU stipulates that the Union must pay particular attention to these region, among others, European islands;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that Article 349 TFEU includes insularity among the conditions restraining the development of the outermost regions;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Underlines that European islands, while facing common challenges, have various geographical features and institutional setups,which make it crucial to adopt flexible solutions that take into account these specificities;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that insularity creates structural problems of dependence on maritime and air transport, with additional costs for importing and exporting goods, as well as for passenger transport; highlights that these structural issues leave islands’ citizens and businesses more exposed to rising prices; stresses that, in the case of archipelagos, these difficulties are multiplied by a double insularity;
Amendment 49 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 49 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that insularity creates structural problems of dependence on maritime and air transport, with additional costs for importing and exporting goods, as well as for passenger transport; stresses that, in the case of archipelagos, these difficulties are multiplied by a double and sometimes triple insularity;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the deficit in terms of population, raw materials and resources of all kinds, and notes that in many islands access to drinking water is a central issue in people’s lives, the sustainability of the island and its tourism carrying capacity; stresses the importance of spatial planning focusing on effective and efficient land utilisation;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that isolation owing to insularity means a dependence on the mainland’s and continental areas’ markets and increases the cost of certain services, such as waste management as well as of certain goods, especially with reference to small islands highly dependent on imports;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that isolation owing to insularity means a dependence on mainland markets and increases the cost of certain goods and services, such as waste management;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to utilise all available tools under cohesion policy to reinforce food sovereignty and the self-sustainability of islands and make them an integral part of the transition towards sustainable food systems, thus turning geographical handicaps into opportunities;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that island economies are oriented towards the primary and tertiary sectors and that hyper-specialisation weakens the economic fabric by making it more vulnerable to economic slowdowns; is concerned about long-term developments which in many EU islands can create an economy that is based solely on tourism; highlights the necessity of deconcentrating tourism from the summer season to other less-demanded months and to diversify the economy of islands by strengthening their secondary sector;
Amendment 58 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission to take into account the specific problems faced by European islands during COVID-19; calls on the Commission to take into account their impact on agriculture and livestock farming in islands where the isolation and cessation of the economy put at risk the access to basic supplies as fuel and water from mainland territory;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with concern the long-term effects of the COVID-19 crisispandemic, which is exacerbating an already precarious situation for EU islands in many areas;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the Commission to promote island policies during regional planning processes to support sustainable agriculture, food production and agro- tourism with funds complementary to those from the EAFRD; urges it also to assess the real cost of insularity.
Amendment 72 #
2021/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls for the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas to specifically integrate the particularities of outermost regions and Aegean islands; stresses that the Rural Observatory represents a unique opportunity for the production of adequate and updated high-quality data for island territories focused, amongst others, on access to land, establishing the grounds for the development of a holistic agricultural and economic development of islands;
Amendment 74 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Environment and, energy autonomy, research and innovation
Amendment 78 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that many islands have a fragile environment and endemic marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and that the development of tourism, in particular on certain Mediterranean islands, is further increasing the anthropic pressure; calls for a strengthening of biodiversity protection capacities, the promotion of sustainable tourism, sustainable fisheries and seabed research; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of climate change on islands;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that islands are on the front line of climate change, particularly with rising water levels and the warming of seas and oceans; notes with concern the risks associated with overfishing and marine and coastal pollution; calls, in the context of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, including the Climate Law, for specific support for islands to combat and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Considers that islands can represent a formidable laboratory for sustainability practices in sectors such as clean energy, circular economy, smart mobility, waste management and blue economy;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the increasingly precarious condition of all islands in terms of their environmental assets, particularly water resources; calls, in this context, on the Commission to adopt a common water management policy for islands; recalls also the challenges connected with waste management in island territories ands well as the strategic role of the circular economy and its potential in reducing marine litter;
Amendment 90 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Underlines the necessity and opportunities arising from the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package; is however of the opinion that the concrete implementation of these legislative measures should go hand in hand with the promotion of the economic, social and territorial cohesion; since islands solely rely on the aviation and maritime transport;
Amendment 94 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for specific rules and financial support to help islands achieve climate neutrality goals, taking into account the additional costs linvolved andked to sectors such as energy and transport as well as the impact of mobile technologies on their energy systems; calls for these costs to be taken into account in the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package;
Amendment 95 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission to examine the need to improve the European Solidarity Fund in order to adapt it to new realities and threats such as natural disasters or effects of climate change among others, in order to deal more realistically with the consequences of these phenomena;
Amendment 96 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for concrete compensatory measures that offset any possible negative consequence on islands’ economic, social and territorial cohesion in the process to transit to a cleaner economy and society, due to their dependence on the aviation and the maritime sector;
Amendment 97 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the Commission to swiftly address the importance of adapting the existing emergency mechanisms to deal with the increasingly severe natural disasters such as the eruption of the volcano on the island of La Palma (Spain), an unprecedented social and economic challenge requiring a proportionate response to the damages caused;
Amendment 99 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers the use of renewable energy to be a priority and believes it could bring substantial benefits to islands and the strengthening of their energy autonomy; calls, therefore, for the development of a wide range of renewable energy sources to be supported according to their geographical features; welcomes the green hydrogen programmes which islands have launched;
Amendment 104 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for renewables-based energy autonomy to be established as a target for all European islands; calls for additional research to make offshore renewables more affordable and fit for the geographical features of the different sea basins;
Amendment 107 #
2021/2079(INI)
15 a. Recalls that a successful environmental transition for islands also depends on robust research and innovation policies at the local level; encourages the collaboration among local authorities, research institutions and enterprises such as the initiatives within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs); promotes a wider uptake of research facilities in insular territories;
Amendment 109 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Amendment 118 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for urgent measures to counteract the depopulation of islands as well as brain and skill drain and to improve quality of life, support local businesses and protect jobs and address ageing population; calls also for the development of professional training and employment establishments for island inhabitants to be promoted;
Amendment 125 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for actions aiming at bridging the economic gap between inland areas and coastal regions, that very often persists in insular territories;
Amendment 141 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Is of the opinion that fully unleashing the potential of the green and blue sector will also help to enhance islands' positioning as sustainable destinations; calls for additional support measures to unleash such potential; calls specifically for action on sustainable tourism through EU funds and programmes;
Amendment 143 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that culture and development of the cultural sector in islands are fundamental; considers that islands’ cultural and linguistic identities should be protected and promoted, including in educational settings, as they contribute to their enhancement on many levels;
Amendment 151 #
2021/2079(INI)
Access to public services, entrepreneurship and digitalisation
Amendment 156 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the development of sustainable transport in island countries and regions to be fostered, and for support for the modernisation and greening of port infrastructure while ensuring a socially just transition;
Amendment 160 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the need to ensure the territorial continuity of all islands through maritime and air transport and to ensure the safety and suitability of land bridges and road links; calls on the Commission to ensure that the 2021-2023 work programme of the Connecting Europe Facility contributes to the territorial accessibility of islands and the development of sustainable transport;
Amendment 166 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisispandemic, the importance of improving the public health infrastructure on European islands and the access to medicines;
Amendment 167 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Considers digitalisation a crucial instrument to contribute to overcoming the geographical disadvantage of insularity; welcomes the Commission initiatives on the Digital Decade;
Amendment 169 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for priority to be afforded to equipping islands with digital technologies,Underlines that digital connectivity for islands is an utmost priority in particular so as to enhance the provision of education and training services as well as e-health and other essential government services for citizens and businesses;
Amendment 173 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Is of the opinion that the uptake of ICT in European islands can also be beneficial to the digitalisation of small and medium enterprises, with positive effects on their business strategy as well as on their operations;
Amendment 175 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Believes that, especially in small islands, it is difficult for SMEs to easily access all the information referring to the promotion of entrepreneurship, to skills development and EU-funded opportunities; calls for stronger financial support in this regard as well as the provision of enhanced information sessions, advisory services and tailor- made training;
Amendment 180 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that the lack of statistical data on islands, including gender- disaggregated data, is hindering the development of targeted policies; calls on the Commission to set up a European Institute for Disadvantaged Territories to collect data at all administrative levels;
Amendment 184 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to take note of the studies already produced by island regions concerning the additional costs associated with insularity, and to establish interdisciplinary analyses covering the demographic, geographical and economic characteristics of island territories so as to ensure that these regions will not suffer from any competitive disadvantage linked to their geographical condition;
Amendment 188 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Amendment 191 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Supports the partnerships among European islands as an effective way to share best practices, cope with common challenges and implement solutions that are beneficial for citizens and businesses; calls on the European Commission to further facilitate these partnerships;
Amendment 192 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Re-assessment of State aid schemes and measures to reduce the development deficit
Amendment 194 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to produce an analysis of the volume of state aid granted to undertakings based in island regions; considers it imperative, despite the efforts made by the EU and the Member States, to determine whether and to what extent undertakings located in island territories have benefited from such measures and to re-assess state rules accordingly;
Amendment 195 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for any future revision of the legislative framework on state aid to be subject to impact assessments based on specific indicators to assess the lagging competitiveness of island region economies, also vis-à-vis the consequences of the Fit for 55 Package on these territories, and to design a specific degressive scheme for island territories when the extraordinary measures provided for under the State Aid Temporary Framework end after 31 December 2021;
Amendment 203 #
2021/2079(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to undertake a dynamic assessment of Article 174 TFEU and to build on that article to create a European strategy for islands, based on this report, that takes into account the specific features of each of the EU’s sea basins; calls on the Commission to carry out a study on the diverse situations of island territories and to consider a strategy for islands with tangible proposals;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Underlines that problems concerning the German family law system, including the controversial role of the Jugendamt, denounced through petitions by non-German parents, still remain unsolved;
Amendment 18 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the authorities of the Member States must ensure that a child is given the genuine and effective opportunity to express their own views freely during proceedings and, that due weight is given to the child’s views in accordance with their age and maturity, and for their views to be taken seriously;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses the obligation, as provided for in the Brussels IIa Regulation, for national authorities to recognise and enforce judgements delivered in another Member State in child-related cases;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
(2) underlines the importance of providing an adequate support for children before, during and after each hearing;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
(3) calls on EU Member States to ensure that all professionals in contact with children are trained to inform children appropriately and explain all elements of proceeding in a child-friendly manner, which will help children to make informed decisions about their involvement in the judicial proceedings;
Amendment 26 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
(1) underlines that judicial proceedings have a considerable impact on the lives of minors and the absence of a child-friendly response can result in restrictions or violation of their fundamental rights; stresses that when the national judicial systems lack child- friendly procedures and practices, the most vulnerable children, such as children with disabilities face particular barriers in the enjoyment of their rights;
Amendment 27 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls on EU Member States to ensure that only trained professionals carry out child hearings and that training on child hearings is mandatory and continuous for professionals;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 3 (new)
(3) stresses that professionals hearing children need to be specifically trained in appropriate questioning techniques, in line with existing guidelines on hearing children, and on the relevant legal basis;
Amendment 29 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 4 (new)
(4) calls on the Commission and EU Member States to provide sufficient allocation of funds in order to meet children’s needs in all types of judicial proceedings and to make support services available;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 5 (new)
(5) stresses the importance of promoting trainings and coordination among professionals and sharing best practices between the Member States;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 10 – point 1 (new)
(1) Points to the long standing work of the Committee on Petitions on the treatment of petitions concerning the role of the Jugendamt; underlines that the Committee on Petitions continuously receives petitions concerning alleged discrimination against the non-German parent;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 12 – point 1 (new)
(1) Insists on the importance of Member States collecting statistical data on the administrative and judicial proceedings concerning child custody and involving foreign parents;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
(1) Emphasises the importance of a close cooperation and efficient communication between the different national and local authorities;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up even more to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition and encourage them to exercise it; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the right to petition offers Parliament the opportunity to enhance its responsiveness to complaints and concerns relating to the respect for EU fundamental rights and compliance with EU legislation in the Member States; whereas petitions are therefore a useful source of information on instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law and, thus, enable Parliament and other EU institutions to assess the transposition and application of EU law and its possible impact on the rights of EU citizens and residents;
Amendment 15 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the partisan use of the Committee on Petitions can lead to its inappropriate use and, therefore, to the deterioration of citizens' trust in this body and in the rest of the European institutions; whereas the discussions of the Committee on Petitions are sometimes used to address national or regional issues outside the scope of competence attributed by the Treaties and that the study of petitions is exclusively conditioned by criteria of majorities, ignoring the minorities and thus preventing serious debates or complaints;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas petitions are frequently substantiated without gathering the necessary information for a correct and detailed analysis and often, they are subject to debate in the Committee on Petitions without the required reply from the European Commission and that this hinders the work of the members of the Petitions Committee;
Amendment 18 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2020 relate to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, as well on the freedom of movement, the right to work, the right to information and the right to education, as well as a large number of petitions related to LGBTQ+ rights in the Union), health (notably questions on the public health crisis resulting from the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including treatments and protective equipment, to the management of the health crisis in the Member States and the acquisition and distribution of vaccines), the environment (mostly mining activities and their impact on the environment, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), justice (notably issues related to access to justice or alleged procedural irregularities or concerns over the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in the Member States, along with cross-border cases of child abduction and custody rights), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to education or contested national reform of the law on education), and the internal market (in particular questions relating to national travel restrictions in the context of the pandemic and their impact on the freedom of movement of persons within and outside the EU), in addition to many other areas of activity;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas in 2020, the Committee on Petitions held just one fact-finding visit; whereas no other fact-finding visit could take place as a result ofdue to the situation caused by the pandemic and the decision taken by Parliament’s President to cancel parliamentary events, including delegations, as one of the necessary and precautionary measures adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and minimise health risks for Parliament’s Members and staff;
Amendment 25 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)
Recital R a (new)
Ra. whereas the European Commission has an essential role in the Committee on Petitions as guardian of the Treaties and the information provided by the petitioners is useful to discover possible breaches or misapplications of the European law;
Amendment 29 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s fields of activity in order to ensure that citizens are correctly informed about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making; calls, in this regard, for broader awareness raising campaigns, through the active involvement of the press and communications services, to help increase citizens’ knowledge about their right to petition, as well as the scope and limits of the Union’s responsibilities and the competences of the Committee on Petitions, with a view to reducing the number of inadmissible petitions;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2019(INI)
2a. Draws attention to the importance of involving journalists and media to avoid disinformation linked to the Petitions Committee and to bring European citizens the opportunity to receive neutral and truthful information about the work of the Committee on Petitions in line with the fight against disinformation promoted by the European Commission;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that petitions constitute the door to the European institutions for citizens and a unique opportunity for Parliament and the other EU institutions to directly connect with EU citizens, know their problems and maintain a regular dialogue with them, particularly in cases where they are affected by the misapplication or breach of EU law; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU institutions and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding the implementation of and compliance with EU law; believes that such cooperation is crucial to address and resolve citizens’ concerns over the application of EU law and contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Union; calls, therefore, for the more active participation of Member States’ representatives in committee meetings and for swifter responses to the requests for clarification or information sent by the Committee on Petitions to the national authorities;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the European Commission to play a more active role in the Committee on Petitions to ensure a detailed and understandable response to the citizens of the Union;
Amendment 40 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Underlines the need to respect the approach and point of view expressed by the European Commission in its replies to the Committee on Petitions and to respect its role as guardian of the Treaties;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights the Committee on Petitions must respect the admissibility criteria established in Articles 226 and 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament in order to avoid a partisan use of the Committee on Petitions and prevent an inappropriate response to the concerns and problems expressed by the petitioners;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls the agreements between the political groups represented in the Committee on Petitions are essential to provide a balanced and understandable response to the petitioners; regrets the lack of agreement experienced in the last year; expresses concern about the problems caused by partisan use of the Committee on Petitions;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that cooperation with other committees in Parliament is essential for the accurate and comprehensive treatment of petitions; notes that in 2020, 56 petitions were sent to other committees for opinion and 385 for information; welcomes the fact that 40 opinions and 60 acknowledgements of taking petitions into consideration in their work were received from other committees; recalls that petitioners are informed of the decisions to request opinions from other committees for the treatment of their petitions; calls on parliamentary committees to step up their efforts to actively contribute to the examination of petitions – by proving their expertise – and thus enable Parliament to respond more swiftly and comprehensively to citizens’ concerns; regrets that the PETI Network could not meet in 2020 due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 66 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the decision taken during the first months of the pandemic to prioritize petitions related to COVID-19 in the Committee on Petitions in order to address properly the urgent demands expressed by European citizens during the first months of 2020;
Amendment 84 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petitions process; welcomes, in this regard, the improvements on data protection and on the security features which have made the portal more user-friendly and secure for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make thegrant a portal morefully accessible to persons with disabilities, including by enabling the tabling of petitions in national sign languages;
Amendment 90 #
2021/2019(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the participation of citizens in the decision-making process of the Union is essential to achieve a more democratic, open and transparent Union; underlines the Committee on Petitions plays a fundamental role in involving European citizens in the activities of the Union and represents a discussion forum in which citizens can make their voice heard in the European institutions; calls on the European institutions to take into account the opinions and complaints expressed by the petitions in the policy making in order to give a better response to the problems of citizens from the European institutions;
Amendment 1 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the need to ensure that inclusion and, diversity, equal opportunities and access are at the core of the implementation of Erasmus+, one of the EU’s most successful programmes so far; regrets the differentat only 17% of the overall numbers of learners reached by the Programme in 2014-2020 were learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities1a; highlights the need to further broaden the definitions and categoriesinterpretation of learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities1 across Member States and the lack2a, adding an additional focus on age; stresses the difficulties in accessing to and monitoring of reliable data onregarding the profiles of the beneficiaries; reached by the Programme; therefore, believes that an instrument should be developed to monitor whether and how participants from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups are being reached by the programme; _________________ 1 Term used in Article 23(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 on Erasmus+. a Inclusion measures within Erasmus+ programme 2014-2020, European Implementation Assessment 2a Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy in the field of Youth, European Commission, 2014
Amendment 5 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that Erasmus+ should support stakeholders’ and programme participants’ internationalisation plans that remove physical, psychological, social, socioeconomic, linguistic and other types of barriers to learning mobility and that offer qualitative support, including reinforced mentoringship, for participants from underrepresented groups and/or with specific needs before, during and after a period abroad;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the under- resourcing and understaffing of Erasmus+ national agencies and national authorities and the insufficient efforts to reduce administrative barriers to mobility and ensure that diversity and inclusion are at the core of the programme;; underlines that national agencies have a crucial role in ensuring that projects are as inclusive and diverse as possible; therefore, believes that all national agencies should appoint an inclusion and diversity officer to reach out to learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities and increase their levels of information and awareness about the opportunities in place and how access them as well as to provide them with advice regarding possible difficulties they may experience during their Erasmus+ programme, such as delayed reimbursements2 or any obstacles caused by external and contingency factors such as the COVID-19 crisis3 ; stresses that a supportive approach to beneficiaries with special needs and/or fewer opportunities is key to help removing barriers preventing their full participation to the Programme; _________________ 2 As seen from Petition 2466/13. 3 As seen from Petition 0125/21.
Amendment 13 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that Erasmus+ should encourage stakeholders to share their expertise at an institutional level, learn from each other, build administrative capacity andin view of fostering inclusion and diversity; welcomes, in this sense, specific efforts to support cooperation between different stakeholders and to develop and implement inclusive policies that seek to integrate children and young people from migrant backgrounds into education; considers, however, that these efforts should be expanded in the field of higher education;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to develop an integrated and coherent approach to inclusion within the different EU programmes for youth and education, including European Solidarity Corps and ESF+; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for the 2022 as European Year of Youth and considers this proposal as an opportunity to develop such integrated approach; calls on the Commission to look closely at the possibility of combining the Erasmus+ and Interrail programmes5 , and thus foster more equality and inclusion; _________________ 5 As called for in Petition 0681/2021.
Amendment 27 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Amendment 28 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. CStresses that national policy- making regarding learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities should be further stimulated; calls on the Member States to launch and support Erasmus+ projects to attract participants with disabilities and learners from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to their countries;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to properly address the lack of familiarity with the Erasmus+ programme, information barriers, obstacles to the application process, adequate support services abroad and the challenges relating to the portability of grants faced by persons with disabilities and other participants from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including ethnic groups;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s approach to promotingrecent adoption by the Commission of the framework to increase diversity and inclusionveness in the current Erasmus+ programme. as well as in the current European Solidarity Corps; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the future implementation of this framework at national level;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1 (new)
12. Underlines that, despite the fact that Erasmus+ 2014-2020 has been evaluated as more coherent, effective and more aligned with emerging needs, there is still a strong need to make the Programme more inclusive, able to reach out to more vulnerable and disadvantaged people and to facilitate the participation of smaller- size organizations;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the significant role played by geographical indications (GI) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG) in protecting the reputation of the EU food and drink sector in the single market and international markets, despite the fact that they only represent 7 % of total EU food and drink sales;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the significant role played by geographical indications (GI) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG) in enhancing consumer trust in keyparts of the food chain, thereby protecting the reputation of the EU food and drink sector in the single market and international markets, despite the fact that they only represent 7 % of total EU food and drink sales;.
Amendment 10 #
2021/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to the 1995 WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement),
Amendment 11 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the value of all these productsDraws attention to the weight of all these products in European GDP and recalls that their value has increased to more than EUR 75 billion, of which over one fifth derives from exports outside the EU; stresses, therefore, the need to protect GI and TSG as intellectual property rights, both within the single market and worldwide through bilateral and multilateral agreements with non-EU countries;
Amendment 15 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of ensuring adequate protection of geographical indications (GI) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG) in order to preserve and protect jobs that are directly and indirectly linked to the production and distribution of these products in the European agricultural sector;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that promotion campaigns raise consumer awareness about these productsmake it possible to raise awareness and properly inform consumers about the quality and orgin of these products, thereby guaranteeing legal certainty, making it easy to identify their authenticity and, indirectly, to protect them against usurpation and imitations; cCalls on the Commission to strengthen GI and TSG promotional campaigns in the next revision of the corresponding legislation;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes that GIs should be better protected against all practices of commercial misconduct in Union law, including when used as ingredients or in services; highlights the importance to ensure that the reputation of the GIs in question is not weakened by a third party.
Amendment 31 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. NRecalls the growth in importance of online sales during the COVID crisis, when agro-tourism was halted, preventing visits to many direct sellers, and notes the still greater potential of the online market for GIs and TSGs, but stresses that it can only be achieved if intellectual rights are better protected; calls on the Commission to be at the forefront of online protection by including it in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, mostly online; points out that the protection of GIs should apply to all goods that are sold through means of electronic commerce and that procedures should be made available to GIs producers to prevent the registrations in bad faith of domain names that undermine GIs protection;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. stresses on the necessity of guaranteeing a better protection for GIs and TSGs; calls on the Commission to work at international level, and in particular when negotiating bilateral agreements, to protect the system of GIs as a whole;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Invites the Commission to improve and overall strengthen the IP control system and its enforcement for GIs at EU level and to legally define the concepts of "Agro-Food Fraud and Crime" and "imitation" at EU level, in order to avoid that EU quality production continues to be counterfeited, causing huge economic damage to both EU farmers and economic operators; in this respect, invites the Commission to fully assess the potential of IT tools, such as AI and blockchain;
Amendment 40 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it essential to protect intellectual property rights to promote research and innovation, in particular with the aim of introducing more resilient agricultural varieties to cope with climate change and achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it essential to protect intellectual property rights to, by promote ing innovation, in particular with the aim of introducing more resilient agricultural varieties to cope with climate change and help to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses that varieties obtained through sustainable biotechnologies, should only be protected under the Community Plant Variety Right and not under the patent law, since these varieties cannot be distinguished from other existing ones.
Amendment 95 #
2021/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports the Commission in its initiative to establish EU sui generis protection of geographical indications (GIs) for non- agricultural products, in order to align towith the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), which sets out that geographical indications are those which identify a product as originating in the territory of a Member or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin; and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, which includes the possibility to protect GIs for both agricultural and non-agricultural products;
Amendment 102 #
2021/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes note that some Member States have already established national sui generis protection systems for GIs for non- agricultural products, creating fragmentation, and that protection at Union level would bring the necessary legal certainty to all players along with guaranteed prevention of intellectual property rights violations concerning manufactured and artisanal products;
Amendment 14 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, in which further disaggregation of emission factors and their determination on a scientific basis is required for all EU production systems before progress beyond level 2 approaches can be made;
Amendment 58 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 73 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance and can obtain bigger decreases; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector, which is crucial if we are to maintain population levels in rural areas and ensure that those areas offer a vibrant and thriving living environment;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Looks forward to the work of the International Methane Emissions Observatory in the hope that, with a view to achieving a more dynamic system that more accurately assesses the weight of methane emitted by ruminant livestock, which is clearly less than the other gases that cause global warming, it will revise methane's global warming potential (GWP), a measurement system which statically assesses methane emitted over 100 years and whose results overestimate the impact of short-lived gases like methane;
Amendment 93 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that, rather than looking at individual links in isolation, the efficiency and emissions reductions of the livestock production value chain must be considered as a whole;
Amendment 124 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Member States to promote the establishment of community manure and slurry management centres, for both composting and biogas, and to support the transfer of the energy generated to the electricity grid;
Amendment 173 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes the view that technical mitigation measures will complement other significant advances in the livestock sector in rural areas, in keeping with the EU's farm to fork strategy;
Amendment 52 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Union continues to be concerned with the rise in environmental criminal offences and their effects, which undermine the effectiveness of Union environmental legislation. These offences are moreover increasingly extending beyond the borders of the Member States in which the offences are committed. Such offences pose a threat to the environment and therefore call for an appropriate and effective response. A better cross-border cooperation between Member States and competent authorities, such as Europol and Eurojust, should be established in order to fight environmental crime.
Amendment 60 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The effective investigation, prosecution and adjudication of environmental criminal offences should be improved. The list of environmental criminal offences which were set out in Directive 2008/99/EC should be revised and additional categories of offences based on the most serious breaches of Union environmental law should be added. This is for example the case of illegal logging which is an activity of serious concern that leads to environmental damage, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation, desertification and soil erosion leading to natural disasters, such as landslides, which has led to the destruction or damage of several Natura 2000 sites and primary and old-growth forests and can result in the extinction of protected species and specific habitats for different plant and animal species because those engaged in illegal activities tend to disregard laws that protect valuable forest resources. Provisions on sanctions should be strengthened in order to enhance their deterrent effect as well as the enforcement chain in charge of detecting, investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating environmental criminal offences.
Amendment 69 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
Amendment 91 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11 a) The "One Health" approach recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment and is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely interlinked and inter- dependent.
Amendment 95 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) Forests are an essential ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. They function as carbon sinks, and help to reduce the impacts of climate change, for example by cooling down cities, protecting them from heavy flooding, and reducing drought impact. Especially with regards to offences that create a spiral of severe environmental damages falling within the scope of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, presenting irreversible danger to the balance of whole ecosystems, such as illegal logging, committing forest fires and destruction of wildlife habitats or other offences against forests, should be taken into account as possible aggravating circumstances.
Amendment 100 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Sanctions for the offences should be effective, dissuasive and proportionate. To this end, minimum levels for the maximum term of imprisonment should be set for natural persons. Accessory sanctions are often seen as being more effective than financial sanctions especially for legal persons. Additional sanctions or measures should be therefore available in criminal proceedings and applicable to the same extent in all the Member States. These should include the obligation to reinstate the environment, exclusion from access to public funding, including tender procedures, grants and concessions and withdrawal of permits and authorisations. This is without prejudice to the discretion of judges or courts in criminal proceedings to impose appropriate sanctions in the individual cases.
Amendment 124 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Environmental criminal offences harm nature and society. By reporting breaches of Union environmental law, peopleindividuals, environmental defenders, associations and NGOs perform a service of public interest and play a key role in identifying, exposing and preventing such breaches, and thus safeguarding the welfare of society. Individuals in contact with an organisation in the context of their work-related activities are often the first to know about threats or harm to the public interest and the environment. Persons who report irregularities are known as whistleblowers. Potential whistleblowers are often discouraged from reporting their concerns or suspicions for fear of retaliation. Such persons should benefit from balanced and effective whistleblowers protection set out under Directive (EU) 2019/1937of the European Parliament and of the Council25 . _________________ 25 Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305/17).
Amendment 140 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) To ensure an effective, integrated and coherent enforcement system that includes administrative, civil and criminal law measures, Member States should organise internal cooperation and communication between all actors along the administrative and criminal enforcement chains and between punitive and remedial sanctioning actors. Following the applicable rules, Member States should also cooperate through EU agencies, in particular Eurojust and Europol, as well as with EU bodies, including the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), in their respective areas of competence. The mandate of EPPO should be extended to also cover serious environmental crimes with a cross-border dimension. In order to do so, EPPO needs adequate resources and funding. In addition, cooperation with third-countries is essential.
Amendment 145 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) To ensure a coherent approach to combating environmental offences, Member States should adopt, publish and periodically review a national strategy on combating environmental crime, establishing objectives, priorities and corresponding measures and resources needed. The collected data from Member States should be made public.
Amendment 150 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) To effectively tackle the criminal offences referred to in this Directive, it is necessary that competent authorities in thewith the establishment of specialised coordination bodies in every Member States collect accurate, consistent and comparable data on the scale of and trends in environmental offences and the efforts to combat them and their results. These data should be used for preparing statistics to serve the operational and strategic planning of enforcement activities as well as for providing information to citizens. Member States should collect and report to the Commission relevant statistical data on environmental offences. The Commission should develop a series of tools and processes to facilitate reporting by Member States, including standard formats for the different types of reported data to ensure their relevance, objectivity, and allow comparative analysis between Member States. The Commission should regularly assess and publish the results based on the data transmitted by the Member States.
Amendment 171 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
(5 a) "polluter pays principle" means that polluters should bear the costs of their pollution or environmental damage, including the cost of measures taken to prevent, control and remedy pollution, as well as the costs the polluters impose on society.
Amendment 172 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
(5 b) "One Health Approach" means an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment including ecosystems are closely interlinked and inter-dependent.
Amendment 216 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Amendment 218 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r b (new)
(r b) the environmental damage to forests, such as committing forests fires intentionally or illegal logging.
Amendment 229 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Member States shall ensure that their national legislation specifies that the following elements shall be taken into account when assessing whether the activity is likely to cause damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, ecosystems, habitats or to animals or plants for the purposes of the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of offences referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (e), (i), (j), (k) and (p):
Amendment 236 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point d a (new)
(d a) the polluter pays principle.
Amendment 327 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Where an offence referred to in Articles 3 and 4 falls within the jurisdiction of more than one Member State, these Member States shall cooperate to determine which Member State shall conduct criminal proceedings. The matter shall, where appropriate and in accordance with Article 12 of Council Framework Decision 2009/948/JHA59 , be referred to Eurojust. , as well as Europol. _________________ 59 Council Framework Decision 2009/948/JHA of 30 November 2009 on prevention and settlement of conflicts of exercise of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings (OJ L 328, 15.12.2009, p. 42).
Amendment 330 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that protection granted under Directive (EU) 2019/1937, is applicable not only to persons reporting criminal offences but also to civil society organisations referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive.
Amendment 332 #
2021/0422(COD)
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that persons and civil society associations reporting offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive and providing evidence or otherwise cooperating with the investigation, prosecution or adjudication of such offences are provided the necessary support and assistance in the context of criminal proceedings.
Amendment 364 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the statistical data as well as a consolidated review of their statistics isare regularly published.
Amendment 61 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The present Regulation will take into account the specificity of each relevant commodity regarding its production chain.
Amendment 65 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) ‘deforestation’ means the conversion of forest to agricultural or other type of land uses, whether human-induced or not;
Amendment 95 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
(9) ‘produced’ means grown, harvested, raised, fed from birth to slaughter or obtained on relevant plot of land;
Amendment 114 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. Operators that have received new relevant information, including substantiated concerns, that the relevant commodity or product that they have already placed on the market is not in conformity with the requirements of this Regulation shall immediately inform the competent authorities of the Member States in which they placed the relevant commodity or product on the market. In the case of exports from the Union market, the operators shall inform the competent authority of Member State which is the country of production.
Amendment 117 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(a a) The reference number of the due diligence statement or statements assigned by the information system referred to in Article 31 in relation to all the relevant commodities or products that have been supplied to them;
Amendment 119 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. Traders which are SMEs that have received new relevant information, including substantiated concerns, that the relevant commodity or product that they have already made available on the market is not in conformity with the requirements of this Regulation shall immediately inform the competent authorities of the Member States in which they made available the relevant commodity or product on the market.
Amendment 122 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Prior to placing relevant commodities and products on the market or before exporting them, operators shall exercisecarry out a due diligence system with regard to all relevant commodities and products supplied by each particular supplier in such a way as to ensure the requirements set out in points (a) and (b) of Article 3..
Amendment 123 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the due diligence system shall include:
Amendment 124 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point -a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point -a (new)
(-a) the undertaking’s commitment, sourcing and risk management policies as referred to in Article 10(6).
Amendment 125 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(c a) records of the activity referred to in Article 11.
Amendment 127 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Operators shall collect information, documents and data demonstrating that the relevant commodities and products are compliant with Article 3, taking into account its compatibility and respect with the local legislations. For this purpose, the operator shall collect, organise and keep for 5 years the following information relating to the relevant commodities or products, supported by evidence:
Amendment 132 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) geo-localisation coordinates, latitude and longitude of all plots of land where the relevant commodities and products were produced, as well as date or time range of production;in particular with regard to cattle, operators shall collect all the necessary information linking these geo-localisation coordinates to the actual identification and traceability information of the commodities and products concerned;
Amendment 137 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) adequate and verifiable information throughout the supply chain ensuring that the production has been conducted in accordance with relevant legislation of the country of production, including any arrangement conferring the right to use the respective area for the purposes of the production of the relevant commodity;
Amendment 161 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – title
Article 11 – title
11 Maintenance of dDue diligence systems development. Maintenance and record keeping
Amendment 162 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 11 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Subtitle: Due diligence system development.
Amendment 163 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. In order to exercise due diligence in accordance with Article 8, operators shall establish and keep up to date a due diligence system to ensure that they can guarantee compliance with the requirements set out in Article 3(a) and (b). The due diligence system shall be reviewed at least once a year and if necessary adapted to and accounting for new developments which may influence the exercise of due diligence. Operators shall keep record of updates in the due diligence system(s) for 5 years.
Amendment 165 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Subtitle: Maintenance and record keeping
Amendment 166 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. 1. The due diligence system shall be reviewed at least once a year and if necessary adapted to and accounting for new developments which may influence the exercise of due diligence. Operators shall keep record of updates in the due diligence system(s) for 5 years.
Amendment 172 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. However, if the operator obtains or is made aware of any relevant information that would point to a risk that the relevant commodities and products may not fulfil the requirements of this Regulation, all obligations of Article 9 and 10 have to be fulfilled.
Amendment 198 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – title
Article 20 – title
20 Enhanced scrutinyIncreased controls according to risk
Amendment 200 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to Article 23, where competent authorities establish that an operator or trader has not complied with its obligations under this Regulation or that a relevant commodity or product is not compliant with this Regulation, they shall without delay require the relevant operator or trader to take appropriate and proportionate corrective action to bring the non-compliance to an end, both for the relevant commodities or products concerned and all others with the same risk profile.
Amendment 204 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the corrective action required to be taken by the operator or trader shall include at least one or more of the following:
Amendment 206 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) donating it to charitable or public interest purposes or destroying the relevant commodity or product or donating it to charitable or public interest purposes.
Amendment 215 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The identification of low and high risk countries or parts thereof pursuant to paragraph 1 shall take into account information provided by the country concerned at the request of the Commission and be based on the following assessment criteria:
Amendment 221 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall engage with producer countries concerned by this Regulation as well as with those who are engaged with VPA FLEGT processes to develop partnerships and cooperation to jointly address deforestation and forest degradation. Such partnerships and cooperation mechanisms will focus on the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of forests, deforestation, forest degradation and the transition to sustainable commodity production, consumption processing and trade methods. Partnerships and cooperation mechanisms may include structured dialogues, support programmes and actions, administrative arrangements and provisions in existing agreements or agreements that enable producer countries to make the transition to an agricultural production that facilitates the compliance of relevant commodities and products with the requirements of this regulation. Partnerships may also include mechanisms to exchange with the demand-side all the information that guarantees compliance with this regulation. Such agreements and their effective implementation will be taken into account as part of the benchmarking under Article 27 of this Regulation.
Amendment 226 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. Natural or legal persons shall be entitled to submit substantiated concerns together with supporting documents to competent authorities when they deem, based on objective circumstances, that one or more operators or traders are failing to comply with the provisions of this Regulation.
Amendment 230 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Competent authorities shall prioritize substantiated concerns related to the non-compliance of Article 3.b, when based on condemning verdicts or even ongoing legal complaints, initiated on the country of origin, by local communities, NGO or any other pertinent stakeholder.
Amendment 231 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3
Article 29 – paragraph 3
3. The competent authority shall, as soon as possible and in accordance with the relevant provisions of national law, inform the natural or legal persons referred to in paragraph 1, which submitted observatiosubstantial concerns to the authority, of its decision to accede to or refuse the request for action and shall provide the reasons for it.
Amendment 232 #
2021/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. In order to facilitate the transmission on substantiated concerns from natural or legal persons from producer countries, and especially from local communities, the Commission shall establish a centralized communication procedure that may channel those concerns to the relevant Member States. This procedure may be complementary to those established by competent authorities.
Amendment 37 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The European Commission and Member States should support regional and local commitments to achieve the European Green Deal objectives, notably to ensure greater deployment of renewable energy sources. Networks, which facilitate multilevel governance arrangements, play an essential role in increasing local ambition and action at local level, involving citizens and local actors.
Amendment 42 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Renewable energy plays a fundamental role in delivering the European Green Deal and for achieving climate neutrality by 2050, given that the energy sector contributes over 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the Union. By reducing those greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy also contributes to tackling environmental-related challenges such as biodiversity and ecosystems loss.
Amendment 44 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Renewable Energy Communities are a key tool for promoting the widespread use of renewable energy sources and achieving a decentralised energy system while ensuring local economic and social benefits. Initiatives for collective self-generation and collective self-consumption in buildings and at district level should be facilitated by reducing permitting, administrative difficulties and burdens, or other factors inhibiting grid access, grid fees, and enhancing the deployment of technologies such as solar thermal and photovoltaic, wind and geothermal technologies.
Amendment 49 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The European Green Deal5 establishes the objective of the Union becoming climate neutral in 2050 at the latest in a manner that contributes to the European economy, growth and job creationsustainability of the European economy, environmental protection, social development, growth and job creation while tackling climate change. That objective, and the objective of a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as set out in the 2030 Climate Target Plan6 that was endorsed both by the European Parliament7 and by the European Council8 Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 ('European Climate Law'), requires an energy transition and significantly higher shares of renewable energy sources in an integrated energy system. _________________ 5 Communication from the Commission COM(2019) 640 final of 11.12.2019, The European Green Deal. 6 Communication from the Commission COM(2020) 562 final of 17.9.2020, Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition Investing in a climate-neutral future for the benefit of our people 7 European Parliament resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (2019/2956(RSP)) 8 European Council conclusions of 11 December 2020, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/47 296/1011-12-20-euco-conclusions-en.pdf
Amendment 51 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Renewable energy plays a fundamental role in delivering the European Green Deal and for achieving climate neutrality by 2050, given that the energy sector contributes over 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the Union. By reducing those greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy also contributes to tackling environmental-related challenges such as biodiversity loss; contributing to the overall improvement of environmental conditions and avoiding extreme weather- related phenomena such as draughts and floods.
Amendment 53 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The Member States shall carry out an assessment of the barriers to the development of renewable energy communities as required by Art. 22 of the Directive 2018/2001. The European Commission may provide assistance to Member States in order to ensure timely transposition of the Directive and coherence with national legal framework.
Amendment 54 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2 a) Promoting domestic renewable energy reduces de Union's energy dependence and its need to import fossil fuels, increasing energy security.
Amendment 56 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 b (new)
Recital 2 b (new)
(2 b) Around 35 million Europeans are affected by energy poverty1a and renewable energy policies have an important role to play in any strategy tackling energy poverty and consumer vulnerability. _________________ 1a Commission Recommendation (EU) 2020/1563 of 14 October 2020 on energy poverty
Amendment 57 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 c (new)
Recital 2 c (new)
(2 c) Member States should therefore ensure that incentives and proactive policies are put in place to facilitate the uptake of efficient renewable energy generation and heating and cooling, not only in middle-and high-income households, but also and specifically in those households with low-income at risk of energy poverty, paying special attention to those located in sparsely populated areas.
Amendment 59 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 d (new)
Recital 2 d (new)
(2 d) The various sources of sustainable renewable energy available should be integrated. Their use should also be fostered through the establishment of renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities geared towards social and environmental sustainability from the viewpoint of both the participants and the distribution system grid operators.
Amendment 64 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 sets a binding Union target to reach a share of at least 32 % of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy by 2030. Under the Climate Target Plan, the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption would need to increase to 405% by 2030 in order to achieve the Union’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target10 . Therefore, the target set out in Article 3 of that Directive needs to be increased. _________________ 9 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82–209 10 Point 3 of the Communication from the Commission COM(2020) 562 final of 17.9.2020, Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition Investing in a climate- neutral future for the benefit of our people
Amendment 67 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Since energy poverty affects around 8% of the population of the Union, renewable energy policies have an essential role to play in addressing energy poverty and consumer vulnerability ;
Amendment 68 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
Amendment 69 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Member States’ cooperation to promote renewable energy, which may involve local and regional authorities, can take the form of statistical transfers, support schemes or joint projects. It allows for a cost-efficient deployment of renewable energy across Europe and contributes to market integration. Despite its potential, cooperation, especially in cross border regions, has been very limited, thus leading to suboptimal results in terms of cost effectiveness and efficiency in increasing renewable energy. Smart grid projects in border regions, including cross border electricity exchanges at medium-voltage level, can provide high added value to the cross- border approach as they allow for greater resource optimisation, flexibility and resilience of electricity energy systems, ensuring wider societal benefits to the local communities involved; Member States should therefore be obliged to test cooperation through implementing a pilot project. Projects financed by national contributions under the Union renewable energy financing mechanism established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/129414 would meet this obligation for the Member States involved. _________________ 14 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 of 15 September 2020 on the Union renewable energy financing mechanism (OJ L 303, 17.9.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 70 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) Local and regional authorities (LRAs) play a very important role in an integrated and decentralised energy system. The Commission shall support LRAs, including in insular territories, with regard to working across borders by assisting them in setting up cooperation mechanisms. Closer cooperation between the EU and Member States and increased investment in Research and Development and Innovation (RDI) will provide the significant added value needed to meet the objectives of this Directive across the EU.
Amendment 71 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 b (new)
Recital 7 b (new)
(7b) Accurate data and information are necessary to ensure the transition to an energy system based on renewable technologies at the national, regional and local level. This data can be obtained through different sources ranging from smart devices such as applications up to earth observation system such as Copernicus.
Amendment 73 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy introduces an ambitious objective of 300 GW of offshore wind and 40 GW of ocean energy across all the Union’s sea basins by 2050. To ensure this step change, Member States , or their competent regional or local authorities, will need to work together across borders at sea-basin level. Member States should therefore jointly define and allocate adequate space in their maritime spatial plan for the amount of offshore renewable generation and related infrastructure to be deployed within each sea basin by 2050, with intermediate steps in 2030 and 2040. These objectives should be reflected in the updated national energy and climate plans that will be submitted in 2023 and 2024 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In defining the amount, Member States should take into account the offshore renewable energy potential of each sea basin, environmental and biodiversity protection, climate adaptation and other uses of the sea, as well as the Union’s decarbonisation targets. In addition, Member States should increasingly consider the possibility of combining offshore renewable energy generation with transmission lines interconnecting several Member States, in the form of hybrid projects or, at a later stage, a more meshed grid. This would allow electricity to flow in different directions, thus maximising socio- economic welfare, optimising infrastructure expenditure and enabling a more sustainable usage of the sea.
Amendment 75 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) There is a growing recognition of the need for alignment of bioenergy policies with the cascading principle of biomass use11 , with a view to ensuring fair access to the biomass raw material market for the development of innovative, high value-added bio-based solutions and a sustainable circular bioeconomy. When developing support schemes for bioenergy, Member States should therefore take into consideration the available sustainable supply of biomass for energy and non- energy uses and the maintenance of the national forest carbon sinks and ecosystems as well as ensuring protection of biodiversity and the enhancement of the principles of the circular economy and the biomass cascading use, and the waste hierarchy established in Directive 2008/98/ECof the European Parliament and of the Council12 . For this, they should grant no support to the production of energy from saw logs, veener logs, stumps and roots and avoid promoting the use of quality roundwood for energy except in well-defined circumstances, for example, to ensure wildfire prevention. In line with the cascading principle, woody biomass should be used according to its highest economic and environmental added value in the following order of priorities: 1) wood-based products, 2) extending their service life, 3) re-use, 4) recycling, 5) bio- energy and 6) disposal. Where no other use for woody biomass is economically viable or environmentally appropriate, energy recovery helps to reduce energy generation from non- renewable sources. Member States’ support schemes for bioenergy should therefore be directed to such feedstocks for which little market competition exists with the material sectors, and whose sourcing is considered positive for both climate and biodiversity, in order to avoid negative incentives for unsustainable bioenergy pathways, as identified in the JRC report ‘The use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU’13 . On the other hand, in defining the further implications of the cascading principle, it is necessary to recognise the national specificities which guide Member States in the design of their support schemesWaste prevention, reuse and recycling of waste should be the priority option. Member States should avoid creating support schemes which would be counter to targets on treatment of waste and which would lead to the inefficient use of recyclable waste. Moreover, in order to ensure a more efficient use of bioenergy, from 2026 on Member States should not give support anymore to electricity-only plants , unless the installations are in regions with a specific use status as regards their transition away from fossil fuels or if the installations use carbon capture and storage. _________________ 11 The cascading principle aims to achieve resource efficiency of biomass use through prioritising biomass material use to energy use wherever possible, increasing thus the amount of biomass available within the system. In line with the cascading principle, woody biomass should be used according to its highest economic and environmental added value in the following order of priorities: 1) wood-based products, 2) extending their service life, 3) re-use, 4) recycling, 5) bio-energy and 6) disposal. 12 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3). 13 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reposit ory/handle/JRC122719
Amendment 76 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Member States shall avoid any retroactive change to renewable energy support schemes. Therefore, Member States shall also ensure legal certainty for consumers and investors to establish a strong and transparent legal framework.
Amendment 80 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The rapid growth and increasing cost-competitiveness of renewable electricity production can be used to satisfy a growing share of energy demand, for instance using heat pumps for space heating or low-temperature industrial processes, electric vehicles for transport, or electric furnaces in certain industries. Renewable electricity can also be used to produce synthetic fuels for consumption in hard-to-decarbonise transport sectors such as aviation and maritime transport. A framework for electrification needs to enable robust and efficient coordination and expand market mechanisms to match both supply and demand in space and time, stimulate investments in flexibility, energy storage and demand response, and help integrate large shares of variable renewable generation. Member States should therefore, while taking into account the energy first principle, ensure that the deployment of renewable electricity continues to increase at an adequate pace to meet growing demand. For this, Member States should establish a framework that includes market-compatible mechanisms to tackle remaining barriers to have secure and adequate electricity systems fit for a high level of renewable energy, as well as storage facilities, fully integrated into the electricity system. In particular, this framework shall tackle remaining barriers, including non-financial ones such as insufficient digital and human resources of authorities to process a growing number of permitting applications. The Commission should help Member States to bring down administrative barriers, in particular with a view to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures for renewable energy projects.
Amendment 82 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) When calculating the share of renewables in a Member State, renewable fuels of non-biological origin should be counted in the sector where they are consumed (electricity, heating and cooling, or transport). To avoid double-counting, the renewable electricity used to produce these fuels should not be counted. This would result in a harmonisation of the accounting rules for these fuels throughout the Directive, regardless of whether they are counted for the overall renewable energy target or for any sub-target. It would also allow to count the real energy consumed, taking account of energy losses in the process to produce those fuels. Moreover, it would allow for the accounting of renewable fuels of non- biological origin imported into and consumed in the Union. When renewable fuels of non-biological origin are consumed in a Member State other than the Member State where they were produced, in order to compensate the costs incurred by the producing Member State and to avoid discouraging investments, rules should be established to account for at least a minimum amount of the renewable fuels of non-biological origin consumed in a Member State towards the share of gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources in the Member State where they were produced.
Amendment 84 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) All fields of EU policies must orient its actions towards the newly established climate targets and achieve climate neutrality. This is the case for Cohesion Policy, which has, for over twenty years, contributed to decarbonising the economy, while providing examples and best practices that can be mirrored in other policy dimensions, such as the amending of this Directive. Cohesion policy not only offers investment opportunities to respond to local and regional needs through the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, but also provides an integrated policy framework to reduce developmental disparities between the European regions and helps them address the multiple challenges to their development, including through environmental protection, high- quality employment and fair, inclusive and sustainable development.
Amendment 84 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Member States should therefore guarantee to support proactive policies that focus especially on low-income households at risk of energy poverty or in social housing;
Amendment 87 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 b (new)
Recital 7 b (new)
(7 b) Islands, small islands, outermost and peripheral regions have an enormous potential in the production of renewable energy and are strategic laboratories for implementing innovative policy solutions and technical measures to deliver the energy transition and reduce CO2 emissions, walking the path towards energy independence, allowing them to play a crucial role for the purposes of research into climate change and biodiversity, and becoming a mirror for the rest of the Union. They should be able to access sufficient economic resources and adequate training in order to deliver integrated, sector-coupled and innovative interventions for sustainable infrastructure and local economic development.
Amendment 88 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 c (new)
Recital 7 c (new)
(7 c) Accurate data and information are needed at national, regional and local levels in order to contribute to the transition to an energy system based on renewable technologies. This data can be obtained from a number of EU-based sources such as the Earth observation system Copernicus and the soon to be created Rural Observatory.
Amendment 89 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 d (new)
Recital 7 d (new)
(7 d) Cohesion policy ensures greater coherence and coordination between the cohesion policy and other EU legislative fields, improving the policy integration of climate aspects, designing more effective source-based policies, providing targeted EU funding and, consequently, improving the implementation of climate policies on the ground.
Amendment 89 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Infrastructure development for district heating and cooling networks should be stepped up and steered towards harnessing a wider range of renewable heat and cold sources in an efficient and flexible way in order to increase the deployment of renewable energy and deepen energy system integration. It is therefore appropriate to update the list of renewable energy sources that district heating and cooling networks should increasingly accommodate and require the integration of thermal energy storage as a source of flexibility, greater energy efficiency and more cost-effective operation, such support should be provided in a form that focuses on the inclusion of low-income households in order to address energy poverty.
Amendment 90 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 e (new)
Recital 7 e (new)
(7 e) It is paramount to fully uphold multi-level governance and partnership principles in the transition to a climate- neutral economy, as local and regional authorities have direct competencies on the environment and climate change, implementing 90% of climate adaptation and 70% of climate mitigation actions. Furthermore, these authorities also develop actions that aim to promote climate-friendly behaviour among citizens, including those linked to waste management, smart mobility, sustainable housing and energy consumption.
Amendment 91 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 f (new)
Recital 7 f (new)
(7 f) The transition towards climate neutrality must be just and inclusive, with a particular focus on people living in rural and remote areas, and more specifically on those territories most affected by the transition towards climate neutrality, avoiding any increase in regional disparities and empowering workers and local and regional communities.
Amendment 92 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 g (new)
Recital 7 g (new)
(7 g) Specificities of all regions as defined in Article 174 TFEU need to be fully reflected in the transition process, in particular by focusing on rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps in order to ensure the overall harmonious development of all areas. In this regard, the national plans should integrate the specificities of their regions with a view to combating the climate crisis and making local communities more resilient.
Amendment 94 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy introduces an ambitious objective of 300 GW of offshore wind and 40 GW of ocean energy across all the Union’s sea basins by 2050. To ensure this step change, Member States and its relevant regional and local authorities will need to work together across borders at sea-basin level. Member States and their relevant regional and local actors should therefore jointly define the amount of offshore renewable generation to be deployed within each sea basin by 2050, with intermediate steps in 2030 and 2040. These objectives should be reflected in the updated national energy and climate plans that will be submitted in 2023 and 2024 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In defining the amount, Member States should take into account the offshore renewable energy potential of each sea basin, environmental protection and biodiversity, climate adaptation and other uses of the sea, as well as the Union’s decarbonisation targets. In addition, Member Stateespecially the activities that were already taking place in the affected areas, the possible harm to the environment, the article 2 of the Paris Agreement, as well as the Union’s decarbonisation targets should be taken into account. In addition, Member States and their relevant sub-administrations should increasingly consider the possibility of combining offshore renewable energy generation with transmission lines interconnecting several Member States, in the form of hybrid projects or, at a later stage, a more meshed grid. This would allow electricity to flow in different directions, thus maximising socio- economic welfare, optimising infrastructure expenditure and enabling a more sustainable usage of the sea. Member States bordering a sea basin could use the maritime spatial planning process to ensure a strong public participation approach so that the views of all stakeholders and coastal communities are taken into account, as well as the activities already taking place in the affected areas.
Amendment 101 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The market for renewable power purchase agreements is rapidly growing and provides a complementary route to the market of renewable power generation in addition to support schemes by Member States or to selling directly on the wholesale electricity market. At the same time, these agreements provide the producer with the security of a certain income whilst the user can benefit from a stable electricity price. The market for renewable power purchase agreements is still limited to a small number of Member States and large companies, with significant administrative, technical and financial barriers remaining in large parts of the Union’s market. The existing measures in Article 15 to encourage the uptake of renewable power purchase agreements should therefore be strengthened further, by exploring the use of credit guarantees to reduce these agreements’ financial risks, taking into account that these guarantees, where public, should not crowd out private financing.
Amendment 109 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Insufficient numbers of skilled workers, in particular installers and designers of renewable heating and cooling systems, slow down the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems by renewable energy based systems, including solar thermal photovoltaic systems, shallow geothermal systems and heat pumps and energy storage systems, and is a major barrier to integrating renewables in buildings, industry and agriculture. Member States should cooperate with social partners and renewable energy communities to anticipate the skills that will be needed. A sufficient number of high-quality training programmes and certification possibilities ensuring proper installation and reliable operation of a wide range of renewable heating and cooling systems should be made available and designed in a way to attract participation in such training programmes and certification systems. Training courses and qualifications already acquired by the operators on the basis of the previous legislation must be preserved. Member States should consider what actions should be taken to attract groups currently under- represented in the occupational areas in question. The list of trained and certified installers should be made public to ensure consumer trust and easy access to tailored designer and installer skills guaranteeing proper installation and operation of renewable heating and cooling.
Amendment 111 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The use of renewable fuels and renewable electricity in transport can contribute to the decarbonisation of the Union transport sector in a cost-effective manner, and improve, amongst other, energy diversification in that sector while promoting innovation, growth and jobs in the Union economy and reducing reliance on energy imports. With a view to achieving the increased target for greenhouse gas emission savings defined by the Union, the level of renewable energy supplied to all transport modes in the Union should be increased. Expressing the transport target as a greenhouse gas intensity reduction target would stimulate an increasing use of the most cost-effective and performing fuels, in terms of greenhouse gas savings, in transport. In addition, a greenhouse gas intensity reduction target would stimulate innovation and set out a clear benchmark to compare across fuel types and renewable electricity depending on their greenhouse gas intensity. Complementary to this, increasing the level of the energy-based target on advanced biofuels and biogas and introducing a target for renewable fuels of non-biological origin would ensure an increased use of the renewable fuels with smallest environmental impact in transport modes and regions that are difficult to electrify. The achievement of those targets should be ensured by obligations on fuel suppliers as well as by other measures included in [Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport - FuelEU Maritime and Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport]. Dedicated obligations on aviation fuel suppliers should be set only pursuant to [Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport].
Amendment 113 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Distributed and decentralised generation, demand response and storage assets, such as domestic batteries and batteries of electric vehicles, smart heating and cooling systems, and other smart devices have the potential to offer considerable flexibility and balancing services to the grid through aggregation. In order to facilitate the development of such services, the regulatory provisions concerning connection and operation of the decentralised generation and storage assets, such as tariffs, commitment times and connection specifications, should be designed in a way that does not hamper the potential of all storage assets, including small and mobile ones, to offer flexibility and balancing services to the system and to contribute to the further penetration of renewable electricity, in comparison with larger, stationary storage assets.
Amendment 114 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Increasing ambition in the heating and cooling sector is key to delivering the overall renewable energy target given that heating and cooling constitutes around half of the Union's energy consumption, covering a wide range of end uses and technologies in buildings, industry and district heating and cooling. To accelerate the increase of renewables in heating and cooling, an annual 1.1 percentage point increase at Member State level should be made binding as a minimum for all Member States. For those Member States, which already have renewable shares above 50% in the heating and cooling sector, it should remain possible to only apply half of the binding annual increase rate and Member States with 60% or above may count any such share as fulfilling the average annual increase rate in accordance with points b) and c) of paragraph 2 of Article 23. In addition, Member State- specific top-ups should be set, redistributing the additional efforts to the desired level of renewables in 2030 among Member States based on GDP and cost- effectiveness. A longer list of different measures should also be included in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to facilitate increasing the share of renewables in heating and cooling. Member States may implement one or more measures from the list of measures. When adopting and implementing those measures, Member states should ensure their accessibility to all consumers, in particular those in low- income or vulnerable households, and should require a significant share of measures to be implemented as a priority in low-income households at risk of energy poverty and in social housing.
Amendment 116 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The use of renewable fuels and renewable electricity in transport can contribute to the decarbonisation of the Union transport sector in a cost-effective manner, and improve, amongst other, energy diversification in that sector while promoting innovation, growth and jobs in the Union economy and reducing reliance on energy imports. With a view to achieving the increased target for greenhouse gas emission savings defined by the Union, the level of renewable energy supplied to all transport modes in the Union should be increased. Expressing the transport target as a greenhouse gas intensity reduction target would stimulate an increasing use of the most cost-effective and performing fuels, in terms of greenhouse gas savings, in transport. In addition, a greenhouse gas intensity reduction target would stimulate innovation and set out a clear benchmark to compare across fuel types and renewable electricity depending on their greenhouse gas intensity. However, in order to ensure the achievement of the greenhouse gas emission savings target, Member States should have the possibility to do so by means of measures targeting volumes, energy content or greenhouse gas emissions, provided that it is demonstrated that the greenhouse gas intensity reduction and minimum shares are achieved. Complementary to this, increasing the level of the energy-based target on advanced biofuels and biogas and introducing a target for renewable fuels of non-biological origin would ensure an increased use of the renewable fuels with smallest environmental impact in transport modes that are difficult to electrify. The achievement of those targets should be ensured by obligations on fuel suppliers as well as by other measures included in [Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport - FuelEU Maritime and Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport]. Dedicated obligations on aviation fuel suppliers should be set only pursuant to [Regulation (EU) 2021/XXX on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport].
Amendment 116 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) The Union’s renewable energy policy aims to contribute to achieving the climate change mitigation objectives of the European Union in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In the pursuit of this goal, it is essential to also contribute to wider environmental objectives, and in particular the prevention of biodiversity and ecosystems loss, which is negatively impacted by the indirect land use change associated to the production of certain biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. Contributing to these climate and environmental objectives constitutes a deep and longstanding intergenerational concern for Union citizens and the Union legislator. As a consequence, the changes in the way the transport target is calculated should not affect the limits established on how to account toward that target certain fuels produced from food and feed crops on the one hand and high indirect land-use change-risk fuels on the other hand. In addition, in order not to create an incentive to use biofuels and biogas produced from food and feed crops in transport, Member States should continue to be able to choose whether count them or not towards the transport target. If they do not count them, they may reduce the greenhouse gas intensity reduction target accordingly, assuming that food and feed crop-based biofuels save 50% greenhouse gas emissions, which corresponds to the typical values set out in an annex to this Directive for the greenhouse gas emission savings of the most relevant production pathways of food and feed crop-based biofuels as well as the minimum savings threshold applying to most installations producing such biofuels.
Amendment 118 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Electromobility will play an essential role in decarbonising the transport sector. To foster the further development of electromobility, Member States should establish a credit mechanism enabling operators of charging points accessible to the public. as well as private charging points to contribute, by supplying renewable electricity, towards the fulfilment of the obligation set up by Member States on fuel suppliers. While supporting electricity in transport through such a mechanism, it is important that Member States continue setting a high level of ambition for the decarbonisation of their liquid fuel mix in transportmainly in hard-to- decarbonise transport sectors, such as the maritime and aviation sectors.
Amendment 140 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 22 c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 22 c (new)
(c a) 'energy efficiency first' means 'energy efficient first' as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Regulation(EU) 2018/1999
Amendment 143 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 405%.;
Amendment 165 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
No later than one year after [the entry into force of this amending Directive], the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 35 on how to apply the cascading principle for biomass, in particular on how to minimise the use of quality roundwood for energy production, with a focus on support schemes and with due regard to national specificitiesand while taking into account available volumes of feedstock and share of pre- existing competing industrial uses other than energy purposes, with a focus on support schemes and with due regard to national specificities. This delegated act shall consider the necessary forest management activities, aimed notably at ensuring wildfire prevention.
Amendment 172 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 4a
Article 3 – paragraph 4a
4a. Member States shall establish a framework, which may include support schemes and facilitating the uptake of renewable power purchase agreements, enabling the deployment of renewable electricity to a level that is consistent with the Member State’s national contribution referred to in paragraph 2 and at a pace that is consistent with the indicative trajectories referred to in Article 4(a)(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In particular, that framework shall tackle remaining barriers, including those related to permitting procedures, to a high level of renewable electricity supply. When designing that framework, Member States shall take into account the additional renewable electricity required to meet demand in the transport, industry, building and heating and cooling sectors and for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Member States and their relevant sub-national administrations shall endeavour to promote the most sustainable renewable energy generation technologies, for example by assessing the embodied carbon footprint of the projects and applying sustainability best practices in the project development.;
Amendment 174 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 7 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 2
With regard to the first subparagraph, point (a), (b), or (c), gas and electricity from renewable sources shall be considered only once for the purposes of calculating the share of gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources. Energy produced from renewable fuels of non-biological origin shall be accounted in the sector - electricity, heating and cooling or transport - where it is consumed. When renewable fuels of non-biological origin are consumed by a Member State different than the producing Member State, a minimum level of energy shall be accounted in the Member State where it is produced.
Amendment 176 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 25 – paragraph 1a
Article 25 – paragraph 1a
1a. By 31 December 2025, each Member State shall agree to establish at least one joint project with one or more other Member States for the production of renewable energy. Such cooperation may involve local and regional authorities and private operators. The Commission shall be notified of such an agreement, including the date on which the project is expected to become operational. Projects financed by national contributions under the Union renewable energy financing mechanism established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/129425 shall be deemed to satisfy this obligation for the Member States involved.; Local and regional authorities involved in cross-border projects, including joint structures such as Euro regions and EGTCs, should also be eligible for financial support and technical assistance. _________________ 25 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 of 15 September 2020 on the Union renewable energy financing mechanism (OJ L 303, 17.9.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 182 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 9 – pargraph 7a
Article 9 – pargraph 7a
7a. Member States bordering a sea basin shall cooperate to jointly define the amount of offshore renewable energy they plan to produce in that sea basin by 2050, with intermediate steps in 2030 and 2040. They shall take into account the specificities and development in each region, especially the activities that already take place in the affected area, the socioeconomical reality, and the possible harm to the environment, the offshore renewable potential of the sea basin and the importance of ensuring the associated integrated grid planning. Member States shall notify that amount in the updated integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.;
Amendment 185 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 7 – paragraph 7c (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 7c (new)
(4 a) The following paragraph is added: When defining the amount of offshore renewable energy, Member States bordering a sea basin should use the maritime spatial planning process ensuring a strong public participation approach so that the views of all stakeholders and affected coastal communities, as well as the impacts on the activities already taking place in the affected areas, are taken into account to ensure sustainable management of the maritime space;
Amendment 186 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point c
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15 – pargraph 8 – subparagraph 2a (new)
Article 15 – pargraph 8 – subparagraph 2a (new)
8 a. Following the assessment of Member States under the first subparagraph, the Commission shall analyse the barriers to long-term power purchase agreements and in particular to the deployment of cross-border renewable power purchase agreements and issue guidance on the removal of these barriers;
Amendment 188 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point d
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15 – pargraph 9
Article 15 – pargraph 9
9. By six months after the entry into force of this amending Directive, the Commission shall revise the guidelines on permit granting to shorten and simplify the process for new and repowered projects, including renewable hybrid plants and co-located facilities, including recommendations to remove administrative barriers to renewable energy projects and the electricity transmission assets necessary for their connection and integration into the electricity system, present best practices on permitting and grid interconnection and key performance indicators on how to apply the rules on administrative procedures set out in this Directive. To this end, the Commission shall carry out appropriate consultations that include all relevant stakeholders, including local and regional authorities. The Commission shall assess Member States' current permitting practices and propose corrective measures to align them with the Commission's guidelines. The Commission's assessment shall be made public. In the absence of progress, the Commission may take additional measures to support Member States in their implementation by assisting them in reforming and streamlining their permitting procedures. By one year after the entry into force of this amending Directive, the Commission shall review, and where appropriate, propose modifications to, the rules on administrative procedures set out in Articles 15, 16 and 17 and their application, and may take additional measures to support Member States in their implementation.;
Amendment 196 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15a – paragraph 1
Article 15a – paragraph 1
1. In order to promote the production and use of renewable energy in the building sector, Member States shall set an indicative target for the share of renewables in final energy consumption in their buildings sector in 2030 that is consistent with an indicative target of at least a 49 % share of energy from renewable sources in the buildings sector in the Union’s final consumption of energy in 2030. The national target shall be expressed in terms of share of national final energy consumption and calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in Article 7 including in the calculation of the share of final consumption of the electricity from renewable sources comprising self-consumption, energy communities and the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix. Member States shall include their target in the updated integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 as well as information on how they plan to achieve it.
Amendment 198 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15a – paragraph 4
Article 15a – paragraph 4
Amendment 199 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15b (new)
Article 15b (new)
(6 a) The following Article is inserted: Article 15 b 'Integrated renewable energy resources assessment and planning' Member States shall perform integrated mapping and planning for the deployment of renewable energy resources on their territory at NUTS 3 level in coordination with all relevant national, regional and local authorities.In doing so, Member States must ensure the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, especially where pre-existing economic activities are affected. The integrated mapping and planning referred to in paragraph 1 shall also consider the flexibility needs and the energy storage facilities required to ensure a stable and resilient penetration of renewables, taking into account elements such as the differing energy shifting timescales, seasonal variations and energy scarcity periods. In identifying the most suitable areas for the deployment of renewables, Member States shall determine different levels of priority taking into account both the availability of the energy resource and the environmental and biodiversity protection and impacts on local communities and pre-existing activities. Member States may facilitate the deployment of projects in the areas identified as having the highest level of priority through the permit- granting process set out in Article 16(6), without prejudice to Article 16(7)'.
Amendment 200 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 201 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall ensure that trained and qualified installers of renewable heating and cooling systems, solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, shallow geothermal systems, heat pumps and storage systems and active demand respond systems are available in sufficient numbers for the relevant technologies to service the growth of renewable heating and cooling required to contribute to the annual increase in the share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector as set out in Article 23, in buildings as set out in Article 15a and for renewable energy in transport as set out in Article 25, as well as the overall renewable energy target as set out in Article 3.
Amendment 202 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
To achieve such sufficient numbers of installers and designers, Member States or their competent authorities at regional and local level, may promote shall ensure that sufficient training programmes leading to qualification or certification covering renewable heating and cooling technologies, storage technologies, and their latest innovative solutions, including infrastructure are made available. Member States shall put in place measures to promote participation in such programmes, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises and the self- employed. Member States may put in place voluntary agreements with the relevant technology providers and vendors to train sufficient numbers of installers, which may be based on estimates of sales, in the latest innovative solutions and technologies available on the market.
Amendment 204 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 18 – paragraph 6
Article 18 – paragraph 6
4 a. By 31 December 2025 the Commission shall assess the availability of trained and qualified installers of renewable energy technologies needed to cover the demand for jobs at Member State level. Where necessary, the Commission shall make recommendations to Member States to reduce any gap in the availability of trained workers, which shall be made publicly available.
Amendment 205 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 – point a – point i
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
To that end, Member States shall ensure that a guarantee of origin is issued in response to a request from a producer of energy from renewable sources. Member States may arrange for guarantees of origin to be issued for energy from non- renewable sources. Issuance of guarantees of origin may be made subject to a minimum capacity limit. A guarantee of origin shall be of the standard size of 1 MWh. No more than one guarantee of origin shall be issued in respect of each unit of energy produced.;
Amendment 212 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 22 – point a
Article 22 – point a
1. Member States, in coordination with regions and local authorities, shall endeavour to increase the share of renewable sources in the amount of energy sources used for final energy and non- energy purposes in the industry sector by an indicative average minimum annual increase of 1.1 percentage points by 2030.
Amendment 215 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 22 – point b
Article 22 – point b
Member States, in coordination with regions and cities, shall include the measures planned and taken to achieve such indicative increase in their integrated national energy and climate plans and progress reports submitted pursuant to Articles 3, 14 and 17 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
Amendment 218 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 22 – point c
Article 22 – point c
Member States, in coordination with regions and cities, shall ensure that the contribution of renewable fuels of non- biological origin used for final energy and non-energy purposes shall be 50 % of the hydrogen used for final energy and non- energy purposes in industry by 2030. For the calculation of that percentage, the following rules shall apply:
Amendment 220 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
2. Member States, in coordination with regions and cities, shall ensure that industrial products that are labelled or claimed to be produced with renewable energy and renewable fuels of non- biological origin shall indicate the percentage of renewable energy used or renewable fuels of non-biological origin used in the raw material acquisition and pre-processing, manufacturing and distribution stage, calculated on the basis of the methodologies laid down in Recommendation 2013/179/EU27 or, alternatively, ISO 14067:2018.; _________________ 27 2013/179/EU: Commission Recommendation of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations, OJ L 124, 4.5.2013, p. 1–210
Amendment 222 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 23 – paragraph 1a
Article 23 – paragraph 1a
1a. Member States shall carry out an assessment of their potential of energy from renewable sources and of the use of waste heat and cold in the heating and cooling sector including, where appropriate, an analysis of areas suitable for their deployment at low ecological risk and of the potential for small-scale household projects with the participation of local and regional authorities. The assessment shall set out milestones and measures to ian increase of renewables in heating and cooling and, where appropriate, the use of waste heat and cold through district heating and cooling and small-scale household and SMEs with a view of establishing a long- term national strategy to decarbonise heating and cooling. The assessment shall be in accordance with the energy efficiency first principle and part of the integrated national energy and climate plans referred to in Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, and shall accompany the comprehensive heating and cooling assessment required by Article 14(1) of Directive 2012/27/EU.;
Amendment 223 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point c a (new)
(c a) the following subparagraph is inserted: Member States shall in particular provide information to the owners or tenants of buildings and SMEs on cost-effective measures, and financial instruments, to improve the use of renewable energy in the heating and cooling systems. Member States shall provide the information through accessible and transparent advisory tools based in one-stop shops;
Amendment 225 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point d
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 23 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point i
Article 23 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point i
(i) other policy measures, with an equivalent effect, including fiscal measures, support schemes or other financial incentives contributing to the installation of renewable heating and cooling equipment and the development of energy networks supplying renewable energy for heating and cooling in buildings and industry.
Amendment 226 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point d
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 23– paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 23– paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
When adopting and implementing those measures, Member States shall ensure their accessibility to all consumers including those who are tenants, in particular those in low-income or vulnerable households and shall require a significant share of masures to be implemented as a priority in households living in a condition of energy poverty as defined in the [Energy Efficiency Directive Recast] and in social housing, who would not otherwise possess sufficient up-front capital to benefit.;
Amendment 231 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 25 – paragraph 2
Article 25 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall establish a mechanism allowing fuel suppliers in their territory to exchange credits for supplying renewable energy to the transport sector. Economic operators that supply renewable electricity to electric vehicles through public and private recharging stations shall receive credits, irrespectively of whether the economic operators are subject to the obligation set by the Member State on fuel suppliers, and may sell those credits to fuel suppliers, which shall be allowed to use the credits to fulfil the obligation set out in paragraph 1, first subparagraph.;
Amendment 232 #
2021/0218(COD)
(14 a) When setting the obligation referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph to ensure the achievement of the targets set out therein, Member States may do so by means of measures targeting volumes, energy content or greenhouse gas emissions, provided that it is demonstrated that the green house gas intensity reduction and minimum shares referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph are achieved. Member States implementing the greenhouse gas intensity reduction target in Article 25 (1) by means of measures targeting volumes or energy content shall consider the share of renewable electricity to be four times its energy content;
Amendment 112 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 28
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 28
(28) ‘indirect emissions’ mean emissions from the production of electricity, heating and coolingthe goods referred to in Annex I, which isare consumed during the production processes of others goods.
Amendment 116 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The authorised declarant shall keep records of the documentation, certified by an independent person, required to demonstrate that the declared embedded emissions were subject to a carbon price in the country of origin of the goods and keep evidence of the proof of the actual payment for that carbon price which should not have been subject to an export rebate or any other form of compensation on exportation.
Amendment 121 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall require thatThe competent authorities shall exchange any information that is essential or relevant to the exercise of their functions and duties. The European Union Agency for the cooperation of Energy Regulators shall support the coordination between competent authorities.
Amendment 132 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
All information acquired by the competent authority in the course of performing its duty which is by its nature confidential or which is provided on a confidential basis shall be covered by an obligation of professional secrecy. Such information shall not be disclosed byoutside the competent authorityies and the central administrator without the express permission of the person or authority that provided it. It may be shared with customs authorities, the Commission and the European Public Prosecutors Office and shall be treated in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 515/97.
Amendment 139 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Commission shall calculate the price of CBAM certificates as the average price of the closing prices of EU ETS allowances on the common auction platform in accordance with the procedures laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1031/201054 for each calendar week. By applying the revised Decision (EU) 2015/1814 on the Market Stability Reserve of allowances, the Commission establishes a minimum and a maximum prices for EU ETS allowances in order to enhance the efficiency and keep under control the social impacts of the transition and to avoid the possibility to circumvent the CBAM certificates system. _________________ 54 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1031/2010 of 12 November 2010 on the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC (OJ L 302, 18.11.2010, p. 1).
Amendment 158 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. Before the end of the transitional period, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation. The report shall contain, in particular, the assessment of the possibilities to further extend the scope of embedded emissions to indirect emissions and to other goods at risk of carbon leakage than those already covered by this Regulation, especially in the agricultural and food sector, as well as an assessment of the governance system. It shall also contain the assessment of the possibility to further extend the scope to embedded emissions of transportation services as well as to goods further down the value chain and services that may be subject to the risk of carbon leakage in the future.
Amendment 166 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 1
Article 31 – paragraph 1
1. TUntil the phasing out of free allowances, the CBAM certificates to be surrendered in accordance with Article 22 shall be adjusted to reflect the extent to which EU ETS allowances are allocated free of charge in accordance with Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC to installations producing, within the Union, the goods listed in Annex I.
Amendment 167 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 35 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) the carbon price due in a country of origin for the embedded emissions in the imported goods, which is not subject to an export rebate or other form of compensation on exportation.
Amendment 209 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) The Commission stated in its "Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy" the importance of all transport modes to become more sustainable, with green alternatives widely available and to put in place the right incentives to drive the transition. Furthermore, the Commission's Strategy recognised that maritime transport has greater decarbonisation challenges since there is currently no economically viable zero- emission power train technology available and the fuel mix in the maritime sector relies entirely on fossil fuels. The June 2020 Council Conclusions on “EU Waterborne Transport Sector – Future outlook: Towards a carbon-neutral, zero accidents, automated and competitive EU Waterborne Transport Sector” stressed the need to support the development of alternative fuels for use in all segments of waterborne transport. It presented a vision for green and carbon-neutral ports and coastal areas that included the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transitional fuel. In addition, the European Parliament's resolution of 27 April 2021 on technical and operational measures for more efficient and cleaner maritime transport, recognised the importance of transitional technologies, such as LNG and LNG infrastructure, for a gradual transition towards zero- emissions alternatives in the maritime sector.
Amendment 215 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 b (new)
Recital 17 b (new)
(17b) Given the key role of alternative fossil fuels for a transitional phase, such as LNG, in the decarbonisation of the maritime transport, and taking into account the long lifetime of ships, ships operating with these alternative fossil fuels for a transitional phase, should be liable to surrender allowances from 2026 in order to ensure a smooth and just inclusion in the EU ETS.
Amendment 218 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 c (new)
Recital 17 c (new)
(17c) Ships operating under a public service contract or subject to public service obligations, and ships operating to and/or from the outermost regions of the EU should be exempted from any obligations under this Directive, given their high EU value in improving EU regions' accessibility and socioeconomic cohesion.
Amendment 669 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Directive 2003/87/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(xa) “port of call” means the port where a ship stops to load or unload cargo or to embark or disembark passengers; consequently, for the purpose of this Directive stops for the sole purposes of refuelling, obtaining supplies, relieving the crew, going into dry-dock or making repairs to the ship or its equipment, stops in port because the ship is in need of assistance or in distress, ship-to-ship transfers carried out outside ports, stops in a transhipment port of a non-EU neighbouring country and stops for the sole purpose of taking shelter from adverse weather or rendered necessary by search and rescue activities are excluded;
Amendment 670 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Directive 2003/87/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
(xb) “transhipment port” means the port where the movement of one type of cargo to be transhipped exceeds 60 % of the total traffic of that port. It needs to be considered that cargo, container or goods are transhipped when they are unloaded from ship to the port for the sole purpose of loading them on another ship.
Amendment 671 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Directive 2003/87/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point x c (new)
(xc) “deep sea routes” means those shipping routes connecting two or more continents and performed by regular services covering more than 3 000 km long where ships would carry out transhipment operations at any port in its route. Such routes shall be incorporated in a list and reconsidered on an annual basis by the Commission;
Amendment 736 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 3ga – paragraph 1 a(new)
Article 3ga – paragraph 1 a(new)
Amendment 742 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 3ga – paragraph 2
Article 3ga – paragraph 2
To the extent that fewer allowances are surrendered compared to the verified emissions from maritime transport for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, once the difference between verified emissions and allowances surrendered has been established in respect of each year, a corresponding quantity of allowances shall be cancelled rather than auctioned pursuant to Article 10. The latter will apply correspondingly to the years 2026, 2027 and 2028 for ships operating with "alternative fossil fuels for a transitional phase".
Amendment 746 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Each shipping company shall be entitled to use international credits up to a maximum of 6 % of its verified emissions during the period from 2023 to 2030 when officially proving these credits are obtained participating in decarbonisation projects within the EU regions where they operate their ships
Amendment 1304 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point -a (new)
Directive 2003/87/CE
Article 12 – paragraph 1a a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1a a (new)
Amendment 1326 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point d a (new)
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a a (new)
(da) the following paragraph is inserted: " 3aa. An obligation to surrender allowances shall not arise, until 2030, in respect of emissions from ships operating in deep-sea routes with Carbon Leakage risks and under an efficiency benchmark. The list of routes and the efficiency benchmark shall be determined by the Commission. "
Amendment 1327 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point d b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 – point d b (new)
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a b (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a b (new)
Amendment 1392 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 a (new)
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 29 a – paragraph 1
Article 29 a – paragraph 1
(19a) in Article 29a, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. If, for more than six consecutiveone and half months, the average allowance price is more than threeone and a half times the average price of allowances during the two preceding years on the European carbon market, the Commission shall immediately convene a meeting of the Committee esadopt a decision to release 100 million allowances covered by this Chapter from the Market Stabilished byty Reserve in accordance with Article 91(7) of Decision No 280/2004/EC. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02003L0087-20200101)(EU) 2015/1814." Or. en
Amendment 1424 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 30 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 30 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 1480 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 30 e – paragraph 2
Article 30 e – paragraph 2
2. From 1 January 2027, Member States shall ensure that, by 30 April each year, the regulated entity surrenders a number of allowances covered by this Chapter, that is equal to the total emissions, corresponding to the quantity of fuels released for consumption pursuant to Annex III, during the preceding calendar year as verified in accordance with Articles 15 and 30f, and that those allowances are subsequentlyas follows: (a) 25% of verified emissions for 2026; (b) 50 % of verified emissions for 2027; (c) 75 % of verified emissions for 2028; (d) 100 % of verified emissions for 2029. To the extent that fewer allowances are surrender compared to the verified emissions for years 2026 to 2028, an amount of allowances equal to the difference between verified emissions and allowances surrendered shall be cancelled.
Amendment 1566 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Decision 2015/1814
Article 1 – paragraph 5 a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 5 a a (new)
(ca) the following paragraph is inserted: "5aa. The number of allowances to be placed in the reserve during the 12 months beginning on 1 September of every year shall not exceed 25 % of the number of allowances to be auctioned during the next 12 months." ;
Amendment 1661 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
Directive 2003/87/EU
Annex I – table – last row – column 1
Annex I – table – last row – column 1
“Maritime transport Maritime transport activities of ships covered by Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council performing voyages with the purpose of transporting passengers or cargo for commercial purposes. This activity shall not include voyages performed by a shipping company performing voyages with total annual emissions lower than 10 000 tonnes per year.
Amendment 59 #
2021/0206(COD)
(8) Those amendments have differing economic and social impacts on the different sectors of the economy, on the citizens, and the Member States. In particular, the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and the Council31 should provide an additional economic incentive, on top of the economic incentive from the other GHG emitting sectors, to invest into the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and thereby accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Combined with other measures, this should, in the medium to long term, reduce the costs for buildings and road transport to make this SCF sustainable over time, and the proposals resulting from the negotiations on the future revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, this should, in the medium to long term, reduce the costs for buildings and road transport, increase the energy sustainability of buildings by reducing their energy demand and thus their GHG emissions, and provide new opportunities for job creation and investment. _________________ 31 Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 65 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) However, sufficient, stable and equitable resources are needed to finance those investments. In addition, before they have taken place, the cost supported by households and transport users for heating, cooling and cooking, as well as for road transport, is likely to increase as fuel suppliers subject to the obligations under the emission trading for buildings and road transport pass on costs on carbon to the consumers.
Amendment 68 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) In the construction sector, a holistic reform of building structure: building envelopes (roof and façade), shading, ventilation control, etc... would lead to less demand for energy, especially in buildings constructed after the Second World War, which would take into account in a more efficient way people at risk of exclusion, namely those who suffer most from energy poverty in the EU. It would also counter the trend of families moving between rural, peri-urban and urban areas, thus preventing them from potentially incurring higher housing prices and preventing the consequent emission of GHGs owing to increased use of private transport.
Amendment 72 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The increase in the price for fossil fuels may disproportionally affect vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users who spend a larger part of their incomes on energy and transport, who, in certain regionsthus exacerbating inequalities, and who, in certain regions, especially in rural, peripheral and isolated areas, in less developed regions or territories, those suffering from severe handicaps and those in demographic decline, do not have access to alternative, affordable mobility and transport solutions and who may lack the financial capacity to invest into the reduction of fossil fuel consumption.
Amendment 78 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) It is therefore essential to identify and target this sector of the population comprehensively, to ensure that SCF assistance is fast, effective and well targeted. In order to achieve this objective, a definition is needed of people/neighbourhoods at risk of social exclusion that allows for less developed micro-areas (rural and urban) encompassed in more developed areas to be identified more accurately, which renders the creation of this SCF very necessary for the fight against social inequalities that may occur owing to the implementation of various climate measures.
Amendment 86 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) This is even more relevant in view of the existing levels of energy poverty. Energy poverty is a situation in which households are unable to access essential energy services such as cooling, as temperatures rise, and heatand access to affordable energy services are essential and constitute basic and fundamental social rights for social inclusion. Energy poverty is a situation in which households are unable to access essential energy supply needs, so as to guarantee basic levels of comfort and health, such as cooling, as temperatures rise, and heating as a result of an insufficient level of income, high-energy prices and which, as the case may be, could be aggravated if they have an energy inefficient dwelling. About 34 million Europeans reported an inability to keep their homes adequately warm in 2018, and 6.9% of the Union population have said that they cannot afford to heat their home sufficiently in a 2019 EU-wide survey32. Overall, the Energy Poverty Observatory estimates that more than 50 million households in the European Union experience energy poverty. Energy poverty is therefore a major challenge for the Union. Despite the growing importance of that challenge having been acknowledged at Union level through various initiatives, legislation and guidelines, there is no standard Union-level definition of energy poverty and only one third of Member States have put in place a national definition of energy poverty. As a result, no transparent and comparable data on energy poverty in the Union is available. Therefore, a broad Union-level definition of energy poverty should be established with a view to collecting data in an appropriate way, including gender- disaggregated data, to guide assistance and monitoring practices. While social tariffs or direct income support can provide immediate relief to households facing energy poverty, only targeted structural measures, in particular energy renovations, can provide lasting solutions. _________________ 32 Data from 2018. Eurostat, SILC [ilc_mdes01]).
Amendment 92 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) As regards the buildings sector, a holistic reform of buildings, based on actions aimed at improving energy efficiency by focusing on all the elements that make up a building: façade, heating/cooling systems, etc., would lead to a reduction in energy consumption for each household, and would be visible in the money they would save and, as a result, would provide one means of combatting energy poverty. The future revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will lay the foundations for these objectives to be achieved and should therefore be taken into account when implementing the SCF.
Amendment 101 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) A Social Climate (‘the Fund’) should therefore be established to provide funds to the Member States to support their policies to address the social impacts of the emissions trading for buildings and road transport on vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users. This should be achieved notably through temporary income support and measures and investments intended to reduce reliance on fossil fuels through increased energy efficiency of buildings, decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings, including the integration of energy from renewable sources, and granting improved access to zero- and low-emission mobility and transport to the benefit of vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users.
Amendment 106 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) The concept of renovation needs to be changed to ensure that it is not limited only to the energy aspect, and is viewed holistically so as to include improvements in the rest of a building's installations, for example: building envelopes (roof and façade), shading, ventilation control, etc., with the aim of generating a lower energy demand, especially in buildings from the first half of the 20th century. This would take better account of people at risk of exclusion and counter the trend of families moving between rural, peri-urban and urban areas, thus preventing them from potentially incurring higher housing prices and preventing the consequent emission of GHGs owing to increased use of private transport.
Amendment 107 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 b (new)
Recital 13 b (new)
(13 b) The implementation of the Fund must take into account ex ante the unequal social impact of including the building and road transport sectors in the emissions trading system and be coupled with economic policy and governance that does not lead to inequalities, poverty and social exclusion. It is therefore imperative that the amendments, applications and legislative proposals to be adopted in the future revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and similar related legislative proposals are taken into account when implementing the SCF.
Amendment 114 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) For that purpose, each Member State should submit to the Commission a Social Climate Plan (‘the Plan’). Those Plans should pursue two objectives. Firstly, they should provide vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users the necessary resources to finance and carry out investments in energy efficiency, decarbonisation of heating and cooling, in zero- and low-emission vehicles and mobility. Secondly, they should mitigate the impact of the increase in the cost of fossil fuels on the most vulnerable and thereby prevent energy and transport poverty during the transition period until such investments have been implemented. The Plans should have an investment component promoting the long-term solution of reduce fossil fuels reliance and could envisage other measures, including temporary direct income support to mitigate adverse income effects in the shorter term.
Amendment 120 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Member States, in consultation with regional and local level authorities and civil society organisations, are best placed to design and to implement Plans that are adapted and targeted to their local, regional and national circumstances as their existing policies in the relevant areas and planned use of other relevant EU funds. In that manner, the broad diversity of situations, the specific knowledge of local and regional governments, research and innovation and industrial relations and social dialogue structures, as well as national traditions, can best be respected and contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall support to the vulnerable.
Amendment 129 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Ensuring that the measures and investments are particularly targeted towards energy poor or vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users is key for a just transition towards climate neutrality. Support measures to promote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions should help Member States to address the social impacts arising from the emissions trading for the sectors of buildings and road transport.
Amendment 130 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) In order to achieve this objective, a definition is needed of people/neighbourhoods at risk of social exclusion that allows for less developed micro-areas (rural and urban) encompassed in more developed areas to be identified more accurately, which renders the creation of this SCF very necessary in the fight against social inequalities when adapting to climate measures. Such a definition is essential for the SCF to be implemented comprehensively.
Amendment 141 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Women are particularly affected by carbon pricing as they represent 85% of single parent families. Single parent families have a particularly high risk of child poverty. Gender equality and equal opportunities for all, and the mainstreaming of those objectives, as well as questions of accessibility for persons with disabilities should be taken into account and promoted throughout the preparation and implementation of Plans to ensure no one is left behind. disproportionally affected by the consequences of climate change1 a, by energy poverty and are particularly affected by carbon pricing due to the employment, income, pay and pension gaps. Moreover, they represent 85% of single parent families, which have a particularly high risk of child poverty and are under-represented as tenants. This limits women's participation in the energy transition, as they cannot afford energy-efficiency investments to reduce their energy consumption and have limited access to energy-efficiency retrofit programmes1 b. Gender equality and equal opportunities for all, and the mainstreaming of those objectives, as well as questions of accessibility for persons with disabilities should be taken into account and promoted throughout the preparation and implementation of Plans to ensure no one is left behind. _________________ 1 a EIGE, Area K - Women and the environment: climate change is gendered, 05 March 2020, available at: https://eige.europa.eu/publications/beijing -25-policy-brief-area-k-women-and- environment 1 b European Parliament, Directorate- General for Internal Policies of the Union, Feenstra, M., Clancy, J., Women, gender equality and the energy transition in the EU, Publications Office, 2019, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2861/989050
Amendment 181 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
The measures and investments supported by the Fund shall benefit households, micro-enterprises, SMEs and transport users, which are vulnerable and particularly affected by the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC, especially households in energy poverty and citizens without public transport alternative to individual cars (in remote and rural areas).
Amendment 191 #
2021/0206(COD)
The general objective of the Fund is to contribute to the transition towards climate neutrality by addressing the social impacts of the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC. The specific objective of the Fund is to support vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users through temporary direct income support and through measures and investments intended to increase energy efficiency of buildings, decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings, including the integration of energy from renewable sources, and granting improved access to zero- and low-emission mobility and transport.
Amendment 196 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) ‘building renovation’ means all kinds of holistic energy-related building renovation, includingwhich includes a comprehensive approach to energy performance, accessibility, spatial and structural building renovation, including, in particular, the insulation of the building envelope, that is to say the walls, the roof, the floor, the replacement of windows, the ventilation, the replacement of the heating, cooling and cooking appliances, the adaptation of housing for people with disabilities and the installation of on-site production of energy from renewable sources;
Amendment 211 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point a (new)
(a) 'small or medium-sized enterprise' or 'SME' means a small or medium-sized undertaking within the meaning of Article 2 of the annex to Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC
Amendment 224 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point a (new)
(a) 'vulnerable SMEs' means SMEs that are significantly affected by the price impacts of the inclusion of buildings into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC and lack the means to renovate the building they occupy;
Amendment 241 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Each Member State shall submit to the Commission a Social Climate Plan (‘the Plan’) together with the update to the integrated national energy and climate plan referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in accordance with the procedure and timeline laid down in that Article, following, where relevant, a consultation with regional and local entities and civil society organisations which work with vulnerable persons. The Plan shall contain a coherent set of measures and investments to address the impact of carbon pricing on vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users in order to ensure affordable heating, cooling and mobility while accompanying and accelerating necessary measures to meet the climate targets of the Union.
Amendment 250 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) finance measures and investments to increasmprove the energy efficiency, accessibility, spatiality and general functioning of buildings, toby implementing active and passive energy efficiency improvement measures, to carry out building renovation, and to decarbonise heating and cooling of buildings, including the integration of energy production from renewable energy sources, including information support, capacity building and training necessary to implement those measures and investments;
Amendment 261 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) finance measures and investments to increase the uptake of zero- and low- emission mobility and transport, including information support, capacity building and the training necessary to implement those measures and investments.
Amendment 273 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) an estimate of the likely effects of that increase in prices on households, and in particular on incidence of energy poverty, on micro-enterprises, on SMEs and on transport users, comprising in particular an estimate and the identification of vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users; these impacts are to be analysed with a sufficient level of regional disaggregation and data disaggregated by gender, taking into account elements such as access to public transport and basic services and identifying the areas mostly affected, particularly territories which are remote and rural;
Amendment 283 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) where the Plan provides for measures referred to in Article 3(2), the criteria for the identification of eligible final recipients, the indication of the envisaged time limit for the measures in question and their justification on the basis of a quantitative estimate and a qualitative explanation of how the measures in the Plan are expected to reduce energy and transport poverty and the vulnerability of households, micro-enterprises, SMEs and transport users to an increase of road transport and heating fuel prices;
Amendment 287 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) envisaged milestones, and targets to reduce the number of vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and SMEs, and an indicative timetable for the implementation of the measures and investments to be completed by 31 July 2032;
Amendment 316 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) reductions in the number of vulnerable households, especially households in energy poverty, of vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and of vulnerable transport users, including in rural and remote areas.
Amendment 331 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States may include the costs of the following measures and investments in the estimated total costs of the Plans, provided they principally benefit vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and SMEs or vulnerable transport users and intend to:
Amendment 335 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) support building renovations, prioritising social housing and deprived areas, especially for those occupying worst- performing buildings, including in the form of financial support or fiscal incentives such as deductibility of renovation costs from the rent, independently of the ownership of the buildings concerned;
Amendment 406 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
(i) whether the Plan represents a response to the social impact on and challenges faced by vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users in the Member State concerned from establishing the emission trading system for buildings and road transport established pursuant to Chapter IVa of Directive 2003/87/EC, especially households in energy poverty, duly taking into account the challenges identified in the assessments of the Commission of the update of the concerned Member State’s integrated national energy and climate plan and of its progress pursuant to Article 9(3), and Articles 13 and 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, as well as in the Commission recommendations to Member States issued pursuant to Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in view of the long-term objective of climate neutrality in the Union by 2050. This shall take into account the specific challenges and the financial allocation of the Member State concerned;
Amendment 421 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
(i) whether the Plan is expected to have a lasting impact on the challenges addressed by that Plan and in particular on vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and SMEs and vulnerable transport users, especially households in energy poverty, in the Member State concerned;
Amendment 39 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to contribute to the increased ambition to reduce greenhouse gas net emissions from at least 40 % to at least 55 % below 1990 levels, binding annual targets for net greenhouse gas removals should be set out for each Member State in the land use, land use change and forestry sector in the period from 2026 to 2030 (in analogy to the annual emission allocations set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council32), resulting in a target of 310 millions of tonnes CO2 equivalent of net removals for the Union as a whole in 2030, resulting in a target equivalent to a [X] % increase in average greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, of net removals for the Union as a whole in 2030, and should take into account the most recent developments as well as the principles of sustainable forest management and the observed and expected impacts of climate change (reduced water availability, longer duration of heat waves, etc.) that are decisive for biomass growth and, therefore, for the CO2/ha generation target, within a given timeframe. The target for 2030 should promote and strengthen sustainable forest management which allows for the adaptation of forests to climate change in the long term, promotion of high substitution effects through the bioeconomy, an increase in sinks and the creation of carbon storage in short and long-life products. The methodology used to establish the indicative national targets for 2030 should take into account the average greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, reported by each Member State, and reflect the current mitigation performance of the land use, land use change and forestry sector, and each Member State’s share of the managed land area in the Union, taking into account the capacity of that Member State to improve its performance in the sector via land management practices or changes in land use that benefit the climate and biodiversity. The progress towards the 2030 target should be reviewed and, if necessary, adapted in 2025 and 2027. _________________ 32 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26).
Amendment 67 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The land sector has the potential to become rapidlymove towards climate- neutral by 2035 in a cost-effective manner,ity through carbon removals and subsequently generate more greenhouse gas removals than emissions. A collective commitment aiming to achieve climate-neutrality in the land sector in 2035 at EU level can provide the needed planning certainty to drive land- based mitigation action in the short term, considering that it can take many years for such action to deliver the desired mitigation outcomes. Moreover, the land sector is projected to become the largest sector in the EU greenhouse gas flux profile in 2050. It is therefore particularly important to anchor that sector to a trajectory that can effectively deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By mid-2024, the Member States should submit their updated integrated national energy and climate plans in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council34 . The plans should include relevant measures by which each Member State best contributes to the collective target of climate neutrality in the land sector at EU level in 2035. On the basis of these plans, the Commission should propose indicative national targets, ensuring that the Union-wide greenhouse gas emissions and removals in the land use, land use change and forestry sector and the emissions from the agriculture non-CO2 sectors are at least balanced by 2035. Contrary to the EU level target of climate neutrality for the land sector by 2035, such national targets will be binding and enforceable on each. Contributions to achieve that target should be fairly distributed among sectors and Member States. _________________ 34 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1).
Amendment 82 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In order to enhance greenhouse gas removals, individual farmers or forest managers need a direct incentive to store more carbon on their land and their forests. New business models based on carbon farming incentives and on the certification of carbon removals need to be increasingly deployed in the period until 2030. Such incentives and business models will enhance climate mitigation in the bio- economy, including through the use of durable harvested wood products, in full respect of ecological principles fostering biodiversity and the circular economy. Hence, new categories of short and long- life carbon storage products should be introduced in addition to the harvested wood products. The emerging business models, farming and land management practices to enhance removals contribute to a balanced territorial development and economic growth in rural areas. They also create opportunities for new jobs and provide incentives for relevant training, reskilling and upskilling.
Amendment 136 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) 2018/841
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. The 2030 Union target for net greenhouse gas removals is 310 million tonnes CO2 equivalent as aequivalent to a [X] % increase in average greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, and which equates to the sum of the Member States indicative targets established in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article, and shall be based on the average of its greenhouse gas inventory data for the years 20168, 20179 and 201820 and shall be reviewed in accordance with Article 4(4a).
Amendment 145 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) 2018/841
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out the indicative annual targets based on the linear trajectory for net greenhouse gas removals for each Member State, for each year in the period from 2026 to 2029 in terms of tonnes CO2 equivalent. These national trajectories shall be based on the average greenhouse gas inventory data for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, reported by each Member State. The value of the 310 million tonnes CO2 equivalent net removalsshall be equivalent to a [X] % increase in the average greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, and as a sum of the indicative targets for Member States set out in Annex IIa may be subject to a technical correction due to a change of methodology by Member States. The method for determination of the technical correction to be added to the indicative targets of the Member States, shall be set out in these implementing acts. For the purpose of those implementing acts, the Commission shall carry out a comprehensive review of the most recent national inventory data for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 submitted by Member States pursuant to Article 26(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
Amendment 210 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Regulation (EU) 2018/841
Article 13b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 13b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c
c) the difference in the Union between the annual sum of all greenhouse gas emissions and removals on its territory and in all of the land reporting categories referred to in Article 2(2), points (a) to (j), and the Union target [of 310 million tonnes CO2 equivalent of net removalsequivalent to a [X] % increase in the average greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020] is negative, in the period from 2026 to 2030.
Amendment 237 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 1 – point ii
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 1 – point ii
Amendment 246 #
2021/0201(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II
Annex II
Regulation (EU) 2018/841
Annex IIa – introductory part
Annex IIa – introductory part
The Union target and the indicative national targets of the Member States of net greenhouse gas removals pursuant to Article 4(2) to be achieved in 2030.
Amendment 12 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Atlantic area hwas borne the brunt of bothseverely affected by the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and the fallout fromnegative effects of Brexit,;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the climate crisis isand rising sea levels are causing severe damage to all the Atlantic seaboards and islands, which constitute a fragile and unique land and maritime environment;
Amendment 16 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the European Atlantic area extends off the African coast to encompass Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands, and across the Atlantic to take in the Netherlands Antilles, the French Antilles, French Guiana and Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench Guiana, and whereas the new Atlantic strategy should address all these regions while remaining open to third countries and their regions;
Amendment 18 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas in 2015, the total GDP of the Atlantic Area stood at EUR 2 175 billion, representing 15% of the EU GDP1a; _________________ 1ahttps://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/8d43aa62-1139-11e8- 9253-01aa75ed71a1
Amendment 19 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Atlantic strategy should also embinclude a tracde strade integy of material and immaterial goods with North anAtlantic third Scouth Americantries, taking Europe's Atlantic regions, including the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories, as its base;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the new EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the review of the Renewable Energies Directive and the blue economy are key elements in the transition to clean energy, including reinforced sustainability criteria, and whereas the oceans are playing a fundamental role in the area of adaptation to climate change;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas ports and transport as a wholes can play a major role in the promotion of sustainable development and the transition to a carbon- free economy;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the fact that in the mid- term review of 2017, the 2013–2020 Atlantic Action Plan attracted over 1200 new maritime projects and nearly 6 billion euro of investments1a; regrets, however, that only around 30% of all projects were transnational, involving more than one Member State1b; _________________ 1a https://atlanticstrategy.eu/en/atlantic- strategy-glance/atlantic-strategy 1bhttps://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/8d43aa62-1139-11e8- 9253-01aa75ed71a1
Amendment 29 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Pays tribute toHighlights the tireless work done by all local, regional, national and European stakeholders, particularly the Atlantic strategy group;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Considers that the 2013 Atlantic action plan has contributed to developing a more comprehensive picture of what is happening across the Atlantic but because of its broad scope was limited in terms of influencing priorities and supporting the development of relevant projects;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. ApplaudHighlights the efforts made to fosto promoter the Atlantic strategy’s international dimension, in particular through the success of the Galway and Belém declarations; recalls that the international dimension of the Atlantic action plan and the support for its implementation help to understand the on-going changes in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as their effects on the different coastal communities;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes, however, that the previous action plan yielded disappointing results with regret that the general results were a far cry from the action plan potential, and deplores the failure to earmark a budget for the action plan and the complexity of its governance system;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that the 1 200 new maritime projects announced by the Commission, worth almost EUR 6 billion, have no direct link to the Atlantic strategy, and takes the view thatHighlights that, although the Commission encourages stakeholder’s participation through the organization of specialized events, the regions have beeremain insufficiently involved in the governance of the strategy;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 37 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Deplores the fact that, although included in the 2013 Atlantic Strategy, the sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors were largely left out of the 2017 Commission’s mid-term review assessment;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the review of the action plan and applaudrecognises the progress made regarding its governance; regrets, however, the persistence of various shortcomings;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for representatives of all the regions concerned to be included in national delegations and for the strategy to be opened up to participation by third countriesto invite Atlantic third countries to participate in the strategy;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the new strategy’s more strictly defined priorities and calls for practical measures to be takens compared to the 2013– 2020 Atlantic Action Plan;, regrets, nevertheless, the fact that the EU budget doesn’t contain new instruments for implementing the proposed measures;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 49 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Regrets the fact that the strategy doesn’t make any mention to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, even though these industries play a vital socio- economic and environmental role along the Atlantic coastline and in the EU Outermost Regions (ORs); considers that reference to these industries should always imply the implementation of an ecosystem approach to maritime management;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Deplores the fact that, although they are home to a significant proportion of the European biodiversity, there is only a small reference in the new Atlantic strategy to the EU islands in the Atlantic, in particular the Outermost Regions; stresses that these areas are greatly dependent on blue economy for their socio-economic sustainability;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Highlights the fact that the blue economy sector overall plays a crucial role, in the ORs in particular, and can contribute to attenuate the climate changes, promoting nature-based solutions and improving the use of maritime and aquatic resources;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10 d. Stresses that the new Atlantic Strategy should promote greater synergies with the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy in order to support an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, robust and competitive blue economy, in the Atlantic area;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Amendment 54 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 f (new)
Paragraph 10 f (new)
10 f. Reminds that the ORs give a true Atlantic dimension to the EU and their full integration in this Strategy is fundamental to its success and should therefore be strengthened; recalls that their insularity, remoteness and small size should be taken in account, according to Article 349 of the TFEU, to promote a real social, economic and territorial integration, but also their unique potential and distinctive assets, such as the EU's global presence in strategic areas;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States and their regions for the development of enhanced prevention and risk-management capabilities to deal with accidents on land and at sea and natural disasters, the establishment of a common system for preventing and combating oil spills and the designation of large protected maritime areas, and emphasises the importance of protecting all marine species;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the importance of ending thedeveloping strategies to fight the constrains of Atlantic regions’ disolation, linking up transport, energy and information networks, and developing rural and urban areastance from the EU's heartland center, in particular in the Islands of EU's Member States and the ORs, through the promotion of more sustainable transport connections, to stop energy dependence by embracing renewable energies, such as solar and wind energy, and through the development of coordinated information networks; reminds that is crucial for each region to explore its full potential, to ensure a more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and fairer development;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underscores the importance of fisheries and warns against the harmful long-term effects of overfishing;
Amendment 73 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need to develop high- quality, sustainable tourism as this is a crucial sector of the blue economy; in this context, recalls that it is necessary to create, adapt and modernise existing maritime specific infrastructures, such as navigation recreational support facilities;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Welcomes the work of national and regional stakeholders in the maintenance and improvement of safety levels of the infrastructures through the implementation of appropriate legislation, cooperation and sharing best practices;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Recalls that invasive species and that marine litter has a devastating impact, specifically for marine birds and mammals, the Atlantic area, so believes that the Marine Strategy Framework Directive should be applied to the blue economy activities;
Amendment 77 #
Amendment 79 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. HopeConsiders that the sStrategy willcan encourage joint planning and development of the sectors of the blue economy in the Atlantic area, with environmental and climate policies as central pillars, thus contributing towards the achievement of the Union's decarbonisation objectives and promoting renewable offshore power generation technologies; is of the opinion that it is necessary to include in the Strategy a stronger social dimension;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. AdvocateRecommends the development of an industrial strategy with a strong maritime component at Atlantic level and hopes that the strategy will provide impetus for the development of flagship industriesat Atlantic level, with a strong sustainable environmental and socio-economic blue economy component;
Amendment 84 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Suggests that the Action Plan should focus on more relevant sectoral policies specific to the Atlantic area or areas where additional efforts to strengthen sea basin level cooperation have the highest potential;
Amendment 87 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for innovation to be fostered in the Atlantic maritime sectors, in and around ports, all along the Atlantic shoreline and in the maritime territoriIslands of EU's Member States;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and their regions to foster innovative environmental and socio- economic sustainable projects in the Atlantic maritime sectors, in and around ports, all along the Atlantic shoreline and in the maritime territories, such as the installation of a ‘green’ maritime loading infrastructure;
Amendment 91 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the initiatives to speed up adaptation to climate change, not least the Atlantic Skills Allianceinitiatives such as the creation of incentives to promote the installation of offshore and inland renewable energies, such as wind, tidal waters and solar energy, that helps the EU to speed up adaptation to climate change and to reach the goal of becoming a carbon neutral continent by 2050;
Amendment 94 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Regrets that the Atlantic region still has little development as far as offshore renewable energy is concerned, due to the coastal depths of the waters that unable to deploy fixed structures; in this context, suggests that floating wind mills at affordable price can be a solution;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the strategy to focus squarely on jobs; wishes to see an ambitious social component to promoteonsiders that the principals of the European Pillar of Social Rights are not properly safeguarded in the new Atlantic Strategy; calls for an enhanced social component, with more opportunities for job creation and training, in particular, training for and access to meas such as ship-building, aqua-culture and fisheries, in paritime professions forcular to young people;
Amendment 102 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls foron the concept of AtlanticCommission to include in the new Atlantic Strategy, more measures to promote connectivity, such as to include sustainable links between ports and the development of hinterland areas;
Amendment 106 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for steps to be taken to eliminate rail bottlenecks, draw up plans for multimodal transfer to sustainable moon the Commission and the Atlantic Regions to develop strategies to eliminate rail bottlenecks, such as in the cross-border connection between Lisbon and Madrid; considers of transport, support the development of the Atlantic rail motorway, enhance rail-portnecessary to continue with the development of high- speed rail links and parallel upgrading of connecventions and link the major TEN-T corridors with the other Atlantic Arc linesal lines, providing cross-border continuity;
Amendment 107 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Urges the Member States, in cooperation with their regional and local authorities, as well other stakeholders, to step up their involvement and implement joint strategic projects;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls on the members of the new Atlantic strategy, with the support of the Commission, to develop a specific information platform for the exchange experiences and best practices on the goals of the Strategy;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 111 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Proposes yearly high-level meetingsand more frequent meetings between the countries and their regions involved in the strategy, the Commission, and the European Parliament, in order to promote a better coordination and a frequent monitoring of the measures put in place by each region;
Amendment 114 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Supports research on the ocean floor and calls for a major joint project to clean up the Atlantic Ocean and its seabedCalls on the Commission and the Atlantic Regions, under the Pilar IV of the Action Plan, to promote a major joint project to clean up the Atlantic Ocean and its seabed, to support oceanographic research and observation on the ocean floor and to promote sustainable measures for polution prevention; recalls that the circular economy should be promoted, collecting maritime litter and reintroducing it into the economy;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Takes the view that environmental NGOs should be supported and involvedSuggests that stakeholders and NGOs be more actively involved in the creation, promotion and implementation of new projects, and in protection of Atlantic’s ecosystems and biodiversity;
Amendment 119 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for a study on the use of motorboats and for the pollution they cause to be reducedthe development of more actions on maritime innovation measures to contribute to the protection and decarbonisation of maritime sources, such as the carbon produced by vessels;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for an increase in the number of specific calls for projects as parton the Commission, in the context of the specific Atlantic Strategy Goals, to focus on the least developed or those with the greatest development needs, socioeconomic areas of the Atlantic area; considers fundamental to increase specific calls for projects, in the least developed socioeconomic areas of the Atlantic strategy;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Welcomes the increased development of new marine biotechnology research due to its potential use for industrial and medical applications; recalls that innovation projects and initiatives can contribute to the development of research capacities, networking and best-practices' sharing;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Calls on the Commission to incorporate in the Atlantic Action Plan a best practice guidance from macro- regional strategies and their action plans of relevance for the new Atlantic strategy;
Amendment 127 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recommends that the members ofINTERREG Atlantic Area Monitoring Committee, takes into account the new Atlantic sStrategy and the needs of the members of the INTERREG Atlantic Area Monitoring Committee establish common objectives and decision-making proceduresAtlantic strategy, to better implement solutions to address regional challenges in the fields of innovation, resource efficiency, environment and culture, supporting regional development and sustainable growth;
Amendment 131 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Urges the Commission to review the current Strategy, given the serious shortcomings identified;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 136 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and, the Commission. , and national/regional Parliaments of France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, as well as to CoR and ECOSOC;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas some petitions are declared inadmissible due to the lack of information or confusion from the citizens about the competences of the European Union;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the EU must guarantee the citizens the right to participate actively in the democratic activities of the European Union in their mother tongue to avoid any kind of discrimination;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the ECI thereby helps strengthen the democratic functioning of the Union through the participation of citizens in its democratic and political life; whereas the ECI should be regarded as one of the ways in which citizens can bring certain issues to the attention of the EU institutions and approach them to legislate on the issues that are within the EU competences and concern the citizens, alongside dialogue with representative associations and civil society, stakeholder consultations, the right to petition and the right to submit complaints to the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas, in order to achieve those objectives, the procedures and conditions required for the ECI should ensure that initiatives on valid subjects are considered and responded to appropriately by the Commission; whereas at least one million signatures from at least a quarter of the Member States are required for an ECI to be submitted to the Commission; whereas the Commission has made the deadline for submitting signatures more flexible in response to the COVID-19 pandemicto the impacts caused by COVID-19 pandemic on the signature collection procedure;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas one of the EU’s priority objectives must be to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of its institutions through instruments of citizen participation which are more effective and transparent;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman, and the ECI are participatory tools that foster the transparency; the participatory democracy and active European citizenship;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the right to petition is the oldest instrument involving the direct participation of citizens at EU level and that it is the easiest and most direct way for citizens to contact thereach an EU institutions and express their view when there are loopholes oin the legislation adopted and the policy choices made at EU levelnd contact the EU institutions and express their concerns and complaints about European law that affects them directly;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that the petitioners' frustration at the lack of real solutions to their problems can result in detachment from the EU institutions, as well as a feeling of Euroscepticism due to the lack of answers;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls for common criteria when dealing with the different petitions to guarantee a standardized and coherent treatment of the petitions and avoid the arbitrary or partisan use of the citizens’ requests; stresses that the lack of homogeneity in the treatment of petitions can cause confusion among petitioners and result in limited will to exercise the right to petition by citizens;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the potential that the right to petition has when it comes to warning the EU institutions about possible loopholes in Union law, or breaches or poor implementation thereof, both systemically and as regards specific cases; calls on the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to pay closera serious attention to the issues raised in petitions and to ensure that they give rise to proper inquiries so that genuine improvements can be made; emphasises that, in cases where the Commission does not have legislative powers, the Commission still has and should use the possibility to act by providing coordination or support in order to offer a diligent response to the problems and needs of the petitioners;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for the implementation of a detailed analysis that allows to know the reasons why the number of registered petitions in recent years has decreased; calls on the European Commission to coordinate with the Committee of Petitions to carry out a study to detect the main obstacles encountered when exercising the right to petition, as well as any communication problems that may exist; calls for the implementation of the necessary mechanisms in order to sort out the potential shortcomings and problems found in the study;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to monitor, assess, and report annually on the petitions dealt with and to ensure that this assessment feeds into political decision- making at the level of the Commission;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Council and the Member States to show more interest inan active involvement and participatinge in discussions and debates on petitions and to provide responses to questions raised by petitioners at EU level, in particular by sending the petitions to the relevant and competent authorities, ensuring adequate follow-up and participating in parliamentary debates;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the EU institutions and Parliament’s committees, as well as the Member States, to better cooperate with the Committee on Petitions in order to answer petitioners efficiently and satisfy their requests; in this context, urges the Commission to avoid general answers and to provide targeted and tailored responses to the petitioners and their demands;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on civil society as a whole to tap the full potential of the right to petition when it comes to effecting policy and legislative changes at EU level; calls on civil society organisations to make betthigher use of petitions as instruments of direct democracy to convey to the European institutions their concerns, as well as possible legislative infringements related to Union law;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Conference on the Future of Europe to reflect on and debate the right to petition, and, along with members of the public, to look at ways to improve knowledge of and access to the right to petition to turn it into a democratic instrument truly useful to the citizens;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the position of the Committee on Petitions to be strengthened within the European Parliament and in its inter-institutional relations, as it is the only committee that communicates directly with citizens; emphasises that more staff and resources need to be allocated to the Committee on Petitions, given the extent of its work;
Amendment 69 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the other committees to contribute in a timely manner to Parliament’s efforts to respond more rapidly and effectively to citizens’ concerns and to take into account, in ongoing legislative work, the issues raised by petitioners; calls on the other committees to give more prominence to petitionstake into account the petitions related to their areas of competence in Parliament’s day-to-day legislative activities, and to respond formally and specifically to the expectations raised by citizens’ petitions;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Conference on the Future of Europe to promote the right to petition as a useful tool at the service of citizens enabling them to be in direct contact with the European institutions and to transmit them their problems and needs;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the Petitions Web Portal to be improved to make it more user- friendly, easier and intuitive to navigate and accessible to all citizens, especially to persons with disabilities; calls for the possibility of co- signing the petitions submitted via the Petitions Web Portal to be streamlined and accelerated;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for more information to be made public and available on the Petitions Web Portal, including, for example, the progress of the petition and inquiries launched with other institutions; in this regard, calls for more synergy between the portal and Parliament’s internal database to promote greater transparency in the treatment of petitions;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out the importance of the right of any EU citizen and any natural or legal person residing in the EU to complain to the European Ombudsman about instances of maladministration within the EU institutions; takes the view that citizens’ complaints to the Ombudsman represent an essential element of participatory democracy and of the legitimacy of the Union’s decision-making process; points out that the right to refer a matter to the Ombudsman increases citizens’ engagement with and trust in the EU institutions as it promotes transparency and good administration of the EU institutions and bodies;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Emphasises the development of the role of the Ombudsman, who can use own- initiative powers to help to tackle systemic problems in EU administration and make efforts to promote good administration, i.e. ensuring the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union meet the very highest standards; with that in mind, considers the role of the Ombudsman to be more important than ever in view of the fact that the administration of the EU, via its agencies, is taking on an increasingly important role in citizens’ lives when it comes to issues such as environment, migration and health;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Ombudsman to look more closely at the manner in which EU funds and the EU budget are spent, and to check that the Union’s interests are not undermined by breaches of the rule of law or any sort of infringement of the EU principles and values, corruption or conflicts of interest, includingespecially in the context of Next Generation EU, the European recovery plan; emphasises that respect for the rule of law is an essential condition for access to EU funds; takes the view that this conditionality concerning respect for the rule of law and the fact that the European Union does not compromise on its values are factors that can strengthen citizens’ trust in the Union and show EU firm commitment with the democratic quality throughout the European territory;
Amendment 91 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the recent changes made to the Statute of the European Ombudsman, which will further enhance the right of EU citizens and residents to complain about maladministration, in particular in the areas of whistle-blower protection, harassment and conflicts of interest; recalls the importance of keeping necessary resources and budget so the Ombudsman institution can continue to work competently at the service of European citizens;
Amendment 95 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Invites the co-legislators to follow the recommendations of the Ombudsman in relation with Regulation 1049/2001 on public access to documents and foster their revision; recalls that this regulation is currently obsolete due to technological advances and access to documentation in recent decades; calls on the institutions to promote the revision of this Regulation in order to place the Union at the forefront of public access to documents and democratic transparency for citizens;
Amendment 100 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Recalls that one of the ways to improve the perception of the EU by citizens is making it more understandable and transparent to them; considers the Council should continue working to improve its transparency and invites it to implement some of the recommendations issued repeatedly by the European Parliament and by the Ombudsman;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Recalls that only a few successful European initiative have received adequate follow-up by the Commission;
Amendment 104 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Emphasises that ECI is a fundamental tool that allows citizens to put on the European political agenda those issues or matters that concern them or in which they consider that the Union, within its field of competence, should legislate;
Amendment 115 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to study the necessary mechanisms to improve the ECI tool and implement them to make citizens’ participation more accessible, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level;
Amendment 127 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Considers essential to analyse the communication problems between European institutions and citizens that cause citizen participation mechanisms to be underused by Europeans; calls for the necessary resources be put in place to disseminate information about the existence and functioning of this tools among the general public;
Amendment 130 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls for public awareness of these three participatory instruments to be raised to ensure that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation; emphasises that all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about, and are encouraged to participate in, the instruments;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Insists on the need to discuss the role and the dimension of the Committee on Petitions by the Parliament; points out that more consideration to citizen’s demands can be given only if a competent body makes the follow-up; highlights that currently the Committee on Petitions does not have the proper dimension and powers in order to satisfy citizen’s demand;
Amendment 145 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool to respond to their concerns; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles people encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2275(INI)
42. Emphasises, furthermore, that where ECIs and petitions have an impact – especially involving mass media coverage or consideration by the Commission or Parliament – they should be examined to pinpoint successful strategies and best practices that could be used as learning in the future;
Amendment 149 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Stresses that the debate on the future of the EU should result in improvement of the instruments for citizen participation that will make it possible to achieve a Union which is more democratic, transparent and open to its citizens;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to study the necessary mechanisms to improve the ECI tool and implement them to make citizens’ participation more accessible, given the low number of ECIs that have ultimately been successful;
Amendment 168 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments, which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the EU; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large- scale, one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the democratic instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at EU level;
Amendment 171 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Considers essential to analyse the communication problems between European institutions and citizens that cause citizen participation mechanisms to be underused by Europeans; calls for the necessary resources be put in place to disseminate information about the existence and functioning of this tools among the general public;
Amendment 174 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls for public awareness of these three participatory instruments to be raised to ensure that they become effective and useful tools for democratic participation; emphasises that all the European institutions should maximise their communication efforts to ensure that as many citizens as possible know about, and are encouraged to participate in, the instruments;
Amendment 186 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Insists on the need to discuss the role and the dimension of the Committee on Petitions by the Parliament; points out that more consideration to citizen’s demands can be given only if a competent body makes the follow-up; highlights that currently the Committee on Petitions does not have the proper dimension and powers in order to satisfy citizen’s demand;
Amendment 189 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. With a view to improving public participation, emphasises the need for citizens to have clear guidance to help them choose the most appropriate participatory tool to respond to their concerns; takes the view that there is a need to understand and overcome the obstacles people encounter when they are drawing up petitions to Parliament, complaints to the Ombudsman and initiatives for the Commission;
Amendment 190 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Emphasises, furthermore, that where ECIs and petitions have an impact – especially involving mass media coverage or consideration by the Commission or Parliament – they should be examined to pinpoint successful strategies and best practices that could be used as learning in the future;
Amendment 193 #
2020/2275(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Amendment 25 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 32 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution on European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis adopted on 19 June,
Amendment 216 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Europe’s food system should deliver food and nutrition security in a way that contributes to social well- being and, maintains human and animal health and restores ecosystem health; whereas currently, the food system is responsible for a range of impacts on human and animal health and on the environment, the climate and biodiversity; whereas the way in which we produce and consume food needs to transform in order to ensure coherence with the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and EU policies, particularly in the areas of sustainability, the environment, climate, public health, animal welfare, working conditions, food and economic sustainability for farmers;
Amendment 323 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. considering that the EU is the only agricultural actor worldwide, that has significantly reduced greenhouse gas and nitrate emissions coming from agriculture, as well as the use of antibiotics in livestock; and that the new commitments expected from the sector to adapt to the requirements of the European Green Deal should take into account the achievements of EU agriculture in recent decades;
Amendment 348 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the farm-to-fork strategy recognises the substantial efforts made to reduce the use of antimicrobials in animals, further strengthened by the new EU Regulations on Veterinary Medicinal Products and Medicated Feed, thus contributing to the global effort to reduce antibiotic resistance; whereas the EU must ensure that treating animals with antimicrobials remains possible where needed to ensure that the health and welfare of animals is protected at all times;
Amendment 353 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the European Commission’s One Health Action Plan Against Antimicrobial Resistance recognises that immunisation through vaccination is a cost-effective public health intervention with proven economic benefits and a control measure for AMR;
Amendment 355 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the uptake of smart and digital farming technologies to continuously monitor animal health and welfare has the potential to ensure effective disease prevention and the implementation of animal welfare standards;
Amendment 356 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas it is necessary to ensure consistency and coherence amongst the measures envisaged by the farm to fork strategy and the CAP and CFP, the Trade Policy, the EU biodiversity strategy , as well as other related EU policies and strategies;
Amendment 378 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas it is important that consumers are trained, informed and enabled to take responsibility for the consequences of their choice of food stuffs, including the price, on the whole food system, from production to processing and distribution; whereas this requires a healthy and sound food environment which ensures that the healthy and sustainable choice is also the easy and affordable choice, and fosters and encourages consumption patterns, available for all consumers, that support human health while ensuring the sustainable use of natural and human resources and animal welfare;
Amendment 412 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the European food system has played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its resilience with farmers and their cooperatives or producers organisations, workers employed along the food value chain, processors and retailers working together under difficult conditions and sanitary risks, including lockdowns, to ensure that European consumers continue to have access to safe, affordable, and high quality products without impediment;
Amendment 491 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the farm to fork strategy as an important step in ensuring a sustainable, fair and resilient food system, which is central to achieving the goals set out in the European Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights and in the SDGs; emphasises the inextricable links between healthy people, decent working conditions, healthy societies and a healthy planet, encourages the Commission to translate the strategy into concrete legislative and non-legislative action as soon as possible, involving not only farmers but all actors in the food chain, including consumers;
Amendment 531 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the contribution to climate change mitigation and the viability of the European model of agriculture, as well as the resilient supply of sustainable and safe food, are not mutually exclusive objectives and can be achieved with a balanced and evidence- based approach;
Amendment 543 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes the Commission's proposal to develop a contingency plan for ensuring food supply and food security in order to coordinate a common European response to crises affecting food systems ; insists that a prevention approach is needed to avoid panic movements and overreactions by people, firms or Member States; considers that it will be an adequate response to the growing expectations about food security that are to be addressed at European level; urges the Commission to consider strategic food stock issues in the way that it does for strategic petroleum stocks across European Union;
Amendment 548 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Urges the Commission to integrate food aid issues in the farm to fork strategy since 33 millions of Europeans suffer from lack of food, especially single parent families and students, and the social and economic consequences of the pandemic will increase that figure; recognises the unique role of the food aid associations across the European Union that need to be more supported because of the growing number of people who need help; considers that the resilience of our food system need to increase the connections between food policies and agricultural policies at every level from the local to the European level;
Amendment 574 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement of an impact-assessed proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems that should be based on transparent data and take into account the latest scientific knowledge; invites the Commission to use this proposal to set out a holistic common food policy in which all actors make their contribution, aimed at reducing the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system in order to make Europe the first climate- neutral continent by 2050 and strengthen its resilience to ensure food security in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, leading a global transition towards sustainability from farm to fork, based on the principle of a multifunctional and competitive agricultural sector while ensuring consistency between policdifferent EU policies and strategies by taking into account the existing legislation in order to enable all actors in the European food system to develop long-term plans based on realistic and transparent objectives that respond to rational criteria based on the best scientific knowledge; suggests that the respective base lines and progress achieved in each Member State be taken into account, while promoting the exchange of know-how and best practices between Member States; stresses the need to include the entire food and beverage chains including processing, marketing, distribution and retail;
Amendment 622 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that the Mediterranean Diet, inscribed by UNESCO in 2010 in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is known as a healthy and balanced diet with a high nutritional, social and cultural value based on respect for the territory and biodiversity, which guarantees the conservation and development of traditional and artisanal activities related to sustainable fishing and agriculture and plays a protective role in the primary and secondary prevention of the main chronic degenerative diseases;
Amendment 634 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the Commission should, for the remaining legislative proposals announced in the strategy, rely on scientifically sound ex-ante impact assessments describing the calculation methods for each target and the baselines and reference periods for each of them, taking into account the cumulative effects of the legislative proposals and the need to adapt them to the reality of each Member State;
Amendment 666 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that the social dimension must be fully integrated in all future initiatives of the farm to fork strategy along with the economic and environmental dimensions to achieve a much-needed policy coherence for sustainable development; insists that improvement of working conditions, in line with the 8 ILO core Convention, collective bargaining, social protection, investment in public services, inclusive governance and fair taxation should be included as sustainability criteria;
Amendment 668 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that for the FAO, agroecology is a fundamental part of the global response to climate change and for the creation of sustainable food and agricultural systems, the new legislative framework for sustainable food systems, to be proposed until 2023, must be based on the principles and elements defined by the FAO as agroecology in order to trigger a true agroecological transition;
Amendment 689 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Building the food chain that works for consumers, workers, producers, climate and the environment
Amendment 730 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 803 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that the reduction targets for phytosanitary products that will finally be established should be accompanied by sustainable alternatives available on the market with equivalent effectiveness in the protection of plant health, in order to avoid the lack of necessary treatments for crops in the EU and the proliferation of organisms harmful to plants;
Amendment 834 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that simply reducing the volume of phytosanitary products will not automatically reduce the resulting environmental impact; notes that tools and technologies already exist and are under development to reduce their impact on the environment or on human health and asks the European Commission to take them into account when revising the Directive;
Amendment 857 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Calls on the Commission to establish the appropriate regulatory framework to speed up the adoption of new plant health solutions, including plant protection products with a lower impact, such as low-risk substances or biosolutions;
Amendment 866 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Recalls that in order to achieve an effective reduction of plant protection products we need to apply all the tools at our disposal without excluding those offered by sustainable biotechnology, which includes new genomic techniques for which a legislative framework should be established for their implementation in the EU;
Amendment 872 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Emphasises the need to improve policy coordination between agricultural legislation, particularly legislation on plant protection products, biocides and fertilisers, and, inter alia, water legislation, in order to ensure the protection of our water resources, particularly those used for drinking water supply , from overexploitation and agricultural pollution;
Amendment 938 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the importance of recognising the significant impact of agriculture and especially animal production on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions andefforts made by European agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the need to make further progress in reducing them and in reducing the impact of agricultural activity on land use; stresses the need to enhance natural carbon sinks and reduce agricultural emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, in particular in the feed and livestock sectors; calls for regulatory measures and targets based on scientific knowledge to ensure progressive reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors;
Amendment 1074 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the notion of rewarding carbon sequestration in soils; stresses, however, that intensive and industrial agriculture and farming models with negative impacts on biodiversity should not receive climate funding or be incentivised; calls for the proposals to be in line with the environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal; calls on the European Commission together with the Member States to define what kind of production models are considered as intensive and industrial and to provide instruments to bring about change on those farms to become consistent with the principles and objectives defined in the Green Deal;
Amendment 1247 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for CAP National Strategic Plans to ensure adequate financial support and incentives to promote new ecological ‘green’ business models for agriculture and artisanal food production, notably through fostering short supply chains and quality food production, such models should support farmers in the transition towards climate neutrality;
Amendment 1281 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the explicit recognition of a safeguard of the social rights of workers in the food chain; recalls that this has been endorsed by the European Parliament with the introduction of the social conditionality for the CAP basic payment in its position on the national strategic plans Regulation;
Amendment 1287 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Underlines that the COVID 19 pandemic presents the EU with the unique opportunity to rethink the European agriculture and food systems with a more sustainable and socially just vision;
Amendment 1298 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that the European food system delivers a sufficient and varied supply of safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food to people at all times and underlines that increasing the economic, environmental and social sustainability of food producers will ultimately increase their resilience; encourages the Commission and Member States to consider the food supply chain and its workers as a strategic asset for the safety and well-being of all Europeans; and to ensure that working and social protection conditions throughout the EU food supply chain meet national, EU and international standards for all workers;
Amendment 1398 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Expresses its deep concern about the emergence of zoonotic diseases that are transferred from animals to humans (anthropozoonoses), such as Q fever, avian influenza and the new strain of influenza A (H1N1), which is exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change, the destruction; calls for a better management of the veterinary prevention and promotion of high standards of animal health and animal welfare also with trading partners in order to prevent spread of zoonotic diseases and to promote the high levels of bBiodiversity, environmental degradation and our current food production systemssecurity developed in EU as the best practice at global level;
Amendment 1457 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Urges the Commission to propose mechanisms that support cooperation between the various links in the chain, for example, by prioritizing stable market- oriented trade relations; considers that collaboration between the different segments of the food chain will be essential in the future, as it has been during the worst months of the covid-19 crisis;
Amendment 1513 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals for better cooperation between farmers, already allowed under competition rules, and to support investment in improving production and marketing structures to make them more robust, stable, secure and profitable for farmers as means of helping strengthen their position in the chain;
Amendment 1519 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Recognises that retailers and wholesalers can help move sustainable products away from market niches and into mainstream markets; highlights their growing commitment to create transparency, promote healthy diets through consumer information, reformulation, promotion of organic products and treatment of food waste, which they offer in response to the already strong demand from its customers;
Amendment 1521 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls for the recognition of the food distribution system, based on the proximity of retail outlets to consumers, both in urban and rural areas, as essential to ensure access to food to all European citizens, avoiding the so-called food deserts that occur in the USA;
Amendment 1650 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for measures toat European level to encourage product reformulation of products not covered by EU quality schemes and reduce the burden that highly processed foods with high salt, sugar and fat content place on public health; regrets that the introduction of nutrient profiles is greatly delayed and stresses that a robust set of nutrient profiles must be developed to restrict or prohibit the use of false nutritional claims on foods high in fats, sugars and/or salt; calls for a mandatory EU-wide front-of-pack nutrition labelling system based on independent science and urges Member States to support the implementation of the upcoming EU system and refrain from unilateral actions that could hinder the harmonization work of the European Commission;
Amendment 1703 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the European Commission to consider digital consumer information as a key element in making information on healthy and sustainable diets available to consumers in the EU;
Amendment 1710 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the EU single market and provide clarity and simplicity for all players in the food sector, offering a more harmonised and science-based approach, which is currently lacking, in areas such as front-of-pack labelling, origin labelling, waste management, food donations, to name but a few, so that Europe can uphold sustainability standards in the food chain at the international level;
Amendment 1719 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Recalls the growing importance attached by producers and consumers to origin labelling; insists that such labelling should be established at EU level, should not undermine the smooth functioning of the internal market, be fully verifiable and traceable, and should be compatible with the EU's international obligations;
Amendment 1773 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the fact that the strategy rightly recognises the role and influence of the food environment in shaping consumption patterns and the need to make it easier for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable diets; reiterates the importance of promoting sustainable diets by raising consumer awareness of the impacts of consumption patterns and providing information on diets that are better for human health and have a lower environmental footprint and alerting consumer on the proliferation of ultra- processed products that are presented as healthy copies; underlines that food prices must send the right signal to consumers; welcomes, therefore, the strategy’s objective that the healthy and sustainable choice should become the most affordable one;
Amendment 1894 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the recognition in the strategy that Europeans’ diets are not always in line with recommendations for healthy eating, and that a population-wide shift in dietary consumption patterns is needed towards more healthy and plant-based foods and less red and processed meat, sugars, salt, and fats, which will also benefit the environment; acknowledges that the healthy choice may not always be the most sustainable and affordable choice and vice-versa; emphasises that EU-wide guidelines for sustainable and healthy diets wshould bring clarity to consumers on what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet and inform Member States’ own efforts to integrate sustainability elements in national dietary advicee science-based and take into account the cultural and regional diversity of European foods and diets, as well as consumer needs and preferences ; calls on the Commission to develop such guidelines and specific actions to effectively promote healthy plant-based diets;
Amendment 1944 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that the further development of plant protein production and alternative sources of proteincomplementary sources of nutrition for human food and animal feed such as insects or algae, in the EU is a way of effectively addressing many of the environmental and climate challenges that EU agriculture is facing, as well as preventing deforestation in countries outside the EU;
Amendment 2035 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its call to take the measures required to achieve a Union food waste reduction target of 30 % by 2025 and 50 % by 2030 compared to the 2014 baseline; underlines that binding targets and common criteria for measuring food waste in the different links of the food chain are needed to achieve this;
Amendment 2068 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the proposed revision of EU rules on date marking; stresses that any change to date marking rules should be science based and should improve the use of date marking by actors in the food chain, including Horeca, and its understanding by consumers, in particular ‘best before’ labelling, while at the same time not undermining food safety or quality;
Amendment 2079 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Expresses its concern on the dynamics resulting from the process of concentration and the increasing dominant power of financial investors in the food supply chain, which lead to lower food quality and worsening of working conditions;
Amendment 2119 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines the importance EU funding for research and innovation as a key driver in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, healthy and inclusive European food system while facilitating investments needed to encourage agro- ecological practices in both social and technological innovation, and the crucial role of farm advisory services in ensuring the transfer of knowledge to the farming community, drawing on the existing specialised training systems for farmers in Member States; stresses the strategic importance of collective approaches through producer organisations and cooperatives to bring farmers together in achieving their goals;
Amendment 2147 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Notes that in order to achieve the goals set out in this strategy, we must take advantage of scientific and technological progress, highlighting recent advances in both the versatility, safety and sustainability of new technologies for genetic improvement, promoting a legislative process in the EU that provides the necessary certainty for the development of this innovative sector, at the service of a more sustainable and healthy European food system;
Amendment 2176 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Recalls that the transition to this system will require significant investments and it cannot be accomplished without the complicity and support of European farmers;
Amendment 2179 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Considers the allocated budget to achieve the ambitions of the EU Green Deal and the Just transition mechanism to be insufficient to deal in a socially sustainable manner with the consequences of the expected transformation; calls for the Just transition mechanism to cover as well agricultural regions that may be adversely affected and underlines the need to ensure the proper involvement of social partners in the definition and implementation of future initiatives of the strategy;
Amendment 2262 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Welcomes the explicit reference to the risk of asymmetries between the new requirements for European producers and those for imported products and calls once again on the European Commission to demand effective reciprocity in the negotiation of agreements with third countries;
Amendment 2278 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to strengthen control mechanisms both at origin and at the border in trade with third countries to safeguard the animal and plant health of European agriculture and prevent the entry of pests and diseases from outside the EU;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Member States to comply with the guidelines issued by the European Commission in its Communication on achieving a European Education Area by 2025 in relation to the duty of governments to promote mainstreaming in all education and training sectors, in accordance with the UN commitments under the CRPD; calls for the incorporation of inclusive arrangements system in national, European and regional education policies to facilitate the educational mainstreaming of students with disabilities, in order to avoid any type of discrimination;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that children are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, wherever they are born, before or after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, or whether they are born inside or outside the host state where the EU citizen or the UK national resides;
Amendment 12 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls that those protected by the Withdrawal Agreement who have not yet acquired permanent residence rights – if they have not lived in the host state for at least five years – will be fully protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, and will be able to continue residing in the host state and acquire permanent residence rights in the host state after accumulating five years of residence;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls that EU citizens and UK nationals who arrived in the host state before 1 January 2021 enjoy the same rights and obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement as those who arrived in the host state before 1 February 2020;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Recalls that EU citizens and UK nationals frontier workers and frontier self-employed persons are also protected in the countries where they work;
Amendment 16 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Recalls that the citizens covered by the Withdrawal Agreement maintain their right to healthcare, pensions and other social security benefits, and if they are entitled to a cash benefit from one country, they will in principle be entitled to receive it, even if they decide to live in another country; and that workers and self-employed persons concerned have the right to take up employment or to carry out an economic activity as a self- employed person;
Amendment 18 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that UK courts must pay due regard to CJEU case law handed down after the transition period, and the rights provided by the citizens’ rights section of the Agreement can be relied on directly by EU citizens in UK courts and by UK nationals in the courts of the Member States;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the EU Settlement Scheme’s requirement that EU citizens with pre-settled status have to make a second application to the scheme in order to be provided with the indefinite right to remain in the UK is problematic and puts citizens at a higher risk of missing deadlines, including the risk of automatic loss of their UK residence; is alarmed by very high levels of applicants who are only accorded the pre-settled status; highlights the difficulties that EU citizens may encounter in attempting to apply for settled or pre-settled status owing to the UK Home Office’s insistence on a digital- only approach to the application process;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2202(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers that the absence of a physical document creates the risk that many EU citizens and, in particular, the elderly, the people with disabilities and vulnerable and digitally challenged people will struggle to prove their rights; points out that the complexity of proving digital status may lead to the risk of discrimination against EU citizens; to this end, reaffirms the Parliament’s call for the issuing of a physical document as a proof of the EU citizens’ residing rights in the UK; points out that the complexity of proving digital status may lead to the risk of discrimination against EU citizens; stresses that it is fundamental to create smooth, simple and transparent administrative procedures accessible to all, and that administrative costs, if any, must not exceed those imposed on nationals for issuing similar documents;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that mfore than half of EU expenditure in 2019 may be considered as high-risk, including reimbursement-based payments for investments in the areas of cohesion and rural development; notes thate Court of Auditors the revenue for 2019 was legal and regular, and the increase in the estimated rate of material error from 4,5 % in 2018 to 4,9 % in 2019 can result in auditors giving an adverse opinion on EU expenditure;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. NotWelcomes the decrease in the estimated level of error in spending on ‘Economic, social and territorial cohesion’ from 5 % in 2018 to 4,4 % in 2019; welcomes this year- on-year improvement, but is disappointed that it has not proved possible to decrease the error rate to the 3 % level recorded in 2017, so efforts should be made in this regard during the next programming period;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the main reasons for this error rate are project ineligibility, infringement of internal market rules, and ineligible expenditure; recalls that these areas have high inherent risk of error and that checks by managing authorities are not always effective; underlines that a financial error, in most of the cases, does not constitute fraud;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern that, at the end of the sixth year of implementation, absorption rates for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF) are 6,6% lower than at the same stage in the previous programming period; and draws attention to the risk that, as the eligibility period draws to an end and given the circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis, Member States may prioritise spending overshould pay special attention to absorption rates in the next programming period without causing any prejudice to performance and regularity.
Amendment 1 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the commitment taken by the European Commission before the European Parliament for the establishment of an independent EU ethics body;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines the need to review and align relevant EU legislation and codes of conduct, requiring full transparency on employment or projects taken up by high- ranking and senior officials of EU institutions and agencies, including after leaving public office;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the important role that the European Ombudsman plays in ensuring high standards of transparency and integrity in the EU institutions; stresses its key role at monitoring the proper functioning of the European public administration, which should continue after the establishment of the EU ethics body; calls on its Committee on Constitutional Affairs committee to consider and to take into account the experience provided by the European Ombudsman when reflecting on the possible establishment of an independent ethics body; suggests the setting up of an EU interinstitutional working group that is tasked with discussing and formulating recommendations on all aspects related to the subject mattersuch body, which should be holding a clear mandate, and operating at a technical level with a permanent, independent, impartial, collegiate and gender-balanced structure;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the important role played by Parliament as representative of the citizens of the EU, including in its oversight of the political evaluation of the Commission and other institutions on behalf of the public, as well as to ensure suitability of certain senior positions; recalls that the European Parliament should continue holding this role after the establishment of the EU ethics body;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 77 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the fact that strengthening the existing procedures on the basis of analysis and evaluation of their effectiveness and public response is generally more effective that the future ethics body should take on the role of the ethics committees operating in the different EU institutions and agencies; and work towards the harmonization of the different interpretations of the norms and terms within the EU institutions, such as “conflict of interest”, to avoid divergences and in pursuit of the clarity that citizens demand the introduo continue growing their trust in the functioning of new the EU institutiones;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers, as that, from the viewpoint of the committee most directly engaged with the public opinion and public response to the institutions’ transparency and integrity, that the democratic approach and political responsibility remains the strongest control mechanism in any constitutional democracy, as well as in the EU; stresses the need for further strengthening of the democratic accountability mechanisms at EU levele future ethics body should operate in a depoliticised manner and perform in an independent way, to further strengthen and guarantee the highest standards of accountability, transparency and integrity at EU level, to continue growing trust of the citizens in the EU institutions.
Amendment 15 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Article 349 of the TFEU must be read in conjunction with other articles of the Treaty, particularly Article 7, which stipulates that ‘the Union shall ensure consistency between its policies and activities, taking all of its objectives into account’ and allows for a differentiated approach to be applied to the outermost regions in the implementation of European law as a whole, in accordance with the judgment of the Court of Justice of 15 December 2015;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the numerous advances obtained for the ORs under the new 2021- 2027 MFF at both budgetary and legislative level through specific arrangements in the Structural Funds and horizontal programmes, and welcomes the additional measures taken for the ORs as part of the Next Generation EU recovery plan; calls for those advances to be consolidated in the new European strategy for the ORs;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that, despite the judgment of the Court of Justice of 15 December 2015, the Commission's restrictive interpretation of Article 349 undermines the ORs' ability to take full advantage of their integration into the Union and to develop their own potential while taking full account of their specific characteristics and structural constraints;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Regrets that the small number of programmes, policies and funds specific to the ORs, inspired by the success of POSEI, have disappeared in favour of the integration of specific provisions into horizontal European programmes, which dilutes the specific approach that should be adopted for these territories;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Recalls that the Treaties confer on the Commission the right of initiative and that it is therefore responsible for making legislative proposals for the ORs, enabling Article 349 to be implemented in the various EU policies and programmes;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the establishment of a new communicationgenuine strategy which would, in particular, involve young people and inform them about the opportunities offered by the EU and raise their awareness of the usefulness of Europe in their daily lives; calls for a Commission office to be set up in each OR;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to help build, in cooperation with the ORs, a new strategy for the ORs based on respect for their specific characteristics, consolidation of what has been achieved and optimisation of existing arrangements, innovation and an appreciation of the ORs as ‘territories offering solutions’;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Investing in the battle for jobsdecent jobs and social protection, harnessing the potential of the territories and focusing on youth;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls, in the light of youth unemployment in the outermost regions, the need to create specific measures to support and train young people in the outermost regions, particularly by means of the Youth Employment Initiative; welcomes, in this respect, the creation of an additional OR allocation under the ESF+ 2021-2027 and calls on the regions concerned to seize this new source of funding to support employability, mobility and training in the ORs;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need to encourage local initiatives by supporting VSMEs, SMEs and the sustainable tourism, craft, building andculture, social economy, sustainable construction, and digital sectors;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes that, although the new Erasmus + programme encourages the mobility of students and young entrepreneurs from the ORs, the amounts of the Erasmus travel allowances are often insufficient in relation to the real costs of a travel to the mother country for student beneficiaries from the ORs; hopes that, in the future, greater account will be taken of the common characteristics of the ORs in the Erasmus programme, in particular by promoting intra-OR exchanges;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recalls that Europe's cultural diversity, and in particular its abundant heritage of regional languages and cultures, constitute an irreplaceable raw material for the cultural and creative industries; considers that the ORs contain an extraordinary cultural wealth and therefore regrets that the Europe Creative programme for 2021-2027 confines itself to stressing that the ORs should be the subject of special attention, without providing any specific measures to support cultural creation in these territories;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Calls on the Commission to examine the barriers to obtaining the Ecolabel and to expand its scope to other tourism services, as a complement to the EMAS for tourism, and to establish mechanisms to support those certification schemes, paying particular attention to the outermost regions; calls for the creation, in the long term, of a single European label for sustainable tourism, which should also cover quality, accessibility and inclusiveness aspects;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Developing sustainable and fair growth, promoting a green and blue economy and fostering new professions towards climate neutrality by 2050;
Amendment 84 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that it is necessary to provide better support for the diversification of sustainable agricultural production in the ORs and to introduce measures aimed at resolving the market crises faced by certain sectors;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Observes that the disappearance of quotas and guaranteed prices which began with the reform of the COM in sugar in 2005 is damaging cane sugar producers in the ORs; emphasises the need to place on a permanent footing all the specific instruments put in place within the framework of Article 349 of the TFEU in the interests of the sustainable competitiveness of this industry; calls for the establishment of a support scheme for sugar-cane growers in the event of a fall in world sugar prices;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the fact that the Green Deal and EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030, takes into account the exceptional potential of the ORs, including challenges such as the rise of sea levels, the increase in sea temperatures and the increase of frequency of earthquakes and floods;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that the ORs contain exceptional biodiversity which is particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, making it necessary to put in place specific measures; regrets that the 2021-2027 MFF did not make the BEST preparatory action permanent, and calls for the creation of a sustainable mechanism to finance projects on biodiversity, the enhancement of ecosystem services and adaptation to climate change in Europe's overseas territories;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls on the Commission and the relevant Member States to promote and actively support nature protection and restoration objectives in the ORs that are at least equivalent to those set for the EU as a whole by 2030; further calls on the creation of a Trans-OR Nature network;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reaffirms the objective of achieving energy autonomy for the ORs and strongly supports the objective of achieving 100% renewable energy in the ORs in line with the European commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and the climate goals for 2030, as well as a carbon neutral building stock by 2050; stresses, in this view, the importance of the Just Transition Fund and React-EU, which provide dedicated funding for the ORs;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Suggests that an impact study be carried out regarding the possibilities of applying the Natura 2000 programme to the French ORs, with a view to establishing the most appropriate tools for the protection of the biodiversity and environment of these regions;
Amendment 150 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls foron the Commission to take account of the ORs in the Atlantic macro- regional strategies for the ORs to be developedy by including topics relevant to them;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 24 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes the adaptation of EU State aid legislation to the crisis resulting from COVID-19; calls on the Commission to study the need to permanently continue some of these exceptional measures for the ORs, together with the measures already adopted for these regions under the General Block Exemption Regulation;
Amendment 157 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission to rely further on Articles 107(3)(a) and 349 of the TFEU in the Regional State Aid Guidelines and the GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) in order to contribute to the economic and social development of the ORs and pay greater attention to them;
Amendment 165 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Draws attention to the ability of satellites to provide uninterrupted very high-capacity connectivity, which is essential for overcoming the digital divide, particularly in the outermost regions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to update the European Space Strategy, with specific measures for the ORs;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the ORs benefit fully from internatioNotes that the growing number of trade agreements with third countries, including the largest global producers of bananals agreements (EPAs, FTAs, etc.) concluded between the EU and third countries; calls for vigilance with regard to the consequences of these agreements and recommends that effective measures be put in place as part of trade policy, including safeguard clauses and specific checks by the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, while ensuring that the principle of ‘equivalence’ does not lead to situations whnd sugar, is changing the distribution of the market and threatening the competitiveness of the EU producers of those goods; calls for vigilance with regard to the consequences of these agreements and calls on the Commission to carry out a study measuring the cumulative impact of trade agreements with third countries on the socio- economich discriminate againstevelopment of the ORs;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Considers that the trade negotiations conducted by the EU should take greater account of the specific characteristics of the ORs, by providing for safeguard clauses and, where appropriate, the exclusion of sensitive products from the ORs, which are a pillar of their economic, social and environmental development;
Amendment 186 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Recommends specific checks by the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, while ensuring that the principle of ‘equivalence’ does not lead to situations which discriminate against the ORs;
Amendment 194 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Amendment 202 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Stresses that the ORs are strongly affected by migration flows from their immediate neighbourhood; warns of the impact of managing migration flows on local public policies and calls for the new Pact on AsylumAsylum, Migration and MiIntegration Fund to take appropriate account of the real challenges facing the ORs in this area;
Amendment 203 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 31 – point 1 (new)
(1) Suggests that the resources of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund should be mobilised to provide adequate support to Member States’ efforts in applying this Fund, in particular to those Member States which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their asylum and reception systems;
Amendment 204 #
2020/2120(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 31 – point 2 (new)
(2) Stresses the need for the EU to allocate specific funds so that those regions facing greater migratory pressure, principally those on the EU’s borders, such as the ORs, can manage the reception and assistance of unaccompanied minors who arrive in their territory, making it easier to resettle those minors as quickly as possible in the Member States;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that, against the background of a sharp economic downturn, EU agri-food tradecombined with the uncertainty created after Brexit and the unfair tariffs imposed by the US on certain European food products, agri-food trade, except through the HORECA sector, has remarkably remained broadly stable over the course of 2020, for both exports and imports, despite these difficulties, thanks in large part to the best efforts of farmers and the entire food supply chain; highlights that the Union’s yearly agri-food trade surplus exceeded EUR 60 billion; recalls in this context that agriculture and agri-food are key drivers for EU exports and economic recovery;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. EUnderlines the role of the agricultural and livestock sector during the pandemic by safeguarding the production and distribution of the most essential goods and thus preventing a crisis in the access to basic supplies; emphasises the remarkable resilience of European agriculture; underlines its socio- economic importance as well as the high number of companies and jobs involved; stresses the importance of Europe’s agri- food production for the vitality of its rural areas;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the European Commission to pay particular attention, and provide the necessary support, to those agri-food markets most severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis, such as the wine sector, whose sales have been severely hampered by the closure of the HORECA sector, and for which it is necessary to seek funding lines for additional Covid-19 measures that do not depend on the funds allocated to the National Wine Programmes;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on the European Commission to take account, in particular, of the delicate situation in which the agri-food sector found itself in the months prior to the pandemic due to the tariff hikes imposed by the US administration, as well as the consequences of Brexit, a situation that has been aggravated by the onset of the pandemic;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that any EU economic stimulus plans and export support measures need to consider agriculture in view of the importance and diversity of the sector; also stresses that the review and overhaul of EU trade policy, as well as the announced reform of the World Trade Organization, must be an opportunity to better defend the European agricultural model and farmers’' interests; reiterates firmly that agriculture and agri-food products entering the European market must fully comply with EU rules and standards, compliance with which is questionable at present as a result of the lack of directly applicable clauses in the EU's trade agreements with third countries, which require social and environmental standards similar to European standards;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that the new requirements of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies and our commitments in the fight against climate change will give rise to even more demanding rules and regulations for agriculture, which will require us to bring about important changes in our agricultural model; considers it crucial to make the necessary changes to EU trade policy in order to ensure adequate competitiveness and a good future for European agriculture by making products from third countries subject to the same level of requirements;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls for a review of the trade preferences scheme and its current method of application as it is causing serious harm to a number of European sectors, such as the rice sector, and of the preferential concessions to Myanmar, a country that benefits from the GSP despite the serious violations of basic freedoms and human rights that are taking place there, following the coup d'état;
Amendment 93 #
2020/2117(INI)
5. Highlights the overall importance of a well-functioning internal market in order to enhance Europe’'s export capacity and secure our producer network., which requires progress in terms of legislation at the European level, harmonisation and rapid implementation, as is being achieved with the directive on unfair trading practices in the food chain;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
— having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund and its subsequent amendments of 15 May 2014 and 20 March 20201 , _________________ 1 OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.
Amendment 3 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 in order to, created following the great floods that hit Central Europe in 2002, provides financial assistance to Member States and accession countries undergoingstruck by major disasters,; whereas the EUSF represents a true European added value and the materialisation of a will, that has sometimes been lacking, to provide mu of solidarity towards the populations of the EU's regions affected by major natural assistance at Union leveldisasters;
Amendment 10 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in its resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the European Parliament pointed out that solidarity among the Member States wais not an option, but an obligation, stemming inter alia from Articles 2 and 21 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), and was part and parcelis a pillar of our European values, as set out in Article 3 of the TEU; whereas, in the same resolution, the European Parliament urges the Commission to strengthen all components of crisis management and disaster response;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. noting with interest that, according to a recent survey, more than two thirds of the Europeans citizens believe that the European Union should equip itself with more resources to deal with crises such as COVID-19; have more competences to deal with crises such as the crisis of the Covid-19, and more than a half believes that the EU should have more financial means to deal with these crises1a; _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/p ress-room/20201113IPR91602/eu-survey- confirms-citizens-call-for-eu-to-have- more-powers-to-tackle-pandemic
Amendment 17 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, so far, assistance from the Fund has concerned around a hundred natural disasters in 243 member states and 1 accession countries, totalling some EUR 6.6 billion; for interventions1a; _________________ 1a https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s /An-overview-of-the-EU-Solidarity-Fund- 2002-2019/qpif-qzyn
Amendment 19 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. noting the usefulness of the EUSF, highlighted by the Commission’s evaluation, in particular as regards reducing the burden on local authorities facing significant damage as a resultf all national, regional and local authorities to support the recovery effort in the aftermath of natural disasters;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the rate of approval of requests for assistance in the event of major disasters is 100%, while that of requests for assistance in the event of regional disasters, the most frequent category, has risen from 32% to 85% following the 2014 revision of the EUSF Regulation;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. regretting, however, that, although the reform of the regulation in 2014 contributed to a 12% reduction in the time between thethe extension from 10 to 12 weeks to allow the preparation and submission of the applications for assistance, and the relevant payment, the period required in order for the full grant to be deployed is still too long when the substantial proportion of cases still requires updates, resulting in excessive delay in finally accessing the grants; for this reason, calls on the Commission to give a simplified guidance on the application requirements aind is being urgently awaitedn so doing reducing the administrative burden;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. stresses that the period required in order for the full grant to be deployed could be further reduced, as EU solidarity is urgently awaited;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. regretting, likewise,s that the Fund’s assistance does notonly covers the additional costs of rebuilding energy- and resource- efficient infrastructure that isrestoration of the status quo ante of infrastructure and plants in the fields of energy, water and waste water, telecommunications, transport, health and education, while leaving aside additional costs of rebuilding more disaster-resilient and climate-resilient infrastructures, as called for in the European Green Deal, to be financed by the beneficiary State from own resources and from other Union funds, such as ERDF and Cohesion Fund;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. noting with interest that, as illustrated by the COVID-19 crisis, there is a high degree of complementarityroom for a higher level of synergies between cohesion policy instruments and the EUSF, the fund which; acknowledging that the EUSF was created to responds to natural disasters in the short and medium term, while cohesion policy (ERDF and Cohesion Fund) is geared to longer- term planning, with regard to planning and investments for civil protection and preventive and risk management infrastructure;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. welcominges the Commission’s proposal to, and subsequent exntend the scope of the EUSF to include health emergencies, so that this financial instrument can be used to provide assistance to populations affected by a pandemicring into force of Regulation (EU) 2020/461, to extend the scope of the EUSF to include major public health emergencies;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas, because of climate change, emergency situationnatural disasters are likely to intensify and multiply; highlighting, therefore, the usefulness of the budgetary mechanism of dynamic allocation, introduced in 2014, which enabled the Fund, amongst other things, to provide a record supportEUSF contribution of EUR 1.2 billion for the earthquakes in Italy in 2016- 2017;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
Amendment 44 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Amendment 46 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas special attention should be paid to the outermost regions (ORs), islands – which are particularly vulnerable to disasters –, mountainous regions, sparsely populated regions and all areas that are particularly prone to the risk of natural disasters;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its deep concern that extreme wConsiders that investing in prevention and climate mitigation in line with European Green Deal, is of the utmost importance, as floods, earther evenquakes, forest fires, droughts and other natural disasters will only increase and intensify alongside climate ccan spill out of hanged;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EUSF is one of the most concrete expressions of the EU solidarity;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses with concern that, in recent years, Europeans have had to face multiple emergenciedisasters that have devastated human lives, property, the environment and cultural heritage;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Draws attention to eventpandemics such as COVID-19, which is severely affecting all of Europe, forest fires across the continent, including in unusual places such as the Arctic, and the series of violent earthquakes in Europe, particularly in Italy in 2016-2017, causing hundreds of deaths and some EUR 22 billion in damage, and in Croatia, in March and December 2020; points out, moreover, that storms, extreme rainfall and flooding have caused considerable damage in many cities and valleys, and that increasingly violent hurricanes have caused devastation in the outermost regions, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 in Saint-Martin, and Hurricane Lorenzo in 2019 in the Azores, which were particularly destructive;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that it is vital that aid and funds be sent every more rapidlyas quickly as possible to affected regions, and that links with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and the ERDF climate-change adaptation component are essential in order to create a comprehensive package; calls on the Commission to continue its work on the guidance for EUSF's simplified usage in order to facilitate actions of national, regional and local authorities;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 75 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is of the view that the risks of natural, ecological and health disasters have now become systemic and that the least developed and most fragile territories, such as islands, are often the most affected by the impact of climate changemajor climate and public health emergencies have deeper economic and social impacts in the least developed and most fragile territories, such as islands, so more adequate measures in these territories should be taken under the EUSF;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers it vital to improvenvest in disaster risk prevention and management in Europe by securing preventive infrastructure; recommends, in this regard, that Member States put in place, together with the Commission, disaster prevention and management plans for accurate and rapid damage assessment;
Amendment 105 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Draws particular attention to the situation of local authorities which have little experience in EU-funded projects and calls Stresses the necessity of reducing the bureaucratic burden and increasing the administrative aid to support beneficiary countries towards the creation of management and long the Commission to provierm strategies, in order them wio help reducing the increased operational support, in particular administrative supportmpacts of major natural and health disasters in these countries;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission to adaptfocus the EUSF as far as possible to the regions that are the most vulnerable to natural, ecological and health disasters, particularly the ORs, islands, mountainous regions, regions that are prone to intense seismic or volcanic activity and those that are sparsely populated;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 117 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that in its revised proposal of 27 May 2020 on the MFF 2021-2027 the Commission provided for a maximum annual budget of EUR 1 billion for the EUSF (in 2018 prices) and therefore notes with concern that under the agreement on the new MFF, the EUSF has been merged with the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) into a new ‘Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve’ (SEAR) package, with an overall annual budgetary allocation of EUR 1.2 billion;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the fact that the revised EUSF adopted in April 2020 has increased the level of advance payments from 10% to 25% of the amount of the financial contribution anticipated and the maximum amount of the advances from EUR 30 million to EUR 100 million; points out, however, that for countries facing major disasters, the effectiveness of the Fund is directly linked to the level of advance payments and is of the view that it should be much higher, amounting to at least 33%;
Amendment 127 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers that most of the large- scale buildings located in the ORs (such as ports, airports, hospitals), essential as they are for the functioning of these small territories, are public buildings, and are very much exposed to environmental disasters; consequently, believes that the financial support from the EUSF for the ORs should be higher than 2,5% the amount received to remedy past disasters , in order to allow them to quickly return to and improve up on their status quo ante;
Amendment 131 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes with regret that it takes oin average one year for the entire grant to reach the beneficiary and that the Fund cannot therefore, under the current conditions, claim to act as an instrument for rapid intervention; calls on the Commission to expedite payment procedures and to explore ways of simplifying, as much as possible, the administrative procedures required to access aid, in order to relieve disaster- stricken regions or countries from unnecessary administrative burdens;
Amendment 137 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. BelieveConsiders that, in the future, the EUSF budget will have to be increased in order to make iteet what is required from a real tool for EU solidarity; believes that in the short run, the Commission should prepare a proposal with more allocated resources for the EUSF budget, as it is duly justified by the broadening of the scope, in order to guarantee that there is enough budget to deal immediately with major natural and public health disasters;
Amendment 139 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for the criteria for determining operations that are ‘eligible’ for assistance from the Fund to take greater account of the latest risk prevention principles, so asin order to enable countries to improve the quality of their infrastructure during reconstruction and thus beo better prepared to deal with disasters themselves to avoid future disasters by securing preventive infrastructure;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that operations such as ‘framework loans’, implemented with the EIB, could also be used to finance the reconstruction of more expensive, but more resilient, safer and greener infrastructure;
Amendment 143 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to strengthen and simplify the synergies between the EUSF and cohesion funds, as well as with the UCPMnion Civil Protection Mechanism, with a view to effective and structured risk management in the short, medium and long term, not only through the construction of sustainable, energy- and resource-efficient infrastructure, but also through the deployment of preventive measures;
Amendment 145 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Highlights that the extension of the scope of the Fund, to fight impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, has shown us that the EUSF has the capacity to be more flexible, both in scope and in its eligibility - it can provide assistance not only in cases of major natural disasters, but also in the prevention and rapid assistance to other types of major disasters, such as pandemics;
Amendment 147 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. TakStresses the viewfact that thise broadening of the scope of the EUSF requires a larger must always be accompanied by a reinforcement of its budget;
Amendment 149 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the visibility of the Fund’s assistance through ad hoc, targeted communication activities, and to make rapid response and delivery of aid a priority, in order specifically to highlight the Union’s added value in the event of natural and health disasters and a concrete expression of EU solidarity and its ability to put genuine mutual assistance into practice by providing significant budgetary resources;
Amendment 152 #
2020/2087(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and to, the Commission and the Member States.
Amendment 14 #
2020/2076(INI)
B. whereas the EU’s SMEs have traditionally generated a high share of the EU’s employment, and in so doing have ensured social and economic well-being and prosperity; whereas they are often hit hard in times of crisis such as that generated by the current COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the EU’s industrial future is linked to an alignment of the economy with the principles ofset out in the European Green Deal, involving a roadmap towards a new growth policy for the EU, bringing citizens, cities and regions together, and allowing for a just transition fostering cohesion between regions through innovation and a new sustainable economic model, leaving no one behind;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need for a Union industrial strategy that takes into account the importance of this sector for regions facing demographic challenges, encourages investment and promotes the industrial development of such areas in the Union;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that in supporting SMEs through the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) the goal should be, inter alia, an innovative and smart economic transformation, a greener and low carbon EU, as well as an EU which is more connected and cohesive and aims to ensure long- term and sustainable employment, particularly in disadvantaged regions;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates that the public sector has an important new role to play in facilitating a just transition by promoting a green and fair energy transition, green and blue investments, the circular economy, as well as climate adaptation and associated risk prevention in all EU regions;
Amendment 102 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the EU should be attentive to preserving and developing an industrial strategy and production which ensure European strategic autonomy, as well as the availability and delivery of essential products and equipment for citizens if the need arises in the single markets, especially in key sectors such as health supplies;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that ESIF financial support should prioritise investments in new or transformed industrial production in carbon-intensive regions that are nevertheless committed to the emissions reduction targets set out in the European Green Pact, in order to facilitate achieving the goals of a just transition.
Amendment 26 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 28 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas sustainability should be seen as a balanced approach to bring sustainable growth, social progress and environment together;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas Cohesion Policy is a crucial tool to deliver a fair transition to a climate neutral economy that leaves no one behind;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas an increase of 1.5 degrees is the maximum the planet can tolerate; should temperatures increase further beyond 2030, we will face even more droughts, flood, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people; the likely demise of the most vulnerable populations - and at worst, the extinction of humankind altogether as pointed out in the EU interinstitutional report Challenges and Choices for Europe;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas islands, outermost and peripheral regions have an enormous potential in the production of renewable energy and are strategic laboratories to implement innovative policy measures and technical solutions to deliver the energy transition, reduce CO2 emissions and boost the shift towards the circular economy;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. whereas the transition to a climate neutral economy by 2050 can be achieved through a combination of public financing at EU and national levels and by creating the right conditions for private financing;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognises the need to support the territories most affected by the transition towards climate neutrality, avoid regional disparities growing and empower workers and local and regional communities;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Urges holistic regional integration strategies to guarantee sustainable development and mitigate the consequences of climate change by supporting energy transition to renewable sources, biodiversity and climate adaptation; believes that these regional strategies should support civic engagement, locally initiated and owned projects and should boost the cooperation between the regions, also trough cross- border projects; calls on the Commission to provide support and facilitate the cooperation between the regions and exchange of know-how and best practices;
Amendment 148 #
2020/2074(INI)
11. Calls on the Commission to monitor the progress of national governments and local and regional authorities in addressing climate change; emphasises that an effective involvement of local and regional authorities at national level should be put in place when the European Commission assessment on climate change policies and climate targets is done in the context of the European Semester; stresses the need to enhance the effectiveness and complementarity of ESI Funds in tackling climate change;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 11 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes policy objective 2 (PO2) of the proposed new Common Provisions Regulation which aims to establish ‘a greener, low carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation and risk prevention and management'; recalls that ERDF thematic concentration for PO2 would be best served if applied at regional level in order to reflect the different regional specificities when it comes to climate;
Amendment 155 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Supports the agreement on the multi annual financial framework for the period 2021-2027 that avoids harmful subsidies, supports a full phase out of fossil fuels subsidies, both direct and indirect by 2025 the latest, ensures overall funding and programme priorities which reflect the climate emergency and contribute to mainstream climate actions and to the achievement on an overall target of at least 30% of the EU budget expenditure supporting climate objectives;
Amendment 156 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Is concerned by the economic losses due to natural hazards and the damage of the EU funded infrastructure projects caused by the weather and climate-related extremes; calls for the support of activities and infrastructure projects that respect the climate and environmental standards and that are more resilient against the natural hazards;
Amendment 157 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses that it is of the utmost importance to respect in all relevant Cohesion Policy legislation horizontal principles such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a fair and socially inclusive transition, a legally binding climate-related spending target of 30 % and a biodiversity-related spending target at 10 %; stresses, therefore, that a transparent, comprehensive and meaningful tracking methodology should be adopted swiftly, and adapted if necessary during the MFF mid-term revision, for both climate-related spending and biodiversity-related spending;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the proposal to top up the Just Transition Fund, including with additional funds from Next Generation EU, and the two additional pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, namely a dedicated scheme under Invest EU and a public sector loan facility, which will contribute to alleviating the economic effects of the transition to climate neutrality on the Union’s most vulnerable regions; regrets the fact, however, that the top-up amount proposed by the Commission has been cut by more than 2/3 - from 30 to 7.5 billion euros - under the Council agreement on Next Generation EU; underlines that these cuts would jeopardise the fund’s core objectives;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2044(INI)
F. whereas of the 1 357 petitions submitted in 2019, 938 were declared admissible, 406 were declared inadmissible and 13 were withdrawn; whereas the relatively high percentage (30 %) of inadmissible petitions in 2019 reveals that there is still a widespread lack of clarity about the EU’s fields of activity; in this sense, it is necessary to address this problem with information campaigns dedicated to clarifying the competences of the Union as well as the procedure for submitting petitions to the European Parliament;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)
Recital R a (new)
Ra. whereas the media play a key role in any democratic system and provide more transparency to the process of the Committee on Petitions; whereas a quality press is an essential element for the whole European Union; whereas there is some confusion in some European media in relation to the role and powers of the Committee on Petitions;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the important role of the Committee on Petitions in defending and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents, ensuring that petitioners’ concerns and complaints are examined in timely fashion and, wherever possible, resolved, through an open, democratic and transparent petition process; and avoiding a biased or politicised response to the petitioners;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasizes the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s fields of activity aimed at informing citizens about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making, in order to reduce the number of inadmissible petitions; proposes information and training campaigns in the European Union be stepped up to ensure that EU citizens have better knowledge of the EU’s competences and to clarify the role of the Committee on Petitions among the public opinion;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Proposes to carry out campaigns and outreach events targeting journalists and the media in order to prevent vague information and thus improve the relationship between the Committee on Petitions and the media; underlines that the media plays a key role in reaching out to European citizens concerning the day- to-day work of the Committee on Petitions and can contribute through their activity to improving the knowledge that European citizens have about the work of the Committee on Petitions; stresses that it is the EU’s task to encourage European citizens to receive accurate information;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that petitions offer the opportunity to the European Parliament and other EU institutions to maintain a direct dialogue with EU citizens who are affected by the misapplication of EU law; becoming the entrance door of citizens in the European institutions; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU institutions and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding implementation of and compliance with EU law;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the European Commission to commit to a more active involvement in the Committee on Petitions in order to ensure that petitioners receive a precise response to their requests and complaints regarding with the implementation of EU law;
Amendment 87 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Draws attention to the large number of petitions on Brexit submitted in 2019, mostly calling for the protection of EU citizens’ rights before and after Brexit; welcomes the excellent work done by the Committee on Petitions, which by giving voice to the concerns raised by these petitioners contributed to ensuring that citizens’ rights remained one of Parliament’s main priorities in the Brexit negotiations; stresses that there are many citizens – both in the EU and in the United Kingdom – who, in view of the uncertainty of a no-deal Brexit, have turned to the Committee on Petitions because of the fear of seeing their rights in danger due to the lack of agreement;
Amendment 92 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Draws attention to the majority support that the Plenary of the European Parliament gave to the Resolution of the European Parliament, of 17 January 2019, on the strategic investigation OI / 2/2017 of the European Ombudsman on the transparency of legislative debates in the bodies preparations for the Council of the European Union; recalls that the Council, as co-legislator, is an indispensable institution for the citizens of the Union; regrets that there are still many closed-door discussions and meetings in this institution; invites the Council to implement a policy of greater transparency in order to thereby improve citizens' trust in public institutions; encourages it to give a greater diffusion to certain meetings and documents in order to achieve a better communication with European citizens and with national parliaments;
Amendment 96 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that the ECI is an importantfundamental instrument for active citizenship and public participation; welcomes the adoption on 17 April 2019 of the new rules for the ECI, which bring a number of structural and technical improvements to make this instrument more user-friendly and accessible as well as to facilitate increased participation of EU citizens in the democratic process of the Union; notes the significant number of new ECIs registered by the Commission in 2019, which shows that citizens are seizing the opportunity to use participatory instruments to have a say in policymaking and lawmaking processes; calls for more dissemination campaigns on the role of the European Citizen Initiative to promote the use of this resource by European citizens and thus encourage their involvement in the democratic process of the Union;
Amendment 104 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recalls that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petition process; welcomes, in this regard, its alignment with the ‘look and feel’ of the European Parliament’s website (Europarl), which has made the portal more responsive and accessible for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make the portal more accessible to persons with disabilities in order to ensure that all citizens of the Union can exercise their right to petition the European Parliament contained in Article 20 and 24 of the TFEU and in Article 44 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Underlines that the ePetitions instrument is an important database for the Committee to function, but calls for an improvement and modernization of the interface in order to make it easier and more accessible;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
— having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights and, in particular, to principles 2, 3 and 9 thereof,
Amendment 9 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)
Citation 26 a (new)
- having regard to ‘The Missing Entrepreneurs 2019: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship report’, published by the OECD and the European Commission on10 December 2019,
Amendment 10 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 a (new)
Citation 31 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Discussion Paper 129 of 24 July 2020 entitled ‘Gender Smart Financing Investing In & With Women: Opportunities for Europe’,
Amendment 11 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 b (new)
Citation 31 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 18 September 2020 entitled ‘A Union of equality: EU anti- racism action plan 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0565),
Amendment 12 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 c (new)
Citation 31 c (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 12 November 2020 entitled ‘Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0698),
Amendment 19 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 25 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas cCohesion pPolicy is as an important policy tooltool not only to support gender equality, but also to reduce disparities affecting groups still suffering from discrimination, including that linked to their sexual orientation;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the involvement of local and regional authorities, gender equality institutions and non-governmental organisationEuropean Court of Auditors is currently assessing the gender mainstreaming in the European budget; whereas this audit report, due to be published in the first quarter of 2021, will give useful insights ion partnership agreements and monitoring committees is still insufficienthow to implement the gender dimension in the Cohesion Policy actions under the MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas, during the programming period 2014-2020, the main critical elements to promote gender equality through Cohesion Policy have been, among others, the gap between formal statements in Partnership Agreements (PAs) and Operational Programmes (OPs) and the actual implementation as well as the weak political commitment in this domain;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas, during the programming period 2014-2020, gender-related issues have been mainly tackled through the European Social Fund (ESF) OPs; whereas, during the same period, the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF) has contributed to the promotion of gender equality in a very limited manner;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
D c. whereas women represent only 34.4 % of the self-employed and 30 % of start-up entrepreneurs in the European Union and still face difficulties to access finance; whereas Cohesion Policy has a key role in addressing this gap;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
D d. whereas there is still a gender digital divide that needs to be tackled; whereas Cohesion Policy should help bridge this gap, that often affects in a harder way women living in rural and remote areas;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas gender-disaggregated data and the adoption of appropriate selection procedures areis considered useful for promoting gender equality;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the use of gender- disaggregated data and gender-relevant indicators is crucial to improve the decision-making process and to assess the outcome of the Cohesion Policy’s direct and indirect actions aiming at reducing gender inequality;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas during the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases of domestic violence against women and girls has worryingly increased; whereas this phenomenon has shown the need for more innovative solutions, including digital ones; whereas Cohesion Policy, and more specifically the upcoming ESF Plus, can help in this regard;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Strongly believes that gender equality is still mainly addressed in a general manner and limited to the policy domains of the European Social Fund (ESF), as well as in the context analysis and programming phase, while more attention is needed in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases on a regular basis;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that programme stakeholders and monitoring committees still lack expertise on the implementation of a gender perspective in concrete projects, especially in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) interventions; considers there to be a lack of guidelines, training programmes and concrete examples of good practice to address this; underlines, in this regard, the potential of the ERDF/CF to bridge the gap women are still facing, with particular reference to female entrepreneurship and the digital sector;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. BelievStresses that all programmes implemented under cCohesion pPolicy should ensure gender equality throughout their evaluation, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation; is of the opinion that the composition of expert groups in the different phases of the policy cycle should be gender balanced;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Underlines that the actions aiming at bridging the gender gap under Cohesion Policy should adopt an intersectional approach that also takes into consideration age, race and disabilities;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Believes that the beneficiaries of the Cohesion Policy should not adopt any discriminatory policy, in particular against those minorities that still suffer from discrimination, such as the LGBTI community; encourages the rejection of applications from potential beneficiaries, including from regional or local authorities, which have adopted discriminatory policies against members of the LGBTI community such as the declaration of ‘LGBT-free zones’;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that cohesion policy needs to support equal access to training for women in order to bridge the digital gender gap and to support the green and digital transitions; for instance through the increase of the share of female graduates in STEM subjects as well as their involvement in sectors that are crucial for the environmental transition, such as the energy one;
Amendment 139 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines the crucial role of cohesion policy in investing in high-quality public services and social infrastructure, both for combating gender inequalities and for building social resilience and coping with economic, social and health crises;
Amendment 149 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Welcomes that one of the horizontal priorities of the new Multiannual Financial Framework regards gender equality and mainstreaming; stresses that the monitoring of the programmes should not only aim at measuring the relevant expenditure, but, even more importantly, at assessing the outcome of the EU budget on improving gender equality, which goes beyond the mere measurement of how amounts are earmarked;
Amendment 151 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Welcomes the role of European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) in the promotion of gender equality and in the fight against discrimination based on gender; underlines its positive contribution to gender mainstreaming, including in the domain of Cohesion Policy; calls for the adequate funding of this body;
Amendment 174 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that an ex ante and ex post gender impact assessment should be a mandatory part of Member States’ evaluations on how the funds are spent and whether compliance with gender equality targets is effectively respected;
Amendment 182 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that gender mainstreaming must be applied in all stages of the budgetary process; stresses the need to track spending on gender equality in all budget lines, not just in targeted measures, and to assess the final impactoutcome of the budgetary lines on gender equality; requests that the Commission, in cooperation with the European Court of Auditors, propose a methodology to that end; recommends the use of criteria such athat do not only assess the national median wage and the median annual gross income in purchasing power parity, but also non- economic indicators, such as those measuring subjective well-being, the elimination of gender-based violence, civil engagement, work-life balance, social connections; underlines that the assessment of the outcome is only possible if gender-disaggregated data is available;
Amendment 190 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on all institutions to provide guidance documents and training sess, on a regular basis, hands-on training at all levels of the administrations, so as to disseminate and embed concrete examples of good practices on gender mainstreaming; stresses, moreover, that at the project selection stage the criteria for gender mainstreaming should be strengthened through higher scoring and requirements for more practical actions; recommends making use of the existing tools developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) such as its toolkit for gender budgeting in the ESI Funds;
Amendment 193 #
2020/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Stresses the importance of evaluating the training output to assess its effectiveness in improving the implementation of gender mainstreaming;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
- having regard to the 2002 ‘Barcelona targets’,
Amendment 12 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the 'Demographic Change: Proposals on Measuring and Tackling its Negative Effects in the EU Regions' of 12-14 October 2020,
Amendment 13 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)
Citation 16 b (new)
- having regard to the Territorial Impact Assessment Report of the Committee of the Regions on Demographic Change of 30 January 2020,
Amendment 14 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 c (new)
Citation 16 c (new)
- - having regard to the Commission Long-TermVision for Rural Areas, which is currently under preparation,
Amendment 15 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 d (new)
Citation 16 d (new)
- having regard to the Committee of the Regions opinion 'EU Strategy for Rural Revival' from 8-10 December 2020;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the natural demographic balance in the European Union has been negative for the last years and it is due to the migration from non-EU citizens that the EU has not reduced its population;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the effects caused by demographic trends and the depopulation phenomenon are unequal between Member states and its regions, and these need to be addressed by targeted measures;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas the European Union has numerous instruments to face demographic challenges, and cohesion policy plays a crucial role in this regard;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas climate change enhances drastic changes in demographic trends;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas the Union has increased its efforts in order to integrate the principles of sustainability, greening and digitalisation in the overall EU policy making;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
Af. whereas the Commission is currently working on its Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, although the EU population has seen substantial growth in previous decades, the growth rate is now falling and the population is expected to decrease in the longer term; whedecreas Europe will account for less thaning from 6% to 4 % of the world’s population by 2070, and long- term demographic trends in European regions indicate lower birth rates and ageing societies;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the current trend of ageing in EU population has important economic and social consequences, such as higher dependency ratios, pressures on fiscal and social security sustainability, and increased stress on healthcare and social services;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Observes that GDP per capita, income level, employment rate, fertility rate and population ageing are among the most important factors with a direct impact on demographics; notes that the current employment dynamics in particular are generating demographic flows within European regions leading to socio-spatial disparities and challenges that post-2020 cohesion policy will need to address; underlines that internal migration patterns from eastern, southeastern and central regions to northern and northwestern regions mostly involve young, educated and skilled workers; notes that migration from non- EU citizens has allowed EU to avoid population loss in the recent years;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that Europe is manifestly experiencing population ageing, affecting the dependency ratio and having negative effects on workforce growth, which is far behind the previous decade; warns of a visible decline of the labour force in eastern, southern and central European regions; highlights that population ageing also affects housing and transport planning, infrastructure and services needs, as well as fiscal and social security sustainability;
Amendment 73 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that, in that regard, active ageing policies are needed in order to reduce its negative dimension in rural and remote areas, ensuring an adequate level of quality of life for all inhabitants;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines that fertility rates in the EU are considerably below replacement level; considers that cohesion policy can contribute to address this issue by promoting better conditions for families to raise their children, namely through favourable conditions in the job market, work life balance, affordable housing and access to social services of general interest, particularly those targeted to young families, such as affordable childcare;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that the attractiveness of rural areas can be enhanced through the availability of high-quality public services; investments in those may require economies of scale that are difficult to implement in low-density areas, so local and regional communities should identify adequate provisions of services, in the most efficient way possible. In this sense, the role of cohesion policy is fundamental and should allow for these high quality public services;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Highlights that rural development policies should have as one of their main objectives the creation of innovation ecosystems to support knowledge creation and technological diffusion; with this objective in mind, it is key to stimulate common virtual and physical environments that bring together firms, entrepreneurs and research institutes contributing to the transformation of rural areas into real innovation hubs. An environment that enables rural innovation can also be supported by investments in skills and ICT infrastructure, facilitating access to capital for entrepreneurs and SMEs, and supporting local supply chain development linked with diverse industries;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Notes that the concept of “rural proofing” should be mainstreamed throughout all steps of the EU policymaking; this idea, which aims at understanding the impact of policy intervention in rural areas, has the objective of ensuring a fair and equitable policy outcome for them. Rural proofing contributes at understanding the specific necessities of rural and remote areas with a specific focus on policy implementation, overcoming undesirable policy externalities by designing and delivering adequate solutions;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Amendment 87 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 a (new)
Subheading 4 a (new)
Highlights that demographic challenge, although affecting EU’s regions indifferent way, is an important issue for all the EU and has to be understood and tackled in an holistic way; underlines that the EU as a whole has registered a negative natural demographic balance for the last years; stresses that it was due to the migration from non-EU citizens that EU did not face population loss in the last years;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 b (new)
Subheading 4 b (new)
Amendment 100 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights the fact that the EU’s common transport policy aims to strengthen social, economic and territorial cohesion by creating a Europe- wide common transport area, including rural, remote, mountainous, sparsely populated, peripheral, island and outermost regions; points out, however, that there are significant differences between EU regions in terms of connectivity, quality of infrastructure and accessibility;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Highlights the fact that sustainable mobility policies have traditionally focused on cities, relegating the mobility and infrastructure needs of rural areas, including sparsely populated areas, to second place;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses concern over a "geography of discontent" that is taking place in many EU regions where people feel left behind and which is closely associated to demographic change; the "geography of discontent" leads to radical political movements and denial of the EU integration, endangering the EU cohesion;
Amendment 117 #
Amendment 120 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 126 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that economic migration has a direct impact on the inclusiveness of cities, requiring tailored policy responses in different territorial contexts; highlights, in this regard, the need to strengthen inclusion policies;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 129 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 a (new)
Subheading 7 a (new)
Calls for a greater coordination of EU instruments, in particular the ESI Funds and the Next Generation EU, so as to ensure a more comprehensive approach to the demographic challenges; suggests that, given that the mechanisms employed so far have not held back the advance of demographic imbalances, a review of existing policies is required;
Amendment 130 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 b (new)
Subheading 7 b (new)
Calls on the EU incorporating demographic challenges throughout the policy spectrum, including in its budget headings, in order to enable the development of adequate policies; considers that the impact of public policies in demography should be taken into account and subject to impact assessments;
Amendment 131 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 c (new)
Subheading 7 c (new)
Calls on the Commission once more to propose a strategy on demographic change which prioritises the following fields: decent employment, work-life balance, the territorial aspect of policies promoting economic activity and employment, the adequate provision of social services of general interest in all territories, local public transport, adequate care for dependent persons and long-term care, and good-quality labour conditions, paying special attention to new forms of work and their social impact;
Amendment 132 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 d (new)
Subheading 7 d (new)
Highlights the importance of having family friendly labour legislation that enables satisfactory work life-balance; underlines, in this respect, the role of social partners and the importance of collective bargaining;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 e (new)
Subheading 7 e (new)
Stresses that cohesion policy should promote the employability and inclusion of women, especially mothers who struggle with finding employment; stresses the importance of helping young mothers to return to work, namely by providing affordable childcare facilities for children of all ages and promoting policies of shared responsibility;
Amendment 134 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 f (new)
Subheading 7 f (new)
Highlights the need to support young families, improving the conditions for them to have children; notes that, according to the 2018 assessment, the Barcelona target of having 90% of the children from 3 to mandatory school age in formal childcare or attending preschool was not reached; stresses the importance of having access to affordable childcare facilities for young families to decide to have children;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 g (new)
Subheading 7 g (new)
Considers that that the EU should support migration and inclusion policies in the Member states, in respect for the rights and competencies of those Member States, as well as the subsidiarity principle, in order to minimise negative demographic trends; considers that local and regional bodies should be incentivized to implement successfully integration policies on the ground; takes the view that local and regional authorities should be active participants in measures taken to address demographic challenges;
Amendment 136 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 h (new)
Subheading 7 h (new)
Underlines the importance of existing initiatives such as the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, Ambient Assisted Living and the EIT Digital and Health Knowledge Innovation Communities; calls on the Commission to take into account the solutions already developed by these initiatives for accommodating the demographic shift and when addressing the demographic challenges faced by European regions; stresses the importance of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning as a way of supporting education and training in areas at risk of depopulation;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that local and regional authorities should play a decisive role in developing territorial strategies, taking into consideration the development needs, as well as needs for mobility, territorial accessibility and basic services and the potential of the areas concerned, including the economic, social and demographic trends; points out that community-led local development strategies are a useful tool that can be used to create jobs and increase accessibility to services at local level;
Amendment 143 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that local and regional authorities should play a decisive role in developing territorial strategies, taking into consideration the development needs and the potential of the areas concerned, including the economic, social and demographic trends; points out that Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) and community-led local development strategies are a useful tool that can be used to create jobs and increase accessibility to services at local level;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recalls the need for strategies aimed at reversing labour migration; calls on local and regional authorities to tackle the brain drain in ‘sending’ regions through prevention, mitigation and appropriate responses; using the means provided by cohesion policies; underlines in this context that there are already several initiatives in various Member States, such as incentives for workers with highly specialised skills, aimed at turning the brain drain into a brain gain for the regions in question;
Amendment 157 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Supports the development of dedicated incentive schemes to attract young people to rural and semi-urban areas; furthermore, encourages measures that to improve labour participation, especially for women and people with disabilities and the promotion of training tailored to the needs, potential and strengths of each individual region;
Amendment 158 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Considers that the transport network can play a decisive role in answering to demographic change, by reinforcing rural-urban connectivity and combating territorial fragmentation, providing for inclusive and sustainable growth through targeted investments as well as facilitating access to high-quality public services that consolidate population; highlights, in this regard, the importance of improving transport infrastructure, supporting the transition to sustainable and smart transport networks, strengthening interoperability in transport systems, and guaranteeing better local and public transports to incorporate demographic changes and their impact in mobility policy;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Encourages policy makers at local regional and national level to promote the concept of the "economy of well-being", contributing to a virtuous economic cycle, helping sustain long-term investments into wellbeing; additionally, encourages the promotion of healthy and active ageing which, combined with the economy of wellbeing and measures targeted at improving the quality of life and combat loneliness, can boost growth in regions with a predominantly ageing population;
Amendment 164 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that the COVID-19 health crisis has affected all Member States and regions to different extents, and is likely to lead to new trends as regards demographic flows; recalls in this context that the additional resources provided through REACT-EU in order to ensure a sound and robust recovery of the EU’s economy from the crisis could significantly help to keep people in employment, including through support for small and medium-size enterprises and for short-time work schemes and the self-employed, although this is only a temporary instrument;
Amendment 168 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that the Recovery and Resilience Facility will provide large-scale financial support to make Member States’ economies more resilient and better prepared for the future, and insists that Member States should propose measures for addressing demographic change; highlights the importance of the instruments for a transition to sustainability such as the Just Transition Fund and its implementation mechanism, which aim to support the communities affected by the energy transition and avoid the risk of depopulation; recalls that the ERDF for the next multiannual financial framework (2021-2027) makes provision for specific support for NUTS 3 regions and local administrative units suffering from demographic challenges such as depopulation;
Amendment 173 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that the Recovery and Resilience Facility will provide large-scale financial support to make Member States’ economies more resilient and better prepared for the future, and insists that Member States should propose measures for addressing demographic change; investing in the most vulnerable areas; highlights the importance of the instruments for a transition to sustainability such as the Just Transition Fund and its implementation mechanism, which aim to support the communities affected by the energy transition and avoid the risk of depopulation;
Amendment 177 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates the need for further simplification of cohesion policy instrumentplace-based and integrated approaches of cohesion policy, Common Agricultural Policy national strategic plans, and national recovery strategic plans in order to allow for an easier, but at the same time sound management of financial resources and for maximising synergies among the various EU funds and integrated tools; emphasises the need to reduce red tape and ensure coherent legislation throughout the project implementation process;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Highlights the importance of including, when possible, a specific budgetary response for reversing demographic trends in all relevant EU programmes; notes the necessity of foreseeing the possibility of linking different EU funds for one project;
Amendment 188 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls that the European Parliament, in its own position on the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund (27 March 2020) states that the objectives of the ERDF CF include that of supporting urban and rural areas with geographical or demographic handicaps. It also includes that Member states shall allocate provisions of EU financial support for projects that promote environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development in the regions concerned;
Amendment 195 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Maintains the EP stand that particular support should be given to NUTS level 3 areas or clusters of local administrative units with a population density of below 12.5 inhabitants per km2 for sparsely populated areas, or with an average population decrease of more than1% between 2007 and 2017, which should be subject to specific regional and national plans to enhance attractiveness, increase business investment and boost the accessibility of digital and public services, including a fund in the Structural Fund cooperation agreement;
Amendment 196 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Welcomes the ERDF CF Regulation new article 8 a) which call for national plans to support regional and local areas facing continuous demographic decline, including financial allocations to increase attractiveness, boost business investment and improve accessibility of digital and public services; these national plans should be aligned with the European Commission report on the impact of the demographic change in the EU and the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas;
Amendment 214 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the regions at risk of depopulation to focus investments on universal accessibility to quality services and infrastructure and job creation; insists on investment in education, affordable, accessible and equitable mobility services and reskilling of workers, creating entrepreneurial conditions and supporting SMEs;
Amendment 219 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Commission to draw up a European Rural Agenda addressing the various demographic challenges of rural areas from a holistic viewpoint in order to empower rural communities and take into account and address the transition to climate neutrality and the digital transition; stresses that this Agenda should address the relationship that exists between job creation – including remote working – and the improvement of infrastructure, transport services and digital connectivity;
Amendment 223 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, a roadmap for the future of transport in the Union, takes into account the needs and challenges of rural areas in terms of connectivity, accessibility and mobility; calls on the Commission and the Member States to boost investment in sustainable transport infrastructure and public transport in rural areas, to provide affordable, accessible and equitable mobility services and to explore new initiatives for shared and collaborative mobility services in the rural environment;
Amendment 225 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the future review of the guidelines on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) continues to guarantee socio- economic and territorial cohesion and accessibility throughout the EU and its regions; considers it important to continue developing the TEN-T to focus on the interconnection between the core global networks, particularly in rural, peripheral, sparsely populated, island and outermost regions; points out that improving the accessibility of rural and remote areas will have a positive impact on the smooth operation of the supply chain and the internal market;
Amendment 226 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24d. Considers that rural tourism plays a very important role in addressing depopulation and boosting the economic and demographic diversification of rural areas; points out that rural tourism provides an opportunity for boosting job creation and maintaining the population in those areas, with a positive impact on the development of high-quality basic services and an improvement in connectivity; highlights the fact that rural tourism could be key in the transition to sustainable, responsible and smart tourism;
Amendment 229 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers it appropriate to involve regional and local authorities in long-term cooperative governance and planning initiatives at various levels; asks the Commission and the Member States to disseminate good practices on the use and benefits of this type of governance and of planning tools to support polycentric developmentuse the instrument of territorial impact assessment (TIA) to further design EU and national policies that are affecting demographic change;
Amendment 236 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Encourages policymakers at regional and national level to investuse the new Recovery and Resilience Facility to invest in the broadband extension in order to foster in the knowledge economy, as well as in providing high quality public services and incentives, tohat maintain high- skilled workers and to develop research centres in the different regionpromote the triple helix to ensure the attractiveness of the depopulated areas;
Amendment 243 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recommends developing the so- called ‘oasis strategies’ focusing on the most successful, vibrant and growing sectors, by exploiting the local potential for development of the region; calls on the local and regional authorities to invest the Youth Guarantee Initiative focused on attracting young, trained and talented workers, encouraging entrepreneurship, using local, national and EU incentives; underlines the role of the ‘silver economy’ as a policy shift for rural areas, turning the issue of population ageing into an opportunity for the development of rural areas;
Amendment 246 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the need for a wider territorial perspective in line with the new 'Leipzig Charter: The Transformative Power of Cities for the Common Good' and the 'Territorial Agenda 2030' to reinforce urban networks of second-tier cities and smaller towns, in order to harness their significant potential to buttress territorial, economic and social cohesion beyond their immediate boundaries, through greater urban-rural linkages, functional areas, and regional cooperation;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Asks the European Commission Statistic Office to provide data on the situation of quality of life indicators at NUTS 3 and LAU level to monitor the impact of demographic challenge on the territories; highlights the possibility for Member states to use the Recovery and Resilient Facility to modernise the capacity of data collection at those levels to ensure that national investment policies and European data reflect the real situation in these territories;
Amendment 252 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Insists that investments should be focused on information and communication technology, since this has the potential to reduce the distance between the users and to attract high- skilled workers in order to avoid the digital divide and ensure digital cohesion; stresses the importance of funding the infrastructures, the development and uptake of these technologies among companies and schools in rural and isolated regions and regions in industrial transition;
Amendment 276 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the initiative on the long-term vision for rural areas includes practical solution and means of support to address demographic changes; invites the Commission, in agreement with the Member States, to propose a ‘new deal’ on demographics in the EU as a multi-level policy approach which materialises in a European Strategy on Demographic Trends; The future Conference of the Future of Europe should propose a definition of the areas which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps mentioned in the article 174 (TFEU)in order to ensure a long-term support of the EU key policies from a place-based approach;
Amendment 282 #
2020/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Notes that diversity of administrative competences within each Member states results in the impossibility of a one-size-fits-all type of solution to address demographic challenges; suggests the creation of an independent body involved in the economic and social development of demographically fragile areas. This body should enjoy a high degree of organisational autonomy;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the Agreement protects the rights of those Union citizens and their family members who exercised their right of free movement in the UK in accordance with European Union law before the end of the transition period and who continue to reside there thereafter, as well as those UK citizens who exercise the same right in a Member State of the EU-27; reiterates the need for the public authorities in both the United Kingdom and the Union to give effect to this principle;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that any EU citizen residing in the UK has the right to petition the European Parliament pursuant to Article 227 of the TFEU, and has the right to participate in the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), and the right to apply to the Ombudsman after the expected end of the transition period (31 December 2020);
Amendment 7 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that UK citizens residing in the EU will lose the right to participate in the ECI but will maintain the right to petition Parliament after the expected end of the transition period (31 December 2020);
Amendment 9 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. It considers that the COVID-19 pandemic marks a turning point in the political, economic and social reality of the European Union and the United Kingdom, causing a global recession and a restructuring of our way of life that makes it difficult to make a progress in the negotiation on the future relationship between the two parties; observes that due to this fact it is advisable to lengthen the transition period until December 2022;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the system proposed by the UK Home Office (‘the registration procedure’) for EU-27 nationals to apply for residence status is not as transparent and simple as it should be; considers that it creates unnecessary and unfair administrative burdens on citizens of the EU-27; reiterates the need for the Commission and the Council to guarantee that the registration procedure proposed by the UK Home Office follows the EU standards for guaranteeing reciprocity and equal treatment between citizens in UK and EU;
Amendment 18 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses concern over the current implementation of the EU Settlement Scheme and the potential consequences for those who fail to apply before the deadline; expresses its concern over the language used by the UK Home Office regarding possible deportations of EU citizens and the lack of measures in place to assist vulnerable citizens; shows its concern regarding the fact that there are citizens of the EU-27 who have not yet been able to obtain their residence status through the established procedures;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with regret that the United Kingdom has decided that the principle of free movement of persons between the Union and the United Kingdom will no longer apply after the transition period; insists on the need for the future partnership to include ambitious provisions on the movement of persons, based on full reciprocity and non-discrimination among Member States;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2023(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that better regulation of the conditions of entry and residence for purposes such as business, research, study, training and youth exchanges should be taken into account.
Amendment 1 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. Whereas the Union is founded on the ethical values stated in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas rapid advances in contemporary scientific research and innovation in the fields of environment, health and food safety have raised a number of important ethical, legal and social issues that affect the relationship between science and society;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. Whereas environment, health and food safety research and innovation activities carried out in Europe must comply with ethical principles and relevant national, Union and international legislation, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights and its Supplementary Protocols1a; _________________ 1aArticle 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC Text with EEA relevance
Amendment 8 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. Whereas the artificial intelligence (AI) global leadership race, which will determine the source of ethical values and standards shaping the sector worldwide, is picking up the pace and the Union should set an example for the rest of the world;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 17 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. Whereas AI solutions may benefit society in the areas of green transition, environment protection,and biodiversity protection, circular economy and waste management, climate change, energy management and efficiency, water and air quality, e.g. smart grids and electro-mobilityarth observation and risk management, among others;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas in its digital package published on 19 February 2020 the Commission states that ICT today accounts for between 5% and 9% of global electricity consumption and 2% of CO2 emissions and that the volume of data transferred and stored will continue to grow exponentially in the years to come; whereas the 2018 Joint Research Centre study “Artificial Intelligence/A European Perspective” estimates that data centres and data transmission could account for 3-4% of all power consumption of the Union;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Amendment 26 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. Whereas properly regulated AI would help guide efforts to achieve the UN SDGs and help reach the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. Whereas AI can be applied to almost any field in medicine: biomedical research, exemplified by the AI-discovered antibiotic Halicin or AI contributions to new cancer prevention, more precise diagnosis and new therapies, medical education, clinical decision-making, personalized medicine, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, in revolutionizing robotic prostheses and support systems, telemedicine, telesurgery and the overall efficiency of the health systems;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital E
Recital E
E. Whereas current policy and ethical guidelines for AI are lagging behind ethical challenges that must be identified and mitigated, since AI has tremendous capability to threaten patient preference, safety, and privacy; whereas the boundaries between the roles of physicianmedical professionals and carers and machines in patient care need to be outlined;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines the importance of the “right to explanation” of any decision taken by automated processing, this is the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision taken by an automated system4a; states, therefore, that ultimately, humans should keep the responsibility for decision making, especially in sectors where there are high stakes and risks such as health; _________________ 4a Article 22 GDPR Regulation
Amendment 75 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that many of the proposals by countries which are not members of the Union and by international organizations revolve around common principles or concepts for AI, those being: human-centricness, trustworthiness, respect for human autonomy, harm prevention, equity and "no one left behind" and explicability; is of the opinion that an international ethical framework around these principles would be highly desirable; is concerned about AI progress and innovations leading to social inequality if no action is taken; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to take the necessary measures to leave no one behind in the transition to a digital Europe, and to guarantee a fair, affordable and equal access to these innovations especially in areas such as healthcare;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that, with the rapid development of AI and the uncertainty that lies ahead, a common Union AI ethical framework will expand an ecosystem of trust as defined in the Commission White Paper, whether in environment protection, healthcare or food safety applications, thus supporting the ecosystem of excellence in legal certainty and providing effective response to the challenges yet not defined in courtrooms, management meetings or scientific laboratories; points out that ethics is not made up of permanent principles, but has been changing over the course of various cultures and times; supports in this regard that the framework should be periodically reviewed to guarantee its applicability through time and new developments;
Amendment 115 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that in areas such as health, liability must ultimately lie with a natural or legal person; emphasizes the need for traceable and publicly available training data for algorithms;
Amendment 118 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Emphasises that patients should know when and how they are interacting with a human professional and when they are not; insists that patients should have the freedom to decide about this interaction and should be offered an alternative of equal standard;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for citizen and patient empowerment regarding their personal data and for securing the full enforcement of Union legal framework on data protection and privacy, relevant notably in the healthcare AI applications and related sensitive data, to strengthen the “Right to an explanation” foreseen in Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (General Data Protection Regulation, (GDPR))2 and higher interpretability requirements for high-risk AI; _________________ 2Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).
Amendment 128 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights, in the healthcare sector, that data originated from patients using AI technologies should fulfil all the privacy requirements as stipulated in the GDPR, and that by no means, the data generated should contribute to any kind of discrimination (known or novel); calls on the Commission and Member States to guarantee that data accessibility to private companies, such as health or life insurance companies, is prevented and that the “right to be forgotten” of patients is fully respected;
Amendment 153 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that the use of tracking and contact tracing technologies by public authorities during the COVID 19 crisis and other potential health emergencies might conflict with data protection; recalls in this regard the Commission Guidance on applications supporting the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic in relation to data protection and the need for proportionality, limitation in time, alignment with European values and respect of human dignity and fundamental rights;
Amendment 156 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Highlights that AI and robotics can bring numerous benefits to our environment, health and food safety as the dematerialisation of the economy makes the Union less dependent on raw materials or on the increased use of personalised medicine; underlines however, that their carbon footprint remains still high; calls on the Commission to carry out a study on the impact of AI technology’s carbon footprint and the positive and negative impacts of the transition to the use of AI technology by consumers; further calls on the Commission to include the footprint information in the common European Dataspace for Smart Circular Applications foreseen in the EU Action Plan on Circular Economy and to deal specifically with these technologies within the ICT key value chain of the above- mentioned plan;
Amendment 163 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for securing sufficient financing for the Union AI transformation; supports the ambitions laid out in the Commission White Paper to attract €200 billion of AI public and private investment in the next 10 years in the Union; welcomes the attention granted to deficits of AI ecosystems in less-developed regions and to the needs of SMEs and start-ups; calls on the Commission to facilitate geographically balanced access to allidentify public infrastructure and promote the prioritization of AI funding, in cluding for SMEs and start- upsimate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energies and health; stresses that the new Union objectives must not diminish Union engagement in its long standing priorities, like the CAP or, Cohesion Policy., the Green Deal and the COVID19 Recovery Plan;
Amendment 66 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Following the end of the transition period, barriers to trade and to cross-border exchanges between the Union and the United Kingdom will be present. Bhave become a reality with broad and far-reaching consequences for businesses, citizens and public administrations are expected. Those consequences are unavoidable and stakeholders need to make sure that they are ready for them.
Amendment 68 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Following tThe end of the transition period, has generated barriers to trade and to cross- border exchanges between the Union and the United Kingdom will be present. Bth broad and far- reaching consequences for businesses, workers, citizens and public administrations are expected. Those consequences are unavoidable and stakeholders need to make sure that they are ready for them.
Amendment 74 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Union is committed to mitigating the economicnegative economic and social impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and to show solidarity with all Member States, especially the moworst affected ones, including their regions and local communities, if applicable, in such exceptional circumstances.
Amendment 76 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Union is committed to mitigating the economic, social and territorial impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and to show solidarity with all Member States and regions, especially the most affected ones in such exceptional circumstances.
Amendment 82 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A Brexit Adjustment Reserve (the ‘Reserve’) should be established to provide support to counter adverse consequences in Member States, regions and sectors, in particular those that are worst affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, and thus to mitigate the related negative impact on the economic, social and territorial cohesion. It should cover in whole or in part the additional public and private expenditure incurred by Member States for measures specifically taken to mitigate those consequences.
Amendment 86 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) For the purposes of contributing to economic, social and territorial cohesion, it is appropriate that Member States, when designing support measures, focus in particular on the regions, areas and local communities, including those dependent on fishing activities in the United Kingdom waters, that are likely to be most negatively impacted by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom. Member States may have to take specific measures notably to support businesses and economic sectors adversely affected by the withdrawal. It is therefore appropriate to provide a non-exhaustive list of the type of measures that are most likely to achieve this objective. Relevant regional and local authorities, economic and social partners and civil society of the territories concerned shall be involved in the process of identification of the support measures in accordance with the partnership principle laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) .../… [new CPR].
Amendment 94 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) For the purpose of contributing to the Union’s social and environmental targets, the Reserve should be implemented in accordance with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Green Deal, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment 97 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) In the context of its effort to increase economic, social and territorial cohesion, the Reserve should also contribute to eliminating inequalities and promoting gender equality and gender mainstreaming as well as combatting discrimination as set out in Article 2 TEU, Article 10 TFUE and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. All stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Reserve shall commit to promote gender equality and ensure that the impact of the measures on women is taken into account.
Amendment 100 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) At the same time, it is important to clearly specify any exclusions from support provided by the Reserve. The Reserve should exclude from support the value added tax as it constitutes a Member State revenue, which offsets the related cost for the Member State budget. In order to concentrate the use of limited resources in the most efficient way, technical assistance used by the bodies responsible for the implementation of the Reserve should not be eligible for support from the Reserve. In line with the general approach for cohesion policy, expenditure linked to relocations or contrary to any applicable Union or national law should not be supported.
Amendment 110 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to take into account the immediate impact of the adverse consequences ofexpenses incurred in anticipating the withdrawal agreement of the United Kingdom from the Union on the Member States and their economies, the immediate impact of the adverse consequences of the withdrawal and the need to adopt mitigating measures, as appropriate, prior to the expiry of the transition period, the eligibility period for implementing such measures should start as from 1 Julanuary 202019 and be concentrated over a limited period of 30 monthslast until 31 December 2023.
Amendment 112 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) Calls on the European Commission to provide the European Parliament with an impact assessment on the fluctuation of the British pound (GBP) in relation to the euro (EUR) in order to highlight the adverse consequences of the UK’s withdrawal on EU businesses and economic sectors, beginning 1 January 2019, the start of the reference period for financial contribution from the Reserve.
Amendment 117 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) Member States, together with the European Commission, while implementing the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, have to seek to establish synergies with support received from the European Structural Funds, as well as to avoid overlaps between the use of this Reserve and Structural Funds.
Amendment 119 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) 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 (TFEU) 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, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law and the respect for fundamental rights in the Member States, which are essential preconditions for sound financial management and effective EU funding.
Amendment 124 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to enable Member States to deploy the additional resources and to ensure sufficient financial means to swiftly implement measures under the Reserve, a substantial amount thereof should be disbursed in 2021 as pre-financing. The distribution method should take into account the importance of trade with the United Kingdom and the importance of fisheries in the United Kingdom exclusive economic zone, based on reliable and official statistics. Financial services should be excluded from the calculation of the distribution method considering the positive impact expected due to the relocalisation of several activities in the Union following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom. Given the unique nature of the event that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union constitutes and the uncertainty that has surrounded key aspects of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Union after the expiry of the transition period, it is difficult to anticipate the appropriate measures Member States will have to take rapidly to counter the effects of the withdrawal. It is therefore necessary to grant Member States flexibility and in particular to allow the Commission to adopt the financing decision providing the pre-financing without the obligation pursuant to Article 110(2) of the Financial Regulation to provide a description of the concrete actions to be financed.
Amendment 138 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) To ensure equal treatment of all Member States and consistency in the evaluation of the applications, the Commission should assess the applications in a package. It should look in particular into the eligibility and the accuracy of the expenditure declared, the direct link of the expenditure with measures taken to address the consequences of the withdrawal and the measures put in place by the Member State concerned to avoid double funding. Upon assessment of the applications for a financial contribution from the Reserve, the Commission should clear the pre- financing paid, and recover the unused amount. In order to concentrate the support on Member States most affected by the withdrawal, where the expenditure in the Member State concerned, accepted as eligible by the Commission, exceeds the amount paid asa further allocation from the Reserve to Member States within the limits of the financial resources available. In order to ensure consistency with the pre- financing and 0.06% of the nominal Gross National Income (GNI) for 2021 of the Member State concerned, it should be possible to allow for a further allocation from the Reserve to that Member Stat, the distribution method of the additional amount should also take into account the importance of trade within the limits ofUnited Kingdom in the financial resources availableternal market, based on reliable and official statistics. Given the extent of the expected economic shock, the possibility to use the amounts recovered from the pre-financing for the reimbursement of additional expenditure by Member States should be provided for.
Amendment 143 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to ensure the proper functioning of shared management, Member States should establish a management and control system, designate and notify the Commission of the bodies responsible at national, regional and local level for the management of the Reserve as well as a separate independent audit body. For simplification reasons, Member States may make use of existing bodies designated and systems set up for the purpose of the management and control of cohesion policy funding or the European Union Solidarity Fund. It is necessary to specify the responsibilities of the Member States and lay down the specific requirements for the bodies designated. Member States will ensure that the local and regional authorities concerned are involved in the monitoring bodies, if they are not already part of them.
Amendment 148 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/9514 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9615 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193916 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2020/2092 on a general regime of Rule of Law conditionality for the protection of the Union budget, the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council17 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council18 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights. _________________ 14 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1). 15Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2). 16Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L 283, 31.10.2017, p. 1). 17Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1). 18 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29).
Amendment 154 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to enhance transparency on the use of the Union contribution, the Commission should provide a final report to the European Parliament and the Council and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the Reserve.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) ‘reference period’ means the reference period referred to in Article 63(5), point (a), of the Financial Regulation, which shall be from 1 Julanuary 202019 to 31 December 20223;
Amendment 166 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
The Reserve shall provide support to counter the adverse consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union in Member States, regions and sectors, in particular thosmall and medium- sized enterprises that are worst affected by that withdrawal, and to mitigate the related impact on the economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 176 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) a pre-financing amount of EUR 4 244 83371 422 0800 shall be made available in 2021 in accordance with Article 8;
Amendment 177 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(aa) Up to EUR 4 244 832 000 will be made available from 2021 to 2024;
Amendment 181 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) additional amounts of EUR 1 126 162 000 shall be made available in 20245 in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 187 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The financial contribution from the Reserve shall only support the public expenditure directly linked to measures specifically taken by Member States' regional and local authorities to contribute to the objectives referred to in Article 3, and may cover, in particular the following:
Amendment 193 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) measures to assist in particular small and medium-sized businesses and local communities adversely affected by the withdrawal;
Amendment 198 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) measures to support businesses and local communities dependent on fishing activities in the United Kingdom waters, including measures to support fishers and operators for the permanent cessation of fishing activities as defined in [Regulation (EU) No XX/20XX (EMFAF Regulation)] and compensation for operators in the fishery and aquaculture sectors, including the processing of fishery and aquaculture products, for their income foregone or additional costs due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and the decreasing access to United Kingdom waters;
Amendment 208 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) measures to support employment, job protection and creation, including through short-time work schemes, up- skilling, re-skilling and training in affected sectors;
Amendment 210 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) measures to facilitate the integration of returning EU workers from the UK, by way of social programs for job searching;
Amendment 218 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) measures to mitigate disruptions caused by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from cooperation and exchange programmes;
Amendment 223 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
(gb) technical assistance for the management, monitoring, information and communication, complaint resolution, and control and auditing of the Reserve;
Amendment 226 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Expenditure shall be eligible if it is incurred and paid during the reference period for measures carried out in the Member State concerned or for the benefitmost affected regions of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 233 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall comply with applicable law, subject to the exceptions referred to in Article [new Article 6] .
Amendment 238 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5a State aid 1. The Commission may declare that payments made by Member States under the present Regulation are compatible with the internal market and are not subject to the notification requirements of Article 108(3) TFEU. 2. In line with the provisions of [Regulation (EU) No XX/20XX (EMFAF Regulation)], Articles 107, 108 and 109 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union shall not apply to payments made by Member States, under the present Regulation, to undertakings in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, falling within the scope of Article 42 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 239 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 244 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) beneficiaries whose registered office is in a third country.
Amendment 247 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The financial contribution from the Reserve to a Member State shall be implemented together with the relevant regional and local authorities of the territories concerned, in accordance with the partnership principle laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) .../… [new CPR] and within the framework of shared management in accordance with Article 63 of the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 250 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Member States, in cooperation with regional and local authorities in the areas most heavily affected, shall use the contribution from the Reserve to implement the measures referred to in Article 5 to provide non-repayable forms of support. The Union contribution shall take the form of reimbursement of eligible costs actually incurred and paid by Member States in implementing the measures.
Amendment 252 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Amendment 258 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
5. By derogation from Article 12 of the Financial Regulation, unused commitment and payment appropriations under this Regulation shall be automatically carried over and may be used until 31 December 2025year n+2. The appropriations carried over shall be consumed first in the following financial year.
Amendment 268 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Member States shall, after consulting the regions concerned, submit an application to the Commission for a financial contribution from the Reserve by 30 September 20234. The Commission shall assess this application and establish whether additional amounts are due to Member States or any amounts should be recovered from the Member States in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 274 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Where a Member State does not submit an application for a financial contribution from the Reserve by 30 September 20234, the Commission shall recover the total amount paid as pre- financing to that Member State.
Amendment 283 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) in accordance with article 7 (1 and 2), a description of the consultations held with the regions and sectors most affected;
Amendment 285 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) a description of the contribution of the measures to climate change mitigation and adaptation, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the promotion of gender equality, the implementation of gender mainstreaming and the reduction of the digital divide .
Amendment 299 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Where the accepted amount exceeds both the amount of pre-financing and 0.06% of the nominal GNI of 2021 of the Member State concerned, an additional amount shall be due to that Member State from the allocation referred to in Article 4(3), point (b), and any amounts carried over pursuant to Article 8(4). The allocation criteria for the additional amounts to be paid by the Commission to the Member States are set out in Annex Ia.
Amendment 305 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In such a case, the Commission shall pay the amount exceeding the pre-financing paid to the Member State concerned or 0.06% of the nominal GNI of 2021, whichever is higher.
Amendment 307 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 319 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) designating, at the appropriate level of governance, one or more bodyies responsible for the management of the financial contribution from the Reserve and an independent audit body in accordance with Article 63(3) of the Financial Regulation, and supervising such bodies;
Amendment 323 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The body or bodies responsible for managing the financial contribution from the Reserve shall:
Amendment 326 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Member States shall be responsible for informing and publicising to Union citizens the role, the results and impact of the Union contribution from the Reserve through information and communication actions. To alleviate the negative impact on businesses and economic sectors, and to avoid administrative bottlenecks, Member States should strengthen their information campaigns to raise awareness about the new rules in place after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Amendment 330 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. By 30 June 20268, the Commission shall carry out an evaluation to examine the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of the Reserve. The Commission mayshall make use of all relevant information already available in accordance with Article 128 of the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 333 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. By 30 June 20278, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council, to the Council and to the Committee of the Regions a report on the implementation of the Reserve.
Amendment 345 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 354 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
a) each Member State’s trade with the UK is expressed as share of the EU trade with the UK (trade is the sum of the imports and the exports of good and services, excluding financial services);
Amendment 356 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
b) to assess the relative importance of these trade flows for each Member State, the sum of trade flows with the UK are expressed as a percentage of the Member State’s GDPoverall trade flows with the whole EU-28 and subsequently expressed as an index of the EU average (index of dependency);
Amendment 365 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point h a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point h a (new)
ha) to provide a minimum level of access to the funds from the Reserve, no Member State can receive less than EUR 5 million in 2018 prices. The resources needed to ensure this minimum amount are deducted from the other Member States' envelopes, proportionally to their shares not limited by this minimum threshold;
Amendment 374 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a (new)
Amendment 377 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – table 1 – column 2 – row 8
Annex II – table 1 – column 2 – row 8
Amendment 378 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – table 1 – column 2 – row 15.4
Annex II – table 1 – column 2 – row 15.4
Measures to support employmentjob protection and creation through short-time work schemes, re-skilling and training in adversely affected sectors
Amendment 83 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Environment action programmes have successfully guided the development of EU environment policy since the early 1970s. The 7th EAP will expire on 31 December 2020 and its Article 4 (3) requires the Commission, if appropriate, to present a proposal for an Eighth Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) in a timely manner with a view to avoiding a gap between the 7th and the 8th EAP. The European Green Deal announced the adoption of a new environment action programme.
Amendment 85 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The 8th EAP should support the environment and climate action objectives of the European Green Deal in line with the long-term objective to “live well, within the planetary boundaries” by 2050, which is already established in the 7th EAP. It should contribute to achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, while also making sure the shift towards more sustainable farming practices and food systems leaves no-one behind.
Amendment 93 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The 8th EAP should accelerate the transition to a regenerative economy that gives back to the planet more than it takes. A regenerative growth model recognises that the wellbeing and prosperity of our societies depend on a stable climate, a healthy environment and thriving ecosystems, which provide a safe operating space for our economies. As the global population and the demand for natural resources continues to grow, economic activity should develop in a way that does no harm but, on the contrary, reverses climate change and environmental degradation, minimises pollution and results in maintaining and enriching natural capital, therefore ensuring the abundance of renewable and non-renewable resources. Through continuous and stopping the loss of biodiversity. Through continuous technological and social innovation, adaptation to new challenges and co-creation, the regenerative economy strengthens resilience and protects present and future generations’ wellbeing.
Amendment 97 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The 8th EAP should set out thematic priority objectives in areas of climate neutrality, adaption to climate change, protecting and restoring biodiversity, circular economy, the zero pollution ambition and reducing environmental pressures from production and consumption. It should furthermore identify the enabling conditions to achieve the long-term and the thematic priority objectives for all actors involved, while also taking into account the achievements of EU in recent decades, which include already significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Amendment 106 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Environment policy being highly decentralised, action to achieve the priority objectives of the 8th EAP should be taken at different levels of governance, i.e. at the European, the national, the regional and the local level, with a collaborative approach to multi-level governance. The integrated approach to policy development and implementation should be strengthened with a view to maximising the synergies between economic, environmental and social objectives, while paying careful attention to potential trade-offs and to the needs of vulnerable groups. Moreover, transparent engagement with local and regional governments, as well as non- governmental actors is important for ensuring the success of the 8th EAP and the achievement of its priority objectives.
Amendment 110 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Enhanced cooperation with partner countries, trade policy based on sustainability and high standards of production, particularly in the food and feed sector, good global environmental governance as well as synergies between internal and external Union policies are key to reach the Union’s environmental and climate objectives.
Amendment 126 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The 8th EAP aims at accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, clean and circular economy in a just and inclusive way, and endorsesbuilds upon the environmental and climate objectives of the European Green Deal and its initiatives, while recognising the effects of previous and current EU efforts for a more sustainable, climate and environmentally friendly economy.
Amendment 132 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
3. The 8th EAP forms the basis for achieving the environmental and climate objectives defined under the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and its monitoring framework constitutes the environment and climate part of the EU’s efforts to measure progress towards greater sustainability, including climate neutrality and resource efficiency, wellbeing and resilience, maintaining food security and strengthening economic viability for communities most affected by the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Amendment 141 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. The 8th EAP has the long-term priority objective for 2050 that citizens live well, within the planetary boundaries in a regenerative economy where nothing is wasted, no net emissions of greenhouse gases are produced and economic growth is decoupled from resource use and environmental degradation. A healthy environment underpins the well-being of citizens, ensures that biodiversity thrives and natural capital is protected, restored and valued in ways that enhance resilience to climate change and other environmental risks. The Union sets the pace for ensuring the prosperity of present and future generations globally.
Amendment 145 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) irreversible, continuous and gradual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancement of removals by natural and other sinks in the Union to attain the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 as laid down in Regulation (EU) …/…32 ; _________________ 32 COM/2020/80 final.
Amendment 147 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate changeof agriculture and food systems to climate change, while putting sufficient emphasis on the social dimension of the transition;
Amendment 150 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) advancing towards a regenerative growth model that gives back to the planet more than it takes, decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental degradation, and accelerating the transition to a circular economy, while also promoting recovery of materials, improved and increased recycling of secondary raw materials, reduction of landfills, improvement of waste management infrastructure, and introduction of low-waste technologies;
Amendment 162 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) promoting environmental sustainability and reducing key environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumption, in particular in the areas of energy, industrial development, buildings and infrastructure, mobility and the food system, including all parts of the food supply chain.
Amendment 174 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3
— paying careful attention to synergies and potential trade-offs between economic, environmental and social objectives so as to ensure that citizens’ needs for affordable and quality nutrition, housing and mobility are met in a sustainable way that leaves no- one behind;
Amendment 179 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4
— regularly evaluating existing policies and preparing impact assessments for new initiatives, which are based on wide consultations, particularly with all governance levels and social partners, following procedures that are accountable, inclusive, informed and simple to implement, and which pay due regard to projected impacts on environment and climate;
Amendment 184 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) mobilising sustainable investments from public and private sources, including of funds and instruments available under the Union budget, via the European Investment Bank and at national level, while ensuring wide accessibility of financial instruments, especially to SMEs, small and medium farms and young farmers;
Amendment 193 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) ensuring that environmental policies and action are based on the best available scientific knowledge and strengthening the environmental knowledge base and its uptake, including by research, innovation, fostering green skills, and further building up environmental and ecosystem accounting, assessing any current barriers for the use of innovative agricultural techniques and increasing access to scientific innovation;
Amendment 202 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) harnessing the potential of digital and data technologies to support environment policy while minimising their environmental footprint, ensuring access to digital and data technologies;
Amendment 204 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) making full use of nature based solutions and social innovation, encouraging different types of cooperation in agriculture;
Amendment 216 #
2020/0300(COD)
— ensuring that the Union and the Member States’ financial assistance to third countries promotes the Sustainable Development Goals in the UN 2030 Agenda.
Amendment 220 #
2020/0300(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, supported by the European Environment Agency and the European Chemicals Agency, shall regularly assess and report on the progress of the Union and the Member States with regard to achieving the priority objectives laid down in Article 2 on a regular basis, taking into consideration the enabling conditions laid down in Article 3.
Amendment 41 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 socio- economic 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 key sectors of their economies. This has created an exceptional that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the effects of the social crisis. This has created an exceptional and, owing to the disparate impact of COVID-19 in the EU, uneven situation which needs to be addressed witthrough specific and extraordinary measures.
Amendment 46 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to redress huge shocks to the economy and prevent disastrous economic and social consequences for EU citizens stemming from the exceptional restrictions put in place by Member States to contain the COVID-19 spreading and the risks of an asymmetric recovery stemming from the unequal impact of the virus in the EU and the different national means available in different Member States resulting 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 49 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In accordance with Regulation [European Recovery Instrument] and within the limits of resources allocated therein, recovery and resilience measures under the European Investment and Structural Funds should be carried out to address the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Such additional resources should be used to ensure compliance with the time limits provided for in Regulation [ERI]. Moreover, additional resources for economic, social and territorial cohesion should be made available through a revision of the multiannual financial framework for 2014- 2020 that makes it possible to flexibly and swiftly address needs emerging as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Amendment 86 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 providing support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs and self-employed people, in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, infrastructure providing basic services to citizens or economic support measures for those regions most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis. 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 L 99, 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, 24.4.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 99 #
2020/0101(COD)
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, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, support to youth employment measures, education and training, skills developmentthe development of skills that enable older workers to adapt to new labour market needs and to enhance access to 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 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. Union support to those short-time work schemes should be limited in time.
Amendment 127 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 toMember States should take into account the different regional needs and development levels in order to ensure that focus is maintainedand they should focus on less developed regions, in accordance with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion set out in Article 173 TFEU and with a view to ensuring that existing inequalities among EU territories are not exacerbated. Member States should also involve local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance with the partnership principles.
Amendment 159 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 4
Article 92 b – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision, by means of implementingdelegated acts, setting out the breakdown of the additional resources as appropriations from the Structural Funds for 2020 and 2021 for each Member State in accordance with the criteria and methodology set out in Annex VIIa. That decision shall be revised in 2021 to set out the breakdown of the additional resources for 2022 based on data available by 19 October 2021. (This amendment applies throughout the text. Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)
Amendment 193 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
For the ERDF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support investment in products and services for health services, to provide support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, investments contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, investments in infrastructure providing basic services to citizens, and economic measures in the regions which are most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis and in less developed regions.
Amendment 203 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 job maintenance, particularly in the sectors hit hardest by the crisis, including in rural areas, 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 social services of general interest, including for children.
Amendment 209 #
2020/0101(COD)
9. With the exception of technical assistance referred to in paragraph 6 and of the additional resources used for the FEAD referred to in the seventh subparagraph of paragraph 5, the additional resources shall support operations under the new thematic objective “Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, innovative, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”, complementing the thematic objectives set out in Article 9.
Amendment 237 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 12 – point d
Article 92 b – paragraph 12 – point d
Amendment 241 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 12 – point e
Article 92 b – paragraph 12 – point e
Amendment 2 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199, drawing its roadmap towards a new growth policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the energy and climate objectives for 2030 and the objective to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 2050 in an effective and fair manner, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challenge while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes, which will call for ambitious funding by the Union. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 9 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The proposal for establishing the Just Transition Fund was adopted by the Commission on 14 January 202011. For the better programming and implementation of the Fund, territorial just transition plans are to be adopted, setting out the key steps and timeline of the transition process and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challengessocial and environmental challenges inherent in the transition. _________________ 11 COM(2020) 22 final
Amendment 11 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, meaning that they should be consistent with the goal of reducing emissions by 2030 and oriented towards achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050.
Amendment 15 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and sustainable transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smart waste management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, the fight against depopulation, land restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re- skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing, in addition to digital coverage for regions and better broadband connections. All financed projects should be in line with the climate objectives set for 2030, meaning that the Commission should ensure that all projects are consistent with the goal of reducing emissions. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters, especially in those regions which have been heavily affected by extreme meteorological phenomena in recent years. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans, and which although having been affected by the climate transition, have not been able to benefit under the First Pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, namely the Just Transition Fund. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used. The Facility must take account of the devastating consequences which the COVID-19 crisis has had in numerous European regions, as well as of the uneven impact of the virus, in order to ensure cohesion and that aid reaches those regions and communities which need it the most.
Amendment 29 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and following a needs-based and regional convergence approach, prioritising less developed regions which suffer from lower public investment capacity.
Amendment 33 #
2020/0100(COD)
(14) Specific eligibility conditions and award criteria should be set out in the work programme and the call for proposals. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the overall objective of promoting regional and territorial convergence and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project, as well as the committment of the Member States to the climate objectives forming part of the European Green Deal. Union Support established by this Regulation should thus only be made available to Member States with at least one territorial just transition plan adopted. The work programme and calls for proposals will also take into account the territorial just transition plans submitted by Member States to ensure that coherence and consistency across the different pillars of the mechanism is ensured.
Amendment 35 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Since the grant component should reflect the divergent development needs of regions across Member States, and the committment of each Member State to reducing greenhouse gases, such support should be modulated. Taking into account that public sector entities in less developed regions, as defined in Article 102(2) of Regulation [new CPR], generally experience lower public investment capacity, the grant rates applied to loans provided to such entities should be comparatively higher.
Amendment 38 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to speed up implementation and ensure that resources are used in a timely fashion, this Regulation should lay down specific safeguards to be included in the grant agreements. In view of that objective, the Commission, in line with the principle of proportionality, should be able to reduce or terminate any Union support in case of serious lack of progress in the implementation of the project, or in case of a failure to comply with the established objectives with regard to emissions reductions. The Financial Regulation lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation should apply to the grant component and to resources for advisory support provided under this Facility.
Amendment 42 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the grant component of this Facility until 31 December 2024, implementing powers should be conferrdelegated ton the Commission to set out the available national allocations expressed as shares of the overall financial envelope of the Facility for each Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [the JTF Regulation]. The implementing powers should be conferred without comitology procedures given that the shares derive directly from the application of a pre- defined calculation methodology.
Amendment 47 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050 at the latest, and from the 2030 climate targets.
Amendment 59 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The Facility shall have the specific objective of increasing public sector investments, which address the development needs of regions identified in the territorial just transition plans, by facilitating the financing of environmentally sustainable projects that do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues and would not be financed without the element of grant support from the Union budget.
Amendment 61 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Facility shall also promote the transition towards an economy which is climate neutral, environmentally sustainable and economically and socially just, and which guarantees social cohesion between territories of the Union.
Amendment 63 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. In pursuing the achievement of the specific objectives referred to in paragraphs 2 and 2 a, this Regulation also aims at providing advisory support for the preparation, development, and implementation of eligible projects where necessary. That advisory support shall be provided in accordance with the rules and implementation methods for the InvestEU Advisory Hub established by Article [20] of Regulation [InvestEU Regulation].
Amendment 71 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional convergence, priority being given to territories belonging to less developed regions.
Amendment 75 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing delegated act setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 80 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic, demographic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 89 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the projects guarantee that they will not involve any jobs, capital or production processes being transferred from one Member State to another.
Amendment 101 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Subsidies may be reduced or terminated if, following the mid-term review, it is found that there has been a failure to comply with the objectives established in Article 3 of this Regulation.
Amendment 105 #
Amendment 106 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. The interim evaluation of the Facility shall be performed by 30 June 2025, when sufficient information is expected to be available about the implementation of the Facility. The evaluation shall in particular demonstrate how the Union support provided under the Facility shall have contributed in addressing the needs of territories implementing the territorial just transition plans and show whether, on the basis of information pertaining to the impact on the Union's climate objectives and the objectives pursued by the European Green Deal, the Union support has contributed to reducing emissions. At the latest by the end of mid-term review of the next multi-annual financial framework, the Commission shall review the implementation of the credit line assigned to the public sector in the context of the Just Transition Mechanism and assess whether it is appropriate to amend its scope in line with possible changes in Regulation 2020/... [Taxonomy Regulation], the Union’s climate objectives set out in Regulation (EU) 2020/… [European Climate Law] and the evolution in the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Action Plan. On that basis, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, which may be accompanied by legislative proposals.
Amendment 107 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. At the end of the implementation period and no later than 31 December 2031, a final evaluation report on the results and long-term impact of the Facility shall be establishedsubmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council to ascertain whether the financed projects have contributed to addressing the economic, social, demographic and environmental challenges in the regions in which they have been carried out.
Amendment 23 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular Article 192(1) thereof,
Amendment 26 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission has, in its Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’19, set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the Union's natural capital, and protect the health and well- being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind, and must ensure that no European citizen or region pays for the consequences of this transition to a climate-neutral economy. _________________ 19 Commission Communication - The European Green Deal, COM(2019) 640 final of 11 December 2019.
Amendment 31 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission has, in its Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’19 , set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the Union's natural capital, and protect the health and well- being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind. , including citizens, regions, urban and rural areas. _________________ 19 Commission Communication - The European Green Deal, COM(2019) 640 final of 11 December 2019.
Amendment 41 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) A fixed long-term objective is crucial to contribute to economic and societal transformation, jobs, sustainable growth, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to move in a fair and cost- effective manner towards the temperature goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change following the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the ‘Paris Agreement’).
Amendment 45 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The relationship between climate change and pandemics, such as Covid-19, requires the EU to step up its efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, prevent natural disasters and protect biodiversity worldwide, following the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Amendment 49 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Union’s and, the Member States’ and regional and local authorities’ climate action aims to protect people and the planet, welfare, prosperity, health, food systems, the integrity of eco- systems and biodiversity against the threat of climate change, in the context of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and in pursuit of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and to maximize prosperity within the planetary boundaries and to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability of territories and society to climate change.
Amendment 60 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Achieving climate neutrality should require a contribution from all economic sectors and all territorial administrations. In light of the importance of energy production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable, affordable and secure energy system relying on a well-functioning internal energy market is essential. The digital transformation, technological innovation, and research and development are also important drivers for achieving the climate-neutrality objective and more resilient and sustainable territories by contributing to the development of rural areas and the fight against depopulation.
Amendment 70 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission has, in its Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’19 , set out a new sustainable growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, sustainable, resource-efficient and competitive economy and high-quality jobs, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the Union’s natural capital, and protect the health and well- being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind. _________________ 19 Commission Communication - The European Green Deal, COM(2019) 640 final of 11 December 2019.
Amendment 74 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Union is a global leader in the transition towards climate neutrality, and is determined to help raise global ambition and to strengthen the global response to climate change, using all tools at its disposal, including trade and investment policy, development policy and climate diplomacy.
Amendment 76 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways20 provides a strong scientific basis for tackling climate change and illustrates the need to step up climate action. It confirms that greenhouse gas emissions need to be urgently reduced, and that climate change needs to be limited to 1.5 °C, in particular to reduce the likelihood of extreme weather events. The Intergovernmental Science- Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) 2019 Global Assessment Report21 showed worldwide erosion of biodiversity, withat nature-based solutions are responsible for 37% of climate change mitigation up to 2030, and that climate change ais the third most important driver of biodiversity loss.22Climate change has a severe impact on marine and terrestrial ecosystems which are the sole sinks for anthropogenic carbon emissions with a gross absorption of about 60% of global anthropogenic emissions per year. _________________ 20IPCC, 2018: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre- industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma- Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor, and T. Waterfield (eds.)]. 21IPBES 2019: Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. 22European Environment Agency’s The European environment – state and outlook 2020 (Luxembourg: Publication Office of the EU, 2019).
Amendment 85 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Union should aim to achieve a balance between anthropogenic economy- wide emissions and removals, through natural and technological solutions, of greenhouse gases domestically within the Union by 2050. The Union-wide 2050 climate-neutrality objective should be pursued by all Member States and their regions collectively, and the Member States, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take the necessary measures to enable its achievement. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective. The achievement of the Union’s climate- neutrality objective requires fulfilment of specific climate-neutrality objectives at national level.
Amendment 86 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Ecosystems, people and economies in the EU will face major impacts from climate change if we do not urgently mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or adapt to climate change. The burden of climate change shows a clear north-south divide, with southern regions in Europe much more impacted, through the effects of extreme heat, water scarcity, drought, forest fires and agriculture losses. Adaptation to climate change would further minimise unavoidable impacts in a cost-effective manner, with considerable co-benefits from nature-based solutions.1a _________________ 1aFeyen L., Ciscar J.C., Gosling S., Ibarreta D., Soria A. (editors) (2020). Climate change impacts and adaptation in Europe. JRC PESETA IV final report (Luxembourg: Publication Office of the EU, 2020).
Amendment 88 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Driven by the regulatory framework put in place by the Union, EU greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 23% between 1990 and 2018, while the economy grew by 61% over the same period, showing that it is possible to decouple economic growth from emissions.
Amendment 93 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Union should continue its climate action and international climate leadership after 2050, in order to protect people and the planet against the threat of dangerous climate change, by promoting climate change adaptation programmes worldwide, in pursuit of the temperature goals set out in the Paris Agreement and following the scientific recommendations of the IPCC.
Amendment 97 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) A fixed long-term objective is crucial to contribute to economic and societal transformation, jobs, social welfare, growth, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to move in a fair and cost-effective manner towards the temperature goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change following the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the ‘Paris Agreement’).
Amendment 98 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Adaptation is a key component of the long-term global response to climate change. Therefore, Member States and the Union should enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, as provided for in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, as well as maximise the co- benefits with other environmental policies and legislation. Member States should adopt comprehensive national adaptation strategies and plans in cooperation with regional and local authorities, with particular emphasis on local investment and education programmes to promote self-consumption, renewable energy integration and improving energy efficiency. Regional and local adaptation strategies and plans should be supported by ESI Funds and aligned with their respective national strategy.
Amendment 102 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In taking the relevant measures at Union and national level to achieve the climate-neutrality objective, Member States and the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take into account the contribution of the transition to climate neutrality to the well- being of citizens, the prosperity of society and the competitiveness of the economy; the net balance of employment resulting from measures and the upskilling and the reskilling of workers and their social inclusion; the adaptation needs and opportunities in different economic sectors; energy and food security and affordability; fairness and, solidarity and sincere cooperation across and within Member States considering their economic capability, national and regional circumstances and the need for convergence over time; the demographic challenges, connectivity and cohesion among Union’s regions; the need to make the transition just and socially fair; best available scientific evidence, in particular the findings reported by the IPCC; the need to integrate climate change related risks into investment and planning decisions including a rapid phase-out of direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies to be achieved in the 2021 budgetary cycle for the Union and national budgets; cost- effectiveness and technological neutrality in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals and increasing resilience of territories and society; progression over time in environmental integrity and level of ambition; progression of technological innovation and clean energies.
Amendment 108 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In taking the relevant measures at Union and national level to achieve the climate-neutrality objective, Member States and the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take into account the contribution of the transition to climate neutrality to the well- being of citizens, the cohesion between the various EU regions, the prosperity of society and the competitiveness of the economy; energy and food security and affordability; fairness and solidarity across and within Member States considering their economic capability, national and regional circumstances and the need for convergence over time; the need to make the transition just and socially fair; best available scientific evidence, in particular the findings reported by the IPCC; the need to integrate climate change related risks into investment and planning decisions; cost-effectiveness and technological neutrality in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals and increasing resilience; progression over time in environmental integrity and level of ambition.
Amendment 122 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The Commission, in its Communication ‘The European Green Deal’, announced its intention to assess and make proposals for increasing the Union’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 to ensure its consistency with the climate-neutrality objective for 2050. In that Communication, the Commission underlined that all Union policies should contribute to the climate-neutrality objective and that all sectors should play their part. By September 2020, the Commission should, based on a comprehensive impact assessment and taking into account its analysis of the integrated national energy and climate plans submitted to the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council36 , review the Union’s 2030 target for climate and explore options for a new 2030 target of 50 toat least 55 % emission reductions compared with 1990 levels. Where it considers necessary to amend the Union’s 2030 target, it should make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council to amend this Regulation as appropriate. In addition, the Commission should, by 30 June 2021, assess how the Union legislation implementing that target would need to be amended in order to achieve emission reductions of 50 toat least 55 % compared to 1990. The Commission shall provide also binding targets within the range of 80 to 85 % of reduction for the year2040 as soon as possible and until 2025 at the latest. _________________ 36Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1).
Amendment 129 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Achieving climate neutrality should require a contribution from all economic sectors that will need to participate in the transformation of the economy in a way that ensures that their actions contribute and do not harm the achievement of the long term objective of achieving a climate neutral EU by 2050. In light of the importance of energy production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable, affordable and secure energy system relying on a well-functioning internal energy market is essential. The digital transformation, technological innovation, and research and development are also important drivers for achieving the climate-neutrality objective.
Amendment 131 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) To ensure the Union and the Member States remain on track to achieve the climate-neutrality objective and progress on adaptation, the Commission should regularly measure and assess progress, making all relevant data available to the public. Should the collective progress made by Member States and regions towards the achievement of the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation be insufficient or Union measures inconsistent with the climate- neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience or reduce vulnerability, the Commission should take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties. The Commission should also regularly assess relevant national and regional measures, and issue recommendations where it finds that a Member State’s measures are inconsistent with the climate- neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change. Pursuant to Treaties provisions, the Commission shall ensure that all Member States apply this Regulation, and may resort to Article 258 and Article 260 TFEU when appropriate.
Amendment 138 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) As citizens and communities have a powerful role to play in driving the transformation towards climate neutrality forward, strong public and social engagement on climate action should be facilitated. The Commission should therefore engage with all parts of society to enable and empower them to take action towards a climate-neutral and climate- resilient society, including through launching a European Climate Pact. at all levels, including at national, regional and local level and with social partners, including trade unions, and facilitating participation and accessibility of information to all persons with disabilities . The Commission should therefore engage with all competent institutions promoting multi-level governance and with all with all parts of society to strengthen the exchange of information and awareness-raising aimed at achieving a climate-neutral and climate- resilient society, including through launching a European Climate Pact. Participation means will be developed to guarantee the involvement of social partners, economic actors and citizens in general in the strategies and plans adopted by Member States and regional and local authorities in matters of energy and climate governance.
Amendment 141 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The investment challenge to achieve the climate neutrality goal by 2050 and to progress towards the global adaptation goal is significant. There is a need to promote and support sustainable investments and to put in place enabling environments that are conducive to green investment. The EU´s Sustainable Action plan and the European taxonomy for sustainable activities provide a solid framework to build upon. Further, the European and national budgets will play a key role. The European Commission has proposed a 25% target for climate mainstreaming across all EU programmes. National budgets will also be key in promoting the transition. A greater use of green budgeting tools will help to redirect public investment, consumption and taxation to green priorities and away from harmful subsidies
Amendment 143 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) As citizens and communitieregions have a powerful role to play in driving the transformation towards climate neutrality forward, strong public and social engagement on climate action should be facilitated at national, regional and local level. The Commission should therefore engage with all parts of society to enable and empower them to take action towards a climate-neutral and climate- resilient society, including through launching a European Climate Pact.
Amendment 153 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to provide predictability and confidence for all economic actors, including businesses, workers, investors and consumers, to ensure that the transition towards climate neutrality is irreversible, inclusive and socially fair, to ensure gradual reduction over time and to assist in the assessment of the consistency of measures and progress with the climate- neutrality objective, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to set out a trajectory for achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the Union by 2050. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making37 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts. _________________ 37 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1. 37
Amendment 154 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) In line with the Commission’s commitment to the principles on Better Law-Making, coherence of and complementarity between the Union instruments as regards greenhouse gas emissions reductions should be sought. The system of measuring the progress towards the achievement of the climate-neutrality objective as well as the consistency of measures taken with that objective should build upon and be consistent with the governance framework laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In particular, the system of reporting on a regular basis and the sequencing of the Commission’s assessment and actions on the basis of the reporting should be aligned to the requirements to submit information and provide reports by Member States laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 should therefore be amended in order to include the climate-neutrality objective in the relevant provisions.
Amendment 155 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Climate change is by definition a trans-boundary challenge and, so a coordinated action at Union level is needed to effectively supplement and reinforce national policies. Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 2050, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone, but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives, . Pursuant to the principle of sincere cooperation, as set out in Article 4 of the same Treaty, the Union and the Member States shall assist each other to achieve the objectives of this Regulation, Member States shall take any appropriate measures resulting from the objectives and recommendations as set out in this Regulation and shall refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the objectives of this Regulation
Amendment 158 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The clean energy transition will result in an energy system in which the primary energy supply will mostly come from renewable energy sources, which will significantly improve security of supply, reduce energy dependency and promote domestic jobs.
Amendment 174 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national level respectively, including setting specific climate-neutrality objectives at national level, to enable the collective achievement of the climate-neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the importance of promoting fairness and, solidarity among Member Statend sincere cooperation among Member States, regions and citizens.
Amendment 178 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national level respectively, to enable the collective achievement of the climate-neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the importance of promoting fairness and solidarity among Member States and among the various European regions in order to ensure that no one is left behind.
Amendment 187 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Union should aim to achieve a balance between anthropogenic economy- wide emissions and removals, through natural and technological solutions, of greenhouse gases domestically within the Union by 2050. Currently marine and terrestrial ecosystems are the sole sinks for anthropogenic carbon emissions. These natural sinks of healthy and functioning forests, soils, wetlands, peatlands, regenerative agricultural land, and marine habitats, including seagrass and kelp forests, should be restored, protected, maintained and further increased. The Union-wide 2050 climate- neutrality objective should be pursued by all Member States collectively, and the Member States, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take the necessary measures to enable its achievement. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective.
Amendment 193 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. By September 2020, the Commission shall review the Union’s 2030 target for climate referred to in Article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in light of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1), and explore options for a new 2030 target of 50 toat least 55% emission reductions compared to 1990. Where the Commission considers that it is necessary to amend that target, it shall make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council as appropriate.
Amendment 201 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 4
4. By 30 June 2021, the Commission shall assess how the Union legislation implementing the Union’s 2030 target would need to be amended in order to enable the achievement of 50 toat least 55 % emission reductions compared to 1990 and to achieve the climate-neutrality-objective set out in Article 2(1), and consider taking the necessary measures, including the adoption of legislative proposals, in accordance with the Treaties.
Amendment 204 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
Amendment 214 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 b (new)
Recital 12 b (new)
(12 b) The energy transition improves the energy efficiency and reduces the energy dependency of the Union and its Member States. This structural change towards a more efficient economy based on renewable energy in all sectors will not only benefit the trade balance but also strengthen energy security and fight energy poverty.
Amendment 216 #
2020/0036(COD)
2. The trajectory shall start from the Union’s 2030 target for climate referred to in Article 2(3). In no year from 2031 to 2049 is the Union's total emissions above a linear reduction path between the Union target for 2030 and the goal of climate neutrality for 2050.
Amendment 217 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 c (new)
Recital 12 c (new)
(12c) To incentivise the uptake of carbon removal, in full respect of the biodiversity objectives, by 2023 the Commission should explore the development of a regulatory framework for certification of carbon removals based on robust and transparent carbon accounting to monitor and verify the authenticity of carbon removals and specify the rules for the calculation of Union-wide emissions and accounting rules for transfer of CO2 across borders and between sectors.
Amendment 227 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) competitiveness of the Union’s economy and social welfare;
Amendment 229 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(ba) a high level of employment, sustainable growth and social inclusion, including by advancing in social objectives such as accessibility for persons with disabilities;
Amendment 234 #
2020/0036(COD)
(14) Adaptation is a key component of the long-term global response to climate change. Therefore, Member States and the Union should enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, as provided for in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, as well as maximise the co- benefits with other environmental policies and legislation. In this regard, activities hindering ecosystem ability to adapt to climate change should be removed to ensure the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Member States should adopt comprehensive national adaptation strategies and plans.
Amendment 241 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) energy efficiency, energy affordability and, security of supply and the need to combat energy poverty with renewable energies;
Amendment 244 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) the effects on and evolution of biodiversity and ecosystems;
Amendment 245 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d b (new)
(db) food safety, food affordability and security of supply;
Amendment 247 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) fairness and, solidarity and sincere cooperation between and within Member States, taking full account of the EU’s territorial cohesion;
Amendment 252 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) public and private investment needs and opportunities with a focus on social, economic and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 255 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In taking the relevant measures at Union and national level to achieve the climate-neutrality objective, Member States and the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take into account the contribution of the transition to climate neutrality to the well- being of citizens, the prosperity of society and the competitiveness of the economy; energy and food security and affordability; fairness and solidarity across and within Member States considering their economic capability, national circumstances and the need for convergence over time; the need to make the transition just and socially fair; best available scientific evidence, in particular the findings reported by the IPCC; the need to integrate climate change related risks into investment and planning decisions while ensuring that EU policies are climate proof; cost-effectiveness and technological neutrality in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals and increasing resilience; progression over time in environmental integrity and level of ambition.
Amendment 264 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The transition to climate neutrality requires a transformative changes across the entire policy spectrum and a collective effort of all sectors of the economy and society, as illustrated by the Commission in its Communication ‘The European Green Deal’. The promotion of tax systems and pricing that reflect environmental costs, including biodiversity loss and of changes in national fiscal systems to shift the tax burden from labour to pollution are also stated by the Commission in its EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The European Council, in its Conclusions of 12 December 2019, stated that all relevant Union legislation and policies need to be consistent with, and contribute to, the fulfilment of the climate- neutrality objective while respecting a level playing field, and invited the Commission to examine whether this requires an adjustment of the existing rules.
Amendment 269 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j a (new)
(ja) the commitment to global leadership on climate neutrality;
Amendment 271 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j b (new)
(jb) the assessment of the carbon footprint and water footprint in trade relations with third countries.
Amendment 272 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16a) Creating climate resilience and adaptation to the inevitable effects of climate change also requires a shared effort by economic and social sectors and consistency in European legislation and policies.
Amendment 275 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall develop and implement adaptation strategies and plans in cooperation with regions and municipalities that include comprehensive risk management frameworks, based on robust climate and vulnerability baselines and progress assessments. Member States shall ensure the integration of the regional and local perspective when developing and implementing their adaptation strategies and plans.
Amendment 286 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall submit the conclusions of that assessment, together with the State of the Energy Union Report prepared in the respective calendar year in accordance with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, to the European Parliament and to the Council. The Commission shall refer in its assessment to the progress made by regions and metropolitan regions on adaptation as referred to in Article 4 and shall refer to sectorial roadmaps in order to promote a transparent and socially fair transition towards carbon neutrality.
Amendment 294 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) The Commission should further make sure that the industry is sufficiently enabled to undergo the significant transition towards climate neutrality and highly ambitious 2030- and 2040-targets through a thorough regulatory framework and financial resources commensurate with the challenges. This regulatory and financial framework should be regularly assessed and adapted if needed to prevent carbon leakage, industrial closures, job losses and unfair international competition.
Amendment 294 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The assessment referred to in paragraph 1 and the review referred to in paragraph 2 shall be carried out on the basis of a common EU information system, accessible to the public, incorporating the information generated by the different actors involved in achieving the objective of climate neutrality and advancing adaptation. Requirements shall be set to ensure standardisation and homogeneity of information by ensuring that it consists of data that are easy to find, accessible, interoperable and reusable. This system will benefit from the opportunities afforded by digitalisation and new technologies.
Amendment 299 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Where, based on the assessment referred to in paragraphs 1 and the review referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission finds that Union measures are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) or inadequate to ensure progress on adaptation as referred to in Article 4, or that the progress towards either the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation as referred to in Article 4 is insufficient, it shall take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties, at the same time as the review of the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1).
Amendment 305 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) To ensure the Union and the Member States remain on track to achieve the climate-neutrality objective and progress on adaptation, the Commission should regularly assess progress. Should the collective progress made by Member States towards the achievement of the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation be insufficient or any Union measures inconsistent with the climate- neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience or reduce vulnerability, the Commission should take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties. The Commission should also regularly assess relevant national measures, and issue recommendations where it finds that a Member State’s measures are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Amendment 307 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall submit the conclusions of that assessment, together with the State of the Energy Union Report prepared in the respective calendar year in accordance with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, to the European Parliament and to the Council. The Commission shall refer in its assessment to the measures taken by competent regional administrations and metropolitan regions in relation to the climate- neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) and in relation to the adaptation to climate change as referred to in Article 4 in order to promote a transparent and socially fair transition towards carbon neutrality.
Amendment 310 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. Where the Commission finds, under due consideration of the collective progress assessed in accordance with Article 5(1), that a Member State’s measures or its regions’ measures are inconsistent with that objective as expressed by the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1) or inadequate to ensure progress on adaptation as referred to in Article 4, it may issue recommendations to that Member State. The Commission shall make such recommendations publicly available.
Amendment 312 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EU information system referred to in Article 5(2) shall have a section including strategies, measures and good practices, in order to help bring the measures taken by Member States into line with Commission recommendations.
Amendment 314 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the Member State concerned shall take due account of the recommendation in a spirit of solidarity and sincere cooperation between Member States and the Union, between Member States and between the Member State concerned and its regions;
Amendment 315 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the Member State concerned shall take due account of the recommendation in a spirit of solidarity between Member States and the Union and between Member States and European regions;
Amendment 316 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 322 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) regional statistics and data, including data of metropolitan regions; and
Amendment 326 #
2020/0036(COD)
(e) any supplementary information on environmentally sustainable investment, by the Union and, Member States and regional and local authorities, including, when available, investment consistent with Regulation (EU) 2020/… [Taxonomy Regulation].
Amendment 327 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
The Commission shall engage with all parts of society to enable and empower them to take action towardsstrengthen the exchange of information and awareness- raising aimed at achieving a climate- neutral and climate-resilient society. The Commission shall facilitate an inclusive and accessible process at all levels, including at national, regional and local level and with social partners, citizens and civil society, ensuring participation and accessibility of information to all persons with disabilities, for the exchange of best practice and to identify actions to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this Regulation. In addition, the Commission may also draw on the multilevel climate and energy dialogues as set up by Member States in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Participation means will be developed to guarantee the involvement of social partners, economic actors and citizens in general in the strategies and plans adopted by Member States and regional and local authorities in matters of energy and climate governance.
Amendment 329 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Amendment 339 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999
Article 11
Article 11
Each Member State shall establish a multilevel climate and energy dialogue pursuant to national rules, in which regional and local authorities, civil society organisation, business community, investors, trade unions and other relevant stakeholders and the general public are able actively to engage and discuss the achievement of the Union’s climate- neutrality objective set out in Article 2 of Regulation …/… [Climate Law] and the different scenarios envisaged for energy and climate policies, including for the long term, and review progress, unless it already has a structure which serves the same purpose. Integrated national energy and climate plans may be discussed within the framework of such a dialogue.;
Amendment 384 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation establishes a framework for the irreversible and gradual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancement of removals by natural or other sinks in the Union, or other sinks that provide compliance with climatic and environmental objectives.
Amendment 442 #
2020/0036(COD)
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national, regional and local level respectively, to enable the individual and the collective achievement of the climate-neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the social and economic cohesion and the protection of vulnerable Union citizens, the importance of promoting fairness and, solidarity among Member Statend a just transition among Member States and taking into account Member States’ different starting points.
Amendment 448 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national level respectively, to enable the collective achievement of the climate-neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the importance of promoting fairness and solidarity among Member States, and the link between climate and biodiversity to protect and restore natural sinks.
Amendment 519 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. By 2023, the Commission shall develop a regulatory framework for certification of carbon removals and detail the rules for the calculation of Union-wide emissions and accounting rules for transfer of CO2 across borders and between sectors.
Amendment 541 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 9 to supplement this Regulation by setting out a trajectoryBy 30 September 2025, the Commission shall assess, on the basis of the criteria set out in paragraph 3, the options for the structure and design of a trajectory, established on the basis of five- year milestones, at Union level tofor achieveing the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) until 2050. At the latest withiand make an appropriate legislative proposal to that effect. Once the trajectory is established, the Commission shall review it no later than six months after each global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, t. The Commission shall review the trajectorymake a legislative proposal to adjust the trajectory where it considers this appropriate as a result of the review.
Amendment 597 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(aa) achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 613 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(ba) the carbon footprint of end products and consumption in the Union;
Amendment 643 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) the impacts of climate change affecting differently across European regions, including in natural and semi- natural ecosystems, could result in further asymmetrical efforts regarding the maintenance and improvement of natural sinks;
Amendment 652 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) fair burden-sharing and GHG abatement potential of each economic sector;
Amendment 654 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d b (new)
(db) effective carbon-leakage protection for the European economy;
Amendment 662 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
(ea) different national circumstances of the Member States;
Amendment 664 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) the need to ensure environmental effectiveness andsustainability, including the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the need to tackle the biodiversity crisis assuming the biodiversity goals of the EU biodiversity strategy and the environmental health progression over time;
Amendment 712 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j
(j) the best available and most recent scientific evidence, including the latest reports of the IPCC and IPBES.
Amendment 757 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall ensure continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change in accordance with Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. They shall furthermore strengthen ecosystems resilience to climate change adaptation by increasing natural carbon sinks and by prioritising ecosystems restoration and the strict protection of all EU’s remaining primary and old-growth forests in accordance with the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030.
Amendment 763 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. EU policies shall be developed in light of the need to support and ensure coherence with the domestic policies and measures put in place by Member States in order to underpin and strengthened them while avoiding undermining adaptation efforts and hindering overall progress towards the global adaptation goal.
Amendment 775 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Following a proposal by the Commission for EU-wide legally binding nature restoration targets in 2021 to restore degraded ecosystems by 2030, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon, Member States should set plans to restore their priority habitats by end of 2023 which shall be fully implemented by 2030.
Amendment 812 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the collective and individual progress made by the Union and all Member States on just transition strategies;
Amendment 813 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b b (new)
(bb) the collective and individual progress made by the Union and all Member States on fighting energy poverty
Amendment 814 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b c (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b c (new)
(bc) the measures taken by all Member States to achieve the climate-neutrality and adaptation objectives, also with regards to the implications for the society and economy and regarding the criteria laid out in Article 3, in order to make sure that no part of the society and the economy have been left behind during the transition.
Amendment 831 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the consistency of Union measures with the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) as expressed by the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1) and the criteria referred to in Article 3(3);
Amendment 842 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) the adequacy of Union measures to ensure progress on just transition;
Amendment 843 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b b (new)
(bb) the adequacy of Union measures to ensure progress on fighting energy poverty;
Amendment 844 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b c (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b c (new)
(bc) the measures taken by the European Union to achieve the climate- neutrality and adaptation objectives, also with regards to their implications for the society and economy and regarding the criteria laid out in Article 3, in order to make sure that no part of the society and the economy have been left behind during the transition.
Amendment 868 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall assess any draft measure or legislative proposal in light of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) as expressed by the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1) and the criteria referred to in Article 3(3) before adoption, and include this analysis in any impact assessment accompanying these measures or proposals, and make the result of that assessment public at the time of adoption.
Amendment 871 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall assess anyll future draft measure or legislative proposal in light of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) as expressed by the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1) before adoption, and include this analysis in any impact assessment accompanying these measures or proposals, and make the result of that assessment public at the time of adoption.
Amendment 906 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the adequacy of national measures to ensure progress on just transition;
Amendment 907 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b b (new)
(bb) the adequacy of national measures to ensure progress on fighting energy poverty;
Amendment 954 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) reports of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC);
Amendment 958 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) European statistics and data, including data on observed and projected losses from adverse climate impacts, where available; and
Amendment 965 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) best available scientific evidence, including the latest reports of the IPCC and the IPBES; and
Amendment 986 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
The Commission shall engage with all parts of society, including local and regional governments, to enable and empower them to take action towards a socially just, climate- neutral and climate- resilient society. Progress towards the adoption of quantified climate objectives by all parts of the society should be incentivised at the EU [and national] level through appropriate active measures that encourage them to measure the results of their efforts in terms of greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Commission shall facilitate an inclusive and accessible process at all levels, including at national, regional and local level and with social partners, citizens and civil society, for the exchange of best practice and to identify actions to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this Regulation. In addition, the Commission may also draw on the multilevel climate and energy dialogues as set up by Member States in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
Amendment 1056 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999
Article 3 –paragraph 2 – point f
Article 3 –paragraph 2 – point f
(f) an assessment of the impacts of the planned policies and measures and their implications for society and the economy, in particular for the fight against energy poverty, to meet the objectives referred to in point (b) of this paragraph, including their consistency with Union’s climate- neutrality objective set out in Article 2 of Regulation …/… [Climate Law], the long- term greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives under the Paris Agreement and the long-term strategies as referred to in Article 15;;
Amendment 1064 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Each Member State shall establish a multilevel climate and energy dialogue pursuant to national rules, in which local authorities, academia, civil society organisation, including social partners, business community, investors and other relevant stakeholders and the general public are able actively to engage and discuss the achievement of the Union’s climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2 of Regulation …/… [Climate Law] and the different scenarios envisaged for energy and climate policies, including for the long term, and review progress, unless it already has a structure which serves the same purpose. Integrated national energy and climate plans just transition strategies and sectoral roadmaps and strategies may be discussed within the framework of such a dialogue.;
Amendment 44 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costs of the transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions and resources are used sustainably. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 48 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costhallenges of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the latest, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 60 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral, resilient and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond, and not all of them have undertaken to the same extent policies and measures to facilitate the transition. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 62 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 72 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair, inclusive and socially acceptable for all, reduce inequalities and leave no one behind. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 85 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) As set out in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, a Just Transition Mechanism should complement the other actions under the next multi-annual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027. It should contribute to addressing the social and economic consequences of transitioning towards Union climate neutrality by 2050, by bringing together the Union budget’s spending on climate and social objectives at regional level.
Amendment 92 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to facilitate and alleviate the impact of the transition by creating new sustainable employment opportunities, by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment and adverse social consequences and by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 96 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate and environmental transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 99 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The application of Union support and funding through the JTF shall ensure that all eligible projects in every Member State are consistent with all Member States’ obligation, set out in Regulation (EU)XX/XXX establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 [new European Climate Law], to achieve national climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest;
Amendment 100 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) A just transition fund cannot aggravate existing inequalities among Member States nor weaken the single market.
Amendment 106 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions and accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 110 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate and environmental actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 113 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The resources from the Just Transition Fund cannot deliver the transition to climate neutrality on its own. The other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism will offer an additional set of measures and financing opportunities, next to the JTF, with the objective of facilitating and accelerating the transition of the most affected regions. A dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU will attract private investments that benefit the regions in transition and help their economies find new sources of growth such as projects for decarbonisation, economic diversification of the regions, energy, transport and social infrastructure. Public sector loan facility with the European Investment Bank backed by the EU budget will be used for concessional loans to the public sector, for example for investments in energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, and renovation or insulation of buildings.
Amendment 114 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) A just transition entails as well supporting those most affected by climate change. The impacts of a changing climate will strike disproportionately some regions and communities that, in the spirit of European solidarity, have to be sustained.
Amendment 122 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy as well as national and regional investments, private capital and should by no means replace such investments.
Amendment 139 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that rely or have relied until recently heavily on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of itsthe JTF financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality by 2050 and the ambition in their energy and climate objectives.
Amendment 140 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that but also an enormous opportunity. Additional support will be needed for the regions that still rely heavily on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral, resilient and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation, aggravating factors that should be taken into consideration are unemployment rate, depopulations trends and previous reconversion efforts linked to fossil fuels that have weakened the related economic fabric in the regions. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral, resilient and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 163 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate, social and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the medium and long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 206 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective and measurable implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with and possibly going beyond their National Energy and Climate Plans. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 207 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a national climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans and enhancing their climate ambition. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 233 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to supplement and amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission to set out the annual breakdown of available allocations per Member State in accordance with Annex I, as well as in respect of the amendment of the elements contained in Annex III of this Regulation regarding the common output and result indicators. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making15 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States’ experts; these experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts. _________________ 15 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p.13.
Amendment 234 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
Amendment 243 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to the economies, people and the environment of territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the Union’s 2030 target for climate set out in article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
Amendment 247 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050, ensuring that all Member States achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.
Amendment 251 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a sustainable, circular and climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
Amendment 260 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’ by 2050, including the achievement of the EU target for greenhouse gas emission reduction for 2030.
Amendment 267 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’ by 2050 at the latest.
Amendment 273 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States, that have endorsed the objective to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and demonstrate their commitment in their national energy and climate plans, and require financial aid to achieve a resilient and climate-neutral economy by 2050.
Amendment 283 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7.5 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act. The funding of the JTF shall not be to the detriment of resources allocated to the other MFF funds.
Amendment 294 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act settingis empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 10 to set out the annual breakdown of resources, including any additional resources referred to in paragraph 2, by Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I.
Amendment 295 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Access to the funds made available under the JTF shall be conditional on national commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, as well as commitment to the accomplishment of the intermediate GHG emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2040. If a Member State fails to produce an appropriate schedule for a phase-out of high GHG emission technologies in accordance with Article 7, yearly allocations for that Member State will be redistributed by the Commission to those Member States that have put in place such plans. The mid-term assessment of the JTF must evaluate each Member State’s progress towards the net zero emission target by 2050 at the latest and intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040. Insufficient progress in the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions, according to the mid-term assessment, shall entail reduction in yearly allocations for that Member State.
Amendment 313 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive and sustainable investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to sustainable job creation, economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 327 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investments in the creation of new firms and in the expansion of existing ones, including through business incubators and consulting services;
Amendment 341 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) investments in research and innovation activities, including energy research, and fostering the transfer of advanced technologies;
Amendment 345 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean and sustainable energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy; , including storage technologies, so that all of them enable alternatives such as sustainable mobility or building renovation, among others;
Amendment 351 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, safe and sustainable energy in order to phase out fossil fuel based one, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy;
Amendment 369 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) targeted energy efficiency measures to address energy poverty;
Amendment 378 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) investments in digitalisation and digital connectivity, including equipment and appliance load controls, metering and communications technology that allow the development of demand side response;
Amendment 393 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects, while ensuring appropriate application of the polluter pays principle;
Amendment 406 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
(g) investments in enhancing the non- toxic circular economy, including through waste prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling;
Amendment 411 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) investments in the environmental transformation of sectors that are economically relevant for the regions in transition, such as tourism or agriculture;
Amendment 417 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) green infrastructure;
Amendment 445 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Additionally, the JTF may support, in areas designated as assisted areas in accordance with points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) of the TFEU, productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (h) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan, where they contribute to the transition to a climate- neutral economy and where they do not lead to relocation as required under article 60 of Regulation No. …/… [CPR].
Amendment 463 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the decommissioning or, the construction or any other form of investment in of nuclear power stations;
Amendment 486 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage, transport or combustion of fossil fuels;
Amendment 494 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) investments not deemed to be environmentally sustainable under the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;
Amendment 495 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, that imply the transfer of jobs, capital and production processes from one Member State to another.
Amendment 516 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall only approve a programme where the identification of the territories most negatively affected by the transition process, contained within the relevant territorial just transition plan, is duly justified and the relevant territorial just transition plan is consistent with the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned, as well as with the commitment to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest, including the intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040.
Amendment 547 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity. _________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 551 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) a description of the transition process at national level towards a climate- neutral economy by 2050 at the latest, including a timeline for key transition steps such as decomissioning of fossil fuel installations and overall phase-out dates for high GHG emission technologies, which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’);
Amendment 553 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) a description of the transition process at national level towards a climate- neutral economy, including the transition actions already undertaken and a timeline for key next transition steps which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’);
Amendment 571 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an assessment of the transition challenges faced by the most negatively affected territories, including the social, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy, identifying the potential number of affected jobs and job losses, the development needs and objectives, to be reached by 2030 linked to the transformation or closure of greenhouse gas-intensive activities in those territories consistent with the transition away from fossil fuel use;
Amendment 592 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Amendment 618 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission concludes, based on the examination of the final performance report of the programme, that there is a failure to achieve at least 65% of the target established for one or more output or result indicators for the JTF resources, it may make financial corrections pursuant to Article [98] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] by reducing the support from the JTF to the priority concerned in proportion to the achievements.
Amendment 620 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to Article 3(3) and in Article 8(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [the date of the entry into force of this Regulation].
Amendment 622 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 624 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State and conduct stakeholder consultation in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
Amendment 627 #
2020/0006(COD)
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 663 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
(d) the allocations resulting from the application of point (c) are adjusted to ensure that the final allocation from the JTF results in a per capitaunemployed aid intensity (measured on the basis of the entireunemployed population of the Member State) of at least EUR 60.15 over the entire period.
Amendment 674 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – subheading 1
Annex III – subheading 1
REGIONAL POLICY Common output INDICATORS (‘RCO’) and REGIONAL POLICY Common result indicators (‘RCR’) for the Just Transition Fund29 _________________ 29For presentational reasons, indicators are grouped to provide for easier matching with the indicators included in other cohesion policy fund-specific regulations.
Amendment 694 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – subheading 1
Annex III – subheading 1
REGIONAL POLICY COMMON OUTPUT INDICATORS (‘RCO’) AND REGIONAL POLICY COMMON RESULT INDICATORS (‘RCR’) FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND2 2 For presentational reasons, indicators are grouped to provide for easier matching with the indicators included in other cohesion policy fund-specific regulations.FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND
Amendment 695 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Results
Annex III – Results
Amendment 696 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – Outputs – RCO39
Annex III – Outputs – RCO39
RCO 39: Systems for monitoring air pollution installed3 4 3All output and result indicators related to participants are to be reported. 4 All personal data are to be broken down by gender (male/female – non-binary). Where certain results are not possible, it is not necessary to collect and report data for those result indicators. When data are collected from registers, Member States do not need to align with commonly agreed definitions and may use national definitions.
Amendment 901 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – subheading 1
Annex III – subheading 1
REGIONAL POLICY COMMON OUTPUT INDICATORS (‘RCO’) AND REGIONAL POLICY COMMON RESULT INDICATORS (‘RCR’) FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND2 2 For presentational reasons, indicators are grouped to provide for easier matching with the indicators included in other cohesion policy fund-specific regulations.FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND deleted
Amendment 902 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – column 1 – Outputs – rows 7 and 8
Annex III – column 1 – Outputs – rows 7 and 8
RCO 39: Systems for monitoring air pollution installed for participants3 4: 3All output and result indicators related to participants are to be reported. All personal data are to be broken down by gender (male/female – non-binary). Where certain results are not possible, it is not necessary to collect and report data for those result indicators. When data are collected from registers, Member States do not need to align with commonly agreed definitions and may use national definitions.
Amendment 903 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – column 2 – Results
Annex III – column 2 – Results
Amendment 6 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Citation 8 a (new)
Amendment 35 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Considers that we are facing an ecological emergency, which requires significant actions in Europe and beyond; calls on the Commission to place nature protection and restoration as a top priority in the European Green Deal alongside climate change;
Amendment 39 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 2
2. Expresses its concern that the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets will not be met with the current trajectory of biodiversity loss, and reiterates its calls on all Parties to step up their efforts; regrets that the EU is not on track to achieve its headline target of halting biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation by 2020; urges the Commission and Member States to commit to immediate, substantial and additional efforts on biodiversity conservation and restoration so as to meet the EU targets;
Amendment 42 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are key for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and strengthen EU’s resilience capacities toward climate change; recalls the importance of preserving biodiversity and nature based solutions for climate change mitigation; asks therefore for more coherence between the CBD and UNFCCC; calls on the Commission to better integrate biodiversity into its climate policies and ensure that EU climate funding is also used to protect and restore natural ecosystems as a way of achieving climate mitigation and adaptation;
Amendment 49 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 60 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes, in this regard, the commitments, made by Ursula von der Leyen in the political guidelines for the next European Commission 2019-2024 and in the mission letter to the Commissioner for Environment and Oceans, to present a Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 as part of the European Green Deal, and her intention for the EU to lead the world at the 2020 Conference of the Parties to the CBD, as it did at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference;
Amendment 87 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the need to increase ambition and functioning for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; calls on the Commission and Member States to strengthen the implementation mechanisms of the CBD, to actively pursue the development of clear performance indicators, tracking instruments and peer review/reporting mechanisms to improve the transparency and accountability for Parties and the overall effectiveness of the next Biodiversity Strategy Plan;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that an international framework in the form of a legally binding agreement is needed to protect global biodiversity, to stop its current decline and to restore all aspects of biodiversity; believes that such a framework should have a clear goal and be based on specific, measurable including quantifiable, ambitious, realistic and time- bound targets and firm commitments, comprising of Nationally Determined Contributions for Biodiversity (NDCBs) and other appropriate instruments, financial commitments and improved capacity building assurances, as well as a 5-yearly monitoring and review mechanism, with an emphasis on an upward trajectory of ambition; highlights the need for regular reporting by the Parties and a harmonised collection and treatment of comparable and consistent data and indicators for a good monitoring process;
Amendment 113 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the necessity of appropriate financing for biodiversity; underlines that biodiversity proofing in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and mainstreaming biodiversity across policy areas will have a significant and positive effect on reaching the 2050 Vision; calls on the Commission and the Council to set up a clear target for biodiversity mainstreaming of minimum 10% in the MFF that is additional to the spending on climate mainstreaming; emphasises also the need to establish a more transparent, comprehensive and stringent methodology for the tracking of biodiversity and climate expenditure; reiterates its calls to at least double the current funding of LIFE Programme; calls also for the phase out of harmful subsidies;
Amendment 126 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the establishment of new international financial mechanisms for biodiversity conservation linked to the CBD; callsnotes that economic activities can be important drivers of global biodiversity decline and loss of natural capital; calls therefore on businesses and financial organisations to make and share strong commitments and contributions to biodiversity, including by biodiversity-proofing their activities, and highlights the importance of leveraging private financing initiatives in this regard; regrets the inconsistency of data set on finance flows for biodiversity that come from domestic and international public and private sources, that puts at risk the tracking and reporting systems and negatively affects any potential reform;
Amendment 137 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Points out that international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the UN Environment Program and the OECD agree that environmental taxation is an essential tool in addressing environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss; welcomes initiatives such as the Green Fiscal Policy Network of the UN Environmental Programme and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to facilitate knowledge sharing and dialogue on green fiscal reform; draws attention to the Aichi target 3 and the need of positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as well as on SDG 15 and the need to mobilise and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems; highlights therefore the potential of fair environmental taxation that is in line with the polluter pays principle as a way to reduce damage to the environment and generate financial resources for nature protection; calls on the EU and its Member States to increase the use of environmental taxation;
Amendment 151 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 21
21. Notes however the negative impact of intensive agriculture and pesticide use on biodiversity; calls ontherefore on the Commission and the Parties to undertake strong commitments towards sustainable agriculture and forestry, including requirements for the sustainable use of plant protection products and their reduction as well as strategies to ensure the protection of soil and habitats; calls on the Commission to propose an ambitious EU-wide binding target for the reduction of pesticide use and on the Commission, Member States and regional governments to increase support to the agriculture and forestry sectors in the transition to sustainable practices;
Amendment 160 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Recalls that according to the Communication of the Commission on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests, forests are indispensable for our Planet’s life-support systems, covering 30% of the Earth’s land area and hosting 80% of its biodiversity; stresses that deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity decline; expresses its concern on the impact of EU consumption on deforestation as the EU is the final consumer of 10% of the products associated with deforestation; calls on the Commission to propose a comprehensive set of measures to reduce the EU consumption footprint on land, including legislation that ensures deforestation-free supply chains;
Amendment 188 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Points out that conservation and protected areas are necessary to safeguard biodiversity, and the benefits that humans derive from nature as well as for combatting climate change; calls on the EU to push during the negotiations for an increased level of ambition with 30 percent of the planet to be protected by 2030 and potentially having half the planet protected by 2050, thereby going beyond the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of protecting 17 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2020;
Amendment 194 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls the importance of innovation, research and development in order to achieve the objectives of the 2050 Vision; calls on the Commission and the Council to increase the budget allocation for Horizon Europe to 120 billion in the next MFF, to benefit in particular the cluster on natural resources, and to launch a mission on protection and restoration of biodiversity within Horizon Europe; calls on the Parties to focus in particular on the links between biodiversity preservation and benefits to human health and economic well-being, and to coordinate data collection measures;
Amendment 202 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the importance of education to raise awareness on biodiversity and the protection of the environment;
Amendment 205 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that capacity building and awareness-raising are key for a successful implementation and to create greater understanding of the importance of biodiversity; therefore welcomes the COP14 decision which invites parties, other governments, and donors in a position to do so, to provide financial resources for capacity building, technical assistance, and technology transfer;
Amendment 210 #
2019/2824(RSP)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Considers that transformative changes in societies are needed to tackle climate change, degradation of the environment and loss of biodiversity; stresses the importance of following the principle of a just transition ensuring that the process is inclusive and equitable;
Amendment 93 #
2019/2712(RSP)
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the country holding the EU Presidency and the Commission to submit to the UNFCCC as soon as possible the Union’s long-term strategy to reach domestic net-zero emissions inas early as possible and the latest by 2050; stresses that in order to reach domestic net- zero GHG emissions in 2050 in the most cost- efficient manner, and in order to avoid relying on carbon removal technologies that would entail significant risks for ecosystems, biodiversity and food security, the 2030 ambition level will need to be raised; believes it to be of the utmost importanceregrets that the UN Climate Summit was a missed opportunity for the EUnion to send a clear message during the UN Climate Summit in September 2019 that it stands ready to enhance its contribution tot higher ambitions and show leadership for the achievement of the Paris Agreement.;
Amendment 148 #
2019/2712(RSP)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recognises that climate change is not a localised challenge and that climatic impacts outside the EU have implications within the EU as well; for instance, hurricanes, droughts, floods and forest fires have the potential to impact EU food and water security, as well as the supply chains of services and goods; calls on the Commission and the Member States to prioritise scaling-up international climate finance for adaptation, to equal climate finance for mitigation, and also provide climate finance for loss and damage;
Amendment 204 #
2019/2712(RSP)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Emphasises that young people and future generations bear the disproportionate burden of climate consequences; demands, therefore, better inclusion in climate policy decision- making of young people at local, regional, national and EU level;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that Europe’s economy is showing signs of less dynamic growth; highlights that more must be done to support Member States which are experiencing slower growth and high unemployment, particularly where young people and less-developed regions are concerned;
Amendment 31 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the European Semester must consistentlguarantee that cohesion funds are increased sufficiently to ensure they contribute to the elimination of social, economic and territorial inequalities and disparities between EU regions;
Amendment 45 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the European Semester should further economic and social convergence between regions and Member States by adjusting trade imbalances, reducing the excessive surplus and giving effect to existing sanctions; highlights the fact that the European goal of more inclusive growth means greater investment in infrastructure, education and training, health, and research and, innovation and digitalisation; stresses that increases in productivity should lead to increased pay;
Amendment 51 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points to the importance of involving local and regional authorities in the drafting of National Reform Programmes;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates the crucial role of cohesion policy, as the main investment policy in Europe, in the recovery processprocess of regional development; underlines the need to increase the budget for cohesion policy for the 2021-2027 period, in order to maintain its European added value, thus contributing to economic growth, social inclusion, innovation and environmental protection;
Amendment 76 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals in the European Semester, with the aim of putting people, their health and the planet at the centre of economic policy; notes that, in this respect, special attention must be paid to the labour market, by safeguarding existing jobs and creating new ones, while advocating inclusive growth with a view to reducing poverty, especially child poverty;
Amendment 96 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the best response to citizens’ concernshow important it is to support an increase in real earnings, seek greater investment in quality jobs, boost domestic demand and ensure a fairer distribution of the wealth generated; considers that the Stability and Growth Pact should be more flexible so as to take into account cyclical conditions, structural reforms and government investment;
Amendment 3 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the importance of the use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights by Member States at a national level by national courts and through inclusion in legislative procedures; regrets that there has only been a limited attempt at promoting the application of its provisions, even though it is an obligation stated in Article 51 of the Charter;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that the fundamental rights of European citizens, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, are not being upheld by certain Member States, and that this weakens the European project and undermines the quality of democracy in the European Union;
Amendment 12 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Urges the Commission to ensure that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is upheld and adhered to so that fundamental rights are fully applied in all Member States of the Union;
Amendment 19 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that a number of Member States have not fully or correctly implemented the Council Framework Decision of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law1 and its minimum standards on offences of denying, condoning and grossly trivialising certain crimes; calls on the Member States to take action, in accordance with the Charter, to guarantee that citizens are given universal access to high-quality health services, justice, social services and education; _________________ 1 OJ L 328 of 6.12.2008, p. 55-58.
Amendment 33 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that an independent judiciary, freedom of expression and information and media pluralism are crucial components of the rule of law; calls on the Commission to enforce these core EU values when infringed by Member States; proposes that the Commission set up an EU body to monitor compliance with the rule of law in the Member States;
Amendment 44 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to further implement the principles of the Pillar of Social Rights to ensure social fundamental rights at EU and national level, such as the integration of persons with disabilities, just and fair working conditions, social benefits and social assistance; urges the Commission and the Member States to boost involvement and transparency in monitoring mechanisms focusing on social inclusion measures for people with disabilities, as laid down in Article 26 of the Charter;
Amendment 75 #
2019/2199(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises the need for progress to be made in legislation at EU level to protect the public against offences relating to new technologies that could infringe their fundamental rights;
Amendment 9 #
2019/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that precarious work must be combated through an integrated, multi-level policy package that promotes inclusive and effective labour standards alongside effective measures to ensure that the principle of equality is upheld;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor in particular sectors characterised by a high degree of job insecurity, in order to prevent the abuse of workers in areas such as temporary work in the agricultural sector, where seasonal workers face abusive employment conditions that in some cases violate not only labour rights, but also workers’ fundamental righsectors with a high degree of job insecurity and emphasises how important labour inspections are in combating precarious and irregular employment and the fraudulent and abusive use of temporary and part-time contracts;
Amendment 37 #
2019/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls onUrges the Commission to monitor the implementation of the existing acquis and to review the relevant EU labour laws in order to improve the quality and working conditions of workers throughout the Union.; emphasises the need to focus on the groups that are most vulnerable to job insecurity and that are therefore more likely to experience exclusion or social disadvantage, for example, single-parent families, young people, first- and second- generation immigrants, and others;
Amendment 41 #
2019/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to launch a debate between employers and unions to make it possible for an in-depth analysis to be conducted in all Member States of the possible reforms needed in the European labour market to prevent workers continuing to be at risk of poverty;
Amendment 42 #
2019/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take special care to ensure that the relevant labour legislation is adhered to with regard to online platform work, and that minimum quality standards apply to such jobs; urges the Commission and the Member States to pay particular attention to sectors with high numbers of contracts that fall into the category known as false self- employment.
Amendment 10 #
2019/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens, as laid down in Article 44 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; underlines the importance of petitions as one of the most accessible ways for citizens to address the EU institutions in order to express their concerns about possible violations of their rights and about instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law; recalls that petitions are the cornerstone of participatory democracy and that as such, they contribute to bridging the gap between citizens and political institutions by promoting citizens’ active participation and engagement in the EU political debate; considers that the conference on the future of Europe should lead to increased public involvement;
Amendment 28 #
2019/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes, in this regard, the increased transparency and the disclosure of more information in the 2018 report about the number of petitions dealt with by the Commission and about its follow-up actions; notes, however, that in the large majority of cases the Commission did not open an investigation and did not take any further action; is particularly concerned, in this respect, about the practice of referring a significant number of petitioners to other bodies at national, regional or local level and urges the Commission to initiate inquiries in a larger number of cases; acknowledges that this increased transparency practice reflects the Commission’s new enforcement policy announced in its 2016 communication entitled ‘EU Law: Better Results through Better Application’ (C(2016)8600), which aims to direct citizens to the national level when complaints or petitions do not raise issues of wider principle or systematic failure to comply with EU law and can satisfactorily be dealt with by other mechanisms;
Amendment 33 #
2019/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its concern that this approach may cause citizens to believe that their voice goes unheard by the EU institutions and may ultimately deprive them of legal protection should a remedy at EU level prove more effective due to the national circumstances or the nature of the interests involved; calls onregards this as inadmissible and urges the Commission to clarify how it intends to address the gap between citizens’ expectations and reality regarding the possibility of obtaining a remedy at EU level, and to explain how its approach fits with its role as a guardian of the Treaties and its oversight responsibilities under Article 17(1) of the TEU;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, as indicated Stresses the importance of simplifying the Annual Report of the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2018, the estimated level of error in spending on ‘Economic, social and territorial cohesion’ increased from 3 % in 2017 to 5 % in 2018; regrets that, even if it should be stressed that errors in the implementation of the budget do not automatically imply a fraud, the positive trend of the last years has been reversedrules and procedures and making them more flexible, avoiding unnecessary administrative obstacles, so as to prevent or detect and correct many of the errors and improve take-up capacity in the Member States;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the amount subject to the scrutiny of the European Court of Auditors in 2018 in the field of 'Economic, social and territorial cohesion' was EUR 23.6 billion (plus €16.5 billion from previous years that the Commission had cleared or accepted in 2018), significantly higher than in 2017 (EUR 8 billion), which largely justifies the increase in the estimated error rate with regard to expenditure from 3% in 2017 to 5% in 2018; warns of a greater risk of error at the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework owing to pressure for swift take-up in the face of a potential loss of Union funding;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note that the source of those errors is mainly a result of reimbursements of ineligible costs, infringements of internal market rules and lack of support documentation, but is also due to the previous year’s overall low rates of reimbursement and payments as well as fewer financial instruments having been included in the audit; notes, as indicated in the annual report of the Court of Auditors for 2018, that VAT reimbursement is prone to error and does not always result in to optimal use of Union funds;
Amendment 19 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the fact that high-risk expenditures are often subject to complex rules and eligibility conditions which lead to errors and that a number of these errors are compounded by a supplemental layer added by national authorities; recallstresses that simpler national eligibility rules might help reduce this source of error and, undoubtedly resulting in a smaller administrative burden for beneficiaries; regrets the difficulties encountered by certain Member States and regions regarding deployment of the funds owing to excessively strict and inflexible regulations;
Amendment 28 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines that, in order to facilitate access to funding, the latter should not be subject to macroeconomic parameters (macro-conditionality) or included in the calculation of the deficit;
Amendment 31 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the reasons behind this low absorption rate not only lie in the decommitment methodology (the so-called “n+3 rule”), but also in the late adoption of the legislative framework enabling the implementation of the cohesion policy; therefore calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure proper measures in the next programming period 2021-2027 to avoid the repetition of delayed implementation of ESI Funds and its domino effect. and to present the Action Plan on reducing the payments backlog during the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 35 #
2019/2055(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to present a detailed analysis of the reasons for the low funding take-up rates in certain regions and assess specific ways of remedying the structural problems underlying those imbalances; calls on the Commission to step up on-the-spot technical assistance to facilitate take-up in Member States experiencing difficulties in this regard;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that cohesion policy is based on a policy of solidarity, pursuing its Treaty-posed objective of promoting and supporting the overall harmonious development of Member States and regions, and aims to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between and within EU regions and to iensure that no region is left behind, taking into account the demographic challenges and specific needs of depopulated and sparsely populated areas; considers that it creates growth and jobs across the Union as well as delivering key Union objectives and priorities, including its targets as regards climate and, energy targets,, innovation, education and social inclusion as well as smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve the cohesion policy objectives, regional, local, urban and other authorities must work together and establish a dialogue with civil society organisations, including universities, environmental organisations and groups which represent ethnic and religious diversity, age, people with disabilities, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. In line with the Agenda 2030 and the commitments acquired by the Union and its Member States within the General Assembly of the United Nations, underlines the need to ensure sufficient resources in the 2020 budget for the achievement of the sustainable development goals;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes that the new rescEU programme will receive €156,2 million in order to help it better tackle earthquakes, wildfire, forest fires and other natural disasters; stresses the need for instruments such as the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Solidarity Fund to cover environmental catastrophes and valorise the damage to the environment;