14 Amendments of Petros KOKKALIS related to 2021/0000(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 confirms the refocusing of the European Semester (Semester) process to place sustainability, health and the wellbeing of citizens at the centre of economic and social policies, within the planetary boundaries; stresses that environmental sustainability and social fairness are key components of the overarching objective of ‘competitive sustainability’ pursued under the Semester;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that the Gross Deomestic Product (GDP) as an indicator to measure recovery from the pandemic presents several limitations as it does not take into consideration the impact on citizens’ wellbeing; stresses that all- encompassing indicators that take into account human wellbeing, within the planetary boundaries, should guide the Semester’s process; invites the Commission to explore the development of such new indicators to effectively measure progress towards environmental and social sustainability, in line with the priorities of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes the fact that the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 for the first time recognises the economic opportunities arising from the green transition;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the alignment of the Semester process with the EU’s long-term climate and environmental objectives must be accelerated through a substantial reform of the process, as per the Commission’s engagements under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement; underlines that the coordination of the Member States’ macroeconomic policies is, among others, an essential tool to achieve the European Green Deal; highlights the potential of the Semester process as a tool to measure progress towards the achievement of the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Union commitments under the Paris Agreement; calls in this regard the Commission to assess options of appropriate metrics and indicators to integrate in the Semester;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls the Commission’s commitment to refocus the Semester to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and place sustainability and the wellbeing of all within planetary boundaries at the centre; notes that the 2020 cycle included a dedicated chapter to environmental sustainability as well as a report on Member States progress towards the attainment of the SDGs; regrets that this focus is missing so far in the 2021 cycle; calls on the Commission to honour its commitments and make the SDGs an integral part of the Semester and of EU policy-making;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Stresses that national policies coordinated under the Semester, must be consistent with the European Green Deal; reiterates therefore, the need to immediately abolish fossil fuel subsidies as well as other harmful subsidies;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Underlines that the European Semester should be a tool for securing commitments by Member States to strengthen their public healthcare system to ensure high quality, accessible and equitable healthcare for all citizens’, especially in pandemic periods;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Stresses that given the high level of government debt and high sustainability challenges for some Member -States, it is important to ensure that the macroeconomic imbalances in short-term should be treated appropriately to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of the crisis, to protect workers, preserve jobs and ease job transitions towards the green and digital economy;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the Semester to be adapted, taking into account the COVID- 19 pandemic, and to be aligned with the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the key EU instrument for a green recovery; stresses that the EU’s green recovery provides a unique opportunity to build back a stronger EU by providing guidance to Member States on where reforms and investments are most needed in order to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive EU; stresses that recommendations for structural reforms should dully incorporate environmental risks;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the integral role of the Semester in guiding the reforms for the Union’s resilient recovery from the pandemic through the enhanced role assigned to the process under the Recovery and Resilience Facility; notes that national recovery and resilience plans will focus on reforms and investments that contribute to the green transition; recalls that reforms and investments included in the national recovery and resilience plans will respect the ‘do no harm’ principle; stresses in this regard that the Taxonomy Regulation should serve as a guiding reference;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Reminds that under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, at least 37% of the expenditure of each national recovery and resilience plan should be allocated to climate action, therefore advancing the priorities of the European Green Deal; deplores the fact that no specific biodiversity spending target was agreed under the Recovery and Resilience Facility;
Amendment 47 #
4c. Considers the European Semester to be an important tool for achieving the objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan through appropriate structural reforms and investments;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for structured involvement of civil society and environmental organization's in the European Semester process;