Activities of Clara PONSATÍ OBIOLS
Plenary speeches (89)
Fighting against antisemitism, racism and hatred across Europe (debate)
Humanitarian situation of refugees at EU external borders (debate)
Emergency Legislation in Hungary and its impact on the Rule of Law and fundamental rights (continuation of debate)
Use of contact tracing apps in the fight against the coronavirus (debate)
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 19 June 2020 - Recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (debate)
State of play of Council negotiations on the Regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (debate)
Conclusions of the extraordinary European Council meeting of 17-21 July 2020 (continuation of debate)
Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate)
Situation in Belarus - Situation in Lebanon - Situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny (debate)
Rule of Law conditionality in the framework of the MFF 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU (debate)
The resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (debate)
Digital Services Act: Improving the functioning of the Single Market - Digital Services Act: adapting commercial and civil law rules for commercial entities operating online - Digital Services Act and fundamental rights issues posed - Framework of ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies - Civil liability regime for artificial intelligence - Intellectual property rights for the development of artificial intelligence technologies (debate)
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 (debate)
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 – MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources – Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 – Proposal for an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources – Regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (debate)
Future Relations between the EU and the UK (continuation of debate)
European Arrest Warrant and surrender procedures between Member States (debate)
The crackdown on the democratic opposition in Hong Kong
Establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (debate)
Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings
Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings
Government attempts to silence free media in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia (debate)
Application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092, the rule of law conditionality mechanism (continuation of debate)
2019-2020 Reports on Albania – 2019-2020 Reports on Kosovo – 2019-2020 Reports on North Macedonia – 2019-2020 Reports on Serbia (debate)
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 25 and 26 March 2021 - The outcome of the high level meeting between the EU and Turkey of the 6th of April (continuation of debate)
Justice programme 2021-2027 (continuation of debate)
Recent deaths in the Mediterranean and search and rescue at sea (debate)
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights: interim report (debate)
Prisoners of war in the aftermath of the most recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Competition policy – annual report 2020 (debate)
Breach of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and the use of minors by the Moroccan authorities in the migratory crisis in Ceuta
The creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (continuation of debate)
State of the Union (debate)
State of the Union (continuation of debate)
The Pegasus spyware scandal (debate)
European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty (debate)
European Union Agency for Asylum (continuation of debate)
The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law (debate)
Global Tax Agreements to be endorsed at the G20 Summit in Rome, 30th/31st of October (continuation of debate)
The International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and the State of play on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention (continuation of debate)
Digital Markets Act (debate)
State of play of the RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) (debate)
Digital Services Act (continuation of debate)
Shrinking space for civil society in Europe (debate)
Debate with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas - The EU's role in a changing world and the security situation of Europe following the Russian aggression and invasion of Ukraine (debate)
Debriefing of the European Council meeting in Paris on 10 March 2022 - Preparation of the European Council meeting 24-25 March 2022 (debate)
Debriefing of the European Council meeting in Paris on 10 March 2022 - Preparation of the European Council meeting 24-25 March 2022 (debate)
Urgent need to adopt the minimum tax directive (debate)
Trans-European energy infrastructure (debate)
Discharge 2020 (debate)
Use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights (topical debate)
The case of Osman Kavala in Turkey
Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law Report (debate)
This is Europe - Debate with the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin (debate)
The call for a Convention for the revision of the Treaties (debate)
2021 Report on Kosovo (debate)
Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2020 and 2021 (debate)
Economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU: the 8th Cohesion Report - EU border regions: living labs of European integration (debate)
The death of Mahsa Amini and the repression of women's rights protesters in Iran (debate)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 - all sections (debate)
Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (C-368/20) (debate)
Whitewashing of the anti-European extreme right in the EU (topical debate)
New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)
The European Year of Youth 2022 Legacy (debate)
This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob (debate)
The 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (debate)
The 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (debate)
The 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (debate)
Protecting the Rule of Law against impunity in Spain (topical debate)
The erosion of the rule of law in Greece: the wiretapping scandal and media freedom (topical debate)
European Central Bank - annual report 2022 (debate)
Order of business
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March 2023 (debate)
The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)
Externalising asylum applications and making funding to third countries conditional on the implementation of return agreements (topical debate)
Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework (debate)
Breaches of the Rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds (debate)
Negotiations on the European Electoral Law (debate)
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular in the light of recent steps towards concluding the Migration Pact (debate)
Parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy (debate)
Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)
Urgent need for a coordinated European response and legislative framework on intrusive spyware, based on the PEGA inquiry committee recommendations (debate)
Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)
The lack of legislative follow-up by the Commission to the PEGA resolution (debate)
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 (debate)
Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime (debate)
Conclusions of the European Council meetings, in particular the special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 (debate)
Working conditions of teachers in the EU (debate)
Artificial Intelligence Act (debate)
Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe (debate)
Oral questions (3)
Facial recognition and identification in publicly accessible spaces
Dual quality of products in the single market
Waiver of patent protection to speed up vaccine production in the EU
Written explanations (8)
An EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation around the world (B9-0090/2020, B9-0092/2020)
Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (B9-0098/2020)
. ‒ We support this motion because we also look forward to the best possible partnership between the EU and the UK. We do not wish to see any kind of punishment behaviour from the EU, and no distrustful behaviour from the UK. The EU and the UK have a historic opportunity to remake their relationship for the next decades, one of mutual respect and cooperation. This is what our citizens and businesses demand from MEPs and officials. In our case, the UK is Catalonia’s fifth destination in terms of exports, and nearly 40% of Catalan SMEs tend to export to that country. We will not let them down. Finally, we deplore and reject the point of this motion that says that any agreement as regards Gibraltar will need Spain’s assent. Gibraltar has been a British overseas territory since the beginning of the 18th century, and any agreement on Gibraltar will need the assent, mainly and mostly, of Gibraltar’s people.
The illegal trade in companion animals in the EU (B9-0088/2020)
We support this motion because the welfare of animals is linked to the welfare of people. Trafficking in animals, many of them not vaccinated or without the necessary permits and certifications, means trafficking in diseases. This report reminds us that more than 70% of new diseases are of animal origin. The saddest thing is that this matter could be avoided: the Commission must strengthen the implementation of Regulation 576/2013 and impose sanctions on those stakeholders who profit from this traffic. In addition, the illegal trade of pets in the EU undermines the proper functioning of the single market because there is a bad practice in the digital sale purchase. Finally, customs authorities should increase cooperation, communication and training between themselves in terms of pet trade, and we would like to encourage all those who read this that the best is not to buy a pet, but to adopt it.
Stocktaking of European elections (A9-0211/2020 - Pascal Durand)
This report puts forward very important points that should be addressed in order to improve the democratic functioning of the EU, such as the establishment of a single EU electoral authority, the need to increase the role of European political parties, and the reform of the democratic process for choosing the Commission President before the next European elections of 2024.Despite our support for these points and the excellent work carried out by the rapporteur, Mr. Pascal Durand, we feel compelled to vote against the Report. The reason is that the amendments deploring the fact that elected MEP Oriol Junqueras was not able to take his rightful seat because of the non-recognition of his immunity by the Spanish Supreme Court, which keeps him unfairly imprisoned, and stressing that the European Parliament is the only body competent to waive the immunity of its Members, were rejected.We consider that the case of Mr. Oriol Junqueras is of the utmost importance for the upholding of the Rule of Law in the EU. The vote against mentioning the ECJ ruling of December 19th affecting Oriol Junqueras and myself also shows that some MEPs in this house do everything they can to deny reality.
Commission’s 2020 Rule of law report (A9-0199/2021 - Domènec Ruiz Devesa)
We generally support the content of the report on the Commission’s 2020 Rule of law report and the recommendations to improve the mechanism. However, we have abstained in the final vote because we find that it fails to address the fact that, in its report, the Commission overlooked some significant and systemic rule of law violations in Spain that were brought to its attention by multiple stakeholders.
Review of the macroeconomic legislative framework (A9-0212/2021 - Margarida Marques)
We supported the three amendments tabled by some MEPs, which in our opinion, would have significantly improved the final text. However, we voted in favour of the resolution because it incorporates important points that were worth supporting, among others, that: i) the general safeguard clause should not be deactivated before the review of the EU's economic governance framework; ii) the future budgetary orientation resulting from this review should promote a sustainable, green and digital recovery that contributes to the European Green Pact and the implementation of the European pillar of social rights; iii) according to the European Fiscal Board, some sustainable growth-enhancing expenditure should be excluded from the net primary expenditure growth ceiling.
Direction of EU-Russia political relations (A9-0259/2021 - Andrius Kubilius)
We have voted in favour of this report because we fully share the concern regarding the interference of Russia in the Union’s democracy. However, we deplore the approval by the Plenary of an amendment to this report (S&D’s Amendment 31) which seeks to promote, through the back door, an unfounded claim about the Catalan pro-independence movement. This is only the latest of a series of attempts by the Spanish government, the Spanish state (its police and intelligence services) and its press to push a narrative of supposed ties between the pro-independence movement and Russian intelligence.The amendment only seeks to misrepresent a democratic movement as an instrument intended to destabilise the European Union, to cover up the relentless repression it is subject to and to isolate it from possible allies that might raise their voice against the fundamental rights violations Spain is continually committing.The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence in the Catalan independence process is an absolute falsehood (or fake news, as it is now called). The fabrication comes from the profoundly anti-independence Guardia Civil police body and stems from political espionage of private messages obtained illegally (as acknowledged by the Spanish Prosecutor’s Office).The European Parliament had better guard itself from involuntarily contributing to the spread of fake news, as this very seriously affects its legitimacy to condemn fake news and misinformation campaigns of other countries, not least Russia.
Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation (A9-0187/2023 - Sandra Kalniete)
We fully share the deep concern regarding the interference of Russia and other foreign entities in the democratic processes of the European Union that are detailed in this report.However, we voted against it because we deplore the inclusion of point 73. This point refers to an alleged wide-ranging Russian interference with secessionist movements in the EU, including in Catalonia, and calls on the relevant authorities to investigate it. The only purpose of this wording, which was incorporated into the file by Spanish MEPs, is misrepresenting a democratic movement as an instrument intended to destabilise the European Union. By doing this, Spanish MEPs seek to present a justification for the relentless repression of the Spanish state against the Catalan independence movement and discourage objections against the fundamental rights violations that Spain is continually committing in Catalonia.The self-determination aspirations of the Catalan people are not ignited by Russia, but by the national oppression that Spain imposes on Catalonia. The Catalan independence movement seeks to establish a sovereign Catalan state within the European Union, not against the European Union (or the West), and expresses its full solidarity with Ukraine and all the peoples that suffer Russian imperialism and Russian interference.
Written questions (168)
Conditions of detention and detainees’ fundamental rights in the European Union
International Mother Language Day – let’s make the European Union genuinely multilingual
Violence against women on the rise in Pakistan
Spanish Government limits free competition in telecommunication services
Compliance with the Late Payment Directive in Spain during the COVID-19 crisis
Flight cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Spanish Supreme Court statement on the release of prisoners during the coronavirus emergency
Statement of VP/HR Borrell and compliance with the Commission Decision on a Code of Conduct for the Members of the Commission (2018/C 65/06)
COVID-19 apps: technology and data protection
Under-reporting of COVID-19-related deaths
Government control of the media and freedom of expression in the Member States during the COVID-19 crisis
Possible violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in Spain
Discrimination against EU citizens based on their origin
Nissan's closure of its factories in Catalonia
Late payment of subsidies to employees
The LTGBI flag and other non-official flags are banned in Spanish public institutions
Lack of data on the creative and cultural sectors (CCS)
Forced labour in Uyghur detention camps in China
VP/HR Borrell’s compliance with the principles governing the conduct of Members of the Commission
Disability focal points
Disability focal points
Lack of investigation into the Spanish Crown’s implication in a money laundering case
Changes to Commission Decision (EU) 2020/2146 enabling public and non-profit organisations to combat the effects of COVID-19
Spain’s compliance with the Late Payments Directive during the COVID-19 crisis
Supplementary question about the Spanish Supreme Court statement on the release of prisoners during the coronavirus emergency
Turkey and child-soldiers
Surveillance of political opponents in Spain
Surveillance of political opponents in Spain
Mass arrest of LGBTI activists in Poland
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Common Security Policy supports a Francoist minister
Concerns about the intended merger between CaixaBank and Bankia
True cross-border access to online content in the EU
Possible competition distortion by auditing firms in the EU
Serious concerns about the announced closure of Saint Gobain glass factory located in the municipality of l’Arboç (Catalonia)
The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)
2020 Rule of Law Report
Renegotiation of the Energy Charter Treaty: alignment with the Paris Agreement before the 2021 COP and next steps envisaged by the EU
Energy Charter Treaty renegotiation: the EU’s position regarding fossil fuels protection, the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism and public information
Delay in the transposition of Directive 2018/1808 in Spain
Potentially excessive costs for military equipment in Spain amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Police brutality in Spain not being investigated
The leader of the Spanish People’s Party’s boasting about his party’s influence over the Commission
The situation of Bernardo Caal, defender of human rights in Guatemala and prisoner of conscience
Coercive labour programmes in Tibet
EU Recovery Funds for regions and cities
Human rights violations in the Canary Islands
Euro coins with the effigy of former Spanish king Juan Carlos I
Privacy, malware and decryption
Allowing couples without legal documents that prove their relationship to reunite during the pandemic
The ECtHR has given another judgment against Spain for failing to investigate a case of torture of a detained person
The Vice-President / High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy calls on Russia to release Aleksei Navalny
Clarification concerning the COVID-19 vaccine supply cuts in the EU
The right to artistic freedom in Spain
European Citizens’ Initiative as a tool for citizens’ participation in the EU decision-making process
The case of Mikel Zabaltza
Torture in Tibet
Legal consequences of a denouncement by a Member State of an international agreement signed by the European Union
Regional and minority languages on the Conference on the Future of Europe multilingual digital platform
Compliance with the Late Payment Directive and companies receiving Next Generation EU Funds in Spain
Demonstrations and human rights in Colombia
Frontex’s role in illegal mass expulsions at EU borders
The assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.
On arms exports and military training from Spain to Saudi Arabia
EU certification of the very high voltage line in Girona
The Commission’s position on the CGPJ’s draft report on the Democratic Memory Law
Strengthening EU-Taiwan trade relations
Relations between China and Spain after China imposed sanctions against EU officials
The European Digital Identity and existing regional and national eIDs
Possible bottlenecks on the Mediterranean Corridor railway line crossing Tarragona’s shore
Spread of disinformation and propaganda by an EU Member State institution
Mediterranean Corridor track between Algeciras and Alicante
Alleged pressure from Spain on Vice-President Timmermans before his speech on 4 October 2017
Subject: Case 13/13 and torture cases
Cross-border cooperation in fire management
Possible leak of a European intelligence report to The New York Times
Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation (Global Europe) Instrument in the Rif area
Discriminatory decision by the French Constitutional Council against speakers of regional and minority languages
Follow-up to the Commission Green Paper on Ageing
European care strategy
Effective tax rate and harmonisation of tax advantages in the EU
The impact of revolving doors on energy prices
The difference between the provisional and final budgets for the Mediterranean Corridor
The Valmuel-Tarragona-Begues extra high voltage transmission line
Closure of border crossing points in Catalonia and in the Basque Country
The seventh Spain‑Turkey Summit and the Member States’ consistent implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan III
Spain-Turkey military cooperation
Human rights in West Papua
Repression in the indigenous Amazigh region of Kabylia: the case of Nait Sid
Mr Marc Lamaître’s statements in Parliament concerning Spain’s administrative management of structural and cohesion funds
Bahri ships transporting weapons to Saudi Arabia through Europe
The detention of Osman Kavala
Commissioner Reynders’s meeting with a Spanish organisation with ties to the far right
Preventing national electoral authorities from illegally banning candidates from standing in the European elections
The connection between Spanish intelligence services and the terrorist cell leader Abdelbaki Es Satty
Addressing menopause as a workplace issue and preventing discrimination of women of menopausal age
Reform of the contributions system for the self-employed in Spain
A Spanish court’s disregard for victims’ rights by overturning the decision of Barcelona City Council to withdraw an award for Franco’s provincial governor
European Union Prize for Literature and the promotion of linguistic diversity
The ongoing repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in Spain
Addressing energy prices and improving the resilience of EU energy infrastructure
Compliance of TEN-T Regulation on the Mediterranean Corridor between Tarragona and Barcelona
On the mysterious non‑inclusion of a Russian oligarch in the EU sanctions list
Uyghur Tribunal Judgment
On transparency regarding donations to political parties
Commissioner Reynders’s meeting with Societat Civil Catalana: non‑compliance with the code of conduct and lack of transparency in the answer provided
The Commission’s duty to give all MEPs and representative associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views
The Commission’s powers to investigate the use of Pegasus spyware by Member States
On the meeting of Commission Vice‑President Schinas with Spanish extreme‑right MEPs
Completion of the Mediterranean Core Network Corridor in Spain
Recrudescence of the situation in Nagorno‑Karabakh through words and actions
EU Member States deficient management of EU structural funds
Police operation at the Spanish border of Melilla
LGBTIQ rights during the FIFA Qatar World Cup
The Spanish Government’s consistent refusal to allow Frontex forces to play an active role on the land borders of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla
Spanish Supreme Court’s failure to comply with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights
Severe sanitary conditions in Bahraini prisons for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience
Remarkable increase in Spanish imports of liquified natural gas from Russia in the context of the REPowerEU plan
Statements from the future EU Ambassador to China and their compatibility with the EU’s position on China
2022 Rule of Law Report: Spyware operation against Catalans
Police infiltration of civil society organisations in Catalonia on antiterrorism grounds
Ongoing closure of border crossing points in Catalonia and the Basque Country
The EU’s position on Azerbaijan’s aggression against the territorial integrity of Armenia
Spain’s violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The dire situation of SMEs in Algeria
Improving bank account portability in the EU
The use of difenoconazole by non-EU rice producers supplying to the EU
Spying on civil society organisations and political parties
Mismanagement of Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds by the Spanish Government
Illegal Chinese overseas police service stations in Catalonia
Moroccan police operations within the EU
Former Spanish minister defends state terrorist activities
High imports of used cooking oil from China to Spain
Following up the West Papuan issue in the context of EU-Indonesia free trade agreement negotiations
On the alleged involvement of VP/HR Borrell in the Qatargate scandal
VP/HR’s meetings register
Alignment of the RRP and the new LPD
The human rights situation in Peru
The EU’s response to the serious deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala and the arbitrary persecution of a former anti-corruption prosecutor
Workers suffer repression for exercising their democratic rights in Spain
Prisoner safety in Iran following protests over the death of Mahsa Amini
Use of Ceuta for Russian trade
EU action to stop Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor
Syrian regime forces blockade of aid convoys of the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC) directed to the North-West
Glorification of the fascist División Azul in Spain
Commercialisation of disinformation and electoral interference services in the EU
EU measures in view of the violation of human rights of the Tibetan minority in China
Last-minute approval of the Spanish national public procurement strategy
Exclusion of Catalan, Basque and Galician from the Erasmus+ Online Language Support platform
Accommodation and car rental providers’ obligation to provide data to the Spanish police
Addressing the serious irregular activities of the Spanish judiciary and police in the upcoming rule of law report on Spain
Discrimination against the Catalan language by the Commission’s ‘You are EU’ campaign
Spanish-Moroccan trade of Western Saharan phosphorus and phosphates
34th birthday of the Panchen Lama
Catalan independence movement classed as domestic terrorism in Spanish Attorney General’s annual report
Morocco’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list and the Commission’s position
Spanish authorities continue issuing ‘golden visas’ to Russian nationals through the investor residence scheme
Commission view on proposals to ban encryption
EU actions to promote linguistic diversity in the Erasmus+ programme
Persistent increase of Russian liquified natural gas imports in the EU
European Council’s views on proposals to ban encryption
EU response to the arrest of peaceful protesters in Hong Kong
Europol EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2023
Use of Spanish harbour to circumvent EU embargo on Russian oil
Excessive use of secondments in the Spanish judiciary
Recognition of qualifications in the EU and mobility of citizens
Unsatisfactory answer to question E-001545/2023 on Spanish authorities’ continued issuance of ‘golden visas’ to Russian nationals
Ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani threats to Armenia’s territorial integrity
Political persecution of the Catalan people by Spain omitted from 2023 Rule of Law Report
Amendments (203)
Amendment 21 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking addresses clearly defined topics that enable European industries at large to design, manufacture and deliver innovation throughout the semiconductor supply chain, from the recycling of chips and critical raw materials to the conductive quantum technologies, and use the most innovative technologies in electronic components and systems.
Amendment 32 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Initiative aims to reinforce the competitiveness and resilience of the semiconductor technological and industrial base, whilst strengthening the innovation capacity of its semiconductor ecosystem, reducing dependence on a limited number of third country companies and geographies, and strengthening its capacity to design and produce advanced components, while promoting sustainable manufacturing processes, mainly reducing the amount of water and energy used. These aims should be supported by bridging the gap between the Union’s advanced research and innovation capabilities and their industrial exploitation. It should promote capacity building to enable design, production and systems integration in next-generation semiconductor technologies, enhance collaboration among key players across the Union, strengthening Europe’s semiconductor supply and value chains, serving key industrial sectors, and creating new markets.
Amendment 57 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Chips Joint Undertaking should facilitate cooperation between the Union and international actors by defining a cooperation strategy, including identifying and promoting areas for cooperation in research and development and skills development, and implementing actions where there is a mutual benefit, mainly based on reciprocity. International collaboration with like-minded partners is particularly relevant to bridge the present gap between research and design and manufacturing.
Amendment 66 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 126 – Paragraph 1 – point d
Article 126 – Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) increase large-scale capacity throughout the Union in cutting-edge and next-generation semiconductor technologies to reinforce the Union’s advanced design, systems integration and semiconductor production capabilities and limit where possible the environmental footprint, for example by developing a market of recycled and recyclable semiconductors and by reducing the amount of water and energy spent in the manufacturing process.
Amendment 71 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point g
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point g
(g) build up large-scale design capacities for integrated semiconductor and quantum technologies.
Amendment 76 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 126, Paragraph 2, point j a (new)
Article 126, Paragraph 2, point j a (new)
(j a) boost the Union's capacity to obtain semiconductor materials from both primary and secondary sources.
Amendment 78 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
(j b) promote the design and manufacture of recyclable semiconductors.
Amendment 80 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point j c (new)
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point j c (new)
(j c) enhance the design of less energy consuming semiconductors.
Amendment 82 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point j d (new)
Article 126 – Paragraph 2 – point j d (new)
(j d) push for manufacturing processes that reduce the consumption of water and energy.
Amendment 93 #
2022/0033(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Regulation (EU) 2021/2085
Article 141 – Paragraph 1a (new)
Article 141 – Paragraph 1a (new)
Amendment 142 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is necessary to take measures to build capacity and strengthen the Union’s semiconductor sector in line with Article 173(3) of the Treaty. These measures do not entail the harmonisation of national laws and regulations. In this regard, the Union should reinforce the competitiveness and resilience of the semiconductor technological and industrial base, whilst strengthening the innovation capacity of its semiconductor sector, reducing dependence on a limited number of third country companies and geographies, and strengthening its capacity to design and produce advanced components, while promoting sustainable manufacturing processes, mainly those that reduce the amount of water and energy used. The Chips for Europe Initiative (the ‘Initiative’) should support these aims by bridging the gap between Europe’s advanced research and innovation capabilities and their sustainable industrial exploitation. It should promote capacity building to enable design, production and systems integration in next generation semiconductor technologies, enhance collaboration among key players across the Union, strengthening Europe's semiconductor supply and value chains, serving key industrial sectors and creating new markets.
Amendment 159 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Given the globalised nature of the semiconductor supply chain, international cooperation with third countries is an important element to achieve a resilience of the Union’s semiconductor ecosystem. The actions taken under this Regulation should also enable the Union to play a stronger role, as a centre of excellence, in a better functioning global, interdependent semiconductors ecosystem. The Commission, assisted by the European Semiconductor Board, should cooperate and build partnerships with third countries with a view to seeking solutions to address, to the extent possible, disruptions of the semiconductor supply chain. International collaboration, especially with like-minded partners, is crucial to bridge the current gap between research and design and manufacturing. Such collaboration should also help to develop a market of recycled semiconductors.
Amendment 165 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Member States are primarily responsible for sustaining a strong Union industrial, competitive, sustainable and innovative base. However, the nature and scale of the innovation challenge in the semiconductor sector requires action to be taken collaboratively at Union level. The goals of this Regulation should be supported with specific and significant new financial provisions. Such funds should be used also for the research, design and testing of advanced and evolving existing and complementary technologies and products within the Union's semiconductor industry.
Amendment 172 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to equip the Union with the semiconductor technology research and innovation capacities needed to maintain its research and industrial investments at a leading edge, and bridge the current gap between research and development and manufacturing, the Union and its Member States should better coordinate their efforts and co-invest. In those cases where an undertaking proposes a groundbreaking project that would foster the entire Union’s resilience, total investment from the Union should be considered in order to avoid excluding such crucial projects due to the lack of investment from Member States. To achieve this, the Union and Member States, should take into consideration the twin digital and green transition goals. The Initiative throughout all components and actions, to the extent possible, should mainstream and maximise the benefits of application of semiconductor technologies as powerful enablers for the sustainability transition that can lead to new products and more efficient, effective, clean and durable use of resources, including energy and materials necessary for production and the whole lifecycle use of semiconductors.
Amendment 192 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) With a view to accelerating implementation of the actions of the Initiative, it is necessary to provide an option of implementing some of the Initiative actions, in particular on pilot lines, through a new legal instrument, the European Chips Infrastructure Consortium (ECIC). The ECIC should have legal personality. This means that when applying for the actions to be funded by the Initiative, the ECIC itself, and not individual entities forming the ECIC, can be the applicant. The main aim of the ECIC should be to encourage effective and structural collaboration between legal entities, including Research and Technology Organizations. For this reason, the ECIC has to involve the participation of at least three legal entities from three Member States and be operated as a public- private sector consortium for a specific action. The setting up of ECIC should not involve the actual setting up of a new Union body and should not be targeted at one specific action under the Initiative. The ECIC should also be able to assist in obtaining semiconductor materials from primary and secondary sources, and to assist in the development of recycled semiconductors. It should address the gap in the Union’s toolbox to combine funding from Member States, the Union budget and private investment for the purposes of implementing actions of the Initiative. In particular, strong synergies can be attained through combined development of the different pilot lines in an ECIC, pooling the Union’s contribution with the collective resources of the Member States and other participants. The budget of the ECIC that would be made available by Member States and private sector participants over its projected period of operation should respect the timeframes of the actions implemented under this Initiative. The Commission should not be directly a party in the Consortium.
Amendment 200 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries should provide semiconductor manufacturing capabilities that are “first-of-a-kind” in the Union and contribute to the security of supply and to a resilient ecosystem in the internal market. The qualifying factor for the production of a first-of-a-kind facility could be with regard to the technology node, substrate material, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, and other product innovation that can offer better performance, process technology or energy and environmental performance, such as reducing the amount of energy and water used in the manufacturing process. A facility of a comparable capability on an industrial scale should not yet substantively be present or committed to be built within the Union, excluding facilities for research and development or small-scale production sites. First-of-a-kind facilities should be able to source primary and secondary raw materials, hence leading towards the development of recycled semiconductors. The manufacturing process of semiconductors requires large amounts of Ultrapure Water (UPW) and energy. In order to enable the green transition while achieving the goals of this Regulation, the Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries should commit with their energy supplier to expand its renewable energy production by the same amount of the total energy employed by the undertaking, including the energy used to treat the wastewater and produce UPW.
Amendment 356 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
(10) ‘first-of-a-kind facility’ means an industrial facility capable of semiconductor manufacturing, including front-end or back-end, or both, that is not substantively already present or committed to be built within the Union, for instance with regard to the technology node, substrate material, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, and other product innovation that can offer better performance, process innovation or energy and environmental performance, such as reducing the amount of energy and water used in the semiconductor manufacturing process;
Amendment 361 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
(11) ‘next generation chips’ and ‘next generation semiconductor technologies’ means chips and semiconductor technologies that go beyond the state of the art in offering significant improvements in computing power or energy efficiency as well as other significant energy and environmental gains, such as enhancing the semiconductor recyclability;
Amendment 406 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 3 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 3 a (new)
Amendment 418 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 2 a (new)
(2 a) supporting large scale innovation through access to new or existing pilot lines for experimentation, test, and validation of new less energy and water demanding manufacturing processes;
Amendment 423 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) building advanced technology and engineering capacities for accelerating the innovative development of quantum chiptechnologies.
Amendment 438 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) pilot lines for preparing innovative sustainable production, and testing and experimentation facilities;
Amendment 441 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) advanced technology and engineering capacities for quantum chiptechnologies;
Amendment 506 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) it commits to invest in the next generation of chips, such as recycled and recyclable chips, and quantum technologies.
Amendment 509 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(d a) it commits with its energy supplier to expand the supplier production of renewable energy by the same amount of the total energy employed by the facility, including the energy used to treat the wastewater and produce Ultrapure Water.
Amendment 512 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. For the purpose of investing in the next generation of chips and quantum technologies according to paragraph 2, point (d), the Integrated Production Facility shall have priority access to the pilot lines set up in accordance with Article 5, point (b). Any such priority access shall be without prejudice to effective access to the pilot lines by other interested undertakings.
Amendment 537 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) it commits to invest in the next generation of chips, such as recycled and recyclable chips, and quantum technologies.
Amendment 540 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Amendment 545 #
2022/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. For the purpose of investing in the next generation of chips and quantum technologies according to paragraph 2, point (d), the Open EU Foundry shall have priority access to the pilot lines set up in accordance with Article 5, point (b). Any such priority access shall be without prejudice to effective access to the pilot lines by other interested undertakings.
Amendment 21 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the study of January 2021 by the Council of Europe’s European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) entitled ‘Trends in the VOD market in EU28’,
Amendment 53 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas in 2020 the four biggest American Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) platforms (Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and Disney) had a combined market share of 84% in the EU28;
Amendment 255 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5 a (new)
Subheading 5 a (new)
Competition policy in the audiovisual sector
Amendment 256 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Takes note of the increasing concentration of audiovisual content consumption in four major American video on-demand service providers, the top three of which have 100% market share in five Member States (Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus);
Amendment 257 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Believes that the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) should serve to ensure a competitive environment in the sector and boost European producers and audiovisual media services that promote the European cultural and linguistic diversity, including regional languages;
Amendment 258 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Regrets the 'audiovisual dumping' that has resulted from the transposition of the European Directive in some Member States, which have established almost negligible obligations to contribute financially to the production of European works for these providers;
Amendment 259 #
2021/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22d. Welcomes the French and Italian transposition, which includes obligations to contribute a minimum of 20% to the financing of European works; calls for a minimum threshold of 10% contribution to the financing of European productions to be set for all Member States during the next revision of the Directive;
Amendment 118 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises the efforts of all the administration levels of the Member States to recover from the pandemic, economic and health crisis, and specially those responsible for the public health systems; considers, by the time the escape clause is repealed, that Member States governments shall distribute their planned deficit targets among its different levels of administration proportionally to their relative participation in the general expenditure of the Member State;
Amendment 162 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that Member States with high debt should use the RRF to finance additional investment to support the recovery by investing in transformative, high value-added sectors that create stable, quality employment, while pursuing a prudent fiscal policy; stresses the importance of the Member States using the potential of the RFF to support the necessary structural changes and the green and digital transformation to more globally competitive, future-proof, agile industries; agrees that the growth of nationally financed current expenditure should be kept under control and be limited for Member States with high debtflexible depending on the timing of the recovery and the initial conditions of each Members State, allowing fiscal measures to maximise support to the recovery without pre- empting future fiscal trajectories and creating a permanent burden on public finances;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2025(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
— having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Social Charter, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Committee of Social Rights, the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) and the conventions, recommendations, resolutions, opinions and reports of the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers, the Human Rights Commissioner, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, the Steering Committee on Anti- Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion, the Venice Commission, the Advisory Committee on the FCNM, the Committee of Experts of the ECRML and other bodies of the Council of Europe,
Amendment 31 #
2021/2025(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas respect for the rights of minorities is a part of the political criteria an accession-candidate country must fulfil at the time of accession; whereas while the Union has an important role in ensuring respect for the rights of national and linguistic minorities in candidate- countries, it so far hasn't yet adopted any benchmarks for its Member States in this area, thus making possible that Member States backtrack on their commitments; whereas the 2020 report, too, misses to cover the rights of national and linguistic minorities;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2025(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas the European Parliament has already called on the European Commission to adopt a common framework of Union minimum standards for the protection of rights of persons belonging to minorities, which are strongly embedded in a legal framework guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights throughout the Union1a; _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament Resolution of 13 November 2018 on minimum standards for minorities in the EU (OJ C 363, 28.10.2020, p. 13)
Amendment 209 #
2021/2025(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls on the Commission to include in its next reports detailed analyses and recommendations on the situation of the rights of autochthonous national and linguistic minorities, including through the involvement of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights; stresses that this is an area where it should establish strong links and synergies with the Council of Europe, and in particular with its Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;
Amendment 112 #
2021/2012(INI)
4. Stresses the urgency of improving and expanding existing infrastructure to enable the increased flow of electricity from offshore sites to inland-based consumers; notes the importance of ensuring biodiversity conservation, specifically when locating new offshore infrastructure and alongside the inland grid;
Amendment 171 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Strongly believes that the EU and the MSs should support research into and the development of floating offshore wind, tidal, wave and current stations, which can be adapted to the different seabed conditions in Europe; stresses the importance of funding research on floating offshore technologies, in order to be able to implement offshore wind in deep seas of the EU, such as the Mediterranean Sea; notes that further development of floating offshore technologies would allow to locate ORE infrastructure at larger distances from the coast, thus reducing the visual impact and opening new areas with potentially less impact to marine ecosystems;
Amendment 178 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls for the Commission and MSs to enhance the allocation of research facilities in ORE installations, thus facilitating the development of research projects regarding ORE technologies or other marine and environmental topics, as well as promoting the training of professionals for maintaining the ORE infrastructure;
Amendment 185 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Strongly believes that the EU and the MSs should support research into and the development of floating solar energy; stresses the importance of floating solar energy due to its higher efficient use of available space, as well as lower landscape and environmental impact; notes the importance of adapting existing solar photovoltaic panels to resist salty water and withstand strong currents and wave action;
Amendment 215 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the current lengthy process for launching ORE projects and the urgent need to speed it up in order to reach the 2030 and 2050 goals; notes that streamlining MSs procedures and technical standards will facilitate more rapid deployment; calls on the MSs to consider introducing time limits for issuing permits, including the automatic granting of permits after deadlines expire; notes that the urgency of deploying ORE projects cannot jeopardize biodiversity conservation;
Amendment 239 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Taking into account local authorities and communities
Amendment 242 #
2021/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Stresses the need for MSs to efficiently coordinate with those local authorities, stakeholders and communities directly affected by ORE projects, to facilitate consensus and participation during the planning, design and implementation phases; notes the positive impact of collaborative funding, thus allowing the local communities and SMEs to invest, even in small contributions, in those ORE projects planned in their area, hence increasing the acceptance of the infrastructure and creating a positive economic impact in the region;
Amendment 104 #
2021/0428(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3 a) Since the establishment of the Schengen area cross border communities have developed and strengthened economic, cultural and social links. Cross border communities share and access health and education services.The reintroduction of border controls together with the closure of border crossing points, such as the one in Coll de Banyuls, between France and Spain has had a huge negative impact on cross border communities.
Amendment 105 #
2021/0428(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3 b) The reintroduction of border controls and the closure of border crossing points causes underdevelopment in border regions. Border closures separate families, friends and neighbours and thwart economic, cultural and political freedoms. Freedom of movement should be preserved as the corner stone of the European Union.
Amendment 26 #
2020/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the principles underlying the EU’s approach to digitalisation should be based on fundamental rights, consumer protection and data protection; and that EU’s approach should also take into account the challenge that digitalisation represents for regional and minority languages;
Amendment 175 #
2020/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Believes that the use of high-risk AI should be limited to specific and clearly warranted purposes, in full respect of the applicable law and fundamental rights, and subject to transparency obligations and necessity and proportionality assessments; underlines that this will be decisive for ensuring public trust and support for the necessity and proportionality of the deployment of such technologies; calls on the Commission to carefully consider whether there are certain use cases, situations or practices for which specific technical standards, including underlying algorithms, should be adopted; deems necessary, should such technical standards be adopted, that these are regularly reviewed and re-evaluated, given the fast pace of technological development; in particular, calls on the Commission to consider introducing a moratorium to the deployment or use by public authorities of recognition technologies, such as facial or biometric recognition, even for the purpose of responding to a national emergency;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that SMEs will improve their access to global markets only if supported by a structured and predictable ecosystem that goes from local to global, taking into account the opinions of their regions; recalls in this regard the role of chambers of commerce abroad; recalls that smaller and micro-enterprises risk exclusion from global markets in the absence of adequate support;
Amendment 137 #
2020/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the opening of fast-track training programmes in digitalisation through the Digital Europe programme; stresses that training is instrumental to enhancing the skills of SME personnel in areas such as blockchain, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; calls on the Commission to carry out an ex post evaluation in order to ensure that the programme meets its objectives and ensures that no Member State or company takes advantage of such digitalisation to undermine citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms;
Amendment 193 #
2020/2123(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Understands that the severity of the crisis has forced the ECB to shift attention away from its monetary policy framework strategy review, which has been postponed to mid-2021; notes that this reviewing process has been going on for months now; calls on the ECB to involvepresent Parliament in the review process;formal interim results and conclusions and share with it the current status of key discussions.
Amendment 293 #
2020/2123(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Emphasises that Executive Board Member nominations should be prepared carefully, with full transparency, with no formal or informal Member State quotas, and together with Parliament in line with the Treaties; calls on the Council to drawpromote open recruitment calls, making public the list of applicants and their merits relevant to the post; drawing then up a shortlist for anythe upcoming vacancies and to share this with Parliament, thus allowing Parliament to play a more meaningful advisory role in the appointment process, including, among others, public hearings with the shortlisted candidates; regrets that no satisfactory progress has been made to date; recalls that the equal treatment of men and women is a constitutional principle that must be strictly adhered to;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the shock is symmetrical but the impact varies considerably among Member States and among their own regions, reflecting the severity of the pandemic and the stringency of their containment measures, but also their specific economic exposures and initial conditions, including their available scope for discretionary fiscal policy responses;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 58 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with great concern that, according to the Commission’s Springummer 2020 economic forecast, the EU is worsens its outlook in comparison with Spring's forecast, which already expected the EU to suffer the deepest recession in its history in 2020;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the activation of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, and expects that it will remain activated at least until the end of 2021 in order to support the efforts of the Member Statesall the administration levels of the Member States, and specially those responsible for the public health systems, to recover from the pandemic crisis and strengthen their economic and social resilience;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 165 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers it essential that the revision of the EU’s fiscal and economic policy framework should be completed by the time the escape clause is repealed and should enable fiscal policy to respond with discretion to shocks in the short term, and to reduce high public debt ratios to an agreed reference value in the long term, while allowing a sufficient level of public investment, progressive tax policies and the repayment of loans in a cycle- comfortable manner, and the long-term modernisation of public commodities; welcomes the Commission's intention to draw up a proposal to revise the EU's economic governance framework in early 2021;
Amendment 179 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Declares that the general escape clause activation suggests to study a more flexible Stability and Growth Pact deficit target; considers that this target could vary according to the economic cycle, be used as a countercyclical measure while still be aligned with the public debt sustainability principle.
Amendment 188 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Proposes a combination of expenditure rules for public non- investment expenditure and a golden rule for public investment which is central to both; wishes to see a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and a transition to a cleaner, socially sustainable and more digital society; stresses the need for a change of course that signals the definitive abandonment of austerity policies and enables the adoption of sustainable and effective economic policies to combat unemployment, poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 247 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that public revenues are essential to finance the post-pandemic recovery and the just transition to a sustainable economy; recalls that tax evasion and tax avoidance at EU level amount to up to EUR 160-190 billion each year, constituting missing revenues for the treasuries; points out that in the recommendations adopted by the Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (TAX3), precisely this Parliament identified more than one EU country with exactly the same characteristics as a so-called tax haven; urges the Council to continue its work on the introduction of new own resources, such as the financial transaction tax (FTT) and the web tax on profits made by the major digital companies, and calls on the Commission to submit a proposal on the establishment of a single market levy, in order to correct, once and for all, the current asymmetry regarding certain economic sectors which have actually managed to avoid contributing to the public coffers almost entirely;
Amendment 296 #
2020/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point c
Paragraph 9 – point c
c. distributes the financial aid among the different industrial sectors according to the damage suffered, the challenges faced and the amount of national financial support already received through national aid schemes, with scrutiny of the incentives induced, aiming to prevent strategic miss-investment by Member States;
Amendment 688 #
2020/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. In the light of a profoundly changed international economic context, calls on the Commission to review its antitrust rules and to continue to ensure that the enforcement of EU competition law is effective in keeping the Union globally competitive, seeking a balance between support for so-called ‘European champions’ and protection of the supply chain from unfair competition, so as to compensate for the lack of a global level playing field given the higher levels of concentration, margins and inequality visible in the economy;, while at the same time assuring that such ‘European champions’ do not undermine free competition in the EU internal market.
Amendment 31 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
- having regard to the Annual Reports of the European Commission on monitoring the application of EU law;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)
Citation 24 b (new)
- having regard to the EU Justice Scoreboard 2020 published by the European Commission;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)
Citation 29 a (new)
- having regard to the workings of the OHCHR of United Nations as well as the UN's WGAD (Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions) resolutions on Member States,
Amendment 43 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)
Citation 29 b (new)
Amendment 44 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 c (new)
Citation 29 c (new)
- having regard to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding human rights cases inside the Union and its Member States;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 d (new)
Citation 29 d (new)
- having regard to the results of the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 e (new)
Citation 29 e (new)
- having regard to the reports published by the UN Special Rapporteur (for national minorities, freedom of speech, defenders of judges and lawyers…) on the situation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Member States;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the concept of rule of law must be understood as a democratic rule of law, i.e. a rule of law which is primarily based on the respect for democratic procedures and fundamental rights;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the preceding decade has seen brazen attacks against Union values in several Member States; whereas international comparisons and Parliament resolutions have evidenced considerable democratic backsliding in particular in Hungary and Poland in particular, but also in other Member States; whereas Parliament has been calling since 2016 for a comprehensive, preventive and evidence- based monitoring in this field via an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 87 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the results of the Annual report on the monitoring the application of EU law should be taken in account regarding the number of infringements, gravity and their impact on the rule of law for European citizens and companies;
Amendment 95 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas any monitoring mechanism must closely involve stakeholders active in the protection and promotion of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, including civil society, Council of Europe and United Nations bodies, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, national and regional human rights institutions, national and regional parliaments and local authorities; however, the resolutions on the state of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights of international institutions must have a differentiated treatment during the process
Amendment 104 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the new EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights must be based on clear and objective indicators in order to ensure an equal treatment to all Member States;
Amendment 106 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas formal independence of the justice system can be undermined through political means if governments try to influence decisions and actions, both privately or through the media;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the accession by the Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an obligation under Article 6(2) TEU;
Amendment 110 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. emphasises the urgent need for the Union to develop a robust and positive agenda for protecting and reinforcing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights for all its citizens; insists that the Union must remain a champion of freedom and justice in Europe and the world but stresses that in order to be so, the Union needs to have a much higher standard on the defence of democracy and human rights inside the Union and regrets that some Member States refuse to comply with human rights resolutions issued by international bodies;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. warns that the Union is facing an unprecedented and escalating crisis of its founding values, which threatens its long- term survival as a democratic peace project; is gravely concerned by the rise and entrenchment of autocratic and illiberal tendencies, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, as well as corruption and state capture, in several Member States; underlines the dangers of this trend for the cohesion of the Union’s legal order, the functioning of its single market, the effectiveness of its common policies and its international credibility; notes with concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has been used to limit citizens’ rights and fundamental freedoms as embedded in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including by means of unjustified censorship, fuelling discrimination, disinformation and hate speech; recalls in particular the importance of promoting and defending the rule of law as a precondition for any sound democratic systems as well as for ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and Union values and a prerequisite for upholding all rights and obligations deriving from the Treaties;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. recognises that the Union remains structurally ill-equipped to tackle democratic and rule of law backsliding in the Member States; regrets the inability of the Council to make meaningat the procedure provided for in Article 7 TEU cannot be used to its full progress in enforcing Union values in ongoing Article 7 TEU procedures; notes with concern the disjointed natureotential as the unanimity requirement in the European Council - de facto - hampers its application; regrets in this regard, the lack of progress made in the European Council ofn the Union’s toolkit in that fielcurrent Article 7 procedures against Hungary and Poland;
Amendment 136 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. recognises that the Union remains structurally ill-equipped to tackle democratic and rule of law backsliding in the Member States; regrets the inability of the Council to make meaningful progress in enforcing Union values in ongoing Article 7 TEU procedures; notes with concern the disjointed nature of the Union’s toolkit in that field and believes that a new instrument must be put in place which does not depend on the unanimity of Member States;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the Union still has no effective mechanisms to monitor, prevent and put an end to systemic threats to the rule of law and democracy in the Member States; welcomes as a meaningful first step the Commission communication on further strengthening the Rule of Law within the Union and the actions set out therein; calls on the Commission to implement the proposed rule of law framework without undue delay; considers it necessary to put in place sanctions that could be effective, dissuasive and proportionate to effectively prevent breaches of rule of law within the Union;
Amendment 144 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that the accession of the Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is a legal obligation under Article 6(2) TEU; recalls that the accession to that convention would constitute a further step in the process of European integration and would enhance the coherence between the Union and the Council of Europe’s further strengthening the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms within the Union; regrets the lack of progress made so far to fulfil this Treaty obligation; calls on the Commission to step up efforts to respect the Treaties and conclude the negotiations without undue delay;
Amendment 158 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. proposes the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (the ‘Mechanism’), building on Parliament’s 2016 proposal and the Commission’s 2020 Rule of Law Report, to be governed by an interinstitutional agreement between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, consisting of an Annual Monitoring Cycle on Union values, covering all aspects of Article 2 TEU, and applying equally, objectively and fairly to all Member States to ensure there are no double standards due to political interests;
Amendment 161 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. underlines that the Annual Monitoring Cycle must contain country- specific recommendations, with timelines and targets for implementation, to be followed up in subsequent annual or urgent reports; stresses that failures to implement the recommendations must be linked to concrete Union enforcement measures that the Commission would need to apply automatically as the violations occur; highlights, the importance of the annual monitoring cycle in order to prevent possible violations of the rule of law and democracy within the Union before they actually occur;
Amendment 163 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. underlines that the Annual Monitoring Cycle must contain country- specific recommendations, with timelines and targets for implementation, to be followed up in subsequent annual or urgent reports; stresses that failures to implement the recommendations must be linked to concrete Union enforcement measures; notes that in such cases in particular, the lack of implementation of the recommendations from international institutions other than the Union, such as the United Nations, the European Court of Human Rights or the Council of Europe, must be fully taken into account;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. points out that the Mechanism should consolidate and supersede existing instruments, avoiding unnecessary duplication of existing structures and instruments; calls for the integration and incorporation of existing tools, in particular the Annual Rule of Law Report, the Commission’s Rule of Law Framework, the Council’s Rule of Law Dialogue and the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), while increasing complementarity and coherence with other available tools, including infringement procedures under Article 7 TEU, budgetary conditionality once in force, and the European Semester; is of the opinion that the Annual Monitoring Cycle can fulfil the objectives of the CVM for Bulgaria and Romania, thus contributing to equal treatment of all Member States; considers that the three institutions should use the findings from the Annual Monitoring Cycle in their assessment for the purposes of triggering Article 7 TEU and Regulation (EU) 2020/xxxx of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States11 ; _________________ 11[instead of xxxx insert final number of 2018/136(COD) in the text and correct OJ reference in footnote] OJ C ..., ....., p. ....
Amendment 189 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. recalls the indispensable role played by civil society, national and regional human rights institutions and other relevant actors in all stages of the Annual Monitoring Cycle, from providing input to facilitating implementation; points out that the accreditation status of national human rights institutions and the space for civil society may themselves serve as indicators for assessment purposes; considers that national and regional parliaments must hold public debates and adopt positions on the outcome of the monitoring cycle; points out that to ensure that the respect for the rights of persons belonging to national minorities is fairly assessed, institutions and civil society organisations in this communities must also play an important role;
Amendment 205 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. is of the view that, in the long-term, strengthening the Union’s ability to promote and defend its constitutional core will require Treaty change; looks forward to the reflection and conclusions ofnotes in particular, that an urgent revision of the Article 7 TEU is needed in order to overcome the unanimity requirement in the European Council; calls for the Conference on the Future of Europe to come up with a meaningful proposal in that regard;
Amendment 227 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 4
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 4
(4) The three institutions recognise the need for streamlining and strengthening the effectiveness of existing tools designed to foster compliance with Union values. A comprehensive interinstitutional mechanism should therefore be established in order to improve coordination between the three institutions and consolidate initiatives taken previously. In accordance with the Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 6 and 7 June 2013, such a mechanism should operate in 'a transparent manner, on the basis of well defined and measurable criteria and evidence objectively compiled, compared and analysed and on the basis of equality of treatment as between all Member States'.
Amendment 238 #
2020/2072(INL)
(6) The Annual Monitoring Cycle should consist of a preparatory stage, the publication of an annual monitoring report on Union values including country-specific reporting and recommendations, and a follow-up stage. The Annual Monitoring Cycle should be conducted in a spirit of transparency and openness.
Amendment 283 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – point 9
Annex I – part 2 – point 9
9. The CommissionA group of experts selected both by the Commission and the European Parliament shall draft the Annual Report based on information gathered during the preparatory stage. The Annual Report should cover both positive and negative developments relating to Union values in the Member States. The Annual Report shall be impartial, based on objectively compiled evidence and respect equality of treatment between all Member States. The depth of reporting should reflect the gravity of the situation in question.
Amendment 313 #
2020/2072(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 3 – point 16
Annex I – part 3 – point 16
16. The three institutions acknowledge the complementary nature of the Annual Monitoring Cycle and other mechanisms for the protection and promotion of Union values, in particular the procedure laid down in Article 7 TEU and Regulation (EU) 2020/xxxx. The three institutions commit to avoid unnecessary duplication of existing instruments and integrate and incorporate existing instruments into the Annual Monitoring Cycle as the preferred option. The three institutions commit to take account of the objectives of this Interinstitutional Agreement in Union policies.
Amendment 314 #
2020/2072(INL)
16. The three institutions acknowledge the complementary nature of the Annual Monitoring Cycle and other mechanisms for the protection and promotion of Union values, in particular the procedure laid down in Article 7 TEU and Regulation (EU) 2020/xxxx. The three institutions commit to avoid unnecessary duplication of existing instruments and integrate and incorporate existing instruments into the Annual Monitoring Cycle as the preferred option. The three institutions commit to take account of the objectives of this Interinstitutional Agreement in Union policies.
Amendment 79 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s European Recovery Plan with the European Green Deal at its heart; endorses the underlying principle that public investments will respect the oath to ‘do no harm’; emphasises that national recovery and resilience plans should put the EU on the path to a 50 % to 565 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 and climate neutrality by 2050;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Wishes to see it ensured that funding from the SEIP, at EU, national and natregional levels, goes towards the policies and programmes with the highest potential to contribute to the fight against climate change, and looks forward to the Commission’s upcoming climate tracking methodology using appropriately the criteria established by the EU taxonomy;
Amendment 175 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the phasing-out of public and private investments in highly polluting and harmful industries for which economically feasible alternatives are available, while fully respecting the rights of Member States to choose their energy mix;
Amendment 299 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reaffirms its previous position regarding candidates for new own resources, and calls on the Commission to propose new own resources which correspond to essential EU objectives including the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment; asks, therefore, for the introduction of new own resources based on the auction revenues of the Emissions Trading System, such as considering the total elimination of free emission allowances; a tax on maritime and aviation fuels, a contribution on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, the future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base or a precursor based on operations of large enterprises, a tax on digital companies, and a financial transaction tax;
Amendment 316 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 376 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the statement of the ECB President that the ECB is supporting the development of a taxonomy as a way of facilitating the incorporation of environmental considerations in central bank portfolios; considers that the ECB should take the taxonomy as an essential eligibility criteria of the Corporate Sector Purchase Programme; calls on the ECB to evaluate the feasibility of including sustainability criteria in its collateral framework and its annual stress testing exercise, while assessing ways to guide lending towards energy transition investments and to rebuild a sustainable economy in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 crisis;
Amendment 461 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for the introduction of an enabling framework for public sustainable investments to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal, but stresses that whatever financing model is chosen must not undermine the sustainability of public finance in the EU; supports the commitment by EVP Dombrovskis to explore how taxonomy can be used in the public sector; calls for public support for airlines or other COVID-19 hit industries, such as tourism or automobile, to be used in a sustainable and efficient manner;
Amendment 494 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls that the European Semester is a framework for EU Member States to coordinate their budgetary and economic policies; believes that it cshould facilitatebe fully aligned with the implementation of the European Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); believes that the SDGs should be at the heart of EU’s policy making process;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses the importance of establishing a CBAM as a mirror to the EU ETS in order to create a level playing field between domestic producers and importers; notes, nevertheless, that this should imply a revision of the EU ETS to avoid the extension of its weaknesses to CBAM; highlights, in this respect, that the EU ETS has not been fully effective to reach the emission reduction targets; notes the difference between the theoretical emission cap and the actual current emissions; suggests that the suppression of free allocation emission allowances, as well as the full extension of the EU ETS to other sectors such as aviation and other transport, should be considered;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2043(INI)
3. Urges that the proposed CBAM apply to all imports in order to avoid distortion in the internal market; stresses the need to address the inclusion of shipping emissions into these imports, additionally to the product-based ones;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends that a design be introduced that measures the carbon content of imports through their basic materials composition (as outlined in the proposal from the European Economic and Social Committee); recalls that this feasible approximation would weigh each basic material covered by the EU ETS and multiply it by its carbon intensity value – which ideally should be defined at countryEU level; stresses, however, that importers who are more carbon efficient should be allowed to demonstrate the specific carbon intensity of their products; this flexible system should be based on objective and harmonized parameters, such as with the establishment of a range of values multiplier rather than a fixed one;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to Article 31 of Directive (EU) 2019/2162 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on the issue of covered bonds and covered bond public supervision and amending Directives 2009/65/EC and 2014/59/EU, pursuant to which the European Commission shall adopt a report on the possibility of introducing a dual-recourse instrument named ‘European Secured Notes’ (ESNs),
Amendment 3 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 4 July 2017 on Towards a pan-European covered bonds framework, which called on the European Commission to include in the new directive on covered bonds specific references to a legal framework for ESNs, such as dual recourse, special public supervision, bankruptcy remoteness and transparency requirements,
Amendment 7 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2015 on mortgage legislation and risky financial instruments in Spain (2015/2740(RSP)),
Amendment 72 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for the removal of barriers, including the simplification of legislation when possible without undermining companies’ obligations with respect to transparency, accountability and data protection, to diversify funding sources for SMEs, in order to promote SMEs’ ability to access equity markets, and to reduce the existing debt bias; points out that the current situation makes SMEs more fragile and vulnerable;
Amendment 81 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to draft a legislative proposal on 'European Secured Notes' (ESNs), as a new dual-recourse funding instrument for banks which could help improve access to financing for SMEs across the EU; recalls that ESNs could be targeted to specific objectives, such as supporting SMEs in the transition to a more sustainable economy and in channelling funding to the real economy;
Amendment 106 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the acceleration of the development of EU venture capital (VC) and private equity markets by increasing the availability of funding for VC investments, developing larger late-stage VC funds, tax incentive schemessimplification of bureaucracy where possible for VC and business angel investments, and active IPO markets for VC-backed companies;
Amendment 229 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls that the low retail investors’ engagement with financial markets might be a consequence of the regrettable financial fraud cases that took place during the last decade in some Member States through the sale of risky products in bad faith, as the European Parliament deplored in 2015; highlights that the strengthening of retail investors’ confidence is a key factor for a fair and efficient functioning of financial markets; in this respect, aims the EU authorities and institutions to further strengthen and harmonise the legislation on retail investors’ protection from fraud and misleading information.
Amendment 246 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls the existence of different shortcomings in the legislation on packaged retail investment and insurance products (PRIIPs) that should be addressed in the next review; expects that Level 2 PRIIPs legislation on the Key Investor Document to respect level 1, in particular in relation to the performance scenarioorder to improve the methodologies related to the performance scenarios and to ensure comparability among different investment products; regrets the delays in the adoption of Level 2 PRIIPs legislation that will overlap with the first review of PRIIPs, and which increases legal uncertainty and costs for stakeholders;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
1a. Whereas respect and protection of fundamental rights and civil liberties must be a cornerstone of the revised and new rules for the digital single market that will be adopted through the Digital Services Act package;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
1b. Whereas the fight against illegal or harmful content online can be a pretext for governments to restrict freedom of expression and persecute legitimate dissent and opposition;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital 1 c (new)
Recital 1 c (new)
1c. Whereas content moderation by content hosting platforms can result in illegitimate restrictions to freedom of expression either deliberately or through the use of automated content moderation mechanisms;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital 1 d (new)
Recital 1 d (new)
1d. Whereas content can be illegal for a number of reasons such as interference with an individual’s fundamental rights, hate speech considerations, connection to criminal activity, damage to a person’s legitimate interests, damage to general interests, etc. and thus not all allegedly illegal content is equally dangerous and potentially harmful;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Proposes that the Digital Services Act package recognises the protection of fundamental rights on the digital single market as a key goal of the new and revised rules and considers that any legislative proposal put forward as part of the package should expressly address and make reference to any fundamental rights issue it might pose, in particular when such proposal sets out any restriction to fundamental rights or civil liberties.
Amendment 65 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recommends that the Digital Services Act package introduces harmonized standards and procedure for tackling illegal content online, applicable to content moderation by content hosting platforms -on the basis of notice-and- action mechanisms- and to content supervision by any national authority, which ensure sufficient safeguards against abusive restrictive measures, including effective control by a court or other independent adjudicatory body; and considers that such standards should differentiate and set out different approaches depending on the protected interest the allegedly illegal content could potentially damage.
Amendment 69 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Remarks that interference with freedom of expression must be prescribed by law and thus insists that nothing in the Digital Services Act package should allow authorities to order the removal of legal content on the grounds that it is “harmful” or “fake”.
Amendment 70 #
2020/2022(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Considers that the EU body tasked with the oversight of the application of the standards and procedure for tackling illegal content online should monitor and control both content moderation by content hosting platforms and content supervision by national authorities.
Amendment 45 #
2020/2021(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the increase in online consumption and the associated packaging and delivery has significant environmental repercussions;
Amendment 285 #
2020/2021(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Points out that the specific environmental impact of online consumption should be taken into account when devising the strategy towards a sustainable internal market; and, in this context, practices that reduce such impact, such as consolidating consumer orders and reduction of packaging, should be promoted;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2019(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 6 #
2020/2019(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas some online service providers (food delivery, driving services, online shops, etc.) require significant physical work to provide their services, but many do not formally employ the persons carrying out this work, regardless of the dependency relationship the persons have with the online service provider, giving rise to potential vulnerable working conditions;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2019(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that any Regulation setting up standards and procedures for content moderation should be applicable to any type of content moderation by online platforms (voluntary or at the request of competent authorities) and to content supervision or blocking by competent authorities.
Amendment 87 #
2020/2019(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers that the Digital Services Act package should (i) specifically address the shortcomings of current legislation as regards to the rights and social protection of persons working for online service providers, regardless of whether they are formally employed, and (ii) set out mechanisms to ensure compliance by the service providers.
Amendment 25 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council2 (“the E-Commerce Directive”) has been one of the most successful pieces of Union legislation and has shaped the Digital Single Market as we know it today; whereas the E-Commerce Directive was adopted 20 years ago and no longer adequately reflects the rapid transformation and expansion of e-commerce in all its forms, with its multitude of different emerging services, providers, forms of labour, and challenges; __________________ 2 Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market ('Directive on electronic commerce') (OJ L 178, 17.7.2000, p. 1).
Amendment 32 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, despite the clarifications made by the European Court of Justice, the need to go beyond the existing regulatory framework is clearly demonstrated by the fragmented approach of Member States to tackling illegal content online, by the lack of enforcement and cooperation between Member State, and by the inability of the existing legal framework to promote effective market entry and consumer welfare; and prevent illegitimate interference with the right of freedom of expression;
Amendment 92 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the main principles of the E-Commerce Directive, such as the internal market clause, freedom of establishment and the prohibition on imposing a general monitoring obligation should be maintained; underlines that the principle of “what is illegal offline is also illegal online”, as well as the principles of protection of fundamental rights, consumer protection and user safety, should also become guiding principles of the future regulatory framework;
Amendment 115 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that a level playing field in the internal market between the platform economy and the "traditional" offline economy, based on the same rights and obligations for all interested parties - consumers and businesses - is needed; considers that social protection and social rights of workers, especially of platform or collaborative economy workers, regardless of whether they are formally employed, should be properly addressed in a specific instrument, accompanying the future regulatory framework, which ensures protection against vulnerable working conditions and sets out enforceability mechanisms to ensure compliance by the platforms;
Amendment 255 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that existing obligations, set out in the E-Commerce Directive and the Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directiveʼ)3 on transparency of commercial communications and digital advertising should be strengthened; points out that pressing consumer protection concerns about profiling, targeting and personalised pricing cannot be addressed by transparency obligations and left to consumer choice alone; further notes that there are pressing consumer protection concerns regarding online gambling services which are not being adequately addressed by all Member States and might require a more aligned approach at Union level; __________________ 3 Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to- consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 149, 11.6.2005, p. 22).
Amendment 314 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to all types of illegal and harmful content and cases of misinformation online; believes, however, that a more aligned approach at Union level, taking into account the different types of content, will make the fight against illegal content more effectivein particular what protected interest the content might damage, will make the fight against illegal content more effective and more consistent with the right of freedom of expression;
Amendment 336 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that voluntary actions and self-regulation by online platforms across Europe have brought some benefits, but additional measures are needed in order to ensure the swift detection and removal of illegal content online and that removal of content does not affect the fundamental rights and the legitimate interests of users and consumers;
Amendment 349 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to address the increasing differences and fragmentations of national rules in the Member States and to propose concrete legislative measures including a notice- and-action mechanism, which ensures sufficient safeguards against abusive restrictive measures, including effective control by a court or other independent adjudicatory body and that can empower users to notify online intermediaries of the existence of potentially illegal online content or behaviour; is of the opinion that such measures would guarantee a high level of users' and consumers' protection while promoting consumer trust in the online economy; considers that such mechanism should also govern any content supervision by any authority in order to ensure protection against illegitimate interference with the right to freedom of expression;
Amendment 491 #
2020/2018(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Takes the view that the central regulatory authority should prioritise cooperation between Member States to address complex cross-border issues by working in close cooperation with a network of independent National and Regional Enforcement Bodies (NEBs);
Amendment 19 #
2020/2016(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that AI used by police and judicial authorities has to be categorised as high-risk, given that the role of these authorities is to defend the public interest, and given the potential threat that these technologies can represent for fundamental rights, especially since the values reflected in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union are at risk in several Member States; considers that the EU should take the lead in laying down basic rules on the development and use of AI to ensure the same high level of consumer protection across the EU;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2013(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that in the COVID-19 health crisis, several Member States have launched the development of mobile apps to protect public health by alerting citizens to past contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus; calls for a common EU approach to AI-enabled mobile apps, the development of which must remaiwhich prevents geolocation of citizens by authorities, ensures a decentralized approach to data collection uander state control generally favours the least invasive technology available;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2013(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges, therefore, the Member States to assess the risks related to AI- driven technologies before automating activities connected with the exercise of State authority, such as the proper administration of justice; calls on the Member States to consider the need to provide for safeguards, foreseen in Directive (EU) 2018/958, such as supervision by a qualified professional and rules on professional ethics, particularly to ensure that such automation does not in any way affect or interfere with the fundamental rights of citizens;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2013(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that Member States, regional and local authorities and the Commission should promote AI technologies that work for people; calls on the Member States and regional and local authorities, in close cooperation with the Commission, to develop AI applications aimed at automating and facilitating e- government services, for example in the area of tax administration; calls for such e- government services to be offered also in regional and minority languages of the EU; underlines that explainable algorithms are important to ensure that businesses and consumers benefit from better, non- discriminatory and reliable public services at a lower cost.
Amendment 29 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for the framework to prohibit the deployment or use by Member States of remote recognition technologies, such as biometric recognition that automatically identifies individuals, even for the purpose of responding to a national emergency;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the collective rights of national and linguistic minorities are taken into account and represented in any future regulatory framework, in particular in relation to the regional and minority languages of the Union;
Amendment 114 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the designation by each Member State of a competent national authority or of several competent regional authorities for monitoring the application of the provisions;
Amendment 126 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for the establishment of a European market surveillance board for algorithmic systems, to ensure a level playing field and to avoid fragmentation of the internal market, to decide with a qualified majority and by secret vote in case of different decisions on algorithmic systems used in more than one Member State, as well as at the request of the majority of the national or regional authorities;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets the fact that workers who move within the EU and are covered by the rules on social security coordination face significant administrative burdens and issues such as uncertainty regarding their contributions and entitlements, and lack of exchange of data and lack of coordination between institutions, which affect the free mobility of workers; calls on Member States to enhance administrative cooperation between the competent authorities and on the Commission to foster and support such cooperation; further calls for a revision and modernization of the rules on social security coordination;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the Services Directive and the PQD build on the principle of mutual recognition to facilitate free movement of services; calls on the Member States to extend mutual recognition to more levels of education and to improve or introduce the necessary procedures as soon as possible; further calls on Member States to coordinate and harmonize the recognition of qualifications completed outside the EU so that these qualifications enjoy comparable recognition everywhere within the single market;
Amendment 600 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) refrain from combining personal data sourced from these core platform services with personal data from any other services offered by the gatekeeper or with personal data from third-party services, and from signing in end users to other services of the gatekeeper in order to combine personal data, unless the end user has been presented with the specific choice and provided consent in the sense of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. , such choice must include the offering of a less personalised alternative and must be proactively presented to the end user in an explicit, clear and straightforward manner;
Amendment 621 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) allow business users to offer the same products or services to end users directly or through third party online intermediation services at prices or conditions that are different from those offered through the online intermediation services of the gatekeeper;
Amendment 638 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) refrain from preventing or restricting business users or end users from raising issues with any relevant public authority relating to any practice of gatekeepers;
Amendment 653 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) refrain from requiring business users to use, offer or interoperate with an identificationy ancillary service of the gatekeeper in the context of services offered by the business users using the core platform services of that gatekeeper;
Amendment 660 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) refrain from requiring business users or end users to subscribe to or register with any other core platform services identified pursuant to Article 3 or which meets the thresholds in Article 3(2)(b)services as a condition to access, sign up or register to any of their core platform services identified pursuant to that Article 3;
Amendment 664 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Amendment 716 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) refrain from using, in competition with business users, any data not publicly available, which is generated through activities by those business users, including by the end users of these business users, of its core platform services or provided by those business users of its core platform services or by the end users of these business users;
Amendment 775 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) allow business users, end users and providers of ancillary services access to and interoperability with the same operating system, hardware or software features that are available or used in the provision by the gatekeeper of any ancillary services or industry-standard features of its core platform services;
Amendment 877 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 6
Article 7 – paragraph 6
6. For the purposes of specifying the obligations under Article 6(1) points (j) and (k), the Commission shall also assess whether the intended or implemented measures ensure that there is no remaining imbalance of rights and obligations on business users or end users and that the measures do not themselves confer an advantage on the gatekeeper which is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business users or end users.
Amendment 923 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) there is an imbalance of rights and obligations on business users or end users, and the gatekeeper is obtaining an advantage from business users or end users that is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business users or end users; or
Amendment 948 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. A gatekeeper shall not degrade the conditions or quality of any of the core platform services provided to business users or end users who avail themselves of the rights or choices laid down in Articles 5 and 6, or make the exercise of those rights or choices unduly difficult, in particular through the use of so called “dark patterns”, which present choices in a non-neutral manner or otherwise seek to subvert their decision making.
Amendment 978 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Consumer organizations, business organizations and other civil society organizations or any third party with a legitimate interest may request the Commission to open a market investigation pursuant to Articles 15, 16 and 17 if they consider that there are reasonable grounds for such an investigation.
Amendment 1048 #
2020/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Consumer organizations, business organizations and other civil society organizations or any third party with a legitimate interest shall have the right to submit complaints about gatekeepers violating their obligations pursuant to the Regulation.
Amendment 411 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46
Recital 46
(46) Action against illegal content can be taken more quickly and reliably where online platforms take the necessary measures to ensure that notices submitted by trusted flaggers through the notice and action mechanisms required by this Regulation are treated with priority, without prejudice to the requirement to process and decide upon all notices submitted under those mechanisms in a timely, diligent and objective manner. Such trusted flagger status should only be awarded to entities, and not individuals, that have demonstrated, among other things, that they have particular expertise and competence in tackling illegal content, that they represent collective interests and that they work in a diligent and objective manner. Such entities can be public in nature, such as, for terrorist content, internet referral units of national law enforcement authorities or of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (‘Europol’) or they can be non-governmental organisations and semi-public bodies, such as the organisations part of the INHOPE network of hotlines for reporting child sexual abuse material and organisations committed to notifying illegal racist and xenophobic expressions online. For intellectual property rights, organisations of industry and of right-holders could be awarded trusted flagger status, where they have demonstrated that they meet the applicable conditions. The rules of this Regulation on trusted flaggers should not be understood to prevent online platforms from giving similar treatment to notices submitted by entities or individuals that have not been awarded trusted flagger status under this Regulation, from otherwise cooperating with other entities, in accordance with the applicable law, including this Regulation and Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council.43 __________________ 43Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA, OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53
Amendment 814 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 1
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 1
— a statement of reasons explaining why the information is illegal content, by reference to the specific provision of Union or national law infringed, and, where the order comes from administrative authorities, a statement confirming that the order does not interfere with fundamental rights or that such interference is sought in accordance to the applicable law;
Amendment 852 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. The conditions and requirements laid down in this article shall be without prejudice to requirements under national criminal and administrative procedural law in conformity with Union law.
Amendment 871 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 1
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 1
— a statement of reasons explaining the objective for which the information is required and why the requirement to provide the information is necessary and proportionate to determine compliance by the recipients of the intermediary services with applicable Union or national rules, unless such a statement cannot be provided for reasons related to the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences, and, where the order comes from administrative authorities, a statement confirming that the order does not interfere with fundamental rights or that such interference is sought in accordance to the applicable Union law;
Amendment 888 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. The conditions and requirements laid down in this article shall be without prejudice to requirements under national criminal and administrative procedural law in conformity with Union law.
Amendment 926 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Providers of intermediary services shall include information on any restrictions that they impose in relation to the use of their service in respect of information provided by the recipients of the service, in their terms and conditions. Such restrictions must respect the fundamental rights of the recipients, in particular the fundamental rights to respect for private and family life, freedom of expression and information, the prohibition of discrimination and the rights of the child, as enshrined in Articles 7, 11, 21 and 24 of the Charter respectively. That information shall include information on any policies, procedures, measures and tools used for the purpose of content moderation, including algorithmic decision-making and human review. It shall be set out in clear and unambiguous language and shall be publicly available in an easily accessible format.
Amendment 1061 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. Notices that include the elements referred to in paragraph 2 shall only be considered to automatically give rise to actual knowledge or awareness for the purposes of Article 5 in respect of the specific item of information concerned if the specific item of information is manifestly illegal.
Amendment 1230 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) it is capable of settling dispute in a swift, efficient and cost-effective manner and in at least one official language of the Union; or one of the official languages of the Member State where the out-of-court dispute settlement body is stablished;
Amendment 1241 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The Digital Services Coordinator shall, where applicable, specify in the certificate the particular issues to which the body’s expertise relates and the official language or languages of the Union or of the Member State in which the body is capable of settling disputes, as referred to in points (b) and (d) of the first subparagraph, respectively.
Amendment 1291 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Law enforcement agencies will not be awarded the status of trusted flaggers.
Amendment 1306 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 12 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In light of the lessons learnt during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in order to facilitate adequate Union-wide preparedness and response to all cross- border threats to health, the legal framework for epidemiological surveillance, monitoring, early warning of, and combating serious cross-border threats to health, as set out in Decision No 1082/2013/EU, needs to be broadened with regard to additional reporting requirements and analysis on health systems indicators, and cooperation by Member States with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Moreover, in order to ensure effective Union response to novel cross- border threats to health, the legal framework to combat serious cross-border threats to health should enable to immediately adopt case definitions for the surveillance of novel threats and should provide for the establishment of a network of EU reference laboratories and a network to support monitoring of disease outbreaks that are relevant to substances of human origin. The capacity for contact tracing should be strengthened via the creation of an automated system, using modern technologies. Further learning on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the legal framework should set the basis to ensure supply chain resilience of critical medicines.
Amendment 149 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. The network for the epidemiological surveillance of the communicable diseases and of the related special health issues referred to in points (i) and (ii) of point (a) of Article 2(1) shall ensure a permanent communication between the Commission, the ECDC, and the competent authorities responsible at national, and where applicable regional, level for epidemiological surveillance.
Amendment 150 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) contribute to the evaluation and monitoring of communicable disease prevention and control programmes in order to provide the evidence for recommendations to strengthen and improve those programmes at the regional, national and Union level;
Amendment 151 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
(ia) make mitigation plans containing preventative measures that help ensure the continued supply of critical medicines, such as diversification of supply chains, as well as including production and supply capacity;
Amendment 152 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The national and regional competent authorities referred to in paragraph 1 shall communicate the following information to the participating authorities of the epidemiological surveillance network:
Amendment 153 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) information about contract tracing monitoring systems developed at national and regional level.
Amendment 154 #
2020/0322(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4
Article 13 – paragraph 4
4. When reporting information on epidemiological surveillance, the national and regional competent authorities shall, where available, use the case definitions adopted in accordance with paragraph 9 for each communicable disease and related special health issue referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 254 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and the translation of the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Facility established by this Regulation will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and environmental sustainability and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 50% of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives.
Amendment 420 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Regional and local administrations play a fundamental role in addressing the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. This, along with their key role in boosting the green and digital transitions, makes them essential for the optimal implementation of the Facility. According with the subsidiarity principle, national authorities of the Member States should discuss and agree their recovery and resilience plans with regional and local administrations.
Amendment 833 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. In pursuance of the objectives set out in Article 4, Member States shall prepare national recovery and resilience plans. According with the subsidiarity principle, national authorities of the Member States shall discuss and agree these plans with the regional and local administrations. These plans shall set out the reform and investment agenda of the Member State concerned for the subsequent four years. Recovery and resilience plans eligible for financing under this instrument shall comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects through a coherent package.
Amendment 20 #
2020/0066(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In consistence with these measures, the Parliament calls on the Commission, the European Central Bank, and the European Banking Authority to work together in order to ensure that credit institutions temporarily suspend the distribution of dividends at least until 31st March 2021.
Amendment 72 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes a mandatory and 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 80 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair and socially acceptable for all. 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 and to promote stable and quality employment. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 85 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) This transition will entail the digitalisation of several industries and production processes. The Union is committed to ensuring that no Member State or company takes advantage of such digitalisation to undermine citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
Amendment 139 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, as well as providing job-search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour market, assisting them in the acquisition of new professional skills, also in the field of digitalisation.
Amendment 150 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment in SMEs, primarily in those belonging to robust sectors. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and employment. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. __________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 163 #
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 climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission and the participation of regional or local entities, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans, taking into account the opinions of their regions. 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 241 #
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 investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to economic diversification and reconversion, and primarily belonging to robust sectors;
Amendment 380 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together withaccording to the needs expressed by 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 386 #
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, regional and local levels towards a climate- neutral economy, including a timeline for key transition steps which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’);
Amendment 15 #
2019/2189(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the transition to a climate- neutral economy requires an energy transition away from fossil fuels towards a renewable-based and decentralized energy production system;
Amendment 76 #
2019/2189(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the energy transition towards a renewable-based system requires a well-developed electricity grid and advanced storage technologies, a strong decentralized production adaptable to meteorology conditions, backup generation and demand management in order to secure a constant power supply;
Amendment 84 #
2019/2189(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Points out the importance of advancing towards a decentralization of energy production, with individual self- generation so the energy can be produced and supplied to specific areas, discharging the pressure of the batteries and using its power only for the changing areas that need it based on weather conditions and renewables inconstant production;
Amendment 179 #
2019/2189(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to take into account the important role of storage in the energy transition when reviewing the State aid guidelines; calls on the Commission to make sure that the new guidelines take into account the efficiency and the contribution to grid stability of different storage technologies, and local self-generated energy helping the grid especially at the end of the line, so that inefficient funding is avoided;
Amendment 343 #
2019/2189(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that home batteries, self- generation of energy to discharge the pressure on the grid and its shared batteries, domestic heat storage, vehicle-to- grid technology, and demand response help to cut consumption peaks, provide flexibility and are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring that the energy grid is efficient and integrated;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2182(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas despite the European-level ban on its use, asbestos remains the main cause of death linked to occupational diseases, and whereas it also affects individuals outside the working environment, including children, through a continuous increase in cancers and mesothelioma, as well as other non- malignant lung and pleural disorders, linked to passive, limited exposure;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2182(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the extensive use of asbestos in construction in the Union prior to its ban poses a threat to current building users and occupants;