Activities of László SURJÁN related to 2008/2026(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Draft general budget 2009 as modified by the Council (all sections) (debate)
Amendments (12)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that initiatives for growth in jobs and support for SMEs and for research and innovation are of the utmost importance in the current economic situation and have to be top priorities reflected in the Union's budget for 2009; against this background, considers that the support for cohesion amongst regions has to be regarded as a key factor for stimulating economic growth throughout the Union; considers it essential that the political determination to make progress on tackling climate change and providing citizens with a safer Europe become clearly visible in the EU budget; stresses that, in 2009 and in the years to come, the Union has to be in a position to fulfil its role as a global player especially given recent challenges such as rising food prices;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. On overall figures, sets the final level of commitment appropriations at EUR xxx xxx million; sets the overall level of payments at EUR 116 096 million, equivalent to 0,89% of EU GNI ; notes that this leaves a significant margin of EUR 7 762 million beneath the payments ceiling of the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) for 2009; underlines the joint commitment of both arms of the budgetary authority to a prompt provision of additional payment appropriations, particularly in the event of structural policies being more quickly implemented during the budgetary year;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Undertakes to analyse the related budgetary implications of the Commission's proposal for a European recovery plan; reiterates the commitment of Parliament and of the Council, as stated at the conciliation meeting, to respond with the appropriate financial means to the current economic crisis;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the vital importance of effective budget implementation and of reducing unpaid commitments in light of this very modest overall level of payments; calls on the Commission and on Member States to do their utmost to implement, in particular, lines in heading 1b of the MFF, because this sub-heading not only finances numerous important policies and activities aimed at tackling climate change but also supports growth for jobs initiatives contributing to economic growth; stresses that improvement and simplification measures are needed in order to accelerate the implementation of structural and cohesion funds and invites the Commission, within the existing legal framework, to proceed rapidly with its compliance assessments of the Member States' management and control systems in order to facilitate the start of major projects; notes with great concern that the Commission has, on the basis of evidence, seen fit to cut EUR 220 million of funding for Bulgaria; asks the Commission to support both Bulgaria and Romania in their reforms and to report every three months to the Parliament on problems or irregularities in implementing EU funds;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Insists that the Commission take the appropriate measures both at political and administrative level to undertake a concrete follow-up to the joint declaration No 3 on implementation of cohesion policy, as adopted at the conciliation meeting on 21 November 2008; undertakes to evaluate before the end of March 2009 whether sufficient progress has been made;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that Budget 2009 reinforces the safety and security of EU citizens by bolstering related actions and policies which concern mainly competitiveness, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), transport and energy security as well as securing external borders;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Has taken note of the Commission's Letter of Executability regarding the amendments to the draft budget adopted by Parliament at first reading; considers it unacceptable that the Commission presented this document at such a late stage in the procedure, thus rendering it far less useful than it could have been; insists that several important political issues require appropriate visibility in the Union's budget; decides to create new budgetary lines on climate change, on the Small Business Act (SBA),on the financial instrument for the adaptation of the fishing fleet to the economic consequences of fuel prices and on aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Georgia; has decided to take some of the Commission's comments into account in the second reading of the budget; will, however, abide by its first reading decisions especially in those cases in which sufficient time and effort has already been spent at an earlier stage on assessing how Parliament's amendments can best be implemented, as was the case with pilot projects and preparatory actions;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Deplores the fact that, for the second consecutive year, the Council has rejected Parliament's proposal for an amendment concerning the creation of a new line 05 02 08 12 - School fruit scheme; welcomes, however, the political agreement of the Council on the legal base for such a programme; had expecteds the programme to start as soon as the legal base is adopted and in time for the 2009/2010 school year 2009/2010 and, as demanded by the European Parliament and agreed by the Council in its political agreement; regrets, therefore, that the Council did not accept the Commission's proposal to create already a token entry ("p.m.") in the budget, which would have allowed for a flexible start of the programme as appropriate during the budget year 2009;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that appropriations for assistance to Kosovo will only just suffice to keep pace with reforms and investment; recalls its various commitments to EU assistance in Kosovo that is; at the same time stresses the need for a functioning public administration and a take-over of public duties by the Kosovo government as well as for properly managedment and implementedation of these commitments; insists on a proper follow-up of the conclusions of the final report from the ITF (Investigation Task Force, which closed down its operation at the end of August 2008), as well as on the creation of a successor organisation for combating fraud and financial irregularities;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes with satisfaction that the Union has committed itself to tackling soaring food prices in developing countries and that an agreement has finally been reached on the financing of a food facility and that complementarity with the European Development Fund and visibility of EU assistance have been ensured; regrets, nevertheless, that once more, due to the constrained margins in heading 4, a part of the appropriations for financing this food facility could only be found through redeployment within the heading;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Takes note of the increasing amount of EU funds being channelled through international organisations; repeats its call for the Commission to make every effort to obtain as much information as possible on external and internal audits of institutions and programmes receiving EU funds;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Draws the Commission's attention to the former Amicus preparatory action, which has now been integrated into the "Youth in Action Programme"; requests the Commission to ensure a close follow- up of its implementation and to report to Parliament's relevant committees by 30 June 2009";