14 Amendments of Nikolaos CHOUNTIS related to 2011/2319(INI)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomDeplores the spirit of the Annual Growth Survey (AGS) 2012 as presented by the Commission; stresses that the solutions specifically targeting the current sovereign and financial crisis, and being worked on a daily basis by all the institutions, should go hand in hand with a major focus on the medium- and long- term growth-enhancing measures, as well as an overhaul of the general economic framework, in order to improve the competitiveness, and ensure the long- lasting success, of the European economypromoted will not aid the confrontation of this crisis or the prevention of a generalized depression in EU, but instead exacerbate its effects, increase social inequalities, poverty and unemployment and eventually lead to the impoverishment of the peoples of Europe;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the Annual Growth Survey 2011 and a number of other initiatives such as the Euro Plus Pact already contained most of the elements which ar, proved anything but the right tools to tackle the crisis to the benefit of European citizens. Stresses that in the name of the nrecessary to regainovery of market confidence, the increase of competitiveness and the achieve growthment of growth, wages are minimized, the social fabric is destroyed the social rights of people of Europe are violated. Also notes that the European social model is degraded;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Believes that the dominant economic and growth model promoted by the Annual Growth Survey 2012 is wrong; The priorities of the Annual Survey of 2012 that Commission sets, are dramatically far from the targets of economic efficiency, social and environmental justice, real economic convergence, solidarity and sustainable development;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Acknowledges the interdependence between Member State economies and fiscal policies; stresses that the debt crisis is a product of unregulated financial markets operate; emphasizes that the pursuit of zero deficits and balanced budgets, essentially institutionalizes the continuing austerity, recession, poverty and unemployment; stresses that the growth prospects of all Member States, whether they are currently in the Eeuro area or not, are hsighly dependent on how decisively the sovereign debt crisis is dealt with; urges Member States to correct their excessive deficits by the deadlinificantly different. In particular, the economies of the EMU member countries are adversely affected by the structural weaknes set bys of the Council; eurozone;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises that because of structural weaknesses in the eurozone, it is extremely doubtful that relatively small economies will manage successfully to follow adjustment procedures in times of turbulence and crisis; stresses also that because of its inherent characteristics, the single currency has served the interests of the economically strong countries at the expense of the weaker economies;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Underlines that fiscal policy is an important tool in the management of economic and development policy; EU Member States must have the capability and the flexibility to pursue an effective, and counter-cyclical stabilization policy, geared to redistribution and sustainable development.EU Member States should provide an adequate level of social goods, public services and infrastructure for EU citizens;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Stresses that the taxation policy promoted by the EU is far from a fair and socially acceptable, common European taxation policy. Such policy would have a growth-oriented and redistributive role and would be able to address the serious problem of tax competition, of the effective control and the booming of the tax havens. Believes that the dominant political choice of the EU is the reduction of direct taxes on higher incomes, businesses and all sources of wealth. Moreover, Member States adopt fiscal measures to further facilitate the growth of multinationals companies while at the same time put the burden further on workers who have to face and increases in indirect taxes combined with austerity programs and cuts in wages and pensions;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that a major overhaul ofExpresses its strong disapproval for the proven reluctance and delay of the EU to regulatione and supervision ofe the financial sector is underway; it is indisputable that it is impossible solely by imposing restrictive measures or strict rules of a temporary nature to change the structures that created the crisis and are geared to the rampant pursuit of profitability by financial institutions;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes that the main reasons for the huge deficits and the subsequent steep increase in borrowing costs are phenomena such as tax competition that has reduced the tax burden of capital at the expense of labour, the socialization of private losses through injections of liquidity in the banking sector and the speculative behaviour of rating agencies and international financial centres;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the failure of the neoliberal economic growth model. Believes that the structural mismatch between supply and demand for labour will hinder recovery and long-term growth and therefore calls for structural reforms in the labour market, which would include revising the wage-setting mechanism in order to better reflect productivity developments;occurs due to the extensive accumulation of profits. Therefore calls for structural reforms in the taxation policy of capital and profits. draws attention to the role and responsibilities of the social partners in the design and implementation of structural reforms geared at improving working conditions, social cohesion and European solidarity;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that the quality of public administration at EU, national, regional and local level is a determining element of competitiveness and an important productivity factorquality of life of European citizens;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for more efficiency in the delivery of public services as well as an increase in the transparency and quality of public administration and the judiciary, and further encourages reducingthe treatment of the administrative burden and red tape; believes that, particularly in times of crisis, the quality of public services plays an important role in welfare of citizens; calls for efficient staffing and funding of the public sector;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Points out that the democratic deficit, as the Annual Growth Survey which sets the guidelines for employment, growth and Member States' economic policies and which provides the basis for the European Semester, is not subject to the usual parliamentary procedure; the European Parliament, the only EU institution elected directly by the people, has no power to amend the final text;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that the 2012 edition of the European Semester is the first under the agreed enhanced economic governance legal framework («'the six pack»'), which includes strengthened rules for the Stability and Growth Pact and national fiscal rules, as well as new procedures for monitoring and correcting macroeconomic imbalances; The measures that are promoted through the European semester and which are totally in line with the dominant neo- liberal policies, are deeply anti-social, against people's rights, opposed to development and a threat to democracy;