4 Amendments of Thijs BERMAN related to 2008/2025(BUD)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses deep concern at the consequences of soaring global food prices for the provision of food aid in developing countries, and takes note of the drastic shortfall that has already been highlighted by funding agencies; calls on the Commission to double the budget for food aid (budget line 23 02 02); notes that food prices stem from structural causes and are not expected to fall in 2009 or subsequent years and that under the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid the European Union "aims to demonstrate its commitment to humanitarian response by mobilising adequate funding for humanitarian aid based on assessed need"; calls for additional resources to be provided for this purpose in 2009 by all budgetary means available, including traditional budgetary mechanisms such as the flexibility instrument or innovative means such as revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) to release 2008 underspends in Title 05;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the problem of the precarious financing situation in Heading 4 resulting from needs in Kosovo and Palestine that could not be foreseen when the MFF was established; believes that this problem can only be addressed through a comprehensive revision of the MFF leading to increases in the Heading 4 ceiling for the period 2009-2013; points out that the thematic programme "Investing in People" needs to serve a great number of policies and programme priorities and that some of these priorities (e.g. health) have seen a reduction in spending and have not reached their annual average, as programmed for the period 2007-2013;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for a budget line on a climate change aid fund for developing countries under Heading 4 of the EU budget, on the condition that this Fund will be financed separately to the funds allocated to Official Development Assistance;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the need for a comprehensive assessment of the results of EU development co-operation actions and their likely sustainability, including for assistance delivered as budget support; points out that transparency in this area is fundamental for parliamentary accountability; emphasises the need to meet the benchmark of dedicating, by 2009, 20% of its allocated assistance under country programmes covered by the Development Cooperation Instrument to basic and secondary education and basic health, through project, programme or budget support linked to these sectors; urges the Commission to strengthen its evaluation of results and forward its findings to Parliament.;