22 Amendments of Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ related to 2009/2233(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 March 2010,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, and solidarity among Member States, is one of the European Union's objectives, as stipulated in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, even though significant progress has been made in terms of convergence in the European Union, a trend can be observed towards worsening territorial disparities between EU regions, for instance in terms of accessibility, in particular for the structurally disadvantaged regions, but also at an intra-regional level and within EU territories, which could lead to spatial segregation, widen the differences between levels of prosperity in EU regions and impair the EU's global competitiveness,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the European Council of March 2010 acknowledged the importance of promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, and especiallylso through the development of infrastructure, to help ensure the success of the EU 2020 Strategy, in circumstances where this new strategy will be addressing blockages in economic development,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas cohesion policy has proved to be an effective instrument for responding flexibly to the socio-economic challenges arising from the financial crisis,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the added value provided by the European Union’s cohesion policchievements displayed by the EU's cohesion policy, the added value it can bring to the 2020 Strategy and its role as an EU instrument for increasing the competitiveness of the regions, carrying out structural reforms and enhancing the ability of the regions to adapt to the global economic climate;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that enhancing the concentration of cohesion policy resources can ensure that this policy makes a significant contribution to fostering competitiveness, innovation and employment in the EU;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the key role played by the public sector, through the implementation of cohesion policy, in rebuilding confidence and solidarity in times of recession and thereafter by makingguaranteeing equal opportunities in terms of access to public investment, especially in infrastructure, new technologies and human capital, and ensuring sustainable development;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes the view that, as provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon, the balanced economic development of the EU reduces regional disparities in levels of development and prepares the regions to meet the challenges of globalisation, demographic change, the depopulation of rural areas and climate change, by taking into account their specific weaknesses;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that, through the synergies generated with research and development and innovation policies, cohesion policy can provide a means of meetmust play a significant role ing the EUurope 2020 challenges by bolstering and harnessing specific local potentiStrategy, since this policy stimulates structural change across Europe and supports key investment priorities at all levels, local, regional, nationals and cross- border, ensuring social, economic and territorial cohesion; points out, however, that even though the cohesion policy's priorities should be aligned with the EU 2020 objectives, sufficient flexibility needs to be allowed to accommodate regional specificities and support the weaker and neediest regions so that they overcome their socio-economic difficulties and natural handicaps and reduce disparities;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes the view that the Member States must support a place-based approach to framing and implementing cohesion policy; acknowledges that the role of the regions varies between Member States depending on their political and administrative structure; requests that an improvement be sought, by promoting the principle of decentralisation, over the current programming period, in which the regions are administering only 30.5% of the overall budget allocated to cohesion policy, with the remainder being administered by central governments;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the results of the URBAN and LEADER initiatives and believes that cohesion policy can create the framework for balanced rural-urban development; calls on the Commission to examine and propose working methodologies that promote urban-rural partnerships, combat the depopulation of rural areas and stimulate sustainable urban development;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the need toWelcomes the amendment to Regulation No 1083/2006 simplifying the procedures for the utilisation of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund and invites the Commission to continue simplifying such procedures to ensure their flexibility and reduce the administrative burden on funding beneficiaries, so that the authorities can address major challenges in a timely manner and with the appropriate resources; takes the view that public-private partnerships can provide genuine support by supplementing the efforts made at local and regional level, and calls on the Commission to bring forward concrete proposals for the consolidation of public- private partnerships within the framework of cohesion policy;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Takes the view that the, although the level of GDP should remain a key indicator in deciding which areas are eligible for EU financial assistance should be the level of GDP and that the introduction of other indicators can only be admitt, other indicators must be introduced, after studies have been conducted on their relevance and on the way in which that information is collected and processed;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the importance of allocating funding to regions on the basis of regional specificitiethe following characteristics: coastal regions, islands, mountainous areas, regions suffering from depopulation or with low population density, remote border towns and the most remote regions; calls on the Commission to create appropriate financial instruments for lending added value in the short and medium term, taking into consideration also the effects of the economic and financial crisis;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Invites the Commission to study ways in which new techniques in financial engineering can improve the effectiveness and impact of the cohesion policy with a view to obtaining the best possible results in the projects chosen;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Stresses that, since research and innovation are essential for the development of the EU and in improving its competitiveness in the face of global challenges, investment in these fields must continue and regular results-based assessments of progress must be conducted; calls, in this regard, for the Structural Funds and the Framework Programme to be better coordinated, so as to make the most of future funding for research and innovation, and for regional innovative clusters to be developed within and between Member States;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Emphasises the positive effects of gender equality on the EU’s economic growth, social cohesion and, therefore, on its competitiveness; points out that some studies estimate that if employment, part- time employment and productivity rates for women were similar to those for men, GDP would increase by 30%;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that, although the cohesion policy focuses on the least prosperous regions, it should also continue to encourage competitiveness, innovation, employment and economic, social and territorial cohesion throughout the European Union;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Stresses the need to keep transitional arrangements in place to consolidate and improve the current level of development, which could fall if financing is significantly reduced once a given objective is met; points out that this would ensure equal treatment for regions in the same situation, which would in turn lead to the efficient organisation of programmes;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reminds the Commission and the Member States that the expectations of the European public are based on its needs, and especially on the desire for access to adequate infrastructure and quality public services, which must be provided equitably and at prices affordable by all European citizens, regardless of where they live and work; insists that the right to equal opportunities must be respected and stresses the need for disabled access to all infrastructure and projects financed under the Structural Funds;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that a strong and well- financed EU regional policy is an indispensable condition for achieving social, economic and territorial cohesion and for turning the EU into a globally competitive economy;