Activities of Mercedes BRESSO
Plenary speeches (13)
Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation - Election integrity and resilience build-up towards European elections 2024 (debate)
EU Day for the victims of the global climate crisis (debate)
Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (debate)
Parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy (debate)
Outcome of the SDGs Summit (18-19 September 2023, New York) – transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030 and beyond (debate)
Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)
Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)
The European Elections 2024 (debate)
Implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments - Implementation of the Treaty provisions on EU citizenship (joint debate – Implementation of the Treaty provisions)
State of play of the implementation of the Global Gateway and its governance two years after its launch (debate)
Rising inequalities in the world (debate)
EU climate risk assessment, taking urgent action to improve security and resilience in Europe (debate)
Common rules promoting the repair of goods (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules promoting the repair of goods and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394, Directives (EU) 2019/771 and (EU) 2020/1828
Written questions (10)
Creation of a European civil peace corps
Interference in the public service media in Italy
Protection of the rights of children with same-sex parents
Media pluralism in Italy – the case of Roberto Saviano and RAI
State of affairs in Guatemala following the June 2023 presidential elections
Compliance of the Italy-Albania memorandum of understanding with international law and EU asylum rules
Hearing of the journalist Sigfrido Ranucci in the Parliamentary Committee for the General Orientation and Supervision of Radio and Television Services
Arbitrary conviction of Nobel Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh
The case of Filippo Mosca and prison conditions in Romania
Living conditions for migrants in Italy’s immigration removal centres
Individual motions (2)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on establishing a European Adherence to Therapy Day
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the establishment of a European Civil Peace Corps
Amendments (1093)
Amendment 7 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas National parliaments "contribute actively to the good functioning of the Union” (Art. 12 of the treaty on EU) and together with the European Parliament play an essential role in strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the EU project;
Amendment 12 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas this accountability can be facilitated by increasee National parliaments and the European Parliament should play a common strategic mission in order to increase accountability and transparency in the Council, especially with regard to the voting record of Member States;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the pluralism of national parliaments is remarkably beneficial to the Union and the underrepresentation of parliamentary minorities in European affairs should be counterbalanced while fully respecting the majorities in each national parliament and in accordance with their proportions; whereas pluralism in National parliaments’ representation could prove to be particularly useful in the view of a future Convention to amend the EU Treaties in the goal to reach a stronger consensus;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas national parliaments and their role within the EU institutional framework were addressed by a number of proposals contained in the report on the final outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE); whereas the experience of the Conference on the Future of Europe has shown the potential of a new fruitful alliance between National parliaments and the European Parliament;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas national parliaments play a role in any revision of the European Treaties, in particular in the goal to strengthen the parliamentary dimension and the democratic life of the EU; whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 9 June 2022 called for a Convention for the revision of the Treaties;
Amendment 23 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas a European public sphere could be fostered by a series of forums on the European agenda and such forums could be endorsed through a common ‘European Week’, in which members of national parliamentary chambers would simultaneously discuss European affairs with Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament and ministers from the sitting Council presidency; whereas the development a true European public sphere requires in parallel also an adequate promotion of forms of citizens’ participation and consultation, that can be complementary to a stronger parliamentary dimension of the EU;
Amendment 28 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the eight-week period laid down in Article 4 of Protocol No 1 has proven to be inadequate for the timely monitoring of compliance with the principle of subsidiarity and must be considered in the framework of a future Treaty revision; whereas innovative and stronger tools of cooperation between National parliaments and the European Parliament can be considered, starting with a more intense dialogue among political families and groups;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the CoFoE recommended that national parliaments and regional parliaments with legislative powers ‘be granted the possibility to suggest a legislative initiative to the European level’, an instrument which would afford them the opportunity to suggest constructive proposals for the Commission’s consideration and with due regard for the Commission’s right of initiative, having first secured Parliament’s support; whereas the goal to achieve a full right of initiative for the European Parliament was highlighted in numerous occasions during the current legislature;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas the implementation of a ‘red card’ procedure is cannot conceivable at this stage ofbe considered as suitable and constructive tool in the goal to increase the participation on National parliaments in the European integration process;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas national parliaments have relevant competencies in the areas of freedom, security and justice pursuant to Articles 70, 85 and 88 TFEU and should therefore play an important role in the future of the Union’s security and defence policy; whereas a stronger role of National parliament is also particular needed in the process of the so-called European Semester;
Amendment 38 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the implementation of the rights and obligations of national parliaments deriving from the Treaty of Lisbon has enhanced their role within the European constitutional framework, thus providing for more pluralism, democratic legitimacy and the better functioning of the Union; praises the good experience of cooperation between National parliaments and European Parliament during the Conference on the Future of Europe; considers that National parliaments and European Parliament have the potential to be natural allies in the goal of shaping a stronger parliamentary dimension of the EU and fostering more intense forms of democratic participation;
Amendment 43 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that transparency of the working methods and decision-making processes of the EU institutions represents a precondition for enabling national parliaments to effectively fulfil their institutional role deriving from the Treaties; calls, therefore, for the voting records of Member States in the Council to be made public; calls, furthermore, for national parliaments to make full use of their respective competences, inter alia by adapting their internal organisation, timetables and rules of procedures to enable them to do so; encourages National parliaments and European Parliament to introduce more innovative and stronger tools of cooperation at the political and administrative level, starting by more intense forms of exchange and dialogue among European political families and groups;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls, while encouraging strengthened political dialogue with national parliaments, that decisions must be taken in accordance with constitutional competences, the EU Treaties and the EU acquis and by taking into account the clear delineation between the respective decision-making competences of the national and European bodies;
Amendment 49 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Statresses that the alignment of the European Semester with the agendas of national parliaments could further contribute to the coordination of economic policies, while underlining that such alignment should not disregard the powers of self-governance and the specific rules of procedure of each parliamentary chamber; calls for the consideration of a specific Protocol to define the cooperation between National parliaments and European Parliament in the European Semester process;
Amendment 53 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that the establishment of an annual European Week would allow Members of the European Parliament, Commissioners and ministers of sitting Council presidencies to stand before all national and, where appropriate, regional parliamentary assemblies in order to discuss and explain the European agenda alongside national and regional parliamentarians; believes, further, thatsuggests to structure the annual European Week on topical debates mutually agreed between the National parliaments and the European Parliament based on subjects of high relevance for the EU agenda; Proposes to invite representatives of European civil society and a selection of citizens based on the COFOE in order to make the European Week more visible; stresses the importance of meetings between national and European political groups in the framework of EU interparliamentary cooperation could bring added value in theand believes in the added value of such encounters to form of authentic European political debate;sphere; recalls in particular the good model of cooperation established in the framework of the caucuses of political families taking place during the Conference on the Future of Europe,
Amendment 56 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers a stronger involvement of National parliaments from candidate countries to be an essential tool in order to make the EU enlargement strategy successful; Suggests the involvement of representatives of National parliaments from candidate countries in the proposed European Week
Amendment 58 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that procedures such as the ‘yellow’ or ‘orange’ cards have not been used extensively; believes, however, that the procedural shortcomings of the EWS should not be regarded as conclusive proof of failure to respect subsidiarity; suggests that all EU institutions and Member States agree on a common culture regarding the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality based on the criteria contained in the Protocol on subsidiarity and proportionality originally attached to the Amsterdam Treaty, the relevant case law of the European Court of Justice and the Commission’s own practice; considers that the development of this common culture should allow for a broader understanding encompassing all the elements of subsidiarity and should be fostered through new tools of cooperation such as pilot projects and administrative and political exchanges between National parliaments and the European Parliament;
Amendment 65 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the request by national parliaments to extend the eight- week period during which they can issue reasoned opinions under Article 3 of Protocol No 1; underlines, however, that the current Treaty framework does not provide for such an extension; notes that, as a mitigation measure, from 2019, the Commission began excluding the end-of- year festive period when setting the eight- week period for national parliaments to send reasoned opinions; considers, therefore, that the eight-introduction of a twelve- week period mustshould be reconsidered in the framework of a future Treaty revision;
Amendment 69 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its suggestion of setting up a system, sometimes called a ‘green card’ procedure, whereby at least one third of national parliaments can submit constructive proposals to the Commission with the aim of positively influencing the European debate and the Commission’s power of initiative, having first secured Parliament’s support; suggests, in this regard, that the Commission could enjoy the discretion either to take on board such proposals or to issue a formal response underlining its reasons for not doing so; points out that such a procedure cannot consist of a right of initiative or the right to withdraw or amend legislation as this would subvert ‘the Union method’ and the distribution of competences between national and European level, thus violating the Treaties;
Amendment 73 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that the ‘a "green card’" procedure should be directed at the European Parliament once the latter is granted a general direct right of legislative initiative, as the direct representative of EU citizens;
Amendment 75 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Takes note of the current cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in the COSAC, in the Interparliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy and within the framework of Article 13 TSCG; takes note, further, of more recent forms of interparliamentary cooperation such as the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol and the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the Evaluation of Eurojust; suggests the introduction of specific forms of stronger cooperation - to be regulated under ad hoc protocols - during the European Semester process as well as in the monitoring of the RFF Recovery and Resilience Facility; stresses that such cooperation should be developed on the basis of the principles of consensus, information-sharing and consultation in order for national parliaments to exercise scrutiny over their respective governments and administrations;
Amendment 76 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reiterates that the current framework of relations between the Union and national parliaments could be simplified and harmonised in order to make it more efficient and effective; calls, in this context, for a review of the engagement between the Union and its national parliaments across existing platforms and forums, with the aim of strengthening these relations and adapting them to current needs; suggests opening a discussion on the introduction of a political common declaration or framework agreement between the National parliaments and the European Parliament, namely concerning the organisation of the proposed European Week, in order to provide a more coherent framework of cooperation at political, institutional and administrative level;
Amendment 80 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out that strengthening political and technical dialogue between parliamentary committees and political groups, both at national and at European level, would be a highly productive step towards full interparliamentary cooperation; is considering the possibility of allocating additional resources to achieve this aim, and ofsuch as the use of videoconferences, where possiblestaff exchanges or pilot projects;
Amendment 82 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Acknowledges the relevance of the Interparliamentary Committee Meetings (ICM) established in Articles 9 and 10 of Protocol No 1 and the sectorial success of a ‘committee method’ in interparliamentary cooperation; believes that better interinstitutional cooperation could be attained if the ICM were accorded more relevance by the Members of the European Parliament and the national parliaments and if they were prepared for closer cooperation; considers that the required changes to the rules of procedure should be put in place in order to regulate stronger forms of cooperation between National parliaments and the European Parliament;
Amendment 86 #
2023/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls the importance to enhance cooperation and dialogue between the National parliaments and the European Parliament on the right of inquiry;
Amendment 3 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation1, signed on 31 December 1972, _________________ 1 OJ L 300 31.12.1972, p. 189.
Amendment 5 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the rejection by Switzerland ofnegative Swiss referendum that rejected the membership tof the European Economic Area in 1992,
Amendment 7 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Deciconclusion of the Council, and of the Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific andseven sectoral agreements with the Swiss Confederation, known as ‘Bilaterals I’ covering the areas Free movement of persons, Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation, known as ‘Bilaterals I’barriers to trade (Mutual Recognition Agreement–MRA), Public procurement markets, Agriculture, Overland transport, Civil aviation and Research 4, _________________ 4 OJ, L 114, 30.4.2002.
Amendment 10 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to nine additional sectoral agreements signed in 2004, known as ‘Bilaterals II’ covering the areas Asylum (Schengen/Dublin), Automatic exchange of information AIA, anti-fraud, Agricultural processing products, Environment, statistics, MEDIA (Creative Europe), pensions and Education ,
Amendment 11 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
Amendment 13 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
Amendment 16 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
Amendment 17 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
Amendment 18 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to the Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the European Police Office in force since 2006,
Amendment 22 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the Agreement between Eurojust and Switzerland of 26 November 2008,;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation concerning cooperation on the application of their competition laws9of 2014,; _________________ 9 OJ L 347, 3.12.2014, p. 3.
Amendment 27 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the Arrangement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office11signed on 10 June 2014 and , ratified by Switzerland on 1 March 2016, _________________ 11 OJ L 65, 11.3.2016, p. 22.
Amendment 30 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
– having regard to the Agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the automatic exchange of financial account information, which entered into force on 1 January 2017, and which significantly facilitates the fight against tax evasion,
Amendment 33 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
– having regard to the decision by the Swiss Federal Council of 26 May 2021 to terminate the negotiations of the EU-Swiss In an Agreement between the EU and the Swiss Confederation on an institutional Fframework, governing bilateral relations;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
– having regard to Switzerland’s decision to increase itthe positive Swiss referendum on 15 May 2022 to increase Switzerland´s financial contribution to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex),
Amendment 39 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
Amendment 42 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU and Switzerland are close like-minded allies and key economic partners with a strong focus on social and environmental sustainability;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU and Switzerland have a long-standing relationship founded on shared values and goals of peace, social equality and economic prosperity;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the EU and Switzerland share a strong commitment to uphold multilateralism and the rules-based international order, actively leading global efforts to address existential challenges like climate change, migration, and international security;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas Switzerland cooperates in select parts of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and has participated in the civil and military peace missions of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP);
Amendment 51 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the necessity for the EU and Switzerland to deepen their partnership in the areas of foreign policy, security and crisis response; whereas Switzerland has aligned with the EU on sanctions against Russia and seeks new forms of cooperation in areas like security, research, innovation, and health; whereas Switzerland is prepared to expand its cooperation in security policy, focusing on areas like cybersecurity, hybrid threats, resilience, and disinformation, and aims to strengthen interoperability within the framework of the European Defence Agency;
Amendment 53 #
2023/2042(INI)
C. whereas the Swiss Federal Council commissioned the development of key figureparameters for a negotiation mandate with the EU by the end of June 2023;
Amendment 57 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas to date, the EU and Switzerland have concluded over 120numerous bilateral agreements; whereas many of them urgently need to be updated to reflect the evolving priorities in areas such as climate change, digitalization, and workers' rights;
Amendment 61 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Switzerlandthe Swiss Federal Council decided to terminate the negotiations on the EU-Swiss institutional framework agreement after 7 years of negotiations; whereas it was a missed opportunity for an even closer and fairer relationship between the EU and Switzerland; whereas a solution for a future EU-Switzerland relationship is needed that strengthens cooperation on social, economic, and environmental issues;
Amendment 64 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the visit of Vice-President Šefčovič in March has generated a new impulse for discussions aimed at resolving institutional problems; whereas there is a demonstrated will on both sides to narrow the remaining gaps through the exploratory talks at both technical and political levels, which is crucial for progress; whereas it is essential for both parties to maintain momentum, continue moving in the right direction, and potentially accelerate their efforts to determine whether there is a solid foundation for full negotiations with the prospect of a swift, successful conclusion;
Amendment 66 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Switzerland is deeply integrated into the EU single market; whereas a level playing field in the single market is necessarywell-functioning and effective single market, based on a highly competitive social market economy, is needed to boost growth and competitiveness and to create jobs; whereas to revitalise the economy, single market legislation must be properly transposed, implemented and enforced in order to bring about its full benefits in the EU Member States and Switzerland;
Amendment 72 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the EU and Switzerland should work towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic model, promoting social cohesion and addressing income inequality, recognizing that Switzerland is the EU's third-biggest partner in terms of export of goods and its fourth biggest in terms of import of goods;
Amendment 96 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the EU’s strong interest in cooperating with Switzerland on international peace, security and defence matters, in particular in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; welcomes Switzerland’s alignment with EU sanctions adopted in this context, diverging fr; recognizes Switzerland’s com mits traditionally neutral stancement to preserving the international rules-based order;
Amendment 100 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights the fact that permanent neutrality has been a principle of Swiss foreign policy since 1815, and therefore the promotion of peace, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution have been an important part of Swiss foreign policy; Underlines Switzerland’s strong role in peace building and its involvement in helping to find solutions to crises, dialogue-facilitation, the development of confidence-building measures and reconciliation; welcomes the Swiss role as a facilitator in implementing complex federal structures and peace-brokered, constitutional arrangements, in order to ease the coexistence of different ethnic backgrounds;
Amendment 102 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recognizes the challenges facing the global order and the deficit of multilateralism, and values Switzerland's upcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and promote shared values;
Amendment 107 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes Switzerland’s close stance with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, especially on humanitarian aid, civil protection, counter-terrorism and climate change; welcomes, further, Switzerland’s announcement in November 2021 that it would participate in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); encourages further collaboration on social and humanitarian issues, as well as human rights and democracy promotion;
Amendment 113 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recognizes the importance of promoting human rights and democracy, and calls on Switzerland and the EU to work together to defend and promote these values, both within their respective territories and globally, including through the Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan and the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime;
Amendment 117 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that Switzerland is seeking closer cooperation with the EU and NATO; welcomes, in this regard, Switzerland’s involvement in the Partnership for Peace programme; urges Switzerland to deepen its cooperation with the EU on food security and defence; supports the exchange of best practices in the areas of crisis management and humanitarian assistance, in line with the EU’s Integrated Approach to external conflicts and crises;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that Switzerland’s alignment with EU sanctions against Russia is on a case-by-case basis; encourages Switzerland to maintain its commitment to the international rules-based order, to closely and consistently apply and implement all the adopted restrictive measures and to prevent their circumvention; encouragescalls on Switzerland to step upactively engage in international fora discussing the useizure and confiscation of Russian assets of frozen assets for the reconstruction in Ukraine and to continue to work closely with the European Union in this area;
Amendment 128 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Expresses gratitude for Switzerland's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, including the acceptance of refugees and significant financial support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and encourages further collaboration between the EU and Switzerland in addressing the ongoing crisis;
Amendment 133 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 134 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Welcomes the fact that after a cooling off period, exploratory talks between the EU and Switzerland have been resumed;
Amendment 137 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the political statement following the conference of cantons of 24 March 2023 advocating treaty-based relations with the EU based on shared values; welcomes, further, Switzerland’s participation in the informal summits of the European Political Community; further encourages Switzerland to actively support efforts in promoting human rights and democratic values on the international stage;
Amendment 139 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises EU-Switzerland cooperation on international migration, including the management of flows and relocation of refugees; notes the large number of cross-border commuters between the EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 145 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that Switzerland does not qualify to joparticipate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; calls on a future partnership with Switzerland within this framework; urges the exploration of possibilities for Swiss involvement in disaster prevention, preparedness, and response initiatives, to strengthen the overall resilience of both the EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 149 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Economy, access to the EU internal market and labour market
Amendment 150 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls the long-standing relationship between the EU and Switzerland founded on shared values and goals of peace, social justice and economic prosperity, as well as on their economic and social interdependence; underlines the common commitment to further strengthen the fight against abusive working conditions as well as for an effective enforcement of social rights throughout Europe; to this end, intends to further explore possibilities enabling Switzerland to join the European Labour Authority as well as the Internal Market Information System and thus to an even more effective commitment to fair working conditions and to implementing wage protection in the new European legal framework throughout Europe;
Amendment 156 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that the significant degree of integration Switzerland has with the EU internal market is a key factor for sustainable economic growth and makes the EU Switzerland’s most important economic and trading partner;
Amendment 157 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Underlines that strong EU-Swiss relations go beyond economic integration, and that the extension of the single market contributes to stability and prosperity to the benefit of all citizens and businesses, including SMEs; underlines the importance of ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market in order to create a level playing field and generate quality jobs;
Amendment 160 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 167 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes the large number of cross- border commuters between the EU and Switzerland; underlines the importance of the free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland, the guarantees of residence and the undiscriminated access to social assistance of EU citizens; is therefore worried about possible consequences of any Swiss cantonal and national initiatives that could have the effect of restricting access to the Swiss labour market for EU workers, in particular cross-border workers; invites Switzerland to seek a solution which is fully compatible with the relevant EU instruments;
Amendment 168 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on Switzerland to strengthen the free movement of persons by introducing additional guarantees regarding residence and equal treatment in access to social assistance, in line with Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States;
Amendment 169 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on Switzerland and the EU to apply the relevant EU legislation related to cross-border workers and services; calls on Switzerland also to consider cancelling the safeguard clause provided for in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) and applied to the workers from Croatia, bearing in mind benefits of the free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland; stresses the importance of social legislation, the protection of high social standards and their effective application and enforcement, including efficient measures to protect and enforce workers rights, ensuring equal pay for equal work in the same place for mobile, posted and local workers;
Amendment 172 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that a largeRecalls that Switzerland’s current relationship with the EU is based on a complex network of sectoral bilateral agreements that has been developed in several steps; Notes that the existing number ofous bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland are rather outdated and need to be revisited in order to prevent their expiry, in particular those on enhanced access to the Swiss market for EU economic operators, in particular in the agriculture, food and services sectors and to take into account the evolution of relevant EU legislation in order to preserve mutual market access, in particular those on reciprocal market access for industrial goods, customs facilitation, free movement of persons, technical barriers to trade and public procurement; stresses the need to prioritize sustainable development, fair trade practices, and worker protection in any updates to these agreements; calls on the EU and Switzerland to find an agreement with the aim of bringing coherence to the existing complex set of bilateral agreements including establishing a dispute settlement mechanism;
Amendment 176 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes the bilateral agreements signed between the European Union and Switzerland on the automatic exchange of financial account information; calls on the European Commission to continue to guarantee a level-playing field with these countries on taxation, in particular tax transparency and automatic exchange of information, and to adapt future agreements to new or expected European standards, such as DAC7 and Public Country-by-Country Reporting, and to ensure these standards are being followed and collaboration on compliance and enforcement is enabled; calls on both parties to cooperate more closely in the fight against tax fraud, anti-money laundering and tax evasion;
Amendment 180 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. NoteHighlights that an effective dispute settlement mechanism is fundamental, as is a; considers further that a systemic solution onfor all institutional matters, such as cohesion policy; stresses that a common jurisdictionand structural matters is necessary, including a fair contribution to the EUs economic and social cohesion, uniform interpretation and application of the agreements, dynamic alignment with the EU acquis, and a level playing field notably in relation to State aid; stresses that access to the EU´s internal market needs to be based on a fair balance of rights and obligations and that a common rulebook between the EU and Switzerland is an important prerequisite for a common market; the functioning of a common market and Switzerland’s continued participation in the EU single market;
Amendment 181 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that Switzerland strongly benefits from democratic and competitive development throughout its European neighbours and that its financial contributions to programmes such as the EU’s cohesion policy are therefore in its own interest and should be continued; recalls that Switzerland draws significant benefits from participating in the single market; stresses in that regard that the future Swiss contribution to EU cohesion is essential and should be increased significantly;
Amendment 190 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 197 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underlines that legal adjustments in line with the EU Posted Workers Directive must not lower the level of protection of wages and working conditions as intended by the Swiss flanking measures that guarantee efficient and non-discriminating protection to workers’ rights, ensuring equal pay for equal work in the same place for mobile, posted and local workers and at the same time permit EU economic operators to provide services in its territory on a non-discriminatory basis; asserts that guarantees for Switzerland may be needed in this regard;
Amendment 200 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Acknowledges the observations of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (USS) on the need for adequate protection against anti-union dismissals, and emphasises the importance of strengthening such protection in accordance with Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention;
Amendment 201 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Takes note of the ongoing independent mediation process in Switzerland, supported by the State Secretariat for the Economy (SECO), aimed at finding a compromise solution on the protection of trade unionists in the event of unfair dismissal, and encourages its timely resolution;
Amendment 202 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Supports the USS’s call for a statutory minimum amount of compensation for anti-union dismissal with no ceiling, allowing judges to determine compensation levels based on the economic power of the employer concerned, and reiterates that reinstatement constitutes the most effective remedy against anti-union discrimination;
Amendment 203 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Urges the Swiss Government to promote collective bargaining in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention, and requests the continue provision of up-to-date statistical information of collective agreements by sector and the number of workers covered;
Amendment 204 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)
Paragraph 12 f (new)
12f. Encourages the EU and Switzerland to collaborate on sharing best practices and strengthening labour rights protection, particularly in areas such as anti-union dismissals and collective bargaining, to ensure a fair and equitable market for all workers;
Amendment 212 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that SwitzerlandStresses that the Swiss Federal Council did not support the EU’s push to remove fossil fuel protections from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT); notes with concern that EU-based fossil fuel companies could structure their operations through Switzerland so that they can still be protected under ECT; asks Switzerland to consider withdrawing from the ECT;
Amendment 215 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that grid stability and the security of supply and transit depend on close cooperation between the EU and Switzerland; emphasizes that Switzerland and the EU are striving for an environmentally friendly, competitive and secure energy supply and climate neutrality by 2050; notes the interconnection of Swiss, German and French power grids; remains concerned that excluding Switzerland’s energy industry poses systemic risks for the whole of continental Europe’s synchronous gridphasizes the importance of pursuing a sustainable and resilient energy transition in close cooperation with Switzerland, and calls on Switzerland to actively participate in the EU's initiatives on renewable energy and grid integration, such as the Clean Energy for All Europeans package;
Amendment 221 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses thatCalls on the EU and Switzerland to strengthen their cooperation on energy market integration and to find innovative solutions for cross- border trade of electricity trading must be found in order to allow continued and close cooperation between the EU and Switzerland, such as the development of a joint electricity market;
Amendment 223 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Points out that electricity supply is undergoing a real change and that the EU's internal energy market is constantly evolving; recognizes that Switzerland is no longer permanently included in the European electricity market; notes that negotiations on Switzerland's full access to the European internal electricity market would mean that both sides would benefit equally from the electricity grid and future cooperation would be secured;
Amendment 232 #
Amendment 233 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. UnderlineRecalls that Switzerland spends almost 23 billion Swiss francs a year on research and development (R&D), which accounts for 3.15% of gross domestic product; underlines that Switzerland is in seventh place in an international comparison; highlights the importance of EU- Switzerland cooperation in research and development, fostering Europe’s role as a strong player in this field of research and innovation;
Amendment 238 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to do their utmost to ensure Switzerland’s return to Horizon Europe; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a negotiating mandate on key structural issues, giving a clear political signal to the EUassociation to Horizon Europe;
Amendment 241 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the two parties to choose a pragmatic approach for the benefit of the citizens in order to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in the case of Switzerland's participation in all EU programs in the period 2021 - 2027; urges in this regard the Swiss Federal Council and the European Commission to promptly start the work on Switzerland‘s association with Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Euratom, Iter and Erasmus+ programme upon conclusion of the current exploratory talks;
Amendment 242 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Notes the importance of research and innovation in the energy sector, and highlights the importance of Switzerland´s participation in the EU's research and innovation funding programs, such as Horizon Europe, in order to promote the development of clean and sustainable energy technologies;
Amendment 243 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting cultural diversity, and calls on Switzerland and the EU to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of cultural exchange, education, and sport, including the Erasmus+ programme and the European Capitals of Culture initiative;
Amendment 244 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Amendment 252 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to terminate the negotiations on the EU-Swiss Institutional Framework in May 2021; regrets any narratives that the EU works against Swiss interests after 7 years of negotiations; considers that securing an IFA with Switzerland is of great importance, since it would guarantee legal certainty for both Switzerland and the EU, dynamic incorporation of the EU acquis, enhanced access to the internal market for Switzerland to the benefit of both sides, and the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the event of unresolved disputes relating to the application or interpretation of the IFA; stresses that a second failure in negotiating an agreement on EU- Swiss relations would be damaging for both the EU and Switzerland and risks weakening their political role; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a negotiating mandate on key structural issues, giving a clear political signal to the EU;
Amendment 255 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that it is in the fundamental interest of both sides to maintain and strengthen good, stable and mutually beneficial relations underwithin a modernised relationship and through an agreement that creates stability and welfara level playing field, trust, stability, jobs, growth and welfare and is committed to social security and justice;
Amendment 260 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is concerned that basic bilateral agreements are reaching the end of their validity and no longer secure frictionless market access as a result of the non- incorporation of new developments of the Union acquis; notes that the model based on bilateral agreements is outdated instead of a broad framework agreement is outdated; acknowledges the need for an IFA, as additional coherence and legal certainty would benefit all parties; remains concerned about the end of the application of the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Medical Devices, which means medical devices produced in Switzerland are no longer recognised in the regulated area in the EU;
Amendment 268 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to set out its approach for negotiations and that it commissioned the development of key figureparameters for a negotiation mandate with the EU by the end of June 2023;
Amendment 273 #
2023/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expects the progress in exploratory talks between the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to be stepped up with a view to obtaining the required clarifications and assurances required to adopt a mandate for negotiations; calls on both sides to use this window of opportunity for talks on a possible new negotiation package and to reach an agreement before the end of the term of the current European Commission and European Parliament;
Amendment 17 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Union and individual Member States are facing shortages in a wide range of sectors and occupations, including in those relevant for the green and digital transitions. Extensive shortages in construction, healthcare, hospitality, transport, information and communications technology and in science technology, engineering and mathematics, are long- standing and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the acceleration of the green and, digital and social transitions. Labour shortages are expected to persist and potentially aggravate in the light of demographic challenges.
Amendment 18 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The EU Talent Pool should contribute to SDG 5 on Gender Equality by promoting the inclusion of women in all sectors and occupations, avoiding gender-segregation and following the policy framework of the Gender Action Plan III.
Amendment 19 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) The EU Talent Pool should take into consideration that access to internet is low in some developing regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, and consider that this may hinder the participation of potential jobseekers.
Amendment 20 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 c (new)
Recital 1 c (new)
(1c) The EU Talent Pool should promote skills-based migration that relies on genuine partnerships and contributes to sustainable development for all. Thus, the perspective of participating third countries should be taken into consideration, particularly as regards potential consequences on brain-drain which can lead to third countries losing the human capital they economically invested in; as well as possible consequences on family disintegration that could contribute to the 'left-behind' children phenomenon and the loss of care resources, therefore possibly worsening the care-drain.
Amendment 23 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Addressing labour shortages requires a comprehensive approach at Union and national level which includes, as a priority, better realising the full potential of groups with lower labour market participation, reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce, facilitating intra-EU labour mobility, as well as improving working conditions and the attractiveness of certain occupations. Due to the current scale of the labour market shortages and the demographic trends, measures targeting the domestic and Union workforce alone are likely to be insufficient to address existing and future labour and skills shortages. Therefore, legal migration through regular channels is key to complement those actions and must be part of the solution to fully support the twinriple transition.
Amendment 28 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The EU Talent Pool should aim at supporting participating Member States to address existing and future skills and labour shortages via the recruitment of third country nationals to the extent the activation of the domestic workforce and intra-EU mobility are not sufficient to achieve this objective. As a voluntary tool to facilitate international recruitment, that should become compulsory with time, the EU Talent Pool should offer additional support at Union level to interested Member States. To this end, complementarity and interoperability with existing national initiatives and platforms should be ensured. Member States’ specific needs should be taken into account in the development of the EU Talent Pool in order to ensure the widest participation possible. Hence, ‘Talent’ is an encompassing term referring to the entire range of skills that might be needed by the Member States’ labour markets. Third country skills shortages should also be taken into account when defining the occupations for facilitating international recruitment so as not to aggravate brain- drain in critical sectors.
Amendment 31 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The EU Talent Pool aims at providing services to employers that are established in the participating Member States, including private employment agencies, temporary work agencies and labour market intermediaries as defined by the International Labour Organisation Convention 181 from 1997, as well as facilitating the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Amendment 37 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Synergies should be ensured, where appropriate, between the EU Talent Pool IT platform and other relevant instruments and services at Union level, including with regard to access to training materials such as the EU Academy and the Interoperable Europe Academy. Synergies should also be ensured with EU-funded education programmes in developing countries, such as the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait and the Erasmus+ programme. The EU Talent Pool IT platform should be quickly and regularly adapted to new practices in technology and provide state-of-the-art IT services by introducing innovative features and tools.
Amendment 40 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The EU Talent Pool should contribute to the objective of discouraging irregular migration including by facilitating access to existing legal pathways, as well as boosting international mobility, skills development, contributing to human capital development by promoting decent work and social inclusion. Jobseekers from third countries who are subject to a judicial or administrative decision refusing the entry or stay in a Member State or an entry ban in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council11 , should not be allowed to register their profiles in the EU Talent Pool IT platform, given that they will not be permitted to enter and stay in the Union. To this end, jobseekers from third countries should be required, before registering their profiles in the EU Talent Pool, to declare that they are not currently subject to a refusal of entry or stay in a Member State or an entry ban to the territory of the Union. Information should also be provided on the consequences for making a false declaration in this respect. __________________ 11 Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/115/oj).
Amendment 44 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Jobseekers from third countries wishing to register in the EU Talent Pool should create a profile using, where appropriate, the Europass12 profile builder functionality enabling to create a free profile without any pictures and report the relevant skills, qualifications, and other experiences in one secure online location. __________________ 12 Decision (EU) 2018/646 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 on a common framework for the provision of better services for skills and qualifications (OJ L 112, 2.5.2018, p. 42, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2018/646/oj).
Amendment 45 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Eligibility and selection criteria should be transparent, non-discriminatory and promote equal-treatment, considering a wide-range of skills and capacities, and providing opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Amendment 46 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Where necessary, the recognition of qualifications and validation of skills of registered jobseekers from third countries should be conducted in the participating Member States upon request of the jobseeker or the employer in accordance with the national law and practices, and with any relevant international agreements, including Mutual Recognition Arrangements for professional qualifications. It should be considered that the process of recognition of qualifications and validation of skills varies between Member States, and that the participating Member States with less effective practices may take longer to process the information of registered jobseekers, which may negatively affect the functioning of the EU Talent Pool in some Member States. Therefore, the EU Talent Pool should serve as a tool to promote a smoother recognition of qualifications and validation of skills in the participating Member States. Personalised assistance and online information on existing recognition and validation procedures at national level should be available in the EU Talent Pool IT platform and it should be provided by the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points.
Amendment 47 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In the context of Talent Partnerships, nationals of selected third countries receive support for the development and validation of skills in a framework endorsed by Member States taking part in a Talent Partnership and partner countries. The selection of participating third countries in the Talent Partnerships should be fully transparent, with precise information on the functioning and outcome of the selection process. Therefore, the skills developed or validated in the framework of a Talent Partnership should be certified by the ‘EU Talent Partnership pass’ which is visible in the context of the EU Talent Pool. Employers participating in the EU Talent Pool should be able to filter the profiles of registered jobseekers from third countries as to visualise those having obtained an ‘EU Talent Partnership pass’. This could encourage employers to offer a job placement in the Union. Member States, in the framework of a Talent Partnership, should determine the conditions for the issuing of the ‘EU Talent Partnership pass’ for the purpose of the EU Talent Pool, including whether a partner country’s national authority, an international organisation or other stakeholder should support its deliver. The issuing of a ‘EU Talent Partnership pass’ is without prejudice to European and national rules on access to regulated professions.
Amendment 52 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in its ‘General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment’ sets out a number of standards on adequate protection of jobseekers from third countries against unfair recruitmentlawful recruitment, and, in particular, reiterates the principle that no recruitment fees or costs should be paid by workers or jobseekers. Employers should comply with applicable Union law and practice. Equal treatment of jobseekers from third countries with respect to nationals of the participating Member States should also be ensured by the employers in accordance with Directive 2011/9813 , Directive 2014/36/EU14 , Directive 2021/1883/EU15 , and Directive 2016/801/EU16 .and Directive 2000/78/EC16b In accordance with Directive 2019/1152/EU17 , employers participating in the EU Talent Pool should provide to registered jobseekers from third countries information in writing and in an understandable language (including in the official languages of third countries participating in the Talent Partnerships) on their rights and obligations resulting from the employment relationship at the start of the employment. This information should at least include the place and the type of work, the duration of employment, the remuneration, the working hours, the amount of any paid leave and, where applicable other relevant working conditions. An employer should neither charge any recruitment fee nor prohibit a worker from taking up employment with other employers, outside the work schedule established with that employer, nor subject a worker to adverse treatment for doing so. Employers participating in the EU Talent Pool should comply with Directive 96/71/EC18 as amended by Directive 2018/957 when posting workers in the framework of the provision of services, in particular with regard to the terms and conditions of employment thereby established such as the obligation that third country workers can only be posted to a Member State if they are legally and habitually employed in another Member State. Employers should be required to declare that they uphold fair recruitment according to international labour standards when registering a vacancy. The principle that no workers or jobseekers should pay recruitment fees or related costs should be clearly stated in the platform and on job vacancies. Pro- active monitoring of employers’ compliance should be assured by the National Contact Points in coordination with social partners as relevant. __________________ 13 Directive 2011/98/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on a single application procedure for a single permit for third- country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State (OJ L 343, 23.12.2011, p. 1–9, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/98/oj). 14 Directive 2014/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 375, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/36/oj). 15 Directive (EU) 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment, and repealing Council Directive 2009/50/EC, OJ L 382, 28.10.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2021/1883/oj). 16 Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing (recast) (OJ L 132, 21.5.2016, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/801/oj). 16b Directive 2000/78/EC of the Council of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16–22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/78/oj). 17 Directive (EU) 2019/1152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union (OJ L 186, 11.7.2019, p. 105, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1152/oj). 18 Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (OJ L 18, 21.1.1997, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1996/71/oj).
Amendment 62 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The EU Talent Pool platform should meet established needs on the labour market, while promoting employment stability and combating precarity, and should not serve as a means to displace or negatively affect the existing workforce or otherwise undermine decent work or fair competition. To better support Member States’ efforts in addressing existing and future labour shortages, the EU Talent Pool should target specific occupations at all skills levels, based on the most common shortage occupations in the Union while taking into account the possible risk of brain-drain and care- drain from developing countries and on the occupations with a direct contribution to the green and digital transitions, set out in the Annex to this Regulation. In order to adapt the job vacancies to the specific needs of the national labour markets and taking as a starting point the list of EU- wide shortage occupations set out in the Annex, participating Member States shall be allowed to notify to the EU Talent Pool Secretariat the addition or removal of specific shortage occupations. Such notifications should only impact the matches for job vacancies submitted by the respective Member State. Neither the list of EU-wide shortage occupations nor the Member States’ notifications should affect the principle of preference for Union citizens.
Amendment 64 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Participating Member States should make information concerning the EU Talent Pool and its functioning easily accessible to jobseekers from third countries and employers through information campaigns, in particular with regard to information on the competent authorities in the participating Member States. Such information should include the conditions and procedures for the participation in the EU Talent Pool.
Amendment 65 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The EU Talent Pool Secretariat should ensure that easily accessible information on immigration procedures, recognition of qualifications and validation of skills, third country nationals’ rights, including labour and trade union rights, living and working conditions as well as available redress mechanisms for cases of labour exploitation and unfair recruitment practices in the participating Member States is available on the EU Talent Pool IT platform, following IOM standards. The EU Talent Pool National Contact Points should provide the relevant information with the EU Talent Pool Secretariat in order to allow its publication on the EU Talent Pool IT platform. Online information on support available to jobseekers in need of international protection who are in third countries should also be available on the EU Talent Pool IT platform. Support measures put in place by the Member States cshould include specific information campaigns, support to obtain a travel document, and integration support upon arrival, including existing state assistance services for migrants.
Amendment 69 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Information provided on the EU Talent Pool IT platform should be made available at least in the official languages of the participating Member States, and in official languages of third countries participating in the Talent Partnership.
Amendment 71 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The Delegations of the European Union should support the provision of information to jobseekers from third countries on the EU Talent Pool and its functioning, as well as the participating Member States, in collaboration with organisations of Europeans living abroad and migrant organisations in the EU. Considering the low access to private internet connection in some developing countries and regions, jobseekers who wish to create a profile in the EU Talent Pool should be able to do it, when possible, physically in the Delegations of the European Union in third countries.
Amendment 72 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Upon request from registered jobseekers from third countries and employers participating in the EU Talent Pool, the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points could provide additional supportThe EU Talent Pool National Contact Points should provide additional support to promote fair recruitment and offer easy access to information and to the navigation on the platform or to complete online procedures and thereby reduce workers’ dependency on private and sometimes informal intermediaries for such tasks. Additional support should include tailored information on relevant visas and residence permits for work purposes in the participating Member State including with regard to third country nationals’ rights and obligations such as access to social benefits, health assistance, education, and housing. Specific guidance and information mayshould also be provided on family reunification procedures and family members’ rights, and existing measures to facilitate integration in the host Member State such as language courses and vocational training. Such information should also include available redress mechanisms for cases of labour exploitation and unfair recruitment practices in the participating Member States, as well as contact information of relevant institutional bodies and other organisations that can provide support to file a complaint. The EU Talent Pool National Contact Points should provide information to employers participating in the EU Talent Pool on their rights and obligations relating to social security, active labour market measures, taxation, issues relating to work contracts, pension entitlements and health insurance. Clear and accessible information and guidance should be provided to jobseekers as well as employers throughout the recruitment process.
Amendment 76 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) Participating Member States should implement this Regulation in full compliance with all EU Charter of Fundamental Rights obligations and in particular without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, languages, religious or belief, political or any other opinions, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or, sexual orientation, as well as on the basis of socio-cultural background or gender identity. The respect of fair and just working conditions and the protection of young people at work should be ensured.
Amendment 89 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) collecting relevant data for monitoring the performance of the EU Talent Pool pursuant to Article 20, including gender, age and disability disaggregated data, and on the impacts of this Regulation on developing countries, especially regarding the brain-drain and care-drain phenomenon, and its impact on reducing inequalities and guaranteeing decent work and economic growth;
Amendment 92 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) Making sure that the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points provide sufficient information and support services to registered jobseekers from third countries and employers participating in the EU Talent Pool in accordance with Article 17;
Amendment 93 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f b (new)
(fb) Guaranteeing that information about the EU Talent Pool is delivered efficiently to potential jobseekers from third countries, by engaging with refugee communities (inside and outside of the EU), with organisations responsible for refugee reception and integration, employers’ associations, trade unions, and other bodies responsible for employment relationships;
Amendment 94 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) facilitating the gathering of data relevant for the monitoring activities of the EU Talent Pool referred to in Article 20, in coordination with the European External Action Service, responsible for the Delegations of the EU in third countries;
Amendment 96 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The EU Talent Pool Steering Group shall meet twice a year, or on ad-hoc basis when necessary. The meetings shall be convened and chaired by the Commission and with presence of the European External Action Service.
Amendment 98 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. Representatives of the cross- industry social partners organisations at Union level shall have the right to participate as observers in the meetings of the EU Talent Pool Steering Group. Representation of two participants from trade union, two participants from relevant civil society organisations and two participants from employer organisations shall be ensured by the EU Talent Pool Steering Group. Those representatives shall sign a written statement declaring that they are not in a situation of conflict of intereste selection of the participants from trade union, civil society and employer organisations shall be fully transparent and reflect the diversity present in all sectors. Those representatives shall sign a written statement declaring that they are not in a situation of conflict of interest. In addition, the Steering Group shall also establish consultations with other relevant stakeholders from third countries, including local civil society organisations.
Amendment 103 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) Ensuring that employers participating in the EU Talent Pool are respecting provisions pursuant to Article 13 (3) and are promoting equal treatment and non-discrimination of workers and jobseekers from third countries on the basis of gender, ethnic or social origin, socio-cultural background, genetic features, languages, religious belief, political or any other opinions, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity by doing the necessary labour inspections. Attention should be especially given to occupations with higher rates of labour exploitation, such as care services, cleaning services and domestic work, hospitality, retail and transportation.
Amendment 106 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. The EU Talent Pool National Contact Points from each participating Member State shall be regularly convened by the EU Talent Pool Secretariat in the Network of the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points to exchange information and best practices on the implementation of this Regulation and should issue public communications about the progress in implementing the Regulation.
Amendment 107 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Jobseekers from third countries may create their profiles, where appropriate, via the Europass profile builder in order to register on the EU Talent Pool IT platform. The profiles on the EU Talent Pool IT platform should not include pictures of the jobseekers.
Amendment 108 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The creation of the profile via the Europass profile builder should not constitute a prerequisite for potential jobseekers to register in the EU Talent Pool IT platform.
Amendment 109 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. When possible, jobseekers who wish to create a profile in the EU Talent Pool should be able to do it physically in the Delegations of the European Union in third countries.
Amendment 110 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The ‘EU Talent Partnership pass’ shall be visible on the EU Talent Pool IT platform and shall contain information on one or more of the following elements, without including pictures of the jobseekers:
Amendment 116 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Employers participating in the EU Talent Pool shall comply with the relevant Union and national law and practice to ensure third-country nationals’ protection against unfair recruitment and inadequate working conditions as well as non-discrimination, and to be up to date with their tax obligations. Participating Member States may introduce additional conditions for the employers’ participation in the EU Talent Pool to ensure compliance with other relevant national practices, collective agreements and the principles and guidelines set out by the International Labour Organisation, in compliance with Union law.
Amendment 117 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Employers participating in the EU Talent Pool shall not charge fees or related costs to registered jobseekers from third countries for the purpose of the recruitment. A clear statement that no recruitment fees or costs are charged to workers should be made visible in job vacancies.
Amendment 122 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b
(b) occupations which contribute directly to the EU green, social and digital transitions and which are likely to grow in importance, with special attention to professional care work.
Amendment 123 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EU Talent Pool Secretariat shall publish the list of the EU-wide shortage occupations on the EU Talent Pool IT platform and should review the list regularly to make sure it reflects the changes in shortages over the years.
Amendment 131 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
The EU Talent Pool Secretariat, with the support of the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points and the European External Action Service, shall make available, on the EU Talent Pool IT platform, the following information:
Amendment 132 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) information concerning recruitment and immigration procedures, recognition of qualifications and validation of skills, rights of third country nationals, including with regard to available redress mechanismaccess to justice and redress mechanisms, and support organisations as well as information on living and working conditions in the participating Member States;
Amendment 136 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) specific information on third- country nationals’ rights and obligations including access to social benefits, health assistance, education, housing, recognition of qualifications and the complaint mechanism pursuant to Article 18, as well as information on best practices for managing remittances to reduce transaction costs under the concept of co- development;
Amendment 140 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) information on assistance available to third country nationals that at the end of their working contract with an employer participating in the EU Talent Pool wish to stay in the Member State of reception;
Amendment 142 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. Participating Member States shall ensure that there are gender-responsive, fair, affordable and effective mechanisms through which registered jobseekers from third countries may lodge complaints in case of breach by the employers participating in the EU Talent Pool of the obligations and conditions laid down in Article 13(3).
Amendment 144 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EU Talent Pool IT Platform shall feature a directly accessible complaint mechanism for registered jobseekers against unlawful recruitment as well as abusive employment practices, indicating the relevant institutional body or organisation they should refer to.
Amendment 152 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The performance of the EU Talent Pool shall be regularly monitored by the EU Talent Pool Secretariat in accordance with Article 8(2), point (e). In particular, gender, age and disability disaggregated data shall be gathered on:
Amendment 153 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) the impact of the regulation on developing countries through clear indicators that measure its impact on SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 10 on reduced inequalities.
Amendment 157 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 3
Article 20 – paragraph 3
3. The EU Talent Pool Secretariat shall gather the data referred to in paragraph 1 with the support of the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points and the EU Talent Pool Steering Group and the Delegations of the European Union.
Amendment 158 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee established by this Regulation. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 and should include relevant civil society stakeholders.
Amendment 159 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. By 31.12.203127 and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the application of this Regulation, taking into account its impact on the objectives of EU development cooperation in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development and the advancements of the SDGs in participating third countries, especially SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.
Amendment 28 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In order to diversify the Union's supply of strategic raw materials, the Commission should, with the support of the Board, identify Strategic Projects in third countries that intend to become active in the extraction, processing or recycling of strategic raw materials. To ensure that such Strategic Projects are effectively implemented, they should benefit from improved access to finance and to financial guarantee mechanisms in place. In order to ensure their added value, projects should be assessed against a set of criteria. Like projects in the Union, Strategic Projects in third countries should strengthen the Union's security of supply for strategic raw materials, show sufficient technical feasibility and be implemented sustainably, in compliance with due diligence processes as defined by EU legislation and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, addressing adverse impacts on human rights and environmental, rule of law and good governance. For projects in emerging markets and developing economies, the project should be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country involved and add value in that country, taking into account also its consistency with the Union’s common commercial policy as well as the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) as laid down in Article 208 TFEU. Such value may be derived from the project’s contribution to more than one stage of the whole value chain, including raw material processing, as well as from creating through the project wider economic and social benefits, including the creation of employment in compliance with international standards and with the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation. Where the Commission assesses these criteria to be fulfilled, it should publish the recognition as a Strategic Project in a decision.
Amendment 32 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The definition of mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries requires an overall effort and a competitive model different from other global players. This model should not be based on the exploitation of resources, but should consider the export and processing of raw materials as part of comprehensive organic and long-term agreements. The European strategy should take into account that the extraction of these raw materials can have a considerable impact on the territories where it takes place, both from an environmental point of view and in terms of respect for human and labour rights, and therefore different modalities should be put in place in order to avoid and mitigate these impacts. In this sense it is essential to ensure greater involvement of local communities in the definition of impacts and their mitigation, as well as in governance and in the definition of a more beneficial value chain.
Amendment 34 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 b (new)
Recital 10 b (new)
(10b) The secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials is strongly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular in order to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation and to combat climate change and its impacts. For this reason it is fundamental to connect the European strategy to a global standards framework. In particular, the United Nations Framework Resource Classification (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) are important references for the identification of raw materials and for the definition of a framework for integrated resource management that can help both countries and companies to address sustainability challenges.
Amendment 37 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to ensure the sustainability of increased raw material production, new raw materials projects should be implemented sustainably. To that end, the Strategic Projects receiving support under this Regulation should be assessed taking into account international instruments covering all aspects of sustainability highlighted in the EU principles for sustainable raw materials31, including ensuring environmental protection, good governance processes including full involvement of local communities and Civil Society Organisations,socially responsible practices, including respect for human and socialrights such as the rights of women, andchildren and workers, as well astransparent business practices. Projects should also ensure engagement in good faith as well as comprehensive and meaningful consultations with local communities, including with indigenous peoples, as laid out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples. To provide project promoters with a clear and efficient way of complying with this criterion, compliance with relevant Union legislation, international standards, guidelines and principles or participation in a certification scheme recognised under this Regulation should be considered sufficient. _________________ 31 European Commission, Directorate- General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, EU principles for sustainable raw materials, Publications Office, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/27875
Amendment 53 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) In order to overcome the limitations of the currently often fragmented public and private investments efforts, facilitate integration and return on investment, the Commission, Member States and promotional banks should better coordinate and create synergies between the existing funding programmes at Union and national level as well as ensure better coordination and collaboration with industry and key private sector stakeholders. To that end, a dedicated sub-group of the Board bringing together experts from the Member States and the Commission as well as relevant public financial institutions should be set up. This sub-group should discuss the individual financing needs of Strategic Projects and their existing funding possibilities in order to provide project promoters with a suggestion on how to best access existing financing possibilities. When discussing and making recommendations for the financing of Strategic Projects in third countries, the Board should in particular take into account the Global Gateway strategy42, that is a key reference for financing and securing investments and loans to support the creation of strategic partnerships aimed at improving supply of strategic raw materials within the framework of comprehensive partnerships. _________________ 42 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway (JOIN/2021/30 final).
Amendment 56 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 a (new)
Recital 28 a (new)
(28a) Global Gateway strategy intervention on strategic partnerships should comply with objectives, general principles and policy framework of NDICI - Global Europe regulation and in particular with the objectives of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) to foster sustainable and inclusive economic, environmental and social development, transition into sustainable value-added economy and a stable investment environment. This concerns internationally agreed guidelines, principles and conventions on investment, including the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, ILO conventions, international human rights law and the development effectiveness principles.
Amendment 57 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 b (new)
Recital 28 b (new)
(28b) Funding and guarantees of investments and loans aimed at supporting the creation of strategic partnerships fall under the democratic control and scrutiny process of the European Parliament, which receives timely advance and ex post information about the guidelines and progresses of strategic partnerships and assesses their consistency with the overall objectives.
Amendment 59 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) So as to ensure further coordination, the Commission should ensure necessary consultation ahead of Member States’ participation in international fora where such strategic stocks may be discussed, ensuring consistency with a single European strategy, notably via the dedicated standing sub-group of the Board. Similarly, in order to increase complementarity between the present proposal and other horizontal or subject- specific instruments, the Commission should ensure that the gathered and aggregated information are passed to vigilance or crisis governance mechanisms, such as the proposed Single Market Emergency Instrument's advisory group, the proposed Chips Act's European Semiconductor Board, the HERA Board or the Health Crisis Board.
Amendment 67 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) The Union has concluded Strategic Partnerships covering raw materials with third countries in order to implement the 2020 Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials. In order to diversify supply, these efforts should continue. To develop and ensure a coherent framework for the conclusion of future partnerships, the Member States and the Commission should, as part of their interaction on the Board and with full involvement of European Parliament, discuss and ensure coordination on, inter alia, whether existing partnerships achieve the intended aims, the prioritisation of third countries for new partnerships, the content of such partnerships and their coherence and potential synergies between Member States' bilateral cooperation with relevant third countries. The Union should seek mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging market and developing economies, reflecting a model of sustainable development that respects environmental standards, human and labour rights, the strife for diversification in developing countries and foresee a key role for local communities in coherence with its Global Gateway strategy, which contribute to the diversification of its raw materials supply chain as well as add value in the production in these countries.
Amendment 96 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) for projects in third countries that are emerging markets or developing economies, the project would be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country concerned by adding value in that country and reflecting a model of sustainable development that respects enviromental standards, human and labour rights and foresee a key role for local communities.
Amendment 127 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Board shall periodically discuss and [within 1 year after entry into force of this Regulation] and from then on, each year present a report on:
Amendment 131 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) establishing mutually beneficial relationships to foster sustainable and inclusive economic, environmental and social development, the transition to a sustainable value-added economy and a stable investment environment;
Amendment 135 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the coherence and potential synergies between Member States’ bilateral cooperation with relevant third countries and the actions carried out by the Union in the context of Strategic Partnerships;
Amendment 145 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) whether a third country's regulatory framework ensures the monitoring, prevention and minimisation of environmental impacts, the use of socially responsible practices including, the due respect of human and labour rights and, meaningful engagement with local communities and their role in the governance, the use of transparent and responsible business practices, in compliance with due diligence processes as defined by EU legislation and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the prevention of adverse impacts on the proper functioning of public administration, good governance practices and the rule of law;
Amendment 152 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) whether there are existing cooperation agreements between a third country and the Union and, for emerging markets and developing economies, the potential for the deployment of Global Gateway investment projects and the existing use of EU funding and financial tools, in line with Union policies and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment 155 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
(iv) for emerging markets and developing economies, whether and how a partnership could contribute to local value additionsocial and environmental progress and to in-country value creation as well as local value addition, including downstream and processing activities, and would be mutually beneficial for the partner country and the Union.
Amendment 164 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. The Board shall, in the context of paragraph 1 and in so far as relates to emerging market and developing economies, ensure cooperation and coherence with other relevant coordination fora, including those established as part of the Global Gateway strategy.
Amendment 165 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The European Parliament shall receive timely advance and ex post information about the guidelines and progress on strategic partnerships, assesses their consistency with the overall objectives, general principles and policy framework of EU legislation and policies and scrutinise funding and financial instruments aimed at supporting the creation of strategic partnerships.
Amendment 338 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) Active customers that own, lease or rent a storage or generation facility should have the right to share excess production and empower other consumers to become active, or to share the renewable energy generated or stored by jointly leased, rented or owned facilities, either directly or through a third-party facilitator. Active customers should receive a remuneration reflecting the market value of the self- generated renewable energy they feed into the grid. Member states should guarantee a fair level of remuneration, ensuring that in the power purchase agreements the difference between the purchase and selling price remains limited. Energy sharing arrangement are either based on private contractual agreement between active customers or organised through a legal entity. A legal entity that incorporates the criteria of a renewable energy community as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council or a citizen energy community as defined in Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council can share with their members electricity generated from facilities they have in full ownership. The protection and empowerment framework for energy sharing should pay particular attention to energy poor and vulnerable consumers.
Amendment 1111 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Directive (EU) 2019/944
Article 15 – paragraph 2 b
Article 15 – paragraph 2 b
"(b) entitled to sell self-generated electricity, including through power purchase agreements; renewable electricity to electricity suppliers at a level that reflects the market value of that electricity, including through power purchase agreements which shall ensure that the difference between the purchase and selling price remains limited;" Or. en ((EU) 2019/944)
Amendment 106 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) This regulation aims to accelerate the transition towards carbon neutral mobility in a technologically neutral way. As a complement to the efforts towards an increasing availability of zero emission vehicles, a mechanism based on a carbon correction factor is introduced to duly account the contribution from the use of sustainable renewable transport fuels including biofuels, biomass fuels as well as RFNBOs when assessing the compliance with CO2 emissions reductions of newly registered heavy-duty vehicles.
Amendment 230 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point i
(23a) “CO2 Neutral Fuel” means a biofuel, biogas, biomass fuel, Renewable liquid and gaseous transport Fuel of Non Biological Origin (RFNBO) or a Recycled Carbon Fuel (RCF), where the emissions of the fuel in use e(u) can be taken to be net zero, meaning that the CO2 equivalent of the carbon incorporated in the chemical composition of the fuel in use e(u) is of biogenic origin, or has been avoided being emitted as CO2 into the atmosphere or has avoided its existing fate;
Amendment 242 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point i
(23b) ‘Carbon Correction Factor (CCF)’ means a factor which applies a correction to the CO2 tailpipe emissions of vehicles for compliance assessment, to reflect the share of CO 2 Neutral fuels, as defined in Article 3 (24) of this Regulation;
Amendment 263 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) 2019/1242
Article 3a – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3a – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) for all vehicle sub-groups for the reporting periods of the years 2030 to 2034 by 435 %,
Amendment 370 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2019/1242
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(5a) in Article 4, first paragraph, the following point (c) is inserted: ‘(c) the application of the Carbon Correction Factor (CCF) determined in accordance with point 7 of Annex I;’
Amendment 531 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2.1
Annex I – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2.1
Amendment 566 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
ANNEX I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4.3. – table 4.3.1.
ANNEX I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4.3. – table 4.3.1.
4.3.1. The following CO2 emissions reduction targets rfsg and rfpsg pursuant to Article 3a shall apply to vehicles in the sub-group sg for different reporting periods: CO2 reduction targets rfsg and rfpsg groups sg Reporting period of the years Sub- 2025 – 2029 2030 – 2034 2035 – 2039 As from 2040 Medium lorries 53, 54 0 435% 64% 90% Heavy lorries > 7,4t 1s, 1, 2, 3 0 435% 64% 90% Heavy lorries > 16 t 4-UD, 4-RD, 15% with 4x2 and 6x4 axle 4-LH, 5-RD, configurations 5-LH, 9-RD, 435% 64% 90% 9-LH, 10- RD, 10-LH Heavy lorries > 16 t 11, 12, 16 0 with special axle 43 35% 64% 90% configurations Coaches (rfsg) 32-C2, 32- 0 C3, 32-DD, 43 35% 64% 90% 34-C2, 34- C3, 34-DD Primary vehicles of 32-C2, 32- 0 coaches (rfpsg) C3, 32-DD, 435% 64% 90% 34-C2, 34- C3, 34-DD Trailers 0 7,5% 7,5% 7,5% Semi-trailers 0 15% 15% 15%
Amendment 590 #
2023/0042(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 6 a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 269 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on Parliament’s right of initiative (2020/2132(INI))
Amendment 269 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on Parliament’s right of initiative (2020/2132(INI))
Amendment 364 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Proposes to include in Article 153 TFEU the working conditions of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships with a view to ensure that decent terms and conditions of employment for young people are ensured and that they adhere to quality standards, including on remuneration, and to put an end to the discriminatory practice of unpaid internships in the EU;
Amendment 364 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Proposes to include in Article 153 TFEU the working conditions of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships with a view to ensure that decent terms and conditions of employment for young people are ensured and that they adhere to quality standards, including on remuneration, and to put an end to the discriminatory practice of unpaid internships in the EU;
Amendment 397 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Suggests to include in Article 3 TEU the promotion of an ethic an human-centric technological and scientific advance as a guiding principle for the Union to regulate disruptive and powerful technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and their effects on the economy and society;
Amendment 397 #
2022/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Suggests to include in Article 3 TEU the promotion of an ethic an human-centric technological and scientific advance as a guiding principle for the Union to regulate disruptive and powerful technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and their effects on the economy and society;
Amendment 403 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 3 – subparagraph 1
3. The Union shall establish an internal market. It shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full and high quality employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. It shall promote ethic and human-centric scientific and technological advance.
Amendment 403 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 3 – subparagraph 1
3. The Union shall establish an internal market. It shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full and high quality employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. It shall promote ethic and human-centric scientific and technological advance.
Amendment 423 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 11 – paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. The European Parliament may, by a majority of its component Members, submit to the European Council a proposal for a European referendum. A proposal for a European referendum shall be in accordance with the European values as laid down in Article 2. If the European Council adopts by a simple majority a decision in favour of the proposed referendum, the Commission shall organise one. Any European referendum shall be organised on the same day throughout the Union. European citizens can vote in their member state of residence. The referendum question will be approved if a majority of voters at EU level, and at national level in a majority of member states, vote in favour.
Amendment 423 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 11 – paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. The European Parliament may, by a majority of its component Members, submit to the European Council a proposal for a European referendum. A proposal for a European referendum shall be in accordance with the European values as laid down in Article 2. If the European Council adopts by a simple majority a decision in favour of the proposed referendum, the Commission shall organise one. Any European referendum shall be organised on the same day throughout the Union. European citizens can vote in their member state of residence. The referendum question will be approved if a majority of voters at EU level, and at national level in a majority of member states, vote in favour.
Amendment 473 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 48 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The amendments shall enter into force after being ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.through a European referendum. Ratification requires a double majority: an overall European majority of votes cast, and a majority of votes cast in a majority of Member States
Amendment 473 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 48 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The amendments shall enter into force after being ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.through a European referendum. Ratification requires a double majority: an overall European majority of votes cast, and a majority of votes cast in a majority of Member States
Amendment 474 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 48 – paragraph 5
5. If, two years after the signature of a treaty amending the Treaties, four fifths of thhe amendments are ratified by the European referendum, but in one or more Member Sstates have ratified there is a majority and one or more Member States have encountered difficulties in proceeding with ratification, the matter shall be referred to the European Councilgainst ratification, a new Referendum will take place in those countries within 6 months to decide if to ratify or leave the EU, negotiating a new relationship according to Article 50.
Amendment 474 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Article 48 – paragraph 5
5. If, two years after the signature of a treaty amending the Treaties, four fifths of thhe amendments are ratified by the European referendum, but in one or more Member Sstates have ratified there is a majority and one or more Member States have encountered difficulties in proceeding with ratification, the matter shall be referred to the European Councilgainst ratification, a new Referendum will take place in those countries within 6 months to decide if to ratify or leave the EU, negotiating a new relationship according to Article 50.
Amendment 480 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Final and provisional clause (new)
This comprehensive Treaty Reform proposal shall be ratified through the European Referendum as indicated in the new Article 48.
Amendment 480 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on European Union – Final and provisional clause (new)
This comprehensive Treaty Reform proposal shall be ratified through the European Referendum as indicated in the new Article 48.
Amendment 487 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 9
In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level and high quality of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and a high level and high quality of education, training and protection of human health.
Amendment 487 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 9
In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level and high quality of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and a high level and high quality of education, training and protection of human health.
Amendment 520 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 145
Member States and the Union shall, in accordance with this Title, work towards developing a coordinated strategy for high level and high quality employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change with a view to achieving the objectives defined in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 520 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 145
Member States and the Union shall, in accordance with this Title, work towards developing a coordinated strategy for high level and high quality employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change with a view to achieving the objectives defined in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 521 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 146 – paragraph 2
2. Member States, having regard to national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour, shall regard promoting high level and high quality employment as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate their action in this respect within the Council, in accordance with the provisions of Article 148.
Amendment 521 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 146 – paragraph 2
2. Member States, having regard to national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour, shall regard promoting high level and high quality employment as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate their action in this respect within the Council, in accordance with the provisions of Article 148.
Amendment 522 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 147 – paragraph 1
1. The Union shall contribute to a high level and a high quality of employment by encouraging cooperation between Member States and by supporting and, if necessary, complementing their action. In doing so, the competences of the Member States shall be respected.
Amendment 522 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 147 – paragraph 1
1. The Union shall contribute to a high level and a high quality of employment by encouraging cooperation between Member States and by supporting and, if necessary, complementing their action. In doing so, the competences of the Member States shall be respected.
Amendment 523 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 147 – paragraph 2
2. The objective of a high level ofand high quality employment shall be taken into consideration in the formulation and implementation of Union policies and activities.
Amendment 523 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 147 – paragraph 2
2. The objective of a high level ofand high quality employment shall be taken into consideration in the formulation and implementation of Union policies and activities.
Amendment 525 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 151 – paragraph 1
The Union and the Member States, having in mind fundamental social rights such as those set out in the revised European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961 andStrasbourg on 3 May 1996, in the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, shall have as their objectives the promotion of high level and high quality employment, improved living and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the improvement is being maintained, proper social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting high levels and high quality of employment and the comberadicationg of poverty, including child poverty, and social exclusion.
Amendment 525 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 151 – paragraph 1
The Union and the Member States, having in mind fundamental social rights such as those set out in the revised European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961 andStrasbourg on 3 May 1996, in the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, shall have as their objectives the promotion of high level and high quality employment, improved living and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the improvement is being maintained, proper social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting high levels and high quality of employment and the comberadicationg of poverty, including child poverty, and social exclusion.
Amendment 526 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point b
(b) working conditions;, including working conditions of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships
Amendment 526 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point b
(b) working conditions;, including working conditions of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships
Amendment 527 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point (e)
(e) the effective information and, consultation and participation of workers;
Amendment 527 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point (e)
(e) the effective information and, consultation and participation of workers;
Amendment 528 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point (j)
(j) the eradication of poverty, including child poverty, and the combating of social exclusion
Amendment 528 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 153 - paragraph 1 - point (j)
(j) the eradication of poverty, including child poverty, and the combating of social exclusion
Amendment 531 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 162
In order to create a fair and socially inclusive society, eradicate poverty and improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal market and to contribute thereby to raising the standard of living, a European Social Fund is hereby established in accordance with the provisions set out below; it shall aim to render the employment of workers easier and to increase their geographical and occupational mobility within the Union, and to facilitate their adaptation to industrial and technological changes and to changes in production systems, in particular through vocational training and retraining and to promote the social inclusion and integration of people in or at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived persons and children, and to provide food and basic material assistance to the most deprived.
Amendment 531 #
2022/2051(INL)
Annex to the motion for a resolution Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Article 162
In order to create a fair and socially inclusive society, eradicate poverty and improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal market and to contribute thereby to raising the standard of living, a European Social Fund is hereby established in accordance with the provisions set out below; it shall aim to render the employment of workers easier and to increase their geographical and occupational mobility within the Union, and to facilitate their adaptation to industrial and technological changes and to changes in production systems, in particular through vocational training and retraining and to promote the social inclusion and integration of people in or at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived persons and children, and to provide food and basic material assistance to the most deprived.
Amendment 217 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In addition, packaging uses high amounts of virgin materials (40 % of plastics and 50 % of paper use in the Union is for packaging) and represents 36 % of municipal solid waste30. High and constantly growing levels of packaging generated as well as low levels of re-use , collectionand poor recycling, present significant barriers to achieving a low- carbon circular economy. For these reasons, this Regulation should establish rules over the entire life-cycle of packaging contributing to the efficient functioning of the internal market by harmonising national measures, while preventing and reducing the adverse impacts of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and human health. By laying measures in line with the hierarchy of waste, it should contribute to the transition to a circular economy. _________________ 30 Eurostat, Packaging waste statistics: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics- explained/index.php?title=Packaging_wast e_statistics
Amendment 228 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Council underlined in its Conclusions of December 202038, that the revision of Directive 94/62/EC should update and establish more concrete, effective and easy to implement provisions to facilitate sustainable packaging in the internal market and minimise the complexity of packaging in order to foster economically feasible solutions, to improve the reusability and recyclability as well as minimise substances of concern in packaging materials, especially concerning food packaging materials, and to provide for labelling packaging in an easily understandable way to inform consumers about its recyclability and where its waste should be discarded to facilitate sorting and recycling. At the same time it noted that hygiene and food safety standards have to be respected. _________________ 38 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/docu ment/ST-13852-2020-INIT/en/pdf
Amendment 231 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The European Parliament’s Resolution of 10 February 2021 on the New Circular Economy Action Plan39reiterated the objective of making all packaging reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030 and called on the Commission to present a legislative proposal including waste reduction measures and targets and ambitious essential requirements in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive to reduce excessive packaging, including in e-commerce, improve recyclability and minimise the complexity of packaging, increase recycled content, phase out hazardous and harmful substances, and promote re-use. In addition, it stressed that food safety or hygiene standards must not be compromised. _________________ 39 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2021-0040_EN.html
Amendment 273 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Food packaging materials represent a positive contribution to the prevention of food loss and food waste along the supply chain, for example packaging that reduces food loss in transport, storage and distribution, and that preserves the quality and hygiene of food for longer, or that extends shelf life.
Amendment 277 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are a large family of more than 4,700 man-made chemicals according to 2018 OECD definitions. Since their emergence in the late 1940s, PFASs have been used in an increasingly wide range of consumer products and industrial applications, from food packaging and clothing to electronics, aviation and firefighting foams. They are used for their ability to repel grease and water, as well as for their high stability and resistance to high temperatures, due to their carbon-fluorine bond. That bond is also responsible for their extreme persistence in the environment. Exposure to the most studied PFASs has been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including thyroid disease, liver damage, reduced birth weight, obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and reduced response to routine vaccinations, as well as increased risk of breast, kidney and testicular cancer.
Amendment 278 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) Fostering a sustainable bio- economy can contribute to decreasing Europe's dependence on imported raw materials. Improving market conditions for bio-based recyclable packaging and compostable biodegradable packaging and reviewing existing law hampering the use of those materials offers the opportunity to stimulate further research and innovation and to substitute fossil fuel-based feedstocks with renewable sources for the production of packaging, where beneficial from a lifecycle perspective, and support further organic recycling.
Amendment 281 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 b (new)
Recital 15 b (new)
Amendment 283 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 c (new)
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) On 27 May 2020, Denmark published Order No. 681 of May 25, 2020 ‘Executive Order on Food Contact Materials and Penal Code for Violation of Related EU Acts’ in its Official Gazette (Lovtidende A) to prohibit PFASs chemicals in food contact paper and board materials and articles. Following that example, in light of the health and environmental emergency represented by PFASs and awaiting ECHA's restriction opinion on a wider ban on PFASs for all packaging and for other sectors all paper, cardboard food packaging containing PFASs should not be placed on the Union market.
Amendment 322 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Some Member States are taking action to encourage recyclability of packaging through modulation of extended producer responsibility fees; such initiatives taken at the national level may create regulatory uncertainty for the economic operators, in particular where they supply packaging in several Member States. At the same time, modulation of extended producer responsibility fees is an effective economic instrument to incentivise more sustainable packaging design leading to better recyclable packaging while improving the functioning of the internal market. It is therefore necessary to harmonise criteria for the modulation of extended producer responsibility fees based on the recyclability performance grade obtained through recyclability assessment, while not setting the actual amounts of such fees and to ensure that such fees are earmarked to finance the net cost of collection, sorting and recycling of packaging. As the criteria should be related to the criteria on packaging recyclability, it is appropriate to empower the Commission to adopt such harmonised criteria at the same time as establishing the detailed design for recycling criteria per packaging categories.
Amendment 362 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) The bio-waste waste stream is often contaminated with conventional plastics and the material recycling streams are often contaminated with compostable plastics. This cross-contamination leads to waste of resources, lower quality secondary raw materials and should be prevented at source. As the proper disposal route for compostable plastic packaging is becoming increasingly confusing for consumers, it is justified and necessary to lay down clear and common rules on the use of compostable plastic packaging, mandating it only when its use brings a clear benefit for the environment or for human health. This is particularly the case when the use of compostable packaging helps collect or dispose of bio-waste. This contamination leads to environmental and economic impacts and waste of resources and should be prevented at source. Mandating compostable plastic packaging for applications strictly linked to food and food waste, may help to reduce this contamination. Therefore, , it is justified and necessary to lay down clear and common rules on the use of compostable plastic packaging, mandating it only when its use brings a clear benefit for the environment or for human health. This is particularly the case when the use of compostable packaging helps collect or dispose of bio-waste. The EN 13432 standard “Packaging - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation" specifies requirements and procedures to determine the compostability and anaerobic treatability of packaging and packaging materials in industrial controlled conditions and should represent the harmonised specification of what packaging can be considered compostable and biodegradable across Member States.
Amendment 371 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) For limited packaging applications made of biodegradable plastic polymersThere is a demonstrable environmental benefit of using compostable packaging for specific packaging applications, in particular those strictly linked to food and food waste prevention, , there is a demonstrable environmental benefit of using compostable packaging, which enters composting plants, including anaerobic digestion facilities under controlled conditions. Furthermore, where appropriate waste collection schemes and waste treatment infrastructures are available in a Member State, there should be a limited flexibility in deciding whether to mandate the use of compostable plastics for lightweight plastic carrier bags on its territory. In order to avoid consumer confusion about the correct disposal and considering the environmental benefit of circularity of the carbon, all other plastic packaging should go into material recycling and the design of such packaging should ensure that it does not affect the recyclability of other waste streams.
Amendment 392 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) Packaging should be designed so as to minimise its volume and weight while maintaining its ability to perform the packaging functions. The manufacturer of packaging should assess the packaging against the performance criteria, as listed in Annex IV of this Regulation. In view of the objective of this Regulation to reduce packaging and packaging waste generation and to improve circularity of packaging across the internal market, it is appropriate to further specify the existing criteria and to make them more stringent. The list of the packaging performance criteria, as listed in the existing harmonised standard EN 13428:200057, should therefore be modified. While marketing and consumer acceptance remain relevant for packaging design, they should not be part of performance criteria justifying on their own additional packaging weight and volume. However, this should not compromise product and packagingspecifications for craft and industrial products and food and agricultural products that are registered andEU geographical indications, and or otherwiseprotected byunder the Union intellectual property law or agreements between the EU and third countries which recogniseEU geographical indication protection schemes, as part of the Union’s objective to protect intellectual property,cultural heritage and traditional know-how. On the other hand, recyclability, the use of recycled content, and re-use may justify additional packaging weight or volume, and should be added to the performance criteria. Packaging with double walls, false bottoms and other characteristics only aimed to increase the perceived product volume should not be placed on the market, as it does not meet the requirement for packaging minimisation. The same rule should apply to superfluous packaging not necessary for ensuring packaging functionality. _________________ 57 Packaging – Requirements specific to manufacturing and composition – Prevention by source reduction.
Amendment 421 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 50 a (new)
Recital 50 a (new)
(50a) An expert group should be set up with a balanced participation of Member States’ representatives and all interested parties involved with packaging, such as waste treatment industry representatives, manufacturers and packaging suppliers, distributers, retailers, importers, SMEs, environmental protection groups and consumer organisations. This group should be referred to as the “Packaging Forum” and it should contribute in particular to preparing, developing and further detailing the sustainability requirements, examining the effectiveness of the established market surveillance mechanisms and assessing any self- regulatory measures.
Amendment 488 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 90
Recital 90
(90) Waste prevention is the most efficient way to improve resource efficiency and to reduce the environmental impact of waste. It is important therefore that economic operators take appropriate measures to reduce the waste generation by eliminating excessive packaging and restrict the uses of certain packaging formats, extending the life span of packaging, re-designing products so that no packaging or less packaging can be used, including bulk sales, and by shifting from single use packaging to reusable packaging. The Commisison should assess the link between these measures and the setting of EU food waste reduction targets.
Amendment 522 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 101 a (new)
Recital 101 a (new)
(101a) The separate collection of packaging is the first step to ensure recycling, and to establish a strong Union market for secondary raw materials. The establishment of mandatory collection obligations is an incentive to develop efficient and targeted collection systems at national level, and thus increase the quantity of waste sorted and recycled at scale.
Amendment 533 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 103
Recital 103
(103) Deposit and return systems should be obligatory for single use plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage containers. Member States might also decide to include other packaging in these systems, in particular single use glass bottles, and should ensure that deposit and return systems for single-use packaging formats, in particular for single use glass beverage bottles, are equally available for reusable packaging, where technically and economically feasible. They should consider establishing deposit and return systems also for reusable packaging. In such situations, a Member State should be allowed, while observing the general rules laid down in the Treaty and complying with the provisions set out in this Regulation, adopt provisions which go beyond the minimum requirements set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 556 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 117 a (new)
Recital 117 a (new)
(117a) Separate collection out of homes is an important enabler for the increase of packaging collection rates, supporting packaging circularity. Member States should take specific measures to facilitate separate out-of-home collection.
Amendment 575 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes requirements for the entire life cycle of packaging as regards environmental sustainability and labelling, to allow its placing on the market, as well as for the extended producer responsibility, prevention, collection, treatment and recycling of packaging waste.
Amendment 830 #
2022/0396(COD)
2a. Paper and cardboard food packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) shall not be placed on the market.
Amendment 876 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) it is designed for recycling; or for compostable packaging, is compliant with point a), b) and c) of Annex III
Amendment 905 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Points (a) to (d) shall apply from5 years after the date of entry into force of the delegated act referred to in paragraph 4 and no earlier than 1 January 2030 and p. Point (e) shall apply from 1 January 20355 years after the date of entry into force of the delegated act referred to in paragraph 6 and in any case no earlier than 5 years after the application of point (a).
Amendment 928 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. Recyclable packaging shall, from 1 January 2030, comply with the design for recycling criteria as laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 and, from 1 January 2035Five years after the date of entry into force of the delegated acts referred to in paragraph 4 and in any case no earlier than 1 January 2030, recyclable packaging shall comply with the design for recycling criteria as laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 4. Five years after the date of entry into force of the delegated act referred to in paragraph 6 and in any case no earlier than 5 years after the application of point (a) of paragraph 2, also with the recyclability at scale requirements laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 6. Where such packaging complies with those delegated acts, it shall be considered to comply with paragraph 2, points (a) and (e).
Amendment 956 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 58, in consultation with the Packaging Forum established under Article 12 bis, to supplement this Regulation in order to establish design for recycling criteria and recycling performance grades based on the criteria and parameters listed in Table 2 of Annex II for packaging categories listed in Table 1 of that Annex, as well as rules concerning the modulation of financial contributions to be paid by producers to comply with their extended producer responsibility obligations set out in Article 40(1), based on the packaging recycling performance grade, and for plastic packaging, the percentage of recycled content. Design-for-recycling criteria shall consider state of the art collection, sorting and recycling processes and shall cover all packaging components.
Amendment 980 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
From 1 January 2030,ive years after the adoption of the delegated act laying down design for recycling criteria pursuant to paragraph 4 packaging shall not be considered recyclable if it corresponds to performance grade E under the design for recycling criteria established in the delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 for the packaging category, to which the packaging belongs.
Amendment 1034 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Where technically feasible, Member States shall, especially through design of schemes established in compliance with Art. 40 and 44, prioritise recycling of recyclable packaging in closed loops, whereby producers obliged with recycled content targets benefit from preferential access to the material derived from their effectively recycled packaging
Amendment 1067 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 10 – point c a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 10 – point c a (new)
(ca) contact-sensitive plastic packaging of foods intended for infants and young children and food for special medical purposes covered by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013.
Amendment 1231 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Member States shall ensure that comprehensive collection and sorting infrastructures are in place to guarantee the availability of recycled content.
Amendment 1281 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. To achieve the targets set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, producers subjected to recyled content targets shall benefit from a right of preferential access to a proportionate share of the recycled materials recovered from the pre- and post-consumer plastic waste derived from the packaging they put on the market. The schemes described in article 40, paragraph 1 and in article 44 shall be designed accordingly.
Amendment 1376 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. By [OP: Please insert the date = 24 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], packaging other than that referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including packaging made of biodegradcompostable plastic polymers, shall allow material recycling without affecting the recyclability of other wastemay be placed on the market if compliant with criteria listed in Annex III, where appropriate waste collection schemes and waste treatment infrastructure are available to ensure that compostable plastic packaging enters the bio-waste waste management streams.
Amendment 1388 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The Commission shall, no later than 31 May 2026, request the European standardisation organisations to update the harmonised standard on the requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - test schemes and evaluation criteria. This standard shall consider the composting times, admissible levels of visual contamination and other requirements needed to reflect the actual conditions in the bio-waste treatment facilities, including anaerobic digestion processes, in line with the scientific and technological developments.
Amendment 1418 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Packaging not necessary to comply with any of the performance criteria set out in Annex IV and packaging with characteristics that are only aimed to increase the perceived volume of the product, including double walls, false bottoms, and unnecessary layers, shall not be placed on the market, unless the packaging design is subject to geographical indications of origin and/or intellectual property right protected under Union legislation.
Amendment 1594 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12 a (new)
Article12a Packaging Forum The Commission shall ensure that when it conducts its activities, it observes a balanced participation of Member States’ representatives and all interested parties involved with packaging industry, including waste treatment industry representatives, manufacturers and packaging suppliers, distributers, retailers, importers, SMEs, environmental protection groups and consumer organisations. These parties shall contribute in particular to preparing the delegated and implementing acts provided for in this Regulation to develop and further detail the sustainability requirements and examining the effectiveness of the established market surveillance mechanisms. To that end, the Commission shall establish an expert group, in which those parties shall meet, referred to as the ‘Packaging Forum’.
Amendment 1726 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Amendment 1909 #
2022/0396(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The obligation laid down in paragraph 4 does not apply to packaging for wines, aromatized wine products and spirituous beverages as defined by the nomenclature codes: ex 2204 Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines;grape must other than that of heading 2009; ex 2205 Vermouth and other wine of fresh grapes flavoured with plants or aromatic substances; ex 2208 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages;
Amendment 191 #
2022/0365(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles, engines and replacement parts with regard to emissions (‘emission type-approval’) are currently set out in two Regulations that apply to emission type-approval for light- duty and heavy-duty vehicles respectively, i.e. Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Euro 6’)44 and Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Euro VI’)45 . The reason for having two Regulations was that the emissions of heavy-duty vehicles were checked based on engine testing, while for light-duty vehicles the basis was whole vehicle testing. Since then, methodologies have been developed that allow testing of both light- and heavy-duty vehicles on the road. It is therefore no longer necessary to base type-approval on engine testing. _________________ 44 Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, p. 1). 45 Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC (OJ L 188, 18.7.2009, p. 1).
Amendment 735 #
2022/0365(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. With effect from 1 July 202536 months after entry into force of this Regulation, national authorities shall, in the case of new M1, N1 vehicles which do not comply with this Regulation consider certificates of conformity to be no longer valid for the purposes of registration and shall, on grounds relating to CO2 and pollutant emissions, fuel and energy consumption or battery durability, prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of such vehicles.
Amendment 749 #
2022/0365(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. With effect from 1 July 202748 months after entry into force of this Regulation , national authorities shall, in the case of new M2, M3, N2, N3 vehicles and new O3, O4 trailers, which do not comply with this Regulation consider certificates of conformity to be no longer valid for the purposes of registration and shall, on grounds relating to CO2 and pollutant emissions, fuel and energy consumption, energy efficiency or battery durability, prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of such vehicles.
Amendment 862 #
2022/0365(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) for vehicles under the scope of Regulation (EC) 715/2007, the methods to measure exhaust emissions in the lab and on the road, including random and worst- case RDE test cycles, the use of portable emissions measurement systems for verifying real driving emissions, and idle emissions;
Amendment 871 #
2022/0365(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the laboratory and in-service conformity test procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) 595/2009 for category M2, M3, N2 and N3 vehicles.
Amendment 109 #
2018/2170(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Article 223a – paragraph 2a (new)
Article 223a – paragraph 2a (new)
2a. On the basis of the first subparagraph of Article 10(3) of Regulation(EU, Euratom) N° 1141/2014, a group of at least 20 citizens may submit a reasoned request inviting Parliament to request the verification mentioned in paragraph 2. The President shall forward admissible requests to the committee responsible for further examination. Following its examination, which should take place within four months from the President’s referral, the committee responsible may decide that the request should be followed up and inform the President thereof. The group of citizens shall be informed of the outcome of the committee’s examination. Upon reception of the committee decision, the President shall communicate the request to Parliament. Following such a communication, Parliament shall, by a majority of the votes cast, vote to decide whether or not tolodge such a request to the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations. The committee shall adopt guidelines for the treatment of such requests.
Amendment 2 #
2018/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas agencies play a vital role in the implementation of EU policies at European and national levels, performing a wide variety of tasks;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas agentification of the EU executive should not weaken Parliament's control of the EU executive as provided for in Article 14 TFEU;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Treaties contain neither a definition of decentralised agencies, nor a provision on their control, nor a general description of powers that may be conferred on agencies;
Amendment 22 #
2018/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Proposes in that context also that Parliament holds an annual debate on the functioning and governance of agencies, preceded by a debate in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and, given the agencies' role as an intermediary between the EU and the Member States, a period of consultation with national Parliaments should they wish to make any intervention on the matter;
Amendment 32 #
2018/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes furthermore that, in the event of any future changes to the Treaties, consideration should be given as to how agencies can be anchored even more firmly in the Treaties, in particular in relation to Articles 13 and 14 TEU and Articles 290 and 291 TFEU;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Union has a particular interest in implementing enhanced cooperation in certain areas of non- exclusive EU competences in order to move forward the European project and, to facilitate the life of citizens and to fight against climate change;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Believes that the single institutional framework of the Union should be preserved in order to achieve the Union's common objectives and to guarantee the principle of equality of all citizens; insists that the Community or Union method should be respected;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that the lack of clear operational guidelines for creating and administrating enhanced cooperation as for example the applicable law for common institutions or withdrawal procedures from an existing cooperation might have rendered the conclusion of enhanced cooperation less likely;
Amendment 25 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Suggests that the requirements for establishing enhanced cooperation should be made less restrictive, inter alia by lowering the minimum number of participating Members States;
Amendment 34 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for the stronger involvement of national parliaments, and regional Parliaments where applicable, alongside the European Parliament in enhanced cooperation and proposes the establishment of an interparliamentary forum similar to the Interparliamentary conference under Article 13 of the TSCG and the Interparliamentary conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP);
Amendment 35 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses the need for Member States participating in enhanced cooperation to include those regions that have legislative powers in matters that affect them, so that the internal division of powers is respected and the social legitimacy of such enhanced cooperation is reinforced;
Amendment 36 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recommends that Parliament should play a stronger role in enhanced cooperation by suggesting to the European Commission new cooperation via Article 225, monitoring proposals or existing cooperation and should be involved in every stage of the procedure, rather than just being expected to provide its consent; believes that Parliament should also receive regular reports and be able to comment on the implementation of enhanced cooperation;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Believes that enhanced cooperation should be under the direct jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice unless the establishment of a special court required for the functioning of a particular case of enhanced cooperation is necessary, in which case this should be specified in the legal act establishing the enhanced cooperation;
Amendment 48 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers it necessary to make the role of both the Commission and Council secretariats more proactive in the context of enhanced cooperation, and therefore proposes that they actively search, in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and especially its EGTC Platform for areas where enhanced cooperation could be useful for the advancement of the European project or for areas adjacent to existing forms of enhanced cooperation in order to avoid overlaps or contradictions;
Amendment 54 #
2018/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls the European Commission to propose a regulation based on Article 175 al. 3 or 352 of the treaty in order to simplify, unify the legal framework applicable to the enhanced cooperation (as for example guiding principles on the applicable law for common institutions or a Member’s withdrawal) and therefore facilitate the conclusion of such cooperation;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the 2018 State of the European Union address of 12 September 2018 by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker,
Amendment 15 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration without equal andhich has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples ever since the groundbreaking Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the Union has achieved fundamental transformations, such as the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, the single currency, the Erasmus programme, regional, agricultural and cohesion policies, and Horizon 2020, among many others, that contribute to the well-being of European citizens;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the 2014-2017 period has seen more socially balanced and effective monetary and macroeconomic policies that have contributed to the economic ans social recovery, such as the non-standard policies of the ECB, the flexibility of the Stability and Growth Pact, and the Investment Plan for Europe;
Amendment 27 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the economic crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery and development of the social standards of our welfare state;
Amendment 34 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, demographic decline, terrorism, security, climate change, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe shouldmust continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together in order to complete the process of European political integration, so these challenges can be effectively tackled;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas theEuropean Parliament is very concerned about the rise of populist, xenophobic and anti-European movements all over Europe; whereas the Union and its Member States must strengthen their efforts to defend and promote the democratic values, founding principles and objectives of European integration;
Amendment 41 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’s announcementnotification on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. Whereas the negotiation on the envisaged departure of the UK from the EU have revealed the high level of interdependence of the member states, the degree to which we all rely on joint instruments and policies and the costs of any departure;
Amendment 46 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas according to the Eurobarometer the EU is at its highest level of popularity since 1983; whereas the latest Eurobarometer survey, conducted between 17 and 28 March 2018, shows that a majority of Europeans have a positive image of the EU (40 %) and that this proportion continues to exceed that of those who have a neutral image of the EU (37 %); whereas just above a fifth of Europeans have a negative image of the EU (21 %);
Amendment 57 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the task of implementing greater and better integration requires working in three different and related levels: a) defending past achievements and the acquis; b) exploiting to the full extent the current provisions of the Treaty Lisbon; c) reforming the Treaties in order to improve the institutional decision- making and the balance of competencies;
Amendment 67 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas the promotion of an European dimension of culture and education are vital for the reinforcement of European citizenship, taking into account that the Union suffers from a knowledge deficit which causes that the Unions achievements tend to be taken for granted by the younger generations;
Amendment 75 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together, thus full political integration is required;
Amendment 79 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as an example method of deeper European integration, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutionsalthough this must not be confused with "à la carte" method; insists on the need to avoid any perception of the creation of first-class and second-class membership within the European Union in the current debate on the evolution of differentiated integration;
Amendment 84 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Suggests to render the requirements for establishing enhanced and structured cooperation less restrictive, inter alia by lowering the minimum number of participating Member States and recalls that differentiated integration should not be a way to reduce the political integration;
Amendment 88 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’s right of initiative by reinforcing the intergovernmental method;
Amendment 94 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates that the unanimity, which the Treaties require in some fundamental matters, is an almost insurmountable obstacle in important moments and decisions, and advocates therefore, with regard to decision-making procedures, the principle of qualified majority voting (QMV) in Council and for legislation the use of the ordinary legislative procedure; recalls that under the current Treaties this can be achieved by using the various passerelle clauses or, in the case of enhanced cooperation, by using Article 333 TFEU;
Amendment 109 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its suggestion to transformcalls that the Council into a trues a legislative chamber and toreiterates that this should be made more visible to the public by improveing the transparency of its decision-making process; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect;
Amendment 112 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Reminds that the number of European Commissioners should be reduced in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon (art. 17 TUE);
Amendment 114 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Recalls the need to provide the European Parliament with a legislative initiative power, taking into account that is the only institution directly elected by citizens, and without prejudice to the basic legislative prerogative of the Commission;
Amendment 116 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Insists that Parliament’s right of inquiry should be reinforced and that it should be granted specific, genuine and clearly delimited powers which are more in line with its political stature and competences;
Amendment 119 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working; recalls, in this respect, that the effective application of the principle of subsidiarity is one of the ways of combating euroscepticism and underlines the fundamental role of local and regional authorities in the application of Union law;
Amendment 130 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should receive particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law- making and that the more it offers a high level of social protection to its citizens, the less the question of its legitimacy will arise;
Amendment 134 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Points out that horizontal social clause enshrined in article 9 TFEU requires the Union to give careful consideration to the impact of EU legislation on social standards and employment and with a due consultation of social stakeholders,
Amendment 140 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Suggests that the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU should become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member States;
Amendment 143 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls that all Member States excepting those with a derogation in the Treaty shall adopt the euro and should take all the necessary steps to meet the legal and economic requirements for its adoption in a timely fashion; Calls for the establishment of a maximum of a 10-year transition period for joining the EMU for new Member States;
Amendment 151 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the Commission communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance; points out that merging the positions of Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability at European levelnd the democratic control of economic governance at European level, as well as avoid a duplication of roles that is confusing for the public; recalls in this respect its wish to progressively see the coordination of economic policies, as presented in Article 5 TFEU, become a shared competence;
Amendment 156 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls for the completion of the Banking Union with the implementation of the European Deposit Insurance Scheme;
Amendment 157 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Supports the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism into a European Stability Fund, accountable to the European Parliament;
Amendment 158 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Reminds the need to issue European bonds in order to generate additional own resources and provide the Eurozone with a European Safe Asset;
Amendment 159 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14 d. Calls for the development of a European Unemployment Insurance linked to the Euro Area fiscal capacity;
Amendment 160 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14 e. Calls on the Commission to activate article 116 TFEU in order to circumvent the hijacking of the Council by certain Member States in the field of tax harmonization and calls for the fight against tax fraud and avoidance to become an objective of the Union;
Amendment 162 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 because it suffers from the lack of financial engagement to face the current as well as the new challenges ahead for the EU, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources; points out that spending at EU level can save money at national level by avoiding duplication and through economies of scale;
Amendment 173 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Stresses that Europe is, and should continue to be, a positive force in the world, by upholding its values, multilateralism and International law; recalls that the Union and its Member States are the largest contributor to international development aid;
Amendment 175 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Considers that the Union should continue to advance international trade while defending social, labour and environmental standards; warns against tradewars that only produce losers and increase political and security tensions;
Amendment 186 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. DStrongly deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate migratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project which suffers directly from an instrumentalisation of the migration issue by the Eurosceptic parties;
Amendment 203 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 210 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Underlines the need for a stronger assessment of the social and environmental consequences of EU policies, by keeping in mind also the cost of non-legislation at European level (so- called “cost of non Europe”);
Amendment 216 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not just from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity, a genuinelyto protect all the fundamental values and principles of our democratic system while promoting the development of an European idemosntity, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework;
Amendment 223 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the approach taken to the current negotiations on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; notes that experience in the negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such decisions; recalls that there is still time for the UK to reconsider its intension to leave;
Amendment 229 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines once more that neither national sovereignty nor subsidiarity can justify or legitimise the systematic refusal on the part of a Member State to comply with the fundamental values of the European Union which inspired the introductory articles of the European Treaties and EU laws, which every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding these values is fundamental for the cohesion of the European project, the rights of all Europeans and the mutual trust needed among the Member States; recalls its recommendation to establish a European mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights which based on a codecision procedure between the Parliament and the Council would sanction clear infringements of these principles;
Amendment 236 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates that the process of reflection on the future of Europe and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty should eventually lead toaking into account the present state of the integration project, the EU must exhaust every possible avenue to ensure the full implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Points out that a subsequent revision of the Treaties should be based on a Convention being convened –- guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflection and engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclusions from the various contributions to the reflection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and other bodies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultations;
Amendment 237 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 240 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Recalls the pending Union’s accession to the European Convention of Human Rights;
Amendment 242 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Affirms the importance to proceed towards a simplification of the constitutional amendment and ratification procedure, insists in this regard on the added value of a potential EU-wide referendum for the improvement of legitimacy and democracy of the Union;
Amendment 243 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24 c. Suggests the reform of article 7 of the TEU in order to abolish the unanimity requirement for the imposition of sanctions;
Amendment 244 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls for the absorption of the Euratom Treaty´s provisions in the Constitutional Treaty;
Amendment 24 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas with the exception of the Financial Transaction Tax, all existing cases of differentiated integration could have been adopted in Council by qualified majority voting if this had been the rule to be appliedprovided for in Article 329(2) TFEU instead of unanimity;
Amendment 29 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas Member States are not the only potential actors of differentiated integration, since local and regional authorities also have a key role to play; whereas Regulations (EC) No 1082/2006 and No 1302/2013 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) already allows for cross-border and transnational cooperation on the basis of a shared interest;
Amendment 30 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. Whereas some EU policies, for example the macro-regional strategies or the cross-border cooperation programmes and initiatives, are helping to foster new forms of differentiated integration; whereas the legal bases provided by the Council of Europe and the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities, with the three additional protocols thereto, are tools for encouraging closer cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 35 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that differentiated integration should reflect the idea that Europe does not work on a one-size fits all approach and should adapt to the needs and wishes of its citizens; believes that differentiation should be used as a constitutional tool to ensure flexibility without undermining the general interest of the Union and the equality of rights and opportunities between citizens and to overcome the deadlock arising from national political situations not connected with the common project;
Amendment 48 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that differentiated integration should always take place within the Treaty provisions, maintain the unity of EU institutions and should not lead to the creation of parallel institutional arrangements; reminds or arrangements indirectly contrary to the spirit of Union law and its fundamental principles; points out that flexibility and adaptation to national, regional or local specificities can and should also be ensured via provisions in secondary law;
Amendment 57 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 69 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Suggests that full membReiterates that a partnership wshould require full compliance with Union primary law and all the policy areas whereas associated membership would entail the participation in certain policies only and would not be fully integrated into the EU decision-making process; Believes that the associated memberbe defined and developed in order to set up a ring of partners around the EU for states which cannot or will not join the Union, but nevertheless want a close relationship with the EU; considers that this relationship should be accompanied by obligations corresponding to the associatedrespective rights, such as a for example ainancial contribution to the EU budget and should be conditional to theand more importantly respect ofor the Union’s fundamental values and to the four freedomshe rule of law;
Amendment 83 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Suggests, when competences attribution allows it, permitting regions to participate in cases of enhanced cooperation; also proposes opening enhanced cooperation to the participation of candidate countrienon-member countries, as is already provided for in the EU EGTC regulations;
Amendment 87 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Suggests developing tools within the Union law and budget for testing transnational and cross- border initiatives on issues that represent an EU-wide interest that could eventually turn into legislative proposals or cases of enhanced cooperation;
Amendment 89 #
2018/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 6 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Union and its immediate neighbours forming part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have 40 internal land borders;
Amendment 16 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas physical and/or geographical barriers also contribute to restricting economic, social and territorial cohesion between border regions, both within and outside the EU, particularly in the case of mountain regions;
Amendment 31 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission urgently to address the problems arising from the existence of physical and geographical barriers between border regions;
Amendment 39 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the differing legal frameworks of the Member States can lead to legal uncertainty in the border regions, which results in an increase in the time needed and the cost of the projects, and constitutes an additional obstacle for citizens and enterprises in the border regions; stresses, therefore, that greater complementarity and interoperability between the Member States, or at leastparticularly at border region level, isare desirable;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises the special situation of cross-border workers, who are most seriously affected by the challenges present in the border regions, including, in particular, the recognition of diplomas and other qualifications, healthcare, transport and access to information on job vacancies, social security and taxation systems; calls, in this context, on the Member States to step up their efforts to overcome these obstacles and allow for greater powers and flexibility for regional authorities in border regions to improve the quality of life of cross-border workers; stresses that these problems are even more complex for cross-border workers to non-EU countries, and calls therefore on the Commission to explore the possibility of concluding comprehensive agreements to protect the rights of these workers with all the third countries concerned;
Amendment 95 #
2018/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that some border regions face serious migration challenges, and encourages the measuredappropriate use of Interreg programmes, as well as the exchange of good practices between local and regional authorities in the border areas, in the framework of the integration of refugees under international protection; underlines the need for national governments to support local and regional authorities in addressing these challenges;
Amendment 5 #
2018/0336(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014
Article 10 a – paragraph 1
Article 10 a – paragraph 1
Amendment 12 #
2018/0336(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point vii
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point vii
(vii) where, in accordance with Article 10a, the committee issues an opinion finding that a European political party or a European political foundation has deliberately influenced or attempted to influence the outcome of elections to the European Parliament by taking advantage of an infringement of the applicable rules on the protection of personal data.;violated Article 10a(1)”
Amendment 63 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 173(3), Article 174, Article 182(1), Article 183, and the second paragraph of Article 188 thereof,
Amendment 96 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to achieve the greatest possible impact of Union funding and the most effective contribution to the Union's policy objectives, the Programme should enter into European Partnerships with private and/or public sector partners. Such partners include industry, research organisations, local and regional authorities and similar bodies with a public service mission at local, regional, national or international level, and civil society organisations such as foundations that support and/or carry out research and innovation, provided that desired impacts can be achieved more effectively in partnership than by the Union alone. Territorial diversity and specificities should also be taken into account while elaborating the different calls, in order to achieve the abovementioned greatest possible results and to exploit the potential of the different territories in the EU at its best.
Amendment 121 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Pursuant to Article 349 and Article 174 of the TFEU, the Union's outermost regions, rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as island, cross-border and mountain regions are entitled to specific measures (taking into account their structural, social and economic situation) regarding access to horizontal Union programmes. The Programme should therefore take into account the specific characteristics of those regions in line with the Commission's Communication on 'A stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the EU's outermost regions' (COM (2017) 623 final) as endorsed by the Council on 12 April 2018 and in line with the European Parliament Resolution 'EU Agenda for Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas' in order exploit the innovative potential of all the different EU regions.
Amendment 158 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Programme’s general objective is to deliver scientific, economic and societal impact from the Union’s investments in research and innovation so as to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of the Union as a whole and foster its competitiveness, including in its industry, deliver on the Union strategic priorities and policy objectives, including social, economic and territorial cohesion, and contribute to tackling global challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment 197 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8
Article 6 – paragraph 8
8. Research and innovation activities carried out under Horizon Europe shall have a focus on civil applications and shall be ready to take into appropriate consideration territorial diversity and specificities.
Amendment 213 #
2018/0224(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) be bold and inspirational, and hence have wide societal or, economic or territorial relevance;
Amendment 54 #
2018/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
Amendment 67 #
2018/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training. In order to strengthen alignment with the European Semester, Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should, particularly for the ones issued in the first programming year and on the occasion of the mid-term review. The Commission and the Member States should meaningfully involve regional and local authorities in the process to ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared- management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.
Amendment 158 #
2018/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 101 174 000 000 in current prices.resources available for the ESF+ shall amount to27.5 % of the resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal (i.e.,EUR 99 786 000 000 in 2018 prices), excluding the amount for health, employment and social innovation
Amendment 168 #
2018/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, inwithin the social scoreboard of the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations relevant for the scope and mission of the ESF+ and adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 54 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Article 176 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') provides that the European Regional Development Fund ('ERDF') is intended to help to redress the main regional imbalances in the Union. Under that Article and the second and third paragraphs of Article 174 of the TFEU, the ERDF is to contribute to reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and to reducing the backwardness of the least favoured regions, among which particular attention is to be paid to certain categories of regions, among which cross-border regions or regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as northernmost regions, island, cross- border regions, mountain regions and rural areas are explicitly listed.
Amendment 60 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to support the harmonious development of the Union's territory at different levels, the ERDF should support cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation, maritime cooperation, outermost regions’ cooperation and interregional cooperation under the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg).
Amendment 69 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The cross-border cooperation component should aim to tackle common challenges identified jointly in the border regions, and to exploit the untapped growth potential in border areas as evidenced in the Communication of the Commission 'Boosting Growth and Cohesion in EU Border Regions’23 ('Border Regions Communication'). Consequently, the cross-border component should be limited to cooperation on land borders and cross- border cooperation on maritime borders should be integrated into the transnational component. _________________ 23 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament 'Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions' - COM(2017) 534 final, 20.9.2017. Consequently, the cross-border component should include cooperation on land and maritime borders.
Amendment 84 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation component should aim to strengthen cooperation by means of actions conducive to integrated territorial development linked to the Union's cohesion policy priorities, and should also include maritime cross-border cooperation. Transnational cooperation should cover larger territories on the mainland of the Union, whereas maritime cooperation should cover territories around sea-basins and integrate cross-border cooperation on maritime borders during the programming period 2014-2020. Maximum flexibility should be given to continue implementing previous maritime cross-border cooperation within a larger maritime cooperation framework, in particular by defining the territory covered, the specific objectives for such cooperation, the requirements for a project partnership and the setting-up of sub-programmes and specific steering committeesooperation.
Amendment 97 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Based on the experience with the interregional cooperation programmes under Interreg and the lack of such cooperation within programmes under the Investment for jobs and growth goal during the programming period 2014-2020, the interregional cooperation component should focus more specifically on boosting the effectiveness of cohesion policy. That component should therefore be limited to twoinclude three programmes, one to enable all kind of experience, innovative approaches and capacity building for programmes under both goals and to promote European groupings of territorial cooperation ('EGTCs') set up or to be set up pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council24 , one to offer opportunities for regional and local public authorities across Europe to share ideas and experiences on public policy in practise, therefore improving synergies for their citizens and communities and one to improve the analysis of development trends. Project- based cooperation throughout the Union should be integrated into the new component on interregional innovation investments and closely linked to the implementation of the Communication from the Commission 'Strengthening Innovation in Europe's Regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth'25 , in particular to support thematic smart specialisation platforms on fields such as energy, industrial modernisation or agrifood. Finally, integrated territorial development focusing on functional urban areas or urban areas should be concentrated within programmes under the Investment for jobs and growth goal and in one accompanying instrument, the ‘European Urban Initiative”. The two programmes under the interregional cooperation component should cover the whole Union and should also be open for the participation of third countries. _________________ 24 Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) (OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 19). 25 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Strengthening Innovation in Europe's Regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth' - COM(2017) 376 final, 18.7.2017.
Amendment 114 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) It is necessary to continue supporting or, as appropriate, to establish cooperation in all its dimensions with the Union's neighbouring third countries, as such cooperation is an important regional development policy tool and should benefit the regions of the Member States which border third countries. To that effect, the ERDF and the external financing instruments of the Union, IPA27, NDICI28 and OCTP29, should support programmes under cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, outermost regions’ cooperation and interregional cooperation. The support from the ERDF and from the external financing instruments of the Union should be based on reciprocity and proportionality. However, for IPA III CBC and NDICI CBC, the ERDF support should be complemented by at least equivalent amounts under IPA III CBC and NDICI CBC, subject to a maximum amount set out in the respective legal act, that is to say, up to 3 % of the financial envelope under IPA III and up to 4 % of the financial envelope of the Neighbourhood geographic programme under Article 4(2)(a) of the NDICI. _________________ 27 Regulation (EU) XXX establishing the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (OJ L xx, p. y). 28 Regulation (EU) XXX establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (OJ L xx, p. y). 29 Council Decision (EU) XXX on the association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Inion including relations between the European Union on the one hand and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the other (OJ L xx, p. y).
Amendment 120 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) appropriate consideration should be paid to regions becoming new external borders of the European Union to ensure the adequate continuity of on-going cooperation programmes.
Amendment 129 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) It is necessary to set out the resources allocated to each of the different components of Interreg, including each Member State's share of the global amounts for the cross-border cooperation, the transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, the outermost regions’ cooperation and the interregional cooperation, the potential available to Member States concerning flexibility between those components. Compared to the programming period 2014-2020, the share for cross-border cooperation should be reduced, while the share for transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation should be increased because of the integration of maritime cooperation, and a new outermost regions’ cooperation component should be created.
Amendment 158 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Member States should be encouraged to assign, where appropriate, delegate the functions of the managing authority to an EGTC or to make such a grouping, like other cross-border legal bodies, responsible for managing a sub-programme, an integrated territorial investment or one or more small project funds, or to act as sole partner. Member States shall enable regional and local authorities and other public bodies from different Member States to set up such cooperation groupings with a legal personality and shall involve local and regional authorities in their functioning in order to enhance the territorial ownership of these initiatives;
Amendment 188 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
(a) internal cross-border cooperation between adjacent land and maritime border regions of two or more Member States or between adjacent land and maritime border regions of at least one Member State and one or more third countries listed in Article 4(3); or
Amendment 195 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – introductory part
(b) external cross-border cooperation, between adjacent land and maritime border regions of at least one Member State and of one or more of the following:
Amendment 200 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation over larger transnational territories or around sea- basins, involving national, regional and local programme partners in Member States, third countries and partner countries and in Greenland, with a view to achieving a higher degree of territorial integration ('component 2'; where referring only to transnational cooperation: 'component 2A'; where referring only to maritime cooperation: ‘component 2B’);
Amendment 225 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. For cross-border cooperation, the regions to be supported by the ERDF shall be the NUTS level 3 regions of the Union along all internal and external land and maritime borders with third countries or partner countries.
Amendment 242 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. For external cross-border cooperation, the regions to be supported by IPA III or NDICI shall be NUTS level 3 regions of the respective partner country or, in the absence of NUTS classification, equivalent areas along all land or maritime borders between Member States and partner countries eligible under IPA III or NDICI.
Amendment 247 #
2018/0199(COD)
1. For transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, the regions to be supported by the ERDF shall be the NUTS level 2 regions of the Union covering contiguous functional areas, taking into account, where applicable, macro-regional strategies or sea basin strategies.
Amendment 253 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation Interreg programmes may cover:
Amendment 272 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall also contain a list specifying those NUTS level 3 regions of the Union taken into account for the ERDF allocation for cross-border cooperation at all internal land and maritime borders and those external borders covered by the external financing instruments of the Union as well as a list specifying those NUTS level 3 regions taken into account for allocation purposes under component 2B referred to in point (a) of Article 9(3).
Amendment 338 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
The allocation of resources per Member State, which covers cross-border and transnational cooperation, and includes the contribution from the ERDF to the European Neighbourhood Instrument and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, shall be determined by the weighted sum of the share of the population of border regions and of the share of the total population of each Member State. The weighting shall be as follows: cross-border component (77.9%), transnational component (22.1%). Population size in the following regions shall be used as the criterion for the breakdown by Member State:
Amendment 339 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) NUTS level 3 regions for component 1 and those NUTS level 3 regions for component 2B listed in the implementing act under Article 8(2);
Amendment 382 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – point a – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – point a – introductory part
(a) under component 1 and 2B Interreg programmes:
Amendment 463 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. The Member State hosting the managing authority may submit a motivated request for an amendment of an Interreg programme together with the amended programme, and after consultation of the regional and local authorities and in accordance with Article 6 of the CPR, setting out the expected impact of that amendment on the achievement of the objectives.
Amendment 477 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The Member State may transfer during the programming period an amount of up to 5% of the initial allocation of a priority and no more than 3% of the programme budget to another priority of the same Interreg programme., and after consultation of the regional and local authorities and in accordance of the Article 6 of the CPR,
Amendment 642 #
2018/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 44 – paragraph 5
Article 44 – paragraph 5
5. With regard to an Interreg programme under component 2B or under component 1 where the latter covers long borders with heterogenous development challenges and needs, Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries and OCTs participating in an Interreg programme may define sub- programme areas.
Amendment 90 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Horizontal principles as set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union ('TEU') and in Article 10 of the TFEU, including principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the TEU, should be respected in the implementation of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, taking into account the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Pillar of Social Rights. Member States should also respect the obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure accessibility in line with its article 9 and in accordance with the Union law harmonising accessibility requirements for products and services. Member States and the Commission should aim at eliminating inequalities and at promoting equality between men and women and integrating the gender perspective, as well as at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The Funds should not support actions that contribute to any form of segregation. The objectives of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund should be pursued in the framework of sustainable development and the Union's promotion of the aim of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment as set out in Articles 11 and 191(1) of the TFEU, taking into account the polluter pays principle. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market, operations benefitting undertakings shall comply with State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU.
Amendment 112 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In addition, investments under the ERDF should contribute to the development of a comprehensive high- speed digital infrastructure network, and to promoting clean and sustainable multimodal urban mobility.
Amendment 256 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) promoting energy efficiency measures, including projects aiming at tackling energy poverty;
Amendment 274 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
(iv) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and disaster resilienceincluding seismic risk prevention and promoting resilience to disaster and extreme weather events;
Amendment 298 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
(vii) enhancing biodiversity, green infrastructure in the urban environment, and reducing pollution;
Amendment 384 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
(e) 'a Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of urban, rural and, mountainous, coastal areas and all those territories and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps and local initiatives' ('PO 5') by:
Amendment 410 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
(ii) fostering the integrated social, economic and environmental local development, cultural heritage and security, including for rural and, mountainous, coastal areas also through community-led local development.nd all those territories and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps
Amendment 752 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a Areas with natural, geographic or demographic handicaps The ERDF shall support integrated territorial development focused on areas with natural or demographic handicaps. At least 6% of the ERDF resources at national level under the Investment for jobsand growth goal, other than for technical assistance, shall be allocated to sustainable development for areas with natural or demographic handicaps in theform of community-led local development, integrated territorial investments or another territorial tool as set out in article 22 CPR.
Amendment 783 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 2 – Outputs – RCO 19
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 2 – Outputs – RCO 19
RCO 19 ‐ Public b– Buildings supported to improve energy performance (of which: residential, private non‐residential, public non‐residential)
Amendment 788 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 2 – Outputs – RC0 20 a (new)
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 2 – Outputs – RC0 20 a (new)
RCO 20a – Buildings supported to improve their smart readiness
Amendment 789 #
2018/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 3 – Results – RCR 30 a (new)
Annex I – Table 1 – Policy objective 2 – Column 3 – Results – RCR 30 a (new)
RCR 30a – Buildings with improved smart readiness
Amendment 149 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) Particular attention shall be paid to rural areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps pursuant to Article 174 of TFEU.
Amendment 186 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Part of the budget of the Union allocated to the Funds should be implemented by the Commission under shared management with Member States within the meaning of Regulation (EU, Euratom) [number of the new Financial Regulation] of the European Parliament and of the Council12 (the 'Financial Regulation'). Therefore, when implementing the Funds under shared management, the Commission and the Member States should respect the principles referred to in the Financial Regulation, such as sound financial management, transparency and non- discrimination, other than the place-based approach, the principle of subsidiarity and principle of proportionality as set out in the TFEU. _________________ 12 OJ L […], […], p. […].
Amendment 207 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of these reform priorities. These strategies should be presente and in respect of the objective of social, economic and territorial cohesion as set out by the TFEU. These strategies should be presented at the beginning and in view of the mid-term review of the programming period alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the Funds, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU.
Amendment 220 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Member States should determine how relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) of the TFEU and relevant Council recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 148(4) of the TFEU ('CSR's) are taken into account in the preparation of programming documents, where they are consistent with the objective identified by the programme. During the 2021–2027 programming period ('programming period'), Member States should regularly present to the monitoring committee and to the Commission the progress in implementing the programmes in support of the relevant CSRs. During a mid-term review, Member States should, among other elements, consider the need for programme modifications to accommodate relevant CSRs adopted or modified since the start of the programming period.
Amendment 255 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 303 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46
Recital 46
(46) In order to hasten the start of programme implementation, the roll-over of implementation arrangements from the previous programming period should be facilitated, where appropriate. The use of the computerised system already established for the previous programming period, adapted as required, should be maintained, unless a new technology is necessary.
Amendment 306 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48 a (new)
Recital 48 a (new)
(48a) To support the effective use of the Funds, the significant EIB Group's and national promotional banks' expertise in implementing and advising on project preparation and implementation, as well as on financial instruments and investment platforms should continue to be utilized, for the benefit of all Managing Authorities wishing to implement such instruments. This would include awareness raising and capacity building actions, as well as project identification and implementation support, funded either at Union level or by Member States as appropriate.
Amendment 327 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 64
Recital 64
(64) A certain amount of the resources from ERDF, the ESF+ and the Cohesion Fund should be allocated to the European Urban Initiative which should be implemented through direct or indirect management by the Commission. Following the EP Resolution calling for an EU Agenda for rural, mountainous and remote areas, similar provision should be addressed to those areas as well.
Amendment 337 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 73 a (new)
Recital 73 a (new)
(73a) Public or equivalent structural expenditure supported by the public administration by way of co-financing of investments activated as part of European Structural and Investment Funds ('ESI Funds') shall not be taken into account by the Commission when defining the fiscal adjustment under either the preventive or the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact.
Amendment 338 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 73 b (new)
Recital 73 b (new)
(73b) Following the request from Member States for flexibility within the framework of Stability and Growth Pact, public or equivalent structural expenditure supported by the public administration by way of co-financing of investments activated as part of European Structural and Investment Funds ('ESI Funds') shall be considered as a priority in granting the flexibility, unless exceptional circumstances occur.
Amendment 429 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) a Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of urban areas, rural and coastal areareas, regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps and local initiatives.
Amendment 443 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Member States, local and regional authorities and the Commission shall ensure the coordination, complementarity and coherence between the Funds and other Union instruments, in line with the principle of subsidiarity and multilevel governance, such as the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. They shall optimise mechanisms for coordination between those responsible to avoid duplication during planning and implementation.
Amendment 482 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Each Member State shall organise, in accordance with its institutional and legal framework, a partnership with the competent regional and local authorities. That partnership shall include at least the following partners:
Amendment 625 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(g a) where appropriate, an integrated approach to address the demographic challenges of regions or specific needs of geographical areas which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps as referred to in Article174 TFEU.
Amendment 673 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States may allocate, in the Partnership Agreement or in the request for an amendment of a programme, the amount of ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund and the EMFF to be contributed to InvestEU and delivered through budgetary guarantees. The amount to be contributed to InvestEU shall not exceed 5 % of the total allocation of each Fund, except in duly justified cases, and it should not weaken the place-based approach of the funds by linking the expenditure of those funds within the region to which they were originally assigned. Such contributions shall not constitute transfers of resources under Article 21.
Amendment 719 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Expenditure related to operations linked to the specific objective cannot also be included in payment applications untilbefore the Commission has informed the Member State of the fulfilment of the enabling condition pursuant to paragraph 4, without prejudice to the suspension of the reimbursement until the condition is fulfilled.
Amendment 741 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Member State, in close cooperation with the territorial level managing the programmes and in full respect of the Code of Conduct on Partnership and Multi-level Governance, shall establish a performance framework which shall allow monitoring, reporting on and evaluating programme performance during its implementation, and contribute to measuring the overall performance of the Funds.
Amendment 795 #
Amendment 865 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare programmes to implement the Funds for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027. Programmes shall be drawn up by Member States or at sub- national level, in cooperation with the partners referred to in Article 6 and in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Partnership and Multi-level Governance.
Amendment 1038 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The Member State, while fully respecting the Code of Conduct for Partnership and Multi-level Governance, may transfer during the programming period an amount of up to 5 % of the initial allocation of a priority and no more than 3 % of the programme budget to another priority of the same Fund of the same programme. For the programmes supported by the ERDF and ESF+, the transfer shall only concern allocations for the same category of region.
Amendment 1350 #
2018/0196(COD)
(ba) local and regional authorities involved in the implementation of the programmes;
Amendment 1985 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4 a (new)
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4 a (new)
Public or equivalent structural expenditure supported by the public administration by way of co-financing of investments activated as part of European Structural and Investment Funds (‘ESI Funds’) shall not be taken into account by the Commission when defining the fiscal adjustment under either the preventive or the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. In case of an excess over the deficit reference value, the Commission shall not launch an EDP if this excess is only due to the contribution and is expected to be temporary. When assessing an excess over the debt reference value, contributions to the ESI funds shall not be taken into account by the Commission.
Amendment 1986 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4 b (new)
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4 b (new)
Member States may make a duly justified request for flexibility within the framework of Stability and Growth Pact for the public or equivalent structural expenditure, supported by the public administration by way of co-financing of investments activated as part of European Structural and Investment Funds (‘ESI Funds’). When defining the fiscal adjustment under either the preventive or the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, the Commission shall carefully assess this request, considering such a request a priority among the others.
Amendment 2030 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – introductory part
Annex XXIV – point 8 – introductory part
8. The allocation of resources by Member State, covering cross-border, transnational and outermost regions’ cooperation is determined as the weighted sum of the shares determined on the basis of the following criteria, weighted as indicatedfollows:
Amendment 2035 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point a
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point a
a) total population of all NUTS level 3 land border regions and of otherconcerning the cross-border and the transnational cooperation components, the share of Member States is determined as the weighted sum of the share of the population of border regions and the share of the total population of each Member State. The population of NUTS level 3 regions of which at least half of the regional population lives within 25 kilometis to be taken into account for cross-border cooperation programmes, and the population of NUTS level 2 regions is to be taken into account for transnational cooperation programmes. The weight is determined by the respective shares of the land cross-border (weighting 36%)and the transnational components;
Amendment 2042 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point b
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point b
b) population living within 25 kilometres of the land borders (weighting 24%);concerning the outermost regions component, the share of Member States is determined by the share of the total population of outermost regions.
Amendment 2049 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point c
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point c
Amendment 2053 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point d
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point d
d) total population of all NUTS level 3 regions along border coastlines and of other NUTS level 3 regions of which at least half of the regional population lives within 25 kilometres of the border coastlines. (weighting 9.8%);eleted
Amendment 2060 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point e
Annex XXIV – point 8 – point e
Amendment 2064 #
2018/0196(COD)
Amendment 4 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that reform of the revenue side should go hand in hand with reform of expenditure and of rebates and corrections, in order to increase the European added value of EU expenditure by ensuring a visible link between expenditure and EU policies and priorities, and by supporting EU policies in the key areas of EU competence which demonstrate high potential for European added value, such as regional and social policy, the common agricultural policy, the single market, migration and asylum policies, environmental protection and climate action, energy union, common defence policy, and the reduction of fiscal heterogeneity in the single market, as recommended in the Monti report1; _________________ 1 Final report and recommendations of the High-Level Group on Own Resources on the future financing of the EU, adopted in December 2016.
Amendment 20 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its intention to closely examine all elements of the proposal concerning the rule of law conditionality clause and to introduce the necessary provisions to guarantee that the final beneficiaries of the Union budget can in no way be affected by breaches of rules for which they are not responsibledirectly-managed Union funds are not affected;
Amendment 28 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to explore the possibility of drawing up a conditionality clause linking the suspension of budgetary commitments and payments concerning Union funds to Member States’ failure to meet quota obligations under the European relocation mechanism for asylum seekersCharter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 34 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that the Commission’s proposed new own resources categories are linked to policies with a high European added value, with the aim not of increasing the overall tax burden for citizens, but of reducing the burden on national treasuries and generating an awareness, among citizens, of an autonomous EU budget which demonstrates the added value of European integration; regrets, however, the lack of ambition of the proposals, which are such that the intended goals cannot be achieved.
Amendment 11 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas cohesion policy aims to promote harmonious development of the whole Union, leading to a strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion, in a spirit of solidarity and with the aim of promoting growthsustainable growth and quality jobs, and reducing the backwardness of the least favoured regions;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas public investment in the EU is still below its pre-crisis level with major gaps in some of the countries most affected by the crisis as the public investment in the EU fell from 3.4 % of GDP in 2008 to 2.7 % in 2016;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas cohesion policy in the 2014-2020 programme plan supported 1.1 million SMEs, leading directly to the creation of a further 420,000 new jobs, helping more than 7.4 million unemployed people to find a job and helping in addition over 8.9 million people to gain new qualifications;
Amendment 46 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers it crucial that cohesion policy should continue to adequately cover all European regions and remain the European Union’s main investment instrument, with a budget commensurate with the challenges;
Amendment 56 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that cohesion policy investments provide European added value by contributing to European public goods and tohat they are a fundamental tool in order to achieve the Treaty objective of reducing disparities;
Amendment 65 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its commitment to shared management which should be maintained and strengthened for post 2020 and the principles of partnership and subsidiarity, which contribute to the added value generated by cohesion policy; stresses that the added value of this policy stems primarily from its ability to take account of the needs and specificities of each territory and to bring the European Union closer to its citizens;
Amendment 75 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that European added value is also reflected in European territorial cooperation, in all its dimensions; calls for an increase in its share of the budget allocated to cohesion policy, while improving coordination between different programmes to avoid overlaps; reminds the importance of macroregional strategies in the achievement of the cohesion policy objectives;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines the need to develop a “Cost of non-Cohesion Policy” methodology in order to provide additional quantifiable evidence on the European Added Value of Cohesion Policy, following the example of the work done by the European Parliament on the "cost of the non-Europe";
Amendment 93 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance of supporting rural areas in all their diversity, by valuing their potential, improving transport connectivity and very high-speed broadband and providing support to help them meet the challenges they face: rural desertification, social inclusion, lack of job opportunities, population loss, the destruction of city- centre communities, areas without health care, etc.;
Amendment 94 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance of supporting rural areas in all their diversity, by valuing their potential and supporting projects which boost local economies, improving their transport connectivity and very high-speed broadband and providing support to help them meet the challenges they face: rural desertification, the destruction of city- centre communities, areas without health care, etc.;
Amendment 99 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for greater account to be taken of certain specific territorial characteristics, such as those of island, mountain or, rural and border regions, when investment priorities are set; underlines the importance of exploring the possible launch of new specific agendas, following the example set by the Urban Agenda for the EU and the Pact of Amsterdam, in order to face the challenges of specific territories and to formalise a structured approach towards those territorial specificities;
Amendment 102 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for greater account to be taken of certain specific territorial characteristics, such as those of island, mountain or border regions, and of territories in which people are required to travel long distances to avail themselves of essential services (e.g. health, education, collective mobility) when investment priorities are set;
Amendment 132 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that, in order to support the middle-income regions and to offer solutions to their problems, the future cohesion policy should properly cover, support and include them in the next programming period; furthermore, the Commission should reflect on an alternative system of categorization not based on a rigorous separation, but instead guided by a continuum principle along which all the different regions might be properly placed; in this context, recalls the importance of complementary indicators to the GDP in order to offer a more precise picture of the socio- economic conditions of these specific regions;
Amendment 146 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that social and fiscal convergence help to foster cohesion while improving the functioning of the single market; takes the view that divergent practices in this area may run counter to the objective of cohesion and are liable to cause further problems for territories which are lagging behind or are the most vulnerable to globalisation; considers that cohesion policy could contribute to the promotion of social and fiscal convergence by providing incentives; calls on the Commission to take better account of this aspect in the European Semester and to properly involve local and regional authorities in order to increase efficiency and ownership of the process;
Amendment 149 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that social and fiscal convergence help to foster cohesion while improving the functioning of the single market; takes the view that divergent practices in this area may run counter to the objective of cohesion and are liable to cause further problems for territories which are laggfalling behind or are the most vulnerable to globalisation; considerspoints out that cohesion policy could contribute to theis geared to promotion ofng social and fiscal convergence by providing incentives, economic and territorial convergence; calls on the Commission to take better account of this aspect in the European Semester;
Amendment 169 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Supports a strong thematic concentration on a limited number of priorities linked to major European political objectives, leaving managing authorities the task of drawing up their territorial strategies on the basis of their needs; stresses that employment, social inclusion, innovation, support for SMEs, climate change and the circular economy should constitute priority areas for cohesion policy in future;
Amendment 171 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Supports a strongthe thematic concentration on a limin appropriated number of priorities linked to major European political objectives, leaving managing authorities the task of drawing up their territorial strategies on the basis of their needs; stresses that employment, innovation, support for SMEs, climate change and the circular economy should constitute priority areas for cohesion policy in future;
Amendment 177 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the adoption of the European Pillar for Social Rights, which represents a step forward in building a social Europe; reiterates its commitment to the ESF as part of the ESIF, the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative in view of their role in meeting the challenges of employment, social inclusion, learning and vocational training;
Amendment 182 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises that future cohesion policy should focus more on protecting and supporting communities and territories adversely affected by globalisation (plant relocations, job losses) and also by intra- EU similar trends; calls for the scope for coordination between the Structural Funds and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to be explored and for the creation of a similar adjustment fund for intra-EU delocalization cases to be considered;
Amendment 189 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that vulnerability to climate change varies widely from one region to another; considers that the ESI Funds should be used as effectively as possible to help the EU meet its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement; insists that funding under the solidarity instruments for use in the event of natural disasters should be made available as rapidly as possible; reminds that cohesion policy needs to take into account the COP21 agreement on climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030;
Amendment 200 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Underlines that Investments through the ESIF fund support other political priorities such as research, digitalisation or combating climate change as well and stresses therefore that not only the poorest regions need support in these areas but all regions and a concentration of Cohesion policy on only the least developed regions would hinder progress in these political priorities in the whole European Union;
Amendment 204 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Stresses the need to promote further investments in quality education, training and vocational training, further improvements in the labour market for the creation of quality jobs and to tackle youth unemployment in particular; welcomes a promotion for social inclusion and to be more ambitious to combat poverty and any form of discrimination; supports the development of cultural and creative industries that are closely linked to innovation and creativity; highlights the investment priorities of research, technological development, innovation and creativity; investments in SMEs and start-ups and investments in digitalisation of industries and societies;
Amendment 206 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Stresses that although cohesion policy has mitigated the impact of the recent economic and financial crisis in the EU, and that of the austerity measures, regional disparities, as well as disparities in competitiveness and social inequalities, remain high; calls for strengthened action to reduce these disparities and prevent the development of new disparities in all types of regions, while maintaining and consolidating support for the regions so as to facilitate ownership of the policy in every type of region and to achieve EU objectives throughout the EU; considers, in this context, that more attention needs to be paid to making regions more resilient to sudden shocks;
Amendment 215 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that the 7th Cohesion Report highlights the need to take account of indicators complementary to per capita GDP for the purpose of allocating funds, in line with the challenges and needs identified, including at sub-regional level; notes the importance of taking as a basis data which are of high quality, reliable, structured and available; supports the use of social criteria, in particular the unemployment rate and the youth unemployment rate;
Amendment 248 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Believes that it is both legitimate and necessary to establish a link between cohesion policy and the guarantee of an environment conducive to investment, effectiveness and the proper use of funds is also helpful for the achievements of the cohesion policy objectives, while stressing that cohesion policy is not meant to be reduced to an instrument for serving priorities without reference to its objectives; expresses its support for a balanced link with economic governance where this helps to maximise the impact of ESI Funds; calls on the Commission to overhaul the European Semester to strengthen its territorial dimension and take account of other factors which contribute to the achievement of cohesion objectives, such as real convergence;
Amendment 259 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the smart specialisation strategies to be continued, and acknowledges the importance of ex-ante conditionalities, which have proved their worth, but stresses that in specific cases they have been a source of complexity and delays in the development and launching of programming; calls on the Commission to reduce the number of ex ante conditionalities and, in this field, to improve compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity, making maximum use of existing strategic documents;
Amendment 287 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Underlines that the most effective simplification comes from the stability and continuity of the procedures and regulations, to which the interested subjects and managing authorities are now familiar with; calls therefore for the next cohesion policy regulations to be changed only where strictly necessary;
Amendment 313 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls for the single audit principle to be strengthened, the implementation of e-cohesion to be speeded up and the use of simplified and standardized costs to be adopted across the board;
Amendment 329 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Considers that cohesion policy can help to meet new challenges, such as security or the integration of refugees under international protection, with due regard for the sovereignty of the Member States; stresses, however, that cohesion policy cannot be the solution to all crises, and opposes the use of cohesion policy funds to cover short-term financing needs outside its scope;
Amendment 342 #
2017/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Welcomes the positive results of the Juncker iEuropean Fund for Strategic Investment plans (EFSI); stresses that cohesion policy and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) are complementary, but that one cannot be a substitute for the other, irrespective of the level of development of the regions;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. DRegrets that timely and correct application of EU legislation in the Member States remains a matter of serious concern as shown by the large number of infringement procedures; deplores the high number of negative trends revealed in the current report, notably the substantial increase in the opening of infringement cases, representing a 67.5 % increase over the past year and a five-year peak, together with a recorded increase in complaints and a decrease in rates of resolution; notes that according to the breakdown of the infringement cases open at the end of 2016, the four policy areas in which the greatest number of transposition infringement proceedings were opened against Member States were the internal market, environment, financial stability, financial services and capital markets union, and mobility and transport; welcomes the decrease in the total number of new EU Pilot files, reaching its lowest level since 2011; notes the Commission’s aim, in line with its communication entitled ‘EU law: Better results through better application’1 , [1],to make use of the EU Pilot only where it provides effective added value in the infringement resolution process; welcomes the fact that the report acknowledges the role of Parliament in calling the Commission’s attention to shortcomings in the application of EU law in Member States by means of parliamentary questions and petitions; _________________ 1 C(2016)8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10.
Amendment 16 #
2017/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the crucial importance of transparency and accountability in the drafting and application of EU law by the EU institutions, meaning that EU legislation has to be clear, understandable, consistent and precise, while also taking into consideration the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which ins; recognistes on the need for foreseeability and predictability in EU norms2 ; _________________ 2Judgment of the Court of Justice of 10 September 2009, Plantanol GmbH & Co. KG v Hauptzollamt Darmstadt, C-201/08, ECLI:EU:C:2009:539, paragraph 46.essential role that social partners and civil society organisations play in monitoring and enhancing effective redress of EU law;
Amendment 28 #
2017/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes Commission's commitment to actively help Member States transpose and implement legislation by preparing implementation plans for certain Directives and Regulations; calls on the Commission to provide enhanced guidance and assistance to Member States via concrete tools in order to achieve better record of implementation of the EU law; encourages the Commission to assist Member States that might face a priori implementation and transposition challenges and address these accordingly by enhancing the institutional capacity of public authorities at a technical level.
Amendment 25 #
2017/2226(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the important role in the recovery process of cohesion policy as the main investment policy in Europe; considers, however, that its interaction with the European Semester should be improved to further increase the multiplier effect of cohesion spending and its contribution to sustainable and inclusive growth; with this in mind, considers it necessary to involve local and regional authorities in defining the parameters of the European Semester;
Amendment 7 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the Seventh Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion,
Amendment 43 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas according to the Seventh Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, lagging regions are ranked lowest in the Quality of Government Index, which means a reduced impact of public investment;
Amendment 111 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that the impact of cohesion policy in creating growth and employment, especially in the most disadvantaged regions, can only be properly stimulated through cohesion policiesbe improved if the necessary co-funding is unaffected by budgetary constraints under the Stability Pact; reiterates in this regard the call for exemption of total national contributions to European structural and investment funding from Stability and Growth Pact constraints, given their objective of achieving Europe 2020 objectives and supporting competitiveness, growth and job creation, with particular regard to youth employment;
Amendment 130 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that, with regard to cohesion policies and other Union policies, any conditionality should be centred on fundamental values, coexistence and solidarity rather than on macroeconomic parameterturned into positive incentives, eliminating the nature of a sanction and introducing an additional support principle for the pursuit of common objectives;
Amendment 133 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that respect for the principle of good governance in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources; for this reason draws attention to the issue of supporting administrative capacity for the regions that need it;
Amendment 141 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that country-specific recommendations in the framework of the European Semester should be made on an multiannual basis and seen as positive incentives for the launch of structural reforms and in no case as instruments that could exclude access to the benefits of cohesion policy; stresses at the same time that the introduction of region-specific recommendations could be useful for achieving the common objectives of the European Union;
Amendment 153 #
2017/2208(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Underlines the importance of exploiting all the opportunities offered by the EU for sustainable development and growth in these regions; recalls, therefore, the importance of also encouraging the use of direct funds and the ESIF, alongside and in coordination with the opportunities offered by cohesion policy;
Amendment 28 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it in all European regions beyond 2020, in order to combat the disparities that have increased following the crisis;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Maintains that, whatever their nature, imbalances within the euro area need to be averted as far as possible and that cohesion policy could accordingly play a key role in preventing fluctuations and helping to provide stability; stresses, therefore, that cohesion policy should remain ready for use by all regions, including those which are more developed;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for a golden rule according to which co-financing provided by local and regional authorities in the context of EU Cohesion Policy is excluded from the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 51 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs and innovation, not only in major urban areas, but also in all regions with special geographical characteristics;
Amendment 70 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy could be a very important source of financial support for related to various issues, such as the integration of migrants, a stronger common defence policy, education, employment, housing and combating discrimination, for which additional resources will need to be found, without depriving cohesion policy of the means to achieve its aims;
Amendment 84 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that different sources of financing mustcan, when appropriate, be coordinated by strengthening and creating new synergies for a better use of money throughout all existing instruments, such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments and Horizon 2020;
Amendment 91 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recognises that country-specific recommendations have an important role to play in creating an economic environment in which the Structural Funds can be made even more effective, but also considers it vital that the regions and managing bodies in general be involved more fully in the European Semester process;
Amendment 5 #
2017/2069(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s continuous efforts to ensure that EU citizenship rights are upheld; is convinced that EU citizens will only be able to exercise their rights fully if the Member States and the EU institutions make a firm commitment to protecting them;
Amendment 22 #
2017/2069(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Warns against possible legal uncertainty over the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and those of UK citizens living in the EU arising as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; believes that an agreement on the core rights should be safeguardreached promptly, and contained in the UK withdrawal agreement and the agreement on the future relationship between the EU and the UK; stresses that any agreement should be based on the principle of reciprocity;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2069(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the security of EU citizens and the fight against terrorism should be a top priority for the EU; welcomes the steps taken by the EU to reinforce the Security Union; calls for the speedy implementation of the interoperability of EU information systems for security, migration and border management, which should all comply with EU data protection principles; emphasises that the coordination of internal and external EU action in the field of security is essential for the efficient protection of EU citizens.
Amendment 42 #
2017/2069(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to carry out activities aiming at raising awareness about citizenship rights among EU citizens.
Amendment 98 #
2017/2054(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that the new distribution proposed would allow for a reduction in the size of Parliament to 699 members plus the President, thereby leaving sufficient room for manoeuvre51 seats to accommodate potential future enlargements of the EU and members elected in a joint constituency;
Amendment 120 #
2017/2054(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – recital 3
Annex – recital 3
(3) From the European elections after the adopollowing the creation of the legal basis for transnational lists, a number of representatives in the European Parliament should be elected in a joint constituency comprising the entire territory of the Union; trough the adoption of the European Electoral law, the number of representatives elected in a joint constituency comprising the entire territory of the Union should be defined according to the number of Member States of the European Union.
Amendment 147 #
2017/2054(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The number of representatives elected in the joint constituency shall be defined on the basis of the number of Member States of the European Union.
Amendment 6 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists on the use of the passerelle clause enshrined in Article 48(7) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) toBelieves that a switch from voting by unanimity to qualified majority voting (QMV) and the ordinary legislative procedure for the adoption of own resources, thus puttingwould put Parliament on an equal footing with the Council when it comes to decision-making on both the revenue and expenditure sides of the EU budget;
Amendment 10 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the alignment of the future MFFs with the duration of Parliament’s legislative term and the Commission’s mandate, thereby reducing the length of the MFF from seven to five years; for some programmes while others, notably those related to programmes requiring longer- term programming and/or policies foreseeing complex procedures for the establishment of implementation systems, such as cohesion policy or rural development, should be agreed for a period of 5+5 years with compulsory mid- term revision
Amendment 13 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points to the MFF’s importance as a fundamentally investment-focused multiannual budget;
Amendment 16 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 19 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Warns against the possibility that the upcoming Brexit negotiations might shroud the outcome of negotiations on the next MFF; recalls the difficulty of assessing the impact of Brexit on both the interinstitutional process and funding under the forthcoming MFF, and considers it unlikely that the long-term EU budgets can be increased in this contexton the other side suggests that Brexit presents an opportunity to reconsider the current system of rebates and corrections, which are contrary to the letter and spirit of the Treaties;
Amendment 21 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the new priorities and initiatives of the EU should be financed with fresh money without jeopardizing the existing programmes and policies, in this context calls for a depth reform of the financing system of the Union – a genuine system of own resources – to make the EU Budget more stable, more sustainable, and more predictable, while improving transparency for the citizens. Considers that the unity of the budget, and more budgetary flexibility have to be addressed;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for increased complementarity between national budgets and the EU budget, and for European funding to focus on areas that deliver genuine European added value and in which such well-targeted spending at European level can produce savings at national level.
Amendment 29 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 44 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. recalls that new priorities and initiatives of the EU should be financed with fresh money, and that cohesion policy should not be jeopardised by its current envelope being used as a source of funding for such new priorities and initiatives;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that regional funding should be protected and should continue to predominantly take the form of grants rather than financial instruments, which do, however, have an important role to play in certain cases and should be properly integrated with grants where appropriate; stresses that in the event of a reduction in the EU’s budgets, greater focus on the EU’s core goals is required;
Amendment 68 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that a 5+5 year MFF period, with a compulsory mid-term review, might be preferable;
Amendment 481 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
Paragraph 81
81. Stresses that cohesion policy post- 2020 should remain the main investment policy of the European Union in order to tackle complex socio-economic challenges covering all EU regions while concentrating the majority of the resources on the most vulnerable ones; believes that, beyond the goal of reducing the disparities between levels of development and enhancing convergence as enshrined in the Treaty, it should focus on the achievement of the broad EU political objectives and proposes, therefore, that under the next MFF, the three cohesion policy funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund – should concentrate mainly on providing support for innovation, digitalisation, reindustrialisa transition, SMEs, transport, climate change adaptation, employment and social inclusionand mitigation, environment, energy, infrastructuring, employment, education, including vocational education and training, social inclusion and capacity building, social inclusion and gender equality; recalls, in this context, the need for further integrated synergies in order to foster comprehensive, trans-sectorial strategies; calls, moreover, for a reinforced territorial cooperation component and an urban dimension for the policy and dedicated provisions for area with geographic specificities, such as rural, mountainous and remote areas;
Amendment 678 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
97. Recalls that the adoption of the MFF Regulation requires Parliament’s consent; stresses, moreover, that Parliament and Council are two equal arms of the budgetary authority in the adoption of the annual EU budget, while the sectoral legislation setting up the vast majority of EU programmes, including their financial envelopes, is decided under the ordinary legislative procedure; expects, therefore, a decision-making procedure on the next MFF that safeguards Parliament’s role and prerogatives as set out in the Treaties; points to the possibility of switching from unanimity to qualified majority voting for the adoption of the forthcoming MFF Regulation, by using the provisions of Article 312(2) of the TFEU;
Amendment 1 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes in particular the proposed increase of 4,2 % in commitment appropriations and 8,6 % in payment appropriations for the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme and the 1,2% increase in commitment appropriations for the “Rights, Equality and Citizenship” programme, as compared to the 2017 budget, as these programmes contribute to enhancing the overall civic participation in Union politics and the exercise of the rights deriving from Union citizenship; in this regard, intends to strengthen, together with the Commission, the structural dialogue between the EU Institutions and organisations representing European civil society;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that MRS have been established in areas that are already particularly interdependent, and represent the natural evolution of the long-term work done by the EU on cross-border cooperation;
Amendment 96 #
2017/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that participating states and regions should identify new solutions for a more effective use of the Structural Funds and of direct EU funding, in addition to the EFSI, to support coordinated plans and address common priorities;
Amendment 101 #
2017/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)
Subheading 6 a (new)
Points out that the Alpine region is an area that is fragile with regard to its hydrogeological situation and has huge natural resources; stresses the importance, therefore, of new and swift coordinated measures to combat and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 111 #
2017/2040(INI)
22. Believes that strategy implementation can only be successful if based on efficient coordination and cooperation structures and backed by adequate funding; highlights the need, in this respect, to seek synergies and complementarities of regional, national funding with EU funding instruments, also by promoting cross-border projects within the EFSI and through direct funding;
Amendment 2 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union1a, and in particular Article 41 thereof, _________________ 1a OJ C 326/02, 26.10.2012, p. 191
Amendment 4 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the Declaration towards the EU Urban Agenda, agreed by the Ministers responsible for Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters on 10 June 2015,
Amendment 5 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the New Urban Agenda adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016,
Amendment 9 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Maastricht Treaty instituted the European Committee of the Regions, which brings together elected representatives of all forms of sub- national government according to the Member States' diverse constitutional structures, thus giving also cities a consultative role in the EU decision- making process;
Amendment 20 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the Covenant of Mayors has helped to develop integrated climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, improve energy efficiency, and make greater use of renewable energy; whereas such initiatives demonstrate how co-operation among cities and exchange of best practices can help to deliver the EU's policy goals;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas the European Commission invites, as part of the Better Regulation Package, on an ad-hoc basis, local authorities for Territorial Impact Assessments of future legislative proposals;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas an increased cities’ participation in the EU policies willby cities contributes to stronger, more capable public institutions, to the improvement in the quality of public services at the scale of the whole EU and thus the development of the citizens’ right to live in the city, as a significant pincreased local ownership of EU processes, better governance through more participative European democracy, improved administrative capacity and a better quality of public services at the scale of the whole EU, thereby contributing to the implementation of the right to good administration as enshrined in Article 41 of the Charter of the right to have a good public administratFundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that there is no legal basis in the Treaties allowing cities to be formally involved in decision-making at EU level; believes, however, that the current institutional set-up allows for encouraging platforms of cooperation between cities, and betweenUnderlines that the current institutional set-up ensures the involvement of cities andin the decision- making bodies at both national and EU levelprocess of the EU, particularly through the consultative role of the Committee of the Regions;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that at the level of secondary law, cities do have a cen importaint role in the implementation of certain policies and instruments of the EU, such as in the area of Cohesion Policy and the European structural and investment funds;
Amendment 59 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends ato stroengthen ther representation of cities in the current structures, including a strongerEU institutional framework, also by considering a reinforcement of cities’ roleepresentation by the Member States, within the EU Committee of the Regions;
Amendment 68 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Advocates the consolidation of the involvement of European associations representing local authorities and urban interests in policy design, such as the Eurocities network and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), and considers that such associations should become permanent consultants of EU policieskey partners to the EU Institutions on matters affecting the local level, particularly in the pre- legislative stage;
Amendment 74 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recommends that, as a rule, there should be territorial impact assessments on all policy and legislation that affect the local level;
Amendment 90 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Defendrecalls that cities should be recognised as centres with a positive role in the development of European Union strategies, contributing to reinforce the multi-level governance system of the Union and that this perspective has a practical consequence regarding the institutional framework of the bottom-up or top-down decision-making process of the EU;
Amendment 116 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Stresses the need for good practices exchange between European cities as some of them have successfully implemented programmes regarding migration, climate change, or innovative urban managements plans.
Amendment 117 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the consolidation of the cities’ position in shaping the EU policies, inter alia within the Committee of Regions, does not undermine the trust in the Member States, as it reinforces multi- level governance and subsidiarity based on the bilateral trust between the EU, Member States and regional and local structures;.
Amendment 121 #
2017/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the consolidation of the cities’ position in shaping the EU policies does not undermine the trust in the Member States, as it reinforces multi-level governance and subsidiarity based on the bilateral trust between the EU, Member States and regional and local structurauthorities;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 1
Annex I – part A – point 1
Amendment 5 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 2
Annex I – part A – point 2
2. The objective of the revision is, in compliance with the Treaties, to enable Union citizens both to register and to submit a citizens’ initiative successfully and in a cost-effective manner, and to provide for their petitioconcerns to receive appropriate follow-up from the Commission, in order to encourage as many Union citizens as possible to become involved in taking the European integration process forward.
Amendment 9 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
(-1) Recital 3 is amended as follows: [...] similar possibilities [...] instead of [...] similar conditions [...] And the following is added: [...], in particular for people with disabilities.
Amendment 11 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
(-1a) In recital 7, the following sentence is deleted: “That should be set as the age at which citizens are entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament.” And amended as follows: “That should be set as the minimum age of 16 years.”
Amendment 21 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 c (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 c (new)
(-1c) Recital 17 is amended as follows: [...] from the date of collection [...] instead of [...] from the date of registration [...].
Amendment 31 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Amendment 47 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 2 – point a
Amendment 79 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) In Article 8(1), second subparagraph, the following text is deleted: (b) to the Member State that issued the personal identification number or the personal identification document indicated in the statement of support, as specified in point 2 of Part C of Annex III.
Amendment 103 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Member States and Union Institutions, and in particular the European Commission , shall carry out information campaigns in order to raise public awareness of the existence of the ECI, thereby maximising its added-value and promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.” Registered ECIs may, on reasoned request, receive financial support from the Commission out of EU funds for technical and organisational purposes.
Amendment 8 #
2017/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that more national chambers have issued reasoned opinions (26 out of 41 in 2016, compared with eight in 2015); notes the marked difference between chambers active within the framework of political dialogue and reasoned opinions; underlines that national parliaments continue to have more interest in influencing the content of EU legislation than in identifying cases in which subsidiarity may be an issue, notes that the competence of national Parliaments to control the respect of subsidiarity and proportionality also encompass a right to ask the European legislator to act at the European Level if necessary;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the creation of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’, three of whose members will be MEPs; considers that this initiative can contribute in identifying the situation where an action can be sufficiently and more effectively achieved by the Union, Member States and regional authorities; invites the Commission to detail to a greater extent the competencies and the modus operandi envisaged for this Task Force.
Amendment 7 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In the context of the United Kingdom's notification on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the Union, pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the other 27 Member States, meeting in the margins of the General Affairs Council (‘Article 50’), selected Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as the new seat of the European Medicines Agency. on the basis of information requiring further verification of the actual availability of the premises selected as well as of the accessibility of those premises’ facilities;
Amendment 8 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004
Article 71a – paragraph 1
Article 71a – paragraph 1
Amendment 44 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004
Article 71a
Article 71a
The seat of the Agency shall have its seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. be located in a city of a European Union Member State on the basis of absolute assurance that: - it meets, without any exception or limitation, as from January 2019, all requirements, conditions and criteria necessary to ensure that the Agency can function effectively; - it ensures the full and immediate operational continuity of the Agency’s activities, which are highly important to society and of great scientific value. The Agency's remit shall relate to what is recognised as a fundamental right of European citizens to health protection. Its headquarters shall be selected under the ordinary legislative procedure pursuant to Articles 114 and 168(4)(b) TFEU.
Amendment 46 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004
Article 71a
Article 71a
The Agency shall have its seat in Amsterdam, the NetherlandsMilan, Italy.
Amendment 36 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The European Parliament, in its resolution on the European citizens’ initiative of 28 October 201525 called on the Commission to reviewcomprehensively to review and to revise as soon as possible Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1179/2011. _________________ 25 2014/2257 (INI). 2014/2257 (INI).
Amendment 38 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation aims to make the European citizens’ initiative more accessible, less burdensome and easier to use for organisers and supporters, in order to achieve the full potential of the European citizens’ initiative as a tool to foster debate and citizen participation at Union level, and to bring the Union closer to its citizenin order to encourage as many EU citizens as possible to play their part in shaping the ongoing European integration process.
Amendment 71 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In order to promote participation and public debate on the issues raised by the initiatives, where an initiative supported by the required number of signatories and fulfilling the other requirements of this Regulation is submitted to the Commission, the group of organisers should have the right to present that initiative at a public hearing at Union level. The public hearing should be co- organised by the Commission and the European Parliament within three months from the submission of the initiative and ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interests well as the representation at an appropriate level of the Commission and the Council. Other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union as well as interested stakeholders should have the opportunity to participate in the hearing.
Amendment 77 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) To ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic life of the Union, the Commission should examine a validevery initiative which has secured the requisite number of at least one million statements of support and respond to it. The Commission should therefore set out its legal and political conclusions as well as the action it intends to take within a period of five months from the receipt of the initiative, in particular whether it intends to put forward a legislative proposal. The Commission should explain in a clear, comprehensible and detailed manner the reasons for its intended action, and should likewisein particular give its reasons if it does not intend to take any action.
Amendment 88 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Where a European citizens’ initiative concerns the amendment of a legislative proposal under discussion, the Commission must automatically inform the group of organisers of the legislative calendar, notifying them that any citizens’ initiative dealing with a text under examination can only be considered at the end of the legislative procedure.
Amendment 95 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall, upon request, provide information and appropriate expert and legal assistance about the European citizens’ initiative to citizens and groups of organisers.
Amendment 107 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. An initiative shall be prepared and managed by a group of at least seven natural persons (the ‘group of organisers’). Members of the European Parliament and Members of national parliaments shall not be counted for the purpose of that minimum number.
Amendment 137 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 – point b
(b) partially register the initiative if a substantial part of the initiative, including its main objectives, does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties;
Amendment 147 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The group of organisers shall inform the Commission of the date chosen at the latest 10 working days before that date.
Amendment 149 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 167 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The Commission and the European Parliament shall co-organise the public hearing at the European Parliament. Representatives of the Council, other institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, as well as interested stakeholders or experts, shall be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing.
Amendment 172 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
The Commission and the European Parliament shall ensure a balanced representation of relevant public and private interest groups.
Amendment 179 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Within one month of the submission of the initiative, the Commission shall receive the group of organisers at an appropriate level to allow them to explain in detail the matters raised bypurpose of the initiative.
Amendment 180 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Within five months after the publication of the initiative in accordance with Article 14(1), and after the public hearing referred to in Article 14(2), the Commission shall set out in a communication full details of its legal and political conclusions on the initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its detailed reasons for taking or not taking action.
Amendment 190 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
The Commission shall be entitled to perform random checks on the information submitted in respect of the sources of support and funding, to assess the quality of the information provided and to request additional clarifications from the groups of organisers. Such checks shall aim to ensure transparency of funding and other support provided to groups of organisers and shall be carried out in an effective, impartial and proportionate manner. Sources of support and funding shall mean any offering of financial means or credit offering, any offering in kind, the provision below market value of any goods, services (including loans and the provision of personnel) or works, and/or any other transaction which provides an economic advantage, with the exception of support carried out on a voluntary basis by individuals.
Amendment 191 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, Parliament and the Council and the Member States shall raise public awareness about the existence of the European citizens’ initiative through communication activities and information and publicity campaigns, thereby contributing to promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.
Amendment 193 #
2017/0220(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Article 24 – paragraph 1
The Commission shall periodically review the functioning of the European citizens’ initiative and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation no later than five years from the date of application of this Regulation, and every fivthree years thereafter. The reports shall be made public.
Amendment 3 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to the European Parliament resolution on 'A European Strategy for the Danube Region' of 21 January 2010, P7_TA (2010) 0008, the European Parliament resolution on 'A European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy' of 6 July 2010, P7_TA (2010) 0254, the European Parliament resolution on 'an EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region' of 28 October 2015, P8_TA (2015) 0383, and the European Parliament resolution on 'An EU Strategy for the Alpine Region' of 13 September 2016, P8_TA (2016) 0336,
Amendment 6 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20
Citation 20
– having regard to the conclusions and recommendations of the ‘Hhigh Llevel Ggroup monitoringfor the simplification forof access by beneficiaries tof ESI funds’,
Amendment 36 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas neither the increasing constraints on both the EU and the national budgets norand the consequences of Brexit should not lead to EU cohesion policy being weakened;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that cohesion policy is unique in that it allows a place-based approach able to identify territorial specificities, sets clear objectives and obtains measurable results, promotes a multi-level governance strategy and supports the integration of EU, national and regional instruments and policies;
Amendment 70 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that although cohesion policy hasrepresents an effective form of investment which plays a useful role in mitigateding the impact of the crisis, regional disparities, disparities in competitiveness and social inequalities remain high; calls for continuous action to reduce disparities, particularly in less developed regions and the regions referred to in Articles 174 and 349 TFEU, while maintaining support for transition and for more developed regions so as to facilitate ownership of the policy in all regions;
Amendment 96 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that the current categorisation of regions, the thematic objectives and the performance framework have demonstrated the value of cohesion policy and should be consolidated; asks the Commission to present ideas for greater flexibility, such as an unallocated reserve at national level or a simplification of re- programming, in order to adapt ESIF investments to unforeseen events and to the specific needs of each region;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that thematic concentration and the performance framework have demonstrated the value of cohesion policy and should be consolidated; calls on the Commission to strengthen the necessary correspondence between diagnoses of local needs and choices of intervention, in the wake of the positive experience of the smart specialisation strategy, and to propose ideas for greater flexibility, such as a simplification of reprogramming, in order to adapt investments of ESI funds to unforeseen events and the specific needs of each region;
Amendment 114 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises the value of ex ante conditionalities, which enable the ESIF to support the Europe post-2020 objectives effectively without prejudice to the cohesion objectives stipulated in the Treaty; in the light of experience with the current programming period, calls for a more flexible and dynamic application of ex ante conditionality, for example by extending it to cover the entire programming cycle, and connecting it to incentive mechanisms in place of the existing sanctions in the event of unsatisfactory results;
Amendment 137 #
2016/2326(INI)
10a. Highlights the fact that cohesion policy can reinforce the administrative capacity of the owners of programmes cofunded by ESI funds and bring about convergence towards higher standards;
Amendment 138 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls for regional / national co- funding to be separated from the calculation of the Stability and Growth Pact so that they respect the same rules as those governing Structural Fund resources, since they have the same objective;
Amendment 139 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the need to simplify the cohesion policy’s management system at all governance levels in order to make it more accessible and effective; supports the conclusions and recommendations hitherto adopted by the ‘Hhigh Llevel Ggroup monitoringfor the simplification forof access by beneficiaries ofto ESI Ffunds’;
Amendment 152 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks the Commission to reflect on solutions based on proportionality and differentiation on the basis of objective criteria and positive incentives for the programmes, especially with regard to the multiple layers of audit and the number of controls, to a greater harmonisation between cohesion policy and competition policy, in particular state aid rules, as well as with regard to the possibility of a single set of rules for all ESI Funds;
Amendment 161 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission, with a view to real simplification, and in agreement with the managing authorities of national and regional programmes, to draw up a feasible plan to extend the simplified cost regime to the ERDF, also in keeping with the provisions of the proposal for a regulation to amend the financial rules applicable to the budget - the so-called Omnibus regulation;
Amendment 164 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that state aid rules are fully harmonised with Union policies, including the economic and financial instruments relating thereto;
Amendment 168 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that grants should remain the basis of the financing of cohesion policy; notes, however, the gradual shift from grants to financial instrumentsstresses that the shift, even if partial, from grants to financial instruments may under no circumstances call into question the policy's main financing mechanism; points out that the replacement of grants by loans, equity or guarantees must be carried out with cautaken into consideration where such financial instruments demonstrate an added value, taking into account regional disparities and the diversity of practices and experiences; stresses the importance of assistance to local and regional authorities on the innovative financial instruments through platforms such as fi-compass;
Amendment 188 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to ensure better synergies between the ESI Funds and other Union funds and programmes and to facilitate multi-fund options; warns that the EFSI should not undermine the strategic coherence, territorial concentration and long-term perspective of cohesion policy programming and insists on the additionality of its resources;
Amendment 193 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that because the coordination of macro-regional strategies with existing development tools is still insufficient in terms of policy priorities, budgetary guidance, organisation and administration, these strategies are as yet unable to demonstrate their great potential; calls on the Commission to propose tools that can help bring about a substantial integration of operational programmes with the action plans set out in the macro-regional strategies;
Amendment 209 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to reflect on the development of alternative indicators toindicators that complement the GDP indicator, which remains thea legitimate method for allocating ESI Funds fairly; such alternativecomplementary indicators may include a demographicterritorial indicators or dynamic indicators based on social and employment aspects; stresses, furthermore, the relevance of outcome indicators to strengthen the result and performance orientation of the policy;
Amendment 224 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes, in addition, the positive impact in terms of the social and employment-related added value of investments in education, training and culture; hopes that cohesion policy will continue to invest appropriately in those sectors;
Amendment 228 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 253 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the fact that in order to improve the visibility of ESI Funds, greater focus must be placed on participation by stakeholders, who can act as an effective channel through which to disseminate cohesion policy achievements, and recipients; urges, furthermore, the Commission, Member States, regions and cities to communicate in a more efficient way on both the achievements of cohesion policy and the lessons to be learnedo convey a careful message to citizens regarding the added value of the European project for their quality of life and well-being;
Amendment 278 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reiterates that it is high time to prepare the post-2020 EU cohesion policy in order to launch it effectively at the very start of the new programming period; maintains, to that end, that an interinstitutional agreement needs to be reached by autumn 2019 at the very latest;
Amendment 284 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the core of the current cohesion policy legislative framework should be maintained after 2020 with a refined, strengthened, easily accessible and result- orientated policy and with an added value of the policy which is better communicated to citizens;
Amendment 294 #
2016/2326(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Is convinced of the need for an adequate budget for cohesion policy after 2020 which takes into account, on a par with current levels, if not higher, in the light of the complex internal and external challenges that the policy will have to address; considers it useful to launch a debate on the introduction of new cohesion budget support mechanisms, such as new forms of own resources, to neutralise the possible cuts resulting from the exit of the United Kingdom;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2305(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the crucial role played by ESI funding in meeting broadband targets in the EU, and calls on the Commission to promote possible synergies between such funding and other sources of funding, such as the EFSI;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2305(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Draws attention to the need for particular attention to be paid to remote, isolated, outlying, rural and mountain areas and to all parts of the EU in which public support is necessary in order to offset a lack of financial returns for private investors;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Acknowledges that financial instruments can complement grants, but emphasises the need to ensure that they do not replace them;
Amendment 55 #
2016/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that although they are supporting the same Cohesion Policy objectives, ESI Funds’ grants and financial instruments under shared management have different intervention logic and application addressing territorial development needs, sectoral needs or market needs;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises that grants have some strengths as compared to financial instruments: supporting projects that do not necessarily generate revenue, providing funding to projects that for various reasons cannot attract private or public funding, targeting specific beneficiaries, issues and regional priorities, and lower complexity of use owing to existing experience and capacity; acknowledges that in some cases grants are bound to limitations: difficulties in achieving project quality and sustainability, risk of substituting public funding in the long-run and a crowding-out effect for potential private investment even when projects may have a revolving nature;
Amendment 139 #
2016/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Emphasises the need for the more effective provision of information to beneficiaries about the opportunities offered by financial instruments and the scope for combining them with grants; calls on the EIB and local and regional authorities to work together to launch information, communication, training and advisory campaigns regarding access to financial instruments;
Amendment 147 #
2016/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the existing technical assistance practices provided by the Commission and the EIB Group through the fi-compass platform; regrets that the on-the-ground support services to authorities and especially to recipients of financial instruments, including EFSI, are limited; calls for a joint technical assistance plan by the Commission and the EIB comprising financial and non-financial advice as well as capacity building, targeted at national authorities as well as fund managers and beneficiaries;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to look at the best practices employed in protecting whistle-blowers around the world and, on that basis, to take a holistic approach to the task of introducing, as soon as possible, a common regulatory framework which guarantees a high level of protection across the board in both the public and private sectors; reiterates its call for proposals to be submitted by the end of 2017;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses that the common regulatory framework should include a broad and clear legal definition of “whistle-blower” as well as a selection of tools for safeguarding protection against unjustified legal prosecution and retaliation, but also incentives to encourage the whistle-blower's contribution to exposing wrongdoings;
Amendment 48 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Considers it necessary to foster an ethical culture in the public service and in workplaces so as to highlight the importance of awareness-raising amongst employees of already existing whistle- blowing legal frameworks and in cooperation with trade union organisations;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2 f. Calls on the Member States to refrain from criminalising the actions of whistle-blowers in disclosing information in the public interest.
Amendment 50 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2 g. Notes that this protection must be also insured for the private or public person accused of such alleged irregularities which include i.e. procedural rights against defamation and calumny;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recommends that the EU institutions lead by example by swiftly installing an internal whistle-blowing protection framework;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), in particular Article 5 on the conferral of competences and subsidiarity, Article 10(1) on representative democracy, Article 10(2) on the representation of EU citizens, Article 12 on the role of national parliaments, Article 48(3) on the ordinary revision procedure and Article 48(7) (passerelle clause) thereof,
Amendment 5 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2015 on the review of the economic governance framework: stocktaking and challenges ; having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2015 on completing Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union ;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard the Commission package to deepen Economic and monetary union of 6 December 2017 ;
Amendment 8 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the Five Presidents’ Report ‘Completing Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union’ of 22 June 2015 ;
Amendment 9 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regards to Article 13 TSCG that has enshrined inter-parliamentary conferences “in order to discuss budgetary policies and other issues covered by the treaty ;
Amendment 13 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the parliamentary accountability of national governments in European affairs framework that depends on different national practices is the cornerstone of the role of national parliaments in the current European Treaty framework;
Amendment 15 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. Whereas to improve ownership, national parliaments should scrutinise national governments, just as the European Parliament should scrutinise the European executives ;
Amendment 25 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas a European public sphere wcould be enforced by the establishment of a European Week, in which national parliamentary chambers would simultaneously discuss European affairs in the presence of Commissioners and Mwith members of the European Parliament and Commission ;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the implementation of the EWS could be greatlyhas improved, as demonstrated by the limited usageatest figures ofn the yellow card procedure and the ineffectiveness of the orange card procedurtotal number of opinions submitted by national Parliaments under the political dialogue;
Amendment 34 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
Amendment 35 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
L a. Whereas that several national parliaments have expressed their interest in an instrument in the context of improving political dialogue, which would afford national parliaments, having first secured the support of the European Parliament, the opportunity to suggest constructive proposals for the Commission's consideration and with due regard for the Commission's right of initiative;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas interinstitutional cooperation has undoubtedly improved after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and of the so-called Barroso initiativepolitical dialogue launched by the Commission in September 2016 giving the national parliaments possibilities to give comments, positive feedbacks or critics on Commission proposals ;
Amendment 41 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas national parliaments occasionally raise grievances about their relations with the European Union, claiming that they are highly complex and on occasion troublesome and inefficientcomplex;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
S a. whereas it is necessary to reach a higher level of national and European parliamentary control of fiscal and economic policies, decisions taken, and governance matters at the EU level ;
Amendment 45 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S b (new)
Recital S b (new)
S b. whereas the decision of the CJEU on 16 May 2017 on the mixed nature of the trade agreement between the EU and Singapore changes the way nationals parliaments will in the future be involved in trade agreements;
Amendment 46 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S c (new)
Recital S c (new)
S c. whereas a better socialization and exchange of information between the MPs and between national parliament’s civil servants could help to Europeanise the control exercised at the national level ;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S d (new)
Recital S d (new)
S d. Reiterates the necessity to foster the emergence of a genuinely European parliamentary and political culture ;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomesConsiders that the implementation of the rights and obligations of national parliaments deriving from the Treaty of Lisbon; considers that their implementation has enhanced the role of national parliamentarytheir chambers within the European constitutional framework, thus providing for thmore pluralism, democratic legitimacy and goodbetter functioning of the Union ;
Amendment 51 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Encourages the national Parliaments to exercise their full European function to directly influence the contents of the policies, in particular via the control of their national governments acting as members of the European Council and the Council ;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that each national parliaments should be granted enough time, information, and powers to scrutinise the activity ofEuropean legislative process, the activity and the decisions taken by of its national governments at European level, whether in the Council or in the European Council, in full compliance with the Member States’ constitutions ; believes that an exchange of best practices and socialization between national parliaments should be promoted in this respect ;
Amendment 55 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that national parliaments should be granted enough time and powers to scrutinisehave the right to scrutinise and to control the activity of their national governments also when they act at European level, whether in the Council or in the European Council, in full compliance with the Member States’ constitutions; believes that anthe exchange of best practices between national parliaments should be promoted in this respectstrengthened;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls for the promotion of exchange of best practices in parliamentary scrutiny between national parliaments, as the generalisation of regular debates between the respective ministers and the specialised committees in national parliaments before and after Council meetings, and regular meeting with Commissioners and MEPs ;
Amendment 60 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Takes the view that care needs to be taken to avoid any ‘gold-plating’ of EU legislation by Member States and that national parliaments have a key role to play here; recalls, at the same time, that this is without prejudice to the right of Member States to the non-regression clause and to lay down, for example, higher social and environmental standards at national level ;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Considers that while Community method should prevail in economic governance for the euro area, European Parliament and national parliaments should exercise a strengthened role in the renewed economic governance framework in order to reinforce economic policies democratic accountability. This includes in addition to an increased national ownership on the European semester and a reform of the interparliamentary conference provided for in Article 13 of the Fiscal Compact to give it more substance, in order to develop a stronger parliamentary and public opinion. Suggests that minutes be published at the end of each Article 13 Interparliamentary conference;
Amendment 64 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3 e. States that the European Parliament and national parliaments - but also social partners - should be better involved in the European Semester process ;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends for a better of appropriation of this instrument that political calendars at national and European level should be better coordinated, by aligning the European Semester with the agendas of national parliaments, in order to coordinate economic policies, but without disregard for the powers of self-governance and the specific rules of procedure of each parliamentary chamber; suggests, therefore, the implementation of a national period for budgetary dialogue, during which national parliaments would be able to deliberate and prepare the European Semester by mandating their own governments in their relations with the Commission and the Council ;
Amendment 68 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Economic policy, democracy and governance (This new subheading should be placed after paragraph 3, after the new tabled paragraphs 3a, 3b, 3c, but before paragraphs 3d and 3e.)
Amendment 69 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines that during the last COSAC plenary meeting in Tallin, COSAC recognise that the majority of national Parliaments debate EU matters at the plenary whether at regular intervals or on an ad hoc basis and acknowledges that more plenary debates on EU matters raise the visibility of the Union and give citizens the opportunity to learn more about the agenda of the EU and the positions of political parties on these issues;
Amendment 74 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the alignment of different political stances across the Member States could strengthen and expand cross-sectional debates at European level; considers, therefore, that national parliamentary delegations acting before the European Institutions should consist of members from severalreflect political partiesdiversity ; stresses the relevance of the principle of proportionality in this regard ;
Amendment 76 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 78 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the establishment of an annual European week, during which Members of the European Parliament and Commissioners, notably vice-presidents in charge of clusters would simultaneously stand before all national parliamentary assemblies in order to discuss and explain the European agenda; undertakes to coordinate the implementation of a European week, possibly by reviewing its own rules of procedure in order to endorse the initiative, and encourages national parliaments to do the same ;
Amendment 79 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Believes that meetings between national and European political groups in the frame of EU interparliamentary cooperation are effective means of developing an authentic European political debate ;
Amendment 80 #
Amendment 81 #
Amendment 85 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that prior experience with the EWS has proven that drawing a line between the political dimension of the principle of subsidiarity and the legal dimension of, with regard to any new legislative initiative, the Commission is obliged to examine whether the EU has the principle of proportionality is, on occasion, difficult and troublesomeght to take action and whether this is also justified; calls on the Commission, therefore, to reschew an overly narrow interpretation ofpect the principle of subsidiarity, and to make use of reasonable criteria of self-restraint while examiningproportionality, and to take into account the reasoned opinions issued by national parliaments within the EWS;
Amendment 87 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 88 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 92 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Takes note of the request from certain national parliaments to extend the eight-week period in which they can issue a reasoned opinion under Article 6; recalls, in this regard, that national parliaments may intervene and consider the question of compliance with the principle of subsidiarity before the presentation of a legislative initiative by the Commission in the form of Green and White Papers or the annual presentation of the Commission’s work programme;
Amendment 99 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Suggests the implementaRecalls the discussions regarding a possible introduction of a proceduresystem whereby national parliaments could submit reasoned opinionconstructive proposals to the Commission with the aim of positively influencing its powers of legislative initiative, and whereby the Commission could either legislate in line with such opinions or issue a reasoned veto underlining its reasons for not doing sothe European Debate; points out that such a procedure cannot consist of a right to legislative initiative, or a right to withdraw or amend legislation, as it would otherwise subvert the Union method and violate the Treaties; Underlines, however, that it is already possible for national parliaments to present a proposal asking the Commission to act;
Amendment 105 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. encourages the establishment of more exchanges of officials of institutions and political groups between the administrations of the European Parliament and national parliaments ;
Amendment 106 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the existing cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), in the Interparliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP-IPC), and within the framework of Article 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union; stresses that such cooperation should be developed on the basis of the principles of consensus, information-sharing and consultation, in order to exercise control over their respective governments and administrations;
Amendment 108 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the existing cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), in the Interparliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP-IPC), and within the framework of Article 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union; stresses that such cooperation should be developed on the basis of the principles of consensus, information-sharing and consultation, in order to exercise control over their respective administrations;
Amendment 109 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 113 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Insists, however, on a clear delineation of the respective decision- making competences of the national parliaments and the European Parliament, where the former should exercise their European function on the basis of their national constitutions, in particular via the control of their national governments as members of the European Council and the Council, which is the level where they are best placed to directly influence the content of and exercise scrutiny over the European legislative process; is therefore against the creation of joint parliamentary decision-making bodies for reasons of transparency, accountability and ability to act;
Amendment 116 #
2016/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Points out that strengthening political and technical dialogue between parliamentary committees, both at national and at European level, would be a greatly productive step towards full interparliamentary cooperation; takes the view that additional budgetary resources should be allocated to the Committees of the European Parliament, with the aim of allowing rapporteurs to undertake missions in order to informally discuss with national parliamentary committees the content of their reports; encourages the use of videoconference where possible;
Amendment 64 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that cohesion policy should continue to have thematic focus, while allowing for somthe degree of flexibility that is sufficient in order to take on board the specific needs of each region;
Amendment 74 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines, in particular, that consideration should be given to the circumstances of the distinctively urban or rural regions, the so-called ‘lagging regions’ and regions with permanent natural or geographical handicaps (northernmost regions with very low population density, and cross-border, insular, mountainous or outermost regions) and appropriate specific support policies should be drawn up for the development of these areas; recalls in this context that it is important to support new policy challenges, such as immigration, as well as the broadly understood digital dimension of cohesion policy (including ICT and broadband access issues, which are linked to the completion of the Digital Single Market); points to the Energy Union Strategy, as the ESI Funds have an important role to play in its delivery;
Amendment 94 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Draws attention to the fact that 25 per cent of ex-ante conditionalities have not yet been fulfilled; calls, therefore, for utargented action to counteract this, which should not, however, compromise the optimal take-up of the funds;
Amendment 110 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Points out that automatic and rigid use of macroeconomic conditionality can compromise the optimal take-up of resources, undermining local government programming; stresses the importance of allowing for the highest degree of flexibility, in particular to facilitate strategic investment and structural reform, also in line with the provisions set out in the CSRs;
Amendment 117 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Favours the establishment of a balanced linkStresses the importance of consistency between cohesion policy and the European Semester, as both work towards achieving the same aims under the Europe 2020 Strategy, without prejudice to achieving the social, economic and territorial cohesion objectives established by the treaties;
Amendment 121 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Points out that it is important to rebalance the economic asymmetries generated by the different monetary policies between the euro area and the non-euro area in order to use ESI Funds properly and to achieve territorial cohesion goals;
Amendment 123 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Calls on the Commission, given that the output gap is the basic measure by which to assess whether a government is complying with EU budget rules and whether it will incur the measures laid down under Article 23 of the general ESI Funds regulation, to speed up its work on the possible revision of its calculation methodology, by involving Parliament in an appropriate manner, also through the structured dialogue instrument;
Amendment 129 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the regulatory framework for ESI Funds for the period 2014-2020 supports financial instruments; observes that there is a focus on a gradual shift from grants to loans and guarantees; notes also that the use of the multi-fund approach still appears to be difficult; stresses, given the complexity of these instruments, the vital importance of providing appropriate support to local and regional institutions in the training of the officials responsible for managing them;
Amendment 136 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Points out that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is presented as a success story when it comes to fast implementation, and against this background asks the Commission to come forward with learning points for the ESI Funds for the new programming periodrroborate this argument by providing data on its impact in terms of growth and employment;
Amendment 146 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that state aid rules apply to ESI Funds, but not to EFSI and Horizon 2020, causing problems in increasing the level of synergy among the instruments; underlines the fact that if there is an ambition to extend EFSI or any similn order to ensure the necessary complementar itypes of financial instrument and synergy between the EFSI and ESI, the question of state aid rules needs to be adapted accordingly;
Amendment 156 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Supports a furtherMaintains that a balanced increase in financial instruments should not harm sectors in which the use of subsidies remains vital in order to achieve growth and employment targets; asks the Commission, therefore, to come forward with incentives for managing authorities to achieve this;
Amendment 168 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Acknowledges that simplification is an importantone of the key factors in access to funding;
Amendment 178 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recommends for the new programming period that all levels of governance work towards a system of single audit, by eliminating pointless duplicate checks among the various tiers of government; reiterates that there is a need for further steps in the area of simplification;
Amendment 196 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the importance of macro- regional strategies, instruments which have proven themselves to be useful for the development of territorial cooperation and the economic development of the areas concerned; highlights the decisive role of the local and regional authorities for the success of the measures included in those strategies;
Amendment 204 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is of the opinion that GDP might not be the only legitimate indicator for ensuring a fair distribution of money that takes account of specific territorial needs; considers it important that, in future, consideration be given to introducing new dynamic indicators, in addition to GDP; is of the opinion that many regions in Europe are facing a situation of demographic change, as well as shrinking population numbers in rural areas;
Amendment 232 #
2016/2148(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that thematic concentration must be maintained in the future, as it has proved its viability; expects the Commission to come forward with an overview of achievements brought about by thematic concentration in cohesion policy; points out at the same time that the diversity of European regions calls for a sufficient level of flexibility, as laid down in the regulations;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that excellence and competitiveness should remain the underlying principles of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, while the ESI Funds should target regional growth and cohesion; is therefore opposed to any criteria or quotas in the new Framework Programme which aim to influence negatively geographic distribution or cohesion;
Amendment 22 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the divergences in aims and focus between the Framework Programme and the ESI Funds; takes the view, however, that efforts must be made to maximise synergies at programme level and in the relevant legislative procedure;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is of the opinion that the complex structure hampers the Horizon 2020 implementation; therefore reducing complexity concerning implementation mechanisms and its structure should be sought;
Amendment 27 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. States that adequate funding appropriations should be provided to support the programme’s wide range of objectives to the benefit of the potential beneficiaries;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes the view that a national/regional research and innovation strategy for smart specialization (RIS3) is a suitable vehicle for the reform of regional innovation ecosystems and that ESI Funds must be usedadequate ESIF means should be available for capacity building;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that effective investments in R&I from the ESI Funds can only take place if Member States have their framework conditions in order; calls, therefore, for a closer linkage between country-specific recommendations for structural reforms andll for a number of prerequisites to be met; calls, therefore, for the maintenance of the balanced linkage established in the current programming period with country-specific recommendations and with the fulfilment of the ex ante conditionalities that are necessary for those investments in R&I to be effective;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 59 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the principle and the potential of the Seal of Excellence, but notes that it is insufficiently applied in practiceas a quality label to be applied in synergies area between ESI funds and Horizon 2020;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission, in drawing up the 9th Framework Programme and the future ESI Funds regulations, to ensure that framework conditions are improved so as to boost synergies and complementarity between sector-specific R&I policy, the Structural Funds, and R&I funds and programmes.
Amendment 72 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to set up a database on best practices concerning synergies between ESI Funds and Horizon 2020, as well as to indicate paths for possible future synergies;
Amendment 77 #
2016/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the Commission to monitoring and to quantify the actual synergies between ESI funds and Horizon 2020
Amendment 19 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises the strong linksimportance of coherence between thate cohesion policy has established withinstruments and the wider economic governance framework by providing, in view of support foring the recovery efforts to stimulatneeded to achieve compliance with the European Semester rules; underlines, however, that the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity; is therefore of the opinion that measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance should be applied judiciously, with caution and only as a last resort; recalls, moreover, that the application of such measures should always take into consideration the specific socio-economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments;
Amendment 90 #
2016/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas 72% of the heating and cooling demand of single family houses is consumed in rural and intermediate areas;
Amendment 201 #
2016/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on local authorities to address the specific problems of rural buildings that tend to be older, less energy efficient, less beneficial to health, and provide lower thermal comfort;
Amendment 318 #
2016/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on Member States to take measures to phase out energy-inefficient furnaces and boilers using heating oil and coal that currently fuel over half of the building stock in the countryside; takes the view that energy provision should stem from lower carbon and renewable sources;
Amendment 417 #
2016/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that consumers must be made fully aware of the technological and economic benefits of new heating and cooling systems, so as to enable them to make the best possible choices; notes that householders living in remote and isolated locations may require particular attention and unique solutions;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the rights of both the whistle-blowers and the Public body or institution involved should enjoy the legal protection guaranteed by the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the national legal provisions;
Amendment 11 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets that not all EU institutions and bodies have adopted the rules and calls for such rules to be applied without delay;
Amendment 14 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the Member-States are the first consignee of Funds from the European Union and therefore are bound to the scrutiny of the legality of their spending;
Amendment 15 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it necessary to foster an ethical culture helping to ensure that whistle-blowers will not suffer retaliation or face internal conflicts;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to set up an EU legal framework on the protection of whistle-blowers without undermin a view to affording effective protection on the same footing ing Member State competencs and in all EU institutions and bodies;
Amendment 30 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to set up an EU legal framework on the protection of whistle-blowers without underminingin order to improve their protection in the Member -State competences;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Member States to refrain from criminalising the actions of whistle-blowers when they disclose information about illegal activities or irregularities against the EU’s financial interests;
Amendment 40 #
2016/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for accessible secure direct channels to be set up for information about possible irregularities affecting the EU’s financial interests, while also ensuring confidentiality where such information and whistle-blowers are concerned;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), as provided for in the Treaty on European Union (TEU), shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy that might lead to a future common defence; calls on the Council and the Commission to do what they can to place common European defence on an institutional footing by strengthening a comprehensive EU approach to external conflicts and crises, involving the various stakeholders and instruments more closely in all stages of the conflict cycle;
Amendment 17 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that achieving the objectives of the CSDP to strengthen the Union’s operational capacity to act externally for peace-keeping, conflict prevention, humanitarian crisis response and strengthening international security as provided for in the TEU is more than ever necessary in a fastnecessary than ever in a rapidly deteriorating security environment;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that more needs to be done to tap the Lisbon Treaty’s potential to establish a comprehensive framework on strategic interests that might extend beyond the CFSP, in order for security and defence decisions to be taken by qualified majority, excluding measures with military or defence implications;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the VP/HR to ensure, as provided for in the TEU, consistency between the different areas of external action and to address these areas through a global and comprehensive approach; calls, furthermore, for information to be provided to Parliament on a much more regular basis to facilitate parliamentary scrutiny of external action, including in relation to the negotiation and conclusion of international agreements at all stages of the process;
Amendment 45 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need to make the financial rules for external action more flexible in order to avoid delays in the operational disbursement of funds and to step up the capacity to respond to crises in a speedy and effective way;
Amendment 50 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its support for the adoption of a White BookPaper on defence on the basis of the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, which should be based on a joint accurate appraisal of the existing military capabilities of the Member States, with the basis being the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy drawn up by the VP/HR;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the need to ensure and to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO. and to improve this cooperation at all levels;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the Commission’s proposed increase in appropriations for Heading 3 of 5,4 % in commitment appropriations and 25,1 % in payment appropriations as compared to the 2016 budget; notwelcomes that this increase is EUR 1,8 billion above the initially programmed amount for the year to respond to the migration challenge; notes that the Commission leaves no margin in Heading 3 and proposes the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for EUR 530 million and the Contingency Margin for commitments for an amount of EUR 1.164,4 million in order to respond to the current asylum and migration crisis;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes in particular the proposed increase of 4,3 % in commitment appropriations and 10,7 % in payment appropriations for the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme, as compared to the 2016 budget, as this programme helps to foster civic and democratic participation andt EU level, to engage young people as well as the elderly in the EU and contribute to citizens' understanding of the EU, its policies history and diversity.
Amendment 3 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of further developing tools to enhance e- government, e-governance, e-voting and e-participation and promote digital citizenship atnd EU level to help citizens exercise EU citizenship rights, notably in the context of ECIscitizenship rights by developing online ‘citizenship’ activities which enhances transparency, accountability, responsiveness, engagement, deliberation, inclusiveness, accessibility, participation, subsidiarity and social cohesion;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises the key role of MSMEs in generating growth and employment in EU regions; notes that in the current climate of fiscal constraint, cohesion policy is a vital source of support for SMEs;
Amendment 14 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes initiatives designed to diversify sources of funding and reduce the cost of capital for MSMEs; stresemphasises the need to improve the way in which capital markets fund the real economy, by developing alternatives to bank loans, and to make EU funding more attractive to SMEsimportance of the SME Supporting Factor for maintaining and increasing bank lending to SMEs and calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of making this factor permanent;
Amendment 24 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that bank lending is traditionally the most important external financing source for MSMEs; highlights that bank-based and capital-based financing models should be complementary; stresses the need to improve the way in which capital markets fund the real economy, by developing alternatives to bank loans;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide a clear and stable legal environment, and to guaranteeensure enhanced coordination, and consistency and synergies between instruments and programmes which suppormong all EU investment policies targeted at MSMEs, such as the including the EFSI, European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI funds), Horizon 2020 and COSME; welcomes the Juncker investment plan, and draws SMEs' attention to the opportunities offered by the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI)European Investment Fund (EIF), specific financial instruments foreseen by funding programmes such as COSME, Horizon 2020, EASI, Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the complexity of the rules and the amount of red tape involved in obtaining ESI funding, including disproportionate administrative costs and the time lag before payments are actually received, affects SMEs in particular; calls for a thorough simplification of the process, and urges the Commission to clarify how the rules governing ESI Funds and the rules on State aid fit togethercosts and obstacles to timely payments, have a negative impact on access to finance for MSMEs; calls on the European Commission and on the national and regional authorities to simplify the administrative procedures and the legislation;
Amendment 55 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for a simplified and less regulated access to credit, in particular taking into account the specific characteristics of micro-enterprises and start-ups; regrets that investors and banks are often reluctant to finance businesses in their start-up and early expansion phases and that many MSMEs, find it hard to gain access to external funding; asks, therefore, the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to pay particular attention to improving access to finance for microenterprises and start-ups that want to scale-up;
Amendment 61 #
2016/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that, setting aside the issue of their size, each SME is different and there are many factors which determAcknowledges the diversity of MSMEs and mid-caps in the Member States, which is reflected ine their needs and the ease with which they can obtain funding, such as where they are based, the business sector in which they operate and the stage they have reached in their development; calls on the Commission, Member Statesbusiness models, size, geographical position, socioeconomic environment, stages of development, financial structure and rlegional authorities to take these factors into account in coming up with tailor-made financing arrangements which in particular exploit the scope for combining subsidies and funding instrumeal form; stresses that European and national rules on funding opportunities for MSMEs should take these different financing needs into accounts.
Amendment 138 #
2016/2019(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 56 #
2016/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the new ways of participation into a virtual public space is inseparable to the respect of the rights and obligations linked to participation in public space, which include i.e. procedural rights against defamation and calumny;
Amendment 73 #
2016/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the purpose of e- democracy is to facilitate democratic practice, not to establish an alternative democratic system, distort democracy by using of fallacious technological means (i.e. spamming bots, anonymous profiling, identity appropriation) or to promote a certain type of democracy;
Amendment 81 #
2016/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the great opportunities opened by the e-democracy could be missed if it doesn't cope with the necessity of respecting the very same legal standards of non-virtual participation;
Amendment 135 #
2016/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States and the EU to provide educational and technical means for improving ICT competences and digital access for all EU citizens (especially elder or citizens from remote regions) in order to bridge the digital divide (e-inclusion), for the ultimate benefit of democracy; encourages the Member States to integrate the acquisition of digital skills into school curricula and supports the development of networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools;
Amendment 157 #
2016/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to proposes a reflexion to the Member-States on insuring the rights of participation of citizens on the virtual space, especially related to the certification of their identities through identification mechanisms (i.e. Digital ID) and to the protection of their freedom of speech and rights to prosecute European wide any offense or defamation based on ethnicity, religion, sex or any political opinion;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the importance of the provisions of the new IIA on better law- making tools (impact assessments, public and stakeholder consultations, evaluations, etc.) for a well-informed, inclusive and transparent decision-making process and for the correct application of legislation, whilst safeguarding the prerogatives of the legislators; welcomes the aim of improving the implementation and application of Union legislation, inter alia through better identification of national measures that beare not relation toquired by the Union legislation that is to be transposed ("gold-plating");
Amendment 36 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes note of the letter of 15 December 2015 from the First Vice -President of the Commission on the functioning of the new Regulatory Scrutiny Board, which is to oversee the quality of the Commission's impact assessments (but without giving it a power of veto over legislative proposals, which is a matter for the elected authorities); points out that the legislators may also carry out their own impact assessments where they consider this necessary; underlines that, furthermore, the new IIA provides for exchanges of information between the institutions on best practice and methodologies relating to impact assessments, thus providing an opportunity to review the functioning of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board in due time;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the commitment made that impact assessments should also address the "cost of non-Europe" (i.e. the cost to producers, consumers, workers, administrators and the environment of not adopting necessary legislation);
Amendment 48 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the importance of the agreed "Annual Burden Survey" as a tool to help avoid overregulation and reduce administrative burdens; points out that the feasibility and desirability of establishing objectives for the reduction of burdens in specific sectors must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in close cooperation between the institutions; welcomes in this respect the fact that the three institutions have agreed that impact assessments should also address the impact of proposals on administrative burdens, particularly as regards small and medium-sized enterprises; recognises that appropriate Union legislation can cut administrative burdens for SMEs by replacing 28 divergent sets of rules with a single set of rules for the single market;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Also believes that more concrete arrangements are needed in order to enhance thebetter use should be made of the arrangements for political dialogue with national parliaments;
Amendment 94 #
2016/2005(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks its competent committee to examine the extent to which amendments or interpretation of the Rules of Procedure or changes to Parliament's practices, administration and channels of contact with other institutions are necessary for the implementation of the new IIA;
Amendment 142 #
2016/0382(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 57
Recital 57
(57) Several Member States have implemented measures in the heating and cooling sector to reach their 2020 renewable energy target. However, in the absence of binding national targets post- 2020, the remaining national incentives may not be sufficient to reach the long- term decarbonisation goals for 2030 and 2050. In order to be in line with such goals, reinforce investor certainty and foster the development of a Union-wide renewable heating and cooling market, while respecting the energy efficiency first principle, it is appropriate to encourage the effort of Member States in the supply of renewable heating and cooling to contribute to the progressive increase of the share of renewable energy. Given the fragmented nature of some heating and cooling markets, it is of utmost importance to ensure flexibility in designing such an effort. It is also important to ensure that a potential uptake of renewable heating and cooling does not have detrimental environmental side-effects, in particular as regards air quality.
Amendment 140 #
2016/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point iii
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point iii
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 1
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 1
– there is no direct private capital participation, with the exception of non- controlling and non-blocking forms of private capital participation required by national legislative provisions, in conformity with the Treaties, which do not exert a decisive influence on the relevant bank or institut, with non-blocking prerogatives on the day-by-day management, in accordance with national legislative provision;s
Amendment 147 #
2016/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point i
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point i
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 38 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 4
Article 38 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 4
– operates on a non-profit maximisation basis in order to ensure a long-term financial sustainabilityits remit is aimed overcoming market failures while pursuing a fair rate return on assets;
Amendment 150 #
2016/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point i
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b – point i
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 38 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 5
Article 38 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b – point iii – indent 5
– is not a direct recipient of deposits from the public; andensures that this direct entrustment does not provide any direct or indirect benefit for commercial activities by way of keeping separate accounts, a separate administration for commercial activities, or any other measure in line with applicable law;
Amendment 237 #
2016/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 26 – point a – point ii
Article 265 – paragraph 1 – point 26 – point a – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 67 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 67 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) financing which is not linked to costs of the relevant operations but is based on the fulfilment of conditions related to the realisation of progress in implementation or the achievement of objectives of programmes. The detailed modalities concerning the financing conditions and their application shall be set out in delegated acts adopted in accordance with the empowerment provided for in paragraph 5. The form of standard scales of unit costs, lump sums or flat rates, is applicable also operations receiving State Aid, and in particular to State aid exempted from notification under Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 and following amendments.
Amendment 33 #
2016/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 a (new)
Article 34 a (new)
Article 34 a The Commission shall ensure that each Member State is provided with sufficient financial support in view of integrating the existing national border infrastructures with the EES via the National Uniform Interfaces. This financial support shall cover all national integration costs and expenses related to the implementation of this Regulation and shall be proportionate to the individual administrative needs of each Member State.
Amendment 34 #
2016/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 64 – paragraph 5
Article 64 – paragraph 5
5. Three years after the start of operations of the EES and every fourtwo years thereafter, the Commission shall produce an overall evaluation of the EES. This overall evaluation shall include an examination of costs and results achieved against objectives ands well as the impact on fundamental rights, and assessing the continuing validity of the underlying rationale, the application of the Regulation, the security of the EES and any implications on future operations, and shall make any necessary recommendations. The Commission shall transmit the evaluation report to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 15 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it necessary to reform the system of financing of the MFF, particularly through the creation of new and genuine own resources; urges the Council to commit to reflecting on this issue, without prejudice to the final report from the High-Level Group on Own Resources; also urges the Council to reflect on the establishment of a fiscal and a budget capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms; underlines that any new instrument should be placed within the EU budget, but above the ceilings of the MFF, and financed from real own resources, and could be put under the scrutiny of a European Finance Minister which could be created inside the framework of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points to the fact that a seven-year period of the multiannual financial framework has proved its worth in the past and that the programming period should not be shorter.; stresses, however, the importance of an in-depth assessment of the duration of the programming period, also with a view to aligning the political cycles of the European Parliament and the Commission; considers, in this regard, that the suggested duration of 5+5 years should be carefully assessed, since it would give the MFF the necessary flexibility, through a genuine and mandatory mid-term review, whilst retaining the ability to programme over the medium to longer term for initiatives and programmes which need such programming, such as cohesion policy and rural development policy; any change to the programming period should not, however, reduce the availability of resources for cohesion policy and the funds should remain commensurate with the challenges to be met;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the establishment of a budgetary capacity within the eurozone area is a necessary milestone to complete the EMU, coherently with the McDougall and the Delors reports and that it is highly recommendable and feasible to create a budgetary capacity, albeit limited, under the current Treaty framework;, notably through articles 136, 175, and 352 TFEU
Amendment 23 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that the asymmetry of the EMU, with the Monetary Union not coupled with an Economic Union is one of the main structural reasons for the euro area's slow recovery after the 2008 crisis;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Expresses its worry that postponing crucial necessary decisions to better times is creating the condition for extremism rise, thus making those decisions even more difficult in the future;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls it permanent call for the insertion of the European Stability Mechanism within the EU legal framework and requests it to be done as soon as possible; recommends its transformation into a European Monetary Fund, acting as a specific shock- absorption instrument within the Eurozone budgetary capacity, which could thus reach about the dimension indicated by the MacDougall and Delors Reports as necessary to sustain the Economic and Monetary Union;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that such capacity should be part of the EU budget as laid down in Article 310(1) TFEU and should comply with the provisions of Articles 310(4) and 312(1) TFEU, but outside the Multi- Annual Financial Framework;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the EU budget also offers guarantees for specific lending operations and that several instruments, such as the EFSM and the EGF, allow for funds to be mobilised over and above the MFF expenditure ceilings;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the need for democratic legitimacy, clarity and accountability, implying the adopcreation of the community method, namely with the involvement of Parliama Euro area Treasury Minister, acting also as Vice President inof the shaping, implementation and oversight of a budgetary capacity;Commission and President of the Eurogroup, and the adoption of the community method,
Amendment 66 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that democratic legitimacy requires the full involvement of the Parliament in the shaping, implementation and oversight of a euro area budgetary capacity;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Recalls that the European Parliament is the Parliament of the Economic and Monetary Union. Considers that the establishment of a fully-fledged euro area fiscal capacity and its incorporation into the treaties shall require, without prejudice to Article 14(2) TEU and notwithstanding Article 231 TFEU, specific provisions in order to limit the corresponding budgetary prerogatives to Members elected in euro area and participating Member States constituencies.
Amendment 70 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the protocols on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on the role of national parliaments offer ample opportunities for national parliaments’ involvement in this respect; also exploiting all the potentiality of the instruments provided by art. 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union and by title II of protocol 1;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that non-eurozone area Member States should be involved, if they so desire, although in a differentiated way and depending on the design of the budgetary capacity.
Amendment 17 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Requests the Commission and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) to assess regularly the impact that a number of budgetary arrangements have had on applicants and potential eligible applicants;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the need to create an open list of potential partners in each member state, in order to facilitate partnerships between those who would like to access the Programme Europe for Citizens.
Amendment 18 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls for the removal of language barriers when applying for the programme and underlines that in spite of the EU’s efforts to provide information in all languages of the Union, most information is provided in English, French and German.
Amendment 27 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Invites the Commission and the EACEA to come up with a realistic strategy for the medium and long term and to weigh up different options, such as a redefinition of programme goals to make them more specific or an increase in funding to bring it more in line widraft a final assessment concerning the financial and budgetary implementation of the Europe for Citizens programme at the end of the current MFF period. This evaluation should be used to redefine the future goals and budgetary requirements of the programme ambitionsin view of the upcoming MFF;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Given the actual context of rising Euroscepticism, calls for a simplified procedure for accessing the programme and for an increased funding in order to insure better results.
Amendment 28 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Underlines the great potential of the social networks and social media and calls for their better use as instruments in promoting the values and history of the EU, within the programme Europe for Citizens.
Amendment 2 #
2015/2326(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Maintains that the citizens of the Union may feel confident about Union law and can benefit effectively from its correct application in the Member States only if Union law is established in full compliance with the principle of conferral and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 41 #
Amendment 58 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Member States’ competent authorities to adapt their adopted operational programmes in order to ensure that future projects under the EUSALP strategy are promptly implemented and that managing authorities take due account of EUSALP priorities when implementing the operational programmes (e.g. by way of dedicated calls, bonus points or budget earmarking); calls for the macro-regional approach to be taken further, ahead of a possible post- 2020 reform of cohesion policy;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the involvement of Parliament in the governing bodies of the EUSALP; believes that, in view of its co- legislative role in the cohesion policy sphere, Parliament should be involved not only in the drafting of the strategy but also in monitoring its implementation and should play a formal part in the work of the strategy's governing bodies;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for an active role for the Commission in the implementation phase of EUSALP; believes that the Commission should be involved alongside the Member States and regions, on a shared management basis and in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, at all stages in the planning and implementation of projects coming under the strategy, not least in order to ensure proper coordination with other EU-supported strategies and funding arrangements;
Amendment 74 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out the importance of coordinating the efforts between the Strategy with the Alpine Convention; underlines that the mountain areas often have different concerns and priorities from the surrounding areas and cities, and highlights the need to strengthen dialogue on an equal footing between the heartland of the Alpine region and the surrounding area, in order to strike the right balance between the interests of the people living in each area;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the competent authorities of the Alpine Member States and regions to come together with the Commission to look into the feasibility of carrying out during the next programming period a joint programme (based on Article 185 TFEU) to foster the integration of research and innovation activities in the Alpine area, in the context of cogent European value chains incorporated into smart specialisation strategies;
Amendment 101 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recognises how important it is to the success of the EUSALP strategy to develop projects for associations, institutions, micro-enterprises and SMEs working in the cultural and creative sector, because of the influence they have on investment, growth, innovation and employment and also because of the key role they play in preserving and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity;
Amendment 124 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of promoting the development of sustainable touristic activities in peri-Alpine lake areas including by raising the profile of spa facilities;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the countries participating in the macro-regional strategy to take into account the specific conditions of cross-border workers and to develop cross-border worker regulations for the Alpine macro-region;
Amendment 173 #
2015/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Points out that the Alpine macro- region offers great opportunities in terms of innovative solutions that could make it into a unique testing laboratory for the circular economy; proposes, in this regard, that a pilot project to explore the potential of this area to develop specific strategies relating to the circular economy be included in the EU budget for 2017;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Expresses concern that despite moderate signs of recoveryhesitant signs that the tide may be on the turn, the EU economy is still in a period of slow growth, high long-term and youth unemployment, increased poverty levels and widening regional disparities in terms of GDP per capita; stresses also that the unprecedented inflow of refugees and asylum seekers over the last year has represented a great challenge in some Member States to be met in accordance with the principle of solidarity (Article 80 TFEU);
Amendment 15 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. UrgStresses the Commission to take better account of the Europe 2020 Strategy and its key targets by improving its implementation and carrying out a further review, in the context of the European Semester, as well as by proposing measures and methodology for importance of the EU 2020 strategy for relaunching growth in Europe and urges the Commission to reactivate it in a bid to meet the targets; calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of a strategy analysis in the context of the European Semester, also with a view to ensuring better monitoring of the EU Funds expenditures related to Europe 2020 goals; believes thatstresses the importance of the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) review under Article 2 of the MFA regulation, which will provide an opportunity to analyse and therefore enhance the value added by EU funding to the goals of Europe 2020 Strategy; stresses that in order to optimise their results and to ensure the necessary investment to support recovery, this review of the MFF should be carried out in combination with the mid-term review of the EU 2020 strategy;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), as part of the Investment Plan for Europe, should be complementary to and in line with local and regional investment strategies and the European Structural and Investment (ESI Funds), and points out that Member States should closely involve the local and regional authorities from the outset in promoting project pipelines and investment platforms; calls for further stepresh solutions to be takenfound to ensure complementarity and synergies between the ESI Funds, the EFSI and other EU-subsidised programmes and initiatives, together with national public investments and private financial instruments, in order to obtain maximum added value and synergy by exploiting the full potential of such investments;
Amendment 31 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the closer links between the objectives of the European Semester process and the programming of the ESI Funds for 2014-2020, reflected in the Partnership Agreements, especially concerning improvements to the labour market, the reform of education systems, the functioning of public administration, improvements to the business and research and innovation environment, and social inclusion; considers that, following the 2014-2020 reform, cohesion policy investments could play a very important role in supporting structural reforms and the fulfilment of the EU’s strategic goals by following up the relevant CSRs together with the effective implementation of the Partnership Agreements;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the Member States and the Commission to ensure adequate administrative capacity in order to increase the quality of service to firms and citizens, and to ensure improved transparency, efficiency and accountability in public procurement, by utilisingfor example, by means of innovative solutions such as e- procurement and tackling corruption; calls, in this context, for the efficient use of ESI Funds to reform structures and processes, human resource management and service delivery;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the fact that the Commission has underlinedStresses that ESI Funds can play a vital role in supporting reform implementation and injecting investment directly into the real economy, if targeted wiselybeing used to achieve the targets set out in the 2014-2020 reform and effectively implemented; acknowledges that there is an urgent need to focus on improving the investment environment and points out that both CSRs and ex ante conditionalities within cohesion policy 2014-2020 have a key role to play in this context,contribute to this as they have important positive spillover effects on the broader investment environment; urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that EU funding is used to its full potential and in the most effective and efficient way;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the proposal by the Commission to set up the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP); urges the Commission to ensure that the programme funding, designed to deliver support upon a Member State’s request and through the management modes intended is implemented while i) avoiding additional administrative complexity and ii) is consistent with existing resources and arrangements for structural reformdeployed in accordance with the specific scope and purpose of each fund, in line with the objectives under the Treaty, including economic, social and territorial cohesion (Article 4 of Regulation 1303/2013) and that the programme is implemented while i) avoiding additional administrative complexity and ii) is consistent with existing resources and arrangements for structural reform; calls on the Commission to legislate more effectively, specifying in greater detail the methodology and indicators to be used for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the programme, while avoiding unnecessary secondary legislation (delegated act); calls on all the services concerned to work together upstream in order to coordinate activities and avoid overlaps when offering assistance for the efficient and effective use of Union funds.
Amendment 9 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the package of better regulation measures adopted on 19 May 2015; believes however that material and simplified criteria for establishing the existence of a violation of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles should be proposed;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes, nevertheless, that it is important to raise the awareness of national parliaments on subsidiarity issues and to support them with tools permitting information exchange; stresses that, especially since the volume of reasoned opinions received from national parliaments in 2014 remained unchanged in proportion to the number of Commission proposals, a mechanism should be developed for the participation of national parliaments in the EU legislative process, fully respecting however the competences of each institution and the principle of subsidiarity;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the Commission should provide an adequate response to the request by a number of national chambers for a stronger subsidiarity control procedure; supports the request made by some national chambers to play a more crucial role, by proposing that the Commission should be bound to withdraw or amend itstake an official position on the proposal when a yellow card is triggered; believes, at the same time, that the idea of a ‘green card’ should be consideredassessed in-depth, including as onea means of raising the participation and activity of national parliaments in the EU legislative process.
Amendment 42 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, through thematic concentration, operational programmes appear to be betterhave been targeted towards a limited number of strategic goals, in particular in terms of growth enhancement and high- quality job creation potential for SMEs;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes the guidebook 'Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs' supplied by the Commission with the aim of assisting both stakeholders who use ESI Funds and SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the international market;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Is of the view that supporting the competitiveness of SMEs is key to the success of regional development policy;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit and for appropriate technical and administrative support to be provided, in order to deal with the complexities of those instruments, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro- enterprises;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden with unnecessary checks and requests for information that is not necessary for detecting such errors and fraud;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; reiteratstresses, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership;
Amendment 97 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; urges the Member States to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs, in consultation with social and economic stakeholders, to promote existing local information points, or to create new ones where necessary, to assist SMEs by informing them on how to take advantage of the opportunities offered by EU funding;
Amendment 107 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the Commission to monitor closelyencourage and monitor the acceleration of implementation, in particular the setting-up of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential;
Amendment 129 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEtake measures to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds, particularly for SMEs;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges Member States to make full use of aid schemes based on the general block exemption regulation, so as to reduce the administrative burden for administrations and beneficiaries and increase the take-up of ESI Funds;
Amendment 135 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls on Member States to foster the implementation of 'e-cohesion', in the interests of simplification and burden reduction for beneficiaries;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to find a lasting solution to the problem arising from the backlog of payments related to regional policy, including in the application of the Late Payment Directive, so as to ensure that SMEs, as project partners,during the current programming period that SMEs will not be deterred from taking part in support programmes and projects during the current programming period on account of payment delayas project partners;
Amendment 140 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that smart specialisation strategies, although not formally required as ex ante conditionalities in TO 3, are a crucial tool in guaranteeing innovation and the adaptability of Thematic Objectives; asks the Commission to report to Parliament on the results of smart specialisation strategies devoted to SMEs at national and/or regional level; (Over the period 2014-2020, smart specialisation strategies are formally required as ex ante conditionalities in Thematic Objectives 1 and 3.)
Amendment 150 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics and specific competences of individual territorieareas, with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant greensmart, sustainable and inclusive growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be usencouraged to the full in the context of green growth, as a way to reconcile economic growth with, greater employment, social inclusion and professionalization and environmental sustainability;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission, in consultation with Member States and managing authorities, to encourage joint efforts for the creation of an ecosystem involving social and economic stakeholders, including educational establishments, universities, research centres, trade associations and public organisations, capable of stimulating business skills;
Amendment 158 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes that the 'smart guide to innovation services' drawn up by the Commission stresses the importance of public support strategies, developed in consultation with social and economic stakeholders at regional level, in providing SMEs with a favourable environment and helping them maintain a competitive position in global value chains;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the future challenges facing SMEs in adapting and complying with the recent decisions taken at the COP21 conference, and calls on the Commission to help the managing authorities in the Member States adapt the programmes in order to streamline this adaptation process;
Amendment 167 #
2015/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that, in light of the current migration and asylum crises, SMEsuitable support for SME initiatives can deliver innovative opportunitiesolutions for the integration of refugees and migrants entering the EU labour market;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2280(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets thatcalls the importance of Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) and of Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), which at times are not widely implemented widely enough in the ETC programmes for 2014-2020, and encourages Member States to make greater use of them;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2280(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Points out the role of ETC in island regions, outermost regions and, sparsely populated regions, and mountain and rural areas, as an important tool for strengthening their regional integration;
Amendment 99 #
2015/2280(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that financial instruments need to be an integral part of ETC programmes through complementing grants with a view to supporting SMEs, research and innovation; recalls the fundamental importance of technical support and training initiatives suitable for promoting better use of these instruments, even in less well-prepared circumstances and with fewer available resources;
Amendment 175 #
2015/2280(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42 a. Recalls the importance of territorial cooperation for areas with physical and geographic disadvantages, such as mountain areas, which sometimes develop links and relationships with neighbouring areas that share common challenges and similar characteristics, or island regions; calls on the Commission to provide adequate support for this particular type of cooperation;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas these regions are structurally disadvantaged, owing to the extreme conditions and remoteness, to the extent that many mountainous regions face depopulation and ageing populations, owing to the extreme conditions and remoteness, which can upsets the natural cycle of generations and, leads ing to a lowering of social standards and the quality of life; whereas this often leads to a rise in unemployment, social exclusion and urban migration;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas mountainous regions face serious challenges – as regards social and economic development, climate change, transport and demographic issues – that can onlymust be addressed through the establishment of adequate connections with urban areas and by guaranteeing access to digital services;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas mountainous regions depend largely upon mountain agriculturebase their economy on specific sectors, such as mountain agriculture, forest resources and tourism;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to start the process of creating a working definition for functional mountainous regions in the context of the Cohesion Policy; considers that such a definition must be wide and inclusive, taking into account different factors such as altitude, accessibility and slope; calls on the Commission also to take into consideration areas that, while not mountainous, depend heavily onare greatly integrated with mountain areas; points out, in this context, the idea reflected in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) of including non-mountainous areas in the strategy as a good initiative;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that EU policies should have a specific approach to mountainous regions, as they have clear structural disadvantages; these regions, indeed, need additional support to overcome the challenges of climate change, be able to provide employment, economic development and protection of the environment, and help reach the EU renewable energy targets; considers, as a result of this, that mountainous regions should be mainstreamed in all aspects of EU policies, including the Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a substantialthe managing authorities to consider increase ing allocations of ESI Funds at national level for undeveloped mountainous areas, using a multi-sectoral policy approach, where possible;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the current initiatives for the Carpathian Mountains in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the progress made on the EU macro-regional strategy for the Alps; notes that the latter is a good example of an integrated approach to territorial development, taking into account mountainous areas and regions dependent onintegrated with them;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) instrument offers an excellent opportunity to share best practices and knowledge among mountainous regions, which in many cases are located on national borders, and calls for a specific mountain dimension in the future ETC; welcomes initiatives, such as ‘Policies against depopulation in mountainous areas’ (PADIMA), that are aimed to address the specific problems faced by mountainous regions; stresses the importance of other cooperation initiatives, such as EGTC and EEIG, to develop these areas;
Amendment 103 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Encourages the support of local action groups (LAGs) for community-led local development;
Amendment 110 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Highlights the potential of dual education in mountainous regions; points at the encouraging results achieved in Austria, Germany and other Member States; welcomes as well projects for dual education within the macro-regional EU Strategy for the Danube Region;
Amendment 118 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the Commission to promote pilot projects with a view to recovering traditional economic activities, including farming and handicrafts, in mountain areas that are subject to depopulation, to increase the resilience of the local people and make them more welcoming;
Amendment 122 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for the improvement of healthcare facilities in mountainous regions, where necessary, also through cross-border cooperation initiatives, should they be helpful;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Stresses the importance of integrated territorial initiatives with a view to integrating migrants, in connection with processes relating to demographic and socio-economic renewal and recovery in mountain areas, including those undergoing depopulation; calls on the Commission to facilitate and promote the dissemination of such initiatives;
Amendment 147 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that mountainous regions are especially vulnerable to climate change, which can have an environmental impact also on surrounding areas and negative repercussions on economic development and tourism; believes, in this regard, that safeguarding the environment, combatting climate change and taking appropriate climate change adaptation measures must be at the heart of a future ‘Agenda for EU Mountainous Regions’;
Amendment 158 #
2015/2279(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls on the Commission, when developing policies for broadband access, to take into account the lack of infrastructure and interest of investors owing to the sparse population and remoteness of mountainous regions; calls on the Commission to develop specific policies for overcoming the digital divide in these regions, also through the necessary public investments;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2258(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for digital instruments to be developed as well as platforms for distance working, boosting hot-desking and co-working, and promoting adaptive technology;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2258(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for account to be taken of the information contained in the Removal of Architectural Barriers plan when planning actions co-funded with ESI Funds;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2258(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Emphasises the importance of digital technology and of supports for disabled athletes; calls for existing gymnasiums to be renovated as necessary to accommodate the integration of disabled athletes;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2258(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Stresses that barriers to access to public transport continue to exist; calls in particular for an overhaul of mechanisms enabling independent access to trains;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 2
Indent 1 – paragraph 2
2. Considers that the procedure under Article 7 TEU is virtually unusablewill hardly be used to its full potential, due to the unanimity requirement in the European Council; notes that the Union has no legally binding mechanism in place to monitor regularly the compliance of the Member States and EU institutions with the EU's fundamental values;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
3. Takes notStresses the importance of the rule of law Framework established by the Commission in 20141 and of the creation of an annual dialogue on the rule of law in the General Affairs Council as established in December 2014; and looks to the formulation of common ground as between these different rule of law mechanisms; , in order to make sure they are effective in ensuring compliance with fundamental rights and democratic values in the entire Union; __________________ 1 Communication of the Commission of 11 March 2014 on "A new EU Framework to strengthen the Rule of Law" (COM(2014)0158).
Amendment 30 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 4
Indent 1 – paragraph 4
Amendment 45 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 5
Indent 1 – paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the key role that the European Parliament and the national parliaments should play in measuring the progress of, and monitoring the compliance with, the shared values of the Union, as enshrined in Article 2 TEU;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Indent 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the European Parliament under Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure has developed a scrutiny over third States in the case of breach of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; considers that on the basis of Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU and Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure, the European Parliament should take motions for resolutions on the respect for the rule of law, democratic values and the state of fundamental rights within the European Union and its Member States;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 6
Indent 2 – paragraph 6
6. Recommends the establishment on an EU mechanism for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights which would include all relevant stakeholders; considers that this would, however,, provided such mechanism does not jeopardize or rival with but rather complements and paves the way for the procedure under Article 7 TEU, it may not require a Treaty change;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 8
Indent 2 – paragraph 8
8. Recommends the conclusion of a pact between all EU institutions and national parliaments in order to establish an annual 'fundamental rights policy cycle' as part of a multi-annual structured dialogue among all stakeholders; in this context, suggests that the European Parliament holds a yearly debate on the respect for democracy, the rule of law and the state of fundamental rights within the European Union; believes that this debate should be organized in such a way that it can involve setting benchmarks and goals to achieve and providing the means to evaluate changes from one year to another;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 10
Indent 2 – paragraph 10
Amendment 29 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas it is crucial for local and regional authorities to properly identify their assets and strategic advantages and build upon these when developing their local development strategies;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that tangible involvement from the outset and proper delegation of responsibilities to local actors and their ownership of territorial development strategies are crucial for the success of the bottom-up approach; stresses, however, that local actors require technical and financial support from national and EU levels, especially in the early stages of the implementation process;
Amendment 51 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the fact that actions taken under these tools need to be closely aligned with the overarching objectives of the operational programmes as well as with other national, regional and local development strategies and smart specialisation strategies, while allowing for margins of flexibility already guaranteed for other funding tools;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the Member States to increase the use of CLLD and ITI and to allow more flexible rules in areas referred to in Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, such as islands, mountainous and rural regions; for those areas in particular, in light of their isolation and partial competitive disadvantage, specific measures for providing technical support to the administrative bodies could be identified;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Commission and Member States, where appropriate, to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place to help resolve potential disputes between the managing authorities and individual partnerships and to also ensure that potential beneficiaries are appropriately informed, protected and aware of the possibilities available to them to challenge decisions taken by the managing authorities;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that CLLD can also offer possibilities for urban areas and can be an important part of wider urban development strategies; recalls that, in order to ensure that territorial development strategies are as effective as possible, the development of urban areas must be consistent with that of the surrounding, peri-urban and rural areas;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Asks for the abovementioned report to analyse whether a compulsory approach, in the post-2020 cohesion policy legislation concerning CLLD and ITI would be desirable, with minimum earmarking for these instruments, a consolidation of those instruments would be desirable, providing for binding earmarking in operational programmes; proposes, alternatively, that the option of designing concrete incentives to stimulate Member States to implement CLLD and ITI be assessed;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2156(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for the Council to be transparent and fully accountable to Union citizens by taking part in the annual discharge procedure just as the other European institutions do;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2156(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 9 #
2015/2127(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that persistent problems such as financial barriers result inthe economic and financial crisis and the close-minded approach of traditional credit systems have contributed towards a lack of investment within the EU and the urgent need to mobilise investment in order to boost the real economy; welcomes, in this regard, the proposal for an Investment Plan for Europe and the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); recalls that there is a need to ensure consistency and complementarity between the EFSI and other EU policies and instruments, in particular the ESI Funds;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2127(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that the European Parliament must be a key partner in selecting strategies and projects to be co-funded by the EFSI, and must play a fundamental role in monitoring the impact of these strategies and projects in terms of employment and economic growth;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2127(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the enlarged role the EIB Group will play in implementing cohesion policy for the 2014-2020 programming period; emphasises the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue with the managing authorities of operational programmes in order to establish synergies enabling improved attainment of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, amongst other things in supporting MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises);
Amendment 40 #
2015/2127(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the EIB to better promote their planning consultancy activities, by aiding the managing authorities of ESI funds to better spend resources available to them for the benefit of all European citizens;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2127(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EIB to use the EFSI to increase its support to projects covered by the EU macro- regional strategyies; stresses the importance of continuing to support the traditionalsupporting all the economic sectors inof the EU, such as agriculture, shipbuilding and tourism; calls, furthermore, for the establishment of financial and investment platforms in order to enable the bundling of funds from various sources and the mobilisation of investments needed for such macro- regional projects;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
(1) Recalls that a reform of the UN Security Council is one element of an overall agenda for reforming the UN system, and a central, long-term goal of the EU; consequently, calls to actively support a comprehensive reform of the UNSC in order to grant the EU with a permanent seat.
Amendment 27 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls to support a female European candidate for the position of the UN Secretary General in the upcoming elections.
Amendment 66 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Commission, in relation to any relevant country-specific recommendations, to make full use of its discretionary powers, under Article 23(9)-(14) of the Common Provisions Regulation, regarding of Regulation 1303/2013, regarding both requested changes and reprogramming in the context of programme intervention and the level and scope of any suspension of commitments or payments in cohesion policy, whenever additional public expenditure has been incurred by individual Member States or regions or is needed for the accommodation and integration of large numbers of migrants.
Amendment 11 #
2015/2061(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note of the result of the popular initiative of 9 February 2014; calls, however, on the European Union, which may undermine the bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland; stresses that the four freedoms, i.e. the free movement of people, goods, services and capitals, are founding principles of the EU and cannot be treated as separated issues; calls strongly therefore on the Commission and the Member States to remain firm on the fundamental principle of free movement of personsople so that Switzerland continues to grant privileged access to EUnion workers and enterpriseto ensure the respect and enforcement of the bilateral agreements;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2061(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and Switzerland to make every effort to achieve progress in the negotiations on itsthe participation in the Erasmus+ programme, in orderof Switzerland to EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020, in order to ensure students and researchers rights and to guarantee exchange reciprocity and nowithout penaliseing young people;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2061(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission and Switzerland to enhance transparency with regards to the negotiations and the status of the agreements.
Amendment 21 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and in particular Articles 11, 23 and 39 thereof,
Amendment 31 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the reform of Parliament’s electoral procedure should aim at enhancing the democratic dimension of the European elections, reinforce the concept of citizenship of the Union, improve the functioning of the European Parliament and the governance of the Union, make the work of the European Parliament more legitimate and efficient, enhance the effectiveness of the system for conducting European elections, and provide for greater electoral equality and participation for citizens of the Union;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the deadlines for finalising the electoral roll ahead of European elections vary greatly among Member States and may render the exchange of information between Member States on voters (aimed at the avoidance of double voting) difficult, if not impossible;
Amendment 54 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas the best way of avoiding any difficulties during the voting operations would, in the long term, be to create a European voting card which would, first of all, allow Union citizens to vote once from wherever they want and, second, reinforce the feeling of being a member of the family of citizens of the Union;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas although Article 10(2) of the Electoral Act expressly prohibits the early publication of the results of elections, such results have been made public in the past; whereas a harmonised time and days for the close of polling in all Member States would contribute strongly to the common European character of the European elections and would reduce the possibility of their outcome being influenced if election results in some Member States are made public before the close of polling in all Member States;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
Pa. whereas the current composition of the European Parliament, comprising as it does only 36,62 % women, falls far short of the values and objectives of gender equality championed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 84 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas the minimum age for eligibility to stand as a candidate across the 28 Member States varies between 18 and 25, and the minimum age for eligibility to vote ranges from 16 to 18, due to the divergent constitutional and electoral traditions in the Member States; whereas harmonisation of the voting age, and of the minimum age for candidates, would be highly desirable as a means of providing Union citizens with real voting equality, and would enable discrimination to be avoided in the most fundamental area of citizenship: the right to participate in the democratic process;
Amendment 87 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas new political identities, especially in the border regions where there is intense cross-border cooperation, are emerging in the Union, and whereas those identities should be taken into account and thought should be given to cross-border constituencies and transnational lists;
Amendment 99 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas in most Member States, members of the executive can seek election to the national parliament without having to discontinue their institutional activity;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
Recital T
T. whereas first projections of the electoral results should be announced simultaneously in all Member States on the last day of the election period at 213:00 hours CET;
Amendment 118 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Decides to reform its electoral procedure in good time before the 2019 elections, with the aim of enhancing the democratic dimension of the European elections, reinforcing the concept of citizenship of the Union, improving the functioning of the European Parliament and the governance of the Union, making the work of the European Parliament more legitimate and efficient, enhancing the effectiveness of the system for conducting European elections, and providing for greater electoral equality and participation for citizens of the Union;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Proposes that elections in all Member States end by 213:00 hours CET on the Sunday of the European elections, as this would ensure the correct application of Article 10(2) of the Electoral Act and thus reduce the possibility of the outcome of the elections being influenced if the election results in some Member States are made public before the close of polling in all Member States;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Determines to set a common deadline of eight weeks for finalisation of the electoral roll and six weeks for information concerning Union citizens with dual nationality and Union citizens living in another Member State to be exchanged with the national single authority in charge of the electoral roll;
Amendment 171 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 190 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages Member States to use postal electronic and internet voting in order to make voting easierincrease the participation of, and to make voting easier for, all citizens, and especially for people with reduced mobility and for those living abroad;
Amendment 205 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages Member States to take measures to promote gender balance, such as the imposition of rules ensuring gender equality, in every aspect of European elections;
Amendment 220 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The list of candidates for election to the European Parliament shall ensure gender equality.
Amendment 256 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a In order to avoid fraud, double voting or inability to vote due to inefficiency in the exchange of information between Member States, the deadline for the establishment and finalisation of the electoral roll is set at eight weeks before election day.
Amendment 257 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 9 b (new)
Article 9b In each Member State, a single contact authority shall be responsible for exchanging data on voters with its counterparts in the other Member States. That authority shall transmit to those counterparts, at the latest six weeks before election day and via uniform and secure electronic means of communication, data concerning Union citizens who are nationals of more than one Member States and Union citizens who are not nationals of the Member State in which they are residing. The information transmitted shall include at least the surname and forename, age, city of residence, and date of arrival in the Member State concerned, of the citizen in question.
Amendment 260 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Elections to the European Parliament shall be held on the date or dates and at the times fixed by each Member State; f. For all Member States thise date or dates shall fall within the same period starting on a Thursday morning and ending on the following Sunday. The election shall end in all Member States by 23:00 hours CET on that Sunday.
Amendment 262 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may not officially make public the results of their count until after the close of polling in the Member State whose electors are the last to vote within the period referred to in paragraph 1. First projections of the results shall be communicated simultaneously in all Member States at 23:00 hours CET on the Sunday marking the end of the electoral period specified in paragraph 1.
Amendment 3 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. SupportsTakes note of the Commission's proposal on the DAB 1/2015, which proposes the provisioning of a guarantee fund and possible calls on a Union guarantee, as well as the budgeting of appropriations for the provision of advisory support, in line with the legislative proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); strongly believes, however, that other sources (in commitment appropriations) to the ones proposed in Commission proposal to DAB 1/2015 for the funding of the EU Guarantee should be found; strongly opposes redeploying commitment appropriations from Horizon 2020 and CEF in Unionbudget 2015; recalls that the adoption of DAB 1/2015 does not have to be concomitant to the adoption of the EFSI Regulation;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines, in this regard, the importance of the use of financial instruments to address specific marketreal needs and to attract additional financing, in particular from private sources;
Amendment 20 #
2015/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to ensure a level playing field within the internal market as a whole, this Regulation is consistent with Directive 2014/49/EU. It complements the rules and principles of that Directive to ensure the proper functioning of EDIS and that appropriate funding is available to the latter. The key objective of the EDIS is to enhance the effective deposit guarantee framework with a view to protecting depositors against the consequences of deposits becoming unavailable. At the full insurance stage, the objective is to provide an equal level of protection to all depositors of credit institutions affiliated to the participating DGSs. The material law on deposit guarantee to be applied within the EDIS framework will therefore be consistent with the one applicable by the national DGSs or designated authorities of the non- participating Member States, harmonised through the Directive 2014/49/EU.
Amendment 27 #
2015/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Regulation No 806/2014
Article 41g a (new)
Article 41g a (new)
Article 41g a Entry into application of this Chapter 1. This Chapter shall apply from no earlier than the latest of the following dates: (a) the date of application, or, where relevant, the expiry of the transposition period of the international standard for Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC), for Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs), and of revised rules in relation to a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), for all credit institutions affiliated to the participating DGSs; (b) the date of application, or, where relevant, the expiry of the transposition period of an insolvency ranking for credit institutions, harmonised at Union level, in relation to subordinated debt; (c) the date of application, or, where relevant, the expiry of the transposition period of a framework for business insolvency, harmonised at Union level, in relation to the early restructuring of companies in order to prevent and better handle the pressing issue of non- performing loans; (d) the date of application, or, where relevant, the expiry of the transposition period of an act amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 and Directive 2013/36/EU, resulting in a binding leverage ratio requirement. 2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, the Commission is empowered to adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 93 supplementing this Regulation by establishing the exact date of application of this Chapter. That empowerment shall be based on a verification, to be conducted in 2023, of compliance with the following conditions: (a) the completion by the Commission, by 31 December 2021, of a review of the European supervisory architecture for credit institutions, resulting in the application of legislation introducing moratorium powers for supervisors and resolution authorities in respect of credit institutions affiliated to the participating DGSs; (b) adherence by all credit institutions to the minimum capital requirements in the baseline scenario of an Asset Quality Review (AQR) for all credit institutions affiliated to the participating DGSs in 2023; That delegated act shall set a date of application for this Chapter that shall, in any event, not be earlier than 1 January 2024 and, where that date is exceeded, no later than one year from the time all the conditions of this Article are met. (This amendment applies throughout the text. Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)
Amendment 70 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly-specialised knowledge and skills. Addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise. Therefore, early and efficient design and implementation is crucial, be it for crisis-struck or structurally-weak economies. In this context, the provision of support by the Union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of Greece and Cyprus in the last years. Ownership of structural reforms on the ground, in particular through local and regional authorities and the social partners, is essential for the Programme to be successful.
Amendment 109 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Further to a dialogue with the requesting Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of transparency, subsidiarity, equal treatment, partnership and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency, breadth and depth of the problems as identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged, analysis of socioeconomic indicators, and the general administrative capacity of the Member State. The Commission should also, in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, identify the priority areas, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support, taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes; in so doing, the Commission and the Member State concerned should take into account the current division of powers between the different levels of government – which often provides for an important role for local and regional authorities – as well as the fact that some Country Specific Recommendations are addressed to local and regional authorities.
Amendment 168 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) their complementarity and synergy with other Union programmes and policies at local, regional, national, Union and international level;
Amendment 196 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 –subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 –subparagraph 2
These objectives shall be pursued in close cooperation with Beneficiary Member States, as well as with local and regional authorities where appropriate.
Amendment 231 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Taking into account the principles of subsidiarity, transparency, equal treatment, partnership and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify the priority areas for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.
Amendment 63 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Recital 5
(5) In accordance with the Treaty provisions, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for fiscal policy and macro- structural policies. The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral surveillance of economic and, budgetary surveillance, employment and social policies. The streamlining and strengthening of the European Semester as set out in the Commission's 2015 Annual Growth Survey will further improve its functioning.
Amendment D #
2015/0051(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In accordance with the Treaty provisions, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for fiscal policy and macro- structural policies which have a strong impact on the social and employment situation in the Union. These policies may result in a trend of stagnation and deflation in some parts of the Union, which could discourage growth and employment. In this regard, it is vital to take into consideration the new social indicators and the asymmetric shocks that certain Member States experience as a result of the crisis. The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral surveillance of economic and, budgetary surveillance, employment and social policies, and should be better geared to delivering on the EU2020 targets. The streamlining and strengthening of the European Semester as set out in the Commission's 2015 Annual Growth Survey willmay further improve its functioning, but this instrument has not yet improved the economic situation in the Member States worst affected by the crisis.
Amendment G #
2015/0051(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Member States and the Union should also address the social impact of the crisis and aim at building a cohesivelso by providing more reliable figures on extreme poverty, and aim at building an inclusive and more just society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, and can actively participate in society and the economy. ANon-discriminatory access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion reduced substantially, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and adequate social welfare systems and removing barriers to labour market participation. Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regionsunnecessary administrative barriers and barriers to labour market participation, in particular those affecting people with disabilities. Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regional and local entities. The scoreboard of key employment and social indicators within the Joint Employment Report is a particularly useful tool in this respect by helping to detect key employment and social problems and divergences in a timely way and identify areas where policy response is most needed. However, further editions of the scoreboard should include also gender disaggregated data.
Amendment J #
2015/0051(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The broad guidelines for economic policies and the employment guidelines give guidance to the Member States on implementing reforms, reflecting interdependence. They are in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. The guidelines should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. and should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. Given the close interdependence of Member States' economies and labour markets, when adopting country specific recommendations the Council should take into consideration the state of affairs in the neighbouring countries as well as in countries with which the respective Member State has clear connections following a trend in workers' migration or any other relevant indicator. In this respect, the Commission should have accurate and updated statistics and data available in case the country-specific recommendations need to be adjusted.
Amendment 79 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Recital 7
(7) Member States and the Union should also address the social impact of the crisis and aim at building a cohesive society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, and can actively participate in society and the economy. Access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion reduced, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and social welfare systems and removing barriers to labour market participation. Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regions. The scoreboard of key employment and social indicators within the Joint Employment Report is a particularly useful tool in this respect by helping to detect key employment and social problems and divergences in a timely way and identify areas where policy response is most needed. However, further editions of the scoreboard should include also gender disaggregated data.
Amendment 99 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Recital 10
(10) The broad guidelines for economic policies and employment guidelines give guidance to the Member States on implementing reforms, reflecting interdependence. They are in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. The integrated guidelines should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States.
Amendment 123 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 1 – paragraph 3
Member States should, together with the social partners, encourage wage-setting mechanisms allowing for a responsiveness of wages to productivity developments. In this respect, and helping to correct past diffvergences in skills and local labour market conditions as well asunit labour costs without fuelling deflationary pressures. In this respect, divffergences in economic performance across regions, sectors and companielocal labour market conditions should be taken into account. When setting minimum wages, Member States and social partners should consider their impact on in- work poverty, aggregate demand, job creation and competitiveness.
Amendment 128 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
The Europe 2020 headline target on employment, on the basis of which Member States set their national targets, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances, is to aim to raise the employment rate for women and men aged 20-64 to 75 % by 2020, including through the greater participation of young people, older workers and low-skilled workers and the better integration of migrants. A sub- target for youth employment, which should likewise be translated into national sub-targets, is to aim to reduce the rate of people aged below 25 who are neither in employment, education or training to less than 10 % by 2020, based on full implementation of the Youth Guarantee.
Amendment 134 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 1
Member States should promote productivity and employability through an appropriate supply of relevant knowledge and skills. Member States should make the necessary investments in educationquality and inclusive education from an early age and vocational training systems while improving their effectiveness and efficiency to raise the skill level of the workforce, allowing it to better anticipate and meet the rapidly changing needs of dynamic labour markets in an increasingly digital economy. Member States should step up efforts to improve access to quality adult learning for all and implement active ageing strategies to enable longer working lives.
Amendment 144 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 2
High unemployment should be tackled and long-term unemployment prevented through a mix of demand and supply-side measures. The number of long-term unemployed should be significantly reduced by means of comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies, including the provision of specificrsonalised active support to long-term unemployed to return to the labour market. The youth unemployment needs to be comprehensively addressed, including by equipping the relevant institutions with the necessary means to fully and consistently implement their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans
Amendment 147 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 2
High unemployment should be tackled and long-term unemployment prevented. The number of long-term unemployed should be significantly reduced by means of comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies, including the provision of specific active support to long-term unemployed to return to the labour market. The youth unemployment needs to be comprehensively addressed, including by investing in sectors that can create quality jobs for young people and by equipping the relevant institutions with the necessary means to fully and consistently implement their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans
Amendment 161 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 4
Barriers to labour market participation should be reduced, especially for women, older workers, young people, persons withe disabled and legalility and migrants. Gender equality including equal pay must be ensured in the labour market as well as access to affordable quality early childhood education and care.
Amendment 172 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 5
Member States should make a full use of European Social Fund and other Union funds support in order to improve quality employment, social inclusion, education and public administration.
Amendment 173 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 5
Member States should make a full use of European Social Fund and other Union funds support in order to improve employment, social inclusion, education and public administration. The European Fund for Strategic Investments and its investment platforms should also be mobilised to ensure that quality jobs are created and workers are equipped with skills needed for the Union's transition towards a sustainable growth model.
Amendment 177 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
The Europe 2020 headline target on education, on the basis of which Member States set their national targets, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances, is to reduce drop-out rates to less than 10 %, and increase the share of 30-34 year-olds having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 %.
Amendment 179 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 1
Member States should reduce labour market segmentation. Employment protection rules and institutions should provide a suitable environment for recruitment while offering adequate levels of protection to those in employment and those seeking employment or employed on temporary, part-time or atypical contracts or independent work contracts. Quality employment should be ensured for all in terms of socio-economic security, education and training opportunities, working conditions (including health and safety), adequate wages and work-life balance. Upward convergence in working conditions should be promoted across the Union.
Amendment 188 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
New forms of work organisation should be encouraged in order to make the best use of people's skills, foster their lifelong development and encourage employee- driven innovation.
Amendment 190 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 2
Member States should closely involve National Parliaments and, social partners and civil society organisations in the design and implementation of relevant reforms and policies, in line with national practices, while supporting the improvement of the functioning and effectiveness of social dialogue at national level.
Amendment 197 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 3
The Union and Member States should ensure basic standards of quality of active labour market policies. Member States should strengthen active labour market policies by increasing their targeting, outreach, coverage and interplay with passive measures. These policies should aim at improving labour market matching and support sustainable transitions on the labour market, with public employment services delivering individualised support and implementing performance measurement systems. Member States should also ensure that their social protection systems effectively activate and enable those who can participate in the labour market, protect those (temporarily) excluded from the labour markets and/or unable to participate in it, and prepare individuals for potential risks, by investing in human capital Member States should promote inclusive labour markets open to all and also put in place effective anti- discrimination measures.
Amendment 208 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 4
Mobility of workers should be ensured as a fundamental right and a matter of free choice with an aim of exploiting the full potential of the European labour market, including by enhancing the portability of pensions and social security, and the recognition of qualifications. Member States should at the same time guard against abuses of the existing rules. Investment in regions experiencing labour outflows should be promoted to mitigate brain drain and encourage mobile workers to return.
Amendment 216 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 4 – paragraph 1
The Union and Member States should modernisensure basic standards of social protection. Member States should improve their social protection systems to provide effective, efficient, and adequate protection throughout all stages of an individual’s life, ensuring universal access, fairness and addressing inequalities. There is a need for simplified and better targetilored social policies complemented by, including on affordable quality childcare and education, training and job assistance, housing support and accessible health care, access to basicother services such as bank account and Internet and for action to prevent early school leaving and fight poverty and social exclusion. Child poverty, in particular, must be decisively tackled.
Amendment 224 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 4 – paragraph 2
For that purpose a variety of instruments should be used in a complementary manner, including labour activation enabling services and income support, targetbased on active inclusion strategies combining adequate minimum income, inclusive labour markets and high quality services tailored ato individual needs. Social protection systems should be designed in a way that facilitate take up of all persons entitled, support investment in human capital, and help prevent, reduce and protect against poverty and social exclusion.
Amendment 232 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 4 – paragraph 3
The pension systems should be reformed in order to secure their sustainability and adequacy for women and men in a context of increasing longevity and demographic change, including by linking statutory retirement ages to life expectancy, by increasing effective retirement ages, and by developing co. The best way is to increase the overall employment rate, building also on social investments in active ageing. Further reforms should focus on increasing effective retirement age, taking into account the number of contributory years and reflecting differences in life expectancy caused by particularly arduous work, and on upholding the fundamental importance of public pensions while developing complementary retirement savings. Measures to reduce gender gaps in employment and pay as well as incidence of involuntary part-time empleoyment ary retirement savingse also needed in order to ensure decent living standards in old age.
Amendment 241 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 4 – paragraph 4
Member States should improve the accessiquality, accessibility, affordability, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare and long term care systems, while safeguarding fiscal sustainability.
Amendment 246 #
2015/0051(NLE)
Annex 1 – section 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
The Europe 2020 headline target on fighting poverty and social exclusion, on the basis of which Member States set their national targets, taking into account their relative starting conditions and national circumstances, is to promote social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty by aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion.1 __________________ 1 The population is defined as the number of persons who are at risk of poverty and exclusion according to three indicators (at risk of poverty; material deprivation; jobless household), leaving Member States free to set their national targets on the basis of the most appropriate indicators, taking into account their national circumstances and priorities.
Amendment 21 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the Union. Investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007. TAll regions of the Union suffers and in particular those more affected by the crisis, from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints on Member States. This lack of investment slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation, long-term growth prospects and competitiveness.
Amendment 28 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Throughout the economic and financial crisis, the Union has made efforts to promote growth, in particular through initiatives set out in the Europe 2020 strategy that put in place an approach for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The European Investment Bank ('EIB') has also strengthened its role in instigating and promoting investment within the Union, partly by way of an increase in capital in January 2013. Further action is required to coordinate policies and instruments and to ensure that the investment needs of the Union are addressed and that the liquidity available on the market is used efficiently and channelled towards the funding of viable investment projects.
Amendment 33 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productive investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing, particularly in Member States and regions where this access is structurally constrained, including in the outermost regions. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to mid- cap companies, which are companies having up to 3000 employees. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 37 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing. These strategic investments should benefit from positive externalities created by public investment and European Structural and Investment Funds in order to achievinge Union policy objectives.
Amendment 44 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The EFSI is part of a comprehensive approach to address uncertainty surrounding public and private investments until a system of own resources for the EU budget can be agreed. The strategy has three pillars: mobilising finance for investment, making investment reach the real economy and improving the investment environment in order to achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion across the Union.
Amendment 50 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The EFSI should target projects delivering high societal and economic value. In particular, the EFSI should target projects that promote job creation, long- term sustainable growth and competitiveness. The EFSI should support a wide range of financial products, including equity, debt or guarantees, to best accommodate the needs of the individual project. This wide range of products should allow the EFSI to adapt to market needs whilst encouraging private investment in the projects. The EFSI should not be a substitute for private market finance but should instead catalyse private finance by addressing market failures so as to ensure the most effective and strategic use of public money in order to guarantee the principle of overall harmonious development of all regions in the European Union. The requirement for consistency with State aid principles should contribute to such effective and strategic use.
Amendment 51 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The EFSI should target projects with a higher risk-return profile than existing EIB and Union instruments to ensure additionality and complementarity over existing operations. The EFSI should finance projects across the Union, including in thewith particular attention to those concerning countries most affected by the financial crisis. The EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other sources on reasonable terms.
Amendment 62 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Provided that all relevant eligibility criteria are fulfilled, third parties may co- finance together with EFSI on a project- by-project basis or in investment platform related to geographic or thematic sectors. Member States may use European Structural Investment Funds to contribute to the financing of eligible projects that are supported by the EU guarantee. The flexibility of this approach should maximise the potential to attract investors to the areas of investment targeted by the EFSI.
Amendment 73 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The EIB should regularly evaluateand the Investment Committee should regularly evaluate and report to the European Parliament and the Council on activities supported by the EFSI with a view to assessing their relevance, performance and impact and to identifying aspects that could improve future activities. Such evaluations shouland reporting should be made public and contribute to accountability and analysis of sustainability.
Amendment 80 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) Member States have also begun work at national, regional and macroregional level on establishing and promoting project pipelines for projects of national significance. The information prepared by the Commission and the EIB should provide links to the accompanying national, regional and macroregional project pipelines.
Amendment 86 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall conclude an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the establishment of a European Fund for Strategic Investments ('EFSI') in line with the requirements set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 92 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall be empowered to enter into the EFSI Agreement on behalf of the Union by means of a delegated act in accordance with Article 17, provided that the EFSI Agreement meets the requirements set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 93 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definition apply; a)'investment platform' means a co- financing arrangement established for financing projects through a special purpose vehicle, a managed account or a contract. An investment platform can be regional, macroregional (pooling across different regions of several Member States), national (grouping certain investment projects on the territory of a given Member State) or sectorial (pooling across several Member States in one sector); b) 'additionality' means that EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other resources (normal EIB instruments, European Structural and Investment Funds and private investments) on reasonable terms.
Amendment 93 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The Commission shall be empowered to accept later amendments of the EFSI Agreement by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 17, provided that the amendments to the EFSI Agreement meet the requirements set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 101 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
To meet that objective, the EIAH shall use the expertise of the EIB, the Commission, national and regional promotional banks and the managing authorities of the European Structural and Investment Funds.
Amendment 108 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI shall have an Investment Committee, which shall be responsible for examining potential operations in line with the EFSI investment policies and approving the support of the EU guarantee for operations in line with Article 5, irrespective of their geographic location. taking into consideration the principle of overall harmonious development of all regions of the European Union
Amendment 109 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI shall be governed by a Steering Board, which shall determine the strategic orientation, the strategic asset allocation and operating policies and procedures, including the investment policy of projects that EFSI can support and the risk profile of the EFSI, in conformity with the objectives under Article 5(2). The Steering Board shall elect one of its members to be Chairpersona Chairperson from among its members for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 112 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of six independent experts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance, as well as in regional economic and social development and be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 120 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The Managing Director shall report every quarter on the activities of the EFSI to the Steering Board and annually to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 126 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Managing Director shall be appointed on the basis of an open and transparent selection procedure. After hearing the Steering Board, the Commission shall, upon receiving the consent of the EIB, provide the European Parliament with a shortlist of candidates for the positions of Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director. The Commission shall, upon receiving the consent of the EIB, submit to the European Parliament for approval a proposal for the appointment of the Managing Director. Following the approval of that proposal, the Steering Board shall appoint the Managing Director and the Deputy Managing Director for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 129 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) infrastructure projects in the environmental, natural resources, urban development and social fields including social housing;
Amendment 138 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. When carrying out their duties, the members of the Investment Committee shall be independent and shall not take instructions from the EIB, the Union institutions, Member States or any other public or private body.
Amendment 139 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Provided that all relevant eligibility criteria are fulfilled, Member States may use European Structural and Investment Funds to contribute to the financing of eligible projects in which the EIB is investing with the support of the EU guarantee. Coordination, coherence and synergies should be guaranteed between European Structural and Development Funds and EFSI, however no overlapping of resources should be allowed.
Amendment 143 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. The Commission, the EIB and the Member States shall ensure that all the investments with the support of the EFSI take into consideration their impact by sector at local and regional level on economic, social and territorial cohesion, increasing demand without affecting supply, and foster synergies and effective coordination between the EFSI and the European structural and Investment Funds, in order to ensure that they contribute to the achievement of the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 145 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission and the EIB, with support from the Member States, shall promote the creation of a transparent pipeline of current and potential future investment projects in the Union. The pipeline is without prejudice to the final projects selected for support according to Article 3(5).The criteria to select investment projects shall take into account the added value in terms of economic and social sustainability.
Amendment 157 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) an assessment of EIB financing and investment operations at operation, sector, country and , regional and macroregional levels and their compliance with this Regulation, together with an assessment of the allocation of EIB financing and investment operations between the objectives in Article 5(2);
Amendment 164 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. In the report referred to in paragraph 2(b), the Commission shall examine the contribution of the EFSI to the dynamism of leading small innovative firms in the framework of the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, its coherence with other Union policies and instruments, as well as the impact of EFSI operations on economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 180 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. At the request of the European Parliament, the Chairperson of the Steering Board and the Managing Director shall participate in a hearing of the European Parliament on the performance of the EFSI.
Amendment 183 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Chairperson of the Steering Board and the Managing Director shall reply orally or in writing to questions addressed to the EFSI by the European Parliament, in any event within five weeks of receipt of a question.
Amendment 203 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 1(3) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of one year from the entry into force of this Regulation.
Amendment 204 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 1(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for an unlimited period of time.
Amendment 205 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 1(3), 1(4) and 8(6) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 206 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 1(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of one month of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by one month at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 207 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 5
Article 17 – paragraph 5
5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 1(4) or Article 8(6) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 282 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The EFSI should target projects with a higher risk-return profile than existing EIB and Union instruments to ensure additionality and complementarity over existing operations. The EFSI should finance projects across the Union, with particular attention to those concerning including in the countries most affected by the financial crisis. The EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other sources on reasonable terms.
Amendment 581 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Article 1a Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definition apply; a)Investment Platform' means a cofinancing arrangement established for financing projects through a special purpose vehicle, a managed account or a contract. An Investment Platform can be regional, macro-regional (pooling across different regions of several Member States), national (grouping certain investment projects on the territory of a given member State) or sectorial (pooling across several Member States in one sector); b) 'additionality' means that EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other resources on reasonable terms.
Amendment 712 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
To meet that objective, the EIAH shall use the expertise of the EIB, the Commission, national and regional promotional banks and the managing authorities of the European Structural and Investment Funds.
Amendment 1068 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Provided that all relevant eligibility criteria are fulfilled, Member States may use European Structural and Investment Funds to contribute to the financing of eligible projects in which the EIB is investing with the support of the EU guarantee. Coordination and coherence should be guaranteed between EFSI and EFSI, however no overlapping of resources should be allowed.
Amendment 3 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the closer participationincreased interest and the stronger involvement of national parliaments in the European legislative process in the recent years, which has resulted in a positiven increase ind awareness of the basic principles ofupon which the EU is founded, such as subsidiarity and proportionality in the interinstitutional context as well as European politics and policy making in the national context;
Amendment 6 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Appreciates the work of the impact assessment board on the issues concerning the subsidiarity and the proportionality of legal measures and appeals for a stronger cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and AFCO Committee already at this level of the procedure on the two related issues;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Call for a generalization of the consultation of the local and regional Parliaments on a regular basis and not just on punctual issues;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the eight-week period given to national parliaments to issue a reasoned opinion under Article 6 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality should be extended significantly to allow national parliaments to participate to a greater extent; encourages national parliaments to become more involved in the European debate; and appeals therefore the European Commission to pronounce itself on the question of the National Parliament "Greencard Initiative";
Amendment 20 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the fact that 2012 saw national parliaments show their first ‘yellow card’ in the context of the subsidiarity control mechanism, in response to the proposal for a regulation on the exercise of the right to take collective action within the context of the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services; points out however that according to the Commission the principle of subsidiarity had not been breached;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the eventual withdrawal of this proposal by the Commission, demonstrates the difficulty of finding common ground at EU level as to how best to deal with industrial conflict in situue to general political opposition and not because of any breach of the principle of subsidiarity, demonstrates the necessity of improving Union policies and efforts on the transnational aspects of industrial relations, involving businesses and workers in different Member States; compliance with the art. 9 TFEU and the Title X TFEU on Social Policy;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the Commission should perceivework on the European Citizens’ Initiative more positively and without dogmatism as it is a substantialin order to perceive it more positively as an instrument for citizens to influence EUuropean legislation and therefore should try to facilitate the constitution of such initiatives.
Amendment 18 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty have not yet been exploited to their full potential; whereas some proposals can only be fully realised by Treaty change, emphasising a two-step approach to EU reform (within and beyond the Treaties) and this resolution aims only to provide an assessment of the legal possibilities in the Treaties to improve the functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 379 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to organise better co-operation modalities with the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in order to be able to takeensure that their opinions can be taken into account at an earlier stage in the legislative proceduress;
Amendment 392 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses the importance of the subsidiarity principle, as laid down in Article 5 TEU, which is binding on all institutions and bodies, notably the CoR and the EESC, and of the instruments contained in Protocol (No 2) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality; recalls in this context the respective roles assigned to the national parliaments and the CoR; supports a flexible interpretation of the deadlines enshrined in the Protocol and calls on the Commission to improve the quality of its responses to reasoned opinions;
Amendment 404 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Stresses the importance of Article 9 TFEU for ensuring that the social consequences of legal and policy measures of the EU are taken into account;
Amendment 533 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Stresses that the EU budget is designed to fund common policies, assist weak regions by applying the principle of solidarity, complete the internal market, promote European synergies and respond to existing and emerging challenges that call for a pan*European approach;
Amendment 704 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Calls on the Commission to set upinclude social criteria forin the evaluation of Member States’ performance, and to recommend structural reform, through the modification of Regulation No 1303/2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, to ensure better use of regional and social fundmacro-economic performance, and for recommending and supporting structural reforms;
Amendment 877 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104 a (new)
Paragraph 104 a (new)
104a. Reiterates that this resolution aims only to provide an assessment of the legal possibilities in the Treaties to improve the functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 883 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Va (new)
Recital Va (new)
Va. whereas the agreement signed by the Heads of State or Government states the right of further deepening of EMU and that only the United Kingdom is exempted from further political integration, without prejudice to the Treaty of Lisbon and the obligations and rights of the Member States and the institutions, including the full legislative rights of the European Parliament on the basis of a Commission proposal after the result of the referendum; Or. {EN}en
Amendment 887 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital 104a (new)
Recital 104a (new)
104a. Stresses that the modifications to the Treaties envisaged in the agreement concerning a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union will have to be made in accordance with the ordinary revision procedure, through a Convention charged with the redefinition of the rights and obligations of the United Kingdom and further development of the EU, including the deepening of the EMU;
Amendment 888 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital 104b (new)
Recital 104b (new)
104b. States that the European Parliament will work on secondary legislation after the referendum in the United Kingdom together with the Council and after a legislative initiative of the Commission within the framework and principles of the Treaties;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the MFF and the interinstitutional agreement as finally adopted on 2 December 2013 and published in the Official Journal of 20 December 20134 , __________________ 4 OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p.884.
Amendment 10 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 18-19 February 2016 concerning a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union6 , which is rendered void due to the decision of the UK to leave the Union, __________________ 6 EUCO conclusions of 19 February 2016.
Amendment 12 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
– having regard to the decision to leave the European Union resulting from the UK referendum on EU membership,
Amendment 17 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution 24 June 2015 on the review of the economic governance framework: stocktaking and challenges8a, __________________ 8a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0238.
Amendment 22 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of XXXXX on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights,
Amendment 23 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)
Citation 18 b (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 on the European Border and Coast Guard15a , __________________ 15a OJ L 251, 16.9.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 35 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the ‘polycrisis’ currently faced by the Union, including its financial, economic, social and migratory consequences, have all led to the rejeincreased dissatisfaction byfrom a growing parsegment of the population of the currentregarding the functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 45 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas progress towards a Union that can really deliver on and achieve its goals are impaired by a failure of governance owing to a continuous and systematic search for unanimity in the Council (which is still based on the so- called Luxembourg Compromise) and the lack of a credible single executive authority enjoying full democratic legitimacy and competence to take effective action across a wide spectrum of policies; whereas recent examples such as the uncontrolled migrationinadequate management of refugee flows, the slow clean-up of our banks after the outbreak of the financial crisis and the lack of an immediate common response to the internal and external threat of terrorism have aptly demonstrated that the Union’s incapacity, paralysed by Member States, has not been able to respond effectively and quickly;
Amendment 51 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Union cannot fulfil the expectations of the European citizens, because its primary law does not provide all the necessary instruments, competences and decision- making procedures to effectively tackle common challenges like migration, internal and external security, the economic and fiscal policies as well as social investment;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, instead of fostering the Union, the system whereby Member States make progress at different speeds in accordance with their different capacities and circumstances, further reinforced in the Lisbon Treaty, which introduced new formal methods of enhanced cooperation, has increased the complexity of the Union and accentuated its ‘variable geometry’; whereas more and more Member States are declining to agree on the goals and prefer ‘à la carte’ solutions, some of them even unilaterally the Treaties offer forms of flexible and differentiated integration on secondary law level through the instruments of enhanced and structured cooperation, whereby Member States make progress at different speeds in accordance with their different capacities and circumstances; whereas twenty years after its introduction the impact of enhanced cooperation remains limited; whereas enhanced cooperation has been granted in three instances, namely with regards to common rules for the applicable law for divorces of international couples, the European patent with unitary effect, and the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT);
Amendment 80 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas despite the flexibility offered by the Treaties numerous opt-outs on primary law level have been granted to several Member States; whereas these ‘à la carte’ solutions increased the complexity of the Union, created an opaque system of intersecting circles of cooperation, and impede democratic control and accountability;
Amendment 99 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, as regards Schengen, the free movement of people and the resulting abolition of internal border controls, all formally integrated into the Treaties, ‘opt- outs’ were given to the UK and Ireland; whereas four other Member States are also not taking part, but have the obligation to do so, while ‘opt-ins’ were accorded to three countries outside the European Union; whereas this fragmentation not only prevents the total abolition of some remaining internal borders, but also hinders the establishment of a true internal market and of a fully integrated area of freedom, security and justice;
Amendment 111 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, last but not least, this ‘variable geometry’opt-outs for individual Member States endangers the uniform application of EU law, leads to excessive complexity in terms of governance, jeopardises the cohesion of the Union and undermines solidarity among its citizens;
Amendment 114 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, since the Treaty of Lisbon, further accelerated by the financial and migration crises, the European Council has widened its role to include day-to-day management through the adoption of intergovernmental instruments outside the framework of the EU such as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union (TSCG or the ‘Fiscal Compact’) and the deal with Turkey on migrationin violation of Article 15 (1) TEU;
Amendment 120 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the unanimity requirement in the European Council and its incapacity to find consensus has led to the adoption of intergovernmental agreements outside the EU legal framework such as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union (TSCG or the 'Fiscal Compact') and the deal with Turkey on migration;
Amendment 125 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas, while Article 16 of the TSCG provides that within five years of the date of entry into force (before 1 January 2018) the necessary steps must have been taken to incorporate the Fiscal Compact into the legal framework of the Union, it is clear that the resilience of the euro area, including the completion of the banking union, cannot be achieved without further fiscal deepening steps together with the establishment of a more reliable, effective and democratic form of governance; whereas this will complete the current Stability and Growth Pact, which, ever since it came into existence, even after its reform by the so-called six-pack and two-pack, has never been applied for any obvious political reasons;
Amendment 147 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas this new system of governance implies that the European Commission becomes a genuine government equipped to formulate and implement the common monetary, fiscal and macro- economic policies that the euro area desperately needs and must be endowed with a treasury and budget commensurate with the scale of the tasks at hand; whereas this requires, in addition to measures within the existing primary law, a reform of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 150 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas this is also the case for the necessary reform and modernisation of the financial resources of the whole European Union; whereas the agreement on the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) was only reached after long and strenuous negotiations and was accompanied by the decision to establish a high-level group to review the Union’s revenue system of ‘own resources’, due to report in 2016; whereas the current MFF severely limits the financial and political autonomy of the Union, as most of the revenue consists of national contributions by the Member States and a large part of the expenditure is already preordained by means of returns to these same Member States; whereas although designed as a balancing system, GNP/GNI-based national contributions have become by far the largest source of revenue;
Amendment 154 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas it is deplorable that the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is inferior in nominal terms compared to the previous one while the circumstances require major budgetary efforts to assist refugees and stimulate economic growth and a more social Europe; calls on the European Council to revise upwards the current MFF;
Amendment 155 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas the unanimity requirement for the harmonisation of taxes prevents tackling harmful tax competition between Member States and the existence of tax havens within the European Union; whereas corporate tax rates significantly below EU-average and tax benefits for multinational corporations distort the functioning of the internal market, endanger the Member States’ tax income, and ultimately shift the tax burden towards citizens and SMEs;
Amendment 156 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the European Union is a constitutional system based on the rule of law; whereas the Treaties must be changed to give the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction over all aspects of EU law, in particular common foreign and security policy (founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; whereas the European Union’s existing instruments to assess and sanction breaches of these principles by Member States have proven insufficient; whereas infringement procedures launched against specific legal acts or actions by a Member State violating EU law are inadequate to address systemic breaches of the EU’s fundamental values; whereas under Article 7 (1) TEU the Council acts by a majority of four fifth of its members when determining a clear risk of a serious breach of the fundamental values, and pursuant to Article 24(17 (2) TEU) and monetary and economic policy (Article 126(10 the European Council acts by unanimity when determining the existence of a serious and persistent breach; whereas as a consequence neither the preventive measure under Article 7 (1) TEU nor the sanctioning mechanisms of Article 7 (2) and (3) TFEU); have been invoked;
Amendment 171 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the Treaties must be changed to give the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction over the common foreign and security policy (Article 24(1) TEU);
Amendment 178 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas this review is also needed to rebalance the functioning of the Union, with the aim of less bureaucratic regulation and more effective policymaking; whereas this exercise also concerns the competences conferred on the Union that impair the abilitymore effective policymaking closer to the needs of the citizens; whereas the European Union requires the necessary competences to make progress towards some of its stated objectives such as the energy union, common migration managementand asylum management, social rights, combating unemployment, taxation and security policy;
Amendment 180 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas building systematic dialogue with civil society organisations and strengthening social dialogue, at all levels and in accordance with the principles laid down in Articles 11 TEU and 152 TFEU, are key to overcoming Euroscepticism and to reasserting the importance of Europe’s solidarity based dimension, social cohesion and the construction of a participatory and inclusive democracy, as a supplement to representative democracy;
Amendment 183 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas the role of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) must be safeguarded as institutional representatives of civil society organisations, and regional and local actors;
Amendment 201 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the decline of Europe’s defence capabilities has limited its ability to project stability beyond our immediate borders; whereas this goes hand in hand with the reluctance of our US allies to intervene if Europe is not ready to take its fair share of responsibility; whereas this leads inevitably to the need for more intense cooperation among the Member States and an integration of some of their defence capacities into a European defence community, both in line with a new European security strategy;
Amendment 206 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas these changes in the Union’s primary law have become unavoidable, as regrettably none of the ‘passerelle clauses’ provided for in the Lisbon Treaty with a view to facilitating the reform ofstreamlining the Union’s governance have been deployed, and are unlikely to be so in the present circumstances; whereas this is in sharp contrast with the attitude of the European Council in the matter of the envisaged reduction in the number of members of the European Commission, where the ‘let-out’ clause was used instantlyo the contrary due to the European Council decision of 18/19 June 2009 the reduction in the number of Commissioners as envisaged in the Lisbon-Treaty could not be implemented;
Amendment 213 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas clarifications are still needed as regards the European elections and on the matter of who leads the Union; whereas, despite the outcome of the 2014 European parliamentary elections having, the 2014 European parliamentary elections through the nomination of lead candidates by the European political parties have led for the first time led directly to the nomination of the candidate for President of the Commission, a clear direct democratic link is still lacking, although the European Counci; whereas the supranational chas agreed to review the ‘Spitzenkandidat’ process in time for 201918 ; whereas, moreover, there is stillracter of the European elections should be further reinforced; __________________ 18 EUCO confclusion – not least among third parties – about the interrelationship of the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council; __________________ 18s of 27 June 2014. EUCO conclusions of 27 June 2014.
Amendment 234 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas, finally, the urgency for reform of the Union has been dramatically increased by the United Kingdom’s decision, through a referendum, to leave the European Union; whereas it is crystal clear that the negotiations to set out the arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal also need to take account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union; whereas this agreement must be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) TFEU and be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament;
Amendment 244 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas the UK’s decision creates an opportunity to reduce and drastically simplify the ‘variable geometry’ and complexity of the Union; whereas it offers at least the opportunitycomplexity of the Union, and to clarify what membership of the Union really means and what could be a clear structure in the future for the EU’s relationship with non- members in our periphery (the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, etc.); whereas the founding fathers of the Union had already envisaged a type of ‘associate status’neighbourhood;
Amendment 271 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the time of crisis management by means of ad hoc and incremental decisions has passed, as it only leads to measures that are too little, too late; is convinced that it is now time to address the shortcomings of the governance of the European Union need to be addressed as soon as possible by undertaking a comprehensive, in-depth reform of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 296 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that recent Eurobarometer polling demonstrates that, contrary to popular belief, EU citizens are still fully aware of the importance of, and in support of, genuine European solutions19 , inter alia in the fields of security and migration; __________________ 19 Standard Eurobarometer 84 - Autumn 2015 & Special Eurobarometer EP - June 2016.
Amendment 309 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes with great concern the prolifermultiplication of subsets of Member States undermining the unity of the Union by causing a lack of transparency, as well as diminishing the trust, and that some Member States openly break Union law, by refusing to implement two Council Decisions of September 2015 ofn the peoplereallocation of refugees;
Amendment 318 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a comprehensive democratic reflection on the reform of the Treaties can and must only be achieved through a Convention, which guarantees inclusiveness through its composition ofincludes representatives of national parliaments, governments of all the Member States, the Commission and the European Parliament, and, also providess observers, the Committee of Regions and the pEuroper plan Economic and Social Committee; to this end a participatform for such reflection and engagement with European citizensy mechanism, as for example national Conventions in all Member States, for the input of European citizens and civil society both before and during the convention should also be created and the public should have access to the deliberations and all relevant information in order to ensure transparency;
Amendment 335 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 344 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the fracturing process of ‘variable geometry’ has found its way into the European decision-making process every time the European Council decides to apply intergovernmental methods and to bypass the ‘Union method’ (‘Community method’) as defined in the Treaties; this not only leads to less effective policy- making but also contributes to a growing lack of transparency, democratic accountability and control;
Amendment 360 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the ‘Union method’ is the only democratic method for legislating which ensures that all interests, especially the common European interest, are taken into account prevails; understands by ‘Union method’ that the Commission as the executive initiates legislation, Parliament and the Council representing respectively the citizens and the states decide by majority voting, and the Court of Justice oversees and provides ultimate judicial control;
Amendment 375 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Suggests to render the requirements for establishing enhanced and structured cooperation less restrictive, inter alia by lowering the minimum number of participating Member States;
Amendment 385 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Proposes that the next revision of the Treaties should rationalise the current disorderly ‘variable geometry’, i.e. ‘l’Europe à la carte’, by ending the disruptive practice of opt-outs, opt-ins and exceptionsput an end to opt-outs by individual Member States on the level of EU primary law;
Amendment 401 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recommends that, instead of these multiple derogationindividual opt-outs, a new type of ‘associate status’membership could be proposed to those states in the periphery that only want to participate on the sideline, i.e. in some specific Union policies; this statukind of membership with a limited involvement in the decision-making process should be accompanied by obligations corresponding to the associated rights, as for example a contribution to the EU budget and the respect of the Union’s fundamental values and the four freedoms;
Amendment 415 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that this new type of ‘associate status’membership could also be one of the possible outcomes to respect the will of thea narrow majority of the citizens of the United Kingdom to leave the EU; stresses that this wish must be respected, given that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, as one of the larger Member States, and as the largest non-euro-area member, affects the strength and the institutional balance of the Union – a new situation that adds to the need for revision of the Treaties;
Amendment 437 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the fact that, until the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom, it will continue to participate in all decision-making of the Union throughout itsin the EU institutions, with the exception of the negotiations and the agreement concerning its own withdrawal; considers that for the time of the withdrawal negotiations, intermediate arrangements will need to be madeshould be considered concerning the UK’s participation in European decision-making, as it will be politically difficult to allow a Member State in the process of leaving to influence decisions affecting the Union of which it will soon cease to be a member;
Amendment 451 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
New Economic Governance and establishment of a Social Europe
Amendment 453 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls as stated in its resolution of XXXX on a budgetary capacity for the eurozone that the various crises require the euro area to make, as soon as possible, a qualitative leap of integration to deliver on its promise of stability, convergence, growth and jobs;
Amendment 458 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is greatly concerned by the lack of economic reform and congrowing economic and social divergences in the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) as well as the loss, notably due to the absence of a competitiveness of the economiesmon fiscal and economic policy, aggravated by the lack of a proper aggregate fiscal stance for the euro area and the absence of many of its Member St industrial stratesgy;
Amendment 476 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that in their current form neither the Stability and Growth Pact nor the ‘no bail-out’ clause (Article 125 TFEU) provide the intended solutions, and that they have furthermore lost credibility in their current form, as the pact has been infringed by several Member States without political or legal consequences, while Greece has been bailed out on a large scale on three occasions;
Amendment 506 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges the improvements brought byTakes note of the European Semester, the six- pack and the two-pack aimed at addressing these issues, but concludes that they have not solved the problems; believes, moreover, that they have contributed to makingrendered the system overly complex, are not binding with regard to country- specific recommendations and do not cover spill-over effects between one Member State and another, or to the euro area or the EU as a whole;
Amendment 521 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is acutely aware of the need to review the efficacy of the many recent crisis-management measures taken by the EU, and to codify in primary law certain decision-making procedures – such as ‘reverse qualified majority voting’ – as well as the need to entrench the legal bases of the new regulatory framework for the financial sector; agrees with the Five Presidents’ Report that the ‘open method of coordination’ as the basis for Europe’s economic strategy does not function and needs to be elevated into binding legal acts;
Amendment 538 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Proposes therefore merging the deficit and debt procedures, the macroeconomic imbalance procedure and the country-specific recommendations into a singleReiterates its call for the adoption of a ‘convergence code’ of, as a legally binding nature, setting minimum and maximum standards, where only compliance with this code would allow access to EU funds for investment projects or participation in new instruments that combine economic reform with fiscal incentiv act by ordinary legislative procedure, to streamline the existing coordination of economic policies into a more effective convergence of economic policies; such as a fiscal capacity for the euro area or a common debt instrument; the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU would therefore become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member Statggests that the code should be focusing for the first period on convergence criteria regarding taxation, labour market, including among others minimum wages, investment, social cohesion and public administrative and good governance capacities;
Amendment 545 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Proposes that compliance with this code would allow access new instruments that combine economic reform with fiscal incentives such as a budgetary capacity for the euro area or a common debt instrument;
Amendment 546 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Suggests that the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU should become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member States;
Amendment 554 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that, in order to reduce the still excessively high debt burden of Member States, such a common debt instrument needs to be established, inspired by the proposal by the German Council of Economic Experts of 9 November 2011, whereby euro-area members would undertake joint and several liability for a sinking fund, with strong individual commitments on structural reforms to reduce the debt-to- GDP ratio to the required maximum of 60 %; insists that euro-area members would only be able to participate when they are in compliance with the convergence code, as this will prevent moral hazard;
Amendment 567 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 583 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the integration of the Fiscal Compactevaluation and, if necessary, review of the Fiscal Compact and its subsequent integration into the EU legal framework as well as; calls likewise for the incorporation of the ESM and the Single Resolution Fund into EU law, with corresponding democratic oversight by Parliament and further development of the inter-parliamentary conference foreseen in Article 13, to allow a substantial and timely discussions between the EP and the national parliaments where needed;
Amendment 609 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is of the opinion that, in order to increase financial stability, mitigate cross- border asymmetric and symmetric shocks and, reduce the effects of recession, and ensure a proper level of investment, the euro area needs a fiscalbudgetary capacity based on genuine own resources and a proper treasury facility equipped with a capacity to borrow; this treasury must be based in the Commission and be subject to democratic scrutiny and accountability through Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 628 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that, because compliance with the new code is crucial to the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union, stronger governmental institutions are required than those currently provided by the Commission and/or the Eurogroup, as well as full democratic checks and balances through the involvement of the European Parliament on all EMU aspects;
Amendment 642 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls, therefore, for the executive authority to be concentrated in the Commission in the role of an EU Finance Minister, by endowing the Commission with the capacity to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy combining macro-economic, and fiscal and monetary instruments, backed up by a euro-area budget; the Finance Minister should be responsible for the operation of the ESM and other mutualised funds, including the budgetary capacity, and be the single external representative of the euro area in international organisations, especially in the financial sector;
Amendment 658 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Considers it necessary to endow the Finance Minister with proportionate powers to intervene in the setting of national economic and fiscal policies in cases where the convergence code is not respected, and the power to use the fiscaluse the budgetary capacity or the common bond instrument for those Member States that are compliant with the convergence code;
Amendment 703 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls, finally, for the banking union and the Capital market union to be completed as soon as possible on the basis of a fast-track timetable;
Amendment 710 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Considers it necessary to lift the unanimity requirement for the harmonisation of certain taxes to allow the EU to set minimum tax rates and tax corridors with the aim of safeguarding the fair and smooth functioning of the internal market and to avoid harmful tax competition between Member States;
Amendment 713 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Considers a strong social dimension indispensable for a comprehensive EMU and that Article 9 TFEU in its current form is not sufficient to guarantee a proper equilibrium between social rights and economic freedoms; calls therefore for these rights to be equally ranked and conflict between them solved by the principal that no right should be limited more than necessary in order to protect countervailing rights;
Amendment 722 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recognises the geopolitical, economic and environmental need for the creation of a genuine European energy union; notes that this will require the removal of the constraint that EU policy must not affect a state’s right to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy sources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply (Article 194(2) TFEU);
Amendment 730 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Underlines that climate change is one of the key global challenges facing the EU; stresses the need for the full ratification and implementation of the Paris Agreement and the adaptation of binding EU climate targets and actions accordingly; notes that the exclusive competence of the Member States to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy sources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply (Article 194(2) TFEU) may undermine the successful implementation of common energy policies;
Amendment 744 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the Treaties provide ample means to set up a humane, well- functioning migration management and asylum system including a European Border and Coast Guard and welcomes the progress in this regards; believes, however, that the Treaties, particularly Article 79(5) TFEU, are too restrictive regarding other aspects of migration, especially on the establishment of a genuine European legal migration system; insists that democratic scrutiny by Parliament is needed on the implementation of border control, asylum and migration policies, and that the safeguarding of national securityinterests cannot be used as a pretext to circumvent European action;
Amendment 771 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Regrets, as stated in its resolution of XXXXX on the improvement of the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty, that the EU has not made more progress in developing its capacity to agree and to implement a common foreign and security policy (CFSP); notes that its efforts in initiating a common security and defence policy have not been particularly successful, especially with regards to the sharing of costs and responsibilities;
Amendment 784 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Is of the opinion, while reiterating that more progress could and should be made under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, including as regards use of the provisions to act by qualified majority voting, and that the Vice-President / High Representative should be named EU Foreign Minister and be supported in her efforts to become the main external representative of the European Union in international fora, not least at the level of the UN; considers it essential that, owing to the broad and heavy workload,that the Foreign Minister should be able to appoint political deputies; proposes a review of the functionality of the current European External Action Service;
Amendment 802 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses that for the Union to strengthen the defence of the EU territory, as a pillar within NATO, which remains the cornerstone of the European security architecture, and toe need to create a proper European Defence Union, which in strategic partnership with NATO could enable the Union to act autonomously in operations abroad, mainly with a view to stabilising its neighbourhood, the Treaties should provide for the possibility of establishing a; stresses that the European Parliament should be fully involved in all steps of the creation of the European dDefence uUnion and have the right of consent in case of operations abroad;
Amendment 809 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Considers that the Union should have a Commissioner for Security and Defence under the authority of the High Representative/Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as a more intense cooperation and integration of Member states defence capacities as the basis for the establishment of European Armed Forces;
Amendment 818 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Believes, finally, that it is essential that the restrictions in Article 24(1) TEU on the authority of the European Court of Justice in the field of CFSP be removed; calls, in the same spirit, for Parliament to gain greater powers of scrutiny and accountability over CFSP, including full co-decision powers over the budget;
Amendment 826 #
Amendment 829 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Underlines that respect for and the safeguarding of the EU’s fundamental values are the cornerstone of the European Union as a community based on values and bind European Member States together;
Amendment 831 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Calls for a revision of the procedures laid down in Article 7 TEU to make the preventive mechanism and the sanctioning mechanism with regards to violations of the EU’s fundamental values relevant and applicable; proposes that the Council should act by qualified majority instead of a majority of four fifth of its members when determining a clear risk of a serious breach of the fundamental values under Article 7 (1) TEU, and that the European Council should act by qualified majority instead of unanimity when determining the existence of a serious and persistent breach under Article 7 (2) TEU;
Amendment 833 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Proposes to amend Article 258 TFEU in order to explicitly allow the Commission to take ‘systemic infringement action’ against Member States violating fundamental values; understands ‘systemic infringement action’ as the bundling of a group of related individual infringement actions suggesting a serious and persistent violation of Article 2 TEU by a Member State;
Amendment 879 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes the successful new procedure whereby European political parties promote their top candidates for the President of the European executive, but believes that they should be able to stand during the next elections as official candidates in all Member States; proposes, therefore, following its legislative proposal on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union, empowering the electorate by giving them two votes, one for the national or regional lists and a second one for the European party lists; these European lists will be headed by the European political parties’ nominees to become President of the European executive or government and will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the Member States;
Amendment 888 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls that Parliament, followingSupports the European Council Decision of 28 June 2013, will need to present before the end of 2016 a proposal to establish a system which will make it possible, before each election to the European Parliament, to reallocate the seats among Member States in an objective, fair, durable and transparent way, respecting the principle of degressive proportionality, while taking account of any change in the number of Member States and demographic trends;
Amendment 905 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Stresses the need to better inform citizens about the EU, their role in European decision-making and their rights, which can be achieved amongst other means through civic education across the EU; reiterates its call from 28 October 2015 to reform the European Citizens Initiative to ensure that citizens engage directly with the EU institutions and become more actively involved in the framing of European policies and legislation;
Amendment 909 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39b. Calls for an increase in the capacity of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) to directly impact the policy-shaping and legislative processes of the European Union by including them at the earliest stage possible in the Union’s legislative programming and by formally acknowledging their role in the assessment of EU policies and legislations;
Amendment 917 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Notes that, despite the prohibition in Article 15(1) TEU, the European Council has undertaken various legislative initiatives; proposes abolishing Article 15(1) andto integratinge the European Council intoas a Council of States that could engage legitimately in the law-making process anconfiguration into the Council of the European Union, where it could provide direction and coherence to the other specialised Council configurations;
Amendment 924 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Considers that thise Council and its specialised configurations, as the second chamber of the EU legislature, should, in the interest of specialism, professionalism and continuity, replace the practice of the rotating six-month presidency with a system of permanent chairs chosen from their midst; suggests that the idea of creating a special Law Council should be favourably reconsidered;
Amendment 935 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that, following the creation of the role of EU Finance Minister, Parliament should accordingly create an independent technical body, with a role similar to that of the Congressional Budget Office in the United States of America, in order to support and enhance its political control over economic and fiscal matters, and the Eurogroup should be considered as a formal specialised configuration of the Council with legislative and control functions but no executive tasks;
Amendment 952 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Proposes that, after the adoption of a budgetary capacity for the Eurozone, when Parliament and the Council vote on legislation specific to the euro area, only MEPs elected in the euro areathe interests of those non-euro countries that are obliged and resexpectively representatives of its member states, can take part in the voteed to join the EMU should be considered; proposes that arrangements should be found that only MEPs elected in the euro area take part in the vote on matters related to the Eurozone budgetary capacity;
Amendment 958 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Calls on Member States without a derogation to clarify their engagement with regard to the common currency, and on those of them who fulfil the accession criteria to adopt the euro as soon as possible;
Amendment 959 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
Amendment 971 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Recognises the significant role played by national parliaments in the constitutional order of the European Union, and in particular their role in transposing EU legislation into national law and the role they would play in both ex-ante and ex-post control of legislative decisions and policy choices made by their members of the new Council of States, including its specialised configuratthe European Unions; suggests therefore complementing and enhancing the powers of national parliaments by introducing a ‘green card’ procedure whereby national parliaments could submit legislative proposals to the Council for its considerationconsiders that the political dialogue between national parliaments and the European Parliament should be intensified and made more meaningful and substantial, without overstepping the limits of their respective constitutional competences;
Amendment 986 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Calls for the full replacement of the consultation procedure by co-decision between Parliament and Council;
Amendment 1019 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Believes, finally, that the current Treaty ratification procedure is too rigid to befit such a supranational polity as the European Union; proposescould be amended allowing amendmentchanges to the Treaties to come into force if not by an EU-wide referendum then after being ratified by a qualified majority of four-fifths of the Member States, having obtained the consent of Parliament; correspondingly, once this threshold has been met, Member States which still decline to ratify the amended Treaty should decide, in accordance with their own constitutional requirements, whether to start the process of secession or to opt for an associate statuswith a double majority, i.e. a majority of the European electorate and a positive public vote within a majority of the Member States or after being ratified by a qualified majority of four-fifths of the Member States, having obtained the consent of Parliament;
Amendment 1035 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Is of the opinion that the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome would be an appropriate moment to modernisestart an in- depth reflection on the future of the European Union and to startleading to a Convention with the purpose of making the European Union ready for the decades ahead;
Amendment 20 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas cohesion policy is aimed at enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion, including the reduction and eradication of poverty and exclusion, which calls foras well as the prevention of segregmarginalisation and for the promotion of equal access and opportunities for all citizens, in particular forcluding the most marginalised communities;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the objectiveachievement of social cohesion calls for a European role in, inter alia, actions by the European institutions to develop policies for the inclustegration of marginalised communities, and requires Member States to take responsibility for, and use their competences to change, the situation by implementing as much supportive action as possiblesupporting action by Member States acting within their powers and in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity;
Amendment 33 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas heavy cuts to public services as a consequence of the crisis have led to numerous problems, often resulting in severe budgetary problems for municipalities, leading to a lack of options when dealing with marginalised groups and seeking to improve their inclusion and prevent further s, as a consequence of the economic crisis and resulting budget cuts, local authorities have been forced to reduce a number of public services, thereby undermining integregation policies also;
Amendment 37 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas active policies aimed at promoting integration and preventing marginalisation are chiefly, and sometimes solely, dependent on ESI funding;
Amendment 40 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there is no EU definition of 'marginalised communities; whereas understanding the report begins by specifying certain attributes and characteristics of marginalised groups, such asy' applicable at European Union level; whereas understanding marginalisation should above all be based on an analysis of the characteristics of the groups themselves, including their living and working conditions, and limited access to education and health care systems, sometimes accompanied by structural and systemic exclusion;
Amendment 47 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 58 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the inclusion ofin order to ensure that funding reaches marginalised communities in funding requires thatalso, efforts must be made at all levels, a long-term approach, permanent solutions, empowerment, building on experience and capacity building in order to end segregation and reach normalisation in respect of governance and an integrated long-term approach;
Amendment 66 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Union’s awareness of the urgent need to tackle the issue of marginalised communities; underlines the important role of cohesion policy in supporting their economic, social, cultural and territorial inclusion;
Amendment 69 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that the legislative framework for cohesion policy 2014-2020 introduced new elements whichthematic objectives which help to consolidate the initial approach to integration by extending funding opportunities and inserting mechanisms to ensure that support for marginalised communities complies with European values and objectives and takes into account the need to involve those groups in the whole process;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Finds regrettable thatCalls on the Commission failed to provide sufficient information about the take-up of funding opportunities for marginalised communities; asks for an analysis to be carried out that would allow appropriate conclusions to be drawn and the obstacles that are preventing further take-up or the best possible results to be identified;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the horizontal principle of equal opportunities and non- discrimination must be applied, asare horizontal principles embodied in the new ESI funding rules for the purpose of eradicating the systemic causes of inequality need to be eradicated; emphasises that understanding and awareness-raising of systemic xenophobia and racism, such as anti- Gypsyismand any other form of systemic discrimination, should be a focal point when analysing the roots of exclusion;
Amendment 88 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that equality between women and men constitutes a funding principle that applies horizontally; considers that marginalised communi to cohesion policy and deplores the dual discrimination sometimes, particularly women, often face multiple forms of discrimination suffered by women within their own communities;
Amendment 98 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 108 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for anon the Commission to take action to facilitate alignment and stronger links between cohesion policy and National Roma Inclusion Strategies and Nationaland Poverty Reduction Strategies with cohesion policy;
Amendment 121 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that the partnership principle must lead to the involvement atof all levels and needs to be applied by Member States on an obligatory basisof government; stresses the importance of the implementation of the code of conduct on partnership to ensure equal participation and representation of marginalised communities; is concerned about the poor compliance with the obligatory involvement of partners in accordance with Article 5 of the CPR; calls on the Commission not to authorise payments for programmes that disregard the involvement of partners, including those most concerned;
Amendment 133 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Finds regrettable that the Commission has accepCalls on the Commission to review the decisions by which it permitted partnership agreements that do not include marginalised communities; asks the Commission to ensurnd to take measures to facilitate the inclusion of marginalithosed communities in thedeveloping and implementation ofing projects; suggests recommendations in the European Semester as a suitable tool to promote action to be taken by the Member States;
Amendment 138 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to make use of the funds; emphasises the need for a special focus onEmphasises the need to incentivise funding measures that go beyond targeted action under the thematic objective for social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination, thus providing for a morefavouring an integrated and systematic approach;
Amendment 160 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines the need to build up the capacity of the stakeholders, including public services, administrations and civil society bodies; insists that targeted technical assistance and funding be used also to this end;
Amendment 162 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 168 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Points out that EU-funded projects must sometimes have a long-term perspective in order to be effective; warns that implementers may satisfy the criteria set for inclustegration on paper, while not investing in the actual needs of beneficiaries and not reaching target groups; calls for qualitative evaluation and monitoring mechanisms; calls on the Commission to put in place proactive and participatory monitoring and supervision of Members States’ actions in the planning and evaluation process of funds;
Amendment 181 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that representatives of the marginalised communities need to be actively involved and enabled to participate as full members in monitoring; points out that considerable experience could have been gathered at local, regional, national and transnational levelconcerned should be appropriately involved during all the stages of planning, implementation and monitoring; underlines the need to disseminate and capitalise on best practices; calls on the Commission and Member States to initiate networking activities, including among scientists;
Amendment 189 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on all public and private stakeholders concerned to carry out awareness-raising activities ofn the fact thatimportance of combating xenophobia and racism, suwhich as anti- Gypsyism, leading to systemic exclusion must be eliminatedre often at the root of marginalisation; suggests educational and anti-discriminatory measures to be considered;
Amendment 197 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Invites the Commission to analyse the limitations of the current allocation key for determining support from cohesion policy funds based on per capita GDP; believes that additional consideration should be given toGDP, including, where appropriate, indicators capable of identifying pockets of poverty and social fragility on the Union’s territory in order to better target EU support for marginalised communities;
Amendment 205 #
2014/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to consider issueing a communication outlining its intention to ensure thatpossible measures geared to the inclusion of marginalised communities are included inthrough the use of EU funds;
Amendment 57 #
2014/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that an economic governance system (the European Semester) was put in place to provide for the coordination of action at the EU and national levels and to support the delivery of the strategy; stresses that cohesion policy for 2007- 2013, aligned with the predecessor Lisbon Strategy and having similar core objectives, was already in the implementation phase when the Europe 2020 strategy was launched, and that reprogramming in accordance with the new strategy objectives would therefore have been both difficult and counterproductive; points out, nevertheless, that cohesion policy that, at a time of economic crisis, cohesion policy has not only been the sole source of investment funding for many Member States but has also, through ‘Lisbon earmarking’, substantially supported the implementation of the strategy, as shown by the sixth cohesion report and by several Commission communications and studies;
Amendment 80 #
2014/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points also to the closer relationship with the broader economic governance process through measures linking the effectiveness of the ESI Funds to sound economic governance, and through the provision of support to Member States experiencing temporary budgetary difficulties; points out, furthermore, that the good governance principle must not serve to hinder regional and local authorities in their use of resources; calls accordingly on the Commission to take due account of its communication on making the best use of the flexibility within the existing rules of the stability and growth pact (COM(2015)0012) in efforts to facilitate progress towards the Europe 2020 objectives;
Amendment 132 #
2014/2246(INI)
14. Emphasises the need for a truly territorial approach to the Europe 2020 strategy with a view to adjusting public interventions and investments to different territorial characteristics; underlines, in this context, the necessity of tailor-made Europe 2020 regional targets;
Amendment 158 #
2014/2246(INI)
Amendment 159 #
2014/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to give due consideration to the recent Riga Declaration on the Urban Agenda, in view of the fundamental role that urban areas, whether small, medium-sized or large, can play in efforts to meet the strategy's objectives; stresses, in particular, the need for a strategy that takes account of the specific needs of small and medium-sized urban areas on the basis of an approach that builds synergies with the Digital Agenda and the Connecting Europe Facility and enables those areas to overcome the constraints that are currently preventing them from taking advantage of the economic and production-related processes and developments that are under way;
Amendment 162 #
2014/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Asks the Commission to take into consideration the special characteristics and constraints of the EU’s, when reviewing the Europe 2020 goals and objectives, the special characteristics and constraints of specific parts of the EU, such as rural and upland areas, in accordance with Article 174 TFEU, and outermost regions, as highlighted in Article 349 TFEU, when reviewing the Europe 2020 goals and objectives;
Amendment 5 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 20 January 2015 entitled 'Draft Amending Budget No 2 to the General Budget 2015' (COM(2015) 16 final),
Amendment 7 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the determining role of EU cohesion policy in reducing regional disparities, promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion among the regions of Member States, and supporting job creation is incontestable; whereas cohesion policy represents the main EU-wide investment policy in the real economy and is an established tool for growth and jobs in the EU, with a budget of over EUR 350 billion until 2020; whereas, during the economic crisis, cohesion policy is proving to be an essential instrument for maintaining investment levels in the various Member States; whereas in some Member States it forms the principal source of public investment; whereas the concrete and visible nature of the results of cohesion policy has been confirmed by many different evaluation methods;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that cohesion policy has proven its capacity to react quickly with flexible measures to improve the liquidity gap for Member States and regions, such as reducing national co-financing and providing additional advance payments, as well as redirecting 13 % of total funding (EUR 45 billion) to support economic activity and employment with direct effects; considers it essential, therefore, to carry out a substantial in-depth medium- term review of objectives and funding levels in line with any developments affecting the social and economic situation of the Member States or any of their regions;
Amendment 33 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a stable fiscal and economic – as well as regulatory, administrative and institutional – environment is crucial for the effectiveness of cohesion policy but must not undermine achievement of its aims and objectives; emphasises that, in order to achieve both the cohesion and Europe 2020 objectives, the policy must be aligned closely with sectoral policies and other EU investment schemes;
Amendment 39 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses its serious concern about the significant delay in the implementation of cohesion policy 2014-2020, including the delay in adoption of Operational Programmes, with only just over 100148 Operational Programmes adopted at the end of 2014, as well as a backlog in payments amounting to ca EUR 25 billion for the 2007-2013 programming period; stresses that these delays are undermining the credibility of cohesion policy, effectiveness and sustainability, challenging national, regional and local authorities’ capacity to plan effectively and implement the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for the 2014-2020 periodbut welcomes the recent efforts of Member States and the Commission which will mean that three quarters of all Cohesion Policy programmes will have been adopted by the end of the first quarter of 2015;
Amendment 55 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a Considers that the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework resulting from the Commission's proposed modification of the MFF Regulation carrying over to 2015 alone appropriations not allocated in 2014 significantly increases the risk of de- commitment in 2018 in respect of programmes not adopted in 2014 and hence fails to encourage the full take-up of EU of resources or effective support for EU investment in growth and jobs; calls on the Commission, in drawing up the 2017 strategic report provided for in Art. 53 of Regulation 1303/2013, to propose sufficiently well in advance appropriate legislative and other measures, so as to avoid the risk of decommitment;
Amendment 58 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to consider carefully - taking into account possible repercussions on growth and jobs - the application of financial corrections or suspension of payments;
Amendment 64 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the new European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) and its potential leverage effect; advises the parties concerned to build on the experiences gained from the implementation of the European Economic Recovhighlights the need to ensure the additionality of its resources and hence complementarity and synergy Plan in 2008, in particular regarding smart investments; calls for the coordination of all EU investment policies – in particular cohesion policy – to ensure complementarity and avoid overlaps; suggests that the implementation of this new EU investment plan build on the experiences of the three joint initiatives JEREMIE, JESSICA and JASMINE, which allowed an increase in the delivery of Structural Funds from EUR 1.2 billion in 2000-2006 to EUR 8.4 billion in 2007- 2012between this fund and European Structural and Investment Funds; advises the parties concerned to build on the experience gained in the implementation of the 2008 European economic recovery plan, particularly as regards smart investments;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the coordination and concertation of all EU investment policies, in particular cohesion policy, to guarantee complementarity and avoid overlaps; recommends that the implementation of this new EU investment plan build on experience acquired with three joint initiatives JEREMIE, JESSICA and JASMINE, which allowed an increase in the delivery of Structural Funds from EUR 1.2 billion in 2000-2006 to EUR 8.4 billion in 2007- 2012; calls for broad and detailed analysis, in consultation with the European Parliament, of the role and capital build-up of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF);
Amendment 90 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the importance of a solid macroeconomic environment for cohesion investments and welcomes the link of the ESIF to the European Semesterat good, efficient governance institutions are necessary for vigorous economic and social development and is mindful of the possible implications of a solid macroeconomic environment for cohesion investments; expresses concern at the fact that ESI Funds might be jeopardised on account of macroeconomic conditionality, undermining the aims of cohesion policy, the main EU investment policy, in particular for promoting European growth and economic and social development projects;
Amendment 99 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in this contextas regards the linking of the Structural and Investment Funds to the European Semester, Parliament’s responsibility to control; demands that the Commission and the Council provide full, transparent and timely information on the criteria for, and on the entire procedure that could trigger, reprogramming or a suspension of commitments or payments of the ESIF in accordance with in Article 23(15) of the Common Provisions Regulation;
Amendment 101 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that macroeconomic conditionality should serve the sole purpose of making cohesion policy more sustainable and efficient and rejects the idea that regions, localities, and/or citizens should be penalised for macroeconomic reasons that have arisen at national or European level; points to the importance of close institutional coordination of all tiers of government and draws attention to the possibly considerable administrative workload entailed in reprogramming of funds and to the unduly severe disadvantage resulting from a suspension of commitments or payments, and therefore calls on the Commission and Council to proceed with caution whenever they propose to apply Article 23 of the Common Provisions Regulation;
Amendment 111 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that the ESIF could make a significant contribution to reversing the negative social consequences of the crisis, and that, for this to happen, an integrated approach offered by multi-fund programming should be pursufacilitated and simplified, with more efficient coordination of, and greater flexibility among, the funds, allowing for better exploitation of the synergies between the ESF and the ERDF, in particular; emphasises that investments funded by the ESF cannot produce optimal results if the relevant infrastructure and appropriate institutions are not in place; stresses that the integrated and territorial approach is particularly essential when it comes to environmental and energy matters; draws attention to the fact that the ESIF can effectively support social inclusion, and attention to the fact that the ESIF can effectively support social inclusion, and should therefore be mobilised to help the integration of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as Roma and persons with disabilities;
Amendment 146 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes with concern the relative lack of a territorial approach, and in particular of references to cross-border co-operation, in the Sixth Cohesion Report; points out that the inclusion of cross-border and macro-regional aspects would have had an enriching effect, as far as e.g. infrastructure, labour market and mobility, environment, water use and disposal, waste management, health care, research and development, tourism, public services and governance are concerned, as all of these areas include remarkable cross-border elements and potential; is convinced that in the programming period 2014-2020 the performance of European border and cross-border regions in coming to terms with the crisis, by growing smarter, more inclusive and more sustainable, will improve considerably;
Amendment 150 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Hopes that the new set of programmes will accord a central role in the achievement of cohesion policy objectives to rural areas, islands, mountain areas, remote and outlying areas and, in general, all areas with permanent natural or demographic disadvantages;
Amendment 163 #
2014/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls, in view of all of the above, the necessity for a new dynamic to be given to the EU cohesion policy debate; states that the 2018-2019 European Parliament election years will be decisive, as the then newly- elected Parliament, and new Commission, will have to deal with the termination of the Europe 2020 strategy and an upcoming new MFF, as well as prepare new legislation for cohesion policy; notes that the cohesion policy debate has to take into account the serious time constraints and delays experienced at the beginning of the current programming period;
Amendment 5 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the Commission Communication which seeks to fully exploit the employment potential of European coasts, seas and oceans through innovation – a key element in sectors such as shipbuilding, aquaculture, port and pleasure boat infrastructure and fisheries;
Amendment 20 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that blue growth should never be considered in isolation from the maintenancuse of the natural resources of the seas, the restoration of those which have been lost and measures which are certainly sustainable and have been proven to be soin view of social, economic and environmental sustainability which also include the protection and the restoration of the ecosystems and a strong scientific evidence and social acceptability;
Amendment 25 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of sea and maritime research and of a stronger cooperation among researchers, among Member States and among Regions on these sectors in order to overcome the existing gap between Member States and geographical concentration in some areas and to boost the competitiveness of coastal areas and the creation of new local quality and sustainable jobs;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Taking into account new potentialities to exploit the sea resources given by biotechnology, deep sea explorations and alternative energy (wind, tide, sea current), stresses the importance of SMEs involvement and the negative impact on the long-term occupation when the heavy industry takes on a leading role in these sectors;
Amendment 40 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the need to focus on environmental aspects and on improving the quality of the marine environmentimproving the quality of sea environment and environmental and people security in order to ensure we have a sustainable blue economy without restricting its employment potential, ensuring a regulatory framework and environmental conditions to assist the industrial development, growth, creation of new quality and sustainable jobs improving life quality in large;
Amendment 42 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers as necessary, in order to create new quality jobs in the sphere of blue economy, a better access to credit for SMEs and the improvement of the existing business networks (clusters) through internationalization's process;
Amendment 44 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Considers as necessary to outline a reference mainstreaming across the four pillars through action plans on working conditions, gender matters, disabled people and immigrants. For this purpose, it is important to ensure the observance of decent working standards, the workforce flexibility towards the current technological changes and transformation of manufacturing structures by means of process of vocational requalification and lifelong learning in order to improve the human capital in these areas; moreover ensuring equal conditions and opportunities to the most vulnerable groups, namely fishing sector and aquaculture;
Amendment 52 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that coastal and, maritime and upcountry tourism can contribute to economic growth and to reducing casual or temporary work, provided thatas long as these activities aredo not carriedy out in an environmentally-friendly waya negative impact on environmental quality and people life, with the goal to harmonize the needs of citizens, tourists and providers of supply and services;
Amendment 68 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of social dialogue and considers that all parties involved in the blue economy should be represented in that dialogue, together with the individuals or companies concerned and civil society, also including workers, so that the latter are actively involved in the framingactively workers in the creation and implementation of policies and solutions at local level;
Amendment 71 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights the need to increase within civil society the awareness of sea importance as economic, cultural and social resource and the role of research and dialogue in reaching an integrated sustainability between stakeholders and citizens;
Amendment 77 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that in order to maximise sustainable economic growth and employment and the creation of jobs based on blue technologies, exchanges of ideajoint development of ideas and actions between the world of research and that of business should be encouraged, to promote and increase their ability to cooperate and network.
Amendment 83 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out the complexity of activities, sectors and disciplines of socio-economic system involved in the blue economy and considers, for this purpose, as extremely important to increase the ability to adapt to the changes, innovation, multidisciplinarity and training of human capital;
Amendment 85 #
2014/2240(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses that a joint coordination, notably at regional and local level, of all economic activities connected to the blue economy is important in order to enable a sustainable development of coastal areas involved.
Amendment 6 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 - point (d) - Subpoint (i.(new) - (precedes point i)
Paragraph 1 - point (d) - Subpoint (i.(new) - (precedes point i)
i. to evaluate the implications of TTIP in order to ensure policy coherence, namely the consistency between the different areas of EU´s external action and between these and its other policies;
Amendment 9 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1. - Point (d) - Subpoint (i.)
Paragraph 1. - Point (d) - Subpoint (i.)
i.) to specify the role and the legal quality of the Regulatory Cooperation Council’s findings, taking into consideration that the regulatory cooperation should respect the EU current constitutional and institutional framework, the capacity of European, national and local authorities to legislate their own policies, in particular social and environmental policies, and that any direct application of its recommendations for the relevant EU instances would imply a breach of the law- making procedures laid down in the Treaties;
Amendment 24 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1.- Point (d) - Subpoint (ii.)
Paragraph 1.- Point (d) - Subpoint (ii.)
ii.) while there is no decision on the inclusion of the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) is an appropriate tool to protect investors and assurn TTIP, to oversee that , investments are treated in a fair and non- discriminatory way, to oversee that it does not undermine the capacity the event of its inclusion, it does not undermine the right to regulate in the public interest of European, national and local authorities to legislate their own policies,, regarding in particular social and environmental policies, and therefore respect the constitutional framework of the Member States;
Amendment 35 #
2014/2228(INI)
iii.) while a certain extent of confidentiality is necessary for effective negotiations on a trade agreement of such high economic and political importance, to continueto continue and strengthen its effort to render TTIP negotiations more transparent and accessible to the public, as European institutions should be at the forefront of promoting transparency;
Amendment 43 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for 2014-2020, and in particular the Adriatic-Ionian Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 (ADRION), provide significant potential resources and a wide range of tools and technical options for the strategy; supports the fact that other funds and instruments relevant to the strategy pillars are available, in particular Horizon 2020 in respect of all pillars,; the Connecting Europe Facility in respect of Pillar II, the LIFE programme in respect of Pillar III, as well as in respect of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the COSME programme and Creative Europe for SMEs in respect of Pillar IV; encourages cooperation, to create a synergy of available funds, between the monitoring committees of the territorial cooperation programmes which cover the region, the EUSAIR governing board and the ESIF management authorities;
Amendment 48 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the strategy should be aimed at territorial and social cohesion through a more efficient and effective use of existing instruments and funds;
Amendment 49 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Member States to align their policies and the relevant funds both nationally and regionally, including, where possible, the incorporation of EUSAIR into the programmes co- financed by the Structural Funds, and to ensure that the measures and goals of the strategy are taken into account in an appropriate manner when drawing up and implementing national and regional programmes;
Amendment 96 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises that the region faces serious migration problems in the Mediterranean; stresses that controlling these problems is essential for the further development of the southern part of the region; encourages the exchange of good practices among the regions with the greatest experience in receiving migrants and calls, as a matter of urgency, for special attention to be paid to the social issues affecting the region, also with a view to a future development of the priorities of the macro-region;
Amendment 101 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the need for a stronger focus on communication across all the pillars, in order to promote public approval of the macro-regional strategy and stronger governance;
Amendment 108 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Encourages specific measures to promote the social dimension; stresses the importance of incorporating priorities and measures which seek to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities and prevent all kinds of discrimination;
Amendment 207 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls the richness of the marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems of the participating countries; calls for joint efforts in taking all possible measures to preserve the marine environment and the transnational terrestrial habitats as well as to reduce the pollution of the sea and other threats to coastal and marine biodiversity, including the use of clean fuels for maritime transport and logistics;
Amendment 246 #
2014/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recognises the rich cultural and natural heritage of the region as a strong asset, which the tourism sector builds upon; points out the large number of protected UNESCO sites in all participating countries; considers that, despite the significant contribution of this sector to the economy, the tourism potential is not being fully exploited, in particular owing to high seasonality and lacks in the areas of innovation, sustainability, transport infrastructure, the quality of the tourism offer, the skills of participating stakeholders and responsible tourism management; stresses the importance of combining tourism with the natural, cultural and artistic heritage, so as to exploit local assets in a bid to achieve increased competitiveness and secure employment;
Amendment 13 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas ‘functional urban areas’ in the EU are not limited only to big citiescity-regions or metropolitan areas, including their adjacent rural areas, but also include a unique polycentric structure built around large, medium-sized and small towns and cities and peri-urban areas, thus going beyond the traditional administrative borders to encompass various territories linked by their economic, social, environmental and demographic challenges;
Amendment 34 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the strategic challenges which cities are facing can only be met by taking into account their relation to the surrounding peri-urban and rural areas;
Amendment 41 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas littlethere is not always consistency exists at EU level between different policy initiatives and subsidy programmes, and the sectorial approach of EU policy can lead to counterproductive policies and legislation for urban areas, thus having a negative and obstructing effect on urban developmentthat may not favour functional urban areas;
Amendment 58 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is of the opinion that EU policies should support and enable towns, cities and larger functional urban areas to attain their full strength andexpress their potential as motors of economic growth, employment and social inclusion; believes, therefore, that towns, cities and larger functional urban areas need to be more closely associated with the entire European policymaking cycle;
Amendment 59 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is of the opinion that EU policies should support and enable towns, cities and larger functional urban areas, including not only city-regions and metropolitan areas and their adjacent rural areas but also unique polycentric structures, to attain their full strength and potential as motors of economic growth, employment and social inclusion; believes, therefore, that towns, cities and larger functional urban areas need to be more closely associated with the entire European policymaking cycle;
Amendment 69 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Asks the Commission to propose ways to introduce an early warning mechanism, giving the subnational government the possibility to observe whether the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality have been taken into accountRecognises that, although the EU does not have specific competence for urban development, a broad range of EU initiatives have a direct or indirect impact on cities; considers its necessary for the impact of those initiatives at a territorial and urban level to be constantly monitored; calls on the Commission to work in close conjunction with the Committee of the Regions to enhance those evaluations;
Amendment 73 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Supports the establishment of a European Urban Agenda in order, as a cohesive framework for EU policies, so as to anchor the urban dimension more efficiently in European and national policymaking and policy implementation, and thus improve the conditions for; this framework should in particular promote the development of urban planning and governance solutions best geared to successfully meeting the challenges and objectives of sustainable, economic and socially -inclusive development of functional urban areas in Europeand of combatting poverty;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is of the opinion that the European Urban Agenda should be a joint effort by the Commission, the Member States and the clocal authorities to rationalise, coordinate and implement EU policies with an urban dimension through a practical, integrated and coordinated, yet flexible, approach, ‘in and with’ the cities, and respecting each Member State’s institutional architecture;
Amendment 88 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a European Urban Agenda should be fully in line with the EU’s overall objectives and strategy, particularly Europe 2020 and the objectives of territorial cohesion; stresses that administrative borders are becoming less and less pertinent when trying to address development challenges at local level; believes, therefore, that the European Urban Agenda should be inclusive and take into account the diversity of territorial entities in the EU, especially the rural- urban linkages;
Amendment 153 #
2014/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that in order for the European Urban Agenda to be an effective tool it should be a shared and regularly updated conceptual framework with a thematic focus on a limitedspecific number of challenges responding to the real needs of functional urban areas in the larger context of the Europe 2020 and territorial cohesion goals of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth, with particular attention being given to innovation, social inclusion, demographic change and environmental sustainability;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that this statistical data still only gives an approximate indication of the impact of irregularities on the EU budget; believes that the inaccuracy stems from different approaches between and within Member States to the detection and classification of irregularities; considers that, besides the statistical approach of this report, a presentation of irregularities which would define their type and nature would be useful in order to adapt the policies;
Amendment 13 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Wishes a new approach concerning the qualification and control of the funds allocation; considers that a particular effort should be put on the fields where the irregularities with frauds are more massive;
Amendment 29 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point a
Paragraph 4 – point a
(a) all Member States to designate an anti- fraud coordination services (AFCOS), provide it with sufficient human and financial resources and entrust it with substantial competences and powers;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that it is absolutely vital for the democratic legitimacy of EMU to be improved substantially within the EU’s institutional framework and in line with the Community method; considers that the pieces of legislation based on intergovernmental treaties and implemented during the crisis have hampered the democratic legitimacy of the EMU and the European project;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Advocates, in this sense, for the establishment of a less complex, more efficient and transparent economic governance, aiming, in the long term perspective, at a deeper integration of the EU, while offering medium-term solutions to enable the Euro Zone and the Union to face the current challenges.
Amendment 9 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls forIs convinced that strengthening the involvement of Parliament in the economic governance process is a prerequisite to increase democratic legitimacy and calls to explore the path of legislative and interinstitutional agreements to be concluded between the European Parliament, the Commissenable the European Parliament, among other things, to be more formally involved in the key stages of the European Semester, with regards notably to the Annual Growth Survey, to the Euro Zone Recommendation and to the Council providing for parliamentary validation of the various stages oftry Specific Recommendations in order to remedy the double democratic deficit that is aggravated by the Ecuropean Semester, starting with the Annual Growth Surveyrent governance framework, both at national and at European levels;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Requests, in this regard, the adoption of the Annual Growth Survey under the codecision procedure; that the ESM is integrated into the EU legal framework and made formally accountable to the European Parliament, through the joint application of articles 352 and 136 of the TFEU; that the decision-making process within the Eurogroup operates in the interests of accountability and democratic legitimacy; and that, in the long term, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs chairs the Eurogroup;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes the view that the implementation of the economic dialogue needs to be scrupulously reviewed so as to ensure that there is proper parliamentary scrutiny at all stages of the procedure;
Amendment 21 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Believes that the elaboration of a new legal framework for future assistance programs should guarantee that all decisions are taken under the responsibility of the Commission with the full involvement of the European Parliament, in order to ensure full democratic legitimacy and accountability;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 34 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that a "Genuine Economic and Monetary Union" cannot be limited to a system of rules, but must be part of an ambitious political project, and that the necessary deepening of the EMU absolutely needs four interrelated conditions: a fiscal capacity, renewed assistance mechanisms, a social dimension, an institutional and democratic pillar;
Amendment 35 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Takes the view that the Commission communication on making the best use of flexibility within the rules of the SGP is a positive first step, but urges the Commission to extend the application of the "investment clause" to the corrective arm of the SPG, making use of a similar methodology that grounded the application of the "investment clause" to the preventive arm of the SGP;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Takes the view that the social dimension of the EMU must be fully taken into account, whereas according to the Article 9 of the TFEU the promotion of high employment and social protection have to be taken into account when defining and implementing the policies and the activities of the EU. Calls for an equal treatment between the social rights and the internal Market's freedoms in the hierarchy of norms;
Amendment 37 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 42 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that the European Parliament shall fully play its part in the upcoming discussions and decisions and requests the President of the Commission to submit - an ambitious 'roadmap" outlining the necessary legislative and institutional progress to create the best future possible for the Euro Zone, the EU and its citizens.
Amendment 44 #
2014/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the need to develop European automatic stabilising mechanisms to address asymmetric economic shocks, such as an EMU-wide unemployment benefit scheme, as a means to maintain social cohesion, support internal demand and strengthen the sustainability of the single currency; reiterates its call on the Commission to produce a Green Paper on automatic stabilisers in the Eurozone;
Amendment 52 #
2014/0002(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Growing interdependency between labour markets calls for reinforced cooperation between employment services to bring about freedom of movement for all workers through voluntary and fair labour mobility within the Union in accordance with Article 46 (a) of the Treaty, and therefore a common framework for cooperation should be established between Member States and the Commission on labour mobility within the Union. This framework should bring together job vacancies from across the Union and the possibility of applying for those job vacancies ('clearance'), define the provision of related support services to workers and employers and provide for a common approach to share information necessary to facilitate said co-operation. The Union should also take the necessary measures to guarantee employment opportunities and workers’ rights in general, including as regards third countries participating in the EURES network, such as the Swiss Confederation.