Activities of Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE related to 2017/0125(COD)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (44)
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In the European Defence Action Plan, adopted on 30 November 2016, the Commission committed to complement, leverage and consolidate collaborative efforts by Member States in developing defence capabilities to respond to security challenges, as well as to foster a competitive and innovative European defence industry. It proposed in particular to launch a European Defence Fund to support investment in joint research and the joint development of defence equipment and technologies. The Fund should complement national defence budgets and provide an incentive for Member States to invest more in defence. The Fund would support cooperation during the whole cycle of defence product and technology development.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In order to contribute to the enhancement of the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union's defence industry and to consolidate the Union’s strategic defence autonomy, a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme) should be established. The Programme should aim at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry inter alia cyber defence by supporting the cooperation between undertakings in the development phase of defence products and technologies. The development phase, which follows the research and technology phase, entails significant risks and costs that hamper the further exploitation of the results of research and adversely impact the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry. By supporting the development phase, the Programme would contribute to a better exploitation of the results of defence research and it would help to cover the gap between research and production as well as to promote all forms of innovation. The Programme should complement activities carried out in accordance with Article 182 TFEU and it does not cover the production of defence products and technologies.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In the European Defence Action Plan, adopted on 30 November 2016, the Commission committed to complement, leverage and consolidate collaborative efforts by Member States in developing defence capabilities to respond to security challenges, as well as to foster a competitive and innovative European defence industry. It proposed in particular to launch a European Defence Fund to support investment in joint research and the joint development of defence equipment and technologies. The Fund should complement national defence budgets and serve to encourage Member States to invest more in defence. The Fund would support cooperation during the whole cycle of defence product and technology development.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) To better exploit economies of scale in the defence industry, the Programme should support the cooperation between undertakings in the development of defence products and technologies, promoting a more integrated market, making investment profitable and avoiding duplication of capacities and spending.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In order to contribute to the enhancement of the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union'’s defence industry and to consolidate the Union’s strategic defence autonomy, a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme) should be established. The Programme should aim at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry inter alia cyber defence by supporting the cooperation between undertakings in the development phase of defence products and technologies. The development phase, which follows the research and technology phase, entails significant risks and costs that hamper the further exploitation of the results of research and adversely impact the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry. By supporting the development phase, the Programme would contribute to a better exploitation of the results of defence research and it would help to cover the gap between research and production as well as to promote all forms of innovation. The Programme should complement activities carried out in accordance with Article 182 TFEU and it does not cover the production of defence products and technologies.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) To better exploit economies of scale in the defence industry, the Programme should support the cooperation between undertakings in the development of defence products and technologies, promoting a more integrated market, making investment profitable and avoiding duplication of capacities and spending.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In view of the specificities of the sector, in practice no collaborative project between undertakings will be launched if the Member States have not first agreed to support such projects. After having defined common defence capability priorities at Union-level and also taking into account where appropriate collaborative initiatives on a regional basis, Member States identify and consolidate militarydefence requirements and define the technical specifications of the project. They mayshould also appoint a project manager in charge of leading the work related to the development of a collaborative project.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In case an action supported by the Programme is managed by a project manager appointed by Member States, the Commission should informconsult the project manager on the progress made on the action prior to executing the payment to the beneficiary of the eligible action so that the project manager can ensure that the time-frames are respected by the beneficiaries.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In view of the specificities of the sector, in practice no collaborative project between undertakings will be launched if the Member States have not first agreed to support such projects. After having defined common defence capability priorities at Union-level and also taking into account where appropriate collaborative initiatives on a regional basis, Member States identify and consolidate militarydefence requirements and define the technical specifications of the project. They mayshould also appoint a project manager in charge of leading the work related to the development of a collaborative project.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In case an action supported by the Programme is managed by a project manager appointed by Member States, the Commission should informconsult the project manager on the progress made on the action prior to executing the payment to the beneficiary of the eligible action so that the project manager can ensure that the time-frames are respected by the beneficiaries.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Cross-border collaboration in the development of defence products and technologies has often been hampered by the difficulty to agree on common technical specifications that promote interoperability. The absence or limited level of common technical specifications have led to increased complexity, delays and inflated costs in the development phase. The agreement on common technical specifications should be a condition in order to benefit from the Union's support under this Programme. Actions aiming at supporting the creation of a common definition of technical specifications should also be eligible for support under the Programme.
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Cross-border collaboration in the development of defence products and technologies has often been hampered by the difficulty to agree on common technical specifications which promote interoperability. The absence or limited level of common technical specifications have led to increased complexity, delays and inflated costs in the development phase. The agreement on common technical specifications should be a condition in order to benefit from the Union's support under this Programme. Actions aiming at supporting the creation of a common definition of technical specifications should also be eligible for support under the Programme.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) As the Programme aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry and contributing to the Union’s strategic defence autonomy, only entities established in the Union and effectively controlled by Member States or their nationals should be eligible for support. Additionally, in order to ensure the protection of essential security interests of the Union and its Member States, the infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and subcontractors in actions funded under the Programme, shall not be located on the territory of non-Member States.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) As the Programme aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union's defence industry and consolidating the Union’s strategic defence autonomy, only entities established in the Union and effectively controlled by Member States or their nationals should be eligible for support. Additionally, in order to ensure the protection of essential security interests of the Union and its Member States, the infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and subcontractors in actions funded under the Programme, shall not be located on the territory of non-Member States.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Eligible actions developed in the context of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in the institutional framework of the Union that was agreed and signed by the Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers of 23 Member States on 13 November 2017 would ensure enhanced cooperation between undertakings in the different Member States on a continuous basis and thus directly contribute to the aims of the Programme. Such projects should thus be eligible for an increased funding rate.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Eligible actions developed in the context of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in the institutional framework of the Union agreed between the Foreign Affairs Ministers and Defence Ministers of 23 Member States on 13 November 2017 would ensure enhanced cooperation between undertakings in the different Member States on a continuous basis and thus directly contribute to the aims of the Programme. Such projects should thus be eligible for an increased funding rate.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The promotion of innovation and technological development in the Union defence industry should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the Union. Accordingly, the action's contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by Member States should serve as an award criterion. Within the Union, common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the Capability Development Plan. The European Defence Action Plan published by the Commission on 30 November 2016 highlighted the need to maximise synergies between the civil and military spheres, including in areas such as space policy, cyber security, cyber defence and maritime security. Other Union processes such as the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the Permanent Structured Cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation. Where appropriate regional or international cooperative initiatives, such as in the NATO context, and serving the Union security and defence interest, may also be taken into account.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The promotion of innovation and technological development in the Union defence industry should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the Union. Accordingly, the action's contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by Member States should serve as an award criterion. Within the Union, common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the Capability Development Plan. The European Defence Action Plan published by the Commission on 30 November 2016 emphasised the need to maximise synergies between the civil and military spheres, including in areas such as space policy, cyber security, cyber defence and maritime security. Other Union processes such as the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the Permanent Structured Cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation. Where appropriate regional or international cooperative initiatives, such as in the NATO context, and serving the Union security and defence interest, may also be taken into account.
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to ensure that the funded actions will contribute to the competitiveness and efficiency of the European defence industry, they should be market-oriented and demand driven. Therefore, the fact that Member States have already committed to jointly produce and procure the final product or technology, possibly in a coordinated way, should be taken into account in the award criteria.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to ensure that the funded actions will contribute to the competitiveness and efficiency of the European defence industry, they should be market-oriented and demand driven. Therefore, the fact that Member States have already committed to jointly produce and procure the final product or technology, possibly in a coordinated way, should be taken into account in the award criteria.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Commission should establish a multiannual work programme in line with the objectives of the Programme, and especially that of competitiveness. The Commission should be assisted in the establishment of the work programme by a committee of Member States (hereinafter referred to as Programme Committee). In light of the Union policy on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the Union and the fact that the supported actions will typically require trans-national collaboration, it is of importance that the work programme will reflect and enable such cross-border participation of SMEs and that therefore a proportion of the overall budget will benefit such action.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Commission should establish a multiannual work programme in line with the objectives of the Programme, especially that of competitiveness. The Commission should be assisted in the establishment of the work programme by a committee of Member States (hereinafter referred to as Programme Committee). In light of the Union policy on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the Union and the fact that the supported actions will typically require trans-national collaboration, it is of importance that the work programme will reflect and enable such cross-border participation of SMEs and that therefore a proportion of the overall budget will benefit such action.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union defence industry and to contribute to the Union’s strategic defence autonomy by supporting actions in their development phase;
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to support and leverage the cooperation between Member States and between undertakings, including small and medium-sized enterprises, in the development of technologies or products in line with defence capability priorities commonly agreed by Member States within the Union, in order to avoid duplication and promote interoperability and standardisation; Where appropriate, regional and international actions, initiatives and priorities, including those in the NATO context, where they serve the Union security and defence interest and take account of the need to avoid unnecessary duplication, may also be taken into account on condition that they do not exclude the possibility for any EU Member State to participate;
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union defence industry and to contribute to the Union’s strategic defence autonomy by supporting actions in their development phase;
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to support and leverage the cooperation between undertakings, including small and medium-sized enterprises, in the development of technologies or products in line with defence capability priorities commonly agreed by Member States within the Union, in order to avoid duplication and promote interoperability and standardisation.Where appropriate, regional and international actions, initiatives and priorities, including those in the NATO context, where they serve the Union security and defence interest and take account of the need to avoid unnecessary duplication, may also be taken into account on condition that they do not exclude the possibility for any EU Member State to participate;
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. In case a project manager is appointed by Member States,Member States shall appoint a project manager who shall follow the contract on their behalf and inform the Commission shall executewhen the payment to the eligible beneficiaries after informing the project managershould be executed. The eligible beneficiaries, in the consortium, shall have their project manager who shall cooperate with the project manager appointed by the Member States.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The action shall be undertaken in a cooperation of at least three undertakings which are established in at least twohree different Member States. The undertakings which are beneficiaries shall not effectively be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same entity or shall not control each other.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. In case a project manager is appointed by Member States,Member States shall appoint a project manager who shall follow the contract on their behalf and inform the Commission shall executewhen the payment to the eligible beneficiaries after informing the project manageris to be executed. The eligible beneficiaries, in the consortium, shall have their project manager who shall cooperate with the project manager appointed by the Member States.
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. When it relates to actions defined under point (b) to (f) of the first paragraph, the action must be based on common technical specifications that promote interoperability.
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the Union, in which Member States and/or nationals of Member States own more than 50 % of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of Article 6(3), whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings. In addition, all infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the participants, including subcontractors and other third parties, in actions funded under the Programme shall not be located on the territory of non-Member States during the entire duration of the actand their subcontractors shall be public or private undertakings established in the Union.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and their subcontractors, including other third parties, in actions funded under the Programme, along with their executive management structures, shall be located on the territory of the Union during the entire duration of the action.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The action shall be undertaken in a cooperation of at least three undertakings which are established in at least twohree different Member States. The undertakings which are beneficiaries shall not effectively be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same entity or shall not control each other.
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Actions proposed for funding under the Programme shall be evaluated on the basis of the following cumulative criteria:
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. When it relates to actions defined under point (b) to (f) of the first paragraph, the action must be based on common technical specifications that promote interoperability.
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) the proportion of the overall budget for the action that is to be allocated in such a way as to enable participation by SMEs established in the European Union that provide added value, whether as members of the consortium or as subcontractors, and in particular to SMEs that are not established in the Member States in which the undertakings in the consortium are established;
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the Union, in which Member States and/or nationals of Member States own more than 50% of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of Article 6(3), whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings. In addition, all infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the participants, including subcontractors and other third parties, in actions funded under the Programme shall not be located on the territory of non-Member States during the entire duration of the actand their subcontractors shall be public or private undertakings established in the Union.
Amendment 242 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. If a consortium develops an action as defined in Article 6(1) and undertakes to allocate at least 10% of the eligible cost of the action to SMEs and small intermediaries established in the EU, it may benefit from a funding rate increased by 10 percentage points. This additional funding percentage may be increased by a percentage equivalent to twice the cost of the action assigned to SMEs established in EU Member States other than those in which the undertakings in the consortium that are not SMEs are established.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and their subcontractors, including other third parties, in actions funded under the Programme shall be located on the territory of the Union during the entire duration of the action, as shall their executive management structures.
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. To support greater efficiency and effectiveness of future Union policy actions, the Commission shall draw up a retrospective evaluation report and send it to the European Parliament and to the Council. The report - building on relevant consultations of Member States and key stakeholders - shall notably assess the progress made towards the achievement of objectives set out in Article 2. It shall also analyse cross border participation of SMEs and small mid-cap companies in projects implemented under the programme as well as the participation of SMEs to the global value chainand small mid-cap companies in the global value chain. The report shall also include information on the origin of the beneficiaries and, where possible, on the distribution of the intellectual property rights that are generated.
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Actions proposed for funding under the Programme shall be evaluated on the basis of the following cumulative criteria:
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) the proportion of the overall budget for the action that is to be allocated in such a way as to enable participation by SMEs established in the European Union that provide added value, whether as members of the consortium or as subcontractors, and in particular to SMEs that are not established in the Member States in which the undertakings in the consortium are established;
Amendment 312 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. If a consortium develops an action as defined in Article 6(1) and undertakes to allocate at least 10% of the eligible cost of the action to SMEs and small intermediaries established in the EU, it may benefit from a funding rate increased by 10 percentage points.This additional funding percentage may be increased by a percentage equivalent to twice the cost of the action assigned to SMEs established in EU Member States other than those in which the undertakings in the consortium that are not SMEs are established.
Amendment 353 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. To support greater efficiency and effectiveness of future Union policy actions, the Commission shall draw up a retrospective evaluation report and send it to the European Parliament and to the Council. The report - building on relevant consultations of Member States and key stakeholders - shall notably assess the progress made towards the achievement of objectives set out in Article 2. It shall also analyse cross border participation of SMEs and small mid-cap companies in projects implemented under the programme as well as the participation of SMEstothe global value chain and small mid-cap companies in the global value chain. The report shall also include information on the origin of the beneficiaries and, where possible, the distribution of the intellectual property rights that are generated.