53 Amendments of Charles GOERENS related to 2014/2249(INI)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the new settlement for the UK within the European Union proposed by President Tusk ignores the legal and institutional framework foreseen in the Treaties to modify the existing Treaties (article 48 TEU);
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the internal market, facilitating the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is a cornerstone of the EU;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Commission’s role as the executive should be strengthened in the field of Economic and MonetaryFiscal Policy by the creation of the position of EU Finance Minister, assisted by an EU Fiscal and Treasury administration, and by endowing it with the powers to implement and enforce any future and existing Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) instruments;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the existing economic governance system is not yet strong enough to tackle all potential future crises and shocks as it should, nor is it yet sufficiently good at generating higher competitiveness, structural convergence among its members,macro-economic imbalances procedure is not currently sufficiently used; whereas if used to its full capacity it could help to correct economic imbalances at an early stage, provide an accurate overview of the situation in each Member State and the Union as a whole, prevent crises and contribute to improving competitiveness; whereas greater structural convergence among its members is required, which will help to contribute to sustainable growth and social cohesion; whereas, therefore, progress towards the completion of the EMU should be sustainis urgently needed, as well as efforts to render its institutional structure more legitimate and democratically accountable;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the European Semester process should be simplified, and rendered more focused and democratic, by enhancing Parliament’s scrutiny role over it and by investing it with a more substantial role in the various cycles of negotiations;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the European Semester process should be simplified, and rendered more focused and democratic, by enhancing Parliament’s scrutiny role over it and by investing it with a more substantial role in the various cycles of negotiations; whereas national parliaments must fully engage in the role foreseen for them in the European Semester in order to ensure its effectiveness and accountability at the appropriate level;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. whereas the MFF should be modified to have a duration of 5 not 7 years, in line with the mandate of the European Parliament, in order to increase democratic control of the Union budget;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
Va. whereas the need for immediate action in light of the refugee crisis requires the creation of a European Rapid Refugee Emergency Force (ERREF) to manage all European external borders and to implement previous agreements, and to transform Frontex into a full- fledged European Coast and Border Guard (ECBG);
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that the existing European Treaties, voluntarily ratified by all 28 Member States, include a legal and institutional framework, within European law, to enable the existing Treaties to be modified (article 48 TEU) and for a Member State to decide to withdraw from the Union (article 50 TEU); considers therefore that the new settlement for the UK within the European Union, as proposed by President Tusk, through an international agreement is not the appropriate tool as it creates legal uncertainty and does not allow all European citizens to be consulted;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Insists that any new settlement for the UK within the European Union must provide legal certainty; insists also that an international agreement cannot modify the legal order of the EU nor affect the allocation of responsibilities defined in the Treaties and, consequently, the autonomy of the EU legal system, compliance with which the Court ensures under article 19 TEU;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Recalls that the internal market, facilitating the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is a cornerstone of the EU; also recalls that exceptions to the internal market create distortions of competition within the Union and destroys the level playing field;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that intergovernmental solutions should not exist, not even in areas where not all the Member States fulfil the conditions for participation, and that the Fiscal Compact as intended in the Treaty, and the European Stability Mechanism, as intenprovided that the appropriate scrutiny accorded byto the TreatiesEP reflects the composition of the contributors, should therefore be incorporated into Union law and no new institutions should be introduced;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the European Parliament is the parliament of the whole Union; considers that its working methods should be reformed so as to strengthen its control over the Commission in the implementation of the acquis, and to ensure proper democratic accountability even in the areas in which not all Member States participate, inter alia through finding ways to guarantee the parliamentary democratic accountability of eurozone- specific actions and decisions;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers it necessary for the European Parliament to reform its working methods in order to cope with the challenges ahead, by using its control over the Commission, including in relation to the implementation and application of the acquis in the Member States, by limiting first-reading agreements to exceptional cases of urgency, and by improving its own electoral procedure through the revision of the 1976 Electoral Act in line with Parliament’s proposals contained in its resolution of 11 November 2015 on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union5 or as a future step through the adoption of implementing measures in application of Article 14 of the Electoral Act; __________________ 5 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0395.
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages meaningful political dialogue with national parliaments on the contents of legislative proposals when relevant; insists, however, on a clear delineation of the respective decision- making competences of the national parliaments and the European Parliament, where the former shouldmust 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 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in joint bodies such as the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), and the Inter-parliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP-IPC), and in the framework of Article 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union on the basis of the principles of consensus, information sharing and consultation in order to exercise control over their respective administrations; underlines the need for stronger cooperation between the specialised committees of the European Parliament and their national equivalents by creating synergies and thus improving coherence;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Insists on curbing the interference of the European Council in the legislative process as it goes against the letter and spirit of the Treaties, as detailed in article 15 TEU;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that the existing, ratified Treaties are the basis for renegotiation of any Member State's membership of the Union, stresses that any modification of any Member State's membership of the Union must be negotiated transparently, through a convention and then ratified by all 28 Member States; deplores the Heads of State and Government's decision to propose a new settlement for the UK in the EU through an international agreement, which is undemocratic and which creates legal uncertainty;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Proposes that the Council be transformed into a true legislative chamber by reducing the number of Council configurations by means of a European Council decision, thus creating a genuinely bi-cameral legislative system involving the Council and Parliament, with the Commission acting as the executive; suggests involving the currently active specialised Council configurations, including the Eurogroup, as preparatory bodies for the legislative Council, along the lines of the Committees in the European Parliament;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls for the creation of the position of European Finance Minister to strengthen the Commission's role as the executive in the field of Economic and Fiscal Policy;
Amendment 389 #
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; 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 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers that the practicformal possibilities for national parliaments to ensure the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality should be improved, andare sufficient, but that practical cooperation between national parliaments needs to be strengthened, to enable them, in close cooperation among themselves, to reach the necessary quorum under article 7(3) of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality in case of an alleged breach;
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls that any furtherimmediate development of the EMU shouldmust be based on, and build on, existing legislation and its implementation;
Amendment 458 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Points out the need for fewer and more targeted Country Specific Recommendations (CSR) to be prioritised through a clear hierarchy, based on the policy framework set out in the Convergence Code and the Annual Growth Survey (AGS), and on the concrete proposals presented by each Member State, in line with their respective key reform objectives, from a broad range of structural reforms, fostering competitiveness, real economic convergence and social cohesion; insists on the importance of CSRs being implemented if they are to be effective, calls for greater efforts in this area, which monitoring would facilitate;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers it necessary for Parliament to be invested with a more substantial role in negotiations within the framework of the European Semester by allowing it to call hearings with governments of Member States affected by Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP), Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Alert Mechanism Reports (AMRs);
Amendment 469 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers it necessary forRecalls that economic dialogue mechanisms already exist, notably through the creation of the "economic dialogue" within the framework of the '6- pack' and '2-pack' legislation, considers that this is an effective tool to enable the Parliament to be invested with a more substantial role in negotiations within the framework of the European Semester by allowing it to call hearings wthrough its ability to invithe governments of Member States affected by Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP), Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Alert Mechanism Reports (AMRs); to hearings in the EP; calls for this tool to also be used to enhance dialogue between Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Eurogroup for dedicated meeting time- slots during the main steps of the European Semester cycle;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
Amendment 496 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Points out the need to switch from unanimity to QMV for the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) Regulation, by using the provisions of Article 48 (7) TEU and Article 312 (2) TFEU; highlights the importance of establishing a link between the duration of Parliament’s legislative term and the duration of the MFF, which can be reduced to five yearsand thus reducing the duration of the MFF to five years, which is possible under the provisions of Article 312 (1) TFEU;
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Proposes to change the procedure for the adoption of own resources through the general ‘passerelle clause’ contained in Article 48 (7) TEU, which would facilitate the necessary transition from a system based on Gross National Income (GNI) contributions to one based on real own resources for the EU and the eurozone budget, such as a reformed Value Added Tax (VAT), a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) orand revenue from other sources such as the Emission Trading Scheme;
Amendment 523 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Insists on the full implementation of the existing six-pack and two-pack framework and the European Semester to address, in particular, macroeconomic imbalances, and secure long-term control over deficit and still extremely high levels of debt by growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, improving spending efficiency, prioritising productive investments, providing incentive to structural reform and taking into account business cycle conditions;
Amendment 531 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Recalls that the euro is the currency of the Union and that the EU budget is designed to help less developed Member States catch up and become able to join the eurozoneintended to fulfil the objectives for the Union laid out in article 3 TEU;
Amendment 544 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. ProposesUnderlines the need for the establishment of a fiscal capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms, based on incentives and certain conditions, including the effective implementation of the National Reform Programmes agreed within the European Semester; considers that this couldannot be done through the creation of additional capacity and/or by earmarking funding from the existing EU budget for this purposein a meaningful way without changing the treaties; underlines that any new instrument should be placed within the EU budget, but outside the ceilings of the MFF, and financed from real own resources;
Amendment 555 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. PRecalls the creation of the European Supervisory Authorities and the Banking Union; calls for further work to be undertaken on the issue of sovereign debt; pledges to further increase the resilience of the EMU when facing economic shocks while preventing any form of permanent fiscal transfers, in line with articles 125 and 136(3) TFEU;
Amendment 564 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Reiterates its support for the suggestion to transform the position of Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs into a TreasuryEuropean Finance Minister, as made in its resolution of 12 December 2013 on constitutional problems of a multitier governance in the European Union6 ; __________________ 6 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0598.
Amendment 570 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Considers it necessary to incorporate the European Stability Mechanism into the Union legal framework and,, providing that the appropriate scrutiny is established within the European Parliament which reflects the composition of the contributors; as a next step, tohe ESM will be transform ited into a European Monetary Fund;
Amendment 586 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Calls for due consideration to be given tothe implementation of the main findings of the Expert Group created by the Commission, with a view to constituting a Redemption Fund;
Amendment 587 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Deplores any attempt to disintegrate the Single Market, recalls that it is a cornerstone of the Union, rejects any renegotiation of the Single Rule Book as it would fragment the Single Market in financial services and create unfair competition through a lack of level playing field;
Amendment 589 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Believes that the Single Market contains growth potential that has not yet been fully exploited, particularly with reference to the Digital Single Market and financial services; calls, therefore, for better control of the correct application, and better enforcement, of the existing acquis in thisese domains;
Amendment 627 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Considers it necessary to improve the automatic information exchange between national tax authorities in order to avoid tax planning, base erosion and profit shifting, as well as to promote coordinated actions to fight tax havens; calls for the adoption of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base directive establishing a minimum rate, the simplification of tax systems and the spelling out of common objectives for progressive harmonisationconvergence; deems it necessary to embark on a comprehensive review of the existing VAT legislation, addressing i.a. the issue of reduced rates and the introduction of the country of origin principle, and also deems it necessary to establish a partially automatic stabilising mechanism to foster convergence and counter differences in the economic cycles of the Member States;
Amendment 666 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Supports the creation of a European Energy Agency under Article 204 of the Euratom Treaty, as well as the establishment of a European strategic reserve and a joint negotiating centre with suppliers, with a view to completing the institutional structure of the Energy Union; notes, however, that a genuine Energy Union requires 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 695 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Points out the importance of promoting the idea of a minimalum wage determined by each Member State, and suggests that, under current Treaty provisions, an ‘Employees Mobility Directive’ could be adopted to reduce still-existing barriers for employees;
Amendment 720 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Calls for the establishment of a new social pact aimed at preserving Europe’'s social market economy, respecting and reducing inequalities, ensuring that all citizens' fundamental rights are respected, including, inter alia, the right to education, to work, non-discrimination, the right to collective bargaining, the freedom of movement; points out that such a pact could enhance the coordination of the social policies of the Member States;
Amendment 757 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
Paragraph 83
83. Calls for progressive steps to be taken towards a common defence policy (Article 42(2) TEU) and, eventually, a common defence, which can be set up by unanimous decision of the European Council;
Amendment 802 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93
Paragraph 93
93. Considers that there is a need to enhance EU-NATO cooperation at all levels in areas such as capability development and contingency planning for hybrid threats, and to intensify efforts at removing remaining political obstaclesurges a comprehensive EU- NATO political and military partnership in order to enable a future integration of EU Integrated Military Forces as the European pillar of NATO;
Amendment 813 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94
Paragraph 94
94. Underlines that in the light of the recent attacks and the increase of the terrorist threat, a more intense and structured exchange of information and data between national security agencies and intelligence services, and with Europol and Frontex, is absolutely essential; and must be put in place as soon as possible;
Amendment 820 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95 a (new)
Paragraph 95 a (new)
95a. Regrets that the Temporary Protection Directive has not been activated in light of the refugee crisis, despite having been established to deal with a mass influx of third country nationals;
Amendment 838 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
97. Considers it necessary to immediately create a European Rapid Refugee Emergency Force (ERREF) to manage all European external borders and to implement previous agreements as well as to strengthen Frontex and transform it into a European System offull-fledged European Coast and Border Guards (ECBG), to be supported, when necessary, by military instruments such as a European Maritime Force (Euromarfor) and an upgraded European Corps (Eurocorps), together with the resources pooled through Permanent Structured Cooperation; suggests that automatic adjustment should also be envisaged of the databases of border agencies such as Eurodac, and, in future, Smart Borders, such that they incorporate the ‘'European list of dangerous persons’' and the ‘'European Database for wanted persons’';
Amendment 850 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 98
Paragraph 98
98. Stresses the importance of distinguishing between the concepts of ‘unsafe third countries’ (war zones) and ‘safe third countries of origin’ (mostly Western Balkans countries), and the corresponding distinction of procedures for processing applicants coming from these two categories of countries; calls for the signature of agreements with safe third countries of origin in order to control and reduce migration flows before migrants arrive at the EU border; insists, at the same time, on strict procedures for returning applicants with unfounded claims;
Amendment 860 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99
Paragraph 99
99. Calls for the competences for external border controls to be strengthened by vestrengthening Frontex and transforming it into a full-fledged ECBG, rather than the requesting Member State, with the power to command when the former is in charge of an operation;
Amendment 862 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 100
Paragraph 100
100. Calls for an upgrade of the human and financial capabilities of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) so that it can coordinate all EU asylum applications as well as be deployed to support Member States under particular migratory pressure in the processing of asylum requests, including in its mandate for the deployment of joint operations, pilot projects and rapid interventions similar to the ones added by Regulation 1168/2011 to the mandate of Frontex;
Amendment 880 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104 a (new)
Paragraph 104 a (new)
104a. Considers that this resolution should be the basis for improving the functioning of the European Union on the short term; recalls that further fundamental reform is essential and requires a convention and a revision of the Treaties;