62 Amendments of Victor NEGRESCU related to 2023/0264(BUD)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, which contributed to high inflation in many Member States, has emphasized the need to support the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the educational sector; in this regard, calls for significant increases for important EU programmes focussing on European citizens, including the youth, culture and education, namely Erasmus+ and Creative Europe; reiterates its call to ensure that the European Year of Youth will result in tangible outcomes for young people and stresses, in this regard, on the need for additional funds dedicated to youth dedicated policies;
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, which contributed to high inflation in many Member States, has emphasized the need to support the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the educational sector; in this regard, calls for significant increases for important EU programmes focussing on European citizens, including the youth, culture and education, namely Erasmus+ and Creative Europe; reiterates its call to ensure that the European Year of Youth will result in tangible outcomes for young people and stresses, in this regard, on the need for additional funds dedicated to youth dedicated policies;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, which contributed to high inflation in many Member States, has emphasized the need to support the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the educational sector, as well as journalists and media professionals for a free press and quality information; in this regard, calls for significant increases for important EU programmes focussing on European citizens, including the youth, culture and education, namely Erasmus+ and Creative Europe;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, which contributed to high inflation in many Member States, has emphasized the need to support the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the educational sector, as well as journalists and media professionals for a free press and quality information; in this regard, calls for significant increases for important EU programmes focussing on European citizens, including the youth, culture and education, namely Erasmus+ and Creative Europe;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the increase in funding for ‘Commission Representations’ by 0,9 % in commitment and 1,6 % in payment appropriations and regrets that the increase is not more substantial, especially since 2024 is the European election year; proposes a 20 % increase of the commitment and payments appropriations as compared to the 2023 levels; deems this increase necessary for the purpose of encouraging proactive dialogues on EU matters with citizens in the Member States ahead of European Parliament elections, and developing communication activities to fight disinformation; highlights that additional funding is necessary also to support actions related to citizenship education and participation involving local communities, schools or universities;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)
Citation 16 b (new)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 c (new)
Citation 16 c (new)
– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its resolution of 19 January 2017 thereon,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regards as insufficient the 0,9 % and 1,7 % increase in the commitment and payments appropriations respectively for ‘Communication services for citizens’ compared to the 2023 budget; proposes a 15 % increase of the commitment appropriations as compared to the 2023 budget in view of intensified communication activities related to the European elections information campaign; recalls that communication activities should have content available in all EU languages, as well as considering the use of native languages for EU citizens living in other member states; stresses that local authorities, smaller NGOs and other relevant stakeholders should be involved in the communication activities;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 d (new)
Citation 16 d (new)
– having regard to the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that Creative Europe, as the only EU Programme directly supporting the cultural and creative sector and industries, needs a significant reinforcement of all its strands to fulfil its goals in 2024, including ensuring the sector’s full recovery after the pandemic, its resilience against the currently high inflation, which also undermines European citizen’s purchasing power and a just green and digital transition;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that Creative Europe, as the only EU Programme directly supporting the cultural and creative sector and industries, needs a significant reinforcement of all its strands to fulfil its goals in 2024, including ensuring the sector’s full recovery after the pandemic, its resilience against the currently high inflation, which also undermines European citizen’s purchasing power and a just green and digital transition;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need for additional funding for the European Capitals of Culture, as they represent a great added value for European society, and as the rising costs due to high inflation have significantly worsened the framework conditions for the implementation of the European Capitals of Culture; highlights that additional funding is long overdue, as the "Melina Mercouri Prize" is the only direct EU funding opportunity for European Capitals of Culture and has been endowed with only 1.5 million euros for years;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need for additional funding for the European Capitals of Culture, as they represent a great added value for European society, and as the rising costs due to high inflation have significantly worsened the framework conditions for the implementation of the European Capitals of Culture; highlights that additional funding is long overdue, as the "Melina Mercouri Prize" is the only direct EU funding opportunity for European Capitals of Culture and has been endowed with only 1.5 million euros for years;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of Erasmus+ Programme in promoting European values and formstrengthening European identities through education and learning in different Member States and promoting European values; stresses that some learners and teachers face significant financial difficulties in participating in the programme given the rising cost of living across Europe; believes that this poses a challenge to achieving a more inclusive participation in the programme; therefore, calls for a significant increase of EUR 60 million for the Erasmus+ Programme;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of Erasmus+ Programme in promoting European values and formstrengthening European identities through education and learning in different Member States and promoting European values; stresses that some learners and teachers face significant financial difficulties in participating in the programme given the rising cost of living across Europe; believes that this poses a challenge to achieving a more inclusive participation in the programme; therefore, calls for a significant increase of EUR 60 million for the Erasmus+ Programme;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that European Universities can lead the way towards the universities of the future and revolutionize education to escalate change, ecological and social challenges and accelerate innovation; considers that Erasmus+ must enhance the existing potential of European University networks by developing its potential in including a stronger emphasis on research cooperation, digital infrastructure and common diplomas and curricula, as the additional resources allocated for the initiative will enable the development of a digital platform – European Online University – gathering educational resources, online classes and programs offered by European universities;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that European Universities can lead the way towards the universities of the future and revolutionize education to escalate change, ecological and social challenges and accelerate innovation; considers that Erasmus+ must enhance the existing potential of European University networks by developing its potential in including a stronger emphasis on research cooperation, digital infrastructure and common diplomas and curricula, as the additional resources allocated for the initiative will enable the development of a digital platform – European Online University – gathering educational resources, online classes and programs offered by European universities;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, following on from the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought further substantial economic and social consequences for the people of Europe, pushing up inflation, generating energy insecurity, driving up food and energy prices and resulting in a cost of living crisis for millions; underlines that the new geopolitical and economic context has given rise to new policy needs, notably in climate and energy, social investments, defence, agriculture and industrial policy; recalls the need to take into consideration the particular financial and economic effects of the war in Ukraine, especially on the frontline countries, and calls upon the Commission to extend the current exceptional provisions, assess and take into consideration their impact in the calculation of excessive deficit procedure;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a budgetary increase will help ensure the continued greening and digitalisation of the Erasmus+ Programme as well as further inclusion measures to allow the participation of more disadvantaged young Europeans and more learners;, reiterating that Erasmus+ must ensure equal access and opportunities to participants from all backgrounds; recalls that new technologies require the development of new skills essential for the future of the labour market, therefore, based on the recommendations of the European Parliament report on shaping a digital education policy and the specific actions plans of the European Commission, the budgetary increase is necessary also to include an initiative focused to develop AI and robotics education in schools across Europe, in particular in less developed regions; stresses that participants with physical, mental or health-related conditions, from vulnerable groups or rural and mountain areas must be encouraged to apply through dedicated information and awareness campaigns and specialized actions focused on those specific target groups; furthermore, emphasizes the need to support sport, including Esport and the gamification of educational material, under Erasmus+ to promote the role of sport for improving health and social inclusion while also fighting discrimination;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a budgetary increase will help ensure the continued greening and digitalisation of the Erasmus+ Programme as well as further inclusion measures to allow the participation of more disadvantaged young Europeans and more learners;, reiterating that Erasmus+ must ensure equal access and opportunities to participants from all backgrounds; recalls that new technologies require the development of new skills essential for the future of the labour market, therefore, based on the recommendations of the European Parliament report on shaping a digital education policy and the specific actions plans of the European Commission, the budgetary increase is necessary also to include an initiative focused to develop AI and robotics education in schools across Europe, in particular in less developed regions; stresses that participants with physical, mental or health-related conditions, from vulnerable groups or rural and mountain areas must be encouraged to apply through dedicated information and awareness campaigns and specialized actions focused on those specific target groups; furthermore, emphasizes the need to support sport, including Esport and the gamification of educational material, under Erasmus+ to promote the role of sport for improving health and social inclusion while also fighting discrimination;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a budgetary increase willis needed to help ensure the continued greening and digitalisation of the Erasmus+ Programme as well as further inclusion measures to allow the participation of more disadvantaged young Europeans and more learners and teaching staff; furthermore, emphasizes the need to support sport, including Esport and the gamification of educational material, under Erasmus+ to promote the role of sport for improving health and social inclusion while also fighting discrimination;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a budgetary increase willis needed to help ensure the continued greening and digitalisation of the Erasmus+ Programme as well as further inclusion measures to allow the participation of more disadvantaged young Europeans and more learners and teaching staff; furthermore, emphasizes the need to support sport, including Esport and the gamification of educational material, under Erasmus+ to promote the role of sport for improving health and social inclusion while also fighting discrimination;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. EmphasiseRecalls, furthermore, that a fortnight after publishing the DB, the Commission tabled a proposal to revise the MFF regulation, alongside legislative proposals to establish the Ukraine Facility and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), stating that the package must be in place by 1 January 2024 and therefore in time for the 2024 budget; underlines the need for all budgetary changes to be predictable, intensively scrutinised by the Parliament and be provided with additional financial resources, new own resources or contributions from Member States;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that, despite the Commission’s proposal to revise the MFF, the Council chose to formulate its position on the 2024 budget assuming no change to the framework; deeply regrets that, despite the drastic constraints, the Council elected to cut commitment appropriations in the DB by EUR 772 million and payment appropriations by EUR 515 million across the MFF headings; considers that the cuts proposed by the Council are pushing for the reduction of the role, impact and relevance of the Union at global level making us fragile in front of our competitors and are not driven by an objective assessment of needs or absorption capacity and run counter, in many instances, to shared policy ambitions and political agreements; decides, therefore, to restore appropriations on all lines cut by the Council to the level of the DB;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a slight increase for the European Solidarity CorpsNotes that the European Solidarity Corps is a new programme with a small budget of over €1 billion; notes that despite the difficulties in the implementation derived from the Covid-19 crisis, the first two years of the current programming period show very high demand and a 100% absorption rate associated with high levels of oversubscription and a lower number of people supported than anticipated due to the limited available budget; concludes that an increase in the ESC budget is needed to satisfy the demand and in particular, to support young people engaged in civic engagement and solidarity actions; emphasizes the need to strengthen the humanitarian strand to improve the programme’s efforts related to the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a slight increase for the European Solidarity CorpsNotes that the European Solidarity Corps is a new programme with a small budget of over €1 billion; notes that despite the difficulties in the implementation derived from the Covid-19 crisis, the first two years of the current programming period show very high demand and a 100% absorption rate associated with high levels of oversubscription and a lower number of people supported than anticipated due to the limited available budget; concludes that an increase in the ESC budget is needed to satisfy the demand and in particular, to support young people engaged in civic engagement and solidarity actions; emphasizes the need to strengthen the humanitarian strand to improve the programme’s efforts related to the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the importance of the citizens’ engagement strand in CERV programme, in particular as regards town twinning and remembrance activities, and the essential role of CSOs in related projects and activities; calls for the continued support for the programme; Recalls that current inflation rates have a significant impact on the running costs of CERV beneficiaries;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the importance of the citizens’ engagement strand in CERV programme, in particular as regards town twinning and remembrance activities, and the essential role of CSOs in related projects and activities; calls for the continued support for the programme; Recalls that current inflation rates have a significant impact on the running costs of CERV beneficiaries;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Welcomes the development of the New European Bauhaus(NEB) initiative; recalls that existing culture and education programmes such as Creative Europe, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps will not allocate any budget to the NEB; considers the deployment of existing funds insufficient to achieve the objectives of the initiative beyond 2024; ask for proper funding with fresh money, in line with the planning of the MFF to ensure that the actions undertaken have a sustainable impact and that the objectives initially set by the initiative can be fully achieved;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Welcomes the development of the New European Bauhaus(NEB) initiative; recalls that existing culture and education programmes such as Creative Europe, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps will not allocate any budget to the NEB; considers the deployment of existing funds insufficient to achieve the objectives of the initiative beyond 2024; ask for proper funding with fresh money, in line with the planning of the MFF to ensure that the actions undertaken have a sustainable impact and that the objectives initially set by the initiative can be fully achieved;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the importance of gender mainstreaming and gender- responsive budgeting in ensuring that the EU lives up to its commitments of promoting gender equality in all its activities; notes the Commission's work on a new methodology to measure the gender impact of Union spending; calls for an extension of the methodology to all MFF programmes in order to demonstrate results for the 2024 budget; stresses, in this regard, the need for systematic collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its assessment, now shared by the Commission, that a structural solution must be found for the repayment of EURI borrowing costs, which are estimated at EUR 4 billion in the DB as against the initially programmed EUR 2,1 billion and would therefore exhaust the Flexibility Instrument and use part of the Single Margin Instrument in 2024 without the MFF revision; calls for the EURI to be taken outside the EU budget and supported from new own resources or additional contributions from Member States;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the proposal to establish the Ukraine Facility and for the Ukraine Reserve to be mobilised by the budgetary authority in the annual budgetary procedure; insists that the budgetary nomenclature must provide for the necessary granularity and transparency to ensure proper oversight and decisions by the budgetary authority; proposes, therefore, the creation of new budget lines that would fulfil this purpose; calls for the newly established financial support mechanisms to include cross-border actions, activities and projects in partnership with frontline countries;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that demands on the SEAR are unlikely to lesincreasen and, therefore, that strongly reinforcing the SEAR is crucial to enable the Union to act in emergency situations caused by major natural disasters or public health crises in Member States and accession countries and also to support non-EU countries suffering from conflicts, refugee crises or natural disasters; increases, therefore, allocations for the SEAR in 2024 by EUR 1,092 million in 2024 in line with its MFF interim report; maintainsincrease appropriations for the European Global Adjustment Fund and maintain appropriations for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve as proposed in the DB;
Amendment 62 #
12. Recalls that programmes under Heading 1 play a key role in supporting research and innovation, in boosting the competitiveness of the EU economy, in supporting SMEs and start-ups, and in investing in cross- border infrastructure, thus contributing significantly to the green and digital transitions and to driving growth, economic development and quality job creation;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key to boosting investment in high-performance, sustainable trans-European networks, underdeveloped regions and to decarbonising the EU economy, thereby accelerating the green transition and promoting interconnectivity; underlines thatcalls upon a larger focus on the energy strand in order to ensure the stability of the energy sector for the future; calls for more funds to the CEF Transport that has been vital and is crucial in supporting transport infrastructure in and towards Ukraine (“solidarity lanes”), developing the infrastructure in the neighbouring regions and in enabling the transport of critical goods in both directions and welcomes the decision to associate Ukraine to the programme; calls for specific resources to be allocated to the Danube solidarity lane, its complementary infrastructure linked to the Fast Danube and Danube Macro-Region initiatives, essential for the support provided to Ukraine in the context of the increasing attacks on the Ukrainian maritime infrastructure; stresses the importance of investments in the development of the maritime and fluvial transport infrastructure and port capacities and underlines the need to offer additional support to the Black Sea and Danube transport infrastructure that enables the shipment of more than 60% of Ukrainian grains and goods; proposes, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 100 million above the DB in 2024 in order to support these aims;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and to enhance access to markets for EU businesses; emphasises that SMEs in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices and proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 10 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme, in particularly for start-up and scale-up mechanisms; reiterates, furthermore, the programme’s role in contributing to human, animal and plant health; proposes, in that regard, an increase of EUR 5 million to ensure effective implementation of veterinary programmes for animal diseases and zoonosis, in particular to combat bovine tuberculosis;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underscores that the green and digital transitions and a refocusing of industrial policy require significant investment in skills development, for example through the Net Zero Academies; further underlines that to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, increased investments are needed to ensure equal access to emerging technologies, widespread digital literacy and opportunities to acquire advanced skills in rural areas and less developed regions; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for skills development under the Single Market programme by EUR 10 million;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights the vital role that Horizon Europe plays in supporting research and innovation and in helping to turn research results and innovative ideas into products and services that boost the global competitiveness of EU business; recalls that the programme remains heavily over-subscribed and is therefore unable to support a large number of research projects evaluated as ‘excellent’; proposes, therefore, to increase allocations for the programme by a total of EUR 140 million compared to the DB (excluding the STEP- related increases), with reinforcements for the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Clusters ‘Health’, ‘Culture’ ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’ and ‘Food’; calls upon a larger focus on the energy strand in order to ensure the stability of the energy sector for the future;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this heading; proposes to increase appropriations and staffing for the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity , European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and Network and the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators in line with their identified needs and expanding mandates;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the key role cohesion policy plays in delivering on EU policy priorities and boosting the EU economy by contributing to fair and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, supporting the green and digital transitions, and fostering innovation and employment; calls on the Commission and the Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policy; underlines the need to phase as many mature projects as possible from the 2014- 2020 MFF period into the 2021-2027 financial period; underlines that no cuts on the cohesion policy will be accepted by the European Parliament;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines that placing EURI borrowing costs over and above the MFF ceilings would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; underlines that programmes under Heading 2b havecould been impacted by the EURI line’s presence especially given high interest rates within the same heading since the Commission has been de facto prevented from proposing reinforcements where they are needed; insists that a long-term and sustainable solution be put in place;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Regrets the Council’s continued insistence on reducing the budget at a time when inflation and high energy prices are impacting the most vulnerable, and highlights that in this context social exclusion is extremely detrimental, in particular to children;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Points, in this regard, to the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability and promoting social inclusion; emphasises that both programmes aim to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities - an objective that is challenged by soaring inflation and the increased cost of living; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; highlights that cooperation between European Universities can lead the way towards the universities of the future and revolutionize education to escalate change, ecological and social challenges and accelerate innovation; calls for specific actions designed to reduce school dropout rates and additional measures to support the children from families living abroad affected by specific social and mental challenges; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 100 million for Erasmus+ and EUR 2 million for the ESC above DB specifically to ensure the programmes are accessible for all;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparedness in post-pandemic Europe, as well as the need to better understand and treat long COVID; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect, including through financing translational research, clinical trials and pivotal studies; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect; emphasizes that access to new technologies and remote monitoring devices, telemedicine (e- health) and communication tools, as well as AI-supported diagnostic devices can deliver better care in the rural areas; proposes, therefore, to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 20 million above DB, including to help offset redeployments towards the European Health Emergency and Response Authority;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is alarmed by the growing impact of natural disasters in Europe and its neighbourhood and concerned about the EU’s ability to respond effectively; underlines that these disasters are oftenincreasingly linked to climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 20 million above DB in order to ensure an effective response and protect human lives, including via specific European infrastructure and the acceleration of the development and deployment of joint common medical teams;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Underscores that soaring energy prices and inflation, following on from the COVID-19 pandemic, have had a significant impact on the cultural and creative sectors, in particular on small size operators and events from rural areas and smaller communities, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists; proposes, therefore, to increase financing for the Creative Europe programme by EUR 25 million above DB, with EUR 15 million for the Culture strand and EUR 10 million for the Cross-Sectoral strand, which plays a vital role in tackling disinformation and promoting media literacy;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Underlines the significance of the social dimension in the Union budget and the need for effective social dialogue and proper information and training for workers’ organisations, with the view to further developing and increasing the capacity and involvement of social partners; increases, therefore, financing for the relevant lines by EUR 1 million each above DB;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies under Heading 2b; increases funding and staffing levels for the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Labour Authority and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in line with the agencies’ identified needs; points out that the European Institute for Gender Equality needs to be adequately staffed to be able to fulfil its mandate and cope with the rising amount of requests for Technical Assistance and other workload that derives from the implementation of their Single Programming Document; underlines that the European Labour Authority agency has a disproportionately high ratio of Seconded National Experts in its workforce, which is not sustainable in the long term and creates significant structural challenges to its workforce and operations; proposes, furthermore, to reinforce the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in terms of financing and staff to allow the body to fulfil its duties and protect the Union’s financial interests;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability, supply chains and about farmers’ ability to withstand inflationary pressure and increased input prices; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers as a structural solution and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewalin this regards, calls on the Commission to perform an analysis of the consequences on farmers and on food production, including on the impacts of imports from Ukraine on agricultural sectors, and to put in place the necessary adequate actions to compensate these impacts; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers as a structural solution and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal, as well as to support them in creating active networks, exchanging views, building on best practices and learning to introduce innovation in their daily activities; proposes, therefore, to increase income support to young farmers, with additional support mechanisms, by EUR 40 million above DB;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Underlines the importance of school schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy in ensuring broader access to healthy and nutritious food for children and points out that the schemes’ reach is impacted by rising food prices and quality requirements; decides, therefore, to increase by EUR 5 million above DB support for the schemes;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Underlines the central role that the LIFE programme plays in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal by reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, creating a circular economy and reversing the alarming trend of biodiversity loss; underlines the particular ecosystem of the Danube Delta region that requires particular attention due to the impact of the war in Ukraine and the new attacks in the region; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 30 million above DB;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls that, traditionally, an Amending Letter will complete the picture regarding available resources under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, while asking for additional funds, and that the approach to amendments can be adjusted accordingly in the course of the conciliation;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Underlines that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, armed conflicts and instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development and, demographic changes, globalisation in transport and communications continue to push people to come to the Union for refuge, in search of a better life or to reunite with close family members, placing significant pressure on programmes and agencies under Heading 4; recalls, in that regard, its view that financing under the Heading should be increased by EUR 250 million in 2024, in line with its MFF interim report;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Stresses that the war has vastly increased pressure on asylum systems in the Member States and that the Union must provide longer-term support to the host Member States to facilitate the reception and integration of refugees from Ukraine, face the recent migration trends via the Mediterranean route as well as from other parts of the world and anticipate the financial implications of a timely agreement on the Pact on Asylum and Migration (AMIF); reiterates the need to implement a migration and asylum policy that is based on solidarity, shared responsibility and respect for human rights in line with Union values and international commitments; decides, therefore, to reinforce the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund by EUR 110 million above DB in 2024 given AMIF’s positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugees;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that effective and fair management and protection of the Union’s external borders are key to ensuring the security of the Union, guaranteeing the smooth and efficient implementation of the Union’s migration and asylum policy and preserving the free movement of people within the Union and the proper functioning of the Schengen area; stresses, moreover, the need to better prevent irregular migration to protect vulnerable people from smuggling and trafficking networks and address the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid attacks; underlines the vital role that the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) plays in that regard; notes that the Commission proposes to reinforce the BMVI above financial programming levels in the DB, though points out that this ‘reinforcement’ only partially offsets repeated redeployments from the BMVI to finance revised agency mandates; proposes to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 60 million above DB, including to supportaccelerate Romania's and Bulgaria in their preparations for accession to the Schengen area's accession to the Schengen area and the implementation of the pilot projects established with the European Commission;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Highlights the need for a further increase in appropriations and staff for eu- LISA to ensure that the agency can implement critical internal security and border management projects; underlines the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its operationalmandate and activities effectively and decides, therefore, to restore the DB for the agency;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Underlines that defence challenges have surged since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, rendering support to the defence sector more important than ever in order to ensure Europe is a safe continent; and develop the Union's role, in partnership with NATO, as an international security provider; considers that European defence cooperation leads to greater efficiency, potential savings and strategic autonomy, while boosting the EUs defence industry through targeted investments, smarter spending and joint procurement; highlights that frontline countries are facing increased challenges in the context of the war in Ukraine and stresses their needs should be prioritized in the development of our defence industry capacities linked to the support provided to Ukraine and developing our own defence capacities;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses the importance of reinforcing the Southern Neighbourhood line infor supporting political, economic and social reformdevelopments in the region, in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 650 million above DB, including to ensure predictablreinforce funding for UNWRA;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Underlines that the war has had a particularly significant effect on countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood, such as the Republic of Moldova, that have provided shelter and assistance to refugees fleeing the war and faced the knock-on effects of sky-high inflation and energy prices; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession- related reforms and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; calls upon the need to accelerate the deployment of the pre- accession funds for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova while ensuring additional funds; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations by EUR 450 million above DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood; proposes, furthermore, to increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 50 million in 2024 for the Western Balkans;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Shares the Council’s assessment that the Commission should have factored humanitarian aid needs resulting from the war into the DB; considers that, given the highly challenging international context, humanitarian aid needs in 2024 are likely to be more substantial than initially estimated by the Council, in particular since humanitarian aid to Ukraine will continue to be covered under Heading 6 rather than the Ukraine Facility; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for humanitarian aid by EUR 550 million compared to the DB;