32 Amendments of Victor NEGRESCU related to 2024/0258(COD)
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) Given the uncertainties arising from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which has profoundly impacted Moldova's security, economy, and citizens' livelihoods, as well as the ongoing and unprecedented hybrid attacks targeting the country and democratic institutions, it is appropriate for the Facility to provide support to Moldova in duly justified exceptional circumstances and a timely manner.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Sustainable transport infrastructure is essential to improve connectivity between Moldova and the Union. It should contribute to the integration of Moldova in the Union’s transport network In the revised trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the Commission extended the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea European Transport Corridor to Moldova. The TEN-T network is the reference for funding sustainable transport infrastructure, including for environmentally friendly means of transport, such as railways as well as digitalisation of transport. Cross-border energy infrastructure projects and interconnections are essential for regional energy security and integration within the Union.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. Those general and specific objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner. The Facility should support the enlargement process by accelerating the alignment with Union values, laws, rules, standards, policies and practices (‘acquis’) with a view to Union membership, accelerate progressive integration of Moldova in the Union single market, and accelerate its upward socio- economic convergence with the Union. The Facility should also foster good neighbourly relations.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In line with the principle of inclusive partnerships, the Commission should strive to ensure that relevant stakeholders in Moldova, including social partners, academic institutions and civil society organisations are duly consulted and have timely access to relevant information to allow them to play a meaningful role during the design and implementation of programmes and the related monitoring processes.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Technical assistance, as well as cross-border cooperation assistance, should be provided and enhanced in support of the objectives of this Facility and in order to strengthen the relevant capacities of Moldova to implement the Reform Agenda and to foster potential partnerships between local authorities in the Republic of Moldova and partners in the Member States.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The Facility should boost innovation, research, and cooperation between academic institutions and industry, also with their counterparts in the Union, in support of the green and digital transitions, promoting local industries with a particular emphasis on locally based micro, small and medium- sized enterprises and start-ups; the Facility should support partnerships and common projects focusing on the transfer of know- how and best practices between the Member States and the Republic of Moldova.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and Moldova, should ensure the compliance, coherence, consistency and complementarity, increased transparency and accountability in the delivery of assistance, including by implementing appropriate internal control systems and anti-fraud policies. The support under the Facility should be made available under the preconditions that Moldova upholds and respects effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi- party parliamentary system, free and fair elections, pluralistic media, an independent judiciary and the rule of law, and to guarantee respect for all human rights obligations, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In this sense, all citizens should benefit from the opportunities provided by the Facility.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) A Facility Agreement should be concluded with Moldova to set up the principles of the financial cooperation between the Union and Moldova, and to specify the necessary mechanisms related to the control, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and audit of Union funding under the Facility, rules on taxes, duties and charges and measures to prevent, detect, investigate and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest. Consequently, a loan agreement should also be concluded with Moldova setting out specific provisions for the management and implementation of funding provided in the forms of loans. Both the Facility Agreement and the loan agreement should be transmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council, upon request.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) The implementation of the Facility should be underpinned by a coherent and prioritised set of targeted reforms and investment-related priorities in Moldova (the ‘Reform Agenda’), providing a framework for boosting inclusive sustainable socio-economic growth, clearly articulated and aligned with Union accession requirements and the fundamentals of the enlargement process. The Reform Agenda will serve as an overarching framework to achieve the objectives of the Facility. The Reform Agenda should be prepared in close consultation with relevant stakeholders, including social partners, academic institutions and civil society organisations and their input should be reflected. Disbursement of Union support should be conditional on compliance with the payment conditions and on measurable progress in the implementation of reforms set out in the Reform Agenda assessed and formally approved by the Commission. The release of funds should be structured accordingly, reflecting the objectives of the Facility.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
Recital 49
(49) In order to ensure that Moldova disposes of start-up funding for the implementation of the first reforms, it should have access to up to 720 % of the total amount provided for in this Facility, after deduction of complementary support, including support to civil society organisations and technical assistance, and provisioning for loans, in the form of a pre- financing, subject to availability of funding and to the respect of the preconditions for support under the Facility.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) In the interest of transparency and accountability, Moldova should publish data on final recipients receiving amounts of funding exceeding the equivalent of EUR 50 000 cumulatively during the implementation of reforms and investments under this Facility. All information about the final beneficiaries should be made publicly available through a user-friendly web platform.
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 57
Recital 57
(57) In accordance with Article 129 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the necessary rights and access should be granted to the Commission, OLAF, the Court of Auditors and, where applicable the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), including by third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The Regulation shall provide assistance to Moldova for the delivery of EU-related reforms, in particular inclusive and sustainable socio-economic reforms and reforms concerning fundamentals of the enlargement process, aligned with Union values, as well as investments to implement Moldova’s Reform Agenda. The Facility should also contribute to fighting poverty, tackling unemployment and lead to quality job creation in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) accelerate the upward socio- economic convergence of Moldova’s economy with the Union;
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, including de-polarisation, public administration and fulfil the economic criteria; this includes promoting an independent judiciary, reinforcing security and stability, strengthening the fight against fraud and all forms of corruption, including high-level corruption and nepotism, organised crime, cross-border crime and money laundering as well as terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud, tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning; increasing compliance with international law; strengthening freedom and independence of media and academic freedom; combating hate speech; enabling an environment for civil society, fostering social dialogueacademic institutions and social partners, fostering social dialogue; strengthening social and family policies, supporting in particular children left home by their parents working abroad, children with disabilities and institutional care facilities; promoting gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women and girls, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of refugees and persons with disabilities and those belonging to minorities, including national minorities and Roma, as well as rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons;
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) fight disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference against the Union and promote its values;
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point k
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point k
(k) boost innovation, research, and cooperation between academic institutions and industry, also with their counterparts in the Union, in support of the green and digital transitions, promoting local industries with a particular emphasis on locally based micro, small and medium- sized enterprises and start-ups;
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l
(l) boost quality education, training, reskilling and upskilling at all levels, with a particular focus on youth, including tackling youth unemployment, preventing and reversing brain drain and supporting vulnerable communities, including refugees and rural communities, and support employment policies, including labour rights, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, and fighting poverty.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. Activities under the Facility shall mainstream and promote democracy, human rights and gender equality, promote Europe’s cultural and historical heritage, in particular through the preservation of the Romanian language across the entire country, progressively align with the social, climate and environmental standards of the Union, mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation, where relevant, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, including through, where appropriate, environmental impact assessments, and shall support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting integrated actions that can create co-benefits and meet multiple objectives in a coherent way. Those activities shall avoid stranded assets, and shall be guided bycompatible with the principles of ‘do no significant harm’ and of ‘leaving no one behind’, as well as by the sustainability mainstreaming approach underpinning the European Green Deal. At least 37 % of the non-repayable financial support, including provisioning, provided to investment projects approved under the Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP) should account to climate objectives.
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 9
Article 4 – paragraph 9
9. In line with the principle of inclusive partnership, the Commission shall strive to ensure, as appropriate, democratic scrutiny in the form of consultation by Moldova’s government of its parliament as well as of relevant stakeholders, including local and regional authorities, academic institutions, social partners and civil society, including vulnerable groups, voluntary associations, refugees, and all minorities and communities, as relevant, so as to allow them to participate in shaping the design and the implementation of activities eligible for funding under the Facility and in the related monitoring, scrutiny and evaluation processes, as relevant. That consultation shall seek to represent the pluralism of Moldova’s society.
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. At least 10 % of the total Facility’s amount shall be dedicated to implementing reforms and projects relevant for the citizens of Moldova living and working abroad, with the objective of boosting engagement and reversing brain drain and skilled manpower.
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. At least 10 % of the total Facility’s amount shall be dedicated to education and skills related actions designed to offer better long-term opportunities and perspectives for the Moldavian society and economy.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
5. An amount of up to 12 % of the non- repayable support referred to in paragraph 2 may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility, such as preparatory actions, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the Facility and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, training consultations with Moldova’s authorities, conferences, consultation of stakeholders, including local and regional authorities, academic institutions, the citizens of Moldova living and working abroad, and civil society organisations, information and communication activities, including inclusive outreach actions, and the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, corporate information technology tools, as well as all other expenditure at headquarters and Union delegation for the administrative and coordination support required for the Facility. Expenses may also cover the costs of activities supporting transparency and of other activities such as quality control and monitoring of projects or programmes on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of reforms and investments.
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – point a
(a) the commitment of Moldova to make decisive progress towards a robust legal framework to fight fraud, and establish more efficient and effective control systems, including appropriate mechanisms for the protection of whistleblowers as well as appropriate mechanisms and measures to effectively prevent, detect and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption, high-level corruption and conflicts of interest as well as to strengthen the fight against money laundering, organised crime, misuse of public funds, terrorism financing, tax avoidance, tax fraud or tax evasion, and other illegal activities affecting the funds provided under the Facility;
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) an explanation of the extent to which the measures are expected to reduce inequalities and contribute to education, training and employment and social objectives;
Amendment 240 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) whether the Reform Agenda can be expected to accelerate progress towards bridging the socio-economic gap between Moldova and the Union, and thereby enhances their economic, social and environmental development and supports the upward convergence towards the Union’s standards, reduces inequalities and reinforces social cohesion;
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point f a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point f a (new)
(f a) whether the Reform Agenda is expected to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and seeks to protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights;
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. 1. In case of positive assessment, after informing the European Parliament, the Commission shall approve by means of an implementing decision the Reform Agenda submitted by Moldova, in accordance with Article 12 or, where applicable, of the amended Agenda submitted in accordance with Article 14. The provisions of Article 25(2) shall apply to the adoption of that implementing decision.
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission, after informing the European Parliament, may amend the implementing decision, in particular to take into account a change of the amounts available in line with the principles under Article 19.
Amendment 267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. Following the submission of the Reform Agenda to the Commission, Moldova may request the release of a pre- financing of up to 720 % of the total amount foreseen under this Facility in accordance with Article 6(1), after deduction of complementary support, including support to civil society organisations and technical assistance, and provisioning for loans.
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Without prejudice to Article 1, if the Facility Agreement is not signed or the Reform Agenda is not adopted by 15 April 2025, the Commission may decide to disburse limited, exceptional financial support to Moldova in bridge financing. This support shall be subject to satisfactory progress in the preparation of the Reform Agenda and aimed at maintaining the country’s macro- financial stability. The provision of such support shall be subject to conditions outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Commission and Moldova, adherence to the precondition specified in Article 5, compliance with Article 6, and the availability of funding.
Amendment 299 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to the requirements set out under Regulation (EU) 2021/947, the Commission shall engage in communication activities to ensure the visibility of the Union funding for the financial support envisaged in the Reform Agenda and to counter disinformation, including through joint communication activities with Moldova. The Commission shall ensure that support under the Facility is communicated and acknowledged through a funding statement. Actions financed under the Facility shall be carried out in accordance with communication and visibility requirements in Union-financed external actions and in other relevant guidelines.