50 Amendments of Philippe LAMBERTS related to 2010/0281(COD)
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 121(6), 148(3) and 148(4) thereof,
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The coordination of the economic policies of the Member States within the Union, as provided for by the Treaty, should entail compliance with the guiding principles of stable prices, sound public finances and monetary conditions and a sustainable balance of paymentsbroad guidelines of economic policies in order to achieve the objectives of the Union, as defined in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Article 121(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for the adoption of broad guidelines of economic policies and Article 148(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for the adoption of employment guidelines.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The scoreboard should consist of a limited set of economic and financial indicators relevant to detection of macroeconomic imbalances, with corresponding indicative thresholdslower and upper thresholds, such as for current account and unit labour cost. The composition of the scoreboard may evolve in time, inter alia due to evolving threats to macroeconomic stability or enhanced availability of relevant statistics.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The crossing of one or more indicative thresholds need not necessarily imply that macroeconomic imbalances are emerging, as economic policy-making should take into account inter-linkages between macroeconomic variables. When an imbalance is identified on the basis on the indicators, the Commission will highlight where appropriate whether the imbalance of the Member States is towards the EU Member States or towards the rest of the world and duly take it into account in its conclusions. Economic judgment should ensure that all pieces of information, whether from the scoreboard or not, are put in perspective and become part of a comprehensive analysis.
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Based on the multilateral surveillance procedure and the alert mechanism, the Commission should, by way of preliminary assessment, identify the Member States to be subject to an in-depth review. Conducting such an in-depth review should not imply a presumption of the existence of excessive macroeconomic imbalances. The in-depth review should encompass a thorough analysis of sourcthe causes of imbalances inand the capacity of the Member State under review. It or external should be discussed within the Council and the Euro Group for the Member States whose currencyrces such as sudden drop in export markets, asymmetric shocks, spillover effects of national economic policies in a Member State that brings about imbalances in one or more Member States to correct them. An in-depth review should be seen as a standard procedure isn the eurodiagnosis phase.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) When assessing imbalances, account should be taken of their causes, of their severity, of the degree to which they may be considered unsustainable and, exceptional or temporary, of the potential negative economic and financial spillovers to other Member States and of spillovers from a Member State that does not constitute for the latter a source of imbalance. The economic adjustment capacity and the track record of the Member State concerned as regards compliance with earlier recommendations issued under this Regulation and other recommendations issued under Article 121 of the Treaty as part of multilateral surveillance, in particular the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union, should also be considered.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) If macroeconomic imbalances are identified, recommendations should be addressed to the Member State concerned to provide guidance on appropriate policy responses by the Commission, the Member State under review may request that an extraordinary meeting of the competent committee of the European Parliament be convened to discuss the outcome of the in- depth review. On the basis of the Commission's proposal and the public debate in the European Parliament, recommendations should be addressed to the Member State concerned to provide guidance on appropriate policy responses. If the imbalances are explained by adverse effects of national economic policies of another Member State, the latter will have to assume its responsibilities within the framework of a fair burden sharing involving all Member States concerned. The policy response of the Member States concerned to imbalances should be timely and should use all available policy instruments under the control of public authorities. It should be tailored to the specific environment and circumstances of the Member States concerned and cover the main economic policy areas, potentially including fiscal and wage policies, labour markets, product and services markets and financial sector regulation.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) If severe macroeconomic imbalances are identified, including imbalances that jeopardise the proper functioning of economic and monetary union, an excessive imbalance procedure should be initiated that may include issuing recommendations to the Member States concerned, enhanced surveillance and monitoring requirements and in respect of Member States whose currency is the euro, the possibility of enforcement in accordance with Regulation (EU) No […/…]4 in the event of sustained failure to take corrective action.
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Any Member State placed under the excessive imbalance procedure as well as the Member States at the origin of the imbalance, should establish a corrective action plan setting out details of its policies designed to implement the Council recommendations. The corrective action plan should include a timetable for implementation of the measures envisaged. It should be and an assessment of expected impacts for various income groups to ensure the social fairness of these measures. It should be subject to a consultation of national social partners and get approval of the national parliament before being endorsed by the Council on a report from the Commission.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The provisions of this regulation are fully consistent with Article 3 of the Treaty and horizontal clauses of the TFEU, namely Articles 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as provisions of Protocol 26 and Article 153(5)
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 b (new)
Recital 15 b (new)
(15b) This Regulation does not affect the exercise of fundamental rights as recognized in the Member States and by Union law. Nor does it affect the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements and to take industrial action in accordance with national law and practices which respect Union law.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 c (new)
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) In order to foster accountability and national ownership, the Council shall convene and deliberate publicly when it shall discuss and adopt conclusions and recommendations on these important issues that affect the interests of the European Union and its citizens.
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 d (new)
Recital 15 d (new)
(15d) The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU in respect of the scoreboard. In particular, delegated acts are necessary to establish a list of relevant indicators to be included in the scoreboard and to adapt the composition of the indicators, the thresholds and the methodology used. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level.
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) 'imbalances‘ means any trend giving rise to macroeconomic developments which are adversely affecting, or have the potential adversely to affect, the proper functioning of the economy of a Member State or of economic and monetary union, or of the Union as a whole.
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) 'excessive imbalances‘ means severe imbalances, including imbalances that jeopardise the proper functioning of economic and monetary union, such as excessive deficits and surpluses of current accounts, asset price bubbles or persistently weak internal demand.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall, after consultation with Member States and the EP, establish an indicative scoreboard as a tool to facilitate early identification and monitoring of imbalances.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The scoreboard shall be made up of an array of macroeconomic and macrofinancial indicators for Member States. The Commission may set indicative lower or upper thresholds for these indicators to serve as alert levels. The thresholds applicable to Member States whose currency is the euro may be different from those applicable to the other Member Staterelevant for detecting the risk of potential macroeconomic and macrofinancial imbalances at the Member States level shall allow for comparisons between Member States and early detection of imbalances. The Commission may set indicative, and symmetric where applicable, lower or upper thresholds for these indicators to serve as alert levels.
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The European Systemic Risk Board shall be consulted in regard to indicators relevant to asset price developments.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. The European social partners and the Social Protection Committee shall be consulted in regard to indicators relevant to employment and social issues in accordance with Article 154 (2) and Article 160 of the TFEU respectively.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 255 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The release of the updated scoreboard shall be accompanied by a Commission report containing an economic and financial assessment putting the movement of the indicators into perspective, drawing if necessary on any other economic and financial indicator relevant to detection of imbalances. The report shall also indicate whether the crossing of lower or upper thresholds in one or more Member States signifies the possible emergence of imbalances and where appropriate whether these imbalances have an intra- Community or extra-Community reach.
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The report shall identify Member States that the Commission considers to be affected by, or at risk of, imbalances. In accordance with Articles 154.2 and 154.3 of the TFEU, the European Social Partners shall discuss the report as far as it relates, directly or indirectly, to employment or social issues and forward opinions or recommendations to the Commission before its report is sent to the Council and the Euro Group.
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Taking account of the discussions in the Council and the Euro Group, as provided for in Article 4(4), the Commission shall prepare an in-depth review for each Member State it considers affected by, or at risk of, imbalances. This assessment shall include an evaluation of whether the Member State in question is affected by imbalances, and of whether these imbalances constitute excessive imbalances and of whether they are of an exceptional and temporary nature.
Amendment 281 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) as appropriate, whether the Member State under review has taken appropriate action in response to Council recommendations or invitations adopted in accordance with Articles 121,126 and 12648 of the Treaty and under Articles 6, 7, 8 and 10 of this Regulation;
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) whether and to which extent the imbalance incurred by the Member State under review results from potential negative economic and financial spillover effects of policies or economic developments in other Member States or are the result of exogenous factors;
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
(ab) and where appropriate whether these imbalances have an intra-community or extra-community reach;
Amendment 290 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) the opinion of social partners of the Member State under review.
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. If, on the basis of its in-depth review referred to in Article 5 of this Regulation, the Commission considers that a Member State is experiencing imbalances, it shall inform the Council accordingly and if the imbalances are related to developments in another Member State, the latter Member State. The Member State under review may request that an extraordinary meeting of the competent committee of the European Parliament be convened to discuss the outcome of the in-depth review with the participation of the Council. The Council, on a recommendation from the Commission and taking account of this public debate, may address the necessary recommendations to the Member States concerned, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 121(2) of the Treaty.
Amendment 301 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The Council shall inform the European Parliament of its recommendations. The Council and shall explain how it took into account the public debate where appropriate. The Council and the Commission recommendations shall be made public.
Amendment 308 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – title
Article 7 – title
Opening of the excessive imbalance procedure procedure and burden sharing
Amendment 310 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. If, on the basis of the in-depth review referred to in Article 5, the Commission considers that the Member State concerned is affected by excessive imbalances, it shall inform the Council accordingly. If the imbalances are related to economic or financial development in another Member State, the latter Member State shall equally be informed. The Member State under review may request that an extraordinary meeting of the competent committee of the European Parliament be convened to discuss the outcome of the in- depth review.
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. The Council, on a recommendation from the Commission, and taking account of the public debate in the European Parliament, may adopt recommendations in accordance with Article 121(4) of the Treaty declaring the existence of an excessive imbalance and recommending the Member State concerned to take corrective action. If the imbalance incurred by the Member State under review results from negative spillovers from another Member State, the Council, on a recommendation from the Commission and taking all relevant factors into account as well as the public debate in the European Parliament referred in paragraph 1, may adopt recommendations on policy actions aiming at ensuring an effective and fair burden sharing between the Member States concerned. Those recommendations shall set out the nature of the imbalances and specify the corrective action to be taken in detail and the deadline within which the Member States concerned must take such corrective action. The Council may, as provided for in Article 121(4) of the Treaty, make its recommendations public.
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Any Member State for which an excessive imbalance procedure is opened shall submit a corrective action plan to the Council and the Commission within a deadline to be defined in the recommendations in accordance with Article 7. Prior to the submission to the Commission and without prejudice of the subsidiarity principle, the Member State shall endeavour to obtain parliamentary approval and consult the social partners. Where there has been no such parliamentary approval and no consultation of the social partners, this shall be explicitly specified in the corrective action plan. The corrective action plan shall set out the specific and concrete policy actions the Member State concerned has implemented or intends to implement and shall include a timetable for implementation thereof. The correction action plan shall break down expected impacts of these policy actions for various income groups and shall be consistent with Broad Guidelines of Economic Policies and Employment Guidelines.
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. Within two months after submission of a corrective action plan and on the basis of a Commission report, the Council shall assess the corrective action plan and, when appropriate, whether the spill-over effects have ended or the policy actions in the framework of the fair burden sharing have allowed for the correction of the excessive imbalance. If considered sufficient, on the basis of a Commission proposal, the Council shall adopt an opinion, endorsing it. If the actions taken or envisaged in the corrective action plan or their timetable for implementation are considered insufficient to implement the recommendations, the Council shall, on the basis of a Commission proposal, invite the Member State to amend its corrective action plan within a new deadline insofar the spill- over effects have ended or the policy actions implemented in the framework of the burden sharing have been fair and effective for the correction of the excessive imbalances. The amended corrective action plan shall be examined according to the procedure laid down in paragraph 1 and this paragraph.
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The corrective action plan, the Commission report and, the Council invitation and the assessment of the policy actions implemented in order to ensure an effective and fair burden sharing between the Member States concerned referred to in paragraph 2 shall be made public.
Amendment 344 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall monitor implementation of the recommended corrective action and, of the corrective action plan by the Member States concerned and the policy actions implemented in order to ensure a effective and fair burden sharing. For this purpose, the Member States concerned shall report to the Council and the Commission at regular intervals in the form of progress reports whose frequency shall be established by the Council in the recommendation referred to in Article 7(2).
Amendment 350 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Member States‘’ progress reports and the assessment of the policy actions implemented in order to ensure an effective and fair burden sharing shall be made public by the Council.
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission may carry out surveillance missions to the Member States concerned to monitor implementation of the corrective action plan.
Amendment 364 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. On the basis of a Commission report, the Council shall conclude whether or not the Member States concerned hasve taken the recommended corrective action and whether or not actions implemented in order to ensure a effective and fair burden sharing have been fair and effective for the correction of the excessive imbalance.
Amendment 375 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Where it concludes that the Member States hasve not taken the recommended corrective action and/or that the policy actions implemented have not been fair and effective for the correction of the excessive imbalance , the Council, on a recommendation from the Commission, shall adopt revised recommendations in accordance with Article 7, on a recommendation from the Commission, setting another deadline for corrective action by when another assessment in accordance with this Article shall be conducted.
Amendment 382 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. Where the Council concludes that the Member States concerned hasve taken the recommended corrective action, the excessive imbalance procedure shall be held in abeyance.
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
This paragraph does not mean that the closing of the excessive imbalance procedure will be concomitant for all Member States when their excessive imbalances are assessed as the result of economic or financial development in one or more Member State.
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 b (new)
The burden sharing will be deemed fulfilled when all connected excessive imbalance procedures will be closed.
Amendment 395 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11a Any recommendation from the Council and the Commission shall be consistent with article 3 of the Treaty and horizontal clauses of the TFEU, namely articles 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, as well as with Broad Employment Policy Guidelines.
Amendment 396 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11a In order to increase public scrutiny, accountability and national ownership, when discussing and adopting the conclusions and recommendations mentioned in Articles 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, Council deliberations will be open to the public in accordance with Article 8.3 of Council Decision 2006/683/EC of 15 September 2006 adopting the Council's Rules of Procedure.
Amendment 400 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article -12 a (new)
Article -12 a (new)
Amendment 402 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article -12 b (new)
Article -12 b (new)
Article -12b Revocation of the delegation 1. The delegation of powers referred to in Articles 3 (4) and 4 (1) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. 2. The institution which has commenced an internal procedure for deciding whether to revoke the delegation of powers shall endeavour to inform the other institution and the Commission within a reasonable time before the final decision is taken, indicating the delegated powers which could be subject to revocation and possible reasons for a revocation. 3. The decision of revocation shall put an end to the delegation of the powers specified in that decision. It shall take effect immediately or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of the delegated acts already in force. It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Amendment 404 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article -12 c (new)
Article -12 c (new)
Article -12c Objections to delegated acts 1. The European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act within a period of two months from the date of notification. At the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council this period shall be extended by two months. 2. If, on expiry of that period, neither the European Parliament nor the Council has objected to the delegated act it shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and shall enter into force at the date stated therein. The delegated act may be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force before the expiry of that period if the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission of their intention not to raise objections 3. If the European Parliament or the Council objects to a delegated act, it shall not enter into force. The institution which objects shall state the reasons for objecting to the delegated act.
Amendment 409 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
It shall apply from 1 January 2013