12 Amendments of Philippe LAMBERTS related to 2011/0442(COD)
Amendment 14 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital -1 a (new)
Recital -1 a (new)
(-1a) Since its establishment in 1990, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has assisted central eastern European countries in their transition towards open, market-oriented economies and the promotion of private and entrepreneurial initiative. After the events leading to the 'Arab Spring', countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean have taken steps to transform the public administration and their economies. Whereas the economic and political situation in the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean substantially differs from those of Central and Eastern Europe, the EBRD should reform its policies, financial instruments and assessment procedures to demonstrate that sustainable development, the eradication of poverty, the rule of law and the protection of human rights are key principles of EBRD's operation in accordance with Article 3(5) and Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In carrying out its activities in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region, the EBRD should be encouraged to continue its close engagement with the EUincrease coherence with the EU financial instruments and to develop a close cooperation with the EIB and other European and international public financing institutions.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Before the EBRD Governors approve potential recipient or recipient country status for any country of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, it should develop a detailed technical assessment of the economic and political conditions existing in the country concerned, including possible transition gaps in that country's commitment to the principles of multi-party democracy, human and civil rights protection, pluralism and sustainable market economics, as enshrined in Article 1 of the agreement establishing the EBRD (the Agreement). Moreover, the EBRD should review the activities of other international financial institutions in that country and should set its priorities in such a way as to make the best use of its unique knowledge and skills. The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD should encourage the EBRD to make the technical assessments publicly available and to take full account of the views of the Union, the persons concerned in the country of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean concerned, and the wider international community.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD should require the EBRD to refrain from carrying out lending operations in countries where there is a lack of political accountability, where civic and human rights are infringed or where high level of corruption persists.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 c (new)
Recital 5 c (new)
(5c) The Governor of the ERBD for the Union should be accountable to the European Parliament and should report annually to the competent committee of the European Parliament on the promotion of Union's external policy objectives, with particular regard to the Millennium Development Goals, the Europe 2020 and relevant flagship initiatives, the phasing out of fossil fuel lending, including lending for coal mining and energy production and the transfer of renewable energy and energy- efficient technologies. In particular, the report should provide details on results achieved, measured by the EBRD's indicator system, and the extent to which the EBRD addresses in its policies and practices the recommendations in the above-mentioned initiatives.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 d (new)
Recital 5 d (new)
(5d) The Council, the Commission, and the Member States should come forward with, and present to the European Parliament, an assessment of the European public investment banking system by 2013, including the option of dissolving the EBRD and integrating relevant parts into the EIB. The assessment should set out options as to how best to rationalise the system, given that for international operations of the EU it has the EIB at its disposal, and given that for cooperation with international partner the World Bank Group is the most appropriate vehicle. In the medium term, there is no longer a need for a third public bank, which even if the cooperation between EIB, World Bank and EBRD are improved, still constitutes an unjustifiable extra cost to the Union and its Member States. Moreover, having a third bank operating in this field renders it even more difficult to achieve accountability and transparency on development lending.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
The amendments to Articles 1 and 18 of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD attached to this Decision are hereby approved on behalf of the European Union, subject to the rationalisation requirement set out in Article XXX.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1a Rationalisation The Council, the Commission, and the Member States shall carry out an assessment of the European public investment banking system by 2013, including the option of dissolving the EBRD and integrating relevant parts into the EIB. A report on that assessment should be presented to the European Parliament. The assessment shall set out options as to how best to rationalise the system and present a road map for completing the rationalisation by 2016.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 b (new)
Article 1 b (new)
Article 1b Tax havens The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD shall use their best endeavours to avoid any activity by the EBRD implemented in its countries of operation through a foreign non- cooperative jurisdiction with one or more of the following characteristics: an absence of or only nominal taxes, a lack of effective exchange of information with foreign tax authorities, a lack of transparency in legislative, judicial or administrative provisions, an absence of requirements for a substantive local presence, or sustained promotion by the regime as an offshore financial centre.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 c (new)
Article 1 c (new)
Article 1c Fossil fuels The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD shall use their best endeavours to encourage the EBRD to adopt a strategy by 2013 for the phase-out of fossil fuel lending, including its lending for coal-fired power plants by 2015.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 d (new)
Article 1 d (new)
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2a Consultation With respect of the approval of potential recipient or recipient country status of the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, the Commission shall carry out an inter-service consultation and shall consult civil society opinion in an appropriate manner prior to the Board of Governors' vote on country compliance with EBRD conditions, including with Article 1 of the Agreement.