36 Amendments of João FERREIRA related to 2013/2277(INI)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the accession to the EU of countries such as Portugal, which had fragile economies and were forced to compete with economies enjoying a clear competitive advantage, led to deindustrialisation processes (with the country's industry being undermined relative to its needs); whereas the process of deindustrialisation has gone hand in hand with an increased tendency towards the destruction of productive capacity in farming and fisheries (CAP and CFP);
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas public spending in Portugal rose from 42% of GDP in 2000 to 51% in 2010 owing to the crisis, as a result of moves to stimulate the economy whose main approach was defined by the EU; whereas in 2011 spending on social protection stood at 26.5% of GDP by comparison with an EU-28 average of 29.1%; whereas in 2007, before the international crisis, the public deficit stood at 3.1% and public debt at 68.3%, values close to those imposed by the rules of the Maastricht Treaty (and close to those recorded in countries such as Germany);
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas Portuguese public debt has virtually doubled since 2007; whereas Portuguese public debt shot up with the Memorandum of Understanding, rising by EUR 25.3 billion per year in 2011 and 2012, i.e. at a pace 6.4 times higher than that recorded between 2001 and 2004 and 2.7 times higher than that recorded between 2005 and 2010; whereas in August 2013, according to the Bank of Portugal, general government debt reached EUR 254 638 million (155.2% of GDP) and public debt according to the Maastricht criteria, which do not include the whole debt, reached EUR 214 880 million (131.4% of GDP), an unprecedented level;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas studies show that reducing Portuguese public debt to levels close to 60% of GDP, as provided for in the so- called fiscal compact, will be possible only if two conditions are met at the same time over the next 20 years: significant economic growth of around 4% of nominal GDP and a positive primary balance of around 3.5%;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas the European Central Bank is not genuinely autonomous and monetary policy gives priority to price stability to the detriment of each country's development towards higher wages and income; whereas the European Central Bank does not lend to States but only to banks, at interest rates of less than 1%; whereas banks are at the same time allowed to charge extortionate interest rates on their loans, particularly for States; whereas the continued overvaluation of the euro protects the interests of the countries with the strongest economies but makes it impossible for countries with fragile economies to recover;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
Af. whereas the European Union was actively complicit in the escalating interest rates on Portuguese public debt, since it failed to intervene when the current political and institutional context would have allowed it to put an end to the situation, as demonstrated by the ECB's actions in other cases;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)
Recital A g (new)
Ag. whereas the weaknesses of the Portuguese economy, exacerbated by successive policies supported by the EU, in particular the so-called SGPs (from 2010 onwards), have had a recessionary effect and led to spiralling interest rates, and blackmail and extortion by banks and investors in sovereign debt;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)
Recital A h (new)
Ah. whereas the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding dramatically worsened Portugal's economic indicators, causing a sharp drop in GDP and public investment, which fell below 1980s levels, as well as in public and private consumption; whereas household consumption has fallen considerably and agricultural, industrial and energy production has declined, as has trade; whereas overall employment has fallen by 8.1% in the past two years and 400 000 jobs have been destroyed;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)
Recital A i (new)
Ai. whereas the Portuguese people are being made to suffer increased poverty, unemployment, extreme deprivation, the collapse of various public services and emigration, and more than 220 000 Portuguese people have been forced to leave the country in the past two years;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A j (new)
Recital A j (new)
Aj. whereas the Memorandum of Understanding with Portugal helped bring about a dramatic cut in unit labour costs (with wages falling by close to 15% in real terms during this period) and a lengthy programme of privatisations, both of which have led to the unequal distribution of national income to the benefit of capital and to the detriment of labour, and an even greater concentration and centralisation of capital;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A k (new)
Recital A k (new)
Ak. whereas the Community financial framework for the period 2007-2013 (like the current framework: 2014-2020) fell far below what would have been required to meet the needs in terms of offsetting the increasingly asymmetric impact of the EU single market and other common policies, which have accentuated the inequalities between countries and between different sections of society;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A l (new)
Recital A l (new)
Al. whereas the Memorandum of Understanding with Portugal is geared to attacking workers' rights and their wages and pensions, destroying public services and cutting jobs in this sector; whereas unemployment has reached extremely high levels, particularly among young people, and thousands of SMEs have gone bankrupt; whereas worsening social conditions and increased worker exploitation contrasts with the rise in the number of millionaires and the size of their fortunes in Portugal since the Memorandum of Understanding came into force;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A m (new)
Recital A m (new)
Am. whereas the reforms to the common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy have accentuated the moves towards the liberalisation of farming and downgrading of the fishing industry, leaving small and medium-sized farmers, family farms and fishing communities facing even greater difficulties;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the political decisions regarding the Troika and the adjustment programs are taken by the Eurogroup clearly aiming at the completion of the Single Market and the promotion of economic integration at all costs, especially at the expense of social and labour rights of the people; thus these policies lead to austerity instead of growth and job creation;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the initial request for financial assistance was made by Cyprus on 25 June 2012, but that differences of positions as regards the conditionality, as well as the rejection of an initial draft programme by the Cypriot Parliament, delayed the final agreement on the EU- IMF assistance programme until 24 April (EU) and 15 May 2013 (IMF), respectively, and on 30 April 2013 the Cypriot House of Representatives finally endorsed the ‘new’ agreement;still the final decision on a European level, the bail-in method, was by no means a solution
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that the decision for a "bail- in" was devastating for Cyprus economy; regrets that the decision was approved overnight without prior consultation of the national parliament; stresses that these decisions undermine the democratic accountability of the EU;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Recognizes that the Memoranda do not promote sustainable and long-term growth for the people; Urges for alternative solutions to overcome the crisis, which will promote solidarity and social justice.
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Urges Member States, especially those covered by a Memorandum of Understanding, to boost wages and welfare benefits, restoring wages, incomes, and social entitlements to levels compensating for what has been stolen, so as to resolve serious social problems, enhance domestic demand, revitalise economic activity, and create more and better jobs; urges Member States to apply a policy of protecting and restoring public services, particularly as regards the social functions of the State, boosting their human and material resources in keeping with their key role in enabling citizens to realise their rights;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stress that the rise in poverty, social exclusion and uncertainty amongst the majority of people living in the programme countries is mirrored by a sharp rise in wealth for a small minority; e.g. in Ireland since 2007 profits have increased by 21% and according to the Revenue Commissioners, the number of people earning more than €500,000 a year has grown to 3,443 in 2012 with a combined income of €1.8bn, while over 1 million taxpayers out of 2.16 million had incomes lower than €30,000;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Believes that the "success story" around Ireland exiting the programme has very little to do with actual accomplishments that have an impact on people's lives; whereas this story is mainly empty spin designed to support the Irish government's policies, and use Ireland as an example to force working people in southern Europe to accept more austerity; whereas in reality Ireland has the highest net emigration rate of all member states, investment as a percentage of Irish GDP is at 10.6%, the lowest rate in the EU, with the average at 20%, Ireland is still left with an unsustainable debt to GDP ratio of 125% and personal consumption is down 12% compared to 2008;
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Is of the opinion that whereas, despite claims by the Troika and the Irish government, Ireland has not regained "economic sovereignty" since exiting the programme; whereas Ireland, in addition to being subject to EU 'economic governance' like all other EU countries, is also still subjected to "post-programme monitoring" by the IMF and "post- programme surveillance" by the Commission which include formal inspections and the power to impose further austerity; Stresses that this will also be the case if other countries exit their programme;
Amendment 441 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Points to the importance of applying budgetary policies designed to combat extravagant spending, based on a fiscal component involving increased taxes on dividends and profits and a reduced burden for workers and small and medium-sized enterprises, providing states with the money enabling them to function effectively;
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers that the Memorandum of Understanding with Portugal has offered the banking industry and big business a millionaire support and guarantee package and delivered up public resources to usury and financial market speculation;
Amendment 542 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls for a breakaway from these policies so that the problems of economic sustainable growth, unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, and (income) inequalities can be truly addressed and combated;
Amendment 582 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. NoteConsiders that the Troika’s mandatMemorandum of Understanding with Portugal has constituted an act of interference thas been perceived as being unclear and lacking transparencyt is unlawful and anti-democratic on account of the political and institutional decision- taking, which has violated principles and rights enshrined in the Portuguese Constitution, and above all on account of its substance, amounting to nothing short of an aggression pact against the country and its people;
Amendment 719 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Stresses that the main problem remains the insistence on the continued implementation and institutionalisation of the European Commission-Central Bank- IMF Troika's neo-liberal policies, hence leading to further attacks on democracy, on social and workers' rights and to the closure of small and medium size enterprises.
Amendment 763 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Calls for the Memorandum of Understanding with Portugal to be cancelled forthwith and for the Troika to be disbanded; recognises that the Portuguese public debt is unsustainable and calls for a process to begin without delay with a view to renegotiating the debt as regards the amounts, due dates, interest rates, and terms of payment, which should be brought into line with the economic and social needs and the economic and social development requirements of the country and the Portuguese people;
Amendment 764 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38b. Criticises the fact that the immediate cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding would still not guarantee the Portuguese people’s inalienable right to development; calls for the Stability Pact, the six-pack, the two-pack, and the ‘Fiscal Compact‘ to be revoked without delay and for the European Semester and economic governance process to be halted;
Amendment 765 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 c (new)
Paragraph 38 c (new)
38c. Considers that the course set by Economic and Monetary Union, in particular under the Stability and Growth Pact (now bolstered by the six-pack, the two-pack, and what is termed the Fiscal Compact), is creating growing inequalities among countries and is manifestly at odds with reality and with the specific needs of countries with fragile economies; considers that the obsession with making good the budget deficit, restrictive public investment policies, privatising and downgrading public services, and cutting wages, pensions, and other welfare benefits will serve to exacerbate the crisis;
Amendment 766 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 d (new)
Paragraph 38 d (new)
38d. Rejects any diktats, conditions, and restrictions that infringe Portugal‘s sovereign right to determine its economic policies, including the management of its natural resources and its trading relations;
Amendment 767 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 e (new)
Paragraph 38 e (new)
38e. Maintains that the agreements and treaties governing EU integration should be reversible and that every country’s status should be adjusted according to the will of its people and its actual situation, on the understanding that the necessary exception clauses must be permitted;
Amendment 768 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 f (new)
Paragraph 38 f (new)
38f. Calls for the EU budget to be at least doubled and for an EU programme to be drawn up for the countries with a Memorandum of Understanding, laying down the priorities of resolving social problems and safeguarding, utilising, and promoting the national resources of each country concerned and its production capacity, especially in the agricultural and fisheries sectors and in industry, as is essential in order to protect workers and enhance their status and to restore the rights of which they have been stripped in terms of wages, pensions, and other social entitlements;
Amendment 769 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 g (new)
Paragraph 38 g (new)
38g. Calls for radical change to the Statute, policies, and sham independence of the European Central Bank, allowing all Member States to be represented on an equal footing in its governing body, so as to enable them to exercise genuine political control and ensure that every Member State can control its national central bank and monetary policy – not least by using the currency tool – with a view to promoting economic growth and employment;
Amendment 772 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 808 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Calls for radical change to the Statute, policies, and sham independence of the European Central Bank, allowing all Member States to be represented on an equal footing in its governing body, so as to enable them to exercise genuine political control and ensure that every Member State can control its national central bank and monetary policy – not least by using the currency tool – with a view to promoting economic growth and employment;
Amendment 815 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Believes that alternative proposals should be examined in order to combat stagnation and unemployment in countries under Memorandum; considers that these proposals should aim at strengthening and not undermining the welfare state , boosting growth and active job creation policies.