Activities of Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ related to 2009/2235(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Implementation of the synergies of research and innovation earmarked funds in Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 concerning the European Fund of Regional Development and the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development - Delivering a single market to consumers and citizens - Long-term sustainability of public finances for a recovering economy - Contribution of the Cohesion policy to the achievement of Lisbon and the EU 2020 objectives (debate)
Amendments (14)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, bearing in mind that the ultimate aim of cohesion policy is to reduce the gap between the levels of development of the various regions and the extent to which the least-favoured regions and islands (including rural areas) are lagging behind, since 2007 the Structural Funds regulations include obligatory earmarking to the Lisbon objectives for the EU15, targeting cohesion policy resources at the attractiveness of Member States and regions, growth and jobs,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas - particularly during the current recession - the cohesion policy is one of the main instruments to foster growth, competitiveness and jobs in the EU due, among other things, to its stable amount of funding and, the decentralised management system applied and the inclusion of Community sustainable development priorities among its fundamental objectives,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas cohesion policy must be an integral part of the EU2020 Strategy because it is included in the Lisbon Treaty as an instrument to achieve the Treaty's goals, , in line with the earlier decision to include among its priorities a contribution to meeting the objectives laid down in the Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies, must be an integral part of the EU2020 Strategy because it helps to foster growth, competitiveness and employment, which are strategic objectives for the EU,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. OPoints out that cohesion policy is an instrument for the development of EU policies, given that transfers are conditional upon specific investments being made; observes that in the programme allocations for 2007-2013 approx. €228 billion over the 7-year period has been earmarked to the Lisbon priorities; highlights that the overall allocations, also in the EU12, went beyond the percentages required;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets that due to the delayed start-up of the programmes and the subsequent lack of data on expenditure, the correspondence between programme allocations and actual expenditure cannot be verified at this stage, nor is it possible to assess the soundness of the Lisbon investments, particularly as regards programming in less advanced countries; eagerly awaits the publication of the Commission's strategic report and asks that a high level inter-institutional debate is carried out on this basis to analyse the contribution of the cohesion policy to the Lisbon objectives and to assess the future interrelations;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers weak multi-level governance one of the main limits of the Lisbon Strategy, with the insufficient involvement ofto be a strategic asset of cohesion policy, but stresses that regional and local authorities and civil society are still insufficiently involved in the design, implementation, communication and evaluation of the strategat policy; recommends their stronger integration in the future at all stages; points out that one of the governance-related problems that has arisen stems from the supervision and control system established by the Commission, and accordingly stresses the need for major changes to management and control procedures in order to make the policy more flexible and efficient; points out, at the same time, that the strategies cannot be made subject to extremely complicated rules;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that Europe's regions and cities play a fundamental part in implementing the Lisbon Strategy, being key players in the field of innovation, research and education policy; points out that they implement more than one third of all public investment in the EU and are increasingly focusing Structural Fund spending on growth- and job-related objectives;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. PStresses that regional and local authorities can create an environment that fosters business growth in their local areas, but takes the view that Europe's future territorial development cannot be purely competition-based; points out that the regional level in particular has a crucial role to play as the vehicle to reach the countless economic and social actors living and producing in Europe, especially SMEs, and to foster education and vocational training, research, innovation and development;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Appreciates the results produced so far through the financial engineering instruments and the cooperation with the EIB in fostering innovation and research through renewable forms of funding and stresses the need to strengthen the links between EU financing instruments and EIB financing instruments; recognises their leverage potential for investments and asks for their strengthening especially as regards JEREMIE and JESSICA to ensure better support to business and SMEs; recommends that the rules governing these instruments be simplified to allow their greater use by beneficiaries;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the adoption of the Commission proposal on the future EU2020 strategy; stresses the long-term nature of this strategy that aims to create framework conditions for stable growth in Europe, and agrees with the priorities identified; points out, however, that instruments such as the Lisbon and EU2020 strategies are the product of a consensus among Member States with widely differing levels of development;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the need to bring this EU policy into line with the strategic objectives pursued by the EU, while not causing any disruption in Member States by requiring them to make investments that may not be a priority, or even necessary, for the development of individual States; calls for Member States to be allowed greater flexibility in implementing cohesion policy, with a view to ensuring that it expedites the achievement of priority objectives in general;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Urges the EU to adopt specific provisions and take appropriate action to meet the special needs of coastal regions, islands, upland regions and outermost regions, in the light of the legal basis for territorial cohesion that the new Lisbon Treaty provides;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the recognition of the role of the Structural Funds in the delivery of the EU2020 goals; stresses, however, that the cohesion policy is not just the source of stable financial allocations but is also a powerful instrument for the economic development of all of Europe's regions. Its main principles – an integrated approach, multi- level governance and real partnership – are key elements for the success of the strategy and should be fully integrated into it;