Activities of Jürgen KLUTE related to 2012/2092(BUD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 - all sections
Amendments (16)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that its priorities for the 2013 budget, as detailed in its above-mentioned resolution of 4 July 2012 on the mandate for the trilogue and especially taking into account the current social, economic and financial dramatic constraints lived in several Member States, consist in enhancing support for employment, growth, and competitiveness and employment, particularly for SMEs and youth; points out once again that the Commission's draft budget (DB) reflects Parliament's priorities as regards the programmes and initiatives to be reinforced towards these objectives;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points outUnderlines that the EU budget is to be seen instead as a complementary instrument of support for the Member States' economies, capable of concentrating initiatives and investments in areas strategic for growth and, creation of jobs and of bringing an actual added value in sectors overcoming national boundaries; highlights that such a role is legitimised by the same Member States, who, together with Parliament, are responsible for the decisions from which most of the EU law stems;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. DStrongly deplores, therefore, the decision of the Council to proceed again this year with the usual approach of horizontal cuts to the DB, aimed at artificially reducing the level of the EU resources for 2013 all in all by EUR 1 155 million (-0,8%) in commitment appropriations (CA) and by EUR 5 228 million (- 3,8%) in payment appropriations (PA) as compared to the DB, leading thereby to a clearly insufficient and very modest increase compared to the 2012 budget both in commitments (+1,27% vs. 2% of the DB) and in payments (+2,79% vs. 6,8% of the DB);
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is surprised that, in this exercise, the Council hasinsists on not takening into account the latest Commission's forecasts for programmes' implementation, based on estimates of the same Member States, which on the one hand clearly highlight areas of over- performances where reinforcements are needed already in 2012 and on the other hand warn about the severe risk of shortages of payments, in particular under Headings 1a, 1b and 2; recalls in this context the letter that President Barroso addressed to the 27 Member States in July 2012 expressing his concern about the cuts made to the DB by the Council's reading, as a result of which there is a risk that sufficient funds are not made available to enable the EU to honour its debts;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. RDeeply regrets that the Council departed substantially (all in all by EUR 2,15 billion), as regards commitments, from the financial programming figures, which result from a joint decision with Parliament at the beginning of the programming period, as well as that Council completely disregarded Parliament's priorities, as expressed in Parliament's mandate for the trilogue; recalls that Parliament's reading is based instead upon, and coherent with, these benchmarks;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is of the opinionUnderlines that the answer to the crisis must be more Europe and not less Europe, in order to restart investments, boost the creation of jobs and help rebuild confidence in the economy; having already criticised the proposed freezing in commitment appropriations at the level of the expected inflation rate in the DB, cannot accept Council's decision to reduce them further down to 1,27% compared to budget 2012; recalls that commitments reflect EU political priorities and should be set having in mind a long term perspective where the economic downturn might be over; therefore takes the view that, as a general principle, commitments should be restored at the DB level; intends, however, to increase commitment appropriations above the DB on a selected number of budget lines directly related to the delivery of the Europe 2020 prioritiesU objectives for growth and the creation of jobs, in line with the "decent employment programme" of the International Labour Organization and in line with traditional Parliament's priorities;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Deplores that, although this is the key heading for the delivery of the Europe 2020U objectives for smart, inclusive and sustainable growth, Heading 1a bears practically the totality of the Council's cuts in commitments (-2,9% compared to DB) in Heading 1 and is the most affected as regards decreases in payments (-EUR 1,9 billion or -14% compared to DB); decides to undo almost all cuts by Council and to reinforce above DB in commitment and payments only a selected number of lines directly linked to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy and characterised by high levels of implementation and strong absorption capacity;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. In particular, highlights that the strong cuts affecting Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) programmes are in clear contradiction with the recent European Council's decision to create a «Compact for growth and employment» supporting, among others, research and development, innovation and employment; recallunderlines the very good performances of these programmes, for which Commission reports accelerated implementation in 2012 compared to last year;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. DStrongly deplores the substantial cuts in payments (-EUR 1,6 billion or -3,3 % as compared to DB) by the Council affecting the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective (-12,9%), the European Territorial Cooperation objective (-18,7%) and the Cohesion Fund (-4,7%); notes instead that the Convergence objective is left practically untouched;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls the doubts expressed in its mandate for the trilogue as to whether the level of payments proposed in the DB will be sufficient to reimburse the totality of the expected payment claims in the absence of an amending budget this year; recallunderlines that the same Commission's proposal is based on the assumption that all payment needs from previous years up to 2012 are covered;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. RStrongly rejects the cuts introduced by the Council on Heading 1b, which would lead to a much more serious shortage in payments than already expected and, would idefinitely hampeder the correct execution of projects during the last year of the programming period, with dramatic consequences specially for the Member States which are already under social, economical and financial constraints; points out again that this heading is responsible for two thirds of the current outstanding commitments and that cutting the level of payments for 2013 would also lead to a strong increase in the level of RAL by the end of next year;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Confirms its commitment to act in preventing and responding to crises in the fruit and vegetable sector, and therefore supports a commensurate level for producer groups for preliminary recognition; advocates a sufficient increase of the Union's contribution to the crisis fund within operational funds for producer organisations, especially those representing small and medium producers;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. RStrongly rejects the cuts performed by the Council in payment appropriations in the following areas: European Return Fund (- EUR 18 million), European Refugee Fund (-EUR 1,8 million), European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals (- EUR 3,2 million) and Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (- EUR 1 million); decides, therefore, to restore the level of the DB on the corresponding lines;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Rejects the Council's unilateral decision to change the legal basis of the proposal on the «Schengen evaluation mechanism» from ordinary legislative procedure to Article 70 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; supports the Conference of Presidents' decision to block cooperation with the Council on the 2013 budget as regards internal security aspects; endorses, therefore, the position taken by its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to put into the reserve some budgetary lines in Title 18 which relate to internal security (in commitment and payment appropriations) until a satisfactory outcome is achieved on the Schengen governance package; is of the opinion that this reserve should not be applied to the agencies working under Heading 3a in order not to jeopardise their work;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Stresses that measures aimed at combating gender violence must be sufficientadequately funded; emphasises the important role that the programme for preventing and combating all forms of violence (DAPHNE) has playeds in eliminating violence against women and girls in the ,EU, especially in the current context of social, economic and financial crisis and therefore increases its payment appropriations above the level of the DB;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Introduces separate budget lines for all CFSP missions and EU Special Representatives in the different geographical areas, as proposed in the reform of the Financial Regulation, which will provide and enable a more transparent and complete overview of missions conducted under this policy; underlines its commitment to a strictly peaceful resolution of conflicts, to eradicate poverty, to the promotion of cooperation and solidarity towards a social and sustainable development;