52 Amendments of Danuta Maria HÜBNER related to 2014/2249(INI)
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas, according to Article 10(2) TFEU, the European Parliament represents the Union citizens, independently of their nationality, and the Council represents the nationals of the Member States via the national governments;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas, in cases of legal acts covering a subset of Member States, Articles 136 and 330 TFEU limit the voting rights in the Council to the participating Member States but, where required by the procedure, not of Members of the European Parliament;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Commission’s role as the executive should be strengthened in the field of Economic and Monetary Policy by the creation of the position of EU Finance Minister once a fiscal capacity and the European Monetary Fund are created, assisted by an EU Fiscal and Treasury administration, and by endowing it with the powers to implement and enforce any future and existing Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) instruments; whereas the EU Finance Minister must be held to account in person by the European Parliament;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas Article 2 of Protocol (No 14) on the Eurogroup does not specify that the President of the Eurogroup must be elected amongst the members of the Eurogroup;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas Article 137 TFEU and Protocol 14 establish the Eurogroup as an informal body;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the new tasks conferred upon the Eurogroup by the 'Six Pack' and 'Two Pack' regulations in conjunction with the identity of persons forming the Eurogroup and those forming the ESM Board of Governors and the identity of the President of the Eurogroup and the Chairperson of the ESM Board of Governors grant the Eurogroup a de-facto crucial role in the economic governance of the Euro area;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the Fiscal Compact should be incorporated into the EU legal framework on the basis of an assessment of experience with its implementation and to the extent that it is not yet covered by existing secondary legislation;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the use of the Union budget should be more streamlined, its revenue should originate from genuine own resources and not predominantly from Gross National Income (GNI) contributions, and the procedure for adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the legislation relevant to own resources should be switched to the ordinary legislative procedureshould switch from unanimity to qualified majority voting;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. whereas, according to Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, the principle of the universality of the budget does not prevent a group of Member States from assigning a financial contribution to the EU budget or a specific revenue to a specific item of expenditure, as is already happening, for instance, in the case of the high flux reactor under Decision 2012/709/Euratom;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O b (new)
Recital O b (new)
Ob. whereas assigned revenue in terms of Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 is, according to Recital No 8 of the Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation No 1311/2013, not part of the MFF and thus not covered by the MFF ceilings;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O c (new)
Recital O c (new)
Oc. whereas system of own resources does not prohibit own resources financed only by a subset of Member States;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
Sa. whereas the Union legislator may adopt measures in the field of social security that are necessary for workers that exercise their free movement rights under Article 48 TFEU; whereas it may adopt measures for the protection of social rights of workers independently of the use of free movement rights under Article 153 TFEU;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S b (new)
Recital S b (new)
Sb. whereas on the basis of Article 153(1)(a) to (i) TFEU the Union legislator may adopt minimum harmonisation measures in the area of social policy; whereas such legislation may not affect the right of Member States to define the fundamental principles of their social security systems; whereas such legislation may not significantly affect the financial equilibrium of national social security systems; whereas these limits for social policy harmonisation still gives some unused leeway to the Union legislator to adopt measures in the area of social policy;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U a (new)
Recital U a (new)
Ua. whereas external representation has to be ensured in the Union interest where exclusive Union competences and where shared Union competences that were already exercised by the Union are concerned; whereas in areas where the Union has not yet used its shared competence, Member States are under the duty to sincerely cooperate with the Union and to abstain from any measures that could undermine the Union interest;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U b (new)
Recital U b (new)
Ub. whereas there is a need for a coordinated and structured position of the Union and of the Member States in international organisations and international fora in order to enhance the influence of the Union and of its Member States in these organisations and fora;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U c (new)
Recital U c (new)
Uc. whereas entering into international obligations by the Union or by the Member States cannot reduce the role of national Parliaments and of the European Parliament to mere rubberstamping;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
Va. Whereas the recent crises have revealed that the approximation of legal provision is not sufficient for ensuring the functioning of the internal market or the area of freedom, security and justice because of differences in implementation of harmonised legal provisions;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V b (new)
Recital V b (new)
Vb. Whereas the necessity of uniform implementation of harmonised legal provisions requires a harmonisation of implementation by Union agencies, which was approved by the Court of Justice of the European Union;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V c (new)
Recital V c (new)
Vc. Whereas the Union legislator may not confer discretionary powers upon Union agencies that require political choices;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V d (new)
Recital V d (new)
Vd. Whereas the Union legislator has to ensure sufficient political control over the decisions and activities of Union agencies;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the Union needs to restore the lost confidence and trust of its citizens by enhancing the transparency of its institutions and, agencies and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup as well as of its decision-making, and improving its capacity to act;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers to make use of the possibility to harmonise not only national legal provisions but also implementation of harmonised legal provision through the establishment of Union agencies and the conferral of clearly defined implementing powers on them;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that any conferral of implementing powers on Union agencies requires a sufficient control over the decisions and actions of Union agencies by the Union legislator; recalls that effective supervision covers amongst others the appointment and the dismissal of the managing staff of the Union agency, participation in the supervisory board of the Union agency, veto rights in relation to certain Union agency decisions, information obligations and transparency rules and budgetary rights in relation to the Union agency's budget;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Considers the adoption of a framework regulation for Union agencies that may exercise implementing powers covering the required political control mechanism by the Union legislator and including amongst others the right of the European Parliament to appoint and to dismiss the managing staff of the Union agency, to participate in the supervisory board of the Union agency, veto rights of the European Parliament in relation to certain Union agency decisions, information obligations and transparency rules and budgetary rights of the European Parliament in relation to the Union agency's budget;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that intergovernmental solutions should not exist, not even in areas where not all the Member States fulfil the conditions for participatonly be an instrument of absolute ultima ratio. Such solutions are only acceptable if they are intended to deepen the European integration. They may not modify Primary law and must be in compliance with existing Primary and Secondary law. They may only be used if a legislative procedure covering all EU Member States or an Enhanced Cooperation procedure failed or is likely to fail. In case intergovernmental solutions extend decision-making powers at EU level, they may not undermine the institutional balance of the Union, and that the Fiscal Compact and the European Stability Mechanism, as intended by the Treatieshence include the European Parliament as decision-making institution. Inclusion of Union institutions is subject to approval of all Member States. Intergovernmental solutions may not circumvent the Treaties and shall always be open for accession of non-participating Member States. Being means of absolute ultima ratio intergovernmental solutions, as intended by the Treaty, the Fiscal Compact and the European Stability Mechanism should therefore be incorporated into Union law and no new institutions should be introduced;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Expresses its intention to make more use of legislative initiative reports under Article 225 TFEU;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in joint bodies such as the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), and the Inter-parliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP-IPC), and in the framework of Article 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union on the basis of the principles of consensus, information sharing and consultation in order to exercise control over their respective administrations; calls on the European Commission and the Council to participate at a high political level in the interparliamentary meetings; underlines the need for stronger cooperation between the specialised committees of the European Parliament and their national equivalents;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Insists that the European Council publicly explain and motivate its policies before the plenary of the European Parliament, including by presenting its intentions in advance of its formal and informal meetings;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the creationmerger of the position of European Finance Minister, combining the roles of athe permanent President of the Eurogroup and the Commission Vice- President (VP)er for Economic and Financial Affairs, through an Interinstitutional Agreement between Parliament, Council andEuropean Council, Eurogroup and Commission; calls on the President of the Commission to appoint this Commissioner as Vice-President of the Commission;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Considers to call the Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, that also holds the position as President of the Eurogroup 'EU Finance Minister' once the fiscal capacity and the European Monetary Fund are established;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Points to the need of modifying the Framework Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission in order to include a legal obligation for the President of the Commission to make use of his/her right to request the resignation of the EU Finance Minister under Article 17(6) TEU if the European Parliament decides so by a majority of the component Members of the Parliament;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Insists onUrges the European Commission to present a proposal on the basis of Article 138(2) TFEU with a view to ensuring a single representation of the EU/eEurozone within the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and other international financial institutions (Article 138 TFEU) by its Finance Minister/VP of the Commission and the President ofand conferences by the European Central Bank (ECB);
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls for the adoption of a mandate and of an agreed language for the Union and for the Member States covering the topics that are to be discussed at meetings of international organisations and fora concerning Union competences; recommends to establish a formal procedure for the adoption of such a mandate and an agreed language on the basis of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council; insists that draft mandates concerning topics covered by Union competences, which require the ordinary legislative procedure, have to be submitted to the European Parliament and their adoption requires the consent of the European Parliaments; recommends the publication of the mandate and of the agreed language in a Council conclusion;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Calls for the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission, on the basis of which the European Parliament may propose the adoption of a mandate and propose positions for a draft mandate in areas covered by Union competences requiring the ordinary legislative procedure;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Calls for the establishment of a formalised and regular 'dialogue' to be organised in the European Parliament on matters concerning the external representation of the Union;
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to organise betterimprove co-operation modalities with the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in order to be able to take their opinions into account at an earlier stage in the legislative procedure;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Insists on the adoption of Convergence Guidelines, to be enshrined within a Convergence Code and adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure, with a view to creating a more binding framework for economic policy coordination (with key economic, competitiveness and social targets, such as in the areas of labour markets, competitiveness, business environment and public administrations, aspects of tax policy and social protection) that is open to all 28 Member States and that guarantees them the possibility of participating in a shock-absorption mechanism;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Insists on formalising Parliament’s scrutiny role in the European Semester through an interinstitutional Agreement, including by involving it formally in the adoption of the AGS; and of the Commission recommendations on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union; suggests that the Commission issues draft communications and draft recommendations concerning the European semester before their formal adoption by the Commission to the European Parliament, that the European Parliament may table amendments to those draft communications or draft recommendations, that the European Commission may vote on the amendments, that in case of a rejection the European Commission shall give Parliament an explanation of the reasons;
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers it necessary for the Parliament to be invested with a more substantial role in the negotiations within the framework of the European Semester by allowing it to call a hearings with the governments of one of the Member States affected by Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP), Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Alert Mechanism Reports (AMRs)concerned during the negotiations of a macroeconomic adjustment programme under Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 432/2013; considers it furthermore not necessary to treat information about the negotiation and monitoring of macroeconomic adjustment programmes as confidential;
Amendment 473 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls for the establishment of an enhanced dialogue between Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Eurogroup by agreeing on dedicated meeting time-slots during the main steps of the European Semester cycle; demands to this end to extend the information obligation for the Council and the Commission within the Economic Dialogue to the Eurogroup;
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Insists on the inclusion of the Eurogroup into Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents and the conclusion of an agreement between the Eurogroup and the European Parliament on the access to documents for Members of Parliament and on the information obligations of the Eurogroup;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)
Paragraph 40 b (new)
40b. Reiterates that the Eurogroup may not undermine the rights of non- Eurozone Member States to also present their views on Eurozone matters in the Council.
Amendment 487 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Calls for the integration of the Fiscal Compact into the EU legal framework on the basis of an assessment of the experience with its implementation and to the extent that is not yet covered by existing secondary legislation;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Points out the need to switch from unanimity to QMV for the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) Regulation, by using the provisions of Article 48 (7) TEU and Article 312 (2) TFEU; highlights the importance of establishing a link between the duration of Parliament’s legislative term and the duration of the MFF, which can be reduced to five years under the provisions of Article 312 (1) TFEU;
Amendment 505 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Proposes to change the procedure for the adoption of own resources through the general ‘passerelle clause’ contained in Article 48 (7) TEU, which would facilitate the necessary transitioncurrent system of own resources from a system based on Gross National Income (GNI) contributions to one based on real own resources for the EU and the eEurozone budget, such as a reformed Value Added Tax (VAT), a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), or revenue from other sources such as the Emission Trading Scheme;
Amendment 507 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Proposes to introduce a Euro area budget with a revenue originating from the Member States whose currency is the Euro that is, in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, assigned to expenditure that can exclusively be used within Member State whose currency is the Euro; considers that such revenue requires the introduction of a new 'own resource' financed by the Member States whose currency is the Euro; recalls that assigned revenue in terms of Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 is not covered by the Multiannual Financial Framework regulation and by the ceilings set by it;
Amendment 541 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Proposes the establishment of a fiscal capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms, based on incentives and certain conditions, including the effective implementation of the National Reform Programmes agreed within the European Semester; considers that this could be done through the creation of additional capacity and/or by earmarking fundingrevenue from the existing EU budget in terms of Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 for this purpose; underlines that any new instrument should be placed within the EU budget, but outside the ceilings of the MFFulti-annual Financial Framework, and financed from real own resources; recalls that assigned revenue in terms of Article 21 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 is not covered by the Multiannual Financial Framework regulation and by the ceilings set by it;
Amendment 559 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
Amendment 639 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62a. Takes the view that any formal differentiation of parliamentary participation rights with regard to the origin of Members of the European Parliament represents discrimination on grounds of nationality, the prohibition of which is a founding principle of the European Union, and violates the principle of equality of Union citizens as enshrined in Article 9 TEU;
Amendment 644 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
Amendment 681 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Stresses that the rights of workers, when they exercise their right of mobility under Article 48 TFEU, should be guaranteed, along with their social rights for workers, in accordance with Articles 151 and 153 TFEU, in order to ensure a stable social basis for the EMU;