3 Amendments of Monika HOHLMEIER related to 2016/2052(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, with around EUR 200 billion of annual military spending, European countries are unable to avert the deterioration of their security environment and to weigh on global affairs because of fragmented defence policies that create inefficiencies and hinder their force projection; believes that a more integrated framework for defence could result in significant savings, additional capabilities and more sustained investment; recalls that, according to ‘cost of non-Europe’ estimates, annual efficiency gains in this area could range between EUR 26 billion in the less optimistic scenarios and EUR 130 billion; stresses that the funding of the first preparatory action should be integrated in the European Budget and not remain in an unclear intergovernmental frame; calls on the Member states to agree with Commission and EP on the future financial frame of defence added to the existing European Budget;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that common funding has a key role to play in incentivising the use of mechanisms whose potential remains largely untapped, such as permanent structured cooperation and EU Battlegroups; calls, therefore, for the Athena mechanism to be expanded and for consideration to be given to alternative funding for military expenditure in order to do away with the ‘costs lie where they fall’ principle; stresses that, in this context, the EU budget should be able to fund the administrative costs of establishing strategic structures, such as joint operational headquarters, as well as to prepare, organize and deliver defence research, technology and developments activities; calls also for more ambitious civilian missions that are better integrated in the policy cycle and in the range of available instruments;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the time is ripe for unfreezing the budget of the European Defence Agency, and is convinced that more should be done to close the investment gap in defence capabilities, including via EU innovative financing as a preparatory action for defence research; endorses, finally, the proposal for a ‘European Semester’ on defence, whereby Member States would coordinate their defence spending plans in an open process involving the European Parliament and the national parliaments.