1056 Amendments of José Manuel FERNANDES
Amendment 20 #
2023/2058(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks for a portion of any revenue generated by permanent taxation mechanisms set up at EU level to be introduced as own resources, in order to improve the stabilisation function of the EU budget and fund EU policiesny new own resources to be introduced to improve the stabilisation function of the EU budget and fund EU policies; takes note of the temporarily solidarity contribution from fossil fuel producers agreed in Council; considers that the Commission and the Council should continually assess whether any revenue stemming from new temporary crisis taxation mechanisms should enter the EU budget as own resources or other revenue;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2058(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Council to explore the possibility of using the EU budget’s expenditure and revenue mechanisms as response instruments and for redistribution purposes during symmetrical and asymmetrical crises, such as through a permanent fiscal capacity for the euro area.
Amendment 13 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the Union has cooperative relations with a large number of developing countries and countries most in need to overcome long-term developmental challenges related, for example, with economic, social and environmental challenges; recalls that EU external financing instruments will contribute to achieving the international commitments and objectives that the Union has agreed to, in particular the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Welcomes the support of Ukraine and Moldova on key integration priorities in light of their candidate country status through respective NDICI envelopes;
Amendment 15 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Notes that the already tight NDICI envelope, and in particular the allocation for the cushion, has been stretched to the limits by the increasing needs for provisioning of guarantees and interest costs in support of Ukraine; points out that the accumulation of needs competing for scarce NDICI resources within the confines of Heading 6 makes it increasingly difficult to combine the programmed core tasks of international cooperation with crisis response and new initiatives; expects both the NDICI and the MFF provisions to be made sufficiently resilient and flexible to accommodate these multiple demands in the medium to long term;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Believes each beneficiary country should present a long-term plan aligned with the MFF calendar, stating its projects and goals; recognises that this architecture could increase the transparency and predictability of funding needs, allowing for the establishment of long-term objectives as defined by the Commission, namely in areas which require forward planning such as energy, health, water supply, digital and green transition; notes that such plan ought to be presented by the beneficiary government, which would rely on the participation of local stakeholders, whose contribution should be stimulated; believes it would also foster the participation of destination countries in the drawing up of Union development policy, through the participation of its institutions and stakeholders;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Reiterates the key role that education and training play on the prevention of poverty and social exclusion, whilst also ensuring that human and civic values are maintained and helping tackle all forms of discrimination; urges the Commission to acknowledge the need to properly fund education, training and upskilling of citizens in developing countries;
Amendment 18 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Recognises the importance of joint actions taken by the Union and the Member States as well as the need of a common approach to global challenges; acknowledges that the Union and the Member States should inform each other about actions being undertaken in the field of development cooperation;
Amendment 19 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 h (new)
Paragraph 2 h (new)
2h. Recognises the importance and added value of ‘blending’ instruments that combine public grants with private loans; calls, therefore, on the Commission to prioritise and incentivise the use of such instruments; stresses the importance of the involvement of the private sector and expects the Commission to further develop this integration, namely through local small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 i (new)
Paragraph 2 i (new)
2i. Acknowledges that the NDICI, like other Union programmes, suffers from a lack of visibility, understanding and publicity, with the beneficiaries from this Union funding not being aware of the Union’s support, solidarity and priorities; considers that the NDICI should be better explained to the public;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2029(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 j (new)
Paragraph 2 j (new)
2j. Calls on the Commission to assess whether an online platform where all EDF and NDICI-Global Europe projects would be publicised could be established, to increase transparency and access to data;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that EU trade policy, and CETA in particular, has a significant economic impact on the outermost regions (ORs) and therefore stresses the need to protect those regions' interests in future negotiations or a possible review of the agreement;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Maintains that part of the tariffs and tariff rate quotas assigned to EU products should be allocated to operators registered in the ORs, taking account of their economic situation; stresses that differential treatment for operators in the ORs is key to guarantee the competitiveness of businesses and the fair distribution of tariffs and tariff rate quotas among commercial agents by stopping benefits being restricted to a small number of operators;
Amendment 396 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall monitor the fulfilment of the preconditions set out in paragraph 1 before funds are released to Beneficiaries under the Facility and throughout the period of the support provided under the Facility taking duly into account the latest Enlargement Package. The Commission may adopt a decision concluding that some of these preconditions are not met, and in particular,such cases, shall withhold the release of funds referred to in Article 21, irrespective of the fulfilment of payment conditions referred to in Article 16(3).
Amendment 396 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall monitor the fulfilment of the preconditions set out in paragraph 1 before funds are released to Beneficiaries under the Facility and throughout the period of the support provided under the Facility taking duly into account the latest Enlargement Package. The Commission may adopt a decision concluding that some of these preconditions are not met, and in particular,such cases, shall withhold the release of funds referred to in Article 21, irrespective of the fulfilment of payment conditions referred to in Article 16(3).
Amendment 467 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) (aa) measure related to negotiation chapter 32, particularly public finance management and internal control, as well as on fight against fraud, together with chapters 23 and 24, particularly when it comes to justice, corruption and organised crime and chapter 8, particularly on State aid control.
Amendment 467 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) (aa) measure related to negotiation chapter 32, particularly public finance management and internal control, as well as on fight against fraud, together with chapters 23 and 24, particularly when it comes to justice, corruption and organised crime and chapter 8, particularly on State aid control.
Amendment 506 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. 4a. The Commission shall request the Beneficiary to review and/or modify the Reform Agendas to address the potential risks when the outcomes of its assessment reveals that some or all criteria as stated in Article 14 (3) are not met. Such a revision would be aligned with the approval process for the cross- border programmes in which the Western Balkan countries participate.
Amendment 506 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. 4a. The Commission shall request the Beneficiary to review and/or modify the Reform Agendas to address the potential risks when the outcomes of its assessment reveals that some or all criteria as stated in Article 14 (3) are not met. Such a revision would be aligned with the approval process for the cross- border programmes in which the Western Balkan countries participate.
Amendment 529 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Article 21 – paragraph 7
7. 7. The Commission may reduce the amount of the non-repayable financial support, including by offsetting in line with Article 102 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, or of the loan, in the event of identified cases of, or serious concerns in relation to, irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests affecting the financial interests of the Union that have not been corrected by the Beneficiary, or a serious breach of an obligation resulting from the Facility Agreements or from the Loan Agreements, including on the basis of information provided by OLAF and/or the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 529 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Article 21 – paragraph 7
7. 7. The Commission may reduce the amount of the non-repayable financial support, including by offsetting in line with Article 102 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, or of the loan, in the event of identified cases of, or serious concerns in relation to, irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests affecting the financial interests of the Union that have not been corrected by the Beneficiary, or a serious breach of an obligation resulting from the Facility Agreements or from the Loan Agreements, including on the basis of information provided by OLAF and/or the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 531 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. 2. The Facility Agreement and loan agreements shall provide for the following obligations of the Beneficiary:
Amendment 531 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. 2. The Facility Agreement and loan agreements shall provide for the following obligations of the Beneficiary:
Amendment 62 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Soils formation occurs in a very slowly way with 500 years or more needed to create 2,5 cm of new topsoil, according to the European Commission, but soil health can be maintained or improved if appropriate measures are taken and implemented, so this directive should not impose restrictive measures and unachievable targets;
Amendment 62 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Soils formation occurs in a very slowly way with 500 years or more needed to create 2,5 cm of new topsoil, according to the European Commission, but soil health can be maintained or improved if appropriate measures are taken and implemented, so this directive should not impose restrictive measures and unachievable targets;
Amendment 73 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) FThe additional funding is vital to enable a transition to healthy soils. The Multiannual Financial Framework presents several funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management and regeneration of soils. A ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ is one of the five EU missions of the Horizon Europe programme and is specifically dedicated to promoting soil health. The Soil Mission is a key instrument for the implementation of this Directive. It aims to lead the transition to healthy soils through funding an ambitious research and innovation programme, establishing a network of 100 living labs and lighthouses in rural and urban areas, advancing the development of a harmonized soil monitoring framework and increasing the awareness of the importance of soil. The nine outermost regions should be included in this network (Art. 349 TFEU)40a as they concentrate 80% of the Union's biodiversity. Other Union programmes that present objectives contributing to healthy soils are the Common Agricultural Policy, the Cohesion Policy funds, the Programme for Environment and Climate Action, the Horizon Europe work programme, the Technical Support Instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and InvestEU. __________________ 40a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2023- 0228_PT.html#def_1_33
Amendment 73 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) FThe additional funding is vital to enable a transition to healthy soils. The Multiannual Financial Framework presents several funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management and regeneration of soils. A ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ is one of the five EU missions of the Horizon Europe programme and is specifically dedicated to promoting soil health. The Soil Mission is a key instrument for the implementation of this Directive. It aims to lead the transition to healthy soils through funding an ambitious research and innovation programme, establishing a network of 100 living labs and lighthouses in rural and urban areas, advancing the development of a harmonized soil monitoring framework and increasing the awareness of the importance of soil. The nine outermost regions should be included in this network (Art. 349 TFEU)40a as they concentrate 80% of the Union's biodiversity. Other Union programmes that present objectives contributing to healthy soils are the Common Agricultural Policy, the Cohesion Policy funds, the Programme for Environment and Climate Action, the Horizon Europe work programme, the Technical Support Instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and InvestEU. __________________ 40a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2023- 0228_PT.html#def_1_33
Amendment 110 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Addressing the pressures on soils and identifying the appropriate measures to maintain or regenerate soil health requires that the variety of soil types, the specific local and climatic conditions and the land use or the land cover is taken into account. It is therefore appropriate that Member States establish soil districts. Soil districts should constitute the basic governance units to manage soils and to take measures to comply with the requirements laid down in this Directive, in particular with regard to the monitoring and assessment of soil health. The number, geographic extent and boundaries of soil districts for each Member State should be determined in order to facilitate the implementation of Regulation (UE) …/…. of the European Parliament and of the Council48 . There should be a minimum number of soil districts in each Member State taking into account the size of the Member State. This minimum number of soil districts for eachIn order to avoid administrative overload, Member States shall correspond to the number of NUTS 1 territorial units established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council49 .take in account the diversity of soils and the climatic conditions. __________________ 48 +OP please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the carbon removal certification contained in document COM(2022) 672 final and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote. 49 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 110 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Addressing the pressures on soils and identifying the appropriate measures to maintain or regenerate soil health requires that the variety of soil types, the specific local and climatic conditions and the land use or the land cover is taken into account. It is therefore appropriate that Member States establish soil districts. Soil districts should constitute the basic governance units to manage soils and to take measures to comply with the requirements laid down in this Directive, in particular with regard to the monitoring and assessment of soil health. The number, geographic extent and boundaries of soil districts for each Member State should be determined in order to facilitate the implementation of Regulation (UE) …/…. of the European Parliament and of the Council48 . There should be a minimum number of soil districts in each Member State taking into account the size of the Member State. This minimum number of soil districts for eachIn order to avoid administrative overload, Member States shall correspond to the number of NUTS 1 territorial units established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council49 .take in account the diversity of soils and the climatic conditions. __________________ 48 +OP please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the carbon removal certification contained in document COM(2022) 672 final and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote. 49 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 114 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In order to ensure an appropriate governance on soils, Member States should be required to appoint a competent authority for each soil district. Member States, in conjunction with the regional authorities, where applicable, should be allowed to appoint any additional competent authority at appropriate level including at national or regional level.
Amendment 114 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In order to ensure an appropriate governance on soils, Member States should be required to appoint a competent authority for each soil district. Member States, in conjunction with the regional authorities, where applicable, should be allowed to appoint any additional competent authority at appropriate level including at national or regional level.
Amendment 122 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
Amendment 122 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
Amendment 146 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) Economic instruments, including those under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that provide support to farmers, have a crucial role in the transition to the sustainable management of agricultural soils and, to a lesser extent, forest soils. The CAP aims to support soil health through the implementation of conditionality, eco-schemes and rural development measures. Financial support for farmers and foresters who apply sustainable soil management practices can also be generated by the private sector. Voluntary sustainability labels in the food, wood, bio-based, and energy industry, for example, established by private stakeholders, can take into account the sustainable soil management principles set out in this Directive. This can enable food, wood, and other biomass producers that follow those principles in their production to reflect these in the value of their products. Additional funding for a network of real-life sites for testing, demonstrating and upscaling of solutions, including on carbon farming, will be provided through the Soil Mission’s living labs and lighthouses. Without prejudice to the polluter pays principle, support and advice should be provided by Member States, ensuring that it reaches the entire territory, including remote regions, to help landowners and land users affected by action taken under this Directive taking into account, in particular, the needs and limited capacities of small and medium sized enterprises.
Amendment 146 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) Economic instruments, including those under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that provide support to farmers, have a crucial role in the transition to the sustainable management of agricultural soils and, to a lesser extent, forest soils. The CAP aims to support soil health through the implementation of conditionality, eco-schemes and rural development measures. Financial support for farmers and foresters who apply sustainable soil management practices can also be generated by the private sector. Voluntary sustainability labels in the food, wood, bio-based, and energy industry, for example, established by private stakeholders, can take into account the sustainable soil management principles set out in this Directive. This can enable food, wood, and other biomass producers that follow those principles in their production to reflect these in the value of their products. Additional funding for a network of real-life sites for testing, demonstrating and upscaling of solutions, including on carbon farming, will be provided through the Soil Mission’s living labs and lighthouses. Without prejudice to the polluter pays principle, support and advice should be provided by Member States, ensuring that it reaches the entire territory, including remote regions, to help landowners and land users affected by action taken under this Directive taking into account, in particular, the needs and limited capacities of small and medium sized enterprises.
Amendment 147 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Recital 39
Amendment 147 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Recital 39
Amendment 153 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 42
Recital 42
(42) To ensure synergies between the different measures adopted under other Union legislation that may have an impact on soil health, and the measures that are to be put in place to sustainably manage and regenerate soils in the Union, Member States should ensure that the national plans with the sustainable soil management and regeneration practices, designed in conjunction with the regional authorities, where applicable, are coherent with the national restoration plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council53 +; the strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common Agricultural Policy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the codes of good agricultural practices and the action programmes for designated vulnerable zones adopted in accordance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC54 , the conservation measures and prioritized action framework established for Natura 2000 sites in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC55 , the measures for achieving good ecological and chemical status of water bodies included in river basin management plans prepared in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council56 , the flood risk management measures established in accordance with Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council57 , the drought management plans promoted in the Union Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change58 , the national action programmes established in accordance with Article 10 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, targets set out under Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council59 and Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council60 , the integrated national energy and climate plans established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council61 , the national air pollution control programmes prepared under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council62 , risk assessments and disaster risk management planning established in accordance with Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council63 , and national action plans established in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council64 +. Sustainable soil management and regeneration practices should be, as far as possible, integrated within these programmes, plans and measures to the extent that they contribute to the achievement of their objectives. Consequently, relevant indicators and data, such as soil-related result indicators under the CAP Regulation and statistical data on agricultural input and output reported under Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council65 , should be accessible to the competent authorities responsible for sustainable soil management and regeneration practices and soil health assessment in order to cross-link these data and indicators and thus enable the most accurate possible assessment of the effectiveness of the measures chosen. __________________ 53 OP : please insert please insert in the text the number of Regulation on nature restoration contained in document COM(2022) 304 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Regulation in the footnote Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration 54 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1). 55 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 56 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1-73). 57 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27). 58 Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change COM(2021)82 final. 59 Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 1). 60 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26). 61 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1). 62 Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC (OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1). 63 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924). 64 + OP: please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 contained in document COM(2022)305 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote 65 Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on statistics on agricultural input and output.
Amendment 153 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 42
Recital 42
(42) To ensure synergies between the different measures adopted under other Union legislation that may have an impact on soil health, and the measures that are to be put in place to sustainably manage and regenerate soils in the Union, Member States should ensure that the national plans with the sustainable soil management and regeneration practices, designed in conjunction with the regional authorities, where applicable, are coherent with the national restoration plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council53 +; the strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common Agricultural Policy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the codes of good agricultural practices and the action programmes for designated vulnerable zones adopted in accordance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC54 , the conservation measures and prioritized action framework established for Natura 2000 sites in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC55 , the measures for achieving good ecological and chemical status of water bodies included in river basin management plans prepared in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council56 , the flood risk management measures established in accordance with Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council57 , the drought management plans promoted in the Union Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change58 , the national action programmes established in accordance with Article 10 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, targets set out under Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council59 and Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council60 , the integrated national energy and climate plans established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council61 , the national air pollution control programmes prepared under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council62 , risk assessments and disaster risk management planning established in accordance with Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council63 , and national action plans established in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council64 +. Sustainable soil management and regeneration practices should be, as far as possible, integrated within these programmes, plans and measures to the extent that they contribute to the achievement of their objectives. Consequently, relevant indicators and data, such as soil-related result indicators under the CAP Regulation and statistical data on agricultural input and output reported under Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council65 , should be accessible to the competent authorities responsible for sustainable soil management and regeneration practices and soil health assessment in order to cross-link these data and indicators and thus enable the most accurate possible assessment of the effectiveness of the measures chosen. __________________ 53 OP : please insert please insert in the text the number of Regulation on nature restoration contained in document COM(2022) 304 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Regulation in the footnote Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration 54 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1). 55 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 56 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1-73). 57 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27). 58 Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change COM(2021)82 final. 59 Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 1). 60 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26). 61 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1). 62 Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC (OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1). 63 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924). 64 + OP: please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 contained in document COM(2022)305 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote 65 Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on statistics on agricultural input and output.
Amendment 172 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) The Commission should carry out an evidence-based evaluation and, where relevant, a revision of this Directive, 615 years after its entry into force on the basis of the results of the soil health assessment. The evaluation should assess in particular the need to set more specific requirements to make sure unhealthy soils are regenerated and the objective to achieve healthy soils by 2050 is achieved. The evaluation should also assess the need to adapt the definition of healthy soils to scientific and technical progress by adding provisions on certain descriptors or criteria based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of soils or on the grounds of a problem specific to a Member State arising from new environmental or climatic circumstances. Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, that evaluation should be based on the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and EU value added and should provide the basis for impact assessments of possible further measures.
Amendment 172 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) The Commission should carry out an evidence-based evaluation and, where relevant, a revision of this Directive, 615 years after its entry into force on the basis of the results of the soil health assessment. The evaluation should assess in particular the need to set more specific requirements to make sure unhealthy soils are regenerated and the objective to achieve healthy soils by 2050 is achieved. The evaluation should also assess the need to adapt the definition of healthy soils to scientific and technical progress by adding provisions on certain descriptors or criteria based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of soils or on the grounds of a problem specific to a Member State arising from new environmental or climatic circumstances. Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, that evaluation should be based on the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and EU value added and should provide the basis for impact assessments of possible further measures.
Amendment 174 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) Coordinated measures by all Member States are necessary to achieve the vision to have all soils healthy by 2050 and to secure the provision of ecosystem services by soils across the Union in the long-term. Individual actions of Member States have proven to be insufficient since the soil degradation is continuing and even deteriorating. Since the objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, accompanied by appropriate technical support and the necessary financial means, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
Amendment 174 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) Coordinated measures by all Member States are necessary to achieve the vision to have all soils healthy by 2050 and to secure the provision of ecosystem services by soils across the Union in the long-term. Individual actions of Member States have proven to be insufficient since the soil degradation is continuing and even deteriorating. Since the objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, accompanied by appropriate technical support and the necessary financial means, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
Amendment 183 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. The objective of the Directive is to put in place a solid and coherentcoherent and flexible soil monitoring framework for all soils across the EU and to continuously improve soil health in the Union with the view to achieve healthy soilssoils in good ecological state by 2050 and maintain soils in healthy condition, so that they can supply multiple ecosystem services at a scale sufficient to meet environmental, societal and economic needs, prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, increase the resilience against natural disasters and for food security and that soil contamination is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and the environment.
Amendment 183 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. The objective of the Directive is to put in place a solid and coherentcoherent and flexible soil monitoring framework for all soils across the EU and to continuously improve soil health in the Union with the view to achieve healthy soilssoils in good ecological state by 2050 and maintain soils in healthy condition, so that they can supply multiple ecosystem services at a scale sufficient to meet environmental, societal and economic needs, prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, increase the resilience against natural disasters and for food security and that soil contamination is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and the environment.
Amendment 189 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) monitoring and assessment of contaminated sites.
Amendment 189 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) monitoring and assessment of contaminated sites.
Amendment 260 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The number of soil districts for each Member State shall as a minimum correspond to the number of NUTS 1 territorial units established under Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003take into account the soil diversity and the climatic conditions in order to avoid administrative overload.
Amendment 260 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The number of soil districts for each Member State shall as a minimum correspond to the number of NUTS 1 territorial units established under Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003take into account the soil diversity and the climatic conditions in order to avoid administrative overload.
Amendment 264 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. When establishing the geographic extent of soil districts, Member States may take into account existing administrative units and shall seek homogeneity within each soil district regarding the following parameters:
Amendment 264 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. When establishing the geographic extent of soil districts, Member States may take into account existing administrative units and shall seek homogeneity within each soil district regarding the following parameters:
Amendment 266 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) the existence of remote archipelagic regions with islands scattered between them, with each island corresponding to a soil district.
Amendment 266 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) the existence of remote archipelagic regions with islands scattered between them, with each island corresponding to a soil district.
Amendment 268 #
Amendment 268 #
Amendment 269 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) proximity to wetlands.
Amendment 269 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) proximity to wetlands.
Amendment 270 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
(dc) use of COPERNICUS on the soil districts delimitation.
Amendment 270 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
(dc) use of COPERNICUS on the soil districts delimitation.
Amendment 277 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Amendment 277 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Amendment 305 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
When monitoring and assessing soil health, Member States shall apply tha minimum of five soil descriptors and soil health criteria that best illustrate the soil characteristics in each soil type at national level criteria listed in Annex I.
Amendment 309 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may adapt the soil descriptors and the soil health criteria referred to in part A of Annex I, in accordance with the national specifications referred to in the second and third columns in part A of Annex Ion soil health.
Amendment 341 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall, in conjunction with their regional authorities, where applicable, assess the soil health in all their soil districts based on the data collected in the context of the monitoring referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 8 for each of the soil descriptors referred to in Parts A and B of Annex I.
Amendment 348 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 351 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 355 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 380 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 386 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 521 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall, in conjunction with their regional authorities, where applicable, systematically and actively identify all sites where a soil contamination is suspected based on evidence collected through all available means (‘potentially contaminated sites’).
Amendment 530 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure, with conjunction with their regional authorities, where applicable, that all potentially contaminated sites are identified by (OP: please insert date = 7 years after date of entry into force of the Directive) and are duly recorded in the register referred to in Article 16 by that date.
Amendment 553 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Given the priority inherently attached to the establishment of soil monitoring and sustainable management and regeneration of soils, the implementation of this Directive shall be supported by existing Union financial programmes in accordance with their applicable rules and conditions. Nevertheless, an additional financial instrument must be created for the post- 2027 period in order to promote the continued sustainable management of soils, as well as their permanent regeneration.
Amendment 566 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall electronically report the following data and information to the Commission and to the EEA every 5 yearor 10 years, depending on soil health status:
Amendment 618 #
2023/0232(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By (OP :please insert the date = 615 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive), the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive to assess the progress towards its objectives and the need to amend its provisions in order to set more specific requirements to ensure that unhealthy soils are regenerated and that all soils will be healthy by 2050. This evaluation shall take into account, inter alia, the following elements:
Amendment 6 #
2023/0201R(APP)
2. Underlines the fact that the revision must focus on addressing the manifold consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, on safeguarding the Union’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty and on endowing the Union with adequate flexibility to respond to crises; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s proposal for a targeted revision as a first step in the right direction to ensure that the MFF can better address those challenges; however, points out that a higher but realistic ambition level is necessary to better address the structural challenges in the budget;
Amendment 16 #
2023/0201R(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that, unlike in national budgets, where inflation affects the nominal value of both revenue and expenditure, the MFF spending ceilings are adjusted on the basis of a 2 % deflator applied to 2018 prices, whereas the own resources ceiling adjusts to inflation; underlines, therefore, that, as a result of unexpectedly high inflation, revenue called from Member States for MFF spending has decreased as a percentage of gross national income (GNI); notes, furthermore, that rebates for the five beneficiary Member States are inflation-linked; regrets that, according to the Commission, inflation may reduce the real-terms value of the MFF by EUR 74 billion over the seven- year period; underlines, in particular, the negative consequences of inflation for smaller and younger farmers, in reducing the real-terms value of CAP direct payments and the difficulties to invest under the rural development fund;
Amendment 32 #
2023/0201R(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that spending under Heading 7 should be set atSupports the Commission’s proposal to increase Heading 7 to a level that guarantees that the EU has an effective and efficient administration; points out that a sufficient administration is necessary in order to deliver on the Union’s policy objectives;
Amendment 81 #
2023/0201R(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recalls its long-standing position that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s policy priorities; regrets that the Commission’s proposal redeploys money from Horizon Europe, EU’s main research and innovation programme;
Amendment 91 #
2023/0201R(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35a (new)
Paragraph 35a (new)
35a. Points out the need for a more diverse and resilient set of revenue sources for the EU budget in order to provide robust and sustainable financing for a reinforced and scaled-up MFF; urges the Council, therefore to swiftly approve the existing proposals on new own resources;
Amendment 116 #
2023/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The scale ofSignificant investments needed for the transition require a full mobilisation of funding available under ewill be required over the coming years to strengthen the open strategic autonomy of the Union in a comprehensive way, to preserve its competitiveness in the global market and to achieve the green and digital transitions. Existing EU programmes and funds, inclusiveding those granting a budgetary guarantee for financing and investment operations and implementation of financial instruments and blending operations. Such, should contribute to addressing those goals. In addition to its full mobilisation, Union funding should be deployed in a more flexible manner, to provide timely and targeted support for critical technologies in strategic sectorrelevant sectors, reinforcing the financing for Union-wide and cross-border projects. Therefore, a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) should give a structural answer to the Union investment needs by helping to better channel the existing EUnion funds towards critical investments aimed at supporting the development or manufacturing of critical technologies in relevant sectors, while preserving a level playing field in the Single Market, thereby preserving cohesion and aiming at a geographically balanced distribution of projects financed under the STEP in accordance with the respective programme mandates. While being open to every Member State, the Commission and Member States should put specific emphasis on net-zero industry valleys as defined under Regulation (EU) .../... [Net- Zero Industry Act], on projects in territories included in the Territorial just transition plans as referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1056, on less developed and transition regions as well as more developed regions in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017.
Amendment 128 #
2023/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) A Sovereignty Seal should be awarded to projects contributing to the STEP objectives, provided that the project has been assessed and complies with the minimum quality requirements, in particular eligibility, exclusion and award criteria, provided by a call for proposals under Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe programme,50 the EU4Health programme,51 the European Defence Fund or the Innovation Fund, and regardless of whether the project has received funding under those instruments. These minimum quality requirements will be established with a view to identify high quality projects. The Seal should also be awarded to projects financed by the cohesion funds. This Seal should be used as a quality label, to help projects attract public and private investments by certifying its contribution to the STEP objectives. Moreover, the Seal will promote better access to EU funding, notably by facilitating cumulative or combined funding from several Union instruments. _________________ 50 Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the Digital Europe Programme (OJ L 166, 11.5.2021, p. 1). 51 Regulation (EU) 2021/522 establishing a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health, EU4Health Programme (OJ L 107, 26.3.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 217 #
2023/0199(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 273 #
2023/0199(COD)
Amendment 25 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Welcomes the concern about protecting the specific situation of the outermost regions in the Agreement, given that the Agreement affects sensitive products for the economies of those regions;
Amendment 34 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU to implement safeguards, such as seasonality, on the additional TRQs for agricultural products; points out that dairy production is vitally important in economic and social terms in some European regions, such as the Azores;
Amendment 149 #
2022/2172(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for the establishment of a biowaste-based own resource; underlines that, under this mechanism, a share of GNI-based contributions would be replaced by a new distribution key requiring Member States recycling less biowaste to contribute more than Member States that recycle more biowaste, in a proportionate way; considers that this own resource would incentivise Member States to resort less to landfills; asks the Commission to assess whether an incentivizing mechanism for the recycling of hazardous waste could be implemented as well;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that preserving investors’ trust in the Union as a quasi-sovereign issuer requires a clear cut arrangement for the repayment of the debt; calls therefore on the Member States to speed up the negotiations on the proposal for an own resources Decision based on the EU Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Pillar I of the OECD international agreement on the minimum taxation of multinationals; calls on the Commission to put forward a proposal for the second basket of new own resources in the third quarter of 2023 at the latest so that the NGEU debt can be re-financed without detriment to future programmes;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges the Commission, the Member States and regional authorities, with a view to achieving energy self-sufficiency from renewable sources in those regions, to coordinate the best use of available EU funds and to add to them;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the scourge of drug addiction contributes to social and economic exclusion and, disengagement from the labour market in the ORs and poses a risk to young people’s health and public safety;
Amendment 20 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses the need to take account of the ORs' vulnerability in the funds being designed to support environmental transition under the 'fit for 55' package (Social Climate Fund, Modernisation Fund, Ocean Fund and Innovation Fund or Climate Investment Fund, etc.), ensuring access for its households and SMEs and support for small-scale projects;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of mainstreaming support for ORs across EU programmes and instruments, in particular the European structural and investment funds (ESIF), the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU) programme; highlights the need to extend the execution deadlines of the RRF to boost economic recovery in ORs; underlines the need to revise the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF), including by adapting the current provisions applicable to the ORs in an appropriate manner, so that it can better respond to regional disasters;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 39 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the worrying levels of early school leaving, which are higher than national and EU averages, undermine the ORs’ future and put pressure on these regions’ social responses;
Amendment 66 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the social situation of young people is a central concern for the ORs; calls, in this regard, for the reinforced Youth Guarantee to be fully and properly deployed in the ORs; believes that an evaluation of the guarantee’s implementation is necessary in these territories, including an assessment of the existing barriers for young people;
Amendment 89 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need to ensure the empowerment of women in the ORs by promoting access to stable, high-quality jobs; supports, in this regard, the need for measures for the ORs that improve gender equity and ensure the social, economic and political empowerment of women in these regions;
Amendment 91 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Supports measures that ensure the health and well-being of women in the ORs and prevent and combat violence and sexual harassment; calls on the Commission to support and encourage projects in these regions to change this state of affairs and that put the emphasis on education, which has a fundamental role in promoting women’s empowerment and combating stereotypes;
Amendment 94 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to focus on prevention, social reintegration and the return to employment in the implementation of the EU drugs strategy; warns of new addictions found in the ORs, particularly the rise in synthetic drug use, which poses serious risks to young people’s mental health and causes crime to soar in these regions and which merits special attention from the EU;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates the need to consider the specific features of the ORs in every annual cycle of the European Semester and for those features to be reflected in the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) for Portugal, Spain and France;
Amendment 114 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Highlights the disparities that exist even between ORs, some of which have not yet been able to provide their populations with access to basic sanitation and drinking water; points out, furthermore, that many of the most isolated people in these regions do not have good broadband internet coverage or even access to broadband internet;
Amendment 118 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Highlights the shortage of labour in fundamental sectors for the ORs and the increase in material prices, which makes it impossible to carry out structural projects for these regions;
Amendment 120 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Emphasises the importance of traditional sectors for maintaining employment in the ORs, particularly farming and fisheries; considers that these sectors should continue to receive particular attention from the EU by increasing the budget allocation of its specific agriculture programme (POSEI Agriculture) and reinstating a specific programme for fisheries (POSEI Fisheries) based on the EMFAF article relating to the ORs;
Amendment 123 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Reiterates the need to create measures to encourage the establishment of health care professionals in order to reduce disparities in health services;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6f. Points out that there are still significant inequalities in the health sector in the EU, particularly in the ORs, including in preventing and combating cancer; stresses the need to identify and pay special attention to the inhabitants of these regions in order to ensure they have proper access to cancer prevention and combating services, by encouraging and supporting the creation of public policies as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan;
Amendment 127 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 g (new)
Paragraph 6 g (new)
6g. Stresses the need to establish measures to promote and support the establishment of teachers, particularly in STEM disciplines, which are important to accompany the twin transition and ensure literacy in these areas and awaken the interest of young people;
Amendment 128 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Paragraph 6 h (new)
6h. Stresses the importance of school canteens to ensure children in the ORs receive proper nutrition and in many cases to ensure they have a regular meal; defends, therefore, the importance of the EU school fruit and vegetables scheme, which should take into consideration the vulnerability of these regions; calls, in particular, for national plans to be adapted to better respond to these needs;
Amendment 130 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 i (new)
Paragraph 6 i (new)
6i. Points out the risk of energy poverty for families in the ORs, as a result of the higher cost of living and higher energy prices; urges, therefore, the Commission to take this situation into account in all the extraordinary tools and measures that it may create to ensure access to essential energy services;
Amendment 132 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 j (new)
Paragraph 6 j (new)
6j. Stresses that the ageing population, increase in average life expectancy and decline in birth rate, despite the number of young people, are also of concern in the ORs, not only because they result in a shrinking labour force and significant pressure on social security systems, but also because of the need to create measures to ensure our fellow citizens enjoy autonomy and a dignified end of life;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 k (new)
Paragraph 6 k (new)
6k. Supports the promotion of active ageing measures in these regions, such as broadening the scope for the ‘sport’ actions of the Erasmus+ programme to include initiatives promoting physical activity for elderly people and intergenerational sporting activities; supports, furthermore, in the framework of a lifelong learning approach, incentives to set up a European network of senior universities in the ORs, with specific learning tools and access to information, sharing best practices and student exchanges;
Amendment 136 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 l (new)
Paragraph 6 l (new)
6l. Points out that there is still a considerable need for social housing in the ORs, the infrastructure of which should also meet a series of sustainability requirements, in line with the targets for achieving climate neutrality; takes the view that such requirements should not impair the fight against inequalities or impair social justice in these regions, and it is therefore incumbent on the EU to encourage and provide the necessary instruments;
Amendment 138 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 m (new)
Paragraph 6 m (new)
6m. Stresses that regular, safe and accessible mobility for people in the ORs is also a social cohesion measure that provides access to new employment, education and training opportunities, as well as health care; reiterates, therefore, the need for a European transport policy that allows this objective to be met and, in particular, a specific programme for transport in these regions;
Amendment 141 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 n (new)
Paragraph 6 n (new)
6n. Reiterates the important role of social support institutions in the ORs, which complement the work of regional and local authorities to combat poverty and social exclusion, as well as creating jobs;
Amendment 142 #
2022/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 o (new)
Paragraph 6 o (new)
6o. Supports the creation of a pilot project for a simplified, direct-access EU programme aimed at private social support institutions in the ORs, with non- repayable funding lines for small-scale projects, support for training for technical and auxiliary staff in the different areas of intervention, co-financing for large- scale projects involving cross-border partnerships and support for initiatives to share best practices;
Amendment 2 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1
Paragraph 1 – point 1
1. Notes that the challenges resulting from recent events, including the COVID- 19 crisis, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the unprecedented rise of energy costs, have limited the Union’s ability to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies; notes that inflation has affected the purchasing power of the budget;
Amendment 26 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 4
Paragraph 2 – point 4
4. Article 311 TFEU shall be amendmaintained so that the decision laying down the provisions relating to the system of own resources of the Union and the implementing measures for that system are adopted by the Council acting by qualified majorunanimity after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the EU budget plays a central role in delivering on the Union’s political priorities, including making a success of the green and digital transitions, fostering an inclusive and social recovery, promoting growth, strategic autonomy and energy independence, providing support for small and medium-sized enterprises, fostering sustainable development that leaves no one behind and ensures cohesion and upward convergence, ensuring a more robust European Health Union in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, promoting the rule of law, EU values and fundamental rights, contributing to greater opportunities for all, and ensuring a stronger Union for its people and in the world;
Amendment 20 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas citizens rightly expect the EU budget to respoUnion to respond promptly and effectively to evolving needs and to support them in crises; whereas the EU budget should be the only instrument that enables the Union to provide financing for its policies, programmes and needs;
Amendment 33 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the Commission issued a unilateral declaration as part of the 2021- 2027 MFF agreement in December 2020, stating that it will present a review of the functioning of the MFF by 1 January 2024 that may, as appropriate, be accompanied by relevant proposals for the revision of the MFF Regulation;
Amendment 36 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 51 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underscores that there is a clear consensus among the institutions that, in the wake of the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, the EU should provide the strongest possible social, economic and financial assistance to Ukraine, while addressing the economic and social consequences of the crisis within the Union and delivering the necessary support to its citizens; underlines, in thirecalls that the vast majority of European citizens countext, the shared Union goals of delivering on the European Green Deal and the digital transition, on the Union to support the Ukrainian people and to defend democracy against authoritarianism; underlines, in this context, the shared Union goals of scaling up defence cooperation and coordination, improving its strategic autonomy and energy independence and security, ensuring food security, and addressing the challenges caused by high inflation, while delivering on the European Green Deal and the digital transition;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that essentialthe Commission has changed the MFF with new policy initiatives that have been put forward since the adoption of the current MFF have come with proposals to shift money away from key EU policies and objective, by taking money away from the agreed programmes through redeployments;
Amendment 80 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points to the extensive use made of the special instruments in the first two years of the MFF; notes that the Flexibility Instrument was mobilised for Heading 6 (Neighbourhood and the World) spending in 2022 and points to the proposal that it be mobilised for spending under both Headings 6 and 7 in 2023; points out that, under the defence proposal of July 202218 , further appropriations are to be mobilised via special instruments in 2023 and 2024; _________________ 18 Proposal of 19 July 2022 for a regulation on establishing the European defence industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (COM(2022)0349).
Amendment 84 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 102 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Emphasises, therefore, that the 2021-2027 MFF is already being pushed to its limits less than two years after its adoption, a situation aggravated by the unforeseeable events of 2022; points out that it is simply not equipped, in terms of size, structure or rules, to respond to a multitude of crises of this scale, nor to adequately finance new shared EU policy ambitions and the swift implementation of the requisite EU-wide solutions;
Amendment 115 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 121 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Underlines the central and essential role played by the MFF in the construction of a strong European Union, built upon the values of solidarity and cooperation; states that only through collaboration across Member States, its citizens, businesses and associations, can the EU deliver to its citizens and face the challenges of the present; in this context, underlines the importance of cross-border projects in areas such as energy, health, defence, climate and cohesion, which are fundamental in the creation of a sovereign, strategic and autonomous Union;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Urges, therefore, the Commission, not only to conduct an in- depth review of the functioning of the current MFF but to proceed primarily with a legislative proposal for a comprehensive MFF revision as soon as possible and no later than the first quarter of 2023; insists that, unlike a review, which is an assessment presented in the form of a communication, an MFF revision entails a modification of the provisions regarding the functioning of the financial framework;
Amendment 127 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 132 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Strongly believes that the main orientation of the upcoming MFF revision should be linked to addressing the consequences of the war in Ukraine, given the soaring needs and the mere exhaustion of any means available under the MFF for the Union to provide adequate solutions; insists, moreover, that the revision addresses the most serious shortcomings in the functioning of the MFF, provides new funding for new political priorities and equips the Union with the necessary tools to confront upcoming challenges and crises in an effective manner;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Underlines, in this context, that the upcoming MFF revision should go hand-in-hand with the revision of the Financial Regulation, which should directly introduce the necessary changes in the rules governing the establishment and implementation of the EU budget; considers, therefore, necessary to expand the scope of the proposed targeted revision of the Financial Regulation, in order to address those issues that will be instrumental in improving the functioning of the EU budget;
Amendment 135 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Insists on the need forStands ready to engage in fully- fledged negotiations betweenwith the Council, Parliament and the Commission on the MFF revision, building on past practice and the IIA, whereby the institutions have committed to seeking to determine specific arrangements for cooperation and dialogue throughout the procedure leading to the adoption of a substantial revision of the MFF;
Amendment 149 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reaffirms its long-standing position that new political initiatives must be financed with additional fresh money and not to the detriment of well-established, pre-existing Union programmes or policies; insists in this context that the financial envelopes of Chips Act and Secure Connectivity as well as any other new initiatives should be financed with fresh money and not through redeployments;
Amendment 163 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights that many of the policy ambitions recently stated – notably in the fields of energy and strategic and industrial autonomy – and the new policy initiatives since January 2021 (Chips Act, Secure Connectivity, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority) implyshould entail additional spending under Heading 1; opposes the use of agreed programme envelopes to finance new initiatives and believes that the margins are insufficient to accommodate the greater long-term needs; calls, therefore, for an increase in the ceiling of Heading 1;
Amendment 176 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Underlines further that, under heading 2, while crisis response measures are necessary and useful, cohesion policy is not a crisis response tool and should not be used to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms in the MFF; calls, therefore, for cohesion funding levels to be preserved in the budget;
Amendment 241 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 244 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Insists that, beyond a reinforcement of the existing special instruments, it is imperative to establish a common EU crisis reserve as an additional special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings so that the EU budget can better adapt and quickly react to crises and their social and economic effects; strongly believes that every effort should be made to establish the necessary crisis response instruments in the EU budget, so that no recourse will be deemed necessary to off-budget, intergovernmental solutions;
Amendment 246 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28 b. Strongly insists that decommitted appropriations should be made available again in the EU budget and be mobilised by the budgetary authority in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure; considers that decommitments can feed directly into the SMI or the newly established crisis reserve; recalls that these appropriations actually refer to commitments already authorised by the budgetary authority but could not be used for their original purpose due to the total or partial non-implementation of the actions for which they had been earmarked ; underlines the need for corresponding changes to the Financial Regulation;
Amendment 247 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 266 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 278 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
Amendment 306 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that the ongoing revision of the Financial Regulation is an important opportunity toshould adapt the rules governing budgetary instruments to current circumstances, whereby external assigned revenue, borrowing and lending operations, trust funds and instruments under Article 122 TFEU are being used with greater frequency despite often bypassing the scrutiny of the budgetary authority and thus diminishing the traceability of funds and accountability; points, in particular, to the declaration on reassessing the external assigned revenue and borrowing and lending provisions in the Financial Regulation that was agreed in the context of the MFF negotiations; considers that external assigned revenue, as well as assets and liabilities linked to borrowing and lending operations, should form an integral part of the EU budget and be adopted by the budgetary authority as part of that budget;
Amendment 311 #
2022/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Intends to monitor very closely the implementation of the agreement on budgetary scrutiny of new proposals based on Article 122 TFEU, which was reached between the institutions in the context of the 2021-2027 MFF negotiations; recalls that such proposals often entail important budgetary implications that can impact on the development of EU expenditure; is determined to ensure the appropriate role and involvement of the European Parliament in this process, as one equal arm of the EU budgetary authority;
Amendment 31 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Since the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility,3 unprecedented geopolitical events and their direct and indirect socio-economic consequences have considerably affected the Union’s society and economy. In particular, it has become clearer than ever that the Union’s energy sovereignty and security is indispensable for a successful, sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, as it is also a major factor contributing to the resilience of the European economy. __________________ 3 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17).
Amendment 49 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To maximise the scope of the Union’s response, all Member States submitting a recovery and resilience plan after the entry into force of this Regulation should be required to include a REPowerEU chapter in their plan. Such amended plans, should be submitted at the latest by [two months after the entry into force of this amended Regulation]. This requirement should apply, in particular, to revised plans submitted by Member States from 30 June 2022 to take into account the updated maximum financial contribution. The Commission should evaluate the amended plans in maximum one month from their official submission.
Amendment 56 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The REPowerEU chapter should include new reforms and investments contributing to the REPowerEU aims, as well as to providing a comprehensive response to the effects of the crisis stemming from the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, that chapter should contain an outline of other measures, financed from sources other than the Recovery and Resilience Facility, contributing to the energy-related objectives outlined in recital (3). The outline should cover measures whose implementation should take place between 1 February 2022 to 31 December 2026, the period during which the objectives set by this Regulation are to be achieved. As regards natural gas infrastructure, the investments and reforms of the REPowerEU chapters to diversify supply away from Russia should build on the needs currently identified through the assessment conducted and agreed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), established in the spirit of solidarity as regards security of supply and take into account the reinforced preparedness measures taken to adapt to new geopolitical threats. Finally, the REPowerEU chapters should provide an explanation and a quantification of the effects of the combination of the reforms and investments financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the other measures financed by other sources than the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Amendment 69 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) An effective transition towards green energy and a reduction of energy dependency involves significant digital investments. In light of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Member States should provide an explanation of how the measures in the recovery and resilience plan, including those included in the REPowerEU chapter, are expected to contribute to the digital transition or the challenges resulting therefrom and whetherhow they account for an amount contributing to the digital target based on the methodology for digital tagging. However, given the unprecedented urgency and importance of energy challenges faced by the Union, reforms and investments included in the REPowerEU chapter should not be taken into account when calculatGiven the specific nature of measures included in the REPowerEU chapter, the digital tagging methodology should be adapted exclusively for the measures included ing the plan’s total allocation for the purpose of applying the digital target requirement set by Regulation (EU) 2021/241se chapters to facilitate reaching the digital target.
Amendment 73 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Pursuant to Article 18(4) point (q) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the Member States should also provide a summary of the mandatory consultation process of local and regional authorities and other relevant stakeholders, including, as relevant, from the agricultural sector, for reforms and investments included in the REPowerEU chapter. Such summaries should explain the outcome of those consultations and outline how the input received was reflected in REPowerEU chapters. The Commission should evaluate if these consultations ensure that all relevant stakeholders are given effective opportunities to participate in the preparation and the implementation of the recovery and resilience plans.
Amendment 86 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) Cross-border and multi country projects, particularly those in the field of energy have an important contribution to the achievement of the REPowerEU objectives. It is for this reason that the REPowerEU chapters should contain measures allocating at least 50% of the financial allocation for these chapters to cross-border or multi country projects.
Amendment 87 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) Cross-border and multicountry projects, particularly those in the field of energy, are an essential contribution to the achievement of the REPowerEU objectives. It is for this reason that grants allocated under the REPowerEU chapters should be exclusively used to finance cross-border or multi-country projects.
Amendment 91 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Further incentives should be provided for Member States to request loans, through the clarification of the loan allocation procedure. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Member States may request loans until 31 August 2023. An intention to submit a loan request should be communicated to the Commission 30 days after the entry into force of this Regulation so that the redistribution of the remaining funds can be conducted in an orderly manner and for the Member State to be able to request such support at a later stage.
Amendment 117 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
Amendment 135 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 14 – Paragraph 6
Article 14 – Paragraph 6
6. By derogation from paragraph 5, subject to the availability of resources, in exceptional circumstances the amount of the loan support may be increased, considering the needs of the requesting Member State, as well as requests for loan support already submitted or planned to be submitted by other Member States, while applying the principles of equal treatment, solidarity, proportionality and transparency. To facilitate the application of these principles, Member States shall communicate to the Commission within 30 days after [the entry into force of this amending Regulation], whether they intend to request loan support.will submit requests for loan support. The communication of such intention will constitute a binding commitment of the Member State to request the respective amounts. Only Member States that have informed the Commission of their intention to request any available loan support may subsequently submit such requests.’
Amendment 140 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point f
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point f
(2 a) Article 18 (4) point f is the replaced by the following "(f)an explanation of how the measures in the recovery and resilience plan are expected to contribute to the digital transition or to the challenges resulting therefrom, and whether they account for an amount which represents at least 20 % of the recovery and resilience plan’s total allocation, based on the methodology for digital tagging set out in Annex VII; that methodology shall be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned to an intervention field listed in Annex VII, with the exception of new measures included in the REPowerEU chapters, for which the Commission may use new intervention fields and coefficients; the coefficients for support for the digital objectives may be increased for individual investments to take account of accompanying reform measures that increase their impact on the digital objectives; (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241) " Or. en
Amendment 141 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point h
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point h
(2 b) Article 18 (4) point h is replaced by the following "(h)an indication of whether the measures included in the recovery and resilience plan comprise cross-border or multi-country projects; and if the REPowerEU chapters allocate at least 50% of the total financial allocation of the chapter to cross-border or multi country projects; an explanation of how the included cross-border and/or multi country projects contribute to the objectives outlined in Article 21c (1); " Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)
Amendment 151 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point q
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point q
(q) for the preparation and, where available, for the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, a summary of the consultation process, which shall be mandatory and conducted in accordance with the national legal framework, of national parliaments, local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders, and how the input of the stakeholders is reflected in the recovery and resilience plan; in particular, the summary of the consultation process shall explain the outcome of the consultations with local and regional authorities and other relevant stakeholders on reforms and investments included in the REPowerEU chapter and outline how the input received was reflected in the REPowerEU chapter;
Amendment 158 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(f) whether the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the digital transition or to addressing the challenges resulting therefrom, and whether they account for an amount which represents at least 20 % of the recovery and resilience plan’s total allocation, based on the methodology for digital tagging set out in Annex VII with the exception of new measures included in the REPowerEU chapters, for which the Commission may use new intervention fields and coefficients; that methodology shall be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned to an intervention field listed in Annex VII; the coefficients for support for the digital objectives may be increased for individual investments to take account of accompanying reform measures that increase their impact on the digital objectives; (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)Or. en
Amendment 159 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – point fa (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – point fa (new)
Amendment 162 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – point ka (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – point ka (new)
(ka) whether the consultations held for the preparation of the recovery and resilience plan ensure that all relevant stakeholders are given effective opportunities to participate in the preparation and the implementation of the recovery and resilience plans;
Amendment 164 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 20 – paragraph 6
Article 20 – paragraph 6
(4 a) In Article 20 (6) the following sentence is inserted: "6. The arrangements and timetable for monitoring and implementation as referred to in point (e) of paragraph 5, the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisaged milestones and targets referred to in point (f) of paragraph 5, the arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying data referred to in point (g) of paragraph 5, and, where appropriate, the additional milestones and targets related to the payment of the loan referred to in point (h) of paragraph 5 shall be further specified in operational arrangements to be agreed by the Member State concerned and the Commission after the adoption of the decision referred to in paragraph 1. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)The operational arrangements shall be concluded at the latest one month after the decision referred to in paragraph 1. " Or. en
Amendment 165 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
(4 b) Article 21 (1) is replaced by the following "1. Where the recovery and resilience plan including relevant milestones and targets is no longer achievable, either partially or totally, by the Member State concerned because of objective circumstances, including the crisis caused by Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, or where new measures are required to tackle the effects of this crisis, the Member State concerned may make a reasoned request to the Commission to make a proposal to amend or replace the Council implementing decisions referred to in Article 20(1) and (3). To that end, the Member State may propose an amended or a new recovery and resilience plan. Member States may request technical support for the preparation of such proposal under the Technical Support Instrument. " Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)
Amendment 167 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 c (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
(4 c) Article 21 (2) is replaced by the following: "2. Where the Commission considers that the reasons put forward by the Member State concerned justify an amendment of the relevant recovery and resilience plan, the Commission shall assess the amended or new recovery and resilience plan in accordance with Article 19 and shall make a proposal for a new Council implementing decision in accordance with Article 20(1) within twoone months of the official submission of the request. The Member State concerned and the Commission may agree to extend that deadline by a reasonable period if necessary. The Council shall adopt the new implementing decision, as a rule, within four weeks of the adoption of the Commission proposal. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)" Or. en
Amendment 188 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21a – paragraph 2
Article 21a – paragraph 2
(2) The share of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 available for each Member State shall be calculated on the basis of the indicators defined for the maximum financial contribution, as set out in the methodology in Annex II for 70% of the amount, with the exception of the relative unemployment rate of each Member State which shall be replaced by the share of fossil fuels in the overall energetic mix of the Member State and methodology set out in Annex III for 30% of the amount.
Amendment 216 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 1
Article 21c – paragraph 1
(1) The recovery and resilience plan submitted to the Commission after [the entry into force of this amending Regulation] shall contain a REPowerEU chapter. Member States may propose the inclusion of a REPowerEU chapter in their recovery and resilience plans at the latest by [2 months after the entry into force of this amending Regulation]. The REPowerEU chapter shall outline reforms and investments, with their corresponding milestones and targets, other than measures referred in paragraph 2 (a), aiming to contribute to the REPowerEU objectives, by:
Amendment 257 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 3
Article 21c – paragraph 3
Amendment 260 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 21c – paragraph 3 a (new)
(3 a) At least 50% of the total financial allocation of the REPowerEU chapters shall be used to finance exclusively cross- border or multi country investments and reforms contributing to the objectives outlined in Article 21c (1).
Amendment 261 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 21c – paragraph 3 a (new)
(3 a) Additional grants shall be used to finance exclusively cross-border or multicountry investments and reforms contributing to the objectives outlined in Article 21c (1).
Amendment 310 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 a (new)
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 a (new)
2.12 a. The REPowerEU chapters of the recovery and resilience plan allocates at least 50% of the overall financial allocation to cross-border or multi country measures. Rating: A - the REPowerEU chapters allocate at least 50% of the overall allocation to cross-border or multi country measures C - the REPowerEU chapters do not allocate at least 50% of the overall allocation to cross-border or multi country measures
Amendment 311 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 b (new)
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 b (new)
2.12 b. The consultations conducted in accordance with the national framework for the preparation of the recovery and resilience plan were conducted in a way which ensure that all relevant stakeholders are given effective opportunities to participate in the preparation and the implementation of the recovery and resilience plans. The Commission shall take into account the following elements for the assessment under this criterion Scope: - the Member State provided a comprehensive summary about the consultation process conducted in accordance with the national legislative framework and - the Member State consulted all relevant stakeholders, including national parliaments, local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders and - the Member State has taken into account to a sufficient degree the input provided by the relevant stakeholders in the recovery and resilience plan and - the Member State has provided sufficient arrangements to ensure the participation of the relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the recovery and resilience plans Rating A – to a large extent B – to a medium extent C – to a small extent
Amendment 313 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.6
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.6
(a a) Annex V - Section 2 - Point 2.6 is replaced by the following: "2.6. The recovery and resilience plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the digital transition or to addressing the challenges resulting therefrom, and that account for an amount which represents at least 20 % of the recovery and resilience plan’s total allocation, based on the methodology for digital tagging set out in Annex VII, with the exception of the REPowerEU chapter for which the Commission may use additional intervention fields and coefficients; that methodology shall be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned to an intervention field listed in Annex VII; the coefficients for support for the digital objectives may be increased for individual investments to take account of accompanying reform measures that increase their impact on the digital objectives. The Commission shall take into account the following elements for the assessment under this criterion: Scope —the implementation of the envisaged measures is expected to significantly contribute to the digital transformation of economic or social sectors; or —the implementation of the envisaged measures is expected to significantly contribute to address the challenges resulting from digital transition; and —Member States apply a methodology consisting of assigning a specific weighting to the support provided, which reflects the extent to which such support makes a contribution to digital objectives. The weightings shall be based on the dimensions and codes for the types of intervention established in Annex VII, with the exception of the REPowerEU chapter for which the Commission may use additional intervention fields and coefficients, and may be increased for individual investments to take account of accompanying reform measures that increase their impact on the digital objectives. The same weighting system shall apply for measures that cannot be directly assigned to an intervention field listed in Annex VII; and —the implementation of the envisaged measures is expected to have a lasting impact. Rating A –to a large extent B –to a moderate extent C –to a small extent " Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241)
Amendment 314 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 3 – point a
Annex V – section 3 – point a
— not an A in criteria 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.12, 2.12a and 2.12b;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 a (new)
Citation 38 a (new)
Amendment 74 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 b (new)
Citation 38 b (new)
— having regard to Directive (EU) 2022/431of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2022 amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work,
Amendment 256 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the proportion of undeclared work in the care sector remains too high, leading to fewer protections for workers in the sector, and a loss of income for member states;
Amendment 276 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas quality care work is a skilled occupation, and demand for skilled care workers will only increase in the coming years;
Amendment 604 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 708 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to establish a comprehensive set of indicators for long-term care, and corresponding targets and tools for monitoring the accessibility, affordability and quality of care, especially taking into account vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities, similar to the Barcelona objectives for childcare;
Amendment 756 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the Member States and relevant authorities to recognise the pivotal role of informal carers and to integrate them into regular health and care teams;
Amendment 784 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the Commission to propose a common coherent package of actions at EU level on informal care, to identify and recognise the different types of informal care provided in Europe, and to guaranteeto consider the formalisation of informal care, and to guarantee a certain minimum standard of rights, carers financial support and other additional support services, including time off for carers, and a work-life balance and, rehabilitation services for carers and care recipients and access to specific psychological support for carers;
Amendment 791 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Amendment 850 #
2021/2253(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. 23a new. recalls, in this context, the fourth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC and the inclusion of work involving exposure to hazardous medicinal products meeting the criteria for classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction category 1A or 1B as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, in order to ensure the best possible general and individual protection measures for workers handling these products;
Amendment 12 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EIB, the EBRD and European development and finance institutions to strengthen their cooperation within the EFSD+ open architecture by taking a Team Europe approach; calls in this context for a solid level playing field in terms of governance of the EFSD+ and access to EU resources as key for a fruitful cooperation among European DFIs members of the European Financial Architecture for Development; stresses the need for greater specialisation and a better division of labour to ensure synergies and complementarities; underlines the need to move away from the current project-based approach towards sector-based programming involving all stakeholders from the start, including private investors, to increase leverage and impact;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines the importance of private sector mobilisation that is indispensable for tackling development challenges and to build back better, greener and in a more inclusive approach;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recognizes the management challenges faced by the Commission and EEAS caused by its staff’s reduced knowledge and capacities concerning development finance institutions; notes that, to add emphasis to development financing on the EU development agenda, and engage effectively with development finance institutions, a shift must take place; welcomes the fact that the Commission has started increasing human resource investments to add staff and upgrade skills to build relevant expertise;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Recalls the importance of the principle of additionality, according to which contributions must not replace public or equivalent structural expenditure, thus not resulting in a reduction of national structural expenditure; calls for this principle to be better taken into account in future assessments;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines the need to promote better visibility and publicity of the projects and resources provided by EFAD institutions and the EU Budget; regrets the lack of information to citizens concerning the EU’s role in the support to their communities;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2252(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the Commission and EFAD institutions to promote transparency in their procurement procedures; recalls that European enterprises should compete in equal circumstances with other enterprises;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented one-off and limited in time instrument of solidarity and a cornerstone of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) instrument, ending in 2026, as the main tool in the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the economies of the EU to face the new challenges; recalls that the EU response was comprehensive and timely, leading to extensive use of existing instruments and deploying additional financing instruments;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented instrument of solidarity and a cornerstone of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) instrument, ending in 2026, as the main tool in the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the economies of the EU to face the new challenges; helping European economies growth thanks to a more competitive economy and being the pillars of growth business, SMEs, private investment and, finally, the EU's strategic autonomy.
Amendment 50 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that even if the economic effects of the RRF cannot be fully disentangled from other developments, it seems fair to conclude that, so far, the RRF has had positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and that its effective implementation will be key for the EU’s economic growth; recognisesso far, the RRF has been an instrument that has created a lot of expectations to all stakeholders and institutions, deeper than what legislators had in mind and that its effective implementation will be key for the EU’s economic growth; it is contributing to readjusting national priorities and public knowledge of the effort carried out by the Union; we have confidence that on a medium term basis it can be recognized that the RRF has helped to cushion EU economies and citizens from the most acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and is positively contributing to the EU’s recovery and resilience;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that even if the economic effects of the RRF cannot be fully disentangled from other developments, it seems fair to conclude that, so far, the RRF has had positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and that its the effective implementation of the RRF will be a key for the EU’s economic growthpositive impact on the EU GDP; recognises that the RRF has helped to cushion EU economies and citizens from the most acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and is positively contributing to the EU’sEU recovery and resiliencegrowth, including economic cohesion, jobs, productivity,competitiveness, research, development and innovation, and a well- functioning internal market with strong small and medium enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment 58 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Believes that in order for the RRF to attain its objectives and support the EU to bounce back from the crisis, it is imperative that Member States implement thoroughly the agreed reforms and investments; reminds that the RRF is an incentive-based mechanism, whereby funding is disbursed upon completion of milestones and targets related to reforms;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Points out that a successful implementation of the RRF would lay down the foundations for long term competitive, strategically autonomous, sustainable, inclusive and resilient economies and societies;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of the successful implementation by the Member States of national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) in order to ensure a long- term impact on the EU economy and society; recalls that the RRF is a performance-based mechanism, that should respond to growth objectives not just procedure milestones whereby funding is disbursed upon completion of milestones and targets related to measures; Recalls that for its success it is crucial the participation of local, regional and national institutions that are those responsible for developing those policies, as stated in Articles 18 and 28 of the RRF Regulation
Amendment 86 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments, particularly growth-enhancing ones under the RRF, should also generate EU added value taking into account the European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations, as well as the acquis communitaire, being as it is essential the coherent legislative and political development ; emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments under the RRF should also contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 117 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned, however, that only seven Member States have requested loans amounting to a total of EUR 166 billion out of the EUR 385.8 billion available for loans, leaving a considerable amount available should Member States require loans at a later stage; is preoccupied that the limited interest for the loan component may lead to lost opportunities and prevent the RRF from reaching its full potential; underlines that should Member States, whose NRRPs have been already approved, wish to request loans, it will require amending respective NRRP with the additional set of measures consisting of reforms and investments, without rolling back commitments in the plans already endorsed; encourages Member States to use full potential of the RRF; reminds that a Member State may request loan support at the time of the submission of a recovery and resilience plan or at a different moment in time until 31 August 2023;
Amendment 123 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages those Member States that did not request loans to the full extent available, to do so and prioritise measures aiming at increasing their energy security and mitigating the economic effects of the crisis generated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the European Union.
Amendment 141 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Insists that any amendment of the NRRPs shall fully comply with the provisions of the RRF Regulation and supports the Commission’s approach that the mere change of the political situation in Member States does not represent an objective reason for requesting an amendment of the NRRP; reminds Member States that requests for modifications of NRRPs, must comply with the timelines of the Regulation and will likely lead to delays in the implementation of the reforms and investments, will, subsequently, increase the risk of failing to meet agreed targets and milestones and, ultimately, incapacity of using of the entire RRF allocation or losing part of the funding;
Amendment 147 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Looks forward to more granular and disaggregated data allowing for a better understanding of the additionality impacts of the RRF; urges the Member States to provide detailed information to the Commission in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF; , so that as guardian of the treaties should look out for the correct implementation of European Union norms and the Parliament as budgetary control organism, in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF; Shows its concern over the difficulties encountered on its access to information received by the Commission and transmitted by the Member States; Parliament must have access to all documents and communications from the Commission to each Member State, both of its plans and their implementation, and of the evaluations made or received.
Amendment 155 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Believes that in order to demonstrate its added value, the RRF should focus on investments which could not be adequately financed through other funding instruments of the Union or would have difficulty in obtaining the adequate financing;
Amendment 160 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that the RRF Regulation provides for the possibility to include in the NRRPs measures started from 1 February 2020 onwards and that some Member States have made use of this possibility rather extensively; believes that the entire concept of “retroactive reforms” and its extensive use is not in line with the spirit of the RRF objectives; urges the Commission to refrain from approving further “retroactive reforms”, particularly reforms which were already planned before the set up of the RRF and the emergence of the pandemic;
Amendment 166 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Regrets that among the initial payment requests, in some instances, some Member States make extensive use of the retroactivity clause, particularly as regards the reforms component; is of the opinion, that some of the reforms included in the first payment claims were already planned before the emergence of the pandemic and the set up of the RRF and thus should not receive funding from the instrument;
Amendment 171 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Reminds that the Facility is subject to the sound economic governance and calls on the Commission to apply the existing rules scrupulously;
Amendment 176 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the fact that 22 NRRPs have been approved and observes that as of early February 2022, one Member State had not yet put forward its NRRP; further notes that four NRRPs are pending assessment by the Commission; is concerned that some of the plans have been under assessment for a considerable time;
Amendment 180 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes the fact that the Commission’s assessments concluded that all approved NRRPs address all six pillars of the RRF and satisfactorily fulfil all assessment criteria as set out in RRF Regulation and represent a balanced package of reforms and investments; considers that Member States could have better aligned their NRRPs to the six RRF pillars and the requirements of the RRF Regulation; stresses that the fast approval of the NRRP without direct participation by regional and local authorities is hindering its implementation; it expects the European Commission to collaborate with Member States on the improvement of these deficiencies.
Amendment 192 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls on the Commission to apply diligently the RRF rules when assessing the remaining plans; reminds the Commission that the RRF is subject to the Rule of Law conditionality regime and calls on refraining from approving NRRPs in case of concerns regarding the observance of rule of law and the sound financial management of EU funds, prevention, detection and fight against fraud, conflict of interests and corruption; furthermore, recalls that the observance of rule of law and the sound financial management of EU funds are to be evaluated continuously throughout the lifecycle of the RRF and that the Commission shall refrain to disburse funding and, where applicable, recover funds, in case such conditions are no longer fulfilled; reminds Member States that the failure to fully comply with the provisions of the Regulation and the subsequent delays in the approval of the NRRPs, seriously affect the capacity of local and regional authorities in adequately tackling the impact of the pandemic on their communities, businesses and citizens and can lead to a long term worsening of the local and regional economic situation;
Amendment 224 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that the Commission estimates social spending in the NRRPs to account forMember States’ RRPs at around 20 % of the grants and loans requested; observes that thisose expenditure focuses on employment incentives for specific disadvantaged groups, reforms of employment protection legislation and labour contract regulation; regrets that social investment measures have been rather limited to social infrastructure and that only somsupport the Commission to build through the RRF a more resilient and inclusive labour market; is of the opinion, however, that social expenditure financed though the NRRPs contain measures for the development of proper care services and temporary support measures; supports the Commission’s aim, through the RRF, of building a more resilient and inclusive labour marketF must not replace nor become recurring budgetary expenditure and shall be strictly linked with the overall objectives of the RRF, namely to support the post-crisis economic recovery;
Amendment 249 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Observes that almost all approved RRPs contain investment in digital education, making up about 30% of the total spending on education; welcomes the focus on the modernisation of education systems in the Member States;
Amendment 254 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. EStrongly emphasises that the RRF should not be used to substitute recurring national budgetary expenditure, unless duly justified; notes that the Commission has only approved NRRPs to cover the initial costs of setting up and launching reforms, which might become recurring costs, if the sustainable financing of the future costs shall be ensured from the national budget or other instruments and it fully respects the concept of sustainable fiscal policy; is deeply preoccupied by measures included in some NRRPs which foresee important amounts for salaries; believes that such expenditure has the clear potential to become recurring budgetary expenditure after the RRF implementation period; strongly questions the criteria on which the Commission has approved such measures; believes that RRF expenditure should not lead to an increase of public spending;
Amendment 276 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Believes that NRRPs would benefit from further cross-border projects in order to enhance spill-over effects and contribute to EU added value; believes that further cross-border measures should have been included in the NRRPs in order to enhance its spill-over effect and to boost its EU added value;
Amendment 279 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Observes that one Member State proposed to transfer structural funds to its NRRP, that only two Member States plan to provision their Invest EU envelopes with RRF funds and that only three Member States foresee incorporating the costs of technical support in their NRRPs; regrets that the provision to transfer RRF funds to the InvestEU national compartments has not been used to its full potential; recalls that synergies among different EU funds is essential for a proper recovery and consolidated resilience of the Union and reminds Member States that the use of this provision contributes to enhancing synergies;
Amendment 281 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29 b. Reminds that according to the RRF Regulation the recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under Union funds; reiterates that this provision is not only important to avoid double-funding or overlapping of objectives, but also to ensure a coordinated approach and maximise the benefits of EU funding; requests the Commission to provide an analysis how this coordination is ensured; takes note that the adoption of the NRRPs has led in some instances to the delays in the adoption of Partnership Agreements and calls on these delays to be addressed;
Amendment 283 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29 c. Questions how the Commission has encouraged Member States to foster synergies with NRRPs of other Member States;
Amendment 288 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. NReminds that all RRPs have to contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations including fiscal aspects; notes the Commission assessment that all NRRPs address at least a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant European Semester recommendations but that not all challenges are addressedchallenges remain; deplores that some Member States are not sufficiently tackling some long-standing challenges, particularly as regards the fiscal sustainability or the reform of the labour and pensions systems as well as other structural reforms; strongly questions in this regard the positive evaluation of the Commission of some of the NRRPs which fail to propose serious structural reforms deplores that in some instances, NRRPs have been approved although the final design of important structural reforms had not been finalised by the Member States concerned, nor finally agreed with the Commission;
Amendment 293 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Reiterates the fact that not all CSRs are equally important and regrets the quantitative approach of the Commission when evaluating the NRRPs in relation to the fulfilment of challenges identified in the relevant CSRs, whereby important structural challenges have not been properly addressed
Amendment 295 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Calls on the Commission to step up its evaluation of the fulfilment of CSRs in the NRRPs in the disbursement phase of the Facility and to refrain from making any payments if agreed milestones and targets related to challenges in the relevant CSRs are not adequately met, including not rolling back on previously met milestones and targets; furthermore calls on the Commission, if necessary, to make full use of the provisions of the Regulation, allowing it to recover grants or ask for early repayment of loans in case of breach of the obligations of Member States under the financing agreements, including in relation to the implementation of CSRs;
Amendment 296 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30 c. Calls on the Members States to look for ways on how to involve refugees fleeing Ukraine to the European Union, following the military invasion of the Russian Federation, in the practical implementation of the NRRPs, therefore, helping to alleviate their socio-economic situation;
Amendment 297 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Paragraph 30 d (new)
30 d. Reiterates, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its possible consequences, particularly as regards the dependence on Russian gas, the importance of EU's energy security; welcomes in this regard the NRRPs containing measures to enhance energy security by decreasing dependence on Russian gas; furthermore, underlines the importance of measures relating to the climate component in order to mitigate the impact of the energy prices crisis upon the EU;
Amendment 307 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Observes, that by the nature of the instruments, the control focuses on the achievement of results instead of verifications of costs; notes that this approach can simplify the implementation and contribute to the achievement of the desired outcome; nevertheless, is deeply preoccupied that it also makes the detection of abuse of EU funds more difficult; Urges the Commission to take the appropriate measures to ensure early detection of abuse of EU funds; calls on it to monitor rigorously any possible occurrence of double funding and, if such occurrences are confirmed, to proceed with the recovery of funds without delay;
Amendment 324 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Reminds the Commission that in the evaluation of NRRPs and payment claims it can be assisted by experts and invites to make full use of this provision, particularly if it lacks the in-house capacity to thoroughly scrutinise the plans or the fulfilment of milestones and targets; is concerned that the Council does not have sufficient capacity to analyse NRRPs or payment claims and warns against transforming this evaluation into a mere box-ticking exercise;
Amendment 330 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that adequate control capacities are in place and that the Commission, OLAF, the Court of Auditors and where applicable the EPPO are granted full access by Member States to information to exert their rights according to the Financial Regulation and the RRF Regulation;
Amendment 332 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. Calls on the Court of Auditors, OLAF and EPPO to make full use of their role under the RRF Regulation and scrutinise thoroughly all RRF spending, in order to prevent, detect, correct and investigate fraud, corruption, conflict of interests and where applicable to impose administrative penalties, as well as to avoid double funding;
Amendment 335 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 d (new)
Paragraph 33 d (new)
33 d. Reiterates the importance of the Commission undertaking a continuous, including ex-post, monitoring of the RRF expenditure; believes that full transparency is needed from the Member States, including as regards implementation and management data, in order to analyse the results of the RRF and identify possible weaknesses;
Amendment 336 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 e (new)
Paragraph 33 e (new)
33 e. Reminds that in the framework of the discharge procedure to the Commission, in accordance with Article 319 TFEU, the Facility shall be subject to reporting under the integrated financial and accountability reporting referred to in Article 247 of the Financial Regulation, and, in particular, separately in the Annual Management and Performance Report.
Amendment 337 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 f (new)
Paragraph 33 f (new)
33 f. Calls on all Member States to collect and record data on final recipients and beneficiaries of Union funding in an electronic standardised and interoperable format and to use the single data mining tool provided by the Commission; furthermore, reiterates the importance of digitalising all reporting, monitoring and audit;
Amendment 340 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Reaffirms Parliament’s role in scrutinising the implementation of the RRF, in particular through five plenary debates held in 2021, two adopted resolutions, four Recovery and Resilience Dialogues held with the Commission in 2021, 20 meetings of the dedicated working group on the scrutiny of the RRF, parliamentary questions, and the regular flow of information and ad hoc requests for information from the Commission; remains committed in ensuring that it will make full use of the entire range of possibilities offered by the Regulation to scrutinise RRF spending, including via local actions in the Member States.
Amendment 345 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Invites the Commission to follow an open, transparent and constructive approach during the recovery and resilience dialogues and to observe the provision of Article 26(1)as regards regular interactions with the Parliament; calls to set up a schedule of the recovery and resilience dialogues for the rest of the year, instead of ad-hoc solutions.
Amendment 350 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34 b. Deplores that national parliaments, regions and municipalities have had a limited or even no involvement in designing national plans; recalls that regions and municipalities are at the forefront of RRP implementation and demands the Commission and the Member States to ensure proper and deep involvement of regions and municipalities, social partners, civil society, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 352 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34 c. Reiterates that the RRF is not a political instrument, but an unprecedented instrument to support citizens and businesses, and calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States do not allocate funding based on political criteria; calls on the Commission to ensure that calls for proposals for RRF funding at national level are competitive and allow for a level playing field as regards the access for regions and municipalities; warns against “tailored- made” calls for proposals at national level whereby criteria are specifically designed for one competitor; calls on the Commission and other institutions involved in the control system to investigate such cases and take all required measures;
Amendment 356 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 d (new)
Paragraph 34 d (new)
34 d. Calls on Member States to ensure that management systems of RRF funds takes into consideration the specific needs of the regional and local level and to put in place management systems that allow for RRF expenditure related to local and regional objectives to be de-centralised;
Amendment 357 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 e (new)
Paragraph 34 e (new)
34 e. Reiterates the importance of allowing access to private sector to RRF expenditure, where applicable; recalls the importance of SMEs in the implementation of the RRF and warns against measures which would prevent SMEs from accessing RRF funding; invites the Commission to provide detailed analyses on the access of the private sector to RRF funding;
Amendment 359 #
2021/2251(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 f (new)
Paragraph 34 f (new)
34 f. Reminds that according to the RRF regulation the Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the Facility, to actions taken pursuant to the Facility and to the results obtained; and that the Commission shall where appropriate inform the representation offices of the European Parliament of its actions and involve them in those actions;
Amendment 153 #
2021/2165(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that Council Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work has not proven effective enough for the assessment and management of psychosocial risks; recalls its request that the Commission include in the Strategic Framework for Occupational Safety and Health the right to disconnect and, explicitly, that it develop new psychosocial measures as part of the framework; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to step up the ambition of the Strategic Framework for Occupational Safety and Health; calls on the Commission to propose a directive on psychosocial risks and well-being at work aimed at the efficient prevention in the workplace of, inter alia, anxiety, depression, burnout and stres, stress and flare-ups of rheumatic / chronic inflammatory diseases; calls on the Commission to aim for the recognition of anxiety, depression rheumatic and chronic inflammation and burnout as occupational diseases, to establish mechanisms for their prevention and the reintegration into the workplace of affected employees, and to shift from individual- level actions to a work organisation approach;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines that the coordinated collection of GNI-based national contributions in the form of external assigned revenue and outside the budgetary procedure is not exclusive to NGEU, but has been the chosen fix for the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, COVID-19 vaccine contracts and perhaps, in the future, the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA); recalls that borrowing on capital markets has been a long-standing feature of Union’s budgetary operations to the extent that both the Commission and Parliament already called for its budgetisation in the 1970’s and 1980’s, well before the creation of the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM), the temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) or NGEU;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned that these mechanisms pose a serious challenge to the ability of the Parliament to fulfil its decision-making, scrutiny and discharge functions; and more generally to the ability of the general public and any public or private institution to understand the Union budget and hold the Commission to account; strongly believes that EU financial rules must be updated as regards the role of the budgetary authority and the budget structure in relation to these mechanisms, in order to bring them closer to the principles and responsibilities set out in the Treaties;
Amendment 51 #
2021/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that Parliament, as one arm of the budgetary authority, should be able to scrutinise and authorise as appropriate the Commission’s plans with respect to theuse and management of external assigned revenue and of its borrowing and lending operations; suggests that relevant articles of the Financial Regulation, including Articles 7, 46 and 56, be revised to clarify thatand complemented to clarify that external assigned revenue, assets and liabilities linked to borrowing and lending operations are included in the EU budget;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that external assigned revenue pursuant to current Article 21 of the Financial Regulation, and assets and liabilities deriving from off-budget operations, including borrowing on capital markets, should be allocated to the relevant budget lines in line with Article 8 of the Financial Regulation and classified in accordance with the budget nomenclature; suggest, classified in accordance with the budget nomenclature and consolidated in respective Parts II and III of the Union budget; considers that they should form an integral part of the EU budget and be adopted by the budgetary authority as part of that budget;
Amendment 1 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas the execution of the budget of the European Parliament is in full respect of the principles of efficiency, legality, predictability, economy and avoidance of arbitrariness; whereas the reduction of bureaucracy is also envisaged the freedom of the mandate of the Members of the European Parliament is respected;
Amendment 2 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that Parliament's final appropriations for 2020 totalled EUR 2 038 745 000, or 18,1% of heading V of the Multiannual Financial Framework1 set aside for the 2020 administrative expenditure of the Union institutions as a whole, representing a 2,1% increase over the 2019 budget (EUR 1 996 978 262), but at the same time 0,4 percentage point decrease in its relative share in the overall budget; _________________ 1 Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).
Amendment 3 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Congratulates the Secretariat General for the outstanding implementation of the budget of the European Parliament in such challenging conditions as the ones faced during the financial year of 2020;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with concern, the specificthe finding by the Court, in its annual report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial year 2020, of minor errors in two payments (i) an over-payment for IT-services caused by an incorrect application of contract terms and (ii) an incorrect payment of a subsistence allowance to a Member, following a mistake in an attendance list; regretnotes that the control system in place did not prevent nor detect thoese two mistakes; calls on Parliament to implement the necessary changes to ensure that it only pays daily allowances to Members who qualify for them by the end of 2022 and to inform Parliament’s Budget Control Committee when those changes will enter into force, but recognises that the main control mechanisms function well taking into account the significant number of transactions per year;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 2
Paragraph 14 – indent 2
- with regard to the first phase of the audit of financing of European political parties and European political foundations, acknowledging that the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (the Authority) had very limited resources at its inception for setting up new management and control procedures; considering that there remain areas of joint or overlapping responsibilities between the Authority and DG FINS that provide scope for further enhancement of the cooperation foreseen by the main legislation governing the registration process (Regulation (EU) 1141/20142[1] with subsequent amendments), notably under its Article 28; identifying a number of provisions governing the registration process in the Regulation for which there may be scope to enhance the clarity, comprehensiveness and ease of application; _________________ 2Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1).underlines the necessity for Member States to ensure that their contact points are available to the Authority for regular meetings;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that pursuant to Article 118(9) of the Financial Regulation, Parliament’s internal audit reports are not available to the public once the internal auditor has finalised them; notes that in practice they are only published once all recommendations have been implemented; regrets that this results in a de facto delay of publication for several years; also regrets that Members may only read them in the secure reading room for as long as recommended measures have not been implemented; calls on the Bureau to allow Members immediate and full access to the internal audit reports; further calls on the Bureau to make each internal audit report available to the public one year after its finalisation, once the internal auditor has validated the actions taken to implement the previous year’s recommendations; recalls that a validation of recommendations does not require all recommendations to be fully implemented bearing in mind personal rights and confidentiality requirements;
Amendment 13 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. ExpStresses its concern that decisions calling for different rules or measures to be implemented by Parliament, passed by the Plenary, are not taken up by the Bureau; expresses its strong view that all discharge decisions passed by the Plenary should be thoroughly followed up by both the Bureau, pursuant to Rule 25 of and Annex V to the Rules of Procedure and Article 6 and 166 of the Financial Regulation, as well as by Parliament’s administrationthe importance of the discharge procedure and asks the Bureau to take Parliament's discharge resolutions into consideration; highlights that the Bureau has been mandated by the Plenary to decide all administrative, staff and organisational matters concerning Members;
Amendment 15 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Asks the Secretary-General to forward this resolution to the Bureau, highlighting all requests for action or decisions by the Bureau; callsRecalls that the Bureau shall take financial, organizational and administrative decisions on matters concerning Members on a proposal onf the Secretary-General to establish a plan of action and a timetable enabling the Bureau to follow-up and/or to respor of a political group pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure; asks the Secretary-General to forward this resolutiond to the demands and recommendations contained in Parliament’s discharge resolutions and to include the actions taken and implemented in the annual monitoring documentBureau; highlighting all requests concerning the special competence of the Bureau;
Amendment 17 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates its request to the Bureau to improve the transparency ofensure greater visibility in its decision- making, including by regularly reporting back to the discharge author process, particularly wityh regarding each plenary decision that it did not implement and a detailed justification of why it decided not to implement the request; calls on the Secretary-General to make a concrete set of proposals to the Bureau with a view to improving the transparency of its decision-making to the timely publication of relevant documents and information on its website;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Appreciates the remarkable efforts of Parliament and its IT services during 2020 to immediately provide members, staff, accredited parliamentary assistants and trainees with electronic devices to work remotely; asks, however, to know the buying criteria for the devises and which practical considerations influenced the decision to buy the currently used surface devices; underlines with concern the amount of technical issues with the devices among Members and assistants, such as abrupt disconnections, lost documents, overheating, short battery capacity, and poor connectivity during video calls;
Amendment 25 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. WelcomNotes the fact that Strasbourg part- sessions were suspended for the most part in the year 2020 and that digitalised processes included the organisation of remote meetings and remote voting systems in plenary and parliamentary committees; acknowledges the temporary nature of these extraordinary circumstances; calls on the President of the Parliament to allow for a remotecontinue hybrid participation of Members until the COVID- 19 pandemic is brought to safe levels;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Underlines that interpretation is vital for the functioning of committees and parliamentary life; recognises that due to the sudden and disruptive changes caused by the pandemic and consequent sanitary restrictions, the administration had to quickly find feasible solutions to provide interpretation services; stresses that some committee sessions did not have all required languages, thus complicating participation of some members and diminishing their options to interact; understands that the three working languages are English, French, and German but strongly highlights that any of the 24 official languages should be provided upon request of members;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. DeplorNotes the fact that there is no system in place to ensure that Members who are temporarily absent for a justified reason, such as maternity leave, parental leave, long-term sick leave or career’s leave, can continue to carry out their core duties, first and foremost to speak in debates and to vote; calls on the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to provide for the continuation of remote participation and for providing for the substitution of a Member - whether female or male - while on parental leave and in the above mentioned cases; urges the Bureau to find feasible and temporarily limited solutions for members who are absent for justified reasons, such a maternity leave, paternity leave, serious health matters, or temporary carer's leave, to continue to carry out their core duties, first and foremost to speak in debates and vote; recalls that daily allowances remain linked to physical presence at Parliaments places of work;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes that Parliament distributed reusable facial fabric masks to members of staff at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that FFP2/3 masks have subsequently been proven to provide a much higmedical face masks EN14683 or FFP2 respiratory protective devices have been required to be worn while in Parliament's buildings in order to reinforce ther protection from SARS-CoV-2; regrets that there iof Members and staff as well as nto general requirement to date to wear FFP 2/3 masks on Parliament’s premisfurther reduce the release of infectious respiratory particles;
Amendment 40 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses that Parliament needs to be at the forefront of adopting more digital, flexible and energy-efficient working methods and meeting practices, learning from the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and capitalising on the technology investments already implemented which contribute to a significantly reduced need for office space, electricity, water consumption and emissions due to less daily commuting; notes that on the initiative of former President Sassoli, focus groups on “Rethinking Parliamentary Democracy - A stronger European Parliament after Covid-19” discussed the future of work within Parliament between April and July pertaining to each of their fields of action: plenary, parliamentary prerogatives, communication, external diplomacy and internal organisation; notes that the focus groups delivered a final report including recommendations which implementation will be discussed by the Bureau;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. DeplorNotes that three of Parliament’s buildings in Brussels (Martens, Campoamor and Wayenberg nursery) have recently been awarded an internationally recognised environmental certification on sustainability, a BREEAM Excellence, confirming the long-standing policy and actions by Parliament to gradually transform its buildings portfolio into an environmentally exemplary one; notes that presently, on Parliament’s Brussels site, only four buildings (a quarter of the total number of buildings - SPINELLI, CAMPOAMOR, ARENDT, MONTOYER pinelli, Campoamor, Arendt, Montoyer-Science) are equipped with photovoltaic panels, and that these installations represent a cumulative surface area of less than 2% of the total roof surface in Brussels; expects the Bureau to decide to install as manof Parliament's buildings in Brussels; notes that three new photovoltaic installations (100m² on the Montoyer 70, 200 m² on the Spinelli and 52 m² of replacement of the current solar panels by photovoltaic paonels as possible by 2023, that could share their energy with the city of Brussels during weekends when the Parliament’s premises are mostly empty; on the Brandt building) will be completed by the end of 2022 (and this represents an increase of 64 %, in 2022, of the total surface equipped with photovoltaic panels); invites the Bureau to further evaluate the installation of additional photovoltaic panels by 2023, taking into account technical feasibility and cost effectiveness;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Strongly regretNotes that there are currently no photovoltaic panels on any of theParliament’s buildings in Parliament’s Strasbourg siteStrasbourg as the emphasis has been placed on more efficient means of saving energy, by installing new highly efficient heat pumps; notes that the feasibility studies based on which it was decided not to install solar panels on the roofs in Strasbourg date back to 2011 and reiterates that prices for solar panels have decreased by more than 80% since 2010; expectinvites the Bureau to decidevaluate tohe install as manyation of photovoltaic panels as possible that could share their energy with the city of Strasbourg when Parliament’s premises are mostly empty; calls on the Bureau to also consider renting the roofs’ surfaces to external users for the installation of solar panels and thereby use it as an additional source of income for Parliamentby 2023, taking into account technical feasibility and cost effectiveness;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes the installation of heat pumps and cogeneration in the buildings in Strasbourg and Brussels to produce renewable electricity and heat; further welcomes that the new ADENAUERdenauer building in Luxembourg was built using the most modern environmental techniques available including geothermal and solar energy and full use of daylight; calls on Parliament to further increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix and, in particular, energy production and tothat contributes to the gradual phase -out of fossil fuels as soon as possiblethrough a technology-open strategy for the expansion of renewable energies; calls on Parliament to publish the energy certificates of all EParliament buildings;
Amendment 48 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls that efficient lighting solutions are an essential factor for the sustainability of buildings; welcomes that the replacement of existing lighting with low-energy LED lights is evaluatedcarried out whenever possible and feasible in Parliament’s buildings; regretnotes that not all offices in Parliament’s three seats are equipped with motion detectors and that, however, such areas not yet equipped are very limited in extent and in buildings rented or awaiting decision on their future use; and that it appears that the motion detectors in several offices in the SPINELLIpinelli building do not work; calls on Parliamenthave too long delays before activating the lights to switch off, as is visible in particular in the mornings when the lights remain on for a long period of time after the cleaning company has intervened; calls on Parliament to develop further information to building occupants of the correct and efficient use of lighting with or without detectors and to ensure that fully functioning motion detectors are installed wherever feasible and cost-efficient to reduce energy consumption;
Amendment 50 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Welcomes that the WAYENBERG nurseryextension of the Wayenberg nursery in Brussels, completed in September 2020, is the first passive building of Parliament; calls oninvites the Bureau to turn all of Parliament’s buildings into passive buildings by 2030initiate in 2022 technical studies to identify additional possibilities to further reduce energy consumption and increase the production of renewable energy and to implement them as soon as possible;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Recalls that nearly two thirds of Parliament’s carbon footprint originates from the transport of people; calls for the expansion of voluntary teleworking to more days and functions; calls for a preference to be given tonotes that during the covid-19 pandemic, a remote working regimen was introduced in Parliament by President's decision; notes that on 16 July 2021 the Secretary- General decided that as of 1 September 2021 new teleworking rules apply to staff of Parliament´s secretariat by making available three different modes of teleworking; notes that hybrid or fully remote working including events and meetings, including for the provision of interpretation and for remote interpretation whenever possible; calls for a revision of mission rules by the end of 2022 to ensure a proper needs- based approval and a specific justification for authorisation for all missions, including requirements for low carbon transport modes and interpretation services enables flexibility for Members and staff; reiterates that these measures are temporary; calls for preference to be given to in-person meetings, while allowing virtual presence whenever it is possible; recalls that Parliament introduced working groups on Parliament's future work; calls on Parliament to take the Focus groups' conclusions into account;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Welcomes the gradual shift to zero- emission vehicles in Parliament’s car service fleet; calls for the service fleet to be fully electric by 2024 the lateste- vehicles as well as hybrid-vehicles that are powered by renewable energy such as hydrogen, e-fuels and biofuels to allow long distances in Parliament’s car service fleet; calls for the service fleet to take new possibilities of low-emission transport into account according to market availability and suitability as well as taking into account the existing infrastructure;
Amendment 58 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Calls for an appropriate increase in line with present and near future demand in the number of car parking spaces reserved exclusively for electric vehicles; calls on Parliament to set up an incenti whereever sucheme covering the full price of an annual Brussels public transport ticket for all staff in return for their car parking vignette, followed by a reassessment an exclusivity is justified by the presence ofn the overall number ofy same parking spaces needed and the use of; considers unused car parking to be turned into inter alia additional bicycle parking spaces;
Amendment 60 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes the introduction of a wider and more sustainable food choice, including the introduction of a greater variety of vegetarian and vegan products, in Parliament’s canteens; reiterates that plant-based food not only has health advantages but also has a much lower carbon footprint; calls on Parliament to increase the variety of vegetarian and vegan meals further and incentivise the consumption of such meals with a view to reducing the consumption of meat, fish and other animal-based products in Parliament’s canteens as much as possible;
Amendment 63 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Recalls the support by the vast majority of Parliament for a single seat to ensure efficient spending of Union taxpayers’ money and to assume its institutional responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint; recalls that Parliament’s plenary has previously requested a debate on its right to determine its own working arrangements and committed itself to initiating an ordinary treaty revision procedure under Article 48 of the Treaty on the European Union with a view to proposing changes necessary to the Treaty onat according to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), and in particular Protocol (No 6) annexed to the Treaties, Parliament shall have its seat in Strasbourg, where the 12 periods of monthly plenary sessions, including the budget session, shall be held; highlights that exceptional circumstances which affect the Ffunctioning of the European Union and Protocol 6 to allow it to decide on the location of its seat and its internal organisation4 ; _________________ 4Report A7-0350/2013 available at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/A-7-2013-0350_EN.pdfparliament are temporary in nature; underlines the will of Parliament to resume back to the normal functioning based on the Treaties as soon as the situation allows; notes that permanent changes would require a Treaty change for which unanimity is needed;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Welcomes that ethical and transparency standards applicable to Parliament are in many respects ahead of those applicable in the Member State equivalents; regrets, however, that these are often not enforced in a satisfactory manner; considers that Parliament ishould strive to leading by example with regards to setting Europe-wide ethics and transparency standards; recalls that a lack of transparency, weak ethics rules and a lack of enforcement have the potential to compromise supports the strengthe nintegrityg of the institution, lead to reputational risks for the Parliament as a whole and ultimately damage citizens’ trust in the institution; emphasises the importance of addressing potential reputational risks before they materialiseexisting ethical rules by providing Members with guidance and support;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. CRecalls onthat the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members tois regularly publish on Parliament’s website any investigations,sponsible for investigations and making a recommendation to the President, but decisions and sanctions arelated to potential or real breaches of the Code of Conduct, rather than doing so in the annual report; further calls on Parliament to publish decisions and sanctions imposed by the Advisory Committee against Members on the respectiv a sole matter for the President as established in Article 176(2) of the Rules of Procedure; recalls that that committee is the body to provide advice, which represents an interim and non-binding stage, thus preventing the committee from publishing information on investigations and sanctions; strongly underlines that the publication of information on individuals cases before a final decision is not compatible with the principle of confidentiality of investigations, thus running contrary to legal principles of a sound conduct of investigation, presumption of innocence, and protection of personal rights; opposes the mentality to publicly hunt and accuse Member’s pawith charges on Parliament’s websitef misbehaviour, which have not been proven;
Amendment 110 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that creating the permanent possibility for members of stafftrainees and study visitors to telework from anywhere, under conditions to be specified, could entails a great number of advantages for both members of staff and institutions including the improvement of staff well-being and increasing Parliament’s attractiveness as an employer, financial savings made through, inter alia, a reduced need for office space, a reduced environmental impact from staff commutes and a closer link between the Union institutions and citizens in Member States other than Belgium, France and Luxembourg; calls on Parliament to enter into; underlines that pursuant to Article 20 of the Staff Regulations, members of staff of Parliament shall reside at their place of employment; stresses not only the legal obligation, but also the need for physical presence and inter- institutional discussion with a view to reviewing the decision obliging staff to telework exclusively from their place of empts importance for learning and skill develoypment, e.g. under the condition of temporarily forfeiting their expat allowa; underlines the advantages of-in person interaction and presence;
Amendment 113 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Welcomes the achievements made so far as a result Parliament’s gender mainstreaming policy, in reaching gender parity at the level of Directors and 40% of women employed at the level of Heads of Unit; notes that there is still significant room for improvement at the level of Directors-General with currently 23% of women employed at this level; calls on Parliament to aim to reach gender parity at all three lwelcomes the fact that the Bureau approved on 13 January 2020 new and more ambitious targets for gender balance in senior and middle management posts in Parliament’s secretariat to be achievelsd by 2024: 50 % female heads of unit, 50% female directors and 40% female directors- general; Reiterates that it is essential for staff representatives to be heard when the Bureau discusses general matters affecting its staff policy, and repeats its request to the Secretary-General to take the appropriate measures to implement this key approach; reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to take further steps to ensure transparency and fairness during senior management appointment procedures, in particular in light of the Court of Justice’s judgment fromjudgment of the Court of Justice of 14 July 2021 in case T-670 / 19 against the European Parliament; asks for the full implementation of the measures recommended in Parliament’s resolution of 18 April 2018, notably that officials from staff representative bodies sit on Parliament’s/19, Carbajo Ferrero v Parliament1a; notes the limitations through Article 3, fourth paragraph, of Annex III of the Staff Regulations concerning the participation of staff representatives in senior management selection panels; callrequests, furthermore, to ensure consistency when it comes to external publications of senior management posts and diligence in the publication of these posts as and when they fall vacant; _________________ 1aJudgment of the General Court of 14 July 2021, T-670/19, Fernando Carbajo Ferrero v Parliament, ECLI:EU:T:2021:435
Amendment 116 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)
Paragraph 69 a (new)
69 a. Recalls the importance of achieving a fair geographical balance among Parliament’s staff; requests further efforts to ensure that employment at Parliament is equally attractive to all Union nationalities; is convinced that the attractiveness of Parliament as an employer is a key component of its success; is deeply concerned by the difficulties encountered in recruiting certain nationalities and bringing certain job profiles in-house; calls on the Secretary-General to do his utmost in order to reach a geographical balance for Parliament’s staff, both on the total number by country and on the number of management positions and to explore all available options in order to increase the competitiveness of Parliament as an employer; calls on Parliament to build its own outreach capacity, with the goal of attracting to competitions quality candidates that Parliament needs, in terms of profile, age and nationality and especially from under represented countries;
Amendment 121 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. RegretNotes that political, rather than competency criteria seem to determine the internal “passerelle” competitions; calls on Parliament to ensure in future competitions that candidates are chosen based on skills and competence rather than political affiliationinternal “passerelle” competitions have been published and have taken place in 2020; notes that the internal “passerelle” competitions had written and oral exams and that the jury consisted of officials of the General Secretariat including two representatives of Parliament's staff committee;
Amendment 136 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Calls for a debatFurther recalls that a thorough debate took place on the space needs of Parliament in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, current and future increase in teleworking and, if appropriate, for the adaptation of its long- term building strategy; requests, in particular, that the building policy be reviewed to ensure a dedicated office space for each staff member, as this policy would result in significant office space being unused during large parts of the working week; considers that e.g. two staff members teleworking for 3 days a week should be able to share one work station; commends the recommendations adopted in this respect by the Focus Group V (work space);
Amendment 141 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79 a (new)
Paragraph 79 a (new)
Amendment 144 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
Paragraph 83
Amendment 146 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)
Paragraph 83 a (new)
83 a. Points out the purchase price of the Scholl building, purchased at EUR 74,9 million; underlines that the difference of EUR 10 590 000 between the purchase price (EUR 74 900 000) and the estimation by the external expert (EUR 64 310 000) should be analysed against the situation where Parliament would not have acquired the building; notes that the usufruct contract signed by Parliament in 2009 did not include an exit clause, entailing that Parliament would have in any case had to pay the full amount of due usufruct payments for the remaining contractual period (~ EUR 24 000 000); stresses that if Parliament had not acquired the building, it would have paid in any case the usufruct and in addition would have lost already realised investments; notes that in total this potential loss in case of a non-acquisition amounts to EUR 39 300 000; emphasises that Parliament, by acquiring the Scholl building in 2020, with a price of EUR 74 900 000, has guaranteed the safeguarding of EUR 39 300 000, as well as avoided the future increase of the real estate market value and the risk of losing the building to a potential new undesirable investor in closest proximity; notes that while bearing in mind the calls by the Committee on Budgetary Control for cost-efficiency in real estate transactions, the purchase of the Scholl building seems justified given the financial and strategic explanations;
Amendment 148 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84
Paragraph 84
84. Highlights that, in Brussels, some buildings either currently occupied by Parliament or of major strategic interest due to their location and the related security aspects, are not part of Parliament's propertyortfolio, as was the case with the SCHOLLScholl building before it was acquired by Parliamentsition; notes that Parliament's Building Strategy Beyond 2019 underlines the importance of owning and interconnecting Parliament’s central buildings and mentions TREVESreves II as a building that is in Parliament’s interest to acquire; notes that while these criteria are important, they should not be the ultima ratio foressential and that they should be carefully analysed when proposing the purchase of a new building and cannot justify the purchase of additional office space at a price that lies significantly above market value, which must be concluded at a price representing an acceptable negotiation result and be the best offer in line with the quality-price ratio established for the procurement;
Amendment 155 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 a (new)
Paragraph 85 a (new)
85 a. Notes that the Committee on Budgets is responsible for opinions and decisions concerning buildings-related projects with significant financial implications according to Annex VI to the Rules of Procedure; notes the competences of the Committee on Budgets in Article 266 of the Financial Regulation in relation to buildings of all institutions, bodies and offices, including Parliament; underlines that this includes early information, information on transparent and detailed planning, scrutiny, and decision making as well as the authorisation of projects;
Amendment 158 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86
Paragraph 86
86. Takes note of the unanimous decision of the Bureau of 23 October 2019 to approve the creation of an IDEA Lab in 2020 with the aim of testing new, innovative solutions in the context of offices and facility management; notes that the decision of the Bureau was not based on any specific cost estimate; further notes that as part of the IDEA Lab, one Member’s office, at a cost of 486.012 EUR, and adjacent showroom, at a cost of at least 203.978 Euro, were built and equipped over the course of 2020; considers the testing of innovative office and facility management solutions useful in general but strongly rejects that the extensive costs incurred in this case are justifiable to taxpayers; further raises a strong concern about the fact that the renovated office space is now occupied by the Chair of the Bureau’s Building Working Group responsible for the projecfollows up on the successful testing of different office set-ups in the context of refurbishment works in 2019; recalls that these previous projects were unanimously welcomed, completed ahead of schedule and concluded with potential savings far below the estimated cost;
Amendment 162 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 a (new)
Paragraph 86 a (new)
86 a. Recalls the recommendations of the Focus Group 5 to evaluate in the IDEA Lab IT tools, more and better equipped meeting rooms, offices with remote/web-streaming meeting facilities and improved videoconferencing with a broader range of features;
Amendment 163 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 b (new)
Paragraph 86 b (new)
86 b. Recalls that during the Bureau meetings of 16 December 2019, 22 July 2020, 24 September 2020, 16 December 2020, and 18 January 2021, the members of the Bureau suggested that the IDEA Lab tested solutions in the area of environmental performance, energy efficiency, security(especially electronic locks), IT and teleworking as well as ICT innovation strategy;
Amendment 164 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 c (new)
Paragraph 86 c (new)
86 c. Notes that as part of the IDEA Lab, the area of and around one office on the 15th floor serves as test area and that this area was substantially adapted at a cost of EUR 629 259 over the course of 2020; recalls that the removal of modular bathrooms in Members' offices has been tested in the IDEA Lab and is considered a potential space gain that could be achieved in all offices during the coming 5-10 years; recalls that only on the 15th floor is it possible to cut and isolate the existing water pipes and adjust the ventilation ducts without permanent water cuts for the other floors;
Amendment 165 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 d (new)
Paragraph 86 d (new)
86 d. Stresses that currently 20% of the space is not or not anymore properly used, such as the copy rooms or space initially intended as server rooms; further notes that the findings of the IDEA Lab will deliver data and experience for future renovation works not only in the Paul- Henri Spaak Building, but also in the Altiero Spinelli building which will be usable for another 20-25 years;
Amendment 166 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 e (new)
Paragraph 86 e (new)
86 e. Underlines that the Bureau in its constitutive meeting of 26 January 2022 renewed the support for the IDEA Lab; welcomes that the IDEA Lab is now entering a phase in which the reflections that have existed from the beginning can be implemented, namely to integrate the costs of testing and applications on one budget line for the project management of the IDEA Lab on the one hand, and on corresponding budget lines in the directorates-general in charge of the individual applications on the other;
Amendment 168 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 87
Paragraph 87
87. Welcomes the fact that the extension of the WAYENBERGayenberg nursery in Brussels was completed in September 2020, and that the new facilities have been gradually put to us; invites the Bureau to initiate in 2022 technical studies to identify additional possibilities to further reduce energy consumption and increase the production of renewable energy, and to implement them as soon as possible;
Amendment 169 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 88
Paragraph 88
88. Welcomes that the strategic approach related to the implementation of Europa Experiences in all Member States by the end of 2024, as decided by the Bureau in November 2019, was reinforced in November 2020 with the adoption by the Bureau of a timeline for the deployment of the facilities in all Member States; strongly expresses the view that European Parliament Liaison offices and Europa Experiences are some of the best soft tools the Union and Parliament have to promote the work of the institutions and benefits of the Union for citizens; encourages Parliament and the Commission to continue to establish new Europa Experiences in all capitals and locations of strategic importance in view of the next European elections 2024; supports a formalised contract to split the costs for all Europa Experience between the Commission and Parliament to ensure sound long-term financing of the venues;
Amendment 191 #
Amendment 192 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95 a (new)
Paragraph 95 a (new)
Amendment 193 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95 b (new)
Paragraph 95 b (new)
95 b. Calls on the Bureau to ensure that the JSIS shall provide a coherent and individual explanation for declining a reimbursement request; regrets the culture of declining a reimbursement request in pdf format without the possibility to challenge the decision in person; calls on the Bureau to introduce the possibility for local doctors in charge of a treatment of an applicant to talk to the responsible JSIS unit or expert group to explain the treatment and medical benefits; further expresses its wish to improve the user-friendliness of the application enabling a quicker and more direct follow-up of individual requests;
Amendment 196 #
2021/2107(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 105
Paragraph 105
105. Notes that the vast majority of EUuropean political parties’ funding comes from public sources and, therefore, requires the highest level of transparency and accountability; underlines that the Authority should provide information covering the registration and financial situation of EUuropean political parties and foundations to the greatest extent possible; welcomes the efforts made by the Authority to make a wide array of information accessible to citizens on its website; calls on the Authority to make sure that the documents published in its website are user-friendly, complete and updated and recognises the announcement of the Authority during its hearing to complete a website accessibility benchmarking exercise;
Amendment 5 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas, under the Own Resources Decision, the Commission is to regularly and comprehensively inform the Parliament and Council about all aspects of its debt management strategy, including an issuance calendar with expected issuance dates and volumes for the forthcoming year, and a plan setting out the expected principal and interest payments;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas the total amount programmed for the European Union Recovery Instrument, payment of periodic coupon and redemption at maturity (EURI repayment costs) is set at EUR 14,7 billion over the period 2021-2027;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Rationale behindof borrowing for NextGenerationEU
Amendment 14 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that the success of the borrowing strategy will be judged by its ability to raise the funds necessary for the implementation of NGEU on the capital markets in a timely and relatively low-cost manner, and to repay the debt by 2058 according to a smoothly and predictablye profile and without crowding out established programme expenditure under the MFF ceilings; stresses that that the Union’s issuance should not upset borrowing conditions for other European issuers and should even play a positive role on capital markets, notably by meeting investors’ demand for eEuro-denominated assets and for new products such as green bonds;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2076(INI)
4. Notes that the Commission has developed and put in place a new and large funding programme and built up its debt management capacities swiftly and efficiently; welcomes the fact that first issuances took place at a steady pace in 2021 and 2022 and were all heavily oversubscribed, revealing strong investor interest and enabling the Commission to meet its funding targets; notes with satisfaction that, consistent with its AAA- rating, EU products have been traded at attractive interest rates that are at par with other large European and supranational issuers;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes the Commission’s choice to rely on a large Primary Dealers’ Network (PDN), which are important partners in ensuring well-functioning primary and secondary markets and reporting to the Commission on market conditions; calls on the Commission to ensure that banks meet their legal requirements and to seek a better geographical balance both in the PDN membership and in the leadership of syndicated transactions; calls on the Commission to make sure that sufficient incentives and obligations are in place for PDN members to play their role;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Observes that, in line with the annual borrowing decision and the Semi- annual funding plans, the Commission has raised, as of June 2022, more than EUR 113 billion, of which EUR 23 billion in the form of green bonds and composed of bonds with short, medium and long term maturities, on the financial markets; takes good note of the information provided concerning the distribution of investor type and distribution ‘by geography”; calls for continued transparent communication about the progress of the bond auctions and syndications;
Amendment 27 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Potential positive effects and challenges of NextGenerationEU borrowing
Amendment 29 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that, by making the Union one of largest bond issuers in Europe, NGEU can have a positive impact on the stability and liquidity of EU capital markets and canimprove the EU economic outlook, complement the macroeconomic architecture of the Euro area and strengthen the international role of the eEuro; notes, however, that NGEU is legally limited in size and in time and would have the potential to play even more influential role as safe assets and serve for integration of EU financial markets and resilience of the EU if lessons are properly taken;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes the high demand for a smooth integration of the EU’s debt on capital markets; calls on the Commission to consolidate the standing of EU debt by diversifying the investor profile, stimulating secondary markets and removing technical obstacles, such as the ECB’s purchase limitations and higher haircut applied to EU bonds over national sovereign bonds within its collateral framework;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights, in particular, that the Union could set benchmarks for sustainable investment as the largest global issuer of green bonds, as well as by diversifying its investor base and securing lower borrowing costs; welcomes that the Green Bond framework used by the Commission observes high sustainability standards and urges the Commission to avoid any‘greenwashing’, in order to act as a catalyst in the green transition;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Notes that, despite its scale, NGEU has so far successfully mitigated the risk of crowding out demand for other European sovereign bonds; emphasises that, by making the Euro area sovereign market more attractive especially to non- EU investors, NGEU issuance maybe impacting positively on demand for securities issued by other European market players; invites the Commission to continue coordinating closely with Member State debt agencies and with the ECB, the EIB and the ESM;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Argues further that NGEU is having a positive impact on the attractiveness and sustainability of Member State debts, by offering AAA- rated borrowing conditions to all Member States through RRF loans, having a significant lowering effect on sovereign yields and by discounting grants from the calculation of national debt as well as by conveying a strong message to financial markets about the resilience and cohesion of the Euro area and the EU;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Asks the Commission to develop a mechanism allowing EU citizens to buy EU bonds directly in a simple and transparent manner; notes that this practice already exists in several EU member states; believes that the economic benefits would be relevant and outweigh the implementation costs; considers that this opportunity could increase the sense of belonging to the EU;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes with concern the steeply rising inflation interest rates that affect sovereign issuers; cautions that the costs of funding have increased significantly due to the challenging market conditions; anticipates that this will affect the EURI repayment line in the EU budget; acknowledges that the Commission evolves in a very uncertain market, outside of the 99% confidence interval; recalls that all payments of financial contributions to Member States should be made by 31 December 2026, as established under the EURI and RRF Regulations, but changes to this deadline could be made; underlines that such change requires changes to both the RRF and EURI regulations;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Considers that NGEU can only unfold its full potential if all national Recovery and Resilience Plans are implemented in a timely and effective way; is concerned by the lack of financial absorption capacity by several Member States; regrets the dynamic triggered in some Member States where implementation of traditional EU funds is delayed in order to absorb more quickly the RRF funds; encourages Member States to make full use of the loans provided under NGEU in a coherent manner;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that further investments in EU policies will be necessary to strengthen EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy, in particular regarding industry and climate action; considers that permanent redeployments are a not a viable long-term solution for financing EU priorities and underlines the need for additional proper means for the EU budget in the form of fresh money; considers, in this regard, that NGEU is a good example of a viable architecture for funding above the MFF ceilings;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls its firm demand to place the budgetary appropriations for the EURI repayment costs outside the expenditure ceilings of the MFF, in order to safeguard the margins and flexibility mechanisms for their intended purposes; asks to make the pertinent modifications in the MFF regulation in the context of the MFF midterm review/revision;
Amendment 74 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Firmly believes that the ultimate success of NGEU, and in particular the credibility and sustainability of its financing, will also be assessed against the Union’s ability to repay the common debt with new own resources in the environmental and corporate sector, rather than with increased gross national income- based contributions from the Member States;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 5 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the Parliament reconfirmed its commitment to the introduction of an EU digital levy as an own resource with large majorities in a series of reports and resolutions1a; _________________ 1aMost notably its resolution of 14 March 2018 on the Reform of the European Union’s system of own resources, its interim report of 14 November 2018 on the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 – Parliament’s position with a view to an agreement, its resolution of 10 October 2019 on the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework and own resources: time to meet citizens' expectations, its resolution of 15 May 2020 on the new multiannual financial framework, own resources and the recovery plan, its resolution of 23 July 2020 on the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council meeting of 17-21 July 2020, its legislative resolution of 16 September 2020 on the draft Council decision on the system of Own Resources of the European Union, and the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2010(INI)
2. Regrets the OECD’s failure to find consensus on digital taxation by the end of 2020 as planned; notes with interest recent signs of progress towards a common approach in some G20 states, given that a global solution would be the most effective and can avert risks of retaliation, if any, by third countries against the Member States and European businesses; observes that the present economic context, in which many multinational corporations specialised in digital services continue to generate profits despite the general recession, leads to a broad demand to ensure a level playing field by the public and the enterprises; considers it therefore timely and necessary that the EU spearheads concrete, tangible and irreversible legislative action in the coming months to drive forward and incentivise international efforts for more tax fairness through the EU digital levy and the international negotiations, even in case no agreement can be reached at the OECD level;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the IIA including the roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources, binds the Council, Parliament and the Commission to irreversibly move forward with an EU digital levy that will enter the long-term EU budget as an own resource; underlines that, irrespective of whether the ground rules will be determined at OECD or EU level, revenues generated by digital taxation in the Member States wican and shall become an own resource;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates that the EU digital levy will counter tax base erosion, ensure a level playing field and improve tax fairness by capturing mobile bases; considers that its revenues would be intricately linked to the open borders of the single market and the ‘digital Union’ and would therefore constitute a highly suitable and genuine basis for an EU own resource; stresses that dedicating this new stream of public income to the EU budget would help resolve several problematic issues linked to fiscal equivalence, fiscal coherence and fair distributional impact across Member States;
Amendment 26 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls for an approach that will prevent the risks of double taxation as well as double non-taxation and that minimises compliance costs for European companies, in particular SMEs; calls for a tax design and implementation rules that would minimise the risks of any economic incidence being rolled over on EU citizens and consumers; is convinced that turning the proceeds of the digital tax into an own resources for the EU budget would help in dispersing and re- distributing such costs in an equitable manner across EU Member States;
Amendment 27 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Stresses that a single set of harmonised rules and implementation procedures anchored in EU level legislation will result in lower administrative overhead costs for public tax collecting authorities in the Member States as well as vastly reduced compliance costs, in particular for digital business models that are scalable on the EU Single Market;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Reminds that the own resources based on the EU digital levy and/or OECD rules are not to be formally earmarked for any particular expenditure item or fund; recalls that they will rather constitute general income and should be deemed to cover parts of the costs of the repayments of the NGEU;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Maintains that the revenue of the EU digital levy will be part of a basket of new own resources whose proceeds will be sufficient to cover, through the long-term EU budget, the repayment costs of the EU Recovery Instrument’s grants component, expected to be around EUR 15 billion per year on average and EUR 29.25 billion maximum per year from 2028 until 2058, while avoiding a reduction in expenditure for EU programmes; notes that the revenue is estimated to be in the range of several billion eEuros to several tens of billions of eEuros depending on, among other factors, the taxable revenuesexact definition of the taxable base, the taxable entity, the place of taxation, the calculation and the rate of tax as well as economic growth rates in the sectors concerned;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the Commission to incorporate Parliament’s position when preparing the legislative proposals for an EU digital levy as an own resource and the revised own resources decision and calls on the Council to swiftly adopt the proposal in line with the roadmap. ; encourages the institutions to engage swiftly and constructively in the ‘regular dialogue’ foreseen by the own resources roadmap;
Amendment 70 #
2021/0240(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) establish and keep up to date a Union interconnected register of assets, providing information on and allowing the identification of the beneficial owners of an extended and clearly defined spectrum of assets.
Amendment 5 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that, in its abovementioned resolution of 25 March 2021 on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2022 budget, Parliament defined clear political priorities for the 2022 budget to support the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, to boost investments and tackle unemployment, and lay the foundations for a more resilient Union; reaffirms its strong commitment to those priorities and sets out the following position to ensure an appropriate level of financing to deliver on them;
Amendment 12 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the Union budget must be equipped with the tools to enable it to respond to multiple crises simultaneously; reiterates Parliament’s view that the 2022 budget should play a pivotal role in ensuring a positive and tangible impact on citizens’ lives; against this background, supports increases to boost investment with a particular focus on SMEs, which are a cornerstone of the Union economy and play a crucial role in delivering excellent quality investment and job creation in all Member States, strengthen efforts towards the green and digital transitions, give fresh opportunities to young people in particular, build a strong European Health Union; reinforces, further, priorities in the fields of security, migration, fundamental rights, while acknowledging the recent deteriorating situation in external policy and humanitarian aid and the need to be able to react swiftly to the upcoming challenges;
Amendment 28 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note, in this context, of the recent initiative on a European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA); expresses deep concern over Parliament's exclusion from the decision-making procedure for establishing such an authority, and is strongly opposed to any financing architecture that would redeploy funds away from key objectives and actions initially planned under Horizon Europe, EU4Health and RescEU; highlights, in this context, the need to ensure adequate funding for Europe’s Beating Cancer plan as a priority objective for the EU budget, which should not be jeopardised as a result of redeployments in favour of other policy initiatives; underlines that the timing of such an initiative has not made it possible for Parliament to take it into account in its reading on the 2022 budget; calls forexpects that this issue to be addressed during the budgetary conciliation on the 2022 budget and calls for other means of funding to be explored for this purpose;;
Amendment 33 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the fact that proper coordination and synergies between agencies are needed to increase the effectiveness of their work, especially where there is convergence towards specific policy objectives, in order to allow for the fair and efficient use of public money.
Amendment 34 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Decides to reinforce lines that have an excellent implementation rate and the operational capacity to absorb the additional appropriations in 2022; indicates that, for the purpose of adequately financing the pressing priorities expressed above, the Flexibility Instrument needs to be fully mobilised, and a partial use of the Single Margin Instrument (amount offset against current year margins) will further be required; requests, moreover, the entire amount of the 2020 decommitments to be made available inline with Art 15(3) of the Financial Regulation in 2022;
Amendment 42 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that a successful research programme is essential for the Union’s future prosperity; stresses that Horizon Europe, which has very high European added value, will make a critically important contribution to the Green Deal and efforts towards a climate-neutral economy, to a successful digital transition and to the recovery of the Union economy from the pandemic; highlights in particular the need to bolster Union investment in health research, including funding for cancer research; and well as to further support the activity of the European Research Council; stresses the excellent implementation rate of this programme, reflecting its ability to absorb additional appropriations in next year’s budget; increases, therefore, the allocation of Horizon Europe over the level of the DB by EUR 305 million in commitment appropriations;
Amendment 48 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) plays an absolutely crucial role in the building of high-quality, sustainable, interconnected trans-European transport, energy and digital networks and is therefore at the heart of efforts to strengthen the Union economy and make a success of the green and digital transitions; recalls that CEF makes a very significant contribution to the overall target of at least 30% climate expenditure from the MFF and New Generation EU (NGEU); notes that CEF plays an essential role in boosting social and territorial cohesion and upward convergence in Europe; proposes therefore to increase the funding for the three CEF strands by a total amount of EUR 207,3 million in commitment appropriations above the level of the DB;
Amendment 53 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that the Digital Europe Programme is a vital tool in increasing rates of digitalisation in the Union, thereby leading to significant productivity gains, and in helping to bolster investments in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; stresses the need to bridge the digital divide and strengthen the Union’s resilience and digital sovereignty; recalls the need to support businesses, especially innovative digital SMEs; proposes therefore to increase the amount allocated to the programme by just over EUR 71 million;
Amendment 56 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports increases to the various strands of the Single Market Cluster by a total amount of just over EUR 37 million in commitment appropriations above the level of the DB; underlines the importance of an adequately funded Single Market Programme to boost competitiveness, promote entrepreneurship, and effectively support small businesses, including through the development of digital and entrepreneurial skills; draws particular attention, therefore, to the need to significantly increase the budget line dedicated to improving the competitiveness of enterprises and their access to markets, considering in particular the severe and long-lasting consequences of the crisis on SMEs;
Amendment 66 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reinforces the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), in line with the identified needs of this agency, to ensure it can adequately fulfil its role in supporting the transition towards the decarbonisation of transport modes; and promote interconnectivity and freedom of movement within the Union territory;
Amendment 67 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls for the 2022 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme is sufficiently funded and delivers on both its long-term objectives and participates in the rebuilding of European long-term competitiveness by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, innovation, digitalisation, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term objective of supporting a sustainable economic recovery via strategic sustainable investments;
Amendment 75 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that youth remains an overarching priority for the Union budget; reinforces therefore funding to meet increasing demand for the Erasmus+ programme by a total amount of just over EUR 137 million, as a 5% increase represents an additional 40,000 mobility exchanges; recalls that Erasmus + is a key flagship programme and one of the most successful Union programmes with strategic investment in the future of the Union and of its citizens; recalls that insufficient funding for the Erasmus+ programme would endanger the continued creation of new opportunities for and the increased employability of young people, as well as the capacity of the programme to reach its new objectives and to uphold the challenges of becoming more inclusive and ecological; furthermore increases the European Solidarity Corps by EUR 5 million as the economic crisis triggered by the COVID- 19 pandemic should not adversely affect support for the youth;
Amendment 90 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this Sub-heading; decides to increase funding for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) in line with the identified needs of those agencies; decides, also, to apply targeted reinforcements to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to allow the body to fulfil its duties in line with the requirements to fulfil its mandate; increases, further, staffing levels for the European Medicines Agency (EMA), FRA, Eurojust and EPPO; asks the Commission to reassess the needs of EPPO based on the actual case load and propose necessary reinforcements in its Amending letter;
Amendment 35 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) The introduction of the carbon price in road transport and buildings should be accompanied by effective social compensation, especially in view of the already existing levels of energy poverty. About 34 million Europeans reported an inability to keep their homes adequately warm in 2018, and 6,9 % of the Union population have said that they cannot afford to heat their home sufficiently in a 2019 EU-wide survey60 . To achieve an effective social and distributional compensation, Member States should be required to spend the auction revenues on the climate and energy-related purposes already specified for the existing emissions trading, but also for measures added specifically to address related concerns for the new sectors of road transport and buildings, including related policy measures under Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council61 . Auction revenues should be used to address social aspects of the emission trading for the new sectors with a specific emphasis in vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users. In this spirit, a new Social Climate Fund will provide dedicated funding to Member States to support the European citizens most affected or at risk of energy or mobility poverty. The Social Climate Fund should be an integral part of the Union budget in order to preserve the unity of the budget and the coherence with Union policies, and to ensure that there is effective control by the budgetary authority, composed of the Parliament and the Council. This Fund will promote fairness and solidarity between and within Member States while mitigating the risk of energy and mobility poverty during the transition. It will build on and complement existing solidarity mechanisms. The resources of the new Fund will in principle correspond to 25 % of the expected revenues from new emission trading in the period 2026-2032, and wibe implemented on the basis of the Social Climate Plans that Member States should put forward under Regulation (EU) 20…/nn of the European Parliament and the Council62 . The programmed baseline allocation in the EU budget should be increased annually be implemented on the basis of the Social Climate Plans that Member States should put forward under Regulation (EU) 20…/nn of the European Parliament and the Council62 y a supplementary reinforcement in case there is an increase in the carbon price, as it would raise the burden on the vulnerable households and traffic users. Such annual reinforcements should be accommodated within the MFF by means of an automatic ‘carbon price fluctuation adjustment’ of the ceiling of Heading 3 and the payment ceiling, the mechanism for which is to be provided for in the MFF regulation according to Article 312 TFEU. In addition, each Member State should use their auction revenues inter alia to finance a part of the costs of their Social Climate Plans. _________________ 60 Data from 2018. Eurostat, SILC [ilc_mdes01]. 61 Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 1–56). 62 [Add ref to the Regulation establishing the Social Climate Fund].
Amendment 57 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
3. Member States shall determine the use of revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances, except for the revenues established as own resources in accordance with Article 311(3) TFEU and entered in the Union budget as general income. The revenue accruing to the Union budget shall respect the principle of universality in accordance with Article 7 of Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053. Member States shall use their revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances referred to in paragraph 2, with the exception of the revenues used for the compensation of indirect carbon costs referred to in Article 10a(6), for one or more of the following:;
Amendment 78 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 30d – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 30d – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. The revenues generated by the auctioning of allowances covered by this chapter shall not be used as assigned revenue for the Social Climate Fund. The Social Climate Fund is to be financed by the general EU budget, whose revenue side will benefit from the introduction of a diverse basket of new own resources, including the ETS-based own resource pursuant to the roadmap of the IIA.
Amendment 79 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21 Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21 Directive 2003/87/EC
3 b. In order to ensure that the available appropriations for the Social Climate Fund in the EU budget can evolve in close alignment with the carbon price and thus the burden for vulnerable households and traffic users, a Carbon Price Fluctuation Adjustment Mechanism will enable annual reinforcements. The detailed provisions are to be provided for in the Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation, which, in accordance with Article 312 TFEU, will ensure that the relevant expenditure ceilings are adjusted automatically each year in function of the rate of change of the carbon price under the ETS for Buildings and Road Transport. The budgetary impact of the annual adjustment will be budgeted.
Amendment 450 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 44 a (new)
Recital 44 a (new)
(44a) The Social Climate Fund will be endowed with a baseline allocation in the Union budget, which will also benefit from annual reinforcements in alignment with a higher carbon price, by means of an automatic adjustment of the relevant MFF ceilings, in order to further support households and transport users in making the climate transition. It should be an integral part of the Union budget in order to preserve the unity and integrity of the budget, respect the Community method and ensure that there is effective control by the budgetary authority, composed of the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 1402 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20 a (new)
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 30 – paragraphs 3 a and 3 b (new)
Article 30 – paragraphs 3 a and 3 b (new)
(20a) In Article 30, the following paragraphs are inserted: “3a. The Social Climate Fund is to be financed by the general EU budget, whose revenue side will benefit from the introduction of a diverse basket of new own resources, including the EU ETS- based on resource pursuant to the roadmap of the IIA. 3b. In order to ensure that the available appropriations for the Social Climate Fund in the EU budget shall evolve in alignment with the carbon price and thus support vulnerable households and transport users, a Carbon Price Fluctuation Adjustment Mechanism will enable annual reinforcements; the detailed provisions are to be provided for in the Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation which in accordance with Article 312 TFEU which will ensure that the relevant expenditure ceilings are adjusted automatically each year in function of and in alignment with the rate of change of the carbon price under the EU ETS for Buildings and Road Transport;”
Amendment 70 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)
Recital 22 a (new)
(22a) The Social Climate Fund should be an integral part of the EU budget in order to preserve the unity and integrity of the budget, respect the Community method and ensure that there is effective control by the budgetary authority, composed of the Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 72 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The overall financial envelope of the Fund should, in principle, be commensurate to amounts corresponding to 25% of the expected revenuethe additional burden on the vulnerable households and traffic users from the inclusion of buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC in the period 2026-2032. Pursuant to Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/205341, Member States should make those revenues available to the Union budget as own resourcesThe EU budget should cover half of the EUR 144 billion overall envelope, corresponding to EUR 72 billion. Following the developments of the carbon price and other relevant parameters, and before the final adoption of this legislative act, the Commission should update their assessment whether the overall financial envelope of the Fund still corresponds to 25% of the expected revenue deriving from the new ETS. Pursuant to Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/205341, Member States should make those revenues available to the Union budget as own resources. The revenue accruing to the Union budget is to respect the principle of universality in accordance with Article 7 of Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053. Member States are to finance 50% of the total costs of their Plan themselves. For this purpose, as well as for investment and measures to accelerate and alleviate the required transition for citizens negatively affected, Member States should inter alia use their expected revenues from emissions trading for buildings and road transport under Directive 2003/87/EC for that purpose. The financing of the Fund should not come at the expense of other Union programmes and policies. _________________ 41 Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom (OJ L 424, 15.12.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 76 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) The Social Climate Fund should be endowed with a baseline allocation in the EU budget, which will also benefit from annual reinforcements in alignment with a higher carbon price, in order to further support households and transport users in making the climate transition. Such annual reinforcements should be accommodated within the MFF by means of an automatic ‘carbon price fluctuation adjustment’ of the ceiling of Heading 3 and the payment ceiling, the mechanism for which is to be provided for in the MFF regulation according to Article 312 TFEU.
Amendment 154 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Additional allocations shall be made available subject to the specific technical adjustment based on carbon- price fluctuation provided for in Article4b of ... [Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/20931a as amended], so as to ensure that the available appropriations for the Social Climate Fund in the EU budget can increase in alignment with the carbon price. _________________ 1a Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11).
Amendment 166 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall contribute at least to 50 percent of the total estimated costs of their Plans.
Amendment 167 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In order to ensure smooth implementation and to avoid frequent reprogramming exercises, Member States’ Social Climate Plans shall include at least one flexible component or type of measure, which can absorb potential additional availabilities on an annual basis.
Amendment 196 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. As part of evaluation report referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall consider the prolongation of the specific technical adjustment based on carbon-price fluctuation referred to in Article 9 in the context of the negotiations of the next multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 341 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) The Social Climate Fund will be endowed with a baseline allocation in the EU budget, which will also benefit from annual reinforcements in alignment with a higher carbon price, by means of an automatic adjustment of the relevant MFF ceilings, in order to further support households and transport users in making the climate transition. It should be an integral part of the EU budget in order to preserve the unity and integrity of the budget, respect the Community method and ensure that there is effective control by the budgetary authority, composed of the Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 837 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Additional allocations shall be made available subject to the specific technical adjustment based on carbon- price fluctuation referred to in Article 30(3b) of Directive 2003/87/EC to ensure that the available appropriations for the Social Climate Fund in the EU budget shall evolve in alignment with the carbon price.
Amendment 1090 #
2021/0206(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. As part of evaluation report referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall consider the prolongation of the specific technical adjustment based on carbon-price fluctuation referred to in Article 9 in the context of the negotiations of the next multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 4 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 assessments, the strategy’s enhanced focus on social and environmental dimensions and itsachieving competitive sustainability and cohesion, fostering reforms to support a robust recovery, while placing emphasis on the importance of combining crisis management with the transformative aspirations of the Green Deal and the digital transition; underlines that the COVID-19 crisis is having an impact on the notion ofeed for reforms, recovery and resilience and highlights the Portuguese Presidency’s emphasis on the European social model as a valuable contribution in this regard;
Amendment 16 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the agreements on the multiannual financial framework, Next Generation EU, the own resources (OR) decision, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Rule of Law (RoL) regulation constitute a viable baseline for innovative policies and is convinced that the common issuance of bonds at EU level is a sea change in EU public finances which adds value by mutualising the outstanding credit rathighlights the importance of disbursing the funds generated by the Commission’s borrowing ofn the EU budget based on its OR systemcapital markets via programmes and instruments of the new MFF;
Amendment 21 #
2021/0000(INI)
2a. Points to serious delays in the implementation of EU programmes and funds, especially under shared management, of the 2014-2020 period; calls, therefore, on Member States to accelerate the implementation of those programmes, in order not to jeopardise the timely launch of the new EU programmes of the 2021-2027 MFF, as well as those financed by the European Recovery Instrument, considering particularly the tight timetable in force for its implementation;
Amendment 27 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the RRF reshapes the European Semester framework and that, together with the Just Transition Fund, will be an exemplary test case of how EU strategic guidance and financial firepower can be synchronised with national priorities and implementation capacities; in this regard, underlines the need for synergies between the national recovery and resilience plans and the partnership agreements under the MFF 2021-2027; calls on Member States to put forward their respective proposals for national recovery and resilience plans and partnership agreements without undue delay;
Amendment 41 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to complementensure that the relevant scoreboards and dashboards with indicators that better reflect the impact of the EU budget as well as social, gender- related, macroeconomic and environmental impacts;
Amendment 49 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need for the recovery and resilience plans to deliver public goods likcontribute to the pandemic prevention and to contribute to implementingthe implementation of the six pillars of the RRF, including economic competitiveness and entrepreneurship, social and territorial cohesion, youth policies, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives, the digital and green transformation and the Gender Equality Strategy;
Amendment 58 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates the urgency of diversifying the EU budget’s revenue sources, in line with the roadmap integrated in the Interinstitutional Agreement, and of linking own resources with policy objectives more effectivelyminds that the financing of the Next Generation EU, in particular of the RRF, depends on the urgent ratification by the Member States of the OR decision, and calls on Member States for a swift ratification procedure; reiterates the urgency of diversifying the EU budget’s revenue sources, in line with the roadmap integrated in the Interinstitutional Agreement, and of linking own resources with policy objectives more effectively; notes that the proceeds from the new own resources should be sufficient to repay the expenditure under the EU Recovery Instrument, without leading to an undue reduction in programme expenditure or investment instruments under the MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 68 #
2021/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines the important contribution that the InvestEU programme should make towards a successful and sustainable recovery of European economy, by generating strategic investments across critical sectors and mobilising about €400 billion on key projects for the EU; highlights, in particular, the possibility to provide capital support to SMEs that have been negatively affected by the crisis, as well as the potential of the programme to enhance competitiveness and productivity, while promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas, in many Member States, the EU funds and programmes pursuant to the MFF 2014-2020 have not yet been fully implemented;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the financing of the NGEU, in particular of the RRF, will only be available after the ratification of the Council Decision 2020/2053, of 14 December 2020, on the EU system of own resources, by the Member States;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. States that 10 years after the introduction of the European Semester cycle of economic policy coordination, employment and social imbalances in Europe, such as labour market segmentation, wage dispersion and child poverty, have not been resolved but have worsened, demonstrating that public policies at the national level are insufficient for building a fairer European labour market, and that stronger and further-reaching policies at EU level are needed; strongly believes that European support must go beyond making funds available; highlights the importance of taking lessons from the current health and economic crisis, acting preventively from now on; urges the design and encouragement of measures to promote the high quality health systems in the EU with highly trained and well paid professionals;
Amendment 134 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on Member States to accelerate the implementation of EU programmes and funds pursuant to the MFF 2014-2020, while recalling that a low implementation rate may jeopardize the implementation of employment and social policies under the MFF 2021-2027 and the NGEU; furthermore, calls on Member States to urgently ratify the Council Decision 2020/2053, of 14 December 2020, while stressing that the implementation of the roadmap for the introduction of new own resources will be crucial to repay the expenditure under the EU Recovery Instrument without an undue reduction in EU expenditure or investment in employment and social policies under the MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 156 #
2020/2244(INI)
5. Emphasises the need to integrate the six pillars of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, including economic competitiveness and entrepreneurship, territorial cohesion and social progress as an investment priority, together with green and digital transitions, in order to protect vulnerable people against the negative impact of the current crisis; recalls that social progress plans must be included in national recovery and resilience plans, outlining the implementation of the EPSR and of social investment;
Amendment 224 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls the importance of European programs such as the Youth Guarantee, whose package has recently been strengthened; Calls on Member States a quickly implementation of this Programme, addressing their NEET’s situation, with particular concern about those living in Regions with natural constraints in their labor market;
Amendment 226 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Welcomes the availability of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to also respond to this pandemic crisis, supporting the restructuring needs of European companies; Notes that the limit for worker’s dismissals for access the fund has been reduced to the minimum of 200 jobs lost, as well that this European tool could help funding personalised support measures, such as tailor-made training courses, re-skilling and up- skilling; Calls on European Institutions involved for flexibility and quick analysis of the activation requests, ensuring that the time to mobilize the fund is reduced to a minimum;
Amendment 227 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Encourages the temporarily adaptation of the EU School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme to the closure of schools where necessary to fight the pandemic situation, ensuring healthy eating habits to our children during this period and preventing malnutrition of those at risk of poverty and social exclusion, as well as supporting the local producers;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for better coordination between economic and social policies and between the different recovery funds and structural funds, in order to improve synergies and boost social investment resources; underlines the need for synergies between the MFF 2021-2027 and the RRF; in this regard, calls on Member States to put forward their respective proposals for partnership agreements under the MFF 2021-2027 without undue delay;
Amendment 235 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Reminds the critical moment that we are facing and strongly recommends that should be avoided political initiatives that create unnecessary costs, administrative burdens and obligations that could undermine the full implementation of these funds and, consequently, the recovery of the principal engine of the European economy, our SMEs;
Amendment 237 #
2020/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Believes that for a resilient EU we must focus all policies on ensuring a lasting recovery, avoiding the premature end of measures and financial tools to support our companies and workers and to strengthen them where and when needed; stresses the paramount importance of supporting investment and access to finance in the EU, namely through the InvestEU Programme, in order to help SMEs with solvency difficulties, create employment in strategic sectors and promote territorial, economic and social cohesion in the EU; underlines the need to ensure that the small size of the projects, or their origin in more remote regions, such as the outermost regions, are not an obstacle to access the InvestEU Programme, guaranteeing geographical balance, equality in their allocation and social justice;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Parliament will only be able to exercise properly its role as discharge authority if it is kept regularly and comprehensively updated by the Commission, with detailed information regarding EDF-funded projects and their recipients;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are core objectives to be pursued in cooperation instruments in both the public and private sector;
Amendment 12 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the alignment of Union development cooperation with partner countries’ own development priorities is a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; whereas cultural and linguistic affinities between Member States and partner countries may encourage adherence to the SDGs set out in the 2030 Agenda;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas policy coherence and complementarity of various external policies should be carefully looked at, especially when several policies are being implemented in a single partner country, with the view to promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors, encouraging synergies and trade-offs between existing policies and to avoiding as much as possible unnecessary administrative burden;
Amendment 16 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the standardisation of communication channels between partner countries, EDF-funded entities and the EU would facilitate Commission monitoring activity;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 26 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 27 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the Court found that the Commission and its implementing partners committed more errors in transactions relating to programme estimates, grants, contribution agreements with international organisations and delegation agreements with Member States’ cooperation agencies than they did with other forms of support, such as those covering works, supply and service contracts; notes that of the 65 transactions of that type examined by the Court, 25 (38 %) contained quantifiable errors, which accounted for 71,7 % of the estimated level of error; calls on the Commission to publish comprehensive, updated and detailed information regarding funded projects and recipients, enhance its risk-based approach and invest control capacity in areas that are more error prone;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission to proceed with a pre-established format for communication between partner countries, EDF beneficiaries and the EU with a view to reducing the errors found by the Court;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the Court’s observation, as in previous years, that the frequency of identified errors, including some contained in final claims which had been subject to ex-ante external audits and expenditure verifications, points to weaknesses in those checks; notes that this is not only problematic in terms of the effectiveness of the checks but also in terms of the efficiency of the management and control system because the checks performed did not prevent or correct the error; calls on DG INTPA to continue efforts to improve the assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency of its control system by identifying key performance indicators for both, to set realistic and ambitious targets and to monitor and improve its control system; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to set up a platform covering EDF-funded projects by country, focusing on the final recipients, general and specific project goals and, above all, their practical results in terms of the desired increase in development indices;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that, in terms of relative contribution to the SDGs, budget support programmes strongly contribute to SDG 16 (peace, justice and governance), SDG 17 (partnerships), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 1 (no poverty); welcomes the strong multi-dimensional scope of budget support programmes and considers that they should support entrepreneurship and private initiative in order to leverage economic and social development as advocated in SDG 9 ( build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation) and 17 (strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development);
Amendment 44 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the results achieved as regards the intention for inclusive public policies to promote shared growth and to help tackle social or geographical disparities (SDG 10), where statistics indicate that the income share of the bottom 40 % of the population in countries receiving Union budget support increased from 15.6 % to 17.4 % of gross national income between 2004 and 2019, while it decreased slightly in other developing or emerging countries; considers it also essential to raise awareness among local interlocutors about the growing importance of private partners in economic, social and territorial development;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls for close monitoring and thorough policy dialogue with partner countries regarding objectives, progress towards agreed results and performance indicators; calls once more on the Commission to better define and measure expected development impact and, especially, to improve the control mechanism with regard to the conduct of the beneficiary state in the areas of corruption, respect for human rights, good governance and democracy; stresses the need to include the private sector in this strategic dialogue; remains deeply concerned about the use that could be made of Union budget support in recipient countries where there is no or only limited democratic control;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2149(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with satisfaction that, according to the observations of the Court of Auditor’s (‘the Court’s’) annual report related to Chapter 9 'Administration - MFF heading 5', no specific issues were identified in the sample of transactions concerning the EEAS for the third consecutive year and no material level of error was identified in the EEAS’s annual activity report;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2149(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines that the spread of deliberate, large-scale systematic disinformation is an acute strategic challenge for the Union’s public diplomacy for which adequate financial, IT and human resources should be devoted in the short-to-medium term term; supports the reinforcement of the linkage between policy making, public diplomacy and strategic communication;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2148(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Is however of the opinion that the implementation of GDPR, despite harmonised rules, may be particularly challenging for small and medium sized companies (SMEs); asks the Supervisor to further alleviate the administrative burden for SMEs; is interested incalls on the EDPS to consider the possibility of conducting a cost evaluation of the implementation of GDPR in the near future;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2144(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the administrative arrangement signed in 2019 providing a structured framework between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Court in order to provide a structured framework for co-operation between OLAF and the Court, and toand facilitate theiring a timely exchange of information under Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/20136 and the Court’s decisions related to internal investigations; notes that this arrangement also contains provisions on non-operational issues such as the organisation of training sessions, workshops and exchange of staff; notes that in 2019, the Court reported ten cases of suspected fraud compared to nine cases in 2018 (eight identified in the course of audit work and two denunciations made by third parties); _________________ 6 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (EUT L 248 af 18.9.2013, s. 1).
Amendment 38 #
2020/2144(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes that the IAS considers that overall, reliable ex-post controls have been conducted for most of the high risk areas of the work of the directorates of the secretariat-general, based on the risk register and the operational objectives; appreciates being kept informed (in particular in the context of the past problems identified by an OLAF investigation on a former member of the Court)that the IAS has not observed any shortcomings that are of such importance as to seriously call into question the overall reliability of the internal control systems put in place by the authorising officer by delegation with regard to the legality and regularity of financial operations in 2019 and would appreciate such updates also in the future;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes, in the context of modernisation, the creation of a flatter management structure, by removing layers of hierarchy, with the aim of improving communication, making decision-making easier and empowering staff by allowing greater ownership of files; notes the introduction of a well-tested HR IT tool (SYSPER) and other IT tools used for managing the mission lifecycle; appreciates these steps and invites the Council to continue such efforts;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recalls that Parliament in its resolution of 17 January 2019 on the Ombudsman’s strategic inquiry OI/2/2017 on the transparency of legislative discussions in the preparatory bodies of the Council of the EU overwhelmingly supported the Ombudsman’s proposals on legislative transparency and encourages the Council to continue its efforts to improve legislative transparency, particularly by recording and publishing member state positions and making available more trilogue documents; invites the Council to report on other measures taken in order to improve legislative transparency;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Council’s role in appointing the European prosecutors to the EPPO
Amendment 43 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Amendment 44 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 b (new)
Subheading 8 b (new)
Recalls that Council implementing decision 14830/19 of 22 July 2020 on appointing the European prosecutors of the European Public Prosecutor's Office states that regarding the 'candidates nominated by Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal, the Council did not follow the non-binding order of preference of the selection panel, on the basis of a different assessment of the merits of those candidates which was carried out in the relevant preparatory bodies of the Council';
Amendment 45 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34 b. Recalls that on 27 July 2020, Austria, Estonia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands published a statement that 'a competition between rankings of national selection panels and the ranking of the European selection panel must be avoided, at the risk of eroding the European component of the appointment procedure';
Amendment 46 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34 c. Regrets that Council did not properly reply to several parliamentary written questions between July and September 2020 asking Council to explain why it decided not to follow there commendations by the European selection panel and asking for elaborations on the assessment for arriving at the decision not to follow the recommendations of the European selection panel;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 d (new)
Paragraph 34 d (new)
34 d. Is very concerned about media revelations that the Portuguese government provided Council with wrongful information about the title and experience of the candidate ranked second by the European selection panel leading to his appointment as Portuguese European prosecutor;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 e (new)
Paragraph 34 e (new)
34 e. Recalls that the European prosecutors must be independent and any suspicion of an intervention by a national government in favour of a candidate against the recommendation of the European selection panel would have a severe negative impact on the reputation, integrity and independence of the EPPO as an institution;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Advises that the positive trend of this process has been interrupted by the COVID-19-epidemic; recallsnotes with concern, however, that in autumn 2020 all attempts from Parliament’s side to meet for a first preliminary exchange with the Council failed;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights, with regard to the implementation of the Union budget, the importance of complying with the principle of sound financial management as enshrined in Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU); emphasises that respect for the rule of law is among the most essential preconditions for sound financial management including the efficient and effective allocation and management of European funds; strongly welcomes in that regard the adoption of Regulation 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget; welcomes that the Commission has started its work on guidelines and emphatically reminds that this Regulation is applicable from 1 January 2020; expects the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, to ensure that the Regulation is fully applicable from the date agreed by the co-legislators and reminds that annulment of the Regulation or part of it is only possible by the CJEU;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Deplores that deficiencies in the validity and comparability of data and reporting technologies with varying degrees of digitalisation in the Member States continue to severely hamper a comprehensive overview over the distribution of EU funds and their efficient control; regrets that the detection of misuse, fraud and embezzlement of EU funds is mostly limited to incidental discoveries by the Commission and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) during their sample-based audits or investigations by OLAF;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls Parliament’s call on the Commission to propose regulation for the establishment of an interoperable IT system allowing for uniform and standardised reporting in a timely manner by Member State’s authorities in the area of shared management, particularly regarding CAP and cohesion funds, for an earlier detection of systemic errors and misuse as expressed in the discharge report for the Commission for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Emphasises that such an interoperable IT system would not only allow for an earlier and more efficient detection of misuse, fraud, misappropriations, conflicts of interest, double-funding and other systemic problems but would also allow for a comprehensive overview of the true distribution of EU funds and potentially unintended concentrations in the hands of few oligarchic or even criminal ultimate beneficiaries; underlines that the lack of information about the ownership structures and beneficial owners of companies and groups of companies significantly contributes to the opaqueness of the current distribution of funds; emphasises again the crucial importance of comprehensive, reliable and comparable data for the efficient, effective and timely control of European spending and the protection of European tax-payers’ money;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Underlines the benefits such an interoperable and digital system would entail for the Member States’ authorities with regard to the control and overview of national Parliaments and governments over the allocation, management and distribution of national tax-payer’s money in the form of European funds; emphasises that the digitalisation of the European reporting, monitoring and audit is overdue and indispensable given the cross-border nature of misuse, fraud, misappropriations, conflicts of interest, double-funding and other systemic problems;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Reiterates its urgent call on the Commission to prioritise a proposal for a regulation to establish such a reporting and monitoring IT system that would provide a comprehensive overview over the true distribution of EU funds; acknowledges proposals made by the Parliament and the Commission during the negotiations about the MFF 2021- 2027, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) and the CAP; deplores the Council’s resistance and refusal to constructively engage in the negotiations for viable compromises; regrets that different rules and reporting requirements were agreed in the different legislations; urges the Commission to propose a suitable provision to be included in the Financial Regulation without undue delay;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Notes that the Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES), established by Art 135 Financial Regulation should ensure effective sanctions on unreliable persons or entities, and notably the exclusion from award and procurement procedures funded under the EU budget and the imposition of financial penalties; regrets that the database only lists very few economic operators (five as per February 2021); views this as a sign that EDES is not properly implemented;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1 i. Calls on the Commission to report to the discharge authority the reasons for why EDES only contains very limited entries; take the necessary action to improve the working, implementation and operability of EDES to ensure that all economic operators that fulfil the criteria of Art 136(1) (c) to (h) of the Financial Regulation are listed; calls further on the Commission to review the criteria with a view to decreasing complexity and increase applicability in practice;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1 g. Recalls that the discharge report 2018 called on the Commission to provide the discharge authority with a list of the 50 largest individual recipients (natural persons as beneficial owners of a company or of several companies) per Member State as well as a list of the 50 largest recipients (natural persons and legal persons as well as natural persons as owners of companies) of Union-subsidies aggregated across all Member States; acknowledges repeated attempts by the Commission to compile such a list by requesting information from the Member States; deplores that the Commission until the date of this resolution has not been able to provide the list as requested due to a lack of complete, reliable and comparable data provided by the Member States; underlines that this illustrates and emphasises the pressing need for a digital, interoperable reporting and monitoring system for the funds under shared management;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1 h. Reiterates its call on the Commission: - to remove any technical and legal barriers to the collection of data on company structures and beneficial ownership and establish measures to ensure a digital and interoperable, standardized collection of information on the recipients of Union funding, including on those ultimately benefitting, directly or indirectly, from Union funding and their beneficial owners; - to put in place the necessary digital systems and instruments for the compulsory use of all Member States, including but not limited to a single data- mining and risk-scoring tool allowing the Commission, OLAF and where applicable the EPPO, to access and analyse such data on the recipients of Union funding (including their beneficial owners) for the purposes of control and audit, in order to enhance the protection of the Union budget and Next Generation EU against irregularities, fraud and conflicts of interest;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Is concerned by the Court’s repeated findings that the work of some national audit authorities or certifying bodies is considered too error-prone and therefore unreliable; regrets that the Court cannot include an analysis for the underlying reasons for these persisting weaknesses in its work; regrets that neither the Commission could contribute meaningful insights on the reasons and any country-specific differences between Member States’ authorities; regrets that this lack of information on the underlying reasons for these persisting, systemic weaknesses in certain national audit authorities hinders efficiently and effectively addressing and solving these problems; calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons and structural problems causing the persisting systemic weaknesses identified by the Court; asks the Commission to also include observations on best practice and based on this analysis address clear, practical and readily implementable horizontal as well as country-specific recommendations to the national authorities as described in greater detail in the specific chapters of this resolution;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Underlines that the error rate calculated by the Court is a statistical summary providing a convenient single indicator of the legality and regularity of EU spending, yet, does not provide a differentiated view of the different nature and graveness of errors flowing into it; acknowledges that the Court’s methodology is based on international audit standards involving testing of a random sample of transaction and that a representative sample cannot be entirely risk-based; welcomes that the Court divides its samples into high-risk and low- risk transactions; appreciates that the Court already includes specific examples of the errors found; invites the Court to include even more detailed information with a view to providing in particular more geographical insight into country- specific problems;
Amendment 102 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deeply rRegrets that the Commission’s particular role, as reflected in its methodology, and weaknesses in ex- post checks, which are a critical part of the control system, affects the Commission’s estimates of errors;
Amendment 115 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Acknowledges that the financial management of the EU budget has improved over time and that the error levels have decreased to ranges getting closer to the 2% materiality threshold in recent years, except in some specific policy areas, such as for example competitiveness, which is mostly under direct management by the Commission, where the estimated error rate has doubled from to 2% in 2018 to 4% in 2019;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. RegretNotes the adoption of three amending budgets in 2019, adding EUR 0,4 billion to commitment appropriations and EUR 0,3 billion to payment appropriations;
Amendment 131 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Points outNotes with concern that according to the Court, the overall absorption rate of ESIF (European Structural Investment Funds) was lower than in the corresponding year of the previous MFF, as by the end of 2019, out of the total ESIF allocations for the current MFF (EUR 465 billion), only 40 % had been paid out to Member States (compared with 46 % by the end of 2012); notes that only nine Member States had higher absorption rates under the current MFF than under the previous one, and that overall the speed of absorption in 2019 stayed almost exactly the same as in 2018;
Amendment 144 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the current agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the Court concerning audits of operations which are financed or backed by the Union budget expires in 2020; views this an opportunity to ensure that the Court is enabled to audit the regularity and also the performance of the EIB activities, which do not fall under a specific Union mandate; Recalls that Art. 287 (3) TFEU defines the Court’s audit powers in relation to the EIB; recalls that the Court is competent to audit the EIB's activity in managing Union expenditure and revenue; recalls that the Audit Committee is competent to audit the EIB’s share capital according to Art. 12 of Protocol 5 (Statute of the EIB); recalls that Art 308 (3) TFEU allows the Council to amend the Protocol on the Statute of the EIB by simple decision without a full Treaty revision; emphasises the increased importance under the new MFF of EU guarantees and other financial instruments managed by the EIB; calls therefore on the Council to amend Art. 12 of Protocol 5 to give the ECA a role in auditing the EIB’s share capital; notes that the current tripartite agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the Court concerning audits of operations which are financed or backed by the Union budget expires in 2020; calls on the Commission, the Court and the EIB to enhance the role of the Court and further strengthen its auditing powers regarding activities of the EIB in the renewal of the tripartite agreement governing the rules of engagement;
Amendment 156 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the Court’s first separate and full report on the performance of the Union budget – Status at the end of 2019 and encourages the Court to continue to produce and develop this report further in the coming years; reiterates its opinion that a stronger focus on performance is needed without reducing current levels of scrutiny on compliance and conformity; emphasises that performance findings should not lead to generalisations but rather country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2140(DEC)
27 a. Underlines that the performance of EU funds and policies is very difficult to measure and requires different definitions and targeted indicators for the various spending areas and funds; agrees with the findings of the Court that overall indicators need to be further improved and a better balance found between input and output, and result and impact indicators;
Amendment 179 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Notes that Commission reported in its 2019 Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR) a risk at payment of 2,1%, which is within the range of the ECA’s estimated level of error; notes that for the three most significant spending areas (MFF Heading 1a:competiveness; MFF Heading 1b: economy, social and territorial cohesion and MFF Heading 2: natural resources), the Commission’s own estimates of the level of error are within the ECA’s ranges;
Amendment 216 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52 a. Notes that according the Annual Activity Report (AAR) 2019 by DG BUDG, UK has as of 12 October 2017 started implementing the measures recommended by the Commission, which led to a dramatic reduction of TOR losses in 2018 (error rate below 1%);
Amendment 217 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b (new)
Paragraph 52 b (new)
52 b. Deplores that UK still refuses to make available to the EU budget the TOR amounts lost during the period 2011 - 2017 amounting to EUR 2.679bn (gross); notes that the UK authorities provided the Commission with a formal reply received on 11February 2019; notes that after analysing the UK’s reply, the Commission referred the case to the CJEU on 7 March 2019; notes that the UK lodged its defence on 24 June 2019, followed by the Commission’s reply on 29 August 2019and a rejoinder by the UK of 20 December 2019; asks the Commission to timely inform the discharge authority of any new developments regarding this case;
Amendment 218 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 c (new)
Paragraph 52 c (new)
52 c. Is deeply concerned by the non- quantifiable reservation maintained for 2019 by DG BUDG, stating that the undervaluation fraud partly moved to other Member States, affecting the collection of TOR to an extent pending final quantification; notes that the Commission has carried out inspections on undervaluation in all Member States and checked how Member States are organised to address issues of undervaluation, particularly concerning textiles and shoes from China; notes that the Member Sates’ financial responsibility for losses of TOR has been explicitly addressed during these inspections and the corresponding reports; notes that the Commission will follow up and hold Member States financially responsible for TOR any potential losses incurred; is concerned that provisional calculations indicate that the TOR losses in 2019 would reach 1% of the 2019 TOR justifying a reservation in the AAR 2019; asks the Commission to promptly inform the discharge authority about the findings and consequences of its inspections and quantification calculations once finalised;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61 a. Regrets that complex application rules and lengthy procedures are major hurdles in particular for SMEs, start-ups and first-time applicant that lack significant resources and experience with these application procedures;
Amendment 237 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
65. Underlines that SMEs are more error-prone than other beneficiaries since more than half the quantifiable errors found (17 out of 28) involved funding for private beneficiaries, even though the transactions in question accounted for just 42 (32 %) of the 130 transactions in the sample (SMEs made up 12 % of the sample but accounted for 21 % of the quantifiable errors); underlines that this reflects their lack of resources and familiarity with the complex eligibility rules;
Amendment 245 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 – indent -1 (new)
Paragraph 68 – indent -1 (new)
-1 calls on the Commission to further simplify rules and procedures, provide practical and pragmatic guidance and improve its assistance for SMEs, start-ups and other first-time applicants to level the playing field among applicants with varying level of experience and resources;
Amendment 288 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 89
Paragraph 89
89. Is very concerned about the weaknesses found in the work of several audit authorities covered by the Court’s sample, which currently limit the reliance that can be placed on that work (the recalculated rate was above the 2 % materiality threshold in nine out of 20 assurance packages for the 2014-2020 period, the Commission adjusted the residual error rates for eight assurance packages to a figure above 2 %); regrets that the Court cannot include an analysis for the reasons for these persisting weaknesses in its work; regrets that neither the Commission could contribute meaningful insights on the reasons and any country-specific differences between Member States’ authorities; regrets that this lack of information on the underlying reasons for these persisting, systemic weaknesses in certain national audit authorities hinders efficiently and effectively addressing and solving these problems;
Amendment 297 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 16 a (new)
Subheading 16 a (new)
ECA Review 04/2020 EU action to tackle the issue of plastic waste
Amendment 298 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 a (new)
Paragraph 93 a (new)
93 a. Notes that while not an audit report, this review examined the EU’s approach to the issue of land-based plastic waste as set out in the 2018 Plastics Strategy;
Amendment 299 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 b (new)
Paragraph 93 b (new)
93 b. Takes note of the Court’s observations, in particular: - that Member State waste management infrastructure development is supported funded through cohesion policy instruments;expenditure of EUR 1 bn for the current programming period 2014- 2020 is low compared to the EUR 4.4 bn that were budgeted but it is not known how much of this will be budgeted or used to improve plastics recycling capacity; - that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging, which seek to make producers financially and organisationally responsible for the management of their products once they become waste, are widespread in all Member States with varying coverage but wide disparities in levels of efficiency exist;generally, EPR schemes promote lighter packaging but not recyclability, reflecting that most EPR schemes require producers to pay fees according to the weight of the plastic packaging they place on the market;this is compounded by the fact that Essential Requirements for packaging have been found to be unenforceable in practice by a study for the Commission; - that the implementation of legal requirements is considered satisfactory, but wide discrepancies and margin of error exist in Member State’s data reporting;inaccurate estimates may be due to insufficient incentives for correct reporting, exclusion of small producers from data reporting, existence of free- riders, incomplete coverage of online sales and cross-border purchases, exclusion from the calculation of reusable packaging put on the market for the first time;a 2018 study on waste statistics commissioned by the Commission shows that a significant margin of error is due to leeway in the interpretation of legally binding obligations, insufficient verification of data, wide variation in calculation methods and verification procedures and lack of incentives for accurate reporting; - that the illegal disposal of plastic waste is a serious and complex crime;illegal waste disposal is linked to organized crime and money laundering and is one of the most lucrative illegal markets in the world, on a par with human trafficking and illegal drugs and firearms trade, due to the low risk of prosecution and low fines; - that the update of the Basel convention, which came into effect on 1 January 2021,will reduce the export from the EU to non-OECD countries of plastic packaging waste for recycling, these exports represent almost 30% of reported plastic packaging recycling in the EU, the result will be increased demand for, and pressure on, domestic recycling capacity and a risk of increased illegal waste disposal, this at the same time the EU target for recycling plastic waste is increasing;
Amendment 300 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 c (new)
Paragraph 93 c (new)
93 c. Is concerned by the Court’s observations that the EU’s legal framework to tackle waste crime is marked by shortcomings consisting of lack of data on contaminated sites as well as on sanctions and prosecution rates, difficulties in determining which behaviour constitutes environmental crime due to legal uncertainties such as the definition of waste versus end-of- waste, failure of EU legal acts to address the growing involvement of organised criminal groups in environmental crime, which is then associated with other crimes such as money laundering, absence of harmonised EU rules on the mix of sanctions (administrative/criminal/ civil), lack of specialised police forces, prosecutors’ offices and judges to deal with environmental crime;
Amendment 301 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 d (new)
Paragraph 93 d (new)
93 d. Notes that chemical recycling can encompass many different technologies, which are not yet a technologically or economically feasible waste treatment option while landfilling is set to be dramatically reduced; is of the opinion that recycling capacities need to be drastically increased to improve the technological and economic feasibility of recycling; is convinced that increasing the capacity of legal disposal of plastics waste for producers of plastic packaging to meet their obligation under the EPR schemes will have a positive impact on the problem of illegal waste trafficking and other waste crimes;
Amendment 302 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 e (new)
Paragraph 93 e (new)
93 e. Welcomes the own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste as a good instrument to incentivise Member States to improve recycling; highlights in this regard the need for proper reporting;
Amendment 316 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 (new)
-1 conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons and potential structural problems causing the persisting systemic weaknesses detected by the Court in its audits every year and pay special attention to any potential country-specific differences; asks the Commission to also include observations on best practice in national authorities with low levels of errors and whose work is deemed reliable by the Court; asks the Commission to conduct this analysis in close cooperation with the Court and actively involve national authorities both regarding the problem description and potential solutions;
Amendment 317 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 a (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 a (new)
-1 a -share the results of this analysis with the Court, the discharge authority and Member States;
Amendment 318 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 b (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 b (new)
-1 b based on this analysis, address clear, practical and readily implementable horizontal as well as country-specific recommendations to the national authorities; asks the Commission to establish a structured dialogue with the national authorities and the Court to continuously work on capacity building and exchange of best practice to improve the reliability of national audit authorities’ work; keep the discharge authority informed about the progress of this dialogue;
Amendment 335 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 a (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 a (new)
- draw on the Court’s observations on plastic waste for the review of Directive 2008/99/EC particularly with regards to minimum standards and clear definitions of different waste crimes;
Amendment 336 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 b (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 b (new)
- address the problem of the lack of capacity for recycling and incineration as a means to reduce waste crimes, such as waste trafficking by increasing capacity for legal disposal of plastic waste and its economic attractiveness for producers of plastics waste;
Amendment 337 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 c (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 c (new)
- improve the definition of recycling and the requirements for reporting on recycling, particularly for the own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste; asks the Commission to assess the possibility for digitalising the reporting and monitoring of waste flows between operators to increase the ability to detect irregularities and indications for waste trafficking;
Amendment 338 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 d (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 d (new)
- analyse in close cooperation with the responsible national authorities the reasons behind the low absorption of funds available for waste management infrastructure and inform the discharge authority about the findings; inform the discharge authority about how the Commission is assisting Member States in increasing the absorption rate and explore further avenues of assistance;
Amendment 339 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 e (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 e (new)
- inform the discharge authority of any reallocation of cohesion funding from funds intended to support recycling and waste management to other areas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 340 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 f (new)
Paragraph 94 – indent 2 f (new)
- prioritise as a matter of urgency the review of Essential Requirements for packaging in order to accelerate the adaptation of plastic packaging design and manufacturing in favour of recyclability and sustainability in time to support the achievement of the 2025 plastic packaging recycling target;
Amendment 359 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99 a (new)
Paragraph 99 a (new)
99 a. Is very concerned by media reports about European co-financed construction, renovation or modification of buildings for the purpose of vocational training, where these buildings were repurposed after the minimum required period of three years; regrets allegations of fraud and personal enrichment from this repurposing; regrets that the Commission has not been able to provide additional information to dispel all remaining doubts; welcomes the intention of the Commission to properly follow-up on these allegations;
Amendment 360 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99 b (new)
Paragraph 99 b (new)
99 b. Considers the legal minimum durability requirement of three to five years too short given the significant amount invested and the longevity of such projects; regrets that the co-legislators did not decide to introduce longer durability requirements during the revision of the [Common Provisions Regulation]; notes that significant differences exist across Member States in the national rules on durability of infrastructure investments and premature repurposing;
Amendment 405 #
Amendment 406 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 a (new)
Paragraph 116 a (new)
116 a. Calls on the Commission to: - follow up on allegation of alleged fraud regarding the repurposing of vocational training centres;analyse whether similar problems exist in other Member States regarding the repurposing of EU-co- financed infrastructure projects; - promptly inform the discharge authority about its findings and potential further action following this analysis; - conduct a thorough analysis on the different national rules on durability of infrastructure investments and premature repurposing and share this analysis with the discharge authority; - encourage Member States to create national legislation on adequate durability periods beyond the minimum requirements as already existing in a lot of Member States;
Amendment 413 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 119
Paragraph 119
119. Finds it worryingNotes that of the 251 transactions examined7 , 44 (18 %) contained errors while 207 (82 %) were error-free; is concernednotes that based on the 36 errors ECA has quantified and other evidence produced by the control system ECA finds the level of error for ‘Natural resources’ to be close to the materiality threshold; _________________ 7The sample consisted of 136 payments under rural development programmes, 95 direct payments, 14 market measures and 6 payments for fisheries, the environment and climate action.
Amendment 419 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 123
Paragraph 123
123. Notes that of 68 rural development payments based on the area or animal numbers declared by farmers, and on requirements to comply with environmental and climate-related criteria, 8 transactions were affected by small errors below 5 % of the amount examined, 1 case of error between 5 % and 20 %, in 2 other cases the beneficiaries breached environmental and climate- related eligibility conditions, leading to errors exceeding 20 % of the amount examined in both cases;
Amendment 426 #
2020/2140(DEC)
126. Is concerned by the limitations in the reliability of the results of the certification bodies’ work, due to weaknesses the Court identified in some certification bodies’ checks and sampling methodologies; regrets that the Court cannot include an analysis for the reasons for these persisting weaknesses in its work; regrets that neither the Commission could contribute meaningful insights on the reasons and any country-specific differences between Member States’ certification bodies; regrets that this lack of information on the underlying reasons for these persisting, systemic weaknesses in certain certification bodies hinders efficiently and effectively addressing and solving these problems;
Amendment 457 #
Amendment 458 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 a (new)
Paragraph 127 a (new)
127 a. Calls on the Commission to-: - conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons and potential structural problems causing the persisting systemic weaknesses in the reliability and quality of the work by the certifying bodies detected by the Court in its audits every year and pay special attention to any potential country-specific differences;asks the Commission to also include observations on best practice in national authorities with low levels of errors and whose work is deemed reliable by the Court;asks the Commission to conduct this analysis in close cooperation with the Court and actively involve national authorities both regarding the problem description and potential solutions; - - share the results oft his analysis with the Court, the discharge authority and Member States; - - based on this analysis, address clear, practical and readily implementable horizontal as well as country-specific recommendations to the national authorities; asks the Commission to establish a structured dialogue with the national authorities and the Court to continuously work on capacity building and exchange of best practice to improve the reliability of national audit authorities’ work; keep the discharge authority informed about the progress of this dialogue;
Amendment 530 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 a (new)
Paragraph 128 a (new)
Amendment 532 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 b (new)
Paragraph 128 b (new)
128 b. Reiterates its call for the introduction of maximum amounts of payments that one natural person can receive from the first and second pillar of the CAP; is of the opinion that maximum amounts that are defined for natural persons are much harder to circumvent than caps for legal persons; reminds that beneficiaries can artificially split up their companies or create additional companies that all can receive the maximum amount of funding, thereby circumventing a cap defined per legal person; welcomes the intentions of the proposal to count all companies belonging to the same group as one beneficiary, but is of the opinion that this is insufficient: opaque and highly complex company structures often involving entities in several Member States and/or third countries make it very difficult to ensure that all companies belonging to the same group are identified as such and in fact treated as one beneficiary;
Amendment 533 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 c (new)
Paragraph 128 c (new)
128 c. Repeats its concern that CAP subsidies continue to incentivise land- grabbing by criminal and oligarchic structures; reiterates its urgent call on the Commission to establish a complaint mechanism for farmers and SMEs faced with land-grabbing, severe misconduct by national authorities, irregular or biased treatment in tenders or the distribution of subsidies, pressure or intimidation from criminal structures, organised crime or oligarchic structures, or another severe infringement oft heir fundamental rights to lodge a complaint directly with the Commission; welcomes that such a complaint mechanism has been proposed for the new CAP regulation;
Amendment 534 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 d (new)
Paragraph 128 d (new)
128 d. Notes that DG AGRI audits in 2017 and 2019 detected weaknesses in the functioning of the Land Parcel Identification System, the Geospacial Aid Application, the quality of the on-the- spot-checks, as well as excessive delays in the processing of payments, in particular for overlapping claims; welcomes that the Commission has interrupted payments, put the paying agency under probation; notes that the deficiencies in the management and control systems of the paying agency are being addressed in an action plan requested by DG AGRI and reinforced in 2019; notes that the amount at risk is EUR 3.271 mio. for direct payments and EUR 21.596 mio. for rural development and that the conformity clearance procedure is ongoing;
Amendment 535 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 e (new)
Paragraph 128 e (new)
128 e. Notes that OLAF closed three administrative investigations in 2020 on possible misuse of EU funds for agriculture in Slovakia concerning direct payment applications made between 2013 and 2019; regrets that a company was found to intentionally claim EU payments on ineligible land, which was mainly used for non-agricultural activity; finds it alarming that OLAF also identified that certain areas that had been claimed for years by some companies were in fact not covered by legally valid lease contracts;
Amendment 536 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 f (new)
Paragraph 128 f (new)
128 f. Notes further that OLAF’s investigations uncovered several weaknesses in the control and management system for direct payments in Slovakia; regrets that there are only very limited controls on whether the disposal of land by applicants is lawful and that verification checks are limited to overlapping claims; notes OLAF’s finding that the internal verification procedures adopted by the Slovak national authority in charge of the management of agricultural land under State ownership or land without a known private owner should be improved as regards its transparency and legal certainty; notes that as a result of the shortcomings in the verification processes, OLAF considers that overpayments could amount to more than one million euros;
Amendment 537 #
Amendment 538 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 g (new)
Paragraph 128 g (new)
128 g. Calls on the Commission to: - do its utmost in the negotiations on the CAP to ensure that a complaint mechanism for farmers and SMEs will become part of the new CAP regulation; - do its utmost in the negotiations on the CAP to ensure that maximum amounts of payments receivable from the first and second pillar of the CAP are defined per natural person; - keep the discharge authority informed on any new developments regarding the Slovak Agricultural Paying Agency, including specific information on financial corrections; - calls on the Commission to increase efforts to prevent and detect fraud and frequently update its analysis of CAP fraud risks more often and perform an analysis of Member States' prevention measures as a matter of priority;
Amendment 619 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 148 a (new)
Paragraph 148 a (new)
148 a. Notes with astonishment the Commission’s reaction to allegations of fundamental rights concerns at Frontex; is concerned that the communication and cooperation between the Commission and Frontex seems stagnant; calls on the Commission to provide Frontex with clear legal guidance to ensure appropriate and lawful procedures for critical situations at external (sea) borders given the complex geopolitical challenges of these operations;
Amendment 626 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 150 – indent 2
Paragraph 150 – indent 2
- strengthen the performance- monitoring framework by a) ensuring that AMIF EMAS projects contain outinput and outcome indicators with clear targets and baselines where appropriate, and justifying when this is not the case; b) monitoring and reporting the outcomes achieved by EMAS-funded projects; c) for the new MFF 2021-2027, designing the AMIF CMEF indicators, including their baselines and targets before the 2021-2027 projects start;
Amendment 631 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 151 – introductory part
Paragraph 151 – introductory part
151. Welcomes the recommendations issued by the Internal Audit Service of the Commission for DG HOME for 2019 such as:
Amendment 636 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 152
Paragraph 152
152. Welcomes the ongoing implementation by the DG JUST of recommendations issued by the Internal Audit Service of the Commission for DG JUST relating to the impact assessment process and implementation of better regulation guidelines and toolbox;
Amendment 638 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 156 a (new)
Paragraph 156 a (new)
156 a. Is concerned about the hate speech and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks and used in schools by UNRWA; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; requests that all school material, which is not in compliance with these standards will be removed immediately and requests UNRWA to put in place a coherent control system to review and modify curriculums; underlines that one way of ensuring transparency and conformity of school materials is to publish in an open- source platform all its educational materials for teachers, pupils and students as well as its reviews of host country textbooks to allow review by third parties;
Amendment 650 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 157
Paragraph 157
Amendment 658 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 161
Paragraph 161
161. Points out that after the judgement of the General Court of the Union in December 2015 on Western Sahara, Morocco suspended political dialogue covering all Union external policies such as development policy, trade, foreign and security policy from December 2015 until January 2019; notes the Commission’s comments to Special Report 09/2019 that as "policy dialogue was never suspended during the period of difficult political relations between the EU and Morocco, the Commission considers there were no grounds to develop an alternative strategy";
Amendment 659 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 161 a (new)
Paragraph 161 a (new)
161 a. Underlines that Morocco is a long- standing and strategic partner and neighbour of the EU with fruitful cooperation leading to positive results;
Amendment 660 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 162 – introductory part
Paragraph 162 – introductory part
162. StressNotes that the Court identified several problems hamperingchallenges to the effectiveness of Budget Support:
Amendment 667 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163 a (new)
Paragraph 163 a (new)
163 a. Takes note of the Commission’s replies to Special Report 09/2019, particularly that the Commission concludes that EU cooperation has contributed to the implementation of reforms in Morocco, which had a positive impact on the country’s socio-economic development;
Amendment 797 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 187
Paragraph 187
187. Is very critical in relation to the increase in contract staff as a result to special or urgent situations, such as the migration crisis;
Amendment 799 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 188
Paragraph 188
Amendment 808 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 190
Paragraph 190
190. Finds it highly problematicNotes that at the end of 2018, the institutions, bodies and executive agencies employed 11 962 contract staff, (representing an increase of 37 % since 2012); points out that most were employed by the European Commission, mainly in FG IV, the best paid function group, similarly, a majority of contract staff at the executive agencies were in FG III and FG IV (763 and 715 respectively);
Amendment 16 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the decisive contribution of SMEs to innovation, competitiveness, entrepreneurship, job creation and an inclusive labour market; is extremely concerned about the rising unemployment rates in the EU and the risk of millions of people losing their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 crisis; recognises that at present SMEs are faced with severe liquidity problems and, in this context, highlights the need for urgent and sustainable finance to bridge the current investment gap and to reinforce SMEs’ ability to innovate and move towards digitalisation and more sustainable, resource- efficient, circular and climate- neutral solutions, ensuring the successful implementation of the Digital Agenda, the European Green Deal and the related just transition;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the EU recovery instruments and the relevant MFF programmes should complement national schemes, supporting SMEs, particularly in the sectors and regions most affected by the pandemic, and striving to ensure the EU’s industrial independence;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that SME-related actions should be at the core of the EU’s plans and initiatives, particularly those relating to industrial and green recovery plans and initiatives, and should go hand in hand with measures to promote entrepreneurship and protect workers; considers the strengthening of EU rules on coordination of social security systems as essential for labour mobility and protecting workers, in particular those in precarious situations;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the systematic application of health and safety measures in the workplace, and welcomes the guidelines of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) on adapting workplaces and protecting workers in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic; considers that such guidelines should be further developed in order to provide a coordinated and efficient response in case of future cross-border threats to public health; considers also that SMEs employing seasonal and cross-border workers deserve special protection;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the reduction of the regulatory burden and the simplification of rules onprocedures for access toing finance for SMEs and self-employed persons should constitute a cornerstone of the future strategy for European SMEs, and would make a crucial contribution to a speedy economic recovery; recalls, in this context, the importance of technical assistance for SMEs and the self-employed, especially in the initial phase of implementation of European funds and programmes;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was established in 2002 as a reaction to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002; whereas it was created to provide financial assistance to Member States and candidate countries affected by natural disasters, such as flooding, earthquakes, fires, droughts or storms; whereas the EUSF has become one of the main EU instruments for disaster recovery, as well as an expression of solidarity in the EU;
Amendment 8 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas EUSF spending has increased from a five-year average of roughly EUR 270 million from 2002-2015, to a five-year average of EUR 534 million in the period from 2016-2020; whereas this increase is caused by a combination of an increase in damage and an increase in the amount paid out per euro of damage; whereas such increase is also a reflection of the added value of the Fund;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas due to climate change, the severity and frequency of natural disasters and public health emergencies will certainly increase further, increasing also the need for a strong and well- implemented mechanism for disaster recovery;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that, despite the prominence of the COVID-19 crisis, the EUSF needs to continue to provide support to countries recovering from natural disasters; remains concerned about the sufficiency of EUSF funding, especially given the extension of its scope and the merger with the Emergency Aid Reserve in the MFF 2021-2027; notes that the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) has a maximum ceiling of EUR 1,2 billion;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines the need to release financial assistance through the EUSF to the regions and areas that are particularly affected by natural disasters in the Union; considers that the financial assistance provided by the Fund shall be subject to a fair distribution between the most affected regions and areas of the Member States;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the important role of local authorities, namely municipalities, NGOs and civil society in supplying field data to the local and national authorities; highlights, therefore, that effective cooperation with local authorities and NGOs can also enhance the quality of applications; calls on the Member States to develop effective coordination mechanisms to make full use of the contribution of NGOs;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that data collection for applications to the EUSF on the basis of public health crises is a novelty for countries, and may therefore prove particularly challenging; calls on the Commission to pay special attention to this matter and to support countries in all possible ways, including through the provision of technical support;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes with concern that the length of time between a disaster and the full payment of aid, as reported by the Commission in its annual reports on the EUSF, remains one of the central challenges of the EUSF; emphasises that this is of special importance in the current situation, as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change will likely trigger the number of applications to increase substantially, which could lead to further delays; takes note of the Commission’s view that the scope for accelerating the decision-making process for EUSF mobilisation has been fully exploited through the changes introduced in the 2014 EUSF revision and that scope for further accelerating mobilisation of the EUSF is limited; recalls that a rapid response to emergency situations can be crucial to guaranteeing the effective functioning of the EUSF; emphasises that this is especially relevant in regions with limited alternative funding sources; calls on the Commission to exhaust all possible avenues to accelerate the mobilisation of the EUSF under the new MFF arrangements, particularly in the case of less developed regions;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with regret the evaluation’s finding that the implementation reports provided by recipient countries vary significantly in terms of length, content, and level of detail of data; notes with concern that due to this variation, it is not possible to undertake systematic and comparative analyses of achievements or to compare planned with actual outcomes; further notes that the analysed case studies revealed frequent differences between the assumptions made about the priorities for EUSF support in the implementing agreement and what was actually required on the ground; is concerned that this lack of information and comparable data hinders the effective monitoring of the EUSF’s implementation by the Commission and potentially threatens the economical, effective and efficient use of the EUSF, with a negative impact in the promotion of territorial, economic and social cohesion in the EU;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes the evidence from the case studies in the external evaluation report that implementing the full public procurement process in the limited time available in a crisis situation was challenging for some beneficiary states; stresses the importance of ensuring that public procurement procedures are followed by Member States in response to crisis situations; emphasises that any derogations have to ensure the compliance of procurement procedures with the principles of sound financial management and the protection of the Union’s financial interests, including at regional and local levels;
Amendment 37 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on each beneficiary country to detail the preventive measures - including the use of EU structural funds - taken or proposed to limit future damage and to avoid, to the extent possible, a recurrence of similar natural disasters;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Insists that the role of the budgetary authority be fully safeguarded; notes that, under the new multiannual framework, EUSF appropriations are entered in the general budget and made available via transfers; stresses the need to for timely information on such transfers and, regardless of the new procedure, for the Commission to provide the same level information as in the previous MFF; regrets, also, the absence of detailed background information on applications for EUSF support, which hampers scrutiny, and insists that the Commission provide "all available information" in line with Article 4 of the Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Regrets the lack of visibility of the EUSF, which means the role of the Union is not always clearly demonstrated; regrets that the EUSF Regulation contains neither an obligation to publicise EUSF support nor any reporting requirement on this; highlights that Member States have developed good practices for communicating about EUSF support, such as the use of flags and EU logos; calls on the Member States to publicise EUSF financial assistance and to signal the works and services that have been or will be financed by the EUSF; expects that the future revision of the EUSF regulation will include the obligation to publicise and communicate about EUSF support, for example via national media and other outlets, to ensure that citizens are informed;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Emphasizes that future challenges, either concerning climate change or public health emergencies, require primarily a preventive policy, whereas the EUSF is curative in nature; underlines, therefore, the need for effective synergies with other Union policies and programmes, in particular the cohesion policy funds, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the European Green Deal and those supporting disaster prevention and risk management; calls for a revision of the EUSF to ensure that the "build back together" principle is enshrined;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU industrial strategy should strengthen the role of SMEs as the backbone of the European economy; whereas this strategy must serve as a vector for creating more and better jobs and achieve an inclusive and balanced job market, accompanying the transition towards a digital and carbon- neutral industry;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Underlines that SMEs should be at the core of the New Industrial Strategy, as promoters of entrepreneurship and employment in the EU.
Amendment 96 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that EU industrial policy must embrace relocation strategies that promote the recovery of quality employment and manufacturing opportunities back to the EU, in order to increase competitiveness and cohesion and avoid excessive dependency on foreign providers, particularly in strategic sectors such as health, digitalisation and energy, thus strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy;
Amendment 167 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the post-2020 strategy addresses and promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in industrial sectors and workplaces, by tackling discrimination, fostering solidarity and ensuring accessibility by removing physical, digital and social barriers.
Amendment 2 #
2020/2068(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that, according to Articles 174 and 349 TFEU, the European Union shall pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its territorial cohesion and taking into account the special characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions; points out that the same natural disaster in an outermost region has a greater social and economic impact than in any other European region and consequently the recovery is slower; believes, therefore, that the outermost regions should benefit from increased funding under the scope of the EUSF;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) as central in ensuring the success of the Green Deal and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economy, while fostering territorial, social and economic cohesion and ensuring that no citizen or region is left behind;
Amendment 91 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the success of the EU’s aim to achieve climate neutrality will depend on the adequacy of the financing and insists that the link between expenditure and revenue, namely through the creation of new own resources, will be key to the implementation of the Green Deal;
Amendment 117 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Questions whether the SEIP, as currently constituted, will enable the mobilisation of EUR 1 trillion by 2030, given the negative economic outlook following the COVID-19 crisis; calls on the Commission to evaluate the need for changes in the SEIP as a result of this new outlook; requests the Commission to ensure full transparency on financing issues, such as the optimistic leverage effect or the lack of clarity over the extrapolations of certain amounts; furthermore questions how the new MFF as proposed by the Commission in its revised proposals of 27 and 28 May 2020 would enable the achievement of the SEIP targets;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Wishes to see it ensured that funding from the SEIP, at EU and national level, goes towards the policies and programmes with the highest potential to contribute to the fight against climate change and to the climate transition of the European companies, in particular of the European SMEs, and looks forward to the Commission’s upcoming climate tracking methodology using appropriately the criteria established by the EU taxonomy;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the proposal to top up the Just Transition Fund (JTF), including with additional funds from Next Generation EU, and the two additional pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, namely a dedicated scheme under InvestEU and a public sector loan facility, which will contribute to alleviating the economic effects of the transition to climate neutrality on the most vulnerable regions in the EU; points out that the new proposals should not contribute to drain the cohesion policy through mandatory transfers from the national envelopes of the Member States;
Amendment 257 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the role of InvestEU in the implementation and functioning of the SEIP and considers that it should be at the heart of the Union’s green, fair and resilient recovery; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s proposal to increase the programme’s size and scope; welcomes the proposal to create a Strategic Investment Facility within InvestEU to promote sustainable investments in key technologies and value chains; acknowledges that such proposal builds on a previous agreement between the Council and the European Parliament and believes that this agreement should be the basis for the upcoming negotiations;
Amendment 308 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reaffirms its previous position regarding candidates for new own resources, and calls on the Commission to propose new own resources which correspond to essential EU objectives including the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment; asks, therefore, for the introduction of new own resources based on the auction revenues of the Emissions Trading System, a contribution on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, the future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base or a precursor based on operations of large enterprises, a tax on digital companies, and a financial transaction tax;
Amendment 442 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls the Commission to ensure that European citizens do not pay twice the lack of investment of big CO2 emitting companies which did not use their free allocation within the ETS to make the sustainable investments needed to support the European effort towards climate neutrality;
Amendment 506 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that recovery and resilience plans will be based on shared EU priorities; highlights in this context the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights; seeks the inclusion of priorities in areas such as employment, skills, education, entrepreneurship, research and innovation and health, but also in areas related to the business environment, including public administration and the financial sector;
Amendment 516 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the Solvency Support Instrument to level the playing field in the single market, and the introduction of ‘transition plans’ for certain companies to increase the sustainability of their activities; considers that societystresses the importance of ensuring that the push for sustainability is accompanied by mechanisms that ensure that EU firms remain competitive internationally; considers, furthermore, that the European citizens can ask for a quid pro quo when providing support to companies; believes that transition plans should be obligatory for companies seeking state aid or EU-level support unless it is clear that they do not engage in environmentally or socially harmful activities; urges the Commission to only approve transition plans that set businesses on the path to the climate-neutral and circular economy without significantly harming any other environmental or social objectives;
Amendment 532 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Invites the Commission to revise the Energy Tax Directive and coordinate a kerosene tax that could also feed into the EU budget; put forward new own resources, without penalizing the EU citizens, while contributing to achieve the EU climate targets; considers, moreover, that the Commission should propose duties on the products entering the EU from countries with lower environmental standards;
Amendment 6 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas on 2 May 2018, the Commission presented a set of legislative proposals on the 2021-2027 MFF and Union Own Resources, followed by legislative proposals for the setting-up of new Union programmes and instruments; whereas this proposal entailed an overall MFF ceiling of EUR 1 134.6 billion in 2018 prices, or 1,11 % of the pre-crisis EU-27’s GNI1a (including 0,03 % from the European Development Fund), which was already lower than the estimated 1,16 % of the 2014-2020 MFF in relation to the EU- 27’s GNI (EUR 1 082.3 billion in 2018 prices), with the stated objective to provide a basis for a swift negotiation to be concluded before the Parliament elections of 2019; _________________ 1aGross National Income as forecast at the time of presentation of the MFF proposal on 2 May 2018, not taking into account subsequent and upcoming evolutions notably as a result of the Corona emergency.
Amendment 9 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Parliament adopted on 14 November 2018 its interim report with detailed figures, amounting to an overall MFF ceiling of EUR 1 324.1 billion in 2018 prices (1,30 % of the EU-27’s GNI), and amendments constituting its negotiating mandate and has stood ready, since then, to enter into negotiations with the Council;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the Covid-19 outbreak has overshadowed the MFF-related debate and will, despite highlighting the importance and the potential of a strong EU budget, has further delayed the European Council in reaching its conclusions’s debate and agreement on the next MFF and is affecting the conditions in which interinstitutional negotiations could be carried out;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the basic acts of a considerable number of the current expenditure programmes however contain expiry dates that, together with lack of operational preparedness, might undermine the safety net provided by the TFEU; whereas those expiry dates would have to be extended or lifted in order to be brought into consistency with the principles underpinning Article 312(4) TFEU and to avoid a shutdown of the concerned programmes, which would be to the detriment of its beneficiaries and of the Union as a whole, especially in times of crisis;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
O a. whereas the Covid-19 makes it even more compelling to eliminate any risk of discontinuity or disorderly extension of the current MFF and programmes; whereas it becomes increasingly important to guarantee that the Union will be enabled to carry out its operations and to provide an ambitious crisis response and recovery strategy despite the uncertain date of the entry into force of a new MFF; whereas the Commission should deliver to stakeholders an unequivocal message in that respect;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O b (new)
Recital O b (new)
Amendment 38 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Requests the MFF contingency plan to: – lift or extend the time limits laid down in the basic acts of all relevant MFF expenditure programmes; – where legally necessary notably under shared management programmes, update the relevant financial amounts on the basis of a technical prolongation of the 2020 levels; – revise the rules and objectives governing the relevant expenditure programmes so that they can be temporarily refocused on addressing the immediate economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak and on helping in the economic recovery; – allow for targeted reinforcements to this end; – allow for the setting-up of the most urgent new instruments and initiatives;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 1
Annex I – part A – point 1
1. The MFF contingency plan aims at providing a safety net to protect the beneficiaries of the Union programmes in the event that the 2021-2027 MFF could not be agreed in time to enter into force on 1 January 2021. The MFF contingency plan should ensure a satisfactory degree of predictability and continuity in Union budget implementation; . Furthermore, it should enable the Union to provide a response to the immediate social and economic consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak and to work on the recovery;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 2
Annex I – part A – point 2
2. The MFF contingency plan shall include one or several legislative proposal(s) to lift or extend the time limits laid down in the basic acts of all concerned expenditure programmes and, where legally necessary notably under shared management programmes, update the relevant financial amounts on the basis of a technical prolongation of the 2020 levels. The legislative proposal(s) should also include a temporary refocusing of the objectives of all the relevant expenditure programmes, so that they can best address the immediate consequences of the Covid- 19 outbreak. For the same purpose, wherever relevant, the proposal(s) should include a re-adjustment of the rules to allow for maximum flexibility in the implementation notably of shared management programmes, including the prolongation of all legislative measures adopted in 2020, in response to the crisis;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 2 a (new)
Annex I – part A – point 2 a (new)
2 a. The MFF contingency plan should allow for targeted reinforcements of the relevant expenditure programmes in the 2021 budget and for the setting-up of the most urgent new instruments, measures and programmes, especially relating to a recovery plan after the Covid-19 outbreak;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 4
Annex I – part A – point 4
4. The measures necessary for the implementation of the contingency plan shall be financed through the annual budget, within the limits of the MFF ceilings for 2020 and of the flexibility provisions of the 2014-2020 MFF, as extended in accordance with Article 312(4) TFEU, i.e. on the basis of a technical prolongation of the amounts already agreed by the budgetary authority in 2020, increased by the 2% deflator, and of any of the additional abovementioned initiatives. This technical prolongation should also determine the national envelopes under the shared management programmes.
Amendment 61 #
2020/2051(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1
Annex I – part B – point 1
1. One or several legislative proposal(s) to: – lift or extend the time limits laid down in the basic acts of all relevant MFF expenditure programmes and, – where legally necessary notably under shared management programmes, update the relevant financial amounts on the basis of a technical prolongation of the 2020 levels, – revise the rules and objectives governing the relevant expenditure programmes so that they can be temporarily refocused on addressing the immediate economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak and on helping in the economic recovery.
Amendment 43 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is determined to ensure that the CBAM-based own resource constitute universal income and that it be deemed to cover a share of the repayment costs of the Next Generation EU instrumentwill be part of a basket of own resources raising an amount sufficient to cover at least the level of overall expected expenditure for the repayment of the principal and the interests of the borrowing for expenditure referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 3b of the [Own Resources Decision], while respecting the principle of universality; underlines that the revenue from this basket in excess of the needs for repayment shall continue to fund the Union budget as general revenue in line with the principle of universality;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. Whereas the third sector, which comprises NPOs, plays an essential role in the development of societies at the social, environmental, cultural and even economic levels; highlighting the important role played by these organisations, particularly in remote areas such as the outermost regions, as natural partners of the regional and local authorities in affronting the limitations inherent in their remote nature;
Amendment 6 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas third-sector organisations are relevant in the area of health, particularly those active in the prevention and early detection of diseases, especially in remote, island and archipelagic regions with correspondingly vulnerable health systems;
Amendment 7 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. Whereas, despite the important role they play in society, NPOs often face financial instability in pursuing their activities;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. Whereas NPOs active in the fields of education, health, training and integration into the workforce are important to society;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that NPOs often provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities as well as for persons from other disadvantaged groupsvulnerable groups, such as women and young people seeking their first contact with the labour market;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls for up-to-date and reliable data, with harmonised criteria, on the activities of the third sector in the EU, especially those of NPOs, with regard in particular to job creation (at NUTS II level as a minimum);
Amendment 41 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Advocates that the registration of NPOs should not be hindered on account of their size, turnover or origin;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Urges Member States to allow the registration process for NPOs to be carried out digitally, and especially those based in remote territories, such as the outermost regions; Highlights the importance of making all information about the process of acquiring NPO status available online;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls the importance of NPOs in developing volunteer programmes, which enable young people to come into contact with different social realities and acquire important skills for their socio- professional integration;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that NPOs often have a strong local and regional basis, which gives them the advantage of being more aware of specific local needs and of being able to offer the products and services required in the area, thus improving economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Maintains that the acquisition of this status should not prevent NPOs from receiving support or protocols from national, regional or local authorities with a view to pursuing objectives in the collective interest;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2026(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses that the acquisition of this status should not add excessive bureaucracy or additional financial burdens for NPOs with limited human and financial resources, or create obstacles to the pursuit of their activities;
Amendment 20 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Decides to increase to the levels set up in the MFF interim report of November 2018 the fifteen flagship programmes identified in its resolution of 23 July 2020 (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Erasmus+, the Child Guarantee, the Just Transition Fund, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, LIFE+, EU4health, the Integrated Border Management Fund, Creative Europe, the Right and Values programme, the European Defence Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as relevant EU agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office); decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB; considers that any increase for the flagship programmes should be accompanied by the corresponding rise of the ceiling of the given MFF heading; decides to reinforce funding for Parliament’s priorities inter allia in the fields of energy, digital and transport interconnectivity, security, migration, fundamental rights and, external action and tourism;
Amendment 44 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments and to support the solvency of companies established in the Member States and operating in the Union;
Amendment 51 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network, supporting energy project and interconnectivity, supporting transport and energy projects across Member States in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re- skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the digital, transport and energy strands;
Amendment 97 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. Reminds that tourism and the hospitality sector were severely and particularly hit by the consequences of the COVID-19; recalls, in this regard, its request for the introduction of a specific allocation for sustainable tourism in the interim report on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 - Parliament's position with a view to an agreement; believes, furthermore, that the pandemic increased the need for the European Commission to put forward a specific programme on sustainable tourism in the EU.
Amendment 99 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Highlights the particularly difficult socio-economic circumstances in the Union’s outermost regions, compounded by the impact of the Corona crisis; against this background, proposes a top-up for the budget line covering the POSEI programme for the maintenance of the agricultural activity and for the supply of food and agricultural products in the outermost regions, which must be provided with adequate resources; furthermore, underlines the importance of taking in account the special characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions when designing EU programs and funds in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021- 2027 and in the Next Generation EU.
Amendment 1 #
2020/1996(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas SMEs are the backbone of the region’s economy which has more than 95% of its enterprises with less than 250 workers and whereas the 38 enterprises concerned by this application are SMEs; whereas Galicia is part of the Atlantic Axis association and its economy considerably relies on cross-border companies and workers;
Amendment 3 #
2020/1996(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 111 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. In accordance with the allocation criteria set out in Annex I of this Regulation, Member States adversely affected in the fisheries sector shall receive minimum resources of EUR 2 653 020 in current prices due to the limitation of fishing activities.
Amendment 118 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) a pre-financing amount of EUR 4 244 832 000782 811 575 shall be made available in 2021 in accordance with Article 8;
Amendment 124 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) additional amounts of EUR 1 126 162 000588 182 425 shall be made available in 2024 in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 126 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to enable Member States to deploy the additional resources and to ensure sufficient financial means to swiftly implement measures under the Reserve, a substantial amount thereof should be disbursed in 2021 as pre-financing. The distribution method should have a minimum threshold and take into account the importance of trade with the United Kingdom and the importance of fisheries in the United Kingdom exclusive economic zone, based on reliable and official statistics. Given the unique nature of the event that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union constitutes and the uncertainty that has surrounded key aspects of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Union after the expiry of the transition period, it is difficult to anticipate the appropriate measures Member States will have to take rapidly to counter the effects of the withdrawal. It is therefore necessary to grant Member States flexibility and in particular to allow the Commission to adopt the financing decision providing the pre-financing without the obligation pursuant to Article 110(2) of the Financial Regulation to provide a description of the concrete actions to be financed.
Amendment 170 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In accordance with the allocation criteria set out in Annex I of this Regulation, Member States adversely affected in the fisheries sector shall receive minimum resources of EUR 2 653 020 in current prices due to limitation of fishing activities.
Amendment 175 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) a pre-financing amount of EUR 4 244 832 000782 811 575 shall be made available in 2021 in accordance with Article 8;
Amendment 182 #
2020/0380(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) additional amounts of EUR 1 126 162 000588 182 425 shall be made available in 2024 in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 2 #
2020/0319(NLE)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Refuses to gGives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;
Amendment 87 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The Facility will work in synergy and complementarity with the InvestEU, allowing Member States to allocate in the Recovery and Resilience Plan an amount to be delivered through InvestEU to support the solvency of companies established in the Member States and preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities thereof.
Amendment 146 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the Union and in the world, calling for an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the enormous economic and social consequences for all Member. The challenges linked to the demographic context have been amplified by COVID-19. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The medium and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis will critically depend on how quickly Member States’ economies will recover from the crisis, which in turn depends on the fiscal space Member States have available to take measures to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis, and on the resilience of their economies. Reforms andGrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies back on a sustainable recovery path and avoid further widening of the divergences in the Union.
Amendment 156 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The amounts referred to in paragraph 1(a) may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of each instrument and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, in so far as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, corporate information technology tools, and all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of each instrument. Expenses may also cover the costsso far as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, and provided they are not eligible actions for technical support pursuant to Article 7 of the Regulation of other supporting activities such as quality control and monitoring of projects on European Parliament and of the grCound and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of reforms and investcil establishing a Technical Support Instruments.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a Use of the Facility delivered through or combined with InvestEU 1. In accordance with the requirements set out in this Article, Member States may allocate on a voluntary basis, in the Recovery and Resilience Plan, an amount to be delivered through InvestEU. The amount to be delivered through InvestEU shall be used to support the solvency of companies established in the Member States concerned and shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 4. The Recovery and Resilience Plan shall contain the justification of the use of the InvestEU budgetary guarantees. In the allocations referred to in the first subparagraph Member States may allocate part of the resources set out in Article 5(2) to be contributed to InvestEU for the corresponding InvestEU Assistance for activities set out in the contribution agreement referred to in Article [9] of [InvestEU Regulation]. 2. For the requests for an amendment of a Recovery and Resilience Plan referred to in Article 18, only resources of future years may be identified. 3. The amount referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall be used for the provisioning of the part of the EU guarantee under the Member State compartment. 4. Where a contribution agreement, as set out in Article [9] of the [InvestEU Regulation], has not been concluded [by 31 December 2021] for an amount referred to in paragraph 1, the Member State shall submit a request for amendment of the Recovery and Resilience Plan in accordance with Article 18, to use the corresponding amount. The contribution agreement for an amount referred to in paragraph 1 allocated in the request of the amendment of a Recovery and Resilience Plan shall be concluded simultaneously with the adoption of the decision amending the Plan. 5. Where a guarantee agreement, as set out in Article [9] of the [InvestEU Regulation], has not been concluded within [9] months from the approval of the contribution agreement, the respective amounts shall be transferred back to the Facility and the Member State shall submit a corresponding request for amendment of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. 6. Where a guarantee agreement, as set out in Article [9] of the [InvestEU Regulation], has not been fully implemented within [four years] from the signature of the guarantee agreement, the Member State may request that amounts committed in the guarantee agreement but not covering underlying loans or other risk bearing instruments shall be treated in accordance with paragraph 5. 7. Resources generated by or attributable to the amounts contributed to InvestEU and delivered through budgetary guarantees shall be made available to the Member State and shall be used for repayable forms of support in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Amendment 164 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The implementation of growth enhancing reforms contributing to achieve a high degree of resilience of domestic economies, strengthening adjustment capacity and unlocking growth potential are among the Union’s policy priorities. They are therefore crucial to set the recovery on a sustainable path and support the process of upward economic and social convergence. This is even more necessary in the aftermath of the pandemic crisis to pave the way for a swift recovery.
Amendment 177 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plans shall be consistent with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular those relevant for or resulting from the green and digital transition, as well as territorial, social and economic cohesion. The recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the national reform programmes under the European Semester, in their national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under the Regulation (EU)2018/199921 , in the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund22 , and in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under the Union funds. __________________ 21Regulation (EU)2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. 22 […]
Amendment 187 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Past experiences have shown that sustainable investment is often drastically cut during crises. However, it is essential to support investment in this particular situation to speed up the recovery and strengthen long- term growth potential. Investing in green and digital technologies, capacities and processes aimed at assisting clean energy transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economic are important to achieve sustainable growth and help create jobs. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains.
Amendment 188 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) an explanation of how the plan strengthens the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State concerned, mitigates the economic and social impact of the crisis, particularly for the SMEs, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 199 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Currently, no instrument foresees direct financial support linked to the achievement of results and to implementation of reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable public investments of the Member States in response to challenges identified in the European Semester, and with a view to having a lasting impact on the productivity and resilience of the economy of the Member States.
Amendment 211 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of growth enhancing reforms and related sustainable public investments in the Member States. The Facility should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes. The Facility should be of a temporary character and limited to tackling the adverse effects of the pandemic.
Amendment 233 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The Facility will work in synergy and complementarity with InvestEU, allowing Member States to allocate in their recovery and resilience plans an amount to be delivered through InvestEU to support the solvency of companies established in the Member States and the preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities thereof.
Amendment 290 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to enable measures to be taken that link the Facility to sound economic governance, with a view to ensuring uniform implementing conditions, the power should be conferred on the Council to suspend, on a proposal from the Commission and by means of implementing acts, the period of time for the adoption of decisions on proposals for recovery and resilience plans and to suspend payments under this Facility, in the event of significant non-compliance in relation to the relevant cases related to the economic governance process laid down in the Regulation (EU) No XXX/XX of the European Parliament and of the Council [CPR] (…). The power to lift those suspensions by means of implementing acts, on a proposal from the Commission, should also be conferred on the Council in relation to the same relevant cases.
Amendment 314 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Facility’s general objective should be the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion. For that purpose, it should contribute to improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, and supporting the green and digital transitions aimed at achieving a climate neutral Europe by 2050, thereby restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union in the aftermath of the crisis, fostering employment creation and to promoting sustainable growth. Supported actions should have a clear European added value.
Amendment 323 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The resources of the Facility, as part of the Recovery Instrument (Next Generation EU), should be accompanied by a clear and credible repayment plan. The repayment should be done by means of additional own resources which should be in place in the course of the next MFF.
Amendment 328 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The specific objective of the Facility should be to provide financial support with a view to achieving the clear milestones and targets of reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments as set out in recovery and resilience plans. That specific objective should be pursued in close cooperation with the Member States concerned.
Amendment 329 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The Facility should not support projects that are part of the strategic investment plans of third countries nor regular national budgetary expenditure.
Amendment 352 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) To ensure its contribution to the objectives of the Facility, the recovery and resilience plan should comprise measures for the implementation of reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable public investment projects through a coherent recovery and resilience plan. The recovery and resilience plan should be consistentaligned with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, with the national reform programmes, the national energy and climate plans, the just transition plans, and the partnership agreements and operational programmes adopted under the Union funds. To boost actions that fall within the priorities of the European Green Deal and the Digital Agenda, the plan should also set out measures that are relevant for the green and digital transitions. The measures should enable a swift deliver of targets, objectives and contributions set out in national energy and climate plans and updates thereof. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union.
Amendment 386 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to ensure a meaningful financial contribution commensurate to the actual needs of Member States to undertake and complete the reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available to them under the Facility as far as the financial support (i.e. the non- repayable financial support) is concerned. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the population, the inverse of the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and, the relative unemployment rate of each Member State and the GDP contraction in 2019-2020.
Amendment 407 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the national ownership and a focus on relevant reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments, Member States wishing to receive support should submit to the Commission a recovery and resilience plan that is duly reasoned and substantiated. The recovery and resilience plan should set out the detailed set of measures for its implementation, including clear targets and milestones, and the expected impact of the recovery and resilience plan on growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience; it should also include measures that are relevant for the green and the digital transitions; it should also include an explanation of the consistencyalignment of the proposed recovery and resilience plan with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester; for euro area countries particular attention should be given to the relevant recommendations for the euro area as endorsed by the Council. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States should be sought and achieved throughout the process.
Amendment 431 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Commission should assess the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member States and should act in close cooperation with the Member State concerned. The Commission will fully respect the national ownership of the process and will therefore take into account the justificationassess the alignment and elements provided by the Member State concerned and assess whether the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member State is expected to contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendation addressed to the Member State concerned or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester; for euro area countries particular attention should be given to the relevant recommendations for the euro area as endorsed by the Council; whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green and the digital transitions and to addressing the challenges resulting from them; whether the plan is expected to have a lastingdurable impact in the Member State concerned; whether the plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis and contribute to enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion; whether the justification provided by the Member State of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment; whether the proposed recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable public investment projects that represent coherent actions; and whether the arrangement proposed by the Member State concerned are expected to ensure effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the proposed clear milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 438 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)
Recital 22 a (new)
(22a) In order to ensure the national ownership, linking disbursements from the Facility to the challenges identified in the CSRs, as well as monitoring the progress made on the implementation of the growth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments should be enhanced.
Amendment 477 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The request for a loan should be justified by the financial needs linked to additional reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, notably relevant for the green and digital transitions, and by therefore, by a higher cost of the plan than the maximum financial contribution (to be) allocated via the non-repayable contribution. It should be possible to submit the request for a loan together with the submission of the plan. In case the request for loan is made at a different moment in time, it should be accompanied by a revised plan with additional clear milestones and targets. To ensure frontloading of resources, Member States should request a loan support at the latest by 31 August 2024. For the purposes of sound financial management, the total amount of all the loans granted under this Regulation should be capped. In addition, the maximum volume of the loan for each Member State should not exceed 4.7% of its Gross National Income. An increase of the capped amount should be possible in exceptional circumstances subject to available resources. For the same reasons of sound financial management, it should be possible to pay the loan in instalments against the fulfilment of results.
Amendment 493 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) For reasons of efficiency and simplification in the financial management of the instrument, the Union financial support to recovery and resilience plans should take the form of a financing based on the achievement of results measured by reference to clear milestones and targets indicated in the approved recovery and resilience plans. To this effect, the additional loan support should be linked to the additional milestones and targets compared to those relevant for the financial support (i.e. the non-repayable support).
Amendment 495 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) Member States should report in their annual implementation reports on sound financial management. Therefore, specific requirements should be formulated.
Amendment 502 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) For the purpose of sound financial management, specific rules should be laid down for budget commitments, payments, suspension, cancellation and recovery of funds. To ensure predictability, it should be possible for Member States toshould submit requests for payments on a biannual basis. Payments should be made in instalments and be based on a positive assessment by the Commission of the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan by the Member State. Suspension and cancellation of the financial contribution should be possible when the recovery and resilience plan has not been implemented in a satisfactory manner by the Member State. Appropriate contradictory procedures should be established to ensure that the decision by the Commission in relation to suspension, cancellation and recovery of amounts paid respects the right of Member States to provide observations.
Amendment 512 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) For the purposes of transparency, the recovery and resilience plans adopted by the Commission should be communicated to the European Parliament and the Council simultaneously and communication activities should be carried out by the Commission as appropriate. The Commission should ensure the visibility of spending under the Facility by indicating that the projects supported should be clearly labelled as “EU Recovery Initiative”.
Amendment 533 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) It is opportune that the Commission provides an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility set out in this Regulation, as part of the annual Integrated Financial and Accountability Reporting and subject to a special discharge procedure of the European Parliament. This report should include information on the progress made by Member States under the recovery and resilience plans approved; it should also include information on the volume of the proceeds assigned to the Facility under the European Union Recovery Instrument in the previous year, broken down by budget line, and the contribution of the amounts raised through the European Union Recovery Instrument to the achievements of the objectives of the Facility.
Amendment 541 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38 a (new)
Recital 38 a (new)
(38a) The Facility should be available to Member States that have signed the “Rule of Law Pledge” and that are committed to adhering to the rule of law and fundamental values of the Union, as enshrined in the Treaties.
Amendment 542 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38 b (new)
Recital 38 b (new)
(38b) The Commission should be empowered to initiate the suspension of the commitment or payment appropriations to Member States under the Facility in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law where they affect or risk affecting the principles of sound financial management or the protection of the financial interests of the Union. The Facility should provide for clear rules and procedures on initiating the suspension mechanism or on its lifting. In this respect, the procedure to initiate the suspension of the funding under Facility and its subsequent placing into a reserve should be only be blocked if a qualified majority in Council or a majority of Parliament oppose it.
Amendment 558 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The recovery and resilience plans to be implemented by the Member States and the corresponding financial contribution allocated to them should be established by the Commission by way of implementingdelegated act. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementingdelegated powers should be conferred on the Commission. The implementingdelegated powers relating to the adoption of the recovery and resilience plans and to the payment of the financial support upon fulfilment of the relevantclear milestones and targets should be exercised by the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the examination procedure thereof13 . . After the adoption of an implementingdelegated act, it should be possible for the Member State concerned and the Commission to agree on certain operational arrangements of a technical nature, detailing aspects of the implementation with respect to timelines, indicators for the clear milestones and targets, and access to underlying data. To allow the continuous relevance of the operational arrangements in respect of the prevailing circumstances during the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, it should be possible that the elements of such technical arrangements may be modified by mutual consent. Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding. __________________ 13 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 562 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39 a (new)
Recital 39 a (new)
(39a) Spending under the Facility should be subject to a special discharge procedure which should verify whether implementation was in accordance with relevant rules, including the principles of sound financial management.
Amendment 563 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council14 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9515 ,Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9616 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193917 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council18 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to report any suspicion of irregularities or fraud and to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors. For detection and reporting of irregularities and fraud, the Commission has IT-tools at its disposal that shall be used by the recipients of support under the Facility. __________________ 14Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1) 15 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1) 16 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96, p.2) 17Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1) 18 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29)
Amendment 1097 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) whether the provided justification in the recovery and resilience plan is expected towill contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations, including fiscal aspects thereof, and recommendations made under Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No1176/2011, addressed to the Member State concerned, or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester, for euro area countries particular attention shall be given to the recommendations for the euro area as endorsed by the European Council; the measures aligned with the country-specific recommendations shall be prioritised during the disbursal of funds;
Amendment 1107 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(a a) in case a Member State is experiencing imbalances or excessive imbalances as concluded by the Commission after an in-depth review, an explanation of the way the recommendations made under Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 are to be addressed;
Amendment 1110 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a b (new)
(a b) whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the strengthening of the Single Market;
Amendment 1177 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) whether the justification provided by the Member State on the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is in line with the principle of cost-efficiency and commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment; as well as whether the costs are directly linked to the submitted growth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments;
Amendment 1189 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) whether the recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable public investments projects that represent coherent actions;
Amendment 1195 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) whether the arrangements proposed by the Member States concerned are expected to ensure an effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the envisaged timetable, clear milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 1211 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. In case the Member State concerned has requested a loan support as referred to in Article 12, the Commission shall assess whether the request for loan support fulfils the criteria set out in Article 13(1), notably whether the additional reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments concerned by the loan request fulfil the assessment criteria under paragraph 3.
Amendment 1221 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall adopt a decision within fourtwo months of the official submission of the recovery and resilience plan by the Member State, by means of an implement delegated act ing actcordance with Article 26a. In the event that the Commission gives a positive assessment to a recovery and resilience plan, that decision shall set out the growth enhancing reforms and sustainable investment projects to be implemented by the Member State, including the clear milestones and targets, and required for the disbursal of instalment of the financial contribution allocated in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 1233 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The growth enhancing reforms and sustainable investment projects aligned with the country-specific recommendations shall be prioritised for the implementation phase.
Amendment 1235 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. In case the Member State concerned requests a loan support, the decision shall also set out the amount of the loan support as referred to in Article 12(4) and (5) and the additional reforms andgrowth enhancing reforms and sustainable investment projects to be implemented by the Member State covered by that loan support, including the additional and clear milestones and targets.
Amendment 1261 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) the financial contribution to be paid only in instalments once the Member State has satisfactorily implemented the relevantclear milestones and targets identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan; at the request of the European Parliament, following non- attainment of one or several milestones and targets, further instalments shall be withhold, until satisfactory explanation is provided to the European Parliament.
Amendment 1264 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point a a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point a a (new)
(a a) the financial contribution and, where applicable, the amount of loan support to be paid in the form of a pre- financing in accordance with Article 11a after the approval of the recovery and resilience plan;
Amendment 1267 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) the description of the growth enhancing reforms and of the sustainable investment projects and the amount of the estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan;
Amendment 1270 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 1
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 1
(1) as regards completion of the sustainable investment, the investment period by which the investment project must be implemented shall end no later than seven years after the adoption of the decision;
Amendment 1273 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 2
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 2
(2) as regards completion of reforms, the period by which the growth enhancing reforms must be implemented shall end no later than four years after the adoption of the decision.
Amendment 1279 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point e
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point e
(e) the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisagedclear milestones and targets; and
Amendment 1283 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point g
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point g
(g) where appropriate, the amount of the loan to be paid in instalments and the additional clear milestones and targets related to the disbursement of the loan support.
Amendment 1295 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 6
Article 17 – paragraph 6
6. The arrangements and timetable for implementation as referred to in point (d), the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisagedclear milestones and targets referred to in point (e), the arrangements for providing access by the Commission to the underlying data referred to in point (f), and, where appropriate, the additional, clear milestones and targets related to the disbursement of the loan support referred to in point (g) of paragraph 4 shall be further illustrated in an operational arrangement to be agreed by the Member State concerned and the Commission after the adoption of the decision referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 1303 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 7
Article 17 – paragraph 7
7. The implementingdelegated acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).
Amendment 1343 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In 2021, subject to the adoption by the Commission of the legal commitment referred to in Article 19(1), and when requested by a Member State together with the submission of the recovery and resilience plan, the Commission shall make a pre-financing payment of an amount of up to 20% of the legal commitment in the form of non-repayable support, and, where applicable, of up to 20% of the loan support in the form of a loan asset out in accordance with Article 19. By derogation from Article 116(1) of the Financial Regulation, the Commission shall make the corresponding payment within two months after the adoption by the Commission of the legal commitment referred to in Article 19. In cases of pre-financing under paragraph 2a, the financial contributions and, where applicable, the loan support to be paid as referred to in Article 17(4)(a) shall be adjusted proportionally. If the Commission assesses that for one or more milestones or targets there has been a clear regression or in the case of insufficient progress under the respective milestones or targets, the Commission shall proceed to the immediate recovery of the pre-financing part corresponding to the respective investments and reforms. At the same time the Commission shall suspend ongoing procedures until the Member State provides a written explanation and the reimbursement of the undue funds.
Amendment 1356 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Upon completion of the relevant agreed clear milestones and targets indicated in the recovery and resilience plan as approved in the implementingdelegated act of the Commission, the Member State concerned shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution and, where relevant, of the loan tranche. Such requests for payment mayshall be submitted by the Member States to the Commission on a biannual basis. The Commission shall assess, within two months of receiving the request, whether the relevantclear milestones and targets set out in the decision referred to in Article 17(1) have been satisfactorily implemented. For the purpose of the assessment, the operational arrangement referred to in Article 17(6) shall also be taken into account. The Commission may be assisted by experts.
Amendment 1403 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a Reporting to the European Parliament and the Council on the raised funding for the purpose of the Facility The Commission shall transmit a detailed report regarding the financial obligations it has entered in with third parties for the purpose of the financing the of Facility to the European Parliament and the Council on a quarterly basis. The report shall contain a clear and credible repayment plan, without recourse to the MFF in accordance with Article 7. The sensitive or confidential information shall be available to the Members of the European Parliament under pre-agreed strict confidentiality.
Amendment 1404 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 b (new)
Article 20 b (new)
Article 20 b Special discharge procedure 1. The spending under the Facility shall be subject to a special discharge procedure which shall verify whether implementation was in accordance with relevant rules, including the principles of sound financial management. 2. By 1 March following the completion of each financial year, the Commission shall forward to the Court of Auditors, who shall have full auditing rights of the spending under the Facility, the provisional accounts of the Facility, accompanied by the report on budgetary and financial management during the financial year. The Commission shall also send the report on budgetary and financial management to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 March of the following year. 3. The Commission shall take into account the observations of the Court of Auditors when drawing up the final accounts of the spending under the Facility. 4. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, at the latter's request and as provided for in Article 261(3) of the Financial Regulation, any information necessary for the smooth application of the discharge procedure for the financial year in question. 5. The European Parliament, acting by qualified majority, shall, before 15 May of the year N + 2, grant a special discharge to the spending under the Facility. 6. The discharge procedure shall ensure that the Commission will act on the recommendations of the European Parliament before seeking discharge again.
Amendment 1406 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall transmit the recovery and resilience plans as approved in the implementingdelegated act of the Commission in accordance with Article 17 to the European Parliament and the Council without undue delay. The Member State concerned may request the Commission to redact sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State. In order to ensure greater transparency and accountability, Member States representatives responsible of the recovery and resilience plans and the relevant institutions and stakeholders shall, at the request of the European Parliament, appear before the competent committees to discuss the measures provided for and to be taken pursuant to this Regulation. Relevant information shall be made available by Member States, at any stage during the process, to the European Parliament and the Council simultaneously.
Amendment 1414 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 1416 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may engage in communication activities to ensure the visibility of the Union funding for the financial support envisaged in the relevant recovery and resilience plan by displaying a visible label of the Union, including through joint communication activities with the national authorities concerned. The Commission shall ensure the mandatory visibility of spending under the Facility by indicating that the supported projects shall be clearly labelled as ‘EU Recovery Initiative’.
Amendment 1418 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a 1. The Commission shall establish a recovery and resilience scoreboard (the ‘Scoreboard’) displaying the status of implementation of the agreed growth enhancing reforms and sustainable investments through the recovery and resilience plans of each Member State, and the status of the disbursal of instalments to Member States linked to the satisfactorily implementation of the clear milestones and targets. 2. The Scoreboard shall include key indicators, such as social, economic, environmental and competitiveness indicators, that evaluate the progress registered by the recovery and resilience plans in each of the six areas that define the scope of this Regulation. 3. The Scoreboard shall indicate the degree of fulfilment of the clear milestones of the recovery and resilience plans and the identified shortcomings in their implementation, as well as the recommendations of the Commission to address the respective shortcomings. 4. The Scoreboard shall indicate arrangements and timetable for implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, and for the disbursal of instalments linked to the satisfactorily implementation of the clear milestones and targets; 5. The Scoreboard shall also summarise the main recommendations addressed to the Member States as regards their recovery and resilience plans. 6. The Scoreboard shall serve as a basis for a permanent exchange of best practices between Member States which will materialise in the form of a structured dialogue organised on a regular basis. 7. The Scoreboard shall be constantly updated and shall be publicly available on the Commission’s website. It shall indicate the status of payment claims, payments, suspensions and cancellations of financial contributions. 8. The Commission shall present the Scoreboard at a hearing organised by the competent committees of the European Parliament.
Amendment 1439 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The European Parliament shall have the right to fully scrutinise the spending decisions of the Commission. The Commission shall provide full access to the relevant body of the European Parliament and Members, and inform the European Parliament on a quarterly basis of the status of approved plans, modifications approved to those plans, payment applications made, payment decisions taken, the suspension of payments, the cancellation of payments and the recovery of funds. On a quarterly basis, the Commission shall present an overview of this information at a hearing organised by the competent committees of the European Parliament.
Amendment 1442 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The European Parliament shall organise delegation visits to the Member States in order to exercise democratic oversight over the growth enhancing structural reforms and sustainable investments.
Amendment 1443 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament on a quarterly basis by establishing a open-data, publicly- accessible database of the ultimate beneficiaries of the funds from the Facility. The sensitive or confidential information shall be available to the Members of the European Parliament under pre-agreed strict confidentiality.
Amendment 1444 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 a (new)
Article 23 a (new)
Article 23 a Ex-post monitoring of the completed projects For the purpose of the effective use of the resources and the durability of the completed projects under the Facility, the Commission shall establish an effective monitoring framework for the completed projects.
Amendment 1452 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Article 24 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall provide an annual quarterly report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 1462 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
2. The annual report shall include information on the progress made with the recovery and resilience plans of the Member States concerned under the Facility.
Amendment 1467 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The annual report shall also include the following information:
Amendment 1474 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(b a) a section for each Member State detailing the respect of the principle of sound financial management in accordance with Article 61 of the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 1486 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The report shall be transmitted to the European Parliament and the European Council as part of the Integrated Financial Accountability Reporting and shall be part of the special discharge procedure of the Facility.
Amendment 1504 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding by displaying a visible label of the Union, in particular when promoting the actions and their results, by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public. The recipients shall ensure the mandatory visibility of spending under the Facility by clearly labelling the supported projects as ‘EU Recovery Initiative’.
Amendment 47 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the EU and in the world. In the Union, new priorities have emerged, linked with the crisis, specifically focussing on recovery and resilience. They require an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the economic consequences for Member States as well to mitigate the territorial, social and economic fallouts. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. Growth enhancing reforms and investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies and societies back on a sustainable recovery path and overcome the economic, social and territorial divergences in the Union.
Amendment 60 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The general objective of the technical support instrument should be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and convergence. To that effect, it should support the strengthening of the administrative capacity of the Member States to implement Union law, in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, and public administration, andincluding at regional and local levels, as well as economic and social sectors.
Amendment 67 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) With a view to helping Member States address reform needs in all the key economic and societal areas, technical support should continue to be provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, in a broad range of policy domains, which include areas related to public financial and asset management, institutional and administrative reform, business environment, the financial sector, markets for products, services and labour, education and training, sustainable development, public health and social welfare, promotion of active ageing, as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion, civil protection, asylum, migration and border policies. Specific emphasis should be given to the actions that foster the green and digital transitions.
Amendment 70 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) In order to attain the objectives set out in this Regulation, the allocation of the financial envelope should be made in stages. In the first stage, lasting twenty months, half of the overall financial envelope should be made available to the Member States, during which they could receive up to their maximum allocation. In the second stage, the amount that has not yet been allocated should be allocated on top of the remaining of the financial envelope.
Amendment 71 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Due to the exceptional circumstances deriving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant actions started from 1 February 2020 onwards should be eligible for financing under the Instrument, provided they pursue the objectives set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 76 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) For the purposes of accountability, transparency and to ensure visibility of the Union action, subject to certain conditions that protect sensitive information, the cooperation and support plans should be provided to and scrutinized by the European Parliament and the Council and communication activities should be carried out by the Commission as appropriate.
Amendment 78 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Pursuant to paragraphs 22 and 23 of the Interinstitutional Agreement for Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016, there is a need to evaluate the instrument established by this Regulation on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, simplifying administrative procedures and promoting administrative cooperation, in particular on Member States. These requirements, where appropriate, should include measurable indicators, as a basis for evaluating the effects of the instrument on the ground.
Amendment 87 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the instrument shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and upward economic and social convergence, and to support Member States’ efforts to strengthen their administrative capacity to implement Union law in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, and public administration, andincluding at regional and local levels, as well as economic and social sectors.
Amendment 104 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) institutional reform and efficient and service-oriented functioning of public administration and e-government, including, where appropriate, through the simplification of rulesprocedures and promotion of administrative cooperation, effective rule of law, reform of the justice systems and reinforcement of the fight against fraud, corruption and money laundering;
Amendment 107 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) business environment, includingespecially for small and medium-sized enterprises and social economy enterprises, re- industrialisation, private sector development, product and service markets, investment, public participation in enterprises, privatisation processes, trade and foreign direct investment, competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for research and innovation and digitisation;
Amendment 114 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, including social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, up- and re-skilling, in particular digital skills, media literacy, active citizenship, the fight against poverty and excessive income inequality, gender equality, the promotion of social inclusion, adequate and inclusive social security and social welfare systems, accessible and affordable public health and healthcare systems, as well as cohespromotion of active ageing, as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion, civil protection, asylum, migration and border policies;
Amendment 126 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. For a period of twenty months from the date of application of this Regulation, the Commission shall make available for allocation 50% of the overall envelope referred to in paragraph 1. Each Member State may propose to receive up to the full amount of the financial contribution referred to paragraph 1 in order to pursue the objectives set out in Articles 3 and 4 of this Regulation.
Amendment 127 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. For the period starting after the end of the period referred to in the previous paragraph, the Commission shall make available the remaining 50% of the overall envelope referred to in paragraph 1, plus the amount that has not yet been allocated.
Amendment 128 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be transferred to the instrument. The Commission shall implement those resources directly in accordance with point (a) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation or indirectly in accordance with point (c) of that Article. Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned including at regional and local levels.
Amendment 129 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Amendment 131 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) working visits toexchange of best practices with relevant Member States or third countries to enable officials to acquire or increase their expertise or knowledge in relevant matters;
Amendment 136 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The types of action foreseen in the last paragraph should be eligible for financing if started from 1 February 2020 onwards, provided they pursue the objectives set out in Articles 3 and 4 of this Regulation.
Amendment 146 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – title
Article 9 – title
Amendment 149 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall transmit, with the consent of the Member State concerned, the cooperation and support plan to the European Parliament and the Council without undue delay, namely for the purposes of democratic accountability and to ensure visibility of the Union action. The Member State concerned may refuse to give such consent in the case of sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 7 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. To ensure timely availability of resources, a limited part of the work programme, not exceeding 5%, shall be reserved for special measures in the event of unforeseen and duly justified grounds of urgency requiring an immediate response, including a serious disturbance in the economy or significant circumstances seriously affecting the economic or social conditions in a Member State going beyond its control.
Amendment 158 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ensure complementarity, synergy, coherence and consistency among different instruments at Union, national and, where appropriate, region, regional and local levels, in particular in relation to measures financed by Union funds, both in the planning phase and during implementation;
Amendment 159 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation at Union, national and, where appropriate, region, regional and local levels to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions under the instrument.
Amendment 160 #
2020/0103(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. The mid-term evaluation report shall, in particular, assess to which extent the objectives of the instrument referred to Articles 3 and 4 have been achieved, the sufficiency and the efficiency of the use of resources and the European added value. It shall also consider the continued relevance of all objectives and actions.
Amendment 46 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism in order to ensure that all three pillars are working towards the same objectives. The Commission should monitor the complementarity between the three pillars on an ongoing basis and aim to develop synergies where possible.
Amendment 61 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover research and innovation, support to SMEs, energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smart waste management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land and water restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re- skilling, training and social infrastructure, including care facilities and social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters, namely those enhanced by climate change, such as floods and forest fires. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the territorial, social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used.
Amendment 79 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of the Just Transition Mechanism with regard to the need to rebuild the economies of regions most affected by the climate transition. Given the interdependence between the climate transition and sustainable economic growth, there needs to be sufficient resources as part of the Public Sector Loan Facility to address the challenges of the transition to a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2050, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amendment 82 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) EUR [15250 000 000] of the grant component of the Facility are expected to be financed from the Union budget in accordance with [new MFF proposal] and should constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of point 17 of the Inter-institutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management13 , for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure. _________________ 13OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2013. 373.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:C:2013:373 :TOC
Amendment 83 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
Amendment 86 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
Amendment 88 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
Amendment 93 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. This mechanism should be set up by way of a Commission Delegated Act setting out the respective shares for each Member State. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and following a needs-based and regional convergence approach, with an emphasis on those territories most affected by the climate transition.
Amendment 96 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and following a needs-based and regional convergence and territorial cohesion approach.
Amendment 105 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific eligibility conditions and award criteria should be set out in the work programme and the call for proposals. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the overall objective of promoting regional convergence and territorial convergencehesion and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project. Union Support established by this Regulation should thus only be made available to Member States with at least one territorial just transition plan adopted. The work programme and calls for proposals will also take into account the territorial just transition plans submitted by Member States to ensure that coherence and consistency across the different pillars of the mechanism is ensured.
Amendment 109 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Support under this Facility should only be provided to projects that address the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2050 and that do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues thatand would allow them to be financially viable and to be financed solely by loans provided on market termsnot secure project funding to the same extent or within the same timeline without the element of grant support from the Union budget. Own revenues should correspond to revenues, budgetary transfers excepted, generated directly by the activities carried out by the project, such as sales, fees or tolls and as incremental savings generated by the upgrade of existing assets.
Amendment 113 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15 a) Projects supported under this Facility should aim to be financially viable throughout the lifetime of the project. The Commission, in cooperation with beneficiaries and finance partners, should monitor the financial viability of projects under this Facility on an ongoing basis.
Amendment 115 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Since the grant component should reflect the divergent development needs of regions across Member States, such support should be modulatedprioritised in those regions. Taking into account that public sector entities in less developed regions, as defined in Article 102(2) of Regulation [new CPR], generally experience lower public investment capacity, the grant rates applied to loans provided to such entities should be comparatively higher.
Amendment 117 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to ensure an effective implementation of the Facility, it may be necessary to provide advisory support for the preparation, development, and implementation of projects. This support should be provided through the InvestEU Advisory Hub and financed from resources from the EU budget.
Amendment 123 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the grant component of this Facility until 31 December 2024, implementing powersafter the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be conferrdelegated ton the Commission to set out the available national allocations expressed as shares of the overall financial envelope of the Facility for each Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [the JTF Regulation]. The implementing powers should be conferred without comitology procedures given that the shares derive directly from the application of a pre- defined calculation methodology.
Amendment 124 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21 a) The Commission should report annually to the European Parliament and Council on the implementation, impact and activities of the Public Sector Loan Facility in order to provide proper democratic accountability.
Amendment 129 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The objective of this Regulation, namely to leverage public investment in territories, most impacted by the transition towards climate neutrality by addressing the corresponding development needs, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone. The main reasons in this regard are the difficulties for public entities to solely support investments, which do not generate sufficient streams of own revenues and that benefit the territories most negatively impacted by climate transition, and which do not generate sufficient streams of own revenues without EU grant support and the need for a coherent implementation framework under direct management. Since those objectives can be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,
Amendment 138 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental, territorial and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
Amendment 156 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy, while ensuring that no one is left behind as a result of the transition, for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation].
Amendment 159 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The Facility shall have the specific objective of increasing public sector investments, which address the development needs of regions identified in the territorial just transition plans, by facilitating the financing of projects that do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues and would not be financedaddress the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2050 and that do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues and would not secure project funding to the same extent or within the same timeline without the element of grant support from the Union budget.
Amendment 165 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. In pursuing the achievement of the specific objective referred to in paragraph 2, this Regulation also aims at providingenables the provision of advisory support for the preparation, development, and implementation of eligible projects where necessary. That advisory support shall be provided in accordance with the rules and implementation methods for the InvestEU Advisory Hub established by Article [20] of Regulation [InvestEU Regulation].
Amendment 166 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Without prejudice to additional resources allocated in the Union budget for the period 2021-2027, the grant component of support provided under this Facility, including the advisory support for the preparation, development, and implementation of projects, shall be financed from:
Amendment 167 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) resources from the Union budget for an amount of EUR 15250 000 000 in current prices, and.
Amendment 169 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 173 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Amendment 178 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Amendment 183 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. Resources up to an amount of EUR 250 000 000 included in those referred to in paragraph 1, shall be provided for activities set out in Article 3(3).
Amendment 189 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched no later than 31 December 2024the duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, Union support awarded to eligible projects in a Member State shall not exceed the national shares set out in the decision to be adopted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 4.
Amendment 190 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched no later than 31 December 2024after the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, Union support awarded to eligible projects in a Member State shall not exceed the national shares set out in the decision to be adopted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 4.
Amendment 195 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025fter the period referred to in paragraph 2, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional convergence and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 196 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025after the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional convergence.
Amendment 201 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing delegated act setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 211 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic, territorial or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 217 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the projects do not receive support under any other Union programmes for the same activities;
Amendment 223 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the projects do not generate a sufficient stream of own revenues to address the challenges of the transition allowing them to be financed without Union support.
Amendment 226 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the project, while addressing the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2050, aims to ensure financial viability throughout the lifetime of the project.
Amendment 236 #
2020/0100(COD)
2. The amount of the grant shall not exceed 15% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner under this Facility. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions with a GDP per capita not exceeding 75% of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation [new CPR], the amount of the grant shall not exceed 205% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner.
Amendment 246 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Activities necessary to support the preparation, development and implementation of projects shall be eligible for advisory support and financed in accordance with article 4 of this Regulation.
Amendment 247 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
The Facility shall be implemented by work programmes established in accordance with Article 110 of the Financial Regulation. The work programmes shall set out the national shares of resources, including any additional resources, for each Member State in accordance with Articles 4(1) and 6(2) of this Regulation. The work programmes shall specify the eligibility and award criteria and conditions for the selection. Such award criteria may include relevant criteria of those laid down by Regulation (EU) .../... [Regulation on establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment]. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the overall objectives of promoting regional and territorial convergence and addressing the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2050, while ensuring that no one is left behind, and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project.
Amendment 258 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Beneficiaries should monitor output indicators, in accordance with Article 8(a), on an ongoing basis and should regularly report to the Commission on the progress towards the achievement of such outputs.
Amendment 261 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. The interim evaluation of the Facility shall be performed by 30 June 20251 January 2024 and shall be submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council, when sufficient information is expected to be available about the implementation of the Facility. The evaluation shall in particular demonstrate how the Union support provided under the Facility shall have contributed in addressing the needs of territories implementing the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 265 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. At the end of the implementation period and no later than 31 December 2031, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a final evaluation report on the results and long-term impact of the Facility shall be established. The finance partners and beneficiaries shall provide to the Commission all documents and information necessary to enable it to perform that evaluation.
Amendment 270 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. The finance partners shall provide to the Commission and any designated auditors all available documents related to Union support that are necessary for both these authorities to carry out their obligations.
Amendment 275 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 43 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting entrepreneurship and a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, as well as labour markets that are responsive to economic change, with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress, balanced growth and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States shall regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate their action in this respect within the Council, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour.
Amendment 139 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 2
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 2
The tax burden should be shifted away from labour to other sources more supportive to micro, small and medium- sized enterprises, employment and inclusive growth and at the same time aligned with climate and environmental objectives, taking account of the redistributive effect of the tax system, while protecting revenue for adequate social protection and growth- enhancing expenditure.
Amendment 171 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 2
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 2
Member States should foster freedom and equal opportunities for all by addressing inequalities in education and training systems, including by providing access to good quality early childhood education. They should raise overall education levels, reduce the number of young people leaving school early, increase access to and completion of tertiary education and increase adult participation in continuing learning, particularly among learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, the least qualified. Taking into account new requirements in digital, green and ageing societies, Member States should strengthen work-based learning in their vocational education and training systems (VET) (including through quality and effective apprenticeships) and increase the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates both in medium-level VET and in tertiary education. Furthermore, Member States should enhance the labour-market relevance of tertiary education and research, improve skills monitoring and forecasting, make skills more visible and qualifications comparable, including those acquired abroad, and increase opportunities for recognising and validating skills and competences acquired outside formal education and training. They should upgrade and increase the supply and take- up of flexible continuing vocational education and training. Member States should also support low skilled adults to maintain or develop their long-term employability by boosting access to and take up of quality learning opportunities, through the implementation of Upskilling Pathways, including a skills assessment, an offer of education and training matching labour market opportunities, and the validation and recognition of the skills acquired.
Amendment 221 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 1
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 1
Member States should promote competitiveness, openness and inclusiveity in labour markets, open to all, by putting in place effective measures to fight all forms of discrimination and promote equal opportunities for under-represented groups in the labour market, with due attention to the regional and territorial dimension. They should ensure equal treatment regarding employment, social protection, health and long-term care, education and access to goods and services, regardless of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Amendment 98 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is pursuing a specific goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and this goal requires a commensurate level of financing. This financing should be separate to the EU structural and investment funds. The JTF should be financed as part of a strengthened Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, with new own resources and the capacity to aid Europe’s economic recovery.
Amendment 100 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25 % of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 179 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) Once this regulation has been adopted, the JTF should be operationalised as quickly as possible with a view to leveraging the investments needed to pursue its specific goal and to responding to the urgent need to support transitioning regions at a particularly difficult time regarding the European economy.
Amendment 180 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18b) Priority must be given to quickly and effectively implementing the JTF. To this end, with a view to cutting costs and maximising the use of the JTF in all its financial capacity for its specific goal, the Commission should ensure that the relevant administrative processes are quick and involve little red tape.
Amendment 210 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be at least EUR 7.540 billion in 2018 prices, whichand shall not be transferred from the allocations of the funds covered by the Regulation (EU)[new CPR], particularly from funds such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF+) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). This amount may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act.
Amendment 232 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities, whilst maintaining and expanding employment opportunities in the affected territories in order to avoid social exclusion. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved by the Commission.
Amendment 251 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’, taking into account that an essential element of a Just Transition are regional transition strategies as they give planning security to workers, energy, industries, investors and communities.
Amendment 368 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shall comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and the resources transferred in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount.
Amendment 461 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) employment in mining of coal and lignite (weighting 250%),
Amendment 462 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii a (new)
(iia) Amendment (va) the speed with which Member States commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions from coal or lignite, as reflected in the respective 2030 National Energy and Climate Plans (weighting 5%);
Amendment 122 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates that Parliament’s mandate for the MFF negotiations was set in its interim report of 14 November 2018 on ceilings, programme allocations, own resources and flexibility provisions, the mid-term revision and horizontal principles, such as mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate and gender equality;
Amendment 127 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates its position that commitment appropriations for the 2021- 2027 period should be set at EUR 1 324.1 billion in 2018 prices, which represents 1.3 % of the EU-27’s gross national income (GNI); reflecting this posiin view of the upcoming MFF negotiations, is determined to defend a 2021 budget of EUR 192.1 billion in current prices in commitment appropriations (1.29 % of GNI)n MFF that is commensurate to the needs, expectations and concerns of EU citizens;
Amendment 133 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that Parliament's position on the 2021-2027 MFF translates into a level of EUR 192.1 billion for the 2021 budget; this position implies, in million euros in 2021, 18.179 for Horizon Europe, 4.613 for Erasmus+, 2.132 for the InvestEU Fund, 883 for the Single Market Programme, 15.645 for the European Social Fund+, 1.337 for Digital Europe, 4.256 for the Connecting Europe Facility, 923 for the Asylum and Migration Fund, 786 for the Integrated Border Management Fund, 228 for the Internal Security Fund, 11.716 for the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and 937 for LIFE;
Amendment 137 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Is aware that the outcome of the MFF negotiations will largely determine the funding level of EU policies and programmes for the next period; intends, however, to secure further increases in the annual budgetary procedure for the EU flagship programmes, especially if the MFF decision grants them with a level that is inferior to their needs and the actual mission they are called to accomplish;
Amendment 162 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Aims to set binding biodiversity and climate mainstreaming targets and to fix the latter to at least 30 % for 2021Recalls its position set out in its MFF resolution of October 2019 that climate and biodiversity mainstreaming in the next MFF must go beyond the levels of targeted spending shares as set out in its interim report; reiterates its call on the Commission to lay down clear eligibility criteria of a stringent and comprehensive methodology for defining and tracking relevant climate and biodiversity expenditure;
Amendment 232 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. InsistDemands, therefore, on setting payments at an appropriate level as of 2021 in order to obviate any difficulties for beneficiaries and reiterates its commitment to defend athat the global level of payments, as well as the annual payment ceiling for 2021 are set at an appropriate level that also takes due account of this situation in order to obviate any difficulties for beneficiaries; recalls its negotiating position on the 2021-2027 MFF to set the overall level of payments at 1.27% EU GNI and notes that this implies level of payments at EUR 184.7 billion in current prices for 2021;
Amendment 236 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Considers that the EU budget’s revenue side shall be seen as a tool for the achievement of EU policies; believes that new green and single market-related own resources would be complementary to the European Green Deal’s strategy for climate and environment protection and fair taxation objectives respectively;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Deplores the recurring political dramas caused by the overwhelming share of national GNI contributions in the own resources system; considers, therefore, that their share should decrease to fulfil their balancing role only;
Amendment 238 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Recalls that the European Parliament will not give its consent to the MFF without an agreement on the reform of the EU own resources system, including the introduction of a basket of new own resources; underlines, therefore, that the 2021 budget will have to be financed through new additional own resources in order to avoid damaging political consequences;
Amendment 240 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its demand for a contingency plan to protect beneficiaries and ensure continuity of funding in the event that the current MFF needs to be extended beyond 2020; demands that the Commission present such a plan without delay, including the prolongation of the legal bases where relevant; points to the failure of the European Council to reach a political agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF at the extraordinary meeting of 20- 21 February 2020 and considers that this further delay renders imperative the need for presenting an MFF contingency plan;
Amendment 3 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the European Union needs a more sustainable growth model in order to respond to economic, social, environmental, and digital and demographic challengeschallenges, with particular accent on implementing a long- term and effective strategy that corresponds to demographic challenges that Member States are facing; welcomes the European Green Deal as the new green growth strategy for Europe with cohesion, sustainability, citizen well-being and fairness at its core;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that addressing these challenges may lead to negative distributional effects; considers, therefore, that ensuring the implementation of the principles of solidarity and of the European Pillar of Social Rights is crucial;
Amendment 46 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of a properly funded EU budget in order to address common challenges and citizens’ expectations; recalls Parliament’s position demanding a strong and credible EU budget and an agreement on the reform of the EU’s own resources to give its consent; requests that the Commission adopt a fairer, more transparent, stringent, comprehensive methodology for climate and biodiversity mainstreaming, while involving Parliament in this process;
Amendment 54 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that the Member States and regions have different starting points when it comes to the transition; considers that the Just Transition Mechanism should ensure an adequate, inclusive and fair, fair and equal transition for all, particularly for the Member States with lower GNI per capita;
Amendment 64 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Invites the Commission to continue to enhance the democratic accountability of the European Semester., namely by reinforcing the role of national parliaments vis-à-vis their own governments;
Amendment 125 #
2019/2188(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L d (new)
Recital L d (new)
Ld. whereas the contraction of employment during the previous crisis created a dramatic increase in the number of involuntary part-time workers who are most likely to work in basic or lower-level service occupations and sectors and who have amongst the highest in-work poverty risk-levels17a; __________________ 17aEurofound (2017), In-work poverty in the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publicat ions/report/2017/in-work-poverty-in-the- eu
Amendment 174 #
2019/2188(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic will have significant social and economic consequences, which will have a direct impact in terms of increasing poverty, especially among the most vulnerable groups in society, as its effects will be felt most keenly by workers in precarious positions such as temporary workers, seasonal workers, platform workers, etc. as well as in various economic sectors which will be impacted through job losses, wage and/or working time reduction during and after the pandemic; whereas 16% of workers in the EU consider that they are likely to lose their job in the near future and 40% of workers say their financial situation is now worse than before the pandemic20a; __________________ 20aEurofound (2020), Living, working and COVID-19dataset, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19data
Amendment 194 #
2019/2188(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that in-work poverty needs to be addressed at its root causes, such as but not limited to education and training; calls on the Commission to urge Member States to invest in qualitative education and training, to share good practices and to have specific attention for life-long learning;
Amendment 406 #
2019/2188(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls for measures/actions to be taken to avoid a renewed increase in involuntary part-time employment as a result of Covid-19;
Amendment 437 #
2019/2188(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Proposes to actively counter potential high unemployment through European and national employment programmes and to invest in new sustainable jobs, future-oriented infrastructure, digital change and ‘green transition’.;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that effective and carefully considered employment policy enhancements reflecting demographic and automation challenges, accompanied by well-targeted investment strategies and responsible fiscal policies, continue to be an important precondition for sustainable growth which is the key factor leading to quality employment and boosting upward social convergence and cohesion;
Amendment 32 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that youth remains an overarching priority for the Union budget. Highlights that despite the positive trends towards a decline in youth unemployment rates in the Union, the lack of future opportunities for young people is a real social emergency in certain parts of the Union, with significant disparities across the Member States and regions; decides therefore to reinforce the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) above the level proposed by the Commission, also in order to ensure a smooth transition towards the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) in the next MFF; also reinforces the financial resources to meet future demand for Erasmus+, the primary programme for education and training, including vocational education and training, youth and sport in Europe; recalls its commitment to triple the funding for Erasmus+ in the MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Reinforces the financial resources to meet future demand for Erasmus+, the primary programme for education and training, including vocational education and training, youth and sport in Europe; stresses that Erasmus+ is a key flagship programme of the Union that is widely known among its citizens and has delivered tangible results with a clear European added value; stresses the capacity of the programme to absorb immediately any additional resources allocated granted in next year’s budget, due to its very high implementation rate; recalls its commitment to triple the funding for Erasmus+ in the MFF 2021- 2027; emphasises, in this context, the need to continue and further reinforce the DiscoverEU preparatory action, in view of its programmed integration in the 2021- 2027 Erasmus+ programme;
Amendment 41 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2020 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, particularly by a common birth-rate policy and improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market;
Amendment 45 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Concludes that, for the purpose of adequately financing the pressing priorities expressed above, and considering the very tight or inexistent margins under certain Headings in 2020, the Flexibility Instrument and the Global Margin for Commitments need to be fully mobilised, the Contingency Margin needs to be partially mobilised, and the possibility to re-use de-commitments for research laid down in Article 15(3) ofwhile part of it also remains available for the Ffinancial Regulation needs to be used in fullng of unforeseen events that may occur in the course of next year; also recalls that flexibilities set out in the MFF Regulation will lapse at the end of this period;
Amendment 46 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses the need to fully re-use decommitments for research as laid down in Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation; strongly regrets that the Council rejects again the application of this legislative provision that the Commission proposed to activate partly in the DB; declares its intention to insist on its position that reflects both the letter and the spirit of the Financial Regulation; intends to resolve this issue in this year’s budgetary conciliation; proposes to fully reuse these decommitments to reinforce four budget lines of the Horizon 2020 programme with the highest level of climate-related research activity;
Amendment 54 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Is convinced that the fight against cancer should be an absolute priority for the Union, and that significant efforts need to be stepped up in this direction; underlines the fact that cancer research is an important pillar in this process; adopts, therefore, an increase of financial resources to be earmarked for cancer research under the relevant budget lines of Horizon 2020 that also demonstrate a very high budgetary execution; stresses that research intensifies in this field without any delay, also in view of more substantial investments anticipated in the next MFF;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the Subheading; points in that regard to SMEs, which are an essential part of the Union economy and play a crucial role in job creation in all Member States; adopts, in this context, an increase to the COSME programme, in order to further boost the programme's potential in promoting entrepreneurship, improving the competitiveness and access to markets of Union enterprises, and calls for emphasis to be placed on the digital transformation of SMEs; recalls that the proposed allocation in the DB for COSME was even below what was foreseen in the financial programming and adopts an increase of EUR 50 million in commitment appropriations above DB levels; emphasises that Erasmus+ remains a highly valued and hugely popular programme, with a volume of applications that far exceeds the funding available, and that it helps foster a strong sense of shared European identity; adopts, therefore, an increase of EUR 123,4 million in commitment appropriations above DB levels, in order to fight the low success rates and allow for more people to benefit from this programme;
Amendment 1122 #
2018/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 176
Paragraph 176
Amendment 37 #
2018/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the CAP can deliver its objectives if sufficiently funded; calls, therefore, for the CAP budget to be at least maintained at an adequatethe current level in the next MFF;
Amendment 191 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the InvestEU Programme will contribute to mainstream climate actions and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the Union budget expenditures supporting climate objectives over the MFF 2021- 2027 period and an annual target of 30 % as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027. Actions under the InvestEU Programme are expected to contribute 30 % of the overall financial envelope of the InvestEU Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the InvestEU Programme's preparation and implementation and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes.
Amendment 244 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The EU guarantee of EUR 38 000 040 817 500 000 (current prices) at Union level is expected to mobilise more than EUR 650 000 00098 194 079 000 of additional investment across the Union and should be indicatively allocated between the policy windows.
Amendment 388 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The EU guarantee for the purposes of the EU compartment referred to in point (a) of Article 8(1) shall be EUR 38 000 040 817 500 000 (current prices). It shall be provisioned at the rate of 40 %.
Amendment 506 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The EU guarantee under the EU compartment shall be allocated to implementing partners. At least 75% of the EU guarantee under the EU compartment shall be allocated to the EIB Group. Amounts exceeding 75% of the EU guarantee may be made available to the EIB Group in the event that national promotional banks or institutions cannot fully use the remaining share of the guarantee. Likewise, amounts exceeding 25% of the EU guarantee may be made available to other implementing partners in the event that the EIB Group cannot fully use its share of the guarantee. National promotional banks or institutions may fully benefit from the EU guarantee also in case they decide to access to it through the EIB or the European Investment Fund.
Amendment 654 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 6
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 6
The Commission shall adopt the rules of procedure and managehost the secretariat for the Investment Committee.
Amendment 665 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
When acting in accordance with this Article, the Investment Committee shall be supported by a secretariat hosted by the Commission and responsible to the chairperson of the Investment Committee. The secretariat shall check the completeness of the documentation provided by the implementing partners comprising a standardised request form, the scoreboard and any other document the Investment Committee considers relevant. The Investment Committee may seek clarifications from the Implementing Partner during its meetings or by requesting additional information to be submitted to a subsequent meeting. Any project assessment conducted by an implementing partner shall not be binding on the Investment Committee for the purposes of a financing or investment operation benefiting from the coverage by the EU guarantee.
Amendment 666 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall use in its assessment and verification of the proposals a scoreboard of indicators referred to in Article 18(37b (new).
Amendment 758 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point c
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) up to EUR 11 252 500 000 000 for objectives referred to in point (c) of Article 3(2);
Amendment 764 #
2018/0229(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) up to EUR 4 000 05 567 500 000 for objectives referred to in point (d) of Article 3(2).
Amendment 29 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion fund, the European Social Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant. Member States and the Commission shall ensure the coordination, complementarity and coherence between the Programme and other Union instruments, in particular by avoiding duplication throughout the process.
Amendment 34 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The economic and financial crisis has shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The implementation of structural reforms is among the Union’s policy priorities because such reforms seek to set the recovery on a sustainable path, unlock the growth potential, strengthen the adjustment capacity and support the process of upward convergence. Pursuing structural reforms can also contribute to strengthening economic and social cohesion, boosting productivity and investment and, creating good conditions for sustainable growth and employment in the Unionand fostering demographic policies in the Union. Moreover, reforms should help remove bottlenecks and create a favourable environment for investment and SMEs, including for innovative and sustainable re-industrialisation. More specifically, reforms to education and training systems should contribute to boosting economic activity and, at the same time, set conditions for medium- and long-term growth.
Amendment 43 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and the Council19 established the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) for the period 2017 to 2020, with a budget of EUR 142 800 000. The SRSP was established to strengthen the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. Technical support under that programme is provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, and can cover a wide range of policy areas. Initial experience with the SRSP has shown a demand for technical support in the order of four times (in 2017) and five times (in 2018) its annual available budget, which led the Commission to propose an increase in its budget for 2019 and 2020. __________________ 19Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013 (OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1)
Amendment 46 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Against that background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States by offering direct financial support, alongside technical support. To that end, a new Reform Support Programme (‘the Programme’) should be established to provide effective incentives to step up the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States. The Programme should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes. The Programme should also continue the actions and the mode of operation of the SRSP, since they have been proven very useful, and have been appreciated by Member States, for strengthening the administrative capacity of national authorities in various policy domains as well as being underpinned by the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Programme should also include targeted support for reforms in Member States whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame.
Amendment 51 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Programme’s overall objective is the enhancement of cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, growth, and employment. For that purpose, it should provide financial incentives for addressing challenges of a structural nature, and should help to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Member States insofar as their institutions and economic and social sectors are concerned. It is also necessary to provide for an appropriate level of involvement of regional and local authorities in the preparation and implementation of structural reform.
Amendment 61 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
Amendment 64 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) With regard to the reform delivery tool, it is necessary to identify the types of reforms that should be eligible for financial support. To ensure their contribution to the objectives of the Programme, the eligible reforms should be those addressing the challenges identified in the context of the European Semester of economic policy coordination, including those proposed to address the country-specific recommendations, taking into account each Member State’s economic, social and territorial indicators.
Amendment 67 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure a meaningful incentive for Member States to complete structural reforms, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available for them under the instrument for each stage of allocation and under each call. That maximum contribution should be calculated, clearly and transparently, on the basis of the population of each Member States, following a principle of degressive proportionality, on the basis of both its per capita GDP – using an inversely proportional logic – and its unemployment rate. To ensure that the financial incentives are spread throughout the whole period of application of the Programme, the allocation of funds to the Member States should be made in stages. In the first stage lasting twenty20 months, half75% (EUR 11 06 500 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the reform delivery tool should be made available to Member States, during which they could receive up to their maximum allocation by submitting proposals for reform commitments.
Amendment 72 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In the interest of transparency and efficiency, in the subsequent stage lasting until the end of the Programme, a system of periodic calls should be set out by the Commission to allocate the remaining half25% (EUR 11 05 500 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument, plus the amounts unused from the previous stage. Simple procedures should be organised to that effect. Under each call, all Member States should be invited to submit reform proposals concurrently, and could be awarded their maximum financial contribution on the basis of their reform proposals. In the interest of transparency, the first call organised by the Commission during the second stage should be for an amount corresponding to the remaining part (EUR 115 000 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument. Further calls should be organised by the Commission only where the overall financial envelope has not been fully used. The Commission should adopt and publish an indicative calendar of the further calls to be organised, and should indicate, at each call, the remaining amount of the overall envelope, which is available under that call.
Amendment 75 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) It is necessary to establish a clear and straightforward process for the submission of proposals for reform commitments by the Member States, and the content thereof. With a view to ensuring the expediency of procedures, a Member State should submit the proposal for reform commitments together with its national reform programme, but in the form of a separate annex, which may also be submitted at a different point in time. While participation in the Programme is voluntary, Member States experiencing excessive imbalances should be particularly encouraged to come forward with reform proposals under the reform delivery tool, which address the problems that led to such excessive imbalances.
Amendment 80 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The Commission should assess the nature and the importance of the reform commitments proposed by the Member States and should determine the amount to be allocated on the basis of transparent criteria. To that effect, it should take into account the substantive elements provided by the Member States and assess whether the reform commitments proposed by the Member States are expected to effectively address challenges identified in the context of the European Semester, whether they represent a comprehensive reform package, whether they are expected to strengthen the performance and resilience of the national economy and whether their implementation is expected to have a lasting impact in the Member State where relevant by strengthening the institutional and administrative capacity of the Member State concerned. In addition, the Commission should assess whether the internal arrangements proposed by the Member States, including the proposed milestones and targets, and the related indicators, are expected to ensure effective implementation of the reform commitments during a maximum period of three years. Furthermore, proposed reforms to the financing arrangements should be strictly monitored by means of the European Semester process.
Amendment 86 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) For the purposes of transparency, the reform commitments adopted by the Commission should be communicated to the European Parliament and the Council and communication activities should be carried out periodically by the Commission as appropriate.
Amendment 88 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) For the purpose of sound financial management, specific rules should be laid down for budget commitments, pre- payments, payments, suspension, cancellation and recovery of funds. Payments should be based on a positive assessment by the Commission of the implementation of the reform commitments by the Member State. Suspension and cancellation of the financial contribution should be possible when the reform commitments have not been implemented in a satisfactory manner by the Member State. To ensure a sustainable impact of the reforms after they are implemented, a reasonable period defining the durability of the reforms after the payment of the financial contribution should be established. A period of five years should be considered to be a reasonable minimum to be applied. Appropriate contradictory procedures should be established to ensure that the decision by the Commission in relation to suspension, cancellation and recovery of amounts paid respects the right of Member States to provide observations.
Amendment 89 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) With regard to the technical support instrument, Member States have increasingly taken up technical support under the SRSP, beyond initial expectations, leading to a proposal to increase its budget for 2019 and 2020. Almost all Member States have requested support under the SRSP and requests are distributed across all policy areas covered by that programme. For that reason, the main features of the SRSP should be maintained, including the actions eligible for financing under the technical support instrument.
Amendment 95 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to contribute to addressing national reform challenges of a structural nature aimed at improving the performance of the national economies and at promoting resilient economic and social structures in the Member States, thereby contributing tosupporting companies, especially SMEs and fostering entrepreneurship and employment, cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, growth, and employmentsupporting demographic policies in accordance with the principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; and
Amendment 106 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) business environment, includingespecially for small and medium-sized enterprises, re- industrialisation, private sector development, product and service markets, investment, public participation in enterprises, privatisation processes, trade and foreign direct investment, competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for research and innovation and digitisation;
Amendment 111 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, including social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, digital skills, the fight against poverty, the promotion of social inclusion, pension schemes, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems, as well as cohesion, asylum, migration and border policies;
Amendment 116 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The financial envelope for the Programme may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the Programme and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions at national, as well as at regional and local level where appropriate, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, in so far as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks, focusing on information processing and exchange, including corporate information technology tools, and all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme. Expenses may also cover, under each of the three instruments referred to in Article 3, the costs of other supporting activities such as quality control and monitoring of technical support projects on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of structural reforms.
Amendment 117 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Amendment 118 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9.º – paragraph 1
Article 9.º – paragraph 1
Annex I lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall envelope of the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Such a maximum financial contribution is calculated, clearly and transparently, for each Member State using the criteria and methodology set out in that Annex, based on the population of each Member State, following a principle of degressive proportionality, on the basis of both its per capita GDP – using an inversely proportional logic – and its unemployment rate. Such a maximum financial contribution shall be available for allocation to each Member State, in part or in full, at each stage and call of the allocation process set out in Article 10.
Amendment 122 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. For a period of twenty months from the date of application of this Regulation, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 06 500 000 000, which represents 750% of the overall envelope referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Each Member State may propose to receive up to the full amount of the maximum financial contribution, referred to in Article 9, to fulfil reform commitments proposed in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 123 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. For the period starting after the end of the period referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 05 500 000 000, which represent the remaining 250% of the overall envelope for the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2), plus the amount that has not been allocated in accordance with paragraph 2, on the basis of calls organised and published under the reform delivery tool. The first call shall be for allocating EUR 11 05 500 000 000.
Amendment 131 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
4. Where the Commission gives a negative assessment to a proposal for reform commitments submitted by a Member State, it shall communicate that assessment within fourthree months of the official submission of the proposal for reform commitments by the Member State.
Amendment 139 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the implementation of reforms by Member States, undertaken on their own initiative, in particular to achieve sustainable economic growth and job creation and preservation;
Amendment 141 #
2018/0213(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(e-A) actions which can contribute to the implementation of the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Amendment 185 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Part of the budget of the Union allocated to the Funds should be implemented by the Commission under shared management with Member States within the meaning of Regulation (EU, Euratom) [number of the new Financial Regulation] of the European Parliament and of the Council12 (the '‘Financial Regulation'’). Therefore, when implementing the Funds under shared management, the Commission and the Member States should respect the principles referred to in the Financial Regulation, such as sound financial management, transparency and non- discrimination. _________________ 12Member States at the appropriate territorial level, in accordance with their institutional, legal and financial framework, and the bodies designated by them for that purpose should be responsible for preparing and implementing programmes. _________________ 12 OJ L […], […], p. […]. OJ L […], […], p. […].
Amendment 251 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) The combination of a shrinking working population and an increasing proportion of retired people in the general population, as well as the problems associated with population dispersion and exodus from less developed towards more developed regions, are expected to continue to place strains, inter alia, on Member States' education and social support structures and thus on the Union's economic competitiveness. Adapting to these demographic changes will be one of the key challenges facing the Member States and the regions in the coming years. The regions most affected by demographic changes should accordingly receive particular attention.
Amendment 263 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Mechanisms to ensure a link between Union funding policies and the economic governance of the Union should be further refined, allownd include aid and incentives, preventing the Commission tofrom makeing a proposal to the Council to suspend all or part of the commitments for one or more of the programmes of the Member State concerned where that Member State fails to take effective action in the context of the economic governance process. In order to ensure uniform implementation and in view of the importance of the financial effects of measures being imposed, implementing powers should be conferred on the Council which should act on the basis of a Commission proposal. To facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to ensure effective action in the context of the economic governance process, reversed qualified majority voting should be used.
Amendment 623 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8.º – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 8.º – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) where considered necessary, a comprehensive approach specifically relating to rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps in line with Article 174 TFEU.
Amendment 738 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12.º – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12.º – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Member State, in strict compliance with the European Code of Conduct on Partnerships and the principles of Multi- Level Governance and encouraging the involvement of the most appropriate regional authorities in managing the programmes, shall establish a performance framework which shall allow monitoring, reporting on and evaluating programme performance during its implementation, and contribute to measuring the overall performance of the Funds.
Amendment 851 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15.º – paragraph 11 a (new)
Article 15.º – paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. The procedure set out in paragraphs 7 to 11 may be applied only where: (a) economic governance tools have already been deployed, including those available under the new Reform Support Programme (b) those tools have proven insufficient to improve macroeconomic and fiscal stability, and (c) one of the cases referred to in points (a) to (e) of paragraph 7 is putting cohesion policy expenditure in that Member State at risk.
Amendment 863 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16.º – paragraph 1
Article 16.º – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare programmes to implement the Funds for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027, which must be drawn up at Member State or sub-national level involving the partners referred to in Article 6 and in accordance with the European Code of Conduct on Partnerships and the principles of Multi- Level Governance..
Amendment 1625 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) 2021: 01.5 %;
Amendment 1644 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 2022: 01.5 %;
Amendment 1663 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) 2023: 01.5 %;
Amendment 1694 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) 2024: 0.53 %;
Amendment 1716 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) 2025: 0.53 %;
Amendment 1734 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) 2026: 0.5 %3%;
Amendment 1739 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 84.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) 2027-2030: 3%
Amendment 1789 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 99.º – paragraph 1
Article 99.º – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall decommit any amount in a programme which has not been used for pre-financing in accordance with Article 84 or for which a payment application has not been submitted in accordance with Articles 85 and 86 by 26 December of the seconthird calendar year following the year of the budget commitments for the years 2021 to 2026.
Amendment 1818 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 102.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 102.º – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) transition regions, whose GDP per capita is between 75 % and 10090 % of the average GDP of the EU-27 (‘transition regions’);
Amendment 1819 #
2018/0196(COD)
(c) more developed regions, whose GDP per capita is above 1090 % of the average GDP of the EU-27 (‘more developed regions’).
Amendment 1928 #
2018/0196(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 106.º – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 106.º – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 5570 % for the transition regions;
Amendment 23 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the 2021-2027 MFF must guarantee the Union’s ability and responsibility to meet emerging needs and challenges and attain its political priorities and objectives; points to the serious problems linked to the underfinancing of the 2014-2020 MFF and declares the necessity to avoid a repetition of previous mistakes by securing from the outset a strong, ambitious and credible EU budget for the benefit of the citizens over the next seven- year period;
Amendment 24 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the Commission proposals on the 2021-2027 MFF and the Union’s own resources system represent the starting pointa solid basis for the upcoming negotiations; expresses its position on those proposals, in anticipation of Council’s negotiating mandate that is not yet available;
Amendment 27 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that the Commission proposal regarding the global level of the next MFF set at 1,1108 % of the EU-27 GNI (1,0811% after deductingthe integration of the European Development Fund), represents, in terms of GNI percentage, a reduction in real terms compared to the current MFF; considers that thise proposaed MFF level will not allow the Union to deliver on its political commitments and respond to important challenges ahead a; intends, therefore, cannot be accepted as such; to negotiate the necessary increase of this level;
Amendment 40 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is convinced that the 2021-2027 MFF should provide the Union with the necessary resources to boost growth, competitiveness and innovation, further strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion, empower young people, strengthen EU’s security and defence, support the neighbourhood countries, effectively address the migration challenges and protect its external borders, address sustainability and climate change;
Amendment 51 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines, furthermore, the importance of the horizontal principles that should underpin the MFF and all related EU policies; reaffirms, in this context, its position that the EU must deliver on its commitment to be a frontrunner in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and deplores the lack of a clear and visible commitment to that end in the MFF proposals; requests, therefore, the mainstreaming of the SDGs into all EU policies and initiatives of the next MFF; further emphasises that the elimination of discrimination is vital to fulfil the EU’s commitments towards an inclusive Europe and deplores the lack of gender mainstreaming and gender equality commitments in EU policies, as presented in the MFF proposals; underlines also its position that, following the Paris Agreement, climate-related spending should be significantly increased in comparison with the current MFF and reach 30 % as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027;
Amendment 65 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 6
6. Is conscious of the serious challenges that the Union is facing and fully assumes its responsibility in securing, in a timely manner, a budget that is commensurate to the needs, expectations and concerns of EU citizens; stands ready to enter immediately into negotiations with the Council, in order to improve the Commission proposals and build a more ambitiousrealistic MFF;
Amendment 68 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that Parliament’s position is already clearly set out in its resolutions of 14 March 2018 and 30 May 2018, which constitute its political mandatstance for the 2021- 2027 MFF and own resources; recalls that these resolutions were adopted with very large majorities, which demonstrate Parliament’s unity and readiness for the upcoming negotiations;
Amendment 70 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 8
8. Expects, therefore, that the MFF will be placed at the top of Council’s political agenda and regrets that no tangiblesignificant progress is observed so far; believes that the regular meetings between the successive Council presidencies and Parliament’s negotiating team should intensify and pave the way to official negotiations; expects that a good agreement is reached before the 2019 European Parliament elections, in order to avoid the serious setbacks for the launch of the new programmes due to the late adoption of the financial framework, as experienced in the past; underlines that this timetable does not preventwill allow the newly elected European Parliament fromto adjusting the 2021- 2027 MFF during the mandatory mid-term revision;
Amendment 78 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 11
11. Adopts the present resolution with the purpose of outlining its negotiating positionmandate on every aspect of the Commission proposals, including concrete amendments both to the proposed MFF Regulation and the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA); presents, furthermore, a table with figures for each EU policy and programme, corresponding totaking as a basis Parliament’s positions regarding the funding level for those programmes, already adopted in previous MFF resolutions; stresses that these figures will also be part of the mandate of Parliament for the upcoming legislative negotiations leading to the adoption of the EU programmes for the period 2021-2027;
Amendment 93 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 14 – point ii a (new)
ii a. Increase the allocation for the InvestEU Fund so as to correspond to the 2014-2020 level of the total of financial instruments integrated in the new programme;
Amendment 104 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 14 – point viii a (new)
viii a. Secure a sufficient level of funding for the DiscoverEU programme (Interrail);
Amendment 117 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 14 – point xv
xv. Reinstate at least the 2020 level for all agencies and take due account of the needs of those relevant decentralised Agencies having been granted new competences and responsibilities by the EU Legislator within the domains of the different EU policies and programmes of the MFF as reflected in Annex II;
Amendment 130 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 15
15. Intends to secure a sufficient level of funding on the basis of the Commission proposal for “Migration and Border Management” (heading 4) and “Security and Defence” including civil protectionCrisis Response (heading 5); reaffirms its longstanding position that additional political priorities should be coupled with additional financial means, in order not to undermine existing policies and programmes and their financing under the new MFF;
Amendment 138 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 16
16. Intends to defend the Commission proposal on securing a sufficient level of funding for a strong, efficient and high- quality European public administration including the decentralised Agencies at the service of all Europeans; recalls that, during the current MFF, the EU institutions and the decentralised Agencies have implemented a 5% reduction in staff and believes that they should not be subject to any further reduction that would jeopardise directly the delivery of Union policies;
Amendment 139 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Is determined to prevent another payment crisis in the first years of the 2021-2027 MFF, as was the case during the current period; points to the unprecedented level of outstanding commitments (RALs) as well as to the significant implementation delays of several EU programmes; demands, therefore, that the global level of payments in the next MFF, as well as the annual payment ceilings especially in the beginning of the period, are set at the appropriate level that takes due account also of the commitments stemming from the current MFF; intends to accept only a limited and well-justified gap between commitment and payments for the next MFF;
Amendment 150 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 19 – introductory part
19. Welcomes the Commission proposals on flexibility that represent a good basis for the negotiations; agrees with the overall architecture of the flexibility mechanisms in the 2021-2027 MFF; stresses that the special instruments have different missions and respond to different needs, and opposes any attempts to merge them; strongly supports the clear provision that both commitment and payment appropriations deriving from the use of special instruments should be entered in the budget over and above the relevant MFF ceilings, as well as the removal of any capping to the adjustments flowing from the global margin for payments; calls for a number of additional improvements to be introduced, inter alia the following:
Amendment 155 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 20
20. UnderlinesAccepts that the next MFF should be set for a period of seven years, as proposed by the Commission; underlines, however, the need for MFF’s duration to move progressively towards a 5+5 period with a mandatory mid-term revision; accepts that the next MFF should be set for a period of seven years by way of a trans, in order to further align the financial framework with the politioncal solution to be applied for one last timecycles of the European Parliament and the European Commission; expects that the modalities linked to the implementation of a 5+5 framework are endorsed at the time of the mid-term revision of the 2021-2027 MFF;
Amendment 165 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Stresses, however, that the integration of these instruments into the EU budget should not result to a reduction of the financing of other EU policies and programmes; underlines, therefore, the need to decide on the global level of the next MFF without calculating the allocation of 0,03% of EU GNI that corresponds to the European Development Fund, which should be added on top of to the agreed ceilings;
Amendment 173 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses the importance of the new sanction mechanism whereby Member States that do not respect the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) shall be subject to financial consequences; warns, however, that final beneficiaries of the Union budget shall in no way be affected by the disregarding from their government towards fundamental rights and the rule of law; therefore underlines that measures shall not affect the obligation of government entities or of Member States to make payments to final beneficiaries or recipients;
Amendment 177 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to present the relevant legislative proposals on top of those which it has already tabled, to be decided on under the ordinary legislative procedure; requests, in particular, a proposal for a Regulation establishing an energy transition fund; requests, furthermore, the introduction of the European Child Guarantee in the ESF+, a revision of the Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund and of the Regulation concerning humanitarian aid; considers that a revision of the Financial Regulation should also be proposed when the need arises as a result of the MFF negotiations;
Amendment 203 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Paragraph 34
34. Requests the extension of the list of potential new own resources, that could include a share of a digital tax, to be presented in the years to come, user-pays principle as well as further consideration of the Financial Transaction Tax;
Amendment 236 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Commission should present a proposal for a new multiannual financial framework before 1 July 2025, t. This timeframe will provide the newly appointed Commission with the necessary time to prepare its proposals, and enable the European Parliament resulting from the 2024 elections to come forward with its own position on the post 2027 MFF. It will also enable the institutions to adopt it sufficiently in advance of the start of the subsequent multiannual financial framework. In accordance with Article 312(4) TFEU the ceilings corresponding to the last year set out in this Regulation are to continue to apply in the event that a new financial framework is not adopted before the end of the term of the MFF laid down in this Regulation.
Amendment 258 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 3 – Article 12 – paragraph 2
Chapter 3 – Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The Global Margin for Commitments (Union Reserve for Commitments) or part thereof may be mobilised by the European Parliament and the Council in the framework of the budgetary procedure provided for in Article 314 TFEU. Margins of year n may be mobilised for the year n and n+1 through the Union Reserve for Commitments provided it does not conflict with pending or planned amending budgets.
Amendment 270 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 6 – Article 22 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Chapter 6 – Article 22 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The European Parliament and the Council shall meet in public when adopting their respective positions on the draft budget.
Amendment 288 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Annex
Part D – point 12 a (new)
12a. The European Parliament and the Council shall meet in public when adopting their respective positions on the draft budget.
Amendment 79 #
2018/0135(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Rebates and other correction mechanisms should be abolished.
Amendment 109 #
2018/0135(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the application of a uniform call rate to the amount representing the revenue generated by the allowances to be auctioned referred to in Article 10(2)(a) of Directive 2003/87/EC and the market value of transitional free allowances for the modernisation of the energy sector as determined in Article 10c(3) of that Directive; the actual call rate shall not exceed 30 %. 50 %; the incremental revenue generated by any future enlargement of the scope of the Emissions Trading System after 01 January 2021 to additional sectors and regions; the actual call rate shall not exceed 100%; Or. en (NOTE: the text comes from COM(2018)0325)
Amendment 113 #
2018/0135(CNS)
(e) the application of a uniform call rate to the weight of plastic packaging waste that is not recycled; the actual call rate shall not exceed EUR 12,00 per kilogram; Or. en (NOTE: the text comes from COM(2018)0325)
Amendment 132 #
2018/0135(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Amendment 135 #
2017/2286(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Welcomes the proposal to extend the scope and reinforce the Union's Civil Protection Mechanism; is of the opinion that strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism is of utmost importance in order to provide a more rapid and coherent response in the field of civil protection at a Union level, in the areas of prevention, preparedness and response to natural and man-made disasters within and outside the Union;
Amendment 73 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the next MFF should enable the Union to provide solutions and emerge strengthened from the crises of the decade: the economic and financial downturn, the phenomenon of migration and refugees, climate change and natural disasters, terrorism and instability, to name but a few; believes that the next MFF should address the challenge of the digital transformation of economy and society and help every citizen, business and public administration reap the benefits of the digital transformations; underlines that these global, cross-border challenges with domestic implications reveal the interdependency of our economies and societies, and point to the need for joint actions;
Amendment 127 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Union to reflect in the EU budget a specific digital chapter, which tackles the inter-dependent dimensions of digitalisation, such as digitising industry and take up of artificial intelligence, digital skills, High Performance Computing and e- Government; calls for an increase of the share of the EU budget invested in high speed connectivity for both shared and direct management, in order to match the new challenges;
Amendment 137 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights that the future framework is expected to integrate two new types of financial support featuring prominently on the Union’s economic agenda, namely the continuation of the investment support schemes, such as the European Fund for Strategic Investment, and the development of a fiscal capacity for the euro area and of financial stabilisation functions, possibly through the proposed European Monetary Fundstabilization function for euro area Member States, possibly through the proposed European Monetary Fund, coupled with a dedicated convergence facility for Member States on their way to joining the Euro;
Amendment 168 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines that the idea of linking the EU budget more strongly to the country-specific recommendations outlined under the economic governance principles should be considered with the objective of supporting growth-enhancing structural reforms in Member States; stresses that this could be achieved through positive incentives, for example, through financial rewards when structural reforms are fully implemented;
Amendment 179 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines, thereforeIs convinced that a five-year period cannot be considered for the duration of the MFF, due to the serious impediments that it would impose on the programming and implementation requirements of several EU policies; underlines, instead, the need for the MFF’s duration to move progressively towards a 5+510-year period with a mandatory mid-term revision; calls on the Commission to elaborate a clear proposal setting out the methods of the practical implementation of a 5+510-year financial framework;
Amendment 186 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 221 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Considers that the use of the EGF, providing EU solidarity and support to workers losing their jobs as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns arising from globalisation or as a result of the global economic and financial crisis, has not lived up to expectationfully met its targets and needs to be improved; points out, inter alia, that the procedures for implementing support from the EGF are too time- consuming and cumbersome; believes that a revised EGF should be endowed with at least an identical annual allocation under the new MFF;
Amendment 294 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Emphasises that the EU budget has at its disposal a wide range of instruments that finance the European project and that can be regrouped in two categories: grants and financial instruments in form of guarantees, loans, risk-sharing or equity; points also to the European Fund for Strategic Investment, the aim of which is to mobilise private and public capital across the EU in support of projects in key areas for the EU economy that should, in order to complement limited public fundsing;
Amendment 306 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
62. Calls on the Commission to simplify and harmonise the rules governing the use of financial instruments in the next MFF in order to maximise their efficient application; considersis of the optinion of a single fund that would integrate financial instruments at EU level that are centrally managed under such programmes as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), Horizon 2020, COSME, Creative Europe and the Employment and Social Innovation programme (EaSI) on the one hand and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) on the other, a proposal to be discussed further; is of the opinion that such an umbrella solution shouldthat a clear structure for the choice of different types of financial instruments for different policy areas and types of actions should be provided and that the relevant financial instruments should continue to be budgeted under separate budget lines, in order to provide for a clear structure for the choice of different typesity of financial instruments for different policy areas and types of actionsvestment; underlines, however, that any such a fund could never integratharmonisation of rules cannot affect the financial instruments managed by Member States under cohesion policy;
Amendment 321 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
65. Believes, therefore, that the current presentation of the headings requires some improvements, but is against any unjustified radical changes; proposes, as a result, the following structure for the MFF post-2020; Heading 1: A stronger and, sustainable and digital economy Including programmes and instruments supporting: under direct management: - research and innovation - industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises - digital transformation of economy and society - large-infrastructure projects - transport, digitalisation, energy - environment and climate change adaptation - -agriculture and rural development maritime affairs and fisheries - horizontal (financial) instruments supporting investments in Europe (possible umbrella financial instrument at EU level, incl. EFSI) Heading 2: Stronger cohesion and solidarity in Europe Including programmes and instruments supporting: - economic, social and territorial cohesion (under shared management): investments in innovation, digitalisation, reindustrialisation, SMEs, transport, climate change adaptation employment, social affairs and social inclusion - education and life-long learning - culture, citizenship, media and communication - health and food safety - asylum, migration and integration, justice and consumers - support to and coordination with national administrations Heading 2 a (new): Stronger and sustainable agriculture and fisheries Including programmes and instruments supporting: - agriculture and rural development - maritime affairs and fisheries Heading 3: Stronger responsibility in the world Including programmes and instruments supporting: - international cooperation and development - neighbourhood - enlargement - humanitarian aid - trade - contribution to EU trust funds and external relations facilities Heading 4: Security, peace and stability for all Including programmes and instruments supporting: - security - crisis response and stability, including the civil protection - common foreign and security policy - defence research and innovation Heading 5: An efficient administration at the service of Europeans - financing EU staff - financing the buildings and equipment of EU institutions
Amendment 330 #
Amendment 350 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Calls, therefore, for a substantial increase in the overall budget earmarked for the FP9 programme in the next MFF that should be set at a level of at least EUR 120 billion; considers this level to be appropriate for securing Europe’s global competitiveness, scientific, technological and industrial leadership, for responding to societal challenges, and for helping to achieve the EU’s climate goals;
Amendment 354 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Calls, furthermore, for a greater focus on implementing research and innovation through joint undertakings and for supporting investment in key technologies to close the investment gap in innovation; emphasises that the increase in funds must be coupled with a simplification of funding procedures; welcomes the Commission’s efforts in this respect and insists that these should continue under the next programming period; in order to provide better access and a level playing field for the applicants from all Member States through a new system for evaluation of applications based on a proposal added value and possible results;
Amendment 368 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Stresses that SMEs are key drivers of economic growth, innovation and employment and recognises their important role in ensuring the recovery and boosting of a sustainable EU economy; recalls that there are more than 20 million SMEs in the EU and that they account for 99 % of all businesses; considers that improving access to finance for SMEs should continue to remain an important policy objective for the next MFF and calls, therefore, for a doubling of the COSME programme’s financial envelope in order for it to correspond to the actual needs of the EU economy and the significant demand for participation;
Amendment 369 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)
Paragraph 71 a (new)
71a. Welcomes the success of the dedicated EU programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (COSME) under the current MFF; notes that the Parliament has consistently fought for a further increase of the allocation earmarked for this programme in the context of the annual budgetary procedure; notes with pleasure the high level of implementation of this programme pointing to its capacity to absorb even more; calls, therefore, for a doubling of the COSME programme’s financial envelope in order for it to correspond to the actual needs of the EU economy and the significant demand for participation;
Amendment 380 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)
Paragraph 72 a (new)
72a. Underlines, moreover, the positive impact that EFSI has on providing finance to SMEs, reaching currently more than 500 000 SMEs and mid-cap companies across the Union; stresses that, due to a very strong uptake reflecting the high market demand, the SME Window was further reinforced already through the first stage of implementation of the programme;
Amendment 381 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 b (new)
Paragraph 72 b (new)
72b. Stresses the need for the next MFF to better reflect the policy priority given to the digital transformation of the European economy and society and the need to invest in essential technologies and infrastructures and in digital skills to maintain and enhance our competitiveness, our quality of life and social fabric; believes that more support should be directed to cross border initiatives of critical importance for Europe, in particular in the area of development and access to latest technologies from Artificial Intelligence to High Performance Computing, and digital skills, while maintaining a strong support for research and innovation in digital technologies as part of the Research Framework Programme.;
Amendment 388 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Insists on the importance of the MFF for sectors relying on long-term investment, such as the transport sector; highlights that transport infrastructures are the backbone of the single market and the basis for sustainable growth and job creation; notes that accomplishing a single European transport area connected to neighbouring countries requires major transport infrastructure and must be treated as a key priority in terms of the EU’s competitiveness and for economic, social and territorial cohesion, including for peripheral areas; considers, therefore, that the next MFF should provide for sufficient funding for projects that contribute in particular to the completion of the TEN-T core network and its corridors, which should be further extended; stresses that an updated and more effective CEF programme should cover all modes of transport and focus on interconnections and the completion of the network in peripheral areas while using common standards;
Amendment 389 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)
Paragraph 73 a (new)
73a. Stresses that an updated and more effective CEF programme should cover all modes of transport and focus on interconnections and the completion of the network in peripheral areas while using common standards; CEF should promote greater links between comprehensive networks horizontal priorities such as Motorways of the Sea; stresses that Commission coordination should aim to incentivise the participation of investors and that the deployment of the ERTMS should maximise the benefits in terms of interoperability; considers that a specific budget line for tourism should be created in order to move towards a genuine European tourism policy; calls for the establishment of a top-down approach in order to ensure efficient implementation of the projects regarding the navigability on inland waterways; calls for financing, as part of the SESAR programme of research for the completion of the European Digital ATM;
Amendment 393 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Underlines the importance of ensuring financing for completing the digital single market by making full use of the spectrum, 5G deployment and gigabit connectivity, and by making further progress on the harmonisation of EU telecom rules to create the right regulatory framework for the improvement of internet connectivity throughout the Union; stresses that CEF Telecom should have appropriate resources and continue to support the Digital Service Infrastructures and the increasing investment needs in high speed broadband networks by enabling their accessibility, including in remote regions and rural areas, and by improving digital literacy, interconnectivity and interoperability;
Amendment 414 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. Underlines the strategic importance of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay (EGNOS), the Global Satellite Navigation System (Galileo) and, the Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus) and the future Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) for the EU’s future competitiveness; considers that the financing of these large-scale projects should be secured in the EU budget but, at the same time, ring-fenced, so as to ensure that possible cost overruns do not threaten the funding and successful implementation of other Union policies, as was the case in the previous MFF; recalls that, for this purpose, the maximum amount for these projects is currently fixed in the MFF Regulation, and calls for similar provisions in the new regulation;
Amendment 445 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78
Paragraph 78
78. Expects the global amount of direct payments to be kept intact under the next MFF, as theyStresses that the CAP budget in the next MFF should be at least maintained at its current level for the EU- 27 in current prices, including both the global amount of direct payments and of rural development; underlines that direct payments generate clear EU added value and strengthen the single market by avoiding distortions of competition between Member States; opposes any renationalisation and any national co- financing in that respectfor direct payments; stresses the need to increase funding in line with responses to the various cyclical crises in sensitive sectors, to create new instruments that can mitigate price volatility and to increase funding for Programmes of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI); concludes, therefore, that the CAP budget in the next MFF should be at least maintained at its current level for the EU-27; alls on the Commission to ensure the necessary financial and legal framework for the food supply chain, in order to combat unfair trading practices;
Amendment 463 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Stresses the socioeconomic and ecological importance of the fisheries sector, the ‘blue economy’ and their contribution to the food autonomy of the EU; points out that the common fisheries policy is an exclusive EU competence; emphasises, in this respect, the need to keep a specific, substantial, independent and accessible fisheries fund to implement this policy; calls for the reestablishment of the Program of Options Specifically relating to Remoteness and Insularity in Fisheries (POSEI Fisheries), as this is a very important program for the European Outermost Regions; calls, at least, for the level of financial appropriations dedicated to the fisheries sector under the current MFF to be maintained and, if new needs arise, to increase the financial appropriations for maritime affairs; warns about the possible negative impacts of a hard Brexit on this sector; notes that other financial instruments, in addition to non- repayable aid, could provide complementary financing possibilities;
Amendment 484 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
Paragraph 81
81. Stresses that cohesion policy post- 2020 should remain the main investment policy of the European Union covering all EU regions while concentrating the majority of the resources on the most vulnerable ones; believes that, beyond the goal of reducing the disparities between levels of development and enhancing convergence as enshrined in the Treaty, it should focus on the achievement of the broad EU political objectives and proposes, therefore, that under the next MFF, the three cohesion policy funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund – should concentrate mainly on providing support for innovation, digitalisation, reindustrialisation, SMEs, transport, climate change adaptation, employment and social inclusion; stresses that these funds represent the integral components of the EU cohesion policy, and can only operate jointly under the single framework of this policy; calls, moreover, for a reinforced territorial cooperation component and an urban dimension for the policy;
Amendment 512 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82
Paragraph 82
82. Considers maintaining the financing of cohesion policy post-2020 for the EU-27 at least at the level of the 2014- 2020 budget in current prices to be of the utmost importance; stresses that GDP should remain one of the parameters for the allocation of cohesion policy funds, but believes that it should be complemented by an additional set of social, environmental and demographic indicators to better take into account new types of inequalities between EU regions; supports, in addition, the continuation under the new programming period of the elements that rendered cohesion policy more modern and performance-oriented under the current MFF;
Amendment 563 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Expresses support for programmes in the areas of culture, education, media, youth, sports and citizenship that have clearly demonstrated their European added value and enjoy lasting popularity among beneficiaries; reminds that industries such as the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are one of the Europe's fastest growing sectors; advocates, therefore, continuous investment in the Education and Training 2020 framework through the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes in order to pursue reaching out to young people and providing them with valuable competences and life skills through lifelong learning, learner-centred and non-formal education, as well as informal learning opportunities; calls in particular for a tripling of the Erasmus+ envelope in the next MFF with the aim of reaching many more young people and learners across Europe, and achieving the full potential of the programme; recommends, moreover, the continuation of the European Solidarity Corps and reiterates its support for strengthening the external dimension of the Erasmus+ and Creative Europe programmes;
Amendment 565 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Expresses support for programmes in the areas of culture, education, media, youth, sports and citizenship that have clearly demonstrated their European added value and enjoy lasting popularity among beneficiaries; advocates, therefore, continuous investment in the Education and Training 2020 framework through the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes in order to pursue reaching out to young people and providing them with valuable competences and life skills through lifelong learning, learner-centred and non-formal education, as well as informal learning opportunities; calls in particular for a tripling of the Erasmus+ envelope in the next MFF with the aim of reaching many more young people and learners across Europe, addressing pressing and increasingly important needs such as basic digital skills and achieving the full potential of the programme; recommends, moreover, the continuation of the European Solidarity Corps and reiterates its support for strengthening the external dimension of the Erasmus+ and Creative Europe programmes;
Amendment 569 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 a (new)
Paragraph 85 a (new)
85a. Calls on the Commission to follow up on the ‘18th Birthday Interrail Pass for Europe’ project and put forward a dedicated programme in the next MFF with sufficient annual appropriations to cover all applications for a free railway pass coming from young Europeans that turn 18 in a specific year; underlines that such a project would become a key component in increasing European consciousness and identity, especially in the face of threats such as populism and the spread of misinformation; reiterates that in order to reach the objective of such a programme a proper legal base proposal is expected from the Commission;
Amendment 584 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86
Paragraph 86
86. Expects that in the post-2020 period, the European Union will move from crisis-management mode to a permanent, European policy in the field of asylum and migration; stresses that the actions in this field should be covered by a dedicated instrument, i.e. the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund; emphasises that the future fund, as well as the relevant Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies, must be equipped with an adequate level of funding for the whole of the next MFF to address the comprehensive challenges in this area; believes, furthermore, that the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) should be complemented by additional components tackling this issue under other policies, in particular by the EU structural and cohesion funds and the instruments financing external actions, as no single tool could hope to address the magnitude and complexity of needs in this field; recognises, moreover, the importance of cultural, educational and sports programmes in integrating refugees and migrants into European society;
Amendment 630 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 90 a (new)
Paragraph 90 a (new)
90a. Underlines the need for an increased engagement with the private sector when it comes to the external policies and the support to our partners; building on the evaluation of the existing models and the cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and financial institutions, calls for a more effective and efficient delivery model to promote public and private investment abroad;
Amendment 658 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93
Paragraph 93
93. Believes that the next MFF must support the establishment of a European Defence Union; awaits, followingwelcomes the Commission’s announcements in this area, and looks forward to the relevant legislative proposals, including a dedicated EU defence research programme and an industrial development programme complemented by Member States’ investment in collaborative equipment; recalls that increased defence cooperation, the pooling of research and equipment and the elimination of duplications could lead to considerable efficiency gains, often estimated at around EUR 26 billion per year;
Amendment 664 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 a (new)
Paragraph 94 a (new)
94a. Stresses the paramount importance of the EU civil protection mechanism that has enabled a coordinated EU assistance in natural and manmade disasters across the Union and beyond; points to the unquestionable added value of civil protection operations in effectively combating disasters that are becoming all the more frequent and complex, while boosting the feeling of European solidarity among EU citizens in times of need; welcomes the recent Commission proposals to boost EU’s civil protection by strengthening preparedness and prevention measures, including the establishment of a dedicated reserve of operational capacities at Union level; calls for reinforced action in this field to be coupled with adequate funding under the next MFF;
Amendment 680 #
2017/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99 a (new)
Paragraph 99 a (new)
99a. Considers that, in order to enable a timely agreement on the next MFF and the sectoral regulations, the Commission proposals should largely ensure continuity with the current programmes, by maintaining those structures and elements that have worked well in this period; acknowledges the need for reforms in the different EU programmes, based on the results of the spending review; discourages, however, the introduction of changes that are not duly justified for purposes of simplification or other tangible improvements especially for the beneficiaries;
Amendment 16 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Structural Reform Support Programme (‘the Programme’) was established with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth- sustaining administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. Support under the Programme is provided by the Commission, upon request by a Member State, and can cover a wide range of policy areas. Developing resilient economies built on strong economic and social structures, which allow Member States to efficiently absorb shocks and swiftly recover from them, contributes to territorial, economic and social cohesion. The implementation of institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms is an appropriate tool for achieving such a development.
Amendment 19 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) In its pursuit of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining structural reforms, the Programme should not replace or substitute funding from national budgets of Member States, or be used to cover current expenditure;
Amendment 22 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Strengthening territorial, economic and social cohesion by reinforcing structural reforms is crucial for successful participation in the Economic and Monetary Union. That is particularly important for Member States whose currency is not the euro, in their preparation to join the euro area.
Amendment 24 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is thus appropriate to stress in the general objective of the Programme – within its contribution towards responding to territorial, economic and social challenges – that enhancing cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, and job creation should also contribute to the preparations for future participation in the euro area by those Member States whose currency is not the euro.
Amendment 27 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In order to meet the growing demand for support from Member States, and in view of the need to support the implementation of structural reforms in Member States whose currency is not the euro, the financial allocation for the Programme should be increased to a sufficient level that allows the Union to provide support that meets the needs of the requesting Member States. That additional allocation should be financed exclusively through fresh appropriations to be mobilised by the budgetary authority, making full use of the available budgetary flexibility, on the basis of a relevant Commission proposal. No redeployments should be considered for that purpose, in order to avoid any negative impact on the financing of existing multiannual programmes.
Amendment 33 #
2017/0334(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming and strengthening institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors in response to territorial, economic and social challenges, with a view to enhancing cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation, and investment, which will also prepare for participation in the euro area, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient, effective and transparent use of the Union funds.;
Amendment 21 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) This Regulation lays down a financial envelope of EUR 341,5 million in current prices for the period 2018- 2020 which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of Point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management23 , for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure. The prime reference amount includes redeployments from the Erasmus+ programme (financial envelope should include the amount of EUR 197.,7 million) and from the Employment and Social Innovation programme (EUR 10 million) for the financial years 2018, 2019 and 2020, and it is complemented by contributions from several Union programmes under different headings, such as the European Social Fund, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the LIFE programme and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development that was originally earmarked to finance the intra- Union European Voluntary Service activities under the Erasmus+ Programme for the financial years 2018, 2019 and 2020, given that those activities are to be transferred to the European Solidarity Corps Programme. Considering the need to avoid any negative impact on the financing of existing multiannual programmes, the remaining amount for the financing of the European Solidarity Corps should be drawn exclusively from unallocated margins under the multiannual financial framework ceilings. _________________ 23 Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.
Amendment 24 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The financial envelope of the European Solidarity Corps under Heading 1a of the Multiannual Financial Framework also builds on funds redeployed from the Erasmus+ programme. These funds should mainexclusively come from appropriations aimed at financing European Voluntary Service activities that would fall under the scope of the volunteering placements supported under this Regulation. In addition, some appropriations of the Student Loan Guarantee Facility, which are unlikely to be absorbed under Erasmus+, should be redeployed with a view to providing adequate co-financing to the operating costs of national agencies and be brought more in line with the absorption capacity of this action.
Amendment 30 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The amount referred to in paragraph 1 includes a financial envelope of EUR 294 2197 700 00033 in current prices supplemented by contributions from: _________________ 33This financial envelope constitutes the prime reference amount within the meaning of point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement (2013/C 373/01) between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, which corresponds to the amount originally earmarked to finance the intra- Union European Voluntary Service activities under the Erasmus+ Programme. The remaining amount of EUR 143 800 000 for the financing of the European Solidarity Corps shall be drawn exclusively from unallocated margins under the multiannual financial framework ceilings.
Amendment 31 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 32 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 33 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 34 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d
Amendment 49 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Amendment to Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013
Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013, paragraphs 2 c
(c) up to 13,5 % tof the Student Loan Guarantee Facility;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2257(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 4 #
2016/2257(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Consistent with its vote on the 2017 budget, proposes to frontload to 2016 part of the Union budget contribution to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey initially planned for 2017 due to its good implementation record; notes that the margin left in heading 2 (EUR 1,8 billion), after closure of the agricultural year, is largely sufficient to offset a further mobilisation of the contingency margin in 2016; decides therefore to amendApproves the Council position on Draft aAmending budget No 4/2016 as shown below;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2257(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraphe 6a (new)
Paragraphe 6a (new)
6a (new). Instructs its President to declare that Amending budget No 4/2016 has been definitively adopted and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 3 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
Amendment 6 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 8 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) After having examined all other financial possibilities to react to unforeseen circumstances within the 2016 commitment ceiling for heading 3 (Security and citizenship) and heading 4 (Global Europe) of the multiannual financial framework, and after having mobilised the Flexibility Instrument for the full amount of EUR 1 530 million available in 2016, it appears necessary to mobilise the Contingency Margin to address the needs stemming from the migration, refugee and security crisis, by increasing the commitment appropriations in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, above the commitment ceilings of heading 3 and heading 4. (.
Amendment 9 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1
Article 1
For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2016, the Contingency Margin shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 240,1 million in commitment appropriations over and above the commitment ceiling of heading 3 of the multiannual financial framework, as well as the amount of EUR 400 million in commitment appropriations over and above the commitment ceiling of heading 4 of the multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 10 #
2016/2256(BUD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2
Article 2
The amount of EUR 240,1 million in commitment appropriations referred to in Article 1 in relation to heading 3 of the multiannual financial framework shall be fully offset against the margin under the commitment ceiling of heading 5 (Administration) of the multiannual financial framework for the financial year 2016. The amount of EUR 400 million in commitment appropriations referred to in Article 1 in relation to heading 4 shall be fully offset against the margin under the commitment ceiling of heading 2 (Sustainable Growth: Natural Resources) for the financial year 2016.
Amendment 2 #
2016/2242(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) have helped to significantlycontributed to reduceing the youth unemployment rate in the EU, by boosting labour market demand for young people and supporting job creation measures;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2242(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the original financial allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in the 2014-2020 MFF was EUR 6.4 billion, out of which EUR 3.2 billion from a dedicated budget line coupled with the same amount from the European Social Fund; whereas, in the context of the MFF mid-term revision, an additional allocation of EUR 1.2 billion for YEI was endorsed, to be matched by the same amount from the ESF; whereas the final allocation for the programme will be determined in the course of the upcoming annual budgetary procedures;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2242(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 19 #
2016/2242(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Considers that it is necessary to harmonize the age limit in all European youth employment programmes, to promote equality, clarity and transparency.
Amendment 119 #
2016/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The extended EFSI should address remaining market failures and sub-optimal investment situations and continue to mobilise private sector financing in investments crucial for Europe’s future job creation – including for the youth –, growth and competitiveness with strengthened additionality. They include investments in the areas of energy, environment and climate action, social and human capital and related infrastructure, healthcare, research and innovation, cross- border and sustainable transport, as well as the digital transformation. In particular, the contribution of operations supported by the EFSI to achieving the Union's ambitious targets set at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) should be reinforced. Energy interconnection priority projects and energy efficiency projects should also be increasingly targeted. In addition, EFSI support to motorways should be avoided, unless it is needed to support private investment in transport in cohesion countries, including through the establishment of direct road connections to ports and business parks, or in cross- border transport projects involving at least one cohesion country. For reasons of clarity, although they are already eligible, it should be explicitly laid down that projects in the fields of agriculture, fishery and aquaculture come within the general objectives eligible for EFSI support.
Amendment 485 #
2016/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1 – point a
Annex II – point 1 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Annex II – section 2 – point b – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Annex II – section 2 – point b – subparagraph 1 a (new)
EFSI support to motorways shall be avoided, unless it is needed to support private investment in transport in cohesion countries, including through the establishment of direct road connections to ports and business parks, or in cross- border transport projects involving at least one cohesion country.
Amendment 39 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the Europe 2020 strategy represents the main orientation and overarching priority that underpins the EU budget; believes, therefore, that the MFF review should include, besides the examination of the budgetary implementation of relevant EU programmes, a qualitative analysis of whether and to what extent the objectives set out in this strategy have been attained; insists that this assessment is coupled with a projection on whether the financial resources earmarked in support of this strategy for the remaining years of the current MFF will be sufficient to allow for its successful implementation;
Amendment 72 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines that, in response to this pressing problem, the new Commission in 2014 proposed an investment plan for Europe and the establishment of EFSI, with the aim of mobilising EUR 315 billion in new investment in the real economy; reiterates its strong commitment to EFSI that is expected to deliver a powerful and targeted boost to economic sectors that are conducive to growth and job; .notes that the guarantee provided by the Union for EFSI is covered by a Guarantee Fund of EUR 8 billion constituted in the EU budget;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is convinced, on the basis of the above analysis, that the review of the functioning of the current MFF entails the conclusion that a genuine mid-term revision of the MFF as provided for in the MFF Regulation is absolutely indispensable if the Union is to effectively confront a number of challenges while fulfilling its political objectives; recalls that delivering on the Europe 2020 strategy remains the main priority to be supported by the EU budget; stresses the need for the EU budget to be endowed with adequate resources to effectively ensure investments conducive to growth and jobs, achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion and promote solidarity;
Amendment 230 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Is convinced that decommitments across all headings, resulting from total or partial non-implementation of the actions for which they were earmarked, should be made available again in the EU budget and be mobilised by the budgetary authority in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure; strongly believes that, given the current constraints affecting the EU budget and the additional financing needs that the Union is facing, such provision should also apply to decommitments resulting from the implementation of the 2007-2013 programmes, including the closure of cohesion policy programmes; calls on the Commission to make appropriate legislative proposals in this regard;
Amendment 280 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Calls on the Commission to conduct an in-depth analysis of the use of the financial instruments since the beginning of the current programming period in the course of the mid-term review/revision; encourages the Commission to identify all EU policy areas where grants could be combined with financial instruments; is of the firm opinion that the possibility of a combination of various EU resources under harmonised management rules would help optimizing the synergies between available sources of financing at EU level;
Amendment 298 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Points to the political imperative of setting up a decision-making procedure that guarantees the availability of the necessary financial resources, either at EU or national level, in order to ensure the full implementation of the political decisions taken by the European Council;
Amendment 334 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)
Paragraph 57 a (new)
57a. Stresses that any future integration of such instruments into the EU budget entails that their respective financial envelopes are added on top of the MFF ceilings, which will need to be revised accordingly, in order not to jeopardise the financing of other EU policies and programmes;
Amendment 341 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Underlines that in addition to the ability to react flexibly to changing circumstances without prejudice to the agreed programming, there is also a necessity for the Union to be able to react quickly to developing crises; calls, therefore, for the establishment of a permanent EU crisis reserve within the Union budget over and above the MFF ceilings, in order to avoid ad hoc solutions like the setting-up of trust funds; stresses that such mechanism, meant to respond to crises and unforeseen situations, should by its very nature operate as an MFF special instrument and be counted over and above the MFF ceilings;
Amendment 354 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61a. Considers that the unanimity requirement for the adoption of the MFF Regulation represents a true impediment in the process; calls on the European Council in that regard to activate the passerelle in Art 312(2) TFEU so as to allow for the adoption of the MFF Regulation by qualified majority; recalls, moreover, that the general passerelle clause of Art 48(7) TEU can also be deployed, in order to apply the ordinary legislative procedure; stresses that a shift towards qualified majority voting for the adoption of the MFF Regulation would be in line with the decision-making process for the adoption of virtually all EU multiannual programmes as well as for the annual procedure for adopting the EU budget;
Amendment 356 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
62. Calls on the Member States to reach a rapid agreement on the next MFF in order toInsists that the legislative process to adopt the next MFF should be concluded by the end of 2018, following substantial negotiations between the European Parliament and Council; stresses that a timely MFF agreement will allow all new programmes to start without delay on 1 January 2021;
Amendment 218 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Many small and medium enterprises, as well as mid-cap companies, across the Union require assistance to attract market financing, especially as regards investments that carry a greater degree of risk. The EFSI should help these businesses to overcome capital shortages and market failures by allowing the EIB and the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to provide direct and indirect equity injections, as well as to provide guarantees for high-quality securitisation of loans, and other products that are granted in pursuit of the aims of the EFSI.
Amendment 237 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The EFSI should be established within the EIB in order to benefit from its experience and proven track record and in order for its operations to start to have a positive impact as quickly as possible. The work of the EFSI on providing financeprovision of EFSI funding to small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies shouldmay be channelled through the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to benefit from its experience in these activities.
Amendment 336 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projects, such as research and development, transport and SMEs, as well as geographic markets within the European Union. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectives. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
Amendment 481 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) To partially finance the contribution from the Union budget, the available envelopes of the Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of will be progressively authorised by the European Parliament and of the Council2 , and the Connecting Europe Facility, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3 , should be reduced. Those programmes serve purposes that are not replicated by the EFSI. However, the reduction of both programmes to finance the guarantee fund is expected to ensure a greater investment in certain areas of their respective mandates than is possible through the existing programmes. The EFSI should be able to leverage the EU guarantee to multiply the financial effect within those areas of research, development and innovation and transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure compared to if the resources had been spent via grants within the planned Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility programmes. It is, therefore, appropriate to redirect part of the funding presently envisaged for those programmes to the benefit of EFSI. __________________ 3Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parlia in the framework of the annual budgetary procedures up to 2022. For this purpose, the budgetary authority should make use, where appropriate, of all means available under Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, including for instance a more extensive use of unallocated margins under the Global MFF Margin for commitments and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amending Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010 (OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 129)r available flexibility mechanisms, such as the Flexibility Instrument.
Amendment 495 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Within the Union, there are a significant number of potentially viable projects that are not being financed due to a lack of certainty and transparency with respect to such projects. Often, this is because private investors are not aware of the projects or have insufficient information to make an assessment of the investment risks. The Commission and the EIB, with support from the Member States, should promote the creation of a transparent pipeline of current and future economically viable investment projects in the Union suitable for investment. This 'project pipeline' should ensure that information is made publicly available regarding investment projects on a regular and structured basis to ensure that investors have reliable information on which to base their investment decisions.
Amendment 682 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The EFSI Agreement shall provide that there is a clear distinction between operations carried out with the EFSI support and other operations of the EIB. Therefore, the EIB should ensure that EFSI activities are presented in a separate report.
Amendment 742 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2a Eligibility criteria for the use of EU guarantee The EFSI shall target projects with generally a higher risk profile than existing normal EIB instruments so as to ensure additionality over existing operations. The EFSI shall support projects which: a) are consistent with Union policies and contribute to achieving the Union objectives, such as smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; b) could not have been carried out in that period under normal EIB instruments without EFSI support or to the same extent during that period under EIF and EU instruments, nor financed by the market on reasonable terms; c) are viable from an economic and technical perspective;
Amendment 751 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI shall be governed by a Steering Board, which shall determine the strategic orientation, the strategic asset allocation and operating policies and procedures, including the investment policy of projects that EFSI can support, the treatment of investment platforms and the risk profile of the EFSI, in conformity with the objectives under Article 5(2). The Steering Board shall elect one of its members to be Chairperson. adopt investment guidelines for the use of the EU guarantee to be implemented by the Investment Committee. The investment guidelines shall be made publicly available.
Amendment 780 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 791 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Amendment 824 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 859 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of sixeight independent experts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and be appointed by the Steering Boardstructuring and project financing. The Investment Committee shall have an overall pluridisciplinary composition encompassing both a broad range of expertise in various sectors, such as research and development, transport and SMEs, and a wide knowledge of geographic markets within the Union. The Investment Committee shall be appointed by the Steering Board, after an open and transparent selection process, for a renewable fixed term of up to three years.
Amendment 1150 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The necessary appropriations to meet the initial target amount shall be gradually authorised by the European Parliament and the Council in the framework of the annual budgetary procedures up to 2022.
Amendment 1153 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
In the context of the Mid-term review of the MFF 2014-2020, due to be launched by the end of 2016, the Council and the Parliament shall examine whether the redeployments from the EU programmes that were used as a source of financing for the guarantee fund could be compensated; the Council and the Parliament shall explore the ways of reinforcing these programmes by additional resources, to the largest possible extent.
Amendment 1183 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Amendment 1 #
2014/2248(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Underlines that the challenges identified by the Europe 2020 strategy persist and are likely to intensify in the coming years; points in particular to the overarching priority of a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the targets set on employment, innovation, education, social inclusions and climate / energy;
Amendment 46 #
2014/2248(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the EU budget is often called to finance extraordinary needs or new political priorities that were not anticipated at the time of adoption of the multiannual financial framework; stresses, however, that EU commitments should be fully respected and that any new initiatives and needs should not be financed to the detriment of existing EU programmes and policies; considers that the MFF special instruments should be mobilised, as appropriate, for this purpose, and be counted over and above the MFF ceilings, both in commitment and payment appropriations;
Amendment 52 #
2014/2248(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the need to apply the ordinary legislative procedure for the adoption of the MFF Regulation, in order to align it with the decision-making procedure of virtually all EU multiannual programmes, including their respective financial allocations, as well as the EU budget; believes that the consent procedure deprives the European Parliament of the decision-making power that it exercises over the adoption of the annual budgets, while the unanimity rule in the Council means that the agreement represents the lowest common denominator, based on the need to avoid the veto of a single Member State;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the "draft package" agreed, after difficult negotiations, by representatives of Parliament and Council during the trilogue of 8 December 2014 consists of three elements: Draft Amending Budgets No 3-8/2014 for an overall amount of EUR 49,8 million in commitment appropriations and additional EUR 3 529,6 million from fresh money in payment appropriations, so at least partially covering the current shortage in payments, the Union Budget for the year 2015 set at a level of EUR 145 321,5 million and EUR 141 214,0 million, in commitment and payment appropriations respectively, and six joint statements as well as three unilateral statements;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1a (new)
Paragraph 1a (new)
1a. Considers that the level of payments agreed both for 2014 and 2015 reaches the minimum required to stabilise the level of unpaid bills at year-end; is, therefore, satisfied by this result that is attributed to the strong determination of Parliament’s negotiating team throughout this year’s budgetary negotiations; recalls that a satisfactory level of payments was the primary objective of Parliament in these negotiations;
Amendment 6 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1b (new)
Paragraph 1b (new)
1b. Is convinced, however, that efforts need to be stepped up in the coming years with the view of reducing the level of unpaid bills, with a particular focus on cohesion policy, to a sustainable level; stresses, in this respect, the joint commitment of the three EU Institutions to consider any possible means to reduce the level of those bills, as set out in the joint statement on a payment plan accompanying this year’s budgetary agreement;
Amendment 10 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. RIs pleased that the overall level of commitments obtained in the negotiations includes modest reinforcements above the level proposed by the Commission for some key EU programmes (e.g. Horizon 2020, COSME, Erasmus +), corresponding to Parliament’s political priorities; regrets however that the Council was once again not willing to complement its political declarations with sufficient budgetary resources regarding the support for jobs and growth and the Union’s international commitments, which it demonstrated by not agreeing to budgeting up to the MFF ceiling in Headings 1a and 4; is however pleased that the increases obtained in the negotiations correspond to Parliament’s political prioritiesfurther reinforcements in Headings 1a and 4, as requested by Parliament in its October reading;
Amendment 25 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the fact that Council, in the end, agreed to the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin in 2014, even though to a lower amount than needed; welcomes furthermore the overall reinforcements in payments in the 2014 budget, on a number of budget lines up to a level EUR 4,2 billion, of which EUR 3 168,2 million will be mobilised through the Contingency Margin for 2014 as well as the fact that the increases proposed in DAB No 3/2014 in payment appropriations for Heading 1a and Heading 4 have been largely preserved in the final compromise; notes that the reinforcements mainly target Heading 1b, where the bulk of the problem of unpaid bills at year-end currently lies;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Reiterates its long-standing position that the payments of special instruments should be calculated over and above the MFF ceilings, as is the case for commitments; regrets that, once more, it has not been made possible to reach an agreement with Council on this point; stresses, however, that all efforts need to be made towards a definite agreement on this point at the earliest possible date;
Amendment 9 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls, once more, that the EU budget should in no way be perceived and evaluated simply as a financial item added as a burden to national budgets but, on the contrary, is to be understood as an opportunity to gear up those initiatives and investments that are of interest and of added value to the Union as a whole, most of them co-decided by Parliament and the Council and thus legitimised also at national level;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the Council holds a strong political responsibility for the very tense situation in payments, due to its inabilityfailure to gather a qualified majority within its ranks to secure a level of payments allowing the Union to cover undisputed payment needs; stresses, however, that such level of payments is the direct outcome of a corresponding level of commitments, which the Council formally adopted with the necessary qualified majority in the context of annual budgetary procedures;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasizes that besides implementing the political agreement reached in the negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 as regardsNotes that the Draft Budget integrated the frontloading of appropriations for specified policy objectives, the Commission did not propose addwhich was part of the politioncal efforts to accommodate priorities outlinagreement reached byin the ParliamentMFF negotiations; decides thereforemoreover to reinforce financial resources for the Union political objectives and strategic priorities, in a number of areas in Headings 1a, 1b and 4 by exhausting margins in commitment appropriations;
Amendment 35 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Decides to concentrate its reinforcements on the programmes which are at the core of the Europe 2020 strategy aimed at fostering growth, competitiveness and employment, namely Horizon 2020, COSME, Erasmus +, the digital agenda, Progress, EURES, the Microfinance Facility and the social agenda; reinforces also programmes that are instrumental for the delivery of the EU external policy agenda, such as Neighbourhood policy and Humanitarian Aid; insists on the need to also increase the financing of important programmes and policies like FEAD, Europe for citizens and development;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 41 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Highlights however, that even the full use of the 2015 payment ceiling is not sufficient to adequately address the Union’'s ongoing payment problems that have erupted since the 2010 Union budget; notes, particularly, the huge backlog in payments of the past years leading to the unprecedented level of 23.4 bn EUR at the end of 2013 for cohesion policy alone and fears that it may be of a similar magnitude at the end of 2014; stresses, therefore, that the recurrent problem of shortage of payments needs to be effectively addressed without further delay; hence, decides to go beyond the Commission's proposals in payments by 4bn EUR for a number of budget lines, including the main "2007-2013 completion lines" of the EU structural funds and research programmes, where the situation in payments is the mostvery critical;
Amendment 42 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls accordingly on the Commission to stand ready to put forward relevant proposals for the mobilisation of the flexibility mechanisms included in the MFF Regulation; reiterates its intention not to accept any restricted interpretations of the provisions on flexibility and special instruments included in the new MFF Regulation and IIA, which were successfully negotiated by the European Parliament;
Amendment 46 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that in order to ensure adequate resources for the Union wide investment plans (agreed by the June 2014 European Council following President- elect Juncker´s political guidelines9 ), continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative, notably the European Youth Guarantee as of budget 2016, and in order to address the persistent problem of payment appropriations, the post electoral review/revision of the MFF 2014-2020, as provided for in Article 2 of the MFF Regulation, should be launched as soon as possiblin due time by the new Commission, due to enter into office on 1st November 2014; __________________ 9 http://ec.europa.eu/about/juncker- commission/docs/pg_en.pdf
Amendment 47 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that Heading 1a bears the largest share of Council's cuts both in commitments (EUR -323,5 million as compared to the DB) and in payments (EUR -1 335 million), despite the fact that the European Council again in June 2014 set growth, competitiveness and the creation of jobs at the top of its political agenda; highlights that some of these cuts openly contradictare not in line with the agreement on the MFF 2014-2020, in so far as they heavily decrease Horizon 2020 (by EUR 190 million in commitments against the DB) that was significantly frontloaded by 200m EUR in 2014, as well as the ITER programme (EUR -11,2 million), which should instead be frontloaded in 2015 to compensate its backloading in 2014 as per the MFF agreement;
Amendment 51 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Decides, therefore, as a general line to restore the level of the Draft Budget for 2015 for all cuts performed by the Council, both in commitments and in payments; furthermore increases a selected number of lines within the programmes which correspond to the Parliament's priorities under Heading 1a (Horizon 2020, COSME, Erasmus +, Digital agenda. Social agenda) by exhausting the margin (total increases above DB of some 200m EUR);
Amendment 61 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Commissiononsiders that the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for Headind 1b, as proposed by the Commission, should be used to finance fully the second instalment of EUR 100 million for Cyprus fully by the mobilisation of; decides, also, to use the Flexibility instrument, hence ensuring the amount of EUR 20,2 million for other priorities, notably sting margin of EUR 20,2 million in order to reinforce the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) and PP/PAs;
Amendment 63 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 65 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Welcomes the increase proposed by the Commission in commitment appropriations for the new LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action and expects this programme to be fully in place in 2015, including a first set of financial instruments; deplores, however, that smaller programmes such as the LIFE programme as well as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) bear the most significant cuts by the Council under this heading, both in commitments and payments, thereby affecting the achievement of their agreed objectives; also regrets inappropriatethe unjustified Council's cuts to the school fruit and school milk schemes; restores, therefore, the DB on all lines cut by the Council;
Amendment 73 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that the additional cuts proposed by the Council will jeopardise a proper implementation of programmes and actions in Heading 3; takes therefore the general approach to restore the DB on all lines under this heading; takes the decision, furthermore, to increase a selected number of lines above the DB mainly within the programmes Creative Europe, Europe for Citizens and, Multimedia Actions, as well as Common Asylum System (for a total of EUR 53,2 million in commitment appropriations above DB including agencies and pilot projects and preparatory actions);
Amendment 75 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. (new) Agrees that additional support is needed for European Citizens Initiatives; decides therefore to create a new line in heading 3 :"Implementation of European Citizens Initiatives and other instruments of participatory democracy" with 1 million in commitment appropriations;
Amendment 77 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Recalls the international commitment made by the Union and its Member States to increase their official development assistance (ODA) spending to 0,7 % of GNI and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and therefore calls for an increase in the appropriations for thematic areas covered by the Development Cooperation Instrument, in view of getting closer to the attainment of the Millennium DPost-2015 Global development Goalcommitments;
Amendment 78 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Considers the Council's cuts to the priority lines of the Parliament unacceptable and proposes to restore the DB on the lines decreased by the Council and to even exceed the DB in commitment appropriations for some lines of strategic importance for the Union's external relations by a total of EUR 400,55 million (Humanitarian Aid, European Neighbourhood Instrument, Development Cooperation Instrument, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy Instrument for Stability and PP/PAs); notes that these increases exhaust the Heading 4 margin, as well as an additional 66m EUR that results from decreased appropriations from lines moved to EEAS budget;
Amendment 80 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46 a. (new). Deems it necessary to increase appropriations for the Turkish Cypriot line, in order to ensure the continuation of the EU financial support to the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2040(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 b (new)
Paragraph 46 b (new)
46 b. (new). Approves the transfer of the budget lines for the EUSRs to the EEAS budget in order to support their better integration into the EEAS, in accordance with the proposal made by the HRVP in the EEAS Review, Parliament's recommendations of 13 June 2013 and the Court of Auditors' special report n° 11/2014; expects that the transfer will be completed by 1 January 2016;
Amendment 1 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the political agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 of 27 June 2013 which will allow the continuation of policy financing focussing on new priorities to aim at achieving the goals of the 2020 strategy; notes that the MFF includes an important deal on flexibility which will allow making a maximum use of funds the level of which has been substantially reduced by the Member States as compared to the original Commission´s proposal; is convinced that a high level of environmental protection in the European Union, health as a precondition for economic prosperity, food and feed safety and mechanisms to help protect against natural and man-made disasters are of core value to all European citizens;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the MFF is a spending plan that translates Union priorities into financial terms. It is not a seven-year budget, but the basis for the annual budgetary exercise. It sets the maximum annual amounts which the Union may spend in different political fields. It therefore provides a political as well as budgetary framework for the benefit of 500 million Europeans.
Amendment 3 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Underlines that it is necessary to help Europe recover from the crisis. The spending plan seeks to increase growth and jobs in Europe, encourage greener agriculture and establish a more environment-conscious and internationally prominent Europe. The proposals foresee funding increases for research and innovation, education and training and external relations. Climate spending is expected to represent at least 20% of Union spending in the period 2014-2020.
Amendment 5 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that a vast majority of programmes run out on 31 December 2013 (civil protection as an example) and urges the adoption of new legal bases under the ordinary legislative procedure before beginning of 2014 in order to ensure the funding for millions of Union beneficiaries; stresses that the legal bases have to be finalised before that date.
Amendment 20 #
2013/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Maintains that regions with specific characteristics, such as the outermost regions, as referred to in Article 349 TFEU, and rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition, and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross- border, and mountain regions, as referred to in Article 174 TFEU, have to be given special attention as regards economic, social, and – above all – territorial cohesion objectives;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need to restore and improve financial capacity at sub-national level to secure public investment for programmes and projects aimed at boosting growth and securing jobs, especially at regional and local level; maintains that if the outermost regions and other regions with specific characteristics were to be to any extent deprived of their existing support, and if there were any moves to undermine the schemes compensating for the additional costs which they incur on account of their remoteness, or because they are islands, or to whittle away the specific measures relating to agriculture, fisheries, State aid, customs and trade, taxation, and free zones, the structural economic and social situation in these regions might worsen still further and their integration into the European internal market could consequently be held up, a fact which would make itself felt in terms of development, economic growth, and employment at regional level;
Amendment 1 #
2013/0315(NLE)
The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament declines to givegives its consent.
Amendment 10 #
2013/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation 2012/2002
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. For the purposes of this Regulation, a ‘regional natural disaster’ shall mean any natural disaster resulting, in a region of a Member State or a country involved in accession negotiations with the Union at NUTS 2 level, in direct damage in excess of 1,5 % of the region's gross domestic product (GDP). Where the disaster concerns several regions at NUTS 2 level, the threshold shall be applied to the weighted average GDP of those regions. However, under exceptional circumstances, even when the quantitative criteria laid down in the first subparagraph are not met, a region may also benefit from assistance from the Fund where that region has been affected by an extraordinary disaster, particularly a natural disaster, affecting the major part of its population, with serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region. Total annual assistance under this subparagraph shall be limited to no more than 7.5 % of the annual amount available to the Fund. Particular focus will be on remote or isolated regions, such as the island and outermost regions as defined in Article 349 of the Treaty. The Commission shall examine with the utmost rigour any requests which are submitted to it under this subparagraph.
Amendment 5 #
2012/2203(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Has no evidence that the ECHA has implemented its budget in a non-cost- effective way and has no indication of fraud or irregularities; rRecommends on the facts available that discharge can be granted to the Executive Director of the ECHA in respect of the implementation of the ECHA’s budget for the financial year 2011.
Amendment 11 #
2012/2196(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Has no evidence that the Authority has implemented its budget in a non-cost- effective way and has no indication of fraud or irregularities; rRecommends on the facts available that discharge can be granted to the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority in respect of the implementation of the Authority’s budget for the financial year 2011.
Amendment 1 #
2012/2195(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control brings coherence and complementarity to action in the field of public health by reconciling the roles and responsibilities of Member States, EU institutions, and international organisations;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2195(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Has no evidence that the ECDC has implemented its budget in a non-cost- effective way and has no indication of fraud or irregularities; rRecommends on the facts available that discharge can be granted to the Executive Director of the ECDC in respect of the implementation of the ECDC’s budget for the financial year 2011.
Amendment 1 #
2012/2190(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points to the role of the European Medicines Agency in protecting and promoting public and animal health by assessing and supervising medicines for human or veterinary use;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2190(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Has no evidence that the Agency has implemented its budget in a non-cost- effective way and has no indication of fraud or irregularities; rRecommends, on the basis of the facts available, that discharge be granted to the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2011.
Amendment 2 #
2012/2187(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the EEA is an invaluable information and knowledge provider on the environment, upon which the European Commission services rely heavily for the development, monitoring and assessment of its policies. The Agency’s roles have steadily grown over the past few years, making it an internationally respected organisation;
Amendment 3 #
2012/2187(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that the European Commission must exercise its supervisory role though its participation in the Management Board and Bureau of the EEA, within the limits set by regulation 401/2009 and with due respect of the legal autonomy of the Agency and the European Parliament has to be kept regularly informed;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2187(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Welcomes that the Agency staff and management activities, quality control processes, products and services, administrative and building services are brought together under the strategic area in the ‘EEA Strategy 2009-2013’;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2187(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Takes note that regarding the management of conflict of interest the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Commission signed on 19 July 2012 a Joint Statement accompanying an agreed Common Approach, based on the conclusions reached by the Inter-institutional Working Group on decentralised agencies. This concerns members of the Management Boards, scientific committees, Boards of Appeal and executive Directors;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2187(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Has no evidence that the EEA has implemented its budget in a non-cost- effective way and has no indication of fraud or irregularities; rRecommends on the facts available that discharge can be granted to the Executive Director of the EEA in respect of the implementation of the EEA’s budget for the financial year 2011.
Amendment 2 #
2012/2092(BUD)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 2
Section 1 – paragraph 2
2. Notes that climate action and environmental objectives are of a cross- cutting nature which must be translated into concrete actions to be implemented under the various programmes and policies to foster sustainable growth in Europe; notes that the EU's environmental policy contributes to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; welcomes the recurrent commitment by all EU institutions for a more sustainable, resource-efficient and ecological European economy; is worried, however, that the present economic and fiscal constraints in some Member States lead to negligence of achieving climate action and environmental objectives;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2092(BUD)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Section 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EU budget has an important role to play in promoting climate action in all sectors of the European economy and in catalysing the specific investments that will be needed to meet the climate targets and to ensure climate resilience. These investments relate to a wide range of technologies that improve energy efficiency, to renewable energy sources and related infrastructures, and to investments for adaptation to climate change;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2092(BUD)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Section 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that climate action is integrated into many policy areas and implemented through a range of instruments that support multiple EU objectives, for instance both biodiversity and climate change mitigation policies. A proportion of the EU budget is related to climate mainstreaming and thus contributes to Europe's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society. In order to reach the Europe 2020 objectives, the climate-related share of the future EU budget must be significantly increased, including investments in projects that are not exclusively climate-related but which have a significant climate component;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2001(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that, in order to make significant long-term savings, an independent evaluation of the EP budget should be considered; believes the setting up of a working group should be considered; calls on the Secretary General and the Bureau to come forward with concrete proposals on the establishment of such a group as soon as possible; also calls for the speedy implementation of any conclusions reached by the group;
Amendment 65 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Tobacco production in disadvantaged areas, especially the outermost regions, which is often associated with specific environmental, geographical and cultural conditions and craft-based, environmentally-friendly methods, should receive special attention from the EU, which should allow the Member State the possibility of applying specific measures to maintain production in these regions.
Amendment 233 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40 A (new)
Recital 40 A (new)
(40a) Any Member State which considers it necessary to maintain and/or introduce national and/or regional measures to maintain traditional tobacco plantations, for justified reasons of socioeconomic dependence and land use, should be authorised to do so.
Amendment 616 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. For cigarette packets the general warning and the information message shall be printed on the lateral sides of the unit packets. These warnings shall have a width of not less than 20 mm and a height of not less than 43 mm. For roll-your-own tobacco the information message shall be printed on the surface that becomes visible when opening the unit packet. Both the general warning and the information message shall cover 50 % of the surface on which they are printed.
Amendment 664 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) cover 750 % of the external area of both the front and back surface of the unit packet and any outside packaging;
Amendment 705 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 800 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This tobacco product can damages your health and is addictive
Amendment 4 #
2012/0309(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Exemption from the visa requirement for nationals of Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu should not come into force until bilateral agreements on visa waiver between the Union and the countries concerned have been concluded in order to ensure full reciprocity.
Amendment 6 #
2012/0309(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 1 – point 1 – point a
(a) in point 1, the references to Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu are deleted and a reference to South-Sudan is inserted;
Amendment 7 #
2012/0309(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 2 – point a – two last references
Article 1 – point 2 – point a – two last references
"Tuvalu*", "United Arab Emirates*" and "Vanuatu*"
Amendment 77 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
Amendment 79 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
Amendment 82 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Notes that the administrative and operating expenditure budget from all institutions represents XX% of the global EU budget, of which heading V having a margin of EUR XXX million; and that Council has cut appropriations in the sections concerned by EUR 40 million;
Amendment 86 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Points out that also the Parliament is ready, in view of the general difficult economic context to makthe actualisation of the budget 2012 is 1,9%% compared to 2011; 1,9% is the lowest actualisation since 10 years; without the expenses for Croatia accession and the 18 new MEPs following the Treaty of Lisbon is only 0,8%; 0,8% is the lowest increase since at least 15 years; in the last 15 years the savings on its own administrative budget, where possible, as reflected in the amendments tabled by its major political grouperage increase was XX%; due to the current inflation of XX% there is a real decrease of the budget 2012; despite new competences, new posts, actions and activities, which are the consequences of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Parliament has made real cuts;
Amendment 88 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61a. Points out that the overall level of its 2012 Budget is EUR xxx.xxxx; this represents a net reduction of EUR xxx.xxxx compared to the Estimates and EUR xxx.xxx to the initial budget proposals before conciliation with the Bureau;
Amendment 89 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
Amendment 91 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62a. Points out that the budget for 2012 is a budget of consolidation, in which the Parliament did a maximum effort to do savings without putting in danger the quality of work and the legislative excellence; this budget 2012 and the following budget 2013 are the reference for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework.
Amendment 94 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Points out that his amountthe budget 2012 includes expenditure resulting from the future enlargement to Croatia (EUR 7,8 million) and additional 18 Members following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (EUR 10,6 million);
Amendment 96 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Amendment 99 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
Amendment 102 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Maintains its position that, in any event, a policy of identifying savings wherever possible and the continued pursuit of reorganisation and redeployment of existing resources are crucial elements of its budgetary policy, especially in this time of economic crisis; considers therefore that such savings for 2012 Budget should be made in the wider context of structural charnges having longer term effects; the cuts which the Parliament has accepted will force to do structural changes, which will not endanger the legislative excellence of the Parliament. The goal is to concentrate on the core business of the European Parliament; savings in interpretation and translation do not put at risk the principle of multilinguism, however are possible due to innovation, reorganisation of structures and new working methods;
Amendment 104 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)
Paragraph 66 a (new)
66a. Welcomes the good co-operation of the Committee on Budgets with the Bureau based on mutual confidence; considers that the agreement made in the conciliation on 22th September 2011 and in the context of the estimates (its resolution of 6 April 2011 adopted in plenary by 479 votes in favour) should not be put in question and none of the elements of that agreement should be reopened if no new circumstances have occurred since then;
Amendment 105 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that the general expenditure allowances (excluding daily allowances) are frozen at 2011 level;
Amendment 107 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)
Paragraph 67 a (new)
67a. Respecting the competences of the Bureau, requests the Bureau not to index Members’ allowances to inflation;
Amendment 110 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 b (new)
Paragraph 67 b (new)
67b. asks the Bureau to create conditions for making savings of 5% in all kind of travel expenditure including delegations of committees and interparliamentary delegations in full respect of the Statute for Members and its implementing measures; requests that 15% of the travel appropriation be placed in reserve pending a report by the Secretary General of the EP to be delivered to the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets by 31st March; calls forsuch a report to examine the feasibility of measures to ensure the utmost efficiency of Members’ travel with a view to making recommendations for potential budgetary savings by considering all proposals and resolutions which the Parliament has already adopted on this question;
Amendment 112 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
Amendment 117 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Decides to approve the internalisation of the security service, as suggested in the Amending Letter, and, in consequences to create 269 new AST 1 posts under the establishment plan;
Amendment 123 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
Amendment 129 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Points out that the cuts made by the Council would place the Court in a position of not being able to pay certain remunerations/allowances to Members lroperly carry out its core duties in the context of an increavsing office in 2012judicial workload; has therefore decided, bearing in mind that 18 Members' mandates expire in 2012, that the appropriations should be set at a level to pay to partly restore the DB notably concerning the rMemunerations / allowances arising from six replacementbers, personnel and IT appropriations;
Amendment 130 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. Notes that the Court is making significant efforts to redeploy staff from support services to audit activities to meet the increasing demands upon the institution, as well as finding substantial economies in its administrative expenditure; notes that the Council has cut appropriations for salaries on the basis of low implementation in 2010; is expecting the implementation for 2011 to perform better and has therefore decided to partially re-establish the DB;
Amendment 131 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
Paragraph 77
77. Decides to introduce a freeze in real terms for appropriations available to EESC Members to carry out the institution's core dutiePoints out that some of the reductions introduced by the Council would jeopardize the EESC's core functions and call into question its ability to meet its legal obligations towards its staff; decides therefore to restore the DB for appropriations available to EESC Members to carry out the institution's core activity of enabling civil society organisations from the Member States to express their views at European level, which at the level of prudent estimates for inflation effectively means a freeze in real terms, to partly restore the DB for staff remuneration and allowances to enable the EESC to meet its obligations towards its staff and to partly restore the DB for interpretation to bring the level back to execution in 2009, which would still, given increased rates for interpretation, mean a decrease in real terms;
Amendment 133 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80
Paragraph 80
80. Has taken a different view of the Council and accepted the creation of two additional permanent posts (1 AD 9 and 1 AD 6) in the EDPS' establishment plan because of the new tasks for this institution conferred to it by Article 16 TFEU as it is the task of the EDPS to monitor and ensure that these rights are respected (all EU institutions and bodies are bound by the fundamental rights to privacy and protection of personal data); for the same reason accepts the upgrading of its director from AD 14 to AD 15, although the total staff of the EDPS is 43 posts;
Amendment 134 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82
Paragraph 82
82. Notes the ongoing difficulties with the EEAS establishment plan as it seems that national experts inside the EEAS are not counted in the 1/3 part for Member States and there snevertheless that the EEAS as a new organisation which represents a major European ambition needs to be endowed with sufficient means. In this regard, appropriations for staff remunerations in 2012 neemd to be a overproportion of high ranking management posts; this development seems to be a result of pressure by Member States’ administrations on the EEAS in order to create high ranking posts for national civil servantstake into account the actual vacancy rates in the autumn of 2011; moreover, stresses that operational requirements for establishing the EEAS with its own information technology systems in a new building need to be funded;
Amendment 138 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
Paragraph 83
83. Notes the Council’s position to reduce the increase in the EEAS’ draft budget for 2012 to +2,.25%; has also taken a restrictiveprudent approach on increases, in line with the position of its Committee on Foreign Affairview of the overall financial context and accepts only partly the EEAS’ requests;
Amendment 140 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84
Paragraph 84
84. Notes that the EEAS is constantly growing since its creation in 2010; has therefore decided to apply an abatement rate of 6% (instead of 14 % proposed by Council); has therefore refused new AD posts for delegationsAccepts the requested amendments to the EEAS establishment plan, notably with a view to reinforcing delegations; will however continue exercising vigilance as regards the composition of the EEAS staff and compliance with the statutory obligation that EU officials represent at least 60% of the EEAS AD staff; demands that the EEAS provides regular reports on this matter;
Amendment 142 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
Amendment 200 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Observes that the Commission, the Council, the Court of Auditors, the Ombudsman and the Data Protection Supervisor have followed suit; underlines that the European Parliament has succeeded to reduce its own estimates by around 50 mio EUR compared to the first proposal of preliminary draft estimates; stresses that it will scrutinise in depth the other institutions’ estimates, inter alia against the additional needs and activities related to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 18 #
2011/0461(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls that in its resolution of 8 June 2011 on Investing in the future: a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe1, the European Parliament identified civil protection (Article 196 TFEU) as one of the fields where the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has provided the Union with significant new prerogatives and recalls in this context Article 311 TFEU which requires the Union to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry out its policies; _______________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0266.
Amendment 19 #
2011/0461(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
7a. The amount allocated to the Mechanism should enable financial support to be granted for activities entailed in all different aspects of the disaster management cycle. It will need to be managed flexibly in order to allow scope for increases whenever the circumstances demand.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0461(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
14a. The establishment of both the Emergency Response Centre with strengthened planning and coordination functions, as well as the European Emergency Response Capacity, aims at generating savings at Member State level which should outweigh the costs to the Union budget, although the benefits of fast and effective disaster response in terms of human lives saved cannot be measured in purely financial terms.
Amendment 5 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1d. Serve to meet the 20-20-20 climate and energy targets and raise the emission reduction target to 30%;
Amendment 6 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1e. Given that the EP advocates the Community method and is seeking to secure the maximum added value from EU resources, encompass all funds and measures, especially those related to the environment, civil protection, climate action, and food security;
Amendment 7 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
-1f. To enable the EU to achieve its overall biodiversity goals, provide co- financing for the management of the Natura 2000 network;
Amendment 8 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Paragraph -1 g (new)
-1g. Be in line with the Commission proposal to transfer food security funding to Heading 3 of the budget;
Amendment 11 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Provide the necessary means to Environment and Climate action, better using the appropriate instruments, strengthening energy safety, building a resource-efficient and climate resilient economy and enhancing Union competitiveness with more and greener jobs strengthen energy security and bring health benefits through cleaner air;
Amendment 12 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the need to strengthen integration of EU environmental, public health and climate legislation and objectives into sectoral policies (including the CAP, cohesion policy, consumer policy, the CFP and development policy); suggests, therefore, mainstreaming EU finances to ensure compliance with EU environmental and public health legislation and the active contribution of spending through the EU budget to its environmental policy objectives and, as suggested by the Commission’s budget review, include an obligation to identify in a transparent manner where sectoral programmes have promoted climate objectives specified in the Europe 2020 Strategy; underlines the importance of future research and innovation programmes in delivering the EU’s objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;
Amendment 17 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Secure environment and climate investments, combining mainstreaming and a dedicated instrument (LIFE), suggesting an earmarking of 20% MFF funds forBe based on what has to be a cross- cutting approach aimed at coordinating measures to combat climate change in all relevant areas of operations, including external policies, and accordingly earmark 30% of the amount allocated to each of the policies and activities to be financed under it for the goal of combating climate policychange;
Amendment 21 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stress the importance of strengthening the LIFE+ programme, especially where climate is concerned;
Amendment 28 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. AllocMust ensure thate funds to thefor Global Climate and Biodiversity Funshould be quantified;
Amendment 29 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Incorporate – and put a figure on – the projected international climate financing for developing countries, which, as agreed at the UNFCCC negotiations, is to total $100 000 million a year by 2020;
Amendment 52 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly supports the Commission’s proposal to mainstream measures to combat climate change, leading to at least 20% of climate-related expenditure1, across the whole EU budget; believes that the EU budget will be able to mobilise investment for a sustainable and prosperous low-carbon economy, provide adequate support for achieving the EU 2020 targets for climate, energy, resource- efficiency and biodiversity, and benefit the EU’s citizens by ensuring a more healthy environment; __________ 1 20% of climate-related spending have been proposed by the Commission in its Communication on 'A Budget for Europe 2020', COM(2011) 500 final Part II.
Amendment 58 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcome the Commission proposal to renew the Civil Protection Financial Instrument (CPI) to provide financial support for activities addressing the different aspects of the disaster management cycle, namely a more coherent and better integrated response in case of emergencies, improved preparedness to deal with disasters and innovative actions to reduce the risk of disaster. The CPI will also be used for the creation of the European Emergency Response Capacity, with the participation of all Member States civil protection assets, so as to generate enhanced cost-effectiveness through coordinated availability of civil protection assets.
Amendment 59 #
2011/0177(APP)
7b. Support the renewal of the Civil Protection Financial Instrument (CPI) so as to enable financial support to be granted for activities entailed in the different aspects of the disaster management cycle. The amount allocated to this instrument will need to be managed flexibly in order to allow scope for increases whenever the circumstances demand;
Amendment 60 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Considers that the creation of the European Emergency Response Capacity will primarily build on existing Member State capacities, thereby avoiding additional costs. At the EU level, the establishment of the European Emergency Response Centre with strengthened planning and coordination functions will bring a gain for the whole EU by generating savings at Member State level which should outweigh the costs to the EU budget, although of course the benefits of fast and effective disaster response in terms of human lives saved cannot be measured in purely financial terms.
Amendment 61 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Recalls the overall objectives of EU cooperation in the field of civil protection are to ensure better protection of people, the environment, property and cultural heritage in the event of major natural, technological and man-made disasters. EU cooperation in the field of civil protection aims at: a) Facilitating a rapid and efficient response to disasters; b) Ensuring sufficient preparedness of civil protection actors to emergencies; and c) Developing measures for the prevention of disasters.
Amendment 63 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 71 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reaffirms, in this context, its position in favour of a significant increase - notably through the Connecting Europe Facility - in the funding available for the Union programmes in the fields of competiveness, SMEs and sustainable infrastructures, which are at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy; strongly believes that further cuts with respect to the Commission proposal will seriously jeopardise the EU’s credibility and its political commitment in favour of growth and jobs;
Amendment 75 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines the importance of research and innovation in accelerating the transition towards a sustainable, world- leading, knowledge-based economy which uses its natural resources efficiently and responsibly; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to agree on a specific roadmap for achieving the 3 % GDP target of investment in research; points to the massive economic commitment that this target would entail, in terms of additional expenditure totalling EUR 130 billion, annually and funded from all sources; stresses, consequently, the need to enhance, stimulate and secure the financing of research and innovation in the Union via a significant increase in expenditure, and notably in EU research and innovation funding;
Amendment 88 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that EU cohesion policy is a strategic tool for investment, sustainable growth and competitiveness, with an undisputed EU added value; insists that, in order to effectively reduce macroeconomic imbalances within the EU and contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion, it should be able to rely on a stable, solid and sustainable financial framework; reaffirms its position that cohesion policy funding should be maintained at least at the level of the 2007-2013 period;
Amendment 100 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recalls its position that, given the wide array of tasks, challenges and objectives that the CAP is called on to respond to, the amounts allocated to the CAP in the budget year 2013 should be at least maintained during the next financial programming period; stresses, in this context, the important role played by the second pillar of the CAP, which makes a significant contribution to investment and job creation in rural areas, to managing the environment and preserving biodiversity, and to enhancing the effectiveness and competitiveness of the farming industry;
Amendment 103 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Emphasises that strengthening the well targeted and effective Union programme for environment and climate is indispensable and that integrated spending for climate and environment should be actively supported within relevant Union funds;
Amendment 140 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Supports the introduction of (ex-ante and ex- post) conditionality provisions, thorough environment and climate impact assessments of programmes and projects, cross compliance rules as well as climate and biodiversity tracking to ensure that EU funding, particularly in respect of the Cohesion Fund, the Structural Funds and the rural and fisheries funds as well as investments under the Connecting Europe Facility, are better targeted to the achievement of the Europe 2020 objectives; believes that if their implementation is based on a reinforced partnership principle through the stronger involvement of local and regional authorities, these conditionality provisions could avoid incoherent investments and improve the legitimacy, cost-efficiency and effectiveness of EU support;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes considerable disparities betweenamong the Member States as regards to the knowledge of the European emergency number 112, and calls on the Member States to share their experiences and exchange the best practicses in order to achieve at least 80% spontaneous identification of the 112 emergency number as the number to call emergency services anywhere in the European Union by EU citizens by 2020;.
Amendment 25 #
2010/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Encourages the Member States to introduce a facility that would enable the Member State to warn its citizens in cases where serious natural disasters or emergencies occur;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that the next financial perspectives should achieve the EU 2020 Strategy objectives, especially the 20/20/20 climate and energy objectives, including a rise to 30% of the target for emission reductions, and meet the "Resource Efficient Europe" flagship initiative goals;
Amendment 8 #
2010/2139(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for more effective implementation of programmes in the environmental sector, especially in cross-cutting areas which provide European added value, such as action to combat climate change, investment in cleaner and low-carbon technology, the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energies with a view, endeavouring to achievinge the renewable energy targets by 2020 and the promoEU 2020 targets and promote the creation of green jobs;
Amendment 291 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Believes that productive forests should not only be focused on production wood but also on soil regeneration, food productivity and the fight against desertification;
Amendment 292 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Considers that recent research on climate and meteorology must be taken fully into account in European forest protection regulations;
Amendment 293 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. In order to guarantee greater efficiency in forest management, recommends that the Commission and Member States develop research and define different criteria in relation to the needs and specific solutions applicable to the bioclimatic-zones;
Amendment 294 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. In order to achieve the objectives of the EU 20/20 Strategy, request that each Member State or region develop a forest strategy which includes: reforestation of the river banks, the capture of rainwater, agriculture activities and the research results for the selection of the best plant or trees of traditional varieties and species adapted to droughts;
Amendment 295 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 e (new)
Paragraph 27 e (new)
Amendment 296 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 f (new)
Paragraph 27 f (new)
27f. Considers that the identification of species with high yield potential for energy production could be technically cumbersome as they compete against regular crops based on subsidies from the EU; thus considers that genetic improvement or productivity cannot be properly assessed as it will depend on political decisions rather than market demands;
Amendment 298 #
2010/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 g (new)
Paragraph 27 g (new)
27g. Calls for EU policy on forests to take into account the two hydrological regimes of Europe divided by the "Continental Divide", where climate processes and their varieties differ; notes that this diversity is recognised by the latest scientific achievements; considers that the differences in these biogeographical areas must be taken into account with indicators for forest monitoring;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2072(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that the long-term increase in the number of applications for EGF funding and the difficulties experienced in implementing the EGF mobilisation and deployment procedure call for improvements to be made to the fund's procedural and budgetary arrangements at the earliest opportunity; calls, accordingly, on the Commission to bring the submission of its mid-term evaluation forward to 30 June 2011 and to submit at the same time a proposal for the revision of the EGF Regulation, in order to remedy the fund's most obvious shortcomings before the end of the current multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 32 #
2010/2072(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the contributions granted with reference to, among other things: the assessment of skills upgrading of workers; the beneficiaries' re- integration into employment; the difference between the number of potential beneficiaries and the number of workers that have received support and possibly other reasons for explaining the large amounts of EGF assistance that were not implemented and, subsequently, paid back by the beneficiary Member States; the disparities between Member States in terms of the funding provided per worker and the reasons for those disparities; compliance with the non- discrimination criterion with reference to the contractual position of the workers made redundant; the procedures for consulting the social partners that were or were not used when preparing applications and the checks carried out on their implementation; the amount and execution rate of possible ESF financing that has been allocated to the same region as the EGF assistance; and the procedures for verifying the implementation of contributions and any repayments Member States are requested to make; calls on the Commission to reflect the findings of that evaluation in its proposal for the revision of the regulation;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2072(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes the significant disparities in the EGF funding per worker between different Member States; urges the Commission to examine this phenomenon and to recommend possible solutions on how a more equivalent support to all beneficiaries could be achieved; calls, at the same time, on the Commission to improve the knowledge on this Fund among all Member States, so that they can make use of this possibility should the need arise;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2014(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. AEmphasises legislative excellence as the Parliament's priority and the need for giving the necessary means to the Members, committees and political groups to achieve it; agrees with the general direction of the Bureau's proposal and the focus for reinforcements proposed; considers, furthermore, that the general magnitude of the proposal is justified given the justifications provided and the new challenges ahead;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2014(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Decides to make such an adjustment, without touching the elements contained in the Bureau's proposal, by reducing the buildings reserve from EUR 15 million to EUR 11 million; notes that this will take the overall level of the budget to EUR 1 616 791 200 representing 19,99% of heading 5; insists on the need for long- term planning of its building policy;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2014(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights that actions aiming to secure budgetary sustainability in future years should be undertaken; reaffirms the importance of the elaboration of a zero- based budget policy that will ensure further rigour and transparency; appeals for clear information, as soon as possible, on the overall amount of fixed expenditure within the EP budget, as referred to in European Parliament resolution of 22 October 2009 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 20101; 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA-PROV(2009)0052.
Amendment 29 #
2010/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that the budget item for Members' travel costs is actually higher than the one for salaries; underlines the need for responsible use of allowances, notably travel allowances, and points out that without changing the current rules and by using, where possible, other means of transport than business class air travel from and to Parliament's places of work, Parliament's carbon footprint can be reduced and costs saved at the same time. Therefore decides to reduce the budget item related to Members' travel by EUR 3 million;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Warmly welcomes the inclusion of an initial analysis identifying fixed and variable costs in the budget proposal; recognises the methodological difficulties involved but is convinced that these concepts should be examined further; in this regard, recalls that it is awaiting a reply from the competent bodies as to how the concept of a zero-based budget policy, utilising this distinction between fixed and variable costs, could be applied in the context of the Parliament's budget procedure; requests deeper examination regarding fixed costs, distinguishing permanent fixed costs, fixed costs for fixed terms and areas where savings could be generated; requests deeper examination regarding variable costs, making a clear link between costs and objectives, policies and actions, and identifying and sorting priorities by importance;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that the EU was able to react collectively to the financial and economic crisis by adopting an ambitious European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP), but notes that the overall economic situation in the EU is still deteriorating and is far from satisfactory in comparison to the world’s other leading economiesnot satisfactory;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that youth is tremendously important both now and for the future of the EU, and that it should be given particular attention in the course of defining our mid-and long-term priorities; points out that youth, in all its related aspects, represents a key resource for EU and should be seen as a cross-policy theme; investing in youth is investing in the future; this investment should be done as early as possible and in a coordinated manner across policy areas;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that youth policy must be defined broadly, encompassing the ability of individuals to change positions and status several times throughout their lives, switching without restriction among settings such as apprenticeships, academic or professional environments and vocational training; one of the objectives should be the transition from the education system to the labour market;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
paragraph 11a new
paragraph 11a new
11a. Special attention should be devoted to new skills, such as e-skills and entrepreneurship aspects;
Amendment 31 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a new
Paragraph 13 a new
13 a. Recalls the importance of innovation and the digital agenda for economic development and job creation in Europe;
Amendment 57 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the lifelong learning programme, by focusing on education and vocational training, supports the efforts to be made with regard to youth; stresses that this programme should cover the activities planned at the beginning of the programming period and integrate possible new developments, allowing, inter alia, for a clear link to be established between education and the labour market, both of which are crucial for economic development and recovery; stresses the request, already approved by the Parliament, to move forward with a specific mobility programme to promote youth first jobs called "Erasmus First Job";
Amendment 59 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a new
Paragraph 26 a new
26 a. Underlines the priorities of Research, Innovation and Digital Agenda, that are crucial elements for a sustainable development in Europe; recalls the importance of programmes contributing to this objective, such as the European Institute of Innovation and Technology;
Amendment 72 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls the Joint Declaration adopted in conciliation last November, calling for a simplification of implementing procedures and urging the Member States to make use of the possibility of revising their operational programmes in order better to address the effects of the economic crisis; requests the Commission to consider, in duly justified cases, the increase in advances paid to projects, the simplification of delivery mechanisms, and the increase, if necessary, of the Community co-financing rate of projects in conformity with the rules and ceilings set out in the General Regulation on Structural Funds 2007-2013, and without calling into question the annual financial envelope assigned to each Member State;
Amendment 115 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Recalls that, although the Commission’s growth forecast for 2010 was limited to 0.9%, it did not include a number of administrative areas that are in fact financed outside this heading, such as technical and administrative support lines (ex-BA lines), executive agencies (outside research agencies) and administrative expenditure on decentralised agencies and direct and indirect research; asks the Commission to state its view as to the criteria to be applied in order to define total administrative expenditure, and to continue to provide a clear description of those areas outside heading 5; requests that all administrative expenditure must be included in heading 5;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the difficult situation with respect to the Heading 5 expenditure ceiling for 2011 and is aware of the fact that the Institutions may encounter problems in reconciling the financing of all needs and the wish to maintain budgetary discipline and self-restraint in order to comply with the multiannual financial framework; notes that a number of administrative areas are financed outside heading 5; requests that all administrative expenditure be included in that heading;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises that legislative excellence is Parliament's priority, and highlights the need to provide the Members, committees and political groups with the necessary means to achieve it;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers that the current 20% of heading 5 basis is now more restrictive compared to the previous situation, as it will have to cover expenditure not foreseen in the self-imposed declaration of 1988; recalls that, since 2006, Parliament has included expenditure such as the Members' Statute (generating savings for Member States), the Assistants' Statute, expenditure relating to its new role following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and also an expanded buildings policy to accommodate its overall needs, including enlargements; considers that, on the basis of the original MFF references negotiated in 2006 and in force since 2007, its expenditure should remain within the traditional 20% limit, as an indicative reference;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Points out that action needs to be taken with a view to securing budgetary sustainability in future years; reaffirms the importance of drawing up a zero- based budget policy that will ensure further rigour and transparency;
Amendment 16 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Emphasises the need to know the fixed costs of Parliament as already approved in Parliament's resolutions of 26 February 2010 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure for Amending Budget 1/2010 and of 22 October 2009 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010, in order to ensure rigorous and transparent budget planning; calls for the Bureau to submit annual estimates of these fixed costs for the years corresponding to the MFF; requests that a cost-benefit analysis be carried out for the variable expenditure;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that wider cost implications should always be assessed in relation to new measures introduced such as, for example, when deciding on staff and assistants schemes in both 2010 and 2011; underlines especially that if additional assistants were to be recruited in Brussels, this would have an impact on the situation regarding office space, which is already stretched; considers that the March presentation of the medium-term buildings strategy for its three places of work is crucial; insists on the need for long-term planning of its buildings policy, with a view to ensuring budget sustainability;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2003(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that follow-up and analysis are important on a number of fronts with clear budgetary links such as, inter alia, the restructuring of Directorates-General, the pursuit of a more effective and professional staff policyefficient management of human resources, non- discrimination action, EMAS, public procurement and action taken following budget discharge recommendations; emphasises the need for continuous follow- up and analysis of Parliament's budget implementation in general;
Amendment 39 #
2009/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that water is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and that this can lead to a reduction in the quantity and quality of water supplies, particularly drinking water;
Amendment 41 #
2009/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that a large amount of water in the EU could be saved through more efficient water management and calls in this connection for the introduction of targets to limit private consumption in the EU;
Amendment 46 #
2009/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Invites the Commission to draw up a ‘multi-risk charter for the European coastline’.
Amendment 2 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that any expenditure related specifically to the potential entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community is not included in the proposals; recalls that, in the event of this treaty entering into force, existing budgetary instruments, such as an amending letter or amending budget, may have to be used if necessary; is nevertheless of the opinion that, in such a case and to the fullest possible extent, reorganisation of existing resources must be fully examined before any call for additional resources is made; as a matter of prudence for the future, reiterates the need to maintain a sustainable budget and for a healthy financial margin in this heading;
Amendment 5 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that the overall level of its budget amounts to 19, XX % of the authorised expenditure under heading 5 (administrative appropriations) of the multi-annual financial framework, i.e. it has been maintained below the self- imposed limit of 20%; reiterates, however, that XX % does not include any possible adaptations that might become necessary should the Treaty of Lisbon enter into force, particularly in the legislative area, and maintains its position that a considerable margin is essential; acknowledges that, due to the current limited margin, further savings and redeployment will be required to enable additional requirements to be fulfilled;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that a distinction between the Parliament's fixed and variable costs would facilitate decisions on the overall level of its budget and the appropriate follow-up for maintaining a sustainable budget; in this respect, has decided to place in reserve a part of 3 specific budget lines while requesting a report which identifies the expenses under titles 2 and 3 according to the different types of costs and whether they are of a fixed nature or not;
Amendment 7 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Acknowledges that, in order to increase transparency, budget accuracy and efficiency, there is a need to introduce a zero-based budget policy in the beginning of each legislature; considers that the distinction between Parliament's fixed and variable costs, the long-term strategies on buildings, communication and information policies as well as a cost-benefit analysis of the different Parliament activities will enable the construction of a zero-based budget in 2011, allowing the budget to reflect only real needs, to simplify its analysis and ultimately to better fulfil the political objectives of the Parliament;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 10 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes in particular the conciliation agreement to strengthen its department for buildings and buildings policy in order to ensure proper maintenance and security, improving its planning and control and, reasonably, leading, together with a coherent and responsible property policy, to savings in the longer term; therefore agrees to provide 49 new posts over three years to this end; also notes the agreement to finance 5 posts requested for a reorganisation of the security service;
Amendment 11 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading after paragraph 23
Subheading after paragraph 23
Amendment 12 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. AlsoBelieves that assuming Parliament's increased legislative responsibilities is an ongoing process and requires full assistance to Members to fulfil their legislative work; welcomes, in this context, the decision of the Bureau of 6 May 2009 aimed at enhancing direct assistance to Members during their legislative work, in particular during the initial drafting stage; considers that attention must now also be turned to the later stages of the legislative procedures and deems it essential that Members have access to correct texts in all official languages, in accordance with the principles of multilingualism and in accordance with the aims of the Union's Better Law-making policy, in order to enhance transparency and the democratic legitimacy of Parliament's positions inacknowledges that additional support to Members could be required to ensure high-quality legislative procedureswork;
Amendment 13 #
2009/2002B(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Considers that attention must now also be turned to the later stages of the legislative procedures and deems it essential that Members have access to correct texts in all official languages, in accordance with the principles of multilingualism and in accordance with the aims of the Union's Better Law- making policy, in order to enhance transparency and the democratic legitimacy of Parliament's positions in legislative procedures;
Amendment 130 #
2008/0241(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to Article 5(1), Member States shall ensure that producers, by 2016, a minimum of 85% orf third parties acting on their behalf achieve a minimum collection rate of 65%e WEEE that is generated in the Member State is collected. The collection rate is calculated on the basis of the total weight of WEEE collected in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 in a given year in that Member State, expressed as a percentage of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the two preceding years in that Member State. This collection rate shall be achieved annually and starting in 2016.
Amendment 144 #
2008/0241(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2a (new)
2a. Member States should report on a yearly basis to the Commission: - volume of WEEE generated in the Member State during the preceding year according to the common methodology established in point 3; - volume of WEEE collected in the Member State during the preceding year; - volume of WEEE placed on the market during the preceding year, and the volumes of WEEE moved in and out of the Member State; - an estimate of the volume of WEEE being improperly treated, landfilled or illegally exported during the preceding year.
Amendment 155 #
2008/0241(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. By 31 December 2012 at the latest the European Parliament and the Council shall re-examine the collection rate and target date referred to in paragraph 1 also in view of setting a possible separate collection target for cooling and freezing equipmentin particular for equipment containing ozone depleting substances or global warming substances such as cooling and freezing appliances, as well as for small appliances (including toys, appliances containing batteries or accumulators), and equipment containing mercury such as fluorescent lamps, on the basis of a report of the Commission accompanied by a proposal, if appropriate.
Amendment 240 #
2008/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) Member States should retain the right, depending on local practical conditions and circumstances, to decide when and how to lay down rules in respect of the provision of information concerning non-prepacked foods. Although in such cases the consumer demand for other information is limited, information on potential allergens is considered very important. Evidence suggests that most food allergy incidents can be traced back toallergens in the case of non-prepacked food. Therefore such information should always be provided to the consumers.
Amendment 371 #
2008/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
ba) the food is not prepacked. In this case Member States should ensure that the particular listed in Article 9(1)(c) shall be provided upon request. Member States may adopt rules concerning the manner in which those particulars are to be made available.
Amendment 512 #
2008/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41
Article 41
1. Where foods are offered for sale to the final consumer or to mass caterers without prepackaging, or where foods are packed on the sales premises at the consumer's request or prepacked for direct sale, the Member States may adopt detailed rules concerning the manner in which the particulars specified in Articles 9 and 10 are to be shown. 2. Member States may decide not to require the provision of some of the particulars referred to in paragraph 1, other than those referred to in Article 9(1) (c), provided that the consumer or mass caterer still receives sufficient informatio(1)(c), the provision of which they may require, are to be shown. 3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 without delay.
Amendment 126 #
2007/0286(COD)
Council position
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a (new)
For BAT reference documents adopted before the entry into force of the Directive, emission limit values shall also take into account the technical characteristics of the installation concerned, its geographical location and the local environmental conditions.
Amendment 136 #
2007/0286(COD)
Council position
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
4. By way of derogation from paragraph 3, tThe competent authority may, in specific cases, on the basis of an assessment of the environmental and economic costs and benefits taking into account the technical characteristics of the installation concerned, its geographical location and the local environmental conditions, set emission limit values deviating from those set by the application of paragraph 3.
Amendment 234 #
Amendment 247 #