Activities of Maurice PONGA related to 2016/2250(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Promoting cohesion and development in the outermost regions of the EU (debate) FR
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on promoting cohesion and development in the outermost regions of the EU: implementation of Article 349 of the TFEU PDF (442 KB) DOC (77 KB)
Amendments (65)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
— having regard to Article 355, first paragraph, (1) TFEU, as amended by Article 2 of Decision the decisions of the European Council of 29 October 2010 amending the status with regard to the European Union of the island of Saint-Barthélemy (2010/718/EU) and of 11 July 2012 amending the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union (2012/419/EU), which stipulates that the provisions of the Treaties shall apply to the outermost regions in accordance with Article 349 TFEU,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
— having regard to Article 107(3)(a) TFEU, which definesstates that aid to promote the economic development of the outermost regions asmay be compatible with the internal market,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in that judgment, the Court confirms, above all, that legal acts with the aim of introducing specific measures for the outermost regions may be adopted on the legal basis of Article 349, that this legal basis makes it possible to derogate both from primary and from secondary law, and that the list of areas covered in the wording of Article 349 is not exhaustive, as ‘the authors of the FEU Treaty did not intend to lay down an exhaustive list of the types of measures that may be adopted on the basis of that article’,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the purpose of Article 349 TFEU is to permitensure the development of the outermost regions, and their treatment both as part of European territory and as part of their own geographical regions, while conferrallowing on them theo benefit of European policies and fundswhere appropriate of specific measures adapted to their realities and needs;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that, while the outermost regions are in principle fully integrated into the European Union and assimilated to its legal order, with their structural economic and social situation, which is aggravated by all the factors the permanence and combination of which severely restrain their development, in many cases renders impossible the standardised application of Union lawpecific situation acknowledged by the Treaties, establishing a principle and allowing for a right of adaptation, addressed at the level of different Union policies;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that while facing a significant disadvantage due to the geographical distance to the Union, the outermost regions benefit also of several important assets such as the potential of growing tourism related activities, blue growth, of exploiting significant renewable energy resources, of developing a circular economy, as well as valorising their rich natural heritage and huge biodiversity;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that Article 349 TFEU has not been sufficiently utilised in ancould be interpreted also in a more innovative and positive manner, particularly with a view to establishing ad hoc programmes and specific new European policiapproaches, making use of the strong points of the outermost regions, empowering them to boost their strengths;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the TreatiesArticle 7 TEU confers on the Commission the role of guardian of the Treaties, which is applicable to all, starting with itself;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Deplores the fact that, for nearly 20 years,Expresses concern that the articles of the Treaties concerning the outermost regions have not so far been implemented and applied only in an extremely limited and restrictive mannerto the biggest extent possible, limiting their capacity of taking full advantage of their belonging to the Union and increasing their competitiveness in their particular geographic areas;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Warns of the potentially damaging impact of free trade agreements on traditional OR products (including milk, meat, peaches, sugar, and bananas and rum) and urges the Commission to honour the commitment arising from the POSEI Regulation to gauging the impact of trade negotiations on matters affecting ORs and to involving the ORs in, and informing them about, negotiating processes; reiterates the importance of the support schemes for the banana and sugar sectors and maintains that special sugars must be excluded from trade negotiations;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that this interpretation by the Commission has damaged the capacity of the outermost regions to take full advantage of their belonging tof the Union and to develop in a way which takes full account of their specific characteristics and structural constraints but also of their assets;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that POSEI (Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity) is the only autonomous programme covered bya programme which takes full account of the special characteristics of the outermost regions, through a regulation of its own based both on Article 349 TFEU and on Articles 42, first paragraph, and 43(2), and recognises the dual principles of the outermost regions’ belonging to the Union and the full adaptation of a common European policy to the realities of the outermost regions;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that Article 349 TFEU enables the outermost regions to be given operating aid that is not limited in time and not progressively reduced, on the basis of flexible procedures, intended to offset the additional costs that they have to handle; recalls that those exemptions relate both to the EU’s financial instruments and to State aid;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls the political will of the legislators at the time of the drafting of Article 299, second paragraph, and then Article 349 TFEU, which sought to of establishing an overall strategy accompanied by specific policimeasures aund instruments appropriate to the outermost regioner different policies;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deplores the fact that the various European strategies for the outermost regions have so far been only partially implemented and fleshed out; considers that the outermost regions have wasted much time on defending the upholding of specific policies for them; considers that confidence needs to be restored between the outermost regions andNotes that several communications on the outermost regions have been adopted by the European InstitutCommissions;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls therefore on the European Union Institutions, in concert with the outermost regions, to open a new chapter in relations between the EU and the outermost regions, based on a genuine new European strategy fornow on the Commission to put forward an action plan accompanied by legislative initiatives making it possible to implement a consistent and effective strategy with regard to the outermost regions, a plan which takes full advantage of the possibilities offered by Article 349 TFEU, particularly for the creation of specific programmes and policies appropriate to their sustainable development needs; emphasises the need to work in close cooperation with the regional authorities of the outermost regions and the stakeholders;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to adopt a long-term overall commonWelcomes the work of the Commission on a renewed strategy on outermost regions which will be adopted latest end of 2017; calls on the Commission to include in this renewed strategy a detailing on the approach to the outermost regions, accompanied, in the case of each outermost region, by a specific legislative package, strategic frameworks and appropriate, precise, attainable and assessable objectivesf them, on the basis of the specific social and economic situation, with targeted strategic frameworks addressing the investment needs and by appropriate, precise, attainable and assessable objectives, with a view to compensate for disadvantages and achieve sustainable development, comparable to the Union average;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to adopt a long-term overall common strategy detailing the approach to the outermost regions, accompanied, in the case of each outermost region, by a specific legislative package, strategic frameworks and appropriate, precise, attainable and assessable objectives;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to step up coordination between its Directorates- General in the areas concerning the outermost regions with a view to having an appropriate approach to outermost area issues in European policies and strategies; on that point, emphasises the crucial role of the Secretariat-General in ensuring that Article 349 TFEU is applied soundly, given the fact that adjusting EU policies to the special characteristics of the outermost regions entails decisions being taken at the highest political level;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new)
Subheading 2 a (new)
Calls on the Commission to include, in its tools for managing and detecting market crises in agricultural sectors such as banana, sugar, rum, fisheries or milk, with the European Milk Market Observatory, a clear definition of a market crisis in the outermost regions, and to adapt its indicators to the actual situations in those regions;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the recent report by the Commission4, which concluded that the overall performance of the POSEI programmes (2006-2014) was positive, considers that that programme seems essential for the purpose of maintaining diverse and traditional productproduction by the outermost regions and that it accords with the new objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and recommends that the current basic regulation should remain in force, while bearing in mind the fact that budget adjustments might be required following the entry into force of any free trade agreements that might change or threaten to change the production of the outermost regions; _________________ 4 Report from the Commission on the implementation of the scheme of specific measures for agriculture in favour of the outermost regions of the Union (POSEI) of 15 December 2016 (COM(2016)0797).
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the fact that the successive reforms ofCalls for the reforms relating to the common organisations of the market (COMs) have not sufficiently takento take into account of the specific characteristics of the outermost regions;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission to take account of the crucial importance of milk production in the Azores, to maintain support to producers and to lay down additional measures in the event of a market crisis;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Observes that the disappearance of quotas and guaranteed prices which began with the reform of the COM in sugar in 2005 is damaging cane sugar producers in the outermost regions; emphasises the need to place on a permanent footing all the specific instruments put in place within the framework of Article 349 TFEU in the interests of the sustainable competitiveness of this industry; calls for the establishment of a support scheme for sugar-cane growers in the event of a fall in world sugar prices;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls that banana production plays a crucial role in the socio-economic fabric of some outermost regions; calls, therefore, for support for producers to be maintained and, where necessary, increased;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Considers it necessary to provide better support for diversification of production in the outermost regions, and to introduce actions designed to resolve the market crises which certain sectors are facing, particularly the tomato and livestock sectors, and to facilitate the development of small-scale holdings, such as dairy product holdings;
Amendment 115 #
18c. Urges the Commission to plan a specific financial allocation for the outermost regions when exceptional and emergency aid is granted to the agricultural sector because of serious market crises;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. DeplorStresses, in the name of consistency of policies, the fact that the efforts made in the outermost regions to modernise and to render their traditional industries competitive are increasingly being jeopardised byshould not be undermined by the negative effects that certain free trade agreements signed between the EU and third countries may have on the economies of the outermost regions;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the European Commission to encourage the farmers of the outermost regions to promote their high-quality products by supporting the use of the outermost regions logo, as well as other forms of quality certification;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Deplores the fact thatCalls for the trade negotiations conducted by the Union fail toto duly take into account either the specific characteristics orand the sensitive products of the outermost regions, and in particular bananas, sugar, rum, tomatoes and fishery products;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers that the Union’s trade policy ought not to endangers the small number of products which are exported and the traditional industries on which the economies of the outermost regions dependindustries of the outermost regions, since they play a major role in economic, social and environmental terms;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for the Union’s trade policies to be adjusted so as to take full account of the competitive disadvantages of the outermost regions; calls for the preservation of tariff and non-tariff barriers which are vitalnecessary for the protection of the sensitive products of the outermost regions and for safeguard clauses and stabilisation mechanisms to be activated in the event of the products of the outermost regions being seriously affected, or the threat of such an occurrence;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the systemUnderlines the limits ofn tolerance of imports to be abandoned which makes it possible for goods to enter the Union that have been treated with active substances not authorised therehe principle of equivalence, particularly for organic agriculture products, which makes it possible for products from third countries which are not in compliance with all the European requirements to enter the European Union; Calls for the principle of compliance to be applied immediately;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Considers essential to set up a support system for the fisheries of the ORs based on Article 349 in the light of what is done in agriculture with POSEI;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Union to remove all the regulatory obstacles, to authorise aid for the renewal of traditional fishing fleets in the outermost regions, to increase investIn the interests of the survival of the fisheries sector in the outermost regions, and in accordance with the principles of differentiated treatment for the small islands and territories referred to in SDG 14, calls on the Commission to create support measures based on Article 349 TFEU to enable the funding (whether European or national) of the artisanal and traditional fishing boats of the outermost regions which land all their catches in outermost region ports and contribute to local sustainable development, which is needed for the sustainable development of local fishing and to protect sensitive fishing grounds of the outermost regionsith a view to increasing human safety, compliance with European hygiene standards, combating IUU fishing and becoming more environmentally friendly; notes that the renewal of the fishing fleet must remain within the permitted capacity ceilings, must be restricted to replacing an old ship with a new one and must be conducive to sustainable fishing and the attainment of the MSY objective;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that the Union has, overall, under-invested in the seas and oceans and more specifically in the case ofalls on the Union to support the outermost regions, so that it has not ensuredthey can progress with the sustainable and efficient economic development of their exclusive economic zones of the outermost regions, and that it has left these marine areas at the mercy of pillage of their resources by fishing fleets, both foreign and European;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Deplores the fact that, by means of this under-investment, the Union ends up almost exclusively becoming, and regarding itself as, a continental entity and not also aCalls on the European Union to rely upon the outermost regions in an effort to reinforce its position as an international maritime power;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls for the creation of a specific instrument for fisheries in the outermost regions, based on former Regulation No 1791/2007 and drawing inspiration from the agricultural POSEI regulation, with a view, in particular, to ensuring legal certainty in relation to the plans for compensation of additional costs through ex ante approval by the Commission and permanent funding;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Underlines the importance of the EU financial support for all the outermost regions which amounts to EUR 13 billion for the programming period 2014-2020;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Considers that, for the next programming period, more flexibility could be envisaged within the thematic concentration in the case of the outermost regions should be able toas regards defineing some of their priorities for the use of the structural funds; calls for the continuation of budget allocations to the outermost regions, of compensation of excess costs, and of all derogations intended to compensate them for their structural disadvantages, as appropriate;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Recalls the shared objective of twofold integration of the outermost regions; calls for all schemes concerned with cross-border cooperation between the outermost regions and third countries or the overseas countries and territories in their geographical regions to be intensified and made operational;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. DeploRegrets the fact that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has not adopted either geographical distribution criteria or criteria specific to the outermost regionsso far not been used much in the outermost regions; is of the opinion that measures should be taken to reinforce the take-up of EFSI in outermost regions by amongst others enlarging the scope of general objectives eligible for EFSI support and by enhancing the geographical diversification of EFSI;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Recalls that the most important fund for training and employment is the European Social Fund (ESF); calls on the Commission – in view of the structural nature and critical levels of unemployment in the outermost regions, and on the basis of Article 349 TFEU, which grants the outermost regions the right to specific access to the Structural Funds – to create an additional allocation within the framework of the ESF in order to support employability, mobility and training in the outermost regions;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Competition policy and State aid
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Recalls, furthermore, that Article 107(3) TFEU states that aid to promote the economic development of the outermost regions may be considered to be compatible with the internal market, in view of their structural, economic and social situation;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Deplores the fact thatCalls on the Commission to rely on Articles 107(3)(a) and TFEU in the Regional State Aid Guidelines and the GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) do not take sufficient account of Article 107(3)(a) and Article 349 TFEU and that they create a situation which may lastingly damagein order to contribute to the economic and social development of the outermost regions;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls on the Commission to undertake to guaranteeextend after 2020 thate exceptional tax regimes for the outermost regions will be retained and extended after 2020based on thorough assessment of their situation;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. CondemnsWarns of trade practices such as those of clearance markets, which end upcan destabilisinge the island micro-markets of local economies;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Research, environmentbusiness competitiveness, environment, education, transport, energy and telecommunications
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Does not consider that any of the Union’Calls on the Commission to lay down in its horizontal programmes provides for access conditions specific to the outermost regions; regards this situation as particularly discriminatory;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. CPoints to the significant potential of developing research and innovation activities for a solid and sustainable development; calls for the establishment of a research programmenetwork specific to the outermost regions, which would make it possible to networkconnect their respective universities, research centres and innovative businesses better;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Points out the central role played by SMEs in the outermost regions with regard to economic and social development; calls on the Commission, therefore, to take better account of the situation of the outermost regions within the framework of the COSME programmes, or the EU employment and social innovation programme (EaSI);
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Would like to see an improvement in the way the common characteristics of the outermost regions are taken into account within the framework of the Erasmus programme, including through the promotion of exchanges between outermost regions;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. QuestionsConsiders that more can be done in order to ensure the determination ofritorial continuity of the outermost regions; calls on the Commission and Member States to integrate the outermost regions into the trans-European transport, energy and telecommunications networks;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. DeplorStresses the fact that the Natura 2000 programme is not applicable to the French outermoutermost regions enjoy extraordinary biodiversity and that they are particularly seriously affected by the effects of climate change, therefore instruments specific to thoste regions; considers this situation to be particul need to be introduced to combat those effects; calls on the Commission once again to put the BEST preliminarly damaging to theaction on a permanent footing by creating a sustainable mechanism for funding protjections ofn biodiversity and the environment in those region, the promotion of ecosystem services and adaptation to climate change in European overseas countries and territories;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Recalls that, in its Special Report 01/2017, the European Court of Auditors considered that ‘significant progress is needed from the Member States, and more efforts from the Commission, in order to better contribute to the ambitious goals of the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy’;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Recalls that the European Court of Auditors in the Special Report 01/2017 considered that "Significant progress is needed from the Member States and further efforts by the Commission to better contribute to the ambitious objectives of the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2020";
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Suggests that an impact study be carried out regarding the possibilities of applying the Natura 2000 programme to the French outermost regions, with a view to establishing the most appropriate tools for the protection of the biodiversity and environment of these regions;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Recalls that the mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy published by the Commission in October 2015 and mentioned by the European Court of Auditors in the Special Report 01/2017 concluded that, although significant progress has been made since 2011 in implementing the measures under Objective 1, the most significant challenges remain the completion of the marine element of the Natura 2000 network and the guarantee of effective management of the sites and funding needed to support the Natura 2000 network, both of which are important factors for ORs";
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Considers that people and businesses in the outermost regions do not enjoy the same right to freedom of movement as other European citizens, and calls on the European Union to establish a programme relating tosupport programmes designed to provide the territorial continuity of the outermost regions and promoting free movement of citizens between the outermost regions and the Union or between different outermost regions; calls on the Union to exclude the outermost regions from the ETS;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Calls for the creation of a specific POSEI-type programme for transport to promote the territorial, social and economic cohesion of the regions and to reduce the isolation, or double isolation, of some outermost regions; stresses that this programme should provide for support for the transport of people and goods between the outermost regions and the continent, within the outermost regions themselves and between outermost regions that are close to each other, such as the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Isles; stresses that this programme should also promote trade between these regions;