Activities of Josefa ANDRÉS BAREA related to 2011/0394(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020) - Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan - Reigniting the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe (debate)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Programme should therefore address market failures affecting the competitiveness of the Union economy on a global scale, due principally to issues which undermine the capacity of enterprises to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world, favour the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy priorities, such as innovation, the green economy and the recruitment of young people, apply the principles of the 'Small Business Act' (SBA), ensure coordination with the remaining European programmes, take account of the needs of SMEs and simplify and reduce the administrative burdens they face.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The Programme should particularly address SMEs, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Particular attention should be paid to micro enterprises, enterprises engaged in craft activities and social enterprises. Attention should also be paid to the specific characteristics and requirements of young entrepreneurs, new and potential entrepreneurs and, female entrepreneurs, as well asself- employed workers and specific target groups, such as migrants and entrepreneurs belonging to socially disadvantaged or vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, as well as the employability of young people and training for entrepreneurs and their employees. The Programme should also encourage senior citizens to become and remain entrepreneurs and promote second chances for entrepreneurs.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The limited internationalisation of SMEs both within and outside Europe affects competitiveness. According to some estimates currently 25% of the SMEs in the Union export or have exported at some point over the last three years, of which only 13% export outside the Union on a regular basis and only 2 % have invested beyond their home country. However, 90% of growth will be generated outside the Union in future. In line with the Small Business Act, which called on the Union and the Member States to support and encourage SMEs to benefit from the growth of markets outside the Union, the EU supports a network of European Business Organisations in more than 20 markets abroad. It provides financial assistance to the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, business bodies in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore as well as the European Business and Technology Centre in India, EU SME Centres in China and in Thailand and the China Intellectual Property Rights SME helpdesk. European added value is created by bundling national efforts in this domain, avoiding duplication, promoting cooperation and by offering services that would lack critical mass if provided at national level.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Activities in this area can create a level playing field for SMEs when planning to become active outside their home country. Such activities should among others include information on intellectual property rights and technical standards.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The Programme should also support SME policy development, for instance by funding meetings, reports and databases. Such activities should focus on facilitating SMEs' access to programmes and reducing overall regulatory burden, in particular administrative burdens. An ambitious business centred approach should be applied to ensure that reducing regulatory burden, including administrative burden, targets the practical needs identified by business, in particular SMEs.
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 b (new)
Recital 15 b (new)
(15b) The views of relevant stakeholders including SME representative organisations should be taken into account in the development of SME policy and new activities. For this, existing structures such as the SME envoy network should be used to the greatest extent possible in order to avoid duplication and the creation of additional layers of bureaucracy.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Global competition, demographic changes, resource constraints and emerging social trends generate challenges and opportunities for some sectors. For example, design-basedmany sectors facing global challenges and characterised by a high proportion of SMEs need to adapt to reap the benefits and harness. For example, design-based sectors need to adapt in order to benefit from the untapped potential of high demand for personalised, inclusive products. Design-based consumer goods represent an important economic sector in the Union and its enterprises contribute substantially to growth and jobs. As these challenges apply to all SMEs in the Union in these sectors, a concerted effort at Union level is necessary in order to create additional growth.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) As outlined in the Commission Communication of 30 June 2010, entitled ‘"Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination – a new political framework for tourism in Europe’", which was endorsed by the European Council Conclusions of October 2010, tourism is an important sector of the Union economy. Enterprises in this sector substantially contribute towith 10% of the Union's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation and have significant potential for the deve12 % of total emplopyment of entrepreneurial activity, since it is run mainly by SMEs. The Lisbon Treaty acknowledges the importance of tourism outlin, making it the third most substantial socio-economic activity ing the Union specific competences in this field which complement the actions of Member States. There is clear added value for the tourism initiative at Union level, especially in providing data and analysisEU, and have significant potential for the development of entrepreneurial activity, sin developing transnational promotion strategies and in exchanging best practicece it is run mainly by SMEs.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) The Lisbon Treaty acknowledges the importance of tourism outlining the Union specific competences in this field which complement the actions of Member States. This sector plays a key role in the economic development of the Union and in achieving the goals of the EU 2020 strategy. Therefore, tourism figures in the general and specific objectives of the programme. There is clear added value for the tourism initiative at Union level, especially in improving the tourism knowledge base by providing data and analysis, in developing transnational promotion strategies and in exchanging best practices.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18b) The European Union is the world's No 1 tourist destination in terms of international arrivals and this lead position must be reinforced by tackling the challenges created by, firstly, greater global competition and a market demand that is continually changing and secondly, the need to ensure increased and more lasting sustainability.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 c (new)
Recital 18 c (new)
(18c) Tourism in Europe faces many challenges: the global economic crisis, the competition from other destinations outside the EU and the diversity of tourist attractions on offer, the effects of climate change and seasonal fluctuations in tourist activity, demographic developments in Europe, the growing impact of information and communications technologies and many unforeseen events affecting the industry from time to time. Therefore, the European Union should ensure a leading position of the tourism sector.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1
Article 1
A programme for Union actions to improve the competitiveness of enterprises, with special emphasis on small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs), micro- enterprises and craft enterprises (hereinafter "the Programme"), is established for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) boosting the sustainable development of SMEs;
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b b (new)
(bb) applying the principles of the SBA and implementing its priorities in the Union's policies and programmes;
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) To facilitate SMEs' access to advice.
Amendment 261 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The financial envelope for implementing the Programme shall be EUR 2.522 billion, of which approximately EUR 1.4 billionapproximately 0.5% of the multiannual financial framework and at least 60 % shall be allocated to financial instruments.
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) measures to apply the SBA 'think small first' and 'only once' principles.
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Measures to promote the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in the tourism sector by encouraging the creation of a favourable environment for the development of undertakings in this sector and by promoting the cooperation between Member States.
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission may also support sector-specific activities for these purposes, in areas characterised by a high proportion of SMEs and with a high contribution to the Union's GDP, such as the tourism and design-based consumer goods sectors.
Amendment 355 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Amendment 364 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may support actions to improve SMEs access to the Single Market, including information provision and awareness-raising and measures to promote participation by SMEs and micro-enterprises in the process of drawing up and adapting European requirements and standards, as well as compliance by enterprises.
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a Actions relating to information, advice and monitoring for enterprises 1. The Commission shall facilitate access to Union programmes for SME organisations and provide technical assistance measures to inform and advise SMEs. 2. In order to continue improving the competitiveness and access to markets of Union enterprises, the Commission shall maintain its support for the Enterprise Europe Network, whose activity shall be defined in consultation with European organisations representing SMEs.
Amendment 455 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – point 3
Annex II – section 1 – point 3
3. The Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) shall be implemented as part of a single EU debt financial instrument for EU enterprises' growth and RDI, using the same delivery mechanism as the SME demand-driven window of the debt facility under Horizon 2020 (RSI II), according to the terms set out below. This facility shall apply throughout all the stages in the enterprise's life cycle: setting-up, development and transfer, without any distinctions based on activity or market size. This facility shall also apply to any type of investment, including intangible investments.