Activities of Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS related to 2016/0276(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Extension of the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1316/2013 and (EU) 2015/1017 as regards the extension of the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments as well as the introduction of technical enhancements for that Fund and the European Investment Advisory Hub PDF (1 MB) DOC (183 KB)
Amendments (40)
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) That positive momentum should be maintained and efforts need to be continued to bring investment back to its long-term sustainable trend. The mechanisms of the Investment Plan work and should be reinforced to continue the mobilisation of private investments in sectors important to Europe's future and where market failures or sub-optimal investment situations remain. To foster growth three dimensions complementing each others and necessary to each others need to be worked on in parallel: a framework to finance investment and innovation (including CMU), structural reforms and a common policy mix.
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Additionality, a key feature of the EFSI, should be strengthened in the selection of projects. In particular, operations should only be eligible for EFSI support if they address clearly identified market failures or sub-optimal investment situations. The purpose of additionality should be limited to ensuring that selected projects are those that could not have otherwise obtained financing on the market due to a higher risk profile. Operations in infrastructure under the Infrastructure and Innovation Window linking two or more Member States, including e-infrastructure, should be considered additional given their inherent difficulty and their high added value for the Union.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Additionality, a key feature of the EFSI, should be strengthened in the selection of projects. In particular, operations should only be eligible for EFSI support if they address clearly identified market failures or sub-optimal investment situations. Operations in infrastructure under the Infrastructure and Innovation Window linking two or more Member States, including e-infrastructure or the TEN-T and TEN-E networks, should be considered additional given their inherent difficulty and their high added value for the Union.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) The EIB has also the responsibility to supervise and do a cost-benefit analysis also those projects between 10 and 50 million euros to avoid misuses of the EFSI fund at national level.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Due to their potential to increase the efficiency of the EFSI intervention, blending operations combining non- reimbursable forms of support and/or financial instruments from the Union budget, such as those available under the Connecting Europe Facility, and financing from EIB Group, including EIB financing under the EFSI, as well as other investors should be encouraged. Blending aims to enhance the value added of Union spending by attracting additional resources from private investors and to ensure the actions supported become economically and financially viable. Further action to ensure that EU funds and EFSI support can be easily combined is necessary. The Commission has already published a concrete guidance on this matter, however the approach on the issue of combining the EFSI with the EU funds should be further developed while taking into account economic efficiency and adequate leverage.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11 a) It is appropriate to encourage partnerships with National Promotional Banks or Institutions including for setting up Investment Platforms and, where, on a case by case basis, the National Promotional Banks or Institutions could select projects thereafter.
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) Investment platforms participating in EFSI shall be able to work in a cross- border basis in order to increase their efficiency and to reduce geographical imbalances.
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 b (new)
Recital 16 b (new)
(16 b) In the framework of a partnership between the Investment Committee and an investment platform, a national promotional bank or an institution, the Investment Committee may at any time supervise the project selection procedure applied in order to guarantee the respect of this Regulation.
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 c (new)
Recital 16 c (new)
(16 c) Simplification is needed in the procedures for processing operations so that the information which final beneficiaries, especially SMEs are required to provide is the minimum necessary to ensure their success without imposing an excessive bureaucratic burden on SMEs.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) Considers that the possibility should be considered of extending EFSI financing to other financial initiatives launched by the Commission and managed through the EIF as the Cultural and Creative Sector Guarantee Facility (CCS GF).
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18 a) The annual country-by-country reports of EFSI will include the exact funding that every project has required.
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) should be enhanced and its activities should focuaddress any shortcomings oin needs not covered adequately under current arrangementhe implementation of the EFSI. It should play an instrumental role in empowering project promoters to initiate and develop viable, sustainable and quality projects. It should pay particular attention to supporting the preparation of projects involving two or more Member States or regions and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives of COP21. Notwithstanding its objective to build upon existing advisory services of the EIB and the Commission, so to act as a single technical advisory hub for project financing within the Union, tThe EIAH should also contribute actively to the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI and proactively support the EIB where needed in originating projects and launching originating projectsperations. The EIAH activities should be complementary to the existing structures and overlaps to the services in the Member States should be avoided. It should also actively contribute to the establishment of investment platforms and provide advice on the combination of other sources of Union funding with the EFSI. It is considered necessary for the EIAH to establish a strong local presence, where needed, to leverage local knowledge about the EFSI and better consider local needs. The EIAH should aim to conclude agreements with national and regional promotional banks or institutions in each Member State. To achieve those objectives, the staff capacity of the EIAH should be commensurate to the tasks that it is called upon to undertake.
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) should be enhanced and its activities should focus on needs not covered adequately under current arrangements. It should pay particular attention to supporting the preparation of projects involving two or more Member States, two or more regions or a cross- border macro-region, and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives of COP21. Notwithstanding its objective to build upon existing advisory services of the EIB and the Commission, so to act as a single technical advisory hub for project financing within the Union, the EIAH should also contribute actively to the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI and support the EIB where needed in originating projects. It should also actively contribute to the establishment of investment platforms and provide advice on the combination of other sources of Union funding with the EFSI.
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21 a) Blending with existing funds, in order to promote the investment goals of this Regulation, should be encouraged as it would enable providing adequate concessionalities in the financing terms and conditions.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph -1 (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 2 – point 4 – point b
Article 2 – point 4 – point b
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2017/1017
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
(a a) in point (b), point (iii) is replaced by the following: ‘(iii) a provision that the Steering Board is to take decisions by consensus; in the event that a consensus cannot be reached, the Steering Board shall decide by a three-fourths majority of its component members;’;
Amendment 267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/117
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 2015/2017
Article 5 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 3
To better address market failures or sub- optimal investment situations, EIB special activities supported by the EFSI shall typically have features such as subordination, participation in risk-sharing instruments, cross-border characteristics, European added value, exposure to specific risks or other identifiable aspects as further described in Annex II.
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
The projects supported by the EFSI that consist of physical infrastructure linking two or more Member States or of the extension of physical infrastructure or services linked to physical infrastructure from one Member State to one or more Member States, shall also be considered to provide additionality. and should be prioritized in cases like TEN-T and TEN- E where the EU has already selected them as high priority infrastructure projects with European added value.
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(3 a) In Article 6, a new paragraph 2a is inserted: ‘2a. When a national court of audit or an independent council or any anti- corruption body of a Member State has expressed some concerns on a project, a type of investment or on a body having the responsibility of investing public money and these concerns are communicated to the EFSI. The Steering Board should take into account the opinions expressed and shall take a decision by consensus.’
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
(-a) in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: ‘The Steering Board shall comprise four members: three appointed by the Commission and one by the EIB. Before the official nomination, the European Parliament shall be kept informed of the candidates, respecting strict confidentiality requirements. The Steering Board shall elect a Chairperson from among its members for a fixed term of three years, renewable once. The Steering Board shall strive to take its decisions by consensus. In the event that a consensus cannot be reached, the Steering Board shall decide by a three-fourths majority of its component members.’;
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
(-a) in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: ‘The Steering Board shall comprise four members: three appointed by the Commission and one by the EIB. Before the official nomination, the European Parliament shall be kept informed of the candidates, respecting strict confidentiality requirements. The Steering Board shall elect a Chairperson from among its members for a fixed term of three years, renewable once. The Steering Board shall take its decisions by consensus.’
Amendment 311 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
(-aa) in paragraph 5, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following: ‘The Managing Ddirector shall be assisted by a deputy managing director. The Managing Director shall report every quarter on the activities of the EFSI to the Steering Board.Both can, on their request, participate in the meetings of the Steering Board as non- voting members.’;
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a b (new)Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a b (new)Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 5 a (new)
(-ab) In article 7, a new paragraph 5a is inserted: ‘5a. The overall composition of the Steering Board, Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director shall strive for ensuring gender balance.’;
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
(-a) In article 9, paragraph 2, introductory part is replaced by the following : The EU guarantee shall be granted for EIB financing and investment operations approved by the Investment Committee referred to in Aarticle 7(7) or for funding or guarantees to the EIF in order to conduct EIB financing and investment operations in accordance with Article 11(3) and in accordance with the guidance of the Steering Board. Cooperation of the EIB with NPB/NPIs should be encouraged to leverage the deep market knowledge of these entities with the increased financing capacity of the EIB provide by the EU guarantee. The operations concerned shall be consistent with Union policies and support any of the following general objectives:.
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point -a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
(-a) in Article 9, paragraph 2, point (b), point (ii) is amended as follows: ‘(ii) energy efficiency and energy savings (with a focus on reducing demand through demand-side management and the refurbishment of buildings including prisons);’
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point i
Amendment 373 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 b (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 b (new)
(b a) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added: ‘The EIB shall use the EU guarantee for supporting investment platforms or funds and national promotional banks or institutions that invest in operations meeting the requirements of this Regulation (eligible vehicles), after approval by the Investment Committee. In order to strengthen its objective, the Investment Committee shall encourage cooperation with cross-border investment platforms.’
Amendment 399 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. Where the EIB provides funding or guarantees to the EIF in order to conduct EIB financing and investment operations, the EU guarantee shall provide for a full guarantee on such funding or guarantees provided that an amount of at least EUR 4 000 000 000 of funding or guarantees is provided by the EIB without coverage by the EU guarantee, up to an initial limit of EUR 6 500 000 000. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, that limit may where appropriate be adjusted by the Steering Board up to 10 000 000 000.
Amendment 420 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
e) providing pro-active support on the establishment of investment platforms, in particular cross-border and macroregional investment platforms in which several Member States and regions are involved;
Amendment 423 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) providing pro-active support on the establishment of investment platforms with a local presence and taking into account existing support schemes;
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) providing pro-active support on the establishment of investment platforms, with a view also to supporting smaller scale projects;
Amendment 438 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point d a (new)
(ii a) the following paragraph is inserted after paragraph 6: ‘6a. In order to actively ensure a wide geographic outreach of the advisory services across the Union and to successfully leverage local knowledge about the EFSI, the local presence of the EIAH shall be established, where needed and taking into account existing support schemes, with a view to providing tangible, pro-active, tailor-made assistance on the ground.'.
Amendment 458 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The EIB and EIF shall inform or shall oblige financial intermediaries to inform the final beneficiaries, including SMEs, of the existence of EFSI support. Similarly, financial intermediaries will be required to launch active dissemination campaigns among potential beneficiaries of the lines of finance that they manage and which are supported by the EFSI, as well as their conditions and the form of access to them.
Amendment 468 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
(11 a) In Article 21, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. OLAF may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 1), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 ( 2 2) and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 ( 3 3) in order to protect the financial interests of the Union, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption, money laundering or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with any financing and investment operations covered by this Regulation. OLAF may transmit any information obtained in the course of its investigations to the competent authorities of the Member States concerned. The competent authorities shall follow up on the information transmitted, unless not compatible with the national legal framework.’
Amendment 475 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
(13 a) In Article 24, the second paragraph is replaced by the following: ‘2. The Commission shall assess the operations referred to in paragraph 1 and, where they comply with the eligibility criteria set out in Article 6, the general objectives set out in Article 9(2) and Annex II, Annex II, and the principles of operations' own merit, and without any geographic or sectorial allocation, decide that the EU guarantee coverage extends to them.’
Amendment 483 #
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 or in cross-border transport projects involving at least one cohesion country; EFSI support for high speed trains shall also be avoided except in cases where there is a clear and positive outcome of cost-benefit analysis with European standards.
Amendment 492 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1 b a (new)
Annex II – point 1 b a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Annex II – section 2 – point 2 a (new)
Annex II – section 2 – point 2 a (new)
(b a) A new point is added: (2 a) The EIB shall use the EU guarantee for supporting investment platforms or funds and national promotional banks or institutions that invest in operations meeting the requirements of this Regulation (eligible vehicles), after approval by the Investment Committee. In order to avoid geographical concentration, Investment Committee shall encourage cooperation with cross-border investment platforms.
Amendment 496 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 3
Annex II – point 3
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Annex II – section 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex II – section 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The scoreboard shall be made public as soon as an operation under the EU guarantee is signed, with the exclusion of commercially sensitive information; a compilation of the scoreboard results shall be presented to MEPs in an annual basis.