2015/2224(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the inclusion of tools for public participation, such as participative budgeting in CLLD, would lead to a greater involvement of citizens, starting with the awareness of transparency and administrative openness to collaboration, to awareness of the usefulness of the process and the taking on of project realisation as well as the increase in efficiency of public spending;

Amendment 100 #

Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines the importance of increased efforts by both the Member States and the Commission to expand the use of the new tools in the context of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC); stresses that neighbouring areas divided by a border often face similar challenges which can be better tackled jointly, at the local level;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Considers that the Commission should encourage Member States to use these instruments on projects to create quality employment and social investment, especially in those regions and sub- regions where it is most needed. In this sense, calls on the Commission to develop a special investment plan, in line with the Social Investment Package, so that the regions and subregions with the highest unemployment levels can make the best use of them;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. points out that for the evaluation of the performance with which ITI and CLLD resources were allocated, it is necessary to establish a limited set of clear indicators aimed at both quantitative and qualitative elements; after conducting evaluations based on these indicators, reports should be drawn up showing the actual results achieved on the established objectives and proposing solutions for the future increase in the efficiency with which ITI and CLLD resources are allocated;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the creation of the new CLLD instrument, which has gone beyond the previous LEADER, URBAN and EQUAL initiatives to empower local communities and provide specific local solutions~~, not only via EAFRD, but also the other ESI Funds;~~ ; regrets that CLLD is only mandatory for EAFRD and that local and participatory approaches are declining in ERDF, ESF and EMFF, thus opportunities and qualitative benefits deriving from CLLD being missed out in the 2014-2020 period;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the creation of the new CLLD instrument, which has gone beyond the previous LEADER initiative to empower local communities and provide specific local solutions, not only via EAFRD, but also the other ESI Funds;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the creation of the new CLLD instrument, which has gone beyond the ~~previous~~ LEADER initiative to empower local communities and provide specific local solutions, not only via EAFRD, but also the other ESI Funds;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Considers that community-led local development, which represents a new form of partnership aimed at fostering social innovation, should contribute to the implementation of initiatives aimed at creating new, quality jobs, with the accent being placed on sustainable development and social inclusion;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. encourages Member States to explore the opportunity for investment evaluation at local and regional level on performance criteria; local and regional authorities should be encouraged to reinvest the amount of taxes collected;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Points out that CLLD ~~can also~~ offer s possibilities for urban areas and ~~can be an important~~is an integral part of wider urban development strategies;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Points out that CLLD can also offer possibilities for urban areas and ~~can~~should be an important part of wider urban development strategies;

Amendment 11 #

Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Asks the Commission and the Member States to pay particular attention, in accordance with Article 174 TFEU, to regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, improving their territorial cohesion in order to foster development of the local economy, which will ultimately make it possible for the population to remain in those regions;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the implementation of the ESI Funds thus far has highlighted considerable barriers to achieving the effective implementation of CLLD and ITI on the ground; whereas the local dimension of Cohesion Policy remains under-utilised and under-valued by many Member States;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Points out that CLLD can also offer possibilities for urban and peri-urban areas and can be an important part of wider urban development strategies, including through cross-border cooperation, wherever the case;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Points out that CLLD can also offer possibilities for urban areas and can be an important part of wider urban development strategies; recalls that, in order to ensure that territorial development strategies are as effective as possible, the development of urban areas must be consistent with that of the surrounding, peri-urban and rural areas;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Points out that CLLD can also offer possibilities for urban areas and can be an important part of wider urban development strategies; stresses the importance of partnership for sustainable development between the urban and rural environment;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Regrets~~Takes note of the fact that in a number of Member States CLLD will be instituted through a mono-fund approach ~~which can lead to missed opportunities in creating more effective local development strategies~~;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Regrets that in a number of Member States CLLD will be instituted through a mono-fund approach which can lead to missed opportunities in creating more effective local development strategies; recalls the importance of an integrated approach and the need to involve as much local civil society stakeholders as possible;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Warns of the need to adapt the approach to European funds (whether multi- or mono-fund) through CLLD and ITI, for the creation of more effective regional and local development strategies;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Welcomes the establishment of the Horizontal Working Group on Partnership, set up thanks to DG REGIO;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Calls for consistent adherence to the Code of Conduct on Partnership, in particular with regard to the application of the principle of partnership in the implementation of ITI and CLLD;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Encourages capacity building ~~and~~, awareness-raising among social and economic partners, as well as civil society stakeholders, and the active participation of those parties, so that as many partners as possible can propose CLLD strategies before the deadline for proposals (31 December 2017);

Amendment 119 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Jutta STEINRUCK, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls that CLLDs can be organised to ensure delegation of responsibility to the LAGs from either Managing Authorities or Regional or Local Delivery Bodies in a manner proportionate to a LAG's capacity, with its decisions being inclusive, transparent and accountable;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recognizes that both CLLD and ITI are particularly necessary in the less developed regions and encourages the Commission and the Member States to provide support to the regional and local authorities in the design and implementation of such initiatives;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas CLLD is based on the experience of implementing LEADER, URBAN and EQUAL in previous funding periods, and mainly builds on the LEADER approach which has led to an exponential increase in Local Action Groups (LAGs) since its inception in 1991;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to e~~Encourages the sharing of best practices concerning LAGs at European level ~~while using existing instruments and platforms such as TAIEX REGIO PEER 2 PEER, URBACT, and the Urban Development Network~~;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to encourage the sharing of best practices concerning LAGs ~~at European level~~, based on a strategy of information at European level regarding their successful projects, while using existing instruments and platforms such as TAIEX REGIO PEER 2 PEER, URBACT, and the Urban Development Network;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission to carry out the distribution of the results of the publications in each of the Member States, working with the competent bodies, particularly regional and local authorities;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. calls on the Commission, in the application of CLLD, to give Member States greater flexibility when setting up operational programmes so that they are able to take better account of the priorities of CLLD strategies, consulted according to a bottom-up approach, upon implementing the instrument in a territory, and of the less specific objectives and thematic and territorial concentration of operational programmes implemented by local action groups. CLLD strategies and priorities should be the key to implementing the instrument in a territory;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. believes that tools such as participatory budgeting should be included in the CLLD strategy as it is a democratic exercise contributing significantly to increasing the involvement of social and economic partners in order to strengthen social cohesion at local level and increase the efficiency of public spending;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; emphasises, however, that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49 % of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; Eemphasises~~, however,~~ that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendationsis a fundamental CLLD/LEADER principle; breaching it could result in abuse by public authorities and, ultimately, in the downfall of CLLD/LEADER (indeed, these tendencies can even be seen in countries where the operation of LEADER has been exemplary, such as Ireland);

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; ~~emphasises, however, th~~considers appropriate the provision whereby public authorities nor any single interest group cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, ~~may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources~~which allows contributing to moving away from an administrative approach towards a result- oriented and entrepreneurial one; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision ~~in or~~, and possibly provider t~~o detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations~~argeted capacity building and technical assistance;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; emphasises, however, that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may ~~in certain situations~~ impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest in interactions between individuals in the public and private sectors, to ensure the balance that is needed between effectiveness of the tool, simplification and transparency; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; emphasises, however, that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Takes the view that territorial tools must be flexible so that they can be tailored to suit the specific local circumstances, and care must be taken to ensure the tools do not compete with other similar national ones already in place;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas CLLD builds on the LEADER approach which has led to an exponential increase in Local Action Groups (LAGs) since its inception in 1991 and contributed significantly to improving public quality of life, particularly in rural areas;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; emphasises, however, that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations, including the circumstances in which exceptions may be beneficial;

Amendment 131 #

Matthijs van MILTENBURG, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Highlights the fundamental importance of a non-discriminatory and transparent approach and of minimising potential conflicts of interest; welcomes, furthermore, the participation of a wide range of partners in LAGs; emphasises, however, that the provision whereby public authorities cannot hold more than 49% of voting rights in LAGs, as provided for in the current legislative framework, may in certain situations impede the implementation of CLLD since the other interest groups involved might lack the adequate expertise and resources; asks the Commission to closely monitor and assess the implementation of this provision in order to detect regions where these requirements can pose particular problems, and possibly provide future recommendations; recognises the success of LAGs in project management and calls on the Commission to grant more comprehensive funding and to take into account extending the scope of this to benefit LAGs;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Is concerned about the results that CLLD will deliver, as small entities might get lost in the complexity of the regulation; therefore encourages Member States to embrace CLLD initiatives and to incorporate flexibility in their national policy frameworks;

Amendment 133 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Highlights the shareholdings of public authorities in LAGs with a maximum of 49 % of voting rights, in order to realise the bottom-up principle, mobilising the diversity of regional and local actors in terms of initiative and responsibility;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Regrets the fact that in some Member States the CLLD is restricted by national authorities to only one specific policy objective which is contrary to the bottom- up approach;

Amendment 135 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Urges the Commission to provide guidance to Member States for financing CLLD through multi funds as well as encouraging the use of financing instruments;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that diverse governance approaches are possible in the implementation of ITIs; considers it crucial, nevertheless, that local partners play their role as key actors in preparing the territorial development strategy of the ITI, and are also fully involved in its management, monitoring and audit responsibilities, thereby helping to ensure genuine local ownership of ITI interventions;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. notes that diverse governance approaches are possible in the implementation of ITIs; considers it crucial, nevertheless, that local partners play their role as key actors in preparing the territorial development strategy of the ITI, and are also fully involved in its management, monitoring and audit responsibilities, thereby helping to ensure genuine local ownership of ITI interventions; supports the development of integrated strategies in cross-border cooperation;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Stresses that ITI should not be privileged in urban areas only, but promoted in any functional area, as ITI is best placed to take account of specific territorial needs by more flexibly determining its territorial scope, thus following a genuine place-based approach;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Notes that ITIs concern any geographical area: urban neighbourhoods, urban areas, metropolitan areas, urban-rural, sub- regional or inter-regional, cross-border and territories with specific geographic features; stresses that urban ITIs should not be privileged nor take priority over other types of ITI at EU State level as ITIs are tools for all geographical areas;

Amendment 14 #

Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Points out to the Commission that, in order for tangible progress to be made towards achieving the objectives of Europe 2020, more attention needs to be paid, in the review of that strategy and of the multiannual financial framework, to regional and local contexts, and to the specific circumstances of the areas concerned;

Amendment 14 #

Davor ŠKRLEC, Terry REINTKE

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas CLLD builds on the LEADER approach which has led to an exponential increase in Local Action Groups (LAGs) since its inception in 1991; whereas this approach may weaken the role of national governments in regulating structural funds, and is playing a part in limiting their influence when it comes to devising territorial policies;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Considers that ITI also provides for an appropriate structure to tackle territories with poor access to services and isolated and segregated communities;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that the early involvement of local governments in the territorial development strategy~~, leading from the bottom up, is key~~ is desirable for the future ownership, participation and success of the integrated territorial strategy that will be implemented at the local level;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that the ~~early~~initial involvement of regional and local governments in the regional and territorial development strategy, leading from the bottom up, is key for the future ownership, participation and success of the integrated regional and territorial strategy that will be implemented at the local level;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that the early involvement of local governments and civil society stakeholders in the territorial development strategy, leading from the bottom up, is key for the future ownership, participation and success of the integrated territorial strategy that will be implemented at the local level;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that the early involvement of local governments in the territorial development strategy, leading from the bottom up, is key for the future ownership, participation and success of the integrated territorial strategy that will be implemented at the local level; asks for a greater delegation of management of ITIs that empowers sub-regional actors (local/urban stakeholders) by ensuring their involvement and ownership of programme preparation and implementation;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. stresses that the early involvement of local governments in the territorial development strategy, leading from the bottom up, is key for the future ownership, participation and success of the integrated territorial strategy that will be implemented at the local level; insists with priority on increasing exploitation capacity of their own potential for development, according to local characteristics, modelled on internal specialisation;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Encourages the Member States to opt for a ~~truly~~ multi-fund approach to ITIs in order to achieve synergies between the funds in a given territory and to tackle challenges in a more comprehensive manner;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Encourages the Member States to opt for a truly multi-fund approach to ITIs in order to achieve synergies between the funds in a given territory and to tackle challenges in a more comprehensive manner; underlines that targeted capacity building is necessary to facilitate the pooling of funds from different sources;

Amendment 149 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Jutta STEINRUCK, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Emphasizes that the late decision at the national level to use the ITI instrument has been highlighted as a major difficulty to properly frame the territorial strategy, create the coordination structure, determine the budget and prepare the national legal base for ITI;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Underlines that CLLD and ITI initiatives will be successful only if they manage to properly address the social and employment-related challenges facing the respective regions and communities;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas CLLD is mandatory for EAFRD only, and optional for ERDF, ESF and EMFF;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Asks the Commission and Member States to make greater use of ITIs in the field of cross-border cooperation;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Reminds that the main issue regarding the ITI was the lack of clear vision on what an ITI should be and how to use multi-fund approach;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission, together with the Expert Group on Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters (TCUM), on preparing ITI scenarios; endorses the view~~, however,~~ that such guidance ~~was needed~~should emerge earlier in the programming process ~~and that its usability is therefore questionable~~; considers it necessary to update the guidance with real examples and lessons learned from ITIs once they are implemented;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the efforts of the Commission, together with the Expert Group on Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters (TCUM), on preparing ITI scenarios; endorses the view, however, that such guidance was needed earlier in the programming process and that its usability is therefore questionable; considers it necessary to update the guidance with real examples and lessons learned from ITIs once they are implemented;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Recalls that new ITIs can be introduced in the course of the implementation of the 2014-2020 period;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Asks the Commission to take into account the results of the Committee of the Regions' survey, 2015, making more efficient use of IT tools and creating less paperwork, introducing more flexible rules for countries/regions with very low allocations, improving the co-financing mechanisms in the Member States and providing more training to those responsible for the management and absorption of funds, including elected politicians;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Is of the opinion that CLLD and ITI should play a more prominent role in the future cohesion policy; c~~Calls on the Commission to prepare a report before the new legislative proposal on the performance of ITI and CLLD and on possible post- 2020 scenarios related to these tools;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Is of the opinion that CLLD and ITI should play a ~~more promine~~n even more important role in the future cohesion policy; calls on the Commission to prepare a report demonstrating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) of implementing these two instruments, before the new legislative proposal on possible post- 2020 scenarios related to these tools;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Asks for the abovementioned report to analyse ~~whether~~ a compulsory approach in the post- 2020 cohesion policy legislation concerning CLLD and ITI ~~would be desirable~~, with minimum earmarking for these instruments in operational programmes; proposes~~, alternatively, that the option of~~ that the design~~ing~~ of concrete incentives to stimulate Member States to implement CLLD and ITI be assessed in this report;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. Whereas these two new instruments can play an important role in adapting to demographic change and reversing inter- regional imbalances in development;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Asks for the abovementioned report to analyse whether ~~a compulsory approach~~, in the post-2020 cohesion policy legislation concerning CLLD and ITI ~~would be desirable, with minimum earmarking for these instruments~~, a consolidation of those instruments would be desirable, providing for binding earmarking in operational programmes; proposes, alternatively, that the option of designing concrete incentives to stimulate Member States to implement CLLD and ITI be assessed;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Asks for the abovementioned report to analyse whether a compulsory approach in the post-2020 cohesion policy legislation concerning CLLD and ITI would be desirable, with minimum earmarking for these instruments in operational programmes; in that sense, considers it essential to perform an in-depth assessment of the impact of those instruments, based on indicators that take into account not only the amount of the funds used, but also their effectiveness in the territories concerned and in the actions taken; proposes, alternatively, that the option of designing concrete incentives to stimulate Member States to implement CLLD and ITI be assessed;

Amendment 162 #

Miroslav POCHE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Asks for the abovementioned report to analyse whether a compulsory approach in the post-2020 cohesion policy legislation concerning CLLD and ITI would be desirable, with minimum earmarking for these instruments in operational programmes~~; proposes, alternatively,~~, or, where appropriate, ensuring greater coherence between operational programmes and CLLD and ITI so that significant changes in allocation and defined activities are forestalled during preparations; also proposes that the option of designing concrete incentives to stimulate Member States to implement CLLD and ITI be assessed;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

~~24. Recommends that the bottom-up approach in the context of ITI is formalised in the next generation of cohesion policy;~~deleted

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Recomme~~Demands that the bottom-up approach in the context of ITI is formalised in the next generation of cohesion policy;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recommends that the bottom-up approach in the context of ITI is formalised in the next generation of cohesion policy during the programming as well as during the implementation phase;

Amendment 166 #

Miroslav POCHE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Asks the Commission, in the future, to take account of existing links between different types of regions, where different conditions for co-financing and thematic concentration complicate opportunities to draw on financial resources from multiple operational programmes for a defined ITI territory;

Amendment 167 #

Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Encourages the Commission and Member States, through coordination with the competent local authorities, to monitor the use of ITI funds, these being quantitatively more important than before because of their amalgamation; stresses that this is important for reducing the possibility of corruption in Member States;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. ~~Is of the opinion that there is a~~Reiterates the need for a twofold approach, in particular in providing guidance, first, for Member States which have only national operational programmes and, second, for those withat also have regional operational programmes;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Insists on ~~better~~improved coordination ~~in the future~~ between the Commission ~~and~~, the Member States and the regions with regard to guidance; recommends that guidance be developed simultaneously with the proposal on the new cohesion policy legislation, with subsequent updates ~~if the provisions are changed during the negotiation process~~; stresses that this would enable the timely delivery of guidance documents and would also provide clarifications ~~during the negotiations~~ on how the proposed provisions would be implemented in practice;

Amendment 17 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets the absence of a more recognisable branding for CLLD and ITI and encourages the Commission and the Member States to make both tools mandatory and as visible and understandable as possible for their users, while avoiding any additional unnecessary bureaucratic burden;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas CLLD has a bottom up approach with the aim to set up objects and finance projects linked with the local needs of the community rather than impose objectives at national level;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Invites the Commission to establish an inter-institutional platform for coordination and dissemination of CLLD and ITI programmes;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the regional and national parliaments.

Amendment 18 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets the absence of a more recognisable branding for CLLD and ITI and encourages the Commission and the Member States to make both tools as visible and understandable as possible for their users, while avoiding any additional bureaucratic burden; stresses that more performance and added value as well as more synergies could be reached when using not only ERDF in CLLD and ITI instruments and encourages the Commission to implement regulation covering also the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to support sustainable urban CLLD and ITI instruments;

Amendment 18 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Georges BACH, Agnieszka KOZŁOWSKA, Marek PLURA, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Claude ROLIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ITI is a tool which can be used to deliver integrated actions for sustainable urban development, as defined in Article 7 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013); ~~whereas it can also target other types of territory;~~

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ITI is a tool which can be used to deliver integrated actions for sustainable urban development, as defined in Article 7 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013); whereas it can also target a variety of other types of territory including cross-border areas;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

~~1. Highlights the potential of cohesion policy to improve employment opportunities and growth, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and social inclusion;~~deleted

Amendment 2 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Jutta STEINRUCK, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

– having regard to the adoption, in 2011, by the European Parliament of Resolution A7-0350 on the implications of demographic change for cohesion policy at regional level,

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets the absence of a more recognisable branding for CLLD and ITI and the lack of information about these instruments among local stakeholders; encourages the Commission and the Member States to make both tools as visible and understandable as possible for their users, while avoiding any additional bureaucratic burden;

Amendment 20 #

Laura AGEA, Tiziana BEGHIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ITI is a tool which can be used to deliver integrated actions for sustainable urban development, as defined in Article 7 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013); whereas it can also target other types of territory; whereas urban policies remain within the competences of the Member States;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to organise appropriately publicised information seminars, in order to ensure that as many people as possible know about these opportunities; hopes, moreover, to see the establishment of appropriate information tools such as regularly updated mailing lists and smartphone applications;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas ~~considerable differences exist between the Member States~~different levels exist in terms of governance structures and experience in bottom-up development initiatives on the part of the Member States;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents and points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved;deleted

Amendment 22 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Georges BACH, Agnieszka KOZŁOWSKA, Marek PLURA, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Claude ROLIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas considerable differences exist between the Member States in terms of governance structures and experience in bottom-up development initiatives; whereas the Member States should be guaranteed that they will be able to freely choose their governance structures, and that under no circumstances will a governance model be imposed on them;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents and points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved; calls on the Commission to establish a coordination unit for effective implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas innovative approaches towards local development, prioritizing local knowledge to address local problems with local solutions have gained growing importance across the world;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents and points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved, including civil society; considers that the involvement of partners can also strengthen the integrated and place-based approach, in particular where take-up of CLLD and ITI is low;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the capacity and engagement of local actors is des~~sential~~irable for the ~~success~~implementation of these tools;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents in order to ensure real and meaningful participation by local actors in the process and points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved;

Amendment 25 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Jutta STEINRUCK, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the capacity and engagement of regional and local actors is essential for the success of these tools, regardless of the competences defined for each organisation;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents and provide technical assistance to Member States and local authorities; points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. Whereas the empowerment of regional and local organisations is essential for the full implementation of the policy of economic, social and territorial cohesion;

Amendment 27 #

Jérôme LAVRILLEUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to create channels of communication with Member States and local agents in order to ensure the necessary cooperation between parties at all levels, and points out that CLLD and ITI will only achieve success with the commitment and ownership of all the stakeholders involved;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas participatory governance has the necessary tools for public participation aimed at giving responsibility for decisions at local community level;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Maintains that ITI must be run by local actors with a thorough knowledge of the area, but points out that such local management must not mean that the key role of the Member States is overlooked: the aim of ITI is not to establish a direct line between the Commission and local communities, thereby cutting out the Member States;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. Whereas the regional and local authorities are called on to intervene in decisions on their own development, and to promote synergies between the public and private sectors as essential guidelines capable of delivering effective management and administration of projects, and of ensuring the stability of commitments made;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is concerned that in some Member States CLLD is sometimes a ‘box ticking’ exercise rather than a genuine bottom-up approach and in this context insists that local actors have real decision making powers;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is crucial for local and regional authorities to properly identify their assets and strategic advantages and build upon these when developing their local development strategies;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the potential of cohesion policy to improve employment opportunities and growth, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and social inclusion, but points out that the policy is currently unpopular and ineffective, and therefore questions its legitimacy and visibility as matters currently stand;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the 2014-2020 generation of cohesion policy is supposed to provides for and encourages the use of integrated and place-based approaches to foster economic, social and territorial cohesion;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Maintains that the Member States are best placed to establish the needs of their component communities, and therefore rejects a cross-border approach based on artificial Euroregions;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is crucial for localities to prioritise necessities in accordance with the input from the community, to properly identify their assets and strategic advantages and build upon these when developing their local development strategies, which would increase the quality of life by clarifying problems, establishing priorities and outlining sustainable solutions together with citizens;

Amendment 31 #

Jérôme LAVRILLEUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in supporting local development strategies, creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable rural development, and would welcome the inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is crucial for localities to properly identify their assets and strategic advantages and build upon these when developing their regional and local development strategies;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable rural development, and ~~would welcom~~calls on the Commission to actively pursue the inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism;

Amendment 32 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. Whereas Article 7(3) of the ERDF Regulation lays down that, ‘taking into account its specific territorial situation, each Member State shall establish in its Partnership Agreement the principles for the selection of urban areas where integrated actions for sustainable urban development are to be implemented and an indicative allocation for those actions at national level’;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable rural development, and ~~would welcome the~~insists on wider inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the RURBAN initiative for cooperation between rural and urban areas contributes to strengthening regional competitiveness and creating partnerships for development;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in creating job opportunities and encouraging ~~sustainable~~balanced rural development~~, and would welcome the inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism~~ of the regions;

Amendment 34 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Georges BACH, Agnieszka KOZŁOWSKA, Marek PLURA, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Claude ROLIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

Hb. whereas at European Union level a budget based on performance is desired, it is necessary that resources allocated to ITI and CLLD be used efficiently, through attainment of the political objectives and established priorities, to have the highest added value for the pursued objective, and the results obtained should be delivered at the lowest possible cost;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable rural development, and ~~would~~ welcomes the inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes ~~that proper delegation of responsibilities to local actors and their ownership of territorial development strategies are crucial for the success of the bottom-up approach; stresses, however,~~ that local actors require technical and financial support from national and EU levels, especially in the early stages of the implementation process;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Not~~Stresses the potential of the bottom-up approach of CLLD in creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable rural development, and would welcome the inclusion of urban areas in this mechanism;

Amendment 36 #

Laura AGEA, Tiziana BEGHIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that proper delegation of responsibilities ~~to local actors~~and resources to lower levels of decision-making and their ownership of territorial development strategies are crucial for the success of the bottom-up approach; stresses, however, that local actors require technical and financial support from national and EU levels, especially in the early stages of the implementation process;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the importance of incentivising sectors such as the green economy and the social economy, which can bring added value in terms of sustainable and inclusive employability;

Amendment 37 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Georgi PIRINSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that ~~proper~~ delegation of responsibilities to regional and local actors and their ownership of territorial development strategies are crucial for the success of the bottom-up approach; stresses~~, however,~~ that local actors require technical and financial support from regional, national and EU levels, especially in the early stages of the implementation process;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers that the Commission should encourage Member States to use these instruments on projects to create quality employment and social investment, especially in those regions and sub- regions where it is most needed. In this sense, calls on the Commission to develop a special investment plan, in line with the Social Investment Package, so that the regions and subregions with the highest unemployment levels can make the best use of them;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that tangible involvement from the outset and proper delegation of responsibilities to local actors and their ownership of territorial development strategies are crucial for the success of the bottom-up approach; stresses, however, that local actors require technical and financial support from national and EU levels, especially in the early stages of the implementation process;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Maintains that cohesion policy must once again focus on its original aims of restoring balance to the regions, in particular by simplifying the administrative procedures for acquiring EU funding for the most vulnerable regions via the national administrative authority;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls for the setting out of strategies at the initial stages of the implementation process with regional and local actors, particularly at the level of specific and specialist training, and of technical and financial support, resulting from an effective partnership between the regions, Member States and EU;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the potential of cohesion policy to improve employment opportunities ~~and growth, thereby~~, sustainable growth and to contribut~~ing~~e to poverty reduction and social inclusion; Points out in this regard the importance of integrated funding, and especially the combination of ESF and ERDF;

Amendment 4 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the 2014-2020 generation of cohesion policy provides for and encourages the use of integrated and place- based approaches to foster economic, social and territorial cohesion while also promoting territorial governance;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that ITI are an effective delivery mechanism for the implementation of the Integrated Plans for Urban Regeneration and Development;

Amendment 40 #

Georgi PIRINSKI, Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Brando BENIFEI, Elena GENTILE, Agnes JONGERIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of responsibilities to local groups; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations to Member States on how to overcome the trust issue between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;deleted

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recalls that the ESF Regulation allows for a specific investment priority on "community-led local development strategies" under Thematic Objective 9 and regrets that only a limited number of Member States have included it in their operational programmes; Underlines that the fund may provide vital support for territorial employment pact, urban development strategies and institutional capacity building on local and regional level and asks the Commission to provide additional assistance to the Member States in implementing these specific investment priorities and to provide in its Annual Activity Reports information on the scope of such implementation;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ICalls con~~cerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of~~ the Member States to advocate a bottom-up approach, conferring responsibilit~~ies to~~y on local groups; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations to Member States on how to overcome the ~~trust issue~~obstacles between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls the Commission, in view of the limited use of the European Social Fund within the method in question and the absence of a centralised managing authority in most Member States, to use the mid-term review of the MFF to address the difficulties that have already been identified in the application of the instruments and to find sustainable solutions;deleted

Amendment 42 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Georges BACH, Agnieszka KOZŁOWSKA, Marek PLURA, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Claude ROLIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of responsibilities to local groups; notes that differences in the regulation of funds and reluctance of management authorities to delegate at local level constitute obstacles that may limit the potential of the two instruments; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations to Member States on how to overcome the trust issue between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission, in view of the ~~limited use of the European Social Fund within the method in question and~~fact that only 13 Member States has set- up CLLD funding schemes for the European Social Fund and given the absence of a centralised managing authority in most Member States, to use the mid-term review of the MFF to address the difficulties that have already been identified in the application of the instruments and to find sustainable solutions;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of responsibilities to local groups; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations to Member States on how to overcome the trust issue and administrative obstacles between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 44 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission, in view of the limited use of the European Social Fund within the method in question and the ~~absence of a centralised managing authority~~lack of experience in most Member States, to use the mid-term review of the MFF to address the difficulties that have already been identified in the application of the instruments and to find sustainable solutions;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of responsibilities to local groups; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations and concrete guidelines to Member States on how to overcome the trust issue between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission to leave it to each Member State to manage as it sees fit the centralised administrative authority that it has established in advance, and not to set up a decentralised European budgetary control unit, so as to prevent any interference on its part and avoid governance problems;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned that certain Member States are reluctant to embrace the bottom-up approach and to entrust an adequate level of responsibilities to local action groups; calls on the Commission, while fully remaining within its competences, to provide recommendations to Member States on how to overcome the trust issue between the different levels of governance related to the implementation of CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Is of the opinion that sub-delegation of competences and resources needs to be further promoted and increased and sustainable solutions be found in order to achieve long-term benefits for local development;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines that the path dependency is also an important factor, creating resistance to moving away from a more traditional top-down approach and can partly explain the reluctance of central system(s) and institutions to hand over power to the local system(s);

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses the important role of CLLD and ITI for territorial governance to be reinforced; considers that the involvement of partners can also strengthen the integrated and place-based approach aimed at in Cohesion Policy, in particular where take-up of CLLD and ITI is low;

Amendment 49 #

Laura AGEA, Tiziana BEGHIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Highlights that for managing authorities, applying bottom-up principles to policies that are traditionally delivered top-down brings in a whole set of challenges, in this respect, clear mechanisms for downward and social accountability are critical;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the potential of cohesion policy to improve employment opportunities and sustainable and inclusive growth, thereby ~~contributing to~~fostering poverty reduction and social inclusion;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas a greater social cohesion can be generated by forming strong and functional local communities, with increased capacity to resolve their own problems, based on increased sustainability of decisions, through direct involvement of citizens in the decision- making process, and on a higher level of deliberative, collaborative culture and active involvement in society;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Highlights that at the local level, the design of high quality integrated multi- sectoral innovative strategies is a challenge, especially when this has to be undertaken in a participative way;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to the fact that actions taken under these tools need to be ~~closely~~ aligned with the overarching objectives of the operational programmes as well as with other national, regional and local development strategies and smart specialisation strategies, while allowing for margins of flexibility already guaranteed for other funding tools;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to the fact that actions taken under these tools need to take into account the priorities of local actors and to be closely aligned with the overarching objectives of the operational programmes as well as with other national, regional and local development strategies and smart specialisation strategies;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to the fact that actions taken under these tools need to be closely aligned with the overarching objectives of the operational programmes as well as with other European, national, regional and local development strategies and smart specialisation strategies;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Reminds that is not only EU programmes that need to be more flexible and better integrated but also mainstream national and regional policies; stresses that ensuring a more general spirit of governance reform will help to ensure that EU funds are not delivered in a 'parallel' framework to national and regional policies, but rather are embedded in a broader drive to produce sustainable economic outcomes;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues f~~acing a large number of~~or the Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities;

Amendment 56 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues facing a large number of Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities, to take into account local and regional specificities, as well as promoting public-private partnerships for the promotion of vocational training programmes suitable for adaptation to developments in the labour market;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers SMEs lack of financing and youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues facing a large number of Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities as well as supporting the access to finance for SMEs;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues facing a large number of Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities; calls on the Commission to introduce programmes to encourage youth mobility at regional level; calls on local and regional authorities in partnership with training institutions to prioritise vocational training tailored to local employment needs;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Believes that ITI and CLLD have the potential to respond directly to local needs and challenges in a more focused and appropriate way and therefore they contribute to the sustainability of employment initiatives;

Amendment 6 #

Marc JOULAUD

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the integrated and place- based approaches are intended to improve the performance and efficiency of public interventions by meeting the specific requirements of the territories and helping to make them more attractive;

Amendment 60 #

Aldo PATRICIELLO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues facing a large number of Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities; calls for proposals and programmes that provide tax breaks and/or incentives for promoting youth employment to be included in the procedures for implementing CLLD and ITI;

Amendment 61 #

Krzysztof HETMAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers youth unemployment to be one of the most pressing issues facing a large number of Member States; stresses that local and territorial development strategies have to recognise tackling youth unemployment as one of their top priorities; underlines a great potential of Small and Medium Size Enterprises in this respect and highlights the importance of undertaking measures to attract private investment;

Amendment 62 #

Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recommends that local and regional authorities pay particular attention to projects employed to adapt localities and regions to the new demographic reality and to counteract the imbalances resulting therefrom, particularly through: 1. the adaptation of social and mobility infrastructures to demographic change and migratory flows; 2. the creation of specific goods and services aimed at an aging population; 3. support for job opportunities for older people, women and migrants that contribute to social inclusion; 4. enhanced digital connections and the creation of platforms that enable and foster the participation and interaction of the citizens of the more isolated regions with the various administrative, social and political services of authorities at all levels (local, regional, national and European);

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights that according to Eurostat, in 2014 there were 61 European regions in 8 EU countries with unemployment rates between 14% and 34.8% and 63 regions in seven EU countries with unemployment rates between 2.5% and 4.9%. Furthermore, there are 7 counties with more than 30% of unemployment;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Invites the European Commission and the Member States to provide additional support, training and guidance to ~~smaller and less developed local~~regional and local authorities which ~~often hav~~have more limited resources and capacity and for which the administrative burden and complexity related to the implementation of these tools may be ~~overwhelming~~difficult to take on during planning and application;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Invites~~Calls on the Member States to provide additional support and guidance to smaller and less developed localities which often have limited resources and capacity and for which the administrative burden and complexity related to the implementation of these tools may be overwhelming;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Invites the Member States to provide additional support and guidance to smaller and less developed localities and to micro enterprises which often have limited resources and capacity and for which the administrative burden and complexity related to the implementation of these tools may be overwhelming;

Amendment 68 #

Aldo PATRICIELLO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Invites the Member States to provide additional support and guidance to smaller and less developed localities which often have limited resources and capacity and for which the administrative burden and complexity related to the implementation of these tools may be overwhelming; recalls that territorial cohesion starts from the bottom up and must also involve small entities, without any exclusion or discrimination as regards access to ITI and CLLD; suggests that good practices be shared in order to create an online network that would allow those entities to have equal opportunities for accessing the tools in question;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Invites the Member States to provide additional support and guidance to smaller and less developed localities which often have limited resources and capacity and for which the administrative burden and complexity related to the implementation of these tools may be overwhelming; encourages national authorities to propose solutions aimed at grouping of small localities taking into account territorial dimension and specific development needs;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, in cohesion policy, CLLD and ITI are ~~innovative~~new instruments ~~in cohesion policy, which~~that are subject to an overly complex procedure; whereas some Member States will implement them in such form for the first time ~~and which can~~; whereas their complexity could discourage potential beneficiaries from using them; whereas it is therefore rather unlikely that these instruments will contribute significantly to the achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion, and in particular the creation of quality local jobs~~, sustainable urban development and attainment of the Europe 2020 objectives~~;

Amendment 70 #