2018/2038(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Commission and the co-legislators acknowledged in 2015 that Greece has been affected by the crisis in a unique manner, which could have had a severe impact on both the finalisation of the operations under the 2000-2006 and the 2007-2013 oOperational pProgrammes and the start of the implementation of the 2014-2020 cohesion policy programmes;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Commission and the co-legislators acknowledged in 2015 that Greece has been affected by the crisis in a unique manner, which could have had a severe impact also on both the finalisation of the operations under the 2007-2013 operational programmes and the start of the implementation of the 2014-2020 cohesion policy programmes;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas, compared to the pre- crisis years, the Greek population's purchasing power fell by some 29% and, according to the latest Eurostat data updated to 2018, the percentage of unemployed people stands at 20.8% (with youth unemployment at 45%);

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas substantial amounts would have been recovered in case projects from the 2000-2006 and the 2007-2013 periods had failed to be completed;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the cuts to health spending, together with the reduction of the salaries of public-sector doctors by around 50%, have led to a dramatic decline in the numbers of healthcare professionals and an overall worsening of the health of the population;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 was intended to provide Greece with liquidity at a crucial moment before the implementation of programmes had come to a halt and necessary investment opportunities missed out;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 set out an additional initial pre- financing for the 2014-2020 programming period, of ~~3,5 %~~two instalments of 3.5 % each of the amount of support from the cohesion policy funds and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), as well as the application for the 2007-2013 programming period of a 100 % cofinancing rate to the eligible expenditure and the early release of the last 5 % of remaining EU payments, which should have been retained until the closure of the programmes;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 set out an additional initial pre- financing for the 2014-2020 programming period, of ~~3,5 %~~two instalments of 3,5 % each of the amount of support from the cohesion policy funds and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), as well as the application for the 2007-2013 programming period of a 100 % cofinancing rate to the eligible expenditure and the early release of the last 5 % of remaining EU payments, which should have been retained until the closure of the programmes;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas a ring-fenced account was put in place in October 2015 to which all funds allocated to the financing of EU financed projects were transferred in order to ensure that these funds were used solely for payments to beneficiaries and operations of the Operational Programmes;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas Greece, alongside other countries such as Italy, have had to deal with the migratory challenge almost alone over the past few years, given that there is no binding and compulsory relocation mechanism, and thus no real solidarity between all EU Member States;

Amendment 2 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Andrea COZZOLINO

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas cohesion policy is an expression of solidarity and the main investment instrument of the EU, covering all regions ~~and~~with the aim at reducing disparities; whereas its added value and ~~flexibility in response to~~importance during the economic and financial crisis has been confirmed on several occasions as it contributed to maintain much-needed public investment opportunities;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the important role cohesion policy plays in delivering the EU objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, incombating unemployment, reducing inequalities, strengthening the competitiveness of all EU regions, expressing European solidarity and in complementing other policies; recalls, moreover, that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) are the biggest source of direct investment in Greece;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes note of the report on the use of the amounts under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 related to the 2007-2013 programming period which was due end of 2016; regrets that the report was submitted by the Greek authorities only in May 2017~~, but regrets the lack of proper communication between~~ and not made available to the Parliament before December 2017; appreciates that the Commission anhad provided Parliament ~~as, despite several requests, this report was not shared with Parliament until December 2017~~with an provisional assessment of the list of 181 priority projects which was established at the end of 2011 with the aim of identifying important and emblematic projects and which amounted to 11.5 billion EUR, equivalent to about 55 % of the total 2007 - 2013 ERDF, CF and ESF allocation to Greece;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes note of the report on the use of the amounts under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 related to the 2007-2013 programming period which was submitted by the Greek authorities in May 2017, but ~~regrets the lack of proper communication between the Commission and Parliament as, despite several requests,~~notes that this report was not shared with Parliament until December 2017, after several requests;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that, thanks to all the measures taken so far, total EU contributions, according to the information currently available, amount to over EUR 5.9 billion, representing more than 28 % of the total EU allocation to Greece for the period 2014-2020;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out the rate of payments to beneficiaries, which according to the available data exceeds 17 %, while the project selection rate is currently 48 % of available funds for the period 2014- 2020, does not deviate significantly from the EU average;

Amendment 25 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Andrea COZZOLINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Appreciates that Greek authorities undertook to re-organise the project classification and identify major projects to be selected for completion; underlines that this helped significantly to overcome institutional and administrative obstacles and establish priority actions to be implemented without further delay thus also preventing financial corrections;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6а. Emphasises, on the basis of the positive impact of the measures, the need to repeat such specific measures for Greece or another EU Member State where this is considered necessary and serious liquidity problems are identified;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Welcomes the fact that the funds paid by the EU under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 significantly reduced the number of projects classified as incomplete; notes that compared to the 2000-2006 programming period where around 900 projects were not completed, for the 2007-2013 programming period currently 79 projects remain uncompleted and are expected to be completed with the use of national funds; notes with regard to the list of 181 priority projects that 118 projects were completed, 18 projects are to be completed with national funds by 31 March 2019 at the latest, 24 projects were phased into the 2014-2020 programming period and 21 projects have been cancelled;

Amendment 28 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the fact that the funds paid by the EU under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 significantly reduced the number of projects classified as incomplete on the closure of the operational programmes, notably improving the absorption of structural funds; underlines thatUnderlines that the absorption of structural funds had notably improved and, at the end of March 2016, the payments rate in Greece for the 2007-2013 programming period was over 97 %4 and that according to the state of execution of total payments and ‘reste à liquider’ (RAL) for the programmes for 2007-2013 of 31 March 2018, Greece has no RAL under Heading 1b5 ; welcomes that Greece was the first Member State which had reached an 100 % absorption rate compared to the EU average of 96 %; _________________ 4 Commission Staff Working Document on ex post evaluations of the ERDF and Cohesion Fund 2007-2013. 5 State of execution of total payments and the level of the 'reste à liquider' (RAL) for Heading lb (programmes 2007-2013) - Designation of national authorities and state of execution of interim payments of 2014-2020 ESIF Operational Programmes (Status as of 31 March 2018).

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8а. Welcomes the fact that due to the beneficial provisions of Regulation 2015/1839, Greece was the first Member State to have fully taken up the available resources for the period 2007-2013 and was among the best performing States in implementing the programmes 2014- 2020; stresses the need to maintain a high take-up rate;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas cohesion policy has proven very flexible in times of crisis by adapting to changing legislative requirements and priorities thus enabling Member States and regions to take tailor- made response in view of increasing their resilience towards sudden events and external shocks;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges, however, that absorption rates provide only indicative information and that an emphasis on the absorption of funds should not be at the expense of effectiveness and quality of investments; ~~considers that more data are needed to evaluate the sustainability of the projects which benefited from these provisions;~~

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges, however, that absorption rates provide only indicative information and that an emphasis on the absorption of funds should not be at the expense of effectiveness, added value and quality of investments; considers that more data are needed to evaluate the sustainability of the projects which benefited from these provisions;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Acknowledges the fact that 118 significant projects (out of 181) have been successfully implemented at the end of 2007-2013 programming period, while 18 will be fully operated at the end of March 2019 and 24 projects have been characterized as phasing.

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Points out the differences between and the unequal absorption rates among the available ESI Funds;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recalls that the ESIFs have a significant impact on ~~GDP~~social, economic and territorial cohesion and GDP and other indicators in several Member States, and that investment supported by cohesion policy and rural development policies in Greece is estimated to have increased GDP in 2015, at the end of the previous programming period, by just over 2% above the level it would have been in the absence of the funding provided; recalls that the use of EU structural funds should always focus on achieving real EU added value and go beyond mere GDP growth;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recalls that the ESIFs have a significant impact on GDP in several Member States, and that investment supported by cohesion policy and rural development policies in Greece is estimated to have increased GDP in 2015, at the end of the previous programming period, by just over 2% above the level it would have been in the absence of the funding provided; recalls that the use of EU structural funds should always focus on achieving real EU added value, target EU objectives and priorities and go beyond mere GDP growth;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recalls that the ESIFs have a significant impact on GDP in several Member States, and that investment supported by cohesion policy and rural development policies in Greece is estimated to have increased GDP in 2015, at the end of the previous programming period, by just over 2% above the level it would have been in the absence of the funding provided; recalls that the use of EU structural funds ~~should~~must always focus on achieving real EU added value and go beyond mere GDP growth;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls that with the strict rules of the Stability and Growth Pact it can also become difficult for Member States to co- finance projects under ESI funds;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes note of the mainly quantitative analysis of the report submitted by the Greek authorities on the use of the amounts under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 related to the 2007-2013 programming period~~, but regrets the lack of a qualitative assessment in terms of increased competitiveness and productivity and sustainability;~~ ; acknowledges that the effect of the specific measures cannot be separated from the overall impact of the ESIF funds in Greece, making an qualitative assessment difficult to carry out;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas in some cases, cohesion policy, due to its limited budgetary resources, could only help preventing the worsening of the crisis and alleviating the devastating impacts already unfolding on the ground, such as economic decline, job losses, increasing risk of poverty and out- migration;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes note of, that the mainly quantitative analysis of the report submitted by the Greek authorities on the use of the amounts under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 ~~related to the 2007-2013 programming period, but regrets the lack of~~comply with the legal requirement; considers that a qualitative assessment in terms of increased competitiveness and productivity and sustainability would help completing the analysis and understanding the results achieved;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes note of the mainly quantitative analysis of the report submitted by the Greek authorities on the use of the amounts under Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 related to the 2007-2013 programming period~~, but regrets the lack of a qualitative assessment~~ and encourage the Commission to provide more information in terms of increased competitiveness and productivity and sustainability; in social and ecological aspects;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Appreciates the fact that according to the final data communicated to the European Commission on 31/12/2016, the amount of payment requests by Greek Authorities was € 1.6 billion in terms of community funds, significantly exceeding the target set for inflow of € 1 billion EU funds.

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Appreciates that Greece showed, as at 31 March 2018, a 28 % implementation rate for the 2014-2020 programming period6 , ~~and invites the Commission~~making it rank amongst the top p~~rovide clear information on the situation as regards~~erformers compared to other Member States; welcomes the fact that as required the additional pre-financing, w~~hich should have been covered by payment applications by 31 December 2016, according to Article 134(1a) of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) as amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/1839;~~ as entirely covered by intermediate payment requests for the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund, while regretting that it was not fully covered for the European Social Fund and not covered for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; _________________ 6 State of execution of total payments and the level of the 'reste à liquider' (RAL) for Heading lb (programmes 2007-2013) - Designation of national authorities and state of execution of interim payments of 2014-2020 ESIF Operational Programmes (Status as of 31 March 2018).

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls the importance of some structural reforms - not, however, geared to wage devaluation - for a sound business environment and an effective implementation of the ESIFs~~, and invites Greece to make full use of the possibilities for assistance under the SRSP~~;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls the importance of structural reforms for a sound business environment and an effective implementation of the ESIFs, and ~~invites Greece~~acknowledges Greece's efforts to make full use of the possibilities for assistance under the SRSP;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls the importance of structural reforms for a sound business environment and an effective implementation of the ESIFs, and invites Greece to make full use of the possibilities for assistance under the SRSPInvites Greece to make full use of the possibilities for assistance under the SRSP in order to create a sound business environment for maximising the impact of ESI funds;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Stresses that some structural reforms of the labour market, the pension system and the healthcare system (in particular through health privatisation processes) have exacerbated the difficulties which emerged during the crisis and helped to further undermine Greece's economic and social fabric;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Acknowledges that by supporting public investment and deploying EU investments flexibly, through the reprogramming of funds or by raising the cofinancing rate, regional policy mitigated the impact of the financial crisis and of sustained fiscal consolidation in several Member States; reiterates nevertheless that ~~cohesion policy should be seen primarily as a catalyst to attract additional public and private funding, and that~~ measures resulting in a reduction in the national cofinancing quotas required for receiving funding for operational programmes financed by the Structural Funds should be duly justified and only envisaged on an exceptional basis;

Amendment 5 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas support between 2007 and 2015 from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund in Greece amounted to EUR 15.8 billion, equivalent to some 19 % of total government capital expenditure;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Acknowledges that by supporting public investment and deploying EU investments flexibly, through the reprogramming of funds or by raising the cofinancing rate, regional policy mitigated the impact of the financial crisis and of sustained fiscal consolidation in several Member States; stresses, therefore, the importance of not reducing the budget for Cohesion Policy in the European Union's new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) beyond 2020; reiterates nevertheless that cohesion policy should be seen primarily as a catalyst to attract additional public and private funding, and that measures resulting in a reduction in the national cofinancing quotas required for receiving funding for operational programmes financed by the Structural Funds should be duly justified and only envisaged on an exceptional basis;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Acknowledges that by supporting public investment and deploying EU investments flexibly, through the reprogramming of funds or by raising the cofinancing rate, regional policy mitigated the impact of the financial crisis and of sustained fiscal consolidation in several Member States; reiterates nevertheless that cohesion policy should be seen ~~primarily~~as the main public investment tool and as a catalyst to attract additional public and private funding, and that measures resulting in a reduction in the national cofinancing quotas required for receiving funding for operational programmes financed by the Structural Funds should be duly justified and only envisaged on an exceptional basis;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Acknowledges that by supporting public investment and deploying EU investments flexibly, through the reprogramming of funds or by raising the cofinancing rate, regional policy mitigated the impact of the financial crisis and of sustained fiscal consolidation in several Member States; reiterates nevertheless that cohesion policy should be seen primarily as a catalyst to attract additional public and private funding, and that measures resulting in a reduction in the national cofinancing quotas required for receiving funding for operational programmes financed by the Structural Funds should be ~~duly justified and only envisaged on an exceptional basis~~adopted and implemented only on an exceptional basis, such as in the case of the financial situation in Greece;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Acknowledges that by supporting public investment and deploying EU investments flexibly, through the reprogramming of funds or by raising the cofinancing rate, regional policy mitigated the impact of the financial crisis and of sustained fiscal consolidation in several Member States; reiterates nevertheless that cohesion policy should be seen primarily as a catalyst to attract additional public and private funding, and that measures resulting in a reduction in the national cofinancing quotas required for receiving funding for operational programmes financed by the Structural Funds should be duly ~~justified and only envisaged on an exceptional basi~~examined from the perspective of their effectiveness;

Amendment 54 #

Maria SPYRAKI, Pascal ARIMONT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls on the Commission to consider, as a matter of urgency, the option of excluding the cofinancing of ESIF-funded projects in the so-called less developed regions from the deficit calculation;

Amendment 55 #

15. Reminds the Greek authorities of the importance of ensuring proper communication and visibility of ~~the projects which were financed following the adoption of Regulation 2015/1839~~investments under the ESI Funds;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Remind~~Acknowledges the Greek authorities of' focus on the importance of ensuring proper communication and visibility of the projects which were financed following the adoption of Regulation 2015/1839;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Concludes that the adoption of Regulation 2015/1839 was an important measure appropriate to provide tailor- made support at a crucial moment, and that the implementation of this Regulation delivered outcomes as envisaged;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. IWelcomes the preliminary assessment that in all probability the 2007-2013 programming period will be closed with no loss of funds; invites the Commission to inform Parliament on the results of the closure process ~~of the 2007-2013 programming period~~, which are expected to be concluded in the first half of 2018 a~~nd which should also include an evaluation of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 on specific measures for Greece~~s well as to provide an updated picture of the projects in 2019 after the deadline has expired to complete, with national funds, projects left uncompleted at the end of the programming period;

Amendment 59 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Andrea COZZOLINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Invite~~Asks the Commission to inform Parliament on the results of the closure process of the 2007-2013 programming period, which are expected to be concluded in the first half of 2018 and which should also include an evaluation of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2015/1839 on specific measures for Greece;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the economic and financial crisis, as well as the unbearable austerity measures imposed on Greece by the three international rescue packages from 2010 onwards, had led to persistently negative growth rates in Greece as well as to serious liquidity problems and a lack of public funds;

Amendment 60 #