2018/2151(INI) Annual report on the control of the financial activities of the EIB
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | CONT |
PIRINSKI Georgi ( S&D)
|
DEUTSCH Tamás ( PPE),
ALI Nedzhmi ( ALDE),
TARAND Indrek ( Verts/ALE),
VALLI Marco ( EFDD)
|
| Committee Opinion | INTA |
(THE EARL OF) DARTMOUTH William ( EFDD)
|
Alessia Maria MOSCA ( S&D),
Adam SZEJNFELD ( PPE)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Events
2019/01/17
EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
2019/01/17
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted by 498 votes to 87 with 38 abstentions, a resolution on the Annual Report 2017 on the control of the financial activities of the EIB.
Members noted that the EIB is at the heart of economic recovery efforts at Union level, with two successive capital increases and through its pivotal role in implementing the Investment Plan for Europe via the management of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
A value-adding strategic public investment
Public investment is still necessary in order to close the investment gaps in various sectors remaining below the pre-crisis levels in most vulnerable member states and cohesion countries.
Accordingly, Members considered that the EIB has a relevant financial role, which can bring considerable results in reduction of inequalities in the Union. They called on the EIB to continue bridging recurrent investment gaps and ongoing structural market failures through designing holistic and mid-long term spending.
EIB’s lending conditions should facilitate the development of the EU’s peripheral regions by promoting growth and employment. The Bank was asked to greatly strengthen the arrangements for providing technical assistance and financial expertise to local and regional authorities before project approval.
In the framework of Brexit, the resolution stressed that detailed arrangements for all the UK’s obligations towards the EIB must be drawn up in order to ensure that the EIB’s ability to achieve its objectives is not affected.
Driving investment in key strategic areas
Half of the Member States received 80% of the total EIB investment inside the EU while the other 14 Member States received only 10% of this investment. Furthermore, three Member States individually received 16%, 15% and 11% respectively. Members asked the Bank to include in its reporting breakdown information about its investment in low income and high-income regions and examine again its estimates of per capita investments and the ranking of Member States.
They called on the EIB to aim to become a climate action leader and to increase investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector. Parliament noted that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020, a trend that should be should be assessed positively. It welcomed the EIB's commitment to align its operations with the 2015 Paris Agreement by 2020. It encouraged the EIB to:
-increase investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector, as well as to consider that goal as a priority in the revision of its energy lending criteria;
-strengthen its presence and activities in the Western Balkan countries, as they are strategically important for the EU;
-bridge SME’s lack of access to credit by enhancing existing programmes, such as the European Progress Microfinance Facility, and by increasing the funding allocated to them.
Performance of the EIB’s financial operations
Parliament reiterated their call for the EIB to produce a more comprehensive, detailed and harmonised annual activity report. The report should include detailed and trustworthy breakdowns of the investments approved, signed and disbursed for the given year and the financing sources engaged (own resources, EFSI, EU centrally managed programmes, etc.), as well as such information regarding beneficiaries (Member States, public or private sector, intermediaries or direct recipients), sectors supported, and the results of the ex post evaluations.
EFSI development
Parliament noted that the EIB Group (EIB and EIF) has seen a marked change in the nature, volume, risk profile and complexity of its business over recent years under the European Fund for Strategic Investment (‘EFSI’), with a trend towards an increasing number of smaller operations backed by the EU guarantee under EFSI, and a significant increase of mandates under management on behalf of the Commission and in the provision of advisory services. As at the end of 2017, the EIB group had signed 606 operations under EFSI for a total financing of EUR 37.4 billion to mobilise investments of EUR 207.3 billion in all 28 Member States.
Human Rights
The EIB was asked to establish a Human Rights Strategy and to set up an effective mechanism whereby human rights defenders could safely alert the bank about deteriorating environment or risks of conflict and reprisal.
Enhancing transparency and accountability in EIB corporate governance
Parliament called on the EIB to: (i) extend the information published for projects implemented through intermediaries by including information on final projects; (ii) disclose, on its own website, beneficial ownership data relating to its clients in order to increase the visibility of its operations and help prevent cases of corruption and conflict of interest; (iii) include a EU standard provision on good governance in tax matters for agreements with third countries; (iv) adopt responsible taxation policy ensuring that the EIB does not finance clients involved in tax avoidance and tax evasion schemes or operating via tax havens.
European Parliament scrutiny
Parliament supported the European Court of Auditors’ position that the Court should be mandated to audit all EIB operations including those where the EIB uses non-EU budget funds for its operations. It also suggested that it should organise an annual workshop/hearing on activities and control of the EIB operations.
the EIB was asked to report on the state of play of the previous recommendations issued by Parliament in its annual resolutions, especially as regards: (i) the impact of its lending activities and results achieved; (ii) prevention of conflict of interests especially of the members of the EFSI Investment Committee and the EIB Board of Directors and provision of more stringent rules on conflicts of interest in the relevant Code of Conducts and especially of that of the Management Board and the Board of Directors; (iii) transparency and disclosure of information on contracting and subcontracting system concerning intermediaries and final recipients in relation to prevention of tax avoidance, fraud and corruption.
Documents
2019/01/17
EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2019/01/16
EP - Debate in Parliament
Documents
2018/12/20
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the own-initiative report by Georgi PIRINSKI (S&D, BG) on the Annual Report 2017 on the control of the financial activities of the EIB.
Members noted that the EIB is at the heart of economic recovery efforts at Union level, and its role in leveraging public money is essential for the capacity of the Union to adapt to new economic and environmental trends and geopolitical uncertainties.
The role of the EIB for ensuring a value-adding strategic public investment : the report considered that the EIB has a relevant financial role, which can bring considerable results in reduction of inequalities in the Union, and it called on the EIB to continue bridging recurrent investment gaps and ongoing structural market failures through designing holistic and mid-long term spending. Members felt that the EIB’s lending conditions should facilitate the development of the EU’s peripheral regions by promoting growth and employment. The Bank was asked to greatly strengthen the arrangements for providing technical assistance and financial expertise to local and regional authorities before project approval.
In the framework of Brexit, the report stressed that detailed arrangements for all the UK’s obligations towards the EIB must be drawn up in order to ensure that the EIB’s ability to achieve its objectives is not affected.
Driving investment in key strategic areas : the committee was concerned that half of the Member States received 80% of the total EIB investment inside the EU while the other 14 Member States received only 10% of this investment. Furthermore, three Member States individually received 16%, 15% and 11% respectively. Members asked the Bank to include in its reporting breakdown information about its investment in low income and high income regions according to its own Investment Survey (EIBIS) and with regard to the potential effect for overcoming investment gaps and barriers in less favourable regions in the EU.
They called on the EIB to aim to become a climate action leader and to increase investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector. The report noted that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020, a trend that should be should be assessed positively. It welcomed the EIB's commitment to align its operations with the 2015 Paris Agreement by 2020. It encouraged the EIB to:
- strengthen its presence and activities in the Western Balkan countries, as they are strategically important for the EU;
- bridge SME’s lack of access to credit by enhancing existing programmes, such as the European Progress Microfinance Facility, and by increasing the funding allocated to them.
Performance of the EIB’s financial operations : Members reiterated their call for the EIB to produce a more comprehensive, detailed and harmonised annual activity report. The report should include detailed and trustworthy breakdowns of the investments approved , signed and disbursed for the given year and the financing sources engaged (own resources, EFSI, EU centrally managed programmes, etc.), as well as such information regarding beneficiaries (Member States, public or private sector, intermediaries or direct recipients), sectors supported, and the results of the ex post evaluations.
EFSI development : Members noted that the EIB Group (EIB and EIF) has seen a marked change in the nature, volume, risk profile and complexity of its business over recent years under the European Fund for Strategic Investment (‘EFSI’), with; (i) a trend towards an increasing number of smaller operations backed by the EU guarantee under EFSI, (ii) a significant increase of mandates under management on behalf of the Commission and in the provision of advisory services. As at the end of 2017, the EIB group had signed 606 operations under EFSI for a total financing of EUR 37.4 billion to mobilise investments of EUR 207.3 billion in all 28 Member States.
Human Rights : the EIB was asked to establish a Human Rights Strategy and to set up an effective mechanism whereby human rights defenders could safely alert the bank about deteriorating environment or risks of conflict and reprisal.
Enhancing transparency and accountability in EIB corporate governance : Members stated that unorthodox combinations of responsibilities in the Management Committee , such as the responsibility for the oversight of both first and second line of defence activities, should cease. They also recalled the need to provide for a proper revision of the EIB Complaints Mechanism . The EIB whistle-blower protection policy , currently being revised, should include both internal and external whistle-blowers and establish clear and well-defined procedures, time frames and guidelines.
European parliament scrutiny : Members wanted to see the European Court of Auditors mandated to audit all EIB operations including those where the EIB uses non-EU budget funds for its operations. The committee also suggested that it should organise an annual workshop/hearing on activities and control of the EIB operations.
Follow-up of Parliament’s recommendations: the EIB was asked to report on the state of play of the previous recommendations issued by Parliament in its annual resolutions, especially as regards:
- the impact of its lending activities and results achieved;
- prevention of conflict of interests especially of the members of the EFSI Investment Committee and the EIB Board of Directors and provision of more stringent rules on conflicts of interest in the relevant Code of Conducts and especially of that of the Management Board and the Board of Directors;
- transparency and disclosure of information on contracting and subcontracting system concerning intermediaries and final recipients in relation to prevention of tax avoidance, fraud and corruption.
Documents
2018/12/13
EP - Vote in committee
2018/11/27
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/11/23
EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/11/05
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/07/09
EP - (THE EARL OF) DARTMOUTH William (EFDD) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2018/07/05
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2018/06/21
EP - PIRINSKI Georgi (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in CONT
Documents
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T8-0036/2019
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A8-0479/2018
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE630.700
- Committee opinion: PE627.876
- Committee draft report: PE625.209
- Committee draft report: PE625.209
- Committee opinion: PE627.876
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE630.700
Activities
- Georgi PIRINSKI
- Nedzhmi ALI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Inés AYALA SENDER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- William (The Earl of) DARTMOUTH
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Ingeborg GRÄSSLE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Notis MARIAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Lambert van NISTELROOIJ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Indrek TARAND
Plenary Speeches (1)
Votes
A8-0479/2018 - Georgi Pirinski - Vote unique #
2019/01/17 Outcome: +: 498, -: 87, 0: 38
GUE/NGL
NI
ENF
ECR| Amendments | Dossier |
| 95 |
2018/2151(INI)
2018/10/18
INTA
40 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that according to its operational strategy, the EIB aims to
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Points out that part of the EIB’s overall lending activity is dedicated to operations outside the Union; notes that there must be close coordination and complementarity between the EIB’s external lending activities and the EU External Investment Plan;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Points out that the EIB, when providing support to EU companies abroad, should take due account of the EU’s trade strategy, including existing and future free trade, services and investment agreements; points out that, in that context, the EIB should take particular account of the requirements of the internationalisation of European SMEs;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3d. Takes the view that the ratio between the financial resources earmarked for EIB tasks within the European Union (90%) and those implementing its objectives in more than 150 third countries (10%) should be analysed and adjusted if necessary;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020; urges the EIB to strongly
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. 4. Notes with satisfaction that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020; urges the EIB to
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Is of the opinion that the EIB should continue to enhance its role in helping to achieve sustainable development, and that climate action should focus mainly on clean transport and energy production, reduction of energy consumption (for heating, transportation and production),clean industrial production and sustainable farming, water treatment and supply, and the environmental transition in general;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the EIB’s lending to Mediterranean Partner Countries will amount to EUR 15 billion over the next five years; cautions, however, that Transparency International considers these to be among the worst countries in the world for corruption
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that according to its operational strategy, the EIB aims to
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the EIB’s lending to Mediterranean Partner Countries will amount to EUR 15 billion over the next five years; ca
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the EIB
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Welcomes the EIB’s plan to create a Sustainability Awareness Bond, and encourages the Bank to adopt a key role in sustainable finance both in and outside of Europe; Calls on the EIB to prioritise supporting through its lending activities the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by further unlocking investment in social, green and sustainable projects.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Notes that EIB funds have been used by companies implicated in the Emissions Scandal, specifically Volkswagen, and that they may therefore have been used to finance activity that was unethical and illegal; urges the EIB to investigate the Volkswagen and possibly other similar cases and to take a public position as to whether EIB funds for such projects can and should be reclaimed from project partners;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that the EIB should increase its transparency, vis-à-vis
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that the EIB should increase its transparency, vis-à-vis not only the European Parliament, but also the parliaments of the Member States, specifically with regard to the on-lending by its financial intermediaries; believes that it is only right that democratic representatives have more information about the activities of the EIB;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. C
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that the EIB should increase its transparency, vis-à-vis not only the European Parliament, but also the
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Recalls that Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union establishes the principle of policy coherence and therefore demands the EIB’s external lending activities to be more consistent with the Union’s external policies and strategy; underlines that the EIB is the financial arm of the European Union and as such it should facilitate the access to finance to those enterprises unable to raise funds through commercial banks; calls on the EIB to pay greater attention to the impact of its operations on human rights and labour rights, and to further develop its policy on social standards into a human rights policy in the area of banking; suggests, for this purpose, the inclusion of human rights and corporate social responsibility benchmarks in its project evaluations;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Emphasises that the
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Recalls that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy and therefore calls on the EIB to bridge their lack of access to credit by enhancing existing programmes, such as the European Progress Microfinance facility, and by allocating them increased funds; calls for the establishment of more pro-active SME and micro-enterprise policy requirements for intermediary banks disbursing EIB funds;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Underlines that EIB’s lending conditions should facilitate the development of the Union’s peripheral regions by promoting growth and employment; calls on the EIB to greatly strengthen the arrangements for providing technical assistance and financial expertise to local and regional authorities before project approval in order to improve accessibility and involve all Member States, especially those with a lower success rate in terms of projects approved;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Regards it as important that the EIB advocates higher transparency and social and environmental performance standards in its cooperation with other development banks as a condition for any capital involvement; regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Investment Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) and the one signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank have not yet improved the business environment for European enterprises and workers; notes with concern that the AIIB governance structures do not yet foresee adequate involvement of shareholders in project financing decisions and that publically available project documentation lacks any detail on the fulfilment of the environmental and social measures that the AIIB requires from its lenders; expresses scepticism over the involvement of the EIB in the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR) due to the lack of proper assessments on the project’s impact on working conditions and workers’ rights, on the environment, and on human rights; is concerned about the lack of transparency and good governance practices in the implementation of the project;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Calls on the EIB to ensure that companies participating in projects co- financed by the EIB shall be required to adhere to the principles of equal pay and pay transparency as well as gender equality as set out in Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation; also calls for EIB decisions on project financing to take into account action by candidate companies in the field of corporate social responsibility;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Notes that the European Union provides a guarantee to the EIB
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Notes that the E
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that the focus of the EIB’s priorities in the 2017-19 Action Plan should be the effective implementation of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart and sustainable development;
source: 629.495
2018/11/27
CONT
55 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 a (new) - having regard to the European Ombudsman 'Decision in case 1316/2016/TN on alleged shortcomings in the European Investment Bank’s Transparency Policy(1)'; (1) https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/de cision/en/95520
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Encourages the EIB to shape sustainable finance or funding options and conducive investment environment mirroring the Union’s
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Encourages the EIB to shape sustainable finance or funding options and conducive investment environment mirroring Union’s political commitments and policies goals, with the view to foster cohesion and innovation within the Union, as well as to reinforce environmental and the social dimension of EIB investment; including by bridging the investment gap in social sector and infrastructures;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Reiterates its concern that half of the Member States received 80% of the total EIB investment inside the EU while the other 14 Member States received only 10% of this investment;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Invites the EIB to examine again its estimates of per capita investments and the ranking of Member States accordingly, since updated figures seem to indicate a ranking in general corresponding to the ranking according to absolute sums received by Member States; Justification The above proposal is based on calculations for 2017 of per capita appropriations, on the basis of funds distributed and size of populations, which give the following figures and rankings - Absolute sums per capita in Euros: Lithuania 12,Slovenia 27, Bulgaria 42, Slovakia 59, Latvia 63, Malta 63, Germany 88,Luxembourg 96, Czech Republic 109, France 129, Estonia 140, Spain 232, Greece232, Sweden 252, Finland 293, Cyprus 407.
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Takes note of the EIB Group’s financing both inside and outside the EU in 2017 in support of its public policy goals, amounted respectively to (i) EUR 13,8 billion for innovation and skills, (ii) EUR 18 billion for infrastructure, (iii) EUR 16,7 billion for environment related projects and (iv) EUR 29,6 billion for SMEs and midcaps; underlines the fact that because of their impact and importance to economies, both local and national, investment in SMEs, start-ups, research, innovation, the digital economy and energy efficiency is the most essential factor in driving economic recovery in the EU and promoting the creation of quality jobs;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls on the EIB to aim to become a climate action leader by abolishing lending for fossil fuel projects and increasing investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector; calls on the EIB to consider that goal as a priority in the revision of its energy lending criteria currently under way;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Welcomes the EIB's commitment to align its operations with the 2015 Paris Agreement by 2020; in the light of the recent IPPC Report calls on the EIB to review its climate strategy in order to align it with a 1,5°C global warming trajectory;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Encourages the EIB to strengthen its presence and activities in the Western Balkan countries, as they are strategically important for the EU and boosting credit and investment activities in the region is crucial;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Notes the upcoming review of the EIB Energy Lending Criteria; expects this review to be aligned with the 2015 Paris Agreement; reiterates the call to the EIB to prioritise its lending to energy efficient and small-scale, decentralised RES and to present an ambitious plan to stop funding fossil fuels' projects;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 b (new) - having regard to the Review of the Complaints Mechanism (CM) arising from the European Ombudsman 'Decision in case 1316/2016/TN on alleged shortcomings in the European Investment Bank’s Transparency Policy(1)'; (1) https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/de cision/en/95520
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Acknowledges the EIB efforts to
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Takes note of the reported results of 26 completed projects in 2017 outside the EU to which the assessment through results measurement framework (REM) for external interventions allows appraisal of results not only as expected, but as achieved; observes, however, that concerning activities inside the EU, information is presented
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Invites the EIB to regularly put forward evidences of sustainability of the outcomes
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Is of the opinion that, beyond the effective level of investment, there is a need to work on the durability i.e. on the ability for a project to keep its benefits on the long term under an environmental, financial, economic or social form (direct or not) after the project has been completed;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Welcomes the EIB's adoption of the exclusion policy approved in December 2017 and calls for that instrument to be used rigourously in order to exclude clients involved in corrupt practices or fraud from EIB funding;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note that as of end-2017, the EIB group (EIB and EIF) had signed 606 operations under EFSI for a total financing of EUR 37.4 billion and that these operations are expected to mobilise investments of EUR 207.3 billion in all 28 Member States and across all objectives set out in the EFSI Regulation with the following distribution for the main sectors: 30% for SME, 24% for RDI, 21% for energy sector, 10% to digital area, 8% for transport, 4% for social infrastructure and 4% for environment and resource efficiency; urges the EIB to minimise its investments to carbon-intensive sectors and projects and to increase its share of investments to improving environments and resource efficiency;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Notes that the indicative geographical concentration limits set by the EFSI Steering Board requiring at the end of the investment period, the share of IIW investment (in terms of signed operations) in any three Member States together not to exceed 45% of the total EFSI portfolio has not been respected given that by 31 December 2017 the three Member States with the highest volume of signatures (France, Italy and Spain) accounted for roughly 47% of the volume signed;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Notes that the indicative geographical concentration limits set by the EFSI Steering Board requiring at the end of the investment period, the share of IIW investment (in terms of signed operations) in any three Member States together not to exceed 45% of the total EFSI portfolio has not been respected given that by 31 December 2017 the three Member States with the highest volume of signatures (France, Italy and Spain) accounted for roughly 47% of the volume signed;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29 a. Calls on the EIB to establish a Human Rights Strategy and enhance its due diligence at project level to identify and address human rights relates risks in all its activities and throughout the lifespan of its projects; also calls on the EIB to set up an effective mechanism whereby human rights defenders could safely alert the bank about deteriorating environment or risks of conflict and reprisal;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the EIB
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Asks the EIB, in this regard, to seriously take into consideration this recommendation and to ensure clear division of responsibilities at the level of the Management Committee;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Considers that there is room for improvement on transparency both at governing bodies’ and theoperational level; reiterates the need to systematically disclose 3PA and REM sheets; asks for the minutes of Management Committee and Board of Governors meetings to also be disclosed; notes with appreciation that the EIB started in 2017 to publish minutes of the EIB board of directors, the director’s declaration of conflict of interests and certain information on projects namely the environmental impact assessments;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35 a. Takes note of the findings of the European Ombudsman in her 'Decision in case 1316/2016/TN on alleged shortcomings in the European Investment Bank’s Transparency Policy' on the EIB's Complaint Mechanism (CM) in which, among other adverse findings, the Ombudsman 'asked the EIB to explain why the EIB-CM considered most aspects of the complaint to be inadmissible.Given that the complainants had put forward certain concerns related to procedural aspects of the EIB-CM complaints handling procedure, the Ombudsman also asked the EIB for clarification on these aspects, such as on the EIB-CM rules and practices as regards acknowledging receipt of complaints and on its procedure for communicating the outcome of the admissibility check to complainants.' (1) https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/de cision/en/95520
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 b (new) 35 b. Regrets that, in response to the Ombudsman's criticisms, the resultant EIB Review of its Complaints Mechanism weakens the EIB's accountability.According to one article in the respected and independent NGO financial services watchdog 'bankwatch' (1), 'The new policy leaves room for the EIB staff and services—those whose decisions may well be the cause of adverse impacts—to interfere with the Complaints Mechanism’s decisions, thus further weakening its capacity to operate independently for those who need redress the most.Rather than raising the bar for a fairer and more transparent mechanism for those harmed by the bank’s investments, the policy undermines its legitimacy.An independent and safe Complaints Mechanism is especially important when it comes to the EIB’s activities outside the EU, where the bank operates most often within contexts where there is closing space for civil society.In such cases, there is a high risk that the bank’s standards of public participation and open consultations are not met, and that its projects end up being associated with, contributing to, or exacerbating human rights violations and environmental damage. (2) https://bankwatch.org/press_release/eib- to-weaken-accountability-mechanism- despite-civil-society-criticism
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 c (new) 35 c. asks that the EIB again review its Complaints Mechanism with a view to addressing those and other weaknesses;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Reiterates its call on the EIB to extend the information published for projects implemented through intermediaries by including information on final projects which could allow to assess the economic, environmental and social impact of its investments;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 – subparagraph 1 (new) Is concerned at the findings set out in the annual report of the European Court of Auditors, according to which serious flaws have been uncovered regarding the European Investment Fund: the Court of Auditors points out a regulatory irregularity whereby Member State audit authorities were obliged to audit SME initiatives yet did not have the right, under the legislation in force, to carry out on- the-spot checks;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 a (new) 38a. In the 30 investments examined by the Court of Auditors, financial intermediaries had approved loans to five recipients without confirming their SME status; these projects were not deemed eligible by the European Court of Auditors, while another four loans were taken up by the beneficiaries either partially or in full for non-eligible activities;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 b (new) 38b. Welcomes the fact that the problems uncovered by the Court of Auditors have, in theory, been solved by the amended Financial Regulation; calls on the EIB to cover issues connected to the regulatory flaws in its next annual report and ensure that the amended Financial Regulation enables Member State audit authorities to carry out audits even at final beneficiary level;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Welcomes the adoption of the Interim Approach to the EIB policy towards weakly regulated, non-transparent and uncooperative jurisdictions (NCJ), adopted by the Board of Directors in January 2017, but expects that it should lead to the revision of this policy in order to ameliorate the EIB’s tax due diligence in its external lending alongside the revised EIB group AML-CFT framework;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas regular and thorough needs assessment in various sectors is key for detecting investment gaps and barriers in different regions, but also for identifying a pool of opportunities with potential for growth and jobs, for further contributions to the goals the 2015 Paris Agreement and adequately calibrate the nature and size of market failures depending on the existing externalities, sectoral and territorial development needs;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Welcomes the adoption of the Interim Approach to the EIB policy towards weakly regulated, non-transparent and uncooperative jurisdictions (NCJ), adopted by the Board of Directors in January 2017,
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Welcomes the adoption of the Interim Approach to the EIB policy towards weakly regulated, non-transparent and uncooperative jurisdictions (NCJ), adopted by the Board of Directors in January 2017, but expects that it should lead to the revision of this policy in order to ameliorate the EIB’s tax due diligence in its external lending alongside the revised EIB group AML-CFT framework; calls on the EIB to perform adequate corporate and integrity due diligence to identifying the true beneficial owners of all of its clients and operations as well as ultimate investee companies when EIB investments into equity funds are at stake; calls on the EIB to disclose, on its own website, beneficial ownership data relating to its clients in order to increase the visibility of its operations and help prevent cases of corruption and conflict of interest;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 a (new) 39 a. Calls on the EIB to perform adequate corporate and integrity due diligence to identifying the true beneficial owners of all of its clients and operations as well as ultimate investee companies when EIB investments into equity funds are at stake;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 40. Calls on the EIB, in line with the Council conclusions adopted on 25 May 2018 on the EU standard provision on good governance in tax matters for agreements with third countries, to reinforce the link between EIB funding and tax good governance; believes that the EIB should further contribute to the development of best practices for fair taxation by countering tax evasion and tax avoidance; calls on the EIB to adopt responsible taxation policy ensuring that the EIB does not finance clients involved in tax avoidance and tax evasion schemes or operating via tax havens; calls for the EIB to include standard provision and clauses on good governance in its contracts with all selected financial intermediaries; reiterates the need to make the disbursement of direct and indirect loans conditional on the publication of country-by-country tax and accountancy data and on the disclosure of information on beneficial ownership relating to the beneficiaries and financial intermediaries involved in the financing operations;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 a (new) 42 a. Welcomes the upcoming review of the EIB Anti-Fraud policy; expects the policy review to lead to an ambitious outcome providing better tools for the EIB to stop further loan disbursements to projects under ongoing national or European corruption investigation;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 b (new) 42 b. Calls on the EIB to ensure more transparency on the handling of fraud and corruption investigations; reiterates its call on the EIB to disclose to public the main findings of the OLAF report on its loans to the Volkswagen Group and to report to the Parliament on steps already taken to implement its anti-fraud policy in this case; expresses its disappointment that the EIB has so far refused to disclose this report and has denied public interest in doing so;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 a (new) 43 a. Regrets that the EIB has not taken into consideration the concern of Parliament with regard to the revision of the EIB Complaints Mechanism expressed in paragraph 86 of its Resolution of 3 May 2018 on the Annual report on the control of the financial activities of the EIB for 2016; deeply worries that the approved revised Complaints Mechanism creates serious risk for its independence and the transparency of its investigations and conclusions; calls on the EIB to ensure that other EIB services and bodies will not interfere and negatively affect the work of the Complaints Mechanism and its independence;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Takes note of the Ombudsman Decision in case 1316/2016 TN (referred to above) on allegations in the EIB’s transparency policy from 23 May 2018 and invites the Bank to implement the suggested improvements by the Ombudsman concerning removal of the presumption of non-disclosure related to documents collected and generated during inspections, investigations and audits, as well as redrafting relevant provisions of its Transparency policy related to intermediated loans and deadlines for handling information requests;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Recalls the need to provide for more stringent rules on conflicts of interest and for clear, strict and transparent criteria to prevent any form of influence or lack of objectivity in the mechanism of attribution of loans;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 a (new) (45a) Expects the EIB whistle-blower protection policy, currently being revised, to be ambitious and provide for high standards; urges the EIB to include in that revision both internal and external whistle-blowers and to establish clear and well-defined procedures, time frames and guidelines in order to provide whistle- blowers with the best guidance and protect them from any possible retaliation;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the EIB’s role in leveraging public money
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Supports the European Court of Auditors’ position that the Court should be mandated to audit all
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46 a. Welcomes the revision of the EIB Complaints Mechanism policy and the inclusion of the examples given by the European Ombudsman for the definition of maladministration, that includes forms of poor or failed administration such as administrative irregularities, unlawful discrimination, unjustified refusals of information, abuse of power and unnecessary delay, however, expresses its concern with the remaining part of the outcome of the revision; calls on the EIB to ensure that the Head of the EIB Complaints Mechanism is able to take all decisions concerning admissibility and eligibility of the complaint, independently from the other EIB services, and that the recruitment procedures for the Head of the CM become more transparent;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46 a. Calls on its Committee on Budget Control to organise an annual workshop/hearing on activities and control of the EIB operations that would provide the Parliament with additional relevant information to support its work on the scrutiny of the EIB and its operations;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 – point b b) prevention of conflict of interests especially of the members of the EFSI Investment Committee and the EIB Board of Directors and provision of more stringent rules on conflicts of interest in the relevant Code of Conducts and especially of that of the Management Board and the Board of Directors;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 – point c a (new) c a) Parliament's call to stop further loan disbursements to projects under ongoing national ot European corruption- related investigation;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the EIB’s role in leveraging public money is essential for the capacity of the Union to respond and to adapt to new economic
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas the EIB should deliver added value with the highest level of integrity, good governance, and especially, in light of the Ombudsman's findings in the 'Decision in case 1316/2016/TN on alleged shortcomings in the European Investment Bank’s Transparency Policy(1)', the highest level of transparency and accountability, as well as being in accordance with the applicable Best Banking Practice; (1) https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/de cision/en/95520
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Considers that the EIB has a relevant financial role, which can bring considerable results in reduction of inequalities in the Union and calls on the EIB to focus investments that contribute to the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement and enhance competitiveness and equality of opportunities and that support cohesion policy in less developed regions;
source: 630.700
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History
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