Activities of Katarína ROTH NEVEĎALOVÁ
Plenary speeches (73)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections - Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in municipal elections (debate)
One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)
Availability of fertilisers in the EU (debate)
The functioning of the EEAS and a stronger EU in the world (debate)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion (debate)
Question Time (Commission) - How to ensure energy security in the EU in 2023
Question Time (VPC/HR) - Strengthening the Trans-Atlantic ties in an ever challenging multilateral world
Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)
Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women (debate)
Deforestation Regulation (debate)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Digital euro (debate)
Dieselgate: suspected widespread use of defeat devices in cars to reduce effectiveness of pollution control systems (debate)
Ukrainian cereals on the European market (debate)
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (debate)
Threat to democracy and the rule of law in Poland, in particular through the creation of an investigative committee (debate)
Marking the World Day against Child Labour (debate)
Batteries and waste batteries (debate)
Ensuring food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture (debate)
Quality traineeships in the EU (debate)
Make Europe the place to invest (debate)
European Chips Act (debate)
Crackdown on the media and freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan
Geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products (debate)
Towards a more disaster-resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires (debate)
Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)
Economic coercion by third countries (debate)
Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)
EU-Switzerland relations (debate)
Uzbekistan (debate)
Mental health at work (debate)
State of the Energy Union (debate)
Type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7) (debate)
Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (joint debate – International Day of the Rights of the Child)
Common rules promoting the repair of goods
Union certification framework for carbon removals
Sustainable use of plant protection products (debate)
Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)
International day for the elimination of violence against women (debate)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)
Parliament’s call for the right to disconnect - three years on (debate)
European Economic Security Strategy (debate)
EU-US relations (debate)
EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost of living crisis (topical debate)
Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law (continuation of debate)
Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law (continuation of debate)
Ensuring proper functioning of EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes (debate)
Empowering consumers for the green transition (debate)
Transparency and accountability of non-governmental organisations funded from the EU budget (debate)
Quality jobs in a competitive future-oriented social market economy (topical debate)
Improving the socio-economic situation of farmers and rural areas, ensuring fair incomes, food security as well as a just transition (debate)
Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023 (debate)
Situation in Serbia following elections (debate)
Instant payments in euro (debate)
State of EU solar industry in light of unfair competition (debate)
Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed (debate)
EU2040 climate target (debate)
Quality traineeships in the EU (debate)
State of play of the implementation of the Global Gateway and its governance two years after its launch (debate)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Preventing work-related deaths following the Florence tragedy (debate)
Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement (debate)
Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services (debate)
A single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State (recast) (debate)
Cohesion policy 2014-2020 – implementation and outcomes in the Member States (debate)
Attempts to dismantle Rule of Law and media freedom in Slovakia (debate)
Common rules promoting the repair of goods (debate)
Prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (debate)
The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction (debate)
La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on providing macro-financial assistance to the Republic of North Macedonia
Shadow opinions (1)
Opinion on the Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products
Oral questions (3)
Restitution of plundered property to Holocaust victims and Jewish communities
Poor sanitary conditions, low levels of security and lack of parking places in rest areas for truck drivers
Making the fundamental right to a healthy and safe working environment a reality
Written explanations (143)
Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women (A9-0056/2022 - Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Samira Rafaela)
Prijatie tejto smernice o platovej transparentnosti považujem za historické. Konečne bude mať EÚ legislatívu, ktorá bude skutočne podporovať zmierňovanie rozdielov v odmeňovaní medzi mužmi a ženami. Vymedzenie definície toho, čo znamená „rovnaká práca“, je dôležité, aby sme mohli efektívne porovnávať a aby sme sa už nestretávali s tým, že sa povie, že ženy sú aj tak slabšie, robia menej, prípadne ľahšie práce, a tak si nezaslúžia rovnakú mzdu. Preto sa teším, že som mohla podporiť to, aby sa zvýšila transparentnosť v odmeňovaní. Povinnosť zverejňovať výšku platu nielen pri ponúkaných pozíciách, ale aj povinné zverejňovanie a porovnávanie výšky platu pre mužov a ženy jasne ukáže, aká je skutočnosť. Budeme vidieť, kto sa reálne snaží posunúť veci k lepšiemu a kto sa na rovnosť iba tvári. Muži a ženy si majú byť rovní. Verím, že prijatím smernice a spravodlivými platmi podporíme aj lepšie dôchodky pre ženy a začneme účinne bojovať aj proti feminizácii chudoby.
Carbon border adjustment mechanism (A9-0160/2022 - Mohammed Chahim)
Mechanizmus kompenzácie uhlíka na hraniciach (tzv. CBAM) je klimatická politika, ktorej cieľom je motivovať tretie krajiny k dekarbonizácii a zabrániť úniku uhlíka. Zároveň má napomáhať vytvorenie rovnakých podmienok pre európskych výrobcov, ktorí musia spĺňať náročné normy EÚ, v dôsledku čoho je ich výroba finančne náročnejšia. CBAM má zabezpečiť, aby výrobcovia z tretích krajín, ktorí dovážajú svoje produkty do EÚ, museli platiť uhlíkovú daň, ak ich výrobky neboli vyrobené za dodržiavania rovnako vysokých environmentálnych štandardov, ako to je v EÚ. Keďže ide o nový nástroj, zatiaľ sa bude vzťahovať len na obmedzený počet odvetví, ako napríklad cement, hliník, hnojivá či výrobu elektrickej energie a pod.
Social Climate Fund (A9-0157/2022 - David Casa, Esther de Lange)
Dohoda s členskými štátmi o vytvorení Sociálneho klimatického fondu EÚ ako súčasť Európskej zelenej dohody, v rámci legislatívneho balíka Fit for 55, v roku 2026 prispeje k sociálne spravodlivému prechodu ku klimatickej neutralite a k investíciám pre riešenie sociálnych vplyvov začlenenia emisií skleníkových plynov z budov a cestnej dopravy. Implementáciu týchto pravidiel považujem za dôležitú, keďže sa priamo dotýka aj slovenského priemyslu, a ťažiť z nej budú zraniteľné domácnosti, mikropodniky a používatelia dopravy, ktorých najviac zasiahla energetická a dopravná chudoba.Fond bude poskytovať finančné prostriedky členským štátom na podporu opatrení a investícií do zvýšenia energetickej účinnosti budov, dekarbonizácie vykurovania a chladenia budov vrátane integrácie energie z obnoviteľných zdrojov a umožnenia lepšieho prístupu k mobilite a doprave s nulovými a nízkymi emisiami. V určitých prípadoch bude fond schopný financovať aj dočasnú priamu podporu príjmu pre zraniteľné domácnosti.Po úplnom zavedení bude fond financovaný z obchodovania s kvótami v rámci ETS II formou aukcie až do výšky 65 miliárd eur, pričom ďalších 25 % bude hradených z vnútroštátnych zdrojov (odhadom v celkovej výške až 86,7 miliardy eur).Považujem za dôležité, ak chceme viac zelených opatrení, aby sme poskytli peniaze ľuďom na vykrytie nákladov s nimi spojených.
Institutional relations between the EU and the Council of Europe (A9-0056/2023 - Loránt Vincze)
Spolupráca medzi týmito dvoma inštitúciami sa v priebehu rokov zintenzívnila, pričom stále existuje potenciál na väčšiu spoluprácu.Obe inštitúcie, Európska únia a Rada Európy, zdieľajú spoločné hodnoty, akými sú demokracia, právny štát, ľudské práva a podpora mieru a stability v Európe. Preto je dôležité aj ďalej posilňovať vzťahy medzi týmito inštitúciami a zabezpečiť, aby ich členské štáty plnili svoje záväzky podľa Európskeho dohovoru o ľudských právach.EÚ a Rada Európy majú rôzne mandáty, ale navzájom sa dopĺňajú. EÚ sa zameriava na hospodársku a politickú integráciu medzi svojimi členskými štátmi, zatiaľ čo Rada Európy je zodpovedná za presadzovanie ľudských práv, demokracie a právneho štátu v Európe. Z tohto dôvodu je kľúčové, aby obe organizácie úzko spolupracovali na dosiahnutí spoločných cieľov.
eGovernment accelerating digital public services that support the functioning of the single market (A9-0065/2023 - Tomislav Sokol)
eGovernment má kľúčovú úlohu pri zrýchľovaní digitálnych verejných služieb a podpore fungovania jednotného trhu. V dnešnej digitálnej dobe elektronická verejná správa pomáha zlepšiť efektívnosť a účinnosť verejných služieb a zároveň zvýšiť transparentnosť a zodpovednosť.Správa, ktorú Parlament prijal, sa zameriava na to, ako poskytovať služby elektronickej verejnej správy na jednotnom digitálnom trhu, so zameraním na obstarávanie, colné a vládne služby pre podniky. Dôraz sa kladie na dostupnosť rýchleho a efektívneho vysokorýchlostného internetu vo vidieckych oblastiach, digitalizáciu verejných služieb pri zabezpečení dostupnosti pre všetkých, zvýšenie digitálnej gramotnosti a tiež aj digitalizáciu registrov.Som presvedčená, že elektronická verejná správa môže tiež zohrávať dôležitú úlohu pri podpore inovácií a hospodárskeho rastu. Prijatím digitálnych technológií a zefektívnením byrokratických procesov môžeme povzbudiť tiež podnikanie a podporiť rozvoj nových podnikov.
Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning question time, the central rostrum, the blue-card procedure, the explanations of votes, the transparency register and the Ombudsman (A9-0072/2023 - Gabriele Bischoff)
Týmto hlasovaním bol upravený rokovací poriadok Európskeho parlamentu. Zmeny vychádzajú z konsenzuálnych rokovaní, ktoré prebehli v pracovnej skupine pre rokovací poriadok. Ide o skôr technické zmeny, ako napríklad ustanovenie zaužívaného zvyku, že poslanci vopred prihlásení do rozpravy v pléne prednesú svoj prejav od rečníckeho pultu v strede sály a poslanci, ktorí sa zahlásia do rozpravy počas diskusie, vystupujú zo svojho miesta. Ďalšie zmeny sa týkajú termínu určenia tém na hodinu otázok, pravidiel využívania postupu modrej karty, na základe ktorej poslanci môžu klásť doplňujúce otázky k vystúpeniam ich kolegov v rozprave. Tieto zmeny som podporila.
Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (A9-0068/2023 - Bernd Lange) (vote)
V tomto prípade EP udelil súhlas s dohodou WTO o dotáciách na rybolov, ktorá bola dosiahnutá po viac ako 20 rokoch rokovaní na 12. ministerskej konferencii WTO v roku 2022. Zameriava sa na súbor pravidiel obmedzujúcich škodlivé dotácie v oblasti rybolovu a má potenciál zvrátiť kolabujúce zásoby rýb. Je to dôležité, keďže produkty rybolovu predstavujú 17 % celosvetového priemerného príjmu živočíšnych bielkovín na obyvateľa, podporujú živobytie mnohých ľudí a významne prispievajú k potravinovej bezpečnosti. Zároveň sa však viac ako tretina svetových zásob loví neudržateľným spôsobom a neregulované dotácie k tomu len prispievajú. Dohodnutý text obsahuje zákaz dotácií pre tri druhy rybolovu: rybolov vykonávajúci nezákonný, nenahlásený alebo neregulovaný rybolov (NNN), rybolov zameraný na nadmerne lovené populácie a rybolov na „neregulovanom“ otvorenom mori (t. j. v medzinárodných vodách, kde rybolov zatiaľ neriadi medzivládna organizácia).
Guidelines for the 2024 budget - Section III (A9-0124/2023 - Janusz Lewandowski)
Správa o rozpočtových usmerneniach na rok 2024 - oddiel III stanovuje hlavné politické priority Európskeho parlamentu pre rozpočet EÚ na rok 2024. Nemohla som však podporiť schválenie tejto správy, keďže neprešlo viacero dobrých sociálne orientovaných pozmeňujúcich návrhov, ktoré by zlepšili situáciu našich občanov, a naopak sa do textu dostala zmienka o využívaní finančných prostriedkov Únie na výstavbu múrov na vonkajších hraniciach EÚ, s čím nemôžem súhlasiť.
Markets in Crypto-assets (MiCa) (A9-0052/2022 - Stefan Berger)
Trh kryptoaktív je v súčasnosti čím ďalej, tým viac populárnejší. Som presvedčená, že má potenciál výrazne ovplyvniť finančný sektor a môže priniesť nové príležitosti pre inovácie a rast. Je však dôležité, aby sme k tomuto trhu pristupovali opatrne a zabezpečili prijatie primeraných opatrení na ochranu investorov a predchádzanie finančnej nestabilite.V tejto súvislosti podporujem úsilie Európskej únie regulovať trh s kryptoaktívami a zabezpečiť, aby tieto aktíva podliehali rovnakej úrovni kontroly a dohľadu ako tradičné finančné nástroje. Je nevyhnutné, aby sme zachovali rovnaké podmienky a chránili spotrebiteľov pred podvodmi a inými nezákonnými činnosťami.Nariadením by sa ustanovili harmonizované pravidlá pre kryptoaktíva na úrovni EÚ, čím by sa poskytla právna istota pre tie kryptoaktíva, na ktoré sa nevzťahujú existujúce právne predpisy EÚ. Posilnením ochrany spotrebiteľov a investorov a finančnej stability sa nariadenie snaží podporovať inovácie a používanie kryptoaktív.Európska únia by mala aj naďalej pracovať na podpore inovácií na trhu s kryptomenami a zároveň zabezpečiť, aby tieto aktíva nepredstavovali hrozbu pre stabilitu finančného systému.Dá sa to dosiahnuť kombináciou nariadení, vzdelávania a spolupráce s inými medzinárodnými orgánmi. Spoluprácou môžeme vytvoriť bezpečný a inovatívny trh, ktorý prináša výhody spotrebiteľom, investorom a širšej ekonomike.
Macro-financial assistance to Moldova (A9-0166/2023 - Markéta Gregorová)
Cieľom tejto finančnej pomoci je podporiť energetický trh Moldavska a minimalizovať negatívne vplyvy zvyšovania cien plynu a energií na najzraniteľnejšie obyvateľstvo, čo je podľa môjho názoru dôležité, a preto som hlasovala za. Ide o navýšenie už schválenej makrofinančnej pomoci krajine, ktoré má byť poskytnuté vo forme pôžičiek. Za podstatné považujem to, že financie budú vyplatené len v prípade, že Moldavsko splní určité podmienky, čo je potrebné pozorne sledovať.
EU/Euratom/Ukraine Association Agreement: temporary trade liberalisation supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products (A9-0165/2023 - Sandra Kalniete)
Nesúhlasím s pozastavením ciel na ukrajinské poľnohospodárske výrobky o ďalší rok, keďže treba chrániť našich farmárov, ktorí cenám ukrajinského obilia nedokážu konkurovať. Okrem toho toto nekontrolované a lacné obilie malo byť pôvodne určené pre africké krajiny, kde obyvatelia umierajú hladom. My, vo východnej a strednej Európe, musíme chrániť našich obyvateľov pred výrobkami, ktoré nespĺňajú naše normy z hľadiska pesticídov. Preto som tento návrh nepodporila a zdržala sa hlasovania.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2022/003 ES/Alu Ibérica - Spain (A9-0154/2023 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial)
Zatvorenie závodu viedlo k strate mnohých pracovných miest a malo významný vplyv na miestnu komunitu. Myslím si, že mobilizácia Európskeho fondu na prispôsobenie sa globalizácii (EGF) je kľúčovým krokom k podpore postihnutých pracovníkov a ich rodín. EGF bol zriadený práve kvôli tomu, aby poskytoval finančnú pomoc pracovníkom, ktorí prišli o prácu v dôsledku veľkých štrukturálnych zmien v usporiadaní svetového obchodu pre dôsledky globalizácie a táto situácia jednoznačne patrí do jeho pôsobnosti. Považujem tiež za dôležité zabezpečiť, aby sa finančné prostriedky na poskytovanie potrebnej podpory postihnutým pracovníkom využívali efektívne a mali by tiež zahŕňať opatrenia, ktoré im pomôžu pri opätovnom vstupe na trh práce. Je dôležité, aby sme urobili všetko, čo je v našich silách, aby sme pomohli tým, ktorých táto situácia zasiahla a zabezpečili im podporu.
Role of cohesion policy in addressing multidimensional environmental challenges in the Mediterranean Basin (A9-0094/2023 - François Alfonsi)
Nakoľko Európska únia pokrýva zhruba polovicu oblastí Stredozemného mora, je potrebné ich podporovať. Úloha politiky súdržnosti pri riešení mnohorozmerných environmentálnych výziev, ktorým čelí práve oblasť Stredozemného mora, je kľúčová. Stredomorský región čelí významným environmentálnym výzvam vrátane zmeny klímy, znečistenia ovzdušia, zvyšovania teploty vody a tiež aj jej nedostatku, straty biodiverzity a dezertifikácie. Tieto výzvy majú ďalekosiahle ekonomické, sociálne a environmentálne vplyvy a nájdenie účinných riešení si vyžaduje komplexný a koordinovaný prístup.Politika súdržnosti môže zohrávať významnú úlohu pri riešení týchto výziev presadzovaním trvalo udržateľného rozvoja a poskytovaním podpory pri implementácii environmentálnych politík a opatrení. Zároveň môže pomôcť vybudovať kapacitu miestnych a regionálnych orgánov navrhovať a implementovať účinné environmentálne politiky a opatrenia a môže tiež poskytnúť financovanie výskumu a inovácií v oblastiach, ako je obnoviteľná energia, udržateľná doprava a obnova ekosystémov. Okrem podpory environmentálnych politík a opatrení môže kohézna politika podporovať aj sociálnu a hospodársku súdržnosť v stredomorskom regióne.
Implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (A9-0139/2023 - Petra Kammerevert)
Správa o vykonávaní revidovanej smernice o audiovizuálnych mediálnych službách (AVMSD) je dôležitým nástrojom na podporu neustále rastúceho a rozmanitého audiovizuálneho mediálneho prostredia v Európskej únii, pričom zároveň chráni práva a záujmy spotrebiteľov pred škodlivým obsahom a zabezpečuje prístup k vysokokvalitnému obsahu.Správa poukazuje na pokrok, ktorý sa dosiahol pri implementácii revidovanej smernice o AVMSD, vrátane transpozície smernice do vnútroštátneho práva na presadzovanie jej ustanovení vo všetkých členských štátoch EÚ, aby sa jej ustanovenia uplatňovali konzistentne.Je však dôležité zabezpečiť, aby smernica o AVMSD zostala aktuálna a relevantná v rýchlo sa vyvíjajúcom mediálnom prostredí. Predovšetkým sa domnievam, že smernica by sa mala pravidelne revidovať, aby sa zabezpečilo, že bude aj naďalej odrážať meniaci sa technologický vývoj a vznikajúce problémy, akými sú online reklama a používanie umelej inteligencie.
Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products (A9-0173/2023 - Paolo De Castro)
EK predložila legislatívny návrh k zemepisným označeniam EÚ pre víno, liehoviny a poľnohospodárske výrobky a o systémoch kvality pre poľnohospodárske výrobky v marci minulého roka. Jeho cieľom je zrevidovať existujúce pravidlá a uľahčiť prijímanie, a tým aj zvýšiť používanie zemepisných označení v EÚ, čo považujem za dôležité, keďže ochraňujú lokálne produkty. Zemepisné označenia vo všeobecnosti totižto označujú výrobky ktoré sa určitým spôsobom spájajú s miestom ich pôvodu, ak majú špecifickú kvalitu, povesť alebo charakteristické vlastnosti, ktoré môžu byť pripísané tomuto miestu, ako napríklad Oravské korbáčiky, Detvianska výšivka, Karpatské brandy či Modranská majolika. EP týmto hlasovaním k návrhu EK prijal svoju pozíciu, s ktorou som súhlasila, a nasledovať budú rokovania s Radou, takzvané trialógy.
EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (A9-0176/2023 - Delara Burkhardt)
Textilný priemysel predstavuje významné environmentálne výzvy, ako je nadmerná spotreba vody, chemické znečistenie a tvorba odpadu. Je nevyhnutné riešiť tieto problémy, aby sa zabezpečila udržateľnejšia a odolnejšia budúcnosť. Preto podporujem stratégiu EÚ pre trvalo udržateľný a obehový textil ako komplexný a pokrokový prístup k riešeniu environmentálnej stopy v textilnom priemysle.V EÚ spotreba textilu, z ktorého väčšina sa dováža, v súčasnosti predstavuje v priemere štvrtý najvyšší negatívny vplyv na životné prostredie a zmenu klímy, tretia najvyššia je vo využívaní vody a pôdy z hľadiska globálneho životného cyklu.Stratégia sa zaoberá viacerými problémami a iniciatívami ako dosiahnuť udržateľné a obehové textílie, ako sú napr. požiadavky na ekodizajn, zastavenie ničenia nepredaných alebo vrátených textílií, riešenie znečistenia mikroplastmi, zavedenie požiadaviek na informácie či vytvorenie digitálneho produktového pasu. Má sa tým podporiť opätovné použitie a recyklácia textilu, zníženie odpadu, riešiť nadmerná spotreba a výroba a podporiť výskum, inovácie a investície.
Macro-financial assistance to North Macedonia (A9-0203/2023 - Angelika Winzig)
Ako tieňová spravodajkyňa politickej skupiny S&D k tomuto spisu sa teším, že plénum Európskeho parlamentu ho tak jednoznačne schválilo. Dopady vojny na Ukrajine je cítiť vo všetkých krajinách a Severné Macedónsko nie je žiadnou výnimkou. Ide o krajinu, ktorá zásadným spôsobom závisí od dovozu energie a plynu a prudký nárast cien týchto komodít jej spôsobil závažné problémy. Situácii tiež nenapomáha ani rastúca inflácia, prísnejšie podmienky financovania, ako ani slabší zahraničný dopyt a pokračujúce narušenia dodávateľského reťazca. Návrh EK na poskytnutie makrofinančnej pomoci Severnému Macedónsku vo výške 100 miliónov eur podporujem. Financie budú poskytnuté vo forme pôžičiek v dvoch splátkach, pričom uvoľnenie každej splátky bude podmienené pokrokom vo vykonávaní viacerých politických opatrení, ako aj uspokojivými výsledkami pri vykonávaní programu medzinárodného menového fondu. Monitorovanie a dohľad nad plnením podmienok zo strany Severného Macedónska má zásadný význam pre zabezpečenie toho, aby makrofinančná pomoc podporovala reformný program krajiny. Je dôležité zabezpečiť primeraný dohľad nad tým, ako sa vypláca a vynakladá makrofinančná pomoc. Severné Macedónsko by malo pokračovať vo svojom pevnom odhodlaní uskutočňovať ďalšie reformy v oblasti posilňovania súdneho systému, boja proti korupcii a organizovanému zločinu, dobrej správy vecí verejných a právneho štátu.
European Union Drugs Agency (A9-0289/2022 - Isabel Santos)
Užívanie tvrdých drog sa neustále zvyšuje, a preto sa EÚ rozhodla transformovať existujúce Európske monitorovacie centrum na Európsku agentúru pre drogy. Táto agentúra v Lisabone bude mať k dispozícii laboratóriá a tiež aj odborníkov, ktorí sa budú snažiť zachytávať nové typy drog, pripravovať k nim informácie pre zdravotníkov a policajtov, aby vedeli zakročiť, no má sa aj priamo podieľať na vývoji liekov a protilátok, podporovať liečbu závislostí a prevenciu. Považujem to za dobrý krok, ktorý je dôležitý v kontexte ochrany verejného zdravia. Netreba zatvárať oči pred týmto problémom a treba o ňom hovoriť otvorene. Najmä v súčasnosti, keď sa na Slovensku množia názory, že treba drogy legalizovať, že je to vlastne v poriadku, je tento krok EÚ jasnou odpoveďou. Nepodporujem zvyšovanie trestov, ani si nemyslím, že by mali byť tresty za držbu drog porovnateľné s trestami za zabitie, či vraždu. Je však na štátnych inštitúciách, Národnej rade a hlavne vláde, aby navrhla zníženie alebo prehodnotenie týchto trestov. Zo strany politikov je však nezodpovedné otvorene podporovať legalizovanie tvrdých drog. Ľudia s týmto problémom žijú medzi nami, ich fungovanie nie je ľahké a mali by sme sa im snažiť skôr pomôcť a nie zľahčovať tento problém.
Competition policy - annual report 2022 (A9-0183/2023 - René Repasi)
Dôležitosť politiky hospodárskej súťaže pri podpore spravodlivého a konkurenčného trhového prostredia spočíva v tom, že prináša výhody spotrebiteľom, podporuje inovácie a poháňa hospodársky rast. Silná a pevná politika hospodárskej súťaže je základnou súčasťou jednotného trhu a je kľúčová pre rozvoj spravodlivých a rovnakých podmienok pre všetkých účastníkov trhu, najmä pre malé a stredné podniky. Je dôležité zabezpečiť, aby politika hospodárskej súťaže i naďalej slúžila a chránila spotrebiteľov a jednotný trh. Chcela by som zdôrazniť význam dôkladného zberu a analýzy údajov s cieľom identifikovať správanie narúšajúce hospodársku súťaž, deformácie trhu a potenciálne prekážky hospodárskej súťaže.Politika hospodárskej súťaže je tiež dôležitým nástrojom na dosiahnutie širších politických cieľov, akými sú udržateľnosť, digitálna transformácia a sociálne začlenenie. A preto je potrebné, aby sa orgány hospodárskej súťaže prispôsobili vyvíjajúcej sa dynamike trhu vrátane výziev, ktoré predstavujú nové technológie a digitálne platformy.
Assessment of the new Commission communication on outermost regions (A9-0156/2023 - Álvaro Amaro)
Podporila som túto správu, ktorá sa venuje najvzdialenejším regiónom EÚ. Tieto regióny sú osobité ich geografickou polohou na základe ktorej čelia rôznym špecifickým výzvam, ako je napríklad vzdialenosť od zvyšku EÚ, izolácia a obmedzený prístup k zdrojom a službám. Podpora výskumu a inovácií v týchto oblastiach môže viesť k rozvoju nových odvetví a stimulovať hospodársky rast. Zlepšenie prístupu k digitálnym technológiám a podpora podnikania v týchto oblastiach môže tiež vytvárať pracovné príležitosti a podnecovať hospodársku dynamiku týchto regiónov. Posilnenie najvzdialenejších regiónov je dôležité aj pre dosiahnutie sociálnej súdržnosti v rámci EÚ. Tieto regióny často čelia vyššej miere nezamestnanosti a chudobe, a ich obyvatelia majú obmedzený prístup k vzdelaniu a zdravotnej starostlivosti. Podpora ich rozvoja môže mať pozitívny vplyv na zlepšenie životných podmienok a vyrovnanie nerovností medzi regiónmi v rámci EÚ. Ide tiež o prejav európskej solidarity. EÚ sa snaží zabezpečiť, aby všetky jej regióny mali rovnaké príležitosti a prospech z členstva v EÚ.
Temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Moldovan products under the EU/Euratom/Moldova Association Agreement (A9-0219/2023 - Markéta Gregorová)
Moldavsko je ako krajina hraničiaca s Ukrajinou veľmi silno postihnuté vojnou na Ukrajine, a to aj preto, lebo v minulosti smerovala väčšina exportu z Moldavska do zahraničia práve cez Ukrajinu.EÚ prijala ešte v roku 2022 nariadenie, ktorým bol dočasne liberalizovaný obchod s Moldavskom, vďaka čomu mohlo Moldavsko jednoduchšie transportovať svoje produkty do zahraničia cez územie EÚ. Týmto návrhom boli opatrenia rozšírené a ich trvanie obnovené na obdobie jedného roka, čo by malo jednak pomôcť prehĺbiť obchodné vzťahy medzi Moldavskom a EÚ, a zároveň pomôcť moldavskému hospodárstvu. Som rada, že návrh obsahuje aj ochranné mechanizmy, ktoré môžu byť použité v prípade nepriaznivých účinkov na trh EÚ.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2023/001 BE/LNSA - Belgium (A9-0228/2023 - Eleni Stavrou)
Európsky fond na prispôsobenie sa globalizácii (EGF) zohráva kľúčovú úlohu pri poskytovaní cielenej pomoci pracovníkom, ktorí prišli o prácu v dôsledku významných zmien v štruktúre svetového obchodu alebo hospodárskej reštrukturalizácie.Považujem za dôležité, aby sme riešili výzvy, ktorým čelia pracovníci ovplyvnení globalizáciou, a poskytli im potrebnú podporu a pomoc. Títo pracovníci často čelia problémom, akými sú nezamestnanosť, nesúlad zručností a ťažkosti pri opätovnom vstupe na trh práce. EGF im môže pomôcť získať nové zručnosti, pomoc pri hľadaní zamestnania a celkovo uľahčiť ich opätovné začlenenie na trh práce. Prispieva to nielen k blahu jednotlivcov, ale aj k celkovej hospodárskej a sociálnej stabilite Únie, čo je dôvod, pre ktorý som podporila aj tento konkrétny návrh.Aj keď je EGF cenným nástrojom, je potrebné tiež uznať, že to nie je všeliek na všetky výzvy spojené s globalizáciou. Mal by byť súčasťou širšej stratégie, ktorá zahŕňa investície do vzdelávania, celoživotného vzdelávania a opatrení na podporu hospodárskej diverzifikácie a odolnosti. Riešením základných príčin premiestňovania pracovných miest a podporovaním inkluzívnejšej a prispôsobivejšej ekonomiky môžeme vytvoriť prostredie, v ktorom budú pracovníci lepšie pripravení čeliť výzvam globalizácie.
EU/Chile Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (A9-0222/2023 - Samira Rafaela)
EP týmto hlasovaním schválil dohodu, ktorú vyrokovala EK s Čile ohľadne rozdelenia colných kvót. Išlo o úpravu, ktorá bola nevyhnutná po vystúpení Spojeného kráľovstva z EÚ, keďže EÚ a Veľká Británia sú pôvodnými členmi Svetovej obchodnej organizácie a majú v rámci nej určité záväzky podľa Listiny koncesií a záväzkov. Kvantitatívne záväzky, hlavne colné kvóty, bolo potrebné proporčne rozdeliť a táto dohoda je výsledkom rokovaní EK s Čile.
EU/Japan Agreement: air services (A9-0221/2023 - Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar)
Po rozhodnutí Súdneho dvora v prípadoch tzv. otvoreného neba Rada ešte v roku 2003 poverila EK začať rokovania s tretími krajinami ohľadne niektorých ustanovení v existujúcich dvojstranných dohodách, aby ich zosúladila s právnymi predpismi Únie.Tieto dohody majú za cieľ umožniť všetkým leteckým dopravcom EÚ prístup k letovým trasám medzi EÚ a tretími krajinami bez diskriminácie. EÚ a Japonsko dosiahli takúto dohodu ešte v apríli minulého roka, no pred jej podpisom ju bolo potrebné schváliť v Rade a v EP, pričom EP týmto hlasovaním vyjadril svoj súhlas s jej uzatvorením. Vďaka nej budú mať všetci leteckí dopravcovia v EÚ rovnaký prístup k trasám medzi Európskou úniou a Japonskom.
Fostering and adapting vocational training as a tool for employees' success and a building block for the EU economy in the new industry 4.0 (A9-0232/2023 - Anna Zalewska)
Nová éra priemyslu 4.0 predstavuje transformačnú fázu charakterizovanú integráciou pokročilých technológií, akými sú automatizácia, umelá inteligencia a internet, do priemyselných procesov. Táto digitálna revolúcia prináša obrovské príležitosti pre hospodársky rast a inovácie, no zároveň predstavuje výzvy, ktoré je potrebné proaktívne riešiť.Jednou z nich je rýchly vývoj pracovných požiadaviek vzhľadom na technologický pokrok a na to, aby sme zostali konkurencieschopní a relevantní, musíme vybaviť našu pracovnú silu potrebnými nástrojmi. Tradičné pracovné pozície sa menia a nové, špecializované súbory zručností sú veľmi žiadané.Práve odborné vzdelávanie a príprava zohráva dôležitú úlohu pri podpore zručností potrebných pre zelené a digitálne prechody. Odborné vzdelávanie so zameraním na praktické zručnosti a znalosti špecifické pre dané odvetvie sa stáva prvoradým pri príprave jednotlivcov na pracovné miesta budúcnosti.Je potrebné podporovať silný a dynamický ekosystém odborného vzdelávania a rovnako dôležité je aj prispôsobenie odborného vzdelávania požiadavkám novej ére priemyslu 4.0. Školiace programy by mali okrem iného zahŕňať digitálnu gramotnosť, analýzu údajov, riešenie problémov a kritické myslenie. Okrem toho musíme podporovať podnikateľské zmýšľanie, ktoré podporuje inovácie, prispôsobivosť a celoživotné vzdelávanie. Jednotlivcom to umožní chopiť sa nových príležitostí, prispieť k hospodárstvu EÚ a zvládnuť nevyhnutné prerušenia spôsobené technologickým pokrokom.
Digital information exchange in terrorism cases (A9-0261/2022 - Patryk Jaki)
Vzostup digitálnych platforiem a komunikačných technológií priniesol našej spoločnosti značné výhody, ale aj nové výzvy, najmä čo sa týka boja proti terorizmu a zabezpečenia verejnej bezpečnosti. Teroristické organizácie využívajú digitálne platformy napríklad na šírenie propagandy, nábor nových členov, plánovanie útokov alebo koordináciu svojich aktivít. Preto je nevyhnutné, aby sme uznali vážnu hrozbu, ktorú terorizmus predstavuje pre naše spoločnosti a zaviedli účinné mechanizmy pre cezhraničnú výmenu digitálnych informácií s cieľom predchádzať terorizmu a bojovať proti nemu.Cieľom tejto správy je zlepšiť výmenu digitálnych informácií v prípadoch terorizmu medzi členskými štátmi, ktorý podporujem. Spolupráca a výmena informácií medzi krajinami EÚ sú kľúčové pre účinný boj proti cezhraničnému terorizmu. Je dôležité mať efektívny a bezpečný proces zdieľania relevantných informácií. Taktiež aj spolupráca medzi verejným a súkromným sektorom je významná pre vývoj inovatívnych riešení, zdieľanie najlepších postupov a zvýšenie odolnosti našej digitálnej infraštruktúry. Je však nevyhnutné, aby všetky prijaté opatrenia rešpektovali základné práva, zabezpečili rovnováhu medzi bezpečnosťou a súkromím a zabezpečili náležitý dohľad. Podporou spolupráce medzi členskými štátmi, investovaním do technologických kapacít a zapojením sa do digitálnych platforiem môžeme posilniť naše spoločné úsilie v boji proti terorizmu a zaistiť bezpečnosť našich občanov.
State of the SME Union (RC-B9-0346/2023, B9-0346/2023, B9-0347/2023, B9-0348/2023, B9-0349/2023)
Malé a stredné podniky (MSP) zohrávajú v našej ekonomike dôležitú úlohu. Sú zdrojom pracovných príležitostí, prispievajú k inováciám, produktivite a hospodárskemu rastu. MSP tvoria významnú časť podnikateľského prostredia na Slovensku a v celej Európe a ich úspech je kľúčový pre prosperujúcu a odolnú ekonomiku. Kríza COVID-19 však spôsobila veľké narušenie, ktoré má dlhodobý vplyv na ekonomiky na celom svete. Táto kríza často postihla viac MSP ako veľké firmy, čo odhalilo ich väčšiu zraniteľnosť.Podporujem štrukturálne podporné opatrenia s cieľom pomôcť MSP prispôsobiť sa zmenenému podnikateľskému prostrediu a vybudovať si odolnosť, ako je napríklad zvyšovanie kvalifikácie a rekvalifikácie, digitalizáciu, udržateľnosť, inovácie a rozvoj technológií. Zníženie administratívnej záťaže pre MSP môže pomôcť zlepšiť ich produktivitu a konkurencieschopnosť a zvýšiť ich účasť v globálne integrovanej ekonomike a čerpať výhody z nej. MSP čelia mnohým výzvam a myslím si, že politické opatrenia a podporné mechanizmy by mali byť zamerané na posilnenie a podporu tohto dôležitého sektora našej ekonomiky.
Labelling of organic pet food (A9-0159/2023 - Martin Häusling)
V roku 2022 začalo platiť nové nariadenie o ekologickej poľnohospodárskej výrobe a označovaní produktov ekologickej poľnohospodárskej výroby. Napriek tomu, že toto nariadenie nie je prispôsobené špecifikám trhu s krmivami pre spoločenské zvieratá, museli aj tieto produkty spĺňať prísne podmienky, ktoré toto nariadenie so sebou prinieslo. Preto som rada, že Komisia predložila nariadenie o označovaní ekologického krmiva pre spoločenské zvieratá, ktoré práve tieto špecifiká berie do úvahy. Potraviny musia obsahovať 100 % zložiek z ekologického poľnohospodárstva aby mohli byť označované ako ekologické, pričom pri krmivách sa toto percento znížilo na 95 %. Ekologické logo EÚ musí byť povinne pridávané na ekologické produkty, no aby sa už vyprodukované zásoby nemuseli vyhodiť, bolo ustanovené, že tieto sa môžu dopredávať aj bez tohto loga.
European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) (A9-0161/2023 - Michael Gahler, Zdzisław Krasnodębski)
Tento návrh patrí do obrannej časti európskych politík a súvisí s nákupom ďalších zbraní. Jedná sa o používanie 300 miliónov EUR na spoločné obstarávanie obranných zbraní pre EÚ. Minimálne tri členské štáty sa môžu dohodnúť a spoločne obstarávať zbrane, ktoré môžu následne použiť na obranu. Podľa môjho názoru je EÚ mierová inštitúcia, a preto by sme nemali používať spoločné peniaze na nákup zbraní a munície. To je hlavný dôvod, prečo som odmietla podporiť tento návrh.
Surface water and groundwater pollutants (A9-0238/2023 - Milan Brglez)
Chemické znečistenie povrchových a podzemných vôd ohrozuje ľudské zdravie a vodné prostredie, čo ťažko ovplyvňuje stratu biotopov a biodiverzity. Cieľom a nespochybniteľnou prioritou je – a musí byť – práve ochrana ľudského zdravia a prírodných ekosystémov pred toxickými znečisťujúcimi látkami. To dosiahneme len podporením neobyčajných metód monitorovania so zámerom lepšie merať účinky chemických zmesí, umožnením opatrení na zastavenie znečisťovania, uplatnením zásad prevencie pri stanovovaní noriem, zabezpečením účinného prístupu k spravodlivosti v prípade porušenia smernice o vode a iné. Podporením tohto návrhu sa dostávame bližšie k cieľu nulového znečistenia životného prostredia bez toxických látok v EÚ.
Consumer credits (A9-0212/2022 - Kateřina Konečná)
Svet sa vďaka digitalizácii rýchlo mení a to platí aj pre trh s úverovými produktami. Pandémia COVID-19 uvrhla mnohé rodiny do finančných ťažkostí. Ľudia majú často problémy so splácaním úverov.Revízia smernice má priniesť efektívne a inovatívne právne predpisy, ktoré zaručia lepšiu informovanosť a ochranu spotrebiteľov a zároveň vytvoria predvídateľnejšie prostredie pre európskych veriteľov. Tento návrh správy obsahuje rozšírenie rozsahu pôsobnosti na zmluvy o nájme a lízingové zmluvy (vrátane lízingových zmlúv bez kúpnej opcie). Venuje sa aj ďalším bodom, ako je napr. regulácia zavádzajúcej reklamy, jasné informovanie spotrebiteľov pred získaním úveru, horná hranica ročnej percentuálnej miery nákladov a celkových nákladov, účinné posúdenie úverovej bonity, zavedenie nižšej hornej hranice pre zelené spotrebiteľské úvery a ďalšie.Myslím si, že spotrebitelia musia byť adekvátne chránení, aj pokiaľ ide o úverové produkty, a preto som podporila tento návrh.
Geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products (A9-0049/2023 - Marion Walsmann)
Som rada, že EP prijal tento návrh. Produkty, ktoré sú typické pre určité regióny, teraz bude možné chrániť pred ich falšovaním či napodobeninami dovezenými z iných krajín. Iba registrované regionálne výrobky budú môcť niesť ich originálny názov. Jedná sa o produkty ako napr. tokajské víno, modranská keramika, čatajská čipka a mnoho ďalších. Preto som tento návrh podporila.Týmto spôsobom chránime remeselné, ručné, ale aj priemyselné výrobky, ktoré sú tradičné pre isté regióny. Ľudí, ktorí sa venujú výrobe týchto produktov po celé generácie, musíme chrániť a naďalej ich v tom podporovať. Jedná sa o ich duševné vlastníctvo a tradície.
System of European Schools – state of play, challenges and perspectives (A9-0205/2023 - Ilana Cicurel)
Európske školy sú inštitúcie, ktoré zabezpečujú bezplatné a viacjazyčné vzdelávanie vysokej kvality pre deti pracovníkov inštitúcií Európskej únie a pracovníkov stálych zastúpení. Systém európskych škôl by svojou kvalitou a prístupom ku vzdelaniu mal slúžiť ako inšpirácia pre všetky vzdelávacie systémy v EÚ.Krízy, ktorými si Európa prešla, boli náročné. Jednou z hlavných priorít EÚ sú investície do vzdelávania a odbornej prípravy, ktoré majú obrovský význam pre našu odolnosť a suverenitu. Ambície EÚ v oblasti vzdelávania, ako napr. zdvojnásobenie finančných prostriedkov na program Erasmus+ na roky 2021 – 2027 či vytvorenie učiteľských akadémií, sú hlavným dôvodom, prečo tento návrh podporujem.Komunita systému európskych škôl by mala pomôcť zlepšiť národné vzdelávacie systémy členských štátov. Základom prosperujúcej budúcnosti je kvalitné vzdelanie a to musíme našim deťom poskytnúť.
EU/USA agreement for scientific and technological cooperation: extension (A9-0242/2023 - Cristian-Silviu Buşoi)
EÚ a USA sú strategickými partnermi v oblasti vedy a výskumu od roku 1998. Bilaterálna dohoda o spolupráci v spomínanej oblasti na obdobie 5 rokov bola už štyrikrát obnovená.Platnosť súčasnej dohody sa skončí 14. októbra 2023. Obe strany minulý rok naznačili, že si želajú dohodu opäť predĺžiť. USA sú naším najvýznamnejším spojencom v oblasti vedy, techniky a inovácií mimo krajín nášho svetadielu, čoho dôkazom je ich aktívna angažovanosť na programe Horizont 2020.Tento návrh som podporila, pretože verím, že táto transatlantická spolupráca môže priniesť ekonomický rast, nové pracovné miesta a vyššiu kvalitu života pre občanov obidvoch strán.
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (A9-0241/2023 - Dragoş Pîslaru)
Primárne ciele hospodárskych politík sú trvalé, ale usmernenia pre politiky zamestnanosti sa musia vypracovávať každoročne.Usmernenia boli zmenené v roku 2022, aby odrážali nové okolnosti po pandémii COVID-19, pridali sa ďalšie prvky súvisiace so spravodlivosťou v rámci zelenej transformácie, zohľadnili nedávne politické iniciatívy a pridali obzvlášť významné prvky politiky súvisiace s ruskou inváziou na Ukrajinu.Jedinou zmenou v roku 2023 je, že boli aktualizované, aby odrážali nový hlavný cieľ EÚ, vnútroštátne národné ciele na zlepšenie pracovných miest, zručností a znižovanie chudoby, ako aj súčasné iniciatívy. Medzi revidované usmernenia patrí napr. zvyšovanie dopytu a ponuky po pracovnej sile, zlepšovanie prístupu k zamestnaniu, ako aj celoživotné získavanie zručností a ďalšie.
Single market emergency instrument (A9-0246/2023 - Andreas Schwab)
EK v septembri minulého roka predstavila návrh nástroja núdzovej pomoci pre jednotný trh. Tento nástroj okrem rôznych odvetvových opatrení krízovej reakcie ponúka široký rámec pre reakciu EÚ na krízy.Vytvorenie nástroja pramení z otrasov vnútorného trhu, ktoré nastali počas pandémie COVID-19, keď jednostranné vládne nariadenia o uzatvorení hraníc narúšali voľný pohyb osôb, tovaru, služieb a rovnako aj dodávateľské reťazce. Zavládol chaos a zaviedli sa mnohé opatrenia, ktoré mali ničivý vplyv na vnútorný trh. Cieľom nástroja núdzovej pomoci je zabezpečenie otvorenosti vnútorného trhu a odolnosti dodávateľských reťazcov.Rovnako kľúčové je zapojenie podnikov, ktoré majú znalosti a zdroje, práve pri reakcii na krízy. Spoločnosti utrpeli veľké škody počas pandémie kvôli obmedzeniam vývozu. Myslím si, že je dôležité, aby sme zabránili výskytu takýchto zmätočných situácií a lepšie sa pripravili na náhle krízy. Vnútorný trh musí byť otvorený a funkčný a chrániť tak spotrebiteľov, ako aj pracovníkov a samotné podniky.
Composition of the European Parliament (A9-0265/2023 - Loránt Vincze, Sandro Gozi)
Pred každými voľbami do Európskeho parlamentu je potrebné prijať rozhodnutie o zmene rozdelenia kresiel v EP tak, aby boli zohľadnené podstatné demografické zmeny v Únii, pričom sa vždy dodržuje zásada zostupnej proporcionality.Na základe najnovších údajov o počte obyvateľov bolo schválených dodatočných 15 kresiel, ktoré sa prerozdelili medzi 12 členských krajín, pričom jedno sa ušlo aj Slovensku. Celkovo sa tak počet mandátov v EP v budúcom volebnom období zvýši zo 705 na 720 a Slovenskú republiku bude zastupovať 15 poslancov.
Protection of workers from asbestos (A9-0160/2023 - Véronique Trillet-Lenoir)
Negatívny vplyv azbestu na ľudské zdravie je nespochybniteľný. I napriek jeho zákazu sa stále nachádza na mnohých miestach, najmä v budovách. Renovácie budov spojené so Zelenou dohodou vystavujú pracovníkov práve tejto škodlivej látke, ktorá spôsobuje rakovinu. Tento návrh zahŕňa opatrenia spojené s lepšou diagnostikou a liečbou chorôb v súvislosti s expozíciou azbestu, nakladanie s kontaminovaným odpadom, kontrolou pred začatím prác a bezrizikovým odstraňovaním spomenutej látky. Vystavenie tejto karcinogénnej látke musí byť znížené na čo najnižšiu možnú úroveň. Ochranu pracovníkov pri práci považujem za zásadnú, a preto tento návrh podporujem. Práca s azbestom je nebezpečná, a preto by sme mali prijať také opatrenia, ktoré znížia riziko na čo najnižšiu možnú úroveň.
Economic coercion by third countries (A9-0246/2022 - Bernd Lange)
EÚ vznikla pred 70 rokmi ako výsledok kompromisu krajín na základe vzájomnej ekonomickej spolupráce a vyvinula sa až do takého štádia, aké dnes poznáme. Čoraz častejšie sme však svedkami toho, že pravidlá medzinárodného obchodu sú obchádzané a niektoré tretie krajiny využívajú nekalé taktiky, akými je napríklad hospodársky nátlak na dosiahnutie svojich záujmov a ovplyvňovanie iných krajín. EÚ doteraz nemala žiaden nástroj, ktorý jej umožňoval sa brániť, respektíve ktorý by odrádzal tretie krajiny od využívania hospodárskeho nátlaku s cieľom brániť záujmy EÚ a jej členských štátov. Preto som veľmi rada, že konečne máme na stole nástroj, ktorý dokáže zabrániť vydieraniu jednotlivých členov Únie a umožní nám bojovať proti nátlaku tretích krajín. Vďaka nemu bude mať EÚ možnosť rýchlo reagovať v prípade, keď sa krajina uplatňovaním (prípadne hrozbou uplatňovania) opatrení zasahujúcich obchod a investície snaží donútiť EÚ alebo jej členské štáty, aby prijali určité politické rozhodnutie alebo aby od prijatia určitého politického rozhodnutia upustili. V jednote je sila a prosperovať budeme len vtedy, keď posilníme aj tie najslabšie články. Naša skupina tento návrh absolútne podporuje, považujeme ho za veľký úspech a ja osobne s ním taktiež súhlasím.
Intelligent Road Transport Systems (A9-0265/2022 - Rovana Plumb)
Je viac než pravdepodobné, že automobilová doprava bude v budúcnosti vysoko automatizovaná. Naše cesty je potrebné prispôsobiť novým možnostiam mobility. Cieľom tohto návrhu je sprístupnenie informácií v digitálnej podobe, ktoré sa týkajú cestnej siete, premávky alebo rýchlostných či iných obmedzení. To pomôže rýchlejšej implementácii nových inovatívnych služieb. Inteligentné dopravné systémy (IDS) sú nevyhnutnou súčasťou cestnej dopravy a používajú sa v celej Európe. Aplikácie IDS využívajú dopravné komunikačné technológie, ako napr. plánovače ciest. Vďaka nim sú vodiči lepšie informovaní o aktuálnom stave ciest a poskytnutie takýchto informácií zaručuje väčšiu bezpečnosť, plynulosť a efektívnosť využívania ciest, vďaka čomu by sa mal znížiť aj počet smrteľných nehôd. Zosúladením služieb IDS všetkých členských štátov sa prispeje k vytvoreniu jednotného dopravného priestoru EÚ.
Ensuring European transportation works for women (A9-0239/2023 - Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska)
Doprava je neodlučiteľnou súčasťou nášho života a každý z nás dennodenne využíva nejaký spôsob dopravy. Sektor dopravy sa neustále inovuje. Cieľom EÚ je znížiť emisie čo najviac a zároveň byť čo najudržateľnejší. Transformácia na ekologickejšiu dopravu prináša so sebou aj určité výzvy, či už sa jedná o cestujúcich alebo samotných pracovníkov v tomto sektore. Tento návrh zdôrazňuje nerovnosti a obavy, s ktorými sa ženy stretávajú ako pri cestovaní, tak aj v zamestnaní v oblasti dopravy. Jedná sa napr. o sexuálne obťažovanie pri cestovaní mestskou hromadou dopravou, nedostatok alternatív pre dochádzanie do zamestnania z vidieckych či odľahlých oblastí alebo nízku frekventovanosť dopravných spojov. Čo sa týka zamestnania žien v tomto sektore, sú málo zastúpené a často diskriminované. Toto je v dnešnej dobe absolútne neprijateľné. Sektor dopravy musí zohľadňovať potreby žien a zraniteľných skupín a byť schopný odolať budúcim krízam. S návrhom súhlasím, pretože sa snaží riešiť problémy žien a zraniteľných skupín v oblasti dopravy a rovnako aj zvýšiť ich bezpečnosť a motiváciu zamestnať sa v tomto sektore.
Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (A9-0271/2023 - Maria Spyraki)
Cieľom tohto návrhu je lepšie a jednotne kategorizovať, identifikovať nebezpečné chemikálie v EÚ, zlepšiť informácie o chemických rizikách viditeľnejšími a zrozumiteľnejšími štítkami pre používateľov a odstrániť legislatívne medzery a nedodržiavanie predpisov. Chce zabezpečiť prostredie bez toxických chemikálií, ktoré škodia ľudskému zdraviu. Spotrebitelia by mali byť lepšie informovaní o nebezpečenstvách spojených s chemikáliami, aby sa vedeli lepšie rozhodovať pri nákupe. Ochrana spotrebiteľov a životného prostredia je na prvom mieste, a preto s týmto návrhom súhlasím. Týmto hlasovaním prijal Európsky parlament svoju pozíciu k tomuto návrhu a teraz budú v rámci legislatívneho procesu nasledovať medziinštitucionálne rokovania s Radou EÚ a Komisiou.
Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Türkiye (A9-0269/2023 - Katalin Cseh)
Rumunsko, Taliansko a Turecko si prešli veľmi ťažkým obdobím. Juhovýchodnú oblasť Rumunska zasiahli minulý rok obrovské suchá a horúčavy, čoho dôsledkom bolo zničenie úrody. Navyše, Rumunsko postihli aj prírodné požiare na západe krajiny, ktoré spálili približne160 tisíc hektárov pôdy. Regióny centrálneho Talianska zas minulý rok zasiahli silné dažde, ktoré následne vyvolali povodne. Infraštruktúra, budovy a veľké množstvo tovaru bolo zničených a dokonca aj 12 ľudí prišlo o život. Juh Turecka vo februári tohto roku zasiahli 2 silné zemetrasenia. Zemetrasenia spôsobili obrovské materiálne škody, zdevastovanú infraštruktúru a pri tejto katastrofe zahynulo viac ako 50 tisíc ľudí. EK navrhuje poskytnutie finančnej pomoci týmto krajinám vo výške zhruba 455 milión EUR. Tento návrh v plnej miere podporujem, pretože považujem za veľmi dôležité zachovať sa solidárne s dotknutými krajinami. Je mi veľmi ľúto, že ľudia umierajú na dopady klimatickej zmeny a tieto prírodné katastrofy slúžia ako jasný signál, aby sme intenzívnejšie pracovali na zelenej a udržateľnej budúcnosti.
Harmonising the rights of autistic persons (B9-0390/2023)
Je veľmi dôležité brať ohľad na zraniteľné či znevýhodnené skupiny osôb. V Európe žije približne 5 miliónov osôb s poruchou autistického spektra. Táto porucha má mnoho podôb a ľuďom, ktorí ňou trpia, by sme mali venovať väčšiu pozornosť. Bohužiaľ, táto skupina dennodenne čelí diskriminácii či dokonca nenávistným prejavom. Tento návrh chce presadiť, aby diagnóza autizmu dostala status zdravotného postihnutia vo všetkých členských krajinách EÚ a aby osoby s touto diagnózou mohli plne využívať preukaz osoby so zdravotným postihnutím v celej EÚ. Ja som toho názoru, že osoby trpiace autizmom by nemali byť zanedbávané a musíme spraviť všetko preto, aby sa im v našej spoločnosti lepšie žilo. S týmto uznesením jednoznačne súhlasím, pretože táto skupina ľudí má právo na dôstojný život a rovnaké zaobchádzanie ako ktokoľvek z nás.
Standardised dimensions for carry-on luggage (B9-0391/2023)
Mnoho leteckých spoločností si stanovuje vlastné pravidlá týkajúce sa veľkosti či hmotnosti batožiny, ceny leteniek, dodatočných poplatkov atď. Často sa stáva, že cestujúci začne rezervačný proces letenky s nízkou cenou a nakoniec zaplatí výrazne vyššiu, niekedy až neprimeranú cenu. Neexistujú jednotné a univerzálne rozmery príručnej batožiny a to vedie k zmätočným situáciám na letisku. Tento návrh sa snaží presadiť, aby bola príručná batožina považovaná za "nevyhnutný aspekt" prepravy, ak spĺňa dané „primerané požiadavky“ (ako hmotnosť a rozmery). Tým pádom by bola jej preprava pre pasažiera bezplatná. Nerozumiem, prečo by mali letecké spoločnosti dodatočne zarábať na cestujúcich tým, že spoplatnia všetko možné vrátane príručnej batožiny. Návrh podporujem, pretože konečné ceny leteniek si vyžadujú reguláciu.
EU-Switzerland relations (A9-0248/2023 - Lukas Mandl)
Pri obchodovaní a uzatváraní dohôd je veľmi dôležitý správny výber partnerov. EÚ neustále hľadá rovnako zmýšľajúcich partnerov, ktorým záleží na dodržiavaní práv pracovníkov, ochrane životného prostredia a spotrebiteľov, či spravodlivosti na trhu práce. EÚ má so Švajčiarskom veľa spoločného vo viacerých oblastiach. Švajčiarsko je dôveryhodný partner, pri ktorom sa nemusíme obávať nedodržiavania spomenutých podmienok. Momentálne vzťahy EÚ so Švajčiarskom považujem za nevyvážené. Vzájomne sa potrebujeme ako nikdy predtým a myslím si, že je dôležité, aby sa naše vzťahy upevnili, napr. v oblasti boja proti praniu špinavých peňazí alebo sociálnemu dumpingu. V minulosti sme už niekoľko takýchto príležitostí na spoluprácu prepásli, najmä v oblasti bezpečnosti alebo výskumu, a to by sa nemalo opakovať.
Uzbekistan (A9-0227/2023 - Ilhan Kyuchyuk)
Uzbekistan je najľudnatejšou krajinou a takisto krajinou s najmladším obyvateľstvom strednej Ázie. Považujem za veľmi dôležité, že za posledné obdobie nastal pokrok v zlepšení pracovných podmienok v tejto krajine. Eliminovala sa nútená práca a rovnako aj práca detí. Je dôležité zdôrazniť, že síce Uzbekistan pristúpil k niektorým dohovorom Medzinárodnej organizácie práce, ale stále existujú medzinárodné štandardy, ktoré Uzbekistan neprijal do svojej národnej legislatívy. Jedná sa napr. o férové odmeňovanie ľudí pracujúcich na bavlníkových poliach alebo bezpečnosť pri práci. Považujem Uzbekistan za dôležitého regionálneho partnera, ktorý dokáže zabezpečiť stabilitu a bezpečnosť v tomto regióne, a preto by sme mali s ním intenzívnejšie pracovať aj na diplomatickej úrovni. Myslím si, že by sme mali tieto vzťahy naďalej zlepšovať, rovnako aj zlepšovať vzájomný obchod s touto krajinou. Spoločne by sme mali bojovať proti organizovanému zločinu, terorizmu a takisto podporovať zelenú transformáciu v tejto krajine a viac využívať zelenú energiu.
European green bonds (A9-0156/2022 - Paul Tang)
Európske zelené dlhopisy sú dobrovoľnou štandardou, ktorú môžu podniky použiť na zvýšenie finančných prostriedkov od investorov na legitímne projekty, ktoré sledujú environmentálne udržateľné ciele a sú v súlade s taxonómiou EÚ. Jedná sa o súčasť programu v oblasti udržateľného financovania. Cieľom je zabrániť tzv. "greenwashingu" na finančnom trhu. Všetky podniky, ktoré sa rozhodnú vydať tieto zelené dlhopisy, budú povinné poskytovať informácie o využití dlhopisov a podávať dôkazové správy o tom, ako tieto investície zapadajú do celkových plánov tranzície podniku v súlade s Parížskou dohodou. Tento návrh podporujem lebo zelená tranzícia si skutočne vyžaduje veľké investície, a preto by sme ich mali podnikom, ktoré sú na ňu pripravené, poskytnúť (samozrejme v súlade s dodržiavaním pravidiel).
Scheme of generalised tariff preferences (A9-0267/2023 - Heidi Hautala)
Všeobecný systém preferencií (ďalej VSP) slúži EÚ ako nástroj pri udeľovaní obchodných preferencií rozvojovým krajinám. Súčasný systém VSP je platný len do 31. decembra 2023 a aktuálne prebiehajú rokovania o novom nariadení. Keďže však riadny legislatívny postup stále prebieha a črtá sa riziko, že sa proces nestihne uzavrieť pred koncom tohto roka, bolo potrebné predĺžiť fungovanie aktuálneho systému VSP. Podporila som toto predĺženie, lebo si nemôžeme dovoliť nechať 60 krajín, ktoré využívajú preferencie VSP, v neistote a ohroziť našu dôveryhodnosť v oblasti obchodnej a rozvojovej politiky.
Financial services contracts concluded at a distance (A9-0097/2023 - Arba Kokalari)
Aktuálne platná smernica o obchodovaní na diaľku (DMFSD) bola prijatá ešte v roku 2002, z čoho jasne vyplýva potreba jej modernizácie. Dôležité je zamerať sa na pravidlá ochrany spotrebiteľov pri uzatváraní zmluvy o finančných službách na diaľku. Tento návrh zahŕňa jednoduchší prístup k 14 dňovému právu na odstúpenie od zmluvy vrátane požiadavky, aby bola k dispozícii možnosť odstúpiť od zmluvy na diaľku. Ďalej sú v ňom napríklad osobitné pravidlá pre uzatváranie zmlúv o finančných službách online, ktoré od obchodníkov vyžadujú, aby poskytli spotrebiteľom primerané vysvetlenia, prísnejšie sankcie pri nedodržiavaní pravidiel a ďalšie. Návrh podporujem, pretože ochrana práv spotrebiteľa je veľmi dôležitá a jeho právo na odstúpenie od zmluvy musí byť jednoduchšie a ľahšie použiteľné.
Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (B9-0407/2023, RC-B9-0408/2023, B9-0408/2023, B9-0410/2023, B9-0411/2023, B9-0417/2023, B9-0420/2023)
Balík rozšírenia EK obsahuje správy, ktoré hodnotia plnenie odporúčaných reformných priorít všetkých kandidátskych krajín, aby sa mohlo pokročiť v ich snahách o vstup do EÚ. Jednou z kandidátskych krajín je aj Moldavsko. Vojna na Ukrajine spôsobila tejto krajine ťažkosti, s ktorými si ale prekvapujúco dobre poradila. Moldavská vláda za posledné roky uskutočnila chvályhodný politický progres na ceste ku vstupu do EÚ, čím si získala status spoľahlivého partnera. Týka sa to najmä boja proti korupcii, úspešne zvládnutej migračnej a energetickej krízy, posilnenia ľudských práv či prebiehajúcej reforme súdnictva. Moldavsko má stále svoje nedostatky, ale situácia nasvedčuje, že sú ochotní zlepšovať sa a napredovať. Vo všeobecnosti podporujem snahy Moldavska o členstvo v EÚ, ale ešte ho čaká dlhá cesta. Mali by sme naďalej komunikovať na vysokej úrovni a viac Moldavsko zapájať do rôznych spoluprác, nielen v oblasti bezpečnosti či zahraničnej politiky.
The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (B9-0386/2023)
Nová Európska stratégia lepšieho internetu pre deti (BIK+) prináša nové a potrebné opatrenia v oblasti ochrany detí online, ktorými dopĺňa stratégiu BIK+ z roku 2012. Jedná sa najmä o ochranu detí pred nebezpečným a nezákonným online obsahom, poskytnutie pomoci obetiam kyberšikany, rozvoj zručností potrebných na múdre rozhodnutia a bezpečné a zodpovedné správanie sa online. Deti sa dostávajú do styku s internetom a sociálnymi médiami omnoho častejšie a v čoraz mladšom veku ako kedykoľvek predtým, a preto je našou povinnosťou im vytvoriť bezpečné digitálne prostredie. Práva detí, vrátane práv uplatňovaných online, sa musia v EÚ úplne dodržiavať. Tento návrh som podporila, pretože považujem za kľúčové, aby naše deti mohli bezpečne využívať pozitívne aspekty internetu či identifikovať dezinformácie.
Farm Sustainability Data Network (A9-0075/2023 - Jérémy Decerle)
Poľnohospodárstvo je kľúčovým odvetvím nielen pre Slovensko, ale pre celú EÚ. Zastáva zásadnú úlohu pri výrobe potravín, rozvoji vidieka a environmentálnej udržateľnosti.Prechod na dátovú sieť o udržateľnosti poľnohospodárskych podnikov odráža meniace sa priority a výzvy, ktorým náš poľnohospodársky sektor čelí. Umožní nám zbierať a analyzovať údaje, ktoré nepokrývajú len ekonomické aspekty poľnohospodárstva, ale aj environmentálne a sociálne. Tieto údaje nám umožnia prijímať informované politické rozhodnutia, ktoré podporujú udržateľné poľnohospodárske postupy, znižujú vplyv na životné prostredie a zlepšujú živobytie našich poľnohospodárov a farmárov. Slovensko, podobne ako mnohé iné členské štáty EÚ, čelí výzvam ubúdajúcich prírodných zdrojov, meniacich sa klimatických podmienok a rastúceho dopytu po potravinách. Prechodom na sieť údajov o udržateľnosti poľnohospodárskych podnikov môžeme lepšie pochopiť vzťah medzi poľnohospodárskymi postupmi a ich vplyvom na spoločnosť a životné prostredie.
Establishing the Ukraine Facility (A9-0286/2023 - Michael Gahler, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial)
V tomto prípade si EP schválil svoju pozíciu k navrhovanému špeciálnemu nástroju na podporu Ukrajiny, ktorý má mať k dispozícii 50 miliárd EUR na roky 2024 - 2027. Tento balík peňazí má slúžiť na jej rekonštrukciu, modernizáciu a obnovu. Považujem však za trocha zvláštne, že EP vojnou zmietanej Ukrajine nariaďuje, že minimálne 20 % týchto financií musí byť použitých na vytvorenie zelených riešení a posilnenie biodiverzity a 35 % na podporu malých a stredných podnikov. Ale keďže sa jedná o ekonomickú pomoc, ktorá nesmie slúžiť na vojenské účely a nesmú sa za ňu nakupovať zbrane, tento návrh som podporila. Čerpanie týchto financií je tiež podmienené aj správnymi reformami v oblasti boja proti korupcii, klientelizmu a ďalšími dôležitými vecami, ktoré sa týkajú právneho štátu.
Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (A9-0290/2023 - José Manuel Fernandes, Christian Ehler)
Nedávne globálne udalosti zdôraznili zraniteľnosť našich dodávateľských reťazcov, dôležitosť digitálnej infraštruktúry a význam strategických technológií. Zriadenie platformy strategických technológií pre Európu (STEP) je ambiciózne úsilie, ktoré podporí spoluprácu medzi členskými štátmi EÚ, lídrami priemyslu a výskumnými inštitúciami. Umožní identifikovať, vyvíjať a využívať strategické technológie v kľúčových sektoroch, akými sú umelá inteligencia, kvantová výpočtová technika, kybernetická bezpečnosť a pokročilá výroba, ktoré sú dôležité pri zabezpečovaní konkurencieschopnosti a technologickej suverenity EÚ.Aj my na Slovensku máme silný a dynamický technologický sektor a STEP nám ponúka príležitosť na ďalší rast a integráciu do širšieho európskeho ekosystému. Aby bola táto platforma úspešná, je potrebné zabezpečiť investovanie do výskumu a vývoja, podporu prostredia pre podnikanie a inovácie, a najmä uprednostňovať etické a zodpovedné používanie týchto technológií. Zriadenie platformy Strategické technológie pre Európu som podporila, pretože nie je len strategický krok, ale aj záväzok voči našej budúcnosti.
Schengen area: digitalisation of the visa procedure (A9-0025/2023 - Matjaž Nemec)
Schengen je jedným z kľúčových pilierov európskej integrácie, podporujúci slobodu pohybu a spoluprácu medzi našimi členskými štátmi. Vo svete, ktorý sa neustále vyvíja, je aj pre správne fungovanie Schengenu dôležité napredovať a využiť príležitosti, ktoré ponúka digitalizácia. Digitalizácia postupu udeľovania víz má potenciál priniesť množstvo výhod. Môže zefektívniť a zjednodušiť proces podávania žiadostí pre žiadateľov o víza, ale tiež aj pre orgány zodpovedné za spracovanie týchto žiadostí. Vďaka tomuto technologickému pokroku sa tiež zlepšia bezpečnostné opatrenia, čím sa sťaží úspech podvodných aplikácií.Preto plne podporujem digitalizáciu vízového postupu v rámci schengenského priestoru. Predstavuje nevyhnutný krok vpred vo vývoji tohto významného projektu, ktorý ponúka množstvo výhod pre našich občanov, naše hospodárstva a celkovú bezpečnosť a integritu našich hraníc.
Schengen area: amending the Visa Sticker Regulation (A9-0268/2023 - Matjaž Nemec)
Spoločná vízová politika EÚ je dôležitou súčasťou budovania priestoru bez vnútorných hraníc a základným prvkom, ktorý pomáha v boji proti bezpečnostným rizikám a riziku neregulárnej migrácie do EÚ, pričom by mala zároveň uľahčovať cestovný ruch a obchod. Žiadosti o schengenské víza a rozhodnutia o nich sa už dnes elektronicky zaznamenávajú do vízového informačného systému, avšak dva dôležité kroky stále existujú len v papierovej podobe, a to žiadosť o získanie víza a samotná vízová nálepka v pase. Nové pravidlá znížia náklady na žiadosti o víza a zjednodušia postup. Jednotlivec požiada o vízum prostredníctvom jedinej a jednotnej online platformy. Vízová nálepka bude nahradená digitálnymi vízami, ktoré si žiadateľ môže stiahnuť do svojho mobilu. Nový proces elektronických víz EÚ bude pre žiadateľa jednoduchší a lacnejší. Vo väčšine prípadov bude potrebná iba jedna návšteva konzulátu alebo vízového centra a platnosť víz už nebude viazaná na platnosť pasu.
European protein strategy (A9-0281/2023 - Emma Wiesner)
Cieľom stratégie je zabezpečiť, aby EÚ mala dostatok jedla, a najmä proteínov, a tiež aj podpora zodpovedného chovu zvierat, ktorý uprednostňuje dobré životné podmienky zvierat a znížený vplyv na životné prostredie, čo považujem za dobré. No keďže tento dokument podporuje využívanie bielkovín hmyzieho pôvodu na výživu ľudí a tiež nové genómové techniky, ktoré považujem za pokus o obchádzanie pravidiel ohľadne geneticky modifikovaných potravín, nemohla som tento dokument podporiť.
Data Act (A9-0031/2023 - Pilar del Castillo Vera)
Zákon o údajoch je súčasťou európskej dátovej stratégie a snaží sa zabezpečiť, aby výhody digitálnej revolúcie zdieľali všetci. V neustále sa vyvíjajúcom digitálnom svete má zákon o údajoch pre občanov EÚ veľký význam. Predstavuje príležitosť na dosiahnutie jemnej rovnováhy medzi podporou inovácií a ochranou základných práv našich občanov, najmä pokiaľ ide o ochranu údajov a súkromia. Vytvára rámec, ktorý zvyšuje transparentnosť, súhlas a kontrolu osobných údajov tým, že zaisťuje, aby spoločnosti niesli zodpovednosť za svoje postupy v oblasti údajov. Táto legislatíva ponúka občanom EÚ nástroje na aktívne riadenie ich online prítomnosti, informované rozhodnutia a ochranu ich práv z hľadiska súkromia v digitálnom prostredí. Slovensko, podobne ako mnohé iné členské štáty EÚ, kladie vysoký dôraz na ochranu osobných údajov. Preto podporujem dôležitosť vytvorenia regulačného rámca, ktorý jednotlivcom umožňuje mať kontrolu nad svojimi osobnými údajmi a zároveň poskytuje priaznivé prostredie pre prosperitu podnikov.
European single access point (ESAP): access to information in relation to financial services, capital markets and sustainability (A9-0026/2023 - Pedro Silva Pereira)
Dopyt spotrebiteľov po investíciách do udržateľných investičných produktov narastá a je zložité získať rýchly a jednoduchý prístup k finančným informáciám a informáciám o udržateľnosti spoločností. Iniciatíva ESAP, ktorej cieľom je centralizovať informácie týkajúce sa finančných služieb, kapitálových trhov a udržateľnosti, predstavuje príležitosť na zvýšenie efektívnosti šírenia informácií a podporu rovnakých podmienok pre účastníkov trhu.ESAP by spotrebiteľom a investorom poskytol jednotné kontaktné miesto a uľahčil tak dostupnejšie získavanie informácií súvisiacich s udržateľnosťou o spoločnostiach a investíciách v EÚ. Tento návrh som podporila, nakoľko ESAP je základným kameňom únie kapitálových trhov, ktorá bude kľúčová pri podpore celkových cieľov v rámci európskej zelenej dohode, digitálnej stratégie EÚ a stratégie digitálnych financií.
European environmental economic accounts: new modules (A9-0296/2023 - Pascal Canfin)
Environmentálne ekonomické účty zoskupujú ekonomické a environmentálne údaje, ktoré sú podkladom pre tvorbu politiky EÚ. Informujú o vplyvoch hospodárskej činnosti na životné prostredie a prínose životného prostredia pre ekonomiku a pre naše blaho. Sú dôležitý zdroj údajov na monitorovanie a hodnotenie environmentálnych politík a pokroku pri dosahovaní cieľov trvalo udržateľného rozvoja. Tento návrh pojednáva o zmene pravidiel EÚ o európskych environmentálnych ekonomických účtoch pridaním nových tematických modulov, ktorými sú lesy, ekosystémy a environmentálne subvencie. Tým by sa malo zabezpečiť, aby bola verejnosť jasným a transparentným spôsobom informovaná o klimatických dráhach, biodiverzite, znečistení, lesoch a iných environmentálnych problémoch, preto som tento návrh podporila.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (A9-0311/2023 - Anna Zalewska)
Odpad z elektrických a elektronických zariadení zahŕňa širokú škálu zariadení, ako sú napr. počítače, chladničky, mobilné telefóny a podobne na konci ich životnosti. Objem, ktorý sa každoročne vyprodukuje v EÚ, rapídne rastie a v súčasnosti ide o jeden z najrýchlejšie rastúcich tokov odpadu. Slovensko, podobne ako aj iné členské štáty EÚ, si uvedomuje dôležitosť prechodu na obehové hospodárstvo, ktoré podporuje udržateľnú výrobu a spotrebu. Táto smernica zohráva kľúčovú úlohu pri dosahovaní tohto cieľa stanovením smerníc pre správnu likvidáciu, recykláciu a zhodnocovanie elektronického odpadu. Podporujem opatrenia, ktoré nielen zefektívnia nakladanie s odpadmi, ale aj podnietia inovácie v recyklačných technológiách a prispejú tak k udržateľnej výrobe a spotrebe.
High common level of cybersecurity at the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union (A9-0064/2023 - Henna Virkkunen)
Žijeme v elektronickej dobe a s výhodami, ktoré digitalizácia prináša, však ruka v ruke prichádzajú aj nové hrozby. Čím ďalej tým častejšie sme svedkami kybernetických útokov a zvyšuje sa počet závažných incidentov, ktorých cieľom sú aj inštitúcie, orgány, úrady a agentúry EÚ. Je preto dôležité, aby sa tejto téme venovala dostatočná pozornosť a aby inštitúcie prijímali opatrenia na boj proti takýmto útokom, ako aj ich predchádzanie. Týmto návrhom sa Komisia snaží vytvoriť spoločné opatrenia a pravidlá kybernetickej bezpečnosti pre všetky subjekty Únie a zabezpečiť tak ich lepšiu odolnosť a schopnosť reagovať na takéto incidenty.
Catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (A9-0172/2021 - Gabriel Mato)
Tuniak modroplutvý je druh, ktorý čelí značným hrozbám v dôsledku nadmerného výlovu, a preto je nevyhnutné zaviesť opatrenia, ktoré podporia jeho obnovu a dlhodobú udržateľnosť. V tomto návrhu sa stanovujú pravidlá pre program dokumentácie úlovkov tuniaka modroplutvého. Návrh som podporila, kedže jeho účelom je identifikovať pôvod všetkých tuniakov modroplutvých, jeho úlovky a následné obchodné transakcie a pomôcť tak k zvýšeniu udržateľnosti v tejto oblasti.
Common rules promoting the repair of goods (A9-0316/2023 - René Repasi)
Každý z nás keď si kúpi nejaký výrobok, chce ho používať, čo najdlhšie. Nechceme veci vyhadzovať a kupovať si stále nové. Preto si myslím, že právo na opravu je veľmi dôležité a spotrebitelia majú mať naň nárok. Opraviteľnosť je zároveň aj kľúčovým aspektom udržateľnosti. Rozširovanie práv na opravu, napríklad aj o výrobky, ktoré sa skladajú aj z batérií, je podľa mňa veľmi dobrý krok. Podporou a uľahčením opravy tovaru prispejeme k zníženiu odpadu, minimalizácii vyčerpania zdrojov a tým pádom aj k zmierneniu vplyvu na životné prostredie. Zároveň je to v súlade so zásadami ekonomickej efektívnosti, stimulujeme miestne podniky podporou opravárenských podnikov a kvalifikovaných odborníkov, čím prispievame aj k vytváraniu pracovných miest, najmä v sektore MSP. Právo na opravu výrobkov by sa malo čím viac rozširovať a výrobcovia by mali tento proces čo najviac sprístupniť a zjednodušiť.
Union certification framework for carbon removals (A9-0329/2023 - Lídia Pereira)
V našej snahe o ochranu planéty a čistý vzduch musíme nie len obmedzovať a zakazovať, ale aj oceňovať tých, čo sa snažia pomáhať. Nejde len o znižovanie emisií, ktoré produkujeme, alebo potrebujeme aj zachytávanie týchto emisií. V tomto prípade ide o tzv. certifikáty na zachytávanie uhlíka, ktoré budú odmenou za snahu, sú podľa mňa dobrou cestou vpred. Súhlasím však so spravodajcom výboru pre poľnohospodárstvo, že nesmieme nahrádzať pestovanie potravín novými farmami na zachytávanie uhlíka. Návrh vnímam ako pozitívny, pretože ak dokážeme v trialógu dospieť k správnej dohode, môžeme dostať napríklad do poľnohospodárstva viac vlastných finančných zdrojov ako odmenu za podporu zalesňovania, starostlivosti o pôdu a les. Verím, že keďže pôjde o využívanie vedeckých metód vypočítavania uhlíka, bude to objektívne a pravdivé. Takisto verím, že takýto krok podporí ďalší výskum, z ktorého môžu vzísť nové možnosti, ako sa vysporiadať s čistením nášho prostredia od negatívnych účinkov nie len uhlíka, ale aj ďalších škodlivých emisií. Uhlíkové certifikáty umožnia financovanie projektov na redukciu nie len CO2, ale aj iných skleníkových plynov, a preto tento návrh podporujem.
EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors (A9-0304/2023 - Antonius Manders, Domènec Ruiz Devesa)
Kultúrny a kreatívny sektor v EÚ považujem za nesmierne dôležitý pre podporu hospodárskeho rastu, zamestnanosti a inovácií. Tieto odvetvia prispievajú k tvorbe pracovných miest, stimulujú podnikanie a zvyšujú atraktivitu regiónov. Okrem toho posilňujú kultúrnu rozmanitosť a medzikultúrny dialóg, čím podporujú jednotu a spoluprácu medzi členskými štátmi EÚ a posilňujú pocit európskej jednoty. V tomto odvetví pracuje takmer 4 % pracovnej sily v EÚ, no pozícia umelcov je veľmi špecifická a ich pracovné podmienky bývajú často náročné. Túto prácu často sprevádza neistota a nepredvídateľnosť, pokiaľ ide jej dostupnosť a príjmy, pričom v mnohých prípadoch je sprevádzaná slabým alebo žiadnym sociálnym zabezpečením. Ochrana pracovníkov však musí fungovať aj v tomto sektore, a preto EP preložil legislatívnu iniciatívnu správu, v ktorej navrhuje rôzne nástroje na zlepšenie podmienok pracovníkov v kultúrnom a kreatívnom priemysle a zjednotenie ich podmienok v rámci EÚ. Myslím si, že je to správny krok a túto správu som podporila.
Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (A9-0360/2023 - Sandra Pereira)
Deti sú naša budúcnosť, a preto by sme mali podporovať ich rozvoj a rovnaké príležitosti. Aby nezáležalo na tom, či sa narodili vo francúzskom paláci alebo v slovenskom jednoizbovom byte. Všetky deti by sa mali cítiť bezpečne, mať teplé a dobré jedlo a dostať kvalitné vzdelanie, ktoré podporí ich talenty, aby z nich vyrástli zodpovední a silní dospelí, ktorí budú platnou súčasťou spoločnosti. Nedávne viaceré krízy ešte viac zhoršili situáciu mnohých detí a ich rodín a zväčšili sa už existujúce nerovnosti. Preto treba zabezpečiť univerzálne opatrenia, ktoré zmierňujú negatívne ekonomické a sociálne dôsledky kríz, ako aj univerzálne politiky, ktoré pomáhajú ich predchádzaniu.
Children first - strengthening the Child guarantee, two years on from its adoption (B9-0462/2023)
Blaho našich detí nie je len meradlom nášho úspechu ako spoločnosti, ale aj odrazom nášho záväzku voči budúcnosti. Preto pre nich potrebujeme dobrú štátnu opateru, systém, ktorý funguje, ktorý deti podporuje. Základom sú dostupné zariadenia predškolskej dochádzky, kvalitné školy, dostupné teplé jedlo pre všetky deti, ale aj podpora ich mimoškolských aktivít a talentov, a to nielen v športe, ale aj v hudobnej, tanečnej, či vedeckej oblasti. Nesmieme však zabúdať ani na to, aby mali prístup k riadnej lekárskej starostlivosti a hlavne ich chrániť, napríklad aj legislatívou a osvetou o ochrane detí na internete pred zneužívaním. Je dôležité, aby sme sa zamerali na vykonávanie celoeurópskej záruky pre deti.
Implementation of the Regulation establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel (A9-0353/2023 - Bert-Jan Ruissen)
V prípade úhorov ide z hospodárskeho a rybárskeho hľadiska o veľmi cenený druh rýb. Najväčší hospodársky význam má jeho lov v prímorských krajinách, avšak na začiatku 20. storočia začali klesať počty migrujúcich úhorov pod prijateľnú hranicu. Úhor európsky je kriticky ohrozený druh a sú potrebné opatrenia na jeho obnovu. Vývoz a dovoz európskych úhorov z EÚ a do nej je zakázaný, no stále sa uskutočňuje prostredníctvom ázijských trhov. Lepšia vysledovateľnosť je preto kľúčom k boju proti nezákonnému, nenahlásenému a tiež neregulovanému rybolovu a v boji proti nezákonnému obchodu. Toto nariadenie EÚ poskytuje rámec na riešenie všetkých vplyvov človeka na úhory vo všetkých biotopoch, či už ide o morské alebo sladkovodné. Podporila som tento návrh, lebo spoločné opatrenia na zabezpečenie obnovy populácie úhorov sú potrebné.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund – application EGF/2023/002 BE/Makro - Belgium (A9-0351/2023 - Petri Sarvamaa)
Táto správa schvaľuje pomoc pre približne 1 400 bývalých zamestnancov spoločnosti Makro v Belgicku. Podľa očakávania prepúšťanie postihlo najmä pracovníkov starších ako 50 rokov a/alebo pracovníkov s nízkou kvalifikáciou, kde sa predpokladá ťažšie znovu začlenenie do stabilného zamestnania. Fond zohráva kľúčovú úlohu pri poskytovaní podpory pracovníkom, ktorí boli nepriaznivo ovplyvnení globalizáciou a hospodárskymi zmenami. Financovanie by malo pomôcť prepusteným pracovníkom nájsť si nové zamestnanie prostredníctvom rekvalifikácie, prispôsobeného poradenstva a vzdelávania, ako aj školení a podporu pri zakladaní vlastného podnikania, a preto som tento návrh podporila.
Official Journal of the EU: electronic publication (A9-0352/2023 - Adrián Vázquez Lázara)
V tomto prípade išlo v podstate o technickú úpravu nariadenia, ktoré sa týka úradného vestníka. Vďaka zmene sa zjednodušuje uverejňovanie úradného vestníka EÚ a tiež prístup k nemu. Znenie nariadenia sa mení tak, aby bolo všeobecnejšie a zahŕňalo všetky prostriedky zaručujúce autenticitu, integritu a nemennosť elektronického vydania úradného vestníka aj do budúcna, keďže sa tieto môžu s časom meniť.
EU/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (A9-0305/2023 - Daniel Caspary)
Európska únia je otvorená ekonomika na svoje fungovanie potrebuje zahraničný obchod. Dohody o voľnom obchode, ktoré otvárajú nové trhy a zvyšujú prístup k potenciálnym obchodným partnerom, uzatvára EÚ so širokým spektrom krajín. Nový Zéland s EÚ zdieľa mnohé hodnoty a je pre nás dôležitým strategickým cenným partnerom v indicko-pacifickom regióne. Dohoda sa týka oveľa viac než len objemov obchodu, mala by priniesť výhody pre podniky, pracovníkov a spotrebiteľov, a preto som aj podporila jej prijatie zo strany EP. Okrem iného obsahuje aj nástroje na presadzovanie ustanovení v kapitole o obchode a trvalo udržateľnom rozvoji, kam spadajú napríklad otázky práce a životného prostredia.
EU/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (Resolution) (A9-0314/2023 - Daniel Caspary)
V tomto prípade išlo o sprievodné uznesenie Európskeho parlamentu k udeleniu súhlasu s uzatvorením obchodnej dohody medzi EÚ a Novým Zélandom. Táto dohoda prinesie nové príležitosti pre EÚ aj Nový Zéland. Napríklad zruší všetky clá na vývoz z EÚ na Nový Zéland a obsahuje tiež osobitnú kapitolu na podporu malých a stredných podnikov. Keďže EP udelil súhlas s dohodou, Rada EÚ môže prijať rozhodnutie o uzavretí dohody a následne keď Nový Zéland oznámi, že ukončil svoj ratifikačný postup, dohoda nadobudne platnosť.
Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (A9-0260/2023 - Nicola Beer)
Túto dohodu o udržateľnosti ťažby a dodávok kritických surovín považujem za veľmi dôležitú. Máme zodpovednosť nielen voči svojim občanom, ale aj voči tretím krajinám, kde častokrát takáto ťažba prebieha.Som preto veľmi rada, že v tomto návrhu podporujeme oveľa viac recyklácie už existujúcich materiálov, že zvyšujeme tento cieľ na 25 %, že ho podporíme viac ako ďalšiu novú ťažbu. Začneme viac ťažiť aj v Európe. Cieľ 10 % považujem takisto za veľmi dôležitý. Znamená to, že chceme zvyšovať aj produkčnú kapacitu v našom spracovateľskom priemysle a opätovné použitie surovín, ktoré už máme vyťažené. Obmedzíme tak svoj novodobý kolonializmus, ktorého sa ako Európska únia dopúšťame našou ťažbou surovín v tretích krajinách. Mali by sme používať to, čo už momentálne máme. Takisto považujem cieľ 40 % spracovania v Európe za veľmi dobrý, pretože prináša viac pracovných miest pre našich občanov.
Mental health (A9-0367/2023 - Sara Cerdas)
Duševné zdravie je dôležitá téma a tento návrh podporujem. Je rovnako potrebné mať duševnú pohodu ako fyzické zdravie. Prostredníctvom tohto návrhu poslanci vyzývajú členské štáty, aby uprednostnili a zlepšili prístup zraniteľných skupín k službám duševného zdravia, podporovali iniciatívy na boj proti stigmatizácii, vylúčeniu a diskriminácii ľudí s duševnými zdravotnými problémami a zabezpečili, aby všetci občania EÚ mali prístup ku kvalitným a cenovo dostupným službám v oblasti duševného zdravia. Je potrebná dlhodobá, komplexná a integrovaná stratégia EÚ v oblasti duševného zdravia.
Addictive design of online services and consumer protection in the EU single market (A9-0340/2023 - Kim Van Sparrentak)
V čoraz rýchlejšie rastúcom digitálnom svete takmer každý z nás pozná nutkanie chytiť telefón, pozrieť sa na jeho obrazovku a skontrolovať upozornenia, niekedy dokonca úplne bezdôvodne.Návykové online služby môžu mať na ľudí škodlivé účinky, ako je zvýšený tlak, stres, zlý spánok, preťaženie informáciami, nedostatok koncentrácie a neustále rozptyľovanie. Medzi príznaky vážnejšieho problematického používania internetu patrí depresia a úzkosť, negatívny vplyv na učenie, pamäť, ako aj skracovanie doby pozornosti, pričom medzi najzraniteľnejšie skupiny patria deti a mladí ľudia.Mám za to, že je dobré mať pravidlá na vysokú úroveň ochrany spotrebiteľa pred návykovým dizajnom online služieb vrátane ochrany ich zdravia a bezpečnosti a na zabezpečenie bezpečných rovnakých podmienok pre podniky, preto som tento návrh podporila.
EU-Japan relations (A9-0373/2023 - Reinhard Bütikofer)
EÚ a Japonsko zdieľajú spoločné hodnoty vrátane záväzku k demokracii, ľudským právam a zásadám právneho štátu. Naše ekonomické väzby prekvitali prostredníctvom dohody o hospodárskom partnerstve medzi EÚ a Japonskom, čím sa podporili zvýšené obchodné a investičné príležitosti pre obe strany. Je pre nás dôležité stavať na tomto základe a ďalej posilňovať našu spoluprácu nielen v ekonomických záležitostiach, ale aj pri riešení globálnych výziev, akými sú zmena klímy, kybernetická bezpečnosť a verejné zdravie.Podporujem pokračujúcu spoluprácu, otvorenú komunikáciu a sledovanie spoločných cieľov na posilnenie väzieb medzi EÚ a Japonskom, čím sa vytvorí pozitívne a trvalé partnerstvo v prospech našich občanov a celého sveta.
The situation of children deprived of liberty in the world (A9-0371/2023 - María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos)
Našou kolektívnou zodpovednosťou je obhajovať práva a blaho tých najzraniteľnejších vrátane detí, ktoré sa ocitli v situácii uväznenia. Táto správa vyzýva medzinárodné spoločenstvo, aby sa zaviazalo k odstráneniu systematickej deprivácie detí vo svete. Medzinárodné spoločenstvo musí zostať neochvejné vo svojom záväzku presadzovať práva každého dieťaťa bez ohľadu na jeho okolnosti. Vysoký počet detí zbavených slobody si vyžaduje pozornosť a koordinované úsilie pri riešení základných príčin a poskytovaní trvalo udržateľných riešení, a preto tento návrh podporujem.
EU-US relations (A9-0372/2023 - Tonino Picula)
Amerika už nie je to, čo bývala. Naďalej však zostáva naším významným obchodným partnerom a takisto strategickým partnerom, s ktorým nás spája veľa spoločných cieľov. Samozrejme, na niektoré veci máme rozdielne názory a občas si aj konkurujeme. Netreba však tento vzťah podceňovať. Potrebujeme väčšiu výmenu názorov a lepšiu spoluprácu, a preto podporujem návrhy v tejto správe, ktoré sa týkajú zriadenia transatlantickej rady alebo napríklad navrhujú užšiu spoluprácu medzi parlamentmi Spojených štátov a Európskej únie. Takáto spolupráca je určite nevyhnutnosťou. Našou spoločnou úlohou je určite aj naďalej podporovať vzájomný obchod. Aj keď Spojené štáty nie sú náš najväčší partner, sú významný obchodný partner pre Európsku úniu.
European Hydrogen Bank (A9-0379/2023 - Robert Hajšel)
Vodík zohráva dôležitú úlohu pri pomoci EÚ dosiahnuť svoj cieľ klimatickej neutrality do roku 2050. Cieľom tejto iniciatívy je podporiť výrobu a dovoz vodíka v EÚ. Podporila som návrh svojich kolegov, ktorý vyzýva EK, aby analyzovala vývoj mechanizmu dobrovoľného spájania dopytu a spoločného obstarávania vodíka a v prípade potreby predložila legislatívny návrh na tento účel, pretože mechanizmus AggregateEU môže zohrávať dôležitú úlohu pri rozvoji trhu s vodíkom pod vedením Európskej vodíkovej banky.
Ozone depleting substances (A9-0050/2023 - Jessica Polfjärd)
Táto aktualizovaná legislatíva EÚ, ktorú som podporila, sa zameriava na výrazné zníženie emisií látok poškodzujúcich ozónovú vrstvu. Zahŕňa špecifické opatrenia, ako je eliminovanie škodlivých látok zo stavebných pien, najmä počas renovácií, a zákaz ich výroby, predaja, používania, dovozu a vývozu s niekoľkými prísnymi výnimkami. Táto legislatíva odráža rovnováhu medzi ambicióznymi environmentálnymi cieľmi a praktickou implementáciou vrátane potreby vhodného školenia pre personál zapojený do procesov tejto zmeny. Predstavuje komplexný prístup k ochrane životného prostredia, ktorý je v súlade s Európskou zelenou dohodou a medzinárodnými dohodami.
Fluorinated gases regulation (A9-0048/2023 - Bas Eickhout)
Zníženie emisií z fluórovaných plynov je kľúčové pre splnenie environmentálnych a klimatických cieľov EÚ. Cieľom návrhu je postupné vyradenie škodlivých fluórovaných uhľovodíkov (HFC) do roku 2050 v súlade s našimi dlhodobými klimatickými cieľmi. Podporila som túto iniciatívu vďaka jej komplexnému prístupu k zákazu výrobkov s týmito plynmi a podpore udržateľných alternatív v rôznych sektoroch. Táto legislatíva prispieva nielen k ochrane životného prostredia, ale podporuje aj technologické inovácie a hospodársky rozvoj v rámci EÚ.
Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the Stabilisation and Association process (codification) (A9-0001/2024 - Magdalena Adamowicz)
V tomto prípade išlo skôr o technické hlasovanie, keďže sa jednalo len o kodifikáciu platných znení existujúcich právnych predpisov bez zmeny ich obsahu s cieľom zjednodušiť a sprehľadniť právo EÚ. Úprava zjednodušuje právne porozumenie pre občanov, podporuje väčšiu transparentnosť a dostupnosť, čo považujem za pozitívne. Z obsahovej stránky je toto nariadenie dôležité, lebo podporuje hospodársku integráciu a spoluprácu medzi EÚ a týmito regiónmi a je kľúčové pre podporu politickej a ekonomickej stability na západnom Balkáne, presadzovanie demokracie, ľudských práv a nevyhnutných ekonomických reforiem. Je v súlade so záväzkom EÚ k procesu stabilizácie a pridruženia a zabezpečuje spravodlivé a prospešné obchodné opatrenia pre zapojené regióny.
Implementation of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 (A9-0413/2023 - Milan Zver)
Dostupné a kvalitné vzdelanie je dôležité pre budúcnosť EÚ a práve prínosy programu Erasmus+ idú ďaleko za hranice formálneho vzdelávania. Program sa venuje rôznym odvetviam v oblasti vzdelávania, odbornej prípravy, mládeže a športu, pričom kladie dôraz aj na medzinárodnú spoluprácu. Táto správa posudzuje a hodnotí implementáciu programu Erasmus+ v programovom období od roku 2021 do 2027, identifikuje osvedčené postupy a chce riešiť prípadné výzvy, ktoré v programe vznikli. Program Erasmus+ ponúka mladým ľuďom široké možnosti štúdia, odbornej prípravy a pracovných skúseností v zahraničí. Okrem toho zahŕňa aj príležitosti pre vzdelávajúcich sa dospelých a pedagogických zamestnancov. Je dôležité ďalej podporovať a rozvíjať európske univerzity prostredníctvom tohto programu. Som veľkým zástancom tohto programu, pretože verím, že vzdelanie je nesmierne dôležité a predstavuje základ všetkého. Myslím si, že je dôležité, aby Erasmus+ bol predovšetkým programom, ktorý je blízky ľuďom a prístupný pre všetkých.
Implementation of the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 (A9-0425/2023 - Massimiliano Smeriglio)
Mám za to, že kreatívnych ľudí so záujmom o rozvoj svojich krajín a EÚ je potrebné podporovať, a preto podporujem program Kreatívna Európa, ktorý má dva všeobecné ciele. Prvý sa zameriava na zachovanie a podporu bohatstva a rozmanitosti európskeho kultúrneho a jazykového dedičstva a druhý má posilniť hospodársky potenciál kultúrneho a kreatívneho sektora. Cieľom tejto správy je zhodnotenie fungovania tohto programu na rozpočtové obdobie 2021 – 2027 v jeho polovici. Je pochopiteľné, že vykonávanie programu bolo ovplyvnené aj externými faktormi, ako bola pandémia COVID-19 či vojna na Ukrajine, ktorú sprevádzala vysoká inflácia, čo malo silný dosah na kultúrny a kreatívny sektor. Aj z týchto dôvodov je potrebné, aby takýto program na podporu umelcov existoval a poskytoval aj dostatočnú flexibilitu na jeho využívanie. EP v svojom uznesení uvítal, ako program Kreatívna Európa napomohol k zmierňovaniu účinkov pandémie na umelcov. Tento program tiež môže napomôcť pri podpore a posilňovaní nadnárodných partnerstiev, a tým prispievať k medzinárodným vzťahom EÚ prostredníctvom kultúry.
EC/Indonesia Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation: accession of Croatia to the EU (A9-0428/2023 - Andrzej Halicki)
V tomto prípade išlo o umožnenie prístupu Chorvátska k rámcovej dohode o komplexnom partnerstve a spolupráci medzi Európskym spoločenstvom a jeho členskými štátmi a Indonéziou. Je to súčasťou komplexnej integrácie Chorvátska do vonkajších dohôd EÚ. Takýto inkluzívny prístup je dôležitý, pretože posilňuje medzinárodné vzťahy a partnerstvá EÚ.
Empowering consumers for the green transition (A9-0099/2023 - Biljana Borzan)
Tento návrh považujem za veľmi dobrý a rada som ho podporila. Ako spotrebitelia sa pravidelne stretávame s rôznymi nápismi na výrobkoch ktoré evokujú dojem, že sú nejakým spôsobom lepšie či šetrnejšie k životnému prostrediu. Často to však nemusí byť pravda a ide len o snahu výrobcu presvedčiť nás, aby sme si kúpili práve jeho „lepší“ výrobok. Vďaka tejto smernici to však už nebude možné, každý výrobok propagovaný ako šetrný k životnému prostrediu bude musieť poskytovať jasné dôkazy, napríklad štúdie alebo certifikáty, aby už nemohol spotrebiteľa zavádzať. Nariaďuje jasné označovanie opraviteľnosti a očakávanej životnosti produktov, čím podporuje informované rozhodnutia o kúpe. Cieľom je podporiť dlhšie používanie zakúpených vecí, čím sa zníži počet zbytočných nákupov, a tým aj odpadu. Táto smernica po prijatí nadobudne účinnosť o 2,5 roka a poskytne dostatok času na prípravu pre výrobcov aj predajcov a lepšiu informovanosť spotrebiteľov.
Cultural diversity and the conditions for authors in the European music streaming market (A9-0388/2023 - Ibán García Del Blanco)
Podporila som iniciatívu na zabezpečenie spravodlivých algoritmov a odmeňovania umelcov v službách streamovania hudby. Toto rozhodnutie sa snaží vyvážiť trh s digitálnou hudbou a zabezpečiť, aby umelci dostali primeranú kompenzáciu. Dôraz sa kladie na riešenie nekalých praktík v algoritmoch streamovacích platforiem, ktoré môžu znevýhodniť niektorých umelcov. Cieľom je chrániť práva a záujmy umelcov v rýchlo sa vyvíjajúcom digitálnom prostredí a podporovať spravodlivý a transparentný systém distribúcie hudby a kompenzácie.
Building a comprehensive European port strategy (A9-0443/2023 - Tom Berendsen)
Podporila som uznesenie Európskeho parlamentu o vypracovaní komplexnej európskej stratégie pre prístavy vzhľadom na jeho strategický význam pre obchod a hospodárstvo EÚ. Toto uznesenie ukazuje na rozhodujúcu úlohu prístavov v Európe nielen ako koncových bodov pre obchodné toky, ale aj ako dôležitých uzlov v medzinárodných sieťach dodávateľov a hodnotových reťazcov. Zdôrazňuje potrebu vyváženého prístupu k prilákaniu zahraničných investícií a zároveň k ochrane kritickej infraštruktúry, vrátane prístavov, pred potenciálnymi bezpečnostnými rizikami. Okrem toho sa v uznesení zdôrazňuje zásadná úloha prístavov v zelenej a digitálnej transformácii EÚ, pričom sa zdôrazňuje ich význam pre dodávky energie a udržateľnosť. Cieľom stratégie je zabezpečiť budúcu konkurencieschopnosť a odolnosť európskych prístavov a zabrániť závislosti od tretích krajín, čo je zásadný krok pre hospodársku nezávislosť a bezpečnosť EÚ.
Implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) (A9-0400/2023 - Javier Moreno Sánchez)
Implementácia Komplexnej hospodárskej a obchodnej dohody (CETA) medzi EÚ a Kanadou priniesla pevnejšie obchodné väzby a významné ekonomické výhody pre obe strany. Poskytuje stabilný rámec pre obchodné vzťahy a prispieva k hospodárskym ziskom prostredníctvom zvýšeného obchodu s tovarom, službami a investíciami. Dohoda tiež ponúka strategické príležitosti pre EÚ a Kanadu na posilnenie a diverzifikáciu dodávateľských reťazcov, čím sa zabezpečí bezpečnosť obchodu v časoch geopolitickej neistoty. Kľúčové výzvy ako presadzovanie zemepisných označení a riadenia kvót pre syry však zostávajú otvorené. Rozhodujúca je úplná implementácia ustanovení CETA spolu so zvyšovaním povedomia o výhodách dohody, najmä medzi malými a strednými podnikmi (MSP). Podporila som túto správu, lebo aj napriek existujúcim výzvam sa CETA ukázala byť ekonomicky a strategicky výhodná tak pre EÚ, ako aj pre Kanadu.
EU strategy on Central Asia (A9-0407/2023 - Karsten Lucke)
Podporila som uznesenie o stratégii EÚ pre Strednú Áziu, keďže má za cieľ výrazne posilniť úlohu EÚ v strategicky dôležitom regióne v čase kritických geopolitických zmien. Uprednostňuje kľúčové oblasti, ako je bezpečnosť, konektivita a energetická diverzifikácia, pričom sa zameriava aj na vplyvy vonkajších faktorov a rastúci vplyv Číny v tomto regióne. Záväzok podporovať demokratické hodnoty, ľudské práva a udržateľný rozvoj je v súlade so zásadami EÚ. EÚ musí byť v tomto regióne aktívna a snažiť sa o čo najužšie vzťahy s týmto regiónom, aby bola vnímaná ako demokratická alternatíva v Strednej Ázii. To by malo napomôcť k zachovaniu medzinárodného poriadku a tomu, aby sme účinne dokázali riešiť globálne výzvy.
EU-India relations (A9-0435/2023 - Alviina Alametsä)
Podporila som túto správu, pretože presadzuje posilnenie strategického partnerstva medzi EÚ a Indiou so zameraním na oblasti, ktoré sú kľúčové pre vzájomný a globálny prospech. Zdôrazňuje potrebu spolupráce pri iniciatívach v oblasti zmeny klímy, digitálnej transformácie a udržateľného rozvoja v súlade so záväzkom EÚ v oblasti environmentálnej udržateľnosti a technologického pokroku. Ďalej tiež zdôrazňuje dôležitosť presadzovania demokratických hodnôt a ľudských práv, ktoré sú kľúčové pre vyvážené a spravodlivé medzinárodné spoločenstvo. Spolupráca s Indiou, najľudnatejšou krajinou na svete, je nevyhnutná pre strategické záujmy EÚ a pri efektívnom riešení globálnych výziev.
Implementation report on Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (A9-0416/2023 - Tilly Metz)
Som presvedčená, že výživové a zdravotné tvrdenia o potravinách a potravinových doplnkoch musia byť pravdivé a za žiadnych okolností by nemali spotrebiteľov zavádzať či ohrozovať ich zdravie. Nariadenie ktoré sa venuje výživovým a zdravotným tvrdeniam o potravinách je v platnosti už vyše 15 rokov a má zásadnú úlohu pri ochrane spotrebiteľov. Doba sa však zmenila a nariadenie bolo prijaté ešte v čase keď internet a sociálne médiá nezohrávali tak významnú rolu v predaji potravín. Dnes je potrebné zabezpečiť, aby pravidlá platili a boli implementované aj v online priestore, kde sa aktuálne ešte stále pomerne často stretávame s nepovolenými a zavádzajúcimi výživovými a zdravotnými tvrdeniami. Verím, že občania Európskej Únie si zaslúžia tie najlepšie potraviny a potravinové doplnky bez ohľadu na to, či ich nakupujú v kamenných predajniach alebo online, a preto podporujem toto uznesenie.
Shaping the EU’s position on the UN binding instrument on business and human rights, in particular on access to remedy and the protection of victims (A9-0421/2023 - Heidi Hautala)
Podniky hrajú kľúčovú úlohu v globálnom hospodárstve, finančných službách a medzinárodnom obchode. Je nevyhnutné, aby dodržiavali platné právne normy, medzinárodné dohody a ľudské práva. V nedávnej dobe Európska únia iniciovala legislatívne kroky na reguláciu podnikateľskej činnosti v súvislosti s ľudskými právami a environmentálnymi povinnosťami. To bolo predovšetkým prostredníctvom smernice EÚ o náležitej starostlivosti v oblasti udržateľnosti podnikov. Pokiaľ ide o diskusie na úrovni OSN o právne záväznom nástroji, existuje významný a rastúci záujem, mobilizácia a očakávania medzi dotknutými komunitami, pôvodným obyvateľstvom, odborovými zväzmi, členmi občianskej spoločnosti či akademickými pracovníkmi a odborníkmi na celom svete. Vzhľadom na rastúcu intenzitu rokovaní o právne záväznom nástroji je nevyhnutné, aby Európska únia prijala ambiciózny mandát na tieto rokovania s cieľom účinne sa zapojiť do diskusií. Verím, že podniky by mali dodržiavať všetky predpisy a nemali by si dovoliť porušovať ľudské práva.
Impact of illegal fishing on food security – the role of the European Union (A9-0433/2023 - Nuno Melo)
EÚ má rybárske plavidlá po celom svete a zároveň importuje množstvo produktov rybolovu, čo ju stavia do špecifickej pozície a robí z nej veľmi dôležitého globálneho hráča v oblasti rybárstva. Je preto dôležité, aby svoju pozíciu využívala na presadzovanie udržateľných postupov a boj proti nezákonnému, nenahlásenému a neregulovanému rybolovu. Ten je škodlivý z hospodárskeho, sociálneho, ale aj environmentálneho hľadiska a zároveň negatívne ovplyvňuje aj našu potravinovú bezpečnosť. Je preto dôležité vynaložiť čo najvyššie úsilie na jeho elimináciu, aby sme zabezpečili dobrú budúcnosť európskeho rybolovu a morských ekosystémov, a tiež posilnili postavenie EÚ ako dôležitého hráča na globálnej úrovni, pokiaľ ide o zodpovedný a udržateľný rybolov.
Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives (A9-0357/2023 - Gabriel Mato)
Podporila som toto uznesenie keďže prináša komplexné riešenia rôznych aspektov spoločnej rybárskej politiky (SRP). Správa vyplýva z viacerých právnych rámcov vrátane Zmluvy o fungovaní Európskej únie, nariadenia o SRP a smernice o námornom priestorovom plánovaní, zabezpečujúc ucelený prístup k rybolovu. Vítam záväzok k udržateľnému prístupu k rybolovu, zohľadňujúc sociálne, ekonomické a environmentálne faktory. Správa zdôrazňuje potrebu ekosystémového prístupu, minimalizácie negatívneho vplyvu na morský ekosystém a zabezpečenia primeranej životnej úrovne pre zástupcov rybárskych komunít. Tiež si cením vyváženosť pri zohľadňovaní troch pilierov udržateľnosti a riešení sociálnych aspektov SRP. Správa podporuje význam rybolovu pre potravinovú bezpečnosť EÚ, zachovanie kultúrnych tradícií a živobytie pobrežných komunít. V neposlednom rade zdôrazňuje dôležitosť presadzovania cieľov SRP na medzinárodnej úrovni a spolupráce s tretími krajinami s cieľom zlepšiť dodržiavanie medzinárodných pravidiel v rybolove. Správa predstavuje dôležitý krok k udržateľnému, inovatívnemu a inkluzívnemu riadeniu rybolovu v EÚ.
Geothermal energy (A9-0432/2023 - Zdzisław Krasnodębski)
Toto uznesenie zdôrazňuje obrovský potenciál geotermálnej energie v Európe a jej význam pre udržateľný energetický rozvoj. Jeden z hlavných problémov, ktorý bráni jej plnému využitiu, je nedostatok presných údajov o geotermálnych zdrojoch v niektorých krajinách. Financovanie mapovania týchto zdrojov a realizácia prieskumných vrtov na vytvorenie národných atlasov by mohlo efektívne riešiť túto výzvu. Okrem toho sa stretávame s nekonzistentnými informáciami a podceňovaním geotermálnej technológie, čo brzdí jej šírenie. Podporujem snahy o zjednotenie údajov a zvýšenie povedomia o prínosoch geotermálnej energie, aby sa stimulovali investície a zvýšila akceptácia tejto udržateľnej formy energie. Zjednodušenie regulačných procesov a rýchlejšie povolenia sú kľúčové pre urýchlenie rozvoja projektov v oblasti geotermálnej energie. Je tiež potrebné investovať do vzdelávania a odbornej prípravy, aby sme zabezpečili dostatočný počet kvalifikovaných pracovníkov, ktorí budú schopní plne realizovať plánované projekty a prispievať k rozvoju tejto perspektívnej oblasti v energetike.
Revision of the European Labour Authority mandate (B9-0059/2024)
Toto uznesenie vyzýva EK, aby prišla s návrhom na revíziu mandátu Európskeho orgánu práce (ELA) tak, aby sa posilnil jeho mandát a aby bol pre vnútroštátne orgány viac prínosným. Cieľom je, aby ELA mohol efektívnejšie vykonávať svoje povinnosti a plniť ciele zabezpečovania spravodlivej mobility pracovnej sily. Uznesenie konštatuje, že ELA čoraz častejšie dostáva podnety na riešenie problémov občanov z tretích krajín pre ktorých platia pracovnoprávne predpisy EÚ, no ktorí však nespadajú do jeho pôsobnosti, a navrhuje, aby sa toto zmenilo. Taktiež podporuje posilnenie vyšetrovacích a zisťovacích právomocí ELA, aby mohol efektívnejšie riešiť problémy týkajúce sa mobility pracovnej sily. Vyzýva sa na posilnenie spolupráce s Europolom, Eurojustom a Európskou prokuratúrou v oblasti trestných činov a zabezpečenia spravodlivého prerozdeľovania európskych dotácií. Súhlasím s potrebou posilnenia a lepšieho a efektívnejšieho využitia Európskeho orgánu práce s cieľom podporiť sociálnu spravodlivosť, riešiť výzvy mobility pracovnej sily a zaistiť rovnaké pracovné podmienky pre všetkých pracovníkov v EÚ.
Amending Council Decision 2009/917/JHA, as regards its alignment with Union rules on the protection of personal data (A9-0361/2023 - Cornelia Ernst)
Podporila som toto uznesenie, pretože vidím jeho kľúčový význam v modernizácii legislatívy týkajúcej sa ochrany osobných údajov. Zmeny v systéme colných informácií (CIS) sú nevyhnutné na zlepšenie ochrany osobných údajov našich občanov a zároveň na dosiahnutie súladu s európskymi normami.Návrh presne definuje „trestné činy“, čím eliminuje nejasnosti spojené s termínom „závažné porušenia“, a prispieva k presnejšiemu vymedzeniu pravidiel. Tieto opatrenia nielen zvyšujú ochranu údajov, ale aj zjednodušujú proces uchovávania údajov v rámci CIS, čím zabezpečujú efektívnejšiu správu údajov a zároveň redukciu administratívnej záťaže. Verím, že tieto kroky sú kľúčové pre aktualizáciu legislatívy, aby bola prispôsobená súčasným výzvam a technologickým trendom.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (A9-0311/2023 - Anna Zalewska)
Podporujem úpravu smernice o odpade z elektrických a elektronických zariadení (WEEE), ktorá rieši nedávny problém s fotovoltickými panelmi. Rozhodnutie Súdu Európskej únie bolo jasné: zákon o odpade bol nejasný a to nie je spravodlivé. Nové pravidlá smerujú k spravodlivejšiemu prerozdeľovaniu nákladov na spracovanie odpadu, aby sme chránili životné prostredie bez zbytočného zaťažovania výrobcov. Navrhované zmeny nezabúdajú ani na ostatné elektrické zariadenia, ktoré boli tiež zahrnuté do systému od roku 2018. Zmeny zaisťujú, aby sme sa mohli efektívne starať o elektrický odpad, a prispieť tak k vyššej udržateľnosti.
Measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act) (A9-0254/2023 - Ivars Ijabs)
Podporujem návrh Európskeho parlamentu na zvýšenie interoperability verejného sektora v celej EÚ. Digitálna transformácia je kľúčovým faktorom pre modernizáciu verejných služieb a tento krok je dôležitý pre zlepšenie digitálnej komunikácie medzi krajinami. Návrh tiež zohľadňuje potrebu hodnotenia pokroku a jasného merania úspechu, pričom zvyšovanie interoperability pomáha znížiť náklady pre občanov a podniky pri interakcii so štátnymi orgánmi. Verím, že európsky rámec by mal podporovať využívanie pokročilých technológií pre lepšiu efektívnosť.
Amendments to the regulation on management, conservation and control measures applicable in the ICCAT Convention Area and the regulation on a multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (A9-0301/2023 - Clara Aguilera)
Hlasovala som za pozmeňujúce a doplňujúce návrhy, ktoré navrhla Medzinárodná komisia na ochranu atlantických tuniakov (ICCAT), pokiaľ ide o riadenie, ochranu a kontrolu tuniakov a tuniakovitých druhov. Odporúčania ICCAT, ktoré sú kľúčové pre udržateľný rybolov, boli začlenené do právnych predpisov EÚ, čo má vplyv na rôzne druhy a spôsoby rybolovu. Toto rozhodnutie je v súlade so záväzkom EÚ v oblasti ochrany morí a trvalo udržateľného využívania oceánskych zdrojov, čím demonštruje našu oddanosť medzinárodnej spolupráci a starostlivosti o životné prostredie.
Empowering the French Republic to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement on the safety and interoperability requirements within the Channel Fixed Link (A9-0018/2024 - Petar Vitanov)
V tomto prípade išlo skôr o technické hlasovanie. Po vystúpení Veľkej Británie z EÚ nastal problém s vlakovým spojením, ktoré spája Spojené kráľovstvo a Francúzsko cez tunel, tzv. Channel Fixed Link . Platia naň totiž pravidlá tak Francúzska, ako aj Spojeného kráľovstva. Týmto hlasovaním sme Francúzsku umožnili rokovať a následne aj uzavrieť medzinárodnú dohodu s Veľkou Britániou o požiadavkách na bezpečnosť a interoperabilitu v rámci pevného spojenia Channel Fixed Link . Zabezpečí sa tým jednotné uplatňovanie bezpečnosti a interoperability železníc v rámci tejto kľúčovej infraštruktúry.
Conclusion of the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Angola (A9-0005/2024 - Joachim Schuster)
V tomto prípade išlo vôbec o prvú dohodu na ochranu investícií, ktorú kedy EÚ dojednala. Súhlasila som s jej schválením, keďže otvára cestu k lepšiemu obchodnému a investičnému prostrediu medzi oboma stranami dohody, prispeje k hospodárskemu rastu, tvorbe pracovných miest a upevní investičné vzťahy medzi EÚ a Angolskou republikou. Jej zámerom je dosiahnuť právnu istotu a zlepšiť prostredie pre investície, pričom by mala mať pozitívny vplyv aj na zjednodušenie pravidiel pre zahraničné priame investície, čo prinesie výhody pre domáce aj zahraničné spoločnosti. Súčasťou dohody sú aj ustanovenia týkajúce sa udržateľného rozvoja, ktoré zahŕňajú záväzky neoslabiť pracovné alebo environmentálne zákony a štandardy za účelom prilákania investícií.
Instant payments in euro (A9-0230/2023 - Michiel Hoogeveen)
Podporila som návrh týkajúci sa okamžitých platieb v EÚ, ktorý predstavuje významný krok vpred pre spotrebiteľov a podniky, umožňujúc im realizovať platby v eurách okamžite, bez zbytočných odkladov a bez dodatočných poplatkov. Toto nariadenie zabezpečuje, že všetky platby budú spracované do 10 sekúnd, a poskytuje rovnaké podmienky pre okamžité a bežné transakcie. Takto sa znižuje možnosť bánk zarábať na peniazoch držaných v procese spracovania a zvyšuje sa bezpečnosť transakcií vďaka povinnosti overovania zhody mena príjemcu s číslom jeho účtu (IBAN).
Limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and diisocyanates (A9-0263/2023 - Nikolaj Villumsen)
Podporila som smernicu, ktorá aktualizuje pravidlá o vystavovaní sa olovu a zavádza nové pravidlá pre diizokyanáty, aby sa zvýšila ochrana zdravia a bezpečnosti európskych pracovníkov.Táto smernica značne obmedzuje, akým hodnotám olova môžu byť pracovníci vystavení, a prvýkrát stanovuje hranice pre diizokyanáty, ktoré sú známe svojimi zdravotnými rizikami. Smernica obsahuje opatrenia, ktoré chránia pracovníkov, ktorí už boli v minulosti olovu vystavení, a zároveň dbá na ochranu žien v plodnom veku. Tieto kroky, spolu s prísnymi pravidlami pre chemikálie používané v priemysle, znamenajú veľký posun k lepšej bezpečnosti na pracoviskách. Cieľom smernice je prispôsobiť pravidlá EÚ najnovším poznatkom v oblasti zdravia a pracovných postupov, čím sa vytvára bezpečnejšie pracovné prostredie pre milióny pracovníkov.
Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed (A9-0014/2024 - Jessica Polfjärd)
Hlasovala som proti návrhu nariadenia o rastlinách získaných určitými novými genómovými technikami, pretože či už to nazveme NGT alebo GMO, stále ide o genetickú modifikáciu rastlín. Nepovažujem to za prirodzený proces a podľa mňa je zásadným problémom to, že ešte stále nemáme dostatočné informácie o tom, aké to všetko môže mať následky a dôsledky nielen pre ľudský organizmus, ale aj pre životné prostredie. Nesúhlasím s tým, že by výrobky pochádzajúce z takýchto rastlín, či už ide o kategóriu 1 alebo 2, nemali byť riadne označené. Spotrebitelia musia byť riadne informovaní a mať možnosť sa rozhodnúť.Návrh nariadenia v podobe, v akej prešiel, podľa mňa nie je dobrý a nemohla som s ním súhlasiť. Potrebujeme mať riadne štúdie a výskum a vedieť, aké priame alebo aj vedľajšie následky by takéto rastliny mohli mať pre ľudský organizmus, životné prostredie či opeľovačov. Taktiež je dôležité sa zamyslieť aj nad dopadom na ekologické poľnohospodárstvo a čo to preň bude znamenať. Bolo by potrebné prenechať členským štátom možnosť rozhodnúť sa, čo chcú na svojom území pestovať a či budú súhlasiť s tým, aby takéto techniky pri šľachtení boli používané v osivách na ich území a v ich krajine.
Norway's recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic (B9-0095/2024)
Podporujem prijatie uznesenia, ktoré sa zaoberá zámerom Nórska pokročiť v hlbokomorskej ťažbe v Arktíde vzhľadom na existujúce vážne obavy o životné prostredie. Uznesenie nalieha na EK, členské štáty a medzinárodné spoločenstvo, aby presadzovali obmedzenia hlbokomorskej ťažby, pričom žiada o podporu Medzinárodný úrad pre morské dno. Rozhodnutie Európskeho parlamentu jasne zdôrazňuje potrebu chrániť arktické morské prostredie pred nezvratnými škodami spojenými s hlbokomorskou ťažbou.
The EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (B9-0091/2024)
Táto iniciatíva má za cieľ zjednodušiť a zviditeľniť naše záväzky voči rodovej rovnosti na globálnej úrovni. Jej dôležitosť spočíva v posilnení spolupráce a podpore konkrétnych akcií smerujúcich k zlepšeniu postavenia žien a dievčat vo svete. Toto uznesenie podporuje ekonomickú integráciu, politickú a sociálnu stabilitu prostredníctvom posilnenia inštitúcií a financovania s ohľadom na rodovú perspektívu.Túto iniciatívu som podporila, pretože ju vnímam ako prejav našej odhodlanosti podporovať rovnaké príležitosti a eliminovať prekážky brániace dosahovaniu rodovej rovnosti, čo je v súlade s dlhodobými záväzkami EÚ smerom k posilňovaniu práv žien a dievčat.
Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (A9-0290/2023 - José Manuel Fernandes, Christian Ehler)
Hlasovala som za tento návrh, pretože vidím jeho strategický význam pre Európu v oblasti technológií. Súhlasím s tým, že spoločná európska priemyselná politika si vyžaduje spoločné európske financovanie. Vo svete vidíme boj o technologickú dominanciu a pre EÚ je dôležité, aby nezaostávala, a preto je potrebné, aby sme investovali do kľúčových odvetví 21. storočia. STEP predstavuje spoločný európsky prístup k investičným potrebám v oblasti digitálnych technológií, čistých technológií a biotechnológií. Má tiež posilniť hodnotové reťazce a pomôcť čeliť výzvam zelených a digitálnych prechodov, obmedziť strategické závislosti a testovať smerovanie k Európskemu fondu suverenity. Hoci došlo k zníženiu financovania voči pôvodnému návrhu, podporujem spoločnú iniciatívu s možnosťou vyčlenenia až 160 miliárd EUR na investície do projektov zameraných na kritické technológie v sektoroch digitálnych technológií, čistých a efektívnych technológií a biotechnológií.
Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (A9-0223/2023 - Tiemo Wölken)
Cieľom tejto smernice je zabezpečiť silnejšiu ochranu novinárov, aktivistov a akademikov, ktorí sa na každodennej báze zaoberajú otázkami verejného záujmu pri riešení rôznorodých tém, ako napríklad základné práva a slobody, možné obvinenia z korupcie, ochrana demokracie alebo boj proti dezinformáciám. Stáva sa však, že niekedy sú proti týmto osobám podávané tzv. strategické žaloby proti verejnej účasti (krátko žaloby SLAPP), ktoré majú za cieľ ich zastrašiť, umlčať či zabrániť im v ďalšej profesijnej činnosti. Práve táto iniciatíva im má poskytnúť podporu, a to jednak skrz možnosť požadovať úhradu nákladov na súdne konanie, ktoré museli tieto osoby vynaložiť na svoju obranu pred súdom, a tiež bude na žalobcovi, ktorý sa snaží bojovať proti otvorenej verejnej diskusii, aby pred súdom dokázal opodstatnenosť súdneho konania, ktoré inicioval. Okrem toho bojuje táto smernica aj proti fenoménu tzv. forum shoppingu, a teda situácii, keď si v prípade cezhraničného súdneho sporu žalobca vyberie jurisdikciu, v ktorej má najväčšiu šancu na úspech. Túto smernicu som tak podporila, pretože ju vnímam ako dôležitú súčasť zachovania otvorenej a slobodnej verejnej diskusie, ktorá je silnou zárukou demokratickej spoločnosti.
Amendments to Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the Court of Justice (A9-0278/2023 - Ilana Cicurel)
V tomto prípade išlo o reformu kompetencií Súdneho dvora EÚ, ktorá má najmä umožniť preniesť v niektorých špecifických oblastiach (napríklad v oblasti DPH, pri spotrebných daniach, kompenzácii a pomoci cestujúcim alebo v systéme obchodovania s emisnými kvótami skleníkových plynov a iných) právomoc Súdneho dvora v prejudiciálnych otázkach na Všeobecný súd. Súdny dvor si však má ponechať právomoc rozhodovať o zásadných otázkach, ako napríklad výklad zakladajúcich zmlúv alebo Charty základných práv. Tento návrh som podporila, pretože ho vnímam ako dôležitý krok k zefektívneniu fungovania Súdneho dvora. Prijatím zmien v štatúte Súdneho dvora bude súd odbremenený od niektorých činností, čím sa zníži pracovné zaťaženie jeho personálu a ponechá viac priestoru na riešenie kľúčových otázok, čo vnímam ako dôležitý krok vpred vo fungovaní tejto inštitúcie.
Shipments of waste (A9-0290/2022 - Pernille Weiss)
V tomto prípade som sa pridala k schváleniu dohody s Radou týkajúcej sa sprísnenia pravidiel vývozu odpadu z EÚ do tretích krajín, a to kvôli jej nepopierateľnému vplyvu na ľudské zdravie a kvalitu nášho životného prostredia. Súhlasím s myšlienkou, že EÚ by mala prevziať zodpovednosť za svoj vlastný plastový odpad. Jeho vývoz do krajín mimo OECD má tak byť zakázaný a vývoz do krajín OECD by mal podliehať prísnejším podmienkam. Návrh vnímam ako presadenie očakávaní samotných občanov EÚ, ktorí sa vyslovili za prísnejšiu reguláciu odpadu a sankcie za jeho nezákonný export. Zdravé životné prostredie sa totiž týka nás všetkých, preto som uvedené bez väčších pochybností podporila.
Transparency and targeting of political advertising (A9-0009/2023 - Sandro Gozi)
Boj proti dezinformáciám je téma, ktorá posledné mesiace rezonuje nielen v rámci Slovenska, ale jej dôležitosť sa odráža na pôde celej EÚ. Ešte viac o tejto téme počuť v týchto dňoch, v čase blížiacich sa volieb. Online priestor je posledné roky živnou pôdou pre politickú kampaň a reklamu, keď predstavuje efektívny nástroj na propagáciu politických názorov a otázok, ktoré jednotliví aktéri v politickom súboji vnímajú ako kľúčové. Avšak pravdou zostáva, že digitálne technológie na strane druhej zvyšujú zraniteľnosť občanov voči dezinformáciám. Pravidlá, ktoré sme v rámci parlamentu prijali, tak cielia na zvýšenie transparentnosti volebných a referendových kampaní a majú tak pomôcť európskym občanom rozpoznať, kto stojí za politickým odkazom, a prijímať tak informované rozhodnutia pri volebných urnách. Osobne vnímam potrebu zachovať bezpečný online priestor nielen v predvolebnom čase, ale aj po voľbách tak, aby moderné technológie neboli hrozbou, ale predstavovali bezpečné prostredie pre šírenie a výmenu myšlienok a názorov.
Detergents and surfactants (A9-0039/2024 - Manuela Ripa)
V tomto prípade som preto vyjadrila podporu navrhovanému nariadeniu, ktoré sa zameriava na ustanovenie pravidiel na dosiahnutie voľného pohybu čistiacich prostriedkov a povrchovo aktívnych látok na vnútornom trhu pri ochrane životného prostredia a ľudského zdravia. Text nariadenia stanoví pravidlá bezpečného používania čistiacich prostriedkov, ako sú pravidlá ich označovania, a škálu informácií, ktoré musia výrobcovia predložiť kompetentným orgánom v rámci jednotlivých členských štátov. Je totiž pravdou, že čistiace prostriedky a povrchovo aktívne látky vďaka svojim čistiacim vlastnostiam prispievajú k zlepšeniu zdravia a hygieny ľudí, na strane druhej ale môže nesprávne narábanie s nimi predstavovať zdravotné a environmentálne riziká. Podporu tomuto návrhu tak vnímam ako správny krok k zvýšeniu kvality nášho životného prostredia, ktoré neodmysliteľne vplýva na zdravie každého z nás.
Amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324: continuation of the Union’s participation in PRIMA under Horizon Europe (A9-0378/2023 - Paolo Borchia)
V tomto prípade som podporila návrh, ktorého cieľom je zabezpečiť pokračovanie účasti EÚ na Partnerstve pre výskum a inováciu v oblasti Stredozemia (PRIMA) v rámci programu Horizont Európa. PRIMA sa usiluje o budovanie výskumných a inovačných kapacít a rozvíja poznatky a spoločné inovačné riešenia pre udržateľné poľnohospodársko-potravinárske systémy a integrované zásobovanie vodou a vodné hospodárstvo v oblasti Stredozemného mora. Projekt PRIMA je financovaný zo strany tak EÚ, ako aj ostatných zúčastnených štátov, tento návrh poskytuje ďalšie financie na jeho podporu a efektívne fungovanie. Návrh som rada podporila, pretože si myslím, že tento projekt hrá dôležitú úlohu v udržateľnom využívaní prírodných zdrojov, hospodárskom raste a zachovávaní stability v Stredozemí, pričom pri plnení týchto záväzkov posilňuje spoluprácu medzi zúčastnenými štátmi, najmä medzi tými, ktoré nie sú členskými štátmi Európskej únie, čo osobne vnímam ako dôležitú súčasť silnejšej EÚ.
Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products (A9-0173/2023 - Paolo De Castro)
Túto iniciatívu som podporila, keďže reviduje existujúce pravidlá a uľahčuje prijímanie, a tým aj zvyšuje používanie zemepisných označení v EÚ, čo považujem za dôležité, keďže ochraňujú lokálne produkty. Zemepisné označenia vo všeobecnosti totižto označujú výrobky ktoré sa určitým spôsobom spájajú s miestom ich pôvodu, ak majú špecifickú kvalitu, povesť alebo charakteristické vlastnosti, ktoré môžu byť pripísané tomuto miestu, ako napríklad Oravské korbáčiky, Detvianska výšivka, Karpatské brandy či Modranská majolika. Vnímam dôležitosť sprehľadnenia a zjednodušenia označovania takýchto výrobkov v rámci EÚ. Tento návrh nahrádza tri nariadenia, ktoré v súčasnosti upravujú pravidlá týkajúce sa zemepisných označení produktov tak, aby bol postup registrácie zemepisných označení rýchlejší, zvýšila sa udržateľnosť výrobkov so zemepisným označením a zlepšila ich ochrana v online prostredí. Problémom pôvodného systému bolo najmä to, že samotní spotrebitelia boli veľmi málo informovaní o systéme, akým sú produkty označované. Zmeny, ktoré táto iniciatíva prináša, sa tak majú prejaviť najmä v jednoduchšej a kratšej registrácii zemepisných označení výrobkov a v neposlednom rade majú tiež pozitívne vplývať na dodržiavanie dobrých životných podmienok zvierat alebo sociálnej, environmentálnej alebo hospodárskej udržateľnosti, čo má tak vplyv na život každého človeka ako konečného spotrebiteľa v EÚ.
Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes (A9-0007/2024 - Herbert Dorfmann)
V tomto prípade ide o návrh zameraný na zjednodušenie postupu na predchádzanie dvojitého zdanenia. Konkrétne sa podrobnejšie rieši situácia, keď finančné zisky rezidentov EÚ (napr. vyplatené dividendy či získané úroky), ktorí investujú do cenných papierov v inom členskom štáte, podliehajú zrážkovej dani v krajine, kde investovali a následne aj zdaneniu v krajine, kde je tento jednotlivec daňovým rezidentom. Vo všeobecnosti sa takáto vzniknutá situácia rieši žiadosťou o vrátenie nadmernej dane, ktorá je vyrubená v krajine, kde jednotlivec investoval. Realita je avšak taká, že v súčasnosti sú tieto úradné postupy častokrát pomalé a vyžadujú veľké množstvo zaťažujúcej byrokracie, čo sa na konci dňa odrazí na neochote investovať v inom členskom štáte a stagnácii rastu podnikov v EÚ. Tento návrh má za cieľ zabezpečiť jednoduchší elektronický prístup k danej službe, a to zavedením tzv. elektronického certifikátu daňovej rezidencie (eTRC) pre celú EÚ, ktorý by bol harmonizovaný a uznávaný naprieč EÚ bez ohľadu na krajinu pôvodu. S týmto návrhom som súhlasila, keďže uľahčuje administratívne postupy v daňovej oblasti, pozitívne vplýva na rast podnikov v EÚ a v neposlednom rade bojuje proti podvodníkom, ktorí sa snažia obohatiť praktikami pri vráteniach daní.
Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2023 (A9-0031/2024 - David Cormand)
Dôležitosť postavenia a činností Európskej investičnej banky ako finančnej inštitúcie Európskej únie je nepopierateľná. EIB zohráva totiž kľúčovú úlohu pri presadzovaní skutočného hospodárskeho rastu v rámci EÚ naprieč všetkými jej členskými štátmi. Okrem odstraňovania investičnej medzery sa osobitne sústreďuje aj na niektoré zo špecifických oblastí, ktoré sú s jej fungovaním nevyhnutne späté, ako napríklad na oblasť klímy, životného prostredia, malých a stredných podnikov, rozvoja a infraštruktúry. EIB je pritom jedným z najväčších poskytovateľov financií v oblasti zeleného financovania na svete. Je preto neodmysliteľne dôležité zabezpečiť, aby jej aktivity i naďalej chránili všetkých aktérov na európskom trhu. Z uvedených dôvodov by som tak chcela zdôrazniť význam dôkladného zberu a analýzy údajov o mnohých inštitúciách, EIB nevynímajúc, s cieľom monitorovať ich správanie a pozitívny vplyv na ich agendu.
Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union of the one part, and Republic of Kenya, Member of the East African Community of the other Part (A9-0012/2024 - Alessandra Mussolini)
V tomto prípade išlo o udelenie súhlasu Európskeho parlamentu s uzatvorením obchodnej dohody medzi EÚ a Keňou, a teda o posilnenie obchodných a hospodárskych väzieb s týmto africkým štátom, ktorý je vo všeobecnosti považovaný za hlavné ekonomické centrum východnej Afriky. Ide pritom o prvú dohodu s rozvojovou krajinou, v ktorej sa odráža nový prístup EÚ k obchodu a trvalo udržateľnému rozvoju. EÚ je v súčasnosti druhým najväčším obchodným partnerom Kene. Z tejto africkej krajiny dovážame primárne zeleninu, ovocie a kvety a exportujeme najmä minerálne a chemické výrobky a stroje. Keďže sme v Európskom parlamente udelili s touto dohodou súhlas, môžu pokračovať ďalšie kroky na dokončenie ratifikačného procesu na strane EÚ.
Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services (A9-0270/2023 - Kim Van Sparrentak)
Hlasovala som za rezolúciu, lebo podporujem vytvorenie jednotného legislatívneho rámca pre krátkodobé ubytovanie s dôrazom na transparentnosť. Cieľom je zabezpečiť udržateľný rozvoj tohto sektora v rámci turizmu ale aj chrániť spotrebiteľov pred podvodnými prenajímateľmi. Súhlasím s vyváženým prístupom, pokiaľ ide o získavanie údajov od hostiteľov a platforiem, keďže vďaka tomu miestne orgány budú mať prístup k hodnotným informáciám, s pomocou ktorých budú môcť tvoriť efektívne politiky. Nariadenie zdôrazňuje potrebu transparentnosti a dodržiavania pravidiel s cieľom vytvoriť bezpečné, spravodlivé a udržateľné prostredie. Turizmus a krátkodobé prenájmy sú vzájomne prepojené, ale počet ponúkaných krátkodobých prenájmov ubytovania zásadne narástol a jeho nekontrolovaný rozvoj môže mať negatívne dôsledky na ceny bývania, vytláčanie trvalých obyvateľov a nadmerný turizmus. Podporujem konkrétne návrhy, ako je napríklad harmonizácia registračných procesov, ktoré by mali byť jednoduché, aby boli poskytnuté informácie kontrolovateľné zo strany príslušných orgánov. Tiež treba chrániť spotrebiteľov, a preto platformy ktoré takéto ubytovanie poskytujú, budú musieť zabezpečiť, aby na nich poskytované informácie boli spoľahlivé a úplné, pričom budú musieť vykonávať aj náhodné kontroly.
Improving the Union’s protection against market manipulation on the wholesale energy market (A9-0261/2023 - Maria da Graça Carvalho)
Energetická kríza, ktorej dôsledky neobišli nikoho z nás a ktorá je ešte viac zhoršená neutíchajúcou kritickou situáciou na Ukrajine, je jednou z kľúčových tém aj na pôde inštitúcií EÚ. V tomto prípade išlo schválenie návrhu na riešenie manipulácie na trhoch s energiami, ktorého cieľom je zlepšenie transparentnosti trhu s energiou, ako aj posilnenie úlohy regulačných orgánov. Táto legislatíva, ktorej už predchádzala neformálna dohoda Európskeho parlamentu s Radou, tak v konečnom dôsledku povedie k silnejšej ochrane účtov za energiu v domácnostiach európskych občanov a v podnikoch pred možnými krátkodobými výkyvmi trhových cien.
Industrial Emissions Portal (A9-0211/2023 - Radan Kanev)
V tomto prípade som vyjadrila podporu iniciatíve, ktorej cieľom je modernizovať existujúci register v oblasti emisií na portál priemyselných emisií, ktorý bude komplexnejší a integrovanejší, čím sa umožní presnejšie monitorovanie environmentálneho správania pri tých priemyselných činnostiach, ktoré zanechávajú veľký vplyv na naše životné prostredie. Daná iniciatíva bola vypracovaná v rámci napĺňania cieľov Európskej zelenej dohody, ktorá sa aj týmto spôsobom snaží o naplnenie ambície nulového znečistenia zosúladením existujúcich právnych predpisov EÚ s politikami Únie v oblasti energetiky, klímy a obehového hospodárstva. Priemysel a emisie v rámci neho vznikajúce sú bezpochyby veľkým znečisťovateľom, a považujem preto za nevyhnutné efektívne merať objem vyprodukovaných emisií v tejto oblasti. Táto legislatíva tak prináša zmeny presne tam, kde je to najviac potrebné.
Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures (A9-0235/2023 - Sophia in 't Veld)
Táto smernica sa sústreďuje na uplatňovanie sankcií voči tretím štátom. Téma sankcií je veľmi citlivá a ja osobne nemám pocit, že by ich uvaľovanie malo žiadané účinky. Sankcie EÚ vo všeobecnosti pozostávajú napríklad zo zmrazenia finančných prostriedkov, zákazov cestovania či obmedzení pre podnikateľské sektory a hoci sa prijímajú na úrovni EÚ, ich presadzovanie závisí od členských štátov, ktoré definujú porušenia sankcií rôzne. Mnohokrát tak uplatňujú jednotlivé členské krajiny rozdielne národné prístupy v ich dodržiavaní, čo vedie k vytváraniu slabých miest a neefektívnosti pri dosahovaní cieľa týchto sankcií. Podporila som však túto správu, lebo sa domnievam, že keď už tu sankcie máme, tak by sa mali aspoň jednotne uplatňovať.
Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (A9-0253/2023 - Nicola Danti)
V modernej dobe, v ktorej žijeme, sme denno-denne obklopení vyspelými technologickými a digitálnymi produktmi, ktoré prevažná väčšina z nás vníma prirodzene ako nástroj na uľahčenie si bežného života. Už menej často ale spotrebitelia zohľadňujú riziká a hrozby v oblasti kybernetickej bezpečnosti, s ktorými je používanie týchto digitálnych produktov spojené. V Európskom parlamente som hlasovala za prijatie nariadenia, ktoré zavádza nové štandardy kybernetickej odolnosti na ochranu všetkých digitálnych produktov v EÚ pred kybernetickými hrozbami. V zmysle tohto nariadenia budú dôležité a kritické produkty zaradené do rôznych zoznamov na základe ich kritickosti a úrovne rizika kybernetickej bezpečnosti, ktoré predstavujú. Tie produkty, ktoré budú predstavovať vyššie riziko, budú prísnejšie skúmané zriadeným orgánom, zatiaľ čo iné prejdú procesom posudzovania zhody často riadeným interne, výrobcami. Dôležitou časťou práce na tomto nariadení bolo aj zahrnutie produktov ako správa hesiel, biometrické čítačky, inteligentné domáce asistentky a súkromné bezpečnostné kamery, ktoré musia tiež spĺňať kladené bezpečnostné požiadavky. Okrem toho bude tiež dochádzať k automatickým bezpečnostným aktualizáciám produktov. Nariadenie pokrýva aj vzdelávacie a školiace programy, iniciatívy spolupráce a stratégie na zvýšenie mobility pracovnej sily v oblasti kybernetickej bezpečnosti.
European Media Freedom Act (A9-0264/2023 - Sabine Verheyen)
Súhlasila som s touto správou, keďže sa sústreďuje na redakčnú nezávislosť verejnoprávnych médií a ich transparentné a nestranné financovanie. Médiá budú musieť informovať aj o svojich príjmoch zo štátnej reklamy a o finančnej podpore poskytnutej štátom vrátane finančných prostriedkov z krajín mimo EÚ. Jeden z kľúčových prínosov tohto predpisu sú transparentné informácie o vlastníctve tak, aby verejnosť vedela, kto ovláda médiá a aké záujmy môžu ovplyvňovať spravodajstvo. V dnešných dňoch sa vedie množstvo debát o ovplyvňovaní mediálneho priestoru. Predpis tak prináša možnosti oboznámiť sa s tým, od koho skutočne čerpáme informácie o verejnom dianí, čo každému občanovi pomôže k lepšej orientácii v každodennom živote, ktorý je preplnený informáciami, ktoré sú častokrát veľmi subjektívne alebo neskôr označené za nepravdy. Podporila som tento spis, keďže prácu novinárov a slobodu slova považujem za veľmi dôležitú. Informovaná verejnosť je jednou z kľúčových záruk zachovania demokracie a právneho štátu. Na strane druhej musí sloboda slova ale byť vyvážená ochranou, ktorá má byť verejnosti poskytnutá pred šírením nepravdivých a neobjektívnych informácií.
Artificial Intelligence Act (A9-0188/2023 - Brando Benifei, Dragoş Tudorache)
V tomto prípade sme v Európskom parlamente hlasovali o prijatí právneho predpisu o umelej inteligencii, ktorý je prvým svojho druhu na svete. Ide o nariadenie, ktoré má vo všeobecnosti za cieľ chrániť základné práva, demokraciu, právny štát a environmentálnu udržateľnosť pred vysokorizikovou umelou inteligenciu, no zároveň aj podporovať inovácie. Podľa pravidiel, ktoré predpis zavádza, je zakázané používať aplikácie umelej inteligencie, ktoré ohrozujú práva občanov, ako napríklad systémy biometrickej kategorizácie založené na citlivých charakteristikách či necielené extrahovanie podôb tváre z internetu alebo videozáznamov z bezpečnostných kamier na tvorbu databáz na rozpoznávanie tvárí. Nebude sa môcť používať ani umelá inteligencia, ktorá manipuluje ľudské správanie alebo zneužíva zraniteľnosti ľudí. Biometrická identifikácia sa môže výnimočne používať len s vopred vydaným súdnym, resp. správnym povolením, v prípade pátrania po nezvestných osobách alebo predchádzania teroristickým útokom. Toto nariadenie som podporila, keďže ho vnímam ako dôležitú súčasť ochrany práv každého z nás. Umelá inteligencia sa stáva bežnou súčasťou každého dňa, a je preto kľúčové stanoviť mantinely jej používania tak, aby fungovala a bola využívaná v bezpečnom priestore, a v neposlednom rade bola spájaná s hodnotami, ktoré si ceníme. Je nevyhnutné, aby umelá inteligencia slúžila ľuďom a nestavala sa proti nim.
Amending the Directive on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes (A9-0060/2024 - Laura Ballarín Cereza)
Podporila som tento návrh, ktorý sa zameriava na zlepšenie a zefektívnenie súčasného právneho rámca Únie v oblasti tzv. alternatívneho riešenia sporov. Ide o proces, ktorý umožňuje vybavovanie sťažností mimosúdnou cestou za pomoci nestranného orgánu na riešenie sporov. Je okrem iného využívaný aj v prípade spotrebiteľských sporov, kde na jednej strane vystupuje jednotlivec, spotrebiteľ a ako protistrana vystupuje obchodník, výrobca či iná entita z podnikateľského prostredia. Za posledných 10 rokov došlo k výraznému zvýšeniu podielu elektronického obchodu v hospodárstve EÚ, a to dvojnásobne, čím sa priamoúmerne zvýšil aj význam alternatívneho riešenia sporov v spotrebiteľských sporoch. Cieľom tohto návrhu je prispôsobenie existujúceho právneho rámca alternatívneho riešenia sporov tak, aby vyhovoval meniacemu sa vnútorného trhu, ktorý sa čím ďalej tým viac digitalizuje. Má uľahčiť používanie alternatívneho riešenia sporov v cezhraničných sporoch a zjednodušiť postupy uplatňované v tomto procese. Návrh vnímam ako dôležitý krok v nasledovaní zmien na trhu, v spoločnosti a v správaní tak obchodníkov, ako aj spotrebiteľov, a preto som mu vyjadrila podporu.
Safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC (A9-0044/2024 - Marion Walsmann)
V tomto prípade som hlasovala za prijatie nariadenia zameriavajúceho sa na bezpečnosť hračiek predávaných na vnútornom trhu EÚ. Tento návrh na jednej strane znižuje počet predávaných nebezpečných hračiek a taktiež pomáha lepšie chrániť deti pred súvisiacimi rizikami. Je zameraný na zdravie a vývoj detí a posilňuje požiadavky a zákazy určitých chemických látok v hračkách tak, že zákaz karcinogénnych, mutagénnych alebo látok toxických pre reprodukciu, ktorý platí dnes sa rozširuje napríklad o chemikálie negatívne ovplyvňujúce dýchací systém detí. Na účely posúdenia bezpečnosti hračiek návrh zavádza aj tzv. digitálny produktový pas, v ktorom sa podrobne uvádza súlad s príslušnými bezpečnostnými pravidlami. Tým sa zlepší vysledovateľnosť hračiek a dohľad nad trhom a colné kontroly sa zjednodušia a zefektívnia. Spotrebitelia budú mať tiež jednoduchý prístup k bezpečnostným informáciám a varovaniam, napríklad prostredníctvom QR kódu. Okrem toho ale tento predpis reaguje aj na množstvo nových výziev, najmä tých vyplývajúcich z digitálnych hračiek a online nakupovania. Hračky využívajúce umelú inteligenciu budú musieť spĺňať požiadavky na kybernetickú bezpečnosť, ochranu osobných údajov a súkromie. Výrobcovia budú musieť tiež zvážiť riziká pre duševné zdravie a kognitívny vývoj detí.Uvedený návrh som kvôli týmto jeho prínosom podporila, keďže každý krok, ktorý vedie k silnejšej ochrane tých najzraniteľnejších z nás, vítam.
Laying down additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (A9-0045/2024 - Sergey Lagodinsky)
V tomto prípade išlo o riešenie existujúcich nedostatkov v oblasti ochrany osobných údajov, ktoré v súčasnosti pokrýva nariadenie o GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation alebo všeobecné nariadenie o ochrane údajov).Cieľom je hlavne zlepšiť presadzovanie tohto nariadenia, pričom zmeny sa týkajú najmä procesných práv strán a zefektívnenia a zrýchlenia procesov, a to najmä zlepšením spolupráce medzi jednotlivými dozornými orgánmi v rámci členských štátov. Návrh prináša niektoré konkrétne zmeny, ktoré vnímam ako dôležité, a to najmä poskytnutie práva stranám byť vypočuté pred tým, ako príslušné orgány prijmú rozhodnutia, ktoré ich môžu nepriamo nepriaznivo ovplyvniť, či zefektívnenie vybavovania sťažností týkajúcich sa porušení pri zaobchádzaní s osobnými údajmi, čo povedie k lepšej vymožiteľnosti práv dotknutých subjektov.Podporila som tento návrh, pretože potrebu ochrany osobných údajov vnímam ako nevyhnutnosť pre zachovanie súkromia a ochrany osobnosti každého jedného z nás. S rastúcou digitalizáciou a rozvojom technológií je účinný právny rámec, ktorý nám poskytne kontrolu nad našimi osobnými údajmi a zabezpečí pri nakladaní s nimi čo najväčšiu bezpečnosť, nevyhnutnosťou. Riešenie problémov, ktoré návrh prináša, je tak dôležité pre zachovanie dôvery verejnosti v digitálny svet a pre budovanie bezpečnejšej spoločnosti pre všetkých z nás.
New Regulation on Construction Products (A9-0207/2023 - Christian Doleschal)
Hlasovala som za tento návrh, pretože jeho cieľom je zlepšiť fungovanie vnútorných trhov v stavebnom sektore, ktorý tvorí takmer 9 % hrubého domáceho produktu EÚ.Týmto návrhom sa aktualizuje a zefektívňuje legislatívny rámec, čo je nevyhnutné na to, aby sa stavebné výrobky mohli uvádzať na trh bez byrokratických prekážok a zbytočných oneskorení v procese normalizácie. Táto úprava je dôležitá, aby stavebný sektor dokázal držať krok s technologickým pokrokom a legislatívnymi zmenami. Má priniesť zlepšenie bezpečnosti pre výrobcov a sprostredkovateľov daných produktov, zabezpečenie konkurencieschopnosti a transparentnosti, a tým aj zlepšenie samotnej kvality produktov. Okrem zlepšenia z hľadiska produkcie toto nariadenie dopomôže aj k zlepšeniu ochrany životného prostredia a dosahovaniu klimatických cieľov.Podporila som tento návrh, keďže pomáha stavebnému sektoru, ktorý sprostredkováva milióny pracovných pozícií v Európskej únii.
Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector (A9-0162/2023 - Pascal Canfin, Jutta Paulus)
Týmto nariadením sa Európska únia sa snaží posunúť vpred smerom k dosiahnutiu klimatickej neutrality a zároveň zlepšiť kvalitu ovzdušia. Metán je silným skleníkovým plynom, pričom jeho emisie sú významným faktorom zmeny klímy a mnoho z nich pochádza práve z energetiky. Redukcia metánových emisií je preto nesmierne dôležitá. Nové pravidlá sa budú týkať celkového znižovania produkcie a prepravy metánu v energetickom sektore. Zameriavajú sa tiež na odstraňovanie únikov, prevádzkovatelia budú napríklad musieť okamžite, alebo najneskôr do 5 dní, opraviť alebo vymeniť komponenty pri ktorých sa zistí únik metánu nad určitú hranicu. Vďaka nim sa zlepšia aj podmienky pracovníkov a ako aj bezpečnosť pokiaľ ide o distribúciu produktov spojených s metánovými emisiami. Som rada, že sa podarilo docieliť rozšírenie pôsobnosti nariadenia aj na dovoz čo zabezpečí, že nebudú domáci výrobcovia znevýhodnení a zároveň to napomôže znižovaniu metánových emisií aj za našimi hranicami.
Mercury: dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions (A9-0002/2024 - Marlene Mortler)
Táto iniciatíva má zabezpečiť, aby sa v celej EÚ prestali používať aj posledné výrobky obsahujúce ortuť. Je to dôležité preto, aby sa naši občania vyhli zbytočným zdravotným problémom. Navyše okrem toho, že ortuť môže byť nebezpečná pre ľudské zdravie, je dôležité brať do úvahy aj jej dopad na životné prostredie. Obmedzenie používania produktov spojených s ortuťou taktiež napomáha vývoju bezpečnejších alternatív na európskom trhu.
Foodstuffs for human consumption: amending certain 'Breakfast' Directives (A9-0385/2023 - Alexander Bernhuber)
Návrh o aktualizovaní pravidiel pokiaľ ide o zloženie, názvy, označovanie a prezentáciu určitých raňajkových potravín som podporila, pretože považujem za dôležité, aby v tomto sektore vládla transparentnosť. Spotrebitelia musia mať pravdivé informácie o pôvode a obsahu potravín, ktoré si kupujú. Tento návrh napomôže lepšiemu označovaniu pôvodu krajín produktov a tým pádom vytvorí systém vysledovateľnosti pôvodu napríklad medu a tým zamedzí falšovaniu a ilegálnemu dovozu z krajín mimo Európskej únie. Takýmto spôsobom ochráni nie len výrobcov, ale aj spotrebiteľov medových produktov. Nové pravidlá by mali tiež napomôcť k zlepšovaniu samotnej kvality a tiež tomu, aby konzumenti vedeli robiť informované rozhodnutia, vďaka lepšiemu označovaniu obsahu cukru a ovocia v ovocných šťavách, džemoch a marmeládach.
Union certification framework for carbon removals (A9-0329/2023 - Lídia Pereira)
Ochrana životného prostredia prostredníctvom európskej zelenej dohody a napĺňanie jej cieľov boli jednou z priorít tohto legislatívneho obdobia. Cieľom tohto návrhu je zabezpečenie vysokokvalitného certifikovaného odberu uhlíka v EÚ prostredníctvom transparentného rámca riadenia. V súčasnom stave nemáme na trhu žiaden takýto oficiálne uznaný rámec. Pravdou ale je, že existujú niektoré dobrovoľné certifikačné mechanizmy, ktoré používajú rozličné metodiky, čo ale znižuje ich dôveryhodnosť. Keďže sa ale čím ďalej tým viac subjektov zaväzuje znížiť emisie skleníkových plynov na nulu, predpokladá sa, že dopyt po certifikovanom odstraňovaní uhlíka na kompenzáciu zostávajúcich emisií bude narastať. Tento návrh zavádza jednotný rámec pre certifikáciu vysokokvalitného odstraňovania uhlíka, stanovuje kritériá pre činnosť odstraňovania uhlíka a pravidlá týkajúce sa overovania tohto procesu, a to predovšetkým uvedením presných zákonných definícií týchto procesov, čo povedie k väčšej transparentnosti a efektívnosti pri nakladaní s uhlíkom vo výrobnom procese. Tejto iniciatíve som vyjadrila podporu, keďže vytvorenie jednotného rámca vnímam ako správny krok smerom k ochrane nášho životného prostredia a dosiahnutiu uhlíkovej neutrality. Návrh poskytuje jasný smer pre všetky zúčastnené subjekty, ako účinne znižovať svoje emisie.
Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Directive) (A9-0138/2024 - Martin Hojsík)
Tento návrh je jedným z prostriedkov na ceste k lepšej ochrane životného prostredia a vyjadrením ambície EÚ dosiahnuť nulové znečistenie pôdy. Cieľom EÚ je dosiahnuť zdravú pôdu do roku 2050 a preto má pôda podliehať monitorovaniu v rámci jednotlivých členských štátov, ktoré majú následne potom hodnotiť stav všetkých pôd na svojom území podľa navrhovanej päťstupňovej kvalifikácie. Hoci si prirodzene uvedomujem dôležitosť starostlivosti o pôdy, ktoré v Európe máme, uvedenému návrhu som podporu nevyjadrila, nakoľko si nemyslím, že predstavuje účinný spôsob monitorovania skutočného stavu poľnohospodárskej pôdy a nezohľadňuje rozdiely medzi jednotlivými členskými štátmi. Schválenie tohto návrhu by navyše predstavovalo nežiadúce byrokratické zaťaženie pre poľnohospodárov, ktorí sú dnes už aj bez neho vystavení množstvu prekážok pri výkone ich činnosti.
Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (A9-0147/2024 - Tomas Tobé)
Hlasovala som za podporu odporúčaní týkajúcich sa partnerských vzťahov medzi členskými štátmi Európskej únie a členskými štátmi organizácie Afrických, Karibských a Tichomorských štátov. Tento návrh jasne poukazuje na to, že bez ohľadu na vzdialenosť, krajiny tejto dohody majú záujem spoločne riešiť globálne problémy a posilňovať spoluprácu v rôznych oblastiach ako sú napríklad klimatické problémy, mier a bezpečnosť. Okrem toho má táto posilnená spolupráca zlepšiť kvalitu ľudských práv, budovať demokratické princípy aj v krajinách mimo Európskej únie a podporiť hospodársku integráciu medzi štátmi EÚ a spoločnosťou Afrických, Karibských a Tichomorských štátov, ktorá je dôležitá pre globálne napredovanie svetovej ekonomiky.
Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (Resolution) (A9-0159/2024 - Tomas Tobé)
V tomto prípade išlo o sprievodné uznesenie k návrhu o partnerských vzťahov medzi členskými štátmi EÚ a členskými štátmi organizácie Afrických, Karibských a Tichomorských štátov. Toto uznesenie bližšie špecifikuje problémy, na ktoré by sa mali obe strany zamerať, ako je rodová rovnosť, potravinová bezpečnosť, zdravie, migrácia a ľudské vzťahy. Taktiež spomína možnosť vytvárania globálnych aliancii, ktoré by mali zvýšiť globálnu kooperáciu medzi spomínanými regiónmi.
EU/Côte d’Ivoire Voluntary Partnership Agreement: forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the EU (A9-0136/2024 - Karin Karlsbro)
Podporila som odporúčanie Komisie k uzavretiu partnerskej dohody medzi EÚ a Pobrežím Slonoviny, ktorá sa týka vynútiteľnosti práva a správy v lesnom hospodárstve a obchodu s drevom a výrobkami z dreva, pretože odlesňovanie je globálny problém s ktorým sa musíme vysporiadať nie len na európskej úrovni. EÚ dlhodobo bojuje proti odlesňovaniu aj prostredníctvom uzatvárania partnerstiev s krajinami ktoré sú významnými producentmi dreva. Od roka 2005 máme v EÚ licenčný systém FLEGT vďaka ktorému môžeme kontrolovať legálnosť dreva ktoré sa dováža do EÚ v rámci takýchto partnerstiev. V prípade Pobrežia Slonoviny je takáto dohoda nesmierne dôležitá, keďže až 50% jeho drevárskej produkcie sa vyváža práve do krajín Európskej únie. Dohoda by mala zabezpečiť, že obchod s drevom medzi Pobrežím Slonoviny a Európskou úniou prebieha spôsobom, ktorý nepoškodzuje lesy. Práve vďaka tejto dohode sa kompetentné orgány Pobrežia Slonoviny zaviazali ku zvýšeniu zalesňovania o 20% do roku 2030, čo považujem za pozitívny vývoj.
EU/Côte d’Ivoire Voluntary Partnership Agreement: forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the EU (Resolution) (A9-0137/2024 - Karin Karlsbro)
V tomto prípade išlo o sprievodné uznesenie k návrhu rozhodnutia Rady o uzavretí Dohody o dobrovoľnom partnerstve medzi ÉÚ a Pobrežím Slonoviny v ktorom je detailnejšie popísaná pozícia Európskeho parlamentu k tejto dohode. Uznesenie, ako aj uzatvorenie tejto dohody som podporila. Pobrežie Slonoviny do dnešného dňa stratilo až 94 % lesného porastu a je nesmierne dôležité chrániť to, čo tam zostalo, a pomôcť krajine obnoviť tieto životne dôležité ekosystémy. Pre miestne komunity sú lesy zdrojom živobytia a ich ochranou chránime aj práva a blaho ľudí. Som rada, že do procesu vyrokovania tejto dohody boli zapojené aj skupiny občianskej spoločnosti a miestne komunity, a preto zohľadňuje aj potreby ľudí, ktorí v týchto lesoch a ich okolí žijú. Ako pozitívne vnímam, že dohoda zabezpečí podporu udržateľného hospodárenia s lesmi ako aj boj proti nelegálnej ťažbe dreva v Pobreží Slonoviny a zároveň zjednoduší legálny obchod s drevom, čo pomôže ekonomickému rastu a boju s chudobou v tejto oblasti.
VAT: amendment of the EU–Norway Agreement on administrative cooperation, combating fraud and recovery of claims (A9-0057/2024 - Irene Tinagli)
Podporila som schválenie dodatku k dohode medzi Európskou úniou a Nórskym kráľovstvom o administratívnej spolupráci, boji proti podvodom a vymáhaní pohľadávok v oblasti dane z pridanej hodnoty, pretože ide o dôležitý krok smerom k prevencii daňových podvodov v celej Európskej únii. Tento dodatok posilňuje administratívnu spoluprácu, uľahčuje výmenu informácii a posilňuje vzájomnú pomoc pri vyšetrovaní podvodov a tým pádom chráni integritu systému DPH. Tento dodatok taktiež dodržiava najnovšie legislatívne normy Európskej únie a zabezpečuje súlad s implementáciou pravidiel, čím pomáha chrániť záujmy daňových poplatníkov a zároveň pomáha zachovať dôveru v dôležitosť daňového systému v členských krajinách.
Urban wastewater treatment (A9-0276/2023 - Nils Torvalds)
V tomto prípade som vyjadrila podporu iniciatíve, ktorá sa sústreďuje na čistenie komunálnych odpadových vôd. Konkrétne ide o prepracovanie smernice čistení komunálnych odpadových vôd tak, aby lepšie zodpovedala ambíciám EÚ stanovených v európskej zelenej dohode a zohľadňovala realitu a ďalšie kritické výzvy, ktorým posledné roky naše životné prostredie čelí. V rámci tohto návrhu sa zavádzajú niektoré mechanizmy na efektívnejšiu starostlivosť o vody a ich čistenie, ako kontrola znečistenia spôsobeného dažďovou vodou, odstraňovanie mikropolutantov, no napríklad aj širšia kontrola producentov kozmetických alebo farmaceutických výrobkov, ktoré sú v mnohých prípadoch nebezpečným znečisťovateľom a kontaminátorom vôd a hrozbou pre verejné zdravie. Uvedenému návrhu som tak bez väčších pochýb vyjadrila podporu, nakoľko mám za to, že starostlivosť o vodu ako nenahraditeľný zdroj potrebný pre naše každodenné fungovanie je základom jednak zdravého životného prostredia a jednak zachovania verejného zdravia. Zohľadnenie nových mechanizmov a prístupov k udržiavaniu čistých komunálnych odpadových vôd preto vnímam ako kľúčové pre zachovanie biodiverzity, zdravého životného prostredia a v neposlednom rade aj zdravia nás, ľudí.
Written questions (13)
The challenge of recycling old wind turbine blades in the EU
Activation of the Temporary Protection Directive in response to the devastating earthquake in Turkey
The human rights situation in Uganda and the closure of the local UN human rights office
Transfer of power advancing annexation of the West Bank by Israel
Commission action against adulterated honey
Retail alliances
Putting effective means in place to stop the proliferation of sargassum in the outermost regions
Risks related to children’s use of social media
The ratification of ILO Convention 189 by the EU Member States
Ensuring safety and health at work for domestic workers
Commission efforts to improve the situation of the unpaid truck drivers in Gräfenhausen
Commission communication ‘A comprehensive approach to mental health’ and phenylketonuria patients
Negative effects caused by the practical implementation of the EU-Ukraine and EU-Moldova agreements on the carriage of freight by road
Amendments (684)
Amendment 28 #
2024/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Subject to an assessment by the Commission carried out in the context of the regular monitoring of the impact of this Regulation and launched either following a duly substantiated request from a Member State or on the Commission’s own initiative, it is necessary to provide for the possibility to take any necessary measures for imports of any products falling under the scope of this Regulation which are adversely affecting the Union market or the market of one or several Member States for like or directly competing products. There is a particularly precarious situation in the markets for wheat, poultry, eggs, honey and sugar that may harm Union agricultural producers if imports from Ukraine were to increase. It is appropriate to introduce an automatic safeguard for wheat, eggs, poultry, honey and sugar products that is activated if quantities imported pursuant to this Regulation exceed the arithmetic mean of quantities in 20221 and 20232.
Amendment 71 #
2024/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
If, during the period 6 June to 31 December 2024, cumulative import volumes of either wheat, eggs, poultry, honey or sugar since 1 January 2024 reach the respective arithmetic mean of import volumes recorded in 20221 and 20232, the Commission shall, within 21 days and after informing the Committee on Safeguards established by Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/478:
Amendment 99 #
2024/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
If, during the period 1 January to 5 June 2025, cumulative import volumes of either wheat, eggs, poultry, honey or sugar for the period since 1 January 2025 reach five twelfths of the respective arithmetic mean of import volumes recorded 20221 and 20232,the Commission shall, within 21 days and after informing the Committee on Safeguards, reintroduce for that product the corresponding tariff-rate quota suspended by Article 1(1), point b.
Amendment 115 #
2024/0028(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 3
For the purposes of this paragraph, the terms wheat, eggs, poultry, honey and sugar refer to all products covered by the tariff-rate quotas in the Appendix to Annex I-A of the Association Agreement for, respectively, eggs and albumins, poultry meat and poultry meat preparations, and sugars, and the arithmetic mean shall be calculated by dividing the sum of import volumes in 20221 and 20232 by two.
Amendment 1 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Japan is the EU’s closest partner in the Indo-Pacific region; whereas in 2022, the EU was Japan’s third largest trading partner, while Japan was the EU’s eighth largest trading partner; whereas together the EU and Japan account for almost a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product;
Amendment 2 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2019; whereas bilateral trade flows caught up to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 (EUR 124 billion) and in 2022 bilateral trade flows increased by 13.4% to EUR 140.6 billion in goods; whereas in 2022, EU exports to Japan amounted to EUR 71.5 billion in goods and EUR 35.4 billion in services;
Amendment 6 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that entered into force on 1 February 2019, is a landmark trade agreement benefittis a landmark trade agreement that goes beyond trade, strengthening bnoth only economies; underlines that since then, bilateral trade in goods and services between the EU and Japan has increased, with a positive trade balance for the EUc ties, but also consolidating bilateral cooperation at a global level, which is based on democratic values, the rule of law, free and fair trade, sustainable development, as well as a rules-based multilateral world order;
Amendment 7 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes that since the entry into force of the EPA, bilateral trade in goods and services between the EU and Japan has increased, with a positive trade balance for the EU; welcomes the results after four years of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan, with an increase of 14,9 % of EU exports of good in 2022 over the previous year and an increase of 11,9 % of EU imports of good in the same period;
Amendment 9 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges that simplified procedures for obtaining tariff preferences and strong rules of origin have facilitated exports from EU companies and small and medium-sized enterprises to Japan; calls on the Commission to continue its outreach events to enable smaller companies to access information and benefit from the agreement;
Amendment 10 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that the EPA has opened new markets for several agri-food sectors, including for fruits, vegetables, meat and wine, resulting in an increase of more than 30 % in EU agri-food exports to Japan since 2018; calls for further cooperation with Japan on the sustainability of global food systems, also taking into account that, in July 2023, the EU fully lifted the import restrictions for food in place following the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the ongoing work towards the extension of the list of geographical indications protecAsks the Commission to accelerate the remaining work for the third amendment to the list of geographical indications annexed to the EPA , bringing us closer to the protection of 300 geographical indications; highlights that the extension of geographical indications so far agreed by the EU and Japan is unprecedented uander the EPA believes it is an important step forward in the protection of EU geographical indications at the global level;
Amendment 18 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the importance ofUnderlines that the implementingation of the EPA fully and effectively, includinghas overall been smooth and successful but demands further progress in the areas of government procurement to ensure transparency, and in the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) commitments to speed up and simplify import procedures;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 24 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Welcomes the progress made since the EU-Japan Summit 2023 on SPS import procedures, especially on the project for mutual recognition of zoning in the area of animal health;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls on both parties to enhance regulatory cooperation in the fields of green technologies, notably on offshore wind power and renewable hydrogen, stepping up joint work on the energy and green transitions under the EU-Japan Green Alliance; welcomes the signature of a memorandum of cooperation on hydrogen to help establish a rules-based and transparent global hydrogen market;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the negotiations on data flows under the EPA provided that these provisions will properly protectUnderlines the need to complete the EPA with provisions ensuring the free flow of data; welcomes the negotiations on data flows under the EPA and calls on both parties to agree on modern digital trade rules that preserve the high level of personal data and privacy protection in the EU;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the launch of the EU- Japan digital partnership to advance cooperation on digital issues; welcomes, in this regard, the conclusion of the digital trade principles and the signature of the memorandum of cooperation on semiconductors, promoting a human-centric digital transformation based on democratic principles; welcomes, in this regard, the conclusion of the digital trade principles, covering data governance, digital trade facilitation as well as consumer and business trust, and the signature of the memorandum of cooperation on semiconductors, which namely foresees an early warning mechanism of critical disruptions in the semiconductors supply chain;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that the EU has a new approach to trade and sustainable development, which includes the possibility of sanctions as a last resort in cases of serious violations of the Paris Agreement and the core International Labour Organization (ILO) standards; believes that the Economic Partnership Agreement should be a ‘living agreement’ and calls on both parties to find ways to implement a number of innovative sustainable elements into the trade agreement;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the Japanese ratification of the fundamental ILO convention on the Abolition of Forced Labour (No. 105); encourages Japan to continue the works towards the ratification of the remaining ILO core convention on Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation(No. 111);
Amendment 37 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the important role of civil society organisations and the domestic advisory groups in the monitoring and implementation of the agreement; asks Japan to develop ways of participation of civil society in the dialogue around the Trade and Sustainable Development provisions of the EPA; calls for closer cooperation between the EU and Japan domestic advisory groups and expects that their views on sustainability issues are taken into account in the government-to- government consultations provided in the agreement;
Amendment 38 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Takes note that the negotiations for an agreement on the protection of investment are stalled and recalls the European Parliament resolution of June 2022 on the future of EU International Investment policy;
Amendment 39 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Calls on both parties to continue to pursue a full and effective implementation of the EPA, strengthening the resilience of bilateral trade and investment relations and ensuring that citizens and businesses, especially SMEs, fully benefit from the opportunities that the agreement creates;
Amendment 40 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Welcomes the decision of Japan to join the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement, which is an alternative system open to all World Trade Organization (WTO) members for resolving WTO disputes, pending the restoration of a reformed WTO dispute settlement system;
Amendment 41 #
2023/2107(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Asks the EU and Japan to explore the possibility of establishing a joint Trade and Technology Council, following the model existing between the EU and the USA; asks the Commission and Japan to explore ways of developing common strategies in economic security and technological cooperation; calls for further cooperation with Japan in the digital and green transitions, economic security, the resilience of global supply chains in strategic sectors, as well as in other relevant issues such as anti- coercion, export controls and investment screening, as the EU and Japan share common values and our strategic interests increasingly converge;
Amendment 7 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. A. Whereas equality between women and men is a core value of the Union enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU); whereas Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) requires the Union, in all its activities, to aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote gender equality; whereas ending the spread of hate and gender based violence is a prerequisite to achieving real gender equality;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas hate speech often starts as an act of bias, which can then lead to motivated violence; whereas gender based hate speech and hate crime have enormous consequences on individual women, such as physical harm, sometimes resulting in severe injury or death and psychological harm, including stress, anxiousness and depression; whereas gender based hate speech and hate crime also have enormous consequences on the society as a whole;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. Whereas femicide is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence; whereas in 2020, the estimation is that 2600 women were killed by intimate partners or other family members in Europe; whereas the number of victims is estimated to be much higher, as there is lack a lack of comparative data and harmonised legal definition of the crime;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. wWhereas anti-gender movementorganisations are internationally connected and spread rhetoric against anyone who does not fall under the norms of the heteronormative, patriarchal societymovements that spread messages and fear for all that is not within the heteronormative, masculine, patriarchal society; whereas these movements create an ‘anti-gender’ ideology and discourse that fuels gender- based hate crime and hate speech against women and LGBTIQ+ persons; whereas these movements have a cross-border dimension, online as well as offline;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
Amendment 41 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. Whereas in striving for a society free of hate speech and hate crimes, it is of outmost importance to tackle the root causes of this phenomenon; whereas education, including comprehensice sexuality and relationships education, awareness raising campaigns and trainings for professionals can have a big added value in this matter;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls upon the Commission to propose a clear definition of hate crime and hate speech, includeing an explicit definition of gender-based hate speech and hate crimes when legislation is proposed; Calls upon the Commission to include in the proposal offline and online gender- based hate speech and hate crime;
Amendment 78 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Urges Member States and Commission to develop, together with the European Parliament, effective prevention strategies; including a resilient campaign countering hate speech, disinformation and fake news; calls upon Member States to develop specific educational programmes, including comprehensive sexuality and relationships education curricula, that focuses on creating awareness for gender biases, stereotypes and consequently expected roles in society that can lead gender based hate speech and hate crime;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Emphasizes the importance of trainings for professionals in order to ensure that they are aware of the possible gender aspect of hate speech and hate crime, especially when they play an important role in society, such as teachers and law enforcement authorities. Calls upon employers as well as governments to facilitate these kind of trainings.
Amendment 5 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas rural areas face the urgent challenges of demographic decline and ageing, especially affecting EU farming populations, along with rural abandonment, lack of access to infrastructure, healthcare, education and services, low incomes and fewer job opportunities;
Amendment 10 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the digital and green transitions offer opportunities for stronger, connected, resilient, innovative and prosperous rural areas in the long term, however, despite recent improvements in high-speed broadband connectivity, only 59% of households in rural regions have access to broadband, compared to 87% of the households in the EU;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas calls to improve rural quality of life, achieve balanced territorial development and stimulate economic growth in rural areas;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the role and importance of rural areas is often under-appreciated, insufficiently rewarded and funded;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the diversity of EU’s rural areas calls for locally designed responses and solutions corresponding to each territory’s specific needs and possibilities and strategies should address rural areas according to their individual characteristics and in relation to their environment, using, among other tools, the rural proofing mechanism;
Amendment 18 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas rural communities are exposed to greater damages from climate change, more frequent adverse climate events such as storms, floods and droughts, and the consequences of biodiversity loss, and experience greater costs associated with climate transition;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that small, medium and family farms are the backbone of EU rural areas, providing food security and ecosystem services for European citizens;
Amendment 39 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights the role that agriculture plays in achieving the Union objectives of food security, sustainable growth, social inclusion, and combating climate change, while helping to diversify agricultural production, preserve biodiversity and develop local economies;
Amendment 59 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls for improvement of the level of digital skills and the availability and affordability of adequate digital infrastructure, and the capacities to effectively deploy digital technologies, such as digital service platforms in rural areas;
Amendment 62 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls for development of partnerships in all economic activities in rural areas, between businesses of all sectors, local authorities, researchers and services based on innovation, knowledge sharing and cooperation;
Amendment 65 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Calls for more effort in enabling rural residents to take active part in policy and decision-making processes, involving a broad range of stakeholders at all levels of governance to develop tailor-made, place-based and integrated policy solutions and investments
Amendment 67 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Calls for improving affordable public transport services and infrastructure such as railways, roads, charging and refuelling stations to support e-mobility solutions;
Amendment 69 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Emphasises the essential economic role played by agriculture, forestry and fisheries, calls for further development of short supply chains, quality schemes, producer organisations and cooperatives that contribute to increasing the sustainability of European food production;
Amendment 70 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5g. Emphasises that generational renewal is the key for social, economic and environmental sustainability of rural areas and EU food autonomy and the future of agriculture and thus must remain a high priority in territorial development plans and strategies, stresses the need to account for the needs of small and medium sized farmers, and especially focus at attracting young farmers, preventing land abandonment and facilitating land access and access to credit;
Amendment 71 #
2023/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5h. Stresses the significance of circular and bio-economy principles, as well as their application within the agricultural sector, in contributing to the realization of the objectives set out in the European Green Deal; encourages the enhancement of understanding and the implementation of circular and bio- economy principles within the European agriculture and food system.
Amendment 5 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the extraction of raw materials is often linked to environmental pollution, destruction of nature and the violation of ILO standards and human rights;
Amendment 6 #
2023/2031(INI)
Ab. whereas developing countries largely function as exporters of unprocessed raw materials and the value creation is concentrated in economically developed countries;
Amendment 7 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas a transport and digital infrastructure is needed to develop regional value chains and to become increasingly included in global value chains;
Amendment 12 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas raw materials exporting developing countries are heavily dependent on tax revenues from the export of raw materials;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas commodity price volatility during the Covid 19 pandemic caused severe economic damage to developing countries dependent on the tax revenues from extractive industries;
Amendment 15 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas a diversified economy makes developing countries more resilient to external shocks;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas the aspirations of the European Green Deal and the transformation of the global economy holds momentum to mobilize investments in the mineral rich developing countries needed for the green transition;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas the green transition presents the potential to be a generator of quality and green jobs that can contribute significantly to poverty eradication and social inclusion both in advanced and in developing countries
Amendment 18 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas the pre-COVID-19 USD 2.5 trillion annual SDG financing gap corresponds to about USD 500 billion for low-income countries and USD 2 trillion for other developing countries;
Amendment 19 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas the investment gap in developing countries amount to 4.2 trillion US$ per year in order to reach the SDG goals;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
Bh. whereas negotiations on Sustainable Investment Facilitation for Development are being held at WTO level;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B i (new)
Recital B i (new)
Bi. whereas these negotiations include more than 70 developing countries, among them 20 LDCs;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B j (new)
Recital B j (new)
Bj. whereas developing countries are often facing constraints in their governmental capabilities and a lack of provided information to comply with EU standards, and other requirements regarding Green Deal initiatives and upcoming EU legislation such as, but not limited to, Due Diligence, Forced labour, Deforestation and CBAM;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to establish mutually beneficial climate partnerships with developing countries that place people- centred and environment-centred development at the heart of its objectives and all operational policy frameworks;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Commission to engage further into bilateral Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreements with countries who are willing to transition;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls on the Commission, Member States and partner countries to ensure that these climate partnerships and Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreements align with the national determined contributions of the partner countries;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while facilitating investments, there is no race to the bottom in subsidies in partner countries, leading to a lowering of ILO and environmental standards;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reiterates that regional value chains and the strengthening of intra- regional trade has a positive effect on surrounding countries and strengthens their resilience especially during external shocks;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the EU to facilitate public investments in hard and soft infrastructure with the lowest possible adverse environmental impact;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to convene information exchanges involving the private sector, civil society, trade unions and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure that EU requirements are met;
Amendment 38 #
2023/2031(INI)
2d. Calls on the Commission to better coordinate national export credit agencies in order to align their performances with priorities of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 44 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that in order for developing countries to achieve the SDGs, capacity building measures in regards to governance, legal, and fiscal capacity is urgently needed;
Amendment 45 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Urges the Commission to extend their efforts in the support for capacity building with partner countries;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Calls on the Commission and Member States to provide wide-ranging information to partner countries including technological transfer and extensive information on the requirements that the Green Deal projects and upcoming EU legislation entail;
Amendment 47 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Reiterates that flexible transitional arrangements are needed for developing countries to comply with these requirements;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that when selecting and supporting Global Gateway projects, social dialogue needs to be an integral part of the institutional framework for policy-making and implementation at all levels;
Amendment 2 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is one of the most inclusive and sustainable trade deals ever signed; whereas substantial increase in trade flows and positive trends in cooperation between the two parties have been registered following its entry into application;
Amendment 10 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas a number of Member States have not ratified the Agreement since its entry into application six years ago;
Amendment 12 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with satisfaction the considerable increase in bilateral trade in food and agricultural products between the EU and Canada and the 26 % increase in exports of EU agricultural products to Canada since the start of the provisional application of CETA; welcomes the significant increase in the number of the Union’s micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises exporting to Canada, as well as the increase in the value of exported products;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that, in the implementation of CETA and all other EU trade agreements, due account must be taken of respect for sustainable agricultural production, reciprocity and the maintenance of high production standards, in particular sanitary and phytosanitary standards, as laid down in Union law;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Underlines the importance of effective cooperation between the agricultural sectors of the Union and Canada in contributing to the mitigation of climate change and to environmental protection, including through the exchange of information on innovative farming practices, while limiting the administrative burden on producers;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the importance of recognising the system of geographical indications (GIs) as a key component of the agreement; underlines the need for further effective enforcement of GI protection for EU rights holders in Canada, also through better communication to stakeholders on CETA's GI commitments, in particular on the GI protection regime and on its enforcement;
Amendment 24 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that, in order to maintain balanced market conditions, Canada does not use measures favouring local producers, such as differential taxes and mark ups, or measures that allow for direct delivery exclusively by local producers;
Amendment 26 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Underlines the importance of swift amendment of the Annexes to the 2003 Agreement on Trade in Wines and Spirits Drinks to allow for the inclusion of certain GIs from Member States that joined the Union after 2003;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2001(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the progress made in eliminating most of the duties in trade of agricultural products between the Union and Canada, as well as the evolution of the use of tariff rate quotas (TRQs);
Amendment 29 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out the negative effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on food security, and stresses the rapidly increasing importance of food and feed sovereignty;
Amendment 38 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that inflation has been much higher than the 2 % deflator foreseen in the MFF, which will not compensate for the loss of value, imposing further strains on farmers’ profitability, especially small- scale and young farmers; highlights the fact that the CAP budget in the MFF 2021-27 is already lower than in the previous planning period and that the high inflation further depreciates the funding available to farmers particularly in the CAP Budget;
Amendment 49 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is committed to ensuring that generational renewalConsiders that that the demographic challenge of ageing population is of particular concern in rural areas and is committed to ensuring that generational renewal, as the key for social, economic and environmental sustainability of rural areas and EU food autonomy, the future of agriculture and the traditional family farming model, must remain a high priority in the future CAP programming period; calls for the strengthening of support measures for young farmers and for the improvement of their access to land and credit;
Amendment 60 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the importance of redistributive income support mechanisms in supporting smaller and medium-sized farms and ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of Union funds;
Amendment 75 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the acceleration of the digital transformation in agriculture and rural areas to allow for more precise, efficient and sustainable agricultural systems in the EU with a higher environmental performance, as well as increase the attractiveness of employment in agriculture and rural communities for younger generations;
Amendment 78 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the important role of agri-cooperatives, and calls on Member States to provide more support for the cooperative sector to develop incentive schemes for setting up new cooperatives, helping to boost the competitiveness of the agri-food sector and the economic and social development of rural areas; stresses that this collaboration can help cooperatives’ members to adapt more easily to climate change, increase efficiency and diversify their production;
Amendment 83 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Emphasises the need for careful monitoring of the national CAP strategic plans. Recalls that implementation of common agricultural policy (CAP) strategic plans began in January 2023, putting in place CAP’s new green architecture and taking an important step in the transition towards more sustainable food systems in the EU, emphasises the need for careful monitoring of the national CAP strategic plans; encourages Member States to improve the quality of data and indicators reported to the Union in order to realize the full potential of the new performance-based CAP and accurately assess its impact;
Amendment 88 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the mobilisation of the crisis reserve to finance exceptional measures for Union farmers most affected by the war in Ukraine, climate events and market disturbances, recalls, however, that the crisis reserve only consists of about EUR 3 per hectare of the farmland in the EU, emphasises the urgent need for additional better-funded instruments for crisis management;
Amendment 95 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Recalls the Court of Auditors’ Special report on conflict of interest in EU cohesion and agricultural spending, calls on the Commission to take action to improve the prevention, detection and reporting of conflicts of interests, and to promote transparency;
Amendment 96 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Calls for the Commission to maintain an adequate level of funding in order to preserve the high sanitary and phytosanitary status in the EU, and rejects any decrease in co-financing rates for sanitary programmes and control of emerging diseases, which may jeopardise animal and plant health, and thus human health in the EU;
Amendment 97 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Points out the significant potential of results-based carbon farming for tackling climate change through carbon sequestration and the preservation of biodiversity and eco-systems;
Amendment 98 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Emphasises the value that circular economy and the agricultural sectors that work according to its principles can bring in achieving the goals set in the European Green Deal, encourages pilot projects to improve knowledge and increase the understanding of possible benefits of circular economy principles for the European food system;
Amendment 99 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 g (new)
Paragraph 11 g (new)
11g. Reaffirms the significance of the Union's school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme to help children follow a healthy diet, with nutrition its primary focus; invites Member States to fully use their allocations of those schemes and prioritise sustainable, local, and high-quality production;
Amendment 100 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 h (new)
Paragraph 11 h (new)
11h. Stresses the importance of Solidarity Lanes in ensuring that Ukrainian grain can reach countries most in need, supporting Ukraine's economy and preventing a global food crisis, notices, however, the impact of the surge in traffic, and calls on the Commission to provide funding for strengthening and improving the relevant infrastructure.
Amendment 1 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 6 October 2022 on the outcome of the Commission’s review of the 15-point action plan on trade and sustainable development,
Amendment 14 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU and New Zealand are like-minded partners who share fundamental values, such as respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and both support a rules-based trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its centrepiece;
Amendment 17 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas New Zealand is situated in the dynamic and strategically important Indo-Pacific region ; whereas New Zealand is a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership;
Amendment 27 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas this is the first EU trade agreement aligned with the EU’s new approach to trade and sustainable development, which includes enforceable provisions with sanctions as a last resort;
Amendment 30 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Insists, nevertheless, that the Commission carefully manage and monitor the TRQs and keep the European Parliament constantly informed;
Amendment 33 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas open and fair trade is one of the four pillars of the EU’s Green Deal industrial plan;
Amendment 35 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers this agreement to be of major significance for bilateral relations between the EU and New Zealand and the promotion of rules- and values-based trade, bringing benefits beyond purely economic gains;
Amendment 36 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. CNotes that there is only a general final clause of the FTA, therefore, calls for the EU to implement safeguards, such as seasonality, on the additional TRQs for agricultural products;
Amendment 38 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that, a the agreement is comprehensive, economically balanced and it is the most ambitious and comprehenprogressive EU trade deal ever concluded,to date on sustainability; highlights that the agreement delivers on the priorities set out in Parliament’s resolutions of 25 February 2016 and 26 October 2017; notes that the agreement includes a dispute settlement mechanism to ensure that the rights and obligations contained therein are respected, so that businesses, workers and consumers can enjoy its benefits;
Amendment 48 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that the EU beef and sheep sectors are under pressure owing to the market access being given to non-EU countries; calls on the Commission to consider the cumulative impacts of future trade deals on EU farmers and the need for investment in local EU production; it is necessary to maintain a level playing field for EU farmers, agri-food producers and workers; therefore, calls for the introduction of appropriate support measures for EU farmers;
Amendment 56 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the agreement will level the playing field with other trading partners that already have FTAs with New Zealand; notes the high level of tariff liberalisation under the agreement, which will entail the removal of 100 % of New Zealand tariffs on EU exports at entry into force and the lifting of 98.5 % of EU tariffs on New Zealand trade after seven years; notes the counter-seasonal nature of our respective agriculture production; believes that the sensitive character of certain European agricultural sectors has been duly reflected by well-calibrated concessions in the formtaken into account through tariff-rate quotas and longer transition periods; calls on the Commission to monitor closely the management of tariff- rate quotas and longer transition periodsfor agricultural products and report back to Parliament; welcomes the inclusion of dedicated chapters on sustainable food systems and animal welfare respectively and anand calls on both parties to further exchange on outcomes for sustainable agricultural practices; also welcomes the animal welfare condition in the tariff rate quota for beef and the ambitious chapter on sanitary and phytosanitary matters;
Amendment 61 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that it would welcome exchanges between the EU and New Zealand on good practices, in particular regarding regulations on new breeding techniques and attracting young people, especially female farmers, into the farming profession;
Amendment 73 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the obligation for the insurance of the effective implementation of the ILO convention and the multilateral environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, welcomes that the FTA also includes chapters on SPS measures, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, and technical barriers to trade.
Amendment 75 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the protection that the agreement provides for the names of 163 European foodstuff geographical indications (GIs) and the complete list of EU GI wines and spirits, as well as the scope for (close to 2000 names); highlights that the agreement foresees the opportunity to adding more GI names in the future; notes that the agreement also includes comprehensive intellectual property provisions on copyright, trademarks and industrial designs, thereby ensuring effective protection and enforcement;
Amendment 80 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the market-access commitments on goods, given the removal of relatively high duties on industrial products such as cars and textiles, and the commitments on services, including delivery, telecommunications, financial and international maritime transport services, have the potential to significantly boost bilateral trade; considers that the agreement promotes transparency and the use of international standards to facilitate market access, while safeguarding the levels of protection that each party deems appropriate; welcomes that the agreement explicitly reaffirms the right of each party to regulate to pursue legitimate policy objectives; appreciates New Zealand’s acceptance of EU type-approval certificates and the provisions of the annex on wine and spirits, which will respectively facilitate trade in the vehicles and wine and spirits sectors;
Amendment 83 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the fact that the EU and New Zealand will reciprocally open up their procurement markets beyond what is already covered under the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement; stresses that EU companies will be allowed to tender for New Zealand central and sub-central government contracts on an equal footing with local companies;
Amendment 87 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the agreement includes a dedicated chapter on digital trade, which will ensure predictability and legal certainty in digital trade transactions and facilitate cross-border data flows, while respecting the EU acquis on the protection of data and privacy; welcomes that the agreement will help ensure a secure online environment for consumers and that it will preserve a high level of personal data and privacy protection in the EU; welcomes the inclusion of ambitious articles on the protection of source code and paperless trade;
Amendment 89 #
2023/0038M(NLE)
11a. Urges both partners to ensure the active involvement of social partners and civil society, notably through the civil society forum and the domestic advisory group, on the implementation of the agreement; calls on both parties to ensure the swift establishment of well- functioning, effective and balanced domestic advisory groups and to ensure that their views on transversal sustainability issues are taken into account in a transparent manner in the government-to-government consultations provided in the agreement; calls on the Commission to ensure that the EU delegation to New Zealand is involved in the process of implementing the agreement from start to finish;
Amendment 5 #
2022/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recognises the efforts made by Uzbekistan in implementation of the ILO standards, notably directed towards the elimination of child labour and forced labour in the cotton sector. Underlines the need for continued efforts in this regard. Urges the government to work towards ensuring fair wages for cotton workers; recognises the adoption of the new Labour Code, which will introduce innovations in labour relations and dispute resolution coming into force on 30 April 2023;
Amendment 11 #
2022/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Acknowledges the challenges that Uzbekistan is facing, considering the current geopolitical situation, as the government attempts to diversify its economic and trade dependencies on Russia and seeks to encourage greater cooperation with its European partners;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of Uzbekistan’s membership of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus, which contributes to economic growth and yields very positive results (exports to the EU increased by 34 % in 2021); Recognises that the acceptance of Uzbekistan as a beneficiary of GSP+ reflects the recognition of reforms undertaken by the government. Notes that despite the progress made by Uzbekistan in recent years, a number of concerns remain regarding the effective implementation of the 27 international conventions. Reiterates the need for effective implementation of the conventions as well as compliance with reporting obligations under the GSP+ scheme.
Amendment 27 #
2022/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that Uzbekistan can play an important role in exporting precious metals to Europe, which are needed for the EU’s green transition;, while respecting and in light of EU and international developments on due diligence
Amendment 34 #
2022/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for cooperation and EU support for green development and the further exploration of Uzbekistan’s potential for building trade and economic relations with the EU .
Amendment 1 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the decision of the UK Government to pursue a hard Brexit upon its withdrawal from the EU was inevitably going to entail the disruptive disintegration of economic and trade ties and the divergence of regulatory regimes for farmers, agri-food producers, citizens and third-country trading partners;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas it is necessary to preserve a level playing field and legal certainty for famers, agri-food producers and workers, citizens;
Amendment 6 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that UK requirements for unnecessary guarantees in relation to certain animal diseases are not in line with the standanrds of the World Organizations for Animal Health; regrets the fact that the UK is not respecting the obbligation to align its certification requirements with international standards;
Amendment 11 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that, although interim arrangements offered by the EU allowed to improve the situation, strucural solutions are needed for the acceptance of EU paperless certificates by the United Kingdom;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Acknowledges the introduction by the United Kingdom of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill in May 2022, establishing new rules for release and marketing of "precision bred organisms" in England;
Amendment 14 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls on the EU to speed up the adoption of legislation on the use of new breeding techniques, in order to ensure a level playing field for EU farmers, while sustainably increasing yields and making crops more resilient to climate change and new pathogens, particularly in view of harmful organisms, floods, droughts, water shortages and other extreme weather conditions that are afflicting an increasing number of Member States;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on the Commission to keep Parliament fully informed in a timely manner of all difficulties that may arise, in particular possible breaches of the Agreements that might jeopardise the level playing field and fair competition for the EU’s farmers, agri-food producers and workers;
Amendment 9 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas in 2020, a majority (57.6 %) of farm managers (all genders) were at least 55 years of age and approximately only 10 % of farm managers were under 40 years old; whereas a relatively high proportion of farmers have 65 years of age or more in many Member States;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas almost all EU regions are experiencing a steady increase in average farm sizes and a concentration of production on fewer and larger farms; whereas the number of farms in EU-27 declined between 2013 and 2016 from about 15 to 10 million (-32%) with the strongest decline being among small farms 1a; _________________ 1a The Future of the European Farming Model: Socio-economic and territorial implications of the decline in the number of farms and farmers in the EU, 2022
Amendment 24 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas farms run by managers of 40 years old or younger have the lowest income on average at EU level and that farms run by women have lower incomes in comparison with men 1a; _________________ 1a EU Farm economics overview, 2021
Amendment 25 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas in 2020 slightly more than two thirds (68.4%) of farm managers in the EU’s 9.1 million holdings were male;
Amendment 28 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas 72.3% of farm managers in the EU in 2020 had only practical experience, while barely 10.2% had full agricultural training and the remaining 17.5% only basic agricultural training;
Amendment 32 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas farming remains a predominantly family activity as in 2020 almost nine in ten (86.1%) people who worked regularly in agriculture in the EU were the sole holder (farmer) or members of his/her family;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the low level of intergenerational renewal in farming, while part of a larger trend of demographic decline, is a general EU concern for the sector, affecting particularly remote rural areas; ;
Amendment 70 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a fair and dignified income and quality of life for farmers and their families is essential in attracting young and new people to the sector and that Member States must devote at least 3% of their direct payments envelope to this objective;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. 6. Recalls that although the number of new entrants from outside the agricultural sector is growing, intra- family succession is still the dominant form of entry into farming;
Amendment 102 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out that the Court of Justice of the European Union has been recognising in its rulings the specific nature of agricultural land as well as a set of public interests and objectives that can justify the establishment of land market regulation measures;
Amendment 112 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Acknowledges the positive effect of CAP young’s farmers measures on the number of young farmers, in particular those located in more peripheral rural areas 1a; _________________ 1a SWD (2021) 78 final
Amendment 113 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Highlights the positive contribution of LEADER projects and initiatives to social inclusion and to challenges faced by young people, notably when prioritising youth in selection criteria and in setting up youth local action groups;
Amendment 157 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to develop coherent strategies to promote generational change, combining different measures in a complementary way, such as financial support, tax breaks and incentives, to improve links between EU policies and national and regional policies; calls on the Commission to promote the sharing of best practices between Member States in this regard, with a focus on increasing efficiency, simplification and accessibility when designing measures for young farmers;
Amendment 183 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that generational renewal needs both younger and older generations and therefore intergenerational cooperation and dialogue must be fostered;
Amendment 245 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to establish an EU observatory on farmland, as part of the Rural Observatory, to monitor, in particular, trends and prices for land sale and rental, tenancy regimes, as well as changes in farmland use and land abandonment;
Amendment 310 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Insists that generational renewal remain a high priority in the future programming period in order to receive, namely on the CAP, to be supported in a mandatory and increased supportway;
Amendment 313 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Encourages politicians, schools, media, farmers, local associations, to work together in promoting a positive image of farming and rural areas and to communicate on the farmer’s role in food production and environmental services;
Amendment 314 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Amendment 315 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Stresses the importance of providing tailored advisory services, in particular to support young farmers and new entrants, prior to their installation and in the following years; highlights the potential of diversifying the models of advice to better address farmers diversity (e.g. peer-to-peer learning, mentoring schemes);
Amendment 316 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. Highlights the importance of integrating in the training schemes for new entrants and young farmers, in addition to the technical, business and digital contents, also contents on soft skills, communication, leadership, mental health and well-being, among others;
Amendment 317 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 e (new)
Paragraph 27 e (new)
27e. Considers that diverse options of facilitating the farm transmission process should be fostered in public policies at European and national level, such as existing farms acting as incubators for start-up businesses or new models of business allowing progressive transfer of land and assets between a farmer and his/her successors
Amendment 322 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Underlines the role of young farmer’s organisations, cooperatives and farmer organisations in helping young farmers overcome barriers to installation, providing guidance services and enhancing their participation in the policy dialogue; calls for the gender-balanced representation of young farmers’ in their governance bodies to be ensured;
Amendment 328 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the impact and potential of digital technologies onfor young farmers' activities and business opportunities, and that a strong political commitment is required at all levels of policy implementation to ensure connectivity andbroadband infrastructure and connectivity and a particular focus on digital inclusion;
Amendment 331 #
2022/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Highlights the importance of reliable internet access for young farmers quality of life in rural areas, namely to overcome social isolation, access education and training opportunities, as well as for service provision;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas current estimates show that the EU must invest an extra EUR 350 billion a year to achieve its 2030 climate targets;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the prices of energy commodities, food, and other raw materials have reached unprecedented high levels and continue to be the source of economic instability in the EU’s economy;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Amendment 20 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
C d. whereas a more integrated Capital Markets Union would ease the work of the EIB to unlock investment, boosting and diversifying investments in the real economy, in particular in SMEs, and triggering further cross-border equity investment and trade;
Amendment 22 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Appreciates the way the EIB is constantly ready to adapt and reinvent itself in line with the constantly changing EU policy requirements while respecting its long-term goals;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes the persistent investment gap in the EU and the increased need of countercyclical investment as the EU enters its fourth year of crisis through the pandemic and the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine; in this regard, welcomes the EIB’s crucial role as a main tool in the EU’s investment policy to act where private financing is missing; calls on the EIB to assure the maximum level of additionality in real economy investment with the aim of fostering sustainable growth as well as social and regional cohesion when deciding over future financing;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the EIB’s investment of EUR 72.4 billion of financing in 2022 and the bank’s focus on the EU’s long-term challenges of competiveness, productivity, climate change, a just transition that leaves nobody behind, sustainability, social cohesion and digital transformation;
Amendment 28 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the new Cohesion Orientation noting that the EIB should devote the majority of its resources to the promotion of economic, social and territorial convergence and that cohesion should be the overarching priority of its investment strategy; stresses the importance of the EIB’s advisory services role in preparing and implementing projects for clients with low administrative capacity; and in this context to help firms adapt towards changing EU policy goals especially those related to climate and digitalisation;
Amendment 29 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes the EIB's affirmation that challenges with access to finance for mid- caps in cohesion regions “are more structural”; calls on the EIB to address these structural barriers by adapting its approach so that SMEs and mid-caps in cohesion regions can also fully benefit from EIB financing;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Believes that the EIB needs to do more to adapt towards the very different social and economic scenarios in the diverse regions of the EU in order to increase the attractiveness of its funds comprehensively; in particular, expects the EIB to do more to address systemic deficiencies thus allowing all EU regions to benefit from EIB financial assistance;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Reaffirms its position that the EIB needs to assure a broader geographical and sectoral allocation of its investments and to focus on adapting its methods for the areas where it is failing to do so by especially, intensifying its dialogue with local, social, economic and governmental actors when establishing regional and sectoral strategies;
Amendment 32 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Amendment 44 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Stresses that public budgets and public banks will not be able to bridge the investment gap in the energy sector alone especially when considering the deplorable fact that large EU banks are still exposed to EUR 223 billion in fossil fuel assets, and that the EU is still lagging behind its established climate goals;
Amendment 45 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Notes the ongoing levels of high inflation and in this regard asks the EIB to assess the possible increased financial needs of ongoing projects;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Reiterates the remarks by EIB Vice President Kris Peeters that commercial banks across the EU will be prone to court cases due to failing due diligence processes and climate transition plans; calls for a level playing field and legal certainty on EU due diligence requirements through the swift adoption of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive; calls on the EIB to commit to incorporating due diligence standards to address and mitigate adverse impacts of its investment decisions on human rights and the environment;
Amendment 72 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the fact that support to SMEs and mid-caps must be increased further from current levels, particularly in the context of high energy prices and, rising raw material costs and growing borrowing costs; stresses that SMEs often have limited administrative resources and so benefit from having financing channels that are easy to access;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its call on the EIB to complement efforts to build a data-driven society, with a particular focus on SMEs’ competitiveness and to focus its investment in this field towards bridging digital divides both within the EU, as well as between the EU and other technologically more advanced world regions;
Amendment 74 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Notes that the EIB’s approach vis- à-vis small businesses needs a revision because of its customary reluctance to fund projects with a significant risk component or to deploy mechanisms that would compensate for this problem;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need for the EIB to have a strong focus on start-ups and projects directed at tackling the growing problem of youth unemployment in the context of creating secure and high- quality jobs;
Amendment 83 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Notes the Commission’s proposal to work with the European Investment Bank and other InvestEU implementing partners to seek ways to scale up support to investment in the net-zero industry supply chain, including via the setting up of blending operations;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the EIB to use its operations to facilitate the implementation of the goals of the Green Deal, particularly becauseaiming at an inclusive and fair climate transition; furthermore calls for these goals to be combined with the affordability and security of food which has deteriorated worldwide in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine;
Amendment 97 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Notes the role that the EIB can play when it comes to investment in deep offshore renewables, specifically towards the design of instruments that could help get such projects closer to the market; in this background, welcomes the investment done in offshore floating wind farms in the French ‘Port-la-Nouvelle’ harbour and hopes that this investment can serve as a model for the rest of the Mediterranean region;
Amendment 103 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the introduction of the EIB’s new transport lending policy in July 2022 and calls for its swift implementation; recalls the need for a higher level of investment towards the decarbonisation of the maritime and aviation system;
Amendment 105 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Asks the EIB to give particular attention when it comes to funding decisions relevant to insular and peripheral regions in view of their struggle to comply with requirements relevant to the green deal while simultaneously maintaining and increasing their connectivity with the rest of the EU;
Amendment 107 #
Amendment 108 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. In line with the principles established in the European Pillar of Social Rights, and in view of the current EU housing crisis, expects an increase in EIB financed operations in the area of social housing; furthermore asks the EIB to keep up its focus on women economic empowerment and gender equality when targeting new financing;
Amendment 109 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23 c. Notes the shortage in specialised labour in most of the EU and in this vein believes that the areas of education and skills are not provided the needed priority;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23 d. Is concerned about the systemic weakening of healthcare systems in many Member States of the EU and the ongoing medicine shortage in the EU which includes basic medicine such as paracetamol and antibiotics; further recalls the general scarcity of medicine products and medical equipment experienced during the COVID pandemic; in this context calls on the EIB to evaluate the possibilities to further invest in this sector with the aim to tackle the structural European deficiency in the health sector;
Amendment 127 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines that enhancing local presence and increasing cooperation with the EU delegations was a key driver in the establishment of EIB Global; reiterates its calls for additional staff on the ground, particularly in view of contracting more employees from the countries where the financing is taking place; supports the EIB’s approach to open regional offices in Africa and employ local applicants in these offices with the aim of adapting its requirements to local needs;
Amendment 128 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Asks the EIB to evaluate better its effectiveness when it comes to financing for SMEs and mid-caps in Africa whereby the relatively small size of projects seems to be often a hurdle towards access to finance; calls for an evaluation of a possible design of instruments that facilitate investment by EU SMEs in third countries, and increase their access to finance, including with respect to smaller projects; notes the importance of the EIB’s role in creating a level playing field for SMEs based in Member States whose national development banks do not have the capacity to promote investment in third countries;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of consistency and efficiency in development finance and calls on the EIB to place greater emphasis on mobilising domestic resources and for a general increase of its commitment in less developed countries;
Amendment 136 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the launch of the Development Finance Institutions Transparency Index in 2023 and that fact that the associated report ranks the EIB at a similar level to peer development finance institutions in a number of areas, including financial intermediaries and environmental, social and governance and accountability to communities; calls for clear and comprehensive information to be shared with other EU institutions, the European Parliament in particular;
Amendment 137 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Regrets the fact that women remain underrepresented in senior positions and in the core areas of activity at the EIB; recalls its position that more needs to be done to improve both its gender and geographical balance in this context;
Amendment 140 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Queries whether the EIB has the needed human resources in light of the ongoing expansion of its functions and responsibilities;
Amendment 141 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Expresses once more its serious concerns about allegations regarding harassment, the working environment and working conditions at the EIB; notes the March 2022 ruling by the General Court on a harassment case in the EIB [KF vs EIB (T-299/20)] in which the decision of the EIB President that no harassment took place was annulled; recognises that efforts have been made by the EIB to address these and other relevant staff issues; urges the EIB to ensure that a policy of zero-tolerance towards all types of harassment is effectively implemented, including preventive and protective measures and proper and reliable complaint and victim support mechanisms; urges the EIB’s management to engage in genuine dialogue with staff representatives in order to address their concerns; deplores the fact that no trade union is recognised at the EIB and that the staff delegation has no power to act in the case of negotiations; calls on the EIB management to observe at the very least core ILO values such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; is concerned that the apparent dysfunctional relationship between the EIB’s management and its staff might have a negative impact on the Bank’s operations;
Amendment 143 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Takes note of the EIB’s new anti- fraud policy and underlines the importance of inclusive cooperation when developing key anti-fraud policy tools; notwelcomes that the EIB has adopted and published the EIB Group Policy towards weakly regulated, non-transparent and non-cooperative jurisdictions and tax good governance, which is complimentary to the EIB Group Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism Policy;
Amendment 144 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Requests that an outside review of the cost effectiveness of the EIB’s investment efforts during the last ten years be carried out, not least from the perspective of whether and how the EIB’s operations created significant value added that was directly relevant to the European Union’s growth and consolidation policies;
Amendment 1 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission proposal of 24 November 2015 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 in order to establish a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (COM(2015)0586),
Amendment 3 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 16 December 2020 on tackling non-performing loans in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic (COM(2020)0822),
Amendment 5 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
— having regard to The Five Presidents’ Report of 22 June 2015 entitled ‘Completing Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union’,
Amendment 7 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
— having regard to the ECB recommendation of 15 December 2020 on dividend distributions during the COVID- 19 pandemic,
Amendment 14 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)
Citation 28 a (new)
— having regard to the European Supervisory Authorities’(ESAs)' ‘Joint Committee Report on Risks and Vulnerabilities in the EU Financial System’, JC 2022 09 of March 2022,
Amendment 16 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29
Citation 29
— having regard to the declaration signed by the Chair of Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, and the respective coordinators for six political groups (EPP, S&D, RE, Greens, ECR and The Left) of 7 December 2022 on the European deposit insurance scheme,
Amendment 17 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 a (new)
Citation 30 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on strengthening the international role of the euro,
Amendment 18 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 b (new)
Citation 30 b (new)
— having regard to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision standards on the Prudential treatment of crypto-asset exposures, of December 2022,
Amendment 24 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Banking Union (BU) currently consists of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM); whereas although the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive4 (DGSD) sets out high minimum standards in the area of deposit protection, the BU remains unfinished because thewhile lacking the establishment of its third pillar – the European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) – has not yet been establishexposing the financial sector to risks that could be avoided; _________________ 4 Directive 2014/49/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on deposit guarantee schemes (OJ L 173, 12.6.2014, p. 149).
Amendment 28 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas an agreement was reached on the creation of a backstop for the Single Resolution Fund (SRF), but its actual implementation is still missing;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its economic and social consequences will havehas a direct and indirect impact on the EU banking sector;
Amendment 39 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the aggregate non-performing loans (NPL) ratio fell further to 2.29% in the third quarter of 2022; whereas this was supported by credit moratoria and renegotiation of credit with customers;
Amendment 42 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas fifteen years after the financial crisis, the ‘too big to fail’ and ‘too interconnected to fail’ problems remain insufficiently addressed;
Amendment 59 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the finalisation of the anti- money laundering (AML) package should strengthen AML rules, establish a European supervisory authority for AML purposes and ensure a consistent and effective implementation of these rules;
Amendment 69 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas the European banking sector largely remains the main provider of financing of companies, in contrast with other jurisdictions, where capital markets account for a considerable share of financing to companies;
Amendment 70 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas the development of a CMU requires the establishment of common rules and effective tools that reduce the internal market fragmentation, facilitate access to alternative financing means, and prevent capital flight and tax avoidance schemes;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2061(INI)
J. whereas completing the BU will breakstrongly contribute to reduce the sovereign-bank doom loop;
Amendment 83 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas the Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI) established by the ECB can mitigate risks of fragmentation and financial instability;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
J b. whereas a more stable, competitive and convergent Economic and Monetary Union requires the completion of the Banking Union with its third pillar of a fully-fledged European Deposit Insurance Scheme, a deep and fully functional Capital Markets Union, a permanent euro area budgetary instrument, a revised fiscal framework and more effective cooperation and coordination on tax affairs;
Amendment 89 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)
Recital J c (new)
J c. whereas the raising of interest rates by the ECB has been immediately reflected in the interest paid by households and companies to banks, thus significantly increasing banks’ profits, while it negatively affected households’ and companies’ capacity to pay their loans;
Amendment 97 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the banking sector, in conjunction with public support measures, haspublic support measures coupled with the ECB's monetary policy decisions and regulatory adjustments - which allowed for loan repayment moratoria and credit renegotiation - acted as a shock absorber for the economic crisis triggered by the COVID- 19 pandemic; acknowledges that strengthening the prudential requirements implemented after 2008 has improved the EU banking sector’s resilience;
Amendment 101 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the Banking Union (BU) is an essential complement to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the internal market, which aligns responsibility for supervision, resolution and funding at EU level and forces banks across the euro area to abide by the same rule book; welcomes the significant progress made since the financial crisis of 2008 through the establishment of the SSM and the SRM; highlights that Europe’s banks are in a stronger position to withstand financial shocks, and resolution mechanisms are in place to ensure that failing banks can be wound up without the use of taxpayers’ money; calls for the completion of the Banking Union, most notably through the implementation of the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS);
Amendment 111 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the EU should fairly and fully implement the Basel III reform in a timely manner; stresses the need for the EU to transpose the Basel agreement as close as possible to these standards, in order to remain a credible and reliable international partner; welcomes the European Parliament’s political agreement on the CRR and CRD;
Amendment 121 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the ECB has decided to raise its main interest rates from 0 % to 23 % for the main refinancing operation rate; alerts to the negative impact that such hikes have on the capacity of households and companies to pay their loans; reminds the social and economic downsides of a strict monetary tightening, and calls on the ECB to take such downsides into account when making monetary policy decisions; encourages banks to reflect increases in interest rates more accurately in their deposit interest, thus encouraging citizens to make savings;
Amendment 127 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Reminds that the inflationary environment was largely due to external factors, most notably the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, namely its impact on energy, fertiliser and grain prices, and the disruption of supply chains resulting from the Covid-crisis, and not from low interest rates or excessive liquidity in financial markets;
Amendment 131 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the climate stress test conducted by the SSM in 2022 and takes note of the targets set for 2024; reiterates its concern with financial exposures stemming from climate risks;
Amendment 143 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the ongoing work by the ECB on the digital euro; looks forward to the Commission’s legislative proposal and the ECB Governing Council’s decision on the digital euro; points out that the digital euro must prioritise a high level of privacy, data protection, confidentiality of payment data, cyber resilience and security;
Amendment 153 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Highlights the role of the banking system in supporting the transition to a carbon-neutral economy; considers that the new geopolitical environment increases the urgency of this transition, most notably on clean energy production; underlines the utmost importance of making a socially just transition; reminds that the costs of this transition will be lower than the cost of inaction, as acknowledged by the ECB; encourages the ECB to assess the possibility of a differentiated rate for sustainable investments that contribute most to reducing inflationary pressures, such as those in energy efficiency and renewable energy production;
Amendment 159 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages banks to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the digitalisation of the economy, while maintaining a high level of consumer and investor protection, especially for vulnerable groups with low digital or financial literacy levels; calls on the EBA to assess the best options to tackle artificial complexity and the exclusion of vulnerable groups from using basic banking services; stresses the need for further investments and research to develop innovative ways to bolster the cybersecurity of the banking sector;
Amendment 161 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes the creation of Next Generation EU and emphasises its important role in the economic recovery after the Covid-crisis and how it must serve as an opportunity to enhance public and private investments and support the modernisation of the economy; stresses the importance of maintaining a macroeconomic stabilisation tool for the euro area;
Amendment 166 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Restates the importance of a European safe asset in the euro area as a way to help stabilise financial markets and allow banks to reduce the exposure of their balance sheets to national sovereign debt; considers that NextGeneration EU provides high-quality, low-risk European assets, allowing for a rebalancing of sovereign bonds on banks’ balance sheets; highlights the importance of preserving the availability of safe assets in a permanent manner;
Amendment 168 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Welcomes the recent approval of the directive on improving the gender balance among directors of companies listed on stock exchanges, and related measures, following several years without progress; encourages all EU financial institutions to comply with the objectives of this legislation as soon as possible, thus contributing to gender balance in this sector;
Amendment 169 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8 d. calls on EU governments, institutions and bodies to achieve gender balance as soon as possible; reiterates the Parliament’s commitment not to take into account shortlists of candidates where gender balance has not been respected;
Amendment 172 #
2022/2061(INI)
9. Notes that since the beginning of 2022, the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of SSM banks has decreased to 14.9674 % and the liquidity coverage ratio has also decreased to 164.362.03 %5 ; welcomes that the stock of non-performing loans in banks’ balance sheets has continued to decrease; underlines that banks should keep sufficient capital and liquid assets on hand to cope with the economic repercussions of the Russian war; _________________ 5 ECB, ‘Publication of supervisory data’, accessed 15 December 2022.
Amendment 176 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes the ECB review of its supervisory priorities for the next three years, which are (1) Strengthening resilience to immediate macro-financial and geopolitical shocks, (2) Addressing digitalisation challenges and strengthening management bodies' steering capabilities, and (3) Stepping up efforts in addressing climate change;
Amendment 182 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the banking sector’s profitability has increased over the past year; highlights the importance of using these profits to build buffers and safeguard the stability of the financial system;
Amendment 184 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Stresses that banks under the ECB's supervision significantly reduced the payment of dividends following the ECB’s recommendation for suspension and limitation of said payments for 2020 and 2021, respectively; calls on the ECB to issue a similar recommendation taking into account the need for the financial sector to build up buffers and to prevent a deterioration of banks’ balance sheets;
Amendment 193 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. NoteRecalls that banks’ exposuthe main objectives of the BU ares to domestic sovereign debt remain high; recalls that one of the main objectives of the BU is to break the link between bank and sovereign risksguarantee financial stability, protect the tax-payer and allow for a higher degree of European market integration; notes, in this regard, that banks' exposures to domestic sovereign debt remain high;
Amendment 222 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Reiterates that bank-like systemic risks can occur where credit intermediation takes place in an environment where regulatory standards and supervisory oversight are looser than for regular banks;
Amendment 226 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the risks stemming from banks’ exposures to the shadow-banking sector; underlines the systemic risks resulting from interconnections and complexity, underpinning the ‘too big to fail problem’; calls on the Commission to assess the need to better regulate the shadow-banking sector and to put forward, where appropriate, legislative proposals;
Amendment 236 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that crypto-assets create new challenges for banks; welcomes the forthcoming adoption of the regulation on markets in Crypto-assets in this regardand the provisional agreement on the regulation on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets in this regard; notes the publication in December 2022 of the Basel standards for the prudential treatment of crypto-asset exposures; calls on the Commission to swiftly submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and the Council to adopt these standards into EU law, where appropriate;
Amendment 250 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Is concerned by the lack of a mechanism in the Banking Union to ensure that liquidity can be provided to a bank in the event of a resolution in order to ensure the smooth continuity of services and the stability of financial markets, and calls on the Commission to address this gap without further delay;
Amendment 254 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes note of the SRB’s work programme for 2023; emphasises that the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) should be fully filled up and that all banks should be fully resolvable by the end of 2023; highlights the SRF’s crucial role in preventing bank bailouts by tax payers; notes that further progress is needed by all banks;
Amendment 255 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the Eurogroup agreement to introduce a backstop to the SRF, in the form of a revolving credit line from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM); regrets that its implementation was not reached in 2022, as envisioned by said agreement; recalls of its importance in strengthening the crisis management framework and as an important step towards completing the Banking Union; urges, therefore, the swift implementation of the SRF backstop;
Amendment 256 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Regrets that Member States continue to act outside the Community framework, undermining Parliament’s role as co-legislator; asks to be kept informed at all times of the ongoing discussions at the level of the Eurogroup and of the High-level Working Group on the EDIS;
Amendment 261 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out the need to address the loopholes identified in the resolution framework; asks that the public interest assessment be further specified and harmonised, so that the choice of the resolution strategy to be followed in case a bank faces difficulties follows a more consistent and predictable manner; calls for greater harmonisation of the treatment of small and medium-size banks; stresses that the resolution framework and State aid rules should be consistent; notes that currently the setting of the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) level is decided by the SRB on a case-by-case basis;
Amendment 270 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. CRegrets that the Commission has failed to propose the legislative initiative on crisis management and deposit insurance framework (CMDI) in the timeframe it committed itself to the Commission Work Programme 2021; calls on the Commission to put forward an ambitious and comprehensive review of the crisis management and deposit insurance framework; recalls that protecting taxpayer money is one of the main objectives of the resolution framework;
Amendment 283 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Regrets that the BU is still incomplete owing to the absence of an EDIS; recognises that the EDIS would improve protection for depositors in the EU; recalls that the EDIS is the most tangible element of the BU for EU citizens; considers that the EDIS would provide an additional safeguard to host Member States and cwould therefore contribute to addressing home/host issues and foster deeper integration ;
Amendment 293 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. AHighlights that, despite the implication of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio decreased to 2.29%; acknowledges the significant progress made regarding the reduction of risks in the banking sector; regrets, on the other hand, the limited progress regarding risk sharing; calls for a risk sharing mechanism, while continuing the risk reduction trend; recalls the analysis of the SSM, stating that 'the implementation of EDIS should not be linked to further risk reduction benchmarks';
Amendment 301 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Points out that any EDIS should take into account clear rules for the participation of non-euro-area Member States; encourages the Eurogroup to work in inclusive format to finalise on a consensual basis a time-bound and action driven work plan on the way towards its completion;
Amendment 303 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Acknowledges the different concepts for a European deposit insurance framework; considers, nonetheless, that any short-term solution should not prevent the establishment of a fully mutualised EDIS as soon as possible;
Amendment 308 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the statement by the negotiation team of the Parliament announcing the reopening of discussions on the EDIS at Parliamentnd their call to the Commission that the CMDI should not be considered as a replacement for a EDIS; calls for the co-legislators to reach an agreement on the file before the end of the legislative period;
Amendment 310 #
2022/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Supports the joint declaration signed by the Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, and the respective coordinators for six political groups (EPP, S&D, RE, Greens, ECR and The Left) of 7 December 2022 on the European Deposit Insurance Scheme; reiterates its call for the Commission not to retract its 2015 EDIS proposal, which should remain on the table as the basis for restarting discussions; reiterates its call urging the Council to end the stalemate that has blocked progress for years and to work constructively with the Parliament to reach an agreement on EDIS;
Amendment 25 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Many territories in the Union are subject to large and increasing water constraints. In this sense, the current large and persistent droughts of these years, especially in the Mediterranean regions, are putting agricultural production at risk and causing a serious decline in surface and groundwater reserves1a. __________________ 1a https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/w ater-and-agriculture/
Amendment 32 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) In order to facilitate a transition to a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector that is resistant to water constraints, incentives for farmers should be put in place to improve water management and modernisation of irrigation systems and techniques.
Amendment 54 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Substances such as microplastics, pose a clear risk to public health and the environment, but also to basic activities such as the development of agriculture. The presence of these and other particles can have implications not only on the water received by livestock and crops, but also on soil fertility, thereby compromising the health and good development of present and future crops10a. __________________ 10a https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti cle/pii/S2352186422000724
Amendment 67 #
2022/0344(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) In order to ensure consistency and clarity of the rules within the Union, it is necessary that this revision is in line and consistent with other rules linked to the same topic and which are currently under review or negotiation within the co- legislators.
Amendment 402 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Economic operators shall respond to the request of the competent authority referred to in paragraph 3 within 125 working days from the day they received such request. Economic operators may provide to competent authorities any other information they may deem useful for the purposes of this Article.
Amendment 470 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Economic operators shall submit the information within 125 working days from the request referred to in paragraph 3 or make a justified request for an extension of that time limit.
Amendment 752 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) indication on the possible types of documents and evidence that could be used by the economic operators during an investigation in order to prove that a product is not made with forced labour.
Amendment 3 #
2013/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the need to foster citizens' participation in the democratic life of the European Union and to facilitate and support various expressions and mobilisation of active citizenship;
Amendment 7 #
2013/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights the need to create a structured framework for European civil dialogue which would give a practical substance to participatory citizenship, enhance cooperation also with local, national and European authorities and other stakeholders;
Amendment 10 #
2013/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Raises the most demanding concerns of the citizens on the European level with regard to minimum income, social care, political and economic transparency, involvement in cultural life as well as to combating inequalities in gender mainstreaming; underlines that all citizens should engage in the life of their communities including the most disadvantaged groups of the society;
Amendment 8 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls the problems related to the insufficient levels of payments regarding the Lifelong learning programmes, in particular Erasmus in the amending budget 2012 and the budget 2013; calls on the Council to ensure a proper implementation of the programme taking into account the high execution rates;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the future of Europe lies with its young peoplecapacity to unleash young people´s potential;
Amendment 14 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas existing tools at EU level canhas to be further developed to deal with the challenges the new generation faces; whereas the EU Strategy for Youth is a comprehensive framework and the Member States must take full advantage of it;
Amendment 21 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the number of young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEETs) has risen dangerously across the EU; whereas the youth unemployment rate is unacceptably high in several Member States and the duration of the period of unemployment is constantly increasing;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the crisis in the EU may lead to increased poverty and social exclusion; whereas the impact of the crisis on young people is leadinghindering young people´s capacity to lead an autonomous life and in extreme cases to malnutrition or mental health problems;
Amendment 29 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the unemployment rate between young people up to the age of 25 reached 23,5% in March 2013 and more than 2 million jobs remain vacant in Europe because of a skills mismatch;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the use of new technologies is an important means of outreach to young people and of improving their capacity to participate in society and influence political and social processes;
Amendment 46 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the structured dialogue should be considered as a first step towards the establishment of an effective and fruitful dialogue among young people, youth organizations and EU and national institutions that has to be continuously improved and developed;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Council to further increase the focus on young people by considering young people as a mainstreamed youth priority in all EU programmes under the future MFF;
Amendment 54 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of the Structured Dialogue; calls on the Commission and Member States to further develop the concept and to ensure a meaningful and consistent follow-up of the recommendations young people prepare with their ministerial and institutional counterparts: furthermore, calls on the Commission and Member States to reach out to the greatest possible number of young people and youth organisations at both local and regional level;
Amendment 58 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that the development of clear and user-friendly indicators regarding the situation of young people and youth policy can be further improved, especially concerning the autonomy and the participation of young people;
Amendment 62 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises the need for a cross-sectoral and balanced approach to the eight fields of action in the EU Youth Strategy; calls for youth policy prioritisation in times of crisis;
Amendment 80 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Member States to incorporatefurther invest in quality vocational training and orientation workshops in educationand increase its connection with other educational pathways in a lifelong learning prospective;
Amendment 89 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses the need to focus on developing transversal skills and language competences as well as lifelong learning in order to be better prepared for a labour market;
Amendment 104 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses the importance of improving the policies aimed at easing the transition form education to employment by ensuring quality apprenticeships and traineeships;
Amendment 114 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the new EU initiative for a Youth Guarantee scheme; calls on the Member States to fully exploit ithe opportunities offered under the new youth employment fund made available in the new MFF;
Amendment 132 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that fiscal consolidation should not be implemented in a way that affects jobs for young people; calls on the Member States to provide more incentives for supporting youth employabilityquality employment for young people, such as reliefs on taxes and social contributions;
Amendment 161 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the importance of youth organisations as the main channel for participation of young people and calls on the Commission and Member States to secure financial support for youth work, especially for youth organizations;
Amendment 162 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Considers the possibility for young people to live an autonomous life as the overriding priority that the youth strategy should address in the forthcoming period; for this reason, calls on the commission and Member States to focus cooperation in the youth field on youth autonomy and the participation of all young people in society;
Amendment 165 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the role played by volunteers, which needs to be further strengthened through support mechanisms as well as suitable legal frameworks and clearly identified rights and responsibilities for volunteers, as outlined in the European Charter on the Rights of Volunteers;
Amendment 166 #
2013/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. EmphasisUnderlines the importance of eliminating all kinds of discrimination and bullying among young people, such as discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age and sexual orientation;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
- having regard to the Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning,
Amendment 14 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, owing to different traditions and cultural practices, there are major disparities between the laws applying to volunteering, the rights that volunteers have and the way in which it is organised in the various Member States;
Amendment 24 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that some Member States have adopted or revised laws in this area with a view to creating a favourable environment for volunteering and recommends other Member States to do likewise, with a focus on strengthening volunteer's rights using the European Charter for the Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Draws attention to the fact that skills and abilities acquired during volunteer work, which may be counted as non-formal and informal learning and work experience, are a plus point on CVs and in working life; believes that the proposed "Europass Experience" document would allow volunteers to describe and record skills developed during volunteer work that may not lead to certification and encourages the European Commission, in light of the Council's Recommendation on the Validation of non-formal and informal learning, to launch the Europass Experience document as soon as possible;
Amendment 60 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights the need to ensure continuity between EYV 2011 and subsequent EYVs, as part of efforts to ensure that volunteering is seen as a valuable means of taking an active part in society and in this regard encourages the European Commission to include volunteering as an important contribution to active citizenship during the European Year of Citizens;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Member States to continue to provide supporta stable and sustainable support framework for both national and cross- border volunteering that supports both volunteers and volunteering organisations; recommends that Members States should keep national coordinating bodies set up in connection with EYV 2011 in place;
Amendment 87 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to see to it that Member States make it compulsory for volunteers to have proper healthcare and liability insurance cover, in order to protect their health and safety during volunteer work as well as ensuring necessary support for potential volunteers from groups, such as people with disabilities or mental health problems, minors or older people;
Amendment 99 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recommends that the Commission should continue to maintain contacts with the EYV 2011 Alliance successor – European Alliance for Volunteering and other volunteer-based organisations and should take proper account of the recommendations laid down in the Policy Agenda for Volunteering in Europe (PAVE), as the basis for an action plan for the future;
Amendment 102 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to marshal the necessary resources to set up a European Volunteer Centreing Development Fund, in order to ensure that appropriate support infrastructure is put in place;
Amendment 104 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Commission to establish a Single Contact Point on Volunteering, which would facilitate coordination of the Volunteering agenda at the EU level;
Amendment 106 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Calls on Member States to implement the Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning and ensure, in advance of the target date of 2018, the implementation of formal structures for the validation of the knowledge, skills and competences gained through volunteering leading to a recognised qualification which educations institutions, employers and others should recognise;
Amendment 107 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Calls on the European Commission to recognise volunteer time as eligible in- kind co-financing for all European grants and work with volunteer organisations to develop systems to record and document volunteer time based on the many tools and models available.
Amendment 2 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- Having regard to the European Quality Charter of Internships and Apprenticeships developed by the European Youth Forum together with social partners and other stakeholders
Amendment 5 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A a (new)
Paragraph A a (new)
Aa. whereas unemployment among young people under the age of 25 was 23.52% in the EU in March 2013, and there are currently 2 million job vacancies that cannot be filled;
Amendment 8 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A b (new)
Paragraph A b (new)
Ab. whereas the number of university graduates who are over-qualified for vacancies on the labour market or who lack relevant work experience is growing;
Amendment 16 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph D a (new)
Paragraph D a (new)
Da. whereas there is a growing danger of a ‘lost generation’ of young people being created in the future, and women are a risk group for unemployment;
Amendment 22 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph D b (new)
Paragraph D b (new)
Db. whereas young people are entering the labour market later as a consequence of the crisis; whereas there are fears and doubts as to the prospects for keeping a job, particularly in the case of women;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph D c (new)
Paragraph D c (new)
Dc. whereas employment remains the most effective means of preventing poverty and social exclusion; whereas it allows people to provide for themselves and to be protected if they lose their job or fall sick;
Amendment 33 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Member States to adopt the Youth Guarantee Scheme, which would address gender inequality and the needs of vulnerable groups such as the disabled, the elderly, migrants and single mothers, as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Member States to support lifelong learning programmes and job retraining opportunities that would make it easier for female students and for women who have already entered the labour market to move from one job to another;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. Whereas the International Labour Organization recommended a budget of €21 billion, equating to 0.5% of Eurozone spending, to fully implement a youth guarantee in the EU;
Amendment 59 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the necessity of introducing measures to eliminate problems that particularly affect women, such as reconciling work and private life;
Amendment 66 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. Whereas young people have the right to quality-employment according to their skills and that quality-employment is fundamental to the dignity and autonomy of Europe's youth;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Member States to abide by the conclusions set out in the Commission communication of 28 November 2012 entitled 'Rethinking Education' (COM(2012)0669) with regard to providing students, young people entering the labour market and people who are forced to adapt to the reality of supply and demand on the labour market with appropriate skills and knowledge;
Amendment 78 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States to support and recognise non-formal and informal education and work in youth organisations as instruments that enable students to create their first links with the labour market;
Amendment 79 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas productive and sustainable investments in areas such as education and training and research and development, are key for a sustainable exit for the crisis but also to consolidate the EU economy in a path of competitiveness, productivity and sustainability; whereas deficit targets should exclude investments in these areas;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas youth employment measures needs to be integrated in a consistent and future and investment oriented macroeconomic strategy that create the condition for the creation of sustainable and 21st century jobs as well as an effective transition from education to employment
Amendment 89 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Member States to promote gender diversity in working teams and in the workplace in order to achieve improved performance and better results at work;
Amendment 101 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the policy measures implemented by Member States need to be diversified and should tackle all potential obstacles in young people's pathway to sustainable and decent employment, paying particular attention to vulnerable groups that are more likely to suffer from multiple disadvantages;
Amendment 126 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including training and education providers, individual employers, public and private employment services, social partners, third-sector organisations, including youth organizations, and health and other authorities, is essential for the successful implementation and monitoring of a variety of measures fostering youth employment and employability in an integrated fashion; emphasises that measures must be flexible so as to meet the continuously evolving needs on the labour market;
Amendment 163 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the decision of the EPSCO Council on 28 February 2013 to agree on a Council recommendation on implementing a Youth Guarantee; recommends extending eligibility to graduates aged underp to 30; stresses that the success of this measure will be highly dependent on other factors, e.g. the infrastructure and capacity of public and strengthened private employment services, the availability of student places, the provision of training and, apprentic, including quality apprenticeships and traineeships, and the transferability and implementation of successful experiences from other Member States; stresses that the Youth Guarantee must be integrated within the broader framework of active labour market policies while ensuring high quality standards;
Amendment 175 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the Member States to develop clear quality standards and indicators regarding the development of youth guarantee schemes as well as to boost their support for enterprises, cooperatives and third-sector organisations wishing to participate in Youth Guarantee schemes in close cooperation with public and private employment services, including through tax incentives, subsidies for fixed employment costs, and the possibility of accessing funding for on-site training, which will support enterprises in providing high-quality sustainable employment and training offers, and will represent an investment in young people's potential in an effective and targeted way;
Amendment 1 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 12 April 2013 (CdR 2392/2012 fin),
Amendment 5 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the Council Recommendation of 5 September 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (COM (2012) 485 final)
Amendment 6 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the Education and Training Strategic Framework 2020 (ET2020) includes benchmarks on at least 95% of children between the age of four and the age for starting compulsory primary education participating in early childhood education; on the share of 15-years olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics and science being less than 15%; on an average of at least 15 % of adults (age group 25-64) participating in lifelong learning;
Amendment 16 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the persisting economic crisis and austerity measures aimed at fiscal consolidation in several Member States challenge the lives of EU citizens in terms of unemployment, social exclusion and poverty; whereas the impact of the crisis, particularly on young people, is leading in extreme cases to malnutrition or mental health problems;
Amendment 19 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas in its Annual Growth Survey 2013, the Commission calls for promoting growth and competitiveness and tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis by a sound investment in education and training;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas school bullying undermines young people's well-being, and leads to under-achievement and early-school leaving;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas it is necessary to aspire towards quality education and individual development and to examine closely future trends in labour market needs in order to adapt and modernise curriculaeducational and training curricula, lifelong learning strategies and to offer the right skills for the right jobs;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the stimulation of economic growth, productivity and comprehensiveness at national level proved to have an immense impact on increase and creation of the number of jobs, their quality and a better integration of young people into the labour market;
Amendment 46 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission Communication, in particular its strong focus on combating youth unemployment through investing in skills, calling for modernising higher education systems as well as promoting world-class vocational education and training (VET), flexible learning pathways and, work-based learning, and addressing the shortages of well-qualified teachers and trainersinvolvement of social partners in their design; furthermore welcomes addressing the shortages of well-qualified teachers and trainers through more effective teacher recruitment, retention and professional support;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Considers the role of education as much broader than just fulfilling the economic targets of European and national strategies. In this view, reaffirms the primary mission of education to prepare individuals for life as well as for being active citizens in increasingly complex societies;
Amendment 56 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a holistic approach to education and training, andrecognition of its broader mission in regard to personal growth and development; highlights the important role of non-formal and informal learning as part of an overall lifelong learning strategy aiming at a socially inclusive knowledge society with strong individuals and active citizens;
Amendment 65 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to prioritise public expenditures in education, training, research and innovation, and recalls that any budget cut in these fields will have a strong negative impact on the economic recovery of the Union and on achieving Europe 2020 objectives; strongly supports monitoring of national situations and launching of a debate at Union level with relevant stakeholders on investment efficiency and benefits in education and training;
Amendment 68 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Urges Member States to adopt legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion or belief and age in the area of education, and to work in the Council to promptly adopt the horizontal anti-discrimination directive which is key to guarantee genuine equality and combat bias and discrimination, including at school;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls on Member States to pursue a closer link between the key strategic policy challenges identified throughout the European Semester and Open Methods of Cooperation (OMC) activities aimed at support member states to ensure high quality and accessible education and training also in times of fiscal constraints;
Amendment 77 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on Member States to promote anti-bullying policies to reduce early school-leaving and ensure genuine access to education for all;
Amendment 81 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a recognition of youth and civil society organisations in the design and implementation of lifelong learning strategies; also highlights their role as complementary educational providers for non-formal and informal learning and volunteering, helping young people to attain both transversal skills and individual personal competences, such as critical thinkeative and critical thinking, sense of initiative, information processing and problem solving, team work and communication, and self-confidence and leadership;
Amendment 84 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls for learners and their organisations to be involved in decision- making processes concerning education, and that learning should be based on a structured dialogue with learners in the tailoring of curricula and methods fostering a lifelong learning approach;
Amendment 86 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States to promote the attractiveness of VET, and calls for a stronger focus on transversal and basicand improve the labour market relevance of VET, ensure its quality, and calls for a stronger focus on acquisition of basic skills from an early age but also among adults and transversal skills, in particular on creativity, entrepreneurial and ICT skills that help young people to enter the labour market and to createenhance their employability as well as develop opportunities to set up their own businesses;
Amendment 89 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States to promote the attractiveness of VET, and calls for a stronger focus on transversal and basic skills, in particular on entrepreneurial and ICT skills that help young people to enter the labour market and to create their own businesses; stresses the need for Member States to provide a safety net for failed start-up and to eliminate red tape;
Amendment 91 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. underlines that students' access to entrepreneurship education varies and is often determined at institution level; thus calls on Member States and local and regional authorities, working with the education institutions, to include elements of entrepreneurship education in the curriculum content in basic education, vocational training and higher education;
Amendment 92 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Acknowledges the importance of developing and implementing entrepreneurship education systems across Europe; considers that special focus should be placed on overcoming the disparities and substantial differences in their development, as shown by the 2008 survey on entrepreneurship in higher education and confirmed in the 2011 Budapest high level symposium;
Amendment 95 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the need to focusenhance the attractiveness and value onf STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects in education and areas, where the job shortages are predicted in future (for example, green economy, health and education); however, also calls for the right balance between the acquirement of theoretical knowledge and practical skills during studies;
Amendment 97 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Stresses the need to focus on the link between education, young people's expectations and labour market needs to ensure them easier and quality transition from education into the labour market aimed also at ensuring their autonomy;
Amendment 105 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the importance of supporting young people, especially those not in education, employment or training (NEETs), by promoting quality traineeships and apprenticeships, second- chance educational programmes, well- established dual learning and work- based learning as well as specific measures to foster access to higher education ; considers these as valuable steps in the transition from education to professional life as well as in lowering rates of youth unemployment;
Amendment 106 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls on Member states to encourage employers to offer more quality apprenticeship placements, to develop clear quality criteria aimed at preventing abuses and to ease the administrative procedures for enterprises offering work or training opportunity for young people in order to improve their career pathways;
Amendment 109 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Reminds the Member States on the role of the EU programmes in promoting education, mobility, language skills, active citizenship, European values, cultural awareness and other valuable skills which all contribute to better employability and strengthening their intercultural understanding; stresses the need of their further support in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a period 2014–2020, focusing on learning mobility, cooperation and policy reform;
Amendment 110 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9 c. Welcomes the renewed focus on achieving the automatic recognition of comparable academic degrees and its objective of placing all the students on an equal footing, irrespective of their qualification's place of origin and in this view calls on member states to increase their efforts inn this regard;
Amendment 114 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Member States to invest in early labour marke full use of the European Youth Guaranteet activation mechanisms for young people, and to implement the European Youth Guarantee and to work with regions in ensuring that the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) will be truly complementary and additional to existing regional and national actions to combat youth unemployment, and recalls that these types of temporary employment should act as stepping stones towards permanent work;
Amendment 118 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Acknowledges that poor language skills constitute a major obstacle to free movement of workers and to the international competitiveness of enterprises in the Union, particularly in areas where European citizens live close to the border of a neighbouring country with a different language; recalls that language learning is deemed to be much more effective at an early age;
Amendment 120 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Emphasises Member States to activate labour market policies, promote employment opportunities, establish better guidance and tailored career service centres for young people which would enable them to become independent, live an autonomous life and secure a professional development;
Amendment 124 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Recalls that it is at the sub-national level that the most accurate and timely information on regional labour markets can be sourced and where local and regional authorities can play a significant role in identifying skills mismatch providing appropriate re-training and vocational training programmes and incentivising investment in response to local demand;
Amendment 129 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls for enhancing social and civil dialogue on education and training both on national and Union level and for strengthening the role of social partners in policy making;
Amendment 132 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that the Communication does not specify any concrete implementation measures for cooperation between the educational sector and different social and business partners; however, welcomes the knowledge alliances and sector skills alliances included in the Commission proposal on the new multiannual programme in the field of education, training, youth, and sport and considers them as innovative and sustainable ways to increase human capital;
Amendment 133 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Highlights the shared responsibility of different actors in the field of life long learning such as educational institutions, public authorities, enterprises as well as individuals responsible for their own lives;
Amendment 134 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to carefully reflect on the concept of cost sharing as a way of funding education; warns that any cost sharing mechanism cannot be pursued at the expenses of the individuals; equity and universal access must be placed in the front row of any reform of the education and training systems;
Amendment 137 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for more cooperation between educational institutions and providers, the business sector, social partners, and regional authorities in order to exchange best practices and to promote partnerships as a means ofcivil organisations and local, regional and national authorities and employment services in order to exchange best practices and to promote partnerships as the effective means of addressing vacancies and sustainable integration of people in employment transition from education to work;
Amendment 141 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Considers it vital to recognise the importance of combining public and private investment in education and training; underlines at the same time the need to safeguard against possible undesirable side-effects such as hindering access of socio-economically disadvantaged groups to education and training.
Amendment 146 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Notes the importance of recognizing education as a human right, that everyone must have an access to, aiming at the personal and societal development and at acquiring skills for life;
Amendment 160 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls the importance of high-quality teacher education that needs to be complemented with mobility and career- long professional training of educational staff on innovative teaching methods and contents, due in particular to the rapid changes in ICT and digital media; highlights the important role of other educators and their good cooperation (for example, youth workers, adult educators and parents);
Amendment 162 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Considers an individual approach in form of coaching, tutoring and mentoring as a means of transmitting knowledge and expertise to mentees, identification the personal strengths as well as required competences in the specific profession;
Amendment 166 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Recalls the importance of high- quality teacher education that needs to be complemented with career-long professional training, due in particular to the rapid changes in ICT and digital media, as well as the specificities of entrepreneurship education;
Amendment 169 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need to mainstream gender equality, to eliminate discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation in education, and calls for policies to attract vulnerable and disadvantaged groups into learning; in this context, encourages the Member States to introduce specific measures in the form of financial support to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds;
Amendment 175 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Considers the need to widen access to learning as a key priority for the Union, with a clear focus on those who do not have a sufficient level of basic skills; encourages the Member States to introduce specific measures in the form of financial support to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to ensure for everybody the possibility to reach the highest level of education and also to ensure that learners´ needs and welfare are met;
Amendment 177 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Strengthens the need to focus on low- skilled adults and on role played by adult education and training in outreaching these groups as well as on intergenerational learning, and recalls the opportunities that digital learning and open educational resources (OER) can bring, as regards access to education and training;
Amendment 189 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Strongly supports the creation of a European area of skills and qualifications in order to achieve transparency and recognition of qualifications acquired in VET or higher education; where appropriate, proposes to extend the recognition also to qualifications gained outside of the formal education and training system, that can be seen as a tool for empowerment, democratic participation, social inclusion and as a pathway to involve or bring people back into the labour market;
Amendment 192 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Calls on the Member States to develop a comparative framework concerning university degrees and providing a reference point on the education and skills obtained under educational systems;
Amendment 17 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
(Ea) whereas women are exposed to social risks more often in their lifetime than men, the result of which is the growing feminisation of poverty;
Amendment 22 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
(Fa) whereas a high-quality education provides women with better employment prospects, improved skills and key competences in a given field; whereas it also facilitates their participation in society and cultural activities and ensures better pay on the labour market;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
(1a) Stresses that the economic crisis is making it increasingly necessary to adapt one's choice of occupation to what is available on the labour market, and that it is increasingly vital for women to be more adaptable to the demands of new career opportunities when changing occupations;
Amendment 37 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
(2a) Calls on the Member States to draw attention to and promote the benefits of employment mobility on their national markets and the benefits of educational and employment mobility in foreign countries;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
(2b) Points out that, in order to boost employment, greater attention must be paid to cross-border cooperation, the exchange of best practices between educational institutions and professional bodies in the Member States, and that school systems must become more equal and inclusive;
Amendment 41 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
(2c) Points out that mobility should be based on gender equality and combating discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, origins, religious beliefs, age and state of health;
Amendment 81 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
(11a) Calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to all aspects of educational and vocational training, higher education and adult education, with a view to improving the quality of education and enhancing employment prospects in the future;
Amendment 87 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission strongly to support the Erasmus programmeprogrammes in the area of lifelong learning, such as Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Jean Monet and Erasmus; notes that since its inception in 1987 the Erasmus programme alone has enabled more than 2.2 million students to be mobile within the EU, and has made a significant contribution to mobility in European higher education;
Amendment 90 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
(12a) Stresses that, in order to boost employment and combat long-term unemployment, it is necessary to consider increasing mobility not only for students and workers, but also for their teachers; considers that such an approach would ensure quality teaching;
Amendment 91 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
(12b) Emphasises the importance of an enhanced social dimension and of increasing access to educational mobility programmes for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, women with low incomes, women on maternity leave and single mothers;
Amendment 92 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
(12c) Calls on the Member States to clarify the financial support options that exist for women’s educational and employment mobility, and to make it easier to access this information;
Amendment 96 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
(13a) Stresses the need to introduce youth guarantees in the Member States in order to increase labour market access for young people, including female graduates, and to facilitate their transition from studying to the labour market;
Amendment 99 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
(14a) Points out that unemployment and problems getting into the workforce affect women from a wide range of age groups, and that women have to react quickly to the labour market's requirements;
Amendment 102 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
(14b) Stresses the conclusions of the Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations; points out the need to support voluntary activities and the exchange of knowledge and experiences between women from different age groups;
Amendment 103 #
2013/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
(14c) Calls on the Commission to support the reallocation of adequate financial resources to programmes that promote women’s employment and better education for disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 75 #
2012/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that it is becoming increasingly difficult for women to make the transition from education to employment, and that this will ultimately lead to divergences in men’s and women’s assessment of their own skills;
Amendment 95 #
2012/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that women face a greater risk than men of slower career development as a result of accepting starting positions at lower levels or working part-time, and that this group, as a consequence, is more vulnerable, has unsatisfactory income levels and suffers more from poverty;
Amendment 137 #
2012/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recalls that stereotypes persist with regard to perceptions of women’s and men’s places in the labour market, that women seek to reconcile their work obligations with their family life, and that they are thus more vulnerable to employment changes than men;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the vital role of the aviation sector to the EU economy and in terms of connectivity, especially in terms of growth and jobs since this industry supports over 5 million European jobs and contributes with 2.4% to the EU’s GDP, and to the EU connectivity with the rest of the world, and stresses the need to maintain a strong and competitive EU aviation sector;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Reminds that equal treatment for different modes of transport should be supported, keeping in mind that large direct subsidies to road and rail, mostly for fare and discounts, are being paid, whereas aviation infrastructure is financed entirely by airlines;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EU to play a leading role within ICAO in order to establish an international agreement for a global market-based measureemission-trading system that addresses CO2GHG emissions from international aviation, which also includes China, India and other emerging economies besides the US;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the manufacturing of aircrafts is a sector that is particularly sensitive to carbon leakage; considers that border adjustment measures could be a suitable solution for addressing this problem; recognises that border measures are not incompatible with WTO rules as long as such adjustments are not discriminatory;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for increased cooperation and coordination between the Commission and the Member States when negotiating air services agreements with key partners especially by liberalizing ownership and control issues between like-minded countries, in order to increase the EU’s leverage and its chances of accessing new markets;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2299(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Supports the Commission’s proposals to finalise ongoing negotiations with partner countries, complete negotiations for EU- level aviation agreements with all neighbouring countries by 2015, and open EU-level negotiations with certain key partners, notably Russia, China, certain Gulf countries, Turkey, ASEAN and India; also supports closer coordination within the EU by strengthening European airlines and European hubs.
Amendment 25 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the raising of the retirement age falls within the competence of the Member States, and there is a need to simplify Member States’ legislation on retirement;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T a (new)
Recital T a (new)
Ta. whereas the management of preventive measures, social innovation and costs call for an in-depth review which should be carried out in the best interests of the patient and of society;
Amendment 152 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission to create instruments to foster discussions between Member States with a view to facilitating the exchange of best practices, and also to advise governments on creating an environment conducive to spreading awareness of age-related illnesses in the Member States;
Amendment 170 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission to place more emphasis on tackling the causes of illnesses and, to that end, to promote prevention across sectors and at all levels of society; calls on the Commission to promote health through the timely diagnosis of illnesses, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adequate healthcare, and ensuring that older workers enjoy suitable working conditions;
Amendment 177 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that women carrying out demanding work in specific professions (nurses, carers, seamstresses, checkout assistants, etc.) or engaging in manual labour benefit from greater healthcare provision;
Amendment 193 #
2012/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the Member States to develop innovative solutions directly through cooperation with patients in order to meet the needs of older people more effectively;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. encourages enterprises to provide quality internships with a strong learning component that ease the transition between education and employment, facilitate the development of labour market relevant skills and support the autonomy of young people;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. encourages enterprises to provide quality internships with a strong learning component that ease the transition between education and employment, facilitate the development of labour market relevant skills and support the autonomy of young people;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas one of the main objectives of an effective children protection strategy should be to ensure that all children, young people and parents/carers are provided with the information and skills to be able to safeguard themselves online;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 26 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the development of digital technologies represents a great opportunity to provide children and young people with opportunities to use new media and internet effectively in ways that empower them to share their voice with others and therefore empower them to participate and experiment an active role in society, online and offline;
Amendment 43 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, in the free circulation of the audiovisual services of thewithin single market, where digital service providers have differing responsibilities, the protection of minors and human dignity is pre-eminent; whereas, however, WebTV and hybrid TV are outside the scope of any controls;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the measures to prevent illegal online content lead to differing approaches to the prevention of unsuitable conductare not always effective;
Amendment 101 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the need for an educational alliance among families, school, civil society, interested parties and audiovisual services, in order to guarantee a balanced and proactive dynamic between the digital world and minors;
Amendment 108 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages the Commission and member states to support the access of minors to safe and high quality digital content in existing programmes, dedicated to young people, education and the digital world;
Amendment 119 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls on the Commission and member states to develop schemes aimed at equipping children and young people with adequate skills and securing informed access to the internet and new media for them. In this regard, highlights the importance of making digital media literacy mainstreamed at all levels of formal and non-formal education, including a lifelong learning approach from the earliest stage possible;
Amendment 179 #
2012/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines the imopportance ofunity that new media represents to promotinge, in services and digital content, understanding and dialogue between generations, genders, and various cultural and ethnic groups;
Amendment 45 #
2012/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that a series of integrated actions must be taken in order to broaden the horizons and develop the outlooks of small girls and boys in relation to their guiding valuesduring the critical period of personality formation, by means of deliberate strategies to protect children from the process of sexualisation and objectification and to create new tools and spaces where young persons will be able to develop and discover their sexuality at an appropriate time and in their own way;
Amendment 53 #
2012/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Alerts parents not to heighten the self- objectificsexualisation of girls through their behaviour, by encouraging girls to participate in beauty contests, to attach undue importance to appearance, and at a later stage, by permitting the use of cosmetic surgery in order to improve self- esteemut rather to play an active role in their upbringing by emphasising personal qualities as opposed to the illusion of perfect beauty presented by the media;
Amendment 87 #
2012/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for appropriate preparation of teachers through essential training and exchange of experience in the area of gender equality, consulting with parents, detection of and reaction to various types of abuse connected therewith and to sexual violence;
Amendment 107 #
2012/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls upon the governments of Member States to establish cooperation with internet service providers in order to block access to websites promoting anorexia (‘pro-ana’) and bulimia (‘pro-mia’) and to delete or, where that is not possible, to block websites containing child pornographychild pornography, and to regulate website content that could lead to serious mental health disorders among juveniles such as depression and low self-esteem;
Amendment 118 #
2012/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages Member States to control access toimpose restrictions on advertisings with a sexual content, the recipients of which may be children, and to prohibitestablish regulations on the use of children as brand ambassadors to prevent them from being sexualised in the media;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the austerity measures and the consequent budget cuts to education and training systems throughout the EU endanger one of the key drivers of cohesion and growth and the objective to establish a knowledge based economy in Europe;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas a successful education and training strategy should also aim at equipping learners with skills and competences necessary for personal development and active citizenship;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the accessibility of education and training is a crucial challenge also to further contribute to social inclusion, cohesion and fight against poverty;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that Member States might be tempted to pursue budget cuCalls on Member States to increase even in times of crisis, the investments ion education and training, but emphasises that the multiannual financial framework goes in the opposite direction: education and related sectors won the biggest percentage increase under the EU's long-term budget and refrain to pursue budget cuts in education and training;
Amendment 31 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Points out the need to approve the increase of budget dedicated for the education and related sectors under the multiannual financial framework as one of the main tool available to reach the objectives outlined in the E&T 2020 strategy;
Amendment 40 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks Member States to prioritise expenditures in education, research and innovation that are considered to be investments for future growth, but at the same time ensuring the added value of such investment; in this regards reiterates the request to target a total investment of at least 2% of GDP in higher education, as recommended by the Commission in the Annual Growth and Employment Survey, as the minimum required for knowledge- based economies;
Amendment 44 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that a special focus should be given to young people, bearing in mind that the EU unemployment rate has increased to over 20 %, with peaks in excess of 40 % in some Member States, and that young people are particularly hard hit in the current crisis; recalls also that one out of seven of today's studentpupils (14.4%) leaves the education system with no more than a lower secondary education and does not participate in any further education or training;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Proposes to the member states to deduct investments in education and training from the national deficit calculation of the fiscal compact as they are considered a key drivers for a sound recovery in line with the EU2020 objectives;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. In particular, asks the Member States to target, with the Commission's support, young people that are not in education, training or employment, to promote quality traineeshipinternship, traineeships and youth guarantee schemes so that young people can gain real work experience and quickly enter the job market and to give special attention to vocational education and training in tertiary education systems;
Amendment 71 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights the need for the acquirement of language skills since it enables people to be more mobile and raise their intercultural understanding;
Amendment 77 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes it is vital to promote mobility, in particular through exchanges of teachers, students and pupils in the language field in order to promote active citizenship, European values as well as language and other valuable skills and competences;
Amendment 84 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Bearing in mind that demographic change is an undeniable reality in Europe; calls on universities to widen access to learning and to modernise curricula to address the new challenges in order to upgrade the skills of the European population and in this context highlights the importance to support and recognise non formal Education and informal learning;
Amendment 91 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Calls on member states to adopt their national Life-long learning strategy in close connection with the E&T2020 strategy and to allocate a suitable amount of financial resources to them;
Amendment 96 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the business community, and on individual companies, to sponsor and cooperate with higher-education institutes/universities that allow students to gain knowledge and skills for their future work life;
Amendment 99 #
2012/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Encourages Member States to consider the possibility of introducing small grants for pre-university students from poorer backgroundswiden the access to education for all learners, especially those from lower socio- economical backgrounds, by introducing specific measures such as pre-university grants based on the needs of students as part of a strategy to encourage them to stay in education;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that micropayments are increasingly used to pay for media and cultural content online; notes that micropayments are an effective method to combat illegal content, because they make legal content accessible to the public in an affordable way;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that new and expanding internet technologies and online services have increased demand for audiovisual and other cultural and creative digital content particularly among young people; notes, however, that there is currently insufficient supply to meet this demand and thatbecause availability is being hampered by rights holders, and so the users are often motivated to access illegal content;
Amendment 49 #
2012/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. RegreHighlights the promotion of more powers to block websites, which has always been the means of last resort and is an inrepresents a less effective method of changing consumer behaviour where media are concerned and at the same time legitimises censorship by oppressive regimesdigital content is concerned;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the Commission’s proposals for cooperative measures withNotes that payment services may playment services to combat unauthorised or illegal content; acknowledges that analysing the use of payment services can help identify individuals providing such content; reitera a larger role in combating illegal content without jeopardising the privacy of individual consumers; also notes that the universal and fundamental right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal established by law must be unequivocally ensured for infringers of IPReveryone;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A a (new)
Paragraph A a (new)
A a. whereas the share of female students of a total number of students in Mathematics, Science and Technology subjects (MST) reaches only 30.15 % and the largely female-dominated fields are education and training, health and welfare and humanities and arts,
Amendment 4 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A b (new)
Paragraph A b (new)
A b. whereas the presence of a critical mass of women in the decision-making process remains vastly inadequate,
Amendment 7 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the economic crisis, demographic developmentchanges, rapid technological change and the resulting demand for new skills pose serious challenges to, and call for far-reaching reforms in, Europe's higher education systems;
Amendment 11 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on universities, the EU institutions and the Member States to encourage young women to study subjects in which women are still underrepresented, especially science, technology, IT, engineering and mathematics, and to inform them about their possibilities of becoming researchers and the opportunities available in the research field, including applied research, as that should liberate untapped talent;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas individuals must be supported in re-thinking of their careers and widen as well as update their skills and knowledge at an ever faster rate in order to meet the challenges of the labour market;
Amendment 15 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on Member States and higher education institutions to introduce special programmes and funds, mentoring schemes and community projects to increase young women's training and participation in Research and Development as well as in the IT sector and green economy, and should make optimal use of role models and pathfinders as a means to inform and advise women students concerning their career choices;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on universities and higher education colleges to recognise that women learners may have specific responsibilities outside of learning, for example, caring for young children or elderly relatives; and encourages them to develop individual study plans for those female students, and also in this context reminds the Member States and the EU institutions to increase the financial support to life long learning to allow them to continue their studies, to re-enter the workforce and to harmonize their professional and personal responsibilities;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls on Member States to follow the good example of the so-called third-age or third-generation universities and encourage women to enrol;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas legislations of Member States of the European Union consider higher education as a fundamental infrastructure for setting the future of European citizens;
Amendment 28 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it necessary to review the criteria for promotion to senior research- oriented positions (e.g. professorships) in order to include a strong gender perspective and address the lack of women in these posts, and to recognise that women are far more likely than their male counterparts to take career breaks in order to have a family;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages Member States and higher education institutions to increase the number of female professors and researchers in science, and to initiate mass media information campaigns to address the issue of under-representation of women in MST subjects;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on higher education institutions to set a benchmark of at least 40 % for all female teaching positions, and 50% for all doctors and professors especially when there is a single post or an odd number of posts to create an extra post to reach the absolute gender balance;
Amendment 34 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on Member States to follow the good example of the so-called third-age or third-generation universities;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Invites higher education institutions to take into account the needs of professionals who need to update their skills in a short space of timeand in this context to cooperate closely with employers to identify the demands and shortages of the labour market;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on universities and higher education collegeinstitutions to increase the representation of women on decision- making boards relating to research, with a view to encouraging more women to work in higher education;
Amendment 47 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Reminds that as a consequence of their higher education qualification being not marketable enough, women are more often overqualified and underpaid for their jobs and often end up in precarious jobs or unemployed, which at the start of the career further disadvantages them in the labour markets, feeding the cycle of pay inequality;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses that improving the participation of young women on the labour market has particularly positive effects on competitiveness and growth as well as on ensuring the economic independence of women at early and late stages of their life;
Amendment 49 #
2011/2294(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Encourages higher education institutions to include a gender dimension in the higher education curricula as it still remains largely absent;
Amendment 57 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Endorses the Commission's initiative to launch a multi-dimensional tool for ranking of higher education institutions based on characteristics such as the quality of teaching, student support (scholarships, counselling, housing, etc.), regional engagement and knowledge transfer;
Amendment 74 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the importance of mobility of both students and teachers and, in this sense, invites the Commission to make progress on the EU Visa Code;
Amendment 79 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Repeatedly insists on Member States' reaching the target of 2% of GDP invested in education;
Amendment 109 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the quality framework for traineeships that the Commission intends to propose;Urges the Commission to present the proposal for quality framework for traineeships and emphasises the success of the ‘'Erasmus placements’' that give students the opportunity to gain work experience abroad, and insists that this action be continued under the new programme;
Amendment 122 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Considers the Youth Guarantees Schemes a valuable tool facilitating the transition from higher education to jobs and calls on Member States to introduce them in their national transition strategies;
Amendment 123 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Recalls the important role that structural funds can play in this regard; welcomes the commitment within the Youth Opportunities communication towards the full deployment of resources available and calls on the higher education institutions and local authorities to use this opportunity in order to increase the support and guidance for students entering the labour market;
Amendment 130 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Commission's support for ‘'Knowledge Alliances’' and ‘'Sector Skills Alliances’' in which higher education institutions andexchange information with businesses jointlywhile developing curricula to address skills shortages; calls upon businesses and entrepreneurs, including small and medium-sized enterprises, actively to develop partnerships with higher education institutions;
Amendment 138 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reaffirms the value of democratic governance as a fundamental way to ensure academic freedom and promote active participation of all actors in the life of a higher education institution;
Amendment 140 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Highlights the commitment towards more flexible and innovative learning approaches and delivery methods always centred at students' needs;
Amendment 147 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Member States to strengthen their cooperation between their relevant ministries in order to update the existing curricula to meet the needs of the labour market;
Amendment 161 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out thatCalls on Member States' higher education systems face a double challenge: some will have to cope with high numbers of incoming students while others will suffer from a ‘brain drain’, as many talented young people choose to study and then settland local authorities to develop strategies to tackle the a‘broadain drain’;
Amendment 164 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Reiterates the principle that loan schemes cannot substitute the grant systems put in place to support access to education for all students regardless of their social background;
Amendment 167 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. WelcomeAsks the Commission's for further clarification on the proposal to create a financial instrument to help students secure funding for a Masters degree outside their home Member State; demands fair and transparent access to the scheme throughout the Member States;
Amendment 179 #
2011/2294(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Endorses the Commission's proposal to increase the EU budget available for education, training and, research and youth in the next multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas ‘volunteering’ means activities, including formal, non-formal, informal and vocational training and learning, which are undertaken of a person's own free will, choice and motivation, and without concern for financial gain for a non-profit cause, which benefit the individual volunteer, communities and society as a whole;
Amendment 11 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas volunteering is an informal learning experience suitable for persons of all ages; whereas it offers benefits in terms of personal development, strengthening of democracy, civic values and European identity, intercultural learning and professional opportunities, as well as contributing to the aims of the European Union's (EU) policies on social inclusion, employment, education, development of skills and citizenship;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas volunteering is an important factor in creating social capital and development and in promoting socio- economic cohesion, and in view of the potential of voluntary labour as a valuable resource withinnon-formal learning opportunities to help volunteers gain skills that will make them more employable and thus contribute to the Europe 2020 growth strategy;
Amendment 19 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. in view of the growing number of young and older EU citizenEU citizens of all ages participating in volunteering, spread out over the areas of education, culture, youth policies, sport, the environment, sustainable development, health, immigration, corporate social responsibility and the EU's relations with third countries;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there is a huge variety between the different cultures, traditions, legal systems and organisational methods for volunteering in the EU Member States; in view of the persistence of various obstacles, since volunteering is not recognised in national law or in international lawor adequately recognised in many national Member State legal systems;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the economic crisis and the fiscal consolidation is endangering the financial sustainability of many NGOs and volunteering providers that are working everyday on increasing active citizenship, solidarity, and social inclusion all over Europe;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on those Member States to assess the need for a clearwho do not have a clear or adequate legal framework for volunteers to put one in place and to draw up national strategies to promote the growth of volunteering activities, including the recognition of the rights of volunteers, and to ensure quality, protection and equal access for everyone, without discrimination;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on Member States to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of volunteers are recognised and respected and that volunteers themselves are aware of them; suggests Member States in this regard to use the European Charter on the Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers developed by the stakeholders conference at the II Youth Convention on Volunteering in 2011 as a reference for policy making and national legislation in this field;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates the need to make volunteering accessible to immigrants and the Roma people too,minorities as an essential element in encouraging their integration and social inclusion;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Member States to support cooperation between organisers of voluntary activities in EU countries to promote the mobility of young volunteers of all ages across Europe, with the aim of fostering mutual intercultural enrichment;
Amendment 49 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Asks the Council and the Commission to continue and progress in the negotiations towards easier visa regimes for non EU citizens wishing to enter the EU for purpose of volunteering;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the need to ensure that high- quality volunteering is developed, both nationally and at cross-border level, through comprehensive information and appropriate training for volunteer, appropriate training, and the development of hosting capacities for providers and organisations at local and national level, and a recognition of the rights of volunteers to reconcile their voluntary work with their personal lives;
Amendment 57 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Asks the Commission and the national, regional and local authorities and the various civil society organisations to improvesupport volunteering infrastructure including access to information networksand funding in order to make everyone aware of volunteering opportunities;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages the Member States to adopt the volunteering measurement method developed by the John Hopkins University and approved by the International Labour Ouse of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Manual on the Measurement of Volunteer Work and the United Nations Handbook on Non-Profit organisations with a view to making available comparable statistics and providing a clear picture of the significant contribution made by voluntary workeering;
Amendment 68 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Asks the European Commission to initiate the gathering of comparable data on volunteering at EU level and its impact in the European society; highlights the importance to continue the collection of best practices carried at local and national levels, together with researches on the needs of volunteers and providers throughout the European Union;
Amendment 71 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of providing information to and also permitting, adequate funding and support for senior citizens wishing to volunteer in another EU country, as already supported by the Grundtvig programme, encouraging active ageing as a rich source of wisdom and experience for society;
Amendment 82 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Member States to develop mechanisms for validating non-formal and formal learning outcomes, for example through the non-formal education quality assurance programme, which will improve the value and transferability of the skills acquired outside formal education;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on Member States to support employee volunteering and employer supported volunteering also in the framework of the corporate social responsibility;
Amendment 91 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks the national, regional and local authorities and the EU to giveensure proper financial and other support to the organisations involved in volunteering work, including all the associations and networks, with a view to enhancing their roles, activities and achievements for the benefit of society;
Amendment 104 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the European Commission to allow volunteer time contribution to be included as a contribution in-kind with a financial value as co-funding in all European funded programmes and calls on the Member States to do the same;
Amendment 106 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recommends that the Commission and the Member States maintain a synergy between 2011 and future years, by strongly integrating the volunteering dimension, which is an expression of active citizenship that promotes social integration, including that of older citizens, within both the European Year for Active Ageing (2012) and the proposed European Year of Citizens (2013);
Amendment 110 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recommends that the Commission maintain the useful contact points set up both with ‘EYV 2011 Alliance’ and the successor Volunteer Platform, which includes many civil society volunteering and networking organisations, and with the national coordinating bodies, strategic partners and spokesmen of the national governments in this sector, given the large variety of bodies responsible for volunteering in the EU;
Amendment 113 #
2011/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Asks the European Commission to act, where they feel appropriate, on the Policy Agenda on Volunteering in Europe (PAVE) which was drawn up by the volunteering organisations involved in the EYV 2011 Alliance;
Amendment 10 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas equality between men and women is a fundamental principle of the European Union, enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, and whereas the Union has set itself the specific task of mainstreaming gender equality in all its activities; and despite the gradual progress in this area, yet many inequalities between women and men remain;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas initially the economic crisis mainly hit male employment, but cuts in public spending are expected to have a disproportionate impact on female employment, as many more women than men are employed in the public sector; particularly critical sectors dominated by women are health sector, education field and social care;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas more women than men work on temporary contracts, and therefore can more easily be released from employment as the crisis progresses;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas comparatively more women than men work in part-time jobs or on temporary contracts in order to care after children, elderly and dependent persons, and also work longer paid and unpaid hours than men;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas full integration of women in the labour market requires access to services providing care for children, elderly and dependent persons;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the European Parliament adopted in October 2011 its position on the proposal for a new Directive on Maternity Leave extending the maternity leave to 20 weeks with full pay also establishing paid paternity leave of at least 2 weeks;
Amendment 40 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas more women than men suffer from poverty and low-level pensions mostly due to ageing or single parent status;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas more women than men in senior age live in single household due to longer life expectancy, and therefore are in higher risk of senior poverty;
Amendment 51 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas differences between salaries of women and men are not becoming smaller but rather stagnate;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)
Recital G d (new)
Gd. whereas many women suffer from double discrimination such as disabled women, women caring for children, elderly and disabled, old women, female members of ethnic minorities and immigrant women;
Amendment 55 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G e (new)
Recital G e (new)
Ge. whereas female immigrants are often overqualified for the jobs they have in another country;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G f (new)
Recital G f (new)
Gf. whereas female immigrants suffer from particularly strong social exclusion;
Amendment 57 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G g (new)
Recital G g (new)
Gg. whereas women in rural areas suffer from even greater discrimination and gender stereotypes than women in urban areas and the employment rate of those women is much lower than of those in the cities;
Amendment 58 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G h (new)
Recital G h (new)
Gh. whereas victims of human trafficking are mostly women and girls;
Amendment 59 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G i (new)
Recital G i (new)
Gi. whereas the number of female vice- presidents of the European Parliament has decreased in the second half of the parliamentary term 2009-2014;
Amendment 67 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Regrets that economic recovery projects still focus mainly on male dominated employment, which results in an increase rather than a decrease of gender inequality, and insists that gender equality must be mainstreamed in European, national and international plans for economic recovery;
Amendment 70 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses that the economic and financial crisis is threatening the most vulnerable groups of our society including women and thus urges the Council, Commission and Member States to defend social rights and to guarantee that the crisis will not lead to cuts in social benefits and social services such as child care and care for elderly;
Amendment 71 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls strongly on the Member States to maintain gender balance when taking austerity measures in the times of the economic and financial crisis, in particular when it comes to the public sector;
Amendment 79 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 106 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, despite countless campaigns, targets and measures in recent years, the gender pay gap remains stubbornly wide, women across the EU earn 17.5% less on average than men and there has only been a marginal reduction of the gender pay gap in the last few years; thus women are exposed to a higher risk of poverty;
Amendment 111 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Concerned that the economic crisis and budget cuts will exacerbate the problem, as women will be disproportionately affected, calls on Member States’ governments as well as on social partners to devise an action plan and concrete, ambitious targets to tackle the full range of causes of the gender pay gap;
Amendment 114 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes also that lower salaries lead to lower pensions and a higher risk of poverty in older age and thus suggests that appropriate measures should be taken in order to reduce pension disparities between women and men; considering that women carry family responsibilities often resulting in interruptions of their careers and are less professionally involved than men;
Amendment 119 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to launch a European Equal Pay Day (EEPD) and invites all the Member States to join others who have already been raising awareness of the existence of the gender pay gap by this means;
Amendment 139 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Welcomes the significant increase in the numbers of female chairs of parliamentary committees and the number of female MEPs in the legislative term 2009-2014 but regrets the decrease of female EP vice-presidents in the second half of the term; therefore proposes measures for absolute gender balance regarding the vice-presidents’ posts;
Amendment 140 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Member States to promote female entrepreneurship and to provide financial support, vocational guidance and training to encourage women setting up their own companies;
Amendment 144 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls onUrges the Commission to include homophobic and transphobic violence and harassment in its action programmes against gender-based violence;
Amendment 150 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that domestic violence claims many deadly victims across the EU each year, so it should bethus it calls for adequate measures to be taken so that it is treated as a public security issue rather than as a private, domestic issue;
Amendment 179 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Expresses satisfaction with the recent adoption of the European Protection Order Directive, which aims to protect victims of, for instance, gender violence and invites the Member States to its early transposition into national law;
Amendment 180 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Repeatedly calls on the Commission to establish a European Year for combating violence against women;
Amendment 185 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Amendment 189 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to pay special attention to more vulnerable groups of women such as disabled women, women with dependants, elderly women, minority and immigrant women and women prisoners as they suffer from double discrimination, and to develop targeted measures to meet their needs;
Amendment 212 #
2011/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the recent decision of the United Nations to create an International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, which is a powerful way to highlight the particular needs and rights of girls, and to advocate greater action and investment to enable girls to reach their full potential in line with international human rights standards and obligations, including the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 46 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for a strengthening at EU level of support for the Bologna Process, in particular as regards the recognition of academic qualifications, and the promotion of mobility and, employability, and active democratic participation;
Amendment 95 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that especially in the times of the crisis it is important to continue the public investment into education in order to ensure the quality and access to education;
Amendment 107 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the EU, the Member States and universities to improve information for students, academics and staff in order to foster structured mobility flows; calls for a strengthening of the services of Erasmus and the new generation of educational programmes through better funding, improved credit recognition and greater flexibility of the time frame allowed;
Amendment 138 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks for further support for national and European measures to guarantee equitable inclusion and, fair access for students from under-represented groups, and sustainable student support system (e.g. housing, transport expenses, etc.) to guarantee completion of education and student autonomy;
Amendment 169 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for an effective strategy to be set up to support lifelong learning programmes in Europe;
Amendment 185 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Asks for development of an effective strategy for the full harmonization of academic titles throughout the European Union with a possible reverse recognition (including older academic titles) since the establishment of the Bologna process;
Amendment 186 #
2011/2180(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls on the EU Member States to adopt the final and clear decision on the full recognition of qualifications and diplomas among them or to set up the road map when this decision will be finally possible;
Amendment 15 #
2011/2179(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the importance of the Mediterranean as a decentralised area of cooperation in strengthening cross-regional policy and the sharing of good practices, not least concerning democracy, ecology and cultural and educational partnerships, where education can serve as an catalyst for democratic transition;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2179(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the importance of focusing especially on the young people, because they will be the foundation of a new generation, and they will have the biggest influence on the future faces of their countries;
Amendment 39 #
2011/2179(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reminds the necessity of cooperation with other neighbouring countries and countries participating in the Eastern Partnership programme, where further democratization is needed;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need for digital literacy and trust to achieve inclusive and accessible e- governance to allow citizens' involvementparticipation;
Amendment 19 #
2011/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and Member States to actively involve citizens, businesses and educational institutions in developing user-driven eGovernment platforms, using open source software (wherever possible) and interoperable standards;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to develop open courseeducational software at European educational institutions, to exchange best practices and to develop online platforms for collaboration on school education materials and resources, free for students and open for editing (with a possible restriction to qualified personnel);
Amendment 43 #
2011/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. CallUrges on the Member States to integrate digital literacy and transversal skills into their education systems.
Amendment 3 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for an equitable distribution and alignment of the ENP financial programmes' funding for mobility and support of civil society, so that both the Eastern and the Southern arenas are equivalental in terms of EU external cooperation;
Amendment 10 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Affirms that the EU programmes foraimed at young people have had a greasignificant impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable students from ENP countries to have access to education in Europethe EU;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that fostering participation in EU cultural programmes benefits cultural policy development in ENP countries; welcomtherefore, stresses, therefore, importance of the launching of the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme and endorses the Commission's intention of following up on its Special Action Culture Programme;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EEAS to support the efforts of civil society, free media and non- governmental organisations to introduce a democratic system and the rule of law in all those countries of the ENP where fundamental freedoms and human rights are being violated; recognises with concern and condemns the process of restriction of freedom of speech and harassment of opposition in, for example, Belarus.
Amendment 108 #
2011/2088(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Member States to make parents responsible for their children’s education until the latter reach their 18th birthday, thus extending compulsory school attendance by two years from the child’s 16th to his or her 18th birthday, i.e. up to the end of secondary education;
Amendment 109 #
2011/2088(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on Member States to take appropriate measures to penalise parents or deprive them of family allowances if they neglect their children’s education by disregarding the school attendance requirement in spite of not being in poverty and possibly even receiving family allowances, thus having the financial means necessary to take care of their children and their education;
Amendment 11 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the measures proposed in the Commission communication will require strong policy coordination; therefore urges Member States, and particularly their relevant ministries, to become more closely involved in the process of early identification of skills needs, suggesting at least a 10 year time horizon; strongly believes that when education and training programmes are being designed effective communication between employers and education institutions, using specific mechanisms, is essentialnecessary;
Amendment 25 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that universities canshall play a key role in the regional economies of Member States and that universities are unique places where innovation, education and research come together and can leads to job creation; points out that cooperation between universities, regions, governments and businesses is fundamental;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to raise the profile ofgive more visibility and financial support to Leonardo da Vinci, a programme which enables people to acquire new skills, knowledge and qualifications, and which makes vocational education more attractive to everyone;
Amendment 53 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. Acknowledges that higher education systems have the potential to prepare peoplecitizens for the world of work: for instance, SMEs with no R&D facilities can benefit from university research resources and expertise, and SMEs can offer students internships and employment opportunities; calls, therefore, for closerstrengthening of cooperation between higher education institutions and SMEs.
Amendment 57 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reminds of the importance of lifelong learning as continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual and it as well further enhances social inclusion, personal development and active citizenship.
Amendment 58 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls for stronger support and recognition of both formal and non- formal education as an integral part of the lifelong learning process.
Amendment 59 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Stresses the importance of green jobs as new jobs for the current global market searching to preserve and restore environmental quality.
Amendment 60 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Calls on member states to work continuously and closely on eliminating administrative and legal obstacles for students' and workers' mobility as well as recognising degrees and qualifications.
Amendment 61 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Urges for effort in achieving full integration of disadvantaged groups into the working process including searching for the right kind of jobs for disabled with the their skills often unique and exceptional.
Amendment 62 #
2011/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Reminds of the persistent gender discrimination in certain working fields and at certain positions and calls on eliminating differences between men and women and stereotyping certain jobs as woman or man only.
Amendment 90 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that students who hold the European baccalaureate can apply to any university in the EU and urges the Member States to ensure that the relevant provisions are complied with and that the European baccalaureate is fully recognised in all Member States;
Amendment 93 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Urges Member States to ensure all their universities and higher education institutions apply the same requirements when recognising education of students from European Schools as for the students from national schools and that these students receive the same credits for their education in order to have equal chances and opportunities when applying for higher education;
Amendment 99 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that revenue is static or falling, particularly in connection with enrolment from contract bodies or families outside the Community institutions who are now being turned away because of lack of places and urges for news solutions considering new financial means from mobility workers from private sector and other international institutions;
Amendment 106 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to define its budget contribution so that these principles are respected and there is adequate provision for students with special educational needs (SEN) including a revision of rules how these funds are spent;
Amendment 129 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the need for an external evaluation of the European Schools’ syllabuses and final examinations;
Amendment 133 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. HopRequires that the recruitment of local staff meets the excellence criteria and that they are checked by inspectors;
Amendment 140 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reaffirms that provision for students with special educational needs remains a priority and; asks the Board of Governors to ensure that coefficients are applied to this category of students when calculating class sizes and to ensure full integration of such students;
Amendment 143 #
2011/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls for the reduction of school drop-outs and of the percentage of children repeating a year as those rates are still high;
Amendment 28 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
(vi) the rights of women as proclaimed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocols, including measures to combat female genital mutilation, forced marriages, crimes of honour, trafficking, sexual violence, including corrective rape and partner rape, domestic violence and any other form of violence against women;
Amendment 31 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vii a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vii a (new)
(viia) special emphasis on the equal treatment of boys and girls, in particular in respect of equality of access to education;
Amendment 34 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c – introductory part
(c) strengthening of the international framework for the protection of human rights, justice, gender equality, the rule of law and democracy, and for the promotion of international humanitarian law, in particular by:
Amendment 36 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point i
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point i
(i) through deployment of Union Election Observation Missions; such missions, or any other type of mission, should consist of equal numbers of men and women, and this measure should serve as an example to the country in which the mission takes place;
Amendment 41 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The promotion and protection of gender equality, the rights of the child, rights of indigenous peoples, rights of persons with disabilities, and principles such as empowerment, participation, non- discrimination of vulnerable groups and accountability shall be taken into account whenever relevant for all assistance measures referred to in this Regulation.
Amendment 14 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Joint EU – Africa Strategy is of relevance for relations with the Mediterranean neighbours from North Africa, especially in the current state of the post-Arab Spring development.
Amendment 15 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) European Union external support has increasing financing needs but the economic and budgetary situation of the Union limits the resources available for such support. The Commission must therefore seek the most efficient use of available resources by using financial instruments with leverage effect. Such effect could be increased by enabling the use and re-use of funds invested and generated by financial instruments. It should be borne in mind in this regard that the Union has at its disposal a limited number of "soft power" instruments with leverage effect and that financial instruments are one of them.
Amendment 30 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) sustainable and inclusive development in all aspects, poverty reduction, including through private-sector development; promotion of internal economic, social and territorial cohesion, rural development, climate action and, disaster resilience and various aspects of civil security;
Amendment 38 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. As referred to in Article 13, paragraph 2 of the ‘Erasmus for All’ Regulation, in order to promote the international dimension of higher education, an indicative amount of EUR 1 812 100 000 from the different external instruments (Development Cooperation Instrument, European Neighbourhood Instrument, Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, Partnership Instrument and the European Development Fund), will be allocated to actions of learning mobility to or from non EU countries and to cooperation and policy dialogue with authorities/institutions/organisations from these countries. The provisions of the ‘Erasmus for All’ Regulation will apply to the use of those funds, especially if education as such can act as one of the most important catalysts in the democratic process.
Amendment 240 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Article 165(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union gives a clear mandate for the Union’s actions towards the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe.
Amendment 253 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The renewed framework of cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) shouldemphasises the need to consider all young people as a resource in society and upholds their right to participate in the development of policies affecting them by means of a continuous structured dialogue between decision- makers and young people and youth organisations at all levels.
Amendment 260 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) To support mobility, equity and study excellence, the Union should establish a European loan guarantee facility to enable students, regardless of their social background, to take their Masters degree in another participating country. This facility is meant to be complementary to the grant systems already in place and should not substitute them. It should be available to financial institutions which agree to offer loans for Masters' studies in other participating countries on favourable terms for the students. Furthermore, the terms of reference for the development of such instrument should be set in cooperation with student representatives and universities organisations active at European level.
Amendment 269 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Member States should endeavour to adopt all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the Programme. This also implies that visas for participants should be handed out without delays and with reduced costs, in order to ensure that no participant misses out on either a part of or the entire study, training programme or exchange, and to avoid cancellations of mobility actions and projects. In line with Article 19 of the Council Directive 2004/114/EC of 13 December 2004 on the conditions of admission of third country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupils exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service, Member States are encouraged to establish fast-track admission procedures.
Amendment 281 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The action of the European Youth Forum, the European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning, the National Academic Recognition Centres (NARIC), the Eurydice, Euroguidance and Eurodesk networks, as well as of the eTwinning National Support Services, the Europass National Centres, and the National Information Offices in the neighbourhood countries is essential in order to achieve the objectives of the programme, notably by providing the Commission with regular and updated information regarding the various fields of their activity and through the dissemination of the Programme results in the Union and in the third participating countries.
Amendment 284 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The programme shouldIn order to contribute to developing excellence in European integration studies world-wide, it should in particular support instituti and to respond to the increasing need for knowledge of, and dialogue ons, that have ae European governance structure, cover the whole spectrum of policy fields that are of interest for the Union, are non profitintegration process and its development, it is important to stimulate excellence in teaching, research and reflection in this field by supporting higher education institutions specialising in the study of the European integration process, European organiszations and provide recognised academic degreesin the fields of education and training and the Jean Monnet Action.
Amendment 305 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) The financial interests of the European Union should be protected through proportionate measures throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation of irregularities, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, penalties. While Union external assistance has increasing financing need, the economic and budgetary situation of the Union limits the resources available for such assistance. The Commission should therefore seek for the most efficient and sustainable use of available resources in particular through the use of financial instruments with leverage effect.
Amendment 306 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) The reduction of administrative burdens and management costs is inevitable in order to remove obstacles to the participation of all potential beneficiaries to the programme. The establishment of mechanisms for the continuous involvement of beneficiaries and their representative associations in the implementation and monitoring of the actions foreseen in the framework of the programme is fundamental.
Amendment 308 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) In order to ensure quick response to changed needs during the whole duration of the Programme, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of provisions relating to the performance criteria and on the actions managed by the National Agencies. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert and stakeholders level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and Council.
Amendment 309 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35 a (new)
Recital 35 a (new)
(35a) The programme covers three different fields, and the committee established under Article 30 of this Regulation will deal with both horizontal and sectoral issues. It is for the Member States to ensure that they send the relevant representatives in accordance with the topics on the agenda, and it is for the committee chair to ensure that meeting agendas clearly indicate the sector or sectors involved and the topics, according to each sector, to be discussed at each meeting. In order to increase participation and transparency, social partners and European stakeholders active in the field of education, youth and sport should be consulted. These organizations shall also be invited to participate in the meetings as observers in accordance with the topics of the discussion.
Amendment 311 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Programme covers youth, in particular in the context of non-formal education and informal learning, active citizenship, social inclusion and volunteering.
Amendment 318 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 2
Article 2 – point 2
2. ‘"non -formal setting’ means a learning context that is often planned and organised, but not part of the formal education and training system.education " means an organised process that provides people with the possibility to develop their values, skills and competencies other than the ones developed in the framework of formal education. Those skills include a wide range of competences such as interpersonal, team, organisational and conflict management, intercultural awareness, leadership, planning, organisation, coordination and practical problem solving skills, teamwork, self- confidence, discipline and responsibility;
Amendment 319 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 2 a (new)
Article 2 – point 2 a (new)
2a. "informal learning" means learning that takes place outside of planed pedagogy or alongside organised and structured education. It doesn't have a curriculum, but can be fostered through learning spaces and experience to also support self-confidence, discipline and responsibility;
Amendment 320 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 2 b (new)
Article 2 – point 2 b (new)
2b. "the structured dialogue" means to ensure a timely and effective contribution of young people and other relevant actors in the youth field towards the formulation of policies relevant to the lives of young people;
Amendment 321 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 3
Article 2 – point 3
3. "learning mobility" means moving physically to a country other than the country of residence, in order to undertake study, training or other learning activities, including quality apprenticeships, traineeships and non-formal learning, assistantships or teaching, or to participatinge in a transnational professional development activity. It may include preparatory training in the host language as well as follow-up activities. Learning mobility shall also covers youth exchanges, volunteering, non- formal education, informal learning and transnational professional development activities involving youth workers;
Amendment 327 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 5
Article 2 – point 5
5. "Ssupport for policy reform" means any type of activity aimed at supporting and facilitating the modernizsation of education and training systems, as well as support for the development of European youth policy, through the process of policy cooperation between Member States, in particular the Open mMethods of Coordination including the structured dialogue with young people;
Amendment 333 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 7 a (new)
Article 2 – point 7 a (new)
7a. "youth work" means actions, activities, processes and projects, undertaken by, with or for youth with the aim of providing a space for their personal development and for their needs. It further aims to improve the social, political, economic status of young people, to enhance their skills and social networks as well as to increase the level of their representation and active participation or build their capacity to undertake such actions;
Amendment 334 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 8
Article 2 – point 8
8. "youth worker" means a professional or a volunteer involvederson that works with young people to engage them in a non-formal learningeducation. Youth worker can refer to a paid staff or a volunteer youth leader;
Amendment 338 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 17
Article 2 – point 17
17. "youth activity" means an out-of-school activity (such as youth exchange, volunteering or youth training) carried out by a young person, either individually or in group, notably through youth organisations, characterized by a non- formal learning approach;
Amendment 339 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 17 a (new)
Article 2 – point 17 a (new)
17a. "volunteering" means activities including formal, non-formal, informal and vocational training and learning, which are undertaken voluntarily on the basis of a person's own free choice and motivation, and without concern for financial gain and for a non-profit cause, which benefit volunteers, those receiving services from a volunteer association, communities and society as a whole; the activity is unpaid but can include reimbursement of expenses directly related to the voluntary activity; it is for a non-profit cause and is primarily undertaken within a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and therefore cannot be motivated by material or financial gain; volunteering should not be used to substitute or replace paid employment;
Amendment 341 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 18 a (new)
Article 2 – point 18 a (new)
18a. "European organisation" means democratic and membership-based non- governmental organisation working with formal and non-formal education, youth work and/or youth participation at European level and sport. European organisations coordinate and disseminate capacity building and development of good practices in the field of education and training and/or in the field of youth directly providing European added value to national and local activities;
Amendment 342 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 18 b (new)
Article 2 – point 18 b (new)
18b. "youth organisation" means youth organisation that is a youth-led, democratic, volunteer- and membership- based non-governmental organisation working with non-formal education, youth work and youth participation;
Amendment 350 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Programme shall only support those actions and activities presenting a potential European added value and contributing to the achievement of the general objective as referred to in Article 4.
Amendment 352 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The European added value of the actions and activities of the Programme shall be ensured in particular through their:
Amendment 356 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) Their transnational character, in particular transnationally with regard to mobility and cooperation aiming at long-terma sustainable individual and organisational systemic impact;
Amendment 359 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) Their complementarity and synergy with other national, international and other Union programmes and policies, allowing for economies of sct local, national, internationale and critical massUnion level;
Amendment 362 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) Their complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national, international and other Union programmes and policies, allowing for economies of scale and critical massUnion level with the aim of foster the creation of a EU common area in the field of education, training, youth and sport;
Amendment 364 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) Their contribution to the effective and coordinated use of Union tools for recognition of qualifications and transparency.
Amendment 387 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point a – introductory part
Article 5 – point a – introductory part
(a) To improve the level of key competences and skills regarding in particular their relevance for the labour market and society, enhance personal development, and promote social cohesion and inclusion of vulnerable groups at risk of educational disadvantage, as well as the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe, notably through increased learning mobility opportunities for young people, learners, staff and youth workers, and through strengthened cooperation between education youth and the world of labour market;work and ensure sufficient financial provisions to allow the involved actors and stakeholders to develop this cooperation.
Amendment 390 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point a – introductory part
Article 5 – point a – introductory part
(a) To improve the level of key competences and skills regarding in particular their relevance for the labour market and society, as well as the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe, notably through increased learning mobility opportunities for young people, learners, staff and youth workers, and through strengthened cooperation between education youth and the world of labour market; in this respect, the Commission and Member States should safeguard that also young people coming from a socially disadvantage background can benefit from the programme;
Amendment 394 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point b – introductory part
Article 5 – point b – introductory part
(b) To foster quality improvements, innovation excellence and, social inclusiveness and access as well as internationalisation at the level of educational and training institutions, as well as in youth work, notably through enhanced transnational cooperation between education and training providers/ or youth organisations and other stakeholders;
Amendment 395 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point b – introductory part
Article 5 – point b – introductory part
(b) To foster quality improvements, innovation excellence, social inclusiveness, access and internationalisation at the level of educational institutions, as well as in youth work, notably through enhanced transnational cooperation between education and training providers/youth organisations and other stakeholders;
Amendment 399 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point c – introductory part
Article 5 – point c – introductory part
(c) To promote the emergence of a European lifelong learning area, trigger policy reforms at national level, support the modernisation of education and training systems, including non-formal learningeducation, and support European cooperation in the youth field, notably through enhanced policy cooperation, better use of recognition and transparency tools and the dissemination of good practices;
Amendment 419 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – point f a (new)
Article 5 – point f a (new)
(fa) To promote cooperation among different sectors involved in education, training, youth and sport;
Amendment 436 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - title (new)
Article 5 a (new) - title (new)
Article 5a Specific objectives in the field of education and training
Amendment 437 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) – introductory wording (new)
Article 5 a (new) – introductory wording (new)
In addition to the objectives of the programme set out in Articles 4 and 5, the programme shall pursue the following specific objectives in the field of education and training:
Amendment 438 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - introductory wording (new)
1. In the field of Comenius (school education), the programme shall aim to:
Amendment 439 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - point a (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - point a (new)
(a) promote equity, social cohesion and active citizenship among pupils;
Amendment 440 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - point a a (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 (new) - point a a (new)
(aa) enhance and increase partnerships between schools, pupils organisations and teachers associations;
Amendment 441 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - introductory wording (new)
1a. In the field of Erasmus (higher education), the programme shall aim to:
Amendment 442 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - point a (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - point a (new)
(a) improve and periodically monitor access to learning mobility abroad for students from disadvantaged backgrounds;
Amendment 443 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - point a a (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 a (new) - point a a (new)
(aa) improve and increase cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises and local communities.
Amendment 444 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 b (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 b (new) - introductory wording (new)
1b. In the field of Leonardo da Vinci (VET), the programme shall aim to:
Amendment 445 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 b (new) - point a (new)
Article 5 a (new) - point 1 b (new) - point a (new)
(a) promote quality traineeships and apprenticeships.
Amendment 510 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. This action will also support the transnational mobility of students, young people and staff to and from third countries as regards higher education and vocational training and education, including mobility organizsed on the basis of joint, double or multiple degrees of high quality or joint calls, as well as non-formal learning.
Amendment 522 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) transnational strategic partnerships between organisations involved in education, and training and/or youth activities or other relevor other relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations antd sectoocial partners, developing and implementing joint initiatives and promoting exchanges of experience and know-how. In this framework, particular attention has to be devoted to actions and projects promoting cooperation among different educational sectors, youth and sport;
Amendment 543 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new) - introductory wording (new)
1a. In the field of Comenius (school education), the actions described in paragraph 1 shall include inter alia:
Amendment 544 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new) - point a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new) - point a (new)
(a) multilateral projects developing, promoting and disseminating best practices to enhance equity, social cohesion and active citizenship.
Amendment 556 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the activities related to the implementation of the Union policy agenda on education, and training and youth (in the context of the Open Methods of Coordination), as well as to the Bologna and Copenhagen processes and the structured dialogue with young people, in particular thematic networks of experts and organisations aimed at identifying and disseminating relevant good practice and innovation across all educational sectors and connecting the national and European level;
Amendment 558 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the policy dialogue and the promotion of a long term structured dialogue with relevant European stakeholders in the area of education, and training and youthenabled by a specific and sustainable administrative and financial support to European organizations active in this area;
Amendment 560 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the European Youth ForumCivil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning (EUCIS-LLL) and European NGOs active in the fields of education and training, the National Academic Recognition Centres (NARIC), the Eurydice, Euroguidance and Eurodesk networks, as well as the eTwinning National Support Centres, the Europass National Centres, and the National Information Offices in the neighbourhood countries and acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates not fully participating in the programme.
Amendment 567 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – point b
Article 10 – point b
(b) support the activities of academic institutions or associations active in the field of European integration studies and support a Jean Monnet label for excellence.
Amendment 591 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new) – title (new)
Article 10 a (new) – title (new)
Article 10a Specific objectives
Amendment 592 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
Article 10 a (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
In addition to the objectives set out in Articles 4 and 5, the programme shall pursue the following specific objectives in the field of youth:
Amendment 593 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new)
Article 10 a (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new)
(a) to facilitate the recognition of the learning outcomes from non-formal education and informal learning among young people.
Amendment 619 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 b (new) - title (new)
Article 10 b (new) - title (new)
Article 10b Learning mobility of individuals: Youth moves
Amendment 620 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 b (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 10 b (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - introductory wording (new)
Learning mobility of individuals in the field of youth shall include:
Amendment 621 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 b (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new) - introductory wording (new)
Article 10 b (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new) - introductory wording (new)
(a) the mobility of young people involved in non-formal and informal education activities between the participating countries, in particular:
Amendment 637 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 c (new) - title (new)
Article 10 c (new) - title (new)
Article 10 c Cooperation for innovation and good practices: Youth cooperates
Amendment 638 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 c (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
Article 10 c (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
Cooperation for innovation and good practices in the field of youth shall include:
Amendment 639 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 c (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new)
Article 10 c (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a (new)
(a) IT support platforms, including e- networking, allowing peer learning, virtual mobility and exchanges of best practices.
Amendment 653 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 d (new) - title (new)
Article 10 d (new) - title (new)
Article 10 d Support for policy reform: Youth Decides
Amendment 654 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 d (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
Article 10 d (new) – paragraph 1 (new) – introductory wording (new)
Support for policy reform in the field of youth shall include activities initiated at Union level in relation to:
Amendment 655 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 d (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a a (new)
Article 10 d (new) - paragraph 1 (new) - point a a (new)
(aa) the European Youth Forum and European youth organizations, Union- wide networks, including in particular resource centres for the development of youth work, and the Eurodesk network.
Amendment 676 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) to enhance the access to sport activities for people with disabilities;
Amendment 751 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The allocations foreseen by the programme can be modified by the legislative authorities for the second part of the programme following the evaluation report drafted by the Commission.
Amendment 764 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The financial allocation for the Programme shall also cover specific and sustainable administrative grants to European organisations active in the field of education, training, sport and youth.
Amendment 768 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 6
Article 13 – paragraph 6
6. The funds for the learning mobility of individuals referred to in Article 6(1.a) that are to be managed by a National Agency shall be allocated on the basis of population and cost of living in the sending and host Member State, distance between capitals of Member States and performance. The parameter of performance accounts for 25% of the total funds according to the criteria as referred to in paragraphs 7 and 8.
Amendment 774 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Amendment 783 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
In order to support accessibility to the mobility schemes, the grants provided to support the mobility of individuals should be adjusted according to the living and subsistence costs of the destination country.
Amendment 784 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 5
Article 14 – paragraph 5
5. Grants for learning mobility awarded to individuals shall be exempted from any taxes and social levies. The same exemption shall apply to intermediary bodies awarding such financial support to the individuals concerned. Member States should support access to the mobility of individuals opportunities for learners with fewer opportunities by improving the size of the grant those students get.
Amendment 785 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The programme recognizes volunteer time contribution as a source of co-funding in all actions of the programme.
Amendment 790 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - title (new)
Article 14 a (new) - title (new)
Article 14a The European Student Loan Guarantee Facility
Amendment 791 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 (new)
1. A European Student Loan Guarantee Facility ('the Facility') shall be established with the aim of providing students with an additional tool enabling them to enhance their mobility in the context of studies at the level of a master's degree. This experimental tool shall be complementary to, and shall not replace, the grant systems supporting student mobility which are already in place at local, national and Union level.
Amendment 792 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 793 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Before the Facility can be launched, a detailed study shall be undertaken by the Commission to identify the challenges which students may potentially face when taking out a loan for a course of study abroad. In addition, the Commission shall undertake a study and a risk analysis within the framework of the Facility to study the impact that taking out a loan may have on a student's choice of study subject, country of destination and career perspectives, on levels of debt amongst students, on the possibility of a brain drain between the countries where student mobility could take place and on the possible consequences which the Facility may have on the financing of higher education.
Amendment 794 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 c (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. The Commission shall administer the funding of the Facility which shall be delivered through a trustee with a mandate to implement it pursuant to fiduciary agreements setting out the detailed rules and requirements governing the implementation of the financial instrument relating thereto and the respective obligations of the parties in line with the provisions laid down in this Regulation. The financial instrument shall comply with the provisions regarding financial instruments laid down in the Financial Regulation and in the delegated act replacing the Implementing Rules. In accordance with Article 18(2) of the Financial Regulation, revenues and repayments generated by the guarantees shall be assigned to the financial instrument. That financial instrument, which shall take into account students´ and market needs as well as take-up, the excessive debt risk, the Facility's social and economic impacts on beneficiaries and their social background, education and training, shall be subject to the monitoring and evaluation provided for in Article 15(2) of this Regulation. Member States and stakeholders shall be consulted at all stages throughout the establishment, implementation and evaluation of the financial instrument.
Amendment 795 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 d (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. The provisions of the Financial Regulation governing the implementation of the Facility shall lay down special rules regarding full income contingent repayment condition, permitting the students concerned to defer repayment of the loan until such time as they reach a level of income that exceeds the average salary in their country of residence.
Amendment 796 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 e (new)
Article 14 a (new) - paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. A maximum rate of interest for student loans granted pursuant to the Facility, not exceeding the average rate of inflation in the Member States during the previous calendar year, shall be set. If the financial intermediaries concerned exceed the rate of interest thus set, the Commission shall back up any interest payable in excess of that rate.
Amendment 807 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. When implementing the Programme, the Commission and the Member States shall ensure particular efforts to promote social inclusion and facilitate the participation of people with difficultiespecial needs for educational, social, gender, physical, psychological, geographical, economic and cultural reasonsfewer opportunities and the associations representing them.
Amendment 809 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The accessibility and transparency of administrative and financial procedures are considered guiding principles to increase the quality and performance of the programme. The consideration of those elements shall be guaranteed by the regular consultation of the beneficiaries and their representative platforms of each sector by the Commission and National Authorities for the design, implementation and evaluation of the programme at European and national level.
Amendment 820 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. All actions shall aim at fostering synergies with other EU Programmes, notably with the Horizon 2020 program, Creative Culture and the European Social Fund in order to meet the objectives of EU 2020 strategy in a consistent and coordinated way.
Amendment 821 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The Member States shall take all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the Programme, including the administration ofmeasures aimed at lowering visa related costs and resolving administrative issues that give rise to difficulties in obtaining visas.
Amendment 822 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
3. Within three months of the entry into force of this Regulation, the National Authority shall designate a single coordinating body called National Agency or National Agencies. In cases where there is more than one National Agency, Member States shall establish an appropriate mechanism for the coordinated management of the implementation of the Programme at national level. Each Member State shall determine how it organises the reafter ‘National Agency’lationship between the National Authority and the National Agency, including tasks such as the establishment of the National Agency's annual work programme. The National Authority shall provide the Commission with an appropriate ex ante Compliance Assessment that the National Agency complies with the provisions of Article 55(1)(b)(vi) and Article 57(1), (2) and (3) of the Regulation No XX/2012, , and Article X of its Delegated Regulation NoXX/2012, as well as with the Union requirements for internal control standards for National Agencies and rules for their management of Programme funds for grant support.
Amendment 823 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) have the adequate management capacity, staff and infrastructure to fulfil its tasks regarding programme, management, support of innovation and practice and collaboration among National Agencies satisfactorily, ensuring an efficient and effective management of the Programme and sound financial management of Union funds and a supportive approach to implement the Programme;
Amendment 824 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) involve stakeholders in the management and assessment of the programme impact;
Amendment 826 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 829 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 4
Article 22 – paragraph 4
4. The National Agency shall issue grant support to beneficiaries either by way of a grant agreement or a grant decision, as specified by the Commission for the Programme action concerned. National Agencies and the Executive Agency shall aim to apply uniform rules in terms of priorities, deadlines, procedures and evaluation regarding the allocation of those grants. The Commission is in charge of monitor such provision.
Amendment 831 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 9
Article 23 – paragraph 9
9. The Commission shall organizse regular meetings with the network of National Agencies and European representative stakeholders platforms in order to ensure a coherent implementation of the Programme across all participating countries.
Amendment 841 #
2011/0371(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Committee shall meet in specific configurations to deal with sectoral issues. The social partners and the European stakeholders representative platforms shall be invited to participate in its meetings as consultative bodies.
Amendment 218 #
2011/0370(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) The European Parliament and Council Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning1 recognises cultural awareness and expression to be a priority, in particular highlighting the importance of the creative expression of ideas, experiences and emotions in a range of media (music, performing and visual arts and literature), as a key competence with which everyone should be equipped so that they can thrive in a knowledge-based society. It thus considers participation and active engagement in culture to be a factor for innovation, productivity and competitiveness. _______________ 1 OJ L 394, 30.12.2006, p. 10.
Amendment 403 #
2011/0370(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – point b
Article 8 – point b
(b) market data, studies, anticipation skills and jobs' tools, evaluations,the collection of market data, drafting of studies, analysis of labour market and skills needs, European and national cultural policyies analysis and support for statistical surveys based on instruments and criteria specific to each sector;
Amendment 492 #
2011/0370(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) supporting audience buildingdevelopment as a means of stimulating interest in European cultural works., and improving access to, European cultural works and cultural heritage, also through the promotion of reading;
Amendment 206 #
2011/0288(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The certification body shall be a public or private audit body designated by the Member State which shall provide an opinion on the management declaration of assurance covering the completeness, accuracy and veracity of the annual accounts of the paying agency, and the proper functioning of its internal control system, the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, as well as the respect of the principle of sound financial management.
Amendment 332 #
2011/0288(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 42 – paragraph 2
Article 42 – paragraph 2
Amendment 343 #
2011/0288(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 44
Article 44
Amendment 1129 #
2011/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. Support under Article 22(1)(a) shall be granted to private land-owners and tenants, state forests which have no direct link to the state budget, municipalities and their associations and shall cover the costs of establishment and an annual premium per hectare to cover the costs of maintenance, including early and late cleanings, for a maximum period of ten years.
Amendment 1417 #
2011/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 5
Article 32 – paragraph 5
5. Member States may grant payments under this measure between 2014 and 201720 to farmers in areas which were eligible under Article 36(a)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 during the 2007-2013 programming period but are no longer eligible following the new delimitation referred to in Article 33(3). These payments shall be degressive starting in 2014 at 80% of the payment received in 2013 and ending in 201720 at 20%.
Amendment 1440 #
2011/0282(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In order to be eligible for payments under Article 32, areas, other than mountain areas, shall be considered as facing significant natural constraints if at least 6650% of the UAA meets at least one of the criteria listed in Annex II at the threshold value indicated. Respect of this condition shall be ensured at the appropriate level of local administrative units ("LAU 2" level).
Amendment 2022 #
2011/0280(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Coupled support may be granted to the following sectors and productions: cereals, oilseeds, protein crops, grain legumes, flax, hemp, rice, nuts, starch potato, milk and milk products, seeds, sheepmeat and goatmeat, beef and veal, olive oil, silk worms, dried fodder, hops, sugar beet, cane and chicory, fruit and vegetables and short rotation coppiceplant and animal production sectors.
Amendment 2066 #
2011/0280(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – paragraph 2
Article 38 – paragraph 2
2. Coupled support may only be granted to sectors or to regions of a Member State where specific types of farming or specific agricultural sectors undergo certain difficulties and are particularly important for economic and/or social and/or environmental reasons – provided that the welfare of livestock is concerned.
Amendment 4 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas accessible and quality education and culture is a key tool to further European citizenship and tackle widespread political extremism throughout the continent;
Amendment 19 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation i
Recommendation i
(i) Recalls that the current EU education, youth, media and culture programmes are close to the citizens, enjoy high implementation rates, produce noticeable leverage and spill-over effects and generate clear and demonstrated European added value by pooling resources and enhancing cooperation among different sectors and stakeholders;
Amendment 23 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation iii
Recommendation iii
(iii) Stresses that the Youth in Action programme reinforces the renewed EU Youth Strategy (2010–2018) and contributes both to combating youth unemployment andto empowering youth participation at all levels, promoting social inclusion through non-formal and informal learning and supporting the development of youth policies at EU and national level;
Amendment 29 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation viii
Recommendation viii
(viii) Notes that the Commission proposal merges the existing Lifelong Learning and the Youth in Action programmes and also includes a separate chapter for sport, in line with the Union’s new responsibilities in this area; considers the proposed financial envelope of EUR 17 299 000 000 as the absolute minimum, given the ambitions and scope of the new programme; also stresses that the very limited amount foreseen for sport all the sectors involved cannot be cut without jeopardizing the efficiency of the policies in the field of sport,covered;
Amendment 32 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation ix
Recommendation ix
(ix) Strongly recommends that the minimum allocations for each educational sector and youth described in the explanatory statement of the proposal be incorporated in the legal basis, in order to make them legally binding and subject to the decision of the budgetary authority; is concerned by the fact that the proposed minimum allocations amount only to 56 % of the total budget; stresses the need for a higher figure in order to secure reliable funding for the different sectors; recommends also foreseeing a midterm review of the allocations carried by the European Parliament on the basis of the Commission's evaluation report;
Amendment 38 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation x a (new)
Recommendation x a (new)
(xa) Notes the inclusion in the proposal of an Erasmus for All programme to finance mobility at master level; stresses that it should not replace the grant system already in place, as well as the importance of introducing income contingent thresholds to make it socially sustainable, especially in times of crisis;
Amendment 39 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation x b (new)
Recommendation x b (new)
(xb) Points out the need to include a strong commitment towards social inclusion by ensuring equal access to learning mobility through education and training at all levels; in this regard, notes the importance of ensuring participation in opportunities tailored to each individual, especially for students with lower income;
Amendment 53 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation xvi a (new)
Recommendation xvi a (new)
(xvia) Also considers NGOs as important actors in reaching the goals set in the next MFF and strongly recommends recognising their role as key actors in the European civil dialogue and providing them with adequate administrative and financial support, especially in times of crisis;
Amendment 54 #
2011/0177(APP)
Draft opinion
Recommendation xvi b (new)
Recommendation xvi b (new)
(xvib) Recommends improving accessibility to the opportunities for citizens and stakeholders in the next MFF proposal; in this regard, considers it important to simplify the administrative and financial burdens linked to the EU programmes;
Amendment 8 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the President of the Commission declared that 'by 2020 all young people in Europe must have the possibility to spend a part of their educational pathway in other Member States',
Amendment 27 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas youth organisations are major providers of non-formal education complementary to formal education, which is essential to equip young people with skills and competences in order to become active citizens and ease their access to the labour market; through this, youth organizations help to achieve the aims of the Europe 2020 strategy,
Amendment 28 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas it is pivotal to involve young people and the youth organisations that represent them, in the decision-making process so as to provide them with a sense of ownership and ensure they are actively contributing their views to a youth strategy,
Amendment 48 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recommends that the European institutions set up a Structured Dialogue in the field of Education within the Education and Training 2020 framework to fully involve education stakeholders in the implementation of education measures of Youth on the move in cooperation with the structured Dialogue on Youth;
Amendment 55 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to continue investing in the mobility and youth programmes such as Lifelong Learning (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius, Grundtvig), Marie Curie, Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action; and to present a proposal for the next generation of mobility and youth programmes that will meet the aim of having all young Europeans mobile by 2020;
Amendment 69 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recommends that the European institutions strengthen the structured dialogue with youth organisations and other stakeholders to debate priorities and actions for young people and to follow up on Youth on the Move;
Amendment 70 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 111 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the importance of non- formal education, such as intercultural learning, in developing important skills and competences and calls on the European Commission to present a comprehensive strategy to promote non-formal education and to support providers of non-formal education;
Amendment 123 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Is convinced that the youth in action programme is crucial for youth participation in Europe and that this programme should be strengthened and continued;
Amendment 128 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the key new actions of the YoM initiative, such as a unique and central mobility website, a mobility card and a European Skills Passportthat is complementary and reinforcing the success of currently already established youth and student cards and a European Skills Passport that should become an online lifelong learning portfolio, which all upgrade useful and already existing mobility tools;
Amendment 133 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Invites the European Commission to present a Green Paper on participation of young people as the concrete proposal on how to further the involvement of young people in decision-making processes;
Amendment 137 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to widen the focus of the Modernisation Agenda for Universities, and renew the priorities to meet new challenges such as the Social Dimension of higher education, promoting Student Centred Learning and supporting Member States towards reaching the 40% attainment benchmark;
Amendment 144 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out the need to find a balance between higher education systems on one hand and the needs of the economy and society in general on the other through adequate curricula for future skills and jobsthat assure competencies and skills for the future society and economy;
Amendment 175 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Commission to use the future Structured Dialogue on Education to develop the higher education priorities within the Europe 2020-strategy further; and that the European institutions strengthen the dialogue with higher education stakeholders to debate priorities and actions for European higher education;
Amendment 214 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Strongly supports the EU target for 40% of young people to complete tertiary (i.e. higher and vocational) education, and calls on the Commission to transform CEDEFOP into an EU agency on Education that provides support and guidance to member states and education stakeholders to improve the quality of all types of education in Europe;
Amendment 218 #
2010/2307(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Strongly supports the EU target for 40% of young people to complete tertiary (i.e. higher and vocational) education, and calls on the Commission to transform CEDEFOP into an EU agency on Education that provides support to member states and education stakeholders to improve the quality of all types of education in Europe;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that women workers moving abroad for jobs involving child or elderly care such as babysitters, au-pairs, nannies or nurses are often employed by private entities such as families or family members and thus end up working without a contract or illegally and consequently having no rights and benefits linked to social security , healthcare etc. available to them;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on Member States to monitor the situation of workers in child or elderly care and provide enough information to women workers leaving abroad for such jobs with all the necessary information including access to legal jobs and training in this field, social rights, health care, etc. and also providing counselling regarding legal employment and warning them against potential threads of the black labour market;
Amendment 12 #
2010/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls on Commission and Member States to monitor the situation of agencies and organizations offering jobs to workers from other Member States and detect potential illegal or black jobs or agencies / organizations providing fictitious jobs;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges Member States, in those instances where workers move with a spouse or partner3 and children, to provide adequate services for the family unit, for example, childcare facilities, pre- schools, schools and medical services; and an access to training and language courses especially teaching the official language of the host country to the spouses or partners of the workers moving for jobs abroad;
Amendment 1 #
2009/2221(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas four out of ten measures adopted at the Prague 2009 extraordinary EU summit on employment bear on education, vocational training, lifelong learning, apprenticeships, facilitating mobility, and better forecasting of labour market needs and matching skills,
Amendment 4 #
2009/2221(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that the aim of the Copenhagen process is to encourage individuals to make use of the wide range of vocational learning opportunities available (e.g. at school, in higher education, at the workplace, or through private courses);
Amendment 22 #
2009/2221(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers essential the establishment of partnership between the world of education and work, and calls for the improvement of the mobility ofand language facilities for students, teachers and employees;
Amendment 37 #
2009/2221(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the outcome of the meeting concerning of the European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education on the Bologna Process 2020 (April 28-29, 2009) that asks for stronger partnerships between public authorities, higher education institutions, students, employers and employees as a way of better implementing lifelong learning policies;
Amendment 42 #
2009/2221(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that apprentices should be properly trained and that this on-the-job training should serve as a means to acquire competences and skills; supports strengthening the link between education and work, and suggests that in addition to technology and science, also foreign languages related with the business world should be taught;