2011/2274(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10

~~– having regard to Annex I to the European Council Conclusions of 24-25 March 2011 entitled ‘The Euro Plus Pact: Stronger economic policy coordination for competitiveness and convergence’7 ,~~deleted

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the government debt to GDP ratio in the Eurozone rose from 86.2% in the first quarter of 2011 to 88.2% in the first quarter of 2012;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side to avoid outright tax hikes, and to focus on improving tax compliance and its management; considers that, if this is not sufficient, a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also in view of the reduction of economic distortions; more efforts must be given to fight against tax avoidance and tax fraud;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side ~~to avoid outright tax hikes, and~~, to focus on improving tax compliance and its management~~; considers that, if this is not sufficient,~~ and to ensure appropriate participation by those with high incomes and large assets in the financing of public services; considers that a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also inwith a view tof the reduction of economic and social distortions;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side ~~to avoid outright tax hikes, and to~~ focusing on improving tax compliance and equity among citizens and its management; considers that, if this is not sufficient, a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also in view of the reduction of economic distortions;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side to avoid outright tax hikes, and to focus on improving tax compliance and its management; considers that, if this is not sufficient, a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also in view of the reduction of economic distortionsrove tax compliance and its management, in particular with respect to the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Considers that in order to have a balanced public finances for the medium and long term, it is important to apply cost-benefit analysis to all infrastructure projects with a significant weight in the budget;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that the Member States have committed themselves to engage in reforming fiscal policy within the Euro Plus Pact, and to hold discussions on a regular basis on the adoption of best practices;deleted

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that the Member States have committed themselves to engage in reforming fiscal policy ~~within the Euro Plus Pact,~~ and to hold discussions on a regular basis on the adoption of best practices;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines the role of local and regional public authorities in supporting public and private investments; stresses the importance of growth-oriented investments for a swift economic recovery;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility and role of different levels of government (regional and local) in maintaining sound and sustainable public finance framework, in particular taking into account the impact of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union on local and regional fiscal autonomy;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility and role of different levels of government (national, regional and local) in maintaining sound and sustainable public finance framework;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the financial, economic and banking crises have driven the spreads on sovereign debt artificially high for some Member States, and this led to a sharp increase in financing costs for these Member States, reducing their ability to consolidate public debt; whereas difficulties experienced to consolidate public finances are also the result of the lack of determined action to end the crisis through a comprehensive, coherent and timely response at EU level;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility and role of different levels of government (regional and local) in ~~maintain~~ensuring a sound and sustainable public finance framework;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility and role of different levels of government ~~(regional and local)~~, including at EU level in maintaining sound and sustainable public finance framework; welcomes the latest initiative undertaken by the European Council for developing an integrated fiscal framework in the Eurozone, provided that this fiscal framework complies with democratic legitimacy and accountability, as well as encourages member states to implement contra- cyclical policies;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility ~~and rol~~, role, fiscal transfers and revenue source of different levels of government (regional and local) in maintaining sound and sustainable public finance framework;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Is concerned by the risk that the set- up of the relationship between central and sub-national governments can harm the implementation of fiscal consolidation, particularly when decentralisation is financed predominantly through transfers from the central government and not matched by sub-national responsibility on the revenue side;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Notes that in some Member States, sub-sectors of government and ministries exist without concrete powers; these sub- sectors of government make the general administration more inefficient and profligate and so should be eliminated as part of the fiscal consolidation efforts;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Notes that fiscal consolidation efforts should be shared between the different administrations in a fair way, taking into account the services they provide;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Recognizes that some Member States with high levels of debt are still increasing the net quantity of public workers even though their public commitment to freeze or decrease their share in the labour market;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)

14d. Calls Member States with budgetary problems to prioritize fiscal consolidation measures related to the diminishing of unnecessary defence expenditure and purchases of new and expensive military equipment;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the major reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that, while those reforms cannot suddenly solve the crisis, they enhance the credibility of the fiscal adjustment, reducing its negative short-term impact on growth and setting up the framework for better policy-making in the years when growth has returned;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the major reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that, while those reforms cannot suddenly solve the crisis, they should aim at enhanceing the credibility of the fiscal adjustment, reducing its negative short- term impact on growth;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the economic prospects of the Eurozone have greatly deteriorated between the publication of the 2011 and 2012 Commission reports on "Public Finances in EMU"; whereas economic growth has turned negative for the Eurozone on average over the course of the second quarter of 2012; whereas unemployment is now at 11.4% for the Eurozone on average; whereas the evolution of macroeconomic indicators suggest a double-dip recession for the Eurozone;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Welcomes~~Take notes of the major reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that, while those reforms cannot suddenly solve the crisis, they enhance ~~the credibility of the fiscal adjustment, reducing its negative short-term impact on growth~~fiscal discipline and the ex-post coordination of fiscal policies, thus creating the precondition for creating efficient instruments for ex-ante coordination and a governance framework aimed at supporting growth and employment levels throughout the Eurozone, including common debt instruments;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Welcomes the major~~Rejects the reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that~~, while~~ those reforms not only cannot suddenly solve the crisis~~, they enhanc~~ but also damage the credibility of the ~~fisc~~European Union’s objectives of social adjust~~ment, reducing its~~ice and equal living conditions pursuant to Article 3 TEU and Article 151 TFEU and will aggravate the negative short-term impact on growth;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages meetings between regional parliaments with legislative powers, national parliaments and the European Parliament at key moments of the European Semester to discuss the economic orientations presented in the Annual Growth Survey and the country- specific recommendations;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages meetings between national parliaments and the European Parliament at key moments of the European Semester to discuss the economic orientations presented in the Annual Growth Survey and the country-specific recommendations; believes that the European Semester should fully involve the European Parliament as co-legislator and that national Parliaments should be consulted prior to the adoption of country specific recommendations;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages ~~meetings~~economic dialogue and cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament ~~at key moments of the European Semester to discuss~~, particularly in the econ~~omic orientations presented in the Annual Growth Survey and the country-specific recommendations~~text of the European Semester;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Expresses its concern about the fact that Member States under a financial assistance programme did not receive country-specific recommendations regarding progress towards the EU2020 objectives; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of the economic adjustment programme on progress towards the EU2020 headline targets and propose modifications to it to bring the adjustment programme in line with the EU2020 objectives;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Reiterates its call in the framework of the forthcoming European Semester for an encompassing sustainable and counter-cyclical EU growth initiative aiming at promoting long term investments and complementing the required structural reforms for the transformation of the European economy and a green job rich recovery; points out that transversal and ambitious reforms need to be carried on with that purpose on domains such as EU energy, transportation and environmental law;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the recent reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework of the European Union cannot alone solve the crisis; and need to be complemented by instruments for fiscal solidarity and the common issuance of debt;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the recent reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework of the European Union cannot alone solve the crisis; whereas a comprehensive action is required for addressing excessive macro financial imbalances in a symmetric manner and increase the level of overall socio- economic convergence and solidarity within the Economic and Monetary Union;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas credible commitments to growth-friendly austerity measures are a prerequisite for any sustainable solution of the excessive debt and deficit situation of most of the Eurozone Member States;

Amendment 16 #

Krišjānis KARIŅŠ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas significant steps have been taken in EU countries to consolidate public finances, but many challenges still remain with a view to improving the situation;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas ~~signif~~radicantl steps have been taken in EU countries to ~~consolidate public finances~~reduce public expenditure, but not to increase revenue;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas significant steps have been taken in EU countries to consolidate public finances; whereas the current severe economic downturn is a matter of concern as it threatens the substantial efforts made by Member States regarding their budgetary consolidation strategies;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. Whereas the IMF has recently challenged governments' estimates for the fiscal multiplier; whereas whilst governments tend to use an average fiscal multiplier of 0.5 when assessing the impact of fiscal policy, the IMF's considers these multipliers to be in the range of 0.9-1.7; whereas this finding is consistent with research suggesting that in the current environment of persistent economic weakness, monetary policy constrained by the zero lower bound and synchronised fiscal adjustment across numerous economies, multipliers may be well above 1; whereas this means each euro of fiscal cuts depresses GDP by more than a euro;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regards to the Conclusions of the European Council of 28-29 June, and in particular its annex "Compact for growth and jobs",

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Member States are not all in the same situation, so differentiated strategies should be pursued, ~~in line with the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council and~~ reflecting country-specific fiscal and macro-financial risks;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Member States are not all in the same situation, so differentiated strategies should be pursued, in line with the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council and reflecting country-specific fiscal and macro-financial risks as well as economic and social conditions;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Member States are not all in the same situation, sorequiring therefore the implementation of sustainable growth- friendly differentiated strategies ~~should be pursued,~~ in line with the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council and reflecting country-specific fiscal and macro-financial risks;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the Commission should better point out the role of spill-over effects at all steps of the European Semester procedure; whereas, in order to successfully reduce Europe-wide macro- economic imbalances, excessive current account surpluses must be tackled and respective recommendations must be clearly stated and enforced;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the latest Country Specific Recommendations put an unbalanced weight on the need to reduce wages, social security expenditure and reform public pension frameworks whereas specific recommendations relating to other domains such as taxes on capital gains, consumption, real estate and polluting activities are largely underweighted;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, in particular, Member States benefiting from financial assistance programmes and those under close market scrutiny should ~~strictly meet agreed budgetary target~~implement credible long- term budgetary consolidation strategies; whereas negative spill-over effects across the EMU need to be urgently addressed so as to rebalance and calibrate efforts required by all Member States to overcome the crisis;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, in particular, Member States benefiting from financial assistance programmes and those under close market scrutiny ~~should strictly meet~~, although strictly implementing those programmes and/or their country specific recommendations are faced with a vicious circle of austerity and recession, thus impeding their ability to achieved their agreed budgetary targets;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas effects on growth and poverty induced by exaggerated and badly timed fiscal consolidation efforts must be duly taken into account and prevented as far as possible;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas democracies require intensive public scrutiny of all layers of decision- making bodies in charge of economic policies as well as accountability and legitimacy mechanisms;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2011 on the Scoreboard for the surveillance of macroeconomic imbalances: envisaged initial design,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas democracies require intensive public scrutiny of all layers of decision- making bodies in charge of the economicy and the relevant policies;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

~~1. Welcomes the projected improvement of the fiscal positions of EU Member States; deplores the foreseen protraction of the cyclical slow-down underway;~~deleted

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the projected improvement of the fiscal positions of EU Member States; and the maintenance of their fiscal targets; deplores the foreseen protraction of the cyclical slow-down underway;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the projected improvement of the fiscal positions of EU Member States; deplores the foreseen protraction of the cyclical slow-down underway; points out that the current severe economic downturn is a matter of concern as it threatens the substantial efforts made by Member States regarding their budgetary consolidation;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Regrets that theses forecasts of improved fiscal positions might soon be revised , in line with the rapidly changing macroeconomic environment;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Considers that the evolution in GDP growth reflects the fiscal policy choices made by the governments of the Eurozone since 2010;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that credible long-term strategies for budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial markets;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, given the high level of public debt and deficits in some Member States and the difficulty in returning public finances to a sustainable path; this situation triggers strong pressure from financial markets;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial markets; believes, however, that the continued need for intense fiscal adjustment needs to be balanced between strengthening the production process, economic development and social protection;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that budgetary consolidation must remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial markets; recalls that overall public deficits were reduced thanks to strong consolidation efforts;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)

- having regards to the IMF World Economic Outlook of October 2012,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, ~~given the strong pressure from financial markets~~as the financial markets have given rise to high costs and any attempt to make it impossible for those markets to bring strong pressure to bear on public finances has so far been avoided;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers ~~that budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial markets~~a necessity that fiscal policy is used to mitigate the variation of the economic cycle;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Is deeply concerned that, despite Member States' reform and consolidation efforts, Eurozone sovereign bond markets remain in distress, as reflected in high spreads and interest rate volatility; notes that the immediate trigger and root cause were financial markets' concerns about the solidity of public finances in some Eurozone countries;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes that the efforts towards improved coordination and fiscal consolidation will not bring the expected results if macroeconomic imbalances between Member States are not addressed as well as their consequences on the recovery process;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public finances is an essential condition for growth and for maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure, including investments; stresses that a high level of debt generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public finances is a condition for growth and for maintaining ~~appropriate~~ levels of public expenditure which meet needs, including investments; stresses that ~~a high level of debt~~insufficient State revenue generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public finances is a condition for growth and for maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure, including investments; stresses that a high level of debt generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment ~~and~~, equity among generations and weak growth;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public and private finances is a condition for growth and for maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure, including investments; stresses that a high level of debt generates ~~adverse effects on~~increased difficulties for financing fundamental tasks so as health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that growth is a pre- condition for the long-term sustainability of public finances ~~is a condition for growth and for~~; considers that maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure, including investments~~; stresses that a high level of debt generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations~~ is crucial in order to stimulate economic growth;

Amendment 49 #

Krišjānis KARIŅŠ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that the high level of youth unemployment will damage economic growth in future too, and that Member States should therefore now already adopt concrete measures to reduce it;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and has demonstrated that public finances issues ~~negatively~~ affect socio-economic development and political stability;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to strictly follow the recommendations adopted by the Council in line with the rules set by the ‘six-pack’ on economic governance’ in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a credible and timely manner;deleted

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to strictly follow the recommendations adopted by the Commission and the Council in line with the rules set by the ‘six-pack’ on economic governance' in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a credible and timely manner;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to strictly follow the recommendations adopted by the Council in line with the rules set by the Stability and Growth Pact, as modified by the ‘six-pack’ on economic governance', in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a credible and timely manner;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to strictly follow the recommendations adopted by the Council in line with the rules set by the ‘six-pack’ on economic governance' in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a credible and timely manner; encourages the Council to revise these recommendations, so as to take due account of the deterioration of the macroeconomic environment;

Amendment 55 #

Nils TORVALDS, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to ~~strictly~~ follow the recommendations adopted by the Council in line with the rules set by the ‘'six-pack’' on economic governance' in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a credible ~~and timely manner~~, timely and differentiated manner; taking into account country specific circumstances;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Invites the Member States to find agreement with a view to adopting the "two-pack" as soon as possible, by the end of the year at the latest;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages the Commission to give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through their country-specific recommendations, and to underline noteworthy efforts and best practices; underlines that Commission recommendations addressed to several Member States have little added value to the respective Stability/Convergence programmes and National Reform Programmes; points out that Commission recommendations need to add elements regarding the implementation of committed measures as well as on the assessment of progress made towards agreed objectives and targets instead of simply recalling national priorities;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages the Commission to give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through their country-specific recommendations, and to ~~underlin~~acknowledge noteworthy efforts and best practices;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages the Commission to ~~give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through their country-specific recommendations~~help Member States to improve the revenue side of State budgets and give them both negative and positive feedback on the subject, and to underline noteworthy efforts and best practices;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and has demonstrated that public finances iweaknessues negatively affect socio- economic development and political stability;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages the Commission to give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through ~~their~~explicit and detailed country-specific recommendations, and to underline noteworthy efforts and best practices;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Encourages the Commission to continue in its efforts to supplement its traditional sustainability analysis with alternative methodologies; invites the Commission to publish regularly indicators reflecting this sustainability analysis in the future releases of the ‘Public Finances in EMU’ reports and to release the assumptions over which their models are based when assessing the multiplier effect of public expenditure levels on GDP growth;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Encourage~~Asks the Commission to ~~continue in its efforts to~~ supplement its traditional sustainability analysis with alternative methodologies; invites the Commission to publish regularly indicators reflecting this sustainability analysis in the future releases of the ‘'Public Finances in EMU’' reports; welcomes the recent researches from the IMF and the Commission, including a dedicated section in the latest Commission's public finance report pointing out the systematic underestimation of fiscal multiplier effects;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the important role the Union budget must play in order to successfully reduce macroeconomic and social imbalances throughout the Union and thereby restoring the conditions for a sustainable monetary union;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Welcomes the new focus on fiscal decentralisation in the 2012 Report on Public Finances in EMU and suggests that a chapter on local and regional public finances be always included in future releases;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are built on credible and long term counter- cyclical strategies are sufficiently explained and debated and that they respect equity among citizens and do not undermine social protection;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the ~~measures backing it are sufficiently explained and debated~~y are designed in accordance with the economic cycle and the necessity to support growth in cyclical downturns, that the measures backing it are sufficiently explained and debated, that redistribution effects of consolidation measures are controlled, and that they respect equity and fiscal justice among citizens;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are sufficiently explained and debated, that they promote growth and jobs perspectives and that they respect equity among citizens;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are ~~sufficient~~properly explained and debated and that they respect equity among citizens;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation by means of targeted expenditure and by increasing State revenue can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are sufficiently explained and debated and that they ~~respect equ~~particularly focus on equity and solidarity among citizens;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and has demonstrated that ~~public finances issues~~issues relating to the financial industry negatively affect socio- economic development and political stability;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Deems that the current recessionary spiral in the Euro area demands more resolute action from the Commission in order to fully and proactively use the flexibilities embedded in EU fiscal rules allowing for a differentiated path of budgetary consolidation and taking into account country specific circumstances and necessary investments in future- oriented areas as laid out in the EU2020 strategy;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Considers that Member States benefiting from financial assistance programmes which fail to meet budgetary targets because of the current severe economic downturn should be offered more time to consolidate their public finances in exchange for additional commitments to conduct reforms to the benefit of fiscal sustainability in the longer run;

Amendment 72 #

Hans-Peter MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Invites the Member States to put in place structural growth-oriented reforms in line with the EU 2020 Strategy, having regard to social protection and social inclusion; recalls its demands on the need for improvements in the labour market policies in particular~~, reducing labour taxation~~ shifting taxation away from labour in particular regarding low income categories of workers, to environmentally harmful activities and optimising training schemes; invites the national governments to put in place innovation policies in order to improve productivity and align it with wage developments; invites the Member States to create a more efficient business environment with easier credit access to help industries ~~recover~~enhance competitiveness; lastly, invites reform of the public administration sector to eliminate the red tape;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Invites the Member States to put in place structural growth-oriented reforms ~~in line with the EU 2020 Strategy, having regard~~, assigning priority to social protection and social inclusion; recalls for improvements in the labour market policies, in particular, by reducing ~~labour taxation~~working hours, promoting decent work and optimising training schemes; invites the national governments to put in place innovation policies in order to improve productivity; invites the Member States to create a more efficient business environment with easier credit access to help industries recover competitiveness; lastly, invites reform of the public administration sector to ~~eliminate the red tape~~render it efficient and responsive to the public;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Invites the Member States to put in place structural growth-oriented reforms in line with the EU 2020 Strategy, having regard to social protection and social inclusion; recalls ~~improvements in the~~making labour market ~~policies~~more flexible in particular, reducing labour taxation ~~and~~, optimising training schemes~~; invites the national governments to put in place innovation policies in order to improve~~ to stimulate older workers to stay in employment longer and reduce youth unemployment by better matching the qualifications of young people to labour demand, ensuring that wages keep in line with productivity through adequate wage-setting mechanisms, and combating labour market segmentation by better balanced employment produtecti~~vity~~on legislation; invites the Member States to put in place innovation policies aimed at improving productivity and to create a more ~~efficient~~competitive business environment ~~with easier credit access to help~~by liberalising certain industries, recmov~~er competitiven~~ing unjustified restrictions on regulated trades and professions, and facilitating credit access; lastly, ~~invit~~encourages reform of the public administration sector toby eliminat~~e the red tape~~ing red tape and removing unnecessary layers of government;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Invites the Member States to put in place ~~structural~~ growth-oriented policies and reforms in line with the EU 2020 Strategy, having regard to social protection ~~and~~, social inclusion and public investment; recalls improvements in the labour market policies in particular, reducing labour taxation and optimising training schemes; invites the national governments to put in place innovation policies through investment in order to improve productivity; invites the Member States to create a more efficient business environment with easier credit access to help industries recover competitiveness; lastly, invites reform of the public administration sector to eliminate the red tape;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on expenditure rather than on revenue tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium-run, and that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment in productive sectors of the economy;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on expenditure rather than on revenue tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium~~-run, and that~~ term, but more recessive in the short term; however, their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, ~~in particular~~ provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on ~~expenditur~~revenue rather than on ~~revenu~~expenditure tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium-run, and that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, socially just and lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and ~~has demonstrated that public finances issues~~continues to negatively affect socio- economic development, public finances and political stability;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that ~~the~~a key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on cutting expenditure rather than on increasing revenue tend to be more lasting and more growth-~~support~~enhancing in the medium-run, and that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses~~, in~~ that ~~regard, that consolidations based~~the appropriate mix onf expenditure ~~rather than on revenue tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium-run, and~~and revenue side measures is context dependent and should be thoroughly assessed so as to ensure that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element ~~in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses,~~for consolidation is growth and that in that regard, ~~that~~ consolidations based on ~~expenditur~~revenue rather than on ~~revenu~~expenditure tend to be more ~~lasting and more~~ growth-supporting in the medium-run, and that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investmentshort and medium run;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the expenditure side while as much as possible, and at the same time safeguarding growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes for unemployed people;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the ~~expenditure side~~context dependent appropriate mix of expenditure and revenue side measures while at the same time safeguarding EU 2020 related and sustainable growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes, including o European Job Youth Guarantee for unemployed people;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the expenditure side while at the same time safeguarding growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes for unemployed people and new entrepreneurs;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the ~~expenditur~~revenue side while at the same time ~~safeguarding~~particularly allocating resources to growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training ~~schemes for unemployed people~~and further schemes for job-seekers;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the ~~expenditure side while at the same time safeguarding growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education~~income side in order to further develop growth-enhancing investment in R&D, education, health and energy efficiency; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes for unemployed people;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to ~~focus consolidation efforts on the expenditure side while at the same time safeguarding~~safeguard expenditure relating to growth- enhancing items such as ~~R&D and education~~public investment in R&D and education as well as automatic stabilisers, such as unemployment benefit schemes; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes for unemployed people;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Encourages the Commission to assess the consolidated fiscal stance in the euro area as a whole combining the budgetary measures decided at the national level and its projected impact through spill-over effects in each euro area Member State;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas ~~the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and has demonstrated that public finances issu~~public finances have been negatively affected by the economic, financial and banking crisis, and those crises negatively affects socio-economic development and political stability;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Invites the Commission to publish its methodology underpinning the assessment of the structural balances of the Member States, as well as the changes introduced in this methodology since 2008 and the impact of those changes in the assessment of the structural balances of the Member States;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10c. Considers that the national contributions to the EU Budget should be replaced by own resources so as to help Member States in their consolidation strategy and avoid returning political stalemates over national contributions to the EU budget;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)

10d. Underlines that the consolidation strategy should also target the revenue side of the budgets of the Member States; in particular, consolidation measures on the revenue side should be focused on decreasing tax expenditures that create unproductive niches or inefficient rent- seeking behaviours, on decreasing environmentally harmful subsidies, as well as on the creation of environmental taxes targeting the source of negative externalities, can bring double dividends in so far as they improve the budgetary situation and help fulfilling the objectives set in the EU2020 strategy;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the pursuit of the reform and modernisation of pension systems, while respecting the role of social partners, in order to ensure the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions; supports policies directed to increase the number of people that decide to continue in the labour market in the first years after their retirement age;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the pursuit of the reform and modernisation of pension systems, while fully respecting the autonomy and the role of social partners, in order to ensure the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions, as well as to maintain their invaluable contribution as automatic stabilisers and as terms of instruments of social cohesion and solidarity;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the pursuit of the reform and modernisation of pension systems, while respecting the role of social partners~~, in order to~~ and the specificity of national contexts, while ensureing the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the ~~pursuit of the~~ reform and modernisation of pension systems~~, while respecting the role of social partners,~~ in order to ensure the long-term financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions systems; encourages, in particular, raising effective retirement ages and linking statutory retirement ages to life expectancy;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the ~~pursuit of the reform~~demands of European trade unions for stabilisation and modernisation of statutory pension systems~~, while respecting the role of social partners, in order to ensure the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions~~ in order to prevent poverty in old age and at the same time ensure that pension schemes are financially viable; calls on the Commission and Member States therefore to prevent prolongation of working life and instead to support statutory pension schemes funded on the basis of parity;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side to avoid outright tax hikes, and to focus on improving tax compliance and its management; considers that, if this is not sufficient, a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also in view of the reduction of economic distortions; asks the Commission to come forward with proposals for the harmonization of income and corporative taxes;

Amendment 99 #