40 Amendments of Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO related to 2014/0000(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
– having regard to Articles 9 and 11 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas in the context of the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Single Market and Digital Single Market should be considered atwo key tools for reigniting economic growth and creating quality employment in the EU, at the same time ensuring complementarity with the more traditional drivers of growth, such as boosting investment in innovationRDI, training and education, paying particular attention to the needs of SMEs;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas there is a need to strengthen the governance of the Single Market within the European Semester and to improve the transposition, implementation and enforcement of the rules which govern it, preserving the necessary balance between the economic, social and environmental dimensions, and to improve the quality of the transposition, implementation and enforcement of the rules which govern it so that they function in both practical and economic terms, significantly reducing the duration of infringement proceedings;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, more than 20 years after its official creation, the Single Market has not yet been fully completed or even started in key areas, primarily because Member States have not fully transposed or implemented Union legislation;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU Single Market strategy should be coordinated and based on a holistic approach and a pragmatic, comprehensive and wide- reaching agreement supported by all Member States and the EU institutions; whereas strong leadership on the part of all EU institutions and clear political ownership on the part of the Member States is still required in order to fully implement and enforce Single Market- related rules, and increase the credibility of and confidence in the Single Market;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas while many tools, chiefly specific indicators, exist to measure the economic performance of the Single Market within the European Semester, so far they have not yet triggered any clear impact on policy;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas a well functioning and effective Single Market, based on a highly competitive social market economy, is needed to boost sustainable growth and competitiveness, to attract investment, to promote social cohesion and to create jobs so as to revitalise the European economy; whereas the Member States and the EU should jointly draw up a European reindustrialisation strategy in strategic sectors with a view to achieving these objectives;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Asks for a comprehensive overhaul of the framework for Single Market governance, strengthening of the monitoring and quality assessment of the correct, timely and effective implementation and application of rules; stresses the need to use the Single Market as the third pillar of the European Semester in order to cover a clear set of priorities related to the real economy;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to take full account of the key growth and quality job- creation areas for building an EU Single Market fit for the 21st century, previously identified by the Commission and further specified in the study of September 2014 entitled ‘The Cost of Non-Europe in the Single Market’ as services, the consumer acquis, public procurement and concessions, the free movement of goods, transport, energy and the Digital Single Market;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that the CSRs have not been sufficiently aligned with the Europe 2020 targets; calls, therefore, for more determined efforts to guide and coordinate national and EU policies, and for the continuation of the specific measures that are necessary to strengthen the Single Market and exploit its potential with the aim of boosting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and creating jobs, particularly for young people;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls, furthermore, on the Member States to take more seriouslydemonstrate more commitment to the implementation of the CSRs and to transpose rigorously the EU targets into their own targets at national level; considers, therefore, that the Member States should report annually and thoroughly on the implementation of the CSRs;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to makRegrets the fact that the Commission has so far not considered promoting the Single Market governancto be a priority in the European Semester in general and to take full account of the keframework of the European Semester; reminds the Commission that a genuine Single Market would significantly boost economic growth and job creation in the EU; calls for the opportunity gprowth areasvided by this new framework to be taken and ofor the measures included in the Single Market Acts I and II to be developed to the full extent possible;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that the Single Market is a key driver for growth and quality jobs and has an indispensable role to play in meeting the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; notes, however, that this potential remains untapped in many respects;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is greatly concerned by the persistent uncertainty of private investors, their lack of confidence and their reluctance to invest, in particular as a consequence of productivity standards with persisting Single Market fragmentationHighlights the urgent need to provide Europe with an ambitious investment plan whose priorities should be energy transition, the digital economy, RDI and training, and whose main objective would be to improve our economy’s productivity and put an end to Single Market fragmentation; notes that this plan should include strong public investment that will attract strong private investment to stimulate growth and increase the EU’s global competitiveness;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Highlights the need to link investment with innovation and entrepreneurship, maximising the opportunities offered by the digital economy and society and developing a smart European industrial policy; notes that this investment should take particular account of SMEs, which face the most difficulties in accessing investment, and should include practical measures to support start-ups and social entrepreneurship and innovation as a source of jobs for the future for young people;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses the need to reignite the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe through practical measures, which means that SMEs must have easy access to credit, particularly SMEs linked to key sectors; also calls for other forms of financing to be promoted as an alternative to bank financing;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Calls on the Member States to be more decisive in gearing their economies towards innovation and growth, which will prepare us for the tasks and demands of the future in the digital age; notes that this will also make our businesses more innovative and more able to react on the global market, particularly with the full integration of ICTs;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Calls on the Commission to define a strategy to achieve a truly single energy market that will guarantee fair access with a high level of protection for consumers, particularly the most vulnerable consumers, and that will offer an accessible market for SMEs in particular;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Points to the rising numbers of workers, particularly young people, who are moving away from their countries of origin to other Member States in search of employment, and notes that the Single Market must guarantee the free movement of people; calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to promote intra-European mobility that will safeguard freedom of movement, the principle of equal treatment and access to regulated professions and guarantee fair working conditions for all Europeans;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes the view that completing the Digital Single Market is crucial to stimulating growth and creating quality employment in the European economy;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Points out that the interlinking of elements such as high levels of network penetration and high levels of ICT skills in the population and businesses are key factors in achieving a genuine DSM; appeals to the EU and Member States to make digital network infrastructure and digital training for their businesses and citizens a priority for investment;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the completion of the Digital Single Market could generate additional GDP growth of 4.0 % over the period up to 2020 and supports new investment in infrastructure and the deployment of new technologies, such as 4G and 5G; considers the adoption of the EU’s general data protection framework and the Network and Information Security Directive as essential for the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015; calls for investment to end unequal access to broadband and 4G networks in urban areas and other parts of the EU such as rural, outermost, island and mountain regions;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Highlights the correlation between high levels of online sales and increases in per capita GDP, and therefore urges that progress be made in achieving genuine cross-border e-commerce and cloud computing; considers it essential to put an end to fragmentation into 28 digital markets, guarantee universal network access and make net security and consumer trust the cornerstones of the DSM, since there can be no online market without trust;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses that, based on the ‘cost of non-Europe’ report, making progress on e-government could generate savings of EUR 100 billion per year; calls for Member States’ efforts to modernise their public administrations to be concentrated and intensified so that citizens and businesses can carry out more and more procedures electronically while making use of their rights in the Single Market, particularly at cross-border level;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reiterates its support for comprehensive trade and investment agreements, respecting high levels of quality and security and the principle of reciprocity and safeguarding our labour, social, health and environmental standards, data protection, consumer protection and protection for public services of general interest, that would support the creation of quality jobs for European workers, directly benefit European consumers and open up new opportunities for EU companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment 102 #
18a. Calls on Member States to strengthen the value chain in cross-border production as a key factor for promoting competitiveness and growth, creating jobs and reducing existing trade barriers in sectors which are relatively extensive, but which are not sufficiently integrated to maximise the benefits offered by the Single Market;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Takes the view that, given that the service sector is one of the areas with the greatest growth potential in the EU, there is a need to strengthen measures aimed at improving competitiveness in the sector, including retail trade, and simplify legislation for businesses, particularly SMEs; stresses the importance of guaranteeing universal access to public services for all consumers, families and businesses;
Amendment 111 #
20. Considers that consumer protection in the area of financial services should be strengthened and consumers’ financial capabilities raised, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable consumers, that consumers’ financial capabilities should be raised, and that affordable mechanisms for compensating consumers should be introduced that are open to assessment, given the significant potential damage that financial services can cause to individual consumers and the Single Market;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates the need for renewed efforts to combat taxfraud and tax avoidance and evasion, including through rapid progress in tackling the problem of VAT fraud;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses that the ‘cost of non- Europe’ report indicates that savings of EUR 9 billion per year could be generated through measures such as the standardisation of electronic invoices and coordination of cross-border tax systems; welcomes the Commission President’s announcement of an automatic exchange of information on national fiscal policy decisions; stresses the need to strengthen and improve tax coordination so as to prevent unfair competition and market distortions and ensure equal opportunities in the Single Market;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reaffirms its position that the overall level of investment in research and development should be increased, highlighting the different levels of investment in the Member States; reminds the Commission of the need to create a genuine Single Market for knowledge, research and innovation and for the completion of the European Research Area; stresses that 85% of the funds earmarked for innovation are currently used exclusively on a national basis, without cross-border cooperation, which makes it impossible fully to exploit added value on a European scale;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Points out that EU legislation on public procurement and concessions needs to be applied fully and speedily in order to improve the quality, effectiveness and transparency of investment and public spending;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the need for the proper and timely transposition of legislation on public procurement and concessions; highlights the importance of public procurement as a key driver of growth, particularly for SMEs, which need to be supported through specific measures that will foster competition and innovation;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to ensure the implementation and enforcement of rules such as the Consumer Rights Directive; calls for consumers to be given more protection in cross-border sales and for enhanced data protection in the digital age, which will help to boost consumer trust in online purchases, with a significant strengthening of alternative dispute resolution, online dispute resolution and class actions;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Acknowledges that the Single Market Scoreboard can be considered a best practice for monitoring and evaluating the compliance of Member States with Single Market obligations, given that it may trigger improvements and catch-up processes among countries; stresses, however, that this scoreboard makes no provision for quality assessment tools;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Acknowledges the continuous increase in the use of the Your Europe and Your Europe Advice portals, which should be able to provide the necessary information to anyone moving around the EU; welcomes the January 2014 proposal for a EURES regulation and calls for Parliament and the Council to deliberate on the reform as a matter of urgency so that EURES can become an effective instrument for boosting intra-EU labour mobility, removing the remaining obstacles and guaranteeing the rights of citizens, professionals and workers;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the fact that the average transposition deficit in Member States has fallen below the 1 % limit agreed by the European Council, reaching 0.6 %, which represents the best result registered so far since the creation of the Internal Market Scoreboard; stresses that the zero- tolerance principle as regards the transposition of European regulations must be a fundamental rule for the Member States and the EU;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Insists, furthermore, that every effort should be made towards ensuring the more effective use of infringement proceedings for breaches of Union law provisions in the field of the Single Market, and that the Member States and the European Council should continue the further development of infringement proceedings in the framework of future revisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; takes the view, nevertheless, that infringement proceedings should always be the last resort and should be opened only after several attempts at coordination and rectification have been made;