Activities of Sampo TERHO related to 2014/2221(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2015 PDF (185 KB) DOC (128 KB)
Amendments (16)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the economic recovery in the EU slowed down considerably in the course of 2014 but, according to the European Commission, has a prospect of catching up in 2015 and of doing even better in 2016;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that growth in 2014 is more broadly based than in previous years; believes, however, that the recovery is still fragile and should be enhanced if it is to deliver substantially more growth and jobs in the medium term;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey 2015, which endeavours to promote a return to higher growth levels and to strengthen the recovery; supports the three main pillars approach (boosting investment, accelerating structural reforms and pursuing responsible growth friendly fiscal consolidation) as the right way to achieve these goals; welcomes the Commission’s suggestions for improving the European Semester by simplifying procedures and increasing national ownership as needed, considering that only 10-15 % of the Country Specific Recommendations are fully implemented by the Members States;.
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the lack of investment is caused by a lack of competitiveness, low confidence, high indebtedness, slow deleveraging and subdued expectations of demand;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. WelcomesNotes that the Investment Plan for Europe, which is an important instrument for increasing private and public investment; not might trigger additional investment, develop new projects, attract investors and increase confidence. However, it is far too early to meaningfully assess that the plan is meant to trigger additional investment, develop new projects, attract ine actual impact of the plan. Warns that boosting investment should not be seen as an alternatives tors and restore confidence; reforms
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that the implementation of the Commission investment plan is key in order for it to carry the desired added value; emphasises that the investment projects need to be carefully selected to avoid the plan failing to deliver sustainable jobs and growth in Europe; reminds that the results of the Commission investment plan should be rigorously judged, especially on how the investment fund will select and prioritise projects, and avoid privatising profits or nationalising losses;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Members States actively to support the Investment Plan, and to contribute to the European Fund for Strategic Investment, supplementing the amounts provided through the EU budget and by the EIB, in order to guide and encourage the private sector to invest; welcomes the principle of using public money to leverage and attract additional private capital; urges to avoid the socialisation of losses and the privatisation of gains in the establishment of the fund
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises that whilst well-targeted public investment is necessary for example to improve education standards and develop infrastructure where needed, long-term growth is not achieved by only increasing public expenditure which would necessitate increasing the tax burden on already hard-pressed individuals and businesses or by making more debts which affects the financial fragility of already highly indebted MS;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that a lack of access to finance, particularly for SMEs, is one of the greatest obstacles to growth in the EU; believes that alternatives to bank financing are needed, especially by improving the business environment for venture capital and peer to peer funds, but also, more broadly, by improving the efficient allocation of capital through capital markets; calls on the Commission in this respect to prioritise work on alternative sources of financing for SMEs, in particular through private sources;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the ambitious structural reforms implemented by those Member States most affected by the crisis; welcomes as well the fact that those Member States that have successfully implemented adjustment programmes or financial sector programmes have been able to return to the capital markets, where they now access capital at low interest rates; Points out, that important reason behind this return were the actions taken by ECB.
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls onStates that the Member States to makeare likely to benefit if they choose to reform their labour markets to become more efficient, to and modernise their social protection systems, including pensions, and toif they improve and streamline the legal and administrative environment for business investment; stresses that structural reforms need to be complemented by well- targeted, longer- term investments in education, research and development, innovation, infrastructure, ICT and sustainable energy;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Points out that EU financial assistance to certainthe Member States, provided on terms combining solidarity with conditionality, has proved to be most successful when there was a strong ownership and commitment to reform; reminds the Commission and the Member States that they need to explore ways of bringing the financial assistance under the EU framework; is to be avoided; calls on the MS to commit themselves to economic reform.
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for urgent action to be taken by the Commission to fight tax fraud and tax evasion; calls for a tax system that is simple and transparent; reiterates its call on the Member States to shift taxes from labour to consumption; Notes, that the measures to fight tax fraud and tax evasion should not undermine the prerogatives of the Member States. Welcomes, however, effective cooperation of tax arrangements at the European level;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the fact that the absence of a well-functioning internal labour market and of a balanced approach to immigration is hampering growth in the EU;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Agrees with the Commission that most Member States need, would benefit if they choose to continue to pursue growth- friendly fiscal consolidation; invites Member States with sufficient fiscal space to consider reducing taxes and social security contributions with a view to stimulating private investment;.
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes the Commission assessment of the Member States’ draft budgetary plans; stresses that the examination of draft budgetary plans should aim at sustainable finance; insists on the strict application of fiscal rules and on respect for the equal treatment principle; is concerned, however, that the Commission decided permitted additional time for certain member states to further examine their draft budgetary plans;