Activities of Alda SOUSA related to 2012/2016(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
2013 budget - mandate for trialogue (debate)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level, as well as the need for fiscal consolidation; reiterates, however, its conviction that the EU budget represents a common and effective instrument of investment and solidarity, which is needed particularly at the present time to trigger economic growth, competitiveness and job creationemployment and social progress in the 27 Member States; stresses that, despite its limited size that does not exceed 2% of total public spending in the Union, the EU budget has had a real economic impact and successfullyattempts to complemented so far Member States‘ recovery policies;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises that the EU Budget can have a crucial role to help some of its member states to recover from the crisis and come out stronger, through smart, sustainable and inclusive growth based on the five EU headline targets, namely promoting employment, improving the conditions for innovation, research and development, meeting our climate change and energy objectives, promoting high education standards and social policies, in particular social inclusion and poverty reduction; recalls that the Member States themselves have fully endorsed these five targets;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Rejects the "Economic Governance" and the Pact for the Euro which enshrine the austerity measures taken both at EU and Member States level; these led to the deepening and aggravation of the economic and social crises, particularly in countries which already had a difficult economic and social situation; reiterates that the EU budget should give priority to policies of real convergence, social and territorial cohesion, focused on job creation, social progress, solidarity, the sustainable use of natural resources and protection of the environment;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Intends, therefore, to strongly defend an adequate level of resources for next year's budget, as defined in the Draft Budget, and to oppose any attempt to cut down the resources especially for policies delivering growth and employment; believes that the EU budget, which cannot run a deficit, should not be the victim of unsuccessful economic policies at national level; not; underlines that in 2012 several Member States are increasing the size of their national budgets;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers the proposed increase of 6,8% in PA compared to 2012 as an initial response to Parliament's request for a responsible and realistic budgeting; notes that the increases in payments are concentrated in the areas of competitiveness and cohesionHeadings 1b and 2, due to a greater level of claims expected by running projects in these fields; fully endorses such increase that results not only from past commitments that need to be honoured but also from the actual implementation of programmes that is expected to reach at the last year of the current MFF a cruising speed;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes note of the Commission's proposal for increasing commitments under this Heading by 4,1% (to EUR 16.032 million) as compared to Budget 2012; notes, that the proposal of CA below the Financial programming possibilities (i.e. TEN-T, EIT, Progress) leaves an increased margin of EUR 90,9 million compared to the EUR 47,7 million foreseen in the Financial programming; is pleased to see that the highest increases in CA are concentrated in Heading 1a, where most of the policies and programmes triggering growth, competitiveness and jobemployment and social progress are placed and that they reflect the priorities highlighted by Parliament for 2013;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls the importance of the inclusion of payment appropriations for the European Globalisation Fund; reiterates that the use of a transfer for the EGF should mean a speedier process, and underlines the need for the further simplification of the practical modalities of the procedure, as mentioned on the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and Council on the functioning of the Interinstitutional Agreement on the Budgetary discipline and sound financial management of 27 April, 2010;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Takes note of the rationale adopted by the Commission when proposing reductions as compared to the Financial programming, which has led, in the view of the Commission, to the identification of potential savings within under- implemented lines of –among others- FP7, TEN- T, Marco Polo, Progress, Statistical programme, Customs and Fiscalis; is determined to carefully analyse the performance under each of these programmes in order to check the appropriateness of the proposed cuts and exclude negative impacts on the programmes concerned;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recognises the fundamental role played by small and medium enterprises as drivers of the EU economy and creators of 85% of jobs in the last ten years; stresses the traditional difficulties faced by SMES to access capital markets for research and innovation projects, exacerbated by the current financial crisis; is firmly convinced that the EU budget should contribute to overcoming this market failure, by facilitating access to debt and equity financing for innovative SMEs; welcomnotes, in this context, that the Draft Budget includes already appropriations for the Project bond initiative as a way to increase payment capacity in this sector through the opening to the private market; supports as welltakes note of the proposed increase for the financial instruments under the CIP-EIP programme (by EUR 14,7 million), in line with their positive performance so far and their increased demand by SMEs;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. RDeeply regrets that the contribution to Youth on the Move Flagship Initiative is slightly reduced when compared to last year; highlights in this context the added value of the Lifelong Learning, Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus programmes which, against a modest financial dimension, have a great return in terms of effective implementation and positive image of the Union vis-à-vis its citizens; opposes therefore to the proposed reduction by EUR 10,2 million as compared to the Budget 2012 for Lifelong Learning and, in line with its established position in the last budgetary procedures and the excellent performance rates of this programme, intends to reinforce commitment appropriations for the corresponding budget line;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that the TEN-T programme plays a central role in the attainment of the objectives of competitivenessgrowth and employment in the Europe 2020 Strategy by creating the missing infrastructure, removing bottlenecks and ensuring the future sustainability of the EU transport networks; welcomes the Commission's proposed increase by ca. EUR 85 million compared to the Budget 2012 but asks for further clarifications on the proposed reduction by EUR 118 million as compared to the Financial programming;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Deeply deplores the Commission's proposed decreases for the European Supervisory Authorities compared what originally foreseen in the Financial programming; considers the current level of appropriations insufficient to allow these agencies to cope efficiently with their tasks; strongly expresses therefore the intention to reinstatforce appropriations at least atbove the 2012 level for the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) as well as to further reinforce the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) due to the new tasks entrusted to it;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers the Structural Funds a crucial instrument - both for their financial size and for the objectives pursued - to accelerate the EU economic recovery and to deliver the objectives of growth and , employment enshrinedand social progress in the Europe 2020 Strategy; welcomes therefore the Commission's initiative of re- programming EUR 82 billion of unallocated Structural funds in some Member States in favour of SMEs and youth employment, in line with EP's priorities for 2013; asks to be kept duly informed about implementation of this initiative at national level, its expected impact on growth and job, employment, social progress and its possible impact for the 2013 budget;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Points out that Heading 2 is instrumental in realising the EU 2020 strategy goals of growth and, employment, and social progress in particular through its rural development programmes; highlights the need to support SMEs in the rural areas, as main creators of jobs with a particular target on young people; welcomes in this respect the proposed increase of CA by 1,3% (to EUR 14.808 million) for rural development;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. AskCalls for a continuedthe reduction of the support forto FRONTEX,; as well as for the number of recently set-up agencies under this heading (ks to reinforce the support for the European Asylum Support Office, and large-scale IT systems recently set-up agency under this heading, in particular; notes the 8,9 % decrease (- EUR 7,3 million) for the contribution to the European Police Office (EUROPOL) compared to the Budget 2012 and expects the Commission to provide additional details on this proposed cut;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Appreciates theRegrets the modest increase, by EUR 9,8 million compared to the Budget 2012, proposed by the Commission for the European Refugee Fund, which is coherent with the line taken in the previous years; takes notes of; deeply regrets the 19% increase in the External Borders Fund's budget allocation up to EUR 415,5 million which is limited to half that foreseen by the Financial programming; recalls its strong request for an appropriate; regrets that the Commission's draft budget continues to focus on migration policies and on the monitoring and management of borders of the Union to the detriment of the promotion of justice and the protection and balenhanced answer to the challenges, withment of civil liberties; recalls that a that a vinew to the management of legal migration and slowing down of illegal migrationand broader strategic approach to development aid and the regulation of migratory flows is needed;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Is criticalTakes note of the decreased volume of commitments for communication actions compared to the 2012 Budget at the moment when the gap between the European Union and its citizens is more evident than ever, as shown in ever- diminishing turnout in European elections; is convinced of the need for reinforced communication efforts and commensurate funding to ensure the visibility of the European Union institutions and showing their contribution to overcoming the economic and financial crisitakes note of the communication efforts to ensure the visibility of the European Union institutions;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50a. Reiterates that a budgetary shift away from military action and security- oriented policies to civil conflict prevention is a necessary alternative in order to reduce military expenditure during a period of austerity;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. ConsiderReiterates that a sufficient level of EU financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA is still needed in order to adequately and comprehensively respond to the political and humanitarian situation in the Middle East and the Peace Process;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Acknowledges the fact that with the accession of Croatia to the Union, a reduction of EUR 67,6 million will be made to IPA allocations; is nevertheless concerned that the Commission proposes a significant cut in support for institutional capacity building for candidate countries (- 29,14 million EUR compared to 2012), while the same line for potential candidates is reinforced (+10,5 million EUR compared to 2012); reminds that institutional capacity is of utmost importance for the rightful use of Union funding and is equally important for candidates and potential candidates; notwelcomes the proposed increase in CA for IPA rural development of 10,2% compared to Budget 2012;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Recognizes the need for reaction to trans-regional threats of organised crime, trafficking, protection of critical infrastructure and threats to public health and fight against terrorism; however; calls on the Commission to provide evidence why an increase of 50% is needed for these measures in 2013;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. UnderstandRegrets that this was achieved through a reduction in the number of posts in its establishment plans by more than 1% already for 2013, notably in administrative support, budgetary management and anti- fraud, as well as through further cuts in other items of administrative expenditure; requires further explanation as to the actual need to proceed to such staff reductions to freeze administrative expenditure in real terms, when Commission managed to freeze its administrative expenditure in nominal terms in 2012 without resorting to any staff reduction;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. WelcomeRegrets this effort towards budget consolidationthe decrease in administrative expenditure, it goes against the objectives of job creation and employment in the EU 2020 strategy, specially at a time of economic and budgetary constraints at national level; is however concerned about the adverse impact such measures may have on the swift, regular and effective implementation of EU actions and programmes, especially at a time when EU competences keep increasing and new Member States join the Union; welcomes the presentation of those areas reinforced in staffing, such as European economic governance, Single Market, Security and Justice but requires similar information as to those policy areas and types of posts where cuts in staffing were made as compared to 2012;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Reiterates against this background thatthat before considering any such staff reduction should be based on, a prior impact assessment has to be made and take full account of, inter alia, the Union's legal obligations, EU priorities, as well as the institutions‘ new competences and increased tasks arising from the treaties; stresses that within the EU 2020 growth, employment and social progress objectives, reassignment and job creation is to be prioritised; underlines that such assessment should also take carefully into account the effects for the different directorates-general and services, given their size and workload notably, as well as on the different types of posts concerned as presented in Commission's annual screening of human resources (policy making, programmes management, administrative support, budgetary management and antifraud, linguistic, etc.);
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Takes the viewReiterates that the European Schools shouldmust be adequately funded in the interests of addressing the specific situation of the children of agents of the EU institutions; underlines the need to enhance the support to multicultural pedagogical programmes and to reinforce intercultural projects; takes note of the proposed overall allocation of 180,7 million, which is a 6,8% increase as compared to 2012, and above the Financial programming amounts; will nonetheless carefully scrutinise each of the European Schools‘ budget lines, and make, during its reading, any modification it considers appropriate in this respect;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Is however worried that for the first time the Commission cut the budgetary requests of almost all agencies, which were in line with Financial programming amounts overall, including of those agencies which belong to Parliament's priorities, for a total amount of some EUR 44 million; will carefully analyse the methodology, rationale and possible impact of such cuts; Underlines once more that EU agencies‘ budget allocations are far from consisting in administrative expenditure alone, but instead contribute to achieving the Europe 2020 goals and EU objectives in general, in particular job creation, employment and social progress as decided by the legislative authority;