3 Amendments of Jean-Jacob BICEP related to 2012/2060(DEC)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognizes that at the time of fiscal constraint and reduced lending capacity of the private sector, SMEs should be targeted with strengthened European support to continue generating employment, innovation and growth; notes that particular attention must be given to SMEs generating sustainable development at local level in order to avoid any distorsion of competition between them; notes that cohesion policy, as the major investment instrument for convergence and sustainable development of the whole European Union, is one of the two main EU support channels for SMEs; stresses, therefore, that the use of FI in cohesion policy in relation to the SMEs should be reinforced in the future as it can guarantee revolving funds, foster public- private partnerships and achieve a multiplier effect with the EU budget;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges that the Court's audit reviewed a sample of projects involving FI measures co-financed by the ERDF during the 2000-2006 and the 2007-2013 programming periods and points out that the limited number of projects analysed and Member States concerned might fail to represent a complete picture of the use of ERDF funds throughout the EU; takes the view that any audit report at the end of 2007-2013 programming period should take account of funding specifically earmarked for SMEs in outermost regions so as to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the utilisation of these funds within the Union;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Supports the Court's call for clearer definition of the concept of leverage in FI; underlines, nonetheless, that in the light of the pressure to deliver higher leverage, it is important to recall that FI in cohesion policy are generally financing projects in less developed regions and regions with economic difficulties, with the aim of improving situations of market failure and sub-optimal investment, thus FI in cohesion policy do not only focus on short- term profitability but also on high socio- economic benefits, especially at regional level; points at multi-level governance and shared management in design and delivery of the programmes as the fundamental concepts behind cohesion policy that enable regional and national authorities to partake in planning and implementation of programmes; stresses, therefore, that the legislative framework needs to maintain a certain level of flexibility also when it comes to definitions and requirements of leverage effect;