9 Amendments of Martina ANDERSON related to 2015/2154(DEC)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that 2014 was the first year of the new programming period and that the relevant regulatory framework and implementing guidelines were adopted with a substantial delay; emphasises that the Member States and the regions have accordingly been subject to time constraints when launching new projects, which may potentially have resulted in misapplication of the revised rules;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Notes that the authorities in the Member States have sufficient information at their disposal to prevent or detect a substantial portion of quantifiable errors in transactions and to correct these errors before applying for reimbursement from the Commission; calls, therefore, on the Managing Authorities and the Intermediate Bodies in the Member States to step up their efforts to eliminate any shortcomings in connection with 'primary controls';
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the regional authorities to ensure that beneficiaries are provided with consistent information about funding conditions, particularly concerning the eligibility of expenditure and the relevant ceilings for reimbursement;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the implementation of Cohesion Policy in Member States involves substantial national procedures and rules, which constitute an additional layer and in turn lead to irregularities; calls on the Commission to contribute to simplification of implementation at the level of Member States and to take account of the proposals set out in the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 26 November 2015, 'Towards simplification and performance orientation in cohesion policy 2014-2020’;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that administrative capacity is essential for regular and efficient use of European Structural and Investment Funds and calls on the Commission and Member States to reinforce the exchange of knowledge and good practices, in particular for potential beneficiaries with fewer administrative and financial capacities;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the Court's views that there is a weak focus on results and that the Europe 2020 Strategy goals are not systematically translated into operational targets in the partnership agreements, and calls on the Commission to provide details on these issues in the context of the reporting on the outcome of the negotiations, due at the end of 2015; recalls that the main goal of the Cohesion Policy, which accounts for the bulk of EU expenditure, is economic, social and territorial cohesion, and that this goal cannot be quantified solely on the basis of short-term economic indicators;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates its concern at the payment backlog and its repercussions on the ability of a number of Member States to mobilise and utilise EU funds; invites the Commission to propose concrete and effective measures aimed in particular at helping Member States which are currently in a difficult economic and financial situation to overcome capacity constraints in respect of funding uptake, for example by increasing the Commission's budget for start-up financing;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reiterates its concern at the payment backlog, which amounts to EUR 17 billion of outstanding commitments; calls on the Commission to ensure compliance with the payment plan adopted on 18 November 2015, and at the same time to avoid any delays in respect of approvals and payments for projects in the current programming period;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Regrets the delays in implementation of the Youth Employment Initiative in 2014 and the lack of any commitment appropriations for this programme beyond December 2015; reiterates that reducing youth unemployment remains a key political priority for all parties, and reaffirms its commitment to making the best possible use of the budgetary resources available, especially in view of the high take-up rate for the YEI; recalls the joint declaration of 18 November 2015 by Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the Youth Employment Initiative; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the relevant lessons are learned from the YEI evaluation and, within the framework of the mid-term review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, to commit to the prompt examination of specific proposals aimed at guaranteeing continuation of the initiative through to 2020;