Activities of Isabelle THOMAS related to 2015/2008(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Guidelines for the 2016 budget - Section III (debate) FR
Amendments (18)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis, the level of investment in the EU has significantly dropped; whereas, given the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level and fiscal consolidation policies in all the Member States, the level of investment in the EU has dropped sharply, causing long-term harm to growth; whereas, given the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level and the disparities still to be found between Member States and even between regions within individual Member States, the EU budget plays a key role in fostering competitiveness and increasing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU budget cannot accomplish its mission if its soundness, fairness and credibility are put in question; whereas it is imperative that all commitments forming part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014- 2020 are respected in full, and that a number of problems that have accumulated over the past years, such as the situation of unpaid invoices at year- end, are resolved without any delay; whereas this backlog of unpaid invoices is giving rise to delays in the implementation of EU programmes and funds, with EU citizens being the first to suffer from this situation; whereas the delays in structural payments raise the issue of whether interest should not be charged on late payments, given that regional and local authorities are obliged to turn to the financial markets for advance funding to cover late EU contributions;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Back on track – the ‘threfive Es’ : Employment, Enterprises, Entrepreneurshipergy, Environment, Engagement
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the indisputable potential and added value of the EU budget in the creation of employment and the development of enterprises and entrepreneurship across the Union; acknowledges that a wide range of EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, COSME and, Erasmus+ and Media, contribute directly to the attainment of the objectives; expects that the Commission will place such programmes and instruments at the heart of the Draft Budget 2016, in order to ensure that they are endowed with the necessary resources to provide support for changes to the labour market and foster student and worker mobility;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Draws attention to the energy transition’s potential for generating new jobs and growth and expects the Commission to make provision for the related sustainable development objectives in the EU budget;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the funding of the Youth Employment Initiative in 2016, given the frontloading of the entire financial envelope of the programme in 2014 and 2015; acknowledgstresses that the fight against youth unemployment needs to be further intensified and that all funding possibilities should be considered for this purpose; recalls in this connection that 2016 will be the first year when resources under the Global MFF Margin for commitments will be made available for policy objectives related to growth and employment, in particular youth employment; calls on the Commission to ascertain the reasons behind the delays in the utilisation of appropriations, with a view to ensuring that the necessary support is available for the Member States in their efforts to meet the objectives that have been set;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points to the importance of food policies, which cover economic activities that are firmly embedded in the EU's economic, social and territorial fabric; stresses that those policies should ensure that people working in the food industry are properly paid and the EU is self- sufficient in terms of food production; considers it essential to strike a balance between production requirements and the need for sustainable resource management and use;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. WelcomEndorses the Investment Plan presented by the Commission, which can createCommission’s decision to present an Investment Plan with the potential to mobilise EUR 315 billion of investments in infrastructures, education and research, as well as SMEs and mid-cap companies; notes that the EU budget is expected to provide the backbone of this investment plan by making available the EUR 8 billion required in commitments and payments for the provisioning of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); considers the EU budget contribution as an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effect; continues, nonetheless, to have doubts as to how the EFSI is to operate, with particular reference to its multiplier effect, the procedures for selecting projects and project additionality;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Investment Plan presented by the Commission, which can create the potential to mobilise EUR 315 billion of investments in infrastructures, education and research, as well as SMEs and mid-cap companies; notes that the EU budget is expected to provide the backbone of this investment plan by making available the EUR 8 billion required in commitments and payments for the provisioning of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); cConsiders the EU budget contribution as an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effecttinues, nonetheless, to have doubts as to how the EFSI is to operate, with particular reference to its multiplier effect, the procedures for selecting projects and project additionality;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers the EU budget contribution to be an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effect; points up the need, however, to ring-fence expenditure for projects which, a priori, are less profitable and not eligible under the EFSI (basic research; rail infrastructure in particular) by targeting other programmes and making use of margins below ceilings against the budget headings selected;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the additional and complementary nature of the proposed Investment Plan and the EU budget and their joint commitment to kick- start the economy and boost job creation; stresses that the EU budget is in itself a major investment tool with a distinctive role and mission, that has provided tangible results with a clear European added value; is convinced that every effort needs to be deployed in order to create synergies not only between the Investment Plan and the EU budget but also with national budgets, in order to bridge the investment gap and maximise the effect of public spending on the real economy; notes the contradiction between the planned mechanism, in particular the leverage effect anticipated, and the objectives of Article 5 of the Regulation establishing the EFSI; calls therefore on the Commission to safeguard the role of the EU budget in funding investment which is not profitable;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the complementary nature of the proposed Investment Plan and the EU budget and their joint commitment to kick- start the economy and boost job creation; stresses that the EU budget is in itself a major investment tool with a distinctive role and mission, that has provided tangible results with a clear European added value; is convinced that every effort needs to be deployed in order to create synergies not only between the Investment Plan and the EU budget but also with national budgets, in order to bridge the investment gap and maximise the effect of public spending on the real economy; proposes therefore by way of a quid pro quo, and in order to encourage national investment, that national cofinancing amounts under the European Structural and Investment Funds in the areas of infrastructure, research and development´, and assistance for SMEs should not be included when convergence criteria calculations are made, regardless of whether the preventive or the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact is applicable to the Member State concerned;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the EU budget is a tool of internal solidarity in that it supports economic, social and territorial cohesion, helps combat poverty and, promotes social inclusion and helps minimise development disparities not only between Member States, but also between their regions; stresses that it is also an instrument of external solidarity by helping make the EU the biggest donor of development aid, by offering support to neighbouring countries and by assisting countries and people facing humanitarian and civilian crises;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is convinced that the EU budget cannot reach its full potential without settling in a definite and unequivocal way a number of problems that have accumulated over the past few years and, regrettably, dominated last year’s budgetary negotiations, notably the recurrent problem of unpaid invoices at year-end as well as, the question of budgeting the MFF special instruments, as well as the delay in implementing cohesion policy operational programmes; considers that 2015 should be the ultimate limit for introducing tangible and sustainable solutions to these outstanding questions;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes that the first report, submitted on 17 December 2014, by the High Level Group on Own Resources, chaired by Mario Monti, proposes that the question of own resources for the EU budget be looked into from as many perspectives as possible; regards the shortcomings of the current own resources system as the root cause of the serious deadlock encountered during the annual negotiations on the budget and negotiations on the multiannual financial framework; restates its determined backing for an in-depth reform of the EU's own resources system which seeks a major reduction in the share based on Member States' GNI; attaches the utmost political importance to the outcome of the work of the high-level group, and to its proposals, which are due to be presented at an interinstitutional conference in 2016, with the involvement of national parliaments, and considered in the context of the MFF review/revision;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Commission to take due account of the above-mentioned political priorities when establishing its Draft Budget for 2016 so that the relevant EU programmes and actions are provided with the necessary means to accomplish these objectives; anticipates, in this context, a positive response from the Commission to the further requests and positions expressed in this resolution so as to settle recurrent problems and facilitate this year’s budgetary procedure; also expects the Commission to propose an adequate level of payment appropriations in its Draft Budget, based on real forecasts and needs, so as to give the EU resources to match its ambitions;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines that the 2016 budget will be crucial as it should serve as a benchmark ofor the post-electoral MFF review / revision, to be launched before the end of 2016; stresses the need to establish political priorities and identify in good time areas of proven added value of EU spending for which further investments will be deemed necessary in the second half of the MFF 2014-2020; stresses, in this context, the importance of closely monitoring the implementation and performance of key EU programmes already during the current budgetary procedure;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18