47 Amendments of Ivana MALETIĆ related to 2018/0213(COD)
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion fund, the European Social Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant. Member States and the Commission shall ensure the coordination, complementarity and coherence between the Programme and other Union instruments, and avoid duplication during planning and implementation.
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The economic and financial crisis has shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The implementation of structural reforms is among the Union’s policy priorities because such reforms seek to set the recovery on a sustainable path, unlock the growth potential, strengthen the adjustment capacity and support the process of upward convergence. Pursuing structural reforms can also contribute to strengthening economic and social cohesion, social and territorial cohesion, convergence, boosting productivity and investment and creating good conditions for sustainable growth and employment in the Union.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Programme’s overall objective is the enhancement of cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, growth, and employment. For that purpose, it should provide financial incentives for addressing challenges of a structural nature, and should help to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Member States insofar as their institutions and economic and social sectors are concerned. Regional and local authorities have an important role to play in structural reform, to a degree which depends on the constitutional and administrative organisation of each Member State. It is therefore necessary to provide for an appropriate level of involvement and consultation of regional and local authorities in the preparation and implementation of structural reform.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Programme’s overall objective is the enhancement of cohesion, convergence, competitiveness, productivity, growth, and employment. For that purpose, it should provide financial incentives for addressing challenges of a structural nature, and should help to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Member States insofar as their institutions and economic and social sectors are concerned.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to cater for additional needs under the Programme, Member States should have the possibility to transfer to the budget of the Programme resources programmed in shared management under the Union funds, in accordance with the procedure thereof, and only if all funds available under the Programme for the Member State are absorbed. Transferred resources should be implemented in accordance with the rules of this Programme and should be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure a meaningful incentive for Member States to complete structural reforms, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available for them under the instrument for each stage of allocation and under each call. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the population of Member Statesnumber and complexity of the Country Specific Recommendations, macroeconomic imbalances, the level of unemployment, the level of poverty and social exclusion, and GDP per capita in relation to the EU average GDP. Selection criteria should be presented to Member States in a transparent way. To ensure that the financial incentives are spread throughout the whole period of application of the Programme, the allocation of funds to the Member States should be made in stages. In the first stage lasting twenforty months, half75% (EUR 11 06 500 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the reform delivery tool should be made available to Member States, during which they could receive up to their maximum allocation by submitting proposals for reform commitments.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In the interest of transparency and efficiency, in the subsequent stage lasting until the end of the Programme, a system of periodic calls should be set out by the Commission to allocate the remaining half25% (EUR 11 05 500 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument, plus the amounts unused from the previous stage. Simple procedures should be organised to that effect. Under each call, all Member States should be invited to submit reform proposals concurrently, and could be awarded their maximum financial contribution on the basis of their reform proposals. In the interest of transparency, the first call organised by the Commission during the second stage should be for an amount corresponding to the remaining part (EUR 11 05 500 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument. Further calls should be organised by the Commission only where the overall financial envelope has not been fully used. The Commission should adopt and publish an indicative calendar of the further calls to be organised, and should indicate, at each call, the remaining amount of the overall envelope, which is available under that call.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) For the purpose of sound financial management, specific rules should be laid down for budget commitments, pre- payments, payments, suspension, cancellation and recovery of funds. Payments should be based on a positive assessment by the Commission of the implementation of the reform commitments by the Member State. Suspension and cancellation of the financial contribution should be possible when the reform commitments have not been implemented in a satisfactory manner by the Member State. To ensure a sustainable impact of the reforms after they are implemented, a reasonable period defining the durability of the reforms after the payment of the financial contribution should be established. A period of five years should be considered to be a reasonable minimum to be applied. Appropriate contradictory procedures should be established to ensure that the decision by the Commission in relation to suspension, cancellation and recovery of amounts paid respects the right of Member States to provide observations.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to contribute to addressing national reform challenges of a structural nature aimed at improving the performance of the national economies and at promoting resilient economic and social structures in the Member States, thereby contributing to cohesion, convergence, competitiveness, productivity, growth and employment; and
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The general and the specific objectives set out in Articles 4 and 5 shall refer to policy areas related to cohesion, convergence, competitiveness, productivity, research and innovation, smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, jobs and investment, and in particular to one or more of the following:
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, including social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, digital skills, the fight against poverty, the promotion of social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems, pension systems, as well as cohesion, asylum, migration and border policies;
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) policies for implementing climate action, mobility, connectivity, promoting energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy sources, achieving energy diversification and ensuring energy security, and for the agricultural sector, fisheries and the sustainable development of rural and remote areas; and
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to ensure that the reforms supported by the Programme address all the key economic and societal areas, both financial support and technical support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, in a broad range of policy domains, which include areas related to public financial and asset management, taxation system, institutional and administrative reform, legal system, business environment, the financial sector, markets for products, services and labour, education and training, sustainable development, public health and social welfare.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to cater for additional needs under the Programme, Member States should have the possibility to transfer to the budget of the Programme resources programmed in shared management under the Union funds, in accordance with the procedure thereof, and only if all funds available under the Programme for the Member State are absorbed. Transferred resources should be implemented in accordance with the rules of this Programme and should be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be transferred to the Programme only if all funds available under the Programme for the Member State are absorbed. The Commission shall implement those resources directly in accordance with point (a) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation or indirectly in accordance with point (c) of that Article. Where possible those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Annex I lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall envelope of the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Such a maximum financial contribution is calculated for each Member State using the criteria and methodology set out in that Annex, based on the population of each Member Statenumber and complexity of the Country Specific Recommendations, macroeconomic imbalances, the level of unemployment, the level of poverty and social exclusion, and GDP per capita in relation to the EU average GDP. Such a maximum financial contribution shall be available for allocation to each Member State, in part or in full, at each stage and call of the allocation process set out in Article 10. (The amendment will require consequential adjustments to the calculation in Annex 1.)
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. For a period of twenforty months from the date of application of this Regulation, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 06 500 000 000, which represents 750% of the overall envelope referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Each Member State may propose to receive up to the full amount of the maximum financial contribution, referred to in Article 9, to fulfil reform commitments proposed in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. For the period starting after the end of the period referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 05 500 000 000, which represent the remaining 250% of the overall envelope for the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2), plus the amount that has not been allocated in accordance with paragraph 2, on the basis of calls organised and published under the reform delivery tool. The first call shall be for allocating EUR 11 05 500 000 000.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure a meaningful incentive for Member States to complete structural reforms, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available for them under the instrument for each stage of allocation and under each call. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the population of Member States and respective GDP per capita. To ensure that the financial incentives are spread throughout the whole period of application of the Programme, the allocation of funds to the Member States should be made in stages. In the first stage lasting twenty months, half (EUR 11 000 340 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the reform delivery tool should be made available to Member States, during which they could receive up to their maximum allocation by submitting proposals for reform commitments.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In the interest of transparency and efficiency, in the subsequent stage lasting until the end of the Programme, a system of periodic calls should be set out by the Commission to allocate the remaining half (EUR 11 000 340 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument, plus the amounts unused from the previous stage. Simple procedures should be organised to that effect. Under each call, all Member States should be invited to submit reform proposals concurrently, and could be awarded their maximum financial contribution on the basis of their reform proposals. In the interest of transparency, the first call organised by the Commission during the second stage should be for an amount corresponding to the remaining part (EUR 11 000 340 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument. Further calls should be organised by the Commission only where the overall financial envelope has not been fully used. The Commission should adopt and publish an indicative calendar of the further calls to be organised, and should indicate, at each call, the remaining amount of the overall envelope, which is available under that call.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. Payment of financial contributions to the Member State concerned under this Article shall include pre-financing payment and shall be made in accordance with the budget appropriations and subject to the available funding.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Upon completion of the reform commitments, the Member State concerned shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment for the remaining part of the financial contribution. The Commission shall assess, within two months of the submission of the request, whether the relevant milestones and targets set out in the decision referred to in Article 12(1) have been satisfactorily implemented. For that purpose, it may be assisted by relevant experts as referred to in Article 11(8).
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Where the assessment has a positive outcome, the disbursement of the remaining part of the financial contribution shall be made in accordance with the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. A Member State wishing to receive technical support under this instrument shall submit a request for technical support to the Commission, identifying the policy areas and the priorities for support within the scope of the Programme as set out in Article 6. The Commission shall organise calls under the technical support instrument, which will set appropriate deadlines for the submission of requests. The Commission may provide guidance on the main elements to be included in the request for support. Priority should be given to Member States based on the quality of the proposals, compliance with the requirements in calls and the criteria set by Article 9.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Annex X lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall financial envelope referred to in point (c)(i) of Article 7(2). Such maximum financial contribution is calculated for each eligible Member State using the criteria and methodology set out in that Annex, based on population of each Member Statebased on the number and complexity of the Country Specific Reccomendations related to convergence criteria, findings and recommendations from the Convergence reports, the level of unemployment, the level of poverty and social exclusion, and GDP per capita in relation to the EU average GDP, and applies for each of the allocation stages and calls set out in Article 10.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The Commission should assess the nature and the importance of the reform commitments proposed by the Member States and should determine the amount to be allocated on the basis of transparent criteria. To that effect, it should take into account the substantive elements provided by the Member States and assess whether the reform commitments proposed by the Member States are expected to effectively address challenges identified in the context of the European Semester, whether they represent a comprehensive reform package, whether they are expected to strengthen the performance and resilience of the national economy and whether their implementation is expected to have a lasting impact in the Member State where relevant by strengthening the institutional and administrative capacity of the Member State concerned. In addition, the Commission should assess whether the internal arrangements proposed by the Member States, including the proposed milestones and targets, and the related indicators, are expected to ensure effective implementation of the reform commitments during a maximum period of three years. Furthermore, the reform commitments submitted by the Members State that received positive assessment from the Commission should be strictly monitored through the European Semester.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In order to contribute to the preparation of high quality proposals and assist the Commission in the assessment of the proposals for reform commitments submitted by the Member States and in the assessment of the degree of their achievement, provision should be made for the use of peer counselling and expert advice. The national fiscal council should be invited to provide its opinion on the budgetary aspects of the proposed reform commitments before the official submission of the proposal to the Commission. In addition, the Council for Economic Policy Committee of the Council dealing with the European Semester, in consultation, where appropriate, with relevant Treaty-based committees, should be able to provide an opinion on the proposals for reform commitments as submitted by Member States. In the interest of simplification, the reporting by Member States on the progress made in the implementation of reform commitments should be made within the framework of the European Semester.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) Member States should consult their national independent fiscal institution ahead of the official submission of the proposal of reform commitments to the Commission. Such independent fiscal institution should build on the independent bodies as laid down in Regulation (EU) No. 473/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 21 May 2013. Member States whose currency is not the euro and to whom the obligations of Regulation (EU) No. 473/2013 therefore do not apply should ensure that an independent fiscal institution is established that could provide them with an independent opinion. They could refer to the technical support instrument to establish this independent body if needed. Administrative assistance provided by this Programme could be used to support this independent body provided there is no conflict of interest when delivering its opinion on the reform commitments.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) To foster the stability of the reform commitments, a Member State should have the possibility to amend the reform commitments only once within the period of implementation, where objective circumstances justify such a course of action.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) public financial and asset management, budget process, debt management and revenue administration and policies aimed at combating tax evasionavoidance, tax fraud and tax evasion including the promotion of the implementation and on-going adaptation of European Public Sector Accounting Standards as common European standard in the Member States and regions;
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) institutional reform and efficient and service-oriented functioning of public administration and e-government, including, where appropriate, through the simplification of rules, effective rule of law, reform of the justice and legal systems and reinforcement of the fight against fraud, corruption and money laundering;
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, including social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, digital skills, the fight against poverty, the promotion of social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems, judicial and legal systems, as well as cohesion, asylum, migration and border policies;
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) up to EUR 22 000 680 000 000 for the reform delivery tool;
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – introductory part
(c) up to EUR 2 164 320 000 000 for the convergence facility, of which:
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) up to EUR 24 000 000 000 for the financial support component; and
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) up to EUR 16320 000 000 for the technical support component.
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be transferred to the Programme only if all funds available under the Programme for the Member State are absorbed. The Commission shall implement those resources directly in accordance with point (a) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation or indirectly in accordance with point (c) of that Article. Where possible those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Annex I lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall envelope of the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Such a maximum financial contribution is calculated for each Member State using the criteria and an appropriate methodology set out in that Annex, based on the population of each Member State and respective GDP per capita. Such a maximum financial contribution shall be available for allocation to each Member State, in part or in full, at each stage and call of the allocation process set out in Article 10.
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. For a period of twenty months from the date of application of this Regulation, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 000 340 000 000, which represents 50% of the overall envelope referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Each Member State may propose to receive up to the full amount of the maximum financial contribution, referred to in Article 9, to fulfil reform commitments proposed in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. For the period starting after the end of the period referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall make available for allocation EUR 11 000 340 000 000, which represent the remaining 50% of the overall envelope for the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2), plus the amount that has not been allocated in accordance with paragraph 2, on the basis of calls organised and published under the reform delivery tool. The first call shall be for allocating EUR 11 000 340 000 000.
Amendment 308 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The national fiscal council may provide an assessment on the budgetary aspects of the proposal for reform commitments to the national authorities ahead of the official submission of the proposal to the Commission. Member States shall inform the national fiscal council of the proposal in a timely manner and provide the national fiscal council with all documents it may need to draft its opinion. Member States shall be invited to consider that opinion and may modify the proposal before the official submission to the Commission. The opinion of the national fiscal council shall be annexed to the official proposal
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6
Article 11 – paragraph 6
6. When assessing the proposal for reform commitments and in the determination of the amount to be allocated to the Member State concerned, the Commission shall take into account the justification and the elements provided by the Member State concerned, as referred to in paragraph 3, the opinion of the national fiscal council, as referred to in paragraph 4 and any other relevant information.
Amendment 351 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Where the reform commitments, including relevant milestones and targets, are no longer achievable, either partially or totally, by the Member State concerned because of objective circumstances, the Member State concerned may make a reasoned request to the Commission to amend or replace the decision referred to in Article 12(1). To that effect, the Member State may propose a modified set or a new set of reform commitments. An independent fiscal body, such as the national fiscal councils already existing, may provide an assessment on the budgetary aspects of the modified proposal for reform commitments to Member States ahead of the official submission of the proposal to the Commission. Member States shall inform the national fiscal council of the proposal in a timely manner and provide the national fiscal council with all documents it may need to draft its opinion. Member States shall be invited to consider this opinion and may amend the modified proposal before the official submission to the Commission. The opinion of the national fiscal council shall be annexed to the official modified proposal.
Amendment 353 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4
Article 13 – paragraph 4
4. An amendment of the reform commitments can be made only once within the period of implementation set out in the decision referred to in Article 12(1).
Amendment 357 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Without prejudice to the second subparagraph of Article 12(3), the Member State concerned shall report regularly within the European Semester process on the progress made in the achievement of the reform commitments. To that effect, Member States are invited toshall use the content of the national reform programmes as a tool for reporting on progress towards reform completion. The detailed arrangements and timetable for reporting, including the modality for providing access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data, shall be laid down in the decision referred to in Article 12(1).
Amendment 394 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Annex X lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall financial envelope referred to in point (c)(i) of Article 7(2). Such maximum financial contribution is calculated for each eligible Member State using the criteria and an appropriate methodology set out in that Annex, based on population of each Member State and respective GDP per capita, and applies for each of the allocation stages and calls set out in Article 10.