Activities of Martina MICHELS related to 2023/0397(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans
Amendments (21)
Amendment 1 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) It is in the common interest of the Union and its Western Balkans partners1 to advance the efforts to reform political, legal and economic systems of the latter with a view to their future Union membership. The prospect of Union membership has a powerful transformative effect, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change. , social, territorial and societal development and progress. _________________ 1 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
Amendment 5 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) There is a need to bring forward some of the advantages of Union membership before accession. Economic, social and territorial convergence is at the heart of these benefits. Currently, the convergence of Western Balkans in terms of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards remains low at between 30% and 50% of the Union average and is not progressing fast enough.
Amendment 6 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The implementation of that Growth Plan requires increased funding under a dedicated new Financing Instrument, the Reform and Growth Facility, to assist the region in implementing the sustainable growth- promoting reforms, regional integration and Common Regional Market.
Amendment 7 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To achieve these goals, special emphasis with respect to investment areas should be placed on sectors that are likely to function as key multipliers for social and economic development: connectivity, including fair and inclusive transport, energy, green and digital transitions, education and skills development., as well as quality of governance and administrative capacity building at all levels;
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration and cohesion, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership, including the European code of conduct on partnership and the multi- level governance principle. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption. These objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) foster social, economic and environmental resilience, accelerate regional economic integration and progressive integration with the Union single market;
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) accelerate alignment with Union values, laws, rules, standards, policies and practices, fostering economic, social and territorial cohesion and cross-border cooperation with a view to Union membership
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) accelerate green transition in line with the 2020 Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and covering all economic sectors, particularly energy, including the fair and inclusive transition towards de- carbonised climate-neutral, climate- resilient and circular economy;
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point g
(g) boost innovation, particularly for MSMEs and in support of the fair and inclusive green and digital transitions;
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point h
(h) boost economic and social development, with particular attention to women and youth, including through quality education, training, reskilling and upskilling, and employment policies;, minimum standards for labour laws, income equality, health and safety at work and non-discrimination as well as the promotion of social protection and social dialogue, in order to further align with EU standards and legislation.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy and functioning of democratic institutions, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; protect and strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue and the protection of labour rights; reduce income inequalities; prevent social dumping; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) reinforce the capacity and effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid control; support decentralisation and local development; support initiatives and bodies involved in supporting and enforcing international justice in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries.;
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Cooperation under the Facility shall be based on and shall promote the development effectiveness principles, across all modalities, namely ownership of development priorities by the Beneficiaries, their societies and local and regional authorites and communities, a focus on results, inclusive partnerships, transparency and mutual accountability. The cooperation shall be based on effective and efficient resources allocation and use.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Activities under the Facility shall mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and environmental protection, human and labour rights, democracy, transparency and civil society participation, gender equality and, where relevant, disaster risk reduction, and shall support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting integrated actions that can create co-benefits and meet multiple objectives in a coherent way. They shall avoid stranded assets, and shall be guided by the principles of ‘do no harm’ and of ‘leaving no one behind’, as well as by the sustainability mainstreaming approach underpinning the European Green Deal.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. All supplies and materials financed and procured under this Facility shall originate from any country referred to paragraph 1 point (a) and point (b), unless if the supplies and materials cannot be sourced at reasonable conditions in any of those countries. In that case, the procurement should be in line with EU regulations on due diligence in supply chains. In addition, the rules on restrictions in paragraph 6 apply.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) measures constituting a coherent, comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the objectives set out in Article 3, including structural reforms, investments, and measures to ensure compliance with preconditions if appropriate;
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) an explanation of the extent to which the measures are expected to contribute to climate and environmental objectivethe general and specific objectives, in particular, an explanation of the extent to which the measures correspond to the Beneficiaries' economic, social and territorial development and cohesion, climate and environmental objectives, decentralisation and convergence towards the Union’s standards;
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) an explanation of the Beneficiary’s system for consultation and participation of regional and local authorities and civil society regarding reform needs, their practical implementation and effectiveness, including an explanation of the methodology and processes used for the selection and implementation of projects, and the mechanisms to involve sub- national authorities, in particular municipalities, in decision-making on the use of support in the reform process at local level; the methodology used to track related expenditure; and an explanation of how the agenda ensures that the projects selected and implemented by such sub-national authorities constitute an adequately substantial share of the support;
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) whether the Reform Agenda can be expected to accelerate progress towards bridging the socio-economic gap between the Beneficiary and the Union, and thereby enhances their economic, social and, environmental and territorial development andcohesion, supports the convergence towards the Union’s standards; whether the methodology and processes used for the selection and implementation of projects, and the mechanisms to involve sub-national authorities, in particular regions and municipalities, in decision- making on the use of support at local level are appropriate; whether the methodology used to track related expenditure for the projects selected and implemented by such sub-national authorities is appropriate and whether such projects constitute an adequately substantial share of the support;
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) whether the Reform Agenda can be expected to accelerate the transition of the Beneficiaries towards sustainable, climate- neutral and climate resilient and inclusive economies by, improving regional connectivity, making progress on the fair twin transition of green and digital, including biodiversity, and boosting innovation, education and skills and the wider labour market;
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
(e a) the Commission's assessment of the fulfillment of the preconditions as laid out in Article 5;