8 Amendments of Jana TOOM related to 2016/2304(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. NHighlights that Cohesion policy proved to be one the most important public tools in promoting growth and jobs and reducing regional disparities; notes with concern that in 2015 only 34 % of Europeans said that they had heard about projects co-financed by the EU to improve the area in which they live and that this proportion has remained unchanged since June 20101 ; therefore, there is an urgent need to improve communication strategies to citizens, considering the low awareness of the positive effects cohesion policies have in quality of life and economic growth, which is even more important in times of challenge by populism and spread negativity about the European project; __________________ 1 Flash Eurobarometer 423: Citizens’ awareness and perceptions of EU regional policy.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission, in close cooperation with the managing authorities, to monitor regularly that all legal provisions as regards information and communication are being implemented thoroughly in order to ensure transparency and the widespread dissemination of information about the achievements of the Funds, and paying special attention to groups of beneficiaries in vulnerable positions;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the visibility of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) by communicating the European added value of the projects, particularly in terms of job creation and social integration; in this context, draws attention to the growing importance of social media as the main source of information among many citizens, and also the dissemination of anti-European propaganda on the internet; recommends the more intense use of social media to communicate the successes of cohesion policies and the opportunities related to their use;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to reduce the administrative burden on authorities and beneficiaries, without affecting necessary controls and audits, with a view to ensuring a better absorption rate, in particular for SMEs, which have created around 85 % of new jobs within the Union in the past five years, and micro- businesses and companies in remote rural areas in order to foster their capacity to create employment and add economic value;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the importance of the integration of refugees as an urgent policy matter in the aftermath of the refugee crisis. In this regard, insists on appropriate allocation of the funds, flexible use of funds, and more appropriate targeting of the risk groups, in order to mitigate the risk of exclusion and social tensions;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission to analyse the real impact of investing EU funds during the previous programming period and to draw specific conclusions regarding the positive and negative experiences as a starting-point for adding value to the investment process;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Stresses that there is a particular need at EU and at Members States level to improve simplification for beneficiaries with more precise targeting to meet their needs. In this regard, the social partners and stakeholders could contribute to the identification of both good and bad practices and help in introducing simplification option in their Member States;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines concerns regarding the exclusion of some regions or municipalities from financing due to the increase in public debt since this increase usually stems from the activities of the central authorities;