40 Amendments of Dominique BILDE related to 2015/0263(COD)
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
1a. Up to now, the Union has failed to achieve these objectives, particularly in the countries which have already received structural aid from the Commission, since access to education has been reduced in Greece whilst unemployment has constantly risen (with 50.1% youth unemployment in this country) due to the austerity policies.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Articles 120 and 121 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provide that Member States shall conduct their economic policies with a view to contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Union and in the context of the broad guidelines that the Council shall formulate. Thereby, the coordination of the economic policies of the Member States is a matter of common concern. This common concern must not however be pursued to the detriment of the economic and social stability of the Member States of the Union and in particular must not lead to sacrifices in the educational and social policies for young people.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Several Member States have been undergoing and continue to undergo adjustment processes to correct macroeconomic imbalances accumulated in the past and many are facing the challenge of low potential growth. Tit has to be admitted that despite the reforms led by the EU, many are facing the challenge of low potential growth, thus calling into question the soundness of the austerity policies. It should nevertheless be remembered that the Union has identified the implementation of structural reforms among its policy priorities to set, but has not yet succeeded in setting the recovery on a sustainable path, unlocking the growth potential to strengthen the adjustment capacity, and support the process of convergenceneeded and ensuring the social achievements which should be the objective of all economic policy.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly-specialised knowledge and skills. Addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise. Therefore, early and efficient designhave not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, a design tailored to the specific features of each Member State and an implementation isact assessment with a clear evaluation of the priority sectors are crucial, be it for crisis- struck or structurally-weak economies. In this context, the provision of support by the Union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of Greece and Cyprus in the last yearto Greece and Cyprus has been disastrous in terms of education and training and has resulted in reduced access to education in these countries and reduced employment openings for young graduates.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Member States may benefit from support in addressing challenges as regards the design and implementation of structural reforms. These challenges may be dependent on various factors, including limiteds on administrative and institutional capacity or inadequate application and implementation of Union legisladue to budget austerity or application or excessive standardisation of European rules which fail to take account of the specific features of national socio-economic conditions.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The Union has a long-lasting experience ocan providinge specific support to national administrations and other authorities of Member States as regards capacity building and similar actions in certain sectors (e.g. taxation, customs, support to small and medium- sized enterprises) and in relation to the implementation of cohes, but may not proceed in the place of the Member States, which form the most appropriate level both for identifying the needs at local and/or regional level and for coordinating the necessary changes to ensure that such changes are fully consistent with the needs of the national policypulations and the necessity for economic stability in Member States. The experience gained by the Union in assistingvarious national authorities carrying out reforms should be used in order to enhance the capacity of the Union to provide support to Member States. Comprehensive and integrated actionDrawing on the experience of proven best practices, whilst at the same time respecting the specificities of each Member State, is indeed necessary in order to provide support to those Member States that are undertaking growth-enhancing reforms and request assistance from the Union in this respect.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Against this background, it is necessary to establish a Structural Reform Support Programme ('the Programme') with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-enhancing administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. The Programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of common goals towards obtaining economic recovery, access to education and training, job creation, boosting Europe's competitiveness and stimulating investment in the real economy.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission upon request by a Member State, and only upon such request, in full compliance with its sovereignty and with the principle of subsidiarity, in areas such as budget and taxation, public function, institutional and administrative reforms, the justice system, anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, business environment, private sector developmentsimplification of the tax and administrative environment for very small enterprises (VSEs) and SMEs, investment, fair competition, public procurement, privatization processes, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, education and training, labour policies, public health, asylum, migra and combating social dumping, fair access to education and training with a view to quality education, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, public health, and combating the desertification of rural and outlying areas, in addition to policies, agriculture and rural development and concerning the financial sector policies.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Member States should be able to request support from the Commission under the Programme in relation to the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particular of Country Specific Recommendations in the context of the European Semester, to actions related to the implementation of Union law, as well as in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes, for actions related to the implementation of Union law. They should also be able to request support in relation to reforms undertaken at their own initiative, in order to achieve sustainable investment, growth and job creation.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Further to a dialogue with the requesting Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency, breadth and depth of the problems as identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged, analysis of socio-economic indicators, and the general administrative capacity of the Member State. The Commission should also, in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, identify the priority areas, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support, taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, but also ensuring that the measures taken do not have negative effects on areas which should not be considered simply as economic adjustment variables, such as education, training, public health or access to fundamental public services.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The Commission Communications ‘The EU Budget Review’13 and ‘A budget for Europe 2020’14 underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear European added value, i.e. where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone. Against this background, the support actions carried out under the Programme should ensure complementarity and synergycoherence with other programmes and policies at national, Union and international level. The actions under the Programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges and achieve a consistempliant and coherent implementation of Union law. In addition, they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the Commission and among Member States. Moreover, the Union is in a better position than Member States to providecould act as a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertisebetween the Member States. __________________ 13 COM(2010) 700 of 19 October 2010. 14 COM(2011) 500 final of 29 June 2011
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The financial interests of the UnionMember States, on whose contributions the Union budget is based, should be protected through proportionate measures throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation of irregularities, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, penalties.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to contribute to the institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the Member States which desire and call for such action, by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions, governance, administration, economic and social sectors, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone, but can rather, by reason of their scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective, since the scope of the support would be mutually agreed with the Member State concerned.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
2. 'Union funds' means the European Structural and Investment funds referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the Fund for the European Aid to the Most Deprived, established by Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund established by Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management established as part of the Internal Security Fund, by Regulation (EU) No 513/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa established, as part of the Internal Security Fund, by Regulation (EU) 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council19. __________________ 19 Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014, on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (OJ L 72, 12.3.2014, p. 1). Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amending Council Decision 2008/381/EC and repealing Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, p. 168). Regulation (EU) No 513/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management and repealing Council Decision 2007/125/JHA (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, p. 93). Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa and repealing Decision No 574/2007/EC (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, p. 143).
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Programme shall finance actions with European added value. To that effect, the Member States and the Commission shall ensure that actions selected for funding are likely to produce results with European added value and shall monitor whether European added value is actually achieved.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) their complementarity and synergy with other Union programmes and policies at national, Union and international level;
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) the promotion of mutual trust between Beneficiary Member States and the Commission and cooperation among Member States.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to national authorities which desire and call for such support, for measures aimed at reforming institutions, governance, administration, economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness, growth, jobs, and investment, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance forcalling into question Directive 96/71/CE on the posting of workers and ensuring the efficient and effective use of the Union funds.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to assist the initiatives of national authorities to design their reforms according to priorities and to the specific features of the beneficiary country, taking into account initial conditions and expected socio- economic impacts;
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) institutional reform and efficient and service-oriented functioning of public administration, effective rule of law, reform of the justice system and reinforcement of anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering;
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) business environment, private sector development, investment, privatization processes, trade and foreign direct investment, competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for innovationsimplification of the tax and administrative environment for very small enterprises (VSEs) and SMEs, investment, fair competition and combating social dumping, fair access to education and training with a view to quality education, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, public health and combating the desertification of rural and outlying areas, in addition to policies concerning the financial sector;
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems, asylum, migration and borders policies;
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) policies for the agricultural sector and the sustainable development of ruralfor combating the desertification of rural and outlying areas;
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Taking into account the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify the priority areas for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particular of the relevant Country Specific Recommendations issued in the context of the European Semester or of relevant actions related to the implementation of Union lawlevant reforms;
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission may define the support envisaged for Beneficiary Member States in cooperation with othoser Member States or international organisations.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The Beneficiary Member State, in coordination with the Commission, may enter into partnership with one or more other Member States which shall act as Reform Partners in respect of specific areas of reform. A Reform Partner shall, in coordination with the CommissionBeneficiary Member State, help formulate strategy, reform roadmaps, design high-quality assistance or oversee implementation of strategy and projects.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The financial allocation of the Programme may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities which are required for the management of the Programme and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the general objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, together with all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. In addition to the financial envelope set out in Article 9, the Programme may be financed through additional contributions from Member States, on a voluntary basis.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in close collaboration with the Beneficiary Member State and always with its consent, shall implement the Programme in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The measures of the Programme may be implemented either directly by the Commission or indirectly, by entities and persons other than Member States in accordance with Article 60 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012. In particular, Union financial support for actions provided for in Article 6 of this Regulation shall take the form of:
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The Commission and the Beneficiary Member States, within their respective responsibilities, shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the Programme and other Union programmes and instruments, and in particular with measures financed by the Union funds. To this end, they shall:
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) ensure complementarity and synergycoherence between different instruments at Union and national levels, in particular in relation to measures financed by Union funds, both in the planning phase and during implementation;
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall take appropriate measures, whatever measures are taken, shall ensuringe that, when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the UnionMember States, which underpin the budget of the Union by their contribution, are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and deterrent penalties.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) may, which is currently under suspicion of irregularities in its administrative management and therefore needs to restore its operational stability, may, where appropriate, carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections on economic operators concerned directly or indirectly by such funding in accordance with the procedures laid down in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement or grant decision or a contract concerning Union funding. __________________ Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2).
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2