8 Amendments of Maria GRAPINI related to 2014/2233(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a vehicle for economic growth, both in the single market and abroad; Stresses the strategic role PPP´s have in modernising infrastructures, in particular energy, water, road and digital infrastructures; notes that European companies are well equipped to compete for and operate such arrangements;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes account of the fact that PPPs are characterised by a long life-cycle sometimes extending from 10 to 30 years. Believes that the life-cycle of PPPs should be meaningful and consistent with the pursued objectives in terms of work, goods and services to be provided without artificially distorting the competition or creating higher costs and unnecessary burden for public administrations and tax-payers.
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that PPPs are characterised by their high value and technical complexity, and by the parties’' long-term commitment; notes that they consequently require appropriate levels of both flexibility and procedural safeguards to ensure transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment; highlights the need to ensure fair competition and access for all parts implicated in the PPP, notably through fair and transparent selection procedures through which governments develop partnerships.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds that PPP´s should bring high added value to citizens and consumers, ensure quality services and/or goods and provide concrete competitive and economic advantages for public administrations, both at government and local levels, while avoiding to create additional burden or losses for the public sector;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that EU markets are open, with rules aimed at enhancing fair and effective competition within the single market and providing a level playing field for international investors; recalls that there is no discrimination on the basis of foreign ownership or control, and that companies from abroad may establish themselves locally in order to participate in PPPs; calls for reciprocity and fairness for all actors implicated in a PPP; reiterates the request for tendering and selection procedures, ensuring that SMEs gain concrete and fair access to PPPs; highlights in this respect the importance of specific rules allowing for cluster or grouped tendering by SMEs and the use of open and transparent subcontracting chains complying with social, environmental and labour requirements;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Commission to ensure that the Union’s trade agreements, TTIP in particular, contain the necessary conditions to enable European companies to compete on equal terms with domestic companies abroad and to protect European companies which engage in cross border PPPs; considers that this includes access to related services, together with clear and equitable rules on access to tendering information and on award criteria; stresses that greater transparency is of particular importance for small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that PPPs have not given much importance to governance, as one of the main objectives has been to keep expenditure off the public institutions´ balance sheet. A transparent and simple legal framework which ensures a good and sound governance must be established. Such governance framework should be designed in a way to prevent corruption and fraud, tax evasion and avoidance, and to ensure compliance with requirements in relation to environmental, social and labour standards. Introduction of new accounting standards should be done with the help of the IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) and through the development of specific IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to explore further opportunitwork within the realm of trade policies and agreements with a viesw to open up market access for European companies in the context of PPP arrangements outside the EU, notably through enhanced implementation of the reciprocity rules included in the directive on public procurements for the utilities sectors.