12 Amendments of Rosa D'AMATO related to 2016/2326(INI)
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that growth and regional, economic and social convergence cannot be achieved without good governance and the effective involvement of all partners at national, regional and local level, as is enshrined in the partnership principle (Article 5 of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)); acknowledges, however, that, in some cases, in the current programming period, the principles underlying the consultation process of the relevant stakeholders have been respected only from a formal point of view and calls thus for a more binding European Code of Conduct for the post- 2020 framework; asks the Commission, in this regard, to consider proposing a specific ex-ante conditionality on the partnership, that would aim at actually boosting the multilevel governance and at increasing the participation and the involvement of civil society both in the design and in the implementation of Cohesion Policy; reiterates that the EU cohesion policy’s shared management arrangement provides the EU with a unique tool to directly address the concerns of citizens in relation to internal and external challenges;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. WelcomesRegrets the late adoption of several operational programmes and the late designation of the Managing Authorities in some Member States; underlines that faster take-up of the available funds is vital in future, with a more balanced progression of expenditure during the programming cycle, also in order to avoid frequently turning to 'retrospective' projects, which are often funded with the sole aim of avoiding automatic decommitment; takes note of the acceleration in thed implementation of the operational programmes during the year 2016 and strongly encourages all actors involved to continue to speed up their activities;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that although cohesion policy has mitigated the impact of the crisis and of the austerity measures, regional disparities and social inequalities remain high; calls for continuous action to reduce disparities, particularly in less developed regions, while maintaining support for transition and for more developed regions so as to facilitate ownership of the policy in all regions;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. OStrongly opposes macro-economic conditionalities and highlights that the link between cohesion policy and economic governance processes should be reciprocal and that a greater recognition of the territorial dimension would be beneficial for the European Semester; not be proposed again in the post-2020 framework; considers, in this regard, that the link-and the sanctions foreseen in the current article 23 of the Common Provision Regulation- are not only inappropriate but also very counter- productive as sanctions linked to deficits are likely to worsen the fiscal situation in the concerned Member States, and as a suspension of payments and/or commitments of ERDF or ESF would not only disrupt financial planning at the programme level but could also lead to projects being stopped on the ground; asks the Commission, moreover, to take into duly consideration the findings of the Sixth Cohesion Report, which states that, despite regional and local authorities being responsible for around 30% of total General Government expenditure and about 60% of General Government investment, the increase in public debt, as in the deficit, principally stems from central government activities;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to review the investment clause to enable regional and national investments co-financed through ESI Funds to be excluded from the calculation of national deficits in the framework of the European Semester;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that grants should remain the basis of the financing of cohesion policy; notes, however, the gradual shift from grants to financial instruments and stresses that the use of these latter should not be an end in itself; points out that the replacement of grants by loans, equity or guarantees must be carried out with caution and only where such financial instruments demonstrate an added value, taking into account regional disparities and the diversity of practices and experiences; stresses the importance of assistance to local and regional authorities on the innovative financial instruments through platforms such as fi-compass;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Highlights that many regions suggest to create financial instruments adapted to specific regional needs; stresses, moreover, that grants remain necessary to support firms particularly in the context of less developed or less populated regions for risky projects that may not meet the necessary conditions for support under FIs schemes and for projects which do not guarantee immediate returns (e.g. projects in the fields of research, social projects, some infrastructure investments, active labour market policy);
Amendment 183 #
14. Calls on the Commission to ensure better synergies between the ESI Funds and other Union funds and programmes and to facilitate multi-fund options; warns that the EFSI should not undermine the strategic coherence anelcomes synergies such as the Seal of Excellence and calls for similar schemes foreseeing a quality certification, based long-term perspective of cohesion policy programming and insists on the additionality of its resources a thorough evaluation of the projects, to be implemented and enhanced in the post-2020 framework;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to reflect on the development of alternative indicators-such as the Social Progress Index- to the GDP indicator, which remainsshould remain one of the legitimate methods for allocating ESI Funds fairly; such alternative indicators may include a demographic indicator or dynamic indicators based on social and employment aspects; stresses, furthermore, the relevance of outcome indicators to strengthen the result and performance orientation of the policy;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses that a new cohesion policy that is also credible and perceived as closer to citizens and more commensurate with the real needs and vocations of local areas is needed now more than ever;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the core of the current cohesion policy legislative framework should be maintained after 2020 with a refined, easily accessible and result- orientated policy and with an added value of the policy which is better communicated to citizens; asks the European Commission to present the proposal for the new Regulation in early 2018, so as to enable a proper discussion with the European Parliament and the Council and a timely approval of the new legislative framework;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses in view of the Commission’s proposal 2016/0282(COD) that the reception of migrants and refugees as well as their social and economic integration requires a coherent transnational approach, which should also be addressed through the current and future EU cohesion policy; considers that the contribution from Cohesion Policy could, however, be effective, especially in countries particularly exposed to migration flows only if accompanied by a genuine Europe-wide application of the principle of solidarity, and thus by actions aimed at a fair burden-sharing and at sustainable mutual assistance among the Member States;