Activities of Joachim SCHUSTER
Plenary speeches (24)
Appointment of the President of the European Central Bank - Candidate: Ms Christine Lagarde (debate)
Greening the European Investment Bank (debate)
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (debate)
Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate)
Economic policies of the euro area 2020 - Employment and social policies of the euro area 2020 (debate)
Economic policies of the euro area 2020 - Employment and social policies of the euro area 2020 (debate)
A WTO-compatible EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (continuation of debate)
InvestEU programme (debate)
European Semester: annual sustainable growth strategy 2021 – European Semester: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy 2021 (debate)
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (debate)
Review of the macroeconomic legislative framework (debate)
Climate, Energy and Environmental State aid guidelines (“CEEAG”) (debate)
State of play of the RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) (debate)
European Central Bank – annual report 2021 (continuation of debate)
EU-Africa relations (debate)
Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (debate)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual sustainable growth survey 2022 – European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy survey 2022 (debate)
Future of EU-Africa trade relations (debate)
Question Time (Commission) - Future legislative reform of the Economic Governance Framework in times of social and economic crisis
European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023 - European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 (debate)
Question Time (VPC/HR) - Situation in West and Central Africa in the light of the recent coups d’état
Conclusion of the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Angola (A9-0005/2024 - Joachim Schuster) (vote)
Implementation of the EU-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (A9-0024/2024 - Joachim Schuster) (vote)
Effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance - Speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure – amending Regulation - Requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States – amending Directive (joint debate – Economic governance)
Reports (3)
REPORT on economic policies of the euro area 2020
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Angola
REPORT on the implementation of the EU-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Shadow reports (4)
REPORT on Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
REPORT on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021
REPORT on the future of EU-Africa trade relations
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision amending Decision (EU) 2015/2169 on the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part
Opinions (1)
OPINION on A new EU-Africa Strategy - a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development
Shadow opinions (5)
OPINION on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2019
OPINION on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives
OPINION on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union
OPINION on own resources: a new start for EU finances, a new start for Europe
OPINION on the role of EU development policy in transforming extractive industries for sustainable development in developing countries
Oral questions (1)
Europe’s energy independence and the extraterritoriality of US law
Written explanations (12)
The arrest of Aleksei Navalny (B9-0090/2021, B9-0091/2021, B9-0092/2021, B9-0093/2021, B9-0094/2021, B9-0095/2021)
Die Inhaftierung des russischen Oppositionspolitikers Alexei Nawalny verurteilen wir aufs Schärfste. Die Intention der Entschließung ist absolut richtig. Die SPD-Europaabgeordneten unterstützen die Forderung nach einer sofortigen Freilassung von Nawalny und anderer mitinhaftierter Personen und verurteilen die russische Regierung für ihr Vorgehen. Wir stehen fest an der Seite aller, die sich für die Einhaltung von Menschenrechten und Rechtsstaatlichkeit einsetzen und die Demokratie verteidigen. Ein Angriff auf diese Menschen ist auch ein Angriff auf uns. Dem werden wir uns jederzeit mit aller Kraft entgegenstellen.Das Gas-Projekt Nord Stream 2 im Text der Entschließung exklusiv als ein Projekt herauszugreifen, geht aus unserer Sicht allerdings am Gegenstand der Diskussionen um Freiheitsrechte vorbei. Wir haben uns deshalb veranlasst gesehen, uns bei Fortbestand der an dieser Stelle völlig inakzeptablen Verkopplung von Nord Stream 2 mit dem Schicksal von Alexei Nawalny und seinen Mitstreiterinnen und Mitstreitern, in der Schlussabstimmung zu enthalten. Dies berührt – wie erläutert – in keiner Weise unsere grundsätzliche Haltung im Fall Alexei Nawalny.
EU Association Agreement with Ukraine (A9-0219/2020 - Michael Gahler)
Ich begrüße die Zusammenarbeit zwischen der EU und der Ukraine auf politischen, wirtschaftlichen, wissenschaftlichen, kulturellen und anderen Ebenen. Allerdings wird im Bericht der Stopp von Nord Stream 2 (N2) gefordert. Aus meiner Sicht ist es nicht zielführend, die vertiefte Kooperation mit der Ukraine und N2 miteinander zu verbinden.Um mögliche Nachteile für die Ukraine bei der Gaslieferung abzufedern, gibt es eine russisch-ukrainische Vereinbarung, die der Ukraine für weitere fünf Jahre Einnahmen aus dem Gastransport garantiert. Eine Investitionsruine in der Ostsee würde der Ukraine nichts nützen. Zudem würde Russland aufgrund eines Stopps von N2 seine Ukrainepolitik nicht ändern. Lediglich würden die Transit- und Ausfallrisiken höher, wenn auf eine moderne und effiziente Leitung verzichtet würde. Eine normative Begründung für den Stopp von N2 bleibt in der europäischen Energiepolitik inkonsistent. Nach wie vor bezieht die EU Öl und Gas von autoritären Regimen.Deshalb ist langfristig nur eine funktionierende wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit Russland geeignet, eine kooperative Sicherheitsarchitektur in Europa zu schaffen, die den Frieden sichert und die zivilgesellschaftlichen Kräfte für Demokratie und Bürger*innenrechte stärkt. Das ist eine wichtige Erfahrung aus der Entspannungspolitik von Willy Brandt. Aus diesem Grund habe ich mich bei der Endabstimmung enthalten.
Direction of EU-Russia political relations (A9-0259/2021 - Andrius Kubilius)
Ganz im Sinne der Ostpolitik Willy Brandts setzt sich die Europa-SPD für einen konstruktiven Dialog mit der russischen Zivilbevölkerung und der Regierung ein. Dabei müssen auch bestehende Probleme in den Beziehungen zwischen der EU und Russland sowie gravierende Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch die russische Regierung deutlich benannt werden. Ein konfrontativer Umgang und einseitige Verurteilungen werden die Beziehungen mit und die Lage in Russland nicht verbessern. Weiterhin lehnt die Europa-SPD jegliche Maßnahmen gegenüber Russland ab, die die Gefahr einer militärischen Eskalation erhöhen.Auch wenn im vorliegenden Bericht viele wichtige Probleme in Russland aufgeführt werden und es klaren Handlungsbedarf gibt, folgt der Bericht leider nicht der Logik einer sozialdemokratischen Entspannungspolitik, sondern einer konfrontativen Logik. Daher stimmen die SPD-Abgeordneten im Europäischen Parlament nicht für diesen Bericht.
Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 (A9-0354/2021 - David McAllister)
Ohne Zweifel brauchen wir in der Außen-, Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik eine engere Zusammenarbeit der Mitgliedstaaten. Die EU muss zukünftig eine größere Rolle spielen. Aber die Jahresberichte zur GASP und zur GSVP sind von einer einseitigen Logik der militärischen Sicherheit geprägt.Sicherlich wird eine glaubwürdige, auch militärische Abschreckung, noch längere Zeit von Bedeutung sein. Aber die Dominanz einer militärischen Logik birgt immer erhebliche Eskalationsgefahren. Deswegen halte ich ein Verständnis von gleicher Sicherheit, wie es auf der „Helsinki-Konferenz“ der KSZE 1975 formuliert wurde, für unverzichtbar. Danach ist Sicherheit unteilbar, die Sicherheit eines oder einer Gruppe von Staaten darf nicht auf Kosten der Sicherheit anderer Staaten gehen. Die Sicherheit eines Staates ist mit der Sicherheit aller anderen verbunden. Dieses Sicherheitsverständnis findet sich in den Berichten jedoch nicht. Ebenso bleibt die Bedeutung von vertrauensbildenden Maßnahmen für eine europäische Sicherheitsarchitektur unerwähnt.Die Berichte enthalten zudem einige für mich nicht akzeptable Forderungen: Statt auf rasche Aneignung militärischer Fähigkeiten der EU als Reaktion auf unterschiedliche Bedrohungen in der Welt zu setzen, soll eine effektivere Nutzung vorhandener Mittel der Mitgliedstaaten im Zusammenspiel mit der NATO stehen und konkretisiert werden. Trotz der Tatsache, dass die EU-Mitgliedstaaten zusammengenommen über ein Budget in Höhe von insgesamt 395 Mrd. EUR verfügen, womit die EU weltweit auf Platz 2 hinter den USA (778 Mrd. US-Dollar) und weit vor Russland (61,7 Mrd. US-Dollar) liegt, wird eine weitere Ausweitung der Militärausgaben und Erhöhung des Budgets des Europäischen Verteidigungsfonds nach 2027 gefordert, sowie Mehrwertsteuerbefreiung für intraeuropäischen Handel mit Rüstungsgütern, Investitionen ins Luftkampfsystem (Future Combat Air System), in das bodengebundene Hauptkampfsystem (MGCS) und in Hauptkampfpanzersysteme begrüßt. Darüber hinaus ist die formulierte Absicht, die NATO solle in den Staaten der Östlichen Partnerschaft präsent sein, eskalationsverschärfend. Dies würde nicht zu einer europäischen Friedensordnung beitragen.Sehr problematisch ist, dass die Instrumentalisierung von Flüchtenden als Teil hybrider Kriegsführung bezeichnet wird und in diesem Kontext der „wirksame Schutz“ der EU-Außengrenzen nebst Maßnahmen gefordert werden, um Grenzübertritte zu verhindern. Das Recht auf Schutz von Flüchtenden wird auf diese Weise negiert. Das hochumstrittene Grenzmanagement in Libyen, an dem die EU-Agentur Frontex bei sogenannten Pull-backs der libyschen Küstenwache beteiligt ist, Flüchtlinge in Inhaftierungslager zurückzuschleppen, wird ebenfalls befürwortet und soll im Rahmen der GSVP auch auf andere Staaten der Sahelzone ausgebaut werden.Aus diesen Gründen habe ich den Berichten nicht zugestimmt.
Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (A9-0358/2021 - Nathalie Loiseau)
Ohne Zweifel brauchen wir in der Außen-, Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik eine engere Zusammenarbeit der Mitgliedstaaten. Die EU muss zukünftig eine größere Rolle spielen. Aber die Jahresberichte zur GASP und zur GSVP sind von einer einseitigen Logik der militärischen Sicherheit geprägt. Sicherlich wird eine glaubwürdige, auch militärische Abschreckung, noch längere Zeit von Bedeutung sein. Aber die Dominanz einer militärischen Logik birgt immer erhebliche Eskalationsgefahren. Deswegen halte ich ein Verständnis von gleicher Sicherheit, wie es auf der „Helsinki-Konferenz“ der KSZE 1975 formuliert wurde, für unverzichtbar. Danach ist Sicherheit unteilbar, die Sicherheit eines oder einer Gruppe von Staaten darf nicht auf Kosten der Sicherheit anderer Staaten gehen. Die Sicherheit eines Staates ist mit der Sicherheit aller anderen verbunden. Dieses Sicherheitsverständnis findet sich in den Berichten jedoch nicht. Ebenso bleibt die Bedeutung von vertrauensbildenden Maßnahmen für eine europäische Sicherheitsarchitektur unerwähnt.Die Berichte enthalten zudem einige für mich nicht akzeptable Forderungen: Statt auf rasche Aneignung militärischer Fähigkeiten der EU als Reaktion auf unterschiedliche Bedrohungen in der Welt zu setzen, soll eine effektivere Nutzung vorhandener Mittel der Mitgliedstaaten im Zusammenspiel mit der NATO stehen und konkretisiert werden. Trotz der Tatsache, dass die EU-Mitgliedstaaten zusammengenommen über ein Budget in Höhe von insgesamt 395 Mrd. EUR verfügen, womit die EU weltweit auf Platz 2 hinter den USA (778 Mrd. US-Dollar) und weit vor Russland (61,7 Mrd. US-Dollar) liegt, wird eine weitere Ausweitung der Militärausgaben und Erhöhung des Budgets des Europäischen Verteidigungsfonds nach 2027 gefordert, sowie Mehrwertsteuerbefreiung für intraeuropäischen Handel mit Rüstungsgütern, Investitionen ins Luftkampfsystem (Future Combat Air System), in das bodengebundene Hauptkampfsystem (MGCS) und in Hauptkampfpanzersysteme begrüßt. Darüber hinaus ist die formulierte Absicht, die NATO solle in den Staaten der Östlichen Partnerschaft präsent sein, eskalationsverschärfend. Dies würde nicht zu einer europäischen Friedensordnung beitragen.Sehr problematisch ist, dass die Instrumentalisierung von Flüchtenden als Teil hybrider Kriegsführung bezeichnet wird und in diesem Kontext der „wirksame Schutz“ der EU-Außengrenzen nebst Maßnahmen gefordert werden, um Grenzübertritte zu verhindern. Das Recht auf Schutz von Flüchtenden wird auf diese Weise negiert. Das hochumstrittene Grenzmanagement in Libyen, an dem die EU-Agentur Frontex bei sogenannten Pull-backs der libyschen Küstenwache beteiligt ist, Flüchtlinge in Inhaftierungslager zurückzuschleppen, wird ebenfalls befürwortet und soll im Rahmen der GSVP auch auf andere Staaten der Sahelzone ausgebaut werden. Aus diesen Gründen habe ich den Berichten nicht zugestimmt.
Recognising the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism (RC-B9-0482/2022, B9-0482/2022, B9-0483/2022, B9-0485/2022, B9-0486/2022, B9-0487/2022)
Ich verurteile den Russischen Angriffskrieg weiterhin aufs Schärfste. Russland begeht in der Ukraine Kriegsverbrechen, die in einem internationalen Rechtrahmen geächtet sind. Der Begriff „Terrorismus“ ist dagegen in der EU juristisch unbestimmt und verharmlost somit diese Kriegsverbrechen. Die Gräueltaten der russischen Regierung müssen klar definiert werden können. Die Bezeichnung Russlands als terrorunterstützender Staat wird dem nicht gerecht.Die Einstufung als terrorunterstützender Staat verfolgt das Ziel, Diplomatie und Verhandlungen zur Beendigung des Krieges auszuschließen. Stattdessen soll eine Entscheidung auf dem Schlachtfeld gesucht werden. Das erhöht die Gefahr, dass die NATO in den Krieg hineingezogen wird.Das Europäische Parlament als eine der Institutionen der Friedensnobelpreisträgerin EU sollte nach einem diplomatischen Ausweg aus dem Krieg suchen und die drohende Gefahr eines Atomkrieges abwenden.In den USA wird zunehmend darüber diskutiert, die Chancen von Verhandlungen auszuloten. Das Europäische Parlament fällt mit dieser Entschließung weit hinter die US-amerikanische Debatte zurück. Sowohl das Europäische Parlament als auch die EU sollten weiter ihre Solidarität mit der Ukraine zeigen und an einer diplomatischen Strategie arbeiten, die das Ziel verfolgt, diesen schrecklichen Krieg in Europa schnellstmöglich zu beenden.Aus diesen Gründen habe ich gegen diese Entschließung gestimmt.
Preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit (RC-B9-0092/2023, B9-0092/2023, B9-0093/2023, B9-0094/2023, B9-0095/2023, B9-0096/2023)
Ich verurteile den völkerrechtswidrigen Angriffskrieg Russlands gegen die Ukraine weiterhin aufs Schärfste. Das ukrainische Volk verdient deshalb unsere volle Unterstützung. So sehe ich auch eine EU-Beitrittsperspektive für die Ukraine als ein weiteres Zeichen unserer Solidarität, sofern die Beitrittsverhandlungen entsprechend den Kopenhagener Kriterien verlaufen und der gemeinschaftliche Rechtsbesitzstand (Acquis communautaire) in der Ukraine implementiert und angewandt wird.Da in der Resolution jedoch die Lieferung von Kampfflugzeugen und Langstrecken-Raketen faktisch gefordert und zugleich die Reduzierung der diplomatischen Beziehungen zu Russland befürwortet wird, habe ich gegen diese Resolution gestimmt. Ich bin der festen Überzeugung, dass dieser Krieg militärisch nicht zu lösen ist und es verstärkter diplomatischer Anstrengungen bedarf. Ein Überbietungswettbewerb bei der Lieferung von schweren offensiven Waffen führt zu einer weiteren russischen Eskalation des Krieges und damit zu einer zunehmenden Zerstörung der Ukraine.
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024 - all sections (A9-0288/2023 - Siegfried Mureşan, Nils Ušakovs)
Die SPD-Abgeordneten im Europäischen Parlament verurteilen die schrecklichen Terroranschläge der Hamas auf Israel. Unsere Gedanken sind mit den Opfern dieser Verbrechen und unsere Solidarität gilt dem Staat Israel. Die Entscheidung der EU-Kommission, die EU-Mittel nach Palästina anzuhalten und zu überprüfen, ist richtig. Auch wenn wir keine Hinweise darauf haben, dass EU-Mittel indirekt in die Taschen der Hamas geflossen sind, müssen wir hier absolute Klarheit haben. Die SPD ersucht daher den Europäischen Rechnungshof, einen Sonderbericht anzufertigen. Für uns gilt, dass es keine Zahlungen in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit im Gazastreifen geben kann und dass die EU keine neuen Verpflichtungen in den palästinensischen Gebieten eingehen kann, solange die Überprüfung der EU-Kommission nicht durchgeführt ist. Die Finanzierung humanitärer Hilfe in die palästinensischen Gebiete wollen wir weiter leisten.
Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union (RC-B9-0124/2024)
Ich habe mich bei der Entschließung „Russland-Gate und die mutmaßliche Einmischung Russlands in die demokratischen Prozesse der Europäischen Union“ (RC-B9-0124/2024) enthalten.Aus meiner Sicht ist die Entschließung in ihrem Kern und in der Mehrheit ihrer Aussagen richtig. Eine Einmischung in demokratische Prozesse seitens Russlands und anderer Staaten ist nicht hinnehmbar. Es ist klar, dass die Bestrebungen der russischen Regierung, die Demokratie in Europa mit Desinformationskampagnen und Cyberattacken zu unterminieren, abgewehrt werden müssen.Der Entschließungstext benennt klar, dass die Zusammenarbeit von Rechtsextremen und dem russischen Regime in den Fokus genommen werden soll. Und entsprechende Gegenmaßnahmen erfolgen sollen.Demokratie muss in Europa geschützt werden.Allerdings gehört zur Demokratie auch die freie Meinungsäußerung und die freie Ausübung des Abgeordnetenmandats.Hauptkritikpunkt ist daher der Paragraf 18: Alle Mitarbeitenden im Parlament, der Fraktionen und der Abgeordneten sollen einer Sicherheitsüberprüfung unterzogen werden. Auch sollen mit EU-Ressourcen geförderte Veranstaltungen regelhaft überprüft werden.So wird die Tür für pauschale Verdächtigungen geöffnet, die alle Abgeordneten betrifft. Ein anlassbezogenes Vorgehen statt pauschale Verdächtigungen wäre sinnvoller gewesen. Die Ausübung des freien Mandats wird somit beeinträchtigt.
The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (RC-B9-0143/2024)
Ich bin dafür, die Ukraine humanitär, ökonomisch, finanziell und politisch zu unterstützen. Auch muss der Westen der Ukraine militärisch helfen, damit sie sich verteidigen kann. Russland darf diesen Krieg nicht gewinnen.Allerdings lehne ich die Lieferung von Taurus-Raketen ab, weil damit die Gefahr steigt, dass Deutschland und somit die NATO in den Krieg hineingezogen werden. Es muss alles getan werden, um eine Ausweitung des Krieges auf ganz Europa zu vermeiden. Ebenso fehlt ein politischer Ansatz zur Deeskalation des Kriegs. Es sind diplomatische Anstrengungen nötig, um einen Waffenstillstand zu erreichen.
Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure (A9-0127/2023 - Juan Fernando López Aguilar)
Die vorgeschlagene Krisenverordnung sieht vor, dass in außergewöhnlichen Situationen, wie Massenankünften von Geflüchteten, spezielle Verfahren angewendet werden können. Sicherlich ist es erforderlich, auch in nicht vorhersehbaren Situationen eine gewisse Flexibilität zu wahren. Allerdings werden in der Verordnung Kriterien für Ausnahmesituationen definiert, die bereits heute absehbar und eingetreten sind und dementsprechend in den regulären Verfahren berücksichtigt wurden. Es handelt sich also nicht wirklich um Ausnahmesituationen.Zudem ist problematisch, dass die kaum zu definierende Instrumentalisierung von Flüchtlingen durch Drittstaaten als Krise definiert wird, die zulasten der Geflüchteten gehen soll, anstatt durch politische Initiativen gegenüber dem Drittstaat gelöst zu werden.
Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 (A9-0164/2024 - Fabienne Keller)
Die Verordnung sieht vor, dass verpflichtende Grenzverfahren für bestimmte Personengruppen eingeführt werden, die in der Regel 12 Wochen dauern sollen. Ob derartige Grenzverfahren politisch akzeptabel sind, hängt davon ab, wie diese ausgestaltet sind. Bisherige „Lager“ an den Außengrenzen sind wenig ermutigend.Besonders besorgniserregend finde ich jedoch die Tatsache, dass Rechtsbehelfe in diesen Grenzverfahren keine automatisch aufschiebende Wirkung haben. Dies bedeutet, dass Abschiebungen durchgeführt werden können, bevor über einen Einspruch entschieden wurde. Dies stellt meiner Ansicht nach eine eklatante Verletzung des Rechts auf ein faires Verfahren dar und könnte zu schwerwiegenden Folgen für die betroffenen Personen führen.Angesichts dieser Bedenken habe ich mich entschieden, diese Verordnung nicht zu unterstützen und habe mich enthalten.
Written questions (6)
EU must protect African elephants
EU must protect African elephants
Reviewing safeguard measures in the steel sector due to the pandemic
Safety of nuclear power installations
Commission measures to ensure the fair application of the carbon border adjustment mechanism and a level playing field between EU and foreign companies
Avoiding a VAT burden on public sector grants for project funding
Amendments (2737)
Amendment 4 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the UNCTAD 2021 publication 'Transforming Southern Africa: Harnessing Regional Value Chains and Industrial Policy for Development',
Amendment 17 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the SADC EPA states are facing challenges such as deep inequalities and a heavy dependence on exports of unprocessed raw materials and agricultural products;
Amendment 18 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Amendment 20 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the objective of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015–2063 is to develop and participate in regional and global value chains;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas transport and digital infrastructure is needed to develop regional value chains and increasingly integrate SADC states into global value chains;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
F c. whereas the crucial elements for successful participation in the value chain are financing, skills, technology, infrastructure and logistics;
Amendment 23 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the consequences of the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have significantly affected the livelihoods of populations, particularly in the states of Eswatini and Lesotho, which depend on the South African Labour and Border Crossing;
Amendment 24 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas commodity price volatility during the Covid-19 pandemic caused economic damage to SADC EPA countries dependent on the tax revenues from extractive industries;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas diversified economies would make the SADC EPA States more resilient to external shocks;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reiterates the European Parliament’s position on the importance of the involvement of civil society in the implementation and monitoring of the EPA;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Advocates for more structured participation of civil society and advocates that it be given a monitoring role with regard to the concrete implementation of all sustainability aspects in the EU-SADC EPA; urges SADC countries to comply with the commitments agreed under the EPA to engage civil society actors;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Recognizes that flexible transitional arrangements are needed for SADC EPA countries to comply with the TSD requirements in the EPA and other international commitments;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Expects that, depending on the outcome of the review, the EPA will be adapted or possibly expanded in complementary agreements in order to consolidate and deepen the partnership between the EU and South African countries in response to geopolitical changes and to the challenges of climate change;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Welcomes the accession plans of Angola to enter the EU-SADC EPA; recalls that according the own impact assessment of the Commission, Angola faces capacity issues in order to implement the EPA effectively; calls on the Commission to assist Angola in capacity building;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Welcomes the decarbonisation aspirations of Angola, a country that has been heavily relying on its extractive industries;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2 f. Welcomes that within the framework of the EU-Angola SIFA, fiscal capacity building measures are being envisaged;
Amendment 42 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Emphasises that with the exception of South Africa, SADC EPA states primarily trade within the region; stresses the importance of strengthening regional value chains;
Amendment 47 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls the need to promote efficient cross-border infrastructure development, harmonizing regulations, and strengthening cooperation among member states to create an interconnected SADC region;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 49 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Calls on the EU and SADC EPA states to work towards the development of high- quality digital infrastructure, including broadband networks and digital platforms, to enhance connectivity, promote e-commerce, and facilitate the exchange of information and services across borders;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Stresses the necessity of formalizing cross-border work arrangements to promote decent work, protect workers' rights, and ensure social and economic development in the region; recognizes the specific challenges faced by women particularly in the context of cross-border work, including gender based violence and corruption;
Amendment 51 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Urges the Commission and SADC EPA states to extent their commitment to creating an enabling environment that supports legal and transparent labour mobility while safeguarding the rights and dignity of workers;
Amendment 58 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that trade irritants have occurred in relation to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, in particular for poultry and citrus fruits; calls on the Commission and the SADC EPA States to use the forums and cooperation mechanisms agreed under the EPA to address changes in regulations and problems related to SPS measures at an early stage and in a cooperative atmosphere so that appropriate action can be taken in a timely manner; expects meaningful reports to the EP in the framework of the review, in which it is conclusively demonstrated that SPS requirements are not hidden protectionist measures;
Amendment 61 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 65 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Concludes that the EPA has not succeeded in deepening regional value chains in and between SADC EPA States to any significant extent; does not consider the EPA to have substantially contributed to the promotion of food sovereignty and poverty reduction in the SADC EPA States; concludes that the EPA has not contributed to the advancement of sustainable development;
Amendment 69 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses that effective management of regional specialisation is essential to maximise the potential of regional value chains and requires cooperative governance structures and policies;
Amendment 70 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Underscores the critical importance of the service value chain in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing regional cooperation within the SADC region; highlights the potential in the service sectors in the SADC region which include financial services, tourism and telecommunications;
Amendment 71 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9 c. Acknowledges the vital role of women in the economic development of the SADC region and the importance of creating an enabling environment that safeguards their rights;
Amendment 72 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9 d. Underscores the importance of investing in education and skills development tailored to decarbonisation efforts while addressing the challenges of the just transition;
Amendment 73 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Amendment 74 #
Amendment 76 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 79 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Stresses the need for efforts in building climate-resilient value chains within the agro-industry and the development of drought-resistant crop varieties and climate-adapted processing techniques;
Amendment 80 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Emphasises that access to clean water and sanitation facilities is fundamental to agricultural sustainability; stresses the need for comprehensive water management strategies; emphasizes that the lack of access to clean water and sanitation in the SADC region is an obstacle to sustainable development;
Amendment 81 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Calls for regional agro-processing initiatives to be carried out and shared among SADC Member States to promote knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices; calls for the monitoring of progress of regional value chains in agricultural processing;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that there is an urgent need to undertake far-reaching joint efforts towards decarbonisation; emphasizes the significance of joint collaboration in promoting sustainable development, combating climate change, while fostering economic growth;
Amendment 84 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Amendment 86 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to intensify their efforts at international fora, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), to advocate for increased international climate financing;
Amendment 87 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the EU and SADC Member States to actively explore innovative mechanisms for green finance, including green bonds, climate-focused investment funds, and public-private partnerships, leveraging international platforms to attract investments for sustainable and climate-resilient projects;
Amendment 88 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Calls on the EU to leverage its influence in obtaining improved financing practices from institutions like the World Bank and enhancing the IMF's role in debt relief measures; further urges the EU and SADC Member States to jointly explore innovative financing possibilities like securing loans similar to the EU's internal recovery fund and subsequently allocating them under appropriate conditions to finance public infrastructure in crucial areas such as energy, water supply, waste disposal, and recycling; calls on the EU and its Member States to use their influence to explore new approaches such as debt relief measures that unlock finance for climate adaptation;
Amendment 91 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CFurther considers that there is an urgent need to increase sustainable investment in the SADC region and expects investment areas to be identified that appear particularly suitable for investment partnerships between the EU and the SADC EPA States; calls for a better coordinated Team Europe approach in identifying and implementing suitable measures to increase investment; stresses that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires massive investments in supporting infrastructure and diversification away from dependence on primary commodities towards high- value industrial products;
Amendment 94 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the EU to channel Global Gateway funds into the development of critical infrastructure, including transportation networks, energy systems, water supply, and digital connectivity, enhancing regional integration and economic competitiveness; further calls for Global Gateway funds for training and capacity building programs aimed at enhancing the skills and expertise of the workforce in SADC member states, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting employment opportunities, particularly among youth and women; stresses the need for more transparency on the investments foreseen for SADC countries under Global Gateway; believes that Global Gateway funds should be increased and that the share of grants for equally necessary public investments must be increased;
Amendment 98 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that when selecting and supporting Global Gateway projects, social dialogue needs to be an integral part of the institutional framework for policy-making and implementation at all levels;
Amendment 100 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Welcomes the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between South Africa, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the European Union; notes that the climate-neutral transformation of energy systems will require extensive public investment; is concerned by the fact that the promised 8.5 billion US Dollars for the JETP represent just a fraction of the estimated 98 billion US dollars required to finance South Africa's just energy transition; points out the need to create greater transparency about the funded projects; calls for the active involvement of the social partners and other civil society actors; considers an expansion of funding and, in the process, an increase in grants to finance individual projects to be necessary as the possibilities for South Africa to borrow are limited in view of rising interest rates;
Amendment 103 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Calls on the Commission to better coordinate individual national export credit agencies of EU Member States in order to align with priorities of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 104 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Amendment 106 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Considers the EU-Angola Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) to be an important approach to encourage investment in the expansion of regional value chains and the diversification of the economy in Angola; believes that agreements such as the SIFA can provide a legal and organisational framework for investment partnerships; welcomes the fact that the SIFA includes important aspects of the practical implementation of investments - such as transparency and predictability of investments, streamlining of approval procedures, establishment for focal points of interested investors, procedures for dispute avoidance and resolution; stresses that the SIFA rightfully does not include provisions on investment protection; calls on the SADC EPA member states to consider whether a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement should complement the EPA; calls on the SADC EPA Member States to enter into negotiations on this issue, if necessary;
Amendment 113 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Welcomes the Strategic Partnership with Namibia, which aims to build renewable hydrogen development and critical raw material value chains; recalls the need of developing necessary infrastructure, such as renewable energy facilities, transportation networks, and research centres, to facilitate the production and distribution of renewable hydrogen;
Amendment 114 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Emphasizes the substantial economic and climate policy opportunities presented by the collaborative initiative involving two private companies and the Namibian state, known as 'Hyphen Hydrogen Energy,' aimed at producing green hydrogen in Namibia; anticipates that this venture not only has the potential to fulfil Namibia's hydrogen needs but can also cater to the demands of other Southern African states and EU Member States; expects the project to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its scale and implementation;
Amendment 115 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 11 a (new)
Subheading 11 a (new)
Calls in this context for the establishment of knowledge-sharing platforms and research networks to facilitate the exchange of best practices, experience and innovative solutions between Member States; considers it useful to extend technological cooperation to other fields;
Amendment 123 #
2023/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Welcomes the efforts made within the EU-South Africa Strategic Partnership to build a vaccine production infrastructure, stresses that these must contain the production of Covid-19 vaccines;
Amendment 9 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
Amendment 10 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 19 May 2022 on the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine – reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act (2022/2653(RSP)),
Amendment 11 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
– having regard to the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Amendment 12 #
2023/2064(INI)
– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 14 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, according to the June 2023 Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections, the growth of the euro area economy is expected to slow down from 3.5 % in 2022 to 0.9 % in 2023, before rebounding to 1.5 % in 2024 ; whereas, according to a Eurostat flash estimate, the euro area grew by just 0.6 % in 2023; whereas this represents the worst performance since the recession of 2020;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, according to the June 2023 Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections for the euro area, headline inflation is expected to average 5.4 % in 2023, 3.0 % in 2024 and 2.2 % in 2025, despite falling energy prices and easing supply bottlenecks; whereas core inflation has been more persistent, with an inhile decreaseing to 5.54.3 % in JuneSeptember 2023, and is projected to overtake headline inflation in the near term and to remain above it until early 2024, mainly owing to strong wage growth;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the ECB’s primary objective isand secondary objectives are, respectively, to maintain price stability, which it has defined as 2 % inflation over the medium term, and to support the general economic policies in the Union, which include full employment, social progress and environmental protection; whereas the ECB’s mandate, as defined by its objectives, is laid down in Article 127 TFEU and thus legally binding;
Amendment 49 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the role of the ECB in safeguarding euro stability; underlines that the statutory independence of the ECB, as laid down in the Treaties, is a prerequisite for it to fulfil its mandate of maintaining price stability, and that its concomitant accountability is important in the fulfilment of its primary and secondary mandates;
Amendment 56 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that price stability is a prerequisite for the ECB to deliver on its mandate to support the EU’s general economic policies, such as the green and digital transitions; stresses that price stability is essential for attracting long term investments; emphasizes that, by the same token, the ECB must take account of environmental, social and economic sustainability goals in line with its secondary mandate;
Amendment 66 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Fears that, without properly delivering on its mandate of maintaining price stability, the ECB risks losing its legitimaccredibility;
Amendment 71 #
2023/2064(INI)
4. Is deeply worried about the persistently high inflation rates, especially core inflation rates, and their detrimental impact on competitiveness, investments, job creation and the purchasing power of consumers; recalls that quantitative inflation targets are to be met over a medium-term horizon; calls, therefore, on the ECB to reflect on and guide its decision-making process in relation to the size and speed of increases in interest rates in line with a medium-term orientation; underlines the need for the ECB to provide information in regards to the monitoring and setting of the neutral interest rate;
Amendment 77 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses concern about the high levels of debt and government deficits within the Member States and the risks that this entails; notes that the situation is worse urges a swift outcome of the Commission’s legislative proposals on revising the euro area EU’s economic governance rules, which seek to strengthaen in non-euro area Member States; looks forward to the outcome of the Commission’s legislative proposals on revising the EU’s economic governance rules and welcomes the ECB’s opinion in this regardpublic debt sustainability and foresee the permanent mobilisation of resources for investments and financing of European structural and social policies, and welcomes the ECB’s opinion in this regard; recalls that said revision of the current economic governance framework must provide the EU with stable, transparent, reasonable and flexible rules that could be implemented and respected by all Member States with the due democratic accountability;
Amendment 84 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. RegretDenounces Russia’s unprovoked invasion and ongoing aggression against Ukraine; agrees with member of the Executive Board Isabel Schnabel on the risk the war entails in terms of negative supply side shocks; is deeply concerned about its enduring, unpredictable and severe repercussions for the European economy and society, particularly for the most exposed and vulnerable groups, such as lower-income households and SMEs;
Amendment 93 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights that not only do persistent high levels of inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine and high levels of debt in the Member States threaten the competitiveness of the European economy, and thus the international role of the euro as well, but also the upward price pressure following the implementation of the European Green Deal, the rise of fragmentation and protectionism in global trade, and an impending subsidy race between states;
Amendment 101 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Echoes President Lagarde’s warning that fiscal support should be targeted and limited and should not hinder the task of monetary policy; points out thatnotes, nevertheless, the limited influence of traditional monetary policy tools in tackling inflation that is mainly supply- driven; highlights the consequent need for a closer coordination between fiscal, budgetary, monetary and structural policies as a means to maintain price stability and support the most exposed and vulnerable groups; commends the efforts that Member States' governments, as well as the Commission, canundertake to support citizens and industries not only through fiscal measures, but also by focusing on growth-enhancing reforms; prompts the ECB to respond to the ongoing crisis and tackle its social, economic and financial impacts with bold and forward-looking solutions on monetary policy that are conducive to sustainable and inclusive growth, along with broader coordination with fiscal policy at EU and national levels;
Amendment 107 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that according to the most recent economic forecast, the Euro Area economy is expected to growth much less than what was predicted last spring, while there is a certain inertia in the price level; emphasizes that, as a consequence, the so- called “sacrifice ratio” to bring inflation back to 2% is becoming higher than the it was expected some time ago; recognizes that inflation is a painful and harmful phenomenon, and that ECB is using every tools at its disposal to cope with that; underlines, however, that social tensions, economic crisis and political instability are also equally dangerous for the future of the Union; warns that inflation, social, economic and political tensions might feed each other and could create a dangerous spiral; calls for a proper assessment on how to make the fight against inflation economically, socially and politically sustainable, and therefore possible.
Amendment 109 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises the ineptness of conventional monetary policy alone in achieving price stability, sustainable growth and financial resilience, especially in consideration of the limited influence of monetary policy tools in tackling inflation that is mainly supply-driven; highlights the key role of supportive and discretionary fiscal policy and socially balanced and productivity-enhancing reforms and investments in this regard; calls for closer and more strategic coordination between fiscal, monetary and structural policies;
Amendment 120 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that headline inflation has come down from 8.4 % in 2022 to 5.4 % in 2023, mainly driven by lower energy prices and the easing of supply bottlenecks; observes, however, that inflation remains well above the target level of 2 %; is concerned about second-round effects and implications for growth and employment, as well as the extraordinary burden placed on lower-income strata;
Amendment 127 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Expresses its uneasiness with the persistently high rate of core inflation; understands that wage growth is expected to remain more than double its historical average, driven by inflation compensation and the tight labour market; encourages the ECB, furthermore, to look into and report on the inflationary effect of the green transition;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Fully supports President Lagarde’s statement on fighting inflation for as long as necessary; applauds President Lagarde’s plea for humility and to regularly update the ECB’s models; invites the ECB, however, to fundamentally review its models and their role in its policymaking, while emphasising that monetary policy normalisation cannot be achieved at any cost and by itself, but rather by converging towards a closer coordination between fiscal, monetary and structural policies; applauds President Lagarde’s plea for humility and to regularly update the ECB’s models; invites the ECB, however, to fundamentally review its models and their role in its policymaking, taking into account the lessons learned from the ongoing and previous crises and the challenges posed to monetary policy-making, especially when disruptive supply-side driven inflation is concerned;
Amendment 150 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Trusts that the ECB will deliver on its mandate to safeguard price stability; notes that real interest rates are still negative; is deeply concerned about the implications of increasingly higher interest rates for strategic and sustainable investments; calls on the ECB to ponder the feasibility of applying differentiated rates to tilt investment patterns away from brown technology and support investments that contribute most to reducing inflationary pressures such as those in energy efficiency and renewables;
Amendment 155 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the inflation target level of 2 % in the medium term; observes that inflation has, thus far, either been well below or far above this target level; questions the scientific evidence for this 2 % target level, as well as the meaning of ‘medium term’; invitesalso takes note that inflation is on a downward trend, nearing the ECB's medium-term objective; reflects on the commitment to symmetry, if price stability is best maintained by aiming at this 2 % target level; calls on the ECB to look into a more qualitative approach to price stability;
Amendment 165 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Supports the ECB’s decision to scale back its asset-purchasing programmes, in view of the excess liquidity in the market; notwelcomes the ECB’s announcement to decarbonise its corporate bond holdings by ‘tilting’ its portfolio; stresses the importance of the quality of the collateral;
Amendment 192 #
2023/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines that climate change and extreme weather phenomena could lead to greater variability in prices, especially in the agri-food sector; notes that sudden tightening conditions on the supply side might become very frequent, leading to new inflationary episodes in the coming years; emphasizes that this is an issue that evidently poses serious difficulties for the ECB, which have adequate tools to stabilize demand-driven inflation, but can do little when price instability is mainly due to variations in supply conditions; expresses concern that the Union do not have a proper toolkit to deal with such episodes.
Amendment 22 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas rising corporate profits account for almost halftwo-thirds of the increase in inflation in the EU over the past two years, as companies increased prices by more than the spiking costs of imported energy;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU Member States rely disproportionately on labour income taxes, social contributions and indirect taxes, such as the value added tax (VAT); whereas labour taxation remains substantial across the European Union, tax rates on corporate profits have plummeted by more than half since the 1980s, according to OECD and European Commission statistics;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas concerns have been raised about the potential double taxation of Ukrainian refugees who continue to perform their duties for their Ukrainian employer while working remotely from their host countries and about the lack of a common EU approach on this matter; whereas double taxation in general remains a problem for all involuntarily displaced individuals affected by double taxation, and hence should be tackled jointly by a common EU approach;
Amendment 57 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the number of private jet flights in Europe increased by 64 % between 2021 and 2022; whereas carbon- dioxide emissions from private flights more than doubled in that period; whereas wealthy individuals rely at a far higher rate on private jets, causing disproportionately higher carbon dioxide emissions;
Amendment 77 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe economic impact on every national account across the European Union, notes that Members States are still confronted with significant imbalances in state revenue; notes that such imbalances can partially be corrected by raising adequate revenues;
Amendment 89 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. ObservNotes that price levels have risen by 11% since the beginning of 2022 due to inflation shocks 1a ; notes with concern that inflation has been partially driven by companies increasing their profit margins, with, for example, Maersk’s annual pre- tax income soaring from USD 967 million in 2019 to USD 30.2 billion in 2022; driven mainly by increases in corporate profit margins, as unit profits accounted for around two- thirds of inflation in 2022, according to the European Central Bank 2a; considers that wage increases will be necessary to compensate for the loss of purchasing power of workers in the EU and stresses that fiscal measures should accompany companies in order to absorb wage increases through corporate profits; _________________ 1a Elke Hahn (2023)How have unit profits contributed to the recent strengthening of euro area domestic price pressures? ECB Economic Bulletin, Issue 4/2023 and Speech by ECB President, Sintra https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/key/date/ 2023/html/ecb.sp230627~b8694e47c8.en. html] 2a Niels-Jakob Hansen, Frederik Toscani, Jing Zhou (2023) Europe’s Inflation Outlook Depends on How Corporate Profits Absorb Wage Gains, International Monetary Fund Blog https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/202 3/06/26/europes-inflation-outlook- depends-on-how-corporate-profits- absorb-wage-gains
Amendment 97 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the fact that that MNEs that realismake excessive profits in times of crisis and wealthy individuals who realise significantmake substantial capital gains through speculation are often undertaxed; taxed unduly; notes that of EUR 100 created in the EU economy between 2020 and 2021, EUR 44 will go to the richest 1% and EUR 9.60 to the bottom 90% 3a; _________________ 3a Oxfam (2023) Survival of the Richest. https://oi-files-d8-prod.s3.eu-west- 2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023- 01/Survival%20of%20the%20richest- Methodology%20note.pdf]
Amendment 102 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that the impact of temporary VAT reductions for end consumers was limited and was more pronounced for companies that increased their profit margins because of these reductions; notes that the findings of a recent study, which examined the pass- through of a VAT reduction in the electricity sector, indicate that VAT reductions can be fully transferred to energy prices when the energy sector is highly regulated and the structure of the sector is highly competitive yet only involving a small number of stakeholders 4a ; however highlights that VAT rate cuts do not guarantee a consumer price cut of the same extent while pass-through of tax cuts into consumer prices, notably VAT, may be lower in times of constrained supply 5a; also notes that VAT cuts imply direct loss of revenues which can translate into supplementary budgetary constraints that might prevent tackling shocks and crisis such as a surge in inflation or climate change; _________________ 4a Jean Hindriks, Valerio Serse (2022) The incidence of VAT reforms in electricity markets: Evidence from Belgium, International Journal of Industrial Organization, Volume 80 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti cle/pii/S0167718721001016 5a Van Dender, K., Elgouacem, A., Prentice, A. C., Matteo, M., Belgroun, H., & Garsous, G. (2022) Why governments should target support amidst high energy prices, https://www.oecd.org/ukraine- hub/policy-responses/why-governments- should-target-support-amidst-high- energy-prices-40f44f78/
Amendment 107 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that since the start of the energy crisis in September 2021, EUR 646 billion has been allocated and earmarked across Member States to shield consumers from the rising energy costs, of which €265 billion has been earmarked by Germany alone6a; highlights that Member States have prioritised untargeted measures on prices, such as cuts to excise duties and VAT, compared to targeted income-support measures which have proven more direct efficiency; _________________ 6a Sgaravatti, G., S. Tagliapietra, C. Trasi and G. Zachmann (2021) National policies to shield consumers from rising energy prices’, Bruegel Datasets, first published 4 November 2021, available at https://www.bruegel.org/dataset/national- policies-shield-consumers-rising-energy- prices
Amendment 108 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Alerts on the fairness concerns that may arise from tax cuts benefiting to fossils fuels which could translate into increasing the profit margins of fossil fuel and extractive large companies in times where vulnerable households may need more direct and targeted support; recalls its support to the temporary solidarity contribution for the fossil fuel sector as established by Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices;
Amendment 115 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 116 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States to consider the ‘COVID-19 precedent’ for the taxation of cross-border workersRecognises the particular challenges that the rise of cross-border teleworking poses to the international taxation systems of today, in particular for the taxation of wages and the taxation of company profits 9a; support the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) when it highlights that a cross-border teleworking employee could be faced with double taxation on their income, resulting in lengthy and costly disputes between an employee and Member States' tax authorities; highlights the ‘COVID-19 precedent’ for the taxation of cross-border workers while in an emergency situation, solutions had to be found to enable workers to continue working and to maintain their monthly income; considers that, as regards the tax treatment of Ukrainian refugees encompasses similar features, which would entail disregarding the notably as regards the additional days spent in the host country for the calculation of the 183-day rule; recommends that the Member States’ national tax authorities offer tax guidance to refugees and reduce administrative complications; considers that common guidance would help decrease such complication, therefore calls on the Council to tackle this issue; _________________ 9a EESC (2022) Taxation of cross-border teleworkers and their employers, ECO/585-EESC-2022-00408 2022
Amendment 120 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 129 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to launch a comprehensive evaluation followed by an action plan on important areas for reform in order to strengthen the resilience of Member States’ tax systems by making them progressive, future and crisis proof, including through the simplification of their national tax systems; calls for the Commission to come forward with a tax proposal under Article 116 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to solve specific tax distortions in the Member States; and recalls the mission letter addressed to the Commissioner for Economy by the Commission President to make ‘full use of the clauses in the Treaties that allow proposals on taxation to be adopted by co-decision and qualified majority voting;
Amendment 136 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to assess the effectiveness of the temporary VAT reductions applied in Member States and to take measures if deemed necessary; calls on the Commission to issue guidance on the best tools to provide targeted income support to vulnerable households without creating distortions within the Union; calls on the Commission to assess the efficiency of VAT cash back systems and the feasibility of replacing VAT exemptions and reduced rates with VAT returned in real time to vulnerable households;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recognises that tax incentives are tools at the disposal of governments to support a variety of goals, including fostering investments, addressing externalities and curbing behaviour; alerts on the fact that such tax incentives can be costly, and if poorly designed, may fail to achieve their intended goals, lead to windfall gains for investors, and compromise public finances; therefore calls on the Commission to produce guidelines on how to design fair and transparent tax incentives while preventing a market distortion; calls on the Member States to favour incentives that are expenditure-based, limited in time, regularly assessed, and repealed in case of no positive impact, limited in geographical scope and rather partial than full exemptions; considers that all incentives should aim at fostering equality between and within countries as well as the green and digital transformation;
Amendment 143 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Highlights that the OECD/G20 Pillars, introducing a global minimum effective tax rate for large multinationals, will limit the scope of tax reduction incentives and increase global corporate tax collections, create fiscal space for governments, place limits on tax competition and contribute to reducing Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) activity; however notes that such minimum tax rate is not applicable to companies having a yearly turnover below EUR 750 million; deplores the recent guidance of the OECD expanding the scope of qualifying tax credits, increasing the risks of a tax credits race and revenues losses 12a; _________________ 12a OECD (2023) Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy – Administrative Guidance on the Global Anti Base Erosion Model Rules (Pillar Two)
Amendment 145 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights that environmental taxes and well-designed incentives have the potential to both cover the need for additional revenues and support a carbon- free economy; calls on the Member States to finally agree on the proposed revision of the Energy Taxation Directive11 ; _________________ 11 Commission proposal of 14 July 2021 for a Council directive restructuring the Union framework for the taxatrecommends to pay due attention to the cost borne by vulnerable households, who emit less greenhouse gas and to prioritise access to incentives to them so they can benefit from access to cleaner energy and save costs by lowering energy consumption; calls on the Member States to finally agree on the proposed revision of ethe Energy products and electricity (COM(2021)0563).Taxation Directive[11];
Amendment 155 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that income inequality has increased in the last 30 years, with wealth being even more concentrated than income and capital gains being mostly realised by the top decile of the population; considers that the Member States should more effectively redistribute income and wealth through the taxation of capital gains, property and wealth; supports calls to start international-level negotiations to establish a progressive wealth tax, in the same vein as the OECD/G20 global tax deal for corporations; recalls its demand to the Commission and the Member States to take the lead in the OECD, and in particular in the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework, to create a level playing field in taxation of capital gains and to limit harmful tax practices aimed at attracting foreign-earned income, wealth and assets;
Amendment 162 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the registration of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) on ‘Taxing great wealth to finance the ecological and social transition' on the basis of Article 115 TFEU; highlights that in its decision for registration, the Commission acknowledged that the request does not fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties13a; _________________ 13a Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1487 of 11 July 2023 on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Taxing great wealth to finance the ecological and social transition’ https://eur- lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?pk_campaign=todays_ OJ&pk_cid=EURLEX_todaysOJ&pk_con tent=Other&pk_keyword=Citizen+initiativ e+&pk_medium=TW&pk_source=EURL EX&uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.182.01.0 197.01.ENG ]
Amendment 165 #
2023/2058(INI)
13b. Calls on the Commission to consider submitting a proposal for a solidarity levy on great levels of wealth to provide for funding to mitigate the great challenges of our times, notably the upward social convergence, including equality between men and women, the fight against climate change and the sustainable development of developing economies;
Amendment 167 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Amendment 168 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Notes that inflationary shocks can indirectly increase the level of personal income tax in real terms considering that tax brackets are set in nominal terms (hidden taxation); calls on all Member States to automatically adjust personal income tax brackets to inflation to ensure the level of taxation remains constant if there is no political decision to change the level of taxation
Amendment 180 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 181 #
2023/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Notes, in addition to the increased share of profit units contributing to domestic inflation, the growing repurchase of corporate stock (share buyback) in the Union; notes that the US Inflation Reduction Act foresees a tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of any stock of the corporation which is repurchased by such corporation during the taxable year and that it is expected to generate $79bn in ten years; calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of a similar excise duty for the Union to disincentives the growing phenomenon of share buybacks that rewards shareholders instead of fostering new investments;
Amendment 5 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the extraction of raw materials is often linked to environmental pollution, destruction of nature and the violation of ILO standards and human rights;
Amendment 6 #
2023/2031(INI)
Ab. whereas developing countries largely function as exporters of unprocessed raw materials and the value creation is concentrated in economically developed countries;
Amendment 7 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas a transport and digital infrastructure is needed to develop regional value chains and to become increasingly included in global value chains;
Amendment 12 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas raw materials exporting developing countries are heavily dependent on tax revenues from the export of raw materials;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas commodity price volatility during the Covid 19 pandemic caused severe economic damage to developing countries dependent on the tax revenues from extractive industries;
Amendment 15 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas a diversified economy makes developing countries more resilient to external shocks;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas the aspirations of the European Green Deal and the transformation of the global economy holds momentum to mobilize investments in the mineral rich developing countries needed for the green transition;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas the green transition presents the potential to be a generator of quality and green jobs that can contribute significantly to poverty eradication and social inclusion both in advanced and in developing countries
Amendment 18 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas the pre-COVID-19 USD 2.5 trillion annual SDG financing gap corresponds to about USD 500 billion for low-income countries and USD 2 trillion for other developing countries;
Amendment 19 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas the investment gap in developing countries amount to 4.2 trillion US$ per year in order to reach the SDG goals;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
Bh. whereas negotiations on Sustainable Investment Facilitation for Development are being held at WTO level;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B i (new)
Recital B i (new)
Bi. whereas these negotiations include more than 70 developing countries, among them 20 LDCs;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B j (new)
Recital B j (new)
Bj. whereas developing countries are often facing constraints in their governmental capabilities and a lack of provided information to comply with EU standards, and other requirements regarding Green Deal initiatives and upcoming EU legislation such as, but not limited to, Due Diligence, Forced labour, Deforestation and CBAM;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to establish mutually beneficial climate partnerships with developing countries that place people- centred and environment-centred development at the heart of its objectives and all operational policy frameworks;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Commission to engage further into bilateral Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreements with countries who are willing to transition;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls on the Commission, Member States and partner countries to ensure that these climate partnerships and Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreements align with the national determined contributions of the partner countries;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while facilitating investments, there is no race to the bottom in subsidies in partner countries, leading to a lowering of ILO and environmental standards;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reiterates that regional value chains and the strengthening of intra- regional trade has a positive effect on surrounding countries and strengthens their resilience especially during external shocks;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the EU to facilitate public investments in hard and soft infrastructure with the lowest possible adverse environmental impact;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to convene information exchanges involving the private sector, civil society, trade unions and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure that EU requirements are met;
Amendment 38 #
2023/2031(INI)
2d. Calls on the Commission to better coordinate national export credit agencies in order to align their performances with priorities of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 44 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that in order for developing countries to achieve the SDGs, capacity building measures in regards to governance, legal, and fiscal capacity is urgently needed;
Amendment 45 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Urges the Commission to extend their efforts in the support for capacity building with partner countries;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Calls on the Commission and Member States to provide wide-ranging information to partner countries including technological transfer and extensive information on the requirements that the Green Deal projects and upcoming EU legislation entail;
Amendment 47 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Reiterates that flexible transitional arrangements are needed for developing countries to comply with these requirements;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2031(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that when selecting and supporting Global Gateway projects, social dialogue needs to be an integral part of the institutional framework for policy-making and implementation at all levels;
Amendment 132 #
2023/0321(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Considering that the BEFIT proposal would allow for cross-border loss relief between BEFIT group members, the Commission and the Member States should ensure the coherence and alignment with the OECD/G20 Model Rules and the Directive (EU) 2022/2523, notably concerning the calculation of the effective tax rate on a country-by-country basis, which could be undermined by the cross-border loss relief. This dimension should be assessed in the revision of the directive as foreseen in Article 77.
Amendment 236 #
2023/0321(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The Commission may adopt acts laying down temporary rules regarding accelerated depreciation for the cost of eligible assets and improvements to existing assets which qualifies as environmentally sustainable within the meaning of Regulation 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment. Those delegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 74 (2).
Amendment 370 #
2023/0321(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 74 – paragraph 2
Article 74 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 2(8) and 14(3, 14(3) and 22 (5a) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period starting on [the date of entry into force of this Directive].
Amendment 42 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The variety of ways for doing business in the internal market requires different solutions for different businesses when it comes to tackling the current challenges posed by their cross-border operations. For smaller businesses which are not part of a group, it is more difficult to expand cross-border than for larger businesses. It is thus more burdensome for those smaller businesses to grapple with complex procedures and high compliance costs. It is therefore evident that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, at the initial stages of expansion, need a solution such as a simplified mechanism for the computation of their taxable result when they operate across the border exclusively by way of permanent establishments or a maximum of one subsidiary. Transparency is essential for the smooth functioning of the Single Market.
Amendment 44 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3 a) Combatting fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance are overriding political priorities, as aggressive tax planning practices are unacceptable from the point of view of the integrity of the internal market and social justice.
Amendment 47 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) Equality of tax treatment for all, and in particular for all undertakings, is a sine qua non for the single market. A coordinated and harmonised approach to the implementation of national tax systems is vital for the proper functioning of the single market, and would contribute to preventing tax avoidance and profit shifting
Amendment 48 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4 b) A fair and effective corporate tax system should respond to the urgent need for a progressive and fair global tax policy, promote the redistribution of wealth and combat inequalities.
Amendment 50 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To prevent abusive tax practices, robust and specific anti-tax abuse rules are designed, for example to address the tax avoidance risks associated with transferring the tax residence of an SME, and thus to avoid that the location of the head office is determined on the basis of tax motives. Such anti abuse measures are based on quantitative requirements to avoid artificial transfers of profits. Accordingly, it would be necessary to monitor the evolution of the turnover attributed to the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary in order to maintain their operations as secondary to the main activity which should be carried out by the head office. In this way, the rules would not risk being misused by setting up empty head offices while the bulk of business activities takes place abroad. In the same vein, the eligibility to the tax simplification system as well as the termination and renewal of the option should be subject to strict conditions. Such conditions should be coupled with requirements relating to the turnover of the head office as compared to that of the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary. The aim would be to further underline that the business operated through the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary can merely be an extension of the main activity of the head office. Additionally, once the option is made to apply the tax simplification framework, it should have an obligatory duration, to prevent situations where the residence of the head office is frequently moved to take advantage of occasional and short-term tax beneficial situations.
Amendment 51 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) Considering that the Head Office Tax system is meant to facilitate the expansion and development of the activity of firms in other Member States, such system should be made available for a limited period of time and the renewal to opt in should be limited to once. After a period of 10 years, firms would have the possibility to rely on other paneuropean tools such as the Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation, which provides for a common rulebook for corporate income tax across Member States.
Amendment 53 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) International shipping is a specific sector of activity subject to special tax regimes in several Member States. Those regimes mostly consist of computing the tax base on the basis of the tonnage (i.e. the carrying capacity) of the operated ships rather than on the basis of actual profits or losses incurred by the company. On this premise, SMEs that derive income from shipping activities covered by a tonnage tax regime should be excluded from opting in the SME simplification rules in respect of such income attributed to a permanent establishment or the subsidiary. This exclusion would avoid additional complication, which would be expected to arise from the interaction between the SME tax simplification framework and tonnage tax regimes. In addition, such a potential complication would appear disproportionate, considering the absence of such special tax regimes in some Member States. No other sectors of activityactivity than the one covered by the tonnage tax regime would be excluded from the scope of the Directive.
Amendment 67 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) they operate in other Member States exclusively through one or more permanent establishments and/or one subsidiary;
Amendment 70 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. This Directive shall not affect the right of the Member State where a permanent establishment or the subsidiary is situated to determine the applicable tax rate, nor the applicability of bilateral conventions for the avoidance of double taxation, or the rules on the social protection of workers in the Member State of the permanent establishment.
Amendment 72 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1 a) ‘subsidiary’ means an undertaking in another Member State which is wholly- owned and controlled by the head office of an SME;
Amendment 84 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) it has been resident for tax purposes in the head office Member State during the last two fiscal years or since the creation of the head office;
Amendment 88 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. If the head office opts to apply the head office taxation rules in accordance with paragraph 1, it shall apply those rules to all its permanent establishments and/or subsidiairy in other Member States. If it creates a new permanent establishment in another Member State, it shall apply head office taxation rules to such permanent establishment from the moment of its establishment. If it creates a first subsidiary, in another Member State, it shall apply head office taxation rules to such subsidiary from the moment of its establishment
Amendment 91 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Where the head office derives income from shipping activities and this income is subject in the head office Member State to a tonnage tax regime, such head office shall be excluded from applying the head office taxation rules in respect of its permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary in other Member States to the extent that these derive income from shipping activities.
Amendment 93 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The head office which opts to apply the head office taxation rules to its permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary shall notify its choice to the filing authority, together with the name of the host Member State(s). The notification shall be made at least three months before the end of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which that SME wishes to start applying the head office taxation rules.
Amendment 96 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
If the eligibility requirements are met, the filing authority shall inform the tax authorities of the host Member States within two months of the notification referred to in paragraph 1 that the taxable result of the relevant permanent establishments and/or the relevant subsidiary shall be computed in accordance with the head office taxation rules as of the following fiscal year, as applied in the head office Member State. The tax authority of the host Member State(s) shall communicate to the filing Authority the applicable tax rate.
Amendment 102 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4
If the filing authority concludes that the eligibility requirements are not met, it shall inform the head office within twoone months of the notification referred to in paragraph 1 and the head office may appeal against it in accordance with the national law.
Amendment 104 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. Where a host Member State concludes that the presence of an SME in its territory qualifies as a permanent establishment or a subsidiairy, it shall inform the filing authority. Upon that information, the filing authority shall inform the competent tax authority of the host Member State on whether the head office applies the head office taxation rules in respect of its permanent establishments or the subsidiary.
Amendment 106 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The head office that has opted to apply head office taxation rules to its permanent establishments and/or the subsidiairy in one or more host Member States shall apply those rules for a period of five fiscal years, renewable once.
Amendment 110 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. At the end of the period referred to in paragraph 1, the head office taxation rules shall cease to apply in respect of the permanent establishments situated in the host Member States, unless the head office notifies to the filing authority its option to renew the application of the head office taxation rules, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 9, for another 5 years.
Amendment 116 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) for the last two fiscal years, the joint turnover of its permanent establishments and/or the subsidiary exceeded an amount which is equal to tripdouble the turnover of the head office.
Amendment 125 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. If the head office wishes to renew its option for another 5 years, it shall notify the filing authority thereof at least six months before the end of the period referred to in Article 7(1) and shall list the names of the host Member States. The filing authority shall verify whether the SME continues to meet the eligibility requirements set out in Article 4.
Amendment 132 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) for any two fiscal years taken separately, the joint turnover of the permanent establishments and/or the subsidiairy exceeded an amount which is equal to double the turnover of the Head Office;
Amendment 134 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the SME set up one or mormore that one subsidiariesy within or outside the Union;
Amendment 139 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the tax liability of the SME with regard to the taxable result of each permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy in other Member States. The tax liability shall be computed by applying the national tax rate of the respective host Member State to the taxable result, as it was computed in accordance with the head office taxation rules.
Amendment 141 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) assets and liabilities attributed to the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiairy;
Amendment 143 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) profits attributable to the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiairy in other Member States.
Amendment 144 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) a draft tax assessment notice for each permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy.
Amendment 145 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) a draft tax assessment notice for the relevant permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiairy;
Amendment 146 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 8
Article 11 – paragraph 8
8. If the tax authority of the host Member State rejects the draft tax assessment notice, it shall revise this draft tax assessment in connection with the attribution of profits to the permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy in accordance with the provisions laid down in the applicable bilateral convention for the avoidance of double taxation between the host and head office Member States. After the attribution of profits to the permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy has been revised and communicated to the filing authority in accordance with Article 8ae of Directive 2011/16/EU, the filing authority shall re- compute the taxable result in accordance with the taxation rules of the head office Member State, and a revised tax assessment shall be issued by this Member State. The taxpayer shall be entitled to appeal against this revised tax assessment before the courts of the head office Member State. Any dispute concerning the amount of profits attributable to the permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy shall be settled in accordance with the applicable bilateral convention for the avoidance of double taxation, or the provisions set out in Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852 of 10 October 2017 17 . _________________ 17 Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852 of 10 October 2017 on tax dispute resolution mechanisms in the European Union (OJ L 265, 14.10.2017, p. 1–14).
Amendment 147 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 9
Article 11 – paragraph 9
9. Where, under the tax rules of the host Member State, certain expenses associated with the employees of the permanent establishment and/or the subsidiairy are deductible for tax purposes insofar as the respective amounts are taxed at the level of the employee or are subject to social security charges, and there is no similar tax treatment in the head office Member State allowing for such deduction, the head office and host Member States shall -,with the guidance of the Commission, take appropriate measures to prevent possible mismatches.
Amendment 148 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down guidance on appropriate measures regarding mismatches as referred to paragraph 8. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 15.
Amendment 149 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – title
Article 12 – title
Collection of tax due by the permanent establishment(s)and/or the subsidiary in the host Member State(s)
Amendment 151 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. The head office shall settle, through the filing authority, the income tax liabilities with regard to both its taxable result and the taxable result of its permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary in the host Member State(s).
Amendment 152 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The filing authority shall collect the tax corresponding to the tax liability of each permanent establishment and/or the subsidiary of the head office in the Union, apply the tax rate the respective host Member State and transfer the relevant amount to the competent authority of the respective host Member State.
Amendment 154 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the practical arrangements necessary to ensure the collection and transfer of the tax corresponding to the tax liability of the permanent establishment(s) and/or the subsidiary from the head office Member State to the host Member State. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 15.
Amendment 159 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. The tax authority of the host Member State may request that an audit be carried out jointly with the filing authority covering the computation of the taxable result of the permanent establishment or the subsidiairy in accordance with the head office taxation rules, the attribution of profits to the permanent establishment and/or the profits to the subsidiary and/or the applicable tax rate. Joint audits shall be conducted in accordance with Council Directive 2011/16/EU18 . Notwithstanding the provisions in the aforementioned Directive, the requested competent authority shall accept such request by the authorities of the host Member State. _________________ 18 Council Directive 2011/16/EU of 15 February 2011 on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation and repealing Directive 77/799/EEC (OJ L 64, 11.3.2011, p. 1)
Amendment 161 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ae
Article 8ae
1. If a head office as defined in Article 3, point (2), of Directive on establishing a Head Office taxation rules for micro, small and medium sized enterprises20 , which opts to apply the head office taxation rules to its permanent establishment(s) and/or its subsidiary in accordance with Article 6 of that, meets the eligibility requirements for applying such rules, the competent authority of the Member State of the head office shall by means of automatic exchange of information communicate to the competent authority of the Member State of the permanent establishment or the subsidiary that the taxable result of the relevant permanent establishment or subsidiary is to be computed in accordance with the head office taxation rules. Such communication shall take place within two months from the notification by the Head Office of its option to apply head office taxation rules. _________________ 20 Directive…[OJ: Please insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive].
Amendment 162 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ae
Article 8ae
2. The competent authority of the Member State of the permanent establishment or the subsidiary shall communicate to the competent authority of the Member State of the head office the tax rate applicable for the purpose of determining the tax liability of the permanent establishment(s) or the subsidiary situated on its territory, within three months from the notification by the competent authority of the Member State of the head office of the decision on the application of the head office taxation rules.
Amendment 163 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ae
Article 8ae
3. The competent authority of the Member State of the head office shall by means of automatic exchange of information communicate the information specified in paragraph 2 of this Article to the competent authority(ies) of the Member State(s) of the permanent establishment(s) or the subsidiary in accordance with the practical arrangements adopted pursuant to Article 21.
Amendment 164 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ae
Article 8ae
(iii) a draft tax assessment notice for the relevant permanent establishment(s)/subsidiary;
Amendment 165 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ae
Article 8ae
6. Where the tax authority of the Member State of the permanent establishment(s) or subsidiary revises the draft tax assessment notice in connection with the attribution of profits to the permanent establishment or subsidiaryin accordance with the provisions laid down in the applicable bilateral convention for the avoidance of double taxation between the host and head office Member States, after rejection of the draft tax assessment notice issued by the head office Member State, the competent authority of the Member State of the permanent establishment(s) or subsidiairy shall communicate such revised tax assessment notice to the competent authority of the Member State of the head office, within one month from its issuance, for the purpose of re-computing the taxable result of the permanent establishment or subsidiairy, issuance of a revised tax assessment and collecting the tax.
Amendment 166 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Information, including personal data, processed in accordance with this Directive shall be retained only as long as necessary to achieve the purposes of this Directive, in particular, verification of eligibility requirements and determination of the tax liability of the taxpayers, in accordance with each data controller’s domestic rules on the statute of limitations, but in any case no longer than tfifteen years.
Amendment 171 #
2023/0320(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission relevant information for the evaluation of the Directive, in accordance with paragraph 3, including aggregated data regarding the number of eligible SMEs compared to SMEs that opted in, their turnover and compliance costs relative to turnover; data on the number of SMEs that expanded cross- border by setting up a permanent establishment and the number of SMEs that disqualified due to creating a/owning more than one subsidiary, or the compliance costs for SMEs that apply the option.
Amendment 163 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to better take into account the growing heterogeneity of fiscal positions, public debt and massive investment challenges and other vulnerabilities across Member States. The strong policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially through the RRF instrument, proved highly effective in mitigating the economic and social damage of the crisis, but the crisis resulted in a significant increase in public- and private-sector debt ratios, underscoring the importance of reducing debt ratios to prudent levels in a gradual, sustained and growth-friendly manner and addressing macroeconomic imbalances, while paying due attention to employment and social objectives. At the same time, the economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to help address the medium- and long-term challenges facing the Union including achieving athe massive investment needs to achieve a socially-just and fair digital and green transition, including the Climate Law22 , ensuring energy security, open strategic autonomy, addressing demographic change, strengthening social and economic resilience and implementing the strategic compass for security and defence, all of which requires reforms and sustained high levels of public and private investment in the years to come. _________________ 22 The European Climate Law sets a Union-wide climate neutrality objective by 2050 and requires Union institutions and Member States to progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, requiring significant public investment to reduce the negative socio-economic impacts of climate change on the EU and its Member States, including negative impacts on growth and fiscal sustainability.
Amendment 167 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) The economic governance framework of the Union should in future be complemented by a permanent investment facility, to enhance macroeconomic stabilisation and convergence in the euro area, including providing investment support for Member States with restricted fiscal space to achieve the Union's priorities. The capacity should have a volume of around 1% of the European GDP and allocate grants fro investment analogue to the RRF, financed by EU bonds and new own resources. A political agreement should be reached in a manner that allows the new capacity to succeed seamlessly to the Recovery and Resilience Facility to ensure continuity in funding.
Amendment 198 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) A Member State's debt level is only sustainable if this Member State is sufficiently protected from the risk of climate change. As such green debt in the form of European Green Bonds issued in accordance with the Regulation on European Green Bonds should be encouraged by excluding such debt from net expenditure calculation in the control account.
Amendment 206 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The presentation of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan should be preceded by a technical dialogue with the Commission to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Regulation. On the basis of a recommendation from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council should set the net expenditure path and endorse the reform and investment commitments, including those taken for the possible extension of the adjustment period, as appropriate.
Amendment 219 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) To provide guidance to the Member States in the drafting of their medium-term fiscal-structural plan, the Commission should put forward a technical trajectory based on the minimum fiscal adjustment that brings the debt trajectory of the Member State on a plausibly downward path or maintains debt at a prudent level. It should also ensure that the public debt ratio at the end of the planning horizon declines below its level in the year before the start of the technical trajectory. The sustainability of that debt reduction should result from appropriate fiscal policiesis reduced annually by 25 % of national growth. The sustainability of that debt reduction should result from appropriate fiscal policies, starting at the latest 2 years after the adoption of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan depending on the economic situation of the Member State.
Amendment 239 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Each national medium-term fiscal- structural plan should mention its status in the context of national be presented to and approcvedures, notably whether the plan was presented to the national parliament and whether there has been parliamentary approval of the plan. The national medium-term fiscal- structural plan should also indicate whether the national parliament had by the respective national parliament, in accordance with their constitutional requirements. The national parliaments should also have the opportunity to discuss the Council recommendation on the previous plan and, if relevant, any other Council recommendation or decision, or any Commission warning.
Amendment 267 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24 a (new)
Recital 24 a (new)
(24 a) Government budgets can be brought in line either by spending reductions or revenue increases. As such this regulation should be neutral in the way governments seek to reduce their levels of debt and deficit, and should not prioritise cuts in public expenditures over increases in tax revenue;
Amendment 318 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘net expenditure’ means government expenditure net of total tax revenues, interest expenditure, discretionary revenue measures and other budgetary variables outside the control of the government as set out in Annex II, point (a);
Amendment 429 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
For each Member State having a public debt above the 60% of GDP reference value or a government deficit above the 3% of GDP reference value, the Commission shall put forward, in a report to the Economic and Financial Committee, a technical trajectory for net expenditure covering a minimum adjustment period of 4 years of the national medium-term fiscal- structural plan which comprises annual debt reduction measures starting at the latest 2 years after its adoption, and its possible extension by a maximum of 3 years pursuant to Article 13. The Commission shall make the report public.
Amendment 473 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the public debt ratio at the end of the planning horizon is below the public debt ratio in the year before the start of the technical trajectoryis reduced annually by 25% of national growth; and
Amendment 483 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the plan has sufficient investments in climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation;
Amendment 495 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 573 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – title
Article 9 – title
Amendment 577 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Each national medium-term fiscal- structural plan should be presented to and approved by the respective national parliament, in accordance with their constitutional requirements. The national parliaments should also have the opportunity to discuss the Council recommendation on their previous plan and, if relevant, any other Council recommendation or decision, or any Commission warning. Each Member State shall submit to the Council and to the Commission a national medium-term fiscal-structural plan before end-April following the entry into force of this Regulation. The Member State concerned and the Commission may agree to extend this deadline by a reasonable period if necessary.
Amendment 678 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) foresee that Member States start the annual debt reduction at the latest 2 years after its adoption depending on their economic situation.
Amendment 762 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. The extension of the adjustment period is to be adopted by the Commission in the form of a delegated act.
Amendment 847 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) whether the public debt ratio at the end of the planning horizon is below the public debt ratio in the year before the start of the technical trajectoryis reduced annually by 25 % of national growth.
Amendment 875 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – title
Article 16 – title
Endorsement of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan by the European Parliament and the Council
Amendment 888 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – title
Article 17 – title
Amendment 892 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Where it considers that the plan does not comply with the requirements set out in Article 15 (2) and (3) point (a), the European Parliament and the Council shall, on a recommendation from the Commission, recommend that the Member State concerned submits a revised national medium-term fiscal-structural plan.
Amendment 937 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
The Commission shall set up a control account, functioning in accordance with Annex IV, and shall keep track of cumulative upward and downward deviations of actual net expenditures from the net expenditure path. Debt issued in the form of European Green Bonds according to [the Green Bonds Regulation] shall not be counted in the calculation of deviations from the net expenditure path.
Amendment 1080 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) by the end of the adjustment period, at the latest, the 10-year debt trajectory in the absence of further budgetary measures is on a plausibly downward path or stays at prudent levelspublic debt is reduced annually by 25 % of national growth;
Amendment 1093 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the annual debt reduction starts at the latest 2 years after the adoption of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan depending on the economic situation of the Member State and the adjustment effort is not postponed towards the final years of the adjustment period, that is to say the fiscal adjustment effort over the period of the national medium-term fiscal- structural plan is at least proportional to the total effort over the entire adjustment period;
Amendment 1127 #
2023/0138(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point l
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) A quantification, as much as possible, of the expected impacts of reforms and investment referred to under point (k) and, if possible, the impact of their absence on fiscal sustainability, growth and employment, where applicable in line with commonly agreed methodologies.
Amendment 15 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The economic governance framework of the Union should put debt sustainability and sustainable and inclusive growth at its core and therefore differentiate between Member States by taking into account their public debt challenges and allowing country-specific fiscal trajectories.
Amendment 17 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Government budgets can be brought in line either by spending reductions or revenue increases. As such this regulation should be neutral in the way governments seek to reduce their levels of debt and deficit, and should not prioritise cuts in public expenditures over increases in tax revenue;
Amendment 22 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to simplify the Union fiscal framework and increase transparency, a single operational indicator anchored in debt sustainability should serve as a basis for setting the fiscal path and carrying out annual fiscal surveillance for each Member State. That single indicator should be based on nationally financed net primary expenditure, that is to say expenditure net of discretionary revenue measures and excluding interest expenditure as well as cyclicalexpenditure on programmes of the Union fully matched by Union funds revenue, national expenditure on co- financing of programmes funded by the Union cap with a limit of 0.25% of GDP, cyclical elements of unemployment benefit expenditure, and expenditure on Union programmes fully matched by revcosts related to the borrowing of funds for the loans related to the national plans in accordance with the Recovery and Resilienuce from Union fundsFacility in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241. This indicator allows for macro-economic stabilisation as it is not affected by the operation of automatic stabilisers, including revenue and expenditure fluctuations outside the direct control of the government.
Amendment 35 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In accordance with Articles 24 and 25 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], the Council, following a recommendation from the Commission, can allow Member States to deviate from the net expenditure path set by the Council under that Regulation in the event of a severe economic downturn in the euro area or the Union as a whole, or in the event of exceptional circumstances outside the control of the government with a major impact on the public finances of the Member State concerned, provided that it does not endanger fiscal sustainability in the medium term or where Member States implement, within a defined timeframe, justifiable and strategically significant investments addressing the common priorities of the Union as outlined in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], and adhering to the reforms and investments outlined in national plans, including those of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Cohesion Funds, and future EU investment instruments designed to serve similar purposes. As a consequence, such a deviation should not lead to the opening of a debt-based EDP.
Amendment 57 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) A strong track record of commitments and implementation rate of reforms and investments approved under the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Member State, as well on its Partnership Agreement for the Cohesion Funds, should be taken into account for the Commission to halt its proposal to the Council to suspend all or part of the commitments or payments of these two instruments as stated in Article 10(1) and Article 19(7) of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation , respectively.
Amendment 65 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) ‘net expenditure’ means government expenditure net of tax revenue, interest expenditure, discretionary revenue measures and other budgetary variables outside the control of the government, as defined in Annex II, point (a) of Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council [on the preventive arm]*;
Amendment 67 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) ‘net expenditure’ means government expenditure net of interest expenditure, discretionary revenue measures and other budgetary variables outside the control of the government, as defined in Annex II, point (a) of Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council [on the preventive arm]*; , expenditure on programmes of the Union fully matched by Union funds revenue, national expenditure on co- financing of programmes funded by the Union cap with a limit of 0.25% of GDP, cyclical elements of unemployment benefit expenditure, and costs related to the borrowing of funds for the loans related to the national plans in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Facility in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241;
Amendment 76 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) ‘technical'reference trajectory’ means the net expenditure trajectory put forward by the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm]each Member State and negotiated after with the Commission to provide guidance to Member States with public debt above the 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) reference value or government deficit above the 3% of GDP reference value when drawing up their national medium- term fiscal-structural plans;
Amendment 83 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
The excess of a government deficit over the reference value shall be considered exceptional, in accordance with Article 126(2), second indent, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), where the Council has established the existence of a severe economic downturn in the euro area or the Union as a whole in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm] or of exceptional circumstances outside the control of the government with a major impact on the public finances of the Member State concerned, or where Member States implement, within a defined timeframe, justifiable and strategically significant investments addressing the common priorities of the Union as outlined in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], and adhering to the reforms and investments outlined in national plans, including those of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Cohesion Funds, and future EU investment instruments designed to serve similar purposes in accordance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm].
Amendment 85 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
In addition, the excess over the reference value shall be considered temporary where budgetary forecasts as provided by the Commission and the Member State indicates that the deficit will fall belowis on a downward path towards the reference value following the end of the severe economic downturn or the exceptional circumstances referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 105 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
The Commission, when preparing a report under Article 126(3) TFEU, shall take into account as a key relevant factor the degree of debt challenges in the Member State concerned. In particular, where the Member State faces substantial public debt challenges according to the most recent Debt Sustainability Monitor, it shall be considered a key factor leading to the opening of an excessive deficit procedure as a rule, national public investment gaps and needs to achieve the common priorities of the Union as stated in the Article 12 of Regulation (EU) on the preventive arm], in the Member State concerned.
Amendment 121 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The Commission shall take into account as a key relevant factor to prevent the opening of a EDP the delivery and commitment by the Member State on the implementation of the investments and reforms to address the common priorities of the Union as stated in the Article 12 of the Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], but also the reforms and investments committed in the national plans of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Cohesion Funds and future EU investments instruments that serve the same purpose.
Amendment 129 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 – point b
(b) the developments in the medium- term budgetary positions, including, in particular, the size of the actual deviation from the net expenditure path, in annual and cumulative terms as measured by the control account, and the extent to which the deviation is due to a severe economic downturn in the euro area or in the Union as a whole or to exceptional circumstances outside the control of the government with a major impact on the public finances of the Member State concerned in accordance with Articles 24 and 25 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm]. Where relevant, the deviation compared to the technical trajectory shall also be taken into account when considering the size of the deviation;
Amendment 134 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) the progress in addressing national public investment gaps in alignment with the priorities of the Union as stated in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], recognising that these investments play a pivotal role in supporting the fulfilment of Union objectives and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth and fiscal stability;
Amendment 139 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(d) the implementation of reforms and investments including, in particular policies to prevent and correct excessive macroeconomic imbalances and policies to implement the common growth and employment strategy of the Union and the European Pillar of Social Rights, including those supported by NextGenerationEU, Cohesion Funds and EU investments instruments that serve the same purpose, and the overall quality of public finances, in particular the effectiveness of national budgetary frameworks.
Amendment 147 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 4
The Commission shall give due and express consideration to any other factors which, in the opinion of the Member State concerned, are relevant in order to comprehensively assess compliance with deficit and debt criteria and which the Member State has put forward to the Council and the Commission. In that context, particular consideration shall be given to financial contributions to fostering international solidarity and, achieving the policy goals of the Union. The opinion submitted to the Commission by the Member State concEU common priorities of the Union, the size of the public investment committed to address the priorities refernred shall include the opinion of its national independent fiscal institution on relevant factorsin Article 12ba) of Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 and any other relevant factors outside of the control of the Member State.
Amendment 165 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 170 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 5
Article 2 – paragraph 5
5. Where Member States are allowed to deviate from their net expenditure path in the event of a severe economic downturn in the euro area or in the Union as a whole pursuant to Article 24 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], the Commission and the Council, in their assessment, mayshall decide not to conclude on the existence of an excessive deficit.
Amendment 173 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 2 – paragraph 6
Article 2 – paragraph 6
If the Council, acting under Article 126(6) TFEU, decides that an excessive deficit exists in a Member State, the Council and the Commission shall, in the subsequent procedural steps of that Article of the TFEU, take into account the relevant factors referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, as they affect the situation of the Member State concerned, including as specified in Article 5(2) of this Regulation, in particular in establishing a deadline for the correction of the excessive deficit and eventually extending that deadline. However, those relevant factors shall not be taken into account for the decision of the Council under Article 126(12) TFEU on the abrogation of some or all of its decisions under Article 126(6) to (9) and (11) TFEU.’;
Amendment 183 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The Council recommendation made in accordance with Article 126(7) TFEU shall establish a maximum deadline of sixtwelve months for effective action to be taken by the Member State concerned. WThen warranted by the seriousness of the situation, the deadline for effective action may be three months. The Council recommenda Council recommendation may also establish a deadline for the correction of the excessive deficit ensuring a sustainable and balanced correction sthall also establish a deadlint does not endanger sustainable and inclusive growth, social convergence for the correction of the excessive defimplementation of significant investments and social policites. In its recommendation, the Council shallmay also request that the Member State implements a correctivenew net expenditure path, which ensures that the general government deficit remains or is brought and maintained below the reference value within the deadline set in the recommendation. For the years when the general government deficit is expected to exceed the reference value, the corrective net expenditure path shall be consistent with a minimum annual adjustment of at least 0,5% of GDP as a benchmark.is declining towards a reference value
Amendment 193 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The corrective net expenditure path shall also put the debt ratio on a plausibly and sustainable downward path or keep it at a prudent level having regard to the criteria established in Annex I of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm]. The corrective net expenditure path shall ensure that the average annual fiscal adjustment eff and prevent the occurrence ort in the first three years is at least as high as the average annual fiscal effort of the total adjustment periodcentives to pro-cyclical policies.
Amendment 198 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 3 – paragraph 5
Article 3 – paragraph 5
5. Within the deadline provided for in paragraph 4 of this Article, the Member State concerned shall report to the Council and the Commission on action taken in response to the Council’s recommendation under Article 126(7) TFEU. The report shall include the targets for government expenditure and revenue and for the discretionary measures on both the expenditure and the revenue side consistent with the Council’s recommendation, as well as information on the measures taken and the nature of those envisaged to achieve the targets. The report shall also include the opinion of the independent fiscal institution of the Member State concerned on the adequacy of the measures taken and envisaged with respect to the targets. The Member State shall make the report public.
Amendment 205 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Amendment 214 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Any Council decision to give notice to the participating Member State concerned to take measures for the deficit reduction in accordance with Article 126(9) TFEU shall be taken within two months of the Council decision under Article 126(8) TFEU establishing that no effective action has been taken. In the notice, the Council shall request that the Member State implements a corrective net expenditure path which ensures that the general government deficit remains or is brought and maintained belowclose to the reference value within the deadline set in the notice. For the years where the general government deficit is expected to exceed the reference value, the corrective net expenditure path shall be consistent with a minimum annual adjustment of at least 0,5% of GDP as a benchmark.
Amendment 224 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The corrective net expenditure path shall also put the debt ratio on a plausibly and sustainable downward path or keep it at a prudent level having regard to the criteria established in Annex I of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm]. The corrective net expenditure path shall ensure that the average annual fiscal adjustment effort in the first three years is at least as high as the average annual fiscal effort of the total adjustment period. The Council shall also indicate measures conducive to the achievement of the corrective net expenditure path.;
Amendment 230 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Where effective action has been taken in compliance with a notice under Article 126(9) TFEU or where exceptional circumstances outside the control of the government with major impact on the public finances of the Member State concerned, including on the respect of the corrective net expenditure path referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, or where Member States implement, within a defined timeframe, justifiable and strategically significant investments addressing the common priorities of the Union as outlined in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1466/97, and adhering to the reforms and investments outlined in national plans, including those of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Cohesion Funds, and future EU investment instruments designed to serve similar purposes, occur after the adoption of that notice, the Council may decide, on a recommendation from the Commission, to adopt a revised notice under Article 126(9) TFEU. The revised notice, taking into account the relevant factors referred to in Article 2(3) of this Regulation may, in particular, extend the deadline for the correction of the excessive deficit by one year as a rule. In case the Council has established the existence of a severe economic downturn in the euro area or in the Union as a whole in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], the Council may also decide, on a recommendation from the Commission, to adopt a revised notice under Article 126(9) TFEU, on condition that it does not endanger fiscal sustainability in the medium term. The revised notice may, in particular, extend the deadline for the correction of the excessive deficit by one year as a rule.’;
Amendment 245 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point ba (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point ba (new)
(ba) where the participating Member State returns to its original net expenditure path as assessed in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation EU [on the preventive arm];
Amendment 260 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 a (new)
(9a) Article 11 is replaced by the following: "Article 11 "Whenever the Council decides under Article 126(11) TFEU to impose sanctions on a participating Member State, a fine shall, as a rule, be required. The Council may decide to supplement such a fine by the other measures provided for in Article 126(11) TFEU. A strong track record of commitments and implementation rate of reforms and investments approved under the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Member State, as well on its Partnership Agreement for the Cohesion Funds, should be taken into account for the Commission to halt its proposal to the Council to suspend all or part of the commitments or payments of these two instruments as stated in Article 10(1) of the RRF regulation and Article 19(7), respectively. "
Amendment 264 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. The amount of the fine shall amount to up to 0,051% of GDP for a 6- month period and be paid every 6 months until the Council assesses that the Member State concerned has taken effective action in response to the notice issued under Article 126(9) TFEU.
Amendment 269 #
2023/0137(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. The cumulated amount of the fines referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not exceed 0,52 % of GDP.;
Amendment 16 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Biased and unrealistic macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts for the annual and multiannual budget legislations can considerably hamper the effectiveness of fiscal planning and consequently impair commitment to budgetary discipline. To improve baseline assumptions and provide unbiased assessments of the fiscal impact of various policy measures, the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts of the Member States should be endorsed or producproduced or supported by an independent fiscal institution.
Amendment 20 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Independent bodies charged with monitoring public finances in the Member States are an essential building block ofcan be a support to develop effective budgetary frameworks. Regulation (EU) No 473/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council28 requires Member States whose currency is the euro to have independent fiscal institutions tasked with the endorsement or productionproduction or support of macroeconomic forecasts and establishes specific safeguards regarding their independence and technical capacity. Given the positive contribution to public finance of independent bodies, those requirements should be extended to all Member States. In order to foster fiscal discipline and strengthen the credibility of fiscal policy, such bodies should also contribute to budgetary planning by either producing or endsupporsting the forecasts and debt analyses used by the government, and by carrying out independent assessments of fiscal policies and monitoring compliance with the fiscal framework. __________________ 28 Regulation (EU) No 473/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on common provisions for monitoring and assessing draft budgetary plans and ensuring the correction of excessive deficit of the Member States in the euro area (OJ L 140, 27.5.2013, p. 11).
Amendment 38 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that annual and multiannual fiscal planning is based on realistic macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts using the most up-to- date information. Budgetary planning shall be based on the most likely macrofiscal scenario or on a more prudent scenario. The macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts shall be either produced or endorsed by independent fiscal institutions established in accordance with Article 8. They shall be compared with the most updated forecasts of the Commission. Significant differences between the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts of the Member State and the Commission’s forecasts shall be explained, including where the level or growth of variables in external assumptions departs significantly from the values contained in the Commission’s forecasts.
Amendment 47 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. Member States shall specify which institution is responsible for producing macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts. At least annually, the Member States and the Commission shall engage in a technical dialogue concerning the assumptions underpinning the preparation of macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts.
Amendment 54 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 65 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall ensure that the iInstitutions referred to in paragraph 1 have the following tasks:
Amendment 66 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) producing or supporting the annual and multiannual macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts underlying the government’s medium-term planning or endorsing those used by the budgetary authorities;
Amendment 73 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) producing or supporting debt sustainability assessments underlying the government’s medium-term planning or endorsing those provided by the budgetary authorities;.
Amendment 77 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) producing or supporting assessments on the impacts of policies on fiscal sustainability and sustainable and inclusive growth or endorsing those provided by the budgetary authorities;
Amendment 79 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point d
Amendment 80 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point e
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point e
Amendment 82 #
2023/0136(NLE)
(f) conducting, on a regular basis, reviews of the national budgetary framework, in order to assess the consistency, coherence and effectiveness of the framework, including mechanisms and rules that regulate fiscal relationships between public authorities across sub- sectors of general government;.
Amendment 90 #
2023/0136(NLE)
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a description of medium-term policies, including investment and reforms, and if applicable, specifying the investments and reforms in EU common priorities, envisaged with an impact on general government finances and sustainable and inclusive growth, broken down by major revenue and expenditure item, showing how the adjustment towards the national budgetary objectives over the medium term as referred to in Article 2, point (e), is achieved compared to projections under unchanged policies.;
Amendment 134 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Directive 2014/49/EU allows Member States to recognise an IPS as a DGS if it fulfils the criteria laid down in Article 113(7) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 and complies with Directive 2014/49/EU. To take into account the specific business model of those IPSs, in particular the relevance of preventive measures at the core of their mandate, it is appropriate to provide for the possibility of Member States to allowcontributing to financial stability at the core of their mandate, the possible need for IPSs to adapt to the new safeguards for the application of preventive measures within a 6-year period. This possibly longer compliance period takes into account the timeline for the build-up of a segregated fund for IPS purposes other than deposit insurance as agreed between the European Central Bank, the should be verified and approved by national competent authorityies and the relevant IPSs.
Amendment 192 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that DGSs use the available financial means referred to in Article 10 primarily to repay depositors in accordance with Article 8 without prejudice to the use of additionalthese financial means collected by DGSs for the fulfilment of mandates other than depositor protection under this Directive.
Amendment 195 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that DGSs use the available financial means to finance the resolution of credit institutions in accordance with Article 109 of Directive 2014/59/EU. Member States shall ensure that resolution authorities determine the amount that a DGS is to contribute to the financing of resolution of credit institutions, after those resolution authorities have consulted the DGS on the results of the least cost test referred to in Article 11e of this Directive.
Amendment 204 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) none of the circumstances referred to inthe resolution authority has not taken any resolution action under Article 32(4) of Directive 2014/59/EU are present;
Amendment 228 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11a – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 11a – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the use of preventive measures by the DGS is linked to conditions imposed on the supported credit institution, involving at least more stringent risk monitoring of the credit institution with corresponding governance arrangements for monitoring and greater verification rights for the DGS; and national competent authorities;
Amendment 245 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11a – paragraph 3
Article 11a – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that DGSs may implement preventive measures only where the designated authority has confirmed that all the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 have been met. The designated authority shall notify the competent authority and the resolution authority.
Amendment 307 #
2023/0115(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new)Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new)Directive 2014/49/EU
Article 11f (new)
(13a) the following Article 11 f is inserted: Article 11f Preventive Measures by Institutional Protection Schemes 1. By way of derogation from Article 11 (3) and Articles 11a to 11e, Member States may allow an IPS falling under Article 1(2)(c) to use the available financial means for measures in order to prevent the failure of a credit institution provided that the following conditions are met: (a) the resolution authority has not taken any resolution action under Article 32 of Directive 2014/59/EU; (b) the IPS has appropriate systems and procedures in place for selecting and implementing alternative measures and monitoring affiliated risks which do not exceed the costs of fulfilling the statutory or contractual mandate of the IPS; (c) the use of these measures is accompanied by conditions for the supported credit institution, including more stringent risk monitoring and commitments as regards to securing access to covered deposits; (d) the credit institution requesting financing of the preventive measures shall be obliged to present a plan to ensure or restore compliance of the credit institution with the supervisory requirements set forth in Directive 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 in accordance with the conditions laid down in the statutory rules of the IPS as approved by the competent authority in accordance with Art. 113(7) of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013. 2. Member States shall ensure that the competent authority has been consulted by the IPS on the preventive measures and the conditions imposed on the supported credit institution. They shall also verify the IPSs monitoring systems and decision-making procedures meet the conditions of this Article.
Amendment 74 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) To ensure that the resolution objectives are attained in the most effective way, the outcome of the public interest assessment should be negative only whereconsider whether the winding up of the failing institution or entity under normal insolvency proceedings would achieve the resolution objectives more effectively and not only to the same extent as resolution.
Amendment 157 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 35
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 35
(35) ‘critical functions’ means activities, services or operations the discontinuance of which is likely in one or more Member States to lead to the disruption of services that are essential to the real economy or to disrupt financial stability at national or regional level, due to the size, market share, external and internal interconnectedness, complexity or cross- border activities of an institution or group, with particular regard to the substitutability of those activities, services or operations;;
Amendment 245 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) to protect depositors, while minimising losses for deposit guarantee schemes, and to protect covered by Directive 2014/49/EU and investors covered by Directive 97/9/EC;;
Amendment 252 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point a
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 32 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 32 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) having regard to the timing, the need to implement effectively the resolution strategy and other relevant circumstances, there is no reasonable prospect that any alternative private sector measure including measures by an IPS, supervisory action, early intervention measures, or write down or conversion of relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities as referred to in Article 59(2) taken in respect of the institution would prevent the failure of the institution within a reasonable timeframe;
Amendment 254 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point a
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 32 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) taking into account, however, that preventive measures carried out by an IPS falling under Article 1 (2) (c) of Directive 2014/49/EU shall not lead to the determination that the credit institution is failing or likely to fail according to this Article or Article 18 (1) of Regulation (EU) 806/2014 if the provisions of Article 11 f (new) of Directive 2014/49/EU are met
Amendment 267 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 – point c
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 32 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 32 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
For the purposes of paragraph 1, point (c), a resolution action shall be treated as in the public interest where that resolution action is necessary for the achievement of, and is proportionate to, one or more of the resolution objectives referred to in Article 31 and where winding up of the institution under normal insolvency proceedings would not meet those resolution objectives more effectivelyto the same extent.
Amendment 356 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 a (new)
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 45 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 45 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 465 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point a
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 109 – paragraphs 1 & 2
Article 109 – paragraphs 1 & 2
Amendment 476 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point a
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 109 – paragraph 2
Article 109 – paragraph 2
Amendment 477 #
2023/0112(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 56 – point b
Directive 2014/59/EU
Article 109 – paragraphs 2a & 2b
Article 109 – paragraphs 2a & 2b
Amendment 84 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The assessment of whether the resolution of an institution or entity is in the public interest should reflect the consideration that depositors are better protected when deposit guarantee scheme funds are used more efficiently and the losses for those funds are minimised. Therefore, in the public interest assessment, the resolution objprotectiveon of protecting depositors shouldmay be considered better achieved in resolution if opting for insolvency would be more costly for the deposit guarantee scheme.
Amendment 96 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) To ensure that the resolution objectives are attained in the most effective way, the outcome of the public interest assessment should be negative only whereconsider whether the winding up of the failing institution or entity under normal insolvency proceedings would achieve the resolution objectives more effectively and not only to the same extent as resolution.
Amendment 121 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – points 55a– 55c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – points 55a– 55c (new)
Amendment 138 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 12 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 184 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 13 c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 13 c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
After having received the notification referred to in the first subparagraph, the Board shall assess, in close cooperation with the ECB or the relevant national competent authority, what constitutes a reasonable timeframe for the purposes of the assessment of the condition referred to in Article 18(1), point (b), taking into account the speed of the deterioration of the conditions of the entity, the need to implement effectively the resolution strategy and any other relevant considerations. The Board shall communicate that assessment to the ECB or to the relevant national competent authority as early as possible. The application of any measures by institutional protection schemes shall not be affected by the notification referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 201 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) to protect depositors while minimising losses for deposit guarantee schemes, and to protectcovered by Directive 2014/49/EU and investors covered by Directive 97/9/EC; ;
Amendment 206 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) having regard to the timing, the need to implement effectively the resolution strategy and other relevant circumstances, there is no reasonable prospect that any alternative private sector measure, including measures by an IPS, supervisory action, early intervention measures, or the write down or conversion of relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities as referred to in Article 21(1), taken in respect of the entity would prevent the failure of the entity within a reasonable timeframe;
Amendment 207 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Where the ECB or the relevant national competent authority has assesseds that the condition referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph, point (a), is met in relation to an entity asor group referred to in the first subparagraph, ithey shall communicate that assessment without delay to the Commission and to the Board without delaytaking into account, however, that preventive measures carried out by an IPS falling under Article 1(2), point (c), of Directive 2014/49/EU shall not lead to the determination that the credit institution is failing or likely to fail according to this Article or Article 32 (1) of Directive 2014/59/EU if the provisions of Article 11f of Directive 2014/49/EU are met.
Amendment 214 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 – point c
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 18 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
For the purposes of paragraph 1, point (c), a resolution action shall be treated as in the public interest where that resolution action is necessary for the achievement of, and is proportionate to, one or more of the resolution objectives referred to in Article 14 and where winding up of the institution under normal insolvency proceedings would not meet those resolution objectives more effectivelyto the same extent.
Amendment 302 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 41 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 41 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 79 – paragraph 1
Article 79 – paragraph 1
Amendment 305 #
2023/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 41 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 41 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 806/2014
Article 79 – paragraph 2
Article 79 – paragraph 2
Amendment 53 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Firstly, in order to effectively ensure the Union's access to a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, that framework should include measures to decrease the Union's growing supply risks by strengthening Union capacities along all stages of the strategic raw materials value chain, including extraction, processing and recycling, towards benchmarks defined for each strategic raw material. Secondly, as the Union will continue to rely on imports, the framework should include measures to increase the diversification of external supplies of strategic raw materials through the conclusion of preferential trade agreements, sustainable investment facilitation agreements, revision of existing FTAs to include chapters dedicated to critical raw materials and conclusion of Strategic Partnership Agreements with third countries. Thirdly, is necessary to provide measures to reinforce the Union’s ability to monitor and mitigate existing and future supply risks. Fourthly, the framework should contain measures to increase the circularity and sustainability of the critical raw materials consumed in the Union.
Amendment 61 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The list of critical raw materials should contain all strategic raw materials as well as any other raw materials of high importance for the overall Union economy and for which there is a high risk of supply disruption. To take account of possible technological and economic changes, the Commission should, in continuation of current practice, periodically perform an assessment based on data for production, processing, trade, applications, recycling, available stocks and substitution for a wide range of raw materials to update the lists of critical and strategic raw materials reflecting the evolution in the economic importance and supply risk associated with those raw materials. The list of critical raw materials should include those raw materials which reach or exceed the thresholds for both economic importance and supply risk, without ranking the relevant raw materials in terms of criticality. This assessment should be based on an average of the latest available data over a 5-year-period. The measures set out in this Regulation related to one stop shop for permitting, planning, exploration, monitoring, circularity, and sustainability should apply to all critical raw materials.
Amendment 65 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) To strengthen Union capacities along the strategic raw materials value chain, benchmarks should be set to guide efforts and track progress. The aim should be to increase capacities for each strategic raw material at each stage of the value chain, while aiming to achieve overall capacity benchmarks for extraction, processing and recycling of strategic raw materials. Firstly, the Union should increase the use of its own geological resources of strategic raw materials and build up capacity to allow it to extract the materials needed to produce at least 10 % of the Union's consumption of each strategic raw materials. Keeping in mind that extraction capacity is highly dependent on the availability of Union geological resources, the achievement of this benchmark is dependent on such availability. Secondly, in order to build a full value chain and prevent any bottlenecks at intermediate stages, the Union should in addition increase its processing capacity along the value chain and be able to produce at least 40 % of its annual consumption of strategic raw materials. Thirdly, it is expected that in the coming decades a growing share of the Union's consumption of strategic raw materials can be covered by secondary raw materials, which would improve both the security and the sustainability of the Union’s raw materials supply. Therefore, Union recycling capacity should be able to produce at least 15 % of the Union’s annual consumption of each strategic raw materials. These benchmarks refer to the 2030 time horizon, in alignment with the Union's climate and energy targets set under Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council29 and the digital targets under the Digital Decade30 , which they underpin. Furthermore, quality jobs, including skills development and job-to-job transitions, will address risks in the sectoral labour market and help ensure the EU’s competitiveness. _________________ 29 Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1). 30 Decision (EU) 2022/2481 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (OJL 323, 19.12.2022, p. 4–26 )
Amendment 78 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In order to diversify the Union's supply of strategic raw materials, the Commission should, with the support of the Board, identify Strategic Projects in third countries that intend to become active in the extraction, processing or recycling of strategic raw materials. To ensure that such Strategic Projects are effectively implemented, they should benefit from improved access to finance. In order to ensure their added value, projects should be assessed against a set of criteria. Like projects in the Union, Strategic Projects in third countries should strengthen the Union's security ofresilience of the Union's supply ofor strategic raw materials, show sufficient technical feasibility and be implemented sustainably. For projects in emerging markets and developing economies, the project should be mutually beneficial for the Union andaligned with the sustainable development plans of the third country involved and add value in that country, taking into account also its consistency with the Union’s common commercial policy. Such value may beshould derived from the project’s contribution to more than one stage of the value chain as well as from creating through the project wider economic and social benefits, including, but not limited to, the creation of quality employment in compliance with international standards. Where tThe Commission should assesses these criteria to be fulfillin consultation with the third country’s government and local communities involved, itn the project and, should publish the decision of recognition asof a Strategic Project in a decisiononce the criteria are fulfilled.
Amendment 82 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to ensure the sustainability of increased raw material production, new raw materials projects should be implemented sustainably. To that end, the Strategic Projects receiving support under this Regulation should be assessed taking into account international instruments covering all aspects of sustainability highlighted in the EU principles for sustainable raw materials[31 ], including ensuring environmental protection, socially responsible practices, including respect for human rights such as the rights of women, and transparent business and due diligence practices. Projects should also ensure engagement in good faith as well as comprehensive and meaningful consultations with local communities, including with indigenous peoples. To provide project promoters with a clear and efficient way of complying with this criterion, compliance with relevant Union legislation, international standards, guidelines and principles or participation in a certification scheme recognised under this Regulation should be considered sufficient. _________________ 31 European Commission, Directorate- General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, EU principles for sustainable raw materials, Publications Office, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/27875
Amendment 84 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) To prevent misuse of the recognition as Strategic Project, the Commission should be able to repeal its initial decision to recognise a project as strategic if it no longer fulfils the conditions or the recognition was based on an application containing incorrect information. Before it can do so, the Commission should consult the Board and heargive the project promoter the opportunity to address any failings.
Amendment 89 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) In order to overcome the limitations of the currently often fragmented public and private investments efforts, facilitate integration and return on investment, the Commission, Member States, national export credit agencies and promotional banks should better coordinate and create synergies between the existing funding programmes at Union and national level as well as ensure better coordination and collaboration with industry and key private sector stakeholders. To that end, a dedicated sub-group of the Board bringing together experts from the Member States and the Commission as well as relevant public financial institutions should be set up. This sub-group should discuss the individual financing needs of Strategic Projects and their existing funding possibilities in order to provide project promoters with a suggestion on how to best access existing financing possibilities. When discussing and making recommendations for the financing of Strategic Projects in third countries, the Board should in particular take into account the Global Gateway strategy42 . _________________ 42 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway (JOIN/2021/30 final)further development and increased financing of the Global Gateway strategy[42] connected to critical raw materials projects.
Amendment 94 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) In order to ensure that they are sufficiently prepared to face supply disruptions, large companies manufacturing strategic technologies in the Union using strategic raw materials should audit their supply chains and report accordingly to their board of directors. This will ensure that they take into account the supply risks of strategic raw materials and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to be better prepared in the event of a supply disruption. Similarly, the large companies falling within this scope should run regular stress tests of their strategic raw materials supply chains to ensure that they consider all different scenarios that may affect their supply in the event of a disruption. These measures will lead to additional considerations being given to the costs of potential supply risks.
Amendment 101 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) The Union has concluded Strategic Partnerships covering raw materials with third countries in order to implement the 2020 Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials. In order to diversify supply, these efforts should continue. To develop and ensure a coherent framework for the conclusion of future partnerships, these should strive to meet an established set of goals, including achieving the intended aims of this Act, improving cooperation across the whole value chain, contributing to increased local value addition in third countries, and facilitating the joint assessment of Strategic Projects abroad, ensuring the effective participation of affected communities. The Member States and the Commission should, as part of their interaction on the Board, discuss and ensure coordination on, inter alia, whether existing partnerships achieve thesuch intended aims, the prioritisation of third countries for new partnerships, the content of such partnerships and their coherence and potential synergies between Member States' bilateral cooperation with relevant third countries and the availability of sufficient access to finance . The Union should seek mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging market and developing economies, in coherence with its Global Gateway strategy, whichTeam Europe approach, common commercial policy and its development and foreign policy, which should contribute to the diversification of its raw materials supply chain as well as add value into the production in theseeconomic and social framework of partner countries.
Amendment 103 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) In order to support the implementation of tasks pertaining to the development of Strategic Projects and their financing, exploration programmes, monitoring capacities or strategic stocks and to advise the Commission appropriately, a European Critical Raw Materials Board should be established. The Board should be composed of Member States, representatives of the European Parliament and of the Commission, while being able to ensure participation of other parties as observers. To develop the necessary expertise for the implementation of certain tasks, the Board should establish standing sub-groups on financing, exploration, monitoring and strategic stocks, that should act as a network by gathering the different relevant national authorities and, when necessary, consult industry, academia, civil society and other relevant stakeholders. The Board’s advice and opinions should be non-binding and the absence of such an advice or opinion should not prevent the Commission from performing its tasks under this Regulation.
Amendment 109 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
(i) Union extraction capacity is able to extract the ores, minerals or concentrates needed to produce at least 10% of the Union's annual consumption of each strategic raw materials, to the extent that the Union’s reserves allow for this;
Amendment 112 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
(iii) Union pre-consumer and post- consumer recycling capacity, including for all intermediate recycling steps, is able to produce at least 15% of the Union's annual consumption of each strategic raw materials.;
Amendment 113 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
(iii) Union recycling capacity, including for all intermediate recycling steps, is able to produce at least 1520 % of the Union's annual consumption of strategic raw materials.
Amendment 116 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Amendment 118 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) improve the Union's ability to monitor and mitigate the supply risk related to critical raw materials both internally and externally;
Amendment 119 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) ensure the free movement of critical raw materials and products containing critical raw materials placed on the Union market while ensuring a high level of environmental protection, by improving their re-useability, repairability, circularity and sustainability.
Amendment 125 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
3. Where, based on the reportinitial report and the three-year progress reports referred to in Article 42, the Commission concludes that the Union is likely not to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 2, it shall assess the feasibility and proportionality of proposing measures or exercising its powers at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of those objectives.
Amendment 130 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission shall take into account the objectives and benchmarks laid down in paragraph 2 when carrying out impact assessments in all of its legislative proposals.
Amendment 131 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) secondary raw material’ means a substance or material recovered from processes residuals or from end of life products, that can be used in manufacturing processes instead of, or in combination with virgin raw material;
Amendment 146 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall review and, if necessary, update the list of strategic raw materials by [OP please insert: fourthree years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation], and every 4 four years thereafter. three years thereafter. The Board may request the Commission to review or update the list at any time outside of these scheduled reviews, to which the Commission must respond.
Amendment 149 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall review and, if necessary, update the list of critical raw materials by [OP please insert: fourthree years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation], and every 4 four years thereafterthree years thereafter. The Board may request the Commission to review or update the list at any time outside of these scheduled reviews, to which the Commission must respond.
Amendment 153 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the project would make a meaningful contribution to the security of the Union's supply of strategic raw materials and reaching the benchmarks described in Article 1, Paragraph 2, points a and b;
Amendment 165 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) for projects in third countries that are emerging markets or developing economies, the project would be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country concerned by adding value in that country. , by adding value to that country and being aligned with partners' own sustainable development plans, relevant environmental and human rights standards while striving for the achievement of the objectives in international standards and conventions
Amendment 167 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) for projects in third countries that are emerging markets or developing economies, the project would be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country concerned by adding value in that country. contribute to the sustainable development of the third country concerned by supporting relevant national development plans, fostering the establishment of relevant downstream industries and bringing benefits to local communities.
Amendment 170 #
2023/0079(COD)
(ea) for projects in third countries, the Project Promoter must demonstrate that the project contributes to reaching the objectives described in Article 1 Paragraph 2.
Amendment 174 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) a plan containing measures to facilitatensure public acceptance including, where appropriate, the establishment of recurrent communication channels with the local communities, including indigenous communities, and organisations, including social partners, the implementation of awareness-raising and information campaigns and the establishment of mitigation and compensation mechanisms; . If resettlement is required to successfully roll out the project, right-holders shall be properly informed, and fully involved from a very early stage on and throughout the entire process, to come to agreements on how to value and compensate for their losses of land and possessions;
Amendment 178 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The European Critical Raw Materials Board referred to in Article 34 ('the Board') shall, based on a fair and transparent process, discuss and issue an opinion on the completeness of the application and whether the proposed project fulfils the criteria set out in Article 5(1). The Board shall include input or invite relevant representatives from civil society, industry, workers and trade unions and the local communities in the EU and, where relevant, third countries during the decision making process.
Amendment 181 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
For Strategic Projects in third countries, the Commission shall share the application received with the third country whose territory is concerned by the proposed project. The Commission shall not approve the application before receiving the explicit approval of the relevant third country. For Strategic Projects in third countries with which the Union has negotiated a Strategic Partnership Agreement, the Commission shall conduct consultations with the authorities of this country in order to guarantee swift implementation of the project.
Amendment 186 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
The Commission's decision shall be reasoned, including, where applicable, where it is different from the Board's opinion. The Commission shall share its reasons with the Board, the competent authorities in the Member State, as well as with the project promoter.
Amendment 188 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Before the Commission repeals the decision granting a project the status of Strategic Project, the Project Promoter shall be given the opportunity to rectify the identified failings; The Commission shall provide in writing a clear set of requirements that need to be fulfilled, and set a reasonable timeframe in which these must be rectified; The Commission shall then review the project and assess whether the requirements have been fulfilled; In the event that they have not, the Commission may then proceed with repealing the decision granting a project the status of Strategic Project;
Amendment 189 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. The Commission shall within one year after the date of entry into force of this Regulation establish a list of Union based raw material projects for which Strategic Project Status shall automatically be conferred in the event that a Project Promoter submits an application; these raw materials projects will be identified on the basis of their ability to make a meaningful contribution to reaching the objectives described in Article 1;
Amendment 194 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. National competent authorities, with the consultation of environmental departments, shall discuss whether or not strategic projects meet the conditions of overriding public interest;
Amendment 195 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. The Board shall periodically, but no less than every one year, discuss the implementation of the Strategic Projects and, where necessary, measures that could be taken by the project promoter or, the Member State or third state whose territory is concerned by a Strategic Project to further facilitate the implementation of those Strategic Projects.
Amendment 196 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 5 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. The project promoter shall, every twoone years after the date of recognition as a Strategic Project, submit a report to the Board containing information on at least:
Amendment 199 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 9
Article 7 – paragraph 9
9. The project promoter shall establish and regularly update a dedicated project website with relevant information about the Strategic Project, including information on the environmental, social and economic impacts and benefits associated with the Strategic Project. The website shall be freely accessible to the public and shall be available in a language or languages that can be easily understood by the local population and allow for effective communication with the project promoter.
Amendment 235 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that national, regional and local authorities responsible for preparing plans, including zoning, spatial plans and land use plans, include in such plans, where appropriate, provisions for the development of critical raw materials projects. Priority shall be given to artificial and built surfaces, industrial sites, brownfield sites, and, where appropriate, greenfield sites not usable for agriculture and forestry abandoned or decommissioned former mining sites.
Amendment 236 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States mayshall provide, when requested, administrative support to Strategic Projects to facilitate their rapid and effective implementation, including by providing:
Amendment 237 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) predictable, regular, and clear communication to the project promoter as to administrative delays and obstacles in the permitting process, including the reasons for such delays.
Amendment 239 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) Strategic Projects in third countries should be prioritised for Global Gateway funding;
Amendment 240 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) existing Member State instruments and programmes, including from export credit agencies, national promotional banks and institutions;
Amendment 241 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 242 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. 1 year after the entry into force of this regulation, and every three years thereafter, the standing sub-group shall report on the uptake and hurdles regarding financing for Critical Raw Materials Projects and provide suggestions to improve access to public and private funding on European and Member State level;
Amendment 244 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The European Commission shall, based on the observations of the sub- group's report one year after entry into force of this regulation, decide on the necessity for a new European fund enhancing the realization of Strategic Raw Materials Projects. The fund shall prioritise projects reaching the objectives of this regulation in the most efficient and sustainable way, and allocate funds on a non-discriminatory basis within the EU borders or in third countries. Management and allocation of the fund shall lie with the Commission.
Amendment 245 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. 3. The standing sub-group referred to in Article 35(6) shall 2 years after entry into force provide a report describing obstacles to access to finance and recommendations to facilitate access to finance for Critical Raw Materials Projects through the European Investment Bank Group and relevant Union funding and financing programmes as well as state aid.
Amendment 258 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall make the information on their mineral occurrences containing critical raw materials gathered through the measures set out in the national programmes referred to in paragraph 1 publicly available on a free access website, while preserving commercially sensitive information. This information shall, where applicable, include the classification of the identified occurrences using the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources.
Amendment 262 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 6 – point c
Article 18 – paragraph 6 – point c
(c) the possibility to createion an integrated database for storing the results of the national programmes referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 271 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall provide additional analysis that takes account of the potential demand that would stem from meeting the manufacturing capacity benchmarks referred to in the Net Zero Industrial Act; This anticipated demand should be reflected in the stress testing.
Amendment 278 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 – point c
(c) factors that might affect supply, including but not limited to the geopolitical situation, economic coercion, logistics, energy supply, workforce or natural disasters;
Amendment 289 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Large cCompanies identified by Member States pursuant to paragraph 1 shall, every two years, perform an audit of their supply chain, including:
Amendment 291 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) the strategy to follow, including existing or planned reaction mechanisms, in case the supply disruptions, as mentioned in point b, would effectively take place.
Amendment 297 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Each Member State shall by [OP please insert: 31 years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation] and every 3 years thereafter notify the Commission and adopt and implement national programmes containing measures designed to:
Amendment 299 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)
(-a) fulfil the requirements set out in Article 1 of this regulation;
Amendment 301 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point -a a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point -a a (new)
(-aa) increase the re-use and repair of products and components with high critical raw materials content;
Amendment 303 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) increase the collection and processing of waste with high critical raw materials recovery potential and ensure their introduction into the appropriate recycling system, with a view to maximising the availability and quality of recyclable material as an input to critical raw material recycling facilities;
Amendment 304 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) enhance the design and application of quality standards as well as technical and practical requirements and best practices for recycling processes of complex and valuable waste streams (such as electronics waste) to ensure maximum, safe and sustainable material recovery;
Amendment 306 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 307 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) increase the re-use, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and repurposing of products and components with high critical raw materials recovery potential;
Amendment 308 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) increase the use of secondary critical raw materials in manufacturing, including, where appropriate, by taking recycled content into account and processing, by taking recycled content and recyclability into account in all processes as well as in award criteria related to public procurement;
Amendment 313 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall publish every year, no later than 6 months after the publication of the national raw material plans of the Member States, an EU raw material plan, building on the input of the national plans, documenting the EU state of play and stipulating a joint strategy and specific recommendations, including a strategy on strategic partnerships, to reach the separate and aggregated benchmarks set out in Article 1 of this Regulation;
Amendment 317 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts specifying a list of products, components and waste streams that shall at least be considered as having a high re-use, repair and critical raw materials recovery potential within the meaning of paragraph 1 (a) and (b).
Amendment 318 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) the total amount of critical raw materials recoverable from those products, components and waste streams when re- use and repair are no longer achievable:
Amendment 319 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) available data on export of waste containing critical and strategic raw materials.
Amendment 320 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Operators obliged to submit waste management plans in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2006/21/EC shall provide to the competent authority as defined in Article 3 of Directive 2006/21/EC a preliminary economic and environmental assessment study regarding the potential recovery of critical raw materials from:
Amendment 322 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall refer to the product model or, where the information differs between units of the same model, to a particular batch or unit. The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall be accessible to repairers, recyclers, market surveillance authorities and customs authorities.
Amendment 323 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Governments, or organisations, multi- stakeholder organisations, industrial companies or individual undertakings that have developed and oversee certification schemes related to the sustainability of critical raw materials ("scheme owners") may apply to have their schemes recognised by the Commission.
Amendment 324 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Governments or multi-stakeholder- organisations that have developed and oversee certification schemes related to the sustainability of critical raw materials ("scheme owners") may apply to have their schemes recognised by the Commission.
Amendment 326 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3
Article 29 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall periodically verify that recognised schemes continue to fulfil the criteria laid down in Annex IV. and are used in combination with other due diligence tools to ensure Strategic Projects fulfil the highest environmental and social standards.
Amendment 327 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 5 – point i (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 5 – point i (new)
(i) The Commission shall take into account assessments made by relevant stakeholders to proposed certification schemes. To this end, the Commission shall develop an easily accessible and publicly available interactive platform;
Amendment 331 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 30 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) the effectiveness of strategic partnerships, strategic projects, trade agreements, sustainable investment facilitation agreements and other international instruments and outreach conducted by the Union in achieving the Union’s climate and environmental objectives.
Amendment 340 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Board shall periodicallywithin 1 year after entry into force of this Regulation and every one year afterwards present a report discussing:
Amendment 342 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
(a) the extent to which Strategic Partnerships concluded by the Union contribute towards the objectives defined in article 1, and more specifically to:
Amendment 345 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) improving the Union's security of supplyresilience of the Union's supply of strategic and critical raw materials;
Amendment 347 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) the benchmarks set out in Article 1, paragraph 2, point (b);
Amendment 352 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) an up-to-date list of existing Strategic Partnerships and ongoing negotiations for Strategic Partnerships as well as Strategic Projects in third countries;
Amendment 360 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) (iv) increased local added value in third countries and better integration in the global value chain by facilitating the manufacturing of finished and semi- finished goods in relevant downstream industries;
Amendment 361 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the coherence and potential synergies between Member States’ bilateral cooperation with relevant third countries and the actions carried out by the Union in the context of Strategic Partnershipspursuit and negotiation of preferential trade agreements with third countries, in the context of functioning and negotiated Strategic Partnerships and functioning and negotiated sustainable investment facilitation agreements with third countries; The Board shall facilitate better dialogue and coordination in the Commission to ensure that these processes complement one another and are appropriately sequenced;
Amendment 365 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) the potential contribution to security of supplyresilience of the Union’s supply of critical raw materials, taking into account a third country's potential reserves, extraction, processing and recycling capacities related to critical raw materials;
Amendment 368 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) whether a third country's regulatory framework and its implementation ensures the monitoring, prevention and minimisation of environmental impacts, the use of socially responsible practices including respect of human and labour rights, including policies to combat forced labour and child labour in particular and meaningful engagement with local communities, including indigenous communities, the use of transparent business practices, including anti- corruption measures and the prevention of adverse impacts on the proper functioning of public administration and the rule of law;
Amendment 372 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) whether a third country's regulatory framework ensures the monitoring, prevention and minimisation of environmental impacts, the use of socially responsible practices including respect of human and labour rights and meaningful engagement with local communities, the use of transparent business and due diligence practices and the prevention of adverse impacts on the proper functioning of public administration and the rule of law;
Amendment 373 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii a (new)
(iia) whether there are existing or potential preferential trade agreements or ongoing negotiations of trade agreements with third countries;
Amendment 379 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
(iva) for emerging markets and developing economies, to what extent existing Union finance, funding and de- risking tools in particular under Global Gateway, are used, and to what extent obstacles exist to the use of such tools in the context of Critical Raw Materials Projects;
Amendment 382 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) (d) whether the ambitions on Critical Raw Materials set out in the Strategic Partnership Agreements match the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 384 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. The Board shall, in the context of paragraph 1 and in so far as relates to emerging market and developing economies, ensure cooperation with other relevant coordination fora, including those established as part of the Global Gateway strategy, in order to contribute to the integration of those emerging market and developing economies into the global value chain.
Amendment 386 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Board shall coordinate efforts in supporting the inclusion of Strategic Projects conducted in third countries within the Global Gateway financing pipeline. The Commission shall publish an annual report outlining the benefits brought in the preceding year by each of the Strategic Partnership Agreements; the report shall include: a. An up to date list of all existing Strategic Partnership Agreements; b. An up to date list of all ongoing negotiations for Strategic Partnership Agreements; c. A priority list of potential Strategic Partnership Agreements; d. A list of the relevant projects facilitated by Strategic Partnerships and an analysis of how these projects have contributed to fulfilling the aims of this regulation; e. An up to date list of all projects granted the status of Strategic Project that are located in third countries;
Amendment 387 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The board shall explore all policy options available to invest in capacity building in developing and emerging countries, in order to improve Human Rights, transparency and sustainable governance in, but not limited to, the mining sector.
Amendment 388 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2bis. The Board shall ensure coherence between the Strategic Partnership Agreements and Global Gateway as investments can be used as a leverage to gradually improve environmental-, labour- and Human Right standards and are essential to create added value in the partner countries and to integrate them in the global value chain.
Amendment 389 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The Board shall make sure that the Partnership agreements are negotiated and concluded in a spirit of equality between the partners and result in a win-win for both partners. The Board shall ensure that the standards that are set, are the result of prior consultation between equal partners and guarantee tangible and gradual improvement on the ground.
Amendment 390 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. The Board shall ensure coherence and complementarity between the Strategic Partnership Agreements and the EU's bilateral and plurilateral trade policy.
Amendment 391 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 d (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. The Board shall ensure coherence between the Strategic Partnership Agreements and Global Gateway as investments can be used as a leverage to gradually improve environmental-, labour- and Human Right standards and are essential to create added value in the partner countries and to integrate them in the global value chain.
Amendment 396 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. coordinate the activities of their development banks, export credit agencies and other public institutions under their supervision to support the implementation and financing of Strategic Projects conducted in third countries;
Amendment 400 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1
Article 35 – paragraph 1
1. The Board shall be composed of Member States and, the Commission and relevant stakeholders, including representatives of civil society. It shall be chaired by the Commission.
Amendment 402 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1
Article 35 – paragraph 1
1. The Board shall be composed of Member States, the European Parliament and the Commission. It shall be chaired by the Commission.
Amendment 404 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 2
Article 35 – paragraph 2
2. Each Member State shall appoint a high-level representative to the Board and the European Parliament shall appoint 5 members to the Board. Where relevant as regards the function and expertise, a Member State may appoint different representatives in relation to different tasks of the Board. Each member of the Board shall have an alternate.
Amendment 407 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) a subgroup to discuss and coordinate financing for Strategic Projects pursuant to Article 15; representatives of national promotional banks and institutions, representatives of export credit agencies, the European development financial institutions, the European Investment Bank Group, other international financial institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and, as appropriate, private financial institutions shall be invited as observers;
Amendment 414 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) A subgroup bringing together the One Stop Shop Observers to meet at regular intervals and cultivate greater convergence in decision making between the Member States;
Amendment 417 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) A subgroup bringing together scientists, experts and organisations specialized in sustainable mining and production of critical raw materials with the purpose of evaluating the sustainability provisions of the accepted Strategic Projects.
Amendment 418 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 35 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 421 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Article 35 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Where appropriate, the Board mayshall invite experts, other third parties or representatives of third countries to attend meetings of the standing or temporary sub- groups referred to in paragraph 6 as observers or to provide written contributions.
Amendment 422 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The Board shall report to the European Parliament once a year. The meeting documents and decisions of the Board shall be available to the European Parliament.
Amendment 423 #
2023/0079(COD)
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 1(2a), Article 3(2), Article 4(2), Article 5(2), Article 27(12), Article 28(2) and Article 30(1) and (5) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of eight years from [OP please insert: one month after the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the six- year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.
Amendment 425 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 3
Article 36 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 1(2a), Article 3(2), Article 4(2), Article 5(2), Article 27(12), Article 28(2) and Article 30(1) and (5) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect on the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 427 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 6
Article 36 – paragraph 6
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 1(2a), Article 3(2), Article 4(2), Article 5(2), Article 27(12), Article 28(2) and Article 30(1) and (5) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period may be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 429 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 42 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 42 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall, taking into account the advice of the Board, monitor progress towards the objectives set out in Article 1(2) and publish: a) an initial report, no later than 1 year after the publication of this regulation, detailing the state of play and projections for reaching the benchmarks set out in Article 1 for each raw material as well as the aggregated benchmarks, and defining the opportunities, bottlenecks and required efforts and investments to reach the objectives. b) a progress report, at least every 3 years, a report detailing the Union’s progress towards achieving those objectives.
Amendment 441 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – point b
Annex III – point 2 – point b
(b) whether the applicable legal framework or other conditions provide assurance that trade and investment related to the project will not be distortednon-discrimination towards companies from the Union and a level playing field is kept, taking into account notably whether the Union has concluded a Strategic Partnership referred to in Article 33 or a trade agreement containing a chapter on raw materials with the relevant third country, and is consistent with the Union’s common commercial policy;
Amendment 444 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point c
Annex III – point 4 – point c
(c) ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the ILO core conventions;
Amendment 445 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
(ia) The Paris Agreement;
Amendment 446 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
(ib) UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Amendment 451 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 6 – point b
Annex III – point 6 – point b
(b) to fostering private investment in the domestic raw materials value chain;
Amendment 452 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 6 – point c
Annex III – point 6 – point c
(c) to the creation of wider economic or social benefits, including the creation of quality employment. in accordance with relevant international conventions
Amendment 453 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 6 – point c a (new)
Annex III – point 6 – point c a (new)
(ca) to achieving the goals and objectives of economic development plans adopted by the country’s national or territorial governments in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment 454 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) it is ensured that its governance is of the multi-stakeholder type: open under transparent, fair and non-discriminatory terms to all economic and other relevant operators willing and able to comply with the scheme’s requirements;
Amendment 455 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a – point i (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a – point i (new)
i) the scheme is based on a multi- stakeholder governance of the standard with equal voting power across public and private sector participants;
Amendment 456 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii (new)
ii) the level of detail and depth of coverage of the standard across all relevant environmental and social topics is reflective of best practices.
Amendment 457 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) requirements ensuring environmentally sustainable practices, including requirements ensuring environmental management and impact mitigation, such as the obligation not to damage habitats, wildlife, flora and ecosystems or to practice deep-sea tailing;
Amendment 458 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) requirements for ensuring socially responsible practices, including respect for human rights and labour r, indigenous rights and labour rights with access to a meaningful grievance mechanism to address any concerns that arise related to the standards and assurance system, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 459 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) requirements for ensuring socially responsible practices, including respect for human rights, indigenous rights and labour rights;
Amendment 460 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) requirements for ensuring business integrity and transparency including requirements to apply sound management of financial, environmental and social matters as well as anti-bribery and anti- corruption policies in line with the OECD Guidelines outlined in Annex III;
Amendment 461 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) verification and monitoring of compliance is objective, based on international, Union or national standards, requirements and procedures and carried out independently from the relevant economic operator;, such as: (i) Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact; (ii) UNEP Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products; (iii) Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular Decision COP VIII/28- Voluntary guidelines on Biodiversity- Inclusive impact assessment; (iv) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC; (v) International Labour Organisation core Conventions as defined under the international labour organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work.
Amendment 462 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) Including an on-site audit resulting in an audit report and encompassing exchanges with impacted stakeholders such as the local communities, workers and trade unions, and civil society;
Amendment 2 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the legally binding Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 foresees the implementation of a roadmap of new own resources, including a second basket of own resources to be proposed by June 2024;
Amendment 4 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the first basket of new own resources is based on the future EU Emissions Trading System, the future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Pillar I ofon a share of revenue collected under Pillar I new set of rules designed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and to be finalized by the Inclusive Framework;
Amendment 8 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas thea second basket of new own resources is expected by the end of 2023; whereas the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 stipulates that the Commission could include a fFinancial tTransaction tTax and a financial contribution linked to the corporate sector or a new common corporate tax base in this second basket;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the revenue side of the Union budget must be aligned with central EU objectives and policies addressing the grand societal challenges the EU is facing; whereas the system of own resources in its current form contributes to a rather limited extent only to this objectives;
Amendment 16 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the need to repay Next Generation EU (NGEU) and mounting long-term challenges for the EU underline the need to reassess the EU system of own resources, by exploiting the full potential of genuine own resources to assure sustainable financing of the EU budget in the long-term;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas new own resources will ensure the NGEU repayment plan’s sustainability and strengthen the EU’s credibility on the financial markets, thus securing the best possible borrowing terms for the Union;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
B d. whereas innovative own resources promote important EU objectives and strategies, such as fair taxation, competitiveness, or stabilising financial markets;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Amendment 20 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Emphasizes that the collection of genuine European new own resources is not an end in itself, but is closely linked to the success of the RRF and the climate- neutral and digital transformation; underlines, therefore, that the amount of additional EU own resources must be sufficient to not only cover the debt service of the EU-bonds, including the incurring interest charges, but also to sustain and facilitate needed European investments beyond 2026 to finance the transformation of the EU economy;
Amendment 21 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Underlines that own resources are a key enabler for the Union to implement its policy priorities; stresses that the introduction of new own resources would assure sustainable financing of the EU budget on a long-term basis in order to avoid new EU priorities being financed to the detriment of valuable EU programmes and policies, thus avoiding cuts to Union programmes in the future that would undermine the very purpose of long-term planning;
Amendment 22 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. NotWelcomes that, according to the roadmap in the Interinstitutional Agreement of the 16 December 2020, the Commission needs to put forward a proposal for the second basket of new own resources by June 2024;
Amendment 36 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. NotWorries that none of the new own resources from the first basket are yet in place;
Amendment 44 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned that the first basket of own resources will not generate the revenues expected for several reasons; worries in particular that the expected resources from the Pillar I reform at global stage remains blocked; observes further that beyond the funding needed for NextGenerationEU, the Union may need additional resources to assist Ukraine financially and, to further mitigate the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on the Union and to finance the digital and green transitions;
Amendment 45 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 49 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Concludes that the second basket of own resources therefore needs to be ambitious and yield sufficient revenues commensurate with the Union’s needs and based on measures- taxes and levies- that require a European coordinated approach;
Amendment 54 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to consider, for its second basket of own resources, an EU-wide tax on the financial sector; recalls that a financial transaction tax based on its 2011 model, which should yield around EUR 41.5 billion per year; billion per year; draws attention to the growing repurchase of corporate stock (share buyback) in the EU; notes that the US Inflation Reduction Act foresees a tax equal to 1 percent of the fair market value of any stock of the corporation which is repurchased by such corporation during the taxable year and that it is expected to generate $79bn in ten years; calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of a similar excise duty for the EU;1a _________________ 1a An excise duty on the repurchase of share, a practice called share buyback, would allow the EU to decentivise this growing practice that rewards shareholders while generating new resources. Returning value to shareholders can be done through a dividend payment or by repurchase the shareholder’s stock/shares. By increasing the cost of share buybacks, the objective is to ensure that firms invest their surplus in economic activities, rather than returning this value to shareholders. Before the pandemic, the repurchase of shares represented 32% of amounts distributed to shareholders, while it represented 68% in the US. This phenomenon is growing inside the EU.
Amendment 69 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to come forward with an own resource linked to eitherthe corporate sector and in particular either a share of revenues determined by the upcoming ‘Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation’ proposal or a share of revenues generated by to the proposal for a minimum tax directive1 implementing the OECD-led global tax deal, most in particular Pillar II; _________________ 1 Commission proposal for a Council directive on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational groups in the Union (COM(2021)0823).
Amendment 70 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 81 #
2022/2172(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Suggests that the Commission and Member States come up with new own resources with similar design features as for to the non-recycled plastic contribution with the aim to fight inequality in the Union, to enhance the circular economy, and help to catalyse the implementation of the Green Deal. , as well as ensure a socially fair and just green and digital transition;
Amendment 9 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU labour market has proved particularly resilient, with an additional two million people in employment, leading to a record low unemployment rate of 6.2 % in 2022; whereas according to the Commission’s autumn economic forecast the public sector was a key contributor to the increase in employment; whereas despite labour market tightness wage growth has remained moderate and has failed to keep up with inflation, implying real wage losses of, on average, 8% between Q4 2020 and Q2 2022 in the Euro Area according to ECB research13a; whereas the unemployment rate is expected to increase slightly in 2023 (6.5 %), before marginally coming down again in 2024 (6.2 %); _________________ 13a https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date /2022/html/ecb.blog221125~d34babdf3e.e n.html
Amendment 19 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas inflation has a differentiated impact across income groups, with low-income groups suffering proportionally more especially as inflation is mainly driven by price developments in essential goods that cannot be substituted and make up a relatively larger share of the consumption basket of low-income households; whereas such differentiated impacts cause a veritable cost-of-living crisis for parts of the population that poses challenges to social cohesion;
Amendment 25 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the climate-neutral and digital transformation can only succeed on European level and it is from utmost importance for the future viability of the EU to stabilize growth-enhancing public investments at a higher level in the long term; whereas it is therefore necessary to provide a timely answer on how to ensure a higher level of public investment even after to the expiry of the RRF after 2026;
Amendment 26 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas inflation and economic forecasts are operating under the conditions of heightened uncertainty, with key risks, especially to growth, continuing to be pitched to the downside; whereas such uncertainty compels the EU and Member State governments to remain vigilant and to take rapid action if risks materialise;
Amendment 46 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that the European Systemic Risk Board has issued a warning on 22 September 2022 calling for heightened awareness with regards to financial stability risks resulting from sharply falling asset prices; is concerned that rising mortgage rates and the deterioration in debt servicing capacity due to a decline in real household income may cause further distress for families and for financial markets;
Amendment 60 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that while the primary objective of the European Central Bank (ECB) is to maintain price stability, the primary objective of the Union as a whole should be to minimise the impact of current turbulences on the real economy, thereby defending the wellbeing of its citizens and preserving its production structure and the international competitiveness of its companies; underlines, in this regard, the importance of adequate and coordinated fiscal, structural and regulatory policies that complement the ECB’s monetary policy actions, which are also capable of supporting household incomes and providing targeted support to companies suffering from supply bottlenecks and high energy costs; notes that further increases of the ECB’s key policy rate or quantitative tightening may further contract economic activity;
Amendment 64 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes the European Commission’s call on Member States to deliver targeted measures to offset the impact of high energy prices on vulnerable households and companies; agrees with the European Commission in stressing that such measures should maintain incentives for energy savings; recalls that Member States find themselves in starkly diverging positions regarding the fiscal space available to them; notes that this situation entails the risk of furthering divergence between Member States as the energy crisis continues;
Amendment 67 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Notes the increased need for fiscal space in most Member States; underlines that in periods of increasing interest rates, Member States should also consider raising more revenues on higher earners or on industries and firms that are highly profitable; notes how a healthy balance between government revenues and expenditures is also necessary to reduce legacy debt and to build up buffers in times of economic recovery;
Amendment 105 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that since 2017, some provisions in Member States’ bodies of national legislation were assessed to determine whether they facilitated aggressive tax planning and that, since 2019, six Member States received Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) aiming at addressing features of the tax system that may facilitate aggressive tax planning; notes that those Member States made commitments in their NRRPs to reform their tax policies in order to fight aggressive tax planning; welcomes the fact that some jurisdictions already implemented some of those changes; however regrets the delays in implementation in others; regrets that, in the Recommendations of the Commission for 2022, only two Member States still received a CSR on aggressive tax planning while some have not implemented any change yet but still did not receive the Recommendation;
Amendment 114 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point a
Paragraph 7 – point a
(a) the six-pillar structure, ensuringwhich was developed as part of the ordinary legislative procedure and hence under the full involvement of the European Parliament and that ensures that Member States give adequate consideration in their reform and investment agendas to all the relevant dimensions for making EU economies and societies more prosperous, sustainable, inclusive, competitive and resilient;
Amendment 131 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 132 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Believes that future reforms of the European Semester should draw on the lessons learned as part of Next Generation EU and the RRF, especially as regards more transparent and democratic processes relating to the definition of policy objectives, the conduct of policy coordination as well as in relation to the collaborative approaches to the definition of reforms and investment projects that were pioneered between the European Commission and Member States; considers that such reforms should also incorporate lessons learned from the temporary establishment of the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) instrument;
Amendment 167 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Stresses that the revised regulatory framework must ensure that Member States have sufficient leeway to deliver decisive crisis-resolution measures when they are needed; is of the opinion that implementation of such measures should not require the suspension of regulatory provisions by means of escape clauses; notes that, in the future, the activation of escape clauses should remain a measure of last resort;
Amendment 168 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Highlights the need for common criteria that ensure, despite more country- specific flexibility in debt reduction, that all Member States are assessed according to the same standards, are treated equally, and that policy outcomes are predictable; notes that such common criteria should include criteria for the definition of Member States’ debt reduction paths; stresses that debt reduction should be delivered in a growth-friendly way and that underlying regulatory criteria should be defined in relation to Member States’ output and expenditure growth;
Amendment 170 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11 d. Notes that the Commission's Communication puts debt sustainability analyses (DSAs) at the centre of the fiscal rules and suggests using them to determine multi-year fiscal-structural plans; expresses concerns that DSAs would not be able to project future debt developments with certainty; underlines that the usage of DSAs still requires estimating unobservable variables, thereby undermining transparency and hampering ownership and predictability, and thus leaving space for discretion; stresses that the result of a DSA may create self-fulfilling prophecies, by encouraging investors to buy/sell bonds of the respective Member States, thereby influencing outcomes; observes that since there is not one unique set of assumptions, they should be aligned with the objectives of the EU-Treaties as regards growth and convergence, and they should be agreed upon in a political process, ideally by the European Parliament and the European Council;
Amendment 207 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Stresses that large parts of the success of the RRF are due to the mobilisation of financial support for reforms and investments undertaken by Member States; notes that the European Commission’s proposals for a revised EU economic governance framework seek to incentivise compliance by way of sanctions that apply automatically in the case of non-compliance;
Amendment 208 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Recalls that the RRF is expected to end in late 2026; recalls that there is a near-undisputed consensus on the need for a degree of fiscal centralisation for currency unions, such as the Economic and Monetary Union, to be viable in the long-run, which was most recently reiterated by the International Monetary Fund13d; _________________ 13d International Monetary Fund, DP/2022/014, Reforming the EU Fiscal Framework - Strengthening the Fiscal Rules and Institutions
Amendment 209 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Considers that a permanent fiscal capacity at EU level could, if designed appropriately, play a crucial role in maintaining sufficiently high levels of strategic investment, resolving the inconsistencies between the application of the fiscal rules and the MIP, and ensuring an appropriate fiscal stance at the aggregate level; calls for the timely establishment of a permanent instrument of a significant volume to succeed the RRF prior to its expiration at the end of 2026; considers that such an instrument should comprise both an investment and a stabilisation function;
Amendment 210 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 214 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13 d. Considers that such an instrument should support national reform and investment initiatives towards common EU priorities, especially in the context of the social-ecological transformation and with regard to MIP-related measures for which Member States lack the fiscal space at national level under the applicable fiscal framework;
Amendment 215 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Amendment 216 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that the better law-making agreement reiterates that the European Parliament and the Council are to exercise their powers as co-legislators on an equal footing and that the Commission therefore needs to treat them equally; stresses that the European Parliament should therefore be fully involved in the reform of the economic governance framework as well as the future conduct of economic governance in the EU, including in the establishment and management of fiscal instruments; stresses the role and responsibility of national parliaments;
Amendment 221 #
2022/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Recognises the need for sufficient public revenue to ensure the sustainability of public finances in times of pressing investment needs and frequent economic shocks; highlights the various observations made by the European Commission as part of the European Semester on the tax mix; considers as necessary a shift from labour and consumption taxation towards the taxation of environmentally harmful practices, speculative behaviours, the windfall and/or excess profits of multinational corporations, and capital; stresses that further action to counter tax avoidance and evasion in the EU and in global fora is a necessary complement to the reform of the EU economic governance framework;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that taxation is one of the few areas that remain subject to unanimity voting in Council; stresses that it has become increasingly evident over recent years that stronger coordination in the field of taxation is needed at EU and global levels in the light of economic developments and the new challenges created by digitalisation and globalisation; regrets, incalls thisat regard, Hungary’s misuse of its veto right tocent tax proposals were block theed in Council negotiations on the Commission proposal of 22 December 2021 for a Council directive on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational groups in the Union (COM(2021)0823)due to vetoes of single Member States for reasons which were unrelated to the content of the proposal; deplores the recourse to national vetoes as a bargaining tool;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes the recourse to passerelle clauses could help reduce the negative interference of vetoes used as bargaining tools only;
Amendment 42 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends using the two general passerelle clauses for selected Treaty articles concerning the EU’s competences in the area of taxation; recalls that the Commission communication of 15 January 2019 entitled ‘Towards a more efficient and democratic decision making in EU tax policy’ (COM(2019)0008) and the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe both recommended moving from unanimity voting to QMV on tax matters; highlights that using QMV on tax matters would contribute to a more effective framework for tackling tax evasion, avoidance and fraud concerns, but also open the path to a more efficient tax collection, benefitting both sovereigns and companies.
Amendment 46 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recommends using the passerelle clauses following a sectorial approach and not for single files, as it would limit the benefit of lifting unanimity voting; proposes to trigger general passerelle clauses for largely integrated tax policies, such as Value Added Tax (VAT) in the area of indirect taxation, and/or for proposals aiming at implementing international agreements for which a large majority of Member States has participated into the negotiations;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Encourages the transition towards QMV for other initiatives in the tax area which are necessary for the single market, most notably tax policies that have long been awaiting finalisation, such as the creation of a common corporate tax system in the EU.
Amendment 13 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the leaks Panama Papers and Swiss Leaks suggest that the top 0.01 % of the wealth distribution owns about 50 % of the wealth placed in tax havens while the top 0.01 % evades about 25 % of its tax liability by concealing assets and investment income abroad, making tax evasion also a question about inequality1a; _________________ 1a Alstadsæter, A., Johannesen, N., & Zucman, G. (2019). Tax evasion and inequality. American Economic Review, 109(6), 2073-2103.
Amendment 16 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the practices described in the Pandora Papers further entrench social and economic inequalities in our societies, and strongly erode citizens’ trust in the rule of law and in our economic and democratic system; whereas fostering social and economic justice is ever more important in the crisis that the EU currently faces, following the war of aggression against Ukraine and the cost of living crisis that ensued;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas tax crimes are a predicate offence for money laundering under EU law and international standards; whereas the activities reported in the Pandora Papers are not all inherently illegal, but certainly amount to tax avoidance and abuse of corporate secrecy;
Amendment 28 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Regrets that the revelations of continuous data leaks with significant information of interest to the public still rely on whistleblowers and investigative journalists to access information; deems it necessary to protect the confidentiality of the sources of investigative journalism, including whistleblowers; stresses the importance of defending the freedom of journalists to receive confidential, secret or restricted documents, datasets or other materials, whatever their origin, and to report on those issues of public interest without the threat of costly legal action; highlights, in this regard, the Commission’s recent proposals to tackle abusive lawsuits against journalists and human rights defenders;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that Switzerland revised its Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks on banking secrecy in the framework of adopting the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for exchanging information on financial accounts; however regrets that such banking secrecy remains for information not falling under the CRS; worries that banking secrecy rules in Switzerland still apply to jurisdictions that are not part of the CRS and to Swiss nationals, including Swiss journalists, and this explains why Swiss journalists were not initially allowed to report about the Pandora Papers or to be part of the investigative consortium; welcomes any future reform of Article 47 of Switzerland’s Federal Act on Banks and Savings Bank to safeguard proper freedom of the press;
Amendment 33 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Notes that a general lesson learnt from several money laundering and tax leaks in recent years is that whistleblowers play a significant role in allowing these leaks to be known by the public; regrets the extended use of non- disclosure agreements (NDAs) for employees in the corporate sector without accurate legal advice;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the fact that only 10 Member States have passed legislation toat 24 Member States failed to transpose and communicate the transposeition of the Whistleblowers Directive7 , 15 are still in the process of doing so, and two have taken no or minimal action; _________________ 7 Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17. within the deadline; welcomes that the Commission has initiated infringement procedures against at least 19 Member States for failure to transpose the Directive6a; _________________ 6a https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor ner/detail/en/inf_22_3768; https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor ner/detail/en/inf_22_5402
Amendment 48 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Deplores that a number of EU high-level decision-makers have been featured in the Pandora Papers; regrets that, according to the unanimity vote required to fight tax evasion and avoidance at the EU level, said individuals or the governments they integrated held the power to veto any EU legislation on those matters;
Amendment 51 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on the Council to move towards the use of qualified majority voting in certain tax matters concerning tax evasion and avoidance, and for the implementation of international tax agreements; stresses that the lack of further tax coordination pressures Member States to engage in a detrimental race to the bottom, while also hampering cross-border economic activity;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Welcomes the proposed Anti- Money Laundering legislative package; stresses the importance of increasing the coordination between national legal frameworks to address loopholes, and the improvement to supervision provided by establishing a European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) with adequate resources and competences;
Amendment 61 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that global professional services firms s possess a capacity as ‘career hubs’, where 68 % of transfer pricing professionals in multinational corporations had worked in a global professional services firmGPSF before11 ; is aware of examples of tax authority officials going on to work in such firms or multinational corporationGPSFs or MNCs immediately after; calls on the Member States to regulate the phenomenon ofensure revolving doors regulation, including cooling- off periods, with regard to officials in tax administrations; to officials of tax administrations, and also to uphold these standards on international organisations they are members of, such as the OECD, so as to avoid conflicts of interest and revolving doors; calls on the OECD, in particular, to uphold its own 2010 Recommendation Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying; _________________ 11 Christensen, R.C., ‘Transnational Infrastructural Power of Professional Service Firms’, SocArXiv, 9 September 2022.
Amendment 67 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to recognise and address the risks of conflicts of interest stemming from the provision of legal advice, tax advice and auditing services when advising both corporate clients and public authorities; reiterates its call on the Commission to propose measures to clearlythe separateion of accountancying firms fromand financial or tax service providers as well as on all advisory services; welcomes the recently announced division of activities of one of the Big 4 major accounting firms into separate audit and advisory businesses, demonstrating that such separation is achievable11a; _________________ 11a https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 22/sep/08/ernst-young-splits-into- separate-audit-and-advisory-businesses
Amendment 87 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 91 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Observes, in parallel, a growing trend for countries, and EU Member States in particular, to adopt legal frameworks designed to attract high- net- worth individuals, foreign pensioners and highly skilled workers to invest or live in their territory, notably granting them generous tax benefits and exemptions which do not apply to nationals, in addition to offering golden visas and selling citizenship opportunities; golden visa/sale of citizenship regimes; notes that governments generally use two instruments to compete for taxpayers and mobile tax bases in the area of personal income and wealth taxation: (top) tax rates and preferential tax arrangements targeted to income and wealth-rich foreigners14a; deplores that granting tax advantages to more mobile source of income increases inequality as the non mobile income earners end up paying more taxes than mobile income earners, in proportion; _________________ 14a Harmful Practices and Competition in the Area of Personal Income and Wealth Taxation, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/ etudes/IDAN/2022/703343/IPOL_IDA(20 22)703343_EN.pdf
Amendment 98 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 109 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission to include in its future proposal on DAC 8 – among other previous recommendations related to DAC3 and outlined in Parliament’s resolution on the implementation of the EU requirements for exchange of tax information – the exchange of tax rulings concerning natural persons, which are often drafted by intermediaries, in order to ensure that the arrangements of high-net-worth individuals with a Member State’s tax authorities are shared with all Member States;
Amendment 122 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Deplores that the disparity of capital gains taxation across the EU might generate wealth shifting and tax avoidance behaviour across Member States; Calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility, economic impact of a minimum tax on capital gains at European level;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Notes that some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, have in place unexplained wealth control mechanisms aiming to detect the proceeds of criminal activities; stresses that this mechanism consists of a court order requiring a person who is reasonably suspected of being involved in serious crime, or of being connected to a person involved in it, to explain the nature and extent of their interest in particular property, and to explain how that property was obtained, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the respondent’s known lawfully obtained income would be insufficient to enable the respondent to obtain the property; invites the Commission to assess the effects and feasibility of such a measure at Union level to enable law enforcement to better investigate the origin of ill-gotten assets and recover the proceeds of crime;
Amendment 128 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the adoption of the first final rule on beneficial ownership reporting under the USnited States (US) Corporate Transparency Act; regrets the lack of political will in the US to share information regarding the financial accounts of non-US citizens; reiterates its call on the US to join the OECD Common Reporting Standard as soon as possibleRS as soon as possible, thereby fully exchanging information with other countries on a reciprocate basis;
Amendment 129 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Notes that despites the implementation of European and national legislation on exchange of information and transparency, the quality of data exchanged as well as the quality of data in different public registers remains low, poor, incomplete or not sufficiently updated; urges Member States to dedicate the appropriate resources, including sufficient staff and technology, to process and make full use of the data; calls on the Commission to issue guidance or provide support to Member State and reporting entities to guarantee the quality of data sent; requests that the Commission provides an overall assessment of the quality of data provided in the context of exchange of information between Member States as well as the quality of data in compulsory public registers;
Amendment 132 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Recalls the importance of transparency of beneficial ownership information (BOI) across the world the EU’s leading role in this domain; regrets, however, the delay in the setting-up of the Beneficial Ownership Registers Interconnection System (BORIS) in the EU due to technical difficulties; highlights that access to adequate, accurate and up-to-date BOI and control of legal persons is a valuable tool in the fight against tax evasion and avoidance;
Amendment 133 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Stresses that the 5th AMLD requires Member States to set up registers of the beneficial owners of all legal entities established in the EU, including trusts, and grants public access to basic beneficial ownership information about companies; regrets the delays of implementation of these requirements in many Member States;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2080(INI)
15 d. Notes with concern that Member States have adopted BO registers in very divergent ways, with different access conditions, different search functions and different mechanisms for data verification, if any; stresses that, as a result, there has been a delay delay in the setting-up of the Beneficial Ownership Registers Interconnection System (BORIS) due to technical difficulties;
Amendment 135 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15 e. Reminds the Commission and the Member States that it is absolutely essential that beneficial ownership information is accessible for financial intelligence units (FIUs), law enforcement, obliged entities and the general public; deplores the fact that delays in Member States and the overall lack of coordination in the implementation process are undermining the effectiveness of an functioning interconnection system, and calls on all actors to address this delay as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 136 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)
Paragraph 15 f (new)
15 f. Welcomes the revision of the Recommendation 24 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which requires countries to prevent the misuse of legal persons for money laundering or terrorist financing; highlights that henceforth countries will have to require beneficial ownership information to be held by a public authority or body functioning as beneficial ownership registry or an alternative mechanism as efficient;
Amendment 137 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 g (new)
Paragraph 15 g (new)
15 g. Stresses that progress in tackling the use of anonymous companies can only be possible if information about beneficial owners is easily and available in a timely manner in all jurisdictions, and if authorities are able to make use of that information and cross-check data for investigative purposes;
Amendment 138 #
2022/2080(INI)
15 h. Welcomes further that the FATF is conducting a review of Recommendation 25 on the transparency and BOI of legal arrangements; considers, in this regard, that, similarly to what already is prescribed in EU law, the standard should determine that trusts or other similar legal arrangements be registered, that multi-pronged approach to trust ownership transparency should be required, including a trust register as a required component and that access to BO information on trusts be at least as comprehensive as it is currently determined by EU law;
Amendment 139 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 i (new)
Paragraph 15 i (new)
15 i. Recalls that the United Arab Emirates feature on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force, a global money laundering watchdog, since March 2002, since the FATF has concluded that the UAE have strategic deficiencies in their regime to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing; stresses that under the Commission’s methodology, where a third country is listed by the FATF, it should automatically be added to the EU list of high risk third countries without further autonomous assessment, through a Delegated Act; regrets that, in this case, the Commission has yet to propose to add the UAE to the EU list; calls for the United Arab Emirates to be identified as a high-risk third country without further delay;
Amendment 140 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 j (new)
Paragraph 15 j (new)
15 j. Reiterates its conclusions regarding the fact that, as exposed by the Pandora Papers, some U.S. states, such as South Dakota, Alaska, Wyoming, Delaware and Nevada, have become hubs of financial and corporate secrecy; regrets the lack of visible progress or political will in these states to enact necessary reforms since the revelations;
Amendment 141 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 k (new)
Paragraph 15 k (new)
15 k. Regrets that the US Congress has so far failed to pass the bill the Establishing New Authorities for Businesses Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security Act (ENABLERS), which would require the non-financial/ intermediary sector to carry out due diligence obligations on their customers, as recommended by FATF standards;
Amendment 142 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 l (new)
Paragraph 15 l (new)
15 l. Recalls that the EU list on non- cooperative jurisdictions assesses whether a jurisdiction has at least a ‘largely compliant’ rating with the CRS according to the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes; calls on the Council to reassess the US in the framework of the EU list, with particular regard to the tax transparency criteria; calls on the Commission to follow suit should any Member State be rated ‘non-compliant’ or ‘partially-compliant’ by the Global Forum, notably via infringement procedures if appropriate;
Amendment 146 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the Commission proposal for a Council directive laying down rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes and amending Directive 2011/16/EU14 ; calls on the Council to swiftly adopt the proposal once Parliament has submitted its opinion; adopt the proposal swiftly after the Parliament emits its opinion; insists that such proposal can only deliver if it is accompanied by counter measures such as the denial of tax residence certificates; calls on the Commission and Member States to further promote global regulation on mandatory substance requirements for companies as a tool to prevent tax avoidance; _________________ 14 COM(2021)0565.
Amendment 151 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls for the creation of an EU Asset Register to provide public authorities with centralised access to information on the ownership of high value assets and goods throughout the EU and thereby effectively curb efforts to circumvent financial targeted sanctions, and fight money laundering and tax evasion and avoidance;
Amendment 153 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Amendment 155 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Reiterates, in this regard, the conclusions and recommendations of its resolutions of 21 January 2021 on reforming the EU list of tax havens and of 7 October 2021 on reforming the EU policy on harmful tax practices (including the reform of the Code of Conduct Group) and calls on the Council to relaunch discussions on comprehensive reform;
Amendment 156 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16 d. Calls on the Council in particular to include the automatic listing of third jurisdictions with a 0 % corporate tax rate or with no taxes on companies’ profits as a standalone criterion; notes with concern that third countries may repeal non- compliant tax regimes but substitute them with new ones that are potentially harmful to the EU;
Amendment 157 #
2022/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 13 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas current estimates show that the EU must invest an extra EUR 350 billion a year to achieve its 2030 climate targets;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the prices of energy commodities, food, and other raw materials have reached unprecedented high levels and continue to be the source of economic instability in the EU’s economy;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Amendment 20 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
C d. whereas a more integrated Capital Markets Union would ease the work of the EIB to unlock investment, boosting and diversifying investments in the real economy, in particular in SMEs, and triggering further cross-border equity investment and trade;
Amendment 22 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Appreciates the way the EIB is constantly ready to adapt and reinvent itself in line with the constantly changing EU policy requirements while respecting its long-term goals;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes the persistent investment gap in the EU and the increased need of countercyclical investment as the EU enters its fourth year of crisis through the pandemic and the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine; in this regard, welcomes the EIB’s crucial role as a main tool in the EU’s investment policy to act where private financing is missing; calls on the EIB to assure the maximum level of additionality in real economy investment with the aim of fostering sustainable growth as well as social and regional cohesion when deciding over future financing;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the EIB’s investment of EUR 72.4 billion of financing in 2022 and the bank’s focus on the EU’s long-term challenges of competiveness, productivity, climate change, a just transition that leaves nobody behind, sustainability, social cohesion and digital transformation;
Amendment 29 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes the EIB's affirmation that challenges with access to finance for mid- caps in cohesion regions “are more structural”; calls on the EIB to address these structural barriers by adapting its approach so that SMEs and mid-caps in cohesion regions can also fully benefit from EIB financing;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Believes that the EIB needs to do more to adapt towards the very different social and economic scenarios in the diverse regions of the EU in order to increase the attractiveness of its funds comprehensively; in particular, expects the EIB to do more to address systemic deficiencies thus allowing all EU regions to benefit from EIB financial assistance;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Reaffirms its position that the EIB needs to assure a broader geographical and sectoral allocation of its investments and to focus on adapting its methods for the areas where it is failing to do so by especially, intensifying its dialogue with local, social, economic and governmental actors when establishing regional and sectoral strategies;
Amendment 32 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Amendment 45 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Notes the ongoing levels of high inflation and in this regard asks the EIB to assess the possible increased financial needs of ongoing projects;
Amendment 72 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the fact that support to SMEs and mid-caps must be increased further from current levels, particularly in the context of high energy prices and, rising raw material costs and growing borrowing costs; stresses that SMEs often have limited administrative resources and so benefit from having financing channels that are easy to access;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its call on the EIB to complement efforts to build a data-driven society, with a particular focus on SMEs’ competitiveness and to focus its investment in this field towards bridging digital divides both within the EU, as well as between the EU and other technologically more advanced world regions;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need for the EIB to have a strong focus on start-ups and projects directed at tackling the growing problem of youth unemployment in the context of creating secure and high- quality jobs;
Amendment 83 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Notes the Commission’s proposal to work with the European Investment Bank and other InvestEU implementing partners to seek ways to scale up support to investment in the net-zero industry supply chain, including via the setting up of blending operations;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the EIB to use its operations to facilitate the implementation of the goals of the Green Deal, particularly becauseaiming at an inclusive and fair climate transition; furthermore calls for these goals to be combined with the affordability and security of food which has deteriorated worldwide in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine;
Amendment 103 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the introduction of the EIB’s new transport lending policy in July 2022 and calls for its swift implementation; recalls the need for a higher level of investment towards the decarbonisation of the maritime and aviation system;
Amendment 107 #
Amendment 108 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. In line with the principles established in the European Pillar of Social Rights, and in view of the current EU housing crisis, expects an increase in EIB financed operations in the area of social housing; furthermore asks the EIB to keep up its focus on women economic empowerment and gender equality when targeting new financing;
Amendment 109 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23 c. Notes the shortage in specialised labour in most of the EU and in this vein believes that the areas of education and skills are not provided the needed priority;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23 d. Is concerned about the systemic weakening of healthcare systems in many Member States of the EU and the ongoing medicine shortage in the EU which includes basic medicine such as paracetamol and antibiotics; further recalls the general scarcity of medicine products and medical equipment experienced during the COVID pandemic; in this context calls on the EIB to evaluate the possibilities to further invest in this sector with the aim to tackle the structural European deficiency in the health sector;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 e (new)
Paragraph 23 e (new)
23 e. Applauds the financing dedicated to assistance towards refugees in reception centres or temporary education under the Ukraine solidarity package; requests that a similar priority is provided to refugees escaping from conflicts in other neighbouring regions of the EU;
Amendment 127 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines that enhancing local presence and increasing cooperation with the EU delegations was a key driver in the establishment of EIB Global; reiterates its calls for additional staff on the ground, particularly in view of contracting more employees from the countries where the financing is taking place; supports the EIB’s approach to open regional offices in Africa and employ local applicants in these offices with the aim of adapting its requirements to local needs;
Amendment 128 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Asks the EIB to evaluate better its effectiveness when it comes to financing for SMEs and mid-caps in Africa whereby the relatively small size of projects seems to be often a hurdle towards access to finance; calls for an evaluation of a possible design of instruments that facilitate investment by EU SMEs in third countries, and increase their access to finance, including with respect to smaller projects; notes the importance of the EIB’s role in creating a level playing field for SMEs based in Member States whose national development banks do not have the capacity to promote investment in third countries;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of consistency and efficiency in development finance and calls on the EIB to place greater emphasis on mobilising domestic resources and for a general increase of its commitment in less developed countries;
Amendment 136 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the launch of the Development Finance Institutions Transparency Index in 2023 and that fact that the associated report ranks the EIB at a similar level to peer development finance institutions in a number of areas, including financial intermediaries and environmental, social and governance and accountability to communities; calls for clear and comprehensive information to be shared with other EU institutions, the European Parliament in particular;
Amendment 137 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Regrets the fact that women remain underrepresented in senior positions and in the core areas of activity at the EIB; recalls its position that more needs to be done to improve both its gender and geographical balance in this context;
Amendment 140 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Queries whether the EIB has the needed human resources in light of the ongoing expansion of its functions and responsibilities;
Amendment 144 #
2022/2062(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Requests that an outside review of the cost effectiveness of the EIB’s investment efforts during the last ten years be carried out, not least from the perspective of whether and how the EIB’s operations created significant value added that was directly relevant to the European Union’s growth and consolidation policies;
Amendment 63 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the EU’s response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is a test of the effectiveness of the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy and of its role as a credible foreign policy player, a reliable international partner and a credible security and defence actor; stresses in this regard that the EU as a soft power must step up its diplomatic efforts to promote a ceasefire in Ukraine;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underscores that the tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape caused by the war in Ukraine and other international challenges calls for a swifter and more resolute implementation of the concept of strategic sovereignty and for a geopolitical awakening of the EU; stresses at the same time that a policy based exclusively on military confrontation, rearmament and deterrence is not a reliable basis for stability;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the EU should remain committed to arms control and disarmament.
Amendment 475 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the importance that NATO must not become party to the war in Ukraine, because that inevitably means that the conflict could escalate into a Third - possibly nuclear - World War; stresses that the spiral of escalation must be stopped;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the Union does not produce enough key raw materials and components needed for the transition to a sustainable and digital economy, and relies heavily on imports both for commodities and for manufactured products;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas food supply chains are increasingly vulnerable and at risk from the impacts of climate change and natural disasters such as drought, flood, pests and diseases, as well as logistical challenges which were intensified as a result of lockdowns and restrictions during the COVID pandemic, and most recently due to the illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable Russian invasion of Ukraine;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the Union may achieve positive changes only by actively supporting the global development agenda, creating positive economic spill- overs for our partners and reinforcing the socio-ecological and digital transition;
Amendment 51 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas the Covid-19 pandemic confirmed that coordination and solidarity within the Union and between the Union and third countries is crucial to tackling major crises and that the Union and its partners should avoid protectionist measures while focusing on preventing supply chain disruptions and allowing the cross-border flow of essential products, in particular food products and medicines;
Amendment 71 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Considers the fact that recent supply chain disruptions, notably caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, by the illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the Union reliance on complex import and export chains, in particular for specific sectors;
Amendment 82 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Urges the Commission to develop a coordinated set of solutions aimed at increasing the resilience of Union supply chains by creating long-term, sustainable and inclusive development partnerships and alliances, diversifying suppliers, promoting domestic production and appropriate, targeted and proportionate stock-piling of critical raw materials and products to tackle market crises and price volatility, to secure supply and to prevent speculation;
Amendment 101 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on the Commission to enter into consultations with relevant third countries in order to seek cooperative solutions to address future supply chain disruptions and to involve, where appropriate, coordination in relevant international fora while ensuring robust engagement with the stakeholder community;
Amendment 120 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to prevent supply chain disruptions and allow the cross-border flow of medicines by limiting any export restrictions on medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and other manufacturing input, adopting targeted regulatory flexibilities, establishing priority lanes for freight and air transport of medicines and ensuring cross-border mobility of workers; stresses the need to ensure medicines and their ingredients are exempted from sanctions to limit any potential adverse effects on patients;
Amendment 125 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that fair, sustainable and value-based trade and markets which respect international law, as well as working with cooperatives partners, will reinforce the Union’s supply chains and ensure a level playing field and fair competition for workers and businesses to compete globally;
Amendment 172 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Underlines that the Union should focus on improving the production of critical goods and services, and that the introduction of effective autonomous strategic policies requires more cohesion among Member States and a much deeper European integration with a stronger and democratic European governance to further strengthen the link between trade, industrial, social, foreign policies, development, security, financial and taxation;
Amendment 173 #
2022/2040(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Stresses the importance for the Union to actively seek genuine partnerships and better connections with developing countries and create lasting partnerships based on fair, sustainable value-based trade and development cooperation able to address local problems such as famine, poverty and inequality, epidemics and climate change; highlights that this may be achieved by enhanced cooperation with international development institutions as well as more support to Union’s international projects, which fall under the Global gateway strategy and the NDICI-Global Europe;
Amendment 7 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the IMF´s 2022 World Economic Outlook,
Amendment 17 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard the European Parliament resolution of 19 May 2022 on the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine – reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act (2022/2653(RSP)),
Amendment 18 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
— having regard the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 56 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is deeply concerned by the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine and by its repercussions for the European economyserious, long-lasting and unpredictable repercussions for the European economy and society, especially for the most exposed and vulnerable groups, such as lower-income households and SMEs;
Amendment 59 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Understands the current challenges, uncertainty and complex environment to drive the monetary policy. Notes that ECB has limited tools or influence to address an high inflation trend that is mainly supply driven. Welcomes the assurance by the ECB and its members to be ready to take the actions needed to safeguard financial stability;
Amendment 61 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Calls for ECB to make full use of the current policy tools at its disposal and consider all unconventional monetary policy instruments and flexibility within its mandate to ensure financial and macroeconomic stability and provide enough liquidity to serve the real economy and financial system;
Amendment 80 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that fiscal, budgetary and monetary policies have reinforced each other during the pandemic; stresses that maintaining price stability today requires even closer coordination between fiscal, budgetary, monetary and structural policies, as addressing supply- side shocks requires greater supply-chain resilience and a shift away from fossil fuels;with the appropriate level of investment, and a shift away from fossil fuels; Notes that during COVID, all EU institutions and Member States worked together, swiftly, in a coordinated manner and within their mandates to tackle the social, economic and financial impacts of the crisis
Amendment 85 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights that unprecedented crises demand unprecedented, innovative and bold decisions on monetary policy coupled with swift and broader coordination with the fiscal policy at EU and national level;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Stresses that sustainable growth, resilience and price stability cannot be achieved by monetary policy alone and that supportive and discretionary fiscal policy and socially balanced and productivity-enhancing reforms and investments are also necessary;
Amendment 95 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes President Lagarde’s statement that the current geopolitical crisis requires us to progress on EU fiscal integration; recalls that the Economic and Monetary Union cannot function smoothly without a fiscal capacity at European level to respond to externalcapable of providing a counter-cyclical stabilisation function and timely and adequate support in the event of economic shocks;
Amendment 97 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights that monetary and fiscal policies should work together to help households and businesses most affected by the pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 98 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recalls on the lessons learned and success of new EU instruments such as SURE and the design and operating model of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), that are currently on EU´s toolbox. Underlines the role of SURE model for short term and targeted interventions and the RRF as a long-term investment capacity to support structural strategic investments in Europe;
Amendment 100 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the ECB to explore ways of strengthening the international role of the euro; notes that making the euro more attractive as a reserve currency will further enhance its international use; stresses that the creation of a well- designed European safe asset could facilitate financial integration and help mitigate the negative feedback loops between sovereigns and the domestic banking sectors; Underlines that strengthening the role of the euro requires the deepening and completion of the European economic and monetary union, including the creation of instruments of the nature of Next Generation EU, which enhance the EU budget;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Echoes President Lagarde’s call for a swift revision and simplification of the Stability and Growth Pact; Recalls that the upcoming revision of the economic governance framework has to provide the EU with stable, transparent, credible and flexible rules that could be implemented and respected by all Member States. Recalls that fiscal rules are essential for the proper functioning of the EU and should be respected. Recalls that rules should be applied in an intelligent way and within a flexible framework that adapts quickly to changes with the proper democratic accountability. The new framework should promote growth and ensure a better balance between sustainability and stabilisation. Notes that the new Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI) is now linked with the EU fiscal rules and its activation requires sustainable economic policies and compliance with the EU fiscal framework;
Amendment 142 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Observes that there is little evidence that rising inflation is spurring a wage-price spiral, not least given the extent of wage restraint in recent years; Notes that the IMF, in its 2022 World Economic Outlook, concluded that, on average, the risks of a wage spiral are limited, so far. Notes that IMF underlines that three main drivers are containing the risks: the shocks to inflation are coming from outside the labor market, falling real wages are helping to reduce price pressures, and central banks are aggressively tightening monetary policy;
Amendment 175 #
2022/2037(INI)
12. Stresses that an even transmission of monetary policy is vital to the achievement of the ECB’s price stability mandate; notWelcomes the ECB’s decision on 15 June 2022 to apply flexibility in reinvesting redemptions that are due under the pandemic emergency purchase programme; welcomes the launch of the Transmission Protection Instrument to ECB´s toolkit to support the effective transmission of monetary policy across the euro area and normalise the monetary policy; Notes that compliance with the EU fiscal framework is pre-requisite for TPI´s activation; Calls on ECB to take into account that the general escape clause is activated; Calls for a more clear TPI´s framework and rules of procedure when the general escape clause is activated;
Amendment 183 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that the combination of cheap targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTROs) and higher interest rates allow European banks to earn billions in extra profit; regrets the fact that the ECB has not yet addressed this issue and the risk of generating another “excess profit” case in EU with damaging social impact ; regrets the fact that the ECB has not yet addressed this issue and calls for concrete proposals to prevent excess profits in the banking system;
Amendment 201 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union requires the ECB to support the general economic policies of the Union; which include balanced and sustainable economic growth, highly competitive social market economy aiming at full employment and social progress and convergences and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, underlines that sustainable development, convergence, full employment and social progress are general objectives of the Union as defined in Article 3 of the TFEU;
Amendment 211 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the ECB to coordinate with the European Parliament to specify theand how to implement the ECB´s secondary objectives; suggests taking advantage of this resolution to specify and prioritise the policy areas where the ECB is expected to deliver on the basis of its secondary objectives; calls on the ECB to elaborate in its Annual Report the impact its monetary policy may have had on the general economic policies of the Union;
Amendment 221 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Highlights that investments needed to enhance EU´s autonomy in strategic sectors should be supported by the monetary policy and are key to protect EU from external shocks and reduce the risks for price stability from supply-side shocks;
Amendment 222 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Recalls for the important role of ECB in supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 227 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines the pivotal role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU’s economy and economic and social convergence and employment and for the implementation of the twin transitions (digital and climate);
Amendment 259 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the Governing Council’s decision to take further steps to include climate change considerations in the Eurosystem’s monetary policy framework; Welcomes the launch of the scoreboard for green bonds;
Amendment 281 #
2022/2037(INI)
24. Regrets that the climate roadmap does not include greening of the ECB’s targeted long-term refinancing operations; stresses that providing cheapfavourable liquidity conditions to financial institutions investing in browncarbon intensive activities works against the fight against inflation and is not consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 301 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the ECB’s economy wide climate risk stress test aimdeveloped ato assessing the climate risk preparedness of the European banking sectorresilience of banks and corporations for climate transition ; is concerned that the results published on 8 July 2022 show that banks do not have robust climate risk stress-testing frameworks and lack the relevant data; calls on the ECB to use all its available tools to ensure that banks take climate risk seriously;
Amendment 305 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the need to further enhance the ECB’s accountability and transparency arrangements; Recognises the steps taken by the ECB; Calls for the relaunch of negotiations on a formal Inter- Institutional agreement, whilst ensuring the ECB’s independence which goes hand in hand with its accountability;
Amendment 324 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the ECB’s progress on the digital euro project, as well as the dialogue with Parliament in this regard; looks forward to the Governing Council reaching a decision on launching the digital euro; Calls on the ECB to effectively address the expectations and concerns on a digital euro which include concerns for privacy, security, usability, low cost and accessibility. Calls on the ECB to step up its monitoring of the development of crypto-currencies and the related risks in terms of cybersecurity, money laundering, terrorism financing and other criminal activities related with the anonymity provided by crypto-assets;
Amendment 333 #
2022/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Calls for Enhancement of the ECB’s internal whistleblowing framework;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission Communication of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Europe’s moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 4 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission Communication of 4 March 2021 entitled ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)102),
Amendment 5 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)
Citation 15 b (new)
— having regard to the Porto Social Commitment of 7 May 2021 of the Council, the Commission, the Parliament and social partners,
Amendment 7 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document of 27 May 2020 ‘Identifying Europe’s recovery needs’,
Amendment 8 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 6 June 2021 entitled ‘European Parliament’s Scrutiny on the ongoing assessment by the Commission and the Council of the national recovery and resilience plans’,
Amendment 10 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Semester plays an important role in coordinating economic, employment, social and budgetary policies in the Member States, thereby safeguarding the macroeconomic stability of the Economic and Monetary Union; whereas the Semester has been expanded to include, among other aspects, issues related to the financial sector and taxation, as well as objectives of the UN SDGs;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas according to the Commission’s autumn economic forecast, the GDP growth rate for 2022 is expected to be 4.3 % of GDP per capita for both the euro area and the EU-27, but is expected to fall to 2.4 % and 2.5 % respectively in 2023;
Amendment 26 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in social, territorial, economic and gender- based inequalities, resulting in extreme poverty, high unemployment rate and social disparity that affect vulnerable groups in particular;
Amendment 27 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in social, territorial, economic and gender- based inequalities and unemployment, affecting vulnerable groups in particular;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas a determined, coordinated and solidarity-based European economic policy approach remains essential to foster EU economic integration and to mitigate the negative economic and social consequences of the crisis, the fragmentation of the internal market and the further deepening of macroeconomic divergence and structural polarisation between regions and countries;
Amendment 37 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas according to the Commission’s autumn economic forecast, the average rate of unemployment fell to 7.9 % in the euro area and 7.1 % in the EU- 27 in 2021, with further decreases to 7.5 % and 6.7 % expected in 2022; whereas young people have experienced the sharpest increase in unemployment;
Amendment 38 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas according to the Commission’s autumn economic forecast, general government deficit narrowed slightly in 2021 to 7.1 % of GDP in the euro area and 6.6 % in the EU-27 on the back of the still high and necessary level of support provided to households and firms; whereas it is forecasted to decrease to 3.9% and 3.6% respectively in 2022, thanks to the unwinding of the emergency support measures and the rebound in revenues;
Amendment 39 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the European recovery is being robust and strong but supply disruptions, labour shortages, pandemic- related closures, rising energy and commodity prices and a scarcity of some key materials risk of holding back growth and adding to cost pressures;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the EU is estimated to lose between €160 and €190 billion each year due to corporate tax avoidance10a; __________________ 10a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/ etudes/STUD/2016/558776/EPRS_STU(2 016)558776_EN.pdf
Amendment 47 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas during the Porto Social Summit held on 7 and 8 May 2021, the EU’s leaders recognised the European Pillar of Social Rights as a fundamental element of the recovery; whereas in the Porto declaration they underlined their determination to continue deepening its implementation at EU and national level;
Amendment 48 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the efforts of a transition to a neutral carbon economy demand significant public and private investment and may bring negative supply shocks, thereby demanding that the Union is equipped with the necessary tools to be able to deal with challenges of the green transition;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the EU and its Member States have committed to the Treaty-based fundamental values, the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 55 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas the ECB predicted that a lack of action on climate change and an insufficiently orderly climate transition could result in falls of up to 20% in global GDP by the end of the century10b; __________________ 10b https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/ ecb.climateriskfinancialstability202107~8 7822fae81.en.pdf
Amendment 69 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned about emerging new variants, localised pandemic lockdowns, increased energy prices, inflationary pressures, supply-side disruptions and emerging labour shortages; notes that these risks create a significant level of uncertainty and could hamper economic growth prospects in the coming months and delay the transition to a more sustainable and future-proof economy;
Amendment 76 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that both public and private sector investment were already clearly insufficient before the crisis, and that the projections reveal the need for additional annual public investment in the three digit billion rang to address the challenges of digital transformation, green and just transition and social recovery; underlines that an increased level of investment must be stabilised and upward convergence in the EU enhanced for many years to come;
Amendment 78 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Points out that restoring the growth potential will be a key element for the structural transformations needed to adapt to current and future challenges and to achieve the EU’s policy objectives;
Amendment 82 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is alerted by the fact that the speed of the recovery varies across Member States and regions, with significant differences and a disparity of between 2.7 % and 14.6 % betweenin GDP growth among the Member States in 2021, according to the Commission’s autumn economic forecast;
Amendment 98 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the successful roll- out of the RRF will help to make EU economies and societies more sustainable, inclusive, resilient and better prepared for the just, green and digital transitions; as well as to foster economic, social and territorial cohesion, bring convergence and help the Member States to mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes that building a resilient economy calls for reinforcing the social dimension of the European governance, aiming at providing adequate protection to all people without excluding the possibility of setting EU minimum standards, including the European minimum wage, in order to boost upward convergence of living and working conditions;
Amendment 107 #
Amendment 110 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact will continue to be applied in 2022 and is expected to be deactivated as of 2023; expects that it will remain activated as long as the underlying justification of the activation exists in order to support the efforts of the Member States to recover from the pandemic crisis and strengthen their competitiveness, as well as economic and social resilience;
Amendment 120 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that the review of the EU’s economic governance framework is necessary and should be done taking into account the Report on the review of the macroeconomic legislative framework for a better impact on Europe’s real economy and improved transparency of decision- making and democratic accountability; agrees with the European Fiscal Board on the importance of having a clear pathway towards a reviewed fiscal framework, preferably prior to the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 138 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is convinced that the coordination of national fiscal policies remains crucial in underpinning the recovery; notes that the overall fiscal stance, taking into account national budgets and the RRFexpected acceleration in spending financed by RRF grants, is projected to remain supportive in 2022 to sustain the recovery and should remain supportive as long as necessary; agrees with the Commission that Member States with low or medium levels of debt should pursue or maintain a supportive fiscal stance, and that Member States with high levels of debt should use the RRF to finance additional investment to support the recovery, while pursuing a prudent fiscalresponsible fiscal and sustainable policyies; agrees with the Commission that all Member States should preserve or broadly preserve their national financed investment and ensure a socially just recovery;
Amendment 142 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that public revenues are essential to ensure the sustainability of Member States public finances; considers it therefore necessary to subject the level of taxes and duties in the Member States to greater European coordination to avoid tax competition and to ensure that necessary government spending, whether for consumption or investment, is financed by regular revenues, except if these sources of revenue are insufficient due to a crisis or if additional growth-generating expenditure is to be financed;
Amendment 143 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that the Commission, in the context of the European Semester and the assessment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, found that more reforms are needed in order to address aggressive tax planning in six Member States; encourages the Commission to insist on the implementation of recommendations addressing aggressive tax planning given its negative impact on both the economic recovery and public accounts of other Member States and third countries;
Amendment 144 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that public funding is key to achieving the 2030 climate objectives and addressing other social and economic challenges; considers that all options to incentivise Member State investments to tackle those challenges should be on the table, notably the revision of the Stability and Growth Pact to promote a future- oriented economy and the extension of lending and borrowing capacities at Union level, building on NGEU;
Amendment 145 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that sustainable public revenues are essential to guarantee fiscal sustainability; supports governments’ efforts to increase revenues through the closing of loopholes for tax avoidance, addressing harmful tax practices and the increasing of capital-gains, wealth and corporate income taxes;
Amendment 150 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recognises the role that the Commission has allotted to the European Semester in the Recovery Plan and its importance for policy coordination at EU level; stresses, however, that the effectiveness and success of the alignment of Member States’ investment and reform programmes will depend on the review of the Semester and, according to the outcome, its adaptation as well as the increased ownership by the Member States of the implementation of the CSRs;
Amendment 151 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Calls on the Commission to improve the European Semester process in order to create a governance framework that enables inclusive and sustainable growth, structural changes for a sustainable economy, integrating the principles of well-being and sustainability, and reflecting actual economic and budgetary realities of Member States;
Amendment 152 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Growth-enhancing, socially-balanced, inclusive and sustainable structural reforms and investment
Amendment 163 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that it is crucial to coordinate national reform and investment efforts and the exchange of best practices in order to increase the convergence and resilience of our economies, promote sustainable and inclusive growth, and improve institutional frameworks; in order to further strengthen economic and social resilience the EU must deliver on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal;
Amendment 172 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for a committed coordination with social partners and other relevant stakeholders at both national and European level, with a view to strengthening democratic accountability and transparency, and scrutinizing the role of civil society;
Amendment 182 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights that the RRF presents an unprecedented and unique opportunity for all Member States to address key structural challenges and investment needs andwhile embracing the just, green and digital transitions; insists that all recovery and resilience plans address all requirements of the RRF Regulation, in particular the six pillars, namely: green transition; digital transformation; smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; social and territorial cohesion; health, economic, social and institutional resilience; and policies for the next generation, children and the youth; highlights the interplay between the European Semester and the RRF; calls on the Member States to make the most of this opportunity and to use it to transform their economies and make them sustainable, more competitive and more resilient to future shocks; highlights the role of the European Parliament in the implementation of the RRF, as enshrined in the RRF Regulation;
Amendment 183 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights that the RRF presents an unprecedented and unique opportunity for all Member States to address key structural challenges and investment needs and insists that all recovery and resilience plans address all requirements of the RRF Regulation, in particular the six pillars; Underlines, therefore, that future CSRs should address the existing challenges in light of the crisis, support the just, green and digital transitions and be coherent with the general and specific objectives of the RRF regulation, and should not contradict them; highlights the interplay between the European Semester and the RRF; calls on the Member States to make the most of this opportunity and to use it to transform their economies and make them sustainable, more competitive and more resilient to future shocks; highlights the role of the European Parliament in the implementation of the RRF, as enshrined in the RRF Regulation;
Amendment 191 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is concerned about possible administrative burdens resulting from the interplay between the RRF and the European Semester and asks the Commission to closely monitor the mechanisms and take measures if necessary; invites the Commission, moreover, to reassess if annually published CSRs fulfil the purpose to properly evaluate the need for and monitor structural reforms that are mostly implemented over a longer period of time;
Amendment 194 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Member States to build up the necessary administrative and monitoring capacity to provide the involvement of the general democratic public, firm guarantees of the proper use of funds and the respect for the principles of rule of law; calls on the European Commission to insist on the implementation of these measures;
Amendment 197 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers Next Generation EU to be a valuable and reliable blueprint for the European growth strategy for the next decade; calls, in that regard, for the establishment of a new fund on strategic investments in key technologies, as part of the EU industrial strategy;
Amendment 198 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Believes that the renewed and simplified EU Semester could profit from the lessons learned from the RRF process in regards to establish a more transparent and democratic coordination process when it comes to defining the policy objectives of the European Semester and the CSRs with full involvement of the European Parliament and the Member States as well as in regards to the reciprocal process between Commission and the Member States in developing the needed reforms and investment to achieve those policy objectives; therefore, calls on the Commission to closely assess the RRF exercise and draw conclusions for the review and adaptation of the European Semester cycle and the CSRs;
Amendment 201 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Is concerned that, without a coordinated effort to invest in the transition to a sustainable economy, European economies will suffer long- lasting damage, undermining any efforts to promote sustainable fiscal policies;
Amendment 205 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on women both in paid and unpaid work with far reaching consequences; emphasises the importance of increasing women’s participation in the economy, including inclusive participation in the digital economy and transformation, and ensuring more inclusive growth, ensuring equal pay for equal work and reducing the poverty gap as part of the solution to the post-pandemic recovery, which will help to increase jobs, economic prosperity and competitiveness across the EU; calls therefore on the Commission and the Council to ensure that gender equality and equal opportunities for all, and the mainstreaming of those objectives, are addressed effectively in the country- specific recommendations and promoted in the implementation of investment and reforms;
Amendment 212 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that the recovery efforts must go hand in hand with a lasting increase of public and private investment beyond the RRF in order to be able to address current and future challenges and to achieve the EU policy objectives;
Amendment 213 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that the recovery must be based on upward social and economic convergence, social dialogue and improved social rights and working conditions for workers, employees and the self-employed;
Amendment 231 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is concerned that the Commission identified macroeconomic vulnerabilities related to imbalances and excessive imbalances in 12 Member States; is worried that the nature and source of Member States’ imbalances remain largely the same as before the pandemic and that the pandemic could also be exacerbating imbalances and economic divergences; calls on the Member States to take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity provided by the RRF to significantly reduce existing macroeconomic imbalances, in particular by including ambitious reform measures in the national plans of all Member States; stresses that sound execution is essential to make full use of this opportunity;
Amendment 245 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Invites the Commission to revamp the comprehensive economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to take the principles of NGEU as a basis for a modernisation of the common European fiscal architecture; invites the Commission therefore to consider the possibility of a permanent investment fund for the euro area and the non-euro area aligned to European priorities and with the aim to finance future-oriented investments, create European added value, to effectively tackle economic shocks and manage the economic cycle;
Amendment 247 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Invites the Commission to revamp the comprehensive economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to take the principles of NGEU as a basis for a modernisation of the common European fiscal architecture;
Amendment 248 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Reiterates the European Parliament’s call for strengthening its democratic role in the economic governance framework;
Amendment 249 #
2022/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls for committed coordination with social partners and other relevant stakeholders at both national and European level, with a view to strengthening democratic accountability, transparency and enhancing social dialogue;
Amendment 68 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance represent a major challenge for the Union and at global level. It is estimated that EU Member States lose up to EUR 170 billion per year1a as a result of tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance, which significantly undermines the capacity to provide quality public services. Exchange of information is a pivotal part in the development of a well- functioning and effective EU framework to fight against such harmful practices. __________________ 1a Polish Economic Institute, Tax unfairness in the European Union: https://pie.net.pl/wp- content/uploads/2018/07/PIE_Report_Tax _Havens_EU.pdf
Amendment 70 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) In order to ensure the proper implementation of this directive, Member States should communicate to the Commission, on an annual basis, relevant information about obstacles encountered. Furthermore, the exchange of national best practices among tax authorities should also be encouraged.
Amendment 72 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 b (new)
Recital 2 b (new)
(2b) Given the free circulation of capital, national stand-alone approaches do not provide efficient answers to tax abuse. The implementation of EU-wide policies and, whenever possible, international agreements remains, therefore, a crucial dimension in efforts to improve the fairness of tax systems.
Amendment 95 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) While several countries, including many Member States, are releasing anonymised and aggregated information per country - extracted from the country- by-country reports required under DAC 4 or Action 13 from the BEPS Action Plan - , it is regrettable that some Member States are not publishing this information in international databases. A harmonised approach in this regard is required, with the objective of having the publication of aggregated data per country, and should be object of the next revision of the DAC.
Amendment 98 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The Tax Identification Number (‘Proper identification of taxpayers is essential to effective exchange of information between tax administrations. A European taxpayer identification number (TIN) should be created to provide the best means for this identification. It would allow any third party to quickly, easily and correctly identify and record TINs in cross-border relations and serve as a basis for effective automatic exchange of information between Member States tax administrations. A European TIN’) is essential for Member States to match information received with data present in national databases. It by increases Member States’ing the capabilcity of identifying the relevant taxpayers and correctly assessing the related taxes. Therefore, it is important that Member States require that TIN is indicated in the context of exchanges related to financial accounts, advance cross-border rulings and advance pricing agreements, country-by- country reports, reportable cross-border arrangements, and information on sellers on digital platforms.
Amendment 103 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33 a (new)
Recital 33 a (new)
(33a) The Union legislative framework on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing is currently being reviewed. In order to ensure uniform standards for reporting entities, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to adapt the present Directive on requirements regarding the identification of beneficial owners, especially in Annex I. Member States are encouraged to keep developing their respective national registries, giving particular consideration to the regularity of information updates, accuracy of content, accessibility and user- friendliness.
Amendment 104 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) Directive 2011/16/EU provides for the possibility to use the information exchanged for other purposes than for direct and indirect tax purposes to the extent that the sending Member State has stated the purpose allowed for the use of such information in a list. However, the procedure for such use is cumbersome as the sending Member State need to be consulted before the receiving Member State can use the information for other purposes. Removing the requirement for such consultation should alleviate the administrative burden and allow swift action from tax authorities when needed. It should therefore not be required to consult the sending Member State where the intended use of information is covered in a list drafted beforehand by the sending Member State. Such list can include the use of information of non-tax related data by local authorities in the framework of thresholds and limitations attached to the delivery of certain services such as services provided via an online platform in particular.
Amendment 107 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) In order to enhance the efficient use of resources, facilitate the exchange of information and avoid the need for each Member States to make similar changes to their systems for storing information, a central directory should be established, accessible to all Member States and only for statistical purposes to the Commission, to which Member States would upload and store reported information, instead of exchanging that information by secured email. This effort should also enhance the exchange of best practices on how to implement digital tools in tax administrations to reduce compliance costs and bureaucracy, while improving effectiveness and efficiency, and taking into account the need to qualify human resources. The practical arrangements necessary for the establishment of such central directory should be adopted by the Commission.
Amendment 108 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36 a (new)
Recital 36 a (new)
(36a) The Commission is entitled to produce reports and documents, using the information exchanged in an anonymised manner, so as to take into account the taxpayers’ rights to confidentiality and in compliance with Regulation (EC)1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. The publication of anonymised and aggregated country- by-country report statistics, including on effective tax rates, on an annual basis for all Member States contributes to improve the quality of public debates on taxation affairs.
Amendment 121 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 44 a (new)
Recital 44 a (new)
(44a) The successive revisions of the EU legislative framework on exchange of information should be reflected in the agreements with third countries. Therefore, where there is a signed agreement, the Union and the Member States shall seek its review.
Amendment 122 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Amendment 123 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a b (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 3 – point 16
Article 3 – point 16
(ab) point 16 is deleted.
Amendment 128 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
34a. 'beneficial owner' means beneficial owner as defined in Article 2, point 22, of [please insert reference - Regulation on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering and terrorist financing - COM 2021/420 FINAL].
Amendment 131 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
(1a) In Article 6, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: "4. When specifically requested by the requesting authority, the requested authority shall communicate original documents provided that this is not contrary to the provisions in force in the Member State of the requested authority. ." Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0016-20230101)
Amendment 132 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
(1b) The following paragraph is added: "4a. Where upon the receipt of the requested information, the requesting authority submits a follow-up request, the requested authority shall provide that further required information as soon as possible, and no later than one month from the date of receipt of the follow-up request."
Amendment 133 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ownership of and incomebeneficial ownership, income and capital gains from immovable property;
Amendment 135 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) beneficial ownership, income and capital gains from financial assets;
Amendment 136 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e b (new)
(eb) beneficial ownership, income and capital gains from high-value non- financial assets, such as precious commodities, art, and other goods held in free ports, customs warehouses, safe deposit boxes;
Amendment 137 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a – point i
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e c (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e c (new)
(ec) beneficial ownership, capital gains and lease income of certain goods, as defined in Article 16b of [Please insert reference to AMLD - Directive on mechanisms to be put in place by the Member States for the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing];
Amendment 143 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(ba) In paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added : "The automatic exchange of information shall be deemed to be respected for points h to k, paragraph 1, first subparagraph, if competent authorities of any other Member States can access such information either through the national registries or data retrieval systems or interconnected registries as provided in [please insert reference – proposal for a directive on the mechanisms to be put in place by the Member States for the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing and repealing Directive (EU) 2015/849]."
Amendment 145 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
(ba) paragraph 3 is deleted.
Amendment 146 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b b (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 3a – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 3a – subparagraph 2 – point a
(bb) in paragraph 3a, second subparagraph, point a is replaced by the following: "(a) the name, address, TIN(s) and date and place of birth (in the case of an individual) of each Reportable Person that is an Account Holder of the account and, in the case of any Entity that is anthe ultimate beneficial Account Holder and that, after application of due diligence rules consistent with the Annexes, is identified as having one or more Controlling Persons that is a Reportable Person, the name, address, and TIN(s) of the Entity and the name, address, TIN(s) and date and place of birth of each Reportable Person; (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0016-20230101)" Or. en
Amendment 149 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 8a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
(ba) in paragraph 3 the following subparagraph is added: "The competent authority shall not negotiate and agree new bilateral or multilateral advance pricing arrangements with third countries that do not permit its disclosure to competent authority of other Member States as from 1 January 2024."
Amendment 150 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d – point i a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d – point i a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8a – paragraph 6 – point b
Article 8a – paragraph 6 – point b
(ia) point b is replaced by the following: "(b) a summary of the advance cross- border ruling or advance pricing arrangement, including a description of the relevant business activities or transactions or series of transactions, the resulting effective tax rate of the tax payer in the requested Member State and any other information that could assist the competent authority in assessing a potential tax risk, without leading to the disclosure of a commercial, industrial or professional secret or of a commercial process, or of information whose disclosure would be contrary to public policy; (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0016-20230101);" Or. en
Amendment 152 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8aa – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a
Article 8aa – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a
Amendment 155 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ab – paragraph 14 – point c
Article 8ab – paragraph 14 – point c
(c) a summary of the content of the reportable cross-border arrangement, including a reference to the name by which it is commonly known, if any, and a description of the relevant arrangements, the expected impact on the effective tax rate of the tax payer in the requested Member State and any other information that could assist the competent authority in assessing a potential tax risk, without leading to the disclosure of a commercial, industrial or professional secret or of a commercial process, or of information whose disclosure would be contrary to public policy;
Amendment 156 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ab – paragraph 14 – point h a (new)
Article 8ab – paragraph 14 – point h a (new)
(4a) in Article 8ab, paragraph 14, the following point is added: "(ha) the list of beneficiaries, updated on a yearly basis."
Amendment 172 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 8ad – paragraph 11 a (new)
Article 8ad – paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. The provisions laid down by paragraph 11 shall not be applicable if the non-Union jurisdiction is currently listed in Annex I or Annex II of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, or identified in the list of third countries which have strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes, or if it has been part of either in the previous 12 months. Furthermore, any future listing in Annex I or Annex II of the EU list of non- cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes or identification as a third country which has strategic deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime shall suspend the effect of any existing implementing acts regarding that specific jurisdiction.
Amendment 175 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 12a – paragraph 1
Article 12a – paragraph 1
(6a) Article 12a, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. "The competent authority of one or more Member States may request the competent authority of another Member State (or other Member States) to conduct a joint audit. The requested competent authorities shall respond to the request for a joint audit within 630 days of the receipt of the request. The requested competent authorities may reject a request for a joint audit by the competent authority of a Member State on justified grounds. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0016-20230101)" Or. en
Amendment 180 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
3. Where a competent authority of a Member State considers that information which it has received from the competent authority of another Member State is likely to be useful for the purposes referred to in paragraph 1 to the competent authority of a third Member State, it may transmit that information to the latter competent authority, provided that transmission is in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in this Directive. It shall inform the competent authority of the Member State from which the information originates about its intention to share that information with a third Member State. The Member State of origin of the information may oppose such a sharing of information within 15 calendar days of receipt of the communication from the Member State wishing to share the information.;
Amendment 183 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 17 – paragraph 4
Article 17 – paragraph 4
(7a) in Article 17, paragraph 4 is amended as follows: "4. The provision of information may be refused where the requested Member State demonstrates it would lead to the disclosure of a commercial, industrial or professional secret or of a commercial process, or of information whose disclosure would be contrary to public policy. " Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0016-20230101)
Amendment 186 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 21 – paragraph 8
Article 21 – paragraph 8
8. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, issue a standard form allowing Member States to use a European TIN. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 26(2). In addition, the Commission, acting on behalf of Member States, shall develop and provide Member States with a tool allowing an electronic and automated verification of the correctness of the TIN provided by a reporting entity or a taxpayer for the purpose of automatic exchange of information.
Amendment 196 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 23a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 23a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
(11a) Article 23a, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2 is replaced by the following: "Reports and documents produced by the Commission, referred to in the first subparagraph, may be used by Member States only for analytical purposes, and shall not be published be accessible to all interested parties and subsequently the public, insofar as the infor made available to any otion they contain is not attributable to a single taxpayer, and their person or body without the express agreement of the Commission.disclosure complies with Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents."
Amendment 211 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 25a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 25a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In cases of failure to report after 2 administrative reminders or when the provided information contains incomplete, incorrect or false data, amounting to more than 2510 % of the information that should have been reported in accordance with the information set forth in Annex VI, Section II, subparagraph (B), Member States shall ensure that the penalties that can be applied include at least the following minimum pecuniary penalties.
Amendment 232 #
2022/0413(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Directive 2011/16/EU
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The Commission shall take such reporting from Member States into account for the purposes of advancing with further legislative reviews to address persisting loopholes and weaknesses of the present directive.
Amendment 16 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 established technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro. Instant credit transfers in euro are a relatively new category of credit transfers in euro which emerged on the market only after the adoption of that Regulation. It is therefore necessary to provide for specific requirements for instant credit transfers in euro, in addition to the general requirements applicable to all credit transfers. In that context - to make instant payments more accessible - the Directive 2014/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council is also amended through this Regulation to ensure that instant payments are also available as basic features in a payment account.
Amendment 20 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A number of national regulatory solutions have already been adopted or proposed to increase the uptake of instant credit transfers in euro, including by strengthening PSUs’ protection from sending funds to an unintended payee or specifying the process of compliance with obligations flowing from Union sanctions. TGiven the absence of common EU-wide rules, those national regulatory solutions pose a risk of fragmentation of the internal market, thus increasing the compliance costs due to different sets of national regulatory requirements, and making the execution of cross-border instant credit transfers more difficult.
Amendment 21 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Ensuring that all PSUs in the Union are able to place payment orders for and receive instant credit transfers in euro is a precondition for an increased uptake of such transactions. Currently, at least one third of PSPs in the Union do not offer instant credit transfers in euro. Moreover, the rate at which PSPs have been adding instant credit transfers to their services has been, over the last few years, too slow, which hinders further integration of the Union’s internal payments market, undermining the creation of a strategic autonomy of the EU in the payments sector. Therefore, PSPs should be required to offer the service of sending and receiving instant credit transfers in euro.
Amendment 33 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) It would not be proportionate to impose on payment institutions and electronic money institutions an obligation to offer the service of sending and receiving instant credit transfers in euro, because those instn order to allow PSPs such as e- money and payment institutions to be able to access the necessary infrastructure and play their role in facilituations cannot be admitted as participants in a payment system designated in accordance wing the uptake of instant payments in the EU, the Directive 98/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council36 . Those institutions may therefore experience difficulties in accessing the infrastructure necessary to execute instant credit transfers. It is therefore appropriate to exclude payment institutions and electronic money institutions from the obligation to offer the service of sending and receiving instant credit transfers in euroshould be amended in the near future in order for them to be included in the scope of this Regulation. __________________ 36 Directive 98/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 1998 on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems (OJ L 166, 11.6.1998, p. 45).
Amendment 43 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Security of instant credit transfers in euro is fundamental for increasing PSUs’ confidence in such services and ensuring their use. Payers intending to send a credit transfer to a given payee may, as a result of fraud or error, provide a payment account identifier which does not correspond to an account held by that payee. Under Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council37 , the only determinant of the correct execution of the transaction with respect to the payee is the unique identifier, and PSPs are not required to verify the name of the payee. In the case of instant credit transfers, there is not enough time for the payer to realise the occurrence of a fraud or error and to try to recover the funds before they are credited to the payee’s account. PSPs should therefore, without charging the PSUs any additional charges or fees, verify whether there is any discrepancy between the unique identifier of the payee and the name of the payee provided by the payer, and notify the payer. In case any discrepancies are detected, the payer should be notified before placing a payment order for an instant credit transfer in euro about any such discrepancies detected. To avoid undue frictions or delays in the processing of the transaction instantly, the payer’s PSP should provide such notification within no more than a few seconds from the moment the payer provided the payee information. To allow the payer to decide whether to proceed with the intended transaction, the payer’s PSP should provide such notification before the payer authorises the transaction. However, taking into account the comfort of the PSU and the costs for the PSP, such a check of a match between the unique identifier of the payee and the name of the payee can be avoided if it had been already conducted within the last three months and the payee is saved amongst the trusted beneficiaries of the payer. __________________ 37 Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (OJ L 337, 23.12.2015, p. 35).
Amendment 55 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Some attributes of the name of the payee to whose account the payer wishes to make an instant credit transfer may increase the likelihood of a discrepancy being detected by the PSP, including the presence of diacritics or different possible transliterations of names in different alphabets, differences between habitually used names and names indicated on formal identification documents in case of natural persons, or differences between commercial and legal names in case of legal persons. To avoid undue frictions in the processing of instant credit transfers in euro and facilitate the payer’s decision on whether to proceed with the intended transaction, PSPs should indicate the degree of such discrepancy, including by indicating in the notification that there is ‘no match’ or ‘close match’. Both - the commercial name and the legal name of a trader - should be identified as a match.
Amendment 62 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Authorising a payment transaction where the PSP has detected a discrepancy and has notified that discrepancy to the PSU can result in the funds being transferred to an unintended payee. In such cases, PSPs should not be held liable for the execution of the transaction to an unintended payee, as laid down in Article 88 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366. PSPs should inform PSUs about the implications for PSP liability and PSU refunds rights of their choice to ignore the notified discrepancy. PSUs should be able to opt out from using that service at any time during their contractual relationship with the PSP. After opting out, PSUs should be able to opt in to again avail of the service. PSPs should inform PSUs about the possibility to opt out from the service and about the implications for PSP liability and PSU refunds rights of their choice to ignore the notified discrepancy.
Amendment 84 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Under Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council38 , charges applied by a PSP located in a Member State whose currency is not the euro in respect of cross-border credit transfers in euro are to be the same as charges applied by that PSP in respect of national credit transfers in the national currency of that Member State. In situations where such a PSP applies higher charges for national instant credit transfers in the national currency than for national non-instant credit transfers in the national currency, and therefore also higher charges than for cross-border non-instant credit transfers in euro, the level of charges that such a PSP would be required to apply under Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 in respect of cross-border instant credit transfers in euro would be higher than charges for cross-border non- instant credit transfers in euro. In such situations, to avoid conflicting requirements and taking into account the key objective of steering PSUs towards instant credit transfers in euro, it is appropriate to require that charges applied to payers and payees for cross-border instant credit transfers in euro do not exceed the charges applied for cross-border non-instant credit transfers in euro. Member States, whose currency is not euro, should be able to apply this Regulation internally in their own, non- euro currency, accordingly. __________________ 38 Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 July 2021 on cross-border payments in the Union (OJ L 274, 30.7.2021, p. 20).
Amendment 222 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 260/2012
Article 5c – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1a (new)
Article 5c – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1a (new)
This check of a match between the unique identifier of the payee and the name of the payee can be avoided if it had been already conducted within the last three months and the payee is saved amongst the trusted beneficiaries of the payer.
Amendment 246 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 260/2012
Article 5c – paragraph 6a (new)
Article 5c – paragraph 6a (new)
Amendment 276 #
2022/0341(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Amendment 180 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) During the preliminary phase of investigation, competent authorities should focus on the economic operators involved in the steps of the value chain where there is a higher risk of forced labour with respect to the products under investigation, while also taking into account their potential imbalance of power in the concerned supply chain. In their assessment they should also take into account the size and economic resources of the economic operator, the quantity of products concerned and the scale of the suspected forced labour.
Amendment 283 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Since forced labour is a global problem and given the interlinkages of the global value chains, it is necessary to promote international cooperation against forced labour, which would also improve the efficiency of applying and enforcing the prohibition. The Commission should as appropriately cooperate with and exchange information with authorities of third countries and international organisations to enhance the effective implementation of the prohibition. International cooperation with authorities of non-EU countries should take place in a structured way as part of the existing dialogue structures, for example Human Rights Dialogues with third countries, or, if necessary, specific ones that will be created on an ad hoc basis. Existing dialogue structures with third countries include the (sub)committees on trade and sustainable development in trade agreements or the dialogue foreseen within the Generalised System of Preferences. EU Delegations should have an important role when it comes to disseminating information on this Regulation and should facilitate the possibility of third parties in third countries to provide information on the existence of forced labour on a determined product.
Amendment 358 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(ua) 'meaningful engagement with stakeholders' means an interactive, responsive, ongoing and gender-inclusive process of engagement with potentially affected suppliers, stakeholders and their representative organisations, especially vulnerable stakeholders, such as workers, trade unions, smallholders, indigenous peoples and local communities before a potential decision on disengaging is made;
Amendment 381 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. In their assessment of the likelihood that economic operators violated Article 3, competent authorities shall in a first instance focus on the economic operators involved in the steps of the value chain as close as possible to where the risk of forced labour is likely to occur and, while also taking into account the potential imbalance of power in the concerned supply chain. In their assessment they shall also take into account the size and economic resources of the economic operators, the quantity of products concerned, as well as the scale of suspected forced labour.
Amendment 396 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The competent authority shall ensure that when economic operators refer to actions taken, as referred to above, those economic operators also identify and assess the impacts of their business models and strategies, including trading, procurement and pricing practices.
Amendment 419 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. The competent authority shall duly take into account where the economic operator demonstrates that it carries out due diligence on the basis of identified forced labour impact in its supply chain, adopts and carries out measures suitable and effective for bringing to an end forced labour in a short period of time. The competent authority shall assess whether the economic operator demonstrates that it did not use disengagement as first resort for the products under assessment or products that are equivalent thereof.
Amendment 498 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. Where competent authorities cannot establish that Article 3 has been violated, they shall take a decision to close the investigation and inform the economic operator thereof. The closing of the investigation for lack of proof shall not preclude the right of competent authorities to start a new investigation into the same product in case new relevant information arises.
Amendment 550 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Economic operators shall avoid simply disengaging from their operators in order to eliminate forced labour from their supply chains. In case efforts to prevent, minimise and remedy the situation fail, then the economic operator shall consider disengaging in a responsible way. Before potentially reaching a decision to disengage, economic operators shall engage meaningfully with stakeholders that would be impacted by such a decision. Responsible disengagement entails, as a minimum, complying with collective agreements and articulating escalation measures. Economic operators shall act in accordance with the July 2021 Commission and EEAS guidance on combatting forced labour in supply chains.
Amendment 764 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
2. The Network shall be composed of representatives from each Member States’ competent authority, representatives from the Commission and, where appropriate, experts from the customs authorities. EU delegations, particularly based in countries with regions identified as of high risk of forced labour, shall also be involved in the work of this Network.
Amendment 780 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
(fa) coordinate dissemination efforts in and outside the EU;
Amendment 797 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. In order to facilitate effective implementation and enforcement of this Regulation, the Commission may as appropriate cooperate, engage and exchange information with, amongst others, authorities of third countries, international organisations, civil society representatives and business organisations. International cooperation with authorities of third countries shall take place in a structured way as part of the existing dialogue structures with third countries or, if necessary, specific ones that will be created on an ad hoc basis. Existing dialogue structures with third countries include the (sub)committees on trade and sustainable development in trade agreements or the dialogue foreseen within the Generalised System of Preferences.
Amendment 810 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a (new)
Article26a Development cooperation The Commission and Member States shall develop cooperation and partnership mechanisms with third countries to address the root causes of forced labour as well as to build the capacity of upstream economic actors to respond to the requirements under this Regulation.
Amendment 53 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The REPowerEU chapter should include new reforms and investments contributing to the REPowerEU aims. Furthermore, that chapter should contain an outline of other measures, financed from sources other than the Recovery and Resilience Facility, contributing to the energy-related objectives outlined in recital (3). The outline should cover measures whose implementation should take place between 1 February 2022 to 31 December 2026, the period during which the objectives set by this Regulation are to be achieved. As regards natural gas infrastructure, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG), the investments and reforms of the REPowerEU chapters to diversify supply away from Russia should build on the needs currently identified through the assessment conducted and agreed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), established in the spirit of solidarity as regards security of supply and take into account the reinforced preparedness measures taken to adapt to new geopolitical threats and accordingly be limited to a maximum of EUR 10 billion of the total amount of resources for REPowerEU, excluding the revenues generated by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Finally, the REPowerEU chapters should provide an explanation and a quantification of the effects of the combination of the reforms and investments financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the other measures financed by other sources than the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Amendment 77 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The application of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle is essential to ensure that the investments and reforms undertaken as part of the recovery from the pandemic are implemented in a sustainable manner and advance the green transition of the European Union. It should continue to apply to the reforms and investments supported by the Facility, with one targeted and time-limited exemption to safeguard the EU’ immediate energy security concerns. Considering the objective of diversifying energy supplies away from Russian suppliers, the reforms and investments in LNG terminals and infrastructure set out in those REPowerEU chapters which aim to improve energy infrastructure and facilities as well as ensuring their hydrogen-readiness to meet immediate security of supply needs for oilgas and gasto be in operation by 31 June 2024 should not be required to comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ and should therefore be exempted from such assessment. To ensure that such an exemption does not jeopardise the integrity of the European Union’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, the Commission should also include an assessment of the climate and environmental impacts of this time-limited derogation and measures how to compensate them in its annual reports.
Amendment 222 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 21c – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) improving energy infrastructure and facilities to meet immediate security of supply needs for oil and gasgas, especially LNG, notably to enable diversification of supply in the interest of the Union as a whole,
Amendment 243 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 21c – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 248 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 21c – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an explanation on how the combination of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 and points (a) and (b) of this paragraph is coherent, effective and expected to contribute to the REPowerEU objectives, and are in line with the National Energy and Climate Plans of that Member State and with the EU climate targets set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, including a quantification of the energy savings.
Amendment 264 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21c – paragraph 4
Article 21c – paragraph 4
(4) By way of derogation from Articles 5(2), 17(4), 18(4) point (d) and 19(3) points (d), the principle of “do no significant harm” within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 shall not apply to investments in LNG terminals and infrastructure contributing to the reforms and investments expected to contribute to the REPowerEU objectives under paragraph 1, point (a) of this Article. This derogation shall only apply to reforms and investments to be in operation by 31 June 2024. In accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the Commission shall also present inits reports to the European Parliament and the Council the environmental and climate-related impact of the time-limited application of this derogation and present which measures are taken by the European Union and the Member States to compensate for any resulting negative impact on the environment and the path to reach the EU's emissions reduction target as set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119.
Amendment 299 #
2022/0164(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 – indent 1
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 – indent 1
— the implementation of the envisaged measures is expected to significantly contribute to the improvement of energy infrastructure and facilities to meet immediate security of supply needs for oil and gasgas, especially LNG, notably to enable diversification of supply in the interest of the Union as a whole, and is limited to a maximum amount of 10billion EUR of the total amount of resources made available in accordance with Article 14(1) of this Regulation and Article 26a (1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, excluding the amount of revenue made available in accordance with Article 10e(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC,
Amendment 28 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU defines the Indo- Pacific as a varied region spanning from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific island states; whereas the Indo-Pacific region, home to 60 % of the world’s population and seven G20 members, is a key shapercomponent of the global international order and home to increasingly important political, trade and security partners for the EU;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas China’s rapid military build-up, coupled with its increasingly assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region and its military activities in the East and South China Seas, as well as its deliberate and repetitive violations of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone and its increasingly aggressive rhetoric and media campaigns, are leading to rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific; sees, however, at the same time the danger that the increasing military presence of the USA and EU in the regions as well as the increasing armament of the USA and the EU member states could lead to an accelerated arms race;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas the COVID 19 crisis demonstrated the importance of reliable supply chains, and more balanced economic ties with China without being vulnerable in critical aspects of sustainable development both for Europe and for the Indo-Pacific countries, while strengthening economic and security cooperation and building partnership; whereas some countries in the region want stronger cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 73 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)
Recital E e (new)
E e. whereas the first and most important way of ensuring peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is deepening cooperation, as well as stepping up assistance in eradicating poverty, social injustice, infectious diseases, human rights violations, environmental degradation and other roots causes to instability, insecurity and violence;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the need to safeguard EU unity as a pre-conditionin order to achieve the EU’s ambition of strategic sovereignty amid the increasing competition between the United States and Chinamulti-faceted threats and increased competition between powers; recalls that the EU’s unified approach must be underpinned by a pragmatic and, principled and value-based foreign and security policy, so as to deliver peace, human security, sustainable development and democracy;
Amendment 100 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EU to make use of its position and reputation as a credible and reliable actorglobal actor for peace amid the growing geopolitical competition between global and regional powers in the Indo- Pacific; recalls that the added value of EU engagement in the Indo-Pacific lies in its comprehensive range of civilian and military assistance measures, including well developed non-military contributions; recalls that the EU has a vast network of diplomatic assets to facilitate dialogue on, mediation, conflict prevention, conflict- resolution, legal solutions and expertise in setting up confidence-building measures; and emphasises the capability of the EU in the field of multilateralism;
Amendment 109 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the EU to take initiatives to build a system of collective security, including comprehensive arms limitation and disarmament, in the Indo-Pacific region;
Amendment 115 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses its concern that the current tensions and disputes in the region, unless properly mediated and managed, pose a threat to free and open communication in the maritime, air, space and cyber areas, which are essential to maintain regional and global trading routes and global peace and security;
Amendment 217 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the positive role Taiwan plays in fostering peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; stresses the importance of the EU’s support in maintaining the peace and security across the Taiwan strait; calls for the EU to foster constructive dialogues between China and Taiwan;
Amendment 224 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the positive role played by New Zealand in regional peace and security; appreciates that a strong focus in the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between the EU and New Zealand on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and combating illicit trade of small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 242 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 261 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of information and cybersecurity as annd the fight against hybrid threats as a new type of warfare targeting also elements of the critical infrastructure of the global economy and for protecting democracies from disinformation and malicious attacks; calls for strengthened cooperation with democratic Indo Pacific partners in developing global norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, on sharing best practices in cybersecurity and working together on collective attribution and coordinated sanctions in working towards strict global rules on the military use of artificial intelligence and a global ban on fully autonomous weapons systems;
Amendment 280 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the growing importance of the space dimension of international cooperation and security; calls on stronger cooperation between the EU and democratic Indo-Pacific partners to strive for a global agreement preventing the weaponisation of space;
Amendment 300 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Highlights that the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons and the rapid build-up and deployment of new technologically advanced nuclear capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region remain major regional and global security concerns; calls for maintaining the international treaties on non- proliferation;
Amendment 302 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Warns that DPKR nuclear activities present a serious threat to international peace and security, and to global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts; reiterates its will to work towards achieving a complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula; urges the DPRK to swiftly sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and return to compliance with the NPT;
Amendment 307 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32 c. Calls on the states outside of the NPT framework in possession of nuclear weapons - including India and Pakistan- to refrain from the proliferation of any military-related nuclear technology and to become party to the NPT;
Amendment 308 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Calls on the EU to assist efforts of universalising existing WMD disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and instruments; asks the EEAS to also work on strengthening the training and capacity-building of our partners; praises the EU chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence initiative, funded under the NDICI, in this respect, and underlines the work done in the South East Asia one;
Amendment 313 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Emphasises that the Indo-Pacific region is highly exposed to climate change, which causes serious security challenges in the region; and therefore calls for climate to be at the heart of the security pillar of the EU - Indo-Pacific cooperation;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas tax authorities face many challenges nowadays regarding effective tax collection and cross-border cooperation, given the acceleration of digital transactions, the increasing mobility of taxpayers, the number of cross-border transactions and, the internationalisation of economic operations and business models and the design of complex aggressive tax planning schemes by an industry of enablers;
Amendment 17 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas new technological solutions, such as blockchain, can be used by tax administrations to better serve the needs of tax payers while such technologies can also be abused and serve as a vehicle for illicit activities, with the criminal intent to avoid paying taxes;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the increasing use of crypto-assets is forcing tax administrations to adapt current taxing practices within the single market; whereas the crypto-asset market makes the identification of tax- relevant activities very difficult because it relies less on traditional financial intermediaries, who typically provide information for tax purposes;
Amendment 29 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there is an international effort and commitment to better regulate the fair taxation of the digital economy; whereas crypto-assets could be exploited to undermine existing international tax transparency initiatives, as recognised by the OECD; whereas, in this context, it is crucial that the EU take a leading role, namely on strong cooperation between Member States to tax, crypto-assets in a fair and transparent way, crypto-assets;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas crypto-assets are a fast- moving environment and policymakers are still at an early stage in considering their implications and elaborating the proper tax regime; whereas so far, the tax policy and evasion implications have been largely unexplored, although forming an important aspect of the overall regulatory framework;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that national tax administrations should be better equipped with the adequate resources to facilitate efficient tax collection, better serve taxpayers and ensure compliance and that, in the context of digital transition, this means proper commitment from Member States with investment in human resources training, digital infrastructures and specialised personnel and equipment;
Amendment 74 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Highlights, however, that the use of blockchain, AI and other digital tools by tax administrations is not without risks, which must be properly mitigated, notably to prevent violations of privacy and biased and discriminatory treatment of tax payers;
Amendment 76 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to promote an assessment of the ways in which different Member States tax crypto- assets and of different national policies regarding the combafight against tax fraud and evasion in the field of crypto-assets, underlining best practices and potential loopholes, and taking advantage of cooperation platforms in the field of taxation, namely the Fiscalis programme;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to continue evaluating the operational impact and tax governance aspects of blockchain and other distributed ledger technology, notably through the Fiscalis programme;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the potential of distributed ledger technology to make the withholding system more efficient in each country, but also to facilitate seamless procedures between different national systems and prevent fraudulent activity; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to take account of existing digital solutions in Member States, to assess how to leverage blockchain technologies to prevent tax evasion and avoidance, while fully respecting EU data protection rules;
Amendment 92 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that crypto-assets must be subject to fair, transparent and effective taxation, in order to guarantee a level playing field, prevent a race to the bottom and ensure fair competition between businesses in the area of financial services; understands that decisions on the taxation of crypto-assets lie with Member States, according to the Treaties; stands for an innovation-friendly environment in the digital single market, where entrepreneurs, SMEs and start-ups can thrive, generate growth, create jobs and contribute to economic recovery through tax revenues under an effective regulatory framework;
Amendment 106 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that each country tends to use their own terminology when designing their national regulatory solutions to crypto-assets, which could cause legal uncertainty for citizens and companies, and at the same time emerge as a threat to the integrity ofin advertently create loopholes, providing opportunities for tax abuse and avoidance in the European single market;
Amendment 115 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Considers that it is necessary to have a clear, broadly accepted definition of crypto-assets for tax purposes ;underlines that this definition should be aligned with that of the MiCA regulation;
Amendment 117 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to consider the dimensionspecificities of the use of crypto-assets in their national tax reforms, and to consider implementing more effective systems that ensure less compliance costs and administrative burden, but that guarantee, at the same time, the fair, transparent and effective taxation of crypto-assets; underlines the role of tax incentives and exemptions in promoting technological innovation and development;
Amendment 124 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on Member States to align the tax treatment of crypto-assets with other policy objectives, notably the European Green Deal; highlights that crypto-assets based on proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain are energy-intensive and cause enormous amounts of pollution and damage to the environment; calls, in this regard, for Member States to determine higher taxation on certain crypto-assets, such as those which are based on proof of work blockchain, above and beyond the taxation of other financial instruments;
Amendment 133 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls on the Commission to elaborate a comprehensive list of major taxable events and income forms associated with crypto-assets, the tax consequences of a number of key operations such as issuance of crypto- assets; exchange with crypto-assets, fiat currencies and for goods and services including valuation; disposal via gift or inheritance; loss or theft etc;
Amendment 136 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Asks the Commission to assess how to fairly and effectively tax all crypto- assets users, whether they decide to use crypto-assets services providers or not;
Amendment 138 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the Commission to evaluate and determine to what extent crypto-assets fit within the existing tax framework, in order to promote clarity and certainty for taxpayers; takes the view that tax policy should be integrated within a sound regulatory framework for crypto- assets, and to be coherent with other policy aspects including tax transparency and legal, financial and consumer protection requirements;
Amendment 140 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that it is necessary to amend the scope of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation5 (DAC8) so that European legislators can further assess if other categories of income and assets such as crypto-assets are to be included; _________________ 5 Council Directive 2011/16/EU of 15 February 2011 on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation, OJ L 64, 11.3.2011, p. 1.the exchange of information framework in the field of taxation can include crypto-assets and e-money;
Amendment 147 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Encourages the Commission to take account of existing digital solutions, legal provisions and administrative guidance used in Member States in order to assess how to leverage blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies and to prevent tax fraud and avoidance; supports the development of a European blockchain services infrastructure;
Amendment 149 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Asks the Commission to evaluate how to support improved tax compliance, taking into account the high volatility and fast moving values of crypto-assets, the lack of obvious translation into fiat currency in some cases, but also the challenge for tax administrations to obtain reliable and timely information on these transactions;
Amendment 150 #
2021/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Considers that, insofar as the universe of cryptos is currently in full expansion and is not expected to stabilise in the near future, the necessary assessment of the situation should not prevent the European institutions from legislating on better supervision and better taxation of crypto-assets;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)
Citation 29 b (new)
— having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, paying special attention to SDG 16 that aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
Amendment 65 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that EU defence doctrine cannot consist security and military components but also conflict prevention and civilian measures for sustainable development and peace;
Amendment 102 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 113 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Amendment 115 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 146 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need for strategic reform in the Sahel considering the cyclical nature of the conflicts in the region, emphasises on a more political engagement with the governments supported by the EU to ensure more transparency, combat corruption, cultivate inclusivity and engage with citizens in an effort to curb the explosion of armed and ethnic conflicts;
Amendment 149 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasise that any future Mandates must have a clear definition of the objectives, which should include not only military but also civilian components combating the causes of conflict, as well as a comprehensive exit strategy combined with a list of the resources needed for this purpose;
Amendment 157 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deplores the actions of the coup leaders in Mali; is deeply concerned at the lack of essential state services in Mali and in the Sahel in general; expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating security in the region; notes the announcement of the reorganisation of French military action in the Sahel, in conjunction with our international and African partners; welcomes the increasing involvement of Europeans in the Takuba Task Force; welcomes the adaptation of the new extended mandate of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) to the regionalisation process; calls on the Member States to make a significant contribution to EUTM Mali’s advisory activitiessuggest a deeper analysis and review of the European involvement in this region;
Amendment 187 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the strategic importance for European interests of the Mozambique Channel; welcomes the commitment of the Member States and the VP/HR to respond to the growing terrorist threat in the area; notes the forthcoming establishment of an EUTM; Calls for a clear definition of the objectives of this mission;
Amendment 189 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the importance for the Union of sustainable stability, human security and prosperity in its neighbourhood;
Amendment 220 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the launch of the CSDP operation in the Mediterranean, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI; stresses its key role whose core task ins the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya in accordance with UNSCR 2526 (2020); deplores the fact that, in 2020, it encountered many refusals to allow inspections; calls for a transparent communication from the European External Action Service (EEAS) on this issue; laments the fact that NATO, which is active in the area through Operation Sea Guardian, is unwilling to cooperateunderlines the need for effective collaboration, increased cohesion and sharing of information and resources with NATO's Operation Sea Guardian;
Amendment 236 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 251 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is deeply concerned about the low force generation for operations and missions, and urges the Member States to address this matter as soon as possible; cConsiders that third-country participation in CSDP operations and missions must always be in line with European interests and values; calls on the EU to provide staff in missions and operations with appropriate equipment and training to become more alert and more resilient under less permissive conditions;
Amendment 271 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the need for all the missions and in particular the military missions to have sunset provisions working with locals to build capacity within reasonable time with a view to allow a sustainable exit;
Amendment 273 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls for a more systematic implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security(WPS) and of UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), and for a strengthening of the EU’s WPS and YPS agenda; calls for meaningful gender mainstreaming in the formulation of the EU CSDP, notably via a better gender balance in the personnel and leadership of CSDP missions and operations and specific training of the personnel deployed;
Amendment 274 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Amendment 277 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 292 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 325 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. WelcomNotes the establishment of the European Peace Facility (EPF) in 2020 and calls for it to be made operational swiftly; stresses that the requisite equipment and training must be delivered in the relevant theatres of operation; undertakes to ensure coherence and complementarity between CSDP missions and operations, the Union’s financial instruments (NDICI) and the EPF;
Amendment 358 #
2021/2183(INI)
25. WelcomNotes, in this context, the launch of the concept of Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMPs) and a pilot project in the Gulf of Guinea; calls for this concept to be extended to other areas of interest, in particular the Indo-Pacific region; calls for the Union to update its maritime security strategy by 2022 in the sense of de-escalation of regional conflicts;
Amendment 397 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Union to develop a space defence strategy, which is essential for its strategic autonomy in space; encourages the Union to improve its situational awareness and geo-intelligence support; stresses the importance of the Union having its own launchers; insists that the Union should lead the way in strengthening the increasingly contested area of international space law; calls on the EU and its Member States to actively promote international initiatives on disarmament in space;
Amendment 412 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Insists that freedom of air traffic must be maintained; calls on the Union to defend itself againststrongly oppose any threat to civil aviation or any failure to respect its airspace and to defend international aviation safety;
Amendment 451 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. LamentWelcomes the reduction in the amount of the EDF under the MFF, which makes coherence between Union defence initiatives even more necessary; stresses, in this regard, the role of the European Defence Agency (EDA);
Amendment 478 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 515 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Stresses that the digital sector is an area of opportunity but also of significant threat of malicious action against our security and democracies (by state and non-state actors, and erasing the lines laid down in the law of armed conflict), and that it transcends borders; calls for particular attention to be paid to the impact of emerging technologies so as to ensure that they are applied and used throughout the Union, facilitate research and innovation and enhance the Union’s resilience, keeping in mind the need to control their use; calls for the EU to take the lead in global efforts to set up a comprehensive regulatory framework for the development and use of AI- enabled weapons; calls on the VP/HR, the Member States and the European Council to adopt a joint position on autonomous weapons systems that ensures meaningful human control over the critical functions of weapons systems; insists on the start of international negotiations on a legally binding instrument that would prohibit fully autonomous weapons;
Amendment 536 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10
Subheading 10
Building stronger defence partnerships and supporting the autonomyresilience of partner countries
Amendment 537 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 11
Subheading 11
Defending multilateralism on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
Amendment 539 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls for support to be given to strengthening and preserving the conventional arms control architecture in Europe, in a context of gradual erosion marked by Russia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies; calls for disarmament regimes and forums to be actively supported and strengthened in every aspect: universalisation, support for implementation, political and institutional support, and financial support; calls on the Union to pay particular attention to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk, with particular emphasis on the prohibition regime and conventional obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the fight against impunity; welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty and laments the end of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF); reaffirms its full support for the EU and its Member States’ commitment to the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament regime; reiterates its calls for the adoption of concrete and effective measures during the 10thNPT Review Conference; insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing the global rules-based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture;
Amendment 544 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls for support to be given to strengthening and preserving the conventional arms control architecture in Europe, in a context of gradual erosion marked by RussiaUSA’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies; calls for disarmament regimes and forums to be supported and strengthened in every aspect: universalisation, support for implementation, political and institutional support, and financial support; calls on the Union to pay particular attention to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk, with particular emphasis on the prohibition regime and conventional obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the fight against impunity; welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty and laments the end of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF);
Amendment 594 #
2021/2183(INI)
43. Calls for a stronger NATO supported by a stronger European Union, and wishes to see very tangible development in the EU-NATO partnership; calls, in this context, for NATO’s new strategic concept to be coherent with the EU’s Strategic Compass; expects the new EU-NATO Joint Declaration by the end of 2021;
Amendment 607 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls for even deeper cooperation with international organisations and in particular with the UN, including between CSDP missions and peacekeeping operations, especially on joint theatres; stresses the importance of cooperation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the area of security;
Amendment 616 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Calls for closer relations with non- traditional partners in the Indo-Pacific region (India, Japan, Australia), and in specific policy sectors (cybersecurity, hybrid, maritime, etc.), and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen the dialogue and conflict prevention in this region;
Amendment 635 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Laments the absence of a security and defence cooperation partnership between the UK and the EU on account of the British Government’s lack of interest, despite the assurances given in the political declaration; calls for a stronger partnership to be built with relevant African organisations, such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and G5 SahelSouthern African Development Committee (SADC) and G5 Sahel also promoting a strengthened Parliamentary role in Africa through the Pan-African Parliament;
Amendment 652 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. urges the EU to enhance its institutional capacities for conflict prevention and mediation;
Amendment 653 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Recognises the role of increased flow of illicit finances in tax havens and the risk they pose on increased militarisation and financing terrorist activities, worsening global instability; calls for more actions in curbing money laundering, and capacitating partners, especially in Africa and Latin America, with mechanisms to curb murky financial transactions including engagement of authorities in tax havens;
Amendment 658 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Calls on citizens to express their expectations as regards the CSDP architecture in the course of the Conference on the Future of Europe; calls for the establishment of a fully-fledged Security and Defence Committee in the European Parliament and for the formalisation of an EU Council of Defence Ministers;
Amendment 668 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Points out that Parliament should be consulted in advance and duly informed on the planning, modification and possibility of ending CSDP missions; is determined to play its full role in scrutinising the Global Europe instrument, in particular its peace and security dimension, and in the implementation of the EDF;
Amendment 675 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Stresses the need to develop ever- closer cooperation on CSDP matters with national parliaments in order to reinforce accountability and scrutiny and defence diplomacy;
Amendment 676 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51b. Underlines the importance of improving the tools available to civil society in order to ensure its meaningful involvement in the formulation and oversight of defence policy;
Amendment 138 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the EU’s role as an actor and mediator in conflict prevention and resolution to be enhanced following the adoption of the 2020 EU Peace Mediation Concept; calls for fresh EU disarmament initiatives to counter further military escalations in the world;
Amendment 352 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reaffirms its unwavering support to the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular as regards their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognised borders; condemns Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in armed conflicts, occupations and military build-ups inside the region or on its borders with the region; calls for a revival of the Minsk Process to end the military conflict in Eastern Ukraine; calls in addition for constructive dialogue with Russia within the framework of the Eastern Partnership to end current armed or frozen conflicts and prevent new ones; urges the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular those that have chosen to pursue the path of European integration, to ensure that fundamental freedoms are upheld and to continue implementing the necessary reforms; reiterates that the EU’s support is conditional upon concrete progress on those reforms;
Amendment 394 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Is concerned by the Turkish Government’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, which is repeatedly putting the country at odds with the EU and individual Member States; deplores the long-deteriorating situation regarding human rights and democracy in Turkey; recalls, however, that Turkey will continue to be a country of key strategic interest for the EU and that engagement needs to continue in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner, keeping the country as closely anchored to the EU as possible; calls once again for a ban on arms exports to Turkey;
Amendment 429 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Emphasises that the EU’s relations with Africa are of utmost importance; welcomes the joint communication of the Commission and the VP/HR entitled ‘Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa’3; calls on the Commission and the VP/HR to deepen discussions with the EU’s African partners in order to prepare for a successful EU-African Union Summit; calls for strict implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all areas of EU-Africa relations; _________________ 3 JOIN(2020)0004.
Amendment 498 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the EU’s renewed commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and recognition of its growing importance for EU interests; acknowledges the intense geopolitical competition in the region and calls for the EU to strengthen its strategic focus, presence and actions with the aim of contributing to the stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development of the region; underlines the need for a strategic long-term engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and for establishing comprehensive bilateral and multilateral dialogue mechanisms with Indo-Pacific countries and their societies, while avoiding provocations of any kind, in order to prevent military escalation;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU is one of the most important trading partners for Africa; whereas in 2020 over 61 % of goods imported to the EU from Africa were primary goods and almost 70 % of goods exported from the EU to Africa were manufactured goods; whereas this trade structure reflects the structural imbalance and interdependence of the economies involved;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the African continent is in particular affected in its food security by the war in Ukraine;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas strengthening the intra- continental trade in Africa is essential for its economic development; whereas the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will gives new momentum to pan-African trade and investment opportunities;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the entry into force of the AfCFTA is currently more aspirational than reality, and extensive measures such as the development of cross-border transport infrastructure, the development of cross-border value chains and the establishment of common product standards are required to implement it;
Amendment 66 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas African countries have so far contributed and are contributing very little to climate change while the EU's production and lifestyle habits, based on ever-increasing resource consumption, are major contributors to the causes of climate change; whereas climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to Africa, the EU and the entire world, and require joint responsiveness and substantive investments in sustainable and inclusive economic development and provision of access to public goods; whereas the effects of climate change will be catastrophic, particularly for many African states, and will significantly increase social inequality, and be a cause of increasing social, political, and possibly military conflicts, as well as climate-related migration;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the EU and the AU have announced an Africa-Europe Investment Package of at least EUR 150 billion - over a period of six years, i.e. only around EUR 25 billion - that will support common ambitions for the 2030 Agenda and the AU Agenda 2063, composed of an investment, a health and an education part;
Amendment 80 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas the EU's refusal to comply with the repeated request since 2021 to remove patent protection for the COVID vaccines has politically strained relations with African countries;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the 6th EU-AU-Summit committed to engage constructively towards an agreement on a comprehensive WTO response to the pandemic, which includes trade-related as well as intellectual-property-related aspects; whereas it is essential to extend the TRIPS agreement on other aspects of intellectual property rights, such as diagnostics, devices and treatments;
Amendment 106 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
P a. whereas a geopolitical rivalry exists between China, the U.S., Russia, the EU, among others;
Amendment 135 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. States that the Economic Partnership Agreements concluded or negotiated in the last decade do not sufficiently meet the requirements of a new partnership, but are primarily aimed at enforcing European interests, and sees this as one reason for the frequent criticism or even rejection of the EPAs in many African states;
Amendment 136 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Considers the EPAs that have entered into force should be further developed in terms of an equal partnership or supplemented by additional agreements, whereas in regions where the EPAs encounter little or no political acceptance, they must be supplemented or replaced by other agreements; calls on the Commission to hold negotiations with African countries that include the strengthening of African agriculture with a focus on smallholder agriculture, ensuring food security, supporting climate adaptation measures, the concretization of a joint investment offensive as well as the inclusion of services, among others;
Amendment 137 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Notes that the EPAs have so far failed to achieve their self-imposed goals, and that European exports to the EPA states have been detrimental to local production, especially in the agricultural sector; regrets that important EPA goals such as diversifying value chains and promoting regional integration in Africa have not been achieved, and the main exports are still agricultural products and raw materials;
Amendment 138 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Calls for EPAs to be reviewed to determine the extent to which they are compatible with efforts to establish an AfCFTA; calls for an adjustment of EPA provisions to be pursued depending on the results;
Amendment 164 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the future of the international trading system depends on the revitalisingmodernization of the WTO and finalising the Doha Round, on which African countries have placed their hopes; calls therefore for the interests of development in the countries of the Global South to be better taken into account, and the protection mechanisms for developing economies to be expanded;
Amendment 170 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Is convinced that European interests such as access to raw materials, shaping economic relations to promote the European economy, and managing migration, i.e. by tackling its root causes, can best be pursued through a new partnership of equals; Is convinced that with a new partnership of equals, the EU can effectively strengthen its strategic autonomy;
Amendment 174 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the renewed EU- Africa relationship, based on an equal partnership and on fully joint cooperation, should have at its heart the best shared interests of both continents and should not become subject to geopolitical rivalry;; Concludes that only a partnership of equals between the AU and EU is an appropriate response to the existing geopolitical rivalry; Is convinced that the striving for European areas of influence stands in the way of mutually beneficial cooperation if the EU's geopolitical competition is driven only by demarcation from other world powers.
Amendment 177 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls on the Commission to enhance technical assistance and capacity development activities to promote trade through measures such as: - Expansion of trade related data infrastructure to build an efficient customs administration and facilitate customs clearance - Elimination of technical barriers to trade - Harmonization of norms and standards in EPA states - Harmonization of rules of origin;
Amendment 183 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls for a large-scale European- African investment offensive that provides incentives for a significant increase in private investment in African states and enables comprehensive public investment in infrastructure and in combating climate change; welcomes in this context the commitment made at the 6th AU-EU Summit to mobilize EUR 150 billion within the framework of Global Gateway; Calls for this investment initiative to be significantly expanded together with the Member States;
Amendment 186 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls for the investment offensive to focus primarily on projects to develop and expand renewable energies, secure water supplies, climate adjustment measures and build public infrastructure; expects all investment projects to involve African partner companies and to pay close attention to creating local employment and deepening African value chains; calls on the Commission to identify appropriate investment projects in coordination with local, regional and state partners in Africa and ensure their implementation;
Amendment 190 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Amendment 191 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10 d. Notes that the promotion of African agriculture is of outstanding importance for ensuring food security; Therefore calls for a special investment program to promote agriculture with a focus on supporting smallholder agriculture; Is convinced that the promotion of smallholder agriculture is also an important contribution to climate protection and climate adaptation as well as to the preservation of biodiversity;
Amendment 196 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls for a further development of the debt moratorium granted to African states in response to the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and calls to include a comprehensive debt relief initiative that must also mandatorily involve private creditors;
Amendment 200 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Commission to prepare an effective and easily accessible microcredit scheme, whereas women's access to these loans in particular needs to be significantly improved;
Amendment 205 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for the EU to reinforce its support to the African countries and the AU on combating illicit financial flows and tax evasion by multinational companies; calls for initiatives to ensure that multinational corporations do not contribute to capital outflows from African countries through intra-group transfer pricing as they do not reflect cost structures and value-added shares, thereby reducing tax revenues in African countries;
Amendment 224 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Welcomes the Commission's decision to assess the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on cereal imports and food security, and calls on the Commission to take early action against possible humanitarian crises; notes in this context that sustainable agriculture and more sustainable nutrition in Europe can make a significant contribution to ensuring food security in African countries;
Amendment 257 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the AfCFTA's goal of improving regional differentiation and the expansion and interconnection of infrastructure systems; Welcomes the agreement of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers on common rules of origin for the bloc for 87.7 % of goods or 3 800 tariff lines covered by AfCFTA; calls on the European Commission to harmonise the rules of origin in all the different EU agreements with regions and countries in Africa with the common AfCFTA rules;
Amendment 292 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls for the establishment of a high-level dialogue at the EU level; Calls for this dialogue to be complemented by a continuous high-level political dialogue at the level of regional groupings and with individual African states in order to concretize the new partnership on an equal basis for all levels, as well as to identify and implement key projects;
Amendment 295 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Calls on the EU, together with the AU and African states, to ensure full involvement of civil society in Africa and Europe, both in the context of general dialogue and in specific projects;
Amendment 297 #
2021/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25 c. Expects that within the framework of the new partnership of equals, the guarantee of good governance, respect for human rights, and the safeguarding of fundamental labour and social rights will have a place of high significance;
Amendment 2 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Europe’s moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 3 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
– having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Identifying Europe’s recovery needs’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 4 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 6 June 2021 entitled ‘European Parliament’s Scrutiny on the ongoing assessment by the Commission and the Council of the national recovery and resilience plans’,
Amendment 7 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 4 March 2021 entitled ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)102),
Amendment 8 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
– having regard to the Porto Social Commitment of 7 May 2021 of the Council, the Commission, the Parliament and social partners,
Amendment 10 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 17 September 2020 entitled ‘Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021’ (COM(2020)0575),
Amendment 11 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
– having regard to the interinstitutional agreement of 16 December 2020 on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources (P9_TA- PROV(2020)0358),
Amendment 19 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Semester plays an essential role in coordinating economic, employment, social and budgetary policies in the Member States; notes that the Semester, has been expanded to include, among other aspects, issues related to the financial sector and taxation, as well as objectives of the UN SDGs; notes that in order to further strengthen economic and social resilience, the EU must deliver on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas according to the Commission’s Summer forecasts, the GDP growth rate for 2021 stands at 4.38 % of GDP per capita in the euro area andand for 2022 at 4.25 % in both the EU 27, and is expected to rise to 4.4 % respectieuro area; whereas differences across countries in the pace of the recovelry in 2022from the crisis remain substantial;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas unemployment rates decreasedthe European Union overall lost more than 3 million jobs in 2020 and unemployment rates increased in all Member States during the crisis; whereas young people have experienced the sharpest decline in employment; whereas unemployment rates decreased since last summer to an average rate of 8.4 % in the euro area and 7.6 % in the EU 27 in May 2021, and; whereas a further decrease to unemployment rates are only expected to fall below 2019 levels in three Member States; whereas in April 2021, the youth unemployment rate was 17.81 % and 7 % respectively is expected in 2022in the EU and 17.2 % which is higher than the pre-crisis levels;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas in 2020, Member States provided total fiscal support estimated at more than 6.5 % of GDP, and as a result, the euro area and EU aggregate government deficit increased from historically low levels of around 0.5 % of GDP in 2019 to around 7 % in 2020, which will inevitably be reflected in the aggregate debt levels; whereas the increase in the deficit is mainly due to the adoption of new or extended emergency support measures in response to the need for new restrictions to economic activity in the first part of the year 2021;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the magnitude of COVID- 19-related emergency measures is sizeable, at an estimated 4 % of GDP in both 2020 and 2021 in the EU as a whole, including emergency spending for firms, workers and on health-care; the underlying fiscal stance for the EU is expected to be slightly expansionary in 2022, also thanks to the fiscal support from the expected acceleration in spending financed by RRF grants;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas reference values of up to 3 % of planned or actual government deficit and 60 % of debt to GDP are defined by the TFEU; whereas these reference values were established in the early 1990s under fundamentally different economic circumstances and they are not based on a scientific analysis of the debt sustainability of public budgets;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas both public and private sector investment were already clearly insufficient before the crisis, despite historically low interest rates; whereas to address the extensive public investment backlog in, inter alia, transport, education and science infrastructure and to vigorously tackle the challenges of digital transformation, green and just transition, additional annual public investment in the three digit billion range is needed which cannot be provided for under current fiscal policy;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the recovery and resilience plans adopted by the Member States will encompass their national agenda of reforms and investments designed in line with the EU policy objectives, centred on policy areas: green transition; digital transformation; smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; social and territorial cohesion; health, economic, social and institutional resilience; policies for the next generation, children and youth;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the crisis resulted in increasing social, territorial, and economic and gender based inequalities;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. whereas the Union and its Member States have committed to the Treaty-based fundamental values, the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 69 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Id. whereas during the Porto Social Summit held on 7 and 8 May 2021, the EU’s leaders recognised the European Pillar of Social Rights as a fundamental element of the recovery and whereas in the Porto declaration they underlined their determination to continue deepening its implementation at EU and national level;
Amendment 87 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the roll-out of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) will help to make EU economies and societies more sustainable, inclusive, resilient and better prepared for the just, green and digital transitions, foster economic, social and territorial cohesion, bring convergence and help the Member States to mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis; notes that the facility, which is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, will provide large- scale financial support to Member States of up to EUR 672.5 billion in grants and loans to finance reforms and investments;
Amendment 105 #
Amendment 107 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact will continue to be applied in 2022 and is expected to be deactivated as of 2023; expects however that the general escape clause will remain activated as long as the underlying justification of the activation exists in order to support the efforts of the Member States to recover from the pandemic crisis and strengthen their competitiveness, as well as economic and social resilience; notes, furthermore, that the decision to deactivate the general escape clause should be taken as an overall assessment of the state of the economy based on quantitative criteria, with the level of economic activity in the EU compared to pre-crisis levels as the key, social and employment situation based on quantitative and quantlitative criteriona; points out that country-specific situations will continuhave to be taken into account also after the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 120 #
2021/2061(INI)
5a. Is of the opinion that the review of the EU economic governance framework is necessary; agrees with the European Fiscal Board (EFB) on the importance of having a clear pathway towards a reviewed fiscal framework, preferably prior to the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 130 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concernedNotes that according to the baseline scenario of the Commission’s latest Debt Sustainability Monitor, the debt ratio in the euro area is to peak at 104.6 % in 2024 and 2025, while the debt ratio in the Union is to peak at 96.5 % in 2024, before declining once again;
Amendment 137 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that coordination of national fiscal policies remains crucial in underpinning the recovery; notes that the overall fiscal stance, taking into account national budgets and the RRF, should remain supportive in 2021 and 2022as long as necessary;
Amendment 150 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that fiscal policy should remain agile and adjust to the evolving situation as warranted, and that a premature withdrawal of fiscal support should be avoided; further highlights the expectation that economic activity will gradually normalise in the second half of 2021, depending on the further evolution of the pandemic, and agrees that Member States’ fiscal policies should become more differentiated in 2022, duly taking into account the state of the recovery, fiscal sustainability and the need to reduce economic, social and territorial divergences;
Amendment 164 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that Member States with high debt should use the RRF to finance additional investment to support the recovery, while pursuing a prudent fiscal policyresponsible fiscal and sustainable policies without prejudice to social equity and Article 9 TFEU; stresses the importance of the Member States using the potential of the RFF to support the necessary structural changes in order to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and socially inclusive EU and the transformation to more globally competitive, future-proof, agile industries; agrees that as the growth of nationally financed current expenditure should be kept under control and bpublic health situation normalises and restrictions affecting economic activity are limifted for, Member States with high debtcan start phasing out the underlying fiscal stance, allowing fiscal measures to maximise support to the recovery without pre- empting future fiscal trajectories and creating a permanent burden on public finances;
Amendment 183 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and macroeconomic stability remain the guiding principles of the EU’s economic agenda complemented through the six priorities of the RRF; stresses, furthermore, that the digital, green and just transformation of our societies, businesses and economies is crucial in order to increase Europe’s productivity and competitiveness for a robust recovery, in line with the Digital Decade;
Amendment 186 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that responsible fiscal and sustainable policies are a tool to achieve the overarching EU priorities as enshrined in the treaties: sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy aiming at full employment and social progress, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment;
Amendment 189 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that gender equality and equal opportunities for all, and the mainstreaming of those objectives, are addressed in the country-specific recommendations and taken into account and promoted throughout the preparation and implementation of recovery and resilience plans;
Amendment 190 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Socially balanced, inclusive and sustainable structural reforms and, investment and public revenues
Amendment 193 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that the RRF is an unprecedented opportunity for all Member States to address key structural challenges and investment needs, while embracing the green and digital transitions; and welcomes that the recovery plans are based on priority criteria as set out in the Regulation on Establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility, namely for the green transition, digital transformation, smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, social and territorial cohesion, health, economic, social and institutional resilience and policies for the next generation, children and the youth;
Amendment 201 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the recovery efforts must go hand in hand with a lasting increase of public and private investment beyond the RRF in order to be able to address current and future challenges and to achieve the EU policy objectives; recalls the investment gap estimated by the Commission in 2020 for the EU of more than 600 billion annually; Is concerned about the assessment of the European Fiscal Board on the low level of investment pre-crisis and the consequently limited recovery of investment in some countries;
Amendment 214 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a focus on fiscal structural reforms, including reforms enhancing efficient spending,structural reforms that enhance efficient government spending, including the quality and efficiency of the financial administration and acknowledges that high-quality public finance resource management is crucial;
Amendment 217 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines that public revenues are essential to ensure the sustainability of Member States public finances; considers it therefore necessary to subject the level of taxes and duties in the Member States to greater European coordination to avoid tax competition and to ensure that necessary government spending, whether for consumption or investment, is financed by regular revenues, except if these sources of revenue are insufficient due to a crisis or if additional growth-generating expenditure is to be financed;
Amendment 221 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recalls in this context, that taxation is one of the key policies monitored through the European Semester towards fairer and more growth- friendly tax systems; calls on the Council and its Member States to implement the recommendations in terms of addressing national measures to fight aggressive tax planning, tax evasion and tax avoidance or ineffective anti-money laundering measures;
Amendment 223 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Invites the Commission to revamp the comprehensive economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to take the principles of NGEU as a basis for a modernisation of the common European fiscal architecture; invites the Commission therefore to consider the possibility of a permanent investment fund for the euro area and the non-euro area aligned to European priorities and with the aim to finance future-oriented investments, create European added value, to effectively tackle economic shocks and manage the economic cycle;
Amendment 228 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the fact that the updated New European Industrial Strategy, the European Digital Strategy, the European Green Deal and all the other relevant strategies set out the framework for speeding up Europe’s recovery and transition towards a cleaner, more digital, and more resilient economic and industrial model, as well as for building a stronger and more resilient single market;
Amendment 236 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights that tackling structural challenges is crucial for a sustainable recovery and continued growth, and that implementing reforms to address structural vulnerabilities is key not only to improving the ability to withstand and cope with existing challenges but also to accomplishing the twin transitions in a sustainable and fair manner; and reduce social inequalities; notes that in order to further strengthen economic and social resilience, the EU must deliver on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal;
Amendment 239 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Is convinced that building a resilient economy calls for reinforcing the social dimension of European governance, aiming at providing adequate protection to all people as well as to promote efficient social and healthcare systems for everyone;
Amendment 250 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
European Semester and Country-specific recommendations (CSRs)
Amendment 252 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 258 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls that Member States, in their recovery and resilience plans, are required to effectively address all or a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant CSRs, including the fiscal aspects thereof, and that beyond the scope of the RRF, those recommendations that are not addressed remain valid and will continue to be monitored under the European Semester framework; will continue to be monitored under the European Semester framework; Underlines, however, that the 2019 pre- pandemic CSRs should be interpreted in the light of the current crisis and the new challenges to ensure coherence between them, the 2020 CSRs and the general and specific objectives of the RRF regulation, and that future CSRs should not contradict the objectives of the RRF;
Amendment 263 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recognises the role that the Commission has allotted to the European Semester in the Recovery Plan and its importance for policy coordination at EU level; stresses, however, that the effectiveness and success of the alignment of Member States’ investment and reform programmes will depend on the review of the Semester and, according to the outcome, its adaptation as well as the increased ownership by the Member States of the implementation of the CSRs;
Amendment 268 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Highlights that the RFF exercise is also an unprecedented opportunity for the Commission and the Member States to learn from and improve the mechanisms driving the economic governance framework especially when it comes to the underlying political guidelines, cooperation between the institutions and increased ownership of the Member States developing the national reform programmes and implementing structural reforms;
Amendment 269 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Believes that the renewed and simplified EU Semester could profit from the lessons learned from the RRF process in regards to establish a more transparent and democratic coordination process when it comes to defining the guiding principles/policy objectives of the European Semester and the CSRs with full involvement of the European Parliament and the Member States as well as in regards to the reciprocal process between Commission and the Member States in developing the needed reforms and investment to achieve those policy objectives; therefore, calls on the Commission to closely assess the RRF exercise and draw conclusions for the review and adaptation of the European Semester cycle and the CSRs;
Amendment 273 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Reiterates the European Parliament’s call for strengthening its democratic role in the economic governance framework; calls therefore for an Interinstitutional Agreement on Sustainable European Economic Governance granting Parliament a right of consent on the policy recommendations presented in the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, the Euro area fiscal stance and on the package of Country- specific Recommendations;
Amendment 275 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to enhance the social dialogue;
Amendment 276 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Is concerned about the heavy administrative burden resulting from the twin processes of the RRF and the European Semester and asks the Commission to review the interlinkage and come forward with a streamlined approach; invites the Commission, moreover, to reassess if annually published CSRs fulfil the purpose to properly evaluate the need for and monitor structural reforms that are mostly implemented over a longer period of time;
Amendment 277 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
19g. Stresses the importance of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) in detecting, preventing and addressing macroeconomic imbalances in the EU, however, agrees to the findings of the European Court of Auditors* that its potential has not been fully exploited in such a way as to ensure the effective prevention and correction of imbalances; therefore, agrees that the surveillance under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure in the new EU Semester cycle will need to be adapted and simplified taking into consideration the outcome of the review of the economic framework; *Special Report No 03/2018: Audit of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP), European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 280 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 285 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Welcomes the DG ECFIN’s initiatives and ongoing reflection on the idea of an alternative set of indicators to measure economic, social and environmental progress, supplementing GDP as a welfare measure for inclusive and sustainable growth; is convinced that the EU policy objectives have to be reflected as well in terms of new measurements and granular performance indicators for progress; highlights in this respect the advanced statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods on international level, such as the beyond GDP framework of the OECD and the United Nations; urges the Commission to follow these international standards and integrate this approach in the EU economic governance framework;
Amendment 290 #
2021/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls for the Social Scoreboard of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) to be fully taken into account for the purposes of monitoring Member States´ performance in relation to the EPSR´s principles; takes note of the Commission initiative in confirming that the revised Social Scoreboard will be part of the policy coordination framework in the context of the European Semester; takes notes that the EU leaders welcomed the European Social Partners joint proposal for an alternative set of indicators to measure economic, social and environmental progress, supplementing GDP as welfare measure for inclusive and sustainable growth; calls for better reflecting scoreboards in policy recommendations;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Identifies trade policy as a strategic geopolitical tool for the transatlantic agenda; highlights the need to identify joint actions based on shared interests and values in order to contribute to a global sustainable and inclusive economic recovery; stresses that ‘workers and wages’ and more resilient and responsible supply chains should be at the core of such an agenda; in this regard encourages both sides to design similar tools to ban forced labour and exploitative labour conditions and to cooperate on improving respect for workers' rights and environmental standards in trade agreements including by building on each other's experience to enforce these provisions more efficiently; encourages both sides to join forces in promoting human rights, environmental and workers' rights also at the multilateral level;
Amendment 19 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the US support for the new Director-General of the WTO, the US’s return to the Paris Agreement, the WTO tariff rate quota agreement and, the temporary suspension of Airbus Boeing tariffs, the announcement to start discussions to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity as well as the US willingness to engage in discussions on a potential TRIPS waiver;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises at the same time that some diverging interests remain; in this regard, urges both sides to resolve bilateral disputes; urges the US to remove unilateral trade measures and refrain from taking further ones; urges the removal of section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium; calls for a rapid and lasting solution on aircraft subsidies; calls for the suspension of announced trade retaliation on economic sectors such as footwear in Member States that have implemented a Digital Services Tax (DST) while negotiations are ongoing in the OECD framework; expects both sides to address the EU's concerns regarding the US Buy American Act and the Jones Act;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for enhanced cooperation on WTO reform, including reinstating the appellate body,the reform of its 3 core functions which entails reforming and reinstating the appellate body as well as reinforcing the monitoring and deliberative function among others by making sure open plurilateral agreements can be included; urges both sides to cooperate on regulating trade in health products, setting an ambitious environmental agenda, and agreeingmong others by relaunching the negotiations on the Environmental Goods Agreement; expects both sides to agree on concrete deliverables for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12); encourage including an agreement on fisheries, a declaration on trade and health, a work programme for reform of the dispute settlement system, a work programme on industrial subsidies and state owned enterprises as well as substantial progress on e-commerce negotiations; encourages both sides to update WTO rules on state owned enterprises, industrial subsidies and overcapacity as well as technology transfer to efficiently address the challenges posed by China: in this regard also supports expanding the trilateral initiative with Japan; expects both sides to stick to multilateral agreements;
Amendment 59 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Advocates, wherever possible, a joint strategic approach towards China, addressing the roots of unfair trade practices and tackling industrial subsidies, state-owned enterprises and human rights concerns by including a discussion on the US phase one agreement with China and the EU's CAI;
Amendment 69 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on both sides to use trade as a mean to fight climate change and achieve upward convergence; in this regard urges both sides to cooperate on pricing carbon and in particular to coordinate on the development of a carbon border adjustment mechanism;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Advocates a joint approach on tackling the COVID-19 crisis among others by increasing the availability and affordability of vaccines; in this regard calls on both sides to refrain from any export restricting measures, enhance production capacity, ensure the proper functioning of supply chains and engage constructively on a potential TRIPS waiver; encourages both sides to increase regulatory cooperation to facilitate essential access to medicines.
Amendment 90 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages both sides to find a framework for joint action and look for selective agreements via the relaunch of a high-level strategic dialogue; calls for a stronger regulatory, green and digital partnership through the Trade and Technology Council and; calls for a coordinated approach to critical technologies, a carbon border adjustment mechanism ands well as to digital and global taxes.
Amendment 96 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for a continued and enhanced transatlantic parliamentary dimension on trade including within the framework of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue; calls more specifically for the establishment of a sub- committee on Trade & Technology within the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue to complement the executive part of the Trade & Technology Council and to exercise democratic control thereof;
Amendment 101 #
2021/2038(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Urges the Commission, as common practice, to be transparent in its cooperation with the United States among others by publishing all proposals that are sent to the United States as well as by guaranteeing the involvement of the European Parliament and civil society in the development of these proposals so as to enhance consumers' and citizens' trust;
Amendment 26 #
2021/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned about the increasingly unbalanced EU-China bilateral economic and trade relationship; stresses that rebalancing and a more level playing field are vital to EU interests; China and the EU must build a level playing field and a fruitful relationship, despite the differences between both economic systems; for that, the Union must complete its range of autonomous instruments: (screening of foreign direct investments; export of double use technology; state subsidies; access to public procurement; protection in front of coercive measures form third countries); and China must consider the need to meet European standards in aspect related to Trade, especially in the area of human rights and working conditions.
Amendment 67 #
2021/2037(INI)
5. Welcomes the conclusion at the political level of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI); recalls that the CAI has to be considered in the context of a strengthened EU toolbox of unilateral measures; underlines it will thoroughly scrutinise the agreement, including its sustainable development section, and take stock of the human rights context, before determining its position;; reiterates its most serious concern about the various abuses of human rights in China, and recalls that full respect of universal values, despite the differences between both systems is essential; takes the position that the ratification of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), by the European Parliament, is suspended until the Chinese retaliatory sanctions are lifted.
Amendment 13 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses its previous position calling for a specific chapter on trade and gender equality and women’s empowerment, in the upcoming modernisation of the EU Chile Association agreement; observes with interest the progress made on a trade and gender chapter in the negotiations and calls for a swift conclusion in 2021;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to table binding measures on pay transparency which can be a useful tool to detect gaps and discrimination within the same sector and bridge the gender pay gap; regrets nonetheless the delay in publishing this proposal and asks the Commission to put forward the proposal as soon as possible building on examples like the one on Switzerland with public procurement policy;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that e-commerce has a potential to connect more female entrepreneurs with international markets; however, calls for the Commission to support women in adopting new technologies such as blockchain that due to its peer-to-peer nature, anonymity and efficiency can help certain women to overcome some discriminatory legal and cultural barriers to trade, improve their access to finance and help them to integrate in global value chains;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to ensure that sufficient resources are available to promote the core value of gender equality in its trade and investment policies and to ensure that the secretariats of the EU institutions responsible for trade policy and negotiations have the knowledge and technical capacity to incorporate the gender perspective. in the entire process of trade negotiations and policy formulation, by appointing gender focal points
Amendment 65 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Is convinced that sharing best practices between the EU and organisations active in researching and promoting women economic empowerment such as ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, World Bank and creation of networks involving academia, CSOs and other stakeholders is indispensable for achieving results; stresses in this context also the role of parliaments; calls on the Commission to ensure that sufficient resources are available to promote the core value of gender equality also in its trade and investment policies and to ensure that the secretariats of the EU institutions responsible for trade policy and negotiations have the knowledge and technical capacity to incorporate the gender perspective in the entire process of trade negotiations and policy formulation;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Welcomes ISO International Workshop Agreement (ISO/IWA 34) on global definitions related to women’s entrepreneurship (with an aim to facilitate policymaking, data collection and access to capacity building, finance, and markets for women's economic empowerment);
Amendment 5 #
2021/0430(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2 a) In view of the commitment taken in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 and the need to present an adequate amount of new own resources for the repayment of the European Union Recovery Instrument, the Commission committed to present a proposal for a second basket of new own resources by the end of 2023. In this context, as reiterated in the Commission communication of 20 May 2021 on Business Taxation for the 21st century, the Commission committed to propose additional new own resources, which could include a Financial Transaction Tax and an own resource linked to the corporate sector. 1a
Amendment 11 #
2021/0430(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) The implementation of the OECD/G20 IF Pillar 1 Agreement requires the participation of third countries, in particular third countries hosting the headquarters of Groups of entreprises within the scope of that agreement. Should the OECD/G20 IF Pillar 1 Agreement not be implemented by several key third countries, its implementation by the Union will not generate the expected revenues. It is necessary for the Commission and the Member States to regularly assess the implementation of the OECD/G20 IF Pillar 1 Agreement. In the absence of progress in the implementation of the OECD/G20 IF Pillar 1 Agreement by the end of 2023, a new proposal introducing a new own resource in connection with the internal market such as a Single Market Levy or a Digital Levy should be submitted in order to generate revenues by 2026.
Amendment 17 #
2021/0430(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c a (new)
Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 20 #
2021/0430(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 6
Article 2 – paragraph 6
Article 1(1), points (c) and (ca), shall apply from
Amendment 22 #
2021/0430(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 7
Article 2 – paragraph 7
the first day of the date of application of the [Directive on implementation of the global agreement on re-allocation of taxing rights] or the first day of the date of application of the [Directive (EU)XXX introducing a own resource connected to the Single Market in the Union] or
Amendment 328 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Most EU corporates, however, do not seek external credit ratings, in particular due to cost considerations. To avoid disruptive impacts on bank lending to unrated corporates and to provide enough time to establish public or private initiatives aimed at increasing the coverage of external credit ratings, it is necessary to provide for a transitional period for such increase in the coverage. During that transitional period, institutions using IRB approaches should be able to apply a favourable treatment when calculating their output floor for investment grade exposures to unrated corporates, whilst initiatives to foster widespread use of credit ratings should be established. Tha. In order to enhance competition in the market for credit transitional arrangement should be coupled with a report prepared by the European Banking Authority (‘EBA’). After the transition period, institutting agencies and support the development of an European market, the Commissions should be able to refer to credit assessments by ECAIs to calculate the capital requirements for most of their corporate exposures. To inform any future initiative on the set-up of public or private rating schemes, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) should be requested to prepare a report on the impediments to the availability of external credit ratings by ECAIs, in particular for corporates, and on possible measures to address those impedimentfoster the availability of credit assessments by nominated ECAIs and assess how public and or private initiatives could be expanded and how oligopolies in the CRA market could be addressed, and where appropriate, submit to European Parliament and to the Council additional legislative proposals. The Commission should also assess the possibility of the creation of a European public credit rating agency as an impartial and trusted alternative to existing agencies. After the transition period, institutions should be able to refer to credit assessments by ECAIs to calculate the capital requirements for most of their corporate exposures. In the meanwhile, the European Commission stands ready to provide technical support to Member States via its Technical Support Instrument in this area, e.g. to formulate strategies on increasing the rating-penetration of their unlisted corporates or to explore best practices on setting up entities capable of providing ratings or providing related guidance to corporates.
Amendment 906 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 63 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 63 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 150 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 150 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 1161 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 180 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 180 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 433b – paragraph 2
Article 433b – paragraph 2
Amendment 1167 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 182
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 182
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 434 – paragraph 3
Article 434 – paragraph 3
3. EBA shall publish on its website the disclosures of small and non-complex institutions on the basis of the information reported by those institutions to competent authorities in accordance with Article 430. and paragraph 2 of Article 447.
Amendment 1173 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 188 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 188 – point d a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 447 – paragraph1 a (new)
Article 447 – paragraph1 a (new)
Amendment 1264 #
2021/0342(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 196
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 196
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 465 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 465 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 112 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) To maintain adequate resilience to the negative impacts of ESG factors, institutions established in the Union need to be able to systematically identify, measure and manage ESG risks, and their supervisors need to assess the risks at the level of the individual institution as well as at the systemic level, giving priority to environmental factors and progressing to the other sustainability factors as the methodologies and tools for the assessment evolve. Institutions should assess the alignment of their portfolios with the ambition of the Union to become climate- neutral by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 as well as avert environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Institutions should set out specific plans to address the risks arising, in the short, medium and long term, from the misalignment of their business model and strategy with relevant policy objectives of the Union, included in the Paris Agreement, the Fit for 55 package52 [and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework]. Institutions should be required to have robust governance arrangements and internal processes for the management of ESG risks and to have in place strategies approved by their management bodies that take into consideration not only the current but also the forward-looking impact of ESG factors. These strategies should ensure adherence to the EU's ambition to reduce emissions with 55% in 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2050 and shall ensure a reduction of their financing of activities that significantly harm environmental objectives as defined by Regulation (EU) 2019/852. The collective knowledge and awareness of ESG factors by the management body and institutions’ internal capital allocation to address ESG risks will also be key to drive the change within each and single institution. The specificities of ESG risks as well as their relative novelty means that understandings, measurements and management practices can differ significantly across institutions. To ensure convergence across the Union and a uniform understanding of ESG risks, appropriate definitions and minimum standards for the assessment of those risks should be provided in prudential regulation. To achieve this objective, definitions are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 and the EBA is empowered to specify a minimum set of reference methodologies for the assessment of the impact of ESG risks on the financial stability of institutions, giving priority to the impact of environmental factors. Since the forward-looking nature of ESG risks means that scenario analysis and stress testing, together with plans for addressing those risks, are particularly informative assessment tools, EBA should be also empowered to develop uniform criteria for the content of the plans to address those risks and for the setting of scenarios and applying the stress testing methods. Environment-related risks, including risks stemming from environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, and climate-related risks in particular should take priority in light of their urgency and the particular relevance of scenario analysis and stress testing for their assessment. __________________ 52 Communication of the Commission COM(2021)568 final, 14.07.2021, comprising the following Commission proposals: COM(2021)562 final, COM(2021)561 final, COM(2021)564 final, COM(2021)563 final, COM(2021)556 final, COM(2021)559 final, COM(2021)558 final, COM(2021)557 final, COM(2021)554 final, COM(2021)555 final, COM(2021)552 final.
Amendment 136 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 2 – paragraph 5 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 5 – point 5
(-1) Article 2(5), point 5 is replaced by the following: "(5) in Germany, the ‘Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau’, ‘Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank’, ‘Bremer Aufbau-Bank GmbH’, ‘Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank’, ‘Investitionsbank Berlin’, ‘Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg’, 'Investitionsbank Sachsen- Anhalt', ‘Investitionsbank Schleswig- Holstein’, ‘Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen – NBank’, ‘Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland- Pfalz’, ‘Landeskreditbank Baden- Württemberg – Förderbank’, ‘LfA Förderbank Bayern’, ‘NRW.BANK’, ‘Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG’, ‘Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank’, ‘ThüringerAufbaubank’, undertakings which are recognised under the ‘Wohnungsgemeinnützigkeitsgesetz’ as bodies of State housing policy and are not mainly engaged in banking transactions, and undertakings recognised under that law as non-profit housing undertakings; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:" Or. en 2022013L0036-01&from=EN
Amendment 265 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 48a – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 48a – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Member States may apply a stricter regulatory regime to all third country branches or branches from specific third countries. Paragraphs (1) to (3) of this Article shall not apply if the Member State subjects branches from the relevant third country to authorisation requirements and other regulatory requirements in line with the requirements for institutions authorised under this Directive.
Amendment 315 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 53 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 2
Article 53 – paragraph 1– subparagraph 2
(8 a) in Article 53 (1), subparagraph 2 is replaced by the following: Confidential information which such persons, auditors or experts receive in the course of their duties may be disclosed only in summary or aggregate form, such that individual credit institutions cannot be identified, without prejudice to cases covered by criminal law. or taxation law. Or. en https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02013L0036-20150101)
Amendment 316 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 b (new)
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 53 – paragraph 2
Article 53 – paragraph 2
(8 b) in Article 53, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the competent authorities from exchanging information with each other or transmitting information to the ESRB, EBA, or the European Supervisory Authority (European Securities and Markets Authority) (‘ESMA’) established by Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) in accordance with this Directive, with Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, with Regulation (EU) 2019/2033 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010, with Articles 31, 35 and 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 and with Articles 31 and 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, with Directive (EU) 2019/2034 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and with other directives applicable to credit institutions. That information shall be subject to paragraph 1 Competent authorities shall not be prevented from exchanging information with national taxation authorities, including where this information originates in another Member State. That information shall be subject to paragraph 1.’ Or. en https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02013L0036-20150101)
Amendment 317 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 c (new)
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 399 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 – paragraph 13
Article 91 – paragraph 13
13. This Article and Articles 91a to 91d shall be without prejudice to provisions of the Member States on the representation of employees in the management body and on the management body in its supervisory function as provided for by national law.’;
Amendment 404 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 91 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. The entities shall assess the suitability of members of the management body before those members take up their positions. Where the entities conclude, based on the suitability assessment, that the member concerned does not fulfil the criteria and requirements set out in paragraph 1, the entities shall ensure that the member concerned does not take up the position consideredBy derogation from the first sentence, in case of members of the management body in its supervisory function the assessment can be performed before those members take up their positions or alternatively without undue delay after the appointment. Where the entities conclude, based on the suitability assessment, that the member concerned does not fulfil the criteria and requirements set out in paragraph 1, the entities shall either take measures to mitigate and solve the discrepancy within an appropriate time or ensure that the member concerned does not take up the position considered. If these measures are not successful or according to corporate law not possible, the entity has to inform the competent authority without undue delay.
Amendment 413 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 91 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 424 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 a – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 91 a – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. As soon as any new facts or other issues that may affect the suitability of the member of the management body are known to the entities, the entities shall inform without undue delay the relevant competent authorities thereof. [copied from Art. 91b (5) CRD 6]
Amendment 425 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 a – paragraph 4
Article 91 a – paragraph 4
4. The entities that renew the mandate of members of the management body shall inform in writing the competent authorities with undue delay, the latest within 15 working days of the date of that renewal of the mandate.
Amendment 427 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 91 b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 434 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 91 b – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 444 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 4
Article 91 b – paragraph 4
Amendment 458 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 5
Article 91 b – paragraph 5
Amendment 460 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 6
Article 91 b – paragraph 6
Amendment 462 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – introductory part
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. Where members of the management body do not fulfil the requirements set out in Article 91(1) to (8) at all times or where the entities do not comply with the obligations and deadlines laid down in paragraphs 2 or 4 of this Article, Member States shall ensure that competent authorities have the necessary powers to:
Amendment 463 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – point a
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – point a
(a) prevent such members to be part of the management body from carrying out activities;
Amendment 464 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – point b
Article 91 b – paragraph 7 – point b
(b) remove such members from the management body, in urgent cases without a suspensive effect of formal objections or legal proceedings by the entity or the person itself;
Amendment 467 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 8
Article 91 b – paragraph 8
Amendment 478 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Amendment 479 #
2021/0341(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive 2013/36/EU
Article 91 b – paragraph 10
Article 91 b – paragraph 10
Amendment 227 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Exporters of certified sustainable products shall, upon request, be granted a “sustainability certificate”, proving the eligibility of their goods for preferential market access.
Amendment 229 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. The Commission shall also, as appropriate, periodically verify that recognised voluntary sustainability certification schemes continue to fulfil the criteria that led to their recognition in accordance with paragraph 1a.
Amendment 230 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 c (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 c (new)
Amendment 231 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 d (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. If there is evidence of repeated or significant cases where economic operators implementing a scheme recognised in accordance with paragraph 1a have failed to fulfil the requirements of this Regulation, the Commission shall examine, in consultation with the operator of the recognised scheme, whether those cases indicate deficiencies in the scheme.
Amendment 232 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 e (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. The Commission shall establish and keep up-to-date a register of recognised voluntary sustainability certification schemes. That register shall be made publicly available on the internet.
Amendment 233 #
2021/0297(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a Where the Commission identifies deficiencies in a recognised voluntary sustainability certification scheme, it may grant the scheme operator an appropriate period of time to take remedial action.
Amendment 5 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for the 2022 budget to contribute to the fulfilment of the priorities outlined in the European SemesterUnion’s recovery strategy, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, while allowing to deliver the European Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 11 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Supports the “whatever it takes” approach taken by European Institutions and Member States, supported by both monetary and budgetary tools; highlights that businesses and households have received needed financial support since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The magnitude of the COVID-19-related emergency measures is sizeable, at an estimated 4% of GDP in both 2020 and 2021 in the Union as a whole, including emergency investment in health-care to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and other measures like transfers to firms and workers most hit by the crisis; considers that such support will remain necessary until the spread of the pandemic is not fully under control and in order to support Member States’ efforts to recover from the crisis and strengthen their economic and social resilience;
Amendment 20 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the importance ofCalls for sufficient resources for the coordination and surveillance of macroeconomic policies,of macroeconomic, social and environmental policies; highlights that the new framework for anti-money laundering, and countering financial crime and for enforcement of the economic governance frameworkwould require new resources to deliver adequate enforcement and supervision;
Amendment 27 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the necessity to boost sustainable economic growth, while pursuing reforms to modernise European economies and enhance their competitiveness, as well as facilitating access to finance for SMEs; recalls the challenges related to sustainable development during a climate crisis and highlights the opportunities generated by the European Green Deal; calls for the 2022 Union budget to facilitate access to funding that supports companies to achieve the Union objective of climate neutral economy;
Amendment 29 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the adoption of the InvestEU program which includes EUR 26 000 000 000 guarantee aiming at levelling up EUR 372 000 000 000 of investments and hope to fully enable further risk-taking in fulfilling the Union policy priorities; insists that in 2022, InvestEU Fund should prioritise a facilitated access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as financing social investment and skills to maximize the Fund's contribution to a sustainable recovery, oriented towards greening and digital transitions; stresses that InvestEU should strive to address regional disparities, namely those resulting from long-term investment deficits and geographical disadvantages, and enhance economic and social convergence and cohesion;
Amendment 32 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Welcomes the extension of the State Aid Temporary Framework until 31 December 2021 in the context of the COVID-19 crisis; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of the Union competition policy; encourages Member States and the EU via its new recovery instrument, Recovery and Resilience Facility, to make full use of the State Aid Temporary Framework regarding the directly COVID-19-related financial needs; expects that the Commission would also monitor all schemes approved under the Temporary Framework and their impact on the functioning of the internal market;
Amendment 35 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the budget to contribute to fulfilling economic policy priorities like the completion of the Capital Markets Union, with aim to improve fostering an investment environment and access to finance for all market participants, but particularly SMEs and start-ups, while granting further investment possibilities for retail investors, namely in sustainable areas;
Amendment 41 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for adequate financial and human resources for the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in view of their newly assigned tasks and powers deriving from the revision of the ESA Regulations (by Regulation (EU) 2019/2175); highlights that developments in the fields of sustainable finance, fintech, anti-money laundering, cyber resilience, payments and non-bank financial intermediation have or will entail new competences and tasks for the ESAs, which should be matched by adequate resources; points out in particular that the adoption of legislation pertaining to EU central clearing counterparties (CCPs) has resulted in upgraded mandates and tasks for the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), but has not been mirrored by additional budget, which could put a strain on ESMA’s ability to deliver on its CCPs supervisory and regulatory agenda; takes further note of the European Banking Authority’s (EBA) second mandate to build a database on anti-money laundering supervision, expected to be developed in 2021, and to enhance cooperation and exchange of information across European authorities and calls on resources to be adequately provided; highlights that both the ‘Regulation on Markets in Crypto Assets' (MiCA), the DLT pilot regime Regulation and the ‘Digital Operational Resilience Act' (DORA) would likely generate new competences for the ESAs;
Amendment 47 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that funding to accounting entities and tax authorities should continue, in particular to support them in the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion, and to promote transparency and certainty for tax payer. Those entities should be accountable to the European Parliament.
Amendment 51 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the launch of the EU Tax and Financial Crimes Observatory as a preparatory action; considers such Observatory as a useful contribution to both the needed democratic debate and to decision makers; calls on the Commission to make proposals to perpetuate the Observatory after 2022;
Amendment 53 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources was integrated into the Interinstitutional cooperation on a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources; Insists that a carbon border adjustment mechanism and a digital levy should be adopted and implemented within a timeline allowing to contribute to NextGenerationEU; considers that a Financial Transaction Tax and a share of a future “Business in Europe, Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT)” should also rapidly be included into the new basket of EU own resources;
Amendment 74 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) Global warming already reached 1.18°C in December 2020, leading to world wide draughts, floods, storms and heatwaves. If we continue at the current trend, global warming will reach 1.5°C in 2034. The outcome of the COP 26 in Glasgow, lacks the needed ambition and stronger commitments to turn the tide. The new announcements and updates of the NDCs after Glasgow will reduce temperature rises only by 0.1%, still leading to a disastrous estimated temperature rise between 1.8°C and 2.9°C by 2100;
Amendment 80 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The initiative for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (‘CBAM’) is a part of the ‘Fit for 55 Package’. That mechanism is to serve as an essential element of the EU toolbox to meet the objective of a climate-neutral Union by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement by addressing risks of carbon leakage resulting from the increased Union climate ambition. The CBAM should serve as one element in the EU’s comprehensive strategy towards global sustainable trade and the ambition to reduce global carbon emissions;
Amendment 84 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) It is necessary to come forward with a holistic and comprehensive impact assessment of the entire fit for 55 package. Stakeholders, both within and outside of the EU borders, will not only feel the consequences of the separate proposals, but will also experience combined effects of the various proposals together, as they are all interlinked. Therefore, aside from the 13 separate impact assessments already carried out, an impact assessment of the entire package as a whole should be performed.
Amendment 85 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission has, in its communication on the European Green Deal31 , set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) of greenhouse gases (‘GHG emissions’) in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. The European Green Deal also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well- being of citizens and future generations from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, that transformation must be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind. The Commission also announced in its EU Action Plan: Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil32 the promotion of relevant instruments and incentives to better implement the polluter pays principle as set out in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) and thus complete the phasing out of ‘pollution for free’ with a view to maximising synergies between decarbonisation and the zero pollution ambition. _________________ 31 Communication from the Commission of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640 final). 32 Communication from the Commission of 12 May 2021 on Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All (COM(2021) 400).
Amendment 97 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) As long as a significant number of the Union’s international partners have policy approaches that do not result in the same level of climate ambition and action in mitigating climate change, there is a risk of carbon leakage. Carbon leakage occurs if, for reasons of costs related to climate policies, businesses in certain industry sectors or subsectors were to transfer production to other countries that do not tax GHG emissions or tax at a lower rate or imports from those countries would replace equivalent but less GHG emissions intensive products. That could lead to an increase in their total emissions globally, thus jeopardising the reduction of GHG emissions that is urgently needed if the world is to keep the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre- industrial levels. The risk of carbon leakage is particularly prevalent in trade- exposed and carbon-intensive industrial sectors.
Amendment 107 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The initiative for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (‘CBAM’) is a part of the ‘Fit for 55 Package’. That mechanism is to serve as an essential element of the EU toolbox to meet the objective of a climate-neutral Union by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement by addressing risks of carbon leakage resulting from the increased Union climate ambition whilst ensuring a sustainable level playing field and by incentivising more ambitious climate action internationally.
Amendment 109 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) While the objective of the CBAM is to lower global carbon emissions by preventing the risk of carbon leakage, this Regulation would also encourage the use of more GHG emissions-efficient technologies by producers from third countries, so that less emissions per unit of output are generated. Special attention, intensive dialogue, administrative, technical and financial support is needed regarding LDCs, empowering them to reach the green transition in a sustainable and fair way and enabling them to be full- fledged participators in global sustainable trade;
Amendment 115 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) To meet the Union objectives and international commitments, such as those under WTO agreements and the Paris agreement and in line with the principle of CBDR, the Commission should come forward with a proposal and sufficient funding to support LDCs in complying with the various CBAM requirements. This should entail, amongst others, the necessary administrative and technical assistance and financial support to facilitate LDC’s adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation as well as support the help them cut emissions and accomplish the green transition.
Amendment 117 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 b (new)
Recital 12 b (new)
(12 b) In the transitional phase, producers of LDCs in the sectors covered by the CBAM should be supported in complying with the administrative requirements of the CBAM and assisted in mapping the real emissions of their production processes. At the same time, possible environmental and energy improvements in the production process (such as regarding raw material use, circular economy aspects, energy efficiency and use of renewable energy) should be proposed, technical and knowledge transfers should take place and best practices should be shared.
Amendment 118 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 c (new)
Recital 12 c (new)
(12 c) During the implementation phase, when revenues will be generated from the sale of CBAM certificates and the financial consequences of the CBAM will be sensed in third countries, sufficient support and funding should be attributed to helping LDCs in implementing the environment, climate, energy and resource related improvements to help them lower emissions, cut CBAM costs and accomplish the green transition.
Amendment 120 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 d (new)
Recital 12 d (new)
(12 d) As the sole aim of the CBAM is to reduce global carbon emissions, the revenues generated from the sale of CBAM certificates, or the equivalent in financial value of these revenues, should be channeled towards global climate funding. Sufficient funding should be made available to realize the support for LDCs as stipulated above;
Amendment 128 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The CBAM seeks to replace these existing mechanisms by addressing the risk of carbon leakage in a different way, namely by ensuring equivalent carbon pricing for imports and domestic products. To ensure a gradual transition from the current system of free allowances to the CBAM, the CBAM should be progressively phased in while free allowances in sectors covered by the CBAM are phased out. The combined and transitional application of EU ETS allowances allocated free of charge and of the CBAM should in no case result in more favourable treatment for Union goods compared to goods imported into the customs territory of the Union. This gradual transition shall be supported by a review mechanism in which the Commission assesses the gradual implementation of the instrument, including the need for its scope extension.
Amendment 141 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The GHG emissions to be regulated by the CBAM should correspond to those GHG emissions covered by Annex I to the EU ETS in Directive 2003/87/EC, namely carbon dioxide (‘CO2’) as well as, where relevant, nitrous oxide (‘N2O’) and perfluorocarbons (‘PFCs’). The CBAM should initiaapply to direct emissions as welly applys to indirect emissions of those GHG from the production of goods up to the time of import into the customs territory of the Union, and after the end of a transition period and upon further assessment, as well to indirect emissions, mirroring the scope of the EU ETS.mirroring the scope of the EU ETS and leading to as equal carbon costs as possible for domestic production and imports;
Amendment 141 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) While the objective of the CBAM is to prevent the risk of carbon leakage, this Regulation would also encourage the deployment and use of more GHG emissions-efficient technologies by producers from third countries, so that less emissions per unit of output are generated.
Amendment 162 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to exclude from the CBAM third countries or territories fully integrated into, or linked, to the EU ETS and where the carbon costs are equivalent to the ones under the EU ETS, in the event of future agreements, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending the list of countries in Annex II. Conversely, those third countries or territories should be excluded from the list in Annex II and be subject to CBAM whereby they do not effectively charge the ETS price on goods exported to the Union.
Amendment 185 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In terms of sanctions, Member States should apply penalties to infringements of this Regulation and ensure that they are implemented. The amount of those penalties should be identical to penalties currently applied within the Union in case of infringement of EU ETS according to Article 16(3) and (4) of Directive 2003/87/EC. Penalties to infringements of this Regulation, including for attempts at circumvention, should be dissuasive.
Amendment 191 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Whilst the ultimate objective of the CBAM is a broad product coverage, it would be prudent to start with a selected number of sectors with relatively homogeneous products where there is a risk of carbon leakage. Union sectors deemed at risk of carbon leakage are listed in Commission Delegated Decision 2019/70842 . The Commission should set up a review mechanism in order to better assess the broadening of the broad product coverage, including downstream products covered by this Regulation. _________________ 42 Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/708 of 15 February 2019 supplementing Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the determination of sectors and subsectors deemed at risk of carbon leakage for the period 2021 to 2030 (OJ L 120, 8.5.2019, p. 2).
Amendment 202 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39 b (new)
Recital 39 b (new)
(39b) While competent authorities are responsible to handle requests for authorisations and to manage national registries and CBAM certificates, all the necessary information and data should be transmitted to the Commission through a central registry database. The Commission has the responsibility to ensure the coordination of national registries inclusive of accounts of authorised declarants and accredited verifiers, it should act as a central administration and it has the power to request to competent authorities whenever it considers relevant information to tackle practices of circumvention, to avoid risks of mismanagement of declarations and CBAM certificates as well as fraud.
Amendment 203 #
2021/0214(COD)
(42) The system should allow operators of production installations in third countries to register in a central database and to make their verified embedded GHG emissions from production of goods available to authorised declarants. An operator should be able to choose not to have its name, address and contact details in the central database made accessible to the public.
Amendment 216 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) The Commission should evaluate the application of this Regulation before the end of the transitional period and report to the European Parliament and the Council. The report of the Commission should in particular focus on possibilities to enhance climate actions towards the objective of a climate neutral Union by 2050 whilst preventing distortion of competition in the EU and global markets. The Commission should, as part of that evaluation, initiate collection of information necessary to possibly extend the scope to indirect emissions, as well as to other goods and services at risk of carbon leakage, such as downstream products using goods initially covered by this Regulation, and to develop methods of calculating embedded emissions based on the environmental footprint methods47 . The report should be based upon a review mechanism that assesses, in particular, the implementation of the Regulation vis- à-vis its objectives and the governance system. If appropriate, the report should be accompanied by legislative proposals whose entry into force should be consistent with the start of the implementation of CBAM. _________________ 47 Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations (OJ L 124, 4.5.2013, p. 1).
Amendment 219 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) As the CBAM aims to encourage cleaner production processes, and in line with the CBDR principle, the EU stands ready to work with low and middle- income countries towards the de- carbonisation of their manufacturing industries. Moreover, the UnCommission should support less developed countriecome forward with a proposal and sufficient funding to support LDCs with the necessary technical and financial assistance in order to facilitate their adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation. In the transitional phase, producers of LDCs in the sectors covered by the CBAM should be supported in complying with the administrative requirements of the CBAM, assisted in mapping the real emissions of their production processes and supported to determine production process improvements. During the implementation phase, when the CBAM has financial consequences, LDCs should be supported to cut emissions and thus CBAM costs and accomplish the green transition.
Amendment 228 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) The Commission should strive to engage in an even handed manner and in line with the international obligations of the EU, with the third countries whose trade to the EU is affected by this Regulation, to explore possibilities for dialogue and cooperation with regard to the implementation of specific elements of the Mechanism set out this Regulation and related implementing acts. It should also explore possibilities for concluding agreements to take into account their carbon pricing mechanism and their decarbonisation policies.
Amendment 232 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) As the CBAM aims to encourage cleaner production processes, the EU stands ready to work with low and middle- income countries towards the de- carbonisation of their manufacturing industries. Moreover, the Union should support less developed countries with the necessary technical assistance in order to facilitate their adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation. The Union should make use of the Union policies and the Union budget to support those action, if appropriate.
Amendment 233 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes a carbon border adjustment mechanism (the ‘CBAM’) for addressing greenhouse gas emissions embedded in the goods referred to in Annex I, upon their importation into the customs territory of the Union, in order to reduce global carbon emissions by preventing the risk of carbon leakage.
Amendment 233 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55 a (new)
Recital 55 a (new)
(55a) The European Green Deal and the new emission reductions targets will necessitate massive investments for a sustainable and fair transition. In this regard, keeping competitiveness of the EU industry in the decarbonisation efforts is essential not only for the sake of keeping jobs and a prosperous European economy. The Union and Member States should make use of its policies and budgets to provide the incentives to boost the competitiveness of low-carbon exports through namely the support to innovation.
Amendment 238 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55 b (new)
Recital 55 b (new)
(55b) On 16 December 2020, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concluded the Interinstitutional agreement on budgetary discipline, cooperation on budgetary matters and sound financial management as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources (IIA). The repayment of the principal of borrowed funds, by the Commission on behalf of the Union, to be used for expenditure under the European Union Recovery Instrument and the related interest due will have to be financed by the general budget of the Union, including by sufficient proceeds from new own resources introduced after 2021. Therefore, on 22 December 2021, the Commission proposed to amend the Own Resources Decision so that 75% of the revenues generated by a carbon border adjustment mechanism become an own resource for the EU budget. It is the responsibility of Member States to collect revenues from the sale of carbon border adjustment mechanism certificates.
Amendment 244 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes a carbon border adjustment mechanism (the ‘CBAM’) for addressing greenhouse gas emissions embedded in the goods referred to in Annex I, upon their importation into the customs territory of the Union, in order to prevent the risk of carbon leakage and safeguard fair and undistorted competition, ensuring a sustainable level playing field for all.
Amendment 259 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation applies to goods as listed in Annex I, originating in a third country, when those goods, or processed products from those goods as resulting from the inward processing procedure referred to in Article 256 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council53 , are imported into the customs territory of the Union. Annex I shall be regularly assessed and potentially revised to take into account the establishment of a fair level playing field as referred in Article 30. _________________ 53 Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).
Amendment 271 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
(15 a) ‘indirect emissions’ mean emissions from the production of electricity, heating and cooling, which is consumed during the production processes of goods.
Amendment 273 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 18
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 18
(18) ‘CBAM certificate’ means a certificate, common to all Members States, in electronic format corresponding to one tonne of embedded emissions in goods;
Amendment 274 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 16
(16) ‘embedded emissions’ mean direct emissions released during the production of goods and inputs of CBAM products into those goods, as well as indirect emissions from the production of electricity, heating and cooling consumed during the production of goods, calculated pursuant to the methods set out in Annex III;
Amendment 278 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 28
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 28
Amendment 281 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point h a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point h a (new)
(ha) the name and contact details of the third country competent authority in charge of collecting the carbon price paid by the operator in that third country, when relevant;
Amendment 286 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6
Article 5 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts, concerning the single standard format of the application and the delays and procedure to be followed by the competent authority when processing applications for authorisation in accordance with paragraph 1 and the rules for identification by the competent authority of the declarants for the importation of electricity. The format of the application shall allow for machine readability in order to ease the exchange of information across Member States. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 29(2).
Amendment 287 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Embedded emissions in goods other than electricity shall be determined based on the actual emissions in accordance with the methods set out in Annex III, points 2 and 3. When actual emissions cannot be adequately determined, the embedded emissions shall be determined by reference to default values in accordance with the methods set out in Annex III, point 4.1. In determining indirect emissions from the consumption of electricity, heating and cooling embedded in goods other than electricity, the annual average emissions intensity of the marginal or other price- setting generator in the relevant electricity market shall be used. Where such data are not available, the average emissions intensity of fossil fuel-based generation plants in the relevant power market supplying the producing installation shall be used instead;
Amendment 287 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Competent authorities shall submit the standardised declaration form to a national registry and they should set up individual accounts of authorised declarants. Once the information is transmitted to a central registry, the Commission may request to remaining competent authorities any proof regarding the information established in paragraph 3(d).
Amendment 291 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 6
Article 7 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementdelegated acts, ing actscordance with Article 28, concerning detailed rules regarding the elements of the calculation methods set out in Annex III, including determining system boundaries of production processes, emission factors, installation-specific indirect emissions related to electricity, heating and cooling consumption, installation-specific values of actual emissions and default values and their respective application to individual goods as well as laying down methods to ensure the reliability of data on the basis of which the default values shall be determined, including the level of detail and the verification of the data. Where necessary, those acts shall provide that the default values can be adapted to particular areas, regions or countries to take into account specific objective factors such as geography, natural resources, market conditions, prevailing energy sources, or industrial processes. The implementing acts shall build upon existing legislation for the verification of emissions and activity data for installations covered by Directive 2003/87/EC, in particular Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/2067.
Amendment 292 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 7
Article 7 – paragraph 7
Amendment 299 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts concerning the principles of verification referred to in paragraph 1 as regards the possibility to waiveaccuracy of the information in the CBAM declaration, the obligation for the verifier to visit the installation where relevant goods are produced and the obligation to set thresholds for deciding whether misstatements or non-conformities are material and concerning the supporting documentation needed for the verification report.
Amendment 301 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The authorised declarant shall keep records of the documentation, certified by an independent personaccredited verifier, required to demonstrate that the declared embedded emissions were subject to a carbon price in the country of origin of the goods and keep evidence of the proof of the actual payment for that carbon price which should not have been subject to an export rebate or any other form of compensation on exportation.
Amendment 310 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall, upon request by an operator of an installation located in a third country, register the information on that operator and on its installation in a central registry database referred to in Article 14(4) accessible by national competent authorities.
Amendment 311 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) the name and contact details of the third country competent authority in charge of collecting the carbon price paid by the operator in that third country, when relevant;
Amendment 316 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Article 10 – paragraph 6
6. The records referred to in paragraph 5, point (c), shall be sufficiently detailed to enable the verification in accordance with paragraph 5, point (b), and to enable any competent authority to verify and review, in accordance with Article 19(1), the CBAM declaration made by an authorised declarant to whom the relevant information was disclosed in accordance with paragraph 8.
Amendment 326 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Competent authorities shall set up national registries with accounts of authorised declarants. These accounts shall be connected and interchangeable with all competent authorities and automatically integrated in a central registry system managed by the Commission.
Amendment 328 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall require that competent authorities exchange any information that is essential or relevant to the exercise of their functions and duties, either automatically via the central registry database, or upon request and within a delay of 3 months, when another competent authority or the Commission issues such request for specific information related to the calculation of the CBAM certificates.
Amendment 343 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – title
Article 14 – title
National registries and EU central registry database
Amendment 346 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The competent authority of each Member State shall establish a national registry of declarants authorised in that Member State in the form of a standardised electronic database containing the data regarding the CBAM certificates of those declarants, and to provide for confidentiality in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 13. Such a standardised electronic database shall be built to be compatible with the EU central database built by the Commission, meaning the data can be automatically uploaded into the central database.
Amendment 351 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) the report of the accredited verifier;
Amendment 352 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
(dc) the procedures regarding the surrender of CBAM certificates.
Amendment 353 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall establish a central database that would automatically collect the information referred to in paragraph 2 which shall be automatically accessible to competent authorities of each Member States. The information in the database referred to in paragraph 2 shall be confidential unless specified otherwise in paragraph 4.
Amendment 354 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The central registry database aims to ensure an efficient and transparent management of the information provided by the authorised declarant and it shall be managed by the Commission. The Commission may ask further information to competent authorities to ensure the consistency of the information provided by the declarant and for purposes of its reports.
Amendment 355 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4
Article 14 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall establish a central database accessible to the public containmake the information of the central database regarding the names, addresses and contact details of the operators and the location of installations in third countries in accordance with Article 10(2). An operator may choose not to have its name, address and contact details accessible to the public.
Amendment 362 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. If irregularities are identified as a result of the controls carried out under paragraph 2, the Commission shall inform the Member State or Member States concerned for further investigation in order to correct the identified irregularities within 3 months.
Amendment 373 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. If the authorised declarant has ceased its economic activity or its authorisation was revoked, the competent authority shall close the account of that declarant after 2 years.
Amendment 377 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the declarant has not been involved in a serious infringement or repeated infringements of customs legislation, taxation rules and market abuse rules and has no record of serious criminal offences relating to its economic activity during the five years preceding the application; the declarant is not resident for tax purposes in, or incorporated under the laws of, jurisdictions that feature on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions;
Amendment 397 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 a (new)
Article 24 a (new)
Article 24 a Revenues from the sale of CBAM certificates In line with the Union objectives and international commitments, such as those under WTO agreements, the Paris agreement and the CBDR principle, the Commission should come forward with a proposal and sufficient funding to support LDCs. This should entail, amongst others, the necessary administrative and technical assistance and financial support to facilitate LDC’s adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation and the accomplishment of a sustainable transition. In the transitional phase, producers of LDCs in the sectors covered by the CBAM should be supported in complying with the administrative requirements of the CBAM and assisted in mapping the real emissions of their production processes. At the same time, possible environmental and energy improvements in the production process (such as regarding raw material use, circular economy aspects, energy efficiency and use of renewable energy) should be proposed, technical and knowledge transfers should take place and best practices should be shared. During the implementation phase, when revenues will be generated from the sale of CBAM certificates and the financial consequences of the CBAM will be sensed in third countries, sufficient support and funding should be attributed to helping LDCs in implementing the environment, climate, energy and resource related improvements to lower emissions, cut CBAM costs and accomplish the green transition.
Amendment 406 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. The competent authority informs the competent authorities of other Member States and the Commission on any refusal or revocation by introducing the necessary information in the national registry that shall be immediately transferred to the central database.
Amendment 407 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 28 for the accreditation referred to in paragraph 2, specifying conditions for the control and oversight of accredited verifiers, for the withdrawal of accreditation and for mutual recognition and peer evaluation of the accreditation bodies. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts specifying conditions for verifiers to be able to comply with Article 21, 32 and 34 of the Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/2067 related to on site visits when the site is located in a third country.
Amendment 415 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2
2. Practices of circumvention include situations where a change in the pattern of trade in relation to goods included in the scope of this Regulation has insufficient due cause or economic justification other than avoiding obligations as laid down in this Regulation and consist in replacing those goods with slightly modified products, which are not included in the list of goods in Annex I but belong to a sector included in the scope of this Regulation. Circumvention practices are any measures that have the objective of avoiding the obligations laid down in this Regulation in order to pretend lower total amount of the CO2 emissions. This concerns in particular deliberate changes in the trade flows of goods or importation via third countries, slightly modified products, misleading information about the manufacturer or the manufacturing process, restructuring of distribution structures or merely final assembly of the goods in the EU or a third country. The Commission is to use existing European legal order when defining the circumvention offences. In particular the Union Customs Code, Article 60(2) and Article 59, and the 2015 Implementing Act, Article 33;
Amendment 437 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. The competent authority of each Member State shall, on request by a declarant authorised in that Member State, re-purchase the excess of CBAM certificates remaining on the account of the declarant in the national registry after the certificates have been surrendered in accordance with Article 22. The request to re-purchase shall be submitted by 30 June of each year when CBAM certificates were surrendered. The competent authority shall immediately inform the Commission of the request through the central registry database.
Amendment 440 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 5
Article 27 – paragraph 5
5. Where the Commission, taking into account the relevant data, reports and statistics, including when provided by the customs authorities of Member States, has sufficient reasons to believe that the circumstances referred to in paragraph 3 are occurring in one or more Member States, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 28 to supplement the scope of this Regulation in order to include slightly modified productsall the facts listed in paragraph 2 for anti-circumvention purposes.
Amendment 458 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. This committee of experts shall be inclusive and consist of people who, together, are knowledgeable of all the various effects of the CBAM, representing the interests of all affected stakeholders and society as a whole.
Amendment 464 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2
2. Practices of circumvention include situations where a change in the pattern of trade in relation to goods included in the scope of this Regulation has insufficient due cause or economic justification other than avoiding obligations as laid down in this Regulation and consist in replacing those goods with slightly modified products, which are not included in the list of goods in Annex I but belong to a sector included in the scope of this RegulationCircumvention practices are any measures that have the objective of avoiding the obligations laid down in this Regulation in order to pretend lower total amount of the CO2 emissions. This concerns in particular deliberate changes in the trade flows of goods or importation via third countries, slightly modified products, misleading information about the manufacturer or the manufacturing process, restructuring of distribution structures or merely final assembly of the goods in the EU or a third country. The Commission is to use existing European legal order when defining the circumvention offences. In particular the Union Customs Code, Article 60(2) and Article 59, and the 2015 Implementing Act, Article 33.
Amendment 485 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 5
Article 27 – paragraph 5
5. Where the Commission, taking into account the relevant data, reports and statistics, including when provided by the customs authorities of Member States, has sufficient reasons to believe that the circumstances referred to in paragraph 3 are occurring in one or more Member States, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 28 to supplement the scope of this Regulation in order to include slightly modified productsall the facts listed in paragraph 2 for anti-circumvention purposes.
Amendment 486 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. The report by the Commission shall, if appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposalIn accordance with the Article 36 paragraph 3(d) there shall be no automatic entry into force of the relevant parts of this Regulation after the transitional period. The Commission therefore attaches to its report a legislative proposal on the final entry into force of these parts. The Council and the European Parliament decide.
Amendment 520 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. The report by the Commission shall, if appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposalIn accordance with the Article 36 paragraph 3(d) there shall be no automatic entry into force of the relevant parts of this Regulation after the transitional period. The Commission therefore attaches to its report a legislative proposal on the final entry into force of these parts. The Council and the European Parliament decide.
Amendment 523 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 36 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) Articles 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 31 shall apply from 1 January 2026, in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 3, only after a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council following a separate legislative proposal from the Commission.
Amendment 533 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementingdelegated acts laying down a calculation methodology for the reduction referred to in paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 29(2).
Amendment 536 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – introductory part
Annex III – point 2 – introductory part
2. Determination of actual direct embedded emissions for simple goods
Amendment 537 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
For determining the specific actual embedded emissions of simple goods produced in a given installation, only direct emissions shall be accounted for. For this purpose, the following equation is to be applied:
Amendment 538 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
‘Attributed emissions’ mean the part of the installation’s direct emissions during the reporting period that are caused by the production process resulting in goods g when applying the system boundaries of the process defined by the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 7(6). The attributed emissions shall be calculated using the following equation:
Amendment 539 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 540 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Attrg = DirEm + EmH,imp –EmH,exp + Gcorr,imp – Gcorr,exp + Emel –Emel,exp
Amendment 540 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 3
Article 35 – paragraph 3
3. The competent authority shall communicate the information referred to in paragraph 2 to the Commission at the latest two months after the end of the quarter covered by a report and the information shall be available in the central registry database.
Amendment 541 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 4
Annex III – point 2 – paragraph 4
Where DirEm are the direct emissions, resulting from the production process, expressed in tonnes of CO2e, within the system boundaries referred to in the implementing act pursuant to Article 7(6). ; EmH,imp are the indirect emissions accounted for heat imported to the installation and consumed within the system boundaries of the process; EmH,exp are emission equivalents of heat exported from the process system boundaries; Gcorr,imp is a correction factor taking into account imports of waste gases or greenhouse gases used as process input; Gcorr,exp is a similar correction factor for exports of such gases from the system boundaries of the process; Emel are the indirect emissions accounted for electricity consumed within the system boundaries of the process, including any electricity consumed from the relevant power grid from which the installation is supplied; Emel,exp are emission equivalents of electricity exported from the process system boundaries; EmH is to be calculated using the emission factor for heat given in the implementing act pursuant to Article 7, Emel is to be calculated using the emission factor for electricity given in that act. Where offsite power is consumed, the annual average emissions intensity of the marginal or other price-setting generator in the relevant electricity market shall be used.Where such data are not available, the average emissions intensity of fossil- fuel based generation plants in the relevant power market supplying the producing installation shall be used instead. For Gcorr the implementing act shall specify the types of gases and of their use eligible for corrections, and relevant calculation factors.
Amendment 547 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 36 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) Articles 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 31 shall apply from 1 January 2026, in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 3,only after a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council following a separate legislative proposal from the Commission.
Amendment 126 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) Energy taxation should only apply to final consumption, and neither energy use within the energy value chain nor any form of conversion or storage should be taxed. That principle should apply to all forms of energy conversion processes and to energy products and electricity used for the transport and storage of energy products and electricity. Conversion, in that context, should be understood as the process of converting one form of energy into another, such as using natural gas to generate electricity or producing hydrogen from electricity or natural gas.
Amendment 129 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Energy products used as a motor fuel for certain purposes and those used as heating fuel are normally taxed at lower levels than those applicable to energy products used as a propellant. Electricity should always be among the least taxed energy sources in view of fostering its use, notably in the transport sector. To that purpose, Member States should endeavour to apply the same level of taxation to electricity used to charge electric vehicles as for heating purposes during the necessary time following the entry into force of this Directive. In this context, the Commission should develop and adopt a delegated act to supplement this Directive by a common certification framework identifying the origin of the electricity consumed.
Amendment 174 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Targeted reductions in the tax level in the short and medium term may prove necessary to incentivise the achievement of environmental protection objectives and improvements in energy efficiency of the Union productive sector.
Amendment 176 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
Amendment 184 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28 a (new)
Recital 28 a (new)
(28 a) Energy is essential and access to energy services is a basic social right. Households regarded as vulnerable are more often affected by energy poverty as defined in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency (recast) and need special attention. 'Energy poverty' means a household’s inability, linked to non- affordability, to meet its basic energy supply needs and lack of access to essential energy services such as to guarantee basic levels of comfort and health, a decent standard of living, including adequate heating and cooling, lighting, and energy to power appliances, in the relevant national context, existing social policy and other relevant policies, as a result of insufficient disposable income.
Amendment 190 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) In view of the financial, economic and environmental effects on each Member State, such as the need of electrificdecarbonisation of the transport sector, it is necessary to provide for a procedure authorising the introduction by Member States, for a set period, of other exemptions or reduced levels of taxation. For reasons of protection of environment and human health, including the reduction of air pollution, it is necessary to provide for a procedure authorising the introduction by Member States, for a set period, of specific increased rates. Such authorisation, following a justified request by Member States and on a proposal from the Commission, should be adopted by means of a Council implementing decision in accordance with Article 291 of the TFEU. Such measures should be under regular review.
Amendment 191 #
2021/0213(CNS)
(29 a) The implementation of the Directive could have socio-economic consequences as well as a diverse impact on income classes and Member States. In that regard, a Social Monitor is established by this Directive to assess the implementation of the Directive and its impact in different Member States, regions and income classes. The Social Monitor should distribute reporting obligations to both the Commission and Member States. While the Commission should provide a holistic overview, also with regard to the evolution of energy prices, Member States should describe the social measures taken to ease the potential socio-economic consequences of the implementation of this Directive. If according to the assessments of the Social Monitor no significant progress is made to ease the potential socio-economic consequences on households recognised as vulnerable, Member States should have the possibility to prolong the transition period for those households.
Amendment 193 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 35 a (new)
Recital 35 a (new)
(35 a) Delegated acts should be in line with and contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal. In that regard, delegated acts should not change the minimum levels of taxation that could undermine the achievement of energy and climate targets, including sector specific targets referred to in the Renewable Energy Directive, as well as of the objective to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. Nor should the resulting change to the minimum level of taxation be equal to zero, unless meant for specific purposes specified in this Directive, such as for the promotion of renewable energy or for protection of consumers, in particular vulnerable households. Any change should be duly justified and supported by scientific analysis and assessments of its impact on the aformentioned energy and climate targets.
Amendment 198 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Every five years and for the first time five years after the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission should report to the Council and the European Parliament on the application of this Directive, examining in particular the minimum levels of taxation, the impact of innovation and technological developments, especially as regards energy efficiency, the use of electricity in transport and the justification for the exemptions, reductions and differentiations laid down in this Directive. The report should take into account the proper functioning of the internal market, environmental and social considerations, the real value of the minimum levels of taxation and the wider relevant objectives of the Treaties.
Amendment 216 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 2 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 2 – paragraph 1
An energy product has a dual use when it is used both as heating fuel and for purposes other than as motor fuel and heating fuel. The use of energy products for chemical reduction and in electrolytic and metallurgical processes,and mineralogical processes, including also various hydrogen production methods, such as methane pyrolysis or carbon capture, storage and utilisation when energy products are used directly in or to provide a direct energy input to the process, or their consumption is connected to the process, shall be regarded as dual use,
Amendment 237 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 29 to amend the minimum levels of taxation as referred to in the first subparagraph. Changes to the minimum levels of taxation shall be duly justified in view of reaching the objectives of the EU Green Deal, especially the targets sets in the Renewable Energy Directive, Energy Efficiency Directive and the objective to reach climate neutrality by the 2050, at the latest. Changes to the minimum levels of taxation shall not bring any of those minimum levels to 0, unless otherwise specified in this Directive.
Amendment 301 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Without prejudice to other Union provisions, Member States mayshall apply under fiscal control exemptions or reductions in the level of taxation to:
Amendment 305 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The Commission is empowered to develop and adopt a delegated act to supplement this Directive by establishing a common certification framework identifying the origin of the electricity consumed. The certification shall provide information to consumers on the energy sources of the electricity consumed.Member States shall implement the certification by the end of the transition period. In line of Article 22 of the Energy Efficiency Directive, Member States shall mitigate distributional effects for measures and policies meant for the adequate functioning of the certification system. Once the certification system is implemented, Member States may exempt electricity produced from products specified in Article 16. The Commission shall adopt that delegated act by 1st January 2025.
Amendment 306 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) - consumers under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), energy communities and active consumers whose self-production of electricity derives from products specified in this Article;
Amendment 313 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 5 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 5 a (new)
- generated from renewable gases and renewable fuels of non-biological origin;
Amendment 319 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) electricity produced from combined heat and power generation, provided that cogeneration by the combined generators is high-efficiency cogeneration as defined in Article 2, point (34), of Directive 2012/27/EU. ; as well as energy products and electricity used for high-efficiency cogeneration.
Amendment 346 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) reductions in the level of taxation, which shall not fall below the minimum levels set out in Table B of Annex I, for energy products with a market share of less than 1% in that Member State;
Amendment 348 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
After the end of the transition period, if no significant progress is made according to the assessments of the Social Monitor as defined in this Directive, Member States shall continue to exempt households recognised as vulnerable.
Amendment 367 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a Reporting obligations of the European Commission - Social monitor Within two years after the adoption of this Directive and every two years thereafter, the Commission shall adopt and make public available a report providing detailed assessments of the situation of energy prices in Member States and on the EU market and of the effects of this Directive therein. The Report shall include all relevant facts and figures covering energy price developments, as well as an assessment of the effects of the implementation of the revised Directive on those prices, with special emphasis on households recognised as vulnerable as defined in this Directive. The Commission shall in this respect take into consideration the different starting positions of Member States and assess possible extensions of the transitional period, targeted reductions and exemptions. This shall specifically apply to justified cases related to households recognised as vulnerable to prevent severe price jumps that may occur after the end of the transitional period. The Commission in cooperation with Member States shall identify and report on the number of households recognised as vulnerable as well as those suffering from energy poverty as defined in the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency (recast).
Amendment 368 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b Reporting obligations for the Member States - Social monitor By 2025 or two years after the entry into force of this Directive, and every two years thereafter, Member States shall report to the Commission on the implementation of social measures directly or indirectly linked to the effects of this Directive. Such a report shall include at least: a) the ratio comparing the actual amount of increased revenues passed to Member States’ national budget as a result of revised energy taxation to the amount of resources used on social measures tackling direct or indirect effects linked to this directive; b) energy price developments and relevant data available covering or mapping impacted households per region, per household, and per income group; c) a detailed mapping of social instruments and measures implemented in the Member States tackling the socio- economic consequences linked to the application of this revision.
Amendment 373 #
2021/0213(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 4
Article 29 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making44 . Before adopting the delegated act, the Commission shall inform the European Parliament of the composition of the experts’ committee, the state of play and the result of the consultation process with the experts. _________________ 44 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 5 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the damage to the planet’s biodiversity is almost at the point of no return and that biodiversity loss is a driver of zoonotic pathogens such as COVID-19; highlights the scientific evidence on the role of trade in biodiversity loss, in particular with regard to trade in minerals, biomass and certain agricultural commodities, and biodiversity loss due to land-use changes, invasive alien species, overexploitation of resources and pollution; underlines that the contribution of trade to the dramatic biodiversity loss is very inadequately addressed both by the structure of the existing FTAs and the current WTO rules; stresses that the precautionary principle must be the guiding principle with regard to the protection of biodiversity;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the importance of systematically including a biodiversity dimension to all sustainableility impact assessments (SIAs) that must follow a more robust methodology than previously, as suggested by available Commission studies, and to consistently factor in biodiversity issues; requests that the Commission secure adequate funding for carrying out such analyses on biodiversity; calls for SIAs to be launched as part of the scoping exercise phase on future free trade agreements and for them to be regularly updated as negotiations develop in order to adequately identify and address possible risks to biodiversity in the region concerned as well as in the EU as early as possible, and to shape relevant bilateral commitments outlined in the negotiations; stresses the importance of systematically conducting regular ex post sustainableility evaluations and impact assessments to ensure consistency with the EU’s international commitments on biodiversity; calls for trade and sustainable development chapters to include time-bound roadmaps that provide verifiable commitments and objectives, which are to be regularly monitored by, evaluated and adjusted by and in accordance with ex post SIAs and for the lowering of (non- )tariff barriers be made conditional thereon; invites the Commission to update existing chapters of FTAs accordingly at the earliest convenience;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Asks the Commission to use the indicators developed in the search for possible risks to biodiversity to formulate short-, mid- and long-term goals for the protection of biodiversity; requests annual updates from the Commission to the European Parliament on the status of implementation of said goals;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Asks the Commission to evaluate the existing FTAs as well as texts currently in legal scrubbing with regard to their effect on biodiversity and to present the results and planned adjustments to the European Parliament;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Amendment 37 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Asks the Commission to use a different approach in its trade negotiations with the goal of facilitating preferential access to the EU market only for those trade partners that successfully implement all multilateral environmental agreements relevant to the protection of biodiversity or to keep up tariffs on raw materials, goods and services that are considered harmful to biodiversity in accordance with the SIA and scoping exercises; asks the Commission to develop a swift snap-back option in case of violations or non-implementation under which tariffs are re-established towards the trading partner in violation;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. asks for an independent in depth- analysis of the effects of the remaining ISDS and ICS-provisions in trade agreements as well as the energy charter on biodiversity and requests swift adaptations in case negative effects are proven;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the EU’s trade policy and green diplomacy should aim to phase out fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidies as a matter of urgency in accordance with the commitments taken at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in 2009; invites the Commission to agree on a roadmap with each trade partner covered by a trade agreement, with milestones in place, and to show leadership in relevant international forums; create a link between the proven implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and the lowering of tariffs in current and future agreements; invites the Commission to show leadership in relevant international forums especially in the WTO, in this multilateral context; asks the Commission to strive for the creation of possibilities of raising tariffs on products and services that have a scientifically proven region- specific negative effect on biodiversity; underlines the necessity of creating a legal framework within the WTO that enables the creation of non-tariff barriers and trade bans on raw materials, goods and services that endanger biodiversity in order to disincentivize trade in- and production of such raw materials, goods and services;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. In this context, asks the Commission to investigate the necessity of prohibiting trade in certain products in order to protect biodiversity;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Requests that the Council in its draft mandate of future agreements and, on the occasion of the review of existing agreements, make the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), together with the Paris Agreement, an essential element of free trade agreementhe Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) together with the Paris Agreement, an essential element of free trade agreements, since the EU must set a high standard and produce incentives and enforcement mechanisms for Conventions and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) that do not have direct access to remedies and redress;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present a legislative proposal in Spring 2021 that will prohibit the placing of products whose production processes are associated with deforestation or forest degradation from the EU market; calls on the Commission to adopt a moratorium on imports of wild animals or any other species from reported emerging infectious disease hotspots; asks the Commission to ensure better implementation of the customs provisions at border inspections in order to improve the preventive measures on the inflow of invasive species;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to prioritise capacity building for beneficiary countries to implement the CBD, the CITES and other Conventions and Agreements essential to the protection of biodiversity under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and Aid for Trade.; underlines in this context also the necessity for supporting the restructuring in third countries whose entire development model relies on exports of goods and services harmful to biodiversity;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the fiscal system must be reformed by shifting the tax mix, making the tax system fairer and adjusting our redistributive mechanisms if the state is to continue establishing the preconditions for inclusive and sustainable well-being;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas the Covid-19 pandemic had an extremely negative overall impact on the economic performance of the European Union, including dramatic and asymmetric social consequences;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas the European social model, based on quality public services and inclusive social protection, was paramount to face the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas inequality levels have increased throughout Europe when compared to 19808a and negatively impact human well-being; _________________ 8aWorld Inequality Database, 2019, How Unequal Is Europe? Evidence from Distributional National Accounts, 1980- 2017, https://wid.world/europe2019/
Amendment 27 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the European Union and its Member States are committed to deliver on the Paris Agreement targets of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre- industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas these challenges require a fiscal framework that ensures sufficient room for public and private investments;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas tax morale is generally higher in countries that tax more heavily, which is evidence for the willingness of citizens to pay tax in return for effective public services and a social safety net9 ; _________________ 9 https://www.oecd- ilibrary.org/sites/0533eea9- en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/ 0533eea9-en
Amendment 68 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Amendment 77 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas the European institutions reached a broad agreement regarding the need to establish new own resources;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Amendment 104 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that taxation and tax collection have shifted the tax incidence from wealth to income, from capital to labour income and consumption, from MNEs to SMEs, and from the financial sector to the real economy, thus becoming more regressive; observes with concern this shift in the tax burden from more mobile to less mobile taxpayers, resulting in a lower average tax burden for the very income-rich11 ; _________________ 11European Commission, ‘Tax policies in the European Union’ survey, 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/busi ness/company-tax/tax-good- governance/european-semester/tax- policies-european-union-survey_en
Amendment 107 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Regrets that capital income often enjoys lower levels of taxation when compared to labour income; notes that this contributes to increasing inequality;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that technological progress and economic integration are making the taxpayers and tax bases of all types of tax increasingly mobile12 ; notes that this could reinforce the tendency to rely on immobile tax bases; highlights that under these circumstances, particularly when considering the freedom of capital and freedom of movement within the European Union, it is paramount to establish harmonised rules that provide more tax certainty and contribute to a level playing field; _________________ 12European Commission, ‘Tax policies in the European Union’ survey, 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/busi ness/company-tax/tax-good- governance/european-semester/tax- policies-european-union-survey_en
Amendment 121 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets that the current tax system still favours a linear supply chain by failing to provide sufficient incentives to better resource and waste management, recycling, re-usage and refurbishment; underlines that taxation plays a key role in ensuring our transition towards a circular economy and more sustainability; welcomes, in that regard, taxes on non- recycled plastic packaging waste and encourages similar alternatives;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Observes that the European Union managed to reach its emission reductions target for 2020; notes that reaching the targets under discussion for 2030 and 2050 requires more ambition, including in the field of taxation; stresses the importance of tax policy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the phasing-out of fossil fuels;
Amendment 127 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Clarifies that the introduction of environmental taxes must lead to a more socially just tax system; stresses that any regressive effects of the new taxes requires adequate compensation measures, including at the European level;
Amendment 150 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with concern that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly regressive, with the poorest households being the most severely hit14 ; reminds that an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery is a priority; regrets that large companies that realise excess profits, such as e-commerce businesses and wealthy individuals who realise significant capital gains through speculation, are often undertaxed; notes the growing discussion regarding how taxation can mitigate the negative impacts of the extreme accumulation of wealth and profits; _________________ 14OECD, ‘Tax and Fiscal Policy in Response to the Coronavirus Crisis: Strengthening Confidence and Resilience’, 19 May 2020,https://www.oecd.org/ctp/tax- policy/tax-and-fiscal-policy-in-response- to-the-coronavirus-crisis-strengthening- confidence-and-resilience.htm
Amendment 157 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Highlights the prime role of income tax policies in curbing inequalities; notes that European cooperation and coordination is the optimal approach to ensure a fair taxation of capital gains and to safeguard the progressivity of taxation on income;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Reminds that digitalisation remains a main challenge for tax systems; notes that the outcome of the OECD international tax negotiations may provide a proper solution; welcomes the Commission’s commitment to put forward a proposal for a digital levy in case the OECD negotiations fail to provide an adequate outcome in the near future;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Calls on Member States to consider an harmonised corporate taxation framework for the EU that does not enable base erosion and profit shifting; highlights that reducing the friction of cross-border economic activity and ensuring a fair level playing field improves the conditions for businesses, in particular SMEs, to thrive in the single market; notes that failing to fix the dramatic loopholes in corporate taxation can lead to a scenario where national defensive measures proliferate, thus negatively impacting economic activity within the internal market;
Amendment 161 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8 d. Encourages the European Commission to study the tax revenue loss of not having a common withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties in the European Union; expects the Commission to assess the results and, if adequate, put forward a legislative proposal;
Amendment 162 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8 e. Regrets the lack of progress towards a European financial transactions tax (FTT), initially tabled in the aftermath of the financial crisis; notes that the European Council of July 2020 mentions the FTT as a possible own resource; highlights that a coordinated approach is optimal given the free movement of capital;
Amendment 171 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that environmental taxes have the potential to cover the need for additional revenue while supporting a resilient, competitive, sustainable and carbon-free economy; calls on Member States to consider expanding the tax base for environmental taxes through inter alia natural resource taxes, distance-based charges in the transport sector, fuel prices, and the taxation of deforestation, landfill, incineration, pesticides and fertilizers; urges all Member States to prevent a 'race to the bottom' in environmental taxation;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Warns that national budgets cannot rely on environmental taxes alone, as some of these revenues will fall as environmental harm decreases over time; calls on Member States to develop holistic tax reforms that safeguard long-term fiscal sustainability, shifting taxation from labour to not only pollution but also capital and wealth16 ; highlights that such options would dramatically benefit from a coordinated approach that prevents capital flight and the erosion of each country's tax base; _________________ 16European Commission, ‘Tax policies in the European Union’ survey, 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/busi ness/company-tax/tax-good- governance/european-semester/tax- policies-european-union-survey_en
Amendment 203 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Observes that there is also room for significant revenue and efficiency gains at tax administration level; notes that an effective and efficient tax administration, as well as a high degree of tax certainty, can encourage investment and foster competitiveness; stresses that leveraging digital technology is crucial towards a simpler, more effective and efficient tax collection;
Amendment 209 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 211 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Stresses that tackling tax fraud and tax crimes is paramount to ensure a fair tax system; takes note of previous reports by the European Parliament which called for an ambitious review of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing framework;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the Commission’s soon- to-be-published revision of the Energy Taxation Directive17 ; calls on Member States to agree to close tax exemptions for aviation and maritime fuels, increase minimum rates and restore the level playing field; calls on the Commission to launch a proposal for a progressive European kerosene taxencourages the Commission to provide an impact assessment that considers the differentiated impact based on socioeconomic background and on each country; reminds that, for instance, low- income households and specific regions are more exposed to energy poverty issues; stresses that the climate transition must ensure affordable heating alternatives and contribute to reducing energy poverty; _________________ 17 OJ L 283, 31.10.2003, p. 51.
Amendment 237 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on Member States to agree to close tax exemptions for carbon-intensive aviation and maritime fuels, increase minimum rates and restore the level playing field; calls on the Commission to launch a proposal for a progressive European kerosene tax; notes that freedom of movement cannot be undermined; highlights that the kerosene tax carries a disproportionately negative social impact to peripheral regions;
Amendment 241 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Calls on the Commission to assess how to better integrate positive environmental impact on consumption taxes; stresses that a “green” VAT reduction could shape consumer preferences towards sustainable products and services;
Amendment 247 #
2020/2259(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Encourages the Commission to put forward all the legislative initiatives for taxation, including all mentioned new own-resources, as established in the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary cooperation of 16 December 2020;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the CoC Group was efficient in deterring preferential tax regimes; whereas it has nonetheless failed to prevent aggressive tax competition between Member States; whereas the CoC Group has further failed to eradicate unfairly advantageous tax arrangements offered by some Member States to large companies and the consequential unfair competitive advantage created, such as harmful advance pricing arrangement (‘tax rulings’); whereas the CoC Group remains of purely intergovernmental nature;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the internal and external dimension of the work conducted by the CoC Group on HTP; notes that the external dimension of HTP is mainly dealt with by the CoC Group with the application of the ‘Fair Taxation’ criterion; considers that the EU list needs to be reformed at EU level; recommends that its process be formalised, notably via a legally binding instrument; deplores the lack of coherence between the criteria on HTP applied to Member States and the tougher criteria, in particular on economic substance, applied to third-country jurisdictions in the listing process;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to produce guidelines on how to design tax incentives with fewer risks of distorting the Single Market, notably by looking at the type(profit based or costs based), the temporal nature (temporary or permanent),the geographical limitation (economic zones) and the intensity (full or partial exemptions) of such incentives;
Amendment 194 #
2020/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers the reform of the criteria of the CoC to be a matter of urgency and that it should assess, all regimes proposing a tax rate below the future internationally agreed minimum effective tax rate in the framework of Pillar II of the Inclusive Framework as being potentially harmful, unless the revenues qualifying for a deduction or a reduced tax rate comply with robust and progressive economic substance requirements; advises a minimum effective rate of 21 %, following the recommendations of the US Administration in the Made in America Tax Plan;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas EU competition policy is designed to maintain an open market economy with free, fair and effective competition favouring an efficient allocation of resourcesmust benefit all EU citizens, while promoting innovation and fair competition in the single market, paying particular attention to the SMEs and a level playing field;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas exceptional and temporary measures to respond to the pandemic should not be applied in disguise of anticompetitive behaviour, nor be exploited by financially already unhealthy companies to receive additional aid without the necessary and effective restructuring plans and whereas all aid should be designed and granted in an economically and socially responsible manner; whereas in the long run, companies should commit to resume their contribution to sustainable development goals for social, economic and environmental wellbeing and for the fight against climate change;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas competition policy should address efficiently social, digital and environmental challenges, and must be in line with the priorities outlined in the European Green Deal and the objectives of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the rapid emergence and evolution of digital markets poses new challenges to the effectiveness of competition policy, especially in the field of antitrust rules where so far, ex ante interventions are not allowed;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
B d. whereas data scandals, investigations and evidence have shown how personal date is being collected and stored often in an excessive data storage manner, as well as used and sold to third parties by platforms and how dominant technology players and platforms have been tracking consumers online systematically;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas smart reconciliation of the Union’s competition rules with its industrial and international trade policies is essential for re-shoring value chaaching the objectives under the European Green Deal and the Pillar of Social Rights while securing activities and bolstering global competitiveness; nd creating decent jobs in the EU and third countries; whereas the Commission is currently carrying out a general review of competition policy enforcement effectiveness including antitrust regulations, a number of State aid rules and guidance, and the evaluation of merger control rules and the review of the Merger Definition Notice;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that competition policy is not solely about ensuring “fair” or low prices for consumers but also about providing quality, innovation and sustainability; urges the Commission in that regard to strengthen the role of the European Consumers Centres Network (ECC-Net) in the spirit of the ECN+ Directive1a; _________________ 1a OJ L 11, 14.1.2019, p.3.
Amendment 51 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that a strict and impartial enforcement of EU competition rules by independent competition authorities can make a significant contribution to key political priorities, such as social inequalities or the climate crisis; emphasises itshowever the importance alsoof flexibility in crisis conditions;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that ensuring a level playing field for undertakings in the single market also depends on decisively and effectively combating social dumpingnd on the international level is key for European companies, especially SMEs, and for the creation of decent and sustainable jobs within and outside the EU, respecting high labour and environmental standards; calls in that respect on the Commission to step up its efforts to establish a legal framework for a mandatory Human Rights and environmental due diligence instrument;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights that excessive tax burdens may stifle innovation and jeopardise the contestability of markets, especially for SMEsUnderlines that SMEs account for an estimated 30% of the EU’s goods exports to the rest of the world, while the internal market continues to be the most important market for SMEs; recalls that, in order to be efficient, competition policies should be reconciled with the Union’s industrial and international trade policies, in order to help SMEs cope with the greater challenges of entering new markets and enable them to compete on their own merits, aiming at economic diversity and an SME-friendly trade environment;
Amendment 71 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is concerned with the rapid evolvement of the digital markets and that existing competition policy instruments cannot always provide for quick and efficient ex-ante detection and timely intervention, especially in antitrust-cases; welcomes in this regard the Commission proposal on DSA and DMA, and looks forward to further analysis on how competition policy and market monitoring tools can be adapted to the digital markets evolution;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission to penalise unfair tax practices by companies and Member States and to take action against tax, social and environmental dumping and tax havens in Europe and internationally, as they thwart European competition law and destroy fair competition between multinationals and SMEs;
Amendment 80 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the adoption of a Temporary Framework for State aid measures established in response to the COVID-19 crisis and supports its application for as long as the recovery is ongoing;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights the importance of policy coherence and for any aid granted to be issued only to companies enduring direct financial consequences of the pandemic; urges furthermore that companies using tax havens outside the EU for tax avoidance to be banned from accessing State Aid or financial support if they do not commit to changing their behaviour;
Amendment 92 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recalls that recapitalisation, even under the temporary framework, should be considered only as the last resort solution by Member States, given the potential major distortive impact recapitalisation measures can have on the single market; is of the opinion that recapitalisation measures or any other public financial support to companies should be conditional upon the funding being used to benefit employees and that the recipient companies should refrain from bonuses to the management, paying out dividends or offering share buy-back schemes for as long as they receive such support;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to launch a post COVID-19 roadmap for less and better targeted State aid; including a chapter on competition policy on, among others, how to tackle fragmentation, market distortions and an unlevel playing field in the single market caused by Member States’ asymmetric capacities to apply State Aid as well as clear guidance on how to best use competition policy tools to foster a recovery with sustainable jobs and sustainable transition of companies; calls furthermore for the roadmap to encompass a first assessment on the effect of the pandemic on, and thus the future of, EU competition policy;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the priority of ensuring that State aid rules are strictly and impartially adhered toat European banking regulation rules must be respected and controlled, including when dealing with future banking crises, so that taxpayers are protected against the burden of bank rescues;
Amendment 119 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 130 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Highlights the reinforcement of 11bn€ to reinforce the endowment of expenditure programmes in the MFF 2021-2027 that will come from a new mechanism linked to the proceeds from fines collected by the Union and will result in automatic additional allocations to the concerned programmes also resulting in a genuine increase of the MFF ceilings on a yearly basis, in line with Parliament’s long-standing demand for such revenues to finance the EU budget;
Amendment 138 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the importance of global dialogue and cooperation on competition policy enforcement and a common approach towards fair competition;
Amendment 143 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Calls for the EU and the UK to find common ground to continuously cooperate and strive towards fair competition and a level playing field;
Amendment 148 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Expresses its concern about distortive state-funded competition from Chinese and other foreign undertakings acquiring European undertakings, especially those active in innovative technologies;
Amendment 184 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports the inclusion in EU competition rules of a thorough State aid check on undertakings from third countries, while stressing that the Union should remain open to foreign direct investments complying with its legal framework and not distorting competition;
Amendment 196 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Highlights the importance of a European competition policy design fit to tackle new challenges linked to the use of data, algorithms and fast-moving markets in an increasingly digital environment, as well as strengthening cooperation networks between Member States' authorities and the Commission to support fair competition in the single market;
Amendment 201 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers, while acknowledging efforts made, that problems linked to large technology undertakings’ excessive market dominance have so far been insufficiently addressed and need to be resolved urgently; welcomes in that context the Commission's proposals for a Digital Services Act and a Digital Markets Act;
Amendment 204 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Looks forward to seeing how the DMA and DSA will resolve in practice the structuring of big platforms and ensure adequate market oversight enabling intervention before a dominant position is established;
Amendment 208 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes the view that new competition tools might bare needed to deal with structural competition problems across digital markets whichas the current rules cannot address them in the most effective manner;
Amendment 211 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes the view that new competition tools might be needed to deal with structural competition problems across digital markets which current rules cannot address in the most effective manner and calls for careful Commission surveillance on these markets so as to be able to act fast on major issues and legal loopholes;
Amendment 222 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Recalls that data driven advantages linked to data sharing and data selling, but also services set as default settings risk conferring some companies the position of a so-called “gatekeeper” in the digital markets and need to be addressed effectively by the DMA and DSA;
Amendment 232 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 250 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Further encourages the structured dialogues with the Executive Vice- President for Competition and the efforts by the Commission to maintain close co- operation with the members of Parliament’s competent committee; considers the Commission’s annual report on competition policy an indispensable exercise in terms of democratic scrutiny; recalls that in recent years Parliament has been involved through the ordinary legislative procedure in shaping the framework for competition rules; notes that Parliament should begiven co- decision powers to shape the framework for competition rules; recalls its previous request to amend the treaties accordingly;
Amendment 268 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Recalls, with view to its report on competition policy 2019 (2019/2131 (INI))2a that abuse of market power can take place even when products or services are supplied for free or in exchange of private data; believes that the passing on of private data to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes is frequently done without the consumer’s proper consent, as alternatives to sharing data are often not provided; considers that in the digital economy, the concentration of data in a small number of companies leads to market failures, excessive rent extraction and a blocking of new entrants; _________________ 2a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/A-9-2020-0022_EN.html
Amendment 293 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to give careful consideration to sectors which are the basis of many other industries, as well as the Union’s social and economic value chain; is concerned that excluding too large a number of such sectors from eligibility for State aid, including through the revised EU Emission Trading System State aid guidelines, may put the Un, sustainability and economic objectives and to ensure that support for the greening of the economy and climate-neutral production’s international competitiveness at risk Europe will be possible under competition law and state aid rules;
Amendment 296 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Reiterates that taxation is sometimes used to grant indirect State aid, creating an uneven playing field in the internal market; deplores the abuse of tax rulings, points out that royalties as a financial product do not only risk to facilitate money laundering but also to undermine competition in the single market; recalls that aggressive tax planning does not solely harm fair competition but also undermines the proper functioning of social systems in general; insists that the Commission has access to the information exchanged between the Member States’ tax authorities so as to better detect violations of competition rules; recalls that examination by the Commission of a tax ruling under a State aid point of view does not constitute tax harmonisation;
Amendment 305 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes the Commission repeal of the Apple ruling; Is of the opinion that the Apple case shows once more the need for sound state aid rules, taking into account beneficial tax regimes; repeats its call for a minimum effective tax rate and a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) and public country-by- country reporting (pCBCR); awaits the results of the ongoing international negotiations on a digital tax;
Amendment 311 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to review its 1997 Notice 97/C 372/03 on the definition of relevant market in the Commission’s merger and antitrust enforcement; encourages the Commission, on a case-by-case basis, to take into account a longer-term vision encompassing the global dimension and potential future competition in its competitive assessments; recalls in that sense that in cases of mergers, the Commission should not only look at prices, output and innovation but also pays attention to the social and environmental costs of such transactions in light of TFEU principles, and to pay particular attention to environment protection;
Amendment 319 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Considers in particular antitrust proceedings as too lengthy, slowing down much needed market corrections and consequently negatively impacting effectiveness of competition law enforcement, especially in the case of rapidly growing digital markets; calls therefore for faster antitrust proceedings and asks for cooperation on this not only from the Commission but also from the companies under investigation; condemns in that context that some companies under investigation artificially prolong investigations by systematically requesting prolongations of deadlines and by replying to requests for information only with substantial delays or by submitting ineffective proposals for commitments they would take;
Amendment 321 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Welcomes the introduction of the “eLeniencytool” by the Commission to further improve the effectiveness of competition policies implementation; recalls that with the swift development of the digital markets, new challenges arise when it comes to the implementation of competition policies; recommends in that sense the Commission to look into the possibilities to intervene ex ante, especially in the digital markets and to provide EU and national competition and regulatory authorities with the necessary means to gather data anonymously so as to be able to better detect market failures in due time;
Amendment 327 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Points out that while the level of fines imposed by the Commission is amongst the highest in the world, nearly two-thirds of the fines imposed by the Commission in cartel cases since 2006 stayed below 0.99% of global annual turnover, thus well below the ceiling of 10% of a company’s annual worldwide turnover allowed3a; notes that while the ECA rightly points out that the amount of fines alone does not allow conclusions on whether they are effective deterrents, the ECA also underlines that the ceiling itself of possible fines can limit the deterrent effect in “serious cases”; _________________ 3a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/SR20_24/SR_Competition_policy _EN.pdf
Amendment 329 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31 b. Recalls that even when heavy fines are imposed they are often not enough of a deterrent, also because they may be passed on to consumers; calls therefore on the Commission to evaluate the deterrence effect of its fines and the usefulness of fines of up to 40% of the worldwide annual turnover of companies to be imposed in serious cartel cases, as it is the case already in one Member State; urges moreover that non-compliance for recurrent infringers should lead to additional sanctions, such as alternative behavioural remedies or the obligation to take specific structural measures which could be a combination of recommendations from the Commission; stresses that the cease-and-desist order should be much more prescriptive in upcoming remedies;
Amendment 342 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32 b. Regrets the fact that selling at a loss is not prohibited at EU level; highlights the important contribution made by primary producers in supplying high-quality food and delivering public goods to society; calls on the Commission to guarantee fair competition and greater transparency in offline platforms’ commercial practices, including supermarket and hypermarkets, so as to ensure that EU producers receive fair conditions and prices for their products;
Amendment 347 #
2020/2223(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32 c. Is concerned about the unveiling of a state-run oil company purchasing a leading press group, owing 20 leading regional newspapers, 120 weekly magazines, and 500 online portals4a in the concerned Member state; repeats its call on the Commission to Commission carry out a study on the concentration of media ownership in Europe, also in the context of multinational corporations buying out European media providers; _________________ 4ahttps://www.dw.com/en/poland-state- run-oil-company-buys-leading-media- group/a-55859592
Amendment 7 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates that global value chains are the key feature of the global economy and that trade policy must contribute to a transparent production process throughout the value chain, including subcontracting chains, and demonstrate compliance with environmental, human rights, social and safety standards;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Acknowledges the recent European Commission study on directors’ duties and sustainable corporate governance that current corporate decision-makers focus on short-term shareholder value maximisation rather than on the long-term interests of the company, and its stakeholders, who aim for long-term environmental and social sustainability of European businesses1a; _________________ 1ahttps://op.europa.eu/fr/publication- detail/-/publication/e47928a2-d20b-11ea- adf7-01aa75ed71a1
Amendment 14 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Underlines that the impact of corporate short termism on EU business trading practices in third countries is unsustainable; notes the importance of promoting social sustainability in third countries; stresses that promoting sustainable corporate governance in trade policy has a positive impact on the supply chain, and towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris agreement targets;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that sustainable corporate governance can help the EU to build a more resilient and sustainable economy, improve the level playing field and protect EU businesses and citizenworkers, and is therefore hugely beneficial to EU trade policy;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses the importance of coherence between corporate governance structures of EU businesses and EU efforts in dialogue with third countries on responsible business conduct through Trade and Sustainable Development chapters in Free Trade Agreements; notes that a sustainable long-term holistic approach is needed
Amendment 27 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Notes that a balanced composition of the Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) as well as lessons learnt from their experience as an inclusive structured dialogue could be used as a model for EU corporate structures that takes civil society on board;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2137(INI)
3. Notes that the COVID-19 crisispandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of unregulated global supply chains, andwhich showed that the voluntarily rules are insufficient; especially in the garment sector where production was disrupted during the crisis with negative effects throughout the supply chain; notes that businesses with better environmental, social and governance practices and risk mitigation processes weather the crisises better;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes with concern that less than 1 % of companies publicly list their suppliers, even in high-risk sectors; emphasizes the importance of more transparency in the supply chain to oversee binding environmental, social, and human rights standards; stresses the need for the review of the non-financial reporting directive (NFRD) to greatly increase corporate transparency in the supply chain;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that directors’ duties should encompass an obligation to develop, disclose and implement a corporate sustainability strategy for all aspects of the company’s operations, including its supply chains; based on international social, environmental and human rights standards; underlines that consultation with local communities is important;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the requirement to disclose information on how sustainability issues affect the company and how the company affects society and the environment should include the sharing of all relevant information on all actors throughout the entire supply chain; notes that sharing this information is based on the reporting system Non-Financial Reporting Directive (‘NFRD’)
Amendment 64 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes that as part of the revision of the reporting system Non-Financial Reporting Directive (‘NFRD’) the behaviour of a company in the supply chain has an impact; by extending the scope of the NFRD to the supply chain the impact of sustainable corporate governance will be bigger;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Underlines the importance of the new taxonomy regulation also in regard to the supply chain; stresses that tackling tax avoidance is a fundamental part of sustainable corporate governance;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that sustainable corporate governance cannot reach its full potential without due diligence legislation that requires companies to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for human rights abuses and environmental damage in their global value chains; underlines that sustainable corporate governance should not be limited by the present or lack of proper due diligence legislation; asks the Commission to add the sustainable corporate governance and corporate due diligence into the ongoing Trade Policy review.
Amendment 17 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the EIB has taken on a significant role in mobilising financing to the economy following the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the EIB committed in 2019 to support the objectives of the European Green Deal, align all its financing activities with the goals of the Paris Agreement and become the ‘EU Climate Bank’;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the EIB Board of Directors approved the Climate Bank Roadmap (CBR);
Amendment 22 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
B d. whereas the EIB has started the review process of its 2011 Transport Lending Policy, with the goal of supporting accessible, efficient, green and safe transport;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
B e. whereas support for SMEs and Midcaps is a fundamental public policy goal of the EIB; whereas in 2019 alone, the EIB Group supported over 386 600 SMEs and mid-caps with new financing; whereas support for SMEs accounted for 35% of overall EIB signature volume;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
B f. whereas EIB investment has the capacity to support the social sector, including health, education and housing;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2124(INI)
B g. whereas in 2019 the EIB approved loans worth EUR 7.8 billion for projects outside the Union, including EUR 1.1 billion in least developed countries (LDCs) and fragile states;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
B h. whereas the EIB Group is currently working to develop counterparty alignment guidelines with environmental and sustainability objectives;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses that the economic and social crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly harmed economic growth in the EU and that one of the main fallouts is the decline in investment; underlines that the fall in public and private investment has reached alarming levels;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Supports the European Council’s conclusion that the EIB should have the necessary capital to implement Union policies and the invitation to the EIB Board of Governors to review the capital adequacy of the EIB in view of the instruments included in the MFF and NGEU, as well as the Bank's contribution to the Union's ambitions in fighting climate change and digitalising Europe's economy;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Takes the view that a capital increase is justified in order to allow the Bank to provide long-term finance and support key real economy investments that otherwise would have not taken place, while keeping the current AAA status;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls, in this context, on the European Commission to study the possibility to be represented in the EIB Board of Governors through the subscription of capital of the EIB using funds from the EU budget;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Commends the EIB for setting out targets and carrying out evaluations of the economic, social and environmental impacts of projects supported, as well as their additionality and sustainability;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of avoiding further geographical imbalances in the EIB’s lending activity so as to ensure a broader geographical and sectoral allocation of investments, reduce regional disparities and enhance convergence; welcomes the efforts already made by the EIB in this regard; notices with concern, however, that, according to the geographical breakdown of lending by country in which projects are located, four Member States received almost 50% of the total loans granted in 2019;
Amendment 69 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls for the EIB to address systemic deficiencies that prevent certain regions or countries from taking full advantage of EIB financial opportunities, by, inter alia, strengthening its efforts to expand its loan activities, providing technical assistance and advisory support, especially in regions which attract low investment and which did not benefit significantly from the derogation to the State-aid rules during the pandemic crisis because of the lack of financial capacity of the State;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls, in this context, on the EIB to consider proposing additional incentives for projects and credit lines already approved in order to get the projects off the ground as soon as possible and ensure the swift implementation of funds;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes that in the context of the Coronavirus response and as of 30 September 2020, the EIB has approved 84 operations within the EU for a total investment of €23,5 billion; notes as well that 88% of the approved operations were allocated to SMEs and mid-caps and the health sector;
Amendment 81 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the EIB’s participation in COVAX, by investing €400 million in the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment;
Amendment 87 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Welcomes the fact that in 2019 31% of EIB’s lending was climate- related;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Notes that the EIB will structure future work on the implementation of the Roadmap around ten new Action Plans, which will build on the first five years of implementation of the EIB’s 2015 Climate Strategy; Demands, in this context, to be regularly and fully informed on the implementation of the Roadmap;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Calls on the EIB to continue to advance mechanisms to better incorporate the inputs from various stakeholders, such as local and regional authorities, trade unions, NGOs and relevant experts, in its investment strategy as the EU’s Climate Bank;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Welcomes the EIB’s commitment to support the European Commission’s Sustainable Finance Action Plan, in particular by aligning with the EU Taxonomy for tracking climate action and environmental sustainability finance, and by adopting the “Do No Significant Harm” criteria as a base to evaluate projects;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the review of the EIB’s transport lending policy is a key priority; stresses the importance of aligning the EIB’s transport portfolio with the Paris Agreement as soon as possible; calls for the swift adoption of a new transport financing policy strategy aiming to decarbonise the EU transport sector by 2050 and promote accessible, efficient, green and safe means of transport; underlines, in this context, that the EIB should continue its engagement in financing innovation and green technology for aviation;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on the EIB to support projects aimed at facilitating a just transition in the Member States; underlines that the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy must be inclusive, fair and must leave no one behind; suggests the EIB to proactively work with Member States in view of supporting regions where jobs are highly dependent on high-emitting industries;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Welcomes the fact that the EIB is the world’s largest issuer of green bonds which have raised € 34,6 billion of Climate Awareness Bonds and Sustainability Awareness Bonds over 12 years; calls on the EIB to continue and to expand the issuance of green bonds to enhance the liquidity of that market and to remain involved in the development of an EU green bond standard;
Amendment 140 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Welcomes the fact that in 2019 the EIB supported innovation and skills with €14.4 billion; calls the EIB to enhance its support for innovation and skills;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Recalls that SMEs are the back bone of Europe's economy, representing 99% of all businesses in the EU and employing at around 100 million people Welcomes the fact that in 2019 the EIB provided financing for SMEs and mid- caps with total investment amounting to €25.5 billion, supporting 386 000 companies;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Notes that the COVID-19 outbreak revealed the fragility of the EU’s supply chains and the insufficiency of IT networks; calls on the EIB to align its investment strategy to help ensure greater resilience of the internal market’s value chains and strengthen the European industrial sector, especially in strategic areas;
Amendment 149 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Calls on the EIB to mobilise sufficient support for infrastructure on delivering faster internet speed to all regions in the EU and bridge the existing digital divide;
Amendment 153 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Calls on the EIB to continue its support towards advancing digital skills, in particular for employees in sectors of the economy in need adjustment and requalification;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Calls on the EIB to enhance its support to innovative European companies through all stages of development, from seed to growth capital, financing the creation of a knowledge economy by combining investment in skills, research, infrastructure and energy efficiency with support for young tech companies;
Amendment 158 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Underlines that the EIB will continue to be the main investment partner for the implementation of the InvestEU programme;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Welcomes the EIB’s commitment to invest in the social sector, thereby fostering well-being, access to education, health and housing, as well as the acquisition of skills required by a modern knowledge-based economy;
Amendment 165 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the EIB to play an active role in helping Member States to deliver on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, while standing ready to align with the forthcoming Commission action plan and the Social Summit in Porto; points toreiterates the importance of ex-ante and ex- post evaluations of the sustainability, economic, social and environmental impact of projects backed directly or indirectly by the EIB;
Amendment 170 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Calls on the EIB to refrain from participating in projects which may weaken citizens’ access to high quality public services;
Amendment 171 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge negative impact on children’s education and well-being across the globe, with millions of children still without access to education due to lockdown measures and therefore at risk of regression and suffering potential lifelong effects; welcomes the EIB’s investment in education, as investing in education helps to eradicate poverty, boost economic growth and improve gender equality; calls on the EIB to increase its investment in education to help mitigate the severe impact of the COVID-19crisis on education systems globally;
Amendment 172 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 173 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the fact that the EIB is the largest multilateral lender in the world that strives to support EU external cooperation and development policies; notes that the EIB has been active outside the EU for over 50 years with €64.8bn loans granted in 106 different countries as of end-2019, of which EUR 7.9bn were signed in 2019;
Amendment 175 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Insists that the EIB should apply the same standards and criteria to assess and evaluate projects inside and outside the European Union, including those recently agreed in the CBR ; Considers, in this context, that the EIB should enhance its monitoring and reporting of projects outside the EU and improving its analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts;
Amendment 176 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. Welcomes the provisional agreement reached between the European Council and the European Parliament on the regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument; notes in particular the role the EIB will play in the context of the European Fund for Sustainable Investment;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Stresses the need for full alignment of EIB investments in third countries with EU external action and sustainable development priorities;
Amendment 192 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Proposes the establishment of a protocol for a Memorandum of Cooperation between the EIB and Parliament, applicable with immediate effect, in order to improve interinstitutional dialogue and enhance the EIB’s transparency and accountability, specifying the rights of Parliament and its Members as regards access to documents, data, questions put to the EIB, regular hearings and economic dialogues;
Amendment 221 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the EIB’s Group Strategy on Gender Equality and Gender Action Plan; takes note of the 2019 Progress Report on Diversity and Inclusion; notes that women represent 51.4% of the EIB workforce; regrets the fact that women are still not sufficiently represented in managerial and senior office positions; believes that more needs to be done in this regard during the implementation of the second phase of the Action Plan in 2021; calls, therefore, on the EIB to further encourage the participation of women and actively promote a balance gender representation in its senior positions;
Amendment 237 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls on the EIB to take advantage of the ongoing review of its overall policy on alignments with counterparties and ensure greater transparency and stricter due diligence over its partners and their eligibility to disburse EIB-backed funds under strict conditionality, comprising ethical, integrity, social and environmental criteria;
Amendment 239 #
2020/2124(INI)
30 b. Reiterates, in this regard, its call on the EIB to only work with counterparties which have decarbonisation plans in place by the end of 2025, without prejudice to the ability of the EIB to offer technical assistance on devising such decarbonisation plans;
Amendment 240 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30 c. Asks the EIB to provide more regular, in-depth and comprehensive information on the financial intermediaries responsible to redistribute loans in the context of lending operations and include contractual clauses concerning mandatory disclosures from these institutions;
Amendment 241 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Amendment 242 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 e (new)
Paragraph 30 e (new)
30 e. Calls on the EIB to reinforce contractual clauses enabling it to suspend disbursements in cases of projects' non- compliance with environmental, social, human rights, tax and transparency standards;
Amendment 243 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 f (new)
Paragraph 30 f (new)
30 f. Welcomes that the EIB Anti- Fraud Policy, which is the main framework on preventing and deterring Prohibited Conduct in EIB activities, is currently being revised;
Amendment 244 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 g (new)
Paragraph 30 g (new)
30 g. Calls furthermore for a stringent Exclusion Policy, to provide the Bank with the possibility to go beyond the application of contractual remedies, by excluding entities found engaged in fraud, corruption, money laundering or other forms of wrongdoing from EIB financing;
Amendment 245 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 h (new)
Paragraph 30 h (new)
30 h. Takes note of the December 2020 Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Framework of the EIB; is concerned that the framework outlined is not detailed on specific procedures to align the Bank’s activities with EU law, namely on customer due diligence and in particular when enhanced due diligence takes place;
Amendment 246 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 i (new)
Paragraph 30 i (new)
30 i. Welcomes the adoption of the EIB Group non-cooperation jurisdiction (NCJ) policy in 2019 and subsequent revision of implementing internal procedures; recalls that the policy foresees a general prohibition to enter into operations with contracting counterparties incorporated or established in NCJs, except under strict conditions;
Amendment 247 #
2020/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 j (new)
Paragraph 30 j (new)
30 j. Welcomes the European Court of Auditors’ work with respect to Union budget funds managed by the EIB and calls on the institutions to agree on enhancing ECA audit rights within the limits of the EU Treaties;
Amendment 6 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 40 a (new)
Citation 40 a (new)
— having regard to the European Commission action plan for a comprehensive Union policy on preventing money laundering and terrorism financing of 7 May 202029a, _________________ 29ahttps://ec.europa.eu/info/business- economy-euro/banking-and- finance/financial-supervision-and-risk- management/anti-money-laundering-and- counter-terrorist-financing_en
Amendment 22 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas a more stable, competitive and convergent Economic and Monetary Union requires a Banking Union with a European Deposit Insurance Scheme, a Capital Markets Union, a permanent Budgetary Instrument, a revised fiscal framework and more effective cooperation and coordination on tax affairs;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the completion of the Banking Union is a vital contributor to the international perception of the euro and its increased role in global markets;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas both the ECB and the SRB call for the swift completion of the Banking Union namely with the establishment of the EDIS (European Deposit Insurance Scheme);
Amendment 34 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the lack of a solution to the treatment of sovereign debt exposures andin the banking prudential framework national options and discretions persists, undermining the European dimension of the Banking Union;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas more than ten years after the financial crisis, the ‘too big to fail’ and ‘too interconnected to fail’ problems remain insufficiently addressed;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas consumer protectionand investor protection is paramount to the deepening of the Capital Markets Union (CMU), but varies across the Banking Union;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the Banking Union still lacks effective tools to tackle problems consumers are facing: artificial complexity, unfair commercial practices, exclusion of vulnerable groups from using basic services as well as limited involvement of public authorities;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas prudential and anti-money laundering supervision is necessaryfully harmonised standards and institutional cooperation on the prudential aspects of anti-money laundering and anti-money laundering supervision and enforcement are necessary to protect the integrity of the EU’s financial system;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in the relocation of some banking services to the EU;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas depositors across the Banking Union shouldmust enjoy the same level of protection;
Amendment 92 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the Banking Union has delivered the institutional set-up for greater market integration, through the SSM and the SRM, while its third pillar, a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) is still lacking;
Amendment 104 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that the full implementation of the Banking Union is necessary to deliver better conditions for the financing of the European economy, both to households and companies, still largely reliant on bank credit to foster investment and job creation;
Amendment 119 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the vital contribution to addressing the crisis of public guarantee schemes, moratoria on loan repayments for borrowers in financial difficulty, the central banks’ liquidity programmes and the ECB’s targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO) and pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP); stresses the importance of keeping the above measures in place as long as necessary;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2122(INI)
8. Calls for a well-orchestrated, gradual shift from pandemic relief to recovery support tools, taking into consideration at every step the current conditions;
Amendment 153 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Reminds that the European Green Deal shall be a cornerstone of EU policies in the upcoming years; underlines the role of private finance and investments in supporting the climate transition, as established in the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan; welcomes recent and upcoming legislative action that incentivises investments in line with the European Climate Law, including the EU taxonomy climate delegated act and the establishment of a EU green bond standard;
Amendment 157 #
2020/2122(INI)
8 a. Stresses that completing the Economic and Monetary Union requires the completion of the Banking Union with a European Deposit Insurance Scheme, a more developed and safe Capital Markets Union, a permanent budgetary instrument, a revised fiscal framework and more effective cooperation and coordination on tax affairs;
Amendment 158 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Underlines the importance of completing the Capital Markets Union, which complements the Banking Union in the financing of the real economy; stresses, furthermore, that a fully integrated Capital Markets Union together with a fully-fledged Banking Union would allow for public and private risk sharing, and would moreover strengthen the international role of the euro as well as further enhancing the competitiveness of European markets and promoting sustainable private investment; highlights, in this regard, the need for a level playing field that avoids disadvantages for SMEs in terms of access to finance, and the need to carefully monitor the issuance of securitised products;
Amendment 162 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes the accelerated pace of digitalisation in the banking sector, while pointing to the insufficient level of investment and regulation in this area;
Amendment 166 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Welcomes the Commission’s Proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD); calls on the Commission to deploy further efforts to better align financial market activity with sustainability objectives and environmental, social and governance criteria, including the development of sustainability ratings based on ESG criteria;
Amendment 177 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the postponement of the implementation of the Basel III reforms and awaits the Commission’s upcoming proposal on the implementation of the finalised standards, taking into account, where appropriate, the specificities of the EU banking sector and the necessity to introduce measures aimed at increasing banks’ lending to the real economy;
Amendment 185 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the interdependencies between banks and central counterparties (CCPs) and increasingly with crypto- assets and digital finance;
Amendment 188 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to consider to what extent the growing importance of non-bank financial intermediation and its interconnection with the banking sector require additional macroprudential tools, namely the development of ex ante liquidity management tools and careful analysis of existing leverage measures; highlights that the recent pandemic shock illustrated that the non-bank sector can amplify market volatility and price dislocation, particularly when market liquidity comes under pressure;
Amendment 195 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the failure to ensure full gender balance in EU financial institutions and bodies; calls on the governments of the Member States, the European Council, the Eurogroup and the Commission to actively work towards gender balance in their upcoming proposals for shortlists and appointments, endeavouring to include at least one female and one male candidate per nomination procedure; reiterates its resolution on respect for the gender balance principle in forthcoming lists of candidates;
Amendment 198 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission to review the eligibility criteria with the objective of attracting a higher number of applications from women;
Amendment 210 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that sound management of credit risk should remain one of the key priorityies for the SSM;
Amendment 218 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that ensuring proper and timely management of deteriorated exposures will be key to preventing a build-up of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the short term; calls on supervisors to continue to adequately consider the side effects that massive disposals of NPLs can have on prudential balance sheets of banks that use internal models;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that banks should diligently assess the financial soundness and viability of businesses, proactively engage with distressed debtors to manage their exposures, and offer financing and restructuring options to viable companies and sectors whose prospects of recovery post pandemic, analysed on a case-by- case basis, remain high; stresses that the prudential framework should be consistently amended to allow and encourage such options;
Amendment 234 #
2020/2122(INI)
18 a. Underlines the need to protect borrowers' rights in the context of NPL transactions and calls on Member States to put measures in place to ensure that borrowers, who might be in already vulnerable financial situations, are not subject to aggressive and unfair treatment and practices by poorly-regulated debt buyers and collectors; calls on the Commission, in the upcoming revision of the Consumer Credit Directive, to laydown more ambitious provisions on the protection of borrowers against abusive practices, ensuring that those rights apply equally to existing and future loans;
Amendment 235 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the ESAs to make full use of their powers to ensure a high degree of consumer protection, including, where appropriate, product intervention powers where financial and credit products have resulted in or are likely to result in consumer detriment;
Amendment 236 #
2020/2122(INI)
18 b. Underlines the importance of protecting consumer rights, namely regarding unfair terms and practices, banking fees, the transparency of products costs, profitability and risks; notes that the Banking Union still lacks effective tools to tackle problems consumers are facing such as unfair commercial practices and artificial complexity; calls, in this respect, on the European Banking Authority to devote more focus in fulfilling its mandate on properly collecting, analysing and reporting on consumer trends, and also on the review and coordination of financial literacy and education initiatives by the competent authorities; calls further on the Commission to scrutinise the unfair clauses and practices employed by the banking sector, in consumer contracts and to ensure the effective and swift implementation by all Member States of the Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms by using all means in place;
Amendment 251 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the benefits of banking consolidation in addressing the overcapacities and fragmentation of the banking sector, taking into account each MS specificities; remains concerned, nonetheless with the existence of “too-big- to-fail” institutions; stresses furthermore the benefits of protecting diversity/plurality of financial sectors in building up systemic trust and maintaining the financial stability;
Amendment 252 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Stresses the importance of supervisory guidance recommending conservative policies on dividends and share buy-backs for financial institutions, attending to the need to maintain sufficient capitalisation;
Amendment 261 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is concerned that as Member States sell increasing amounts of sovereign bonds, their share in banks’ balance sheets grows, potentially aggravating the doom loop; considerstresses that the creation of Next Generation EU willcan provide high-qualita truly European safe assets;
Amendment 267 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Takes the view that these high quality European Safe Assets will diversify the pool of safe assets available in the EU, providing an opportunity for banks to reduce the exposure of their balance sheets to national sovereign debt and contributing to strengthen the international role of the euro;
Amendment 269 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Stresses that the EU regulatory framework on prudential treatment of sovereign debt should be consistent with international standards;
Amendment 275 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. NotWelcomes the efforts of the SSM to provide guidance and clarity to banks for self-assessing and appropriately reporting environmental and climate change-related risks; stresses that further supervisory pressure is required for financial institutions to disclose appropriately climate-related and environmental risks; considers the SSM climate risk stress test an important step in evaluating banks’ practices and identifying concrete areas of improvement;
Amendment 285 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes the EBA’s role in leading, coordinating and monitoring the EU financial sector’s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing; welcomes the ECB’s efforts over the past two years to enhance exchange of information between the SSM and AML/CFT supervisors to better take into account AML aspects in prudential supervision measures;
Amendment 288 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Recalls that for AML/CFT efforts to be effective, the competent authorities and financial institutions must act in a coordinated manner; highlights that prudential and anti-money laundering supervision need to be better aligned; recalls its serious concerns about regulatory and supervisory fragmentation in the field of AML/CFT, which has led to a failure to provide adequate oversight and responses to the deficiencies of national supervisory authorities and undermines their ability to supervise the increasing cross-border activity in the EU; encourages the partial conversion of the provisions laid down in previous anti- money laundering directives into a regulation, thus targeting loopholes;
Amendment 307 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the fact that while the SRB was not required to take resolution action in 2020, it nevertheless collaborated with the SSM regarding close-to-crisis cases; appreciates the advancement of the current resolution planning cycle, and reiterates that MRELproportionate MREL setting represents one of the key elements in enhancing banks’ resolvability while ensuring broader financial stability;
Amendment 318 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it necessary to have in place an EU liquidationcomprehensive regime for banks for which the SRB assesses that there is no public interest in resolution;
Amendment 350 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. NotStresses the importance of depositors across the Banking Union enjoying the same level of protection of their savings; takes note of the Commission proposal to further strengthen citizens’ confidence in the protection of deposits by introducing an EDIS;
Amendment 371 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes the Commission’s launch of the review of the CMDI framework, including the option of a hybrid EDIS;
Amendment 376 #
2020/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Calls for further steps towards a time-bound work plan on all outstanding elements needed to complete swiftly the Banking Union and deliver a fully-fledged EDIS;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that the post-COVID-19 recovery is a unique opportunity to set the agenda for sustainable growth; calls on the Commission, therefore, to presentspeed up its review of the 15-point action plan on TSD chapters without delayso it can be implemented in all ongoing negotiations without exception; expects the review to address the enforceability of TSD commitments as a matter of urgency, as it is not currently included; recalls, in this regard, the non- paper from the Netherlands and France on trade, social economic effects and sustainable development11 ; suggests that, as a minimum, recent advances in enforceability should be applied to EU trade policy, namely the ability to tackle any non-compliance by partners through unilateral sanctions, including the introduction of tariffs or quotas on certain products or the cross- suspension of other parts of an agreement; __________________ 11 Non-paper from the Netherlands and France on trade, social economic effects and sustainable development, accessed at ‘the Netherlands at International Organisations (permanentrepresentations.nl)’.
Amendment 66 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that high up-front costs, which will only repay themselves over time, and a lack of know-how and equipment are currently preventing developing countries from ‘going green’; demands that the Commission use all trade instruments and development cooperation policies at its disposal to increase financial support, technical assistance, technology transfers and digital penetration in order to empower developing countries and enable them to achieve sustainable resilience and to better implement due diligence across the supply chain;
Amendment 91 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that transparency and dialogue are key to creating support for trade policy; insists that the role and responsibilities of civil society and domestic advisory groups must be clearly defined in the EU’s international agreements and that financial assistance must be accompanied by capacity-building measures to enable it to function effectively; while asking the Commission to cooperate more intensively with the European civil society represented in the EESC;
Amendment 106 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for the EU to ensure trade works also for the economically disadvantaged; in this regard recalls that the specific actions to promote ‘fair and ethical trade schemes’ to which the Commission committed in the ‘Trade for All’ strategy have become even more relevant under the current circumstances given that Fair Trade bottom-up initiatives can ensure that trade benefits the economically disadvantaged actors in the supply chain; calls on the Commission to promote Fair Trade initiatives through EU programs involving young people and the private sector, in external action in general, in the implementation of chapters on trade and sustainable development, through EU delegations as well as by rewarding best practices and facilitating knowledge exchange amongst EU local, regional, national authorities, civil society, schools and universities, including through the extension of the ‘EU cities for fair and ethical trade award’ to schools and universities and the setting up of an annual Fair Trade week hosted in Brussels by the European Commission; demands the European Commission to report on the support of Fair Trade initiatives by the EU and the member states;
Amendment 139 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is convinced that the EU is too dependent on a limited number of suppliers for critical goods and services, especially for medical and pharmaceutical goods; insists that the EU should overcome these undesirable dependencies via a mix of policies to incentivise companies to stockpile, diversify sourcing strategies and promote nearshoring, - which could create new trading opportunities for partners in the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods - and reshoring where necessary;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Underlines that the loss in biodiversity increases the danger of spreading zoonoses and pandemics; stresses that although trade policy cannot replace environmental policy, it should not reinforce or incentivize production methods that are harmful to biodiversity in the EU and internationally; therefore, in the context of FTAs, calls for the linkage of the phasing in of tariff liberalisations with proven measures for the protection of biodiversity amongst which must be the implementation of the CBD and the CITES; underlines that in order to fulfil this expectation, capacity building measures and financial support for developing countries are vital elements;
Amendment 171 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Welcomes the proposal by several government leaders for an international treaty on the pandemic response and calls for this to include a strong trade pillar; underlines that the international trade framework must foster cooperation and put into place both structural and rapid response mechanisms to help governments overcome the challenges associated with health emergencies; maintains that progress needs to be made in the areas of transparency on available stocks, global supply networks, production capacities and product pricing of essential health products, the implementation and development of exemptions for public health security in the intellectual property rights framework, increasing the global mobility of essential services, protecting and fostering the resilience of SMEs, and developing an intersectional approach to tackle the negative impact of health crises on gender equality, income equality, and the position of minorities;
Amendment 172 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls to establish a new Committee on Trade and Health on the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in order to prepare guidelines on how governments can implement existing exemptions and flexibilities in international trade law to increase public health security, which mechanisms must be put in place to improve the global response to health emergencies and to lay the groundwork for a trade pillar for the negotiations on a future international treaty on the pandemic response;
Amendment 189 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that the vaccines against COVID-19 and its variants are a global public good and that multilateral efforts should be focused on the equitable distribution of vaccines across the world, ramping up global production capacities and technology transfers, including in low and middle- income countries; strongly welcomes, in this regard, the Global C19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Manufacturing Summit held on 8 and 9 March 2021 and calls for the establishment of structural platforms to rapidly scale up vaccine production in more countries; calls for more international efforts to speed up the delivery of vaccines to COVAX;
Amendment 198 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that international trade policy must play a proactive role in this endeavour by facilitating trade in raw materials, alleviating shortages of qualified and experienced personnel, solving supply chain problems and revisiting the global framework for intellectual property rights for future pandemics; insists, in this regard, on a constructive dialogue about a temporary waiver of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in order to ensure that countries do not face retaliation over COVID-19 related patent infringements during the pandemic; calls on the Commission to re-evaluate the TRIPS+ commitments in EU trade agreements in light of lessons learned, and to improve the work on increasing the effectiveness of IPR flexibilities such as, but not limited to, compulsory licensing in the context of bilateral negotiations and dialogue;
Amendment 271 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Points out that the COVID crisis has underlined the significance of a new partnership with the African continent; in this context underlines that the question on debt reductions and debt cancellations needs to be answered; underlines the necessity of extending debt-related initiatives to private creditors; highlights the need to create the policy space in African countries for the successful implementation of health related policy measures;
Amendment 274 #
2020/2117(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Stresses that the EU needs to actively support the diversification of inner-African value chains;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the shock is symmetrical but the impact varies considerably among Member States, reflecting the severity of the pandemic and the stringency of their containment measures, but also their specific economic exposures and initial conditions, including the vulnerability of particular sectors and their available scope for discretionary fiscal policy responses; Due to their strong interdependencies, an incomplete recovery in one country would spill over to all the other countries and dampen economic growth everywhere;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas a determined, coordinated and solidarity-based European response is essential to mitigate the negative economic and social consequences of the crisis, the fragmentation of the internal market and the further deepening of macroeconomic divergence and structural polarisation between regions and countries;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas most of the effects are likely to be temporary and the national and European policies in place to support incomes, jobs, liquidity and investment are effective, economic activity will rebound once restrictions are gradually eased; whereas, nevertheless, lasting negative consequences can be expected, such as continued subdued demand, market and income uncertainties, investment shortfalls and drops in employment, which reduce the productive potential of the economy and harm a return to the former trajectory of production and growth;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the Commission estimates total government financing needs at € 5.4trn over 2020 and 2021. This includes pre-crisis financing needs of € 3.7trn and additional financing needs due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis of € 1.7trn for EU Member States over 2020 and 2021;1a _________________ 1a Commission Staff Working Document: Identifying Europe's recovery needs https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec onomy- finance/assessment_of_economic_and_in vestment_needs.pdf
Amendment 43 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the COVID 19 crisis is affecting vulnerable groups in particular, resulting in increased inequalities, poverty, unemployment and social divergences, as well as undermining social and employment standards in Europe;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas women are disproportionately hit as a result of the crisis;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas the EU and its Member States have committed to the treaty-based values, implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Cf. whereas the disruption is affecting the European economy as a whole, and whereas an equal debt issuance capacity and access to funding must be ensured in order to deal with the crisis, including for Member States not in the euro area;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with great concern that, according to the Commission’s Spring 2020 economic forecast, the EU is expected to suffer the deepest recession in its history in 2020; with a contraction in EU GDP of 7½%, far deeper than during the financial crisis in 2009, a surge of the aggregate budget deficit from 0.6% of GDP in 2019 to 8½% of GDP in 2020 in both the euro area and the EU, a new peak of the euro area’s aggregate debt-to- GDP ratio of close to 103% reversing the declining trend since 2014, unemployment in the euro area is expected to increase from 7.5% in 2019 to 9½% and HICP inflation in the euro area of 0.2% in 2020; 1a _________________ 1aEuropean Economic Forecast Spring 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec onomy-finance/ip125_en.pdf
Amendment 62 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned at the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the global economy, trade, income inequalities and poverty; , with a projected contraction of the global GDP (excluding the EU) by about 3% this year, which is a sharper downturn than during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-2009, a fall of world import volumes by more than 10% and a fall of euro area exports by about 13% in 2020; Is alarmed about the increase in poverty since many emerging and low-income countries have limited capacity to deal with a health crisis of this magnitude as well as limited policy space to absorb the macroeconomic impact, in particularly in face of subdued prospects for commodity prices and tightened financial conditions; 1b _________________ 1b European Economic Forecast Spring 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec onomy-finance/ip125_en.pdf
Amendment 71 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the Commission’s estimate of the investment needs of the EU for delivering the green transition and digital transformation amounts to at least EUR 595 billion per year8 27 in 2020 and 2021 will amount to €1,5trn in addition to the baseline assumed in the spring forecast, and for delivering the green transition and digital transformation to at least €595bn per year8; including additional investment needs of €20bn per year to make the strategic investments for EU autonomy to strengthen the resilience of industries and the EU’s strategic autonomy for most- needed goods and services (medical products and pharmaceuticals, strategic digital infrastructure, key enabling technologies, critical raw materials, defence and space); _________________ 8 Commission Staff Working Document -: Identifying Europe's recovery needs, p. 16: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/eco nomy- finance/assessment_of_economic_and_inv estment_needs.pdf
Amendment 78 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 90 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the swift and strong response to the crisis in the area of monetary and fiscal policy, at both EU and Member State level, with the ECB’s Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP), the activation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the launch of the EIB’s pan- European Guarantee Fund ensuring liquidity and stabilization of financial markets, the activation of the ‘general escape clause' by the European Commission, allowing the maximum flexibility to the fiscal framework and the adopted temporary state aid rules to allow national governments to financially support healthcare systems and businesses and the imminent European Support Scheme Mitigating Unemployment Risks in Emergency (SURE) to keep people in employment during the crisis;
Amendment 93 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 96 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Welcomes in principle the Commission’s proposal of a new Recovery and Resilience Facility to support Member States through non-repayable financial support and loans to implement investments and reforms that are essential for a sustainable recovery based on priorities identified in the framework of the European Semester of economic policy coordination, including the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and in regard to contribute to the 2030 climate goal and to the digital agenda; (Article subject to adjustment due to the state of negotiations)
Amendment 103 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the swift and strong response to the crisis in the area of monetary and fiscal policy, at both EU and Member State level, as well as the European Recovery Plan; cConsiders it essential that the recovery package is fully aligned with the EU’s new growth strategy, i.e. in accordance with the principles of the European Green Deal (EGD), the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with the aim to protect women’s rights and achieve gender equality and that puts the well-being of citizens and sustainability in the center of our action; Moreover, the recovery fund should provide additional support to the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) to boost the EU’s economies towards a sustainable and inclusive economy that would enable the essential transition to a climate-neutral economy; demands that funds and resources be directed to projects and beneficiaries that comply with our Treaty-based fundamental values, including the rule of law, and that recipient firms protect their workers, pay their fair share of taxes, and refrain from paying out dividends or offering share buy- back schemes aimed at remunerating shareholders;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the need for the recovery plan to protect workers, employees, the self-employed and SMEs and ensure their income compensation; The recovery must be based on upward social economic convergence, social dialogue and improved social rights and working conditions with targeted measures for those in precarious forms of work; Calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to ensure that public financial support to corporations is provided under the condition to guarantee the jobs and the income of their employees, to commit to sustainability objectives upon adherence to international standards of responsible business;
Amendment 118 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the activation of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, and expects that it will remain activated at least until the end of 2021 in order to support the efforts of the Member States to recover from the pandemic crisis and strengthen their economic and social resilience; and to pave the way to the ecological transition that is fair and inclusive, that supports the economy’s competitiveness and that addresses the risks posed by climate change, including the resulting increase in regional disparities and social inequalities; In this regard, shares the view of the European Fiscal Board that rapidly reversing the fiscal stance is not favourable for the recovery and that larger and longer fiscal support and the extension of discretionary fiscal measures, including a strong component of government spending, is needed, also in 2021, to sustain demand; 1e _________________ 1e EFB Report 2020: Assessment of the fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/asse ssment-fiscal-stance-appropriate-euro- area_en
Amendment 144 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the conclusion of the European Fiscal Board (EFB)9 that the fiscal framework has to be revised, and i due to its unnecessary complexity, pro- cyclicality, overreliance on unobservable variables and the fact that it has not protected the quality of public expenditure nor promoted public investment during the period of growth the last seven years before the crisis; Is convinced that the deep economic crisis triggered by the pandemic further exacerbates this need; believes that the review and reform have to meet the above requirements in terms of increasing investment relating to climate change and digitalisation and stabilising the new level of investment, while ensuring sound budgetary management; _________________ 9EFBuropean Fiscal Board Annual rReport 2019, p. 71 - https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/infos/files/20 19-efb-annual-report_en.pdf
Amendment 167 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers it essential that the revision of the EU’s fiscal and economic policy framework should be completed by the time the escape clause is repealed and should provide tailor-made solutions to respond to the different needs of the Member States. Calls for rules that enable fiscal policy to respond with discretion to shocks in the short term, and to reduce high public debt ratios to an agreed reference value in the long term, while allowing a sufficient level of public investment, progressive tax policies and stable government revenues, the repayment of loans in a cycle- comfortable manner, and the long-term modernisation of public commodities;
Amendment 187 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Proposes a combination of expenditure rules for public non- investment expenditure and a golden rule for public investment and investments in services of public interest, which is central to both; wishes to see a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and a transition to a cleaner, socially sustainable and more digital society; Highlights in this respect the European Fiscal Board's analysis that a government investment rule is needed to protect growth-enhancing government expenditure for the EU’s policy priorities and that low interest rates offer a unique opportunity for governments to invest in the future; 1f _________________ 1fEFB Report 2020: Assessment of the fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/20 20_06_25_efb_assessment_of_euro_area_ fiscal_stance_en.pdf
Amendment 213 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the refocus of the European Semester Spring Package aimed at providing an immediate economic policy response to tackle and mitigate the health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and reboot economic activity; supports the Commission’s announcement of a reform of the European Semester to convert it into a tool to coordinate the recovery measures, framed by the principles of the EGD, the EPSR and the SDGs; is convinced that this has to include the coordination of measures concerning state aid and tax policies; underlines the need for the integration of a new set of binding sustainability and wellbeing indicators and alternative measurements of growth performance, as they offer an integrated framework encompassing public health, social, environmental and economic concerns; is convinced that this has to include the coordination of measures concerning state aid and tax policies;
Amendment 217 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Underlines the need for the integration of a new set of binding sustainability and wellbeing indicators and alternative measurements of growth performance and calls for a new Sustainable Development Cycle, as one comprehensive surveillance procedure to address the EU’s economic, social and sustainability objectives under one governance framework, and to ensure a coherent approach to the EU’s long-term recovery and resilience strategy;
Amendment 226 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises the role that the Commission has allotted to the European Semester in the Recovery Plan and its importance for policy coordination at EU level given the size and the unprecedented nature of the policy measures adopted at the Member State level; notes, however, that the effectiveness and success of the alignment of Member States’ investment and reform programmes to the Semester process will depend on the progress of the Semester reform, reinforced implementation of the Country Specific Recommendations by the Member States and the above-mentioned reform of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 232 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the European Green Deal as our new growth strategy bringing together four dimensions: environment, productivity, stability and fairness, and where competitive sustainability is at the heart of Europe’s social market economy, enabled by digital and green technologies, an innovative industrial base and strategic autonomy, to make Europe a transformational frontrunner;
Amendment 234 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls for the improvement of the social scoreboard, considering the UN Agenda 2030, to address and examine the actual social needs of the crisis and addresses lasting consequences with the aim to facilitate quality employment, quality health and social care services, education and training and social protection systems; Furthermore, calls for the completion of the imbalance procedure to monitor and identify social imbalances and to integrate a social imbalance procedure, that would lead to Country Specific Recommendations and the definition of Medium-Term Social Objectives in order to correct such imbalances;
Amendment 246 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls for an institutionalised economic and social dialogue with social partners and relevant stakeholders to strengthen democratic accountability, transparency and the scrutiny role of civil society;
Amendment 254 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Invites the Commission to explore new policies suggested by international institutions that support and contribute to financing a just transition and sustainable growth, as well as aiming to restore Member States’ public finances; calls for the new basket of resources to include income stemming from EU policies favouring both the implementation of environmental protection and the preservation of a fair single market; urges in this context, Members States to agree on including the auction revenues of the Emission Trading Scheme, a contribution on non-recycled plastic packaging and a 3% rate to the share of taxable profits of each Member State, based on the Common Consolidate Corporate Tax Base; calls for the additional inclusion of revenues emanating from the future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, from a single market levy on very large multinationals, which benefit the most from the possibilities offered by the Single Market, from a fairer taxation of digital companies that are being less affected by lockdown measures as well as revenues generated by a Financial Transaction Tax;
Amendment 270 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the urgent need to complete and reinforce the EMU architecture with a view to protecting citizens and reducing pressure on public finances during external shocks so as to overcome social and economic imbalances, by creating, inter alia, a fiscal capacity for public investment, a macroeconomic stabilisation and cohesion function for the euro area, the completion of the Banking Union and a European unemployment benefit reinsurance scheme; Insists on the principle of the community method to enhance the democratic and social dimension of the EMU;
Amendment 276 #
2020/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Fully supports the European Fiscal Boards call for a permanent fiscal capacity as natural complement to a EU framework, empowered to borrow meaningful amounts of funds on the market, and which focusses on the protection of growth-enhancing government expenditure and allowing to respond to severe shocks in a timely fashion; Stresses that such a capacity has to be accountable to the European Parliament and based on strategic orientations defined under co-decision within a governance framework with the aim to bring value added for its citizens and the EU as a whole, e.g. through investments in the green, digital and social infrastructures;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas the challenge of the dual transformation (climate protection and digitalisation) requires additional annual public investment in the three digit billion range, which cannot be provided for under current fiscal policy; whereas in both public and private sector investment was already clearly insufficient before the crisis, despite historically low interest rates;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas national expansionary fiscal policies have both negative externalities due to an increased bail-out risk for other EU countries and positive externalities due to an increase in total demand In neighbouring countries; whereas this implies that fiscal policy could be too timid compared to the optimum outcome;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas the EU has committed to climate neutrality by 2050 and it is the ECB’s mission to help achieve it ; Whereas the missions of the ECB are not limited to price stability but also include the safety and soundness of the banking system and the stability of the financial system;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2075(INI)
A. whereas over the past 30 years the economic governance framework has undergone a number of changes to resolve its design and implementation flaws and adapt it to new economic challenges;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C (new)
Recital C (new)
C. whereas in 2015 the European Commission (EC) adopted guidance on the best use of the flexibility in the rules of the SGP strengthening the link between structural reforms, investment and fiscal responsibility;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D (new)
Recital D (new)
D. whereas the current governance framework presents conceptual and practical weaknesses that lead to rules overly complex, weak enforcement, lack of ownership and of incentives to pursue symmetrical counter-cyclical policies and it did not succeed to reduce divergences between in the EU nor to protect or stimulate growth enhancing public investment;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E (new)
Recital E (new)
E. whereas gross public investment was severely cut following the financial and sovereign debt crisis, and in many Member States net public investment is even negative implying that the current fiscal framework leads to too recessive consolidation measures and facilitates the decline of public investment during the periods of fiscal consolidation;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F (new)
Recital F (new)
F. whereas there are significant investment funding gaps that should be addressed: €470 billion a year until 2030 to meet EU environmental objectives 20a; €142billion a year for social infrastructure such as hospitals or schools 21a ; along with €190 billion a year to stabilise the stock of public capital 22a; _________________ 20aEuropean Commission, “SWD(2020) 98 final - Identifying Europe’s recovery needs”, 27.5.2020, p.14-16. 21aThis estimation only cover health and long-term care (EUR 70 billion), education and life-long learnings (EUR 15 billion) and affordable housing (EUR 57 billion). Source: FRANSEN, L., BUFALO, G., REVIGLIO, E., “Boosting Investment in Social Infrastructure in Europe - Report of the High-Level Task Force on Financing Social Infrastructure in Europe”, 2018, 116p. 22aEuropean Commission, “SWD(2020) 98 final - Identifying Europe’s recovery needs”, 27.5.2020, p. 18-20
Amendment 30 #
2020/2075(INI)
G. whereas in 2020, the European Commission started a public consultation on the review of effectiveness of economic governance framework which was disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H (new)
Recital H (new)
H. whereas the pandemic is causing an unprecedented exogenous shock with large asymmetric impacts, weighting negatively on the EU economic outlook and enlarging divergences between Member States;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I (new)
Recital I (new)
I. whereas the pandemic has amplified pre-existing inequalities and poverty and has demonstrated the importance of European social model and its existing social safety nets;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K (new)
Recital K (new)
K. whereas the discretionary fiscal support differed in size and composition across Member States with a clear positive correlation between fiscal space and the size of policy response leading to an asymmetric response, creating risks of an unequal level playing field in the internal market and further differentiate the speed of recovery;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L (new)
Recital L (new)
L. whereas public debt levels at the beginning of the pandemic were high, the unprecedented economic recession, the unprecedented national fiscal measures taken in response to the pandemic and the need to support a sustainable and inclusive recovery will impact public finances pushing EU debt-to-GDP to a new peak above 100% of GDP;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M (new)
Recital M (new)
M. whereas environmental 25a and social sustainability are interconnected with long-term fiscal sustainability; _________________ 25aExtreme disaster tend to lower economic output (Botzen, Deschenes and Sanders, 2019); IMF forecasts that major weather-related disasters could have a negative impact in real GDP per capita and countries that are better equipped to address major natural disasters could more easily cushion the impact.
Amendment 37 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N (new)
Recital N (new)
N. whereas the crisis response of the EU 26a has strengthened the EMU and, so far, succeeded to create trust and confidence, tame financial markets volatility; underlines for this effect the importance of the issuance of EU bonds; _________________ 26a Through in particular the Recovery Package and the SURE instrument.
Amendment 51 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission communication of 3 March 2021 entitled ‘One year since the outbreak of COVID- 19: fiscal policy response’ and takes note of the proposed conditions for deactivating the general escape clause (GEC); highlights that deactivation of the GEC should be conditional upon the health, social and economic situation across Member States in order to ensure that fiscal support is provided for as long as needed; Recalls that a continued strong fiscal stimulus is needed to support recovery;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for fiscal policy to enhance the capacity of our economies, not to hold them back. Stresses that the fiscal framework must support the objectives of full employment and environmental protection set out in the EU Treaty;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Supports policies that are tailored to the stage of the pandemic, the path to the economic recovery and to countries´ individual circumstances;
Amendment 99 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the importance to continue to fight the pandemic, to limit the long-term impact of the crisis and to secure the recovery by prioritising health spending together with fiscal support to affected households and firms; considers that, at this stage, too little support would lead to a weak recovery with risks of permanent damages to the society and the economy;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to embed the high-quality fiscal support in credible medium-term frameworks, to ensure where expansionary fiscal measures are needed, these are supported by growth and inclusive measures bearing in mind that emergency measures are temporary, limited and targeted; calls on the Member States to monitor fiscal risks, namely contingent liabilities, as appropriate for instance guarantee programmes, as appropriate; notes that such good public financial management practices would improve transparency and accountability;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that for as long as differences in the pace of recovery are economically significant, fiscal policy should limit the scarring and reduce inequalities by supporting those segments of the economy and society that are at a higher risk of divergence; notes that income inequalities are likely to increase notably within young workers, women and low-skilled workers;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the policy response of governments aimed at avoiding a sharp increase in corporate insolvencies and unemployment; warns that an abrupt and uncoordinated withdrawal of support measures could lead to financial distress and recommends that more general support is replaced gradually by more targeted schemes including solvency measures; further recommends fiscal measures to facilitate job creation and reallocation namely through retraining and reskilling programmes, together with income support as needed;
Amendment 120 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reiterates the IMF call to consider a temporary COVID-19 recovery contribution levied on high incomes or wealth as well as the need to implement domestic and international tax reforms;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Recalls the importance of the swift, responsible and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to address the EU´s long term challenges by focusing on building a resilient, inclusive and greener economy, by supporting the recovery and by boosting productivity and investment;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Highlights that monetary policy has been carrying the main burden of stabilisation in the past years and crisis; notes that the crisis caused by the pandemic showed that monetary policy is not enough for stabilisation purposes and fiscal policy should play an increasing role;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that national fiscal policies, together with Community policies, will be decisive in achieving the social, carbon neutrality and environmental protection objectives, in particular those relating to biodiversity; to this end, national budgetary policies, public spending and taxation, must support public policies in the key sectors of the transition, namely renewable energies, mobility and freight, thermal insulation of buildings, agriculture, the circular economy, and the industrial sectors that emit the most greenhouse gases;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for an appropriate fiscal and monetary policy mix that works together towards achieving the EU’s objectives; considers a credible fiscal framework a necessary requirement for a strong and mutually supporting coordination of fiscal and monetary policies, to avoid that pro- cyclical policies will counteract the stimulus of the recovery programme and in order to ensure improved and transparent governance;
Amendment 174 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that some Member States will have, also as result of the pandemic, significantly higher debt levels than 60% of their GDP, and that meeting the commitment enshrined in the Stability and Growth Pact to reduce their debt to the level of 60% of GDP within 20 years would result in an irresponsible worsening of the economic crisis in these countries; considers that for the highly indebted countries it is insufficient to extend the adjustment period, because in this case, the economic crisis is likely to worsen and be prolonged;
Amendment 175 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Calls for a permanent suspension of the debt target of 60% of GDP and for a distinction to be made in the fiscal policy framework between rules on old debt and rules on new debt; in this context, calls on the Commission to submit a separate proposal on how to proceed with old debt;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that debt service costs are expected to remain low for the foreseeable future thanks to a large share of debt burden covered by long maturities and sometimes negative yielding bonds, and primary deficits are likely to be offset by favourable interest-growth differentials; further considers that as long as the differentials are negative it is possiblewill ensure the ability to sustain and progressively reduce high debt levels;
Amendment 181 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that debt service costs are expected to remain low for the foreseeable future and primary deficits are likely to be offset by favourable interest-growth differentials; further considers that as long as the differentials are negative it is possible to sustain and progressively reduce high debt levels; despite this is very concerned about the overall high level of debt in the EU as a whole and in some MS in particular and the lack of effective economic growth over the last decade in the EU in general and in some MS in particular;
Amendment 190 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that, following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the public debt levels, the new fiscal framework must establish a slower pace for debt reduction, thus allowing Member States to build sustainable public finances without implementing austerity measures;
Amendment 200 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls the importance of growth- enhancing policies and public investment aimed at increasing sustainable growth potential and achieving the EU’s objectives; reiterates that future-oriented investment and expenditure has positive spill overs in the medium-to-long-term debt sustainability;
Amendment 207 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of pursuing a broad and transparent DSA in orderebt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) in order to support policymakers´ decision to set an appropriate country-specific path, using innovative tools and techniques such as stress tests and stochastic analysis to better reflect risks to public debt dynamics; (such as interest-growth differentials, debt composition, demographics and climate change) and the quality of public expenditure;
Amendment 239 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for the renewed fiscal framework to promote sustainability and cyclical stabilisation and to improve the quality of public expenditure throughby applying, if appropriate, the "do no significant harm" (DNSH) principle and by favouring sustainable investments and reforms; calls for well-defined, transparent, simple, flexible and enforceable rules embedded in a credible and democratic framework that take into account the specificities of Member States and promote upward economic and social convergence;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for the creation of a Climate Pact to be integrated in the European semester, with the effect that the EU Commission assesses the Member States’ climate policies on an annual basis and gives country specific recommendations for how to reach the reduction target laid down by the Climate Law in case a Member State is off track to reach the target;
Amendment 251 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Notes that while the EU’s macroeconomic framework is build up around the concept of GDP, a reform should move away from only using GDP as a key indicator and instead put factors such as economic equality and sustainability of the economy at the centre;
Amendment 266 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Proposes an expenditure rule with a ceiling20 on nominal public expenditure when a country’s public debt exceeds a certain thresholdis no longer seen as sustainable with a high probability; _________________ 20 A ceiling fixed for 3-5 years that would depend on the expected potential output growth, expected inflation and the distance from the debt anchor.
Amendment 286 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Proposes, in line with the EFB, ‘ onethe adoption of a general escape clause, triggered based on independent economic judgement’ proposed by the Commission supported by an opinion based on independent economic judgement in order to reduce complexity and to preserve the ability to act in case of unforeseeable circumstances;
Amendment 301 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Shares the EFB’s opinion that sustainable growth-enhancing public investments should be exempt from the expenditure rule, in particular those investments that are aligned with the EU’s long-term objectives of the NGEU; calls for a revamped fiscal framework that promotes the increase and stabilisation of growth-enhancing public investment related namely to social resilience, climate change and digitalisation;
Amendment 305 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Underlines that not just the quantity but also the quality of public expenditure is essential in determining the sustainability of public finances; highlights that investments in creating an environmentally and socially sustainable economy improve the country’s long-term debt sustainability; wishes to see such expenditures stimulated at all levels of the EU economic framework; calls also for independent assessment of investment programmes through social a cost-benefit analysis by IFIs based on a broad concept of wellbeing;
Amendment 312 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that governments’ revenues are essential to guarantee the sustainability of public finances; as well as to finance the post-pandemic recovery, restoring the EU's sustainable competitiveness and to support the just transition to a sustainable economy; considers it therefore necessary to subject the level of taxes and duties in the Member States to greater European coordination inter alia to avoid competition to lower taxes; believes that Member States must ensure through their tax policies that there is no reduction in government revenues if debt rules are not respected; recalls that tax evasion and tax avoidance at EU level amount to up to EUR 160-190 billion each year, constituting missing revenues for the treasuries; therefore, calls on the Member States to take action to tackle tax fraud, tax avoidance, and tax evasion, as well as money laundering;
Amendment 313 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that governments’ revenues are essential to guarantee the sustainability of public finances; calls on the Member States to take action to tackle tax fraud, tax avoidance, and tax evasion, as well as money laundering; looks forward to a very ambitious EC proposal to tackle AML, in line with the priorities set by the EP resolution of July 2020; stresses that any further macro-economic reform can only be successful in the long run, provided existing tax loopholes are properly tackled in the Member States; it is therefore essential that progress around that is assessed in the country specific path as outlined in par 19, and should be a key element in assessing the exemptions from the expenditure rule per Member State;
Amendment 322 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls for the creation of an Anti- Tax Haven Pact to be integrated in the European semester, with the effect that the EU Commission assesses the tax rules of the Member States on an annual basis and gives country specific recommendations for how to reform the tax rules in the case a Member State facilitates harmful tax practices;
Amendment 332 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Highlights that, in addition to the review of the fiscal framework, further efforts should be taken to improve and complete the Economic and Monetary Union, including the completion of the banking union with a fully-fledged European Deposit Insurance Scheme, an effective capital markets union, a permanent budgetary instrument for the Euro Area, and a more effective cooperation and coordination on tax affairs, notably regarding harmful tax practices and tax competition;
Amendment 344 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls for the establishment of an EU Investment Fund of 1% of EU GDP per year, financed by EU borrowing in analogy to the Recovery Fund and an increase of the EU's own resources, with the objective of providing funding for investments in the digital and climate- neutral transformation in the Member States;
Amendment 352 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses the importance of the MIP in identifying and taking preventive and corrective actions against emerging imbalances; points out, however, that the potential of this mechanism has not been fully exploited on account of its structural weaknesses notably the asymmetry of the indicators in the Alert Mechanism, indicators lacking a clear prioritization and the lack of clear accountability;
Amendment 369 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for the MIP to be reformed to make its indicators and recommendations more forward-looking and symmetrical with regard to over- and undershooting target values, and to focus on indicators under the control of policymakers and geared towards reducing intra-euro area imbalances and driving the economic cycle of the eurozone from a consolidated point of view; considers that greater compliance with pared-back recommendations must be achieved and MIP-relevant country-specific recommendations should focus on policy actions that can have a direct impact on imbalances;
Amendment 385 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Believes that any future EU Investment Fund should create incentives for better compliance with EU fiscal policies;
Amendment 394 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for a renewed European Semester as the main economic and social policy coordination framework supporting the EU’s long-standing goals of sustainability and upward convergence with stronger national ownership; calls for a more balanced institutional role of the European Parliament in the European Semester to ensure a more rigorous democratic scrutiny ; demands for the European Parliament’s full involvement in defining the overarching goals and the guidance;, in particular the ones related to the euro area; stresses the importance of a stronger balance in policy coordination between employment and social affairs ministers and finance ministers namely in the euro area.
Amendment 409 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Points towards the lack of ownership as one the main weaknesses of the European Semester; notes that the design of this framework must respect a set of long-term objectives and guidance at EU level, reflected in national plans, policy recommendations on a variety of policy objectives which should allow for policy choices properly reflecting national needs and priorities underpinned by an open and inclusive policy dialogue between the EU and national institutions and stakeholders;
Amendment 419 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Underlines the importance of ensuring a proper balance of responsibilities between the different institutions in the implementation of the EU fiscal framework; calls for a higher involvement of the European Parliament when discussing medium to long-term budgetary guidelines; in order to ensure greater transparency and accountability, it should be enhanced the involvement of the national parliaments;
Amendment 435 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Calls on the Commission to further reflect on the design and implementation of Macroeconomic Adjustment Programmes; is firmly convinced that the way macroeconomic adjustment programmes were implemented had serious consequences on the social fabric of the countries, led to permanent losses of output, raised serious doubt of external political interference and presented a lack of national ownership;
Amendment 436 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Calls on the Commission to assess the effectiveness and the added value of post-programme surveillance in those euro area Member States that are no longer subject to a macroeconomic adjustment programme; notes that Member States exiting a macroeconomic adjustment programme are also under enhance surveillance in the European Semester and, where relevant, in-depth reviews can be conducted; considers that this double surveillance does not bring any additional benefits for the process of multilateral surveillance;
Amendment 463 #
2020/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Recalls that the creation of the ESM outside the institutions of the Union represents a setback in the development of the Union; recalls its call for the ESM to be integrated into EU law under the Community method;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the Commission has estimated the investment needs at EU level in order to achieve the current 2030 climate objectives at 240 bn EUR/year1a plus additional amounts of 130 bn EUR/year for environmental objectives , 192 bn EUR/year for social infrastructure and 100bnEUR/year for Europe’s wider transport infrastructure, whereas it is essential to mobilize all available funds to close the investment gap, __________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec onomy- finance/assessment_of_economic_and_in vestment_needs.pdf
Amendment 29 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the European Green Deal is a growth strategy and should lead to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, job creation and ensure the strategic autonomy of the EU,
Amendment 31 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas public and private finance should adhere to the EU Taxonomy and to the Do Not Significantly Harm principle so that EU financial instruments, including the EU budget, including facilities financed through Next Generation EU, the EU Semester, the EU Investment Plan, the EIB, ECB and EU funding sources such as cohesion funds and structural and investment funds, should not go to objects, projects and activities that do significantly harm to social or environmental objectives,
Amendment 32 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the Covid-19 sanitary crisis underlines the importance of investments in a socially and environmentally sustainable economy, in particular investments promoting cutting edge R&D, competitive industry, deepening and strengthening of the single market, strong SMEs, healthcare, a strong welfare system and social wellbeing,
Amendment 33 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the spending required to support European economies raise the question of how incurred debt will be repaid; whereas it is important to prevent the increase in inequalities suffered following the previous crisis, where the burden on citizens was increased to bail out banks,
Amendment 34 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas creating a sustainable economic system is central to developing long-term strategic autonomy of the European Union and to increase the EU’s resilience,
Amendment 35 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
Amendment 50 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) as central in ensuring the success of the Green Deal and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economy; stresses that the plan should be at the heart of a coordinated and inclusive Union response to building a more resilient economy and society after the Covid-19 crisis;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s European Recovery Plan with the European Green Deal at its heart; endorses the underlying principle that public investments will respect the oath to ‘do no harm’; highlights that this oath applies to both social and environmental objectives; emphasises that national recovery and resilience plans should put the EU on the path to a 50 % to 55 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 and climate neutrality by 2050 while providing sufficient guarantees to ensure social equity in the sustainable transition;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Questions whether the SEIP, as currently constituted, will enable the mobilisation of EUR 1 trillion by 2030, given the negative economic outlook following the COVID-19 crisis; requests the Commission to ensure full transparency on financing issues, such as the optimistic leverage effect or the lack of clarity over the extrapolations of certain amounts; furthermore questions how the new MFF as proposed by the Commission in its revised proposals of 27 and 28 May 2020 would enable the achievement of the SEIP targets; regrets that the SEIP alone will not be sufficient to finance the objectives of the Green Deal and that additional investments will have a decisive role in the success of the Green Deal; calls on the Commission and EU Member States to come forward with plans that explain how they will bridge the considerable investment gap with both private and public investments;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the issuing of long-term common bonds to contribute to financing the recovery and the just and sustainable transition;
Amendment 152 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that public and private finance should adhere to the EU taxonomy and to the Do Not Significantly Harm (DNSH) principle, with particular emphasis on the Recovery and Resilience Facility, in order to ensure that EU policies and financing, including the EU budget, the programmes financed through Next Generation EU, the European Semester and EIB financing do not contribute to objectives, projects and activities that significantly harm social or environmental objectives; calls for an operationalisation of the ‘do not significantly harm’ principle by clear and targeted exclusions in relevant EU funding regulations, in particular for fossil fuels, and a delegated act on climate, environmental and social proofing before the end of the year, as planned for example in the InvestEU regulation;
Amendment 246 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for ensuring that third countries are eligible for cross- border projects that contribute to the objectives of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 284 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Supports the Commission’s innovative approach in stating that the EU budget will contribute to achieving climate objectives also through its revenue side; recalls Parliament’s longstanding position in favour of generating added-value and policy co-benefits by introducing green new own resources;
Amendment 312 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 322 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on all Member States to join the enhanced cooperation framework to implement a Financial Transaction Tax;
Amendment 347 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers that for the EIB to play a successful role in financing the Green Deal, a bottom-up and participatory approach is crucial, and to better coordinate with various stakeholders, such as local and regional authorities and representatives from civil society;
Amendment 371 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the statement of the ECB President that the ECB is supporting the development of a taxonomy as a way of facilitating the incorporation of environmental considerations in central bank portfolios; calls on the ECB to evaluate the feasibility of including sustainability criteria in its collateral framework and its annual stress testing exercise, while assessing ways to guide lending towards energy transition investments and to rebuild a sustainable economy in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 crisis; encourages the ECB to move forward with its monetary policy review in order to evaluate the financing of economic activities causing significant harm to environmental and social objectives; calls on the ECB to disclose annually its degree of alignment with the Paris Agreement and its exposure to the EU taxonomy;
Amendment 385 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Supports the calls from the European Central Bank and the Central Banks and Regulators’ Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) to extend the EU taxonomy to unsustainable activities as soon as possible, enabling financial regulators to better assess sustainability-related financial risks;
Amendment 388 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Amendment 398 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Amendment 403 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls on the Commission to swiftly follow the advice of the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and fully exclude nuclear energy generation as a sustainable activity as defined by the taxonomy framework, including as a transitional activity;
Amendment 407 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Insists on the integration of social objectives in the sustainability framework, including through an evaluation of extending the scope of taxonomy and the development of an EU Social Bond Standard; Calls for the “Do Not Significantly Harm” principle to look at concrete social objectives including employee absenteeism, percentage of full- time employees and employees on long- term contracts, the percentage of salaries above living-wage, gender and ethnic pay gap, ratio in salary and variable remuneration between CEOs and average employees, tax compliance and corruption practices; calls for the activities pursued by companies who fail to achieve a sufficient score on any one of the above parameters to not qualify as sustainable economic activities as defined by the Disclosure Regulation and the Taxonomy Regulation;
Amendment 417 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. IEndorses the call by the High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance for new measures to foster long- termism to benefit people and planet; insists on the integration of governance objectives in the sustainability framework, including through additional voting rights for long-term shareholders, reform of remuneration structures and fiduciary duties for top-line management, and mandatory sustainability reporting and due diligence for financial institutions and large corporates together with liability and access to remedy in EU court; welcomes the preparation of a sustainable corporate governance initiative; which should include a legislative proposal on directors duties including mandatory sustainability strategies and measurable targets for large companies;
Amendment 422 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Favours the extension of the sustainability framework to the corporate sector; calls for mandatory sustainability reporting and due diligence for both financial institutions and large corporates, for stricter corporate liability regarding sustainability risks and for better quality data reporting, including by introducing verification mechanism and independent auditing;
Amendment 423 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Amendment 449 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. CHighlights the risk of reduced public spending on the sustainable transition in the context of the covid-19 crisis; calls for the introduction of an enabling framework for public sustainable investments to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal, but stresses that whatever financing model is chosen must not undermine the sustainability of public finance in the EU; supports the commitment by EVP Dombrovskis to explore how taxonomy can be used in the public sector; calls for public support for airlines to be used in a sustainable and efficient manneradvocates for the creation of a Sustainable Green Golden Rule to exclude sustainable investments from the EU’s economic governance framework; calls for a sustainable development pact to survey the implementation of the sustainability objectives and the green investment gap in each Member State; welcomes that EU Taxonomy will guide investment in Europe’s recovery to ensure it is in line with the EU-long term ambitions ; calls for a greater transparency of the degree of sustainability of public investment at EU and Member State level; supports the commitment by EVP Dombrovskis to explore how taxonomy can be used in the public sector; calls for public support for airlines to be used in a sustainable and efficient manner; supports the pledge by the Commission to explore how the EU Green Bond Standard, as well as other enabling frameworks, can increase public and private finance for sustainable investments;
Amendment 466 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls for the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) to last throughout the current economic and sanitary crisis; highlights that high debt levels following the reactivation of the budgetary rules may result in excessive deficit procedures for many EU Member States; calls for the reform of the SGP with an expenditure rule that facilitates net public investments, allows for counter-cyclical action and takes into consideration the EU fiscal stance as a whole, so as to reduce the risk of severe austerity imposed following the reactivation of the SGP, and enable the investment needed for the recovery and the sustainable and just transition;
Amendment 477 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Amendment 485 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls that the European Semester is a framework for EU Member States to coordinate their budgetary and economic policies; believes that it couldmust facilitate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); believes that the SDGs should be at the heart of EU’s policy making process; therefore calls for a new Sustainable Development Cycle as one comprehensive surveillance procedure for economic, social and sustainability objectives and to apply the above mentioned sustainable development pact;
Amendment 497 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that recovery and resilience plans will be based on shared EU priorities; highlights in this context the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights; seeks the inclusion of priorities in areas such as employment, skills, education, research and innovation and health, but also in areas related to the business environment, including public administration and the financial sector; considers that the sustainability provisions in the current Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation are insufficient; deems essential the incorporation of the EU Taxonomy in recovery and resilience plans through an ambitious minimum spending target on environmentally sustainable economic activities and the application of the Do Not Significantly Harm principle to all spending through these plans; deems the Commission responsible for monitoring adherence to these plans and for re- appropriating funds not spent in accordance with the plans;
Amendment 510 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls for companies benefitting from public support to commit to public country-by-country reporting, to respect their non-financial reporting obligations and to guarantee jobs, and disclose any beneficial treatment received; urges that such companies should fairly contribute to the recovery efforts by paying their fair share of taxes; seeks in this context a new social contract for corporates, harmonizing aims for profit with considerations for people and planet;
Amendment 566 #
2020/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Reiterates its call for phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies including in the form of a tax advantage, while fully respecting of the rights of Member State to choose their energy mix; supports, however, tax measures that would incentivise investment in cleaner energy and mode of transportation;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU isconfronted with unfair or aggressive tax practices, such as the fact thatEuropean Union member states lose between EUR 160-190 billion per year as aresult of tax evasion and profit- shifting by individuals and multinationalcorporates; whereas this loss is of significant magnitude given the sanitary, social and economic crisis the Union is currently facing and struggling with; whereas EU taxpayers held EUR 1.5 trillion offshore in 2016, resulting in an average tax revenue loss of EUR 46 billion in the EU as a result of tax evasion by individuals12 ; _________________ 12European Commission, Directorate- General for Taxation and Customs Union, Taxation Papers, Working Paper No 76, ‘Estimating International Tax Evasion by Individuals’, September 2019, https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/ taxation/files/2019-taxation-papers-76.pdf
Amendment 5 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas tax scandals have pushed the EU to further develop its set of tools against tax evasion and tax avoidance, whereas one of its most powerful tool is an effective exchange of information between tax administration across the EU; whereas the OpenLux revelation have demonstrated the necessity for the exchange of tax information to be more qualitative and to deliver results;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the Commission has announced a further eighth revision of the DAC on crypto assets and e-money; whereas such a revision could be an opportunity to improve the framework for information exchange as a whole;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the difficulties encountered in the Council in agreeing on the improvements put forward by the Commission demonstrates the need to move to a qualified majority in tax matters ; whereas national stand-alone approaches do not provide efficient answers to global tax issues; whereas international standards on tax exchange of information have been implemented at EU level; whereas some inconsistencies between the international and European standards remain, notably on deadline to communicate tax information; whereas a majority of countries release aggregated country-by-country reports information under Action 13 from the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Action Plan;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the Union signed agreements with third countries including Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland to ensure DAC2 equivalent information would be shared with the Member States; whereas later version of the DAC have not been subject to similar agreements;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Amendment 30 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas it is in the responsibility of Parliament to exercise political scrutiny over the Commission, including its enforcement and implementation policy, and whereas this requires adequate access to relevant information; whereas for several DAC revisions the Council reached an agreement even before the EP could adopt its report for consultation;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the OECD created a global standard for the AEOI with its Common Reporting Standard (CRS) in 2014 and more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide have committed to AEOI of financial accounts as of 2021;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the economic crisis triggered by the COVID 19 pandemic required enormous fiscal and budgetary efforts by governments, including in the form of aid to companies; whereas, beneficiaries from such support must fulfil their social responsibilities such as cooperating adequately with tax authorities in order to guarantee a comprehensive exchange of tax information;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights that exchange of information between tax administrations has significantly improved at both global and EU levels; recalls that DAC2, DAC3, DAC4, DAC6 and DAC7 are directly connected to work undertaken at OECD level; considers that the measures agreed at the global stage constitute a minimum standard for the EU;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes, however, that some types of income and assets are still excluded from the scope, which presents a risk of circumventing tax obligations; calls on the Commission to assess the need and the most appropriate way to include the following ownership information, items of income and non-financial assets in the automatic exchange of information (AEOI): (a) the beneficial owners of immovable property and companies; (b) capital gains related to immovable property and capital gains related to financial assets, including currency trading, in particular to find ways for tax administrations to be better informed to identify realised capital gains; (c) non- custodial dividend income; (d) non- financial assets such as cash, art, gold or other valuables held at free ports, customs warehouses or safe deposit boxes; and (e) ownership of yachts and private jets;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Observes that DAC3 contains certain blind spots; therefore calls for the scope of EOI under DAC3 to be widened to include informal arrangements, post- transaction agreements, natural persons and rulings which are still valid, but which were issued, amended or renewed before 2012; ; regrets that DAC 3 information is not yet widely used by tax administrations of Member States and advises that a specific notification should be sent to the tax administrations where a company benefiting from a tax ruling in the scope of DAC 3 has a taxable presence regrets that bilateral and multilateral APAs are excluded from the EOI under DAC3 where a related international tax agreement does not allow for their disclosure; calls on Member States to reject any future international tax agreement which do not permit the disclosure of APAs;
Amendment 73 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes that a large number of countries, including many Member States, are releasing anonymised and aggregated information, extracted from the country- by-country reports as required under DAC4 or Action 13 from the BEPS Action Plan ; regrets that a minority of Member States are not publishing this information in international databases; calls for a harmonised approach on this regards and demands the Commission to integrate this requirement into the future revision of the DAC;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Welcomes the agreements similar to Directive 2014/107/EU on automatic exchange of financial account information with third countries i.e. Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland; calls for an evaluation of the implementation of such agreement and calls therefore for evaluation, given the existing CRS agreement. Additionally, calls for similar agreements for DAC 3 and DAC 5 and 6 7;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Deplores the fact that one Member State, Malta, has received an overall ‘partially compliant’ score in the peer review by the Global Forum for EOIR; regrets the fact that material deficiencies have been identified in 18 Member States15 ; expects the Commission to deploy all legal and non legal tools to ensure legislation is being qualitatively implemented, with no further delay; _________________ 15 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/et udes/STUD/2021/662603/EPRS_STU(202 1)662603_EN.pdf
Amendment 137 #
2020/2046(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Welcomes the recent provisions of the seventh DAC revision on joint audit; recalls that for such opportunity, as well as for simultaneous controls, to deliver results, essential training in foreign tax legislation, language, specialization, interpersonal skills is necessary for employees of tax authorities; recalls, in this regards, that the FISCALIS program must not only focus on financing IT infrastructures but also on personal training;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. IWelcomes the European goal of achieving a socially just transition to climate neutrality by 2050 as well as the 60%-goal for 2030; notes with concern the lack of ambition in climate efforts in EU trade policy as well as in many other policy spheres; calls for the Paris Agreement and its 1.5 percent goal to become the guiding principle of trade policy to which all trade initiatives must be adjusted; is convinced that such a purpose-built trade policy can be an important driver in steering economies towards decarbonisation in order to achieve the climate objectives set in the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the main aim of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) should be to support the EU’s green objectives by fighting carbon leakageWelcomes the European goal of achieving a socially just transition to climate neutrality by 2050 as well as the 60%-goal for 2030; notes with concern the lack of ambition in climate efforts in EU economic policy as well as in many other policy spheres; calls for the Paris Agreement and its 1.5 percent goal to become the guiding principle of economic policy to which all initiatives must be adjusted; Believes that the main aim of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) should be to support the EU’s green objectives by fighting carbon leakage; underlines that a universal system needs to be the final goal of the initiative since decentral climate protection measures will not have the desired effect and would only result in carbon leakage as well as have disadvantageous effects on European industries; thus suggests the externalisation of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) as a possible CBAM; expects the Commission to initiate negotiations for a global approach within the framework of the WTO or the G20;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to propose a CBAM that would ensure that the price of imports reflect more accurately their carbon content;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Insists on the need for a CBAM compatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, since WTO rules do not discriminate between producers, are based on objective criteria and have a clear environmental objective.
Amendment 23 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports, in the absence of a global carbon price and a multilateral solution, a market-based EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on condition that it is compatible with EU free trade agreements (FTAs) andcalls for EU free trade agreements (FTAs) to be made compatible with such a mechanism by way of using the respective review clauses in FTAs, in case the FTAs are not yet compatible with such a mechanism ; calls for the CBAM to be compatible with WTO rules (by being non- discriminatory and not constituting a disguised restriction on international trade), and that it is proportionate, based on the polluter pays principle and fit for purpose in delivering the climate objectives;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Notes the diversity of policy instruments allowing to implement a CBAM, ranging from tax instruments to mechanisms relying to the EU Emission Trade System (EU ETS), for example: (i) an import tax, which could be a simple tool to give a strong and stable environmental price signal to administer while being WTO compatible as long it would echo the impact of the EU ETS price per ton (ii) an excise duty on carbon, which could be applied to GHG emissions content of products and would send a stable price signal.Such excise duty could allow EU exports to maintain their competitiveness and maintain the EU environmental incentives while allowing EU producers to operate on a level playing field both within and outside the EU via a system of reconciliation between allowances bought and excise duty paid, as well as legitimate deductions (iii) notional ETS that would create a parallel system mirroring the EUETS prices without distorting the EU ETS allowances price balance
Amendment 24 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Should the CBAM be of fiscal nature, welcomes the possibility to propose a mechanism based on article 192(2) TFEU in order to create a more efficient and democratic decision making procedure in EU energy and climate policy;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that the WTO rules are incompatible with the Paris Agreement; expects the Commission to take urgent initiative for WTO reform in order to achieve compatibility with the climate objectives;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the general exception clause of Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) shcould be the basis for any CBAM design and its only rationale should be an environmental one – reducing global CO2 emissions and preventing carbon leakage; underlines that a universal system needs to be the final goal of the initiative since decentral climate protection measures will not have the desired effect and would only result in carbon leakage as well as have disadvantageous effects on European industries; thus suggests the externalisation of the European ETS as a possible CBAM; expects the Commission to initiate negotiations for a global approach within the framework of the WTO or the G20;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges that the proposedInvites the Commission to assess the impact of a CBAM applyied to all imports in order to avoid distortion in the internal market, however urges to ensure at least all energy intensive sectors are included in an early phase of implementation in order to ensure the EU environmental objectives are rapidly reached;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for a calculation method for carbon contents that does not disadvantage European producers; calls for a calculation method that takes into account to the highest possible extent the real carbon content of the goods concerned; suggests that an independent agency should be responsible for the definition of the most realistic carbon content of goods as well as the determination of the respective good’s market entry price; calls for the inclusion of existing third country carbon pricing systems in the calculation;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. RecommCalls for a calculation method for carbon contendts that a design be introduced that measures the carbon content of imports through their basic materials composition (as outlined in the proposal from the European Economic and Social Committee); recalls that this feasible approximation would weigh each basic material covered by the EU ETS and multiply it by its carbon intensity value – which ideally should be defined at country level; stresses, however, that importers who are more carbon efficient should be allowed to demonstrate the specificdoes not disadvantage European producers; calls for a calculation method that takes into account to the highest possible extent the real carbon content of the goods concerned; suggests that an independent agency should be responsible for the definition of the most realistic carbon content of goods as well as the determination of the respective good’s market entry price; calls for the inclusion of existing third country carbon pricing systems in the calculation; asks the Commission to consider evaluating all products according to a worst-in-class approach, i.e. assume the most emission- rich production method and thus provide an incentive for producers to share information on their products carbon icontensity of their productst in order to pay a lower carbon border adjustment;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Asks the Commission to consider evaluating all products according to a worst-in-class approach, i.e. assume the most emission-rich production method and thus provide an incentive for producers to share information on their products carbon content in order to pay a lower CBA;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Asks the Commission to start implementing the mechanism as soon as possible with a view to pilot sectors in which the carbon contents of goods are easily identified;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for thorough impact assessments and for the utmost transparency of the process leading to the CBAM, as well as engagement with the EU’s trading partners to build coalitions and avoid any possible retaliations;mongst it the publication of all studies conducted during the build up of the mechanism; calls for the comprehensive integration of the European Parliament at all stages of the development process as well as engagement with the EU’s trading partners to build plurilateral CO2-pricing systems coalitions and avoid retaliations as far as possible; asks the Commission to take into consideration existing and future third country CO2-pricing systems
Amendment 68 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Requests that the implementation of the CBAM should lead to the progressive phasing out of the free allocation of allowances, following an appropriate transition period, since the mechanism ensures that EU producers and imBelieves in the principle that EU producers and importers should have to deal with the same carbon cost in the EU market and that EU exporters wshould have to deal withface the same carbon costs in the EU market; notes that this phasing out should be coupled in parallel with as non-EU producers outside the EU market; requests, therefore that the implementation of an effective CBAM in a specific sector should put an end to the free allocation of allowances in that sector and calls on the Commission to assess and propose the introduction of exsupport rebates in order to maintain strong decarbonisation incentives, while ensuring a level playing field for EU exportmeasures to exports that would remain WTO compliant and in coherence with EU environmental objectives;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that importers from third countries should not pay twiceare prevented from being double charged for the carbon content embodied in its products;
Amendment 89 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for the resources generated by the CBAM to be re-invested in the development of carbon neutral technologies and the build-up of an independent agency responsible for the definition of carbon contents as well as market-entry prices; requests that the revenue is re-invested in the scope of the EU-budget; calls for the CBAM to be applicable to imports of all trading partners in order not to discriminate; however calls for part of the revenues from the CBAM to be channelled into an international fund for climate, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to support developing countries in the sustainable transition, reduce their GHG emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change.
Amendment 89 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the inclusion of CBAM revenues into the EU budget and earmarked as for fighting climate change actions of the EU; calls for the resources generated by the CBAM to be re-invested in the development of carbon neutral technologies and in the build-up of an independent agency responsible for the definition of carbon contents as well as market-entry prices;
Amendment 94 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Commission to assess carefully the impact of CBAM different options on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, which are most vulnerable to climate change;
Amendment 99 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the above proposal is compatible with World Trade Organization rules, since it does not discriminate between producers, is based on objective criteria and has a clear environmental objective.; expects the Commission to take urgent initiative for WTO reform in order to achieve full compatibility with the climate objectives of the Paris agreement;
Amendment 100 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls for the establishment of a meticulous monitoring mechanism for the CBAM as well as a monitoring and review-process in which the European Parliament is involved to the fullest extent;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls for CBAM revenues to support global and European climate action; revenues could be channelled to different funds, such as: the Rapid Response Fund via a new own resource of the EU, an international climate fund to support least developed countries in their sustainable transition, an innovation fund for sustainable technologies for European industry and the establishment of an independent agency conducting the CBAM;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2043(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls the Commission for an impact assessment and for the comprehensive integration of the European Parliament at all stages of the development process; calls for the establishment of a meticulous monitoring mechanism for the CBAM as well as a monitoring and review-process in which the European Parliament is involved to the fullest extent;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that, while there are a number of dynamic middle income countries on the African continent, its economic development is still relatively weak in comparison to other partsStrongly supports the renewed engagement between the EU and Africa; welcomes the publication of the Communication ofn the world; stresses that many of its countries will therefore face almost insurmountable challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis and the effects of climate changeupcoming strategy; highlights the importance of a dynamic partnership to pursue common Goals between the two continents;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights the importance of ecologically and socially sustainable trade relations with the African continent; calls on the Commission to proceed with its legislative proposal on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for EU companies;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Highlights that, while there are a number of dynamic middle income countries on the African continent, its economic development is still relatively weak in comparison to other parts of the world; stresses that many of its countries will therefore face almost insurmountable challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis and the effects of climate change, amongst them huge demographic shifts with poverty- and conflict-driven migration as well as other problems; highlights in this context that in the short run, the EU must provide immediate aid measures such as procuring tests and laboratory equipment, followed by pandemic prevention measures through the development of an infrastructure of laboratories, financing of medical training measures, information campaigns and national pandemic response plans; underlines that the economic impact of the lockdown will be profound on the African continent, given the size of the informal sector; stresses that the long term goal of the partnership between the EU and Africa must be the resilience of African economies as well as economic independence from aid and indebtedness, to which the increasing resilience of the health sector should be a side effect;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement from the G20 on a temporary moratorium on debt repayments for the weakest developing countries; reiterates that debt reductions and debt cancellations are not mentioned in the current version of the Africa strategy while they are important palliatives in the COVID-19 crisis and a necessary measure beyond the pandemic since they will contribute to the policy space of African countries that is currently taken up by repaying debt;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the European Union still has important economic ties with African states, and that China has intensified its economic engagement in Africa, while the EU Member States have shown only very selective interests for trade with- and investments in the African states, which is why the trade volume between the EU and most African states remains relatively small; underlines that the EU needs an entirely new foundation for its economic partnership with Africa, meaning that it needs to take the final step away from a dependency-based relationship and arrive in the new reality in which the EU and Africa need to develop a mutually beneficial sustainable partnership; underlines that the prerequisite of this partnership is the substantial further sustainable development in all African states;
Amendment 37 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the role of many African states in the international division of labour does not promote their sustainable development as long as it means that they export raw materials and some unprocessed agricultural commodities, while the EU exports manufactured goods, services and agricultural overcapacities; underlines that the EU must support the diversification of inner-African value chains by means of public investment in improved infrastructures and the development of a sustainable energy- supply; calls on the Commission to facilitate through the channels at its disposal the development of regional value chains as inner-regional trade on the African continent remains marginal and is a prerequisite for sustainable development and long term economic independence;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to reform its current version of its strategy entitledadapt its priorities set out in the Communication ‘Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa’ ahead of the planned EU-AU Summit with a view to addressing the needs of the African regions in the wake of this health and economic crisis; but also with regard to the danger of upcoming threats to food security; notes that the common plan for economic recovery needs to remain in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to support Africa in its ambitions for a continental free trade area by making the necessary adjustments in order to implement its Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and make them fit the project of the Continental Free Trade Area; by offering technical support for making the necessary fiscal adjustments to the abolition of customs duties, to help implement resilient fiscal systems that tackle the dramatic problem of tax evasion and to reduce the dependency of remittances; underlines the necessity of implementing technical assistance on border cooperation and other technical issues for the sake of regional value chain development;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that so far, the fragmented implementation of EPAthe Economic Partnership Agreements has resulted in a lack of substantial progress in supporting regional integration, technical assistance, capacity-building on border cooperation, andknowledge and data- management and cooperation for improvements in investment climates and good governance; asks the Commission to primarily increase the speed of implementation of these vital aspects;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2041(INI)
8. Calls for a concrete proposal that establishes common initiatives on a renewable energy supply on the African continent; and the promotion of innovation geared towards it, including both a concrete plan to publicly finance those initiatives and a plan on how to get into closer cooperation with regard to the future common usage of the resulting renewable energy; reiterates that sustainable development without comprehensive access to energy is not possible and encourages the Commission to come up with an ambitious plan for implementing this sustainable energy partnership;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the need for substantial sustainable investments that enable leapfrogging in the African states; possibly in the form of investment partnerships with regard to infrastructure, a sustainable agricultural sector as well as comprehensive energy supply from renewable sources; underlines the necessity of sustainable innovation projects that enable leapfrogging with the specific goal of ecological and social sustainability in the African states underlines that the EU needs to pursue public investments in the development of general infrastructures and specifically cross-border infrastructures in order to facilitate regional trade and thereby the diversification of value chains; highlights that the promotion of foreign direct investment amongst other programs by the External Investment Plan should be linked to local entrepreneurship, SMEs, smallholder agriculture, the local services sector, the local manufacturing industry as well as sustainable innovation projects in order to facilitate the diversification of value chains on the continent as well as for the sake of the creation of decent employment opportunities;
Amendment 90 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that empowering civil society, and thereby including a social counterpart into investment structures, is a vital aspect of EU policies towards and with the African states., therefore asks the Commission to involve civil society at all levels of the political dialogue, especially when trade agreements are prepared, monitored and evaluated; calls for a bigger role for civil society in the Aid for Trade system;
Amendment 96 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Recognizes the critical role of women and girls in sustainable growth and development; emphasizes that the empowerment of women and girls must be mainstreamed throughout the implementation of the Africa strategy; underlines that the economic independence of women must be fostered by the promotion of female entrepreneurs;
Amendment 100 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Underlines that the African continent has the youngest population in the world and thus asks the Commission to firmly integrate the interests of children and young people in the implementation plan for the Africa strategy and to make sure that substantial investments are made in building the expertise of young people given their critical role in further developing strategies for an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable future of their continent;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas despite the euro area’s economic size and influence in global trade, the use of the euro lags behind the US dollar by a wide margin, yet it is still ahead of all other competing currencies, remaining, at the same time, unchallenged as the second most important currency in the international monetary system;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the euro's global potential has not been fully reached, and its benefits are shared unevenly among the Eurozone members;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas a stronger role of the euro, and its increased use as a reserve currency, would increase the ability of the EU to frame its policy stance vis-a-vis other countries and regions;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas a greater role for the euro would provide a higher degree of financial autonomy to the euro area, protecting it from the use of other currencies as foreign policy tools by other national administrations;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the stability of a currency is also determined by the stability of the institutions behind it, more European integration is necessary to give additional institutional and political stability behind the euro;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas in the long run the attractiveness of a given currency is also determined by the vitality of its economy;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas post-pandemic economic recovery requires the fast implementation of the EU recovery plan, which will address structural weaknesses and put in place policies to enhance growth and competitiveness; whereas such policies are paramount both to enhancing the attractiveness of the euro globally and to strengthening Europe’s economic and financial autonomy; whereas the recently- proposed recovery fund is an excellent example of what is needed as a European fiscal response to build confidence among investors; whereas a meaningful fiscal stimulus, in conjunction with a monetary one – including a joint European effort –, will have a positive effect on the international position of the euro; whereas the premature withdrawal of fiscal stimulus and the lack of coordination of fiscal action can undermine the attractiveness of the euro as an international currency;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the ECB’s pandemic emergency purchase programme is a decisive element to maintain price stability and ensure stable sources of funding for the euro area economy;
Amendment 102 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates, in this context, the need to deepen and complete the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union (CMU), with a view to enhancing - by strengthening the governance and the fiscal capacity for eurozone to be able to provide a counter-cyclical stabilization function -, the Banking Union - by focusing on an introduction of a common deposits insurance scheme - and the Capital Markets Union (CMU) - in order to ensure deeper cross-border capital flows including strengthening of cooperation on taxation on financial products and convergence of company law and insolvency regimes - with a view to enhancing the EU's political and institutional framework and therefore the international competitiveness of European markets and the attractiveness of the euro;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights, in this respect, that a higher amount of EU's own resources through various taxes is a step in the right direction in becoming a true fiscal entity, and therefore, strengthening the role of the euro;
Amendment 156 #
2020/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that as large and permanent current account surpluses create instability for a prominent international role of a currency, the Euro area growth model should be rebalanced and the export-led tendency shall be offset by measures that stimulate the internal demand, to a level compatible with potential supply;
Amendment 205 #
2020/2036(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the need for European and national supervisory authorities to overcome their differences; calls for supervisory convergence to promote a common European model, guided by the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA), to reduce the existing obstacles to cross-border financial operations; Is very concerned about the revelations following the Wirecard scandal on shortcomings in the supervision. Underlines that credible audits are vital instruments to build trust in the financial situation of companies. Notes that such audits can only be provided if there is a full independent relationship between auditor and client, and that this independence can by no means be affected by providing non-audit services to the audited entity. Calls therefore on the Commission for a swift review of regulation 537/2014 on statutory audit of public-interest entities to strengthen the rules on rotation, to ensure a full legal separation between the providing of audit and non-audit services, and to ensure that ESMA gets direct supervisory powers over the audit sector.
Amendment 14 #
2020/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Amendment 75 #
2020/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
(q a) welcome the initiative undertaken by a majority of NPT State Parties to strengthen multilateral approaches to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament by adopting the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), unequivocally stigmatising the last weapons of mass destruction not yet prohibited under international law;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
(q b) highlight the complementary nature of the nuclear weapon prohibition treaty, as foreseen by Article 6 of the NPT; note in particular that stigmatising nuclear weapons will contribute both to disarmament and to non-proliferation efforts;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2004(INI)
(q c) look forward to entry into force of the TPNW as soon as the 50th ratification instrument is deposited at the United Nations, ensuring the prohibition under international law of all weapons of mass destruction;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q d (new)
(q d) consider to position itself vis-a-vis the TPNW and its objectives and to look into the arguments that led to its establishment such as the humanitarian consequences of nuclear detonations and other risks associated with the possession of such weapons of mass destruction;
Amendment 80 #
2020/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
Amendment 6 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to UN Resolution 2216 (2015) on arm embargo to Yemen and the OHCHR report A/HRC/39/43 on the Situation of human rights in Yemen, including violations and abuses since September 2014,
Amendment 8 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)
Citation 16 b (new)
- having regard to UN Security Council resolution 2473 (2019)adopted on 10 June 2019 which renewed measures designed to implement the arms embargo against Libya and to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) statement of 25 January 2020 on continued violations of arm embargo in Libya,
Amendment 11 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, aiming at the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development 14a _________________ 14a https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg 16
Amendment 13 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
— having regard to its resolutions on the humanitarian situation in Yemen of 25 February 201620 , 15 June 201721 and 30 November 201722 , on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of 25 October 2018; on Egypt of 24 October 2019, on the UAE, notably the situation of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor of 4 October 2018, _________________ 20 OJ C 35, 31.1.2018, p. 142. 21 OJ C 331, 18.9.2018, p. 146. 22 OJ C 356, 4.10.2018, p. 104.
Amendment 15 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 27 a (new)
Citation 27 a (new)
- having regard to the EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 21 August 2013 on Egypt,
Amendment 20 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the latest SIPRI figures show that EU-28, is the second arm exporter to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; whereas according to the UN Group of Regional and International Eminent Experts, parties to the armed conflict of Yemen have perpetrated, and continue to perpetrate, violations and crimes under international law;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas a new arms race in the world is growing and the major military powers no longer rely on arms control and disarmament to reduce international tensions and improve the global security environment;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas in an increasingly unstable multipolar world, where nationalist, xenophobic and anti- democratic forces are on the rise, it is vital for the European Union to become an influential player on the world stage and to keep its leading role as a global “soft power” committed to the disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons, investing in conflict prevention, crisis management and mediation before military options are considered;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas there is an international arms embargo in place against the Iranian-backed Houthi forces and, according to the 21st EU Annual Report on Arms Exports, EU Member States have continued to authorise transfers of arms to Saudi Arabia and UAE since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen, in violation of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 on arms export control;
Amendment 33 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Amendment 36 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas military transparency measures such as reporting on arms export contributes to cross-border trust- building;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 65 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that Member States use very different information in order to generate data on the value of licences, which renders the annual report considerably less consistent and usable as a comparative data set and serves to diminish its transparency and accountability before citizens and parliaments; urges France, in particular, to refrain from submitting data on the value of licences at pre-contract stage and broad values for global licences, which undermines the comparability of the report;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the renewed extension of the moratorium on arms exports towards Saudi Arabia by Germany until the end of 2020 as well as the decisions by several Member States to enforce full restrictions when it comes to arms exports towards Saudi Arabia; reiterates its call of 13 September 2017 regarding the urgent need to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Condemns the increasing arms race in the world and calls on the world major military powers, largest producers and exporters of weapons to foster dialogue, multilateralism and disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Amendment 120 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Deeply regrets the continued blatant violations of the arms embargo in Libya, even after the commitments made in this regard by concerned countries during the International Conference on Libya in Berlin, held on 19 January 2020; Calls on all the Member States to halt all transfers of weapons, surveillance and intelligence equipment and material to all the parties involved in the Libyan conflict notably to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt;
Amendment 127 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria as they take precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Emphasises that arms exports must not be carried out for economic reasons but for foreign and security policy objectives. Respect for human rights, good governance and the prohibition on supplying arms to conflict regions are essential in the case of granting export licences. Arms exports have to be assessed against the sustainable development of a country;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Welcomes the EU activities aiming at supporting the universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty(ATT), in particular the assistance to third countries in improving and implementing effective arms control systems in line with the Common Position; calls the major arms exporting countries, such as the USA, China and Russia, to sign and ratify the Treaty;
Amendment 185 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that under the EPF, Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) will work on creating an EU-level system for arms transfers to third countries; asks for a detailed list of equipment transferred to third countries under the Facility to be published;
Amendment 216 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
a) to add the following additional categories in a revised reporting template in order to implement the recent September 2019 Council conclusions: the exact type of weapon and the quantity exported, denomination of the munitions, the lot size and the specific end-user, revoked licences, and the value and duration of contracts regarding post-delivery services such as training and maintenance; to align the EU definition of small arms with the broader UN definition so that, for example, pistols and sniper rifles are also included in this category;
Amendment 222 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point c
Paragraph 19 – point c
c) to clarify definitions such as licensed value and actual exports so as to facilitate the comparability of data between Member States; Licences for production in third countries should no longer be granted if this would allow the eight criteria of the Common Position or other EU arms export directives to be circumvented;
Amendment 225 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 19 – point c a (new)
c a) to extend the post-shipment controls to all arms exports, including large military equipment; Member States are to submit a regular post-shipment report;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point b
Paragraph 21 – point b
b) to follow the example of the UK in this regard by publishing risk assessments in the annual reports; and to publish all final arms export licences on the Internet; the validity of export licences should be limited to two years in order to be able to react to changing political situations;
Amendment 253 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point c
Paragraph 21 – point c
c) to undertake a joint assessment of country situations or potential export recipients in the light of the principles and criteria of the Common Position within the framework of the CFSP and in consultation with external stakeholders, including Parliament; to regularly update list of third countries complying with the criteria as led down in the Common Position;
Amendment 260 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that the EU institutions should organise peer reviews with a view to encouraging authorities to share best practices on the collection and processing of data, fostering a better understanding of different national approaches, identifying differences as regards the interpretation of the eight criteria, and discussing ways to improve harmonisation and consistency;
Amendment 266 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Strongly believes that a more consistent implementation of the EU Common Position is essential for the EU credibility as a value-based global actor and that much higher level of convergence as regards the strict application of the criteria will strengthen human rights, international law and the CFSP, and bolster the EU’s strategic security interests and strategic autonomy;
Amendment 276 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that effective end-use controls are crucial for a responsible export policy and for lowering the risk of diversion in particular; calls on the Council, the Member States, the EEAS and the Commission to set up a large-scale training and capacity-building programme for national and EU officials on arms export controls; stresses the need to use EU funding to ensure that sufficient staff resources are available at national and EU levels and at delegations and embassies in importing countries for the purposes of implementing viable end-use controlrisk assessments, end-use controls and post-shipment verifications; calls on the EEAS and COARM to report on iTrace any identified diversion of EU- origin goods as part of the annual report;
Amendment 284 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that the increasing Europeanisation of arms production, the recent Council conclusions on convergence in arms exports and the establishment of the EPF should be complemented by a mechanism for EU-level monitoring and control based on strict compliance with the eight criteria; calls on steps to be taken for the setting-up of an EU mechanism of sanctions for Member States infringing the Common Position;
Amendment 290 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Believes that “pooling and sharing” and more cooperation in arms policy and procurement policy are only possible if strict export controls, mutual information and regular parliamentary scrutiny, as well as strong sanction mechanisms in the event of non- compliance with common rules, are binding. Further demands that the European Parliament - alongside the national parliaments - be able to guarantee parliamentary control over the EU’s common security and defence policy and its budget;
Amendment 298 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that regular consultations with the European Parliament, national parliaments, arms export control authorities, industry associations and civil society are central to meaningful transparency; calls on national parliaments to exchange best reporting and oversight practices in order to enhance the scrutinising role of all national parliaments in the decisions on arms control exports; calls on COARM to enhance dialogue with civil society and consultations with Parliament and arms export control authorities; encourages civil society and academia to exercise independent scrutiny of the arms trade and calls on the Member States and the EEAS to support such activities, including by financial means;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and with special attention to SDG 16, aiming at the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
Amendment 16 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Secretary General’s appeal for a global ceasefire in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic,
Amendment 35 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas security is a precondition for development; whereas human security is a precondition for lasting peace and stability; whereas a strong nexus between security, development, and humanitarian intervention is essential for the sustainable development of the Sahel, West Africa and Horn of Africa regions; whereas without development and poverty eradication, there will be no sustainable peace; whereas in order to ensure its security and sustainable development, each country must have or acquire adequate capacities in all essentialkey sectors, including security and defence and whereas this will not only stabilise that country, but will also enable it to contribute constructively to peace, stability and crisis prevention in its region;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean in the east, Africa is struggling to contend with challenges, such as historical underdevelopment compounded by the destrucabilisation of the traditional agro- pastoral economy as a result of climate change, population growth and pressure on the natural and environmental resources such as deforestation; whereas another major challenge is the emergence of new forms of mafia economy, including human and drug trafficking and the uncontrolled export of gold deposits, which, combined with the abandonment, inefficiency and corruption of theweak governance, rising inequalities and lack of trust in governments and public administration, is producing a hybridisation between terrorist groups, traffickers and traditional community and regional conflicts, with the phenomenon of jihadist religious extremism appearing as a false response for the societies concerned;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas poverty and insecurity feed off each other and push young people to migrate to Europe in search of a better life, impoverishing states by depriving them of their best human resourcescombined with other factors such as bad governance, corruption and lack of employment opportunities, particularly affect young people and the possibilities given to them, thus pushing many to migrate;
Amendment 100 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU is also supporting the establishment and operationalisation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas after years of training, the above-mentioned EU missions have been hampered in their sustainability and effectiveness due to restrictions on their mandate, training programmes, and a lack of basic equipment, including weapons, ammunition and vehiclessustainability plans and local ownership;
Amendment 118 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas these restrictions have allowed third countries, notably Russia, China and Turkey, to fill the void left by the European Union by supplying such equipment have increased their supply of weapons and ammunitions to countries of the region;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas neither the Somali army, nor the Malian army norand the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) have been able to contribute effectively to the fight against jihadistare struggling to fight effectively against terrorists and armed groups or hold and secure the ground cleared with the aid of friendly international forces, the result being that the local populations feel abandoned and fear being accused of collaborating with the government by the jihadists or the armed groups in the CAR once they return and reoccupy the space from which they were expelled;
Amendment 138 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas after years of involvement in the above-mentioned civil and military missions, the general situation has become worse and worsenot improved significantly and a new and comprehensive strategy therefore needs to be implemented;
Amendment 171 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the European Union must coordinate the development and, security and humanitarian initiatives in which it is involved as part of an integrated strategy; considers that the African Union and African States from the region are key partners with which the EU is meaningfully engaged in order to jointly achieve sustainable development and human security; considers that the EU- Africa security cooperation must be based on human rights and humanitarian law and must respect the do-no-harm principle; considers that a security strategy for the Sahel, West Africa and Horn of Africa regions must first and foremost lie on addressing the root causes of the conflicts in the region, and notably the deep inequalities;
Amendment 201 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the revision of Article 3a(4)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 in the light of the grave and profound degradation in the security conditions in the region and in order to fill any gaps in EU missions and projects with a view to supporting the capacity- building of partners in the security sector, including through funding for military spending and the provision of weapons, ammunition or lethal equipment, transport and training essential for improving the combat capability of African armed forces fighting against jihadism; supports the Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 28 April 2015 entitled ‘Capacity building in support of security and development – Enabling partners to prevent and manage crises’4 ; _________________ 4 JOIN(2015)0017.Welcomes the proposal for a new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument;
Amendment 218 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the VP/HR to propose a Council decision on the establishment of a specific service to oversee the supply and use of such equipment and training; calls for funding from the EU budget to be provided for the administrative expenditure arising from that Council decision, including for personnel; calls on the Council to charge the Member States for the expenditure arising from the supply and use of such equipment and training; calls on the Member States that do not participate in funding the supply and use of such material to abstain from the vote in the Council;
Amendment 227 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Considers that the sustainability and effectiveness of EU civilian and military missions in Africa have been hampered by the lack of of local ownership, sustainability plans and basic equipment in the countries affected and that it is therefore necessary:
Amendment 236 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a
Paragraph 5 – point a
a) for the EU budget be large enough to effectively address the current challenges relating to training and military equipment (including weapons, munitions and transport)equipment;
Amendment 243 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b
Paragraph 5 – point b
b) to adapt the APF in order to overcome the current limitations on the acquisition of arms and munitionsput in place the proposed European Peace Facility, with full respect for the Common Position, for Human rights and humanitarian law, and with effective transparency provisions such as the publication of a detailed list of military equipment provided to partner countries under the Facility;
Amendment 260 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recommends that the EU considers contributing to the operational and logistical costs of the operations against jihadist terrorism conducted by the national armed forces of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, within the framework of peacekeeping operations in the Sahel- Saharan area and by taking a similar approach to the one it takes to financing the G5 Joint Forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON);
Amendment 270 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recommends that any financing of capacity-building operations for African countries is conditional on an action plan, which includes training on security sector reform, human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law, with reasonable deadlines with the possibility of further adjustments depending on the evolution of the situation;
Amendment 300 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point d a (new)
d a) putting in place a Human Rights monitoring mechanism to prevent Human Rights violations;
Amendment 307 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that the EU must conduct a comprehensive evaluation, and put in place proper monitoring systems and oversight, of the EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger, EUCAP Somalia and EUAM CAR civilian missions, adapting them to real needs in order to make them fully operational and effective;
Amendment 358 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the efforts of Mauritania to take a social and development approach to its military and security response; expresses its solidarity with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, countries that are deeply affected by terrorism; compliments the efforts and sacrifices of the international community, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the Multinational Joint Task Force, the G5 and the French Armed Forces (Operation Barkhane), and EUTM Mali and the Chadian Army, which is the essential force in the central and east sectors of the G5 requiring special support for its battalions;
Amendment 381 #
Amendment 386 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. States that there can be no security strategy without joint developmentsustainable development and humanitarian action;
Amendment 390 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Believes that the European Union should ensure that sustainable development plans are multi-sectoral and provide a global solution to the challenges of the region concerned; stresses that an integrated approach to peace, security and sustainable development requires the meaningful involvement of local civil society actors, and especially of women and young people; is of the opinion that these plans must be adopted by the administration in agreement with the local beneficiary communities and implemented with the participation of humanitarian organisations and local civil society organisations to ensure effective coordination and ownership;
Amendment 402 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – introductory part
Paragraph 25 – introductory part
25. Considers that the development of Africa should bea meaningful security cooperation between the EU and Africa must be built upon sustainable development, and especially focused on:
Amendment 407 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a
Paragraph 25 – point a
a) consolidating democracy by ensuring a real parliamentary system, its institutions and the rule of law, guaranteeing all civil society liberties;
Amendment 410 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 25 – point a a (new)
a a) ending conflicts and preventing their recurrence while addressing their root causes in order to achieve long lasting peace and security;
Amendment 415 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point b
Paragraph 25 – point b
b) empowering women by recognising them as agents of change and their role as the centre of gravity ofin African families andhouseholds and communities, promoting their participation in local and national institutions; and decision-making, and fostering their role in peace-building, conflict prevention and mediation;
Amendment 428 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point c
Paragraph 25 – point c
c) providing basic services such as food security, health, and education to increase people’s confidence in the stateccess to basic hygiene, social protection and education;
Amendment 434 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point d
Paragraph 25 – point d
d) ensuring administrative and legal stability and fighting poverty and corruption;
Amendment 439 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point d b (new)
Paragraph 25 – point d b (new)
d a) fighting poverty and corruption;
Amendment 449 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Expresses its deep concern that the current security crisis in Africa could lead to a massive displacement of the population, undermining North African states and affecting Europe;
Amendment 470 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Considers it essential to provide extraordinary assistance to the regions concerned in view of the extraordinary challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and to adapt current programmes and projects to this new challenge by demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to the situation;
Amendment 475 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recommends that the EU, together with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, intervenes on a financial level to help control debt and the payment of interest; calls for all possibilities to be explored, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, for debt relief, debt suspension and debt sustainability for African countries;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in the current tense geopolitical context, key arms control treaties that came into force at the end of the Cold War have recently been dismantled; whereas in a world of global interdependence, the EU's security cannot be achieved without renewed global arms control and disarmament efforts;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU aims to be a global actor for peace and supports the rules-based international order; whereas arms control and nuclear non- proliferation were at the very root of the start of the EU project, notably with EURATOM; whereas the EU, through its Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), is proactively contributing to the prevention of the use and proliferation of WMDs;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas tensions and dislack of trust among NPT parties have been increasing in the recent years; , exacerbated by growing deterioration of bilateral US-Russian relations and subsequent steps taken to reassess the nuclear factor in military doctrines; whereas the NPT Review Conference has been postpones due to the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas the US and the Russian Federation committed to an integrated Strategic Stability Dialogue on 16 June 2021;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has not yet been universally ratified; whereas the EU has been consistently promoting the contribution of the CTBT Treaty to peace, security, disarmament and non- proliferation;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on EU Delegations to put the question of disarmament, non- proliferation and arms control high on the agenda of Political Dialogue with third countries, in order for the EU to assist efforts to universalise existing treaties and instruments; asks the European External Action Service to also work on strengthening the training and capacity- building of our partnersclosest partners, notably the Neighbourhood and Enlargement countries, in the areas of disarmament, non proliferation and arms control; praises the EU CBRN risk mitigation Centres of Excellence initiative, funded under the NDICI, in this respect;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses its full support for the work of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, for the UN Secretary-General’s ambitious Agenda for Disarmament and for the multilateral deliberative processes and negotiations under the auspices of the UN; underlines the need to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders, civil society and academia and the meaningful and diverse participation of citizens in disarmament and non-proliferation debates; supports the confidence-building measures set out by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe as important contributions to limiting misunderstanding or miscalculation and ensuring greater openness and transparency;
Amendment 152 #
2020/2001(INI)
15. Reiterates its deep regret at the withdrawal from the INF Treaty by the US and the Russian Federation following Russia’s persistent failure to comply with the treaty, which led to its termination; is particularly concerned about possible re- emergence of ground-based intermediate- range missiles in the European theatre of operations in the post-INF context; underlines its strong opposition to a new arms race and re-militarisation on European soil; welcomes the commitment made by the US and Russia to continue working towards the achievement of their stated common goal of ensuring predictability in the strategic domain and reducing the risks of armed conflict and the threat of nuclear war; urges both sides to use this momentum to set realistic basis for re-launching negotiations about new arms control architecture and risk reduction measures that would take into account the changing geo-political context and emergence of new powers; calls on all other countries, notably China, in possession or in the process of the development of missile systems to engage in efforts to multilateralise and universalise the successor treaty to the INF;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Warmly welcomes the decision taken by the US and the Russian Federation to extend the New START Treaty; as an important contribution to the upcoming 10th NPT review conference, and to the implementation of the Article VI of the Treaty; highlights that the extension of the New START might provide a foundation for a negotiation of a new arms control agreement that would encompass both deployed and non- deployed, as well as strategic and non- strategic weapons; invites both signatories to thoroughly assess all options in relation with the scope, deployment and category of weapons to be covered, and advocates the involvement of other nuclear-armed countries, notably China, in negotiations on any new arms control agreement;
Amendment 16 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission’s communication on a Digital Finance Strategy32 aims to ensure that the Union’s financial services legislation is fit for the digital age, and contributes to a future-ready economy that works for the people, including by enabling the use of innovative technologies. The Union has a stated and confirmed policy interest in developing and promoting the uptake of transformative technologies in the financial sector, including blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT), provided this transformation is fully in line with the objectives of the EU green deal and based on climate friendly technologies. _________________ 32Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Digital Finance Strategy for EU COM(2020)591.
Amendment 34 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) A dedicated and harmonised framework is therefore necessary at Union level to provide specific rules for crypto- assets and related activities and services and to clarify the applicable legal framework. Such harmonised framework should also cover services related to crypto-assets where these services are not yet covered by Union legislation on financial services. Such a framework should support innovation and fair competition, while ensuring a high level of consumer protection and market integrity in crypto-asset markets. A clear framework should enable crypto-asset service providers to scale up their business on a cross-border basis and should facilitate their access to banking services to run their activities smoothly. It should also ensure financial stability and address monetary policy risks that could arise from crypto- assets that aim at stabilising their price by referencing a currency, an asset or a basket of such. While increasing consumer protection, market integrity and financial stability through the regulation of offers to the public of crypto-assets or services related to such crypto-assets, a Union framework on markets in crypto-assets should not regulensure thate the underlying technology and should allow for the use of both permissionless and permission-based distributed ledgerre climate friendly and in line with the EU green deal objectives.
Amendment 346 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Competent authorities shall not require an ex ante approval ofe a crypto- asset white paper, norand of any marketing communications relating to it before their publication. The approval or refusal shall be given not later than 20 working days after the notification.
Amendment 354 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) 3a.The notification of the crypto- asset white paper shall also explain how the issuer complies with paragraphs (ea) (eb) and (ec) of Article 4 (1).
Amendment 378 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Where an offer to the public of crypto-assets, other than asset-referenced tokens or e-money tokens, is cancelled for any reason, issuers of such crypto-assets shall ensure that any funds collected from purchasers or potential purchasers are duly returned to them as soon as possible and not later than 20 working days.
Amendment 387 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 405 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o a (new)
(oa) a description of the internal policies in place to prevent the misuse of asset-referenced tokens for the purposes of money laundering or financing of terrorism, in accordance with in accordance with Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Amendment 406 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o b (new)
(ob) a description of the validation mechanism or consensus process, namely how the asset-referenced token is generated through “proof of stake” mechanisms.
Amendment 407 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o c (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point o c (new)
(oc) a description of sustainability indicators in relation to adverse impacts on the climate and other environmental, social and governance-related adverse impacts of the issuance of the asset- referenced tokens.
Amendment 415 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) a detailed description of the claim that the asset-referenced token represents for holders, including the contribution to such claim of each asset being referenced when more than one asset is referenced.
Amendment 418 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Amendment 420 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) information on the validation mechanism or consensus process, namely how the asset-referenced token is generated through “proof of stake” mechanisms
Amendment 421 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point h b (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point h b (new)
(hb) a description of sustainability indicators in relation to adverse impacts on the climate and other environmental, social and governance-related adverse impacts related to the issuance of the asset-referenced token
Amendment 445 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) the applicant issuer’s business model may pose a serious threat to financial stability, monetary policy transmission or monetary sovereignty provided, however, that the competent authority shall act in accordance with the opinion of the ECB or the national central bank of issue of the relevant Union currency as regards the conduct of monetary policy and the promotion of the smooth operation of payment systems.
Amendment 457 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 21 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) take any appropriate corrective measures to ensure financial stability. and the proper conduct of monetary policy and the promotion of the smooth operation of payment systems, after having requested and obtained a binding opinion from the ECB and/or the relevant central banks of Member States the currency of which is not the euro, provided, however, that the competent authorities shall act in accordance with such opinions as regards the conduct of monetary policy and the promotion of the smooth operation of payment systems.’
Amendment 460 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 a (new)
Article 23 a (new)
Amendment 462 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the marketing communications shall clearly state that a crypto-asset white paper has been published and indicate the address of the website of the issuer of the crypto-assets, as well as an email address and a telephone number of the issuer.
Amendment 463 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2
Article 25 – paragraph 2
Amendment 494 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 31 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Competent authorities of the home Member States may require issuers of asset-referenced tokens to hold an amount of own funds which is up to 20 % higher than the amount resulting from the application of paragraph 1, point (b), or permit such issuers to hold an amount of own funds which is up to 20 % lower than the amount resulting from the application of paragraph 1, point (b), where an assessment of the following indicates a higher or a lower degree of risk:
Amendment 496 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Without prejudice to the provisions under paragraph 3, issuers of asset- referenced tokens shall conduct, on a regular basis, stress testing that shall take into account severe but plausible financial (such as interest rate shocks stress scenarios, and nonfinancial such as operational risk) stress scenarios. Based on the outcome of such stress tests, the competent authorities of the home Member States will require issuers of asset-referenced tokens to hold an amount of own funds which is above 20 % higher than the amount resulting from the application of paragraph 1, point (b) in certain circumstances given the risk outlook and stress test results.
Amendment 498 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 31 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) the criteria for requiring higher own funds or for allowing lower own funds, as set out in paragraph 3.
Amendment 500 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
(ca) the common reference parameters of the stress test scenarios to be included in the stress tests in accordance with paragraph 3a.The draft regulatory technical standards should be updated periodically taking into account the latest market developments;
Amendment 506 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The reserve shall be insulated in accordance with national law in the interest of the holders of the asset- referenced token against the claims of other creditors on the issuer, in particular in the event of insolvency. The reserve shall be composed and managed so as to cover at all times the risks associated to the claims on the issuer from holders of the asset-referred token.
Amendment 732 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph 1
Article 50 – paragraph 1
1. The EBA after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro shall classify e-money tokens as significant e-money tokens on the basis of the criteria referred to in Article 39(1), as specified in accordance with Article 39(6), and where at least threewo of those criteria are met.
Amendment 733 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph 2
Article 50 – paragraph 2
2. Competent authorities of the issuer’s home Member State shall provide the EBA, the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro with information on the criteria referred to in Article 39(1) of this Article and specified in accordance with Article 39(6) on at least a yearly basis.
Amendment 739 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph 3
Article 50 – paragraph 3
3. Where the EBA, after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro, is of the opinion that e-money tokens meet the criteria referred to in Article 39(1), as specified in accordance with Article 39(6), the EBA shall prepare a draft decision to that effect and notify that draft decision to the issuers of those e- money tokens and the competent authority of the issuer’s home Member State. The EBA shall give issuers of such e-money tokens and their competent authorities the opportunity to provide observations and comments in writing prior the adoption of its final decision. The EBA, after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro, shall duly consider those observations and comments.
Amendment 747 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 51 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Where, on the basis of the programme of operation, the EBA, after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro, is of the opinion that the e-money tokens meet the criteria referred to in Article 39(1), as specified in accordance with Article 39(6), the EBA shall prepare a draft decision to that effect and notify that draft decision to the competent authority of the issuer or applicant issuer’s home Member State. The EBA shall give the competent authority of the issuer or applicant issuer’s home Member State the opportunity to provide observations and comments in writing prior the adoption of its final decision. The EBA, after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro, shall duly consider those observations and comments.
Amendment 751 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 51 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. Where, on the basis of the programme of operation, the EBA after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro is of the opinion that the e-money tokens do not meet the criteria referred to in Article 39(1), as specified in accordance with Article 39(6), the EBA shall prepare a draft decision to that effect and notify that draft decision to the issuer or applicant issuer and the competent authority of the issuer or applicant issuer’s home Member State.
Amendment 755 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 4
Article 51 – paragraph 4
4. 4. The EBA, after consultation of the ECB and the relevant central banks of Member States whose currency is not the euro, shall take its final decision on whether an e-money token is a significant e-money token within three months after the notification referred to in paragraph 1 and immediately notify the issuers or applicant issuer of such e-money tokens and their competent authorities thereof. The decision shall be immediately notified to the issuer or applicant issuer of e-money tokens and to the competent authority of its home Member State.
Amendment 762 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 53 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 53 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Crypto-asset services shall only be provided by legal persons that have a registered office in a Member State of the Union and that have been authorised as crypto-asset service providers in accordance with Article 55crypto asset service providers as defined in art 3 par 1 point 8. These providers will have a registered office in a Member State of the Union and does not have a parent undertaking, or a subsidiary, that is established in (a) third country which is listed as a high- risk third country having strategic deficiencies in its regime on anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive (EU)2015/849; (aa) third country which is listed in Annex I *or Annex II* of the EU list of non- cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes;” (aaa) third country jurisdictions with a 0 % corporate tax rate or with no taxes on companies’ profits. The crypto asset service providers have been authorised as crypto-asset service providers in accordance with Article 55 and will only provide services linked to crypto assets which are not generated by a proof of work mechanism.
Amendment 771 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 53 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 53 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 775 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 54 – paragraph 1
Article 54 – paragraph 1
1. Legal persons that intendIn order to be able to provide crypto- asset services shall apply for authorisation as a crypto-asset service provider, crypto-asset service providers as defined in art 3 par 1 point 8 will apply for authorisation to the competent authority of the Member State where they have their registered office.
Amendment 809 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point r a (new)
Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point r a (new)
(ra) a description of the applicant crypto assets service provider’s internal control mechanisms and procedures for compliance with Directive 2015/849 of the European Parliament and the Council as well as a description of the internal procedures to report on a regular basis crypto transactions to the competent tax authorities.
Amendment 842 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 59 – paragraph 3
Article 59 – paragraph 3
3. Crypto-asset service providers shall warn clients of risks associated with purchasing crypto-assets, in particular the significant price volatility of crypto-assets, combined with the inherent difficulties of valuing crypto-assets reliably. They should further warn clients explicitly that by investing in these types of product, they should be prepared to lose all their money.
Amendment 876 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 61 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
7. Crypto-asset service providers shall have internal control mechanisms and effective procedures for risk assessment, including effective control and safeguard arrangements for managing ICT systems in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/xx of the European Parliament and of the Council.65 as well as effective procedures to comply with the obligations in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing under Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council. They shall monitor and, on a regular basis, evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control mechanisms and procedures for risk assessment and take appropriate measures to address any deficiencies. _________________ 65 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on digital operational resilience for the financial sector and amending Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009, (EU) No 648/2012, (EU) No 600/2014 and (EU) No 909/2014 - COM(2020)595.
Amendment 915 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 68 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 68 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. Crypto-asset service providers will be authorised for the operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets provided they have set up a partnership with a credit institution which has opened real-name bank accounts for their customers. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised for the operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets shall lay down operating rules for the trading platform. These operating rules shall at least:
Amendment 917 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 68 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 68 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
For the purposes of point (a), the operating rules shall clearly state that a crypto-asset shall not be admitted to trading on the trading platform, where a crypto-asset white paper has not been published, unless such a or where the crypto- asset benefits from the exemption set out in Articles 4(2).provider is not connected to an open real-name bank account
Amendment 935 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 70 – paragraph 1
Article 70 – paragraph 1
1. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to execute orders for crypto- assets on behalf of third parties shall take all necessary steps to obtain, when executing orders, the best possible result for their clients taking into account the best execution factors of price, costs, speed, likelihood of execution and settlement, size, nature or any other consideration relevant to the execution of the order, unless the crypto-asset service provider concerned executes orders for crypto-assets following specific instructions given by its clients. Where a crypto-asset service provider executes an order on behalf of a retail client, the best possible result shall be determined in terms of the total consideration, representing the price of the crypto-assets and the costs relating to execution, which shall include all expenses incurred by the client which are directly relating to the execution of the order, including execution venue fees, clearing and settlement fees and any other fees paid to third parties involved in the execution of the order.
Amendment 939 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 70 – paragraph 3
Article 70 – paragraph 3
3. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to execute orders for crypto- assets on behalf of third parties shall provide appropriate and clear information to their clients on their order execution policy and any significant change to it.ask the client or potential client to provide information regarding that person’s knowledge and experience in crypto- assets, the client’s objectives, risk tolerance, financial situation including the ability to bear losses, and basic understanding of risks involved in purchasing crypto-assets so as to enable the crypto-asset service provider to assess whether the crypto-asset envisaged is appropriate for the client. Where the crypto-asset service provider considers, on the basis of the information received under the first subparagraph, that the crypto-asset is not appropriate to the client or potential client, it shall warn the client or potential client
Amendment 943 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 71 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) c. incentives paid by the issuer to the crypto asset service provider.
Amendment 947 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 1
Article 73 – paragraph 1
1. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to provide advice on crypto- assets shall assess whether compatibility of such crypto-assets with the needs of the clients and recommend them only when this is in the interest of the clientrypto-asset services or crypto-assets are suitable for the clients, considering the clients’ knowledge and experience in crypto- assets, objectives and ability to bear losses.
Amendment 952 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 73 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to provide advice on crypto-assets shall in good time before providing advice on crypto-assets inform potential clients: (a) whether or not the advice is provided on an independent basis; (b) whether the advice is based on a broad or on a more restricted analysis of different crypto-assets and, in particular, whether the range is limited to crypto- assets issued or offered by entities having close links with the crypto-asset service provider or any other legal or economic relationships, such as contractual relationships, so close as to pose a risk of impairing the independent basis of the advice provided; Crypto-asset service providers shall also provide potential clients with information on all costs and associated charges, including the cost of advice, where relevant, the cost of crypto-assets recommended or marketed to the client and how the client may pay for it, also encompassing any third-party payments.
Amendment 957 #
2020/0265(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 73 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. For the purposes of the assessment referred to in paragraph 1, crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to provide advice on crypto-assets shall request information about the client or potential client’s knowledge of, and experience in crypto-assets, the clients' objectives, financial situation including risk tolerance, financial situation including the ability to bear losses, and basic understanding of risks involved in purchasing crypto-assets. Crypto-asset service providers that are authorised to provide advice on crypto- assets shall warn clients that, due to their nature, (a) the crypto-assets may lose their value in part or in full; (b) the crypto-assets may not always be transferable; (c) the crypto-assets may not be liquid; (d) the value of crypto-assets may fluctuate; (e) where applicable, public protection schemes protecting the value of crypto assets and public compensation schemes do not exist and crypto-assets are not covered by public investor compensation or deposit guarantee schemes.
Amendment 84 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The purpose of the Solvency Support Instrument is to help viable companies to overcome this difficult period so that they are in a position to carry the recovery, to safeguard sustainable employment levels, and to counter-balance the expected distortions in the single market.
Amendment 93 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) CViable companies supported under the Solvency Support Instrument should be established and operating in the Union, meaning that they should have their registered office in a Member State and should be active in the Union in the sense that they have substantial activities in terms of staff, manufacturing, research and development or other business activities in the Union. They should pursue activities in support of objectives covered by this Regulation. They should have a viable business model and not have been in difficulty in terms of the State aid framework7 already at end 2019. Support should only be targeted at eligible companies operating in those Member States and sectors which are most impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and/or where the availability of State solvency support is more limited. _________________ 7 As defined in Article 2(18) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (OJ L 187, 26.6.2014, p.1).
Amendment 97 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The Steering Board should set specific geographical concentration limits for the solvency support window, in line with the indicators and methodology established by the Commission, in order to ensure, respectively, that the EU guarantee under the Solvency Support Instrument supports only eligible companies in Member States and sectors which have been economically most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and that guarantee supports only eligible companies in Member States, where the possibility of State solvency support is most limited.
Amendment 168 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a – subparagraph 1 a (new)
However, support under the solvency support window shall only be granted if it is to the benefit of viable companies that were not in difficulty in State aid terms8 already at the end of 2019 but since then face significant solvency risks due to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; _________________ 8As defined in Article 2(18) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (OJ L 187, 26.6.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 173 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
(7a) In Article 7 paragraph 2 is amended as follows: "2. The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI is to be governed by a gender balanced composed steering board, which, for the purpose of the use of the EU guarantee, is to determine, in conformity with the general objectives set out in Article 9(2):"
Amendment 208 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
(14a) in Article 9, the following paragraph is added: ‘7a. Beneficiaries that receive EFSI financing shall not make dividend payments, non-mandatory coupon payments or buy back shares during the period of the guarantee. The remuneration of any member of the management of a beneficiary that receives EFSI financing shall not go beyond the fixed part of that members’ remuneration on 31 December 2019. For a person becoming a member of the management on or after the granting of EFSI financing, the applicable limit shall be the lowest fixed remuneration of any member of the management on 31 December 2019. Bonuses or other variable or comparable remuneration elements shall not be paid under any circumstances.’
Amendment 227 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point a
(29a) in Article 18(3), point a is amended as follows: "(a) the EIB shall publish a comprehensive report on the functioning of the EFSI, which shall include an evaluation of the impact of the EFSI on sustainable investment in the Union, sustainable employment creation an, solvency of companies and improved access to financing for SMEs and mid-cap companies;"
Amendment 229 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point b
(29b) in Article 18(3), point b is amended as follows: ‘(b) the Commission shall publish a comprehensive report on the use of the EU guarantee and the functioning of the guarantee fund and its impact on the sustainable recovery of the Union and the sustainable solvency of companies in the Union benefitting of this guarantee.’
Amendment 231 #
2020/0106(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 29 c (new)
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 22 a (new)
Article 22 a (new)
Amendment 238 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and the translation of the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Facility established by this Regulation will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and environmental sustainability and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 30% of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. The Facility should only finance projects respecting the “do no significant harm” principle. The do no significant harm principle should be operationalised for all spending through the recovery and resilience facility through a delegated act, taking duly into account Article 2(17) of the EU regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability- related disclosures in the financial services sector and, for environment- related issues, by Article 17 of the regulation 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (EU taxonomy), in order to ensure coherence amongst EU spending priorities.
Amendment 260 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) The methodology to determine spending on environmental objectives, including on climate and biodiversity actions should be developed using appropriately the criteria established by the EU framework to facilitate sustainable investment (EU taxonomy).
Amendment 280 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) It is important that recovery and resilience plans display coherence in their implementation of environmental, social and governance sustainability and are coherent with EU priorities such as the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan.
Amendment 325 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The RRF provides a way to modernise the EU budget through investments in innovative projects that provide new opportunities for future generations.
Amendment 548 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The recovery and resilience plans to be implemented by the Member States and, the corresponding financial contribution allocated to them should be established by the Commission by way of implementing act. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powand the accompanying budgetary transfers should be conferred on the Commission. The implementing powers relating to the adoption of the recovery and resilience plans and to the payment of the financial support upon fulfilment of the relevant milestones and targets should be exercised by the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 ofestablished in a legislative act to be adopted by the European Parliament and of the Council, under the examination procedure thereof13 . After the adoption of an implementing act. After the adoption, it should be possible for the Member State concerned and the Commission to agree on certain operational arrangements of a technical nature, detailing aspects of the implementation with respect to timelines, indicators for the milestones and targets, and access to underlying data. To allow the continuous relevance of the operational arrangements in respect of the prevailing circumstances during the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, it should be possible that the elements of such technical arrangements may be modified by mutual consent. Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding. __________________ 13 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 560 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39 a (new)
Recital 39 a (new)
(39a) In the interest of a speedy economic recovery, support should be made available as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The Member States and the Union institutions involved in the decision-making process should do their utmost to reduce processing time and simplify procedures so as to ensure the smooth and rapid adoption of decisions on the mobilisation of the Facility.
Amendment 1067 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a Regular ongoing budgetary expenditures shall not be considered as eligible for funding under the RRF.
Amendment 1075 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. When assessing the recovery and resilience plan and in the determination of the amount to be allocated to the Member State concerned, the Commission shall take into account the analytical information on the Member State concerned available in the context of the European Semester as well as the justification and the elements provided by the Member State concerned, as referred to in Article 15(3), and any other relevant information including, in particular, the one contained in the National Reform Programme and the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and, if relevant, information from technical support received via the Technical Support Instrument. The Commission shall also require a gender impact assessment of the plan carried out by an independent expert or proceed to such an assessment itself.
Amendment 1088 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The Commission shall assess the importance and coherence of the recovery and resilience plan and its contribution to the green, social and digital transitions, and for that purpose, shall take into account the following criteria:
Amendment 1119 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green and the digital transitions or to addressing the challenges resulting from them,; whether in particular the plan contains measures aiming at closing the digital gap in EU Member States, and measures boosting the digital literacy;
Amendment 1150 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(c a) whether the gender equality plan included in the recovery and resilience plan effectively addresses the gender issues emerging in the crisis and ensures gender equality. In particular, the area of employment, access to finance as well as whether it includes measures to prevent and combat gender-based and domestic violence;
Amendment 1164 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, the productivity, job creation, and economic and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 1165 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, job creation, gender equality and economic and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 1201 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g a (new)
(g a) whether the recovery and resilience plan obeys the ‘do no significant harm’ principle based on the criteria set out by the Commission in accordance with Article 14(1);
Amendment 1207 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g b (new)
(g b) whether sufficient care is paid to avoid corruption with funding from the plans and to avoid illegitimate use of the funds;
Amendment 1218 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall adopt a decision within four months ofevaluate as quickly as possible the official submission of the recovery and resilience plan by the Member State, by means of an implementing act. In the event that and propose the amount of a financial contribution from the Facility. Where the Commission has givesn a positive assessmentevaluation to a recovery and resilience plan, that decision shall set out the reforms and investment projects to be implemented by the Member State, including the milestones and targets, and the financial contribution allocated in accordance with Article 11it shall submit a proposal to mobilise the Facility to the European Parliament and the Council. The decision to mobilise the Facility shall be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council within one month of the Commission submitting the proposal. The European Parliament shall act by a majority of its component members and three fifths of the votes cast and the Council shall act by a qualified majority. At the same time as it presents a proposal for a decision to mobilise the Facility, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary lines. In the event of disagreement, a trilogue procedure shall be initiated.
Amendment 1289 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 5
Article 17 – paragraph 5
5. Where the Commission gives a negative assessment to a recovery and resilience plan, it shall communicate a duly justified assessment within four months of the submission of the proposal by the Member Stateas soon as possible to the Member State concerned and to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 1300 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 7
Article 17 – paragraph 7
7. The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2)Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of X XXXX 20XX on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management shall further specify requirements of the allocation procedure of the Facility.
Amendment 1311 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. Where the recovery and resilience plan including relevant milestones and targets, is no longer achievable, either partially or totally, by the Member State concerned because of objective circumstances, the Member State concerned may make a reasoned request to the Commission to propose to the European Parliament and the Council to amend or replace the decisions referred to in Article 17(1) and 17(2). To that effect, the Member State may propose a modified or a new recovery and resilience plan.
Amendment 1317 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Where the Commission considers that the reasons put forward by the Member State concerned justify an amendment of the relevant recovery and resilience plan, the Commission shall assess the new plan in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 and shall take a new decisionsubmit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with Article 17 within four months of the official submission of the request.
Amendment 1335 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission decision referred to in Article 17(1) shall constitute an individual legal commitment within the meaning of the Financial Regulation, which may be based on global commitments. Where appropriate, budgetary commitments may be broken down into annual instalments spread over several years.
Amendment 1336 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. Payment of financial contributions to the Member State concerned under this Article shall be made in accordance with the budget appropriations and subject to the available funding. The Commission decisions referred to in this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).
Amendment 1361 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Where the Commission makes a positive assessment, it shall adopt a decisionsubmit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council to authorisinge the disbursement of the financial contribution in accordance with the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 1381 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall take a decisionsubmit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council on the cancellation of the financial contribution after having given the Member State concerned the possibility to present its observations within a period of two months of the communication of its assessment as to whether no tangible progress has been made.
Amendment 1389 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 a (new)
Article 19 a (new)
Article 19 a Rule of Law Until the moment that a procedure which is launched against a Member State in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is formally closed, that Member State will only be eligible to receive 20% of the financial contribution determined in accordance with Article 19.
Amendment 1514 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27
Article 27
Amendment 60 #
2020/0066(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 450 a (new)
Article 450 a (new)
(1a) The following article is inserted: " Article 450a In order to enhance the resilience of the financial sector and to strengthen its capacity to lend to the real economy in the actual crisis situation, credit institutions will suspend any kind of distribution until October 2021. Until this date, credit institutions will also suspend share buy- backs and excessive bonus payments. This paragraph will apply to institutions as defined in points (7), (16), (22) and (23) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 468/2014 (ECB/2014/17).”
Amendment 181 #
2019/2197(INI)
18 a. asks the Commission to develop a partnership of equals with the African continent for the sake of mutual benefits by substantially increasing investments in the African states with the goal of supporting the development of competitive local and regional value chains; calls on the Commission to implement the technical assistance-side of the Economic Partnership Agreements, especially with regard to supporting the development of resilient fiscal systems and facilitating regional border cooperation in order to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area;
Amendment 249 #
2019/2197(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. notes there is currently a massive increase in steel imports from China and other third countries which severely affects the European industry and endangers a high number of jobs; highlights that the review process of the current safeguard measures on imports of steel products needs to reduce the existing quotas in accordance with the imported overcapacities and abolish the possibility of transferring unused quotas;
Amendment 250 #
2019/2197(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Reiterates the necessity to level the playing field between European industries, that implement ambitious climate, environmental, ecological and social standards, and those trade partners that do not pursue the same high standards; therefore, a WTO-compatible Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that enhances global climate action and protects European industries from unfair competition is urgently needed;
Amendment 24 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the lasting deterioration in the Union’s strategic environment in the face of multiple challenges directly or indirectly affecting the security of its Member States and citizens: armed conflicts immediately to the east and south of the European continent, jihadist terrorism, cyber attacks, uncontrolled migration, increasing threats to natural resources, climate change, etc.;
Amendment 67 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the Union has been slow to react and adapt – poli, so far, there is no common strategic stance on potentically, diplomatically and militarily – to new crises and to this new international context; considers that, in the specific area of defence, insufficient investm threats among all 28 EU Member States and that Member States therefore have different, differences in capabilities and a lack of interoperability, but also, and above all, a political reluctance to implement the robust provisions provided for in the European treaties and the numerous cooperation arrangements between Member States have weakened the Union’s ability to play a decisive role in external crises; recognises, further, that no country is able by itself to address the security challenges efence strategies and military expenditures; suggests, therefore, an in- depth strategic inter-institutional discussion on the future role and objectives of the EU in foreign and security policy that goes beyond the European continent and in its immediate environmentU Global Strategy;
Amendment 119 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses the importance of and compliance with international commitments of the EU and its Member States on conventional and nuclear disarmament and arms control; recalls that any foreign military operation should require a UN mandate;
Amendment 128 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers, therefore, that European strategic autonomy is based, above all, on the ability of the Union to assess a crisis situation and take a decision autonomously, which necessarily entails an independent decision-making process, the availability of means of assessment and a freedom to analyse and take action; considers, also, that European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of the Union to act alone when its interests are at stake (theatres of operations not considered as priorities by its European partners) or within the framework of existing cooperation arrangements; considers, lastly, that European strategic autonomy is part of a multilateral framework which respects commitments within the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and complements the (NATO) alliances and partnerships to which most Member States are signed up; stresses that strategic autonomy does not mean that the Union will systematically act alone, everywhere and always;
Amendment 165 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. MaintainsConsider that European strategic autonomy must take practical form in the areas of industry, capability (joint programmes, investment in defence technologies) and operations (financing of operations, capacity building for partners, capacpursue a restrictive arms export policy for all types of weapons and therefore calls for dual-use goods to be subject to strict European rules and parliamentary control; urge the Member States to comply wityh to plan and conduct missions)he EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
Amendment 170 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 231 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to assess missions and operations on a regular basis in order to make them more effective; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to draw up mandates and budgets which are appropriate to the operations concerned and to provide for an exit strategy; calls, in that connection, for more regular information sharing and consultations with the relevant parliamentary committees prior, during and after the missions and operations, and calls on the latter to focus their missions and delegations on areas where CSDP missions and operations are deployed; demands that the European Parliament - alongside national parliaments has a strengthened role in CSDP respect, so as to guarantee the parliamentary oversight of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy and its budget;
Amendment 232 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to assess missions and operations on a regular basis in order to make them more effective; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to draw up mandates and budgets which are appropriate to the operations concerned and to provide for an exit strategy; calls, in that connection, for more regular consultations with the relevant parliamentary committees, and calls on the latter to focus their missions and delegations on areas where CSDP missions and operations are deployed;
Amendment 299 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 306 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
Amendment 322 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Notes with satisfactionReject the Commission’s proposal of 2 May 2018 to establish a EUR 13 billion budget line for defence in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) under the heading of industrial policy; notes that this proposal, which reflects an unprecedented commitment by the Commission,still requires sufficient additional funding from and remains subject to the unanimous agreement of the Member States in the next MFF; reject any reallocation of funds from other budget lines in favour of defence;
Amendment 332 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. WelcomesTakes note of the Commission’s proposal of June 2017 to create a European Defence Fund (EDF), which would foster cooperation between Member States and support the European defence industry; notes that this proposal is the first initiative for which Community funds are to be used in direct support of defence projects; recognises that this is a major step forward for European defence, from both a political and an industrial perspective; notes that the EDF could finance structural projects such as the future European aircraft or tank or a European anti-missile defence capability; notes that the 2019 work programme for the preparatory action will focus on electromagnetic spectrum dominance and future disruptive defence technologies, two key areas for maintaining Europe’s technological independence in the long term; welcomTakes, also, note of the adoption by the Commission in March 2019 of the first European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the publication of nine calls for proposals for 2019, including for the Eurodrone, which is a key capability for Europe’s strategic autonomy; points out that 12 further calls for proposals will follow in 2020, covering priority areas in all domains (air, land, sea, cyber and space); notes the link between the procurement decisions taken today by the Member States and the prospects for industrial and technological cooperation under the EDF;
Amendment 356 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. NotesReject the Commission’s proposal to allocate EUR 6.5 billion to military mobility projects in the next MFF; calls for budget-neutral financing by the Member States;
Amendment 373 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Stresses the still virtual nature of the European Defence Fund; points out that that this instrument has not yet been finally approved, with only partial and political agreement having been given in April 2019; stresses the importance of maintaining Parliament’s position concerning the amount of the EDF, the involvement of third countries and the establishment of an appropriate intellectual property policy in relation to security and defence in order to protect research results; draws attention, in that connection, to the highly sensitive and strategic nature of defence research, both for industrial competitiveness and for the strategic autonomy of the Union; calls for the initial lessons learned from the implementation of the EDIDP (in particular concerning the application of derogations for eligible entities), the pilot project and the preparatory action on defence research to be properly taken into account; calls on the Member States to be fully involved in the decision-making process in order to avoid bureaucratic excesses and to ensure that the programmes included address the strategic needs of the CSDP and the Member States; considers that the success of the EDF will depend on its ability to cater for the specific defence needs of the participating states and to guarantee the availability of sufficient budgetary resources, whilst ensuring that industrial know-how is not duplicated, national defence investment is not crowded out and cooperation does not become over- complicated; considers that developing the European defence industry by regulating access for entities controlled by non-EU third parties to projects financed by the Fund is fully consistent with the European ambition of strategic autonomy;
Amendment 382 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. StressesRecognize the strategic dimension for Europe of the space sector, and emphasises the need to make progress in developing technologies with both civilian and military uses which are capable of ensuring European strategic autonomy; welcomes the inclusion in the next MFF of the Commission’s EUR 16 billion space programme proposal to boost EU space leadership; welcomesrejects, however, any militarisation of the space sector; takes note of the progress made on EU satellite services (Galileo, Copernicus, EGNOS); emphasises that, if it is to enjoy decision-making and operational autonomy, the Union must have adequate satellite resources in the fields of space imagery, intelligence-gathering, communications and space surveillance; considers that space-based services should be fully operationalised in order to provide high-resolution satellite imaging in support of CSDP missions and operations; stresses the need to finance, through the EDF, industrial projects with a space dimension where the Union can generate real added value;
Amendment 391 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
Amendment 430 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Stresses that the ambition of European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of Europeans to take action to defend their interests, either independently or within an institutional cooperation framework (NATO, OSCE, UN);
Amendment 458 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)
Paragraph 59 a (new)
59a. Considers that, in view of the increasing conflicts with Russia, a new détente policy in Europe is needed which takes into account the security needs of our Eastern European Member States, eastern partner countries and Russia's perception of threat; calls, therefore, for a stronger role of the OSCE as an umbrella for the dialog between NATO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) about a new security cooperation and architecture in Europe as well as for an economic cooperation between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU); calls, moreover, for an enhanced dialogue at UN level, in particular to encourage China and other states to increase arms control and global nuclear and conventional disarmament and non- proliferation of weapons;
Amendment 465 #
2019/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. In order to tackle the threat of nuclear proliferation stresses the importance of multilateral negotiations among the European Union and the involved parties; urges to respect the nuclear treaties, to support closing new treaty which replace the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces)Treaty and to renewing the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2020;
Amendment 22 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas competition policy must be tailored to tackle digital, ecological, industrial and social challenges, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the EU green deal priority;
Amendment 25 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas European competition authorities should be equally attentive to avoid under-enforcement in digital markets as they are wary of over- enforcement;
Amendment 43 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Draws the Commission’s attention to companies benefitting from favourable treatment in their home market entering European markets, thus distorting competition in those various markets; Calls on the Commission to increase scrutiny of investments by entrants from countries granting advantages not available to European operators to combat unfair practices;
Amendment 56 #
2019/2131(INI)
3. Calls on the Commission to ensure reciprocity with third countries in public procurement and in investment policy, state aid, data protection and investment policy; all while paying particular attention to those least developed countries, which should not be harmed due to their inability to fulfil the reciprocity requirements;
Amendment 67 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls the Commission to strictly safeguard fair competition, level playing field and equal treatment by the dominant platforms operating and making huge profits in the EU 500 million consumers digital single market;
Amendment 75 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to ensure the balanced application of State aid control to European operators in order to avoid asymmetries with their foreign competitors, who are not subject to itat state aid control is applied equally to European and non-European operators and to prevent distortion of competition by firms receiving government subsidies abroad;
Amendment 109 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Reiterates the importance of social objectives in our competition policy; believes that where suppliers of goods or services lack market power vis-a-vis purchasers, as is the case with many self- employed contractors, this can be remedied by coordinated pricing;
Amendment 133 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to review merger rules and strengthen antitrust action, taking into account the effects of market and network power on individuals, society and democratic values associated with both personal and financial data; proposes that every merger in the market for such data should be subject to prior monitoring, regardless of thresholds;
Amendment 137 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Stresses that, by enabling personalised micro-targeted advertisements personal and behavourial data provide an important source of revenue for platforms; considers that such micro-targeting puts market power in the hands of the few platforms holding most personal data and, when it concerns political advertisements, endangers the functioning of our democracy by strengthening echo chambers and; calls on the Commission to draft legislation that severely constrains personalized and behavioural targeted advertisement;
Amendment 152 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Recalls that abuse of market power can take place even when products or services are supplied for free; believes that the passing on of private data to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes is frequently done without the consumer’s proper consent, as alternatives to sharing data are often not provided; considers that in the digital economy, the concentration of data in a small number of companies leads to market failures, excessive rent extraction and a blocking of new entrants; calls on the Commission to consider the structural unbundling of digital monopolies to restore competition and a level playing field in the European digital market;
Amendment 153 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Asks the Commission to assess how more demanding regimes of data access, including data interoperability, can be imposed in particular where data access opens up secondary markets for complementary services or when data is confined to dominant firms;
Amendment 155 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Stresses that concentration in digital markets for example for social media in favour of a few non-European companies has contributed to the dissemination of misinformation, online manipulation and the undermining of social cohesion and trust in democratic institutions;
Amendment 175 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Draws the Commission’s attention to recent acquisitions by foreign monopolies of digital operators of health and educational data and the privacy risks involved, over and above the damaging effects of these transactions on competition and calls on the Commission to prevent competition amongst companies to gather personal health and educational data;
Amendment 182 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that, while intermediation platforms play a major role in access to consumers for online services, some abuse their privileged position by acting as gatekeepers; calls on the Commission to conclude its preliminary investigation into Spotify’s complaint about Apple’s anticompetitive practices and to launch a formal procedure as soon as possible; moreover notes that the behaviour of powerful digital platforms is jeopardising competition law in that they often act as bottlenecks for third-party services and favour their own services, preventing consumers from benefiting from unfettered competition and innovation; notes furthermore that the Commission has received a series of complaints that big digital platforms prevent their direct competitors from offering consumers their best deals and from directly communicating with their customers, and make it difficult for consumers to use rival services; expects the Commission to act urgently to stop these discriminatory practices;
Amendment 193 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Notes that some dominant platforms have become gatekeepers of the Internet1a; addressing and solving urgently the abuses that certain dominant digital platforms exercise over smaller direct competitors is essential for the future of the European digital single market and most importantly in the interest of European consumers; platforms self-preferencing their own services over others or discriminating direct competitors such as competing Apps should be carefully assessed by competition authorities; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/information_society/ newsroom/image/document/2016- 7/uclouvain_et_universit_saint_louis_140 44.pdf
Amendment 207 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Points out that the heavy fines imposed are often discounted in advance by businesses and ultimately passed on to consumers; calls on the Commission to impose a new framework for fines, including the possibility of data fines which obliges companies to open source a specific percentage of their raw anonymised data in order to generate more competition;
Amendment 212 #
2019/2131(INI)
15 a. Notes also that in lengthy antitrust digital cases, fines have proven their limits in putting an end to certain discriminatory practices; underlines that fines are simply a calculated cost of doing business for dominant technology companies that see the European single market as a market worth paying for; urges the Commission to urgently look at alternative behavioural and structural remedies; in particular the cease-and- desist order should be much more prescriptive in upcoming remedies;
Amendment 213 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Welcomes the initiative of Commissioner Vestager to review the market definition concept; recalls that digitisation has indeed created new challenges; stresses that it can be difficult for consumers to switch from one ecosystem to another despite a specific ecosystem is not dominant apparently, however the ecosystems can leave consumers locked in, interoperability reduced and therefore consumer choices limited1a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/competition/publicati ons/reports/kd0419345enn.pdf
Amendment 214 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Calls on the Commission to take a particularly careful look at closed ecosystems, where the same providers control different layers of the market, such as operating systems, intermediation services and vertical services, as also underlined in the report “Competition policy for the digital era”1a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/competition/publicati ons/reports/kd0419345enn.pdf
Amendment 229 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Urges the Commission to be more attentive to the phenomenon of companies grabbing significant market shares through questionable practices; whilst antitrust rules cannot stop companies from exploiting workers, operating without the required licenses, ignoring data privacy regulations, or circumventing taxes, any position built on violating the law or fundamental rights should be considered illegitimate;
Amendment 242 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the European Commission to revise its policy when it comes to commitments and remedies in digital antitrust cases; calls for the cease- and-desist order to be revised, become much more prescriptive and include obligations and indications in order to change discriminatory conducts;
Amendment 245 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Reaffirms the need for the EC Directorate General for Competition to be fully equipped also with experts on artificial intelligence and tech engineer’s specialists in order to fully understand and evaluate the remedies that are presented by the dominant technology companies with the aim to ensure fair competition in the digital sector;
Amendment 263 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates that taxation is sometimes used to grant indirect State aid, creating an uneven playing field in the internal market; and promulgating a race to the bottom in corporate taxation levels; calls upon the Commission to be particularly strict in investigating tax benefits to multinational corporations;
Amendment 265 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates that taxation is sometimes usedDeplores the usage of tax rulings and advanced pricing arrangements to grant indirect State aid, creating an uneven playing field in the internal market;
Amendment 267 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Stresses that in order to achieve a more coherent EU economic policy; fair tax policy should be implemented at the European level in particular with regard to digital businesses; recalls the principle that companies should be taxed where their profits are generated should be applied; supports the commitment of the Commission President to propose an EU solution for a fair taxation in a digitalised and globalised economy, should an international deal not be reached by the end of 2020, on the condition that this EU solution is not limited to digital businesses; understands that such solution would strengthen the Single Market through the establishment of a minimum level of tax that would prevent unilateral measures;
Amendment 300 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Calls on the Commission to bring forward a proposal requiring competition, data protection and consumer authorities to cooperate proactively with each other, including in enforcement cases raising questions of compliance with more than one area of law; in particular, the competition authorities should carefully assess antitrust and merger cases where there may be negative impact on both the interests of consumers and the democratic rights of citizens;
Amendment 324 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to organise multisectoral and interinstitutional forums involving national regulators and national consumerincluding data protection authorities and national consumer groups and civil liberties groups and to decompartmentalise competition policy;
Amendment 327 #
2019/2131(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Stresses that the current complaint form for state aid cases asks for many specific details on when state aid has been accorded, which ordinary citizens can’t possibly know and therefore calls on the Commission to simplify the complaint form, in order to give ordinary citizens the possibility to send in complaints;
Amendment 47 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas recent large-scale money laundering scandals involving financial institutions in the EU demonstrate that prudential and anti-money laundering supervision cannot be treated separately and that a proper system of supervision and enforcement of EU legislation is lacking;
Amendment 59 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that the full implementation of the Banking Union is necessary to deliver more financing to the economy – both to households and companies, specially SMEs –, promoting investment and job creation;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes however that the prospect of low risk and low profitability, the deterioration of the macroeconomic scenario and geopolitical tensions as well as cyber risks and data security are among the major challenges the EU banking sector is facing;
Amendment 99 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the crucial role of the banking sector in channelling funding into sustainable investments and enabling the transition to a climate-neutral economy; calls further on all European banks to sign up the UN-led Principles for Responsible Banking and report annually on their efforts to sustainable financing and to reducing climate change-related risks in their balance sheets;
Amendment 105 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines the importance of protecting consumer rights, namely regarding banking fees, the transparency of products costs, profitability and risks; calls, in this respect, on the European Banking Authority to devote more focus in fulfilling its mandate on properly collecting, analysing and reporting on consumer trends, and also on the review and coordination of financial literacy and education initiatives by the competent authorities;
Amendment 151 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the ratio of non- performing loans (NPLs) held by significant institutions has fallen by more than half from the start of ECB banking supervision, in November 2014, to June 2019; underlines the need to protect customers’ rights in the context of NPL transactions and calls on Member States to put measures in place to ensure that borrowers, who might be in already vulnerable financial situations, are not subject to aggressive and unfair treatment and practices by poorly-regulated debt buyers and collectors;
Amendment 187 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that innovative financial technologies are profoundly transforming the financial sector, including banking and payment services; highlights the need to address the challenges posed by these new technologies, such as ensuring sustainable business models, a level playing field in terms of regulation and supervision, and cybersecurity; underlines the financial institutions’ responsibility in ensuring clients’ data protection and security in accordance with EU law;
Amendment 201 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the agreement on the exchange of information between the ECB and the AML/CFT supervisors; recalls its serious concern about regulatory and supervisory fragmentation in the AML/CFT area, which is ill-suited to supervise the increasing cross-border activity in the EU; welcomes, in this regard, the Council Conclusions of 5 December 2019, which give a mandate to the Commission to explore ways of ensuring better cooperation between authorities and conferring AML tasks to a Union body, and to turn certain parts of the Anti-money Laundering Directive into a Regulation, to ensure a single rulebook; calls on the Commission to start working on the overhaul of the EU AML framework and legislation to effectively address the risks posed by cross-border illegal activity to the integrity of the EU financial system and the security of EU citizens;
Amendment 256 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that banks need to be able to operate across borders while managing their capital and liquidity at a consolidated level, in order to diversify their risks and address any lack of profitability; highlights that rules should allow for greater flexibility for the parent company in this regard, while specifying that, in the event of a crisis, the parent company should provide capital and liquidity to the subsidiary located in the host country; notes the importance of the convergence of liquidation rules among Member States;
Amendment 265 #
2019/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Urges the completion of the Banking Union through the creation of a fully mutualised EDIS,European deposit insurance scheme based on an effective supervisory regime and crisis management, a harmonised bank insolvency legislation and on the further development of the European resolution regime to protect depositors against banking disruptions and, to ensure confidence among depositors and investors across the Banking Union and to reinforce the stability of the euro area as a whole; welcomes the support of the [incoming] President of the Commission and the President of the ECB for the establishment of EDIS;
Amendment 111 #
2019/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
- The completion of the banking union, including a fully mutualised European deposit insurance scheme that wouldbased on an effective supervisory regime and crisis management, a harmonised bank insolvency legislation and on the further development of the European resolution regime, with the aim of reduceing risks, promoteing fair competition, facilitateing the expansion of pan-European banking and reinforceing the stability of the euro area as a whole;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2129(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is extremely worried about the risks due to the delay in setting up the banking union, and calls for the swift completion of the banking union with a fully mutualised European deposit guarantee scheme based on an effective supervisory regime and crisis management, a harmonised bank insolvency legislation and on the further development of the European resolution regime;
Amendment 8 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the importance of the activities of the European Investment Bank (EIB) to increase the current levels of investment in the EU, which are below historical averages and insufficient to fulfil the EU’s sustainability, social and innovation ambitions; stresses that in order to achieve these ambitions, more risk- taking by the EIB may be necessary in parallel to increasing equity and the development of expertise in innovative funding instruments; calls for adequate general increase of the EIB's capitalisation of the EIB to allow for more long-term loans and the use of innovative instruments in the financing of projects with substantial potential sustainability, social and innovation gains, irrespective of the final agreement between the UK and the EIB after Brexit;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the commitment by the Commission President-elect to turn sections of the EIB into a climate bank, and the commitments from the EIB President to increase the share of EIB financing for climate action and environmental sustainability to at least 50 % by 2025 and to align all EIB financing activities with the goals of the Paris Agreement by the end of 2020; calls on the EIB to devote remaining financing to address the technological transition, provide funds for long term research and innovation, SMEs, support the social economy and enhance social and territorial cohesion, namely by filling current investment gaps in public housing and infrastructure; calls on the Commission to present an ambitious new European Sustainable Investment Plan, including additional financial commitments, as soon as possible, and to fully support the EIB in its sustainability ambitions;
Amendment 23 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Underlines the important role of the public sector in delivering on the investment targets announced by the new European Commission to unleash €1 trillion of funding for investment in green transition over the next decade; calls, therefore on the EIB to increase technical support and long-term financing for municipalities and public enterprises and increase the funding quota of the EIB for all eligible public projects supporting the green transition up to 75%;
Amendment 25 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Calls on the Member States to create a ‘golden rule’ on public spending for investment on the social and environmental transition towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral economy, including on projects co-financed by the EIB, thereby excluding these from the calculation of national public deficits;
Amendment 26 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Welcomes the decision taken by the Board of Directors of the EIB to end financing for most fossil fuel energy projects from the end of 2021 and to gradually increase the share of its financing dedicated to climate action and environmental sustainability, to reach 50 % of its operations as of 2025; highlights, that, in line with the EIB's future lending policy, exceptional financing for gas as transitional energy can be possible if it is used in combination with renewables, as a bridging technology to replace coal, where no other alternatives exist, when safeguards to avoid lock-in effects are put in place, and when steps are taken to ensure that the emissions trajectory remains in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; stresses that financing for renewable energies has to be the priority;
Amendment 32 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that in order for the EIB to become the EU’s climate bank, it should stop all financial support to fossil fuel projects by the end of 2020, andalso align all its activities, including EIF operations, with the Paris Agreement’s goals; calls on the EIB to make decarbonisation commitments a condition for companies to receive EIB support; calls on the EIB to apply the EU taxonomy framework, once it has been formally adopted, as a benchmark for its climate and environmental investments; calls on the EIB to develop a credible methodology to measure, disclose and achieve ‘Paris alignment’ of its financing operations;
Amendment 35 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Urges the EIB and the Member States to ensure that, throughout the phase-out process, regions where the local economy and employment are highly connected to fossil fuels and lacking adequate financing are compensated with substantial investment in training and alternative economic opportunities which guarantee high quality clean jobs, thereby ensuring a smooth transition, where no one is left behind; takes the view that consistency and coordination with other EU financing instruments in this regard will be crucial;
Amendment 48 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is concerned by the conclusions of the EU Court of Auditor’s special report 03/2019; highlights that the special report found that some EFSI support just replaced other EIB and EU financing, and that part of the finance went to projects that could have used other sources of public or private finance; further notes that it estimates that additional investment attracted by EFSI were sometimes overstated and most investments went to a few larger EU 15 Member States with well-established national promotional banks; calls on the EIB to follow up on the conclusions of the special report;
Amendment 53 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Recalls that EIB funding should provide additionality to projects that would otherwise not be financed and support projects in line with EU goals in areas where markets fail to invest, to provide long-term financing as well as to encourage investments especially in regions and sectors where it is most needed;
Amendment 54 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Points out further that additionality of EIB financing also consists in providing technical advice and capacity-building in order to help projects to become investment-ready and ensure quick mobilization of resources, often faster than in the private sector;
Amendment 55 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Insists on the need to reduce the uneven geographical distribution of the EIB’s financing and guarantee a strong focus on less developed regions that are not properly reached by EIB financing, since economic and social cohesion in the EU is one of the EIB’s objectives; welcomes in this regard the EIB’s announcement to establish an Energy Transition package to provide extra support to those Member States presenting more challenging transition problems;
Amendment 56 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Calls on the Commission to ensure that InvestEU’s sustainability-proofing methodologies are fully consistent with the EU’s sustainability objectives;
Amendment 57 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Calls on Member States to proceed with reforms of the EIB governance structure in order to ensure more democratic scrutiny of its operations, allow the European Parliament to have a substantial say in its investment strategy and ensure adequate oversight, where appropriate, by national parliaments;
Amendment 58 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Takes the view that, for the EIB to become the EU’s Climate Bank and play a role in the just transition, it needs to advance mechanisms to better incorporate the input from various stakeholders, such as climate experts, trade unions and NGOs along its investment strategy;
Amendment 59 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the EIB group to be more transparent about its economic operations, its use of the EU budget guarantee, the additionality of EIBits operations and on possible future plans for a development subsidiary at the EIB, and; calls for the EIB group to improve its accountability on these issues; calls for a memorandum of understanding between the EIB and Parliament to improve access to EIB documents and data related to strategic orientation and financing policies in the future in order to strengthen the Bank’s accountability.highlights, in this regard, the need to carry out ex-ante and ex-post evaluation on the projected and achieved economic, social and environmental impact and on the general macroeconomic impact of EIB investment; stresses that the results of such impact analysis should be made available to the public;
Amendment 70 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls for a memorandum of understanding between the EIB and Parliament to improve access to EIB documents and data related to strategic orientation and financing policies in the future in order to strengthen the Bank’s accountability;
Amendment 78 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Is appalled by recent reports linking EIB-financed projects in infrastructure, energy, and other development activities with human rights abuses and threats to the safety and wellbeing of human rights defenders; welcomes the attention that the EIB has devoted to integrating human rights into its operations, but calls on the EIB to step up this approach by putting in place robust human rights due diligence, ensure consultation of affected communities, grant information and enable a safe and participatory process, namely through contractual clauses;
Amendment 83 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Is concerned about reports linking EIB investment with fraud and corruption in Member States, despite zero tolerance policy of bank; calls on the EIB needs to devise an anti-corruption action plan to enable stronger controls by the Board and ensure that adequate resources are destined to independently monitor and control projects, assess and mitigate risks;
Amendment 85 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the EIB to step up its due diligence obligations in line with EU Anti- Money Laundering legislation, and provide a complete regulatory framework to allow the Bank to effectively prevent involvement in illegal activity and ensure a proper sanctioning regime for failure to comply with EU law;
Amendment 88 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5 e. Takes the view that project contracts should clearly foresee pull-out possibilities in case of serious mismanagement and/or corruption claims;
Amendment 90 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5 f. Takes the view that European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) should in the future have the mandate to prosecute criminal activity with regards to EIB funds in the EU Member States which are members of the EPPO;
Amendment 91 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Amendment 94 #
2019/2126(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5 h. Calls on the EIB to enact stringent standards on financial intermediaries by determining specific benchmarks to select intermediaries in light of tax, transparency, environmental and social concerns;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
- having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights on the 17th November 2017 in Gothenburg,
Amendment 2 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)
Citation 24 b (new)
- having regards to the report of the European Parliament on financial crimes, tax evasion and adopted on 26 March 2019 (2018/2121(INI)),
Amendment 3 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 c (new)
Citation 24 c (new)
- having regards to the Paris Agreements on climate changes in 2015 and the UN 2030 climate and energy framework,
Amendment 5 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 d (new)
Citation 24 d (new)
- having regards to UN Agenda 2030 and the SDGs,
Amendment 6 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas according to the Commission’s forecasts, the GDP growth rate for 2019 stands at 1.2 % of GDP per capita in the euro area and 1.4 % in the EU28, and is expected to rise to 1.4 % and 1.6 % respectively in 202010, based on the assumption of a status quo in terms of trading patterns between the EU27 and the UK and notwithstanding the mainly negative risks to the global economic outlook; whereas the economic recovery is uneven across the EU; whereas further policy action will nonetheless be required to address unresolved legacies of the global economic crisis; whereas globalisation has not brought the same benefits for all, leading to persistent high levels of income inequality and slow reduction of poverty, needing new efforts to ensure growth and equity; ____________________ 10 Commission’sEuropean Economic Forecast – Summer 2019 (Interim) of 10 July 2019
Amendment 12 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas annual revenue losses caused by aggressive corporate tax planning in the EU ranges from EUR 50- 70 billion to EUR 160-190 billion depending on the methodology;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas latest estimates of tax evasion within the EU point to a figure of approximately EUR 825 billion per year;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas nominal corporate tax rates have decreased at EU level from an average of 32 % in 2000 to 21,9 % in 201810a, which represents a decrease of 32 %; ____________________ 10aTaxation Trends in the European Union, Table 3: Top statutory corporate income tax rates (including surcharges), 1995-2018, European Commission, 2018.
Amendment 15 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas some assessments of effective tax rates in the EU diverge from 2,2 % to 30 %10b; ____________________ 10bPublic hearing of 24 January 2019 on ‘The Evaluation of the Tax Gap’.
Amendment 16 #
2019/2110(INI)
Ce. whereas despite a small decline in poverty, 113 million remain at risk, far short of the Europe 2020 target, with large imbalances between member states with more than a 1/3 of population in BG, RO and EL and growing in-work poverty (9.6 %);
Amendment 19 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the general government deficit is expected to rise from 0.5 % to 0.9 % in the euro area and from 0.6 % to 1.0 % in the EU28 in 2019, and to remain at that level in 2020; whereas the debt-to- GDP ratio in 2019 stands at 85.8 % in the euro area and 80.2 % in the EU28 and is forecast to decrease to 84.3 % and 78.8 % respectively in 2020; whereas some Member States record high current account surpluses and European macro- economic imbalances are still large;
Amendment 22 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, according to Eurostat and Word Inequality Database, inequality of income distribution in the euro area has increased since the beginning of the financial crisis; whereas tax competition between European states, continually increased, which has undermined the progressivity of taxes increasing the unfair tax burden and undermining public finances;
Amendment 23 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the incomes of the richest 1% jumped twice as fast as the average and captured a share of growth similar to those captured by the bottom 50%; In 2017, the richest 20% in the EU earned over 5 x the poorest 20%;
Amendment 26 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, in the light of the risks of trade tensions between the US and the China alongside the persistent uncertainty related to the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the global outlook risks bending towards the downside; not to mention the risks of recession and crisis in Germany and the situation in Italy;
Amendment 28 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas tax optimization, tax evasion and tax avoidance for the benefit of some large companies and individuals have resulted in billions of euros in lost revenue for public finance management in several Member States at the expense of SMEs and other taxpayers; contributing to increasing inequality and imbalances;
Amendment 32 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the current European Semester is not designed to drive the necessary economic, social and environmental transformations the EU and its Member States are committed to, within the Commission’s 2030 climate target, the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2110(INI)
Fc. whereas the implementation of the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement goals requires a comprehensive, broad and long-term EU strategy in which a reformed European Semester needs to be embedded;
Amendment 35 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)
Recital F d (new)
Fd. whereas global CO2 emissions have increased by 55% in 20 years; whereas human activities have altered 75% of the terrestrial environment and 66% of the marine environment; whereas 1 million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction; considering that the value of agricultural production has increased four-fold since 1970; whereas almost half of coral reef cover has disappeared since the 1870s;
Amendment 36 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)
Recital F e (new)
Fe. whereas gaps and labour market segregation remain high throughout the European Union, contributing to gender differences in pay, pensions, decision- making and wealth;
Amendment 38 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas in some Member States there are indications of a slide into recession;
Amendment 39 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the necessary environmental transformation of the economy and society in view of climate change requires substantial public and private investments;
Amendment 48 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Agrees that effectiEmphasizes a low level of public inve structural reforms, accompanied by well-targetedment and a lack of ambitious and socially balanced reforms in some Member States, therefore well-targeted investments and social inclusive and sustainable investments and responsible fiscal policies, continue to provide a successful compass for preparing the EU for its future and present challenges;
Amendment 50 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Agrees that effective structural reforms, accompanied by well-targeteda significant increase of socially and environmentally sustainable investments and responsible fiscal policies, continue to provide a successful compass for preparing the EU for its future and present challenges;
Amendment 57 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls the importance of efficient regulation of banking and financial sectors to prevent a new crisis especially in the matter of shadow banking;
Amendment 58 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Highlights, that in order to achieve the implementation of the Commission’s 2030 climate target, it is of importance to transform the European Semester into a tool of boosting social inclusive and sustainable investments and introduce a multi-annual sustainability pact, based on the UN SDGs and underpinned by the European Pillar Social Rights;
Amendment 59 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Calls on the Commission, to enlarge the reference indicators of the European Semester by including social and environmental indicators to be able to take into account the sustainability impact of reforms and fiscal consolidation;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises that the average level of debt-to-GDP is projected to decline; notes, however, that the average level still remains significantly above the level required by the Stability and Growth Pact; points out the possibility of rising debt service costs; underlines, therefore, the importance of bringing down overall debt levels, in line with EU fiscal rules;
Amendment 71 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises that the average level of debt-to-GDP is projected to decline; notes, however, that the average level still remains significantly above the level required by the Stability and Growth Pact; points out the possibility of rising debt service costs; underlines, therefore, the importance of bringing down overall debt levels, in line with EU fiscal rulescluding private debt;
Amendment 72 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a Supports flexibility in the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact as proposed by the Commission in 2015; considers that much more flexibility should be set up to boost investments and ecological transition in the EU; calls, therefore, to reform the Stability and Growth Pact and introduce a Euro area fiscal instrument;
Amendment 75 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes, accordingly, with great concern that the average deficit levels app that the necessary socially and environmentally sustainable investments suggest an expansionary fiscal policy that will leard to bean increasing again and that in some Member States deficits above 3 % are projected; underlines that a significant part of the expected expansion originates in countries with high government debt-to-GDP ratiose in the debt ratio if the financing does not result from changes in tax policy, such as the introduction of a financial transaction tax and a digital tax, and from the fight against tax evasion and tax avoidance;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. RegretNotes that the aggregate fiscal stance appears to be mildly expansionary in 2019, while emphasising that the European Fiscal Board considers a neutral stance as more appropriate;
Amendment 103 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances in full compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact, respecting its provisions made for flexibility, with short- term macroeconomic stabilisation;
Amendment 104 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights, the importance of socially-balanced and countercyclical fiscal policies for macro-economic stabilisation and as a tool to prevent excessive swings in the financial cycle, in order to make the economy more resilient to disruptions, flanked by socially and environmentally sustainable structural policies and reforms;
Amendment 121 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Reminds, that one of the core policy areas of the European Semester and a prerequisite of sustained economic well-being is financial stability; therefore it is essential to ensure that financial institutions are better regulated and supervised both in the Eurozone and all over the EU, to put an end to the era of "too-big-to-fail" and massive bailouts paid for by taxpayers;
Amendment 130 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Supports shifting the tax burden away from labour and strengthening education and training systems and investment in skills; stresses the effectiveness of flexibleow income workers/citizens and towards more progressive tax and effective collection, tackling evasion and avoidance; stresses the need to reinforce security and social rights to ensure effectiveness and sustainability of labour market policies;
Amendment 139 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Member States to set in place proper policies to ensure equal access to education, and to provide investment to ensure equal access to lifelong education and training and to close the gender gap;
Amendment 142 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Reminds that all EU countries would benefit from increased fiscal capacity and notes that additional resources can be found through a willing and effective policy against tax fraud and tax avoidance including support for an EU Financial Transactions Tax;
Amendment 143 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on Member States to support and implement EU actions to Aggressive Tax Planning; combat Tax Fraud, Tax Avoidance and Aggressive Tax Planning and anti-money laundering, and in particular, the implementation of the Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), so that the EU complies with current international standards; calls on the European Commission to publish a first assessment of the ATAD which should has been transposed since 1 January 2019; demands that such assessment includes an analysis on the level of corporate tax revenues, on tax strategies put in place by multinationals and on growth as well as an assessment of the robustness of implementation against new tax avoidance strategies;
Amendment 144 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on Member States to support and implement EU actions to combat Aggressive Tax Planning; . Reiterates the call of the Parliament and the Commission stating that EU tax policy should not be dependent on a unanimity rule that can be misused for purely national interests, at the expense of the Single Market and other Member States’ needs. A move to qualified majority voting in taxation would enable Member States to control more effectively the part of their sovereignty that they have pooled together in the interests of the Union as a whole and for greater collective and individual results. Invites therefore the Commission to put this statement in practice and make swiftly use of the specific passerelle clause in the Treaties which offers an obvious route to move away from unanimity in the tax area;
Amendment 162 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Remains concerned about the implications of tax competition within the EU and with third countries on the sustainability of tax systems and tax collection, as well as consequences on fiscal capacity and fair competition in the EU Internal Market;
Amendment 166 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Invites the Commission and the Council to look for new resources that would both allow to speed up the needed ecological transition and create fiscal capacity to finance needed social and sustainable investment [including investments in healthcare, education]; welcomes the announcement of the Commission President to propose a Carbon Border Tax and to review the Energy Taxation Directive;
Amendment 169 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Highlights the fact that, in the recent period, real wage growth has lagged behind productivity growth, while improvements have occurred in the labour market; stresses, against this background, the room for wage increases in certain sectors and areas, to ensure good standards of living, taking into account the need to tackle poverty, including growing in-work, inequalities and boost growth;
Amendment 171 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Calls for further stabilization of the Euro area by increasing its capacity to absorb large-scale economic shocks and respective consequences for the labour market through the introduction of a European Unemployment Insurance Scheme, combining a self-insurance mechanism for national unemployment insurance systems with a European re- insurance as a solidarity mechanism for extreme shocks; and commitment to progress on an EU framework directive to guarantee adequate minimum income;
Amendment 183 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by public and private investment, particularly in innovation and for ecological transformation, and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area; welcomes the fact that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre-crisis level, and regrets that in others investment is still lagging behind or is not picking up at the necessary speed;
Amendment 190 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasizes, that a boost in public investment accompanied by higher wages is a prerequisite for an inclusive sustainable and ecological transition while reducing unemployment;
Amendment 193 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Emphasises, in the context of the decline of public investment resulting from fiscal adjustment processes, the need to further improve the functioning of the Stability and Growth Pact; Therefore calls on the Commission to revert the SGP to a golden rule under which the deficit would exclude investment expenditure for ecological transition and social investment- enhancing purposes, allowing it to become an important instrument of structural policies to Member States;
Amendment 196 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on Member States, while pursuing policies in full respect of the Stability and Growth Pact, to support public and private investment, improve the quality and composition of public finances, and rebuild fiscal buffers, especially in euro area countries with high levels of public debt;
Amendment 202 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that, more than relying its recovery on cyclical factors, the only way to a prosper European economy is by encouraging public investment and promoting domestic demand;
Amendment 204 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Warns that the longer the current savings-oriented policy – primarily focused on spending cuts – continues without an effective investment plan to generate revenue through growth, social cohesion and solidarity, the more it will become clear that Europe's economic convergence and prosperity is at risk of growing social inequalities;
Amendment 208 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that investment in tangibles and intangibles in order to increase productivity, skills and innovation, and to shape the ecological transformation, along with the growth- enhancing structural reforms, will increase long-term growth potential;
Amendment 210 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that investment in tangibles and intangibles in order to increase productivity, skills and innovation, along with the growth-enhancing socially- balanced structural reforms, will increase long-term growth potential;
Amendment 211 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that the support for the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy will create new jobs in services and in the development of new and more sustainable products and markets; stresses that investments to foster such a transition should be significantly increased at both national and EU levels;
Amendment 214 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on the Commission to provide an assessment of the gap between the need for green investments and the concrete realization of these; including an annual analysis of green investment needs; calls for annual monitoring of the implementation of green investments in each Member Stat;.
Amendment 216 #
Amendment 217 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Recalls that the fight against aggressive tax planning strategies is essential to provide fair treatment of taxpayers, safeguard public finances, and preserve social cohesion and fight inequalities;
Amendment 218 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14e. Insists on the need to implement an ambitious pCBCR and CCCTB;
Amendment 219 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)
Paragraph 14 f (new)
14f. Recalls the need to implement the recommendations of the special committee TAXE 3; stresses that the complexity of tax systems can give rise to legal loopholes facilitating tax fraud schemes such as cum-ex;
Amendment 220 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 g (new)
Paragraph 14 g (new)
14g. Encourages a stronger coordination and harmonization of taxation with the objective to reduce the differences among Member States over a ten-year period, thus making any possible company relocation unattractive;
Amendment 221 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 h (new)
Paragraph 14 h (new)
14h. Asks for a minimum corporate tax rate of 20% in Europe.
Amendment 223 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Agrees withNotes the Council’s recommendations thabut Member States should also increase their growth potential by modernising their economies and strengthening their resiliencepublic investments especially in ecological transition and social investment;
Amendment 225 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Highlights that improvements on how the European Semester operates will imply a change in the way Country Specific Recommendations are elaborated, decided and applied; considers that the policy outcome should reach beyond the current conception of structural reforms and fiscal consolidations measures, towards socially and environmentally sustainable reforms capable of driving the necessary economic, social and environmental transformations in favour of well-being for all through sustainable growth, inclusiveness and cohesion, and quality job creation;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Insists on the need for the CSR to take due account of the 20 key principles and rights to support fair and well- functioning labour markets outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights, which should serve as a compass for a renewed process of upward convergence towards better working and living conditions in the European Union;
Amendment 241 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Recalls the need of stronger surveillance of the employment and social situation in Europe and appropriate and constant follow up at every step of the European Semester to boost quality jobs creation and accordingly achieving smart, sustainable;
Amendment 243 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Recalls the need of stronger surveillance of the employment and social situation in Europe and appropriate and constant follow up at every step of the European Semester to boost quality jobs creation and accordingly achieving smart, sustainable;
Amendment 251 #
2019/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Supports recommendation that invite Member States to ensure a greater stability and fairness of their fiscal capacity and tax collection, such as limiting the scope and number of tax expenditures and broadening the tax base; invites the Commission and the Council to better look at the impact of progressivity of tax systems in that regard;
Amendment 17 #
2019/0273(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to opinion 2/15 of the European Court of Justice,
Amendment 18 #
2019/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to opinion 2/15 of the European Court of Justice,
Amendment 19 #
2019/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
Amendment 20 #
2019/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Dispute settlement provisions, including in regional and bilateral trade agreements, might lack the specificity necessary to adjudicate disputes effectively, necessitating a reliance on this Regulation.
Amendment 44 #
2019/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 654/2014
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(aa) the following point (ab) is inserted: (ab) In the event of the adoption by commercial policy measures by a third country that nullify or impair the commercial interests of the Union and constitute a clear breach of international law and which the Union has challenged at the WTO;
Amendment 47 #
2019/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 654/2014
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b c
(ba) the following point (bc) is inserted: (bc) In trade disputes relating to other international trade agreements, including regional or bilateral agreements, if adjudication is not possible, including because of lack of specificity of provisions, leading to a non-functioning dispute settlement procedure.
Amendment 39 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that in the course of globalisation, international value chains have emerged; points out that these value chains restructure the international division of labour as well as the interdependence of countries; recalls that their extremely complex nature, lack of transparency and dilution of liabilities may lead to a higher risk of human and labour rights violations, factual impunity for environmental crimes and large-scale tax avoidance and tax fraud;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that as a side effect of globalisation, finance has tended to generate huge private rewards disproportionate to its social returns and non-financial corporations have also become adept at using rent-seeking strategies to bolster their profits, therefore contributing to rising inequality; Notes with concern that despite the efforts since 2009 to address the excesses of the financial sector the underlying macro- financial structures have remained broadly intact and there has been almost no effort to tackle the connections between inequality and instability that have marked the rise of unregulated finance;
Amendment 45 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the benefits of globalisation are unequally distributed between regions and within societies; some regions and sectors profit to a large extent, while others suffer from structural change and rising unemployment; notes that this is a reason for the rising scepticism or rejection of globalisation within societies; notes that the financial and economic crises had a particularly negative effect on mid-range incomes; notes that the middle class has shrunk in many EU Member States, while their share of the overall income equally decreased; expresses the view that the combination of a declining middle class, citizens’ fears over losing their social and economic position, and scepticism towards globalisation, can result in nationalist and authoritarian tendencies, which then lead to the promotion of protectionism as an easy answer to common fears; notes that in this context, neither nationalist-protectionist nor business-as-usual policies are the adequate response;
Amendment 64 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the economic importance of China and other Southeast Asian countries is growing significantly; points out that this trend will persist within the next years, while understands that this leads to a relative loss of importance for the present global economic centres of Europe and North America;
Amendment 68 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the Chinese new silk road strategy is China’s attempt at becoming the leading world economic power, while the America First strategy is an attempt at confronting the United states’ downturn that willingly accepts its own destructive force for the rule-based world economic order;
Amendment 73 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the multilateral world economic order with the WTO in its centre does not achieve the incorporation of these profound changes as well as the changed interests of countries in international agreements; notes that the increasing protectionism in the United States and beyond, as well as the lack of consideration for the needs and expectations of developing countries in international agreements, shows the weakness of the WTO; underlineregrets the lack of integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the world trade agenda;
Amendment 83 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 95 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. NAgrees with the Commission that the preservation of the international competitiveness is a prerequisite for a successful European strategy; notes that strengthening the EU’s internal market as well as consolidating the economic union is vital, since a solid internal market is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of international strategies; points out that being internationally competitive depends strongly on shaping digitalisation successfully and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner; notes that the shift to renewable energies needs to happen as soon as possible;
Amendment 102 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Points out that in accordance with article 12 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU which recognises that consumer protection requirements shall be taken into account in defining and implementing other Union policies and activities, a dedicated chapter on consumer protection could contribute to achieve a high level of consumer protection by means of legal safeguards, for instance on the right to regulate and the precautionary principle but also to deliver tangible benefits to consumers and foster consumer trust, including online services, to promote sustainable consumption, integrate the consumer interest in the implementation of the whole agreement and to contribute to the effective enforcement of consumer law, also in cross border situations;
Amendment 108 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. APoints out that there is no level playing field for SMEs; asks the Commission to create a European trade strategy for SMEs in order to integrate SMEs into international value chains and overcome trade-specific hurdles such as non-tariff barriers; points out that access to information is one of the biggest obstacles to the market participation of SMEs, meaning that transparency and support need to increase; notes that the utilization rate of Free Trade Agreements, especially by SMEs, needs to increase as well;
Amendment 114 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that effective trade defence instruments are needed, welcomes the recent reform of EU trade defence instruments which must be checked regarding its capacity as a protective measure against arbitrary protectionism, on top of its ability to protect against dumpingeffectively implemented in order to protect industries and jobs from dumped and unfairly subsidised imports; supports the Commission's measures put in place following the US imposition of steel and aluminium tariffs; points out that the rules on investment screening need to be put in place as soon as possible in order to prevent foreign investments that are merely motivated by industrial policy and serve to acquire European technologies;
Amendment 122 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that, as a minimum reply to globalisation-induced job losses, a reform of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is needed; stresses that the EGF must become more proactive tool aiming at preparing workers and companies to fight the negative impacts of globalisation; points out that the Commission needs to reform the preconditions for receiving support; notes that employees of smaller enterprises must have access to EGF funding; notes that the resources of the fund must be increased ; points out that its scope should be widened to other policy-induced adjustments; calls for a reform of the programs monitoring and evaluation- mechanism;
Amendment 130 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to meet scepticism towards globalisation with a credible initiative on transparencywhich strengthens transparency on trade agreements, monitoring of EU rules and legislations and inclusiveness towards its citizens; Calls on the Commission to conduct negotiations in full transparency, through constant dialogue with European Parliament, national parliaments, social partners and civil society; Calls on the Council to inform and involve national parliaments and civil society before the approval of the negotiating mandate and during the negotiations until after the implementation of a new agreement; ; Regrets that the Council has decided, in its 22 May Conclusions, to maintain the status quo by deciding to publish the negotiating directives of EU FTAs on a case by case basis; calls on the Council to make all negotiating mandate's public;
Amendment 143 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to make the SDGS and the Paris agenda the guiding principles of trade policy, notes that in order to do so, reforms that were mentioned in the trade for all strategy are not sufficient; Calls on the Commission to include sustainability-related measures in every chapter of trade agreements and not to reduce them to one toothless chapter;
Amendment 148 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to include sustainability-related measureobligations in every chapter of trade agreements and not to reduce them to one toothless chapter;
Amendment 149 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that the European Court of Justice stated, in its 2/15 Opinion on EU- Singapore FTA, that sustainable development forms an integral part of the common commercial policy of the EU and therefore the EU has a legal obligation to integrate the objective of preserving and improving the quality of the environment and the sustainable management of global natural resources into the EU’s common commercial policy, that trade and sustainable development chapters have a direct and immediate effect on trade and that a breach on sustainable development provisions authorises the other Party to terminate or suspend the liberalisation provided for on other provisions of the FTA;
Amendment 158 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that impact assessments conducted before the start of negotiations must take their possible effects on the fulfilment of the SDGs into account; notes that national sustainability strategies and implementation plans for the Paris Agreement must form the starting point for impact assessments; points out that every single provision of an agreement and its possible impacts must be checked on its compatibility with the SDGs; notes that if parts of an agreement hamper the fulfilment of the SDGs or the Paris Agreement, adjustments must be made; notes that breaches of sustainability provisions must be counterweighted by corrective measures or lead to a sanction- based dispute settlementwithin the monitoring process the effect of the agreement on the fulfilment of the SDGs equally needs to be checked; calls for corrective measures or a sanction based dispute settlement in case of infringements of all trade and sustainable development related provisions throughout the entire agreement; Therefore reiterates its call on the EU to always include in its TSD-chapters binding and enforceable provisions which are subject to suitable and effective dispute settlement mechanisms, and consider, among various enforcement methods, a sanctions-based mechanism;
Amendment 163 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that, in lincoherence with SDG 17, the Commission mustneeds to reform its system foron implementing policy coherence for development; points out that the reciprocal effects of trade-, agricultural-, external-, fisheries-,environmental-, tax- and other policy areas must be evaluated on an equal footing between civil society, commission and parliaments; notes that breaches of sustainability provisions must be counterweighted by corrective measures and lead to a sanction-based dispute settlement;
Amendment 176 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. ANotes that the EU has regulated the supply chains of timber, fish and conflict minerals and several Member States have developed due diligence frameworks in different sectors, showing the need to develop a broad EU framework in order to ensure a level playing field; therefore asks the Commission to meet the growing complexity of value chains and the increasing interdependence of producers with clear transparency and due diligence obligations for the whole supply chain; since the weak enforcement of existing labour laws and occupational safety standards – introduced to protect workers from exhaustive working hours and unacceptable conditions – in sourcing countries remains a pressing issue; notes that GVCs have also propelled some supplier firms to ignore labour laws, reallocate their economic activities outside the EU, engage workers in unsafe and unacceptable conditions, demand exhaustive working hours and deny workers their fundamental rights; recalls that these practices create unfair competition for suppliers that are compliant with labour laws and international labour and environmental standards, and for governments that want to improve wages and living standards; calls on the Commission to study the impact of the rise of GVCs and to present concrete proposals to improve conditions in them and to work towards a legally binding framework for corporate accountability and responsible business conduct (RBC) with regard to decent work, environmental sustainability and respect for human rights in close cooperation with the ILO and the OECD;
Amendment 183 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Points out that active measures aiming to enhance opportunities for women to benefit from the opportunities provided by an FTA are necessary to reach the goal of gender equality; calls for trade agreements that include a specific chapter on trade and gender equality and women's empowerment, foreseeing to provide for measures aimed at, inter alia, a better work-family life balance and access to social and health services, to pursue an enhanced participation of women enterprises (particularly micro-enterprises and SMEs) in public procurement, to support the internationalisation of women enterprises and the participation of women in Mode 4 opportunities;
Amendment 189 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Underlines that tax fraud and tax evasion limit the capacity of EU countries to raise money and implement their economic and social policies; it represents a huge problem and affects all European citizens; notes that tax fraud and evasion knows no borders; therefore trade agreements should include binding tax good governance clauses and transparency standards that reaffirm the parties’ commitment to implement international standards in the fight against tax evasion, avoidance and elusion, in particular the relevant OECD recommendations on taxation and that includes obligations for country-by- country reporting, automatic exchange of information and the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership; asks the Commission to start leading by example regarding tax havens and start working with Member States towards this aim;
Amendment 192 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Urges the Commission to include in its FTAs anti-corruption provisions that are enforceable and which must be effectively and fully implemented;
Amendment 194 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that, in view of attacks on the multilateral world economic order, it is vitally important to preserve this order since any backsliding into protectionism would be damaging and would lead to trade war; notes that the multilateral order can only be upheld if it is reformed; notes that it is not the goal to secure free trade but to secure fair trade that fulfils the SDGs and gives room to the needs of developing countries, as referenced in the trade for all strategy; notes that, since multilateral initiatives currently bare little chance for success, the EU should strive for bilateral and plurilateral agreements in the meantime, in which fair trade is one of the guiding principles;
Amendment 201 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that free, fair and sustainable trade is economically desirablerelevant and has vital political implications; notes that it isn the light of the America First strategy as well as the new silk-road strategy it is of vital strategic importantce for Europe, to use trade as an instrument for the promotion of a democratic and sustainable development in the states of the Eeastern Ppartnership as well as the African states; points out that trade and investments need to be interlinked with strategies for sustainable development, both in the eastern and the African states; calls on the Commission to push for coherent implementation of the association agreements with the states of the eastern partnership in order to develop stable economic relations with the Eurasian economic union; notes that in the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the African regions and states not only the trade related aspects are important but that interlinking them with the requirements of sustainable development in the African states is the vital element;
Amendment 207 #
2018/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes that this is the first Commission paper mentioning the importance of enhancing animal welfare standards through the EU trade and investment agenda; welcomes the willingness expressed by the Commission to work towards enhanced global governance in the field; calls on the Commission to expressly include animal welfare in its next trade policy strategy and to use the review clauses in existing FTAs to further improve animal welfare provisions; calls on the Commission to ensure trade preferences are conditional upon compliance with EU animal welfare standards, guaranteeing a better level playing field and respecting the wishes of most EU citizens; calls on the Commission to recognise the important role higher animal welfare standards can play in achieving several SDGs, notably on health in connection with antimicrobial resistance, and on climate change;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes with concern that deforestation is considered as one of the contributing factors to global climate change and recalls that seventy percent of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats due to deforestation;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the EU to always include in its TSD chapters enforceable provisions in its TSD chapters to halt illegal logging and, forest degradation and land grabbing, including through the possible use of sanctions; calls on the Commission to add and provisions to guarantee the right to property, prior consultation and informed consent. Calls on the EC to include such provisions toin already concluded FTA’s through the revision clause;
Amendment 43 #
2018/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that Malaysia and Indonesia are the main producers of palm oil, with an estimated 85-90 % of global production, and that the growing demand for this commodity leads to deforestation, puts pressure on land use and has significant effects on local communities, health and climate change; stresses in this context to use negotiations for a trade agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia to improve the situation on the ground;
Amendment 49 #
2018/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the Commission to include illegal forest practices, as under-pricing of wood in concessions, harvesting of protected trees by commercial corporations, smuggling of forest products across borders, illegal logging and processing forest raw materials without a license into the scope of the anti-corruption chapters in FTA’s;
Amendment 61 #
2018/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that responsible governance of tenure of land and forests is essential to ensure social stability, sustainable use of the environment and responsible investment for sustainable development;
Amendment 29 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) held consulted elected officials and public opinion in Western Saharaations in Morocco and Brussels as well as in the part of Western Sahara under Moroccan control, once the agreement had been initialled between Morocco and the Commission;
Amendment 40 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the modification of the Liberalisation Agreement, which is of a technical nature, takes place within a broader political and geopolitical context;
Amendment 56 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the territory of Western Sahara is recognised by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory under international law;
Amendment 68 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Insists that the agreement conforms with the separate and distinct nature of Western Sahara in relation with Morocco and that it does not imply the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over that territory;
Amendment 90 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the CJEU did not specify in its judgment how the people’s consent has to be expressed and considers therefore that some uncertainty remains as regards this criterspecified that the people of Western Sahara had to give its consent to any agreement concerning its territory; observes that the Polisario Front, as the UN-recognised representative of that people, has rejected the agreement; notes that close to a hundred of Saharawi civil society representatives have denounced the proposed agreement and the consultations carried out by the EEAS and the Commission;
Amendment 111 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges the existing investment in the renewables sector and the circular economy, such as in the seawater desalination plant, and encourages further work in this direction but notes that such investment occurs in the context of an occupation under international humanitarian law;
Amendment 125 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 132 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 139 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 144 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for the inclusion of a specific detailed mechanism for tracing products from the territory of Western Sahara, which will enable products to be identified as called for in point 1 of Annex I to said agreement (2018/0257 (NLE)), and thus, from the viewpoint of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union, render it more lawful; emphasises that this mechanism has to be introduced into the agreement prior to its ratification by the European Parliament;
Amendment 160 #
2018/0256M(NLE)
Amendment 3 #
2018/0256(NLE)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. GivDeclines its consent to the agreement; as long as it apply to the territory of Western Sahara without the consent of the people of Western Sahara;
Amendment 224 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86 l – paragraph 1
Article 86 l – paragraph 1
Amendment 227 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 2
Article 86l – paragraph 2
Amendment 236 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. In the cases referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, theThe information, consultation and participation of employees in the converted company and their involvement in the definition of such rights shall be the object of an agreement between the employees and the management and shall be regulated by the Member States, mutatis mutandis and subject to paragraphs 4 to 7 of this Article, in accordance with the principles and procedures laid down in Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 and the following provisions of Directive 2001/86/EC:
Amendment 238 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) Article 4(1), Article 4(2)(a), (b),(c) (g) and (h), Article 4(3) and Article 4(4);
Amendment 240 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) the first subparagraph of Article 7(1);
Amendment 244 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) the Annex, with the exclusion of points (a) of Part 3 of the Annex, (b) and paragraph 2 of Part 3, instead of which the following will apply as a minimum: The employees of the company, its subsidiaries and establishments and/or the representative body shall have the right to elect and appoint a number of members of the administrative or supervisory body of the converted company equal to two representatives in companies up from 50 employees, one third in companies having from 250 employees to 1000 employees and parity in companies with more than 1000 employees.
Amendment 247 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point 3 a (new)
Article 86l – paragraph 3 – point 3 a (new)
3a. The agreement reached shall provide for at least the same level of employee participation as operated in the company prior to the conversion as well as at least the level that would apply following the rules in force concerning employee participation, if any, in the destination Member State. This level shall be measured by reference to the proportion of employee representatives amongst the members of the administrative or supervisory organ or their committees or of the management group which covers the profit units of the company, subject to employee representation.
Amendment 254 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point a
Amendment 257 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 262 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 86l – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) shall ensure that the rules on employee participation that applied prior to the cross-border conversion continue to apply until the date of application of any subsequently agreed rules or in the absence of agreed rules until the application of default rules in accordance with point (ag) of Ppart 3 of the Annexagraph 3.
Amendment 263 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 5
Article 86l – paragraph 5
Amendment 268 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 86l – paragraph 7
Article 86l – paragraph 7
7. Where the converted company is operating under an employee participation system, that company shall be obliged to take measures to ensure that employees' participation rights are protected in the event of any subsequent cross-border or domestic merger, division or conversion for a period of threen years after the cross- border conversion has taken effect, by applying mutatis mutandis the rules laid down in paragraphs 1 to 6.
Amendment 345 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 133
Article 133
(18) Article 133 is amended as follows: replaced by the following: “1. The information, consultation and participation of employees in the converted company and their involvement in the definition of such rights shall be the object of an agreement between the employees and the management and shall be regulated by the Member States, mutatis mutandis and subject to paragraphs 2 to5 of this Article, in accordance with the principles and procedures laid down in Article 12(2) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 and the following provisions of Directive 2001/86/EC: (a)Article 3(1), (2)(a)(i), 2(b) and (3), the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article3(4), the second subparagraph of Article 3(4), Article3(5), the third subparagraph of Article 3(6) and Article 3(7); (b)Article 4(1),Article 4(2)(a),(b) (c)(g) and (h), Article 4(3) and Article 4(4); (c)Article 5; (d)Article 6; (e)Article 7(1); (f) Articles 8, 9, 10 and 12; (g)the Annex, with the exclusion of points (a), (b) and paragraph 2 of Part 3, instead of which the following will apply as a minimum: The employees of the company, its subsidiaries and establishments and/or the representative body shall have the right to elect and appoint a number of members of the administrative or supervisory body of the converted company equal to two representatives in companies up from 50 employees, one third in companies having from 250 employees to 1000 employees and parity in companies with more than 1000 employees. 2. The agreement reached shall provide for at least the same level of employee participation as operated in the company prior to the conversion as well as at least the level that would apply following the rules in force concerning employee participation, if any, in the destination Member State. This level shall be measured by reference to the proportion of employee representatives amongst the members of the administrative or supervisory organ or their committees or of the management group which covers the profit units of the company, subject to employee representation. 3. When regulating the principles and procedures referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall ensure that the rules on employee participation that applied prior to the cross-border conversion continue to apply until the date of application of any subsequently agreed rules or, in the absence of agreed rules, until the application of default rules in accordance with point (g) of paragraph 1. 4. When regulating the principles and procedures referred to in paragraph 3, Member States shall ensure that the rules on employee participation that applied prior to the cross-border conversion continue to apply until the date of application of any subsequently agreed rules or, in the absence of agreed rules, until the application of default rules in accordance with point (g) of paragraph 1. 5. Where the company carrying out the conversion is operating under an employee participation system, that company shall be obliged to take a legal form allowing for the exercise of participation rights. 6. Where the converted company is operating under an employee participation system, that company shall be obliged to take measures to ensure that employees' participation rights are protected in the event of any subsequent cross-border or domestic merger, division or conversion for a period of ten years after the cross-border conversion has taken effect, by applying mutatis mutandis the rules laid down in paragraphs 1 to 4. 7. A company shall communicate to its employees the outcome of the negotiations concerning employee participation without undue delay.”;
Amendment 348 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18 – point a
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 133 – paragraph 7
Article 133 – paragraph 7
Amendment 351 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18 – point b
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 133 – paragraph 8
Article 133 – paragraph 8
Amendment 411 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 1
Article 160n – paragraph 1
Amendment 413 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 2
Article 160n – paragraph 2
Amendment 419 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 3
Article 160n – paragraph 3
3. In the cases referred to in paragraph 2, theThe information, consultation and participation of employees in the companies resulting from the cross-border division and their involvement in the definition of such rights shall be the object of an agreement between the employees and the management and shall be regulated by the Member States, mutatis mutandis and subject to paragraphs 4 to 7 of this Article, in accordance with the principles and procedures laid down in Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 and the following provisions of Directive 2001/86/EC:
Amendment 420 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
(b) Article 4(1), Article 4(2)(a), (b), (c), (g) and (h), Article 4(3) and Article 4(4);
Amendment 422 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 160n – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) the first subparagraph of Article 7(1);
Amendment 425 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 160n – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) the Annex, with the exclusion of points (a) of part 3 of the Annex, (b) and paragraph 2 of part 3, instead of which the following will apply as a minimum: The employees of the company, its subsidiaries and establishments and/or the representative body shall have the right to elect and appoint a number of members of the administrative or supervisory body of the converted company equal to two representatives in companies up from 50 employees, one third in companies having from 250 employees to 1000 employees and parity in companies with more than 1000 employees.
Amendment 428 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 160n – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. The agreement reached shall provide for at least the same level of employee participation as operated in the company prior to the division as well as at least the level that would apply following the rules in force concerning employee participation, if any, in the destination Member State. This level shall be measured by reference to the proportion of employee representatives amongst the members of the administrative or supervisory organ or their committees or of the management group which covers the profit units of the company, subject to employee representation.
Amendment 430 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Amendment 435 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 160n – paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 438 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 160n – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) shall ensure that the rules on participation that applied prior to the cross- border division continue to apply until the date of application of any subsequently agreed rules or in the absence of agreed rules until the application of default rules in accordance with point (ag) of Ppart 3 of the Annexagraph 3.
Amendment 440 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 5
Article 160n – paragraph 5
Amendment 443 #
2018/0114(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20
Directive (EU) 2017/1132
Article 160n – paragraph 7
Article 160n – paragraph 7
7. Where the company resulting from the cross-border division is operating under an employee participation system, that company shall be obliged to take measures to ensure that employees' participation rights are protected in the event of any subsequent cross-border or domestic merger, division or conversion for a period of threen years after the cross-border division has taken effect, by applying, mutatis mutandis, the rules laid down in paragraphs 1 to 6.
Amendment 1 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to European Parliament resolution containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Commission on the negotiations for the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) of 3 February 2016;
Amendment 2 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
- having regard to Protocol 26 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on services of general interest;
Amendment 3 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 c (new)
Citation 7 c (new)
- having regard to its recommendation following the inquiry on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion P8_TA-PROV(2017)0491;
Amendment 34 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomesTakes note of the signing in Brussels, on 19 October 2018, of the FTA;
Amendment 40 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that EU trade agreements should be put in the service of sustainable development for the many and to protect consumers, workers and the environment, to create decent jobs, to fight money laundering, tax evasion and the financing of terrorism, to uphold EU standards, safeguarding public services and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities; therefore a fundamental change in the current trade paradigm is of utmost importance, putting sustainability on equal footing with economic interests;
Amendment 60 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that trade Agreements should include a binding Tax Good Governance Clause that would reaffirm the Parties’ commitment to implementation of agreed international standards in the fight against tax evasion and avoidance, money laundering and the financing of terrorism, , on obligations for country-by-country reporting, automatic exchange of information and the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership;
Amendment 69 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the improved access under this agreement to Singapore’s public procurement market as compared to under the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA); stresses that ecological and social criteria, including gender equality criteria, should be applied in awarding public procurement contracts;
Amendment 76 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the agreement recognises the right of Member States at all levels to define, finance and provide public services and does not prevent governments from bringing any privatised service back in to the public sector; Regrets however that public services are not fully excluded from the scope of the agreement; Underlines the preference for a gold standard clause that unequivocally carves out public services from all trade and investment obligations;
Amendment 78 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Demands that any provisions on Mode 4 (temporary movement of natural persons) must be subject to an effective international cooperation of the legal authorities for the enforcement of social and employment legislation, collective wage agreements and minimum wages;
Amendment 82 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that the agreement safeguards the EU’s right to apply its own standards to all goods and services sold in the EU and upholds the EU’s precautionary principle; Stresses that nothing in the agreement should prevent the application of the precautionary principle in the European Union as set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Firmly underlines that all imports from Singapore into the EU must respect all standards imposed on EU products;
Amendment 87 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Expects that both parties commit to ensure high levels of environmental and labour protection; calls on the EU and Singapore to take all necessary actions to implement the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 90 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that this is a progressive trade agreement andNotes that both Parties committed in the trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapter to ensure a high level of environmental and labour protection; Deplores that a sanction-based mechanism to effectively enforce sustainable development related provisions has not been included in the TSD chapter;
Amendment 96 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recallgrets that the Parties committed to make sustained efforts towardsSingapore has not ratified the three outstanding ILO core conventions (on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, on Discrimination and on Forced Labour) before the negotiations have been concluded; Calls on Singapore to ratifying and effectively implementing the three outstanding fundamental ILO conventions; welcomes as soon as possible; takes note of the information provided so far by the Government of Singapore in relation to its compliance with the three outstanding ILO conventions, namely those on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, on Discrimination and on Forced Labour, and expects and calls on Singapore to further engage with the ILO with a view to progressing towards full alignment with their content and ultimately pursuing their ratification;
Amendment 99 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the commitment to effectively implement multilateral environmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement on climate change and to the sustainable management of forests and fisheries; Points out that the EU- Singapore agreement could be an instrument to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future; regrets that no binding measures or targets are included in the agreement; calls on the Commission to introduce binding greenhouse gas emissions targets, including through the use of a sanctions based mechanism;
Amendment 101 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Stresses that regulatory cooperation is voluntary and by no means should limit the right to regulate or open the door to any kind of regulatory chill or weakening of the level of protection of labour, the environment, consumers, the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, health and food safety in order to encourage or attract trade; Stresses the importance of excluding sensitive regulations; Underlines that any cooperation should not undermine the internal legislative process in the EU, including appropriate consultations of EU stakeholders, nor affect in any way the prerogatives of the European Parliament under the EU Treaties;
Amendment 103 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that the involvement of civil society in monitoring the implementation of the agreement is crucial and calls for a swift establishment of domestic advisory groups following the entry into force of the agreement and for a balanced representation of civil society therein; calls on the Commission to allocate more resources to these mechanisms and to provide support to ensure constructive participation of civil society;
Amendment 108 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Recalls that the European Court of Justice has stated, in its 2/15 Opinion on EU-Singapore FTA that trade and sustainable development chapters have a direct and immediate effect on trade and that a breach on sustainable development provisions authorises the other Party to terminate or suspend the liberalisation provided for on other provisions of the FTA;
Amendment 114 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to trigger the general review clause of the agreement as sooboth parties to start working immediately on an effective sanction mechanism in cas possiblee of sustained violations in order to strengthen the enforceability of labour and environmental provisions including through a sanctions-based mechanism as a last resort;
Amendment 116 #
2018/0093M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Suspends the consent procedure in respect of the draft agreement for a period of one year from the moment of adoption of this decision to substantially improve the TSD-chapter;
Amendment 56 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that EU trade agreements should be put in the service of sustainable development for the many and to protect consumers, workers and the environment, to create decent jobs, uphold EU standards, safeguarding public services and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities; therefore a fundamental change in the current trade paradigm is of utmost importance, putting sustainability on equal footing with economic interests;
Amendment 120 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Regrets the lack of ambition of the animal welfare provisions, only aiming at improving understanding of each other’s practices, and calls for the Commission to ensure a working plan and a working group are established to address this issue;
Amendment 121 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Deplores that a sanction-based mechanism to effectively enforce sustainable development related provisions has not been included in the TSD chapter;
Amendment 124 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Calls on both parties not to wait until the review clause will be triggered to strengthen the sustainable development provisions in the Agreement and to start working immediately on an effective sanction mechanism in case of sustained violations;
Amendment 133 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights the fact that the agreement includes the commitment to pursue the ratification of fundamental ILO conventions; regrets that Japan has not yet ratified the two ILO core conventions (on dDiscrimination and on the aAbolition of fForced lLabour) and expects, in light of commitments made in the EPA, concrete progress on the partbefore the negotiations have been concluded and calls ofn Japan, towards the ratification of these conventions ratify and implement these conventions as soon as possible;
Amendment 139 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. WelcomNotes the inclusion of a review clause in the chapter on sustainable development and calls on the Commission to trigger this; Stresses that the review clause ais soon as possible in order to strengthen the enforceability and effectiveness ofno guarantee that labour and environmental provisions, which should include the possibility of sanctions as a last resortill be strengthened and effectively enforced in the future;
Amendment 191 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for transparency on the functioning of the regulatory cooperation committee and for a balanced involvement of all stakeholders, notably of trade unions and civil society organisations; Stresses that the European Parliament should be kept informed on a regular basis about the decisions, that are taken in the regulatory cooperation committee;
Amendment 229 #
2018/0091M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Urges both partners to ensure thean active involvement of social partners and civil society in the monitoring and implementation of the EPA, notably through the joint dialogue with civil society and the domestic advisory group; calls on the Commission to allocate more resources to these mechanisms and to provide support to ensure constructive participation of civil society; urges the Commission to ensure that a consultative mechanisms is set up on both sides before the entry into force of the agreement;
Amendment 260 #
2018/0063A(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
This Directive applies to non-performing loans with the exception of secured and unsecured credit agreements concluded between creditors and consumers as defined in Article 3(a) of Directive 2008/48/EC. This Directive lays down a common framework and requirements for:
Amendment 291 #
2018/0063A(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 5 – point a
Amendment 1 #
2018/0058(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal hereinafter set out.
Amendment 2 #
2018/0058(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Approves its statement annexed to this resolution; For information, the text of the statement is the following: "The European Parliament recalls that the Memorandum of Understanding referred to in Article 3(1) must focus on fighting corruption and on social and economic stabilization.In this regard the European Parliament underlines that Ukraine must establish an independent anti-corruption court in line with the recommendations from the Venice Commission.Furthermore, the European Parliament requests the Ukrainian Parliament to ensure that anti-corruption measures do not hinder the work of independent civil society, notably within the system of e-declarations.In addition, the structural reforms to be laid down in the Memorandum of Understanding should not lead to further impoverishment and increasing poverty for the population. The Commission is expected to present the Memorandum of Understanding to the European Parliament as soon as possible and, in any case, prior to the disbursal of the first tranche of the macro-financial assistance.”
Amendment 7 #
2018/0058(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) A pre-condition for granting the Union’s macro-financial assistance (MFA) should be that Ukraine fulfills the conditions attached to past and future MFA programmes, notably the fight against corruption and the establishment of an independent anti-corruption court in line with the recommendations from the Venice Commission, respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi-party parliamentary system – and the rule of law, and guarantees respect for human rights. In addition, the specific objectives of the Union’s macro-financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency, transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in Ukraine and should promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth, poverty reduction of the large part of the population, employment creation, reduction of shadow economy and of illegal employment creation and fiscal consolidation. Both the fulfillment of the preconditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the Commission and the European External Action Service throughout the period of the MFA programme. The Commission is expected to present the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the European Parliament as soon as possible and, in any case, prior to the disbursal of the first tranche of the macro-financial assistance.
Amendment 17 #
2018/0058(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall regularly inform the European Parliament and the Council of developments regarding the Union’s macro-financial assistance, including disbursements thereof, and shall provide those institutions with the relevant documents in due time(Memorandum of Understanding, report of reform programmes etc.) in due time, notably before the release of the first instalment.
Amendment 19 #
2018/0058(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. A pre-condition for granting the Union’s macro-financial assistance shall be that UkraineMFA shall be that Ukraine fulfills the conditions attached to past and future MFA programmes, notably the fight against corruption and establishment of an independent anti-corruption court in line with the recommendations from the Venice Commission, respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi-party parliamentary system – and the rule of law, and guarantees respect for human rights.
Amendment 21 #
2018/0058(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 7(2), shall agree with the Ukrainian authorities on clearly defined economic policy and financial conditions, focusing on structural reforms and sound public finances, to which the Union’s macro-financial assistance is to be subject, to be laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding (“the Memorandum of Understanding”) which shall include a timeframe for the fulfilment of those conditions. The economic policy and financial conditions set out in the Memorandum of Understanding shall be consistent with the agreements or understandings referred to in Article 1(3), including the macroeconomic adjustment and structural reform programmes implemented by Ukraine with the support of the IMF. The Memorandum of Understanding shall be presented to and discussed with the European Parliament before the first disbursement.
Amendment 22 #
2018/0058(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The MoU shall therefore indicate as preconditions for the disbursement of instalments, inter alia, that: a) legistation is adopted on the establishment and functioning of the anti- curruption court in line with the recommendations from the Venice Commission, most notably on the competences of the court, the eligibility and competences of the candidates for the post of judges, the candidate selection process, which shall involve the participation of international experts and the Status of the judges; b) civil society organisations working in the field of anti-corruption are exempted from e-declaration of assets; c) the composition of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine reflects a political Balance representing all relevant political forces and is replicated in the composition of all Election Commissions at regional and municipal level.
Amendment 2 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the increase in trade volume between the EU and Ukraine and the diversification of Ukrainian exports to the EU; points out that exports to Russia over the same period have decreased.
Amendment 3 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament a detailed assessment of the Association Agreement on the basis of progress made so far, since the 2007 impact assessment has long been overtaken by events.This should cover the following points in particular: - an in-depth presentation of Ukraine's trade balance set out according to sector and region; - the development of small- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) and a presentation of the DCFTA loan facility for SMEs, which was set up with EUR 200 million in 2015 to help SMEs in the Eastern Neighbourhood; - a presentation of market share; - a presentation of the socio-economic situation; - a presentation of the labour market situation, the shadow economy and informal employment; - an up-to-date analysis of Ukraine's macro-financial situation, including tax revenues and expenditure, tax avoidance and tax evasion.
Amendment 4 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that Regulation (EU) 2017/1566 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the introduction of temporary autonomous trade measures for Ukraine supplementing the trade concessions available under the Association Agreement includes a legal requirement that the Commission's annual report on the implementation of the DCFTA includes a detailed assessment of the autonomous trade measures including the social impact.
Amendment 6 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers the trade liberalisation and regulatory approximation between the EU and Ukraine under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) to be an optimal instrument bringing Ukraine closer to the EU and contributing to trade facilitation, a better business and investment climate, and sustainable economic development of Ukraine; is concerned at the growing poverty of the population.
Amendment 7 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the DCFTA is part of a reform process based on good governance and the fight against corruption and organised crime; is very concerned at the current stagnation and even regression in terms of the fight against corruption; considers the establishment of an anti- corruption court as recommended by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to be essential; notes that a free, critical civil society plays an important part in this process of reform and calls on the Government of Ukraine to free civil- society organisations from the e- declaration obligation; calls on the Government of Ukraine to guarantee the independence of the National Anti- Corruption Bureau (NABU) and to carry out a corresponding reform of the secret services; reminds the Government of Ukraine of its undertaking in the preamble to the Association Agreement to construct a deeper, sustainable democracy; calls for a reform of voting rights prior to the 2019 parliamentary elections as recommended by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Amendment 12 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets the lack of progress in the approximation to EU animal welfare standards and calls on Ukraine to urgently adopt a strategy to fulfil that commitment.
Amendment 13 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on Ukraine to urgently appoint its domestic advisory group to ensure the monitoring of the implementation of the agreement by civil society organisations.
Amendment 16 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that a coordinated approach between the EU and Ukraine to sanctions related to Crimea and eastern Ukraine would contribute to increasing pressure in order to secure a peaceful resolution of Ukraine’s territorial challenges; recalls the commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts in Article 9 of the Association Agreement.
Amendment 17 #
2017/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that the Eastern Partnership has until now primarily been focused on bilateral trade and investment between the EU and the other countries involved; calls for the development of a more unified approach for all countries in the Eastern Partnership and increased cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union in terms of trade facilitation, visa freedom and technical standards.
Amendment 1 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that Chinathe People's Republic of China, hereinafter PRC, is the EU’s second-largest trading partner and that the EU is Chinathe PRC’s largest trading partner, and that the trade balance has a significant deficit in China’s favour;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that Chinathe PRC is a major global trade player and that this could represent a good opportunity for EU businesses;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 34 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on China to act onthe PRC to fulfil the commitments enshrined in China’s Accession Protocol to the WTO and those made by President Xi Jinping’s commitments, as a result of increased trade tensions, to further open up the Chinese market to foreign investors, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and level the playing field by making China’s market more transparent and better regulated, and by ceasing all the discriminatory practices against foreign investors, in this respect recalls that those reforms will benefit both Chinese and European businesses, especially MSMEs;
Amendment 41 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that Chinese companies benefit from the openness of European public procurement market while, on the contrary, European businesses suffer discrimination and lack of access to the Chinese market; calls on the PRC to allow non-discriminatory access to European businesses and workers on public procurement; calls on the Council for a swift adoption of the International Procurement Instrument; calls on the Commission to be vigilant and eventually take action against contracts awarded to foreign enterprises suspected of dumping practices;
Amendment 43 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for coordinated cooperation with Chinathe PRC on the Belt and Road Initiative on the basis ofbased on reciprocity, sustainable development, good governance, and open and transparent rules, in particular regarding public procurement; in this respect regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Investment Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) and the one signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank have not yet improved the business environment for European enterprises and workers;
Amendment 56 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Supports the on-going negotiations on a comprehensive EU-China PRC Investment Agreement; calls for further reciprocity in market access that were launched in 2013; calls on the Parties to renew efforts to advance in the negotiations aimed at achieving a genuine level playing field for European businesses and workers and to ensure reciprocity in market access; calls for the inclusion of a binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development chapter;
Amendment 72 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on Chinathe PRC to strive to play a responsible role on the global stage, including giving its active support to the multilateral rules-based trading system and the WTO; in the context of increasing bilateral trade tensions, reiterates the need to pursue multilateral solutions; in this respect calls for the fulfilment of WTO obligations and the protection of its operative mechanisms;
Amendment 78 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Regrets that the PRC, despite the conclusion of the procedure on the reform of the European calculation methodology for anti-dumping duties, has not yet withdrawn its case against the EU at the WTO appellate body;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expresses concern about the number of restrictions that European companies, and MSMEs in particular, continue to face in Chinathe PRC, especially in sectors covered by the ‘Made in China 2025’ plan; in this regard takes note of the PRC’s preference towards the creation of an alternative economic model rather than the integration of China into the existing global trade system;
Amendment 88 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses concern about market access being increasingly conditional on forced technology transfers, as stated in the EU Chamber of Commerce in China’s 2017 position paper;
Amendment 90 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Takes note with concern of the conclusions of the Commission’s report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries that indicates the PRC as the chief concern; reiterates the need to ensure protection to European knowledge-based economy; calls on the PRC to fight the illicit use of European licences by Chinese companies;
Amendment 92 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Welcomes the EU-PRC’s 2017 joint announcement over a list of 200 Chinese and European GIs whose protection will be negotiated; however, considering that negotiations were launched in 2010, considers it a very modest result and regrets the lack of progress in this regard;
Amendment 94 #
2017/2274(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Expresses concern about industrial overcapacity in Chinathe PRC’s steel sector; recalls the commitments made at the first ministerial meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity in 2017 to refrain from providing market-distorting subsidies. ; regrets that the Chinese delegation has failed to deliver the data on capacity at the Global Forum on Excess Capacity; calls on the PRC to fulfil its commitment to identify and disclose data on its subsidies and support measures to the steel and aluminium industries by June 2018; takes note of the proposed tripartite action by the US, Japan and the EU at the WTO level;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the full potential of the Union’s bilateral and regional cooperation strategies can only be realisbe improved by concluding a high-quality FTA, balanced and fair trade agreement with New Zealand in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit while under no circumstances undermining the ambition to achieve progress multilaterally or the implementation of already concluded multilateral and bilateral agreements;
Amendment 43 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the negotiation of a modern, ambitious, balanced, fair and comprehensive FTA is a pragmatic way of deepening the bilateral partnership and further reinforcing the existing, already mature bilateral trade and investment relationships; while keeping social and environmental concerns high on both partners´ agendas;
Amendment 50 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to conclude, as soon as possible, its assessments of the potential impact of such a trade deal, with a view to being able to evaluate thoroughly evaluathe possible gains and losses from the enhancement of the EU- New Zealand trade and investment relationships, for the benefit of citizens and businesses on both sides, including in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories, and paying special attention to environmental and social impacts, including the EU labour market and to take into account the impact Brexit might have on the increase of exportations from New Zealand to the EU;
Amendment 62 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Council to authorise the Commission to start negotiations for a trade and investment agreement and an investment protection agreement with New Zealand on the basis of the outcome of the scoping exercise, the conditions set out in this resolution, the impact assessment and with clear targets;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the Commission's step to publish the proposed negotiating directive and considers this a positive precedent;urges the Council to follow suit and publish the negotiating directive as soon as it is adopted;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to conduct negotiations asin full transparently as possible and fully respect best practice as established in ocy, through constant dialogue with EP, social partners and civil society and calls on the Council to inform and involve national parliaments before the approval of ther negotiations; requests thatng mandate; Calls on the Council to make the negotiating mandate public;
Amendment 84 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that an FTA must lead to genuine market openness and trade facilitation on the groundimproved market access, creating decent jobs, gender equality for the benefit of citizens on both sides, sustainable development, upholding EU standards, safeguarding services of general interest, and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities;
Amendment 86 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that an ambitious agreement must address, in a meaningful way, high quality sanitary and phyto- sanitary standards and other norms in agricultural and food products, without weakening EU´s high standards; robust and enforceable commitments on labour and environmental standards, the fight against tax avoidance and corruption, investment, trade in goods and services (drawing on recent European Parliament recommendations as regards reservations of policy space and sensitive sectors), e- commerce, public procurement, energy, state-owned enterprises, competition, regulatory issues such as sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, as well as technology research and, especially, the need of micro-enterprises and SMEs;
Amendment 91 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Council to recognise explicitly the other Party's obligations towards indigenous peoples in the negotiating directives and to allow for reservations for domestic preference schemes in this regard;the Agreement should reaffirm both Parties' commitment to ILO Convention 169 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
Amendment 105 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point a a (new)
a a) to ensure and explicitly foresee that this agreement does not prevent the parties’ ability to define, regulate, provide and support services of general interest, that it will by no means require governments to privatise any service nor preclude governments from expanding the range of services they supply to the public, and that it will not prevent governments from providing services of general interest previously supplied by private service suppliers or from bringing back under public control services that governments have previously chosen to privatise;
Amendment 107 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)
a b) to ensure that the right and the ability of the parties to adopt and apply their own laws and regulations in the public interest is enshrined throughout the entire text in order to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection, and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity;
Amendment 115 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b
Paragraph 14 – point b
b) The reduction of unjustified non- tariff barriers and the strengthening and extension of regulatory cooperation dialogues with binding disciplines to improve respect for intbut to ensure that any cooperation on regulatory matters remains voluntary, respects the autonomy of regulatory authorities, must be purely based on enhanced information exchange and administrative cooperation with a view to identifying unnecessary barriers and administrative burdens; to recall that regulatory coopernational standards and regulatory harmonisation, in particular through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) must aim to benefit governance of the global economy by intensified convergence and cooperation on international standards for example through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) while guaranteeing the highest level of consumer (e.g. food safety), environmental (e.g. animal health and welfare, plant health), social and labour protection;
Amendment 126 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point d a (new)
d a) relating to the ECJ-opinion on the FTA-Singapore that trade and sustainable development is an EU-exclusive competence and that sustainable development forms an integral part of the common commercial policy of the EU a robust and ambitious sustainable development chapter with a sanction- based mechanism, covering, among other things, core labour standards, the four ILO priority governance conventions and multilateral environmental agreements, is an indispensable part of any potential trade agreement;considers that the agreement should also include the establishment of a joint civil society forum that monitors and comments on its implementation and how the parties respect their commitments and obligations on human rights, labour standards and environmental protection;
Amendment 129 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d b (new)
Paragraph 14 – point d b (new)
d b) to include in the negotiating directives the requirement for the parties to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) via binding standards, including with regard to internationally recognised instruments, and the uptake of sectorial OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 132 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point e
Paragraph 14 – point e
e) Comprehensive provisions on investment taking into account recent policy developments, as for example the Opinion of the European Court of Justice of 16 May 2017if investment protection is included in a separate agreement, the recourse to national and European competent courts should be exhausted first; if a public investment court system (ICS) is created it should have an appeal mechanism, strict rules on conflict of interest, a code of conduct enforceable by the President of the International Court of Justice and sanctions in case of non-compliance, address investors’ obligations, avoid regulatory chill, preserve the right to regulate to achieve legitimate public policy objectives, prevent frivolous litigation and guarantee all democratic procedural guarantees, such as the right to access to justice (with particular attention to micro-enterprises and SMEs), judicial independency, transparency and accountability and the possibility for other actors to use the system if their rights are infringed by investors;
Amendment 147 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point g a (new)
g a) the inclusion of a tax good governance clause and binding transparency standards that reaffirm the parties’ commitment to implement international standards in the fight against tax evasion, avoidance and elusion, in particular the relevant OECD recommendations on taxation (such as the initiative on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting), and that includes obligations for country-by-country reporting, automatic exchanges of information and the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership;
Amendment 160 #
2017/2193(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Looks forward to the launch of negotiations with New Zealand and to following them closely and contributing to their successful outcome;stresses that following the ECJ opinion on the EU-Singapore FTA, the EP should see its role strengthened at all stages of EU FTA negotiations, from the adoption of the mandate to the final conclusion of the agreement, and calls for necessary arrangements to be made in the interinstitutional agreement; in this regard, reminds the Commission of its obligationthe need not only to inform the Parliament immediately and fully at all stages of the negotiations (both before and after the negotiating rounds)but also to associate Parliament fully at all stages; is committed to addressexaminge the legislative and regulatory issues that may arise in the context of the negotiations and the future agreement without prejudice to its prerogatives as a co-legislator; reiterates its fundamental responsibility to represent the citizens of the EU, and looks forward to facilitating inclusive and open discussions during the negotiating process;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the full potential of the Union’s bilateral and regional cooperation strategies can only be realisbe improved by concluding a high-quality FTA, balanced and fair trade agreement with Australia in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit while under no circumstances undermining the ambition to achieve progress multilaterally or the implementation of already concluded multilateral and bilateral agreements;
Amendment 36 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the negotiation of a modern, ambitious, balanced, fair and comprehensive FTA is a pragmatic way of deepening the bilateral partnership and further reinforcing the existing, already mature bilateral trade and investment relationships, while keeping social and environmental concerns high on both partners´ agendas´;
Amendment 42 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to conclude, as soon as possible, its assessments of the potential impact of such a trade deal, with a view to being able to evaluate thoroughly the possible gains and losses from the enhancement of the EU- Australia trade and investment relationships, for the benefit of citizens and businesses on both sides, including in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories, and paying special attention to environmental and social impacts, including the EU labour market and to take into account the impact Brexit might have on the increase of exportations from Australia to the EU;
Amendment 54 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Council to authorise the Commission to start negotiations for a trade an investment agreement and an investment protection agreement with Australia on the basis of the outcome of the scoping exercises, the conditions set out in this resolution, the impact assessment and with clear targets;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the Commission's step to publish the proposed negotiating directive and considers this a positive precedent;urges the Council to follow suit and publish the negotiating directive as soon as it is adopted;
Amendment 57 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Welcomes the inclusion in the proposed negotiating directive ofthe clarification that payments under the Common Agricultural Policy should not be targeted by (i) anti-subsidy and (ii) anti-dumping measures;takes note of the ongoing investigative proceedings undertaken by the counterpart on European exports of processed tomatoes and therefore, calls on the Commission to engage with the counterpart to avoid any further discrimination against European workers and businesses;
Amendment 60 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Council to clearly distinguish between an agreement on trade and the liberalisation of foreign direct investment (FDI),to make as soon as possible a proposal about the future architecture of trade agreements taking into account the ECJ opinion on the FTA-Singapore and if there would be in future a distinction between a trade and investment agreement which only containings issues under the Union´s exclusive EU competence, and a second agreement on investment protecwhich covers subjects whose competences are shared with Member States; stresses that such distinction would have implication,s including on FDI and non-direct investment, which would be subject to an Investment Court System the parliamentary ratification process and that it should not be perceived as a way to circumvent national democratic processes; calls for stronger EP involvement in all ongoing and future FTA negotiations at all stages of the process;
Amendment 73 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to conduct negotiations asin full transparently as possible and fully respecting best practice as established in ocy, through constant dialogue with EP, social partners and civil society and calls on the Council to inform and involve national parliaments before the approval of ther negotiations; requests thatng mandate; Calls on the Council to make the negotiating mandate public;
Amendment 79 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that an FTA must lead to genuine market openness, and trade facilitation on the groundimproved market access, creating decent jobs, gender equality for the benefit of citizens on both sides, sustainable development, upholding EU standards, safeguarding services of general interest, and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities;
Amendment 82 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that an ambitious agreement must address, in a meaningful way, high quality sanitary and phyto- sanitary standards and other norms in agricultural and food products, without weakening EU´s high standards, robust and enforceable commitments on labour and environmental standards, the fight against tax avoidance and corruption, investment, trade in goods and services (drawing on recent European Parliament recommendations as regards reservations of policy space and sensitive sectors), e- commerce, public procurement, energy, state-owned enterprises, competition, regulatory issues such as sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, as well as technology research and especially, the need of micro-enterprises and SMEs;
Amendment 88 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Council to recognise explicitly the other Party's obligations towards indigenous peoples in the negotiating directives and to allow for reservations for domestic preference schemes in this regard;the Agreement should reaffirm both Parties' commitment to ILO Convention 169 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
Amendment 103 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point a a (new)
a a) to ensure and explicitly foresee that this agreement does not prevent the parties’ ability to define, regulate, provide and support services in the general interest, that it will by no means require governments to privatise any service nor preclude governments from expanding the range of services they supply to the public, and that it will not prevent governments from providing services in the general interest previously supplied by private service suppliers or from bringing back under public control services that governments have previously chosen to privatise;
Amendment 105 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)
a b) to ensure that the right and the ability of the parties to adopt and apply their own laws and regulations in the public interest is enshrined throughout the entire text in order to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection, and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity;
Amendment 113 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b
Paragraph 14 – point b
b) The reduction of unjustified non- tariff barriers and the strengthening and extension of regulatory cooperation dialogues with binding disciplines to improve respect for intbut to ensure that any cooperation on regulatory matters remains voluntary, respects the autonomy of regulatory authorities, must be purely based on enhanced information exchange and administrative cooperation with a view to identifying unnecessary barriers and administrative burdens; to recall that regulatory coopernational standards and regulatory harmonisation, in particular through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) must aim to benefit governance of the global economy by intensified convergence and cooperation on international standards for example through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) while guaranteeing the highest level of consumer (e.g. food safety), environmental (e.g. animal health and welfare, plant health), social and labour protection;
Amendment 125 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point d a (new)
d a) relating to the ECJ-opinion on the FTA-Singapore that trade and sustainable development is an EU-exclusive competence and that sustainable development forms an integral part of the common commercial policy of the EU a robust and ambitious sustainable development chapter with a sanction- based mechanism, covering, among other things, core labour standards, the four ILO priority governance conventions and multilateral environmental agreements, is an indispensable part of any potential trade agreement;considers that the agreement should also include the establishment of a joint civil society forum that monitors and comments on its implementation and how the parties respect their commitments and obligations on human rights, labour standards and environmental protection;
Amendment 128 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d b (new)
Paragraph 14 – point d b (new)
d b) to include in the negotiating directives the requirement for the parties to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) via binding standards, including with regard to internationally recognised instruments, and the uptake of sectorial OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 131 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point e
Paragraph 14 – point e
e) Comprehensive provisions on investment taking into account recent policy developments, such as, for example, the CJEU opinion of 16 May 2017if investment protection is included in a separate agreement, the recourse to national and European competent courts should be exhausted first; if a public investment court system (ICS) is created it should have an appeal mechanism, strict rules on conflict of interest, a code of conduct enforceable by the President of the International Court of Justice and sanctions in case of non-compliance, address investors’ obligations, avoid regulatory chill, preserve the right to regulate to achieve legitimate public policy objectives, prevent frivolous litigation and guarantee all democratic procedural guarantees, such as the right to access to justice (with particular attention to micro-enterprises and SMEs), judicial independency, transparency and accountability and the possibility for other actors to use the system if their rights are infringed by investors;
Amendment 150 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point g a (new)
g a) the inclusion of a tax good governance clause and binding transparency standards that reaffirm the parties’ commitment to implement international standards in the fight against tax evasion, avoidance and elusion, in particular the relevant OECD recommendations on taxation (such as the initiative on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting), and that includes obligations for country-by-country reporting, automatic exchanges of information and the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership;
Amendment 164 #
2017/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Looks forward to the launch of negotiations with Australia and to following them closely and costresses that, following the ECJ opinion on the EU-Singapore FTA, the EP should see its role strengthened at all stages of EU FTA negotiations, from the adoption of the mandate to the final conclusion of the agreement, and calls for necessary arrangements to be made in the inteributing to their successful outcome;nstitutional agreement; in this regard, reminds the Commission of its obligationthe need not only to inform the Parliament immediately andbut to associate Parliament fully at all stages of the negotiations (both before and after the negotiating rounds); is committed to addressexaminge the legislative and regulatory issues that may arise in the context of the negotiations and the future agreement without prejudice to its prerogatives as a co-legislator; reiterates its fundamental responsibility to represent the citizens of the EU, and looks forward to facilitating inclusive and open discussions during the negotiating process;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas employment rates are generally lower among women, in 2015, the employment rate for men aged 20–64 stood at 75.9 % in the EU-28, as compared with 64.3 % for women;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in March 2017 the youth unemployment rate in the euro area was 19.4 %, compared with 21.3 % in March 2016; whereas youth unemployment remains unacceptably high; Whereas in 2015 the share NEET's remains high and represents 14,8 % of 15-29 year olds, namely 14 million of NEET's;
Amendment 14 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Young people not in employment, education or training are estimated to cost the EU €153bn (1.21% of GDP) a year – in benefits and foregone earnings and taxes[1]while the total estimated cost of establishing Youth Guarantee schemes in the Eurozone is €21bn a year, or 0.22% of GDP ; [1] Euro found report on youth unemployment
Amendment 18 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. Whereas an amount of € 1bn is currently allocated to the Youth Employment Initiative plan which is to be matched by €1 billion from the European Social Fund for the period 2017 - 2020;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas in many Member States the working-age population and the labour force are continuing to shrink, notably as a result of low birth rates; whereas the employability of women as the ongoing arrival of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are opportunities for Member states to cope with this issue and reinforce the work force in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas also one of the five Europe 2020 targets aims at reducing by at least 20 million the number of people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion; whereas this objective is far from being achieved and in 2013 almost 123 million people in the EU are in this situation of whom 32,2 million persons with disabilities in 2012;whereas in 2013 26,5 million children in the EU28 were at risk of falling into poverty or social exclusion; points out that high levels of inequality reduce the output of the economy and the potential for sustainable growth;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Amendment 27 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. Whereas the most precarious work involves the inability of individuals to enforce their rights, where social insurance protection is absent, where health and safety is put at risk and where work does not provide sufficient income to enable people to live decently; whereas insecurity is another key element of precariousness and it encompasses work uncertainty, income insufficiency, lack of protection against dismissal, an unknown length of employment where there is uncertainty about future employment;
Amendment 28 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. Whereas as opposed to precarious work, decent jobs with employment security must be promoted and required to help tackle unemployment across the EU but also to boost the domestic demand and stimulate growth;
Amendment 29 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. Whereas growth in most of member states remains low, the EU growth rate for 2016 having even declined to stabilize at 2 % (whereas Global growth (excluding the EU) is expected to strengthen to 3.7% this year and 3.9% in 2018 from 3.2% in 2016) despite positive temporary aspects such as low oil prices, low interest for credits and unconventional monetary policies showing therefore that the EU can do more to boost the economic and social recovery so as to make it more sustainable in the medium term;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Amendment 32 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas labour market conditions and performances show substantial differences across Member States, though these disparities are decreasing;
Amendment 42 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 46 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Highlights that socially responsible reforms must be based on solidarity, integration, social justice and a fair wealth distribution - a model that ensures equality and social protection, protects vulnerable groups and improves the living standards for all citizens; stresses also the need to re-orientate the union's economic policies towards a social market economy;
Amendment 49 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Is concerned that labour market reforms in many Member states have mainly promoted precarious jobs; observes that 50 % of the jobs created that last 3 years were temporary; in this context, calls for a wage increase not only to guarantee decent income, but also which serves to consolidate the economic recovery through the strengthening of the internal demand;
Amendment 65 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. In this context, recalls the need to support and enhance social dialogue which plays a critical role in achieving high-level working conditions; emphasises that labour law and high social standards have a crucial role to play in rebalancing economies, supporting incomes and encouraging investment in capacity; stresses that EU law and policy documents must respect trade union rights and freedoms, comply with collective agreements and uphold equal treatment of workers;
Amendment 68 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Commission to build on the resolution of the European Parliament by putting forward ambitious proposals, including a framework directive on decent working conditions and a Social Protocol, for a strong European Pillar of Social Rights and full pursuit of the Treaties' social objectives in order to improve everyone's living and working conditions and provide good opportunities for all;
Amendment 70 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Warns about the declining wage share in the EU, the widening wage and income inequalities and the increase of in work-poverty; recalls that the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN, 1948) recognizes the need for workers to earn a living wage as does the ILO Constitution (ILO, 1919) and that all human rights declarations agree that remuneration should be sufficient to support a family;
Amendment 71 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. stresses that wages must enable workers to meet their needs and those of their families and that every worker in the European Union should receive a living wage that provides not only for the mere necessities of basic food, shelter and clothing, but that it is also sufficient to cover healthcare, education, transportation, recreation and some savings to help provide for unforeseen events, such as illnesses and accidents; emphasises that this is the decent living standard that living wages should provide for workers and their families in the EU;
Amendment 72 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Asks the Commission to study how to identify what a living wage could encompass and how it should be measured, serving as a reference tool for social partners and help to exchange best practices in this regard;
Amendment 73 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Recalls that decent wages are important not only for social cohesion, but also for maintaining a strong economy and a productive labour force; calls on the Commission and the Member States to implement measures to improve job quality and reduce wage dispersion, including by raising wage floors also in the form of, where applicable, minimum wages set at decent levels;
Amendment 74 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)
Paragraph 3 g (new)
3g. Calls for policies that respect, promote and strengthen collective bargaining and workers' position in wage- setting systems which play a critical role in achieving high level working conditions; believes all this should be done with a view to supporting aggregate demand and economic recovery, reducing wage inequalities and fighting in-work poverty; stresses in this context, that European legislation and policies must respect trade union rights and freedom, comply with collective agreements and uphold equal treatments of workers;
Amendment 75 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 h (new)
Paragraph 3 h (new)
3h. Warns that excessive levels of top managers' pay come not only at the expense of the shareholders but at the expense of workers; highlights that this excessive dispersion in wages is unethical, increases inequalities and damages productivity and competitiveness of companies; calls on the Commission to present a proposal to adopt at European level a legal obligation requiring listed as well as public companies to disclose the annual total compensation of the chief executive officer (CEO) and the top managers and the median of the annual compensation of all other employees of the company;
Amendment 76 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 i (new)
Paragraph 3 i (new)
3i. Highlights the importance of the automatic stabilisation dimension of welfare systems to absorb social shock waves caused by external effects as recessions; calls therefore on the Member states to introduce policies to re-establish security in employment by providing pro- active protection, including in case of dismissals; with a view to ILO Recommendation No 202 which defines the social protection floors, calls also on the member states to ensure and increase their investment in social protection systems in order to guarantee their performance in tackling and preventing poverty and inequalities while ensuring their sustainability;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 j (new)
Paragraph 3 j (new)
3j. Highlights that universal access to public, solidarity-based and adequate retirement and old age pensions must be granted to all; acknowledges the challenges faced by Member States to strengthen the sustainability of pension systems but stresses the importance of safeguarding the solidarity in the pension systems by strengthening the revenue side without necessarily increasing the retirement age;
Amendment 78 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 k (new)
Paragraph 3 k (new)
3k. Underlines the importance of public and occupational pension systems which provide an adequate retirement income well above the poverty threshold and allow pensioners to maintain their standard of living; believes that the best way to ensure sustainable, safe and adequate pensions for women and men is to increase the overall employment rate and quality jobs across all ages, improving working and employment conditions, and by committing the necessary supplementary public spending; believes that reforms of pension systems should focus amongst others on the effective retirement age and reflect labour market trends, birth rates, the health and wealth situation, working conditions and the economic dependency ratio;
Amendment 79 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 l (new)
Paragraph 3 l (new)
3l. Considers that these reforms must also take account of the situation of millions of workers in Europe, particularly women, youngsters and self- employed, suffering insecure, atypical employment, periods of involuntary unemployment and working-time reduction;
Amendment 80 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 m (new)
Paragraph 3 m (new)
3m. Calls on the Commission to continue to pay particular attention to the improvement of childcare services and to flexible working time arrangements, to the needs of ageing men and women and other dependent persons as regards long- term care;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 n (new)
Paragraph 3 n (new)
3n. Deplores the persistence of the gender pay and pension gap; calls on the EU and the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners and gender equality organisations, to set out and implement policies to close the gender pay and pension gap; calls on the Member States to carry out wage-mapping on a regular basis as a complement to these efforts;
Amendment 82 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 88 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets that the increase in the employment rate has been accompanied by the increase of atypical, precarious and non-formal forms of employment, zero- hour contracts included and the weakening of social dialogue; encourages the Member States to make further efforts in order to reach the Europe 2020 employment rate target of 75 % while guaranteeing European citizens the best quality of life via quality and inclusive jobs;
Amendment 90 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines that the implementation of the Youth Guarantee should be strengthened at national, regional and local level, and stresses its importance for school-to-work transitions; points out that special attention has to be paid to young women and girls, who could face gender-related barriers to obtaining a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship; emphasises the need to ensure that the Youth Guarantee reaches young people facing multiple exclusions and extreme poverty;
Amendment 92 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Stresses the need to guarantee suitable forms of collaboration between public and private employment services and individualised and mainstream social support services; highlights that a better collaboration of public administrations and stakeholders at the local level and better synergies among levels of governments would increase the outreach and the impact of the programmes;
Amendment 94 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Regrets that in some member states the youth guarantee has failed to deliver the expected results; regrets also that the financing of the youth guarantee had not been enough to effectively address the issue and the lack of coordination on the use that member states have done with the funding; reiterates its continuous call for a European framework for introducing minimum standards for the implementation of youth guarantee;
Amendment 95 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Emphasises that a better work-life balance and strengthened gender equality are essential for supporting the participation of women in the labour market; underlines that the key to women's economic empowerment is the transformation and adaptation of the labour market and welfare systems in order to take into account women's life cycles;
Amendment 96 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Welcomes the proposal for the Work-life balance Directive as a positive first step forward in ensuring reconciliation of the work and private lives for men and women caring for their children and other dependants and increasing the participation of women on the labour market although regretting that no progress on the maternity leave has been made; insists however that securing appropriate remuneration and strong social security and protection are key to achieving these goals;
Amendment 97 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4g. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop transformative policies and to invest in awareness-raising campaigns to overcome gender stereotypes and to promote a more equal sharing of care and domestic work, focusing also on the right of and need for men to take up care responsibilities without being stigmatised or penalised;
Amendment 98 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4h. Calls on the Member States to put in place proactive policies and appropriate investment aimed and designed to support women and men entering, returning to, staying and advancing in the labour market, after periods of family and care- related types of leave, with sustainable and quality employment, in line with Article 27 of the European Social Charter; stresses in particular the need to guarantee reinstatement to the same post or to an equivalent or similar post, protection against dismissal and less favourable treatment as a result of pregnancy, applying for or taking family leave, and a protection period after their return so that they can readjust to their job; reiterates that changes in working hours and/or routines on the return to work (including the need for the employer to justify a refusal) and training periods should also be guaranteed;
Amendment 99 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 i (new)
Paragraph 4 i (new)
4i. Calls on the Member States to step up protection against discrimination and unlawful dismissal related to work-life balance, calls in this context on the Commission and the Member States to propose policies to improve enforcement of anti-discrimination measures in the workplace, including increasing the awareness of legal rights regarding equal treatment by conducting information campaigns, reversal of the burden of proof and empowering national equality bodies to conduct formal investigations on their own initiative of equality issues and help potential victims of discrimination;
Amendment 100 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)
Paragraph 4 j (new)
4j. Considers that promoting women's participation in the labour market would boost GDP; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen policies and increase investment supporting female employment in quality jobs, particularly in sectors and positions where women are under- represented, such as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and green economy sectors, or senior management positions across all sectors;
Amendment 101 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 k (new)
Paragraph 4 k (new)
4k. Underlines that the integration of long-term unemployed individuals through individually tailored measures is a key factor for fighting poverty and social exclusion and will ultimately contribute towards contributing to the sustainability of national social security systems; considers that necessary, taking into account the social situation of these citizens and their needs in terms of sufficient incomes, adequate housing, public transport, health and childcare as well as a better monitoring at the European level of the policies implemented at the national level;
Amendment 102 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 l (new)
Paragraph 4 l (new)
4l. Notes that an increased effort is required in many Member States to educate the workforce, including adult education and vocational training opportunities; puts emphasis on life-long learning, including for women, as it gives the opportunity to re-skill in the ever- changing labour market; calls for an increase in the promotion of STEM subjects aimed at girls to address existing education stereotypes and combat long- term gender employment, pay and pensions gaps;
Amendment 103 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 m (new)
Paragraph 4 m (new)
4m. Recalls that the role of Member States is to guarantee an access to quality education and training at affordable cost notwithstanding the labour market need across the EU;
Amendment 104 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 n (new)
Paragraph 4 n (new)
4n. Calls on the Commission and Member States to fully implement the Recommendation on Investing in Children and closely monitor its progress; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and introduce initiatives, such as a Child Guarantee, placing children in the centre of existing poverty alleviation policies and ensuring dedicated resources necessary for its full implementation;
Amendment 105 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 o (new)
Paragraph 4 o (new)
Amendment 106 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 p (new)
Paragraph 4 p (new)
4p. Calls on the Member states to support apprenticeship and to fully use the Erasmus+ funds available for apprentices in order to guarantee the quality and attractiveness of this kind of training;
Amendment 110 #
2017/2114(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes the importance of skills and competences acquired in non-formal and informal learning environments ;stresses, therefore, the importance of creating a validation system for non-formal and informal forms of knowledge, especially those acquired via voluntary activities; insists in the implementation of the lifelong learning framework approach on a flexible education path recognizing formal, but also non formal and informal learning to foster equity and social cohesion and allowing employment opportunities for more vulnerable groups;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the 2015 ‘Trade for All strategy’ sets out the EU's commitment to binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD);
Amendment 31 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting projects which will havsupport a sustainable and immediate impacnclusive development oin the creation of decentAfrica in order to create the jobs, the fight against poverty, protection of at Africa needs, to reduce poverty, strengthen environment, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent;al protection and make use of the opportunities created thereby for the European Union
Amendment 41 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture; stresses in this context the need for any trade agreement or unilateral trade arrangement between the EU and African countries or regional groupings to provide for sufficiently asymmetrical liberalisation schedules, protections for infant industries, development-supportive rules of origins and effective safeguard clauses;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture; as well as taking the varying expectations of the African states and regions into consideration;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions; stresses that interim Economic Partnership Agreements with individual countries that are members of regional customs and economic unions should not become permanent in the absence of ratified region-to-region EPAs;
Amendment 56 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions; with the help of trade policy and the existing regional Economic Partnership Agreements to create functioning inner African markets and to use the possibilities of international trade;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. insists on a structured and well- financed civil society monitoring process concerning the existing and future trade agreements between the EU and Africa in order to be able to counteract negative consequences of the agreements;
Amendment 64 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. points out that the successes of the regional Economic Partnership Agreements and the post-Cotonou agreement are highly dependent on the transparent information policy and dialogue with civil society of the European Commission and its counterparts in African states since transparency gives small and medium sized participants of the economy the chance to reap the benefits of the agreements;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the principles of policy coherence for development to be fully incorporated in the EU’s trade relationship with Africa, which entails the inclusion of enforceable ‘Trade and Sustainable Development’ clauses in all EU trade agreements with African countries, in line with the commitment undertaken by the European Commission in the ‘Trade for All' strategy;
Amendment 78 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. expects the European Union to make strategic plans for cooperation in a dialogue with Africa in the future in order to make sure that the national development plans, the continental free trade zone and the implementation of the Agenda 2063 is not being disrupted by the European trade-, agricultural-, fisheries-, environmental- and tax policy;
Amendment 85 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. expects additionally the development of a strategy for the fight against corruption and illegal capital flight from Africa and insists that the development of the regional African markets is being taken into consideration in the future;
Amendment 88 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. insists that the aid for trade global review makes sure that least developed countries and fragile states benefit more from the effects of development cooperation than in the past;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
Amendment 4 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 3 February 2016 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Commission on the negotiations for the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) (2015/2233(INI));
Amendment 5 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 12 September 2017 on the impact of international Trade and the EU’s trade policies on global value chains (2016/2301(INI));
Amendment 13 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
Amendment 18 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Common Commercial Policy comprises a body of trade agreements and legislative measures to safeguard the Union’s offensive and defensive trade interests, contribute to sustainable shared growth and decent job creation, ensure that EU rules and standards are observed, safeguard states’ right to regulate and citizens’ well-being, and promote EU values; and whereas adherence to these aims requires that Union trade policy be implemented and monitored fully and effectively;
Amendment 27 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the implementation and enforcement phase is of crucial and fundamental importance in ensuring that Union trade policy is effective;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the involvement of civil society and social partners in the implementation of trade agreements can benefit the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the questions raised in public debate about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy and the way it is implemented need to be answered clearly and precisely by the European Institutions;
Amendment 37 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Union’s trade policy must be consistent with its other external and internal policies and the Union’s overarching principle of policy coherence for development;
Amendment 41 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the international context has changed profoundly since the Trade for All strategy was published and that new trade challenges now need to be addressed; is concerned to see protectionist practices being pursued and reiterates its support for an open, balanced, fair, sustainable and rules- based tradeing system;
Amendment 49 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the growing importance of services, especially digital services, and of e-commerce in international trade, and underscores the need to strengthen the domestic and international rules governing these sectors, in particular with respect to data flows and labour rights so as to secure real benefits for European workers and consumers, improve European companies’ access to international markets and safeguard the observance of fundamental rights in the EU and throughout the world; insists that rules for cross-border data transfers must fully comply with the EU’s existing and future data protection and privacy rules; calls on the Commission to incorporate into the EU’s trade agreements a horizontal, unambiguous and legally binding provision, which fully maintains the right of a party to protect personal data and privacy, provided that such a right is not unjustifiably used to circumvent rules for cross-border data transfers for reasons other than the protection of personal data; stresses that any disciplines in this regard should be exempted from the scope of application of any chapter dealing with investment protection;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU will have consequences for internal and external trade; calls on the Commission to take immediate steps to anticipate the impact of Brexit on the Union’s trade policy so as to ensure continuity in its implementation; calls on the Commission to publish impact assessments of the various options envisioned for the future EU-UK relationship prior to the conclusion of the article 50 negotiations;
Amendment 58 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note of Opinion 2/15 of the CJEU, of 16 May 2017, establishing that, apart from the question of portfolio investment and the arrangements for investor-state dispute settlement, the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore lies within the exclusive competence of the Union; asks the Commission and Member States to clarify at the earliest possible date itstheir decision on the structure of free trade agreements in the future, taking account of the limits of EU exclusive competence set by the Court ruling; points out that Parliament must be involved from the onset of all trade negotiations, prior to the adoption of negotiating guidelines and must be kept fully informed, in a timely manner, at all stages in the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements; demands that the necessary arrangements are made through an inter-institutional agreement to enhance the legitimacy and accountability of the EU’s CCP;
Amendment 64 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores the failure to reach agreement at the WTO ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires; recalls its previous demands to the Commission to actively engage in framing the WTO agenda, in particular with respect to Corporate Social Responsibility and Trade and Sustainable Development; reiterates its support for the multilateral system and calls on the Union actively to advance proposals for updated, multilateral rules; welcomes the entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement; considers it regrettable that certain multilateral agreements are not being observed and calls on the Commission to work harder, within the WTO, on the effective implementation of multilateral rules and agreements;
Amendment 71 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is concerned at the stand-off in plurilateral negotiations on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and the Environmental Goods Agreement; asks the Union to take the initiative to get the negotiations moving again on the basis of the European Parliament’s position on TiSA;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises that the agreements concluded and the Union’s ongoing and forthcoming bilateral negotiations represent opportunities for market access and the lifting of trade barriers while at the same time they should prevent threats and challenges to the EU’s social model and the environment; issues a reminder that priority must be given to the substance of the negotiations rather than their pace, that the aims of reciprocity and mutual benefit must be guiding threads, that EU rules and standards cannot be watered down, and that current and future public services including services of general interest and services of general economic interest, as well as audiovisual services, must be fully excluded from the scope of all trade agreements, in line with Articles 14 and 106 TFEU and Protocol 26, irrespective of how the public services are provided and funded; stresses that the Commission must ensure in all trade negotiations that EU, national and local authorities retain the full right to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regard to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services;
Amendment 85 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Asks the Commission and Member States to update their negotiating mandates every five years to reflect the changing context and challenges, and to include review clauses in trade agreements to ensure that they are implemented as effectively as possible and that they are adaptable, provided that full parliamentary scrutiny and transparency are guaranteed;
Amendment 100 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Expects a reinforced engagement of the EU and its Member States in deliberations within the UN regarding a Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 118 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Points out that trade policy must be implemented in such a way as to help ensure that companies can compete fairly on a level playing field; welcomes the adoption of the new method for calculating anti-dumping duties in cases of distortion of competition in third countries; takes note of the interinstitutional agreement reached on the modernisation of trade defence instruments; highlights the importance of ensuring that these new instruments are implemented properly by intervening immediately to rectify any dysfunctions or abusesencourages the Commission to make the most of these reforms and use the new possibility they offer, in particular with respect to imposing duties above the injury margin; highlights the importance of ensuring that these new instruments are implemented properly by intervening immediately to rectify any dysfunctions or abuses; welcomes the Commission pro-active stance in the deployment of trade defence instruments in 2016, and calls for similar resolve and reactivity when these instruments are used unduly against EU exports by some of our trading partners, in particular the United States of America;
Amendment 120 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers it regrettable that the Commission report on the implementation of the trade policy strategy makes scarcely any mention of the task of coordination which needs to be undertaken with customs services; makes the point that trade policy must work to combat unlawful trading in order to keep EU companies competitive and to underpin consumer safety; also points to the important role of competition policy in this respect, and the need for bilateral and multilateral negotiations to this end;
Amendment 123 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Urges the Commission, in cases of dysfunction or hindrance or where a partner fails to observe a commitment, to make immediate use of the tools at its disposal, particularly through recourse to the disputes settlement procedure as well as the existing ad-hoc processes foreseen for Trade and Sustainable Development provisions in the Union’s FTAs;
Amendment 129 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to invest more human and financial resources in improvinge the way that trade policy is implemented, and asks that a special trade policy implementation monitoring unit be set up within the Commission;
Amendment 130 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the Commission and Member States to do more, particularly through the use of IT, to eliminate all administrative obstacles and red tape, to simplify technicalsimplify technical and administrative procedures and to support companies taking steps to benefit from trade agreements and instruments;
Amendment 131 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the vital work done by Union delegations, in conjunction with Member State embassies, enabling swift and direct action to be taken to ensure that trade provisions are properly implemented; believes that Union delegations would benefit from a streamlined system based on a single set of rules and guidance in this respect, as the effectiveness of delegations in the monitoring of FTAs varies markedly from country to country; encourages the Commission and the EEAS to pursue their work in the field of economic diplomacy;
Amendment 135 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Asks the Commission to conduct a study of the cumulative impact of trade agreements, sector by sector and country by country, as a contribution to the evaluation of our trade policy and with a view to anticipating and amending its effects;
Amendment 136 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights the fact that certain sectors may experience economic difficulties which are trade related; calls on the Commission and Member States to develop effective support policies such as social flanking measures in order to maximise the benefits and minimise the potential negative effects of trade liberalisation, and to re- evaluate the EU’s trade strategy in this light; asks the Commission, in this context, to reinforce the effectiveness of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and make it more pro-active, anticipating those cases where negative effects have to be accounted for instead of purely reactive;
Amendment 138 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Encourages the Commission to pursue and intensify its cooperation with international organisations and forums, including the G20, the United Nations, the OECD, the ILO and, the World Bank and the International Organisation for Standardisation, on the development of international standards, their implementation and the monitoring of trade; in particular with respect to its social and environmental impact;
Amendment 140 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the publication by the Commission of the first report on implementation of FTAs; asks the Commission to continue publishing the report annually and to cover the topic in greater depth, including interpretations of data, placing in context the figures published and providing additional qualitative information; but regrets its many shortfalls, in particular the lack of qualitative analysis and concrete recommendations; notes that while the Commission is increasingly acknowledging the negative impact of trade liberalisation on certain sectors, the report is entirely biased towards presenting “success stories” and therefore fails at providing a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the EU’s FTAs; asks the Commission to continue publishing the report annually and to cover the topic in greater depth, including interpretations of data, placing in context the figures published and providing additional qualitative information, most importantly on the implementation of the rule parts of FTAs such as TSD and Government Procurements, so as to make this report effective in guiding the EU institutions in the definition and conduct of the Union’s trade strategy;
Amendment 143 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Points out that various elements of information, as well as figures, are missing from the report; notes that, when it comes to quantitative analyses the implementation report fails to provide an economic assessment of: the impact on growth and jobs of all FTAs; the contribution of FTAs to the evolution of trade flows, compared to other factors such as internal demand in the EU partners’ domestic markets; the impact of trade and investment agreements on investment flows and Mode 3 trade in services; asks the Commission to work more closely with the Member States and partner countries in order to obtain more data and information on the implementation of the agreements;
Amendment 144 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Is concerned by the fact that European companies are making relatively poor use of trade preferences by comparison with companies in partner countries which can therefore be deemed to benefit more from the EU’s FTAs than the EU itself; asks the Commission to determine the causes of the imbalance as quickly as possible and to address them; calls on the Commission and Member States to move swiftly on developing measures to give economic operators more information about the trade preferences provided for in the FTAs; believes that detailed information, including at micro level, is required in order to properly assess the implementation of the EU’s FTA, and that the experience of companies failing to use the possibility offered by FTAs matters just as much as the experience of those companies benefiting from them;
Amendment 148 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Invites the Commission to take a diversified approach to the various sectors studied and to set out the consequences of the implementation of trade agreements for those sectors which are considered sensitive, including an analysis of the cumulative impact of all FTAs;
Amendment 149 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the announced introduction of implementation roadmaps for all trade agreements, and asks the Commission to involve all the interested parties in preparing them including civil society and social partners; calls on the Commission to set out intended objectives as well as specific criteria on which to base a clear evaluation, such as the state of progress on the removal of non-tariff barriers, the rate of use of quotas, or the situation with regard to regulatory cooperation; asks that the state of progress with the roadmaps be published to coincide with publication of well as progress in terms of Trade and Sustainable Development ; expects the implementation roadmaps to be transmitted to Parliament in parallel to the saisines for concluded agreements so that they may be taken into account during the consent procedure and asks that the state of progress with the roadmaps be incorporated into the annual report on implementation of FTAs;
Amendment 153 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. CWelcomes the introduction of specific chapters dedicated to SMEs in FTAs currently in negotiation; calls on the Commission to evaluate the entire toolkit for SMEs, with a view to developing a more integrated overall approach and a real SME internationalisation strategy, supporting them in becoming exporters; encourages the Commission to promote this approach in international forums;
Amendment 165 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Points out that the Common Commercial Policy must contributes to the promotion of the values for which the Union stands, set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, and to the pursuit of the aims enumerated in Article 21, including the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights, as well as fundamental rights and freedoms, equality, respect for human dignity and the protection of the environment and of social rights; believes that achieving these objectives requires resolute and sustained actions from the Commission, and a radical change in the way human rights and sustainable development are dealt with in FTA negotiations;
Amendment 167 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission systematically to monitor the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), particularly the GSP+, and to continue publishing reports every two years; calls on the Commission to work harder with beneficiary countries, the EEAS, the Union delegations, international organisations, companies, the social partners and civil society in order to improve its information gathering and provide more in-depth analysis of the monitoring exercise so that the implementation of all aspects of the system can be clearly evaluated; stresses that the credibility and thus effectiveness of the GSP rests on the ability of the Commission to implement the provisions of the legislation in full in cases of failure to implement international labour or environmental conventions, including conducting formal investigations when required and removing or suspending preferences;
Amendment 169 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Points out that the new-generation agreements include human rights clauses and sustainable development chapters, to be implemented comprehensively in their entirety in order to safeguard and promote the observance of human rights, the Union’s values and high social and environmental standards; notes thetherefore calls for a timely implementation of existing TSD provisions; regrets the insufficient evaluation of the sustainable development chapters included in the Commission report on implementation of FTAs; asks the Commission to develop a precise and specific method of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of these chapters, given that such an evaluation cannot be made on the basis of quantitative data only; recalls in this context the important role of Domestic Advisory Groups and calls on the Commission for a more inclusive involvement of civil society in monitoring processes; underlines in particular the importance of civil society contributions regarding the negative consequences of Free Trade Agreements, especially when they concern developing countries or regions; also reiterates its call to strengthen the enforcement of TSD chapters, in particular through a greater involvement of social partners and civil society organisations, as well as the use of sanctions as a last resort in case of non- compliance; expresses in particular concern about the ineffective implementation of the TSD provisions in the case of the EU-Korea FTA;
Amendment 172 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Welcomes the review of the Aid for Trade strategy and supports the aim of capacity building for developing countries so that they can take greater advantage of the opportunities offered by EU trade agreements; emphasises, too, that the strategy must help to promote fair and ethical trade, and retain sufficiently asymmetrical liberalisation schedules to support economic development in the EU partner countries;
Amendment 175 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Reaffirms its support for the inclusion in all future trade agreements of ambitious provisions on combating corruption and protecting whistle-blower; welcomes the inclusion of anti- corruption provisions in the ongoing negotiations on updating the EU-Mexico FTAand EU-Chile Association Agreements; stresses that FTAs must address the fight against money laundering, tax fraud and evasion while remaining within the scope of the Union’s exclusive competence;
Amendment 179 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Welcomes the fact that gender equality has been taken into account in the Commission’s report on the implementation of its trade strategy; underscores the aim of ensuring that women benefit from trade to the same extent as men; stresses that this requires a proactive approach by the Commission, and as a first step the application of a gender mainstreaming strategy to trade policy;
Amendment 182 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Emphasises that the Common Commercial Policy must be implemented in such a way as to ensure that the global value chain is managed responsibly; asks the Commission to continue including and promoting corporate social responsibility as part of its trade policy; reiterate its demand to the Commission to include CSR in all trade agreements and to work on new provisions for greater enforcement; reasserts its support for international initiatives such as the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, and asks the Commission to concentrate as of now on the implementation of that initiative;
Amendment 184 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Recalls, however, that voluntary CSR may also lead to unfair competition for suppliers that have chosen to comply with international labour and environmental standards and is not sufficient per se to ensure that companies fully comply with international standards and obligations by implementing due diligence policy; reiterates its call for seeking ways to develop global value chains transparency strategies and rules, including the possible consideration of immediate action towards developing binding and enforceable rules, associated remedies and independent monitoring mechanisms involving the EU Institutions, Member States and civil society;
Amendment 187 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Reiterates its call on the EU to work towards adequate and efficient solutions for the introduction of a transparent and functioning mandatory ‘social and environmental traceability’ labelling system along the entire production chain, in compliance with the WTO TBT Agreement, while in parallel promoting similar action at international level;
Amendment 189 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Takes note of the Commission’s work on transparency; believes that achieving full transparency must become the top priority for the Commission; calls on the Commission and Member States to publish moreall of the relevant documents relating to the negotiation and implementation of agreements;
Amendment 190 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Calls on the Commission and Member States to develop a proper strategy for communication about trade policy and about each agreement, so that as much information as possible is transmitted and information is adapted for specific stakeholders, enabling them to benefit from the agreements; stresses that such a strategy must address the issue of availability of information prior to and during trade negotiations, and reiterates its call to the Commission to conduct extensive consultations with civil society and social partners and publish Sustainability Impact Assessments in a timely manner, i.e. in time for them to be used in the course of parliamentary debates; calls on the Commission and Member States to come up with measures for raising economic operators’ awareness about agreements concluded and for sustaining dialogue on a regular basis with professional associations, companies, social partners and civil society;
Amendment 191 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Welcomes the publication by the Council of the negotiating mandates for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and for the agreements with Japan, Chile and Tunisia, as well as the Commission’s publication of its draft negotiating mandates for agreements with Australia and New Zealand and for the creation of the MIC; calls on the Council and the Member States to publish all negotiating mandates, and on the Commission to publish all draft mandates for the opening of future negotiations; asks the Council and the Commission, when they are drafting and adopting negotiating mandates, to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations; supports the opening of negotiations for an inter-institutional agreement to lay out a formal process to that effect;
Amendment 194 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Reiterates its request that Member States, Parliament, national parliaments, economic operators and representatives of civil society and social partners should be more closely involved in trade policy monitoring including on but not limited to TSD provisions; calls on the Commission to publish an action plan and details of the ‘Enhanced Partnership’ model for the implementation of trade agreements;
Amendment 195 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Asks the Commission to improve the quality of the impact studies carried out for each trade agreement and to include in them sectoral and geographical analysis; stresses that better and more timely communication about the information contained in ex ante and ex post impact studies on trade agreements is essential;
Amendment 197 #
2017/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Welcomes the announcement that a consultative group is being set up to monitor trade policy; stresses the importance of establishing the new body rapidly and in a transparent, public and inclusive way; asks the Commission to publish the consultative group’s meeting and working documents on a regular basis; also calls on the Commission to define processes to ensure that issues raised by the consultative group are properly responded to and contributions are taken into account during negotiations;
Amendment 29 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the current tax framework does not account for large online businesses who are avoiding taxes by routing most of their profits to tax havens;
Amendment 79 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Considers that trade agreements should provide for increased cooperation between consumer protection agencies and welcomes initiatives to foster consumer trust-enhancing measures in trade negotiations such as disciplines on electronic signatures and contracts and unsolicited communications; highlights that the rights of consumers must be protected and must not be diluted in any case; stresses in this regard that the processing of services has to comply with high standards such as the protection of data and privacy, and underlines in this regard the importance of the fight against Internet crime;
Amendment 84 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Recalls that the digital economy generally and digital trade specifically can cause disruption in other sectors and do not automatically lead to equitable and shared growth; stresses in this regard that the necessary social flanking measures must be put in place for them to benefit the whole society, such as strong education and training policies, active labour market policies and measures to overcome the digital divide;
Amendment 85 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Recalls that the new digital labour market claims to be flexible and cost- efficient, for both clients and independent contractors; stresses in this regard, that this new flexibility often goes hand in hand with precarious working conditions and undermines hard-won legal and social standards of decent work; Calls therefore on the Commission to focus on increasing protection of workers in the field of crowd working, including minimum wage, a form of social and health insurance, privacy protection and liability insurance;
Amendment 93 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to prioritise and speed upcontinue with the adoption of adequacy decisions while ensuring that each individual adequacy decision is fully in line with the Union’s data protection legal framework and ensures a high level of protection for personal data; in order to facilitate the adoption of adequacy decisions; calls on, the Commission should consider the possibility to adopt, and to make public, updated and detailed binding procedures for reaching these decisions;
Amendment 116 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to prohibit unjustified and disproportionate data localisation requirements in FTAs;
Amendment 137 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines that a digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of net neutrality and safeguard the equal treatment of Internet traffic, without discrimination, restriction or interference, irrespective of its sender, receiver, type, content, device, service or application and recalls that traffic management measures should be allowed only in exceptional cases where they are strictly necessary, and only for as long as necessary, to comply with legal requirements, preserve the integrity and security of the network or prevent impending network congestion;
Amendment 151 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Highlights that a coherent EU approach is necessary regarding the taxation of the digital economy to achieve fair and effective taxation of all companies in order to create a level playing field and recalls that the fundamental guiding principle must be that taxes are paid where the profit is made; Welcomes recent efforts by the Commission to pursue the effective and just taxation of digital multinational companies and recalls that trade Agreements should include a Tax Good Governance Clause that would reaffirm the Parties’ commitment to implementation of agreed international standards in the fight against tax evasion and avoidance, on obligations for country-by-country reporting, automatic exchange of information and the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership;
Amendment 180 #
2017/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of policy coherence for development, and should in particular seek to promote and enable start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises engaging in cross border e-commerce recalling the contribution this could make to gender equality since a great number of these companies are women owned and operated;
Amendment 6 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for own resources reforms that establish a predictable and stable basis for the EU budget which is independent, transparent and balanced and will address the growing pressure on the EU budget, simplify the complex and opaqueabolish all rebate arrangements, and aim to lower the contribution of the Member States (and not increase the tax burden on EU citizens) and decrease the EU’s dependency on the national contributions based on VAT and GNI;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Expects that the current VAT- based own resources are replaced by a proper transfer of a share of VAT levied at national level;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls for a reform of the system of own resources in such a way that the own resources share of the EU budget is increased to at least 50 percent;
Amendment 16 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the need to analyse the impact on the traditional own resources of the conclusion of (free) trade agreements and to allocate alternative sources of income in order to compensate for a possible decrease in those resources and their probable instability;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for an exploration of the possibilities feasibility check ofn creating sustainability- and emission- based customs duties and levies on trade in goods and services, and for the incorporation of such measures into the EU’s international trade policies and agreements as constituting a source for own resources;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for own resources that can only be generated by collective European action and have a clear added value for the Union by improving the functioning of the internal market and therefore expects the introduction of a financial transaction tax and the European harmonisation of corporate income taxes and the partial use thereof as new own resources;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the rates of self- employment (2006: 3.7%, 2016: 5,6%) and the proportion of workers taking up second jobs (2002: 3.6%, 2016: 4,2%) are on the rise in the EU;
Amendment 15 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas European labour markets are rapidly evolving towards 'atypical' or 'non-standard' forms of employment, such as temporary work, part-time work, casual work, seasonal work, on-demand work or work on online platforms, which show many features of employment but do not bring the benefits normally associated with employment;
Amendment 21 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas non-standard forms of employment often involve economic insecurity and bad working conditions, notably in terms of lower and less certain incomes, lack of possibilities to defend one's rights, lack of social and health insurance, lack of career prospects, and difficulties in reconciling on-demand work with private and family life;
Amendment 24 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas promoting social justice and protection, as defined in Article 3 TEU and Article 9 TFEU, are also objectives of the EU internal market;
Amendment 27 #
Amendment 28 #
2017/2003(INI)
-1a. Notes that there is no common definition of the digital economy based on online platforms ('platform economy', 'collaborative economy', 'sharing economy' etc.); points out that the use of the terminology 'platform economy' seems to be the most objective description and calls on the Commission to ensure the usage of coherent terminology;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the need for a clear distinction between ‘profession'commercial’' and ‘'non-professional’ platforms andcommercial' platforms as well as between professional and occasional users/workers; underlines the importance to recognise remunerated activities in the platform economy that are properly categorised as ‘'work’' regardless of the terminology ('gigs', 'tasks', 'giving rides' etc.);
Amendment 37 #
Amendment 42 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. States that all workers in the platform economy are either employed or self-employed based on the primacy of facts; recalls ingardless of how thise context that the Court of Justice has defined the concept of ‘worker’ on the basis of an employment relationship characterised by certain criteria such as subordination, remuneration and the nature of workractual relationship is defined; highlights that all work in the platform economy should be classified accordingly;
Amendment 51 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 54 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase its efforts to tackle bogus self-employment; notes that there are cases where self-employed platform workers meet the ECJ criteria defining an employment relationship, and which should therefore be classified as employees; calls on the Commission and the Member States to work towards a common definition of self-employed which also applies to the platform economy;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CallReiterates its call in the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights for a framework directive on decent working conditions including in the platform economy, in order to guarantedefine the legal situation of platform workers and to ensure, in line with national law and practice, that all platform workers have the same social and employment rights ands well as health and safety protection as workers in the traditional economy; underlines the importance of such a directive, taking into account the mobility and delocalisation of digital work, with regard to the creation of a level playing field;
Amendment 75 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the needCalls on the Member States to ensure adequate social security for self- employed workers, who are key players in the digital labour market; stresses that freedom of association and collective action are fundamental rights which must apply to all workers;
Amendment 85 #
Amendment 86 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that freedom of association and collective action are fundamental rights which must apply to all workers; is concerned that the right of workers to freely associate may be called to question if they are regarded as self- employed and collective bargaining could be regarded as forming a cartel, which could put them in conflict with EU rules on anti-competitive practices; underlines in this context the need to adjust European and national competition law accordingly; urges the Commission to exclude individual platform workers from anti-cartel-measures; calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to increase collective bargain coverage, union density and to empower workers in the platform economy to bargain;
Amendment 87 #
Amendment 88 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls fon the Commission and the Member States to gather more reliable data on jobs and working conditions in the platform economy and for the adjustment of related policies to create a level playing field between the platform and traditional economie; calls on the Commission, the Member States and social partners to provide adequate information to workers on working conditions and workers' rights throughout the supply-chain of online platforms;
Amendment 101 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that possible efficiency advantages of the online platforms over the traditional economy should not rely on wage dumping and unfair competition; calls therefore for the adjustment of related policies to create a level playing field between the platform and traditional economies;
Amendment 105 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 106 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that all mandatory contributions are paid for all forms of work and examine to what extent social security systems have to be adjusted to provide appropriate protection for platform workers; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the portability and accumulation of social security entitlements;
Amendment 108 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Calls on the Commission to examine in how far existing EU regulations are applicable to the digital labour market and ensure the adequate implementation and enforcement; calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the need for the modernisation of existing legislation to stay abreast of such changes and to encourage social partners to update collective agreements where necessary so that existing protection standards can also be maintained in the digital world of work;
Amendment 109 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Amendment 110 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Calls on the Commission to broaden the Written Statement Directive (91/533/EEC) to cover all forms of employment and employment relationships;
Amendment 111 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5g. Stresses that the socially and environmentally sustainable online platforms organized on cooperative basis should be promoted and supported;
Amendment 112 #
Amendment 113 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 i (new)
Paragraph 5 i (new)
5i. Points out that as job and skills profiles become more complex, new demands – especially regarding information and communications technology (ICT) skills – are being placed on training as well as on further education and life-long learning to promote digital literacy and to tackle the existing gender and generational gaps, especially for disadvantaged persons in this context; emphasises the importance of stronger synergies involving the social partners and various educational and training institutions in order to bring teaching and studies' contents up to date and develop skills strategies linking the world of education with the world of work;
Amendment 114 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 j (new)
Paragraph 5 j (new)
5j. Insists that public investment in vocational education and lifelong learning is necessary in order to ensure that the EU workforce, is equipped with the right skills for the digital age; stresses that education and training must be accessible for all workers; believes that new funding opportunities for lifelong learning and training are needed, especially for micro and small enterprises;
Amendment 115 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 k (new)
Paragraph 5 k (new)
5k. Is concerned about the quality of the services intermediated or provided by online platforms; stresses that the quality of services must fulfil the same requirements as in the traditional economy to prevent health and safety risks; calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to develop protective mechanisms regarding the monitoring of qualifications;
Amendment 116 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 l (new)
Paragraph 5 l (new)
5l. Reporting duties and transparency obligations for platform operators
Amendment 121 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for EU standards on transparency and disclosure obligations for platform operators in order to monitor tax payments, social security contributions and practices regarding the rating of work on platforms and to ensure that all relevant information is available to national authorities; criticizes the information asymmetries paramount on many online platforms whereby platforms and clients have access to much more information on workers than vice versa;
Amendment 127 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need to ensure the portability of ratings of platform workers which constitute their digital market value and are important to avoid dependency of workers on certain platforms since ratings are important determinants in the allocation of tasks; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the transferability and accumulation of ratings across platforms;
Amendment 134 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take decisive steps to prohibit discriminatory and opaque algorithms and software developed or used by online platforms which do not comply with European and national legislation and set up monitoring structures accordingly;
Amendment 137 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Seeks the Commission and the Member States in collaboration with the social partners to ensure that workers and users are able to rate online platforms;
Amendment 138 #
Amendment 139 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Believes that the effects of digitalisation on health and safety at work need to be assessed and existing health and safety provisions adapted accordingly;
Amendment 144 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that constant accessibilitywork-related mental health problems such as burnout or depressions caused by constant accessibility, the erosion of traditional working time arrangements and social isolation represents a serious health and safety risk in the platform economy; advocates therefore full compliance with the prescribed rest times and stresses the need to respect working time arrangements in order to maintain the boundaries of working time as defined by the labour laws of the individual Member States; advocates the establishment of a ‘'right to log off’. ' for worker outside the agreed working hours;
Amendment 154 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to produce a study on the spillover effects of digitalisation, on workers' psychological wellbeing and private life;
Amendment 156 #
2017/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses that the EU should support the rapid development of the platform economy through the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework and shape its course in a socially just and sustainable way.
Amendment 293 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Emphasises that the digital revolution is having a profound impact on the labour market and that emerging trends in the collaborative economy are part of a broader tendency within the overall digitalisation of the society; underlines the risks of unclear employment relations, unfair working conditions and non compliance with worker's rights;
Amendment 298 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. At the same time, notes that the collaborative economy is opening new opportunities and new, flexible routes into work for all users - including prosumers - thriving innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe;
Amendment 305 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Underlines the paramount importance of safeguarding workers’ rights in collaborative services, - first and foremost the worker`s right to organise, take collective action and negotiate collective agreements - of avoiding social dumping, and of guaranteeing fair working conditions and adequate social protection;
Amendment 317 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Stresses that there is a strong need to fully clarify the working relationship between workers and collaborative platforms; calls on the Commission and the Member States to guarantee a level playing field between digital and traditional economies also from the labour market and workers' right perspective, avoiding thus the risk of applying different rules to comparable situations and unfair competition;
Amendment 323 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. Recalls that all workers in the collaborative economy are either employed (employees) or self-employed and that all work in the collaborative economy should be classified accordingly, avoiding the creation of new hybrid categories for workers in the collaborative economy; regardless of the status classification, calls the Commission and Member States to assess the possibility to extend traditional protections of employment law and social security protections established at national level to workers in the collaborative economy;
Amendment 325 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. Due to the rising number of self- employed workers in the collaborative economy, urges the Commission to re- examine the existing EU competition laws, which are now hampering the right to organise for those workers treated as independent contractors, in order to guarantee the fundamental right to organise, undertake collective actions and negotiate collectively, including with regard to their compensation;
Amendment 327 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 d (new)
Paragraph 33 d (new)
33 d. Underlines the importance to ensure the portability of ratings and reviews for collaborative platforms workers and to guarantee the transferability and accumulation of ratings and reviews across different platforms while respecting rules on data protection and the privacy of other parties involved;
Amendment 328 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 e (new)
Paragraph 33 e (new)
33 e. Stresses the importance of up to date skills in the changing employment world to ensure that all workers could have adequate skills, as required in the digital economy; encourages the Commission, Member States and collaborative economy businesses to enable life-long learning training and skills development;
Amendment 329 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 f (new)
Paragraph 33 f (new)
33 f. Draws attention to the lack of data relating to changes in the employment world brought by the collaborative economy and underlines the importance of closely monitoring working conditions in the collaborative economy in order to combat illegalities; furthermore, encourages each Member States to appoint a national competent entity as responsible for controlling and evaluating emerging trends in the collaborative economy's labour market, taking necessary actions in case of illegalities, and informing other relevant authorities; asks Member States to periodically provide to the European Commission with data and information about jobs and working conditions in the collaborative economy;
Amendment 88 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Since the adoption of Council Directive 91/533/EEC,33 labour markets have undergone far-reaching changes due to demographic developments and digitalisation leading to the creation of new forms of employment, which have supported job creation and labour market growth. New forms of employment are often not as regular or stable as traditional employment relationships and lead to reduced predictability for the workers concerned, creating uncertainty as tond precariousness as to working conditions, applicable rights and social protection. In this evolving world of work, there is therefore an increased need for all workers in all types of employment relationship to be fully informed about their essential working conditions, which should occur in a written form and in a timely manner. In order adequately to frame the development of new forms of employment, workers in the Union should also be provided with a number of new minimum rights aimed at promoting security and predictability in employment relationships while achieving upward convergence across Member States and preserving labour market adaptabililegal certainty. __________________ 33 Council Directive 91/533/EC of 14 October 1991 on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship (OJ L 288, 18.10.1991, p. 32).
Amendment 98 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Minimum requirements relating to information on the essential aspects of the employment relationship and relating to working conditions that apply to every worker should therefore be strengthened and established at Union level in order to guarantee all workers in the Union an adequate degree of transparency and predictability as regards their working conditions.
Amendment 100 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
Amendment 110 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to ensure effectiveness of the rights provided by the Union law, the personal scope of Directive 91/533/EEC should be updated. In its case law, the Court of Justice of the European Union has established criteria for determining the status of a worker34 which are appropriate for determining the personal scope of application of this Directive. The definition of worker in Article 2(1) is based on these criteria. They ensure a uniform implementation of the personal scope of the Directive while leaving it to national authorities and courts to apply it to specific situations. Provided that they fulfil those criteria, domestic workers, on-demand workers, intermittent workers, voucher based-workers, platform workers, trainees and, apprentices could come within scope of this Directive, au-pairs, researchers and everyone who is factually in any other type of employment relationship should come within scope of this Directive. It should also be taken into account that digitalisation of the world of work in some sectors brings about factual subordination of the natural person performing the work. In order to support implementation of the Directive at national level, the determination of the existence of an employment relationship should be guided among others by criteria provided in the ILO Recommendation No. 198 (2006). __________________ 34 Judgments of 3 July 1986, Deborah Lawrie-Blum, Case 66/85; 14 October 2010, Union Syndicale Solidaires Isère, Case C-428/09; 9 July 2015, Balkaya, Case C-229/14; 4 December 2014, FNV Kunsten, Case C-413/13; and 17 November 2016, Ruhrlandklinik, Case C- 216/15.
Amendment 117 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission solemnly proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights in their Interinstitutional proclamation of 17 November 2017. Principle 12 of the Pillar states that regardless of the type and duration of their employment relationship, workers, and, under comparable conditions, the self-employed, have the right to adequate social protection. Social protection systems are the cornerstone of the Union social model and of a well-functioning social market economy. The key function of social protection is to protect people against the financial implications of social risks, such as illness, old age, accidents at work, or job loss, to prevent and alleviate poverty and uphold a decent standard of living. In some Member States, certain categories of workers such as workers on short part-time workers, seasonal workers, on-demand workers, platform workers and those on temporary agency contracts or traineeships are excluded from social protection schemes. Moreover, workers who do not have full- time, open-ended contracts can encounter difficulties in being effectively covered by social protection, because they may not fulfil the entitlement criteria for receiving benefits from contributions-based social protection schemes.
Amendment 130 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In view of the increasing number of workers excluded from the scope of Directive 91/533/EEC on the basis of derogations made by Member States under Article 1 of that Directive, it is necessary to replace these derogations with a possibility for Member States not to apply the provisions of the Directive to a work relationship equal to or less than 8 hours in total in a reference period of one month. That derogation does not affect the definition of a worker as provided for in Article 2(1)eliminate these derogations.
Amendment 142 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
Amendment 152 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Several different natural or legal persons may in practice assume the functions and responsibilities of an employer. Member States should remain free to determine more precisely the person(s) who are considered totally or partially responsible for the execution of the obligations that this Directive lays down for employers, as long as all those obligations are fulfilled. Member States should also be able to decide that some or all of these obligations are to be assigned to a natural or legal person who is not party to the employment relationship. Member States should be able to establish specific rules to exclude individuals acting as employers for domestic workers in the houseensure that when there is more than one natural or legal person that, directly or indirectly, bears the obligations for employers set out in this Directive, all of these persons are jointly and severally liable for these obligations. Member States should from thebe able to adapt the specific rules regarding obligations to consider and respond to a request for a different type of employment, to provide and those on cost-free mandatory training, and from coverage of the redress mechanism based on favourable presumptions in the case of missing information in the written statementfor individuals acting as employers for domestic workers in their household.
Amendment 154 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Given the growth of the platform economy and the urgent pressure to regulate the provision of services by workers to recipients through the intermediary of an Internet platform, and in the absence of the specific regulation of working conditions in this sector, it is necessary to provide tools at National and European level to ensure fair and secure working conditions for all workers and a level playing field for all types of business models.
Amendment 155 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 b (new)
Recital 10 b (new)
(10b) According to the ECJ, the activities of an au-pair display the characteristics to enable, in principle, those who perform the said activities to be workers, as au-pair work is done under the direction of another person and in exchange of remuneration for the services performed. The concept of ‘worker’ in EU law extends to a person who serves a traineeship or periods of apprenticeship in an occupation that may be regarded as practical preparation related to the actual pursuit of the occupation in question, provided that the periods are served under the conditions of genuine and effective activity as an employed person, for and under the direction of an employer.
Amendment 157 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Directive 91/533/EEC introduced a minimum list of essential aspects on which workers have to be informed in writing. It is necessary to adapt that listminimum list of essential aspects, which may be enlarged by Member States, in order to take account of developments on the labour market, in particular the growth of non- standard forms of employment.
Amendment 161 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Information on remuneration to be provided should include all elements of the remuneration, indicating accurately all elements and entitlements as well as their method of calculation where appropriate, including contributions in cash or kind, directly or indirectly received by the worker in respect of his or her work. The provision of such information should be without prejudice to the freedom for employers to provide for additional elements of remuneration such as one-off payments. The fact that elements of remuneration due by law or collective agreement have not been included in that information should not constitute a reason for not providing them to the worker.
Amendment 194 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Workers should have the right to be informed about their rights and obligations resulting from the employment relationship in writing atprior to the start of employment. The relevant information should therefore reach them at the latest on the first day of the employment.
Amendment 209 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Probationary periods allow employers to verify that workers are suitable for the position for which they have been engaged while providing them with accompanying support and training. Such periods may be accompanied by reduced protection against dismissal. Any entry into the labour market or transition to a new position should not be subject to prolonged insecurity. As established in the European Pillar of Social Rights, probationary periods should therefore be of reasonable duration. A substantial number of Member States have established a general maximum duration of probation between three and six months, which should be considered reasonable. Probationary periods may be longer than six months where this is justified by the nature of the employment such as for managerial positions and where this is in the interest of the worker, such as in the case of long illness or in the context of specific measures promoting permanent employment notably for young workersin any case should not be extended.
Amendment 227 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Employers should not prohibit, prevent or hinder workers from taking up employment with other employers, outside the time spent working for them, within the limits set out in Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.39 IMember States may establish incompatibility clauses, understood as a restriction on working for specific categories of employers, may be necessary for objective reasons, such as the protection of business secrets or the avoidance of conflicts of interests. __________________ 39 Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (OJ L 299, 18.11.2003, p. 9).
Amendment 231 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Workers whose work schedule is mostly variable, or whose reference hours/days are variable, should benefit from a minimum predictability of work where the work schedule is mainly determined by the employer, be it directly – for instance by allocating work assignments – or indirectly – for instance by requiring the worker to respond to clients' requests.
Amendment 237 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) A reasonable minimum advance notice, understood as the period of time between the moment a worker is informed about a new work assignment and the moment the assignment starts, constitutes another necessary element of predictability of work for employment relationships with work schedule which are variable or mostly determined by the employer. The reasonable length of the advance notice period may vary according to the needs of sectors, while ensuring adequate protection of workers. Itbut should not be shorter than 5 working days. It applies without prejudice to Directive 2002/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.40 The predetermined work schedule applies without prejudice to Directive 2002/153/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.40the Council. A worker is entitled to guaranteed paid work where he or she has been given notice of work, even if the work is cancelled. This guaranteed paid work, in case of cancellation, cannot be replaced by a different assignment. __________________ 40 Directive 2002/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities (OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, p. 35).
Amendment 248 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24 a (new)
Recital 24 a (new)
(24a) In the spirit of Principle 5 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, it is necessary to specifically prohibit any employment relationship where no guaranteed amount of paid work is predetermined prior to the start of the employment relationship such as zero- hour contracts. Member States should ensure that employers who regularly use variable work schedules and variable reference hours/days provide relevant information to competent authorities if they so request. They should ensure also that after a certain period the employment relationship, for which an average of number of hours can be considered as normal, these hours should come to constitute the minimum guaranteed number of paid hours. Member States should ensure that the employers pay a premium for non-guaranteed hours of work.
Amendment 251 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Where employers have the possibility to offer full-time or open-ended labour contracts to workers in non-standard forms of employment, a transition to more secure forms of employment should be promoted. Workers should be able to request another more predictable and secure form of employment, where available, and receive a written response duly justified from the employer, which takes into account the needs of the employer and of the worker and where any refusal is based in objective business conditions.
Amendment 268 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Social partners may consider that in specific sectors or situations different, provisions are more appropriate, for the pursuit of the purpose of this Directive, than the minimum standards set in Chapter Threon minimum standards set in Chapter Three of this Directive can be adapted and/or complemented for the pursuit of the purpose of this Directive. Member States should therefore be able to allow social partners to conclude or uphold collective agreements modifying the provisions contained in that cChapter III, as long as the overall level of protection of workers is not lowered.
Amendment 282 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The consultation on the European Pillar of Social Rights showed the need to strengthen enforcement of Union labour law to ensure its effectiveness. As regards Directive 91/533/EEC, the REFIT evaluation41 confirmed that strengthened enforcement mechanisms could improve its effectiveness. It showed that redress systems based solely on claims for damages are less effective than systems that also provide for sanctions (such as lump sums or loss of permits) for employers who fail to issue written statements. It also showed that employees rarely seek redress during the employment relationship, which jeopardises the goal of the provision of the written statement to ensure workers are informed about their essential features of their employment relationship. It is therefore necessary to introduce enforcement provisions which ensure the use either of favourable presumptions where information about the employment relationship is not provided, or ofand an administrative procedure under which the employer may be required to provide the missing information and subject to sanction if it does not. That redress should be subject to a procedure by which the employer is notified that information is missing and has 15 days in whichshould have a set term in which the employer is to supply complete and correct information. __________________ 41 SWD(2017)205 final, page 26. SWD(2017)205 final, page 26.
Amendment 284 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) An extensive system of enforcement provisions for the social acquis in the Union has been adopted since Directive 91/533/EEC, notably in the fields of anti-discrimination and equal opportunities, elements of which should be applied to this Directive in order to ensure that workers have access to effective and impartial dispute resolution and a right to redress, including adequate compensation and ensuring that when there are more than one natural or legal person bearing directly or indirectly obligations set out in this Directive for employers, all of them are jointly and severally liable for these obligations, reflecting the Principle 7 of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 289 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) Workers exercising rights provided for in this Directive should enjoy protection from dismissal or equivalent detriment (such as an on-demand worker no longer being assigned work) or any preparations for a possible dismissal, on the grounds that they sought to exercise such rights. Where workers consider that they have been dismissed or have suffered equivalent detriment on those grounds, workers and competent authorities should be able to require the employer to provide duly substantiated grounds for the dismissal or equivalent measure, and the right to reinstatement and compensation should be guaranteed by the Member States.
Amendment 298 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 a (new)
Recital 34 a (new)
(34a) Member States should ensure the principle of equal pay and terms and conditions to apply to all workers regardless of their employment status, with respect to comparable permanent workers.
Amendment 299 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 b (new)
Recital 34 b (new)
(34b) Member States should ensure that workers have access to social protection regardless of the type of their employment relationship.
Amendment 300 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 c (new)
Recital 34 c (new)
(34c) Member States shall ensure that workers in mostly variable work schedules or with variable reference hours/days have access to safety and health protection.
Amendment 315 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. The purpose of this Directive is to improve working conditions by promoting more secure and predictable employment while ensuring labour market adaptabilityfor every worker, regardless of the type and duration of the employment relationship.
Amendment 320 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive lays down minimum rights that apply to every worker in the Union, ensuring for all of them a core set of enforceable rights, regardless of the type of contract, employment relationship or if they are working in the public or private sector.
Amendment 333 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Amendment 343 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 4
Article 1 – paragraph 4
Amendment 351 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 5
Article 1 – paragraph 5
5. Member States may determine which persons are responsible for the execution of the obligations for employers laid down by this Directive as long as all those obligations are fulfilled. They may also decide that all or part of these obligations shall be assigned to a natural or legal person who is not party to the employment relationship. When there is more than one natural or legal person that, directly or indirectly, bears the obligations for employers set out in this Directive, all of these persons are jointly and severally liable for these obligations. This paragraph is without prejudice to Directive 2008/104/EC.
Amendment 362 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 6
Article 1 – paragraph 6
6. Member States may decide not to apply the obligations set out in Articles 10 and 11 and Article 14(a) to natural personfamily members belonging to a household where work is performed for that household. However, in accordance with the ILO Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, domestic workers shall fall under the scope of this Directive.
Amendment 364 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Member States should take specific account of the platform economy as the provision of services by workers to recipients through the intermediary of an Internet platform, whose commercial activities are designed to make profits. In the absence of specific national or European regulation of the working conditions in the platform economy, it shall be deemed that the underlying contractual relationship to provide services through platform work is an employment relationship between the worker and the platform falling under the scope of this Directive. This legal presumption may be rebutted by the Internet platform.
Amendment 366 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 6 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. In the absence of specific national or European regulation of the working conditions of au-pairs, it shall be deemed that the employment relations covering au-pair work fall under the scope of this Directive.
Amendment 367 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 6 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. In the absence of specific national or European regulation of the working conditions of apprenticeships and traineeships, it shall be deemed that the employment relations covering apprenticeships and traineeships fall under the scope of this Directive.
Amendment 381 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘worker’ means a natural person who for a certain period of time performs services for and under the direction of another person in return for remuneration or who is factually in any type of employment relationship;
Amendment 404 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ‘reference hours and days’ means time slots in specified days during which work can take place at the request of the employer.;
Amendment 407 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) ‘social protection scheme’ means a distinct framework of rules to provide benefits to entitled beneficiaries. Such rules specify the personal scope of the programme, entitlement conditions, the type of benefits, benefit amounts, benefits’ duration and other benefit characteristics, as well as the financing (contributions, general taxation, other sources), governance and administration of the programme.
Amendment 411 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. For the purposes of this Directive the determination of the existence of an employment relationship should be guided primarily by the facts relating to the performance of work, the actual nature of the activity and the remuneration of the worker, regardless of how the relationship is characterised in any contrary arrangement, contractual or otherwise, that may have been agreed between the parties. An employment relationship will be deemed to be existing provided that some of the following indicators are present: (a) the fact that the work is carried out according to the instructions and under the control of another party; the terms and conditions for the provision of work and the price and conditions of the services provided are settled unilaterally by another party; the duties fall under the company normal activity; the business activity is controlled and organised by another party; involves the integration of the worker in the organization of the enterprise; the work performed is similar to that of existing employees or to work formerly carried out by employees; is performed solely or mainly for the benefit of another person; is carried out personally by the worker; is carried out within specific working hours or at a workplace specified or agreed by the party requesting the work; is of a particular duration and has a certain continuity; requires the worker’s availability or involves the provision of tools, digital means, materials and machinery by the party requesting the work; responsibility for investment and management in the business correspond to another party; (b) periodic payment of remuneration to the worker; the fact that such remuneration constitutes the worker’s sole or principal source of income and implies economic dependence; provision of payment in kind, such as food, lodging or transport; recognition of entitlements such as weekly rest and annual holidays; payment by the party requesting the work for travel undertaken by the worker in order to carry out the work; or absence of financial risk for the worker or participation in the profits;
Amendment 424 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least:
Amendment 428 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) in the case of a temporary employment relationship, the end date or the expected duration thereof; the name of the user undertaking in case of temporary agency workers as well as the pay scales and access to social protection of the user undertaking in order to provide for equal pay and equal social protection between workers;
Amendment 444 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) the procedure, including the length of the periods of notice, to be observed by the employer and the worker should their employment relationship be terminated or, where the length of the period of notice cannot be indicated when the information is given, the method and the formal requirements for determining such periods of notice, as well as the deadline for taking legal action contesting the dismissal;
Amendment 453 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) the initial basic amount, any other component elements, indicating separately payments of overtime, bonuses and other entitlements such as sick pay; the method of calculation; the frequency and method of payment of the remuneration to which the worker is entitled;
Amendment 465 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point k
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point k
(k) if the work schedule is entirely or mostly not variable, the length of the worker’s standardnormal working day or week and any arrangements for overtime and its remuneration;
Amendment 470 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l – introductory part
(l) if the work schedule is entirely or mostly variable, the principle that the work schedule is variable, the amount of guaranteed paid hours, the additional, higher remuneration of work performed in addition to the guaranteed hours and, if the work schedule is entirely or mostly determined, by the employer:
Amendment 479 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point l – point ii
(ii) the minimum advance notice the worker shall receive before the start of a work assignment;
Amendment 486 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point m
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point m
(m) any collective agreements governing the worker’s conditions of work; in the case of collective agreements concluded outside the business by special joint bodies or institutions, the name of the competent body or joint institution within which the agreements were concluded; the preclusive periods if any;
Amendment 495 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point n a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point n a (new)
(na) any benefits in kind which the employer provides for the worker;
Amendment 497 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point n b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point n b (new)
(nb) any categorization into a general pay scheme;
Amendment 503 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. The information referred to in paragraph 2(f) to (k) and (n) may, where appropriate, be given in the form ofaccompanied by a reference to the laws, regulations and administrative or statutory provisions or collective agreements governing those particular points.
Amendment 508 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The minimum reasonable advance notice the worker shall receive before the start of a work assignment as set out in paragraph 2 (l) shall, where appropriate, be agreed upon by the social partners at the appropriate level.
Amendment 519 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The information referred to in Article 3(2) shall be provided in writing individually to the worker in the form of a document at the latest on the first day, prior to the start of the employment relationship. That document may be provided and transmitted electronically as long as it is easily accessible by the worker and the labour inspectorate, its receipt is acknowledged, and it can be stored and printed.
Amendment 530 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The employer will provide in paper or electronically and with acknowledgment of receipt, a copy of the document as referred to in Article 4 (1) to the workers representatives, at the appropriate level, in accordance with national law and practice and with Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Union and with Regulation 679/2016 on data protection.
Amendment 543 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall develop with social partners at the appropriate level, templates and models for the document referred to in paragraph 1 and put them at the disposal of workers and employers including by making them available on a single official national website and by other suitable means.
Amendment 547 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the information on the laws, regulations and administrative or statutory provisions or collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable and governing the legal framework applicable which are to be communicated by employers is made generally available free of charge in a clear, transparent, comprehensive and easily accessible way at a distance and by electronic means, including through existing online portals for Union citizens, trade unions and businesses.
Amendment 554 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The condition to make collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable available must be without prejudice to national social partners autonomy, in particular regarding how collective agreements are concluded and formulated.
Amendment 556 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that: (a) any change in the aspects of the employment relationship referred to in Article 3(2) and to the additional information for workers posted or sent abroad in Article 6 may only be made in accordance with national law or practice and shall be provided in the form of a document by the employer to the worker at the earliest opportunity and at the latest on the day it takes effect. nd, where applicable, his/her legal representatives, at the earliest opportunity and at the latest 15 days before the modification takes effect, as provided for in Article 4; (b) any change in the aspects of the employment relationship referred to in Article 3(2) and to the additional information for workers posted or sent abroad in Article 6 shall be objectively justified by the employer; (c) when the changes affect aspects regarding article 3 (2)points (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (j), (k), (l), the worker has the right to terminate the employment relationship before the change takes effect and receive a monetary compensation, according to national law and practice.
Amendment 573 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the country or countries as well as the exact place or places in which the work abroad is to be performed and its duration;
Amendment 577 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) any arrangements for the possible lengthening or shortening of the period of work;
Amendment 579 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) the name of the line manager in the place or places of work where the work abroad is to be performed;
Amendment 581 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d (new)
(dd) if applicable, any changes in tax and social security arrangements for the period in which the work abroad is to be performed;
Amendment 583 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States shall ensure that, if the worker sent abroad is a posted worker covered by Directive 96/71/EC, he or she shall in addition be notified, as provided for in Article 4 and 5, of:
Amendment 588 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall ensure that this notification is in line with the provisions laid down in Articles 4 and 5 of this Directive, and that the employer provides the additional information about the applicable rules to the worker in writing or electronically. Regardless of the medium, receipt of the information by the worker must be acknowledged, it must be possible to store and print the information, and the information must be easily accessible for the worker and the labour inspectorate.
Amendment 590 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Amendment 598 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Amendment 606 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that, where an employment relationship is subject to a probationary period, that period shall not exceed in any case six months, including any extension, for high skilled positions and three months for medium and low skilled positions, according with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011. In the case of fixed-term contracts, the probationary period shall not exceed a quarter of the duration of the contract. In case of renewal of a contract, a new probationary period is not allowed.
Amendment 619 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may provide for longer probationary periods in cases where this is justified by the nature of the employment or is in the interest of the workerAny probationary period shall not hamper the accrual of workers’ rights.
Amendment 630 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – title
Article 8 – title
Amendment 633 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that an employer shall not prohibit, prevent or hinder workers from taking up employment with other employers, outside the work schedule established with that employer.
Amendment 646 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. EmployMember States together with social partners may however lay down conditions of incompatibility where such restrictions are justified by legitimate reasons such as theand objective reasons to protection of business secrets or the avoidance of conflicts of interests.
Amendment 659 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall ensure that where a worker's work schedule is entirely or mostly variable and entirely or mostly determined by the employer, or where the reference hours/days are variable, the worker may be required to work by the employer only:
Amendment 668 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) if the worker is informed by their employer of a work assignment a reasonable period in advance of at least 5 days, in accordance with Article 3(2)(l)(ii). For emergency services a reasonable period of less than 5 days can be determined by national law or practice.
Amendment 684 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a The Member States shall ensure, that: (a) the predetermined work schedule does not set out weekly working hours above the legislative maximum weekly working hours and that reference hours/days respect the 11 hour consecutive rest period as laid down in Directive 2003/88/EC (b) where notice is given of work, the worker is entitled to be paid for the hours of which he/she was notified. (c) if work is cancelled without due notice, the worker is entitled to the correspondent remuneration for the hours of which they were he/she was notified. This entitlement cannot be replaced by giving the worker a different assignment at a later date.
Amendment 696 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Member States shall prohibit any employment relationship where no guaranteed amount of paid work is predetermined prior to the start of the employment relationship.
Amendment 704 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 b (new)
Article 9 b (new)
Amendment 710 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that workers with at least six months' seniority with the same employer may request, at the same enterprise, group or entity, may request to turn their employment relationship into a form of employment with more predictable and secure working conditions where available.
Amendment 723 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The employer shall provide a duly justified written reply within one month of the request. With respect to natural persons acting as employers and micro,Any refusal smhall, or medium enterprises, Member States may provide for that deadline to be extended to no more than three months and allow for an oral reply to a subsequent similar request submitted by the same worker if the justification for the reply as regards the situation of the worker remains unchang be based on objective business conditions. In the absence of a reply within one month, the application is deemed to have been approved.
Amendment 729 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall ensure that workers with a contract of employment or employment relationship with a temporary work agency who have been assigned to the same user undertaking to work temporarily under its supervision and direction for at least six months must be employed as part of the permanent workforce of the user undertaking.
Amendment 740 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that where employers are required by Union or national legislation or relevant collective agreements to provide training to workers to carry out the work for which they are employed, whether prior to or during the employment relationship, such training shall be provided cost-free to the worker who remains entitled to his or her full remuneration.
Amendment 759 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Member States may allow social partners to conclude collective agreements, in conformity with the national law or pra, with the consent of the most representative social partners at national level, allow social partners to conclude collective agreements, at the appropriate level, adapting and/or complementing the provisions of Chapter III of this Directicve, in a manner which, while respectingl take account of the specific needs of the oversociall protection of workers, establish arrangements concernartners concerned while respecting the minimum requirements laid down ing the working conditions of workers which differ from those referred to in Articles 7 to 11is Directive, or to uphold existing collective agreements if they respect the overall level of protection.
Amendment 776 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Amendment 790 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall ensure that, where a worker has not received in due time all or part of the documents referred to in Article 4(1), Article 5, or Article 6, and the employthe worker shas failed to rectify that omission within 15 days of its notification, one of the following systems shall apply:ll benefit from favourable legal presumptions defined by the Member State.
Amendment 792 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 802 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 808 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Where the information provided did not include the information referred to in points (e), (f), (k) or (l) of Article 3(2), the favourable presumptions shall include a presumption that the worker has an open-ended employment relationship, that there is no probationary period or that the worker has a full-time position, respectively. Employers shall have the possibility to rebut the presumptions.
Amendment 811 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14a Early settlement mechanism The worker shall have the possibility to submit a complaint to a competent authority in a timely manner. If the competent authority finds that the complaint is justified, it shall order the relevant employer(s) to provide the missing information. If the employer does not provide the missing information within the term imposed by the competent authority, following receipt of the order, the authority shall be able to impose an appropriate administrative penalty, even if the employment relationship has ended. Employers shall have the possibility to lodge an administrative appeal against the decision imposing the penalty. Member States may designate existing bodies as competent authorities. Provisions of this mechanism are without prejudice to any judiciary procedure or labour inspectorate action.
Amendment 817 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. When there is more than one natural or legal person that, directly or indirectly, bears the obligations for employers set out in this Directive, all of these persons are jointly and severally liable for these obligations.
Amendment 821 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Member States shall introduce measures necessary to protect workers, including workers who are employees' or trade union representatives, from any adverse treatment by the employer or adverse consequences resulting from a complaint lodged with the employer or from any legal proceedings initiated with the aim of enforcing compliance withexercising the rights provided for in this Directive.
Amendment 830 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to prohibit the dismissal or its equivalent and all preparations for dismissal or other detriments or less favourable treatments of workers, on the grounds that they exercised the rights provided for in this Directive. These measures shall include the right to reinstatement and compensation.
Amendment 839 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. Workers who consider that they have been dismissed, or have been subject to measures with equivalent effect, on the grounds that they have exercised the rights provided for in this Directive may request the employer to provide duly substantiated grounds for the dismissal or its equivalent. The employer shall provide those grounds in writing. Member States shall ensure that the term for bringing an action contesting the dismissal is suspended, as long as the worker has not received written justification from the employer.
Amendment 846 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. If the employer fails to provide substantiated grounds for the dismissal or its equivalent in accordance with Article 17 (2), it shall be presumed that the worker was dismissed on the grounds of exercising the rights of this Directive. Legal consequences of any preparations to or any dismissal due to the exercise of the rights provided for in this Directive are invalid.
Amendment 852 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Member States shall lay down the rules on sanctions and penalties applicable toagainst employers for infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive or the relevant provisions already in force concerning the rights which are within the scope of this Directive. Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that those penalties are applied. Penalties shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. They may take the form of a fine. They mayshall also comprise proportionate payment of compensation.
Amendment 857 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Financial sanctions and penalties shall increase in amount according to (a) the number of infringements; (b) the delay the employer is taking in providing the information to the worker, according to Article 3.
Amendment 859 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18a Equal treatment The Member States shall ensure: (a) that the principle of equal pay and terms and conditions apply to all workers, regardless of their employment status, with respect to comparable permanent workers; (b) where there is no comparable permanent worker in the same establishment, that the comparison shall be made by reference to the applicable collective agreement, or where there is no applicable collective agreement, in accordance with national law, collective agreements or practice; (c) the elimination of discrimination with regard to all aspects and conditions of remuneration and terms and conditions of employment, regardless of the employment status.
Amendment 860 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 b (new)
Article 18 b (new)
Article 18b Access to social protection Member States shall ensure that workers have access to social protection by extending formal coverage on a mandatory basis to all workers, regardless of the type of their employment relationship.
Amendment 861 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 c (new)
Article 18 c (new)
Article 18c Health and safety at work Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers in variable work schedules and variable reference hours/days have access to safety and health protection, prevention services and facilities with regard to the health and safety at work appropriate to the nature of their work.
Amendment 867 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive shall not constitute valid grounds, when implemented, for reducing the general level of protection already afforded to workers within Member States.
Amendment 879 #
2017/0355(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
The rights and obligations set out in this Directive shall apply to existing employment relationships as from [entry into force date + 2 years]. However, employers shall provide or complement the documents referred to in Article 4(1), Article 5 and Article 6 only upon request of a worker. The absence of such request shall not have the effect of excluding workers from the minimum rights established under this Directive.
Amendment 172 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 195 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
When the period of posting is longer ransit or international transport operations are combined with cabotage operations withain 3 days,one Member States shall apply, points (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph of Article 3 (1) of Directive 96/71/EC shall apply for the entire period of posting to their territory during the period of one calendar month referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 214 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Amendment 247 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. In order to guarantee an effective implementation and control of this Directive, Directive 96/71/EC and of Directive 2014/67/EU Member States may onlyin particular impose the following administrative requirements and control measures:
Amendment 253 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) For each posted driver and each posting, an obligation for the road transport operator established in another Member State to send a posting declaration to the national competent authorities at the latest atprior to the commencement of the posting, in electronic forma standardised electronic form developed and made available by the Commission, at the latest two years after the publication of the Directive, in an official language of the host Member State or in English, containing onlyat least the following information:
Amendment 265 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a – point iii
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a – point iii
(iii) the anticipated number and the identities of posted drivinformation about the posted drivers including at least the following: the identity, the country of residence, the country where the employment contract is based, the country of payment of social contributions and the social security numbers;
Amendment 285 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) an obligation for the driver to keep and make available, where requested at the roadside control, in paroad transport oper ator electronic form, a copy of the posting declaration and evidence of transport operation taking place in the host Member State, such as an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or evidence referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 ofto provide the driver with the following documents for the Epuropean Parliament and of the Council.pose of road side checks:
Amendment 290 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point i (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point i (new)
i) a copy of the posting declaration in paper or electronic form;
Amendment 292 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point ii (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point ii (new)
ii) evidence of the transport operation taking place in the host Member State as referred in the legal act amending Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 294 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point iii (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point iii (new)
iii) the electronic CMR;
Amendment 296 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point iv (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point iv (new)
iv) a copy of the employment contract in (one of) the official languages of the host Member State, or in English;
Amendment 298 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point v (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b – point v (new)
v) a copy of the pay slips for the past two months, in paper or electronic form;
Amendment 300 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 302 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point d
Amendment 313 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point e
Amendment 325 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point f
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point f
(f) an obligation for the road transport operator to deliver, after the period of posting, in paper or electronic form, copies of documents referred to in points (b), (c) and (e), at the request of the authorities of the host Member State within a reasonable period of time5 days from the request;
Amendment 342 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5
Article 2 – paragraph 5
5. For the purposes of point (a) of paragraph 4 the road transport operator may provide a posting declaration covering a perEvidence referred to in Article 2 paragraph 4 (a) (b) and (c) shall be kept on the vehicle and presented to the authorised inspecting officers of the Member State hosting the posted worker within the duratiodn of a maximum of six monthsthe roadside check.
Amendment 348 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The smart tachograph, whose data will indicate the location of drivers over the span of a 56-day period shall be introduced on all vehicles engaged in international transport and cabotage by 31 December 2021, at the latest.
Amendment 349 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. To prove that the provisions of Directive 96/71/EC and Directive 2014/67/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to administrative requirements and control measures for the posting of workers are met, the competent authorities of the host Member State shall verify the following in case of roadside checks: a. the tachograph data of the current day and that of the past 56 days; b. the electronic consignment notes of the current day and the past 56 days; c. the documents referred to in Article 2 paragraph 4 (a) (b) and (f);
Amendment 352 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. The roadside check authorities shall transmit all information referred to in paragraph 7 (a) (b) and (c) to the competent authorities of the host Member State, for an assessment of compliance with the legal acts referred to in Article 5.
Amendment 353 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 d (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. The competent authorities in the Member States shall cooperate closely and provide each other with mutual assistance and all relevant information, within the conditions laid down in Directive 2014/67/EU and in Regulation (EC) No1071/2009.
Amendment 354 #
2017/0121(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 5 e (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. For the purpose to increase the effectiveness of cross-border enforcement and of targeted checks, the Member States shall provide all relevant authorities real time access to the Internal Market Information System (IMI), established by Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 to the national electronic registers established by Regulation(EC) No 1071/2009, to posting declaration and to any other relevant databases.
Amendment 62 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 73 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
Amendment 167 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Amendment 177 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Amendment 237 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 239 #
2017/0102(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Amendment 9 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas an average of 9% of jobs are at high risk of being automated, while for another 25% of jobs half of the tasks will change significantly due to automation
Amendment 17 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the digitisation of industry represents a major challenge in terms of the organisation of work and therefore requires targeted responses from the Commission and the Member States regarding employment, social and education policies, as well as the provision of up-to-date infrastructure;
Amendment 34 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, in cooperation with social partners, to regularly assess the impact of digitisation on the quality, number and types of jobs and to adjust related policies accordingly; points out that due to the digitisation of industry, the differential between the creation and loss of different types of jobs may have consequences on the financial sustainability of social security schemes, pension systems and unemployment insurance systems of the Member States; recalls that not all future jobs are equally affected by the digitisation of industry and that the importance of human interaction should not be underestimated;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls the risk of digitisation aggravating unequal distribution of wealth in view of a deepening digital divide which could split society, Member States and regions into those who are able to profit from increased digital productivity and those who are not; calls on the Commission and Member States, therefore, to investigate possible ways of reducing inequalities rising through automation;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises the opportunities related to the digitisation of industry; stresses, however, that new forms of work must comply with labour and social legislation and guarantee the protection of workers’ and consumer rights; recognises the positive effects digitisation of industry has as it increases flexible working arrangements that can create a better work-life balance, diversify choices through mobile telework, and allow people from rural and secluded areas to join the labour market provided that they are equipped with the necessary infrastructure; emphasises, however, that the digitisation driven trend towards increased flexibility may increase the danger of unstable and precarious employment;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that the European Court of Justice has defined the concept of 'worker' on the basis of an employment relationship characterised by certain criteria such as subordination, remuneration and the nature of work; calls for decisive steps to ensure legal certainty on what constitutes 'employment' for work intermediated by online platforms in order to ensure compliance with labour and social laws; states that all workers in the platform economy are either employed or self- employed based on the primacy of facts regardless of how the contractual relationship is defined and should be classified accordingly;
Amendment 64 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes the growth of the platform economy; calls, therefore, for an EU framework on platform work;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that digitisation of industry and the consequent increase in new forms of work will not be detrimental to social contributions and that all contributions will be paid for all forms of work; notes that digital solutions can facilitate the collection of taxes and social security contributions;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to involve the social partners regularly when adapting the regulatory framework for the digital economy; calls on the social partners to conclude collective agreements for the platform economy;
Amendment 70 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to ensure universal access to training in digital skills21st century skills, in particular digital skills, usage of big data, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, in order to allow equal participation of all citizens in the digital single market, be it as employees, entrepreneurs or customers; stresses that it is the industry's task to offer suitable training for acquainting their employees properly with new technologies; calls on the Member States to develop skills strategies for the digital age involving social partners as well as education and training institutions, to adapt their educational systems to digitisation and to promote teaching and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in educational institutions from an early age; stresses that adapting curricula in primary schools can have particular importance in increasing interest in STEM subjects whereby particular efforts must be made to overcome the severe gender gap in the ICT sector; emphasises the importance of lifelong learning for all workers in the digital era; points to the importance of upgrading occupational training programmes for the digital era; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that workers losing their jobs due to digitisation have rapidly access to retraining in digital skills if they so wish;
Amendment 78 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes that the skills mismatch in the digital economy is not only about lacking skills, but also the result of poor working conditions making some of the best-skilled workers choose to work elsewhere, and of poor management of human resources failing to fully tap into the skills and knowledge of the digital generation;
Amendment 81 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the need to identify potential occupational health and safety risks stemming from the digitisation of industry and to take appropriate measures.; points to the psychological and neurological effects of digitisation on employees as constant accessibility presents a risk of work-related mental health problems such as burnout; advocates, therefore, a 'right to log off' for workers outside the agreed working hours; calls on the Commission and its agencies, in particular EU-OSHA, to examine the effects of digitisation, robotics and artificial intelligence on mental strain and to make policy recommendations where necessary; calls for employees to be given the opportunity to play an active part in shaping their work environment and for social partners and unions to be involved at all levels;
Amendment 85 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that the increasing use of new technologies and means of electronic communication at the workplace raises many questions concerning workers' privacy and the new possibilities of monitoring and surveillance; believes that the use, processing and storage of employee-related data needs strict rules in line with the Regulation 2016/679 to prevent an infringement of workers' fundamental rights and ensure a right to data access for the worker;
Amendment 88 #
2016/2271(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Believes that with the increasing digitisation of workplaces, it is essential to amend the rules of liability concerning the consequences associated with the actions or inaction of automated systems and robots, keeping also in mind work injuries caused by robots; is concerned by the lack of general framework and legal provisions in this context and calls for a legal framework that reflects the complexity of digitising European industry and its social implications.
Amendment 3 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
Amendment 6 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas according to the ILO, awareness of forced labour in Uzbekistan is still at an early stage, but recent ILO surveys nonetheless show that a vast majority of workers participate voluntarily when invited to pick cotton and that people who refuse to pick cotton are only rarely finednonetheless surveys carried out by the ILO indicate that most workers pick cotton voluntarily and have the possibility to refuse to do so;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the eradication of forced labour is an ongoing process which needs to be supported by the EU and the international community, including with the participation of human rights and labour rights civil society organisations;
Amendment 10 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Government of Uzbekistan has presented various Action Plans, has taken measures to raise awareness (including theadopted Action Plans to change the recruitment process for picking cotton, and together with employers' organiszation of round tables), has set up a feedback mechanism in order to eradicate child labour, and is changing the recruitment process in the country for picking cottons and trade unions, promoted awareness raising and developed feedback mechanisms to prevent forced and child labour;
Amendment 12 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas, in contrast to the ILO’s observations, NGOs are still reporting breaches of human rights in the country, in particular in the field of the cotton harvest where, according to them, massive forced mobilisation of students and public employees at cotton harvest time is reported, as well as violations of freedom of association and expression, in particular arrests and violent harassment and interrogations of citizens reporting on the harvest;
Amendment 30 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the Union’s commitment to further and deepen bilateral relations, which include trade, as well as all areas related to democratic principles, respect for human and fundamental rights and the rule of law; calls on the Government of Uzbekistan to create more space for independent civil society and to take more into consideration concerns of Uzbek and international NGOs;
Amendment 42 #
2016/2226(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament a legislative proposal for an effective traceability mechanismsupply chain transparency in the garment sector;
Amendment 22 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation,
Amendment 24 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
– having regard to the Directive on Temporary Agency Work (2008/104/EC),
Amendment 25 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
– having regard to the targeted revision of the Posting of Workers Directive (1996/71/EC) and the Enforcement Directive (2014/67/EC),
Amendment 26 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 d (new)
Citation 13 d (new)
– having regard to the report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work (COM(2014)0221 – C7-0144/2014 – 2014/0124(COD)),
Amendment 27 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 e (new)
Citation 13 e (new)
– having regard to EESC opinion: The changing nature of employment relationships and its impact on maintaining a living wage1a, __________________ 1ahttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.201 6.303.01.0054.01.ENG&toc=OJ:C:2016:3 03:TOC
Amendment 28 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 f (new)
Citation 13 f (new)
– having regard to ILO “Employment Relationship Recommendation, 2006 (No. 198)” to determine the existence of an employment relationship:”,
Amendment 29 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas there is no common definition of precarious employment so far;
Amendment 80 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas precarious work leads to market segmentation and exacerbates wages inequalities;
Amendment 83 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Amendment 87 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
I. Towards a definition of decent workprecarious employment
Amendment 96 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Understands standard employment to mean full-time, regular employment on the basis of open-ended contracts in a subordinate employment relationship, and non- standard or atypical forms of employment to include, i.a., marginal or involuntary part-time work, temporary agency work, fixed-term contract work, zero-hour contracts, unpaid internships that are not part of an education programme, and informal or undeclared work;
Amendment 116 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Understands precarious workemployment to mean, as a minimum definition, a non- standard, atypical form of employment having any of the following characteristics:
Amendment 122 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
- little or no job security owing to the non-permanent nature of the work, as in some fixed-term contracts, involuntary and often marginal part-time contracts, contracts containing poor conditions, unwritten contracts, unclear working hours, and duties that change owing to work on demandor owing to the lack of sufficient social protection in case of dismissal;
Amendment 132 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
- low remuneration, which may even be unofficial or unclearnot contractually agreed; or no remuneration in the case of unpaid internships and traineeships;
Amendment 240 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
II. ProposalsAdjusting policies to new forms of employment
Amendment 257 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take into account the gender perspective on precarious employment;
Amendment 260 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls for the Commission to assess new forms of employment driven by digitalisation, calls especially for an assessment of the legal status of labour market intermediaries and online platforms and of their liability; calls on the Commission to revise the Written Statement Directive to take into account new forms of employment;
Amendment 261 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Notes that boundaries for employment relationships are blurred, calls on the Member States to take into account the following ILO indicators to determine the existence of an employment relationship: – the work is carried out according to the instructions and under the control of another party; – it involves the integration of the worker in the organization of the enterprise; – it is performed solely or mainly for the benefit of another person; – it must be carried out personally by the worker; – it is carried out within specific working hours or at a workplace specified or agreed by the party requesting the work; – it is of a particular duration and has a certain continuity; – it requires the worker’s availability; or involves the provision of tools, materials and machinery by the party requesting the work; – a periodic payment of remuneration is made to the worker and constitutes the his sole or principal source of income and the provision of payment in kind, such as food, lodging or transport; – the worker has entitlements such as weekly rest and annual holidays;
Amendment 263 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9e. Stresses that the development of new or precarious forms of employment may result in a decline in tax revenues; calls Member States to assess the need for more appropriate taxation in order to ensure fair levels of taxation for economic activities; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of new forms of employment in social security and pensions;
Amendment 264 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Calls for the Commission to proceed with its targeted review of the Posting of workers directive and to review the Agency Workers Directive to ensure fundamental social rights for all workers including equal pay for equal work at the same location;
Amendment 275 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1 (new)
III. Ensuring decent working conditions
Amendment 278 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the need to tackle undeclared work, as undeclared work decreases tax and social security revenues and creates precarious and poor working conditions and unfair competition between workers; welcomes the creation of a European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work;
Amendment 294 #
2016/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Recalls that according to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, everyone has the right to have access to vocational training and life-long learning; calls on the Member States to ensure that vocational and continuing training are also available to workers in atypical employment relationships; recalls that up-skilling measures are particularly important in a fast changing digital economy; recalls that skills shortage and mismatches participate to high unemployment levels; welcomes recent initiatives to tackle skills shortage;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,
Amendment 17 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
Amendment 22 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the EU in 2010,
Amendment 24 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
- having regard to the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and which apply to the whole world including the EU,
Amendment 45 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2013 with recommendations to the Commission on information and consultation of workers, anticipation and management of restructuring (2012/2061(INL)),
Amendment 49 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)
Citation 11 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 26 January 2014 on an EU homelessness strategy1a , __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0043.
Amendment 61 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 5 October 2016 on the need for a European reindustrialisation policy in light of the recent Caterpillar and Alstom cases (2016/2891(RSP)),
Amendment 65 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
– having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2012 on a Social Investment Pact as a response to the crisis8 and to the Commission’s Social Investment Package of 20 February 2013, including the Commission Recommendation on Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage, __________________ 8 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0419.
Amendment 67 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Recommendation of 3 October 2008 on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market,
Amendment 75 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 20 September 2016 in joined cases C-8/15 P to C-10/15 P (Ledra Advertising and others),
Amendment 79 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
– having regard to the joint opinion of the Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee on the European Pillar of Social Rights, endorsed by the Council on [15] October 2016,
Amendment 105 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union needs a paradigm shift towards a strong European social model which enables sustainable prosperity and high productivity based on solidarity, social justice, a fair distribution of wealth, gender equality, a high-quality public education system, quality employment and sustainable growth - a model that ensuresover the long term, in line with worldwide Sustainable Development Goals - a model that ensures adequate and universal good social protection for all, empowers people in vulnerable groupssituations, fights poverty and social exclusion, enhances participation in civil and political life, and improves the living standards for all citizens, delivering on the objectives and rights set out in the EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter;
Amendment 121 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas the European Union must respond swiftly and visibly to increasing frustration and worry among many citizens about uncertain life prospects, lack of opportunities, socio- economic precariousness and growing inequalities;
Amendment 138 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Commission is expected to come forward in the spring of 2017 with a proposal for a binding European Pillar of Social Rights that would serve as a basis for updating existing EU legislation, improving the EU’s economic and social governance framework, adapting or establishing relevant financial instruments, and promoting European social standards towards the rest of the world;
Amendment 141 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Parliament, elected directly by European citizens, has a fundamental responsibility and a role to play in defining and adopting the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 149 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas fundamental social rights apply to all people in the European Union and the existing body of Union legislation regulating labour, product and service markets applies to all Member States;
Amendment 153 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the euro area faces, with its present macroeconomic framework, specific challenges to the achievement of employment and social objectives set out in the Treaties, notably in the sense that euro area membership reduces possibilities for the use of macroeconomic policy instruments at national level and creates pressure for tougher and swifter internal adjustment, such as through wages, working conditions, unemployment and scaling back of social expenditure; whereas restoring adequate socio-economic security to compensate for this increased internal flexibility may require introducing specific social targets, standards and/or financial instruments at the euro area level;
Amendment 154 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas European labour markets are rapidly evolving towards ‘atypical’ or ‘non-standard’ forms of employment, such as temporary work, part-time work, casual work, seasonal work, on-demand work or self-employment intermediated by digital platforms, which shows many features of employment but does not bring the benefits normally associated with employment; whereas demand for labour is becoming and will likely remain more ‘fluid’ and diversified than in the past; whereas in some cases this can be beneficial for productivity as well as work-life balance; whereas, however, many non-standard forms of employment involve prolonged economic insecurity and precariousness, notably in terms of lower and less certain incomes, lack of possibilities to stand up for one’s working conditions, lack of social and health insurance, lack of a professional identity, lack of a career perspective, and difficulties to reconcile on-demand work with family life;
Amendment 174 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) cannot be limited to a declaration of principles or good intentions but must consist of real matter (legislation, policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments), delivering positive impact on citizens’ lives already in the short term and enabling support for European construction in the 21st century by effectively upholding social rights and Treaty objectives, strengthening cohesion and upward convergence, and helping to complete EMU in economic and social outcomes, and helping to complete EMU with instruments necessary for this purpose;
Amendment 177 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that social standards to be articulated by the European Pillar of Social Rights should apply to all countries participating in the Single Market and that legislation, governance mechanisms and financial instruments relevant for their achievement should apply to all EU Member States; finds, however, that the specific constraints of euro area membership call for additional specific social targets, standards and financial instruments to be established at the euro area level; points at the possibility of using the enhanced cooperation mechanism under Article 20 TEU if necessary to build a solid European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 193 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the EPSR should equip European citizens with stronger means to keep control over their lives and make markets work for shared prosperity, wellbeing and sustainable development; it should enable effective realisation of existing social rights and it should set out new rights where justified in view of new technological and socio-economic developments;
Amendment 205 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is convinced that the European Social Model needs to be updated and strengthened to support upward transitions into and within the labour market and to maintain a sense of economic security throughout people’s lives; considers that as the labour market becomes more complex, it is natural that the welfare state also needs to adapt its mechanisms and instruments in order to manage well the various social risks arising;
Amendment 213 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Underlines that markets are meant to serve people and people are also the most important factor for the good performance of a company and of the entire economy; it is therefore vital to ensure workers’ participation in decision- making on the organisation of work and utilisation of company revenue; points to the good example of social economy enterprises, such as cooperatives, in providing quality employment, supporting social inclusion and promoting economic democracy;
Amendment 218 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Points out that Europe can go much further in developing a cluster of sectors focused on supporting people’s health, knowledge and ability to participate in the economy; stresses that people-focused services such as education, healthcare, sport or family care services contain an important job creation potential and should not be viewed as a cost to the economy but rather as enabling factors of sustainable prosperity;
Amendment 225 #
Amendment 245 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the enactment of a directive on fair working conditions for all forms of employment, and other relevant legislative measures, based on a sufficiently broad EU definition of a worker and ensuring for every worker a core set of enforceable rights, including equal treatment, social protection, protection in case of dismissal, health and safety protection, provisions on working time and rest time, freedom of association and representation, the right to strike, collective bargaining, collective action, access to training, andin-work support, adequate information and consultation rights throughout subcontracting chains, and a prospect of stabilising the working relationship as open-ended employment after a certain period of time; underlines that this directiveese instruments should apply to employees as well as to all workers in non- standard forms of employment, such as fixed-term work, part-time work, on- demand work, self-employment, work intermediated through online platforms, crowd-working, internship or traineeship; requests that the EU acquis be updated accordingly so as to apply to all workers; and to improve the enforceability of rights;
Amendment 294 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Calls for decisive steps towards legal certainty on what constitutes ‘employment’, also for work intermediated by digital platforms; underlines that open- ended employment contracts should remain the norm given their importance for socio- economic security; calls for the directive on fair working conditions to include relevant minimum standards to be ensured in more precarious forms of employment, in particular:
Amendment 330 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point b
Paragraph 4 – point b
b. for work intermediated by digital platforms and other instances of dependent self-employment, a definition of employment that is less dependent on full cumulation of the relevant criteria, taking into account ILO recommendation No. 198, according to which the fulfilment of several indicators is sufficient to determine employment; alternatively, a new category of ‘dependent self- employed’ could be established to reduce the grey zone between employment and self-employment; such definition should spell out the labour rights applicable to this category of workers and should ensure their participation in social and health insurance schemes;
Amendment 348 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point c
Paragraph 4 – point c
c. limits regarding on-demand work: zero-hour contracts should be banned and certain core working hours should be guaranteed to all workers; work requested at short notice should also involve correspondingly higher remuneration;
Amendment 374 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need for renewed upward convergence in wages throughout the EUIs concerned about the declining labour share of total income in Europe over the past decades; emphasises the need for an overall pay rise in Europe and for renewed upward convergence in wages throughout the EU in order to boost demand, enable sustainable growth and reduce inequality; calls on the Commission to actively support a wider coverage for collective bargainingagreements; considers that to ensure decent living wages, non-discriminatory minimum wages set at a decent level are necessary; recommends the establishment of national wage floors through legislation or collective bargaining, with due respect for the practices of each Member State, with the objective of attaining at least 60 % of the respective national average wage; recognises that changes in wage levels should go hand in hand with commensurate adaptations in financial support to public sector in order to avoid negative impact on the extent or quality of services provided;
Amendment 394 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the right to healthy and safe working conditions also involves protection against workplace risks as well as limitations on working time and provisions on minimum rest periods and paid annual leave; awaits Commission proposals for legislation and other concrete measures to uphold this right for all workers, reflecting all current knowledge about health and safety risks and taking into account new ways of working associated with digitalisation and other technological developments;
Amendment 418 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance of collective rights; expects the Commission to step up concrete support for strengthening social dialogue in Member States and sectors where it is weak owing to the prolonged crisis or the prevalence of non-standard forms of employment; underlines the benefits of involving workers in company management, including in transnational companies, and the need to improve their information, consultation and participation, also to make good use of new forms of work organisation, ensure that work is meaningful and rewarding and anticipate economic change; calls for improved enforcement of European legislation on European Works Councils and the information and consultation of workers and for effective measures ensuring that company restructuring takes place in a socially responsible manner;
Amendment 453 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports more integrated provision of social protection benefits and social services as a way to make the welfare state more understandable and accessible while not weakening social protection; underlines the need for adequate and universal social protection and social investment throughout people's lives, enabling everyone to participate fully in the society and economy and sustaining decent living standards; points to the importance of informing citizens about social rights and to the potential of e- government solutions, possibly including a European social security card, which could improve individual awareness and also help mobile workers clarify their contributions and entitlements in home and host countries; highlights the importance of personalised, face-to-face support to excluded and vulnerable households;
Amendment 466 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Agrees with the importance of universal access to timely, good-quality and affordable preventative and curative health care, free from discrimination; considers this as a right that must be upheld; emphasises that all workerspeople must be covered by health insurance; agrees that increased health prevention and disease prevention is an obvious social investment that pays for itself;
Amendment 545 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for a European framework for adequate minimum income schemes; highlights the importance of such schemes for maintaining human dignity as well as their role as a form of social investments enabling people to undertake training and/or look for work; notes with concern that in some Member States, no minimum income schemes are in place or they provide less to their recipients than the subsistence minimum; reminds also of the importance of material assistance schemes such as those supported by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived; encourages stronger provision of support for active social inclusion and labour market (re-)integration alongside minimum income and material assistance schemes;
Amendment 558 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Agrees that all persons with disabilities must be ensured individualised enabling services and basicprovided by adequately qualified professionals and income security allowing them a decent standard of living and social inclusion; with adequate support even when they take up paid work; expects the Commission to follow up swiftly on the Parliament's recent resolution on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Amendment 573 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers access to quality and affordable long-term care services, including home-based care, to be a right that should be upheld with the help of suitably qualified professionals employed under decent conditions; believes that low- income households should therefore be targeted by adequate public services and tax deductionsnotes with concern that availability and affordability of long-term care remain a major problem across Europe, trapping informal family carers at home and preventing them from pursuing their careers; deplores frequent abuses of carers employed through work agencies or on an informal basis; believes that adequate public services and tax deductions should be therefore put in place for households, in particularly those living on low incomes, to avoid institutionalisation and the risk of poverty; repeats its call for legislation on carers’ leave accompanied by adequate remuneration and social protection; calls on the Commission to set out a concrete action plan in this area;
Amendment 597 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers child poverty to be a major issue on which Europe should ‘act big’ given the obvious potential for large positive impact on children's development, parents' labour market prospects and reduction of inherited social disadvantage; calls for the swift implementation of a Child Guarantee in all Member States, so that every child now living inat risk of poverty can have access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and proper nutrition; underlines the importance of pre-natal care and early childhood development; calls for inclusive education systems at all levels, including after- school care; recognises that implementation of the Child Guarantee will require adequate financing at national and European level, possibly involving an increase of the European Social Fund and/or support from a new convergence instrument for the Eurozone; requests that national public investments in the Child Guarantee be considered within a 'silver rule on social investment' under the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 617 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls foron Member States to deliver on the right to adequate housing inter alia through legislation to ensure that access to social housing or adequate housing benefits are provided for those in need, obviously including homeless people, and that vulnerable people and poor households are protected against eviction; calls for tax incentives to help young people on low incomes set up their own householdconcrete measures to prevent and reduce homelessness with a view to its gradual elimination, based on combining provision of housing with relevant social services supporting social and economic inclusion; reminds that the increased need for support for low and medium- income households' housing is closely related to increased labour market precariousness and income inequalities; calls for help for young people on low incomes set up their own households; highlights investments in energy efficient social housing as a win-win for jobs, the environment, reduction of energy poverty and realisation of social rights; calls for greater use of the EFSI to support urban renewal and affordable, accessible and energy-efficient housing provision;
Amendment 643 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for legislation ensuring fair access for all to good-quality and affordable social services of general interest and other essential services, such as e-communications, energy, transport and financial services; highlights the very useful role of social enterprises and not- for-profit organisations in this context given that their primary objective is not maximisation of financial returns but positive social impact;
Amendment 657 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Supports a Skills Guarantee as a new right for everyone to acquire fundamental skills for the 21st century, including digital literacy; highlights this as an important social investment, requiring adequate financingincluding digital literacy; stresses that education systems should be inclusive, providing good-quality education equitably to the whole population, responding to labour market needs, enabling people to be active European citizens and preparing them to be able to learn and adapt throughout their lives; considers that completion of secondary education should be obligatory in 21st century Europe and that relevant programmes must put in place to give a new chance to all young people who have dropped out from primary or secondary school; considers that the Skills Guarantee should involve individualised assessment of learning needs, a quality learning offer as well as systematic validation of skills and competences acquired, enabling their easy recognition on the labour market; highlights the Skills Guarantee as an important social investment, requiring adequate financing at national and European level, possibly involving an increase of the European Social Fund and/or support from a new convergence instrument for the Eurozone; requests that national public investments in the Skills Guarantee be considered within a 'silver rule on social investment' under the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 701 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
a. social insurance schemes must be broadened in order to enable all workers to accumulate entitlements providing income security in situations such as unemployment, involuntary part-time work, old age or career breaks for family or training reasons;
Amendment 711 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point b
Paragraph 19 – point b
b. all workers should have a personal activity account, easily accessible through a website and/or a smartphone application, where they could consult their accumulated social entitlements and other social rights, including to lifelong learning; adequate data protection should be ensured;
Amendment 717 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 19 – point b a (new)
ba. digital platforms and other intermediaries should have an obligation to report all work undertaken through them to the competent authorities for the purpose of ensuring adequate contributions and protection through social and health insurance for all workers, even if they work in short gigs;
Amendment 720 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out that secure professional transitions require adequate investment, both in the institutional capacity of public employment services and to assist individual job-search and upskilling at the earliest stage possible; reminds of the useful role of the European Social Fund in supporting active labour market policies throughout Europe and of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, which supports re-skilling and return to employment in case of regional economic shocks and large-scale lay-offs;
Amendment 731 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for full implementation of the Youth Guarantee for all people under 30, with emphasis on quality offers and effective outreach to all NEETs, and of the recommendation on the long- term unemployed; highlights these as important structural reforms and social investments that are in need of adequate financing, possibly involving an increase of the European Social Fund, an extension of the Youth Employment Initiative by more than the €1bn foreseen under the MFF 2014-20 mid-term review, and/or support from a new convergence instrument for the Eurozone; requests that national public investments for the Youth Guarantee and integration of long-term unemployed be counted within a 'silver rule on social investment' under the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 813 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Emphasises that labour mobility within the EU is a right whose exercise must be supported but which, also through readily available information on the rights and duties of mobile workers and a smoothly functioning system of social security coordination; notes, however, that mobility should not be forced on workers by poor economic conditions in their home regions, and should not undermine host countries’ social standards; highlights that mobile workers are usually net contributors to host countries' public budgets; calls for adequate investments in public services in areas experiencing population increases;
Amendment 841 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to propose a clear roadmap for legislative updates and other measures that are necessary for full practical application of the EPSR; highlights that in cases of conflict of law,order to protect fundamental social rights, provisions such as the horizontal social clause (Article 9 TFEU) should be properly applied;, in particular through:
Amendment 846 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a (new)
Paragraph 25 – point a (new)
(a) thorough social impact assessments in the context of 'better regulation';
Amendment 847 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point b (new)
Paragraph 25 – point b (new)
(b) full compliance with social rights and thorough pursuit of the Treaties' social objectives in the context of economic governance and financial assistance programmes; and
Amendment 848 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point c (new)
Paragraph 25 – point c (new)
(c) helping to resolve situations where economic freedoms and fundamental social rights may be in conflict;
Amendment 858 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
26. Considers that the objective of upward social and economic convergence should be underpinned by a set of targets, building on the Europe 2020 strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals and serving to guide the coordination of economic, employment and social policies in the EU, with due regard for Member States' starting positions; believes that these targets could also form part of the Convergence Code currently being discussed for the euro area, and could be based on the followinga set of social and economic indicators which are directly affected by public policies; the social indicators should include notably:
Amendment 868 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point a
Paragraph 26 – point a
a. the early school-leaving rate (before completion of secondary education);
Amendment 915 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point i
Paragraph 26 – point i
i. the total investment rate (gross fixed capital formation and social investment) and its implications for job creation and overall productivity;
Amendment 938 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for a rebalancing of the European Semester so that the existing scoreboard of key employment and social indicators and the new Convergence Code are directly and transparently taken into account in formulating CSRs and the euro area recommendation as well as for the activation of EU instruments; considers that the instruments of the European Employment Strategy and social open method of coordination should also be reinforced to this end; urges a stronger role for the Macroeconomic Dialogue with social partners in the formulation of the economic policy mix at European level; considers ‘macro-social surveillance’ to be of great importance, notably at the level of the Eurozone, for avoiding that economic imbalances are reduced at the expense of worsening the employment and social situation; reiterates its call for a European agenda of structural reforms and investments aiming to strengthen growth potential based on quality jobs and productivity, to promote fair, robust, efficient and fiscally sustainable welfare systems, and to foster a sustainable transition of Member States’ economies towards greater resource efficiency; invites the Commission in this context to develop benchmarking of relevant policy packages;
Amendment 962 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for a ‘silver rule’ on social investment to be applied when implementing the Stability and Growth Pact, namely to consider certain public social investments having a clear positive impact on economic growth (e.g. childcare or education and trainingthe Child Guarantee, education, the Youth Guarantee and the Skills Guarantee) as being eligible for favourable treatment when assessing government deficits and compliance with the 1/20 debt rule; highlights that fiscal consolidation should not undermine national co-financing of European funding for social investment;
Amendment 965 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Reiterates its call for joint meetings to be held between the EPSCO and ECOFIN Council formations with a view to promoting better coordinated socio-economic policies, as well as for regular meetings of euro area labour and social ministers serving to improve policy coordination within the Eurozone and properly address social imbalances;
Amendment 977 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Highlights that today’s phenomena of capital-intensive production, and the important contribution of intangible assets to the creation of added value on the one hand, and high rates of inequality and the continuing rise in ’atypical’ work on the other hand imply a need to increase the role of general tax revenue in cofinancing social insurance schemes in order to provide decent social protection for all; financing welfare systems in order to provide decent social protection for all; recalls that accumulation of social insurance entitlements through work is an important aspect of decent work and is likely to contribute to longer-term economic and social stability more than means-tested benefits or unconditional basic income schemes can do; points out, however, that the current tax wedge on labour (including social security contributions from employees and employers) should be reduced and social insurance schemes should be cofinanced to a greater extent from other sources of revenue, including taxation of capital gains, intangible assets, wealth or pollution; highlights also that combatting corporate tax avoidance is crucially important for ensuring an adequate level of public investments and the sustainability of welfare systems;
Amendment 998 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – point a
Paragraph 30 – point a
a. the strengthening of the Youth Employment Initiative to maintain its funding from the dedicated budget line at €3 billion per year;
Amendment 1031 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission and the EIB Group to refocus the EFSI on job creation and sustainable development, including through social investment, and adapt its risk/return requirements accordingly;
Amendment 1060 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point a
Paragraph 32 – point a
a. a fund for renewed structural convergence, supporting the implementation of socially just reforms and investments that are necessary for increasing the growth potential of crisis- affected areas and restoring upward social convergence, including implementation of the Youth Guarantee, Skills Guarantee and Child Guarantee; such a fund could co- finance the Youth Employment Initiative as well as a 'European Skills Initiative' and a 'European Initiative against Child Poverty' which could be considered as financing mechanisms to support the implementation of the Skills Guarantee and Child Guarantee respectively, with support calibrated based on structural needs (e.g. dropout rates, child poverty) as well as on the cyclical economic situation in the Member States or region concerned;
Amendment 1076 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point b
Paragraph 32 – point b
b. a European unemployment insurance or re-insurance scheme, complementing national schemes in cases of severe cyclical downturn and helping prevent the translation of an asymmetric shock into structural disadvantage; this scheme should be equipped with relevant safeguards against lasting transfers or unintended weakening of existing national schemes; in particular, it should be complementary to national schemes without replacing them, it should provide only short-term support related only to cyclical unemployment and/or reduction of working hours due to a cyclical downturn, and it should be financed from general tax revenue as opposed to social insurance contributions; the scheme should be strongly linked to re-training measures and underpinned by minimum standards regarding the coverage of national schemes, activation requirements and the quality of job-search support provided to unemployed people;
Amendment 1090 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to integrate the above-mentioned financial instruments in its proposals for the post- 2020 multiannual financial framework and its white paper on the future of the EU and EMU;
Amendment 1098 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to translate the EPSR into relevant external action, in particular by promoting the implementation of the UN SDGs, the ILO conventions, relevant G20 conclusions and European social standards through trade agreements and strategic partnerships; calls for provisions ensuring equal treatment in terms of wages and working conditions as a precondition for labour migration schemes in the framework of trade agreements;
Amendment 1118 #
2016/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that the EPSR should be adopted in 2017 as a binding agreement between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council, involving social partners and civil society at the highest level, and should contain a clear roadmap for implementation, with concrete commitments and target dates;
Amendment 3 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for an effective post-Cotonou framework adapted to global challenges, based on ownership by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals; highlights that the post-Cotonou framework must be defined in close cooperation with ACP states, including civil society, and drawn on the lessons learnt from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement; stresses that a revised general framework agreement, with legal binding value, together with the regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and other trade instruments, namely the "Everything But Arms", must support fair and sustainable trade and, ultimately, sustainable development and poverty reduction;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. SNotes that trade is one of the three pillars of the Cotonou agreement and stresses that the post-Cotonou process should offer a framework within which to discuss trade issues of common concern with all the ACP countries; calls for a post-Cotonou Agreement as a political umbrella agreement under which binding minimum requirements for the EPAs are set, including structured civil society monitoring mechanisms; calls for a strengthening of trade cooperation, but with a values-driven approach and improved Policy Coherence for Development; believes that inclusive growth, job creation, the development of the private sector and regional integration must b as proposed in the "Trade for All" Communication; calls for a post- Cotonou framework that takes into consideration the gender dimension of trade; believes that inclusive growth, job creation, the development of the private sector, sustainable agricultural development, regional integration, the diversification of industries and the promotion of infant industries are central in a future economic partnership;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for strong, legally binding sustainable development provisions; asks for theStresses that the post-Cotonou framework must promote sustainable development, human rights and good governance, including by tackling corruption and illicit financial flows; calls for strong, legally binding sustainable development provisions, and a proper framework for corporate social responsibility; asks, in particular, for human rights 'essential elements' clause to remain in the future agreement, so that the linkage clauses in the EPAs - especially the non-execution clauses - continue to function after 2020;
Amendment 56 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the Financing for Development commitments; calls for of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; notes the importance of trade capacity building as industrialisation and diversification of ACP economies remains limited; asks the EU to ensure more and effective funding for Aid for Trade and trade-related matters in order to support the ACP countries’' efforts to move up the global value chain. implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and to move up the global and regional value chains, while financial aid has to be intertwined with concrete cooperative projects directed at improving infrastructure, educational and social systems in the ACP countries.
Amendment 4 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that adequate appropriations should be allocated to the trade-related budget lines to enable the Commission to pursue its ambitious trade agenda as outlined in the "Trade for all" strategy, which implies also a re-allocation of adequate resources in order to enable for better monitoring of trade agreements;(including by civil society) and implementation of trade agreements; notes, in particular, that increased funds should be allocated to aid for trade initiatives
Amendment 14 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that trade is an important foreign policy tool of the Union which can also help to tackle migration causes if it is underpinned with the necessary financial means and conducted in coherence with other policy areas such as development policy;
Amendment 17 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should be allocated sufficient budgetary resources so that adequate trade-related technical support and assistance can be made available to our close partners, especially those in the Eastern Partnership as well as the post-Arab-Spring countries; reiterates that in partner countries undergoing an economic crisis, the objective must be, above all, tangible and sustainable improvements to the living conditions of ordinary people;
Amendment 17 #
2016/0403(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
–
–
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the Commission proposal.
Amendment 17 #
2016/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
–
–
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the Commission proposal.
Amendment 545 #
2016/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 987/2009
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 9 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Articles 2(7)(a) and 2(7)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 stipulate the basis on which normal value should be determined in the case of imports from non-market economy countries. In view of developments with respect to certain countries that are Mmembers of the WTO, it is appropriate that, for those countries, normal value should be determined on the basis of paragraphs 1 to 6a of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, with effect from the date on which this Regulation enters into force, and subject to the provisions of this Regulation. In the case of countries which are, at the date of initiation, not Members of the WTO and listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2015/7552 , norma1 value should be determined on the basis of paragraph 7 of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, as amended by this Regulation. This Regulation should be without prejudice to establishing whether or not any WTO Member is a market economy. Furthermore, it should be without prejudice to the terms and conditions set out in protocols and other instruments in accordance with which countries have acceded to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation. _________________ 2 Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, p. 33).
Amendment 13 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In the light of experience gained in past proceedings, it is appropriate to clarify the circumstances in which significant distortions affecting to a considerable extent free market forces may be deemed to exist. In particular, it is appropriate to clarify that this situation may be deemed to exist, inter alia, when reported prices or costs, including the costs of raw materials, are not the result of free market forces because they are affected by government intervention. It is further appropriate to clarify that in considering whether or not such a situation exists regard may be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of the following: the market in question is to a significant extent served by enterprises which operate under the ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance of the authorities of the exporting country; state presence in firms allowing the state to interfere with respect to prices or costs; public policies or measures discriminating in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces; and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectives. It is further appropriate to provide that the Commission services may issue a report describing the specific situation concerning these criteria in a certain country or a certain sector; that such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector; and that interested parties should have ample opportunity to comment on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. and other factors of production, are not the result of free market forces because they are affected by government intervention, or when there is a situation of overcapacities 1a. It is further appropriate to clarify that in considering whether or not such a situation exists regard should be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of the following: government influence over the allocation of resources and decisions of enterprises, whether directly or indirectly (e.g. public bodies), for example through the use of state-fixed prices, or discrimination in the tax, trade or currency regimes; state- induced distortions in the operation of enterprises linked to privatisation and the use of non-market trading or compensation system; the lack of a transparent and non-discriminatory company law which ensures adequate corporate governance (application of international accounting standards, protection of shareholders, public availability of accurate company information); the lack of a transparent and effective set of laws that prevents the respect of property rights and the operation of a functioning bankruptcy regime; the lack of a genuine financial sector which operates independently from the state and which in law and practice is subject to sufficient guarantee provisions and adequate supervision; wage rates are not the result of free bargaining between labour and management; the absence of a transparent set of laws produces discriminatory effects with regards to joint-ventures and other foreign investments and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectives; the lack of ratification and of correct implementation of core International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) to which the Union is party; the non- compliance with the relevant OECD recommendations pertaining to the field of taxation (e.g. the BEPS initiative); and any other circumstance the Commission considers appropriate in order to evaluate the existence of significant distortions. For indicative purposes, a detailed list of the examples of significant distortions is available in the Annex. That list should be updated after each case. The existence of one or more significant distortions in the economy as a whole or in one or several sectors of the economy of the exporting country should lead automatically to the use of undistorted third country, international or Union prices, costs or benchmarks for each and every factor of production in the construction of the normal value, as well as to the disapplication of the lesser-duty rule for the calculation of the anti-dumping duty to be imposed on imports from exporting producers from that country. In the absence of undistorted third country or international costs or benchmarks, the Commission should determine the normal value on any other reasonable basis, including on the basis of relevant prices and costs in the Union. This is especially the case where a significant portion of the complaining industry is made up of SMEs. The reliability of the costs and prices of a given factor of production to be considered undistorted should be assessed, inter alia, by reference to the quantities involved, their proportion in relation to the total costs of that factor, and actual use in production. Under this methodology, the burden of proving the absence of significant distortions on every factors of production falls on the exporting country's producers. If an exporting producer from a country where one of more significant distortions exist conclusively demonstrates at an early stage of the investigation that the costs of one or more of its factors of production are not distorted, those individual factors of production costs should be used in the construction of the normal value, without prejudice to the use of undistorted third country, Union or international prices, costs or benchmarks for those individual factors of production that are significantly distorted. It is further appropriate to provide that the Commission services should, at their own initiative or on the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State or of the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs), issue a report describing the specific situation concerning these criteria in a certain country (departing from horizontal country distortions and then focussing on factors of production and sector distortions) or a certain sector; for those countries for which a substantial number of anti-dumping cases have been recorded, the report should be completed three months before the entry into force of this Regulation and adopted fifteen days within its entry into force. Union industry, including Trade Unions and SMEs, should be consulted during the report drafting process. When drafting a report, the Commission shall coordinate with the Union's major trading partners. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector; interested parties should have ample opportunity to comment on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. In accordance with its role, the European Parliament is to monitor the report drafting process. On the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State, of the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs) or in the case of a change of circumstances in a specific country or sector, the Commission should adopt a specific report or update an existing one. In any event, the Commission should carry out a review of the report every two and a half years. _________________ 1a Overcapacities are defined when the commercial surpluses start being structural without any comparative advantage in the country, when domestic prices and costs are lower than the prices in the world market or when investments in new production capacities are realised in discordance with a growing commercial surplus
Amendment 31 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is further appropriate to recall that costs should normally be calculated on the basis of records kept by the exporter or producer under investigation. However, where there are one or more significant distortions in the exporting country with the consequence that costs reflected in the records of the party concerned are artificially low, such costs may be adjusted orshould be established on any reasonable basis, including information from other representative markets or from, from markets in the Union or from undistorted international prices or benchmarks. In the light of experience gained in past proceedings, it is appropriate to further clarify that, for the purposes of applying the provisions introduced by this regulation, due account should be taken of all relevant evidence, including relevant assessment reports regarding the circumstances prevailing on the domestic market of the exporting producers and the evidence on which they are based, which has been placed on the file, and upon which interested parties have had an opportunity to comment. In applying the rules, it is essential, in order to maintain the balance of the rights and obligations which the WTO and its Agreements and Protocols establish, that the Union take account of how they are interpreted, and applied by the Union's trading partners.
Amendment 46 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point a
(a) In case it is determined, when applying this provision or any other relevant provision of this Regulation, that it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs in the exporting country due to the existence of one or more significant distortions in the economy or in one or several sectors of the economy, the normal value shall be constructed on the basis of costs of production and sale reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks. For this purpose, the sources that may be used include undistorted international prices, costs, or benchmarks, or corresponding costs of production and sale in an appropriate representative country with a similar level of economic development as the exporting country, provided the relevant cost data are readily available. The constructed normal value shall include a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits. for each and every factor of production, and the lesser-duty rule shall not apply for the calculation of the anti-dumping duties to be imposed on imports from the exporting producers from that country. For this purpose, the sources that may be used include: – corresponding costs of production and sale in an appropriate representative producer country where the prices and costs concerned by the investigation are the result of free market forces, including those in the Union or – if considered inappropriate by the Commission, undistorted international prices, costs, or benchmarks, provided the relevant cost data are readily available. The constructed normal value shall include a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits. In the absence of undistorted international or third country costs or benchmarks, the Commission shall determine the normal value on any other reasonable basis, including on the basis of relevant prices or costs in the Union. This is especially the case where a significant portion of the complaining Union industry is made up of SMEs. The reliability of the costs and prices of a given factor of production to be considered undistorted shall be assessed, inter alia, by reference to the quantities involved, their proportion in relation to the total costs of that factor, and actual use in production. Under this methodology, the burden of proving the absence of significant distortions on every factors of production falls on the exporting country's producers. If an exporting producer from a country where one or more significant distortions exist conclusively demonstrates that the costs of one or more of its individual factors of production are not distorted, those individual factors of production costs should be used in the construction of the normal value, without prejudice to the use of undistorted third country, Union or international prices, costs of benchmarks for those individual factors of production that are significantly distorted.
Amendment 81 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point c
(c) When appropriateAt their initiative or on the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State of or the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs), the Commission services mayshall issue a report describing the specific situation concerning the criteria listed in point (b) in a certain country or a certain sector. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector. Interested parties shall have ample opportunity to supplement, comment or rely on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. The determinations made shall take into account all of the relevant evidence on the file. (departing from the horizontal country distortions and then focussing on factors of production distortions and sector distortions) or a certain sector. For those countries for which a substantial number of anti-dumping cases have been opened, the report shall be completed three months before the entry into force of this Regulation and adopted fifteen days within its entry into force. The Union industry, including Trade Unions and SMEs, shall be consulted during the report drafting process. When drafting a report, the Commission shall coordinate with the Union's major trading partners. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector. Interested parties shall have ample opportunity to supplement, comment or rely on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. The determinations made shall take into account all of the relevant evidence on the file. In accordance with its role, the European Parliament shall monitor the report drafting process. On the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State, of Union industry - including Trade Unions and SMEs - or on the Commission's own initiative when the circumstances in a specific country or sector have changed, the Commission shall adopt a specific report or update an existing one. In any event, the Commission shall carry out a review of the report every two and a half years.
Amendment 97 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point d
(d) The Union industry may rely on the report referred to in point (c) for the calculation of normal value when filing a complaint in accordance with Article 5 or a request for a review in accordance with Article 11 or in a request for reinvestigation in accordance with Article 12. When the conclusions of the report show the existence of one or more significant distortions, the report pursuant to the paragraph 6 (b) shall constitute sufficient evidence in order to justify the calculation of the normal value pursuant to the methodology referred to in subparagraph (a). In any event, no additional burdens shall be requested from the Union industry. In the absence of a report, the Commission shall use any available information or data to establish the existence of significant distortions and use the methodology referred to in subparagraph (a) if the relevant requirements are met. A helpdesk and special mechanisms (e.g.: free legal advice, explicit user-friendly guidelines, especially regarding confidentiality rules) are put in place in order to help SMEs in the process of making use of the reports and filing complaints.
Amendment 113 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e
(e) The parties to the investigation shall be informed shortly after initiation about the relevant sources that the Commission intends to use for the purpose of point (a) and shall be given 10 working days to comment. For this purpose, interested parties shall be given access to the file, including any evidence on which the investigating authority relies, without prejudice to Article 19. A disclosure regarding the methodology to be used shall be communicated to the parties no later than three months from initiation of the investigation.
Amendment 115 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e a (new)
(ea) During the investigations phase, in case of less than full cooperation by an exporting producer from a country in which one or more significant distortions are deemed to exist, and without prejudice to the application of Article 18, the lesser- duty rule shall not apply for the determination of the anti-dumping duties to be imposed on imports from that exporting producer
Amendment 20 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In view of the economic and political reform efforts undertaken by Ukraine, and in order to support the development of closer economic relations with the European Union, it is appropriate to increase the trade flows concerning the import of certain agricultural products and to grant concessions in the form of autonomous trade measures in selected industrial products in line with the acceleration of the elimination of customs duties on trade between the European Union and Ukraine.
Amendment 24 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Ukraine is to abstain from introducing new duties or charges having equivalent effect or new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect or from increasing existing levels of duties or charges or from introducing any other restrictions. In the event of failure to comply with any of these conditions, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that economic operators benefitting from the temporary autonomous trade measures are undermining the fight against corruption or are engaged in illegal economic activities, the European Commission should be empowered to suspend temporarily all or part of the autonomous trade measures;.
Amendment 25 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) It is necessary to provide for the reintroduction of normal Common Customs Tariff duties for imports of any products which cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties to the European Union producers, including when an impact on prices in the internal market is foreseeable, of like or directly competing products, subject to an investigation by the European Commission;
Amendment 29 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) The Commission should report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council about the economic and social impact of this Regulation in the context of the implementation of the Association Agreement, including at regional level. That report should clearly identify the economic operators which have benefited from the temporary autonomous trade measures contained in this Regulation.
Amendment 33 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for the principle of the rule of law as well as continued and sustained efforts with regard to the fight against corruption and illegal economic activities provided for in Article s 2, 3 and 22 of the Association Agreement.
Amendment 34 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) continued respect for obligations to cooperate on employment, social policy and equal opportunities in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title IV (Trade and Sustainable Development) and Chapter 21 of Title V (Cooperation on employment, social policy and equal opportunities) of the Association Agreement, and the goals set out in in Article 420 thereof.
Amendment 36 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a Reporting Requirements The Commission shall monitor the economic and social impact of this Regulation in Ukraine and in the Union. That monitoring shall extend to regional and sectorial level and identify those actors profiting from trade preferences. The results of this monitoring shall be included in overall annual reporting to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of the Association Agreement.
Amendment 41 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Commission shall put in place close monitoring of any effects on prices in the internal market of products covered by this Regulation and, where any such effects have been detected, shall immediately initiate procedures with a view to reintroducing the Common Customs Tariff duties.
Amendment 43 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. At the request of a Member State or of the European Parliament, or on the Commission’s initiative, the Commission shall take a formal decision to initiate an investigation within a reasonable period of time. Where the Commission decides to initiate an investigation, it shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing the investigation. The notice shall provide a summary of the information received and state that any relevant information should be sent to the Commission. It shall specify the period, which shall not exceed four months from the date of publication of the notice, within which interested parties may make their views known in writing.
Amendment 46 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall seek all necessary information it deems necessary and may verify the information received with Ukraine and any other relevant source. It may be assisted by officials of the Member States on whose territory verification might be sought, if that Member State so requests.
Amendment 50 #
2016/0308(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 7
Article 4 – paragraph 7
7. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may, after informing the Committee, take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary.
Amendment 13 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In order to allow the ELM to respond to potential upcoming challenges and Union priorities, as well as to provide a strategic response addressing root causes of migration, the maximum ceiling for the EIB financing operations under the EU guarantee should be increased to EUR 32 38 500 000 000 by releasing the optional additional amount of EUR 3 000 000 000. Under the general mandate, the amount of EUR 1 400 000 000 should be earmarked for projects in the public sector directed to refugees and host communities in crisis affected areas.
Amendment 15 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Addressing root causes of migration should be added as a new objective of the mandate and every project financed under this new objective should be in compliance with Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Amendment 18 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The EIB should develop and implement a set of indicators in its Results Measurement framework for projects in the public sector and in the private sector directed to refugees and host communities. Therefore, a; including indicators allowing to measure the project's contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, combatting the root causes of migration, and the involvement of civil societies of host communities. An assessment of the contribution of EIB financing operations addressing root causes of migrationthe mentioned factors should be included in the Commission's annual reporting to the European Parliament and to the Council on EIB financing operations.
Amendment 20 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Only where it concerns the need to address urgencies and crisis situations that could arise within the mandate period and which are recognised as Union external policy priorities, the ceiling for reallocation between the regions by the EIB in the course of the mandate should be increased from 10 % to 20 %. The EIB should notify the European Parliament for any reallocation decision by providing a justification report and an impact assessment. The private sector mandate of EUR 2 300 000 000 and the amount of EUR 1 400 000 000 dedicated to public sector projects cannot be reallocated because its purpose is to address root causes of migration.
Amendment 22 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Decision No 466/2014/EU
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The maximum ceiling of the EIB financing operations under EU guarantee throughout the period 2014-20 shall not exceed EUR 32 38 500 000 000. Amounts initially earmarked for financing operations but subsequently cancelled shall not count against the ceiling.
Amendment 23 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Decision No 466/2014/EU
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) a maximum amount of EUR 30 06 200 000 000 under a general mandate, of which an amount of up to EUR 1 400 000 000 is earmarked for projects in the public sector directed to refugees and host communities as well as to addressing the root causes of migration;
Amendment 32 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Decision No 466/2014/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 8
Article 3 – paragraph 8
EIB financing operations supporting the general objectives set out in point (d) of paragraph 1 shall back investment projects that address root causes of the migration and contribute to long-term economic resilience and safeguard sustainable development in beneficiary countries while ensuring compliance with the SDGs. EIB financing operations shall, in particular, address increased needs for infrastructure and related services to cater fstrengthen humanitarian action, support the migrants influx, and boost employment opportunities for host and refugee communities to foster economic integration and enable refugees to become self-reliantcreation of decent jobs and education, while ensuring the full respect of human rights, in particular labour and social rights and the rule of law.
Amendment 35 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Decision No 466/2014/EU
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Indicators for projects providing strategic response addressing root causes of migration shall be developed by the EIB; in consultation and cooperation with stakeholders and civil society;
Amendment 39 #
2016/0275(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Decision No 466/2014/EU
Article 20
Article 20
Amendment 6 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009
Article 7
Article 7
The Commission shall ensure the financial management of the Fund. The Commission shall manage and invest the resources of the Guarantee Fund in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and shall follow appropriate prudential rules.; The Commission shall explain to the European Parliament how the management of the Fund is embedded in its broader development strategy.
Amendment 9 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
In addition, it shall, by 31 May of each year, submit to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Court of Auditors an annual report on the management of the Guarantee Fund in the previous calendar year. The annual report shall contain the presentation of the financial position of the Guarantee Fund at the end of the previous calendar year, the financial flows during the previous calendar year as well as the significant transactions and any relevant information on the financial accounts. The report shall also include information about the financial management and performance and the risk of the Guarantee Fund at the end of the previous calendar year. Furthermore, the report shall provide detailed information on the utilisation of the Fund and the improvements that the financed projects generated in recipient countries.
Amendment 112 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In view of the long duration of certain posting assignments, it is necessary to provide that, in case of posting lasting for periods higher than 246 months, the host Member State is deemed to be the country in which the work is carried out. In accordance with the principle of Rome I Regulation, the law ofapplicable terms and conditions of employment should be those established by the host Member States therefore applies to the employment contract of such posted workers if no other choice of law was made by the parties. In case a different choice was made, it cannot, however, have the result of depriving the employee of the protection afforded to him by provisions that, without prejudice to more favourable terms and conditions of employment afforded to the worker under provisions from which the parties cannot be derogated from by agreement under the law of the host Member State. This should apply from the start of the posting assignment whenever it is envisaged for more than 24 months and from the first day subsequent to the 24 months when it effectively exceeds this duration. This rule does not affect the right of undertakings posting workers to the territory of another Member State to invoke the freedom to provide services in circumstances also where the posting exceeds 24 months. The purpose is merely to create legal certainty in the application of the Rome I Regulation to a specific situation, without amending that Regulation in any way. The employee will in particular enjoy the protection and benefits pursuant to the Rome I Regulationnational law which would have applied otherwise. This rule does not affect the right of undertakings posting workers to the territory of another Member State to invoke the freedom to provide services.
Amendment 154 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Because of the highly mobile nature of work in international road transport, the implementation of the posting of workerposting of workers in this sector, which is covered by this dDirective, raises particular legal questions and difficulties (especially where the link with the concerned Member State is insufficient). It would be most suited for these challenges to be addressed through sector-specific legislation together with other EU initiatives aimed at improving the functioning of the internal road transport marketwhich should be supplemented by sector-specific legislation.
Amendment 210 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The elements of remuneration under national law or universally applicable collective agreements should be clear and transparent to all service providers and posted workers. It is therefore justified to impose on Member States the obligation to publish the constituent elements of remuneration on the single website provided for by Article 5 of the Enforcement Directive as transparency and access to information are key elements for service providers and posted workers. The provision of information on the single website should be in line with national law and practice and should respect the autonomy of the social partners. The European Commission should regularly verify if the information on these websites is comprehensive, easily accessible and up to date.
Amendment 242 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Abuse and legal uncertainty in cases of chain postings and postings involving several jurisdictions should be prevented. Therefore, in cases where a posting situation falls under more than two national jurisdictions, the applicable terms and conditions of employment should be those established by the host Member State where the service is provided, without prejudice to more favourable conditions afforded to the worker under provisions from which the parties cannot derogate by agreement under the national law which would have applied otherwise.
Amendment 293 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2a – paragraph 1
Article 2a – paragraph 1
1. When the anticipated or the effective duration of posting exceeds twenty-four months, the Member State to whose territory a worker is posted shall be deemed to be the country in which his or her work is habitually carried outsix months, or when the posting is not considered to be genuine under Directive 2014/67/EU, the terms and conditions of employment of the Member State to whose territory a worker is posted and where the service is provided shall apply as long as they are more favourable for the worker than those pursuant to the law under which the individual employment contract was agreed.
Amendment 332 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2a – paragraph 2
Article 2a – paragraph 2
2. For the purpose of paragraph 1, in case of replacement of posted workers performing the same or a similar task at the same place, - be it by another posted worker or the same posted worker returning after a break - the cumulative duration of the posting periods of the workers concerned shall be taken into account, with regard to workers that are posted for an effective duration of at least six months.
Amendment 338 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2 a – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 a – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The application of this Directive shall not have the result of depriving workers of more favourable terms and conditions of employment afforded to them under provisions from which the parties cannot derogate by agreement under the national law which would have applied in the absence of the situation referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 381 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 – point g a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 – point g a (new)
(ga) provisions to cover travel, board and lodging expenses for workers away from home for professional reasons
Amendment 399 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
For the purpose of this Directive, remuneration means all the elements of remuneration rendered mandatory by national law, regulation or administrative provision, collective agreements or arbitration awards which have been declared universally applicable and/or, in the absence of a system for declaring collective agreements or arbitration awards to be of universal application, other collective agreements or arbitthe concept of remuneration shall be determined by the national law and/or praction awards within the meaning of paragraph 8 second subparagraph, ince of the Member State to whose territory the worker is posted.
Amendment 414 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
In the context of remuneration as well as allowances and expenses related to work outside the regular working place, elements which are mandatory under both the national law of the host Member State and the national law applying to the individual employment contract, and which are essentially similar, shall only be paid once to avoid double payment whereby the worker shall always receive the amount which is more favourable.
Amendment 473 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c a (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 477 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c b (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 491 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d a (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 9 a (new)
(da) after paragraph 9, the following paragraph is inserted: 9a. If a posting situation falls under more than two national jurisdictions, the terms and conditions of employment of the Member State to whose territory a worker is posted and where the service is provided, shall apply as long as they are more favourable for the worker than those pursuant to the law under which the individual employment contract was agreed.
Amendment 497 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 10
Article 3 – paragraph 10
(e) The second subparagraph of paragraph 10 is deleted.Paragraph 10 is replaced by the following: 10. This Directive shall not preclude the application by Member States, in compliance with the Treaty, and in line with national law and practice, of terms and conditions of employment to national undertakings and to the undertakings of other States, on a basis of equality of treatment, of: – terms and conditions of employmentperating on their territory on matters other than those referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, in the case of public policy provisions, – terms and c including non-ditions of employment laid down in the collective agreements or arbitration awards within the meaning of paragraph 8 and concerning activities other than those referred to in the Annexscriminatory measures to ensure the protection of workers, fair competition and the proper functioning of the labour market.
Amendment 511 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
(2a) in article 4, after paragraph 3 the following paragraph is added: 3a. Employers shall take appropriate measures to provide essential information on the terms and conditions of employment, in accordance with Directive 91/533/EU, as regards the posting before the beginning of the posting.
Amendment 61 #
2015/2349(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Criticises the European Commission’s communication ‘A European Agenda for the collaborative economy’ for its biased and over- enthusiastic position on the collaborative economy; is particularly worried about the Commission’s recommendation to Member States to consider imposing market access requirements only if a set of narrowly defined criteria apply (price setting competence, mandatory terms and conditions, ownerships of key assets); is worried that through these recommendations Member States are prevented from correcting market failures and are hindered from setting adequate consumer protection and labour standards in the digital economy; warns that the freedom to provide services should not take precedence over nationally guaranteed consumer protection and labour standards.
Amendment 63 #
2015/2349(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Points out that the collaborative economy also gives rise to precarious forms of employment to which standards as regards social security, working time, worker participation and employment protection no longer apply; asks the European Commission to suggest a legislative framework for the protection of workers in the collaborative economy, clarifying under which circumstances an employment relationship exists; considers that some online platforms are structurally similar to temporary agencies and calls on the Commission to elaborate in how far a revision of the directive on temporary agency work would be suitable to guarantee a minimum of labour standards for workers in the collaborative economy; stresses that a legislative proposal from the European Commission is urgently needed in order adequately protect workers and create a level playing field for businesses in the digital labour market, which operates on a cross-border basis;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the success of the eurozone and achievement of Treaty objectives is dependent on increasing the welfare of all its citizens, based on a sustained process of upward convergence in productivity and employment levels, and on well- functioning labour markets and welfare systems, based on decent work with rights, a strong role for the social partners, social dialogue, collective bargaining and collective agreements, and preventing individual Member States from trying to gain an unfair competitive advantage by infringing workers’ rights or promoting social dumping; highlights that societies which are characterized by a high level of equality and investment in people do better in terms of growth and employment resilience; recalls the importance of adopting a European pillar of social rights as a way to guarantee social and labour rights and to foster upward economic and social convergence in order to tackle the economic and social divergences between Member States and within societies;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the protracted Eurozone crisis has shown that the lack of a common budgetary capacity worsens economic adjustment processes within the currency union, leading to unnecessary social hardship and undermining fundamental social standards; points out that contractionary economic policies undertaken in many Eurozone countries in the absence of greater risk-sharing have translated into substantial shortages of public and private investment, leading to a dangerous divergence in Member States' longer-term growth potential, manifested also by high rates of long-term unemployment and emigration from crisis-hit countries; highlights the importance of the automatic stabilisation function of welfare systems, both in the economic sense and to absorb social shock-waves caused by recessions; stresses that high quality welfare systems and social investments are extremely important if Europe wants to maintain its main competitive advantage - highly skilled workers and productive companies;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Takes note of the relevance of existing instruments such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, the European Stability Mechanism, the European Fund for Strategic Investments and the Structural Reforms Support Programme; highlights, however, that the modalities of their intervention are not sufficiently adapted to enable timely recovery in investment levels and renewed economic catching-up process in countries most hit by the Eurozone crisis; considers that the Youth Employment Initiative comes conceptually closest to what is needed for re- convergence, by providing targeted grant support for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, which is a comprehensive set of structurally relevant measures that also give some short-term relief; calls for accelerated and improved implementation of the YEI and its further funding with € 20 billion in the period 2017-20;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Considers that a 'convergence instrument' should be put in place to foster a gradual process of renewed structural convergence within the Eurozone by providing incentives and support for sustainable and growth- friendly structural reforms and investments based on a 5-year 'convergence code', enabling better implementation of the Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations; notes that this instrument could be of temporary nature and should be targeted at countries whose growth potential has been most eroded by the long financial crisis; considers that, after a long period of macroeconomic adjustment, focus should be put on delivering structural reforms and investments with the aim of strengthening growth potential based on quality jobs and productivity, of promoting fair, robust, efficient and fiscally sustainable welfare systems based on solidarity, social justice and a fair wealth distribution, and of fostering a sustainable transition of Member States' economies towards greater resource efficiency;
Amendment 31 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that in order to stabilise the social situation in Member States during future cyclical downturns, economic stabilisers such as a European Unemployment Insurance (EUI) scheme should strengthen the welfare statebe considered as an instrument helping to uphold growth levels and fight social deprivation otherwise caused by one- sided fiscal discipline measures taken under the European economic governance framework; stresses that an EUI scheme must include safeguards to prevent a lowering of national unemployment insurance standards, it should be financed by taxes (e.g. corporate taxation), should be complementary to national schemes and address cyclical unemployment only; looks forward to the publication of the final report of the study on Feasibility and Added Value of a European Unemployment Benefit Scheme, conducted for the Commission under a Pilot Project initiated by the European Parliament and expects the Commission swiftly to follow up on this study with legislative proposals, also in the context of the roadmap envisaged by the Five Presidents' Report;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes the Commission's announcement to extend the European Fund for Strategic Investments until 2018; demands, however, that the investment capacity for the Eurozone be considerably expanded and suggests a further evolution of the European Fund for Strategic Investments enabling the expansion of public investments in order to react adequately to economic downturns and to overcome more swiftly future economic crises;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that the current system of European economic governance is highly unbalanced and focuses almost exclusivetoo heavily on fiscal stability and wage competitiveness, while concerns aboutnot paying enough attention to economic recovery, to public investment policies and more and better jobs and social cohesion are largely ignoreds needed for renewed convergence in growth potential and to strengthening quality employment and social cohesion within the Eurozone; calls for the EMU governance framework to ensure stronger policy response by giving binding force to employment and social indicators such as poverty rates, household incomes and various forms of inequality, also in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the EU's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030; stresses the need to implement measures improving job quality in order to reduce labour market segmentation combined with measures raising minimum wages to a decent level and strengthening collective bargaining and workers' position in wage- setting systems in order to reduce wage dispersion; warns about the fact that in recent decades, shareholders and corporate management have been taking a greater share of economic output while real wages have stagnated or have been reduced; considers that falling labour share of income and excessive dispersion in wages increase inequalities and damage productivity and competitiveness of companies;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Member States to respect and promote the autonomy of collective bargaining on wages and working conditions, and to restore balance with the economic governance pillar by urgently moving ahead on the social dimension; and all institutions involved in European economic governance and financial assistance programmes to respect and promote the autonomy of collective bargaining on wages and working conditions; emphasises the importance of non-cost determinants of competitiveness, such as productivity, quality, innovation, natural resource efficiency, good governance, modern public administration and a predictable business environment; highlights that all these factors depend on a skilled workforce, ethical and socially responsible management, workers' participation in company matters, high quality jobs and robust welfare systems;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of not linkpromoting social policies that fight poverty, social exclusion and social dumping, any unemployment benefit system with economic conditionality for the Member States, and of promoting social policies which fight poverty, social exclusion and social dumping; s well as investing in formal education systems and active employment policies helping to shorten unemployment spells and improve skill levels while ensuring decent living conditions for unemployed people; considers that limited macroeconomic risk-sharing within a European Unemployment Insurance scheme, complementary to national schemes and addressing cyclical unemployment only, should be underpinned by relevant ex ante conditionality on the accessibility and quality of support provided to job-seekers, but would not require harmonisation of national labour market policies; calls for social partners to be appropriately involved in establishing and overseeing a complementary European Unemployment Insurance scheme, taking into account their responsibilities in this field at national level;
Amendment 83 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the Eurozone fiscal capacity should not be merely a responsive tool in the event of country-specific shocks, but should actively enable Member States to strengthen their economic recovery and catching-up process after the long crisis in order to achieve social cohesion and full employment, to erase poverty, to strengthen the welfare state and to help attain all the social objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy.;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2344(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that in order to foster voluntary mobility throughout the European labour market, it should be ensured that no worker is left uncovered by social and labour rights protection, including mobile workers, the principle of equal treatment should be guaranteed and wages and social standards safeguarded; the European Unemployment Insurance scheme should build on and complement existing European instruments and be open to Member States with a commitment to adopt the euro in the future.
Amendment 126 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey (AGS) underlines the need to pay more attention to social fairness in the context of the new macroeconomic adjustment programmes, adding three social indicators (activity rate, youth unemployment and long-term unemployment) in the 2016 Alert Mechanism Report; stresses that the need to invest in social development is not just a means of guaranteeing that economic growth and convergence can be achieved, but must also be a specific target in itself; calls for measures preventing a race to the bottom in terms of taxation and social standards, building on better use of social indicators in macroeconomic surveillance; points to the importance of poverty and inequality indicators in this context; takes note of recent studies by the OECD[1] and the IMF[2] underlining that social inequalities in Europe hamper economic recovery; stresses that more effort is needed to improve the political visibility and impact of the Scoreboard of Key Employment and Social Indicators; calls for the Commission to make sure that Member States with low social performance adequately address the problems of social inequality; welcomes the own initiative opinion of the Social Protection Committee in this context;[3] [1] OECD, 'In it Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All', 2015. [2] IMF Report 'Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality', June 2015. [3] SPC, 'SPC own-initiatve opinion on monitoring social developments', SPC/2015/10.2 /FIN.
Amendment 207 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. reiterates the need for responsible fiscal policies, taking into account debt sustainability, the economic cycle and the investment gap; is concerned about the form of fiscal adjustment policy recommended by the Commission which focuses on cutting the expenditure; underlines that a responsible fiscal consolidation should in the future concentrate on revenue policies by fighting tax fraud and tax avoidance; takes note of a study by the International Monetary Fund[1] which emphasizes that over-hastily fiscal adjustment is likely to hurt growth prospects as it reduces domestic demand; [1] IMF Working Paper ' Walking Hand in Hand: Fiscal Policy and Growth in Advanced Economies', May 2012.
Amendment 225 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Consideringis concerned about the Commission's reference to thate flexicurity contributes to avoiding labour fragmentation and promoting the creation of more quality jobsmodel as a guiding principle for structural reforms as it has not been applied adequately in a range of Member States, calls on the Commission to ensure that labour rights and social security standards are ensured when applying the flexicurity model; calls on the Member States to modernise their employment protection legislation in order to guarantee more stability in transitions between jobs, as well as employees’ access to social security and welfare rights; calls on the Commission to step up monitoring of the abusive practice of successive fixed- term contracts, in both private and public sectors;
Amendment 246 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to graduallyNotes the importance of reducing taxation on labour, especially by low-paid and low-skilled workers, the long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups, while ensuring the long-range sustainability of public pensions systems; calls therefore for a shift of taxes from labour to other sources, while making sure not to endanger social benefits to other sources, while noting that such shifts should not affect taxes with regressive effects such as consumption taxes, but should focus instead on taxes on wealth, capital gains, financial transactions or pollution, and to implement tax rules that foster incentives to entrepreneurship and employment creation, especially for highly qualified young people, in order to boost research and innovation projects within European enterprises;
Amendment 249 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to graduallyNotes the importance of reducing taxation on labour, especially by low-paid and low-skilled workers, the long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups, while ensuring the long-range sustainability of public pensions systems; calls therefore for a shift of taxes from labour to other sources, while making sure not to endanger social benefits to other sources, while noting that such shifts should not affect taxes with regressive effects such as consumption taxes, but should focus instead on taxes on wealth, capital gains, financial transactions or pollution, and to implement tax rules that foster incentives to entrepreneurship and employment creation, especially for highly qualified young people, in order to boost research and innovation projects within European enterprises;
Amendment 272 #
2015/2330(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. underlines that according to Art. 153 (5) TFEU interference in wage setting mechanism by the European Union is not foreseen; emphasizes that wage setting is a core responsibility of mandated social partners in the Member States; demands therefore that the Commission ceases to interfere in national wage setting mechanisms and rejects the establishment of National Competitiveness Boards; underlines that wages are an important factor to increase domestic demand and economic growth; calls therefore on relevant actors in high-surplus countries to support faster wage increases enabling higher domestic demand.
Amendment 564 #
2015/2255(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Anticipation of challenges linked to the digitalisation of the economy
Amendment 575 #
2015/2255(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission rapidly to draw up proposals to combat unfair competition in the digital and, sharing economyand collaborative economy including the field of crowdworking;
Amendment 579 #
2015/2255(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. notes that digitalization has a crucial impact on European labour markets; highlights that, on the one hand, digitalisation can generate new business models and new jobs, especially for high- skilled but also for low-skilled workers, but on the other hand, it can also lead to precarious forms of employment; regrets, however, that Commission's Digital Single Market Strategy is primarily limited to technical considerations; stresses the need for social considerations to be taken on board in the Digital Single Market Strategy in order to take full advantage of the related employment and growth potential; calls on the Commission to shape the digital single market in a socially just and sustainable way;
Amendment 653 #
2015/2255(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Supports the development of unemployment benefit arrangements as a mechanism fora fiscal capacity for the euro area to absorbing asymmetric social shocks within the euro area;shocks and to boost investment.
Amendment 5 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for all ILO core labour standardsas a minimum, for the ratification and implementation of all ILO core labour standards as well as other relevant ILO conventions such as ILO 94, and for them to be a compulsory and enforceable element of EU trade agreements, such as TiSA from the outset;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that increasing mobility must be accompanied by high and binding social and labour standards so as to ensure that workers are protected against exploitation and social dumping; stresses furthermore in this regard the importance of sufficient control and enforcement mechanisms;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers that any future agreement on trade in services must include a clause on control and enforcement mechanisms so as to deter and prevent companies from infringing labour and social rights, including collective agreements; is particularly concerned about the effects of complex cross-border subcontracting chains through which it becomes very difficult to ensure and monitor compliance; calls therefore on the Commission to propose EU legislation ensuring liability in sub-contracting chains, and considers that such liability must also apply and be enforceable on companies from third-countries; points out in this regard that the principle of equal remuneration for equal work at the same workplace should be enshrined in EU law and underlines that labour inspectorates and trade unions have a vital role to play in the prevention and monitoring of abuse and also help to enhance expertise and information provision at company level; urges the Member States to increase the staffing levels of, and the resources available to, their labour inspectorates and to meet the target of one inspector for every 10 000 workers, as recommended by the ILO, as well as to impose more severe penalties on firms that fail to comply with their obligations concerning fundamental rights (including remuneration, working hours and OHS); considers that the penalties in such cases must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Deplores the decline in funding for labour inspection and the inadequacy of cross-border access to data within the EU; is concerned about the consequences this inadequacy and decline might have with regards to further liberalisation of the trade in services through TiSA; highlights that labour inspections in particular face challenges in monitoring companies where migrant workers and posted workers from the EU and third countries are employed; stresses that, for labour inspections to be effective, it is important that they are sufficiently aware of situations with a high risk of non- compliance; points out that national-level electronic systems for the compulsory advance registration of foreign workers by employers could substantially facilitate the task of labour inspection;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the TiSA negotiations arshould be aimed at achieving better international regulation, not lower domestic regulation;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses, in order to avoid unfair competition, social dumping and exploitation of workers, that the principle of equal remuneration for equal work is enshrined in EU law and respected in all of the trade agreements signed by the EU; underlines that all workers, irrespective of their home country must, as a minimum, enjoy the same rights, conditions of employment and salaries as nationals in the place of work; stresses that this principle be included through a protection clause for deployed workers in any future agreement on trade in services;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Considers that any future agreement on trade in services must include a clause preventing companies from circumventing or undermining the right to take industrial action, through the use of workers from third countries during negotiations on collective agreements and labour disputes;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas any trade agreement must provide more rights, contribute to sustainable development and lower prices to European consumers and level the playing field for European companies;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the right of the State to organise and regulate the provision of services, taking account of social and environmental criteria as well as the public interest, must be retained in full, and calls for; underlines in this regard the duties and the role of public authorities to serve the society and our citizens through ensuring availability, accessibility, acceptability, affordability and quality of public services; calls for services of general interest, services of general economic interest as well as social services of general interest1 a to be excluded from the scope of the agreement, irrespective of whether they are provided privately or publicly; __________________ 1a European Parliament Report, 22 June 2011, A7-0239/2011 "on the future of social services of general interest": http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getD oc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7- 2011-0239&language=EN
Amendment 45 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas any trade agreement must be a market opener for our companies abroad and a safety net for our citizens at home, while being an instrument for promoting corporate social responsibility globally;
Amendment 58 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that the EU should make very limited commitments as to any future provisions through the current Mode 1 of the GATS, so as not to undermine the high working standards and conditions in the EU through the provisions of services being supplied from third countries, particularly concerning the ICT sector;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers furthermore that the EU-wide posting of workers should not be regulated in trade agreements; considers however that, as a minimum, the Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers, together with other national and EU labour and social legislation as well as collective agreements, should be applicable to contractual service suppliers and business sellers accessing the EU, today and in the future, through the Mode 4 provisions in GATS;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the importance of the social partners and their expertise, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to involve and closely cooperate with them throughout the negotiations on TiSA, especially regarding the possible effects any trade agreement in services have on the labour market;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas trade in services ismust be an engine for jobs and growth in the EU;
Amendment 74 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. ExpectsConsiders that the agreement musto include a clause making it possible to unilaterally amend and revierse the liberalisation of services, particularly in the event of infringements of labour and social standards;
Amendment 83 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas numerousunnecessary barriers to trade in services, which if translated into equivalent tariffs amount to 15 % for Canada, 16 % for Japan, 25 % for South Korea, 44 % for Turkey and 68 % for China, continue to prevent European companies from reaping the full benefits of their competitiveness; whereas the EU, where the tariff equivalent of services restrictions is only 6 %, is substantially more open than most of its partners;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas non-tariff barriers, which on average represent more than 50 % of the cost of cross-border services, disproportionately affect small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to overcome those obstacles; whereas the elimination of unnecessary barriers would facilitate their internationalisation as long as these barriers can be removed without jeopardizing the public policy objectives underpinning them;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes the intention of including a chapter in TiSA on the deployment of natural persons; is deeply concerned however about the current non-existence of statistics and data concerning the movement of natural persons (mode 4) under the already existing General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); underlines the importance of transparency for this category of service providers so as to monitor and avoid abuse and exploitation of third-country nationals, for example in the form of bogus self-employment; calls on the Commission to urgently collate and present information on the number and type of service providers, including the duration of their stay, entering the EU through GATS mode 4; calls furthermore for an EU Directive to harmonise and monitor the flow of third-country individual service providers coming into the EU through these provisions in order to establish the conditions of entry and stay of individual service providers;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Underlines that any provisions concerning the deployment of natural persons or mode 4 provisions, must only concern highly skilled professionals, i.e. persons holding a University or equivalent Masters degree and employed in a senior managerial role, and the duration of their stay in the EU must be for a specific purpose, for a well determined, limited period of time and under precise conditions; therefore rejects any changes to the current mode 4 rules as defined in the GATS and considers that the current Directive 2014/66/EU on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra- corporate transfer should be revised in order to avoid abuse and social dumping;
Amendment 97 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Stresses that Member States must retain their full sovereignty as to whether or not to commit to any future Mode 4 provisions; underlines furthermore that any sectors included in these provisions must be identified together with and in full cooperation with the social partners;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Stresses that before making any new commitments on global trade in services, the Commission must present an extensive impact assessment of the effects on the economy and on the labour market of all current modes of GATS since its entry into force; calls furthermore on the Commission to as soon as possible present an impact assessment of TiSA with regards to working conditions, possible effects as to unfair competition and any eventual decline in certain sectors due to increased competition from third- countries;
Amendment 105 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas citizens’ trust in EU’s trade policy is a must, whichhas been seriously undermined in recent years, and can only be restored by ensuring the highest level of transparency, by maintaining constant dialogue with social partners and civil society, and by setting clear guidelines in the negotiations;
Amendment 125 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas TiSA is currently being negotiated as a plurilateral agreement outside the remits of the WTO; whereas this implies that WTO institutions would not be available to settle disputes arising within TiSA;
Amendment 142 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
i. to consider the TiSA negotiations as a stepping-stone towards renewed ambitions at WTO level and therefore to secure the commitment of all TiSA participants to multilateralising the outcome of the negotiations; to present a concrete plan to achieve multilateralisation to the European Parliament before the conclusion of the TiSA negotiations;
Amendment 149 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i a (new)
ia. to reflect on the recent withdrawal of Uruguay from the TiSA negotiations; to ensure that special attention is paid to developing countries in this regard, and that TISA includes the provisions contained in GATS article IV;
Amendment 157 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
ii. to reiterate its support for a comprehensive and balanced agreement, which should unleash the untapped potential of a more integrated global services market, while preventing social and economic dumping and fully guaranteeing compliance with the EU acquis; to shape globalisation and to create international standards, while fully preserving the right to regulate; to secure increased market access for European services suppliers in key sectors of interest, while accommodating specific carve-outs for sensitive sectors including all public services;
Amendment 170 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
iii. to push forguarantee multilateralisation by crafting GATS-compatible provisionsrejecting any provision that would be incompatible with the GATS and by accepting new parties conditional on their acceptance of the agreed rules and level of ambitions; to incentivise wider participation in the talks by granting interested parties observer status; to note that both the highest barriers and the highest growth potential regarding trade in services are to be found in the BRICS and the MINT countries; to recognise the importance of those countries for the EU, as export destinations with a rising middle class, as sources of intermediate inputs and as key hubs in global value chains; to open the way for the participation of China;
Amendment 182 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
iv. to carry outacknowledge that, as the negotiations are carried out on a preferential basis and to limit, the benefits of the agreement will be limited to TiSA parties until it is multilateralised; to take into account that unanimous approval is required from WTO members in order to multilateralise a plurilateral agreement;
Amendment 200 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point viii
viii. to publish a sustainability impact assessment and, once the negotiations are finalised, to update it accordingly, taking specific account of its impact on citizens and workersrecall that the EU's negotiating mandate was proposed by the Commission and adopted by the Council without any impact assessment; to publish without any further delay the sustainability impact assessment while negotiations are on- going and as a precondition for the European Parliament approval; to involve social partners and civil society fully in finalising the sustainability impact assessment; to update it accordingly once the negotiations are finalised, taking specific account of its impact on citizens and workers; to include in this study a detailed assessment of the effect on the economy and labour conditions of the GATS since its entry into force, including a breakdown by mode of supply; to request Parliament’s research services to publish a comprehensive and informative study of the scope and potential impact of the TiSA negotiations, particularly on consumers and workers;
Amendment 225 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
i. to exclude public services and culturs well as cultural and audio-visual services from the scope of the negotiations, and to seek the further opening of foreign markets in telecommunications, transport and professional services;
Amendment 239 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
ii. to ensure reciprocity at all levels; to condition any further commitments beyond the EU’s current level of openness on the other parties’ proportionate offers; to support the use of horizontal commitment- related provisions as a means to set a common level of ambitions, and to take note that such minimum requirements would set clear parameters for countries interested in participating;
Amendment 249 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
iv. to acknowledge thatreject the inclusion of any standstill and ratchet clauses do not apply to market access commiton any of the disciplines contained in the agreements;
Amendment 257 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv a (new)
iva. to use positive listing for all market access and national treatment commitments;
Amendment 260 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point v
Paragraph 1 – point b – point v
v. to undertake extremely limited commitments in Mode 1 so as to avoid regulatory arbitrage and social dumping; to ensure that European rules are fully respected when a company provides a service from abroad to European consumers; , particularly concerning sensitive sectors such as ICT; to ensure that European rules are fully respected and enforced on foreign providers established in third countries when a company provides a service from abroad to European consumers; to include provisions guaranteeing easy access to redress for consumers;
Amendment 271 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
vi. to take an ambitious approach in Mode 3 by seekingsecure the removal of third-country barriers to establishment, such as foreign equity caps and joint venture requirements; to retain the current overall level of limitations and reservations to Mode 3 commitments on the EU market;
Amendment 276 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
vii. to take a cautious approach in Mode 4, while bearing in mind that the EU has an offensive interest in the inward and outward movement of highly-skilled labour; to acknowledge that the labour clause maintains the legal obligation of foreign service providers to comply with EU and Member State social and labour legislation, as well as withreject any new commitment on Mode 4 beyond the GATS; Mode 4 must not be used to undermine labour standards or collective agreements; to enter into nor member states' ambitious commitments for those cases which underpin Mode 3 commitmenlity to conduct labour market needs tests;
Amendment 286 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii
viii. to acknowledge that by means of limitations and exemptions, each Party retains therespect Member States' sovereign right to choose which sectors to open to foreign competition and to what extent by means of limitations and exemptions; to refrain from pressuring Member States not to exercise this right in full;
Amendment 291 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ix
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ix
ix. to exclude, in line with Articles 14 and 106 of the TFEU as well as protocol 26 to the TFEU, current and future Services of General Interest as well as Services of General Economic Interest from EU commitments the scope of the agreement through a carve-out located in its core text (including but not limited to water, waste management, health, social services, social security systems and education);, as the only means to ensure that European, national and local authorities retain the full right to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regard to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services; to apply this exclusion, irrespective of how the public services are provided and funded; to acknowledge that social security systems are excluded from the negotiations;
Amendment 301 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
x. to introduce an unequivocal ‘gold standard’ clause, which could be included in all trade agreements and would clarifyensure that the public utilities clause applies to all modes of supply and to, any services considered as public services by European, national or regional authorities in any sector and irrespective of the service's monopoly status;
Amendment 338 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
ii. to acknowledge that data protection is not a trade barrier, but a fundamental right, enshrined in Article 39 TEU and Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as in Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; to acknowledgensure that GATS Article XIV, which fully exempts the existing and future EU legal framework for the protection of personal data from these negotiations, will be replicated in the TiSA core text; in addition, to insert a legally binding horizontal clause in TiSA to guarantee full respect of these fundamental rights, taking due account of recent developments in the digital economy and in full compliance with the European Court of Justice's ruling with respect to the Safe Harbour Agreement;
Amendment 357 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
Amendment 378 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
vii. to address persistent regulatory asymmetries regarding the telecommunications sector, by preventing parties from imposing foreign equity caps, by laying down pro-competitive wholesale access rules for incumbent operators’ networks, by providing clear and non- discriminatory rules for licensing and securing genuine access to last mile infrastructures in export markets for EU telecom providers, by guaranteeing the independence of regulators, and by supporting an extensive definition of telecommunications services covering all types of network;
Amendment 383 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii
viii. to strongly support provisions on international mobile roaming; to increase publicly available information regarding retail rates in the short run; to make the case for maximum caps in the long run; to push for online consumer protection, in particular vis-à-vis unsolicited commercial electronic messages; to include provisions directly aimed at lowering the cost of international calls and messages and to provide for effective means of redress for consumers;
Amendment 386 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i
i. to ensure that nothing will prevent the EU and its Member States from maintaining, improving and applying their labour and social regulations, as well as their legislation on entry and temporary stay; and that international labour standards, as defined in the International Labour Organisation's fundamental conventions, as well as collective agreements, are respected; to guarantee that these labour rights are made fully enforceable through a monitoring process that has the full involvement of trade unions; to guarantee Member States' sovereign right to take or refuse to take commitments under Mode 4;
Amendment 389 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i a (new)
ia. to include a clause on control and enforcement mechanisms so as to deter and prevent companies from infringing labour and social rights, including collective agreements and to propose EU legislation ensuring liability in sub- contracting chains, covering EU companies as well as companies from third-countries;
Amendment 392 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i b (new)
ib. to urge Member States to increase the staffing levels of, and the resources available to, their labour inspectorates and to meet the target of one inspector for every 10 000 workers, as recommended by the ILO, as well as to impose more severe penalties on firms that fail to comply with their obligations concerning fundamental rights (including remuneration, working hours and OHS); considers that the penalties in such cases must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive;
Amendment 393 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i c (new)
i c. to guarantee full compliance with the principle of equal remuneration for equal work in TISA; to ensure that all workers, irrespective of their home country must, as a minimum, enjoy the same rights, conditions of employment and salaries as nationals in the place of work;
Amendment 394 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point i d (new)
id. to include a clause preventing companies from circumventing or undermining the right to take industrial action, through the use of workers from third countries during negotiations on collective agreements and labour disputes;
Amendment 396 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
ii. to recall that Mode 4 commitments must only apply to the movement of high-level professionals for a specific purpose, for a limited period of time and under precise conditions stipulated by a contract and by domestic legislation; therefore rejects any changes to the Mode 4 rules as defined in the GATS, including with respect to economic needs tests;
Amendment 400 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii a (new)
iia. to guarantee that Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers, together with other national and EU labour and social legislation as well as collective agreements, should be applicable to contractual service suppliers and business sellers accessing the EU, today and in the future, through the Mode 4 provisions in GATS;
Amendment 403 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii b (new)
iib. to propose a revision of Directive 2014/66/EU on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer in order to avoid abuse and social dumping;
Amendment 404 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point iii
Amendment 420 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vi a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vi a (new)
via. to present detailed information on the number and type of service providers currently operating in the EU under Mode 4, including the duration of their stay;
Amendment 426 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point i
Paragraph 1 – point e – point i
i. to aim at reinforcing financial stability, ensuring adequate protection for consumers, including their data privacy, and guaranteeing fair competition between financial services providers;
Amendment 436 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
ii. to step upcommit parties to TiSA to the implementation and application of international standards for the regulation and supervision of the financial sector, such as those endorsed by the G20, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the Financial Stability Board, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors; to bind TiSA parties not signatory to the WTO Understanding on Financial Services to equivalent rules;
Amendment 445 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv
iv. to ensure that this agreement does not limit the EU’s ability to ban certain financial products in line with its regulatory framework or to adopt any measure it deems necessary to regulate financial markets;
Amendment 451 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point v
Paragraph 1 – point e – point v
v. while stressing the need to increase worldwide access to financial services, to exclude cross-border financial services from the EU’s commitments until there is convergence in financial regulation at the highest level, except in very limited and justified caseto exclude cross-border financial services from the EU’s commitments;
Amendment 461 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f – point i
Paragraph 1 – point f – point i
i. to ensure a high level of ambibalanced regulation inof the transport sector, which is critical to the sustainable development of global value chains; to increase the speed, reliability, security and interoperability of transport services, to the benefit of business customers and individual users and workers;
Amendment 473 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point f – point iv
iv. to exclude any provisions facilitating the entry and stay of professional drivers from the scope of the Annex on road transport; to reject any demands to take any Mode 4 commitments in the road transport sector;
Amendment 477 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f – point v
Paragraph 1 – point f – point v
v. to ensure consistency with international standards, such as those endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and to oppose any lowering of these international benchmarks; to ensure the application of all ILO Conventions relevant to the logistics and transport sectors, such as the Maritime Labour Convention;
Amendment 487 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point i
Paragraph 1 – point g – point i
i. to fully preasservet that European, national and local authorities’ have the right to regulate to adopt policies in the public interest and that this should not be subject to additional necessity tests beyond those foreseen in GATS article VI; provisions on domestic regulations should not be more restrictive than the general proportionality obligation enshrined in the EU Treaties;
Amendment 496 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point g – point ii
ii. to promote good governance and foster good practices in administrative and lregisulativeory processes, by encouraging the wide take-up of measures that strengthen the independence of decision-makers, and increase the transparency of decisions, and reduce red tape; to stress that consumerand democratic accountability of decisions; to stress that consumer, health and environmental protection and safety and labour rights must be at the centre of regulatory endeavours;
Amendment 506 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point g – point iii
iii. to recognise that the domestic regulation chapter isprovisions, as provided in the GATS, might be necessary to prevent parties from implementing disguised trade barriers and imposing unnecessary burdens on foreign companies, in particular when they apply for different types of permits;
Amendment 518 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point v
Paragraph 1 – point g – point v
v. to request and publish a legal opinion prior to Parliament’s vote on the final agreement, with a view to thoroughly assessing the two Annexes on domestic regulation and transparency in light of EU law, EU principles and international jurisprudence, and to assess whether the legal obligations set in these chapters are already respected in the EU, and whether necessity tests limit public authorities' right to regulate;
Amendment 523 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point g – point vi
vi. to clearly define the law-making principles of transparency and objectivity so as to ensure that these concepts do not turn into catch-all provisions; in particular, to ensure that provisions contained in any transparency annex do not affect pricing mechanisms;
Amendment 532 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x
x. to oppose any proposals calling for the mandatory submission of legislative proposals to third parties prior to their publication; to bear in mind that stakeholders have different access to resources and expertise, and to ensure that the introduction of a voluntarily stakeholder consultation process in TiSA does not create a bias towards the better funded organisations;
Amendment 534 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x a (new)
xa. to reject the inclusion of a Most Favoured Nation Clause (MFN) in TiSA;
Amendment 535 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g – point x b (new)
xb. to secure full transparency as to the conditions prevailing in TiSA participants' markets in particular with respect to regulation applicable at sub- federal level;
Amendment 540 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h – point i a (new)
ia. to allow participating countries to modify or withdraw a commitment in their schedule if they can negotiate a substitute commitment with all other parties, by analogy to the provisions of GATS article XXI;
Amendment 546 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point h – point ii
ii. to endeavour to include a regulatory chapter on government procurement with a view to maximising the participation of European companies in foreign tenders and to safeguard the ability of public authorities in the EU to discriminate on the basis of environmental and social criteria; to deplore the lack of transparency regarding non-European calls for tenders and to denounce the lack of reciprocity in this area, as illustrated by the preferential treatment granted to domestic companies in several countries; to encourage the ratification and implementation of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and its 2011 revision; to call upon the Member States to reinvigorate discussions on the proposed international public procurement instrument;
Amendment 560 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i – point i
i. to ensure the highest level of transparency, dialogue and accountability, and to emulate the document disclosure policy of the WTO, whereby all negotiating documents are made available to the public;
Amendment 567 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point i – point ii
ii. to ensure that the members of Parliament’s Committee on International Trade receive all the negotiating documents related to TiSA as well as Commission internal assessments including briefing documents, minutes and summaries of negotiating rounds;
Amendment 599 #
2015/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Requests the European Commission to provide a detailed response to all the concerns raised in this resolution within three months of its adoption;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the digital revolution has changed the labour market already to a great extent in some segments and this trend will further intensify over the next few years; highlights that on the one hand, digitization generates new business models and new jobs, especially for high- skilled but also low-skilled workers, but on the other hand, digitization also induces the outsourcing of jobs or part of a job to countries with low labour costs, points out, that due to automation, some jobs even completely disappear, especially medium skilled-labour;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the Commission's initiative; stresses, that the Digital Single Market plays an important role as an engine for jobs and growth; stresses however that a comprehensive strategy is needed which goes beyond the technical aspects to take full advantage of employment and growth potential;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. PRegrets that the effects of a common digital single market on employment and social protection are not addressed by the Commission, although in terms of the transformation of the working world digitization causes a considerable need for policy-making on EU level and in the Member States; points out that employment and social policy need to keep pace with the digitalisation of society;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Demands a permanent European Forum composed of all relevant stakeholders, including social partners, to discuss how such a European digital vision can be developed and how to shape the future digital Europe, how to design industry 4.0, workplaces 4.0 and smart digital services, on the basis of a clear roadmap;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to undertake a thorough assessment of the impact whichcomprehensive analysis of the qualitative and quantitative development of types of employment, which are triggered by digitalisization will have on the number and types of jobs available and to gather information on new forms of employment, such as crowdsourcing and crowdworkingin order to better seize the opportunities and to meet the challenges; stresses that there is a need for a detailed analysis regarding the sustainable sectors, including new forms of employment and jobs in the health and care sector, and the geographical distribution as well as the consequences of digitization;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Draws the Commission's attention to the urgent need for more detailed and regularly updated statistics that show the spread and distribution of income as well as nonstandard forms of employment, including data on practices such as "Crowdsourcing / Working Crowd";
Amendment 94 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes further that public and private investment in vocational education and life- long-learning training for all groups of employees has to be promoted in order to provide the EU workforce, including the 'digital workforce' working in non- standard forms of employment;
Amendment 100 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Points out that some Member States have introduced rights which guarantee workers minimum entitlements to paid educational leave as a measure to improve workers' access to education and training; calls therefore on the European Commission to consider, in close cooperation with Member States and social partners, whether such rights should also be introduced at European level;
Amendment 103 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. draws attention to the problem that, according to official Commission data, there are significant shortages of skills acquisition. The mismatch between skills supply and demand opportunities and the development of the digital economy hinders the creation of jobs which has a huge impact on the competitiveness of the EU;
Amendment 105 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Stresses that lifelong learning for workers of all ages must be a standard in the digitized area, including the legal right to lifelong training and further training measures (e.g. through part-time education); recalls that the qualification and training requirements must apply to all employees via European framework legislation;
Amendment 107 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Recalls that women are underrepresented in the field of information and communication technologies; points out that women in Europe studying rare ICT-based subjects, rarely find employment in this sector and rarely hold a leadership positions in technology companies; calls on Member States, to promote the qualification and training of women in the ICT sector;
Amendment 109 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. believes that new funding opportunities for lifelong training, including funding models as already exist in some member states, are needed, especially for micro and small enterprises;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the establishment of the Europe-wide grand coalition for digital jobs, and encourages businesses to joinin order to promote education and training in digital skills; encourages companies to join this coalition; Calls on companies to finance training opportunities;
Amendment 134 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the digital revolution is also changing the ways of working, which leads to an increase of atypical and flexible employment relationships; recognizes a positive effect and more flexible working arrangements for some people allowing them a better work-life balance and the possibility of a caregiver leave; draws attention to the problem that the digitalisation-driven trend towards more flexible working practices may also give rise to precarious forms of employment to which current standards as regards social security, working time, working location, minimum wages, worker participation and employmenthealth and safety protection no longer apply; calls for self-employed persons with quasi-employeeon Member States, social partners and the Commission to develop stratuegies to be placed on an equal footing with employed persons under employment lawensure that these self-employed workers who work under similar circumstances are treated equally under labour law, including the right of collective bargaining;
Amendment 146 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the necessity for a definition of the term 'worker' in order to distinguish between self-employment and bogus self-employment; calls on the Commission to promote the exchange between Member States on the various forms of self-employment, taking into account the mobility and delocalization of digital work;
Amendment 152 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Draws attention to the increase of sharing economy companies; is concerned that this may lead to a loss of tax revenues; calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to develop strategies to ensure all relevant information is made available to national authorities and that taxes are paid for all forms of work, including non-standard forms of employment;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Stresses that the intended harmonization on parcel delivery by the Commission should not lead to lower salaries and working conditions of the parcel deliverers irrespective of whether their employment status is self-employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; calls on the Commission and on Member States to ensure that workers in this sector have access to social security systems and to the right to exercise collective bargaining; considers that one key to appropriate transformation and adaptation measures lies in the development of compatible information systems and in employee training; regards it as the employer's task to properly acquaint employees obligation with new technologies such as IT and tracking applications and GPS systems, which can offer support as online delivery becomes more widespread and complex; in the case of temporary contracts, the agency supplying the staff must provide to employees adequate preparation and training;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out that digitization has promoted new forms of employment such as Crowd Working, where services of all kinds are mediated via digital platforms; Encourages the Commission to recognise the working conditions of Crowd Worker not only as a new form of employment but also as a new form of outsourcing; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to create a regulatory framework ensuring a high level of social security for all; stresses that social and labour law regulation is necessary at both national and European level; points out that European minimum standards are necessary where services are solely digitally rendered and where the Crowdsourcer (contractor) and the Crowd Worker (contractee) come from different Member States;
Amendment 162 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the social partners to provide adequate information to workers on working conditions and workers' rights throughout Crowd Working platforms;
Amendment 163 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Emphasises that work-related mental health problems such as burnout caused by the constant accessibility and the limitation of work represents serious risk; advocates therefore a "right to log off" for workers;
Amendment 175 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that industry 4.0 provides the opportunity to increase the share of skilled labour in the factory and to eliminate monotonous work; points out, however, that this changes can only be made if the employees quickly prepare for a changing range of tasks, for which a solid technology assessment and derived quality requirements for education and training are necessary;
Amendment 177 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Emphasises that the guiding principle of decent work must also be promoted in the digital world, including enhanced co- determination rights in the workplace and worker's right to privacy and data protection; calls on the Commission to set high minimum standards under the EU Data Protection basic Regulation; points out that Member Stated must be allowed to go beyond the high EU minimum standards;
Amendment 190 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recognises that there are very different forms of social protection for self-employed in the Member States; calls on the Member States to develop social security systems, together with the social partners and in accordance with national law and practice in order to provide better social protection in particular with regard to pensions, disability, maternity/paternity, sickness and unemployment.
Amendment 235 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 (new)
- Points out that the impacts of the digital revolution on social standards and labour conditions have to be taken into account while adapting current laws and regulations in order to protect citizens and companies alike; encourages the Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the quantitative and qualitative effects of digitalisation on employment conditions;
Amendment 511 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that accessible, affordable, efficient and high-quality delivery services are an essential prerequisite for thriving cross-border e-commerce; supports the proposed measures to improve price transparency, interoperability and, delivery times and information schemes on liabilities in case of loss or damage as well as the regulatory oversight that should target both the smooth functioning of cross-border parcel delivery markets and compliance with relevant social and labour rights, allowing enough flexibility for the delivery market to evolve and adapt to technological innovations but calls upon the Commission to and Member States to refrain from further deregulating the parcel delivery and postal services sector in a way which could lead to unreliability and precarious working conditions;
Amendment 902 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses that particularly business models of the sharing economy foster more and more flexible and atypical employment schemes, which may on the one hand allow for more flexibility and a better work-life balance in the EU where life expectancy is high and will become even higher, but on the other hand my also increase the number of precarious working conditions, most importantly through an ever higher number of solo- self-employed contractors; calls on the Commission and Member States to provide improved social security schemes in order to protect those who find themselves in precarious and exploitive solo-self-employment;
Amendment 905 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Calls on the Commission to take into consideration the ever-widening phenomena of crowdworking and crowdsourcing which further decentralises income tax liabilities, limits the possibilities of workers/contractors in this area to organise and undermines national and European social and labour standards; calls on the Commission to develop minimum labour and social standards for crowdworkers;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the general thrust of the future trade strategy presented by the Commission in the document ‘Trade for all. Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy’, in particular its focus on a value-based approach aiming at safeguarding the European social and regulatory model at home and using trade agreements and preference programmes as levers to promote, around the world, European values like sustainable development, human rights, fair and ethical trade and the fight against corruption;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to its recommendations to the Commission for the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trade in Services Agreement of 8 July 2015 and 3 February 2016 respectively,
Amendment 3 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that future trade agreements should take into account Parliament’sthe resolutions of the European Parliament on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership of 8 July 2015 and on the Trade in Services Agreement, of 3 February 2016 which remain valid for the future EU trade policy, in particular as far as the protection of public services is concerned as it is part of a European model to fight against inequalities;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on International Trade to the report on Transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions,
Amendment 12 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the principle of policy coherence for development as stated in the TFEU,
Amendment 16 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas openness to trade is a necessity for the European economy as most of the global wealth will be created elsewhere in the future but this must go hand in hand with a robust framework at home that ensures trade delivers for citizens consisting of effective trade defence and social flanking policies;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris agreement are of the highest importance for global sustainable development and EU trade policy has to contribute to the fulfilment of their key elements;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the common commercial policy (CCP) has undergone a profound change since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009; whereas trade does not operate in isolation, but rather is linked to and dependent on many other polices; whereas negotiations on trade and investment agreements have changed and evolved over time; must go beyond simply cutting tariffs as complex challenges lie today in regulatory matters and convergence on international standards;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that sustainability impact assessments are conducted, allowing not only for an ex-ante but also for an ex-post evaluationimplemented in the course of trade negotiations, assessing the social, economic and environmental impact of future trade agreements; calls on the Commission to monitor the impact of trade agreements allowing not only for an ex-ante but also for an ex-post evaluation; demands that the social partners and civil society are given the opportunity to participate in the design and implementation of sustainability impact assessments;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in times of low economic growth, the contribution of foreign trade to the recovery of the European economy is of key importance in delivering concrete and measurable results and contributing to decent jobs and sustainable economic growth and equality in Europe and beyond;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that possible adjustment costs in the EU labour market are countered by a timely intervention on the side of the Commission supporting the affected sectors, regions or Member States; this support could be achieved through EU funding, including an adapted European Globalisation Adjustment Fund with an adequate budget;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas new-generation trade policy needs to respond to people’'s concerns; whereas trade can help fighting poverty and improve the living and working conditions of the people in Europe and in our trading partner countries whereby a fair and equitable wealth distribution in society is indispensable;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission to take steps to protect regional production structures in developing countries in cases in which the Sustainable Impact Assessment indicates that these might be endangered as a consequence of trade agreements;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, as a minimum, the legislation on the posting of workers andtogether with other national and EU labour and social legislation, as well as collective agreements, should be applicable to contractual service suppliers and business sellers accessing the EU; calls on the Commission to ensure that all workers, irrespective of their home country, enjoy the same labour rights as nationals in their host country and that the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place is respected; in this respect calls on the Commission to ensure that the Directive on the posting of workers is revised in a way so that the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place is given full effect;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas on-going trade negotiations such as ACTA, TTIP, CETA and TiSA have brought European trade policy increasingly to the public’'s attention, and whereas more and more citizens are worried that European regulation and standards could be undermined by the CCP;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the European Commission made a clear pledge that no trade agreement will ever lower levels of regulatory protection, that any change to levels of protection can only be upward and that the right to regulate will always be protected;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to include a safety clause preventing companies from circumventing or undermining the right to take industrial action through the use of workers from third countries during negotiations on collective agreements and labour disputes and allow Member States to apply any necessary safeguards should pressure be put on domestic wages, the right of domestic workers be endangered or other agreed standards be infringed;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that nothing will prevent the EU and its Member States from maintaining, improving and applying labour and social regulations, collective agreements as well as legislations regulating the entry of natural persons into, or temporary stay in, its territory;
Amendment 50 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Rejects any further liberalisation of the GATS Mode 4 commitmentsCalls on the Commission to ensure that Mode 4 commitments must only apply to the movement of highly-skilled professionals, such as persons holding a university or equivalent Masters degree or employed in a senior managerial role, for a specific purpose, for a limited period of time and under precise conditions stipulated by the domestic legislation of the country where the service is performed and by a contract respecting such domestic legislation; to reject any further liberalisation of the GATS Mode 4 commitments and to consider a revision of Directive 2014/66/EU on the conditions of entry and residency of third country nationals in the framework of an intra- corporate transfer in order to avoid abuse and social dumping;
Amendment 58 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that labour standards, includingCalls on the Commission to ensure that future trade agreements include binding and enforceable sustainable development chapters, guaranteeing the full and effective ratification, implementation and enforcement of the eight fundamental International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, must burges the Commission to promote further labour provisions in particular the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda aiming at improving levels of protection of labour; stresses that labour standards including the eight fundamental International Labour Organisation conventions are equally implemented in all chapters of trade agreements, and that these agreements must; calls on the Commission to include a revision clause allowing a party to leave the agreement or to suspend commitments in the event of infringements of labour and social standards;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that labour standards are made enforceable by guaranteeing that the implementation of and compliance with labour provisions is subjected to an effective monitoring process, involving social partners and civil society representatives; where disputes arise regarding labour provisions, these disputes should be subject to a dispute settlement mechanism, including the possibility of imposing trade sanctions, and with due consideration for the ILO supervisory bodies and reference to ILO jurisdiction;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. StressesCalls on the Commission to ensure that the Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs), handling the infringements of social clauses of trade agreements must have a sufficient financing andto work effectively, that they must consist of a balanced representation of labour and business organisations from civil society as well as other civil society organisations, that joint meetings of the DAGs from both sides of the trade agreement are institutionalised and that they dispose of a secretariat that is situated at the Economic and Social Committee;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises the need to increase the staffing levels of, and the resources available to, Member States’ labour inspectorates to allow for effective monitoring of labour standardsCalls on the Commission to ensure an effective monitoring of labour standards by recommending Member States to increase the staffing levels of, and the resources available to, their labour and social inspectorates in order to meet the target of one inspector for every 10 000 workers, as recommended by the ILO;
Amendment 79 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to regularly update its trade and investment strategy and to publicly present a detailed annualmid-term implementation report to Parliament to ensure it delivers on its promises;
Amendment 84 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that enhanced cooperation between regulators is key to facilitate trade and investment through the identification of technical barriers to trade and duplicated or redundant administrative burdens and formalities, which disproportionately affect SMEs, while not compromising the technical procedures linked to fundamental standards and regulations or procedures serving a public policy objective, preserving European standards on health, safety, consumer, labour, social and environmental legislation and cultural diversity and fully respecting the regulatory autonomy of national, regional and local authorities;
Amendment 84 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to effectively withdraw tariff preferences if the eight ILO core labour standards are not complied with; the withdrawal of tariff preferences should also be made possible for our trading partners in cases where EU Member States infringe on the eight ILO core labour standards;
Amendment 90 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission’'s attempts to increased transparency and openness at all stages of trade negotiations, such aand supports the Commission’'s TTIP transparency initiative; acknowledges that, after a number of requests from Parliament, the Commission enhanced the transparency of negotiations by providing all Members of the European Parliament and of the national parliaments access to classified negotiating documents and providing more information to stakeholders; recalls that enlarged access to classified information by Members of Parliament in the TTIP negotiations has strengthened parliamentary scrutiny, thereby allowing Parliament to assume its responsibility under the CCP even better; calls therefore for a widening of the Commission’'s transparency initiative to extend its key elements to all ongoing trade negotiations;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Council to publish all existingpreviously adopted and future negotiating mandates as soon as they are adoptedwithout delay;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the involvement of civil society and stakeholdocial partners, including through appropriate public online consultations and communication campaigns, is crucial in order to strengthen the legitimacy of trade policy and to improve its content;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the needCalls on the Commission to increase efforts to unblock the reform of trade defence instruments.; deplores that the Council has not been able to advance on the reform of trade defence instruments, keeping in mind that a modern and robust trade defence regime is also very important for jobs in Europe;
Amendment 97 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that, where possible, EU institutions documents should be published. Reminds that where confidential information is beyond the reach of public access it must be available to parliamentarians who scrutinise trade policy on behalf of citizens; considers that there should be clear criteria for classifying documents to avoid ambiguity and arbitrary decisions; notes that the case law of the ECJ makes it clear that where a document originating in an EU institution is covered by an exception to the right to public access, the institution must clearly explain why access to this document could specifically and effectively undermine the interest protected by the exception, and that this risk must be reasonably foreseeable and not purely hypothetical; calls on the Commission to implement the recommendations of the European Ombudsman of July 2015 with particular regard to access to documents for all negotiations;
Amendment 100 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Asks the Commission to where possible, conduct negotiations with no less transparency than those organised in the World Trade Organisation (WTO); stresses, however, that the Commission must also persuade negotiating partners to increase transparency at their end to make sure that this is a reciprocal process in which the EU's negotiating position is not compromised and to include the aspired level of transparency in its scoping exercises with potential negotiating partners; stresses that meaningful transparency can strengthen global support for rules-based trade;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the CCP is to be conducted in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’'s external action as set out in Article 21 TEU; recalls that the EU’'s trade and investment policy must be consistent with other external policies, such as development policy; stresses that the EU has a legal obligation to respect human rights, and should foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of trading countries; points out that in some cases trade and investment agreements may have negative effects contrary to the EU’'s external objectives as enshrined in the Treaties; is of the opinion that the EU has a responsibility to help tackle any negative impact caused by its CCP; recalls that only fair and properly regulated trade, if aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), could have potentialities for development and reduce inequality;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that governments have the opportunity to adopt socially and environmentally responsible procurement policies; procurement provisions should not prevent governments from addressing societal and environmental needs and the agreement must not restrict the ability to make social demands, as stated in the new EU directives on public procurement; in addition, public procurement policies should be in line with ILO Convention 94 regarding labour clauses in public contracts;
Amendment 103 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Commission to make very limited commitments as to future provisions regarding services provided digitally or by electronic means, so as not to undermine the high working standards and conditions in the European Union in an increasingly digitalised economy;
Amendment 104 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on the Commission to ensure that labour standards are excluded from the concepts of non-tariff barriers and technical barriers, and for the Social Partners to be included in the process of regulatory cooperation within a balanced representation, in order to ensure that regulatory cooperation does not restrict the right of governments and the European Parliament to legislate in the public interest and does not lead to regulatory chill or to the weakening of labour standards, including health and safety standards;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the co-legislator role played by the Parliament and therefore calls on the Commission to build upon and improve its cooperation with the Parliament and to enhance its efforts in order to constructively work with the other Institutions prior to taking decisions;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Welcomes the Commission's support of the extension request for pharmaceutical intellectual property by LDCs until these countries no longer are considered LDCs; regrets the final WTO TRIPS Council decision to grant only a time limited extension of 17 years; asks the Commission follow through on its initial position by supporting all developing countries in making full and effective use of all flexibilities built into the TRIPS Agreement and recognised by the TRIPS Agreement and affirmed by the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health adopted on 14 November 2001, in order to be able to provide affordable medicines under their domestic public health programmes;
Amendment 114 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises the Commission’'s efforts to strengthen sustainable development and promote human rights, labour and social standards and environmental sustainability worldwide through its trade and investment agreements but urges determined efforts to fully implement and enforce the corresponding chapters in practice; shares the Commission’'s view that the EU has a special social responsibility as regards the impact of its trade policies on least- developed countries (LDCs); calls on the Commission to adopt accompanying measures in trade agreements with developing countries;
Amendment 129 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that Everything But Arms (EBA), the General System of Preferences (GSP) and the GSP+ schemes are tools which enable fundamental values to be upheld; insists on the importance of their effective implementation and monitoring and welcomes the Commission's commitment to strengthening cooperation with beneficiary countries in this regard;
Amendment 131 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls on the Commission to develop legislation with the aim of forbidding imports of goods produced with any form of forced labour or modern slavery and in the meantime, strengthen import and supply chain controls on ethical grounds;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to establish a structured and depoliticised process whereby consultations with a partner for suspected violations of obligations under trade and sustainable development chapters have to be launched according to clear criteria;
Amendment 137 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights the importance of Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) and the involvement of civil society in joint fora under the free trade agreements (FTAs) that monitor and comment on the agreements' implementation and the parties respect for their commitments and obligations on human rights, labour standards and environmental protection; calls for the further strengthening of the work of DAGs; stresses that they should be fully independent; calls on the Commission to take measures to improve the work of DAGs such as providing financial resources, prior information and the possibility of using more advanced media in order to facilitate civil society participation; and to thoroughly take into account the Domestic Advisory Group's recommendations; calls on the EU to reinforce its monitoring capacity in the EPAs dedicated to sustainable development and human rights that ensure the proper and transparent involvement of civil society organisations;
Amendment 143 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that the ILO estimates that 865 million women around the world, if better supported, could contribute more robustly to economic growth; notes that women-owned businesses represent an underutilised lever to boost competitiveness, accelerate business and sustain growth; states that trade policy can have differing gender impacts across the various sectors of the economy; and that more data on gender and trade is needed regrets that the Commission does not address the gender dimension of trade agreements in its ‘'Trade for All’' communication; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to use trade negotiations as a tool to promote gender equality worldwide, as well as to ensure that both women and men can take advantage of the benefits of trade liberalisation and be protected from its negative effects; to this aim, the Commission should make sure that the gender perspective is included, horizontally, in all future trade agreements and also, as an essential part of the EU mainstreaming strategy and proposes, the Commission should guarantee a thorough monitoring and evaluation of the gender impact of the trade agreements in force;
Amendment 151 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission to make its trade and investment policy fully aligned with the ILO Decent Work Agenda;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Stresses that given the increased importance of animal welfare for EU citizens in terms both of public morals and consumers informed choice and its implications for the competitiveness of EU producers, animal welfare provisions should be strengthened in our free trade agreements;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Acknowledges that the internationalisation of the world’'s production system has resulted in new openings for economic development and an employment-based path out of poverty for hundreds of millions of people; recalls that, according to the ILO, around 780 million active women and men are not earning enough to be lifted out of poverty; underlines that the expansion of GVCs has created job opportunities but also propelled some supplier firms to ignore labour laws, engage workers in unsafe and unacceptable conditions, demand exhaustive working hours and deny workers their fundamental rights; recalls that these practices create unfair competition for suppliers that are compliant with labour laws and international labour standards and for governments that want to improve wages and living standards; concludes therefore that mutual respect for labour and environmental standards is an indispensable tool to ensure there is no race to the bottom; calls on the Commission to improve conditions in GVC in close cooperation with the ILOs; emphasises that the EU’'s further integration into GVCs must be driven by the dual principles of safeguarding the European social and regulatory model and securing and creating sustainable and equitable growth and decent jobs in the EU and for its partners;
Amendment 165 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines that the emergence of GVCs has also led to a substantial increase of imported components in exports; consequently there are less incentives for countries to levy high tariffs as trade policy should not just open up exports, but also facilitate imports in order to stabilise value chains without prejudice to the legitimate use of trade defence instruments;
Amendment 167 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that trade policy must ensure a transparent production process throughout the value chain, as well as compliance with fundamental environment, animal welfare, social and safety standards; stresses the need for mandatory due diligence throughout the supply chain; welcomes the Commission’'s desire to work closely with the ILO and the OECD to develop a global approach to improving working conditions especially in the garment sector; underlines the importance of identifying and assessing new sectoral or geographic opportunities for additional responsible supply chain partnerships; looks forward to the Commission’'s upcoming communication on CSR; and calls on the Commission to move from voluntary initiatives to binding obligations;
Amendment 187 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission not to request provisional application of trade agreements, including trade chapters of association agreements, before European Parliament gives its consent; recalls that it cwould seriously undermine Parliament’'s rights and create potential legal uncertainty vis-à- vis the agreement’'s other signatory and the economic operators concerned; recalls and welcomes the Trade Commissioner's commitments in this regard but strongly urges to formalise this arrangement in the new inter-institutional agreement;
Amendment 192 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Insists that the monitoring, evaluation and follow-up of existing agreements become a key priority of the CCP; calls on the Commission to reallocate resources in order to enable DG Trade to better monitor trade agreements which need to be implemented considering the growing negotiating agenda;
Amendment 195 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to improve the quality and accuracy of both ex-ante and ex- post assessments and to review their methodology; stresses the need to always submit a deep sustainability impact assessment, including on human, social and environmental rights, for any trade policy initiative, in particular in light of the recent Ombudsman's recommendation in complaint 1409/2014/JN on the EU-Vietnam FTA; welcomes the commitment of the Commission to undertake in-depth analysis of the potential effects of new FTAs on LDCs and calls on the Commission to put forward measures to ensure that the benefits of trade accrue to developing countries; expresses its concern at the lack of interim and ex-post assessments and that the quality of the existing ones is very low, as demonstrated in the European Court of Auditors Special Report 02/2014; insists that high-quality interim and ex-post evaluations be carried out in respect of all trade agreements in order to allow policymakers, stakeholders and European taxpayers to assess whether trade agreements have achieved the intended results; asks the Commission to provide data on the impact of the trade agreements which have been concluded with special regard to SMEs and the creation of decent jobs;
Amendment 209 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that limited improvements were achieved at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in 2015; recognises the differences among WTO members on how to proceed as regards the Doha Round, including the need to consider new approaches to solve outstanding issues; welcomes the interest of some WTO members in starting to address new negotiating areas; believes that the outcome of the Nairobi Ministerial Conference provides an opportunity to give new life to the WTO’'s negotiating function; urges the Commission to take the initiative in reforming and strengthening the WTO in order to ensure greater effectiveness, transparency and accountability including by strengthening coordination with the ILO and other Environment and Human rights related UN Agencies;
Amendment 223 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls for a strong and effective parliamentary dimension of the WTO in order to enhance the transparency of the organisation and to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of global trade policy; urges the WTO to make full use of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, ensuring that parliamentarians have access to all the information they need to carry out their oversight role effectively and contribute meaningfully to trade policies;
Amendment 265 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Insists that trade negotiations follow a tailor-made regional trade strategy, in particular vis-à-viswithin Asia, Africa and Latin America, which have been identified by the Commission as crucial regions for European economic interests; recalls that Europe and Latin America are natural allies with a combined population of one billion people generating a quarter of global GNP; points out that the potential of this partnership has been insufficiently exploited; welcomes the fact that the Commission’'s new trade and investment strategy puts a key focus on Latin America;
Amendment 275 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to start negotiations for an investment agreement with Taiwan in parallel with the one with China; underlines that, in the context of the migration challenges, special focus should be put on the post-Cotonou framework and regrets that this aspect was not mentioned in the communication; asks for further impetus to be given to negotiating FTAs with both Australia and New Zealand;
Amendment 278 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the importance of deepening and redefining the EU's relationships with its partners on the African continent and in the Caribbean and Pacific region; regrets that the communication "Trade for All" does not make any reference to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in 2020, and stresses that the human rights clauses in the EPAs and trade agreements with a link to the Cotonou Agreement should not lose their effect after the 2020 expiration date; calls on the EU to engage in a broad consultation and dialogue process, including with ACP countries, about the post-Cotonou framework;
Amendment 287 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that further trade liberalisation measures require the EU to be able to respond even more effectively to unfair trading practices and ensure a level playing field; underlines that TDIs must remain an indispensable component of the EU’'s trade strategy; recalls that the current EU trade defence legislation dates back to 1995; stresses that the Union’'s trade defence system needs to be modernised urgently; points out that EU trade defence law must be more effective, adapted to today’'s challenges and trade patterns, investigations must be shorter, and also increase transparency and predictability; regdeplorets that the TDI modernisation proposal is blocked in the CouncilCouncil has been unable to deliver on this essential piece of legislation; regrets that the Commission does not refer at all to the need for TDI modernisation in its ‘'Trade for All’' communication; calls on the Council to boost its effortsreak the stalemate regarding TDI modernisation urgently on the basis of the European Parliament's position, especially at a time when China is firmly requesting recognition of MES, and asks the Commission to present a new proposal;
Amendment 292 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the Commission to quicken the pace of investigations in order to accelerate the adoption of provisional and definitive trade defence measures, to open investigations "ex officio" and to impose measures on the ground of the "threat of injury" where the evidence justifies this, to eliminate the lesser duty rule which is not an obligation under WTO law, and to allow all European social partners, including not only business leaders but also trade unions, to urge the Commission to open anti-dumping investigations;
Amendment 305 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Regrets that not enough hasConsiders that more needs to been done to comprehensively address European industries’' needs and that the EU manufacturing sector is too often placed behind the services and financial sectors; emphasises that trade policy must ensure a level playing field for European industry, provide access to new and emerging markets and facilitate upward convergence on standards while reducing double certification; calls on the Commission to ensure coherence between the EU’'s trade and industrial policies and to promote the development and competitiveness of European industry with particular reference to the reindustrialisation strategy;
Amendment 313 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Recalls that the EU plays a leading role in the services sector; stresses that the opening up of new market opportunities must be an essential element of the EU’'s international trade strategy; stresses that including services in trade agreements is of the utmost importance, as it gives opportunities to European companies and domestic employees; while also excluding, in line with Articles 14 and 106 TFEU and Protocol 26, current and future services of general interest and services of general economic interest from the scope of application of any agreement; fully reiterates its recommendations for the negotiations of a Trade in Services Agreement in this regard with the emphasis on the ultimate goal of a multilateral agreement;
Amendment 324 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Shares the Commission’s viewConsiders that the temporary movement of professionals has become essentialis a factor to increasing business internationally; stresses that a labour mobility chapter should be included in all EU trade and investment agreements; recalls however that Mode 4 commitments must only apply to the movement of highly skilled professionals for a specific purpose, for a limited period of time and under precise conditions stipulated by the domestic legislation of the country where the service is performed and by a contract respecting such domestic legislation while ensuring that nothing will prevent the EU and its Member States from maintaining and improving labour standards and collective agreements";
Amendment 329 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Welcomes the Commission’'s intention to use trade policy to tackle new forms of digital protectionism and to set rules for e-commerce and cross-border data flows in compliance with EU data protection and privacy law and safeguarding fundamental rights; believes that much more needs to be done to create a climate favourable to e-commerce and entrepreneurship within the EU; stresses that ensuring regulatory cooperation, reducing online fraud, mutual recognition and harmonisation of standards in the digital trade sector is vital;
Amendment 338 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Is aware that the inclusion of provisions relating to financial services in trade agreements has raised concerns regarding their potential negative effects where money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance are concerned; supports the Commission in its fight against corruption; insists that clauses on corruption, money laundering and tax fraud be included in all trade and investmentthe Commission and Member States address anti money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-tax evasion and tax avoidance rules, including country-by- country reporting obligations and automatic exchange of information in appropriate international agreements;
Amendment 351 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Reminds with regard to regulatory cooperation that the corresponding mechanisms must be based on enhanced information exchange and improved adoption and implementation of international instruments and lead to increased convergence on international technical standards whilst under no circumstances undermining or delaying the democratically legitimised decision- making procedures of any trading partner;
Amendment 359 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Stresses the importance of further debate with stakeholders and Parliament on the Commission’'s proposal for the Investment Court System in order to better clarify its impact on the ‘'right to regulate’', the annual costs for the EU budget and its compliance with the EU legal order, the power of the EU courts in particular, and more specifically the EU competition rules; shares the ambition of establishing in the medium term a multilateral solution to investment disputes and calls on this to be built-in to all on-going bilateral negotiations; regrets that the ICS proposal does not include an investors' obligation provision;
Amendment 370 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Emphasizes that the EU investment policy has to tackle broader issues than merely investment protection but addressing also investment facilitation and governance, thus, ensuring foreign direct investment serves the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals; considers investor obligations based on inter alia the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Corporate Social responsibility and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights an indispensable part if a such an investment policy; urges Member States to work towards progress within the UN on the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on business and human rights;
Amendment 373 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Considers the connection between trade and investment agreements and double taxation treaties to be seriously underexplored and calls on the Commission to study closely any effects such tools may have on each other and on wider policy coherence in the fight against tax evasion;
Amendment 375 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls for the elimination of the current imbalances as regards the degree of openness of public procurement markets between the EU and other trading partners; calls on the Commission to go even further in seeking an ambitious and reciprocal opening up of international public procurement markets, while guaranteeing the exclusion of services of general economic interests and making sure states remain free to adopt qualitative rules for their procurement procedures including social and environmental criteria; stresses that European economic operators, but especially European SMEs, need better access to public contracts in third countries;
Amendment 404 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Shares the OECD’'s view that open trade and investment policies need a range of effective flanking policies in order to maximise the gains and minimise the losses; urges the Members States and the Commission to do much more to complement trade opening by a range of supporting measures in order to ensure inclusive growth – such as education, active labour market policies, public investment, supporting research and development, infrastructure development and social protection;
Amendment 410 #
2015/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to conduct thorough ex ante and ex post analysis on the basis of sector-by-sector and regional impact assessments for all trade agreements and relevant legislative files to anticipate negative effects on the labour market within the Union and to find more sophisticated ways of introducing mitigating measures to redevelop industries and regions that lose out, with a view to achieving a more equitable distribution of and ensuring broad-based gains from trade; emphasises that in this respect the European Structural and Investment Funds, and in particular both the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund, can play an outstanding role; points out that the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund could also be an important instrument if reformed and shaped in a way that it is adequately funded;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
– having regard to its resolutions of 5 July 2016 on a new forward-looking and innovative future strategy for trade and investment (2015/2105(INI),
Amendment 4 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)
Citation 16 b (new)
– having regard to the 380th report of the Committee on Freedom of Association of the ILO,
Amendment 6 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 c (new)
Citation 16 c (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2016 on the implementation of the 2010 recommendations of the European Parliament on social and environmental standards, human rights and corporate social responsibility,
Amendment 7 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the new Commission's trade strategy "Trade for all" emphasizes the importance of ensuring the effective implementation of EU free trade agreements including also through the use of their dispute settlement mechanism;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D – indent 10
Recital D – indent 10
– seven special committees, seven working groups and a dialogue on intellectual property were formally established;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Future Trade strategy declares strong labour rights one of the goals of a fair trade policy
Amendment 14 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement, like other agreements on free trade, services and investments, hascan have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of the parties to the Agreement, on economic integration, on sustainable development, and on bringing countries and their citizens closer togetherbringing countries and their citizens closer together; emphasizes however that progress on the objectives enshrined in the trade and sustainable development chapter are greatly unsatisfactory with regards to respect for labour rights;
Amendment 16 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that commitments taken within the trade and sustainable development chapter are an integral part of the overall package of a Free Trade Agreement;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that the repeated imprisonment of trade unionists is not in line with the commitments made in the Chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development and makes for a retrograde step on labour rights instead of the promised progress;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Points out that the organisers of an otherwise peaceful protest should not be held accountable under the criminal code for the unlawful behaviour of a few individuals during those protests;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the efforts of the Civil Society Forum and of the internaldomestic advisory groups set up in accordance with the provisions set out in the chapter on trade and sustainable development; recalls that both parties are obliged to uphold, promote and implement commitments on core labour rights in their laws and practiceshave committed under Article 13.4 to respect, promote and realize in their laws and practices, the principles concerning the fundamental rights, namely freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation as well as to make continued and sustained efforts towards ratifying the fundamental ILO Conventions as well as other Conventions that are classified as 'up-to- date' by the ILO;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that with regard to a complaint by ITUC, KCTU and FKTU against the government of the Republic of Korea, the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association has requested from the Government to abstain from taking any further actions to achieve changes in collective agreements in areas that should rest within the autonomy of the bargaining partners and expected that any guidelines on collective bargaining would be the result of full tripartite consultation;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Asks the Commission to guarantee the implementation of the monitoring process in accordance with the wording in the agreement including a representative distribution of interests within the Domestic Advisory Group
Amendment 37 #
2015/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Ask the Commission to have the development of the labour rights situation in South Korea observed by the DAG and to receive, examine and find solutions to the results of the DAGs discussions.
Amendment 40 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point d
Paragraph 7 – point d
(d) the chapter on trade and sustainable development: ratification and implementation by the Korean party of the fundamental Conventions of the International Labour Organisation; recalls that the South Korean government committed at the occasion of the 4th meeting of the Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development to promptly provide information on its next concrete steps in this regard;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 7 – point d a (new)
(da) calls on the Commission to regularly present reports to parliament indicating the effects of the agreement on the European labour market by drawing up a list of all existing EGF-cases related to the FTA with the Republic of Korea;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Supports theWithholds its support for any further deepening of trade and investment relations between the EU and Korea and the involvevia further negotiations or amendments ofn the parties to the Agreement in creating further economic growth and development for the benefit of EU and Korean citizensFTA until the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter is fully implemented in the sense that all provisions and commitments have been translated into national law and are being implemented;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2059(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that in case of negotiations on an investment chapter between the European Commission and the government of the Republic of Korea not to use the old ISDS-method, but to build instead on the proposal, made by the European Commission, of developing a multilateral-investment-court-system;
Amendment 11 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the European Parliament’s 2010 recommendations which were not implemented notably included: - the consolidation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept in the EU’s Common Commercial Policy (CCP), including elements that are binding on companies such as a requirement to publish CSR balance sheets and a requirement for undertakings to show due diligence; - the inclusion of CSR in all EU trade agreements and provisions for greater enforcement, notably the possibility to carry out investigations on alleged cases of breaches of CSR commitments and the establishments of EU contact points modelled on the OECD contact points; - the inclusion of comprehensive, legally binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD)chapters in all EU trade agreements; - the reorientation of TSD chapters towards greater implementation, in particular through enhanced monitoring by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Social Partners, including complaint procedures directly accessible to Social Partners, appeal mechanisms to independent bodies to settle disputes and the recourse to trade agreements’ general dispute settlements on an equal footing with the others parts of the agreements, with provisions for fines or at least temporary suspension of trade benefits; - the launch of investigations under GSP+ if consistent evidence indicates that some countries are not implementing their commitments; - the inclusion in the GSP regulation of CSR conditionality; - active support by the European Commission to set up a Trade and Decent Work Committee at the WTO;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas TSD chapters have displayed a decreasing level of ambition in successive EU trade agreements, from EU-Korea and EU-Colombia/Peru to EU- Canada and the Economic Partnership Agreements with regional groupings of African countries; whereas this trend is extremely alarming and must be reverted;
Amendment 46 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the European Commission’s 2015 ‘Trade for All’ strategy makes TSD a priority for the EU; whereas in order for this strategy to give proper impetus to the TSD agenda, the European Commission must now turn its much welcomed ambition into resolute and concrete actions;
Amendment 48 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas concerns about the implementation of TSD standards on the ground should not lead to a weakening of the EU’s ambitions; whereas incentives to comply with TSD requirements can only be effective if backed by deterrents;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; regrets that HR clauses arhave not been included in treaties such as thosehe agreement with Korea, Vietnam and Canada (CETA) or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations; calls for the inclusion of legally binding HR clauses in the future agreement with the USA (TTIP);
Amendment 114 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
6. Firmly demands that all future EU trade agreements have sustainable chapters (TSD) withRecalls its 2010 request that each EU trade agreement, whether bilateral or multilateral, should include comprehensive, legally binding and enforceable TSD chapters, with the following features:
Amendment 121 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 6 – point a a (new)
(aa) a complaint procedure directly accessible to Social Partners;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b
Paragraph 6 – point b
(b) a general dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,recourse to trade agreements’ general dispute settlements on an equal footing with the others parts of the agreements;
Amendment 131 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c
Paragraph 6 – point c
(c) more than a merely incentives-based approach: sanctions must cause an effective suspension of trade benefits in the form of countervailing duties. In addition to sanctions, a decision may require aneffective deterrents, in the form of monetary remedies or the suspension of trade benefits, possibly linked to action plans that could include legislative and/or regulatory reforms;
Amendment 134 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Take note of the criticisms often voiced by participants to Domestic Advisory groups set up by the EU under existing trade agreements that their deliberations have no practical impact; calls on the Commission to systematically respond in a concrete manner to concerns raised by EU DAGs and ensure appropriate follow up to initiatives proposed by EU SCOs and Social Partners in this framework;
Amendment 135 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls for TSD chapters in EU trade agreements to lay out basic logistical provisions to enable effective implementation, in particular resources and timetables, as these aspects have proven to be serious hurdles; recalls the importance of accompanying measures in this respect, such as technical assistance and cooperation programmes;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Regrets the many discrepancies displayed by TSD chapters in the various EU trade agreements; calls on the European Commission to uphold the highest level of consistency in all trade negotiations, in particular when dealing with developing countries; calls in this respect for a common approach to be defined and implemented for HR and Sustainable Development monitoring with respect to ACP countries, in the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreements;
Amendment 139 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets the lack of involvement of the EP in assessing the compliance of FTAparties to EU trade agreements with HR and TSD obligations, and; recalls its request to the European Commission to be granted observer status in EU trade negotiations; calls on the Council to consult Parliament on any decisions to revise or even suspend the application of an agreement if this is necessary;
Amendment 142 #
2015/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to carry out ex ante and ex post sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) for all trade agreements in accordance with the integrated guidelines, while noting their limited capacity to influence the concrete outcomes of the FTAs and IPAs; calls on the European Commission to ensure proper involvement of SCOs and Social Partners in the development of SIAs; recalls the need for the timely publication of SIAs in order to enable the public and its elected representatives to properly assess any proposed agreement;
Amendment 17 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Criticises the basic orientation of the country specific recommendations (CSR), which largely focus on supply-side economic policies aiming at creating favourable conditions for companies, calls on the Commission to give more emphasis to demand-side economic policies in the CSR.
Amendment 29 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers it regrettable that in many CSR the Commission massively intervenes in the wage policy of many Member States by demanding to lower the statutory minimum wage or the minimum wage based on collective agreement, to reduce the degree of coverage of collective agreements and a to facilitate a decentralisation of collective bargaining arrangements; criticises that the recommendation made in many CSR to adapt wages in line with productivity developments is interpreted by the Commission in a biased way and that those countries, where wages have lagged behind productivity growth, have not received any CSR to increase wages;
Amendment 42 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it regrettable the CSR are not better aligned with the Europe 2020 targets; criticises in particular that targets in the field of employment, poverty, social exclusion and education are not sufficiently taken into account in the CSR; considers it regrettable that this year’s reduction of CSR from 157 to 102 took place at the expense of those recommendations that would have been important to reach the Europe 2020 targets;
Amendment 65 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that fiscal policy and macroeconomic policy recommendations also have an effect on the social situation and the labour market; against this background, calls on the Commission to upgrade the social indicators as they are defined in the Joint Employment Report in order to improve the monitoring of social and labour market developments and to formulate CSR that are socially balanced;
Amendment 132 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the fact that, according to an IMF report3, the progressivity of tax systems has been weakened in recent years, resulting in increasing inequality; considers that the tax wedge has been much higher for low-wage workers and SMEs with higher effective tax rates; points out the importance of reducfighting taxes for labour and enterprises in pursuit of more redistributive forms fraud and tax avoidance in particular as far as corporate tax is concerned; __________________ 3 IMF report ‘Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective’, June 2015.
Amendment 165 #
2015/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Criticises the recommendation made in many CSR to link the statutory retirement age to life expectancy. Recommendations related to the reform of the pension system and the adaptation of the statutory retirement age should reflect labour market trends, birth rate, demographic situation, health and wealth situation, working conditions and the economic dependency ratio. The best way to tackle the challenge of ageing is to increase the overall employment rate, building, inter alia, on social investments in active ageing.
Amendment 18 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) to ensure that TTIP will make a significant positive contribution to creating more and betterdecent jobs and set ambitious and enforceable global trade standards for sustainable development and labour;
Amendment 31 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point ii
(ii) to ensure that TTIP includes comprehensive provisions on labour laws and policies that are consistent with the core ILO Conventions and the Decent Work Agenda, with a commitment to promote higher standards and, furthermore, to ensure that where disputes arise labour provisions will have a conditional dimensaiming at the effective ratification, implementation and enforcement of the eight core conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Decent Work Agenda, with a commitment to promote higher standards. Steps must be taken to ensure that neither of the parties will encourage trade or investment by weakening labour laws. Where disputes arise labour provisions must be subject to a dispute settlement mechanism, including the possibility of imposing trade sanction;s.
Amendment 40 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas an ambitious and balanced agreement with the US may support the reindustrialisation of Europe and help achieve the 2020 target for an increase of the EU’'s GDP generated by industry from 15 % to 20 %; whereas it has the potential to create opportunities especially for SMEs, micro enterprises, according to the definition of Recommendation COM 2003/361/CE, clusters and enterprises networks which suffer more from non- tariff barriers (NTBs) than larger companies; whereas an agreement between the two biggest economic blocs in the world has the potential to create standards, norms and rules which will be adopted at a global level, which would serve to the advantage of third countries as well;
Amendment 50 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point iii
(iii) to ensure that the horizontal dimensions of labour and social provisions are recognised and fully integrated into all relevant operational parts of the agreement (such as investment, trade in services, regulatory cooperation and public procurement) to ensure a coherent and comprehensive approach to trade and sustainable development;
Amendment 58 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point iv
(iv) to ensure that civil society can make a meaningful contribution to implementing relevant TTIP provisionsthe implementation of and compliance with labour provisions must be subject to a monitoring process, which involves the social partners and civil society;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
(v) to take immediate steps to safeguard the right of EU governments to legislate, organise, set quality and safety standardsensure an adequate carve-out of sensitive services such as public services, social services and public utilities (including water, health, social security systems and education) allowing national and local authorities enough room for, manage and regulatoeuvre to legislate in the public servicinterest;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
(v a) to ensure that ratchet and standstill clauses do not apply to public and social services. The possibility of a re- nationalisation and re-municipalisation of services must be safeguarded.
Amendment 86 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point vi
(vi) to ensure that the specific challenges faced by SMEs and micro-companies are fully taken into account;
Amendment 107 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point viii
Amendment 112 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas many economic impact studies on TTIP should be taken with caution as they are built on computable general equilibrium economic models with very optimistic predictions about the capacity of the EU and the US to reduce regulatory barriers to trade; whereas the TTIP alone will not resolve economic problems in the EU and no false hopes and expectations should be raised in that respectthe real impact of TTIP on both EU and US economies is difficult to assess and hard to predict while negotiations are still ongoing; whereas there are contradictory economic impact studies on TTIP and they should be taken with caution as regards the capacity of the EU and the US to reduce regulatory barriers, unnecessary or unjustified, to trade and to support economic growth and job creation; whereas the TTIP alone will not resolve economic problems in the EU and no false hopes and expectations should be raised in that respect; whereas hopes and expectations on TTIP should be commensurate to the level of ambition that will be reached sector by sector in the negotiation;
Amendment 121 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point viii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point viii a (new)
(viii a) to oppose the inclusion of ISDS in TTIP. In the agreement with the United States of America that have fully functional legal systems and where no risk of political interference in the judiciary or denial of justice has been identified, ISDS is not necessary.
Amendment 127 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point ix
Paragraph 1 – point ix
(ix) to take steps to embed a ‘positive listing’ approach in the agreement;with respect to the liberalisation of services in the agreement, whereby services that are to be opened up for foreign companies are explicitly mentioned and new services are excluded
Amendment 139 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point x
Paragraph 1 – point x
(x) to ensure that statistical projections on job losses/gains, and on sectors, affected are constantly updated so that timely intervention can be undertaken by the Commission to support affected sectors, regions or Member States. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be adapted to mitigate the potential negative impacts of the TTIP;
Amendment 142 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(x a) to take steps to ensure that regulatory cooperation does not restrict the right of governments and the European Parliament to legislate in the public interest. Steps must be taken to ensure that regulatory cooperation does not lead to the weakening of labour standards, including health and safety standards. It must be ensured that labour and social standards are not treated as non-tariff barriers. Stakeholders, including social partners, should be included in the process of regulatory cooperation in a balanced representation.
Amendment 152 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
(x b) to ensure that the place of work principle is guaranteed. National labour and social law as well as collective agreement provisions must be upheld in the case of temporary posting and placement of workers; the conditions of temporary postings and placement should be well defined in the TTIP;
Amendment 155 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point x c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x c (new)
(x c) to ensure that governments have the opportunity to adopt socially and ecologically responsible procurement policies. Procurement provisions should not prevent governments from addressing societal and environmental needs. In addition, public procurement policies should be in line with ILO Convention 94 regarding labour clauses in public contracts.
Amendment 172 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the EU's commitment to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Article 167 of the TFEU ensure and preserve the right of the EU and its Member States to establish and to implement cultural policies, as well as measures aimed at the protection and promotion of cultural diversity; whereas the United States are not signatories to the UNESCO convention;
Amendment 177 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas agriculture is at the heart of wider strategic issues such as food safety, sustainable development, societal choices and collective preferences and that the agricultural sectors in the EU and US differ considerably in many areas, such as consumer health aspects and food safety standards, including GMOs and hormone-treated meat;
Amendment 243 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) to ensure that TTIP negotiations lead to a deep, comprehensive, ambitious, balanced and high-standard trade and investment agreement that would promote sustainable growth with shared benefits across EU Member States, support the creation of high-quality jobs for European workers, directly benefit European consumers by ensuring a high level of existing and future labour, social and environmental standards, fight tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax havens, increase international competitiveness, and open up new opportunities for EU companies, in particular SMEsmicro and SMEs, and contribute to attracting more foreign investments in the EU; the content of the agreement is more important than the speed of the negotiations, which should in any case take into account the developments in the global international arena;
Amendment 260 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) to emphasise that while the TTIP negotiations consist of negotiations on three main areas – ambitiously improving reciprocal market access (for goods, services, investment and public procurement at all levels of government), reducing NTBs and enhancing the compatibility of regulatory regimes, and developing common rules to address shared global trade challenges and opportunities – all these areas are equally important to be included in a comprehensive package; TTIP should be ambitious and binding on all levels of government on both sides of the Atlantic, the agreement should lead to lasting, fair, genuine market openness on a reciprocal basis and trade facilitation on the ground, and should pay particular attention to structural means of achieving greater transatlantic cooperation while upholding regulatory standards and preventing social and environmental dumping, including through a structured system of pre and post impact assessment and evaluation procedures, including a precise gender assessment;
Amendment 307 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) to ensure that the market access offers in the different areas are equally ambitious and reflect both parties’' expectations, as market access for industrial goods, raw materials, energy, agricultural products, services and public procurement is equally important in all cases and a balance is needed between the different proposals for these areas;
Amendment 321 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) to aim at the elimination of all duty tariffs, while respecting sensitive products on both sides; on sensitive products, asks the Commission to provide an assessment of the concessions undertaken in all agreements already concluded and those under negotiation; sensitive products should be subject to a special and differential treatment which should consist on either maintaining the current tariff lines or excluding them from the negotiations;
Amendment 397 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
(vi) to ensure an adequate carve-out of sexplicit exclusion of public services from the scope of application of TTIP as referred to in article 14 TFEU, through the introduction of an extensitive services such as public services and public utiliticarve-out in the core text of the agreement of all public services, current and future, covering all non-economic Services of General Interest as well as Services of General Economic Interest (including water, healthbut not limited to water, health, social services, social security systems and education) allowing, to ensure that national and local authorities enough room for manoeuvre to legislate in retain the full ability to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regards to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services as provided in article 106 TFEU and Protocol 26 TFEU; this exclusion should apply whether the services in question are organised as a monopoly, operating under exclusive rights or otherwise, and whether public interest; aly and privately funded and/or organised; notes the joint declaration reflecting negotiators’' clear commitment to exclude these sectors from the negotiations would be very helpful in this regard; ;
Amendment 411 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi a (new)
(via) in particular, to adhere to the provisions of Article 168 TFEU: "Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care. The responsibilities of the Member States shall include the management of health services and medical care and the allocation of the resources assigned to them;
Amendment 427 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
(vii) to combine market access negotiations on financial services with convergence in financial regulation on the highest level, in order to support the introduction of necessary regulation to prevent financial crises and in order to support ongoing cooperation efforts in other international forums, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; to ensure that these cooperation efforts do not limit the EU and member states regulatory and supervisory sovereignty, including their ability to ban certain financial products and activities;
Amendment 445 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii
(viii) to ensure that the EU’s acquis on data privacy is not compromised through the liberalisation of data flows, in particular in the area of e-commerce and financial services; to ensure that no commitments on data flows are taken up before European data protection legislation is in place; to guarantee that any possible commitment taken on data flow is matched by extensive provisions on local presence and local content; therefore, recommends that the Commission takes immediate action to incorporate in the agreement a comprehensive, unambiguous and legally binding horizontal clause that fully exempts EU rules on the protection of personal data from all chapters of TTIP, with a reference to Article XIV of the GATS, and without any condition;
Amendment 453 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii a (new)
(viiia) to aim at the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in order to enable EU and US professionals to practice on either side of the Atlantic and to facilitate mobility of investors, professionals, high-skilled workers and technicians between the EU and the US in sectors covered by TTIP;
Amendment 472 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
(x) to keep in mind that, as specified in the mandate, the agreement shouldall not riskcontain any provisions that prejudicinge the Union’'s cultural and linguistic diversity, including in; to therefore ensure that the audiovisual and cultural services sector, and thats well as existing and future provisions and policies in support of the cultural sector, in particular in the digital world, are kept out of the scope of the negotiations in accordance with the principle of technological neutrality, are kept out of the scope of the negotiations; to exclude subsidies or government support to audiovisual, educational and cultural services and its industries, including "digital products", from any commitments taken in chapters related to telecommunication, investment or e- commerce;
Amendment 489 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xi
(xi) to ensurake an ambitious approach to the tchat account is taken of the discrepancies in thepter on public procurement, with a view to remedying, in line with the principle of reciprocity, the major disparity currently existing in the degree of openness of the two public procurement markets on both sides of the Atlantic andand to significantly opening up the US market, still ruled under the Buy American Act of 1933 on the basis of the international undertakings entered into under the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and of the removal of the restrictions currently applying at federal, state and administrative level alike in the United States; emphasises, in particular, the need to guarantee that undertakings entered into by the US federal authorities will be honoured at all political and administrative levels; to ensure that account is taken of the huge interest on the part of European companies in obtaining, notably SMEs, in obtaining non- discriminatory access to public contracts in the US both at federal and state level, for example for construction services, traffic infrastructure and goods and services while respecting sustainability criteria for procurement on both sides, inter alia; to ensure the compliance of the chapter with the new EU public procurement and concession package entering into force in 2016directives, notably as regards the definition of public-cooperation, exclusions, SMEs access and the use of the MEAT criteria;
Amendment 507 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xii
(xii) to ensure that public authorities have the opportunity to adopt socially and ecologically responsible procurement policies, and that procurement provisions do not hinder the ability of public authorities to address societal and environmental needs; to ensure that public procurement policies are kept in line with ILO Convention 94 regarding labour clauses in public contracts; to promote EU-US cooperation at the international level in order to promote sustainability standards for public procurement, inter alia in the implementation of the recently revised Government Procurement Agreement;
Amendment 524 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that the negotiations on rules of origin aim at reconciling the EU and US approaches; givenwhile guaranteeing the cnonclusion of the negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and T-cumulation of already granted concessions in other trade Aagreement (CETA) between EU and Canada and the potential upgrade of the EU-Mexico free trade agreement, the possibility and scope of cumulation will need to be considereds in order not to weaken the protection of sensitive products;
Amendment 546 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) to ensure that the regulatory cooperation chapter promotes an effective, pro- competitive economic environment through the facilitation of trade and investment while developing and securing high levels of protection of health and safety, consumer, labour and environmental legislation and of the cultural diversity that exists within the EUsecures the highest level of protection of health and safety including food safety and quality, consumer, labour and environmental legislation and of the cultural diversity that exists within the EU while promoting an effective, pro- competitive economic environment through the facilitation of trade and investment; to reject any downward harmonisation of standards, or the mutual recognition of non-equivalent standards; to ensure that regulatory cooperation does not undermine the state's right to regulate; to ensure that the process of regulatory cooperation is designed in the most transparent and inclusive way possible, involving in particular social partners; negotiators on both sides need to identify and to be very clear about which regulatory meastechnical procedures and standards are fundamental and cannot be compromised, which ones can be the subject of a common approach, which are the areas where mutual recognition based on a common high standard and a strong system of market surveillance is desirable and which are those where simply an improved exchange of information is possible, based on the experience of one and a half years of ongoing talks; negotiators should ensure that regulatory cooperation will not translate in a slowdown of legislative processes and that it will not cover sectors excluded from the negotiation nor national or sub-central regulatory acts;
Amendment 560 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i a (new)
(ia) to take into account the fact that non- tariff barriers (NTBs) constitute one of the main issues in the negotiations for the EU; to ensure that negotiations in this area are conducted with the highest standards of transparency, including an inventory of all NTBs that are likely to be lifted by the agreement; recalls that certain non-tariff barriers in Europe are directly linked to European citizens' collective preferences and lifestyles, and should therefore be kept;
Amendment 569 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) to base negotiations on SPS and TBT measures on the key principles of the multilateral SPS and TBT agreements; to aim in the first place at increasing transparency and openness, strengthening dialogue between regulators and strengthening cooperation in international standards-setting bodies; to recognise, in negotiations on SPS and TBT measures, the right of both parties to assess and to manage risk in accordance with the level either deems appropriate in order to protect human, animal or plant life or health; to respect and uphold the sensitivities and fundamental values of either side, such as the EU’s precautionary principleensure the consideration of other legitimate factors than risk assessment in food policy making, such as the farm to fork approach, and to verify, control and audit the implementation of their own SPS standards; to respect and uphold the sensitivities and fundamental values of either side, such as the EU’s precautionary principle and to ensure that parties will preserve the right to conduct a hazard- based approach, particularly with regards to cosmetics and chemicals;
Amendment 593 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) with regard to the horizontal regulatory cooperation chapter, to give priority to fostering bilateral cooperation between regulatory bodies through enhanced information exchange and to promote the adoption, strengthening and timely implementation of international instruments, on the basis of successful international experiences such as, for instance, ISO standards or under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’'s (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29); to establish that the prior impact assessment for the regulatory act, as defined in the horizontal provisions on regulatory cooperation, should also measure and prioritise the impact on consumers and, the environment next toand gender relations over its impact on trade and investment; to handle the possibility of promoting regulatory compatibility with great care and only without compromising legitimate regulatory and policy objectives;
Amendment 610 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
(v) to fully respect the established regulatory systems on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the European Parliament’'s role within the EU’'s decision-making process and its democratic scrutiny over EU regulatory processes when creating the framework for future cooperation while at the same time being vigilant about a balanced involvement of stakeholders within the consultations included in the development of a regulatory proposal; in order to avoid that neither Party exercise any veto power before any regulatory proposal has been officially tabled by the other Party; to specify the role, the composition and the legal quality of the Regulatory Cooperation Council, taking into consideration that any direct and compulsory application of its recommendations would imply a breach of the law-making procedures laid down in the Treaties; to also oversee that it fully preserve the capacity of national, regional and local authorities to legislate their own policies, in particular social and environmental policies;
Amendment 634 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
(ii) to ensure that the sustainable development chapter is binding and enforceable and aims at the full and effective ratification, implementation and enforcement of the eight fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and their content, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and the core international environmental agreements; provisions should be aimed at improving levels of protection of labour and environmental standards; an ambitious trade and sustainable development chapter should also include rules on corporate social responsibility based on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and a clearly structured civil society involvement;
Amendment 640 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
(ii) to ensure that the sustainable development chapter aims atis binding and enforceable and makes the full and effective ratification, implementation and enforcement of the eight fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and their content, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and the core international environmental agreements a condition of the agreement; provisions should be aimed at improving levels of protection of labour and environmental standards; an ambitious trade and sustainable development chapter should also include rules on corporate social responsibility based on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and a clearly structured civil society involvement;
Amendment 649 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point iv
(iv) to ensure that labour and environmental standards are made enforceable, by building on the good experience of the EU-Korea free trade agreement and good and effective practices in the US’s free trade agreements and national legislation; to ensure that the implementation of and compliance with labour provisions is subjected to an effective monitoring process, involving social partners and civil society representatives; to ensure that the trade and sustainable development chapter is subject to the general dispute settlement mechanism contained in the future agreement;
Amendment 665 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point v a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point v a (new)
(va) to ensure that the place of work principle is guaranteed. National labour and social law as well as collective agreement provisions must be upheld in the case of temporary posting and placement of workers; the conditions of temporary postings and placement should be well defined in TTIP;
Amendment 669 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vi
(vi) to ensure that the economic, social, territorial and environmental impact of TTIP is examined through a thoroughcomprehensive trade sustainability impact assessment with clear involvement, consultation and participation of stakeholders and civil society, as well as local and regional authorities; asks the Commission to conduct comparative in- depth impact studies for each Member States;
Amendment 681 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
(vii) to ensure that in course of the negotiations the two sides examine ways to facilitate natural gas and oil exports, so that TTIP would abolish any existing export restrictions on energy between the two trading partners, thereby supporting a diversification of energy sources aiding the development a more secure energy mix;
Amendment 697 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point viii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point viii
(viii) to ensure that the right of either partner to govern the exploration and exploitation of energy sources as well as the right to govern production of energy remains untouched by any agreement, but that non- discrimination is applied once exploitation is decided; to keep in mind that nothing in the agreement should undermine legitimate national collective preferences, such as the prohibition of hydraulic fracturing, in accordance with the precautionary principle; access to raw materials as well as to energy should also be granted on a non-discriminatory basis for companies from either the EU or the US and quality standards for energy products must be respected;
Amendment 704 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ix
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ix
(ix) to ensure that TTIP supports the use and promotion of green goods and services, thereby tapping into the considerable potential for environmental and economic gains offered by the transatlantic economytransition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive energy system. The transition of the energy system will only be possible with a significant development of renewable energy sources and reduction of energy demand through energy efficiency, thereby tapping into the considerable potential for creating new jobs in the "green economy", fostering economic growth and protecting the environment;
Amendment 714 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point x
Paragraph 1 – point d – point x
(x) to ensure that TTIP serves as a forum for the development of common ambitious sustainability standards for energy production, always taking into account and adhering to existing standards on both sides; to steps up efforts for research and innovation, including in Energy R&I, and explore ways of cooperating with large scale energy research and development projects, such as the U.S, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), to help increase energy innovation in this field for both sides; to ensure that TTIP also serves as a forum for the exchange of knowledge and information to collect data and address barriers hindering the uptake of low- carbon and environmentally friendly technologies;
Amendment 735 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xii
(xii) to ensure that, should TTIP contains a comprehensive chapter on investment it includinges provisions on both market access and investment protection; thean investment chapter should aim at ensuring non- discriminatory treatment for the establishment of European and US companies in each other’s territory, while taking account of the sensitive nature of some specific sectors; it should also address investors' obligations and responsibilities by referring, inter alia, to the OECD principles for multinational enterprises, the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) action plan and to the UN principles on Business and human rights as benchmarks;
Amendment 745 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiii
(xiii) to ensure that investment protection provisions are limited to post- establishment provisions and focus on non- discrimination and fair and equitable treatment; standards of protection and definitions of investor and investment should be drawn up in a precise manner; stresses that substantive provisions shall, inter alia, protect the right to regulate in the public interest, clarify the meaning of indirect expropriation and prevent unfounded or frivolous claims; free transfer of capital should be in line with the EU treaty provisions and should include a prudential carve-out in the case of financial crises;
Amendment 762 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that foreign investors are treated in a non-discriminatory fashion and have a fair opportunity to seek and achieve redress of grievances, which can be achieved withoutle benefiting from no greater rights than domestic investors; to oppose the inclusion of an ISDS mechanism; such a mechanism is not necessary in TTIP given the EU’s and the US’ developed legal systems; a state-to- state dispute settlement system and the use of national courts are the most appropriate tools to address investment disputin TTIP, as other options to enforce investment protection are available, such as domestic remedies;
Amendment 791 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xv
(xv) to ensure that TTIP includes an ambitious balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) chapter that includes stronga limited amount of protection of precisely and clearly defined areas of IPR, including enhanced protection and recognition of European Geographical Indications (GIs), and reflects a fair and efficient level of protection such as laid out in the EU’s and the US’s free trade agreement provisions in this area, while continuing to confirm the existing flexibilities in the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), notably in the area of public health by ensuring affordable prices for medicines, medical devices and health services; to ensure that patents are excluded from diagnostic, therapeutic and chirurgical methods; to ensure strong protection and recognition of European Geographical Indications (GIs), which guarantee the origin and the full traceability of products for consumers and protect the know-how of producers;
Amendment 803 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xv a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xv a (new)
(xva) to include in the negotiations the agreement on wine between the EU and the United States concluded in 2006, and to remove in this sectoral agreement the 17 designations on semi-generic names;
Amendment 826 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point i
Paragraph 1 – point e – point i
(i) to continue ongoing efforts to increase transparency in the negotiations by making more negotiation proposals available to the general publicimplement all the recommendations of the European Ombudsman to further enhance the legitimacy and transparency of the negotiating process by fully complying with the rules on public access to documents; to continue ongoing efforts to increase transparency in the negotiations by making more negotiation proposals available more proactively and comprehensively to the general public on its website, and by ensuring more balanced and transparent public participation;
Amendment 836 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
(ii) to translate these transparency efforts into meaningful practical results, inter alia by reaching meaningful arrangements with the US side to improve transparency, including access to all negotiating documents, inter alia consolidated texts and minutes from meetings, in order to allow Members of Parliament and the Member States to develop constructive discussions with stakeholders and the public; parties to the negotiations should justify any request not to disclose a negotiating proposal;
Amendment 844 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iii
(iii) to promote an even closer engagement with the Member States with the aim of forging their active involvement in better communicating the scope and the possible benefitimplications of the agreement for European citizens and in order to ensure a broad, fact-based public debate on TTIP in Europe with the aim of exploring the genuine concerns surrounding the agreement;
Amendment 860 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv a (new)
(iva) to fully involve National Parliaments and keep them regularly informed on the negotiations, especially since, given the scope of the ambition for the agreement, it is likely TTIP will be considered a 'mixed- type' agreement and thus require a ratification process in EU Member States including, in some cases, at the regional level;
Amendment 1 #
Amendment 5 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
Amendment 19 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 27 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) To respect Member States’ existing traditions ofin company law, flexibility should be afforded to them as regards the manner and extent to which they wish to apply harmonised rules governing the formation and operation of SUPs. Member States may apply Part 2 of this Directive to all single-member private limited liability companies so that all such companies would operate and be known as SUPs. Alternatively, they should be fully respected by affording them the flexibility to govern company forms at national level and enforce related standards. To facilitate entrepreneurship for small and micro- enterprises, Member States should provide for the establishment of an SUP as a separate company law form which would exist in parallel with other forms of single- member private limited liability company provided for in national law.
Amendment 32 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To ensure that the harmonised rules are applied as widely as possible, both natural and legstandards can be maintained and enforced, only natural persons should be entitled to form SUPs. For the same reason private limited liability companies that were not formed as SUPs should be able to benefit from the SUP framework if they choose to opt in to this legal framework. They should be able to be transformed into SUPs in accordance with applicable national law.
Amendment 35 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
Amendment 39 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to make it easier and less costly to establish subsidiaries in other Member States, tThe founders of SUPs shcould not be obliged to be physically present before any Member State’s registration body. The register should be accessible from any Member State and a company founder should be able to make use of existing points of single contact created under Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council19 as a gateway to national on-line registration points. It should, therefore, be possible to establish SUPs from distance and fully by electronic means. __________________ 19 Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market (OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 36).
Amendment 44 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
Amendment 54 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Provisions concerning the establishment of single-member private limited companies should not affect the right of Member States to maintain existing rules concerning the verification of the registration process, provided that the whole registration procedure may be completed electronically and at a distance.
Amendment 57 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
Amendment 63 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
Amendment 68 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 72 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
Amendment 75 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
Amendment 78 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
Amendment 84 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 89 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Societas Unius Personae (SUP) referred to in Article 6., on condition that the company is incorporated by a natural person and the company does not exceed the limits defined in Article 3.1 of Directive 2013/34/EC
Amendment 93 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 97 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 100 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Amendment 104 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) ‘single-member company’ means a company whose shares are held by a single person and that is incorporated by a natural person;
Amendment 112 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Amendment 115 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Amendment 124 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. This Directive is without prejudice to any national laws governing matters related to labour law, including among others the workers’ participation in the management or supervisory bodies of companies and the right to information and consultation, and taxation, accounting or insolvency proceedings. It is also without prejudice to the application of the national rules on the conflict of laws.
Amendment 129 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Workers’ participation in company boards and workers’ rights on information and consultation in an SUP shall be governed by the provisions of the Member State in which the SUP has its single seat. When registering a SUP, it has to prove compliance with this provision.
Amendment 131 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5 b (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. If a SUP exceeds over a period of 2 years the limits defined in Article 1 paragraph 1 point b the SUP is transformed into a national legal company form following the provision of the Member States in Annex 1.
Amendment 135 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8
Article 8
An SUP may be incorporated by a natural or legal personperson at a single seat on condition that a share capital of at least 1000 EUR is provided for.
Amendment 140 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Amendment 143 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Amendment 151 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10
Article 10
An SUP shall have its registered office and either its central administration or its principal place of business in the Unionin the Member State where it has its principal place of business. A Member State may in addition impose on SUPs registered in its territory the obligation of locating its head office and its registered office in the same place.
Amendment 157 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11
Article 11
Amendment 163 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12
Article 12
Amendments to the articles of association 1. An SUP may, after registration, amend its articles of association by electronic or other means in accordance with applicable national law. This information shall be entered in the register of companies in the Member State of registration. 2. The amended articles of association of the SUP shall cover at least the subject matters provided for in the uniform template referred to in Article 11(2).rticle 12 deleted
Amendment 165 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may only, in addition to other information, require for the registration of an SUP the following information or documentation:
Amendment 171 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the address of the registered office, which has to be identical with the central administration and/orbeing the principal place of business of the SUP and its single seat;
Amendment 176 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Amendment 179 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. An SUP shall be registered in the Member State in which it is to have its single seat and registered office.
Amendment 182 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shallmay ensure that the registration procedure for newly incorporated SUPs may be completed electronically in its entirety without it being necessary for the founding member to appear before any authority in the Member State of registration (on-line registration).
Amendment 186 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 190 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
When registering an SUP, Member States shall verify the identity and the credibility of the founding member as well as compliance with the provisions of this directive, especially as regards scope, incorporation by a clearly identifiable natural person and single seat.
Amendment 195 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Member States may lay down any additional rules for verifying the identity and the credibility of the founding member, and any other person making the registration on the member’s behalf, and the acceptability of the documents and other information submitted to the registration body. Any identification issued in another Member State by the authorities of that State or on their behalf, including identification issued electronically, shall be recognised and accepted for the purposes of the verification by the Member State of registration.
Amendment 202 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 6
Article 14 – paragraph 6
Amendment 209 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The share capital of an SUP shall be at least EUR 1000. In Member States in which the euro is not the national currency, the share capital shall be at least equivalent to one unit of that Member States’ currency.
Amendment 212 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Amendment 217 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shallmay ensure that the SUP is notcan be made subject to rules requiring the company to build up legal reserves. Member States shall allow companies to build reserves in accordance with their articles of association.
Amendment 239 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26
Article 26
Amendment 244 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29
Article 29
Amendment 91 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
Amendment 94 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Action is needed to further develop complementary private retirement savings such as occupational pensions. This is important since social-security systems are coming undeemployees can improve their fincreasing pressure, which means that citizens will increasingly rely onancial situation after retiring through occupational retirement pensions as a complement in the future. Occupational retirement pensions should be developed, without, however, calling into question the importance of social- security pension systems in terms of secure, durable and effective social protection, which should guarantee a decent standard of living in old age and should therefore be at the centre of the objective of strengthening the European social model.
Amendment 98 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, notably, the right to protection of personal data, the right to conduct a business, the right to property, the right of collective bargaining and action and the right to a high level of consumer protection, in particular by ensuring a higher level of transparency of retirement provisioning, informed personal financial and retirement planning as well as facilitating cross-border business of institutions for occupational retirement provision and businesses. This Directive must be implemented in accordance with these rights and principles.
Amendment 110 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) As very long-term investors with low liquidity risks, institutions for occupational retirement provision are in a position to invest in non-liquid assets such as shares as well as in instruments that have a long- term economic profile and are not traded on regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities or organised trading facilities within prudent limits. They can also benefit from the advantages of international diversification. Investments in shares in currencies other than those of the liabilities and in instruments that have a long-term economic profile and are not traded on regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities or organised trading facilities should therefore not be restricted except on prudential grounds.
Amendment 111 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) The understanding of what constitutes iInstruments with a long-term economic profile is broad. These instruments are non-transferable securities and therefore do not have access to the liquidity of secondary markets. They often require fixed term commitments which restrict their marketability. These instruments should be understood to include participations, debt instruments in non-listed undertakings and loans provided to them. Non-listed undertakings include infrastructure projects, unlisted companies seeking growth, real estate or other assets that could be suitable for long term investment purposes. Low carbon and climate resilient infrastructure projects are often non-listed assets and rely on long term credits for project financingshould only include state- guaranteed investments, as such investments in infrastructure projects or investments in renewable energies could be suitable for long term investment purposes.
Amendment 112 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) Institutions should be allowed to invest in other Member States in accordance with the rules of their home Member States in order to reduce the cost of cross-border activity. Therefore the host Member States should not be allowed to impose additional investment requirements on. However, if the institution works on a cross-border basis it may be asked by the competent authority of the host Member State to apply limits for investment, provided that such rules also apply to institutions located in other host Member States.
Amendment 119 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) An internal market forThe institution's requires mutual recognadherence to prudential standards should be supervised by the competent authoritiones of prudential standards. The institution'the institution's home Member State. If the institution works on a cross-border basis, its adherence to thoseprudential standards should additionally be supervised by the competent authorities of the institution’s homest Member State. Member States should attribute to competent authorities the necessary powers to use preventive or corrective measures if institutions breach any of the requirements of this Directive.
Amendment 123 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – point c
Article 6 – point c
(c) ’sponsoring undertaking’ means any undertaking or other body, regardless of whether it includes or consists of one or more legal or natural persons, which under national legislation is legally obliged or voluntarily commits to offering a pension scheme and which has an employment relationship with the scheme members and beneficiaries;
Amendment 124 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States may make the conditions of operation of institutions located in their territory subject to other requirements, with a view to ensuring that the interest of members and beneficiaries are adequately protected.
Amendment 125 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 10
Article 12 – paragraph 10
10. Member States shall ensure that an institution carrying out cross-border activity shall not be subject to any requirements concerning information to members and beneficiaries imposed by the competent authorities of the host Member State in respect of the members which that cross-border activity concerns.
Amendment 130 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Article 20 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2 – point c
(c) investing in state-guaranteed instruments that have a long-term economic profile and are not traded on regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities or organised trading facilities .
Amendment 160 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 59 – paragraph 2
Article 59 – paragraph 2
Amendment 162 #
2014/0091(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 61 – paragraph 5
Article 61 – paragraph 5
Amendment 26 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Title
Title
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL setting up a Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importcompulsory reporting in respect of supply chain due diligence of importers, processors and final users of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict- affected and high-risk areas,
Amendment 55 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) On 7 October26 February 20104, the European Parliament passed a Rresolution calling for the Union to legislate along the lines of the US 'conflict minerals' law alias Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; and the Commission announced in its Communications of 20119 and 201210 its intention to explore ways of improving transparency throughout the supply chain, including aspects of due diligence. In the latter communication and in line with the commitment it had made at the May 2011 OECD Ministerial Council, the Commission also advocated greater support for and use of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance – even outside the OECD membership. __________________ 9 Commoditymarkets and raw maton promoting development through responsible business practices which drew attention to the role of extractive industries in developing countries. In that resolution, Parliament called on the Commission to bring forward binding legislation designed to ensure that purchases of minerials, COM(2011) 25 final. 10 Trade, COM(2012) 22 final. do not fuel conflicts; (EP 2013/2126(INI)) growth and development,
Amendment 80 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Third-party auditing of a company's compliance with the OECD Guidance on supply chain due diligence practices ensures credibility for the benefit of downstream companies and contributes to the improvement of the upstream due diligence practices.
Amendment 99 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Smelters and refiners are an important point in global mineral supply chains as they are typically the last stage in which due diligence can effectively be assured by collecting, disclosing and verifying information on the mineral's origin and chain of custody. After this stage of transformation it is often considered unfeasible to trace back the origins of minerals. A Union list of responsible smelters and refiners could therefore provides transparency and certainty to downstream companies as regards supply chain due diligence practices.
Amendment 110 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Member State competent authorities are responsible to ensure the uniform compliance of the self- certification of responsible importers by carrying out appropriate ex-post checks so as to verify whether the self-certified responsible importers of the minerals and/or metals within the scope of the Regulation comply with the supply chain due diligence obligations. Records of such checks should be kept for at least 5 years. Member States arThe Commission should be responsible tofor laying down the rules applicable to and the financial penalties to be imposed for infringements of the provisions of this Regulation.
Amendment 114 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The Commission should also be responsible for facilitating the work of importers by providing them with a list of responsible smelters and refineries.
Amendment 124 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Commission should report regularly to the Council and the European Parliament on the effects of the scheme. No later than three years after entering into force and every six years thereafter, the Commission should review the functioning and the effectiveness of this Regulation, including as regards the promotion of responsible sourcing of the minerals within its scope from conflict-affected and high- risk areas. The reports may be accompanied, if necessary, by appropriate legislative proposals, which may include mandatory measures.
Amendment 134 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation sets up a mandatory Union system for compliance with the OECD Guidance on supply chain due diligence self- certification in order to curtail opportunities for armed groups and security forces12 to trade in tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold. It is designed to provide transparency and certainty as regards the supply practices of importers, smelters and refiners sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. __________________ 12 'Armed groups and security forces' as defined in Annex II of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict- Affected and High-Risk Areas:Second Edition, OECD Publishing (OECD (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264185050- en.
Amendment 149 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Regulation lays down the supply chain due diligence obligations of Union importers who choose to be self-certified as responsible importers of minerals or metals containing or consisting of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, as set out in Annex I.
Amendment 200 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
g) 'importer' means any natural or legal person declaring minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation or product components containing such minerals or metals for release for free circulation within the meaning of Article 79 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/199213; __________________ 13 Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1).
Amendment 209 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point h
Amendment 215 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point i
Amendment 240 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point o
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point o
o) 'supply chain due diligence' refers to the obligations of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold in relation to their management systems, risk management, third-party audits and disclosureforwarding of information to the relevant Member State authorities with a view to identifying and addressing actual and potential risks linked to conflict-affected and high risk-areas to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts associated with their sourcing activities;
Amendment 251 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point q
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point q
q) 'Member State competent authorities' means the designated one or more authorities with auditing competences and knowledge as regards raw materials and industrial processesa named authority to which importers must supply proof of compliance with this Regulation.
Amendment 260 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Amendment 269 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Any importer of minerals or metals within the scope of the Regulation may self-certify as responsible importer by declaring to a Member State competent authority that it adheres to the supply chain due diligence obligations set out in this Regulation. The declaration shall contain documentation in which the importer confirms its adherence to the obligations including results of the independent third-party audits carried outThe definition of emerging ‘conflict- affected regions’ shall be drawn up on the basis of dialogue between the Commission, the European Parliament, the competent Member State authorities and civil society actors.
Amendment 277 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Amendment 284 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The responsible importer of the minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall:
Amendment 290 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) adopt and clearly communicate to suppliers and the public its supply chain policsupplies the competent Member State authority with proof of compliance with its due diligence obligation by the entire supply chain downstream from the smelter or refinery for the minerals and metals potentially originating from conflict- affected and high-risk areas and clearly communicates this to the public,
Amendment 307 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point f – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point f – introductory part
f) as regards minerals, operate a chain of custody or supply chain traceability system that provides, supported by documentation, the following informationcompiles the following information, which can be supported by documentation, from its suppliers and makes it available to the competent Member State authorities:
Amendment 327 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The responsible importer of the minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall:
Amendment 345 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. If a responsiblen importer pursues risk mitigation efforts while continuing trade or temporarily suspending trade, it shall consult with suppliers and affected stakeholders, including local and central government authorities, international or civil society organisations and affected third parties, and agree on a strategy for measurable risk mitigation in the risk management plan.
Amendment 350 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. A responsiblen importer shall, in order to design conflict and high-risk sensitive strategies for mitigation in the risk management plan, rely on the measures and indicators under Annex III of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and measure progressive improvement.
Amendment 359 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
The responsible importer of the minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall carry out audits via an independent third- party and shall make the findings available to the competent Member State authorities.
Amendment 370 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) include in the audit scope all of the responsible importer's activities, processes and systems used to implement supply chain due diligence regarding minerals or metals within the scope of the Regulation, including the responsible importer's management system, risk management, and disclosure of information,
Amendment 375 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) determine as the objective of the audit the conformity of the responsible importer'’s supply chain due diligence practices with Articles 4, 5 and 7 of this Regulation,
Amendment 390 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By 31 March of each year at the latest, the responsible importer of minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall submit to the Member State competent authority the following documentation covering the previous year's calendar period:
Amendment 393 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 416 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. By 31 March of each year at the latest, the responsible importer of metals within the scope of this Regulation shall submit to the Member State competent authority the following documentation covering the previous year's calendar period:
Amendment 422 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) name and address of each of the responsible smelters or refiners in its supply chain,
Amendment 425 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) independent third-party audits regarding each of the responsible smelters or refiners in its supply chain carried out in accordance with the scope, objective and principles set out in Article 6 of the Regulation,
Amendment 433 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. The responsible importer of minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall make available to its immediate downstream purchasers all information gained and maintained pursuant to its supply chain due diligence with due regard to business confidentiality and other competitive concerns.
Amendment 438 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
5. The responsible importer of minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation shall publicly report as widely as possible, including on the internet and on an annual basis on its supply chain due diligence policies and practices for responsible sourcing. The report shall contain the steps taken by the responsible importer to implement the obligations as regards its management system, risk management set out in Article 4 and 5 respectively, as well as a summary report of the third-party audits, including the name of the auditor, with due regard to business confidentiality and other competitive concerns.
Amendment 467 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Each Member State shall designate one or more competent authorities in charge of the application offor receiving imports' reports and for verifying compliance with this Regulation.
Amendment 478 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The competent authorities of the Member States shall carry out appropriate ex-post checks in order to ensure whether self-certified responsible importers of minerals and metals within the scope of this Regulation comply with the obligations set out in Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Amendment 485 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The checks referred to in paragraph 1 shall be conducted by taking a risk-based approach. In addition, checks may be conducted when a competent authority is in possession of relevant information, including on the basis of substantiated concerns provided by third parties, concerning the compliance by a responsiblen importer with this Regulation.
Amendment 490 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) examination of the responsible importer'’s implementation of supply chain due diligence obligations including the management system, risk management, independent third-party audit and disclosure,
Amendment 493 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) examination of documentation and records that demonstrate the proper compliance with the OECD's supply chain dDue dDiligence obligationsGuidance,
Amendment 499 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Responsible iImporters shall offer all assistance necessary to facilitate the performance of the checks referred to in paragraph 1, notably as regards access to premises and the presentation of documentation and records.
Amendment 512 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Competent authorities shall exchange information, including with their respective customs authorities, on matters pertaining to self-certificationimporters' reports and ex-post checks carried out.
Amendment 543 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The Member StatesCommission shall lay down the rulfinancial penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation.
Amendment 547 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. In case of an infringement of the provisions of this Regulation, the competent authorities of Member States shall issue a notice of remedial action to be taken by the responsible importer.
Amendment 550 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. In case of inadequate remedial action by the responsible importer, the competent authority shall issue tonotify the importer a notice of non-recognition of its responsible importer certificate as regards the minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulatof the financial penalties laid down by the Commission and shall inform the Commission.
Amendment 27 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Facilitating access to the port services market at Union level and iIntroducing the financial transparency and autonomy of seaports will improve the quality and efficiency of service provided to users of the port and contribute to a climate more favourable to investments in ports, and thereby help reduce costs for transport users and contribute to promoting short sea shipping and a better integration of maritime transport with rail, inland waterway and road transport.
Amendment 29 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
Amendment 30 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
Amendment 34 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In the interest of efficient, safe and environmentally and socially sound port management, the managing body of the port should be able to require that port service providers can demonstrate that they meet minimum requirements to perform the service in an appropriate way. These minimum requirements should be limited to a clearly defined set of conditions concerning the professional qualifications of the operators, including in terms of training, and the the equipment needed in order to provide the relevant port service, and compliance with maritime safety requiprement required insofar as these requirements are transparent, non- discriminatory, objective and relevant for the provisions. These minimum requirements should also take into account environmental requirements as well as national social standards, compliance with the provisions on health and safety that apply to the port concerned and the good repute of the port service provider.
Amendment 36 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) Each service provider, and especially one that is a new market entrant, should demonstrate its ability to serve a minimum number of vessels with its own staff and equipment. The service provider should apply the relevant provisions and rules including applicable labour laws, applicable collective agreements, and quality requirements of the port concerned.
Amendment 48 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The recourse to public service obligations leading to a limitation in the number of providers of a port service should only be justified for reasons of public interest in order to ensure the accessibility of the port service to all users, the availability of the port service all year long or the affordability of the port service to certain category of users, or safe, secure and environmentally and socially sustainable port operations.
Amendment 59 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) In a highly complex and dangerous sector such as port services, training of new recruits as well as lifelong training of staff are essential for ensuring workers’ health and safety, as well as the quality of services. Adequate training should be a right for every worker entering the port sector. The EU-level Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Ports should be able to develop guidelines for the establishment of training requirements to ensure a high quality of education and training of workers, to minimise the risk of accidents and to meet future skill requirements.
Amendment 62 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 b (new)
Recital 19 b (new)
(19b) Developments in the maritime industry, such as the increasing size of vessels and overcapacity, aggravate the already fluctuating demand for labour. In many ports this has resulted in an increase of casual work arrangements, which led to precarious and unsocial working conditions. The Member States, together with the social partners, should take measures to ensure employment continuity and social protection, despite the fluctuations in demand for labour, in accordance with the principles set out in the ILO Convention concerning the Social Repercussions of the New Methods of Cargo Handling in Docks (ILO Convention No. 137).
Amendment 63 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 c (new)
Recital 19 c (new)
(19c) All models for the organisation of port labour that secure quality jobs and safe working conditions should be supported by the Commission and the Member States. Any necessary adjustments should only be promoted through negotiations between the social partners, and the Commission should duly take into account the results of such negotiations.
Amendment 72 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) Labour relations have a significant influence on the activities and working of the ports. Therefore the EU level Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Ports should be able to provide the EU social partners with a framework for the possible adoption of common results regarding social issues related to port labour relations. The Commission should facilitate, support and offer technical assistance to the negotiations where necessary, while respecting the autonomy of the social partners. The EU social partners should have the possibility to report on any progress made, if they wish so, so that their outcomes could be taken into account by the Commission when reporting on the effect of this Regulation.
Amendment 75 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) a clear framework for access to the marketthe organisation of port services;
Amendment 95 #
Amendment 97 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3
Article 3
Amendment 104 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) the compliance with requirements on the maritime safety or the safety and security of the port or access to it, its installations, equipment and persons, including the provisions on health and safety at work which apply to the port concerned;
Amendment 111 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) the compliance with national social standards;
Amendment 112 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) the good repute of the port service provider with regard to the respect of social and labour rights, including the compliance with applicable Union and national law and with agreements to protect health and safety.
Amendment 115 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Where the minimum requirements include specific local knowledge or acquaints with local conditions, the managing body of the port shall ensureverify that adequate access to relevant training exists, under transparent and non- discriminatory conditions, unless adequate access to such training is ensured by the Member State.
Amendment 126 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the need to ensure the provision of safe, secure or environmentally sustainable port operations;
Amendment 132 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7
Article 7
Amendment 141 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) the safety, security or environmental sustainability of ports operations.
Amendment 142 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Article 8 – paragraph 6
6. In the event of a disruption of port services for which public service obligations are imposed or when an immediate risk of such a situation occurs, the competent authority may take an emergency measure. The emergency measure may take the form of a direct award so as to attribute the service to a different provider for a period up to one year. During that time period, the competent authority shall either launch a new procedure to select a provider of port service in accordance with Article 7 or shall apply Article 9or shall apply Article 9. Collective actions shall not be a disruption of port services for which emergency measures can be taken.
Amendment 151 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation shall not affect the application of the social and labour rules ofapplicable in the Member States.
Amendment 163 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Amendment 166 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
This Chapter and the transitional provisions of Article 24 shall not apply to cargo handling services and, passenger services and pilotage.
Amendment 172 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The managing body of the port shall regularly consult stakeholders such as undertakings established in the port, providers of port services, operators of waterborne vessels, cargo owners, land transport operators and, public administrations and representatives of the employers and employees operating in the port area on the following:
Amendment 174 #
2013/0157(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) the compliance with the minimum requirements provided for in Article 4(2), including the proper application of health and safety at work which apply to the port concerned;