30 Amendments of Elena GENTILE related to 2015/2320(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)
Citation 28 a (new)
- having regard to recommendation 2003/361 by the European Commission concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the social and solidarity- based economy provides employment for more than 14 million people, representing around 6.5% of workers in the EU; whereas there are 2 million social and solidarity-based economy enterprises in the EU, representing 10% of undertakings in the Union; whereas social enterprises have proven resilient during the economic crisis;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for quality job creation for the SME sector the European Commission and the Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; regulatory burddifficulties to fulfil administrative requirements and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);access to finance; the motivation of owner–managers to grow a business and take some level of risk; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs); 1a __________________ 1aBased on data from the Eurofound report Job creation in SMEs: ERM annual report 2015 (27 January 2016)
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the need for a regulatory environment that encourages investment that concurrently fosters sustainable growth and quality jobs;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses, however that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’' protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’' rights and wages induces higher skills outflows, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workers, while at the same time generating precarity in Europe;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on SMEs to overcome the gender gap in the labour market with regard to employment and pay, amongst others, by providing or supporting childcare facilities, carers' leave, flexible working hours for carers, and to ensure equal pay for equal work;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a transparent pipeline for investable projects in the EUool to create more quality jobs, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development as the fastest way to reduce unemployment and at the same time to support the creation of more quality jobs;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses the key role of enterprises, including SMEs and micro-enterprises, in collaborating with policy makers and social partners in transforming the educational systems and vocational training programmes in Europe, both with regard to teaching methods and curricula design, so as to put a stronger focus on the development of 21st century working skills, in particular digital skills, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork; highlights in this context the importance of hands-on and real-life experiences;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be better promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; highlights that vocational education and training plays a vital economic and social role in Europe as an instrument to promote equal opportunities for all citizens, including vulnerable and disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills; also stresses the importance of mentoring forworking and entrepreneurial skills, starting from an early age, by updating the education curricula and the development of transversal competencies, skills and knowledge; also stresses the importance of mentoring for apprentices, interns, newly employed, as well as young entrepreneurs;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Considers business mentorship programmes essential to improving survival rates not only for start-ups but also for young SMEs and SMEs wishing to expand;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the ‘'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’' programme, which helps provide aspiring Europeanyoung entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business; calls for the European Commission and Member States to make this programme better known among the target groups;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Emphasises that corporate social responsibility has a long European tradition and that socially responsible businesses continue to set an example today; stresses that SMEs can play an important role in ensuring environmentally, socially and economically sustainable growth; calls on SMEs to live up to their environmental and social responsibility and take proactive measures to identify and prevent any violation of human or environmental rights, corruption or tax evasion, including in their subsidiaries and supply chains; points out that the organisation of work, equal opportunities and social inclusion, anti-discrimination measures, adequate transparency standards, reliable accountability mechanisms and the development of lifelong education and training are crucial in this context;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Stresses the importance of a comprehensive European regulatory environment which harmonizes the rules existing in 28 Member States thereby facilitating market access of SMEs;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the regulatory framework for social businesses;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13 d. Calls on the Commission to continue taking into account the specific nature and situation of SMEs and micro- enterprises when revising the strategic framework in order to help these companies meet the objectives set as regards to health and safety in the workplace;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)
Paragraph 13 f (new)
13 f. Calls for easier access to credit and microfinance as well as tailor-made counselling and support for start-ups and micro-enterprises, to enhance their job creation potential; underlines the importance of the European programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), as well as the Investment Plan for Europe in this context;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 g (new)
Paragraph 13 g (new)
13 g. Stresses the need for one-stop- shops at national and regional level to provide SMEs with the necessary information on regulatory requirements and financing possibilities;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principlewhen drafting legislation, to take into account the effects it will have on SMEs, in order to remimprove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confrontedregulatory environment and to achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for jobemployment quality and stability;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes the view that a stable regulatory environment is an essential prerequisite for job perennity andsustainable quality job creation in SMEs; considers that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, workers' protection, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rulings and also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Believes that the stability of the regulatory environment is best achieved by an ongoing involvement of social partners in the decision making process;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Recalls that competition policy is enforced at the European level; highlights that unfair competition in the Single Market damages law-abiding companies, in particular small and medium enterprises; calls on the Commission together with the Member States to take decisive measures to tackle unfair competition that is based on for example avoidance of social, fiscal or labour law;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Recalls that all workers in the Single Market must have the right to enjoy the highest possible level of protection as regards to health and safety at work regardless of the size of the company which employs them, the place of employment or the underlying contract;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States to remimprove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member Stategulatory environment with a view to facilitating cross-border employment and ensuring fair market access for SMEs from other Member States, whilst combatting market distortions;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for newly- created SMEs, focusing in particular on incentive measures aimed at tackling the shadow economytackle the shadow economy and make full use of the newly established platform to tackle undeclared work;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Calls on Member States to develop active labour market policies, foster research and innovation, and provide good quality public services and infrastructures, in order to also encourage private sector investment into SMEs;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Stresses the need for Member States to foster partnerships between local authorities, education institutions, employment services, enterprises, trade unions, and civil society associations, also with regard to the creation, implementation and monitoring of sustainable and inclusive quality employment strategies and action plans;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practicestresses the need to closely monitor the respect of workers' rights in these cases; believes that a preferential treatment of MNCs should also be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restoringand to diminish their potential negative impact on their employment creation capacities of SMEs;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes the opportunities offered by the Digital Single Market to generate growth and jobs, notably in the field of e- commerce; stresses, however, the need for an SME-focused evaluation of the potential risks and benefits in different Member Statefor SMEs with regard to their growth and job creation potential in the different Member States, as well as for the impact on workers and social security systems;