24 Amendments of Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS related to 2021/2251(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
— having regard to the Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions of 1 December 2021 on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility5a, __________________ 5a OJ C 97, 28.2.2022, p. 21–25.
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 b (new)
Citation 9 b (new)
— having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 20 October 2021 on the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 20215b, __________________ 5b ECO/556-EESC-2021.
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented instrument of solidarity and a cornerstone of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) instrument, ending in 2026, as the main tool in the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the economies of the EU to face the new challenges; helping European economies growth thanks to a more competitive economy and being the pillars of growth business, SMEs, private investment and, finally, the EU's strategic autonomy.
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that even if the economic effects of the RRF cannot be fully disentangled from other developments, it seems fair to conclude that, so far, the RRF has had positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and that its effective implementation will be key for the EU’s economic growth; recognisesso far, the RRF has been an instrument that has created a lot of expectations to all stakeholders and institutions, deeper than what legislators had in mind and that its effective implementation will be key for the EU’s economic growth; it is contributing to readjusting national priorities and public knowledge of the effort carried out by the Union; we have confidence that on a medium term basis it can be recognized that the RRF has helped to cushion EU economies and citizens from the most acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and is positively contributing to the EU’s recovery and resilience;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of the successful implementation by the Member States of national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) in order to ensure a long- term impact on the EU economy and society; recalls that the RRF is a performance-based mechanism, that should respond to growth objectives not just procedure milestones whereby funding is disbursed upon completion of milestones and targets related to measures; Recalls that for its success it is crucial the participation of local, regional and national institutions that are those responsible for developing those policies, as stated in Articles 18 and 28 of the RRF Regulation
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is concerned about the low level of effective disbursement or take-up of RRF funds in some Member States; warns that the RRF will only mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis if funds are effectively absorbed and spent, so that they reach the real economy; calls on Member States to take the appropriate decisions on organisational structure and resources and to implement legal reforms if necessary in orden to ensure the timely expenditure of RRF funds;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments, particularly growth-enhancing ones under the RRF, should also generate EU added value taking into account the European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations, as well as the acquis communitaire, being as it is essential the coherent legislative and political development ; emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments under the RRF should also contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores the fact that women20 , children21 , young people, the elderlconsequences that European citizens have suffered and continue to be most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis; emphasizes the role that primary aind vulnerable groups have been the most impacted by the COVID-19 crisiustry has had in keeping the economy alive and the effort carried out by SME’S as to maintain the productive network in the amidst of epidemiological and regulatory uncertainty, and many times without the alleviation of Member States administration’s; recalls the need to ensure that the EU leaves no one behind, and that it tackles gender- specific socio-economic impacts on its path to recovery; __________________ 20 European Parliament, Directorate- General for Internal Policies, Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, COVID-19 and its economic impact on women and women’s poverty – Insights from 5 European Countries, May 2021. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/et udes/STUD/2021/693183/IPOL_STU(202 1)693183_EN.pdf 21 Eurochild, Growing up in lockdown: Europe’s children in the age of COVID-19, 17 November 2020. https://www.eurochild.org/resource/growin g-up-in-lockdown-europes-children-in-the- age-of-covid-19/
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Looks forward to more granular and disaggregated data allowing for a better understanding of the additionality impacts of the RRF; urges the Member States to provide detailed information to the Commission in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF; , so that as guardian of the treaties should look out for the correct implementation of European Union norms and the Parliament as budgetary control organism, in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF; Shows its concern over the difficulties encountered on its access to information received by the Commission and transmitted by the Member States; Parliament must have access to all documents and communications from the Commission to each Member State, both of its plans and their implementation, and of the evaluations made or received.
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes the fact that the Commission’s assessments concluded that all approved NRRPs address all six pillars of the RRF and satisfactorily fulfil all assessment criteria as set out in RRF Regulation and represent a balanced package of reforms and investments; considers that Member States could have better aligned their NRRPs to the six RRF pillars and the requirements of the RRF Regulation; stresses that the fast approval of the NRRP without direct participation by regional and local authorities is hindering its implementation; it expects the European Commission to collaborate with Member States on the improvement of these deficiencies.
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that the Commission estimates social spending in the NRRPs to account for around 20 % of the grants and loans requested; observes that this expenditure focuses on employment incentives for specific disadvantaged groups, reforms of employment protection legislation and labour contract regulation; shows concern about certain measures might develop into budgetary compromises on a medium term basis regrets that social investment measures have been rather limited to social infrastructure and that only some NRRPs contain measures for the development of proper care services and temporary support measures; considers that it will be necessary to acknowledge investments due to the illegal invasion of Ukraine and the accommodation of refugees, supports the Commission’s aim, through the RRF, of building a more resilient and inclusive labour market;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises that the RRF should not be used to substitute recurring national budgetary expenditure, unless duly justified, and calls on the Commission to ensure compliance with this principle; is concerned that independent fiscal authorities in certain Member States have warned that some investments in NRRPs have a high risk of becoming a recurring expenditure in national budgets; notes that the Commission has only approved NRRPs to cover the initial costs of setting up and launching reforms;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Urges the Commission and Member States to uphold the principles of transparency, equal treatment, open competition, and sound procedural management when launching public procurement for the implementation of investments; is firmly opposed to any type of misuse of powers or arbitrariness when allocating RRF funds;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Reminds that implementation of the RRF and of NRRPs' measures shall respect all relevant laws, including the principle of subsidiarity, respect to regional and local self-government and the right to good administration under EU Law;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34 b. Is concerned about the insufficient clarity in many Member States on the NRRPs governance systems and the distribution of responsibilities for their implementation between the central, regional and local levels;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34 c. Reiterates its regret at the fact that many Member States have not or only inadequately involved local and regional authorities (LRAs) in the preparation process of NRRPs, and that the extent to which their input has been incorporated in most cases cannot be ascertained; calls on Member States to ensure the involvement of LRAs in the implementation of the RRF to the maximum extent possible under the national legislation and urges the Commission to present guidance to that end; recalls that LRAs are different to other stakeholders because they are at the forefront of implementing EU law;
Amendment 361 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the launch in December 2021 of the recovery and resilience scoreboard, which will allow every citizen to monitor the implementation of the RRF; regrets, however, that the scoreboard does not reflect the extent to which Member States are effectively channelling funds to finance their projects and executing amounts;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to periodically assess and publish the level of effective disbursement of RFF funds; expects the review report on the implementation of the RRF prepared by the Commission to provide extensive data and analysis on the level of effective spending and absorption, the disbursement of funds to the various implementing bodies (such as LRAs) and the possible existence of bottlenecks in national public administrations that prevent the adequate implementation of NRRPs;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35 b. Points out that national public administrations face a considerable challenge in absorbing all RRF funding in such a short space of time; urges the European Commission to actively support Member States that have experienced problems absorbing EU funds in addressing this issue, so that RRF funds are successfully disbursed across the Union;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35 c. Welcomes the initiative of the European Ombudsman of preparing 'Good Practice Principles for governing transparency in the use of recovery funds';
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Commission to fully take into account Parliament’s views in the upcoming review report on the implementation of the RRF, which the Commission shall present to Parliament and the Council by 31 July 2022; calls on the Commission to also take into account the input of LRAs when drafting said report;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. Points out that LRAs have, in many cases, statutory powers and competences in policy areas that are key for the RRF; stresses that involving LRAs in the RRF is essential for the effectiveness of its implementation, as they play a key role in the design and implementation of many policies and investments; calls for a more active involvement of LRAs and a broader ownership of these authorities in the implementation of the NRRPs;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)
Paragraph 37 b (new)
37 b. Calls on Member States to clearly define the role of LRAs in the implementation, further planning and evaluation of NRRPs in the agreements concluded with the European Commission on operational arrangements and the individual legal commitments on financial contributions, in accordance with their national constitutional provisions and distribution of powers; requests that Member States include in their reports on the implementation of the RRF a section on the involvement of LRAs;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European Committee of the Regions and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.