Activities of Jonás FERNÁNDEZ related to 2022/2006(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual sustainable growth survey 2022
Amendments (52)
Amendment 3 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Responsible and growth-promoting fiscal policies
Amendment 110 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recalls that the European Semester cycle is a well-established framework for EU Member States to coordinate their budgetary, economic, social and employment policies, and after the COVID-19 crisis, a functioning European Semester will be needed more than ever to coordinate these policies across the European Union; but also notes that the Semester, since the inception, has been expanded to include, among other aspects, issues related to the financial sector and taxation, as well as objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN SDGs, giving due consideration to the people of our planet in our economic policy;
Amendment 150 #
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 #
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 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Growth-enhancing, socially-balanced, inclusive and sustainable structural reforms and investment
Amendment 163 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Invites the Commission and the Member States to draw conclusions from the RRF exercise and improve the mechanisms driving the economic governance framework especially when it comes to establishing a more transparent and democratic coordination process, defining underlying political guidelines, cooperation between the institutions and increased ownership of the Member States, developing the national reform programmes and implementing socially- balanced structural reforms;
Amendment 197 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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;