39 Amendments of Jonás FERNÁNDEZ related to 2023/2064(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
Amendment 10 #
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 #
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 #
– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 14 #
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 #
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 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the ECB is politically independent, which means that neither from EU institutions and agencies norand Member State governments should seek to influence it;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas central bank independence is not without democratic accountability, namely to the European Parliament as the sole democratically- legitimised institution representing European citizens, particularly but not exclusively when it comes to the appointment of officials to the ECB’s highest bodies; whereas legal and political accountability is the necessary counterpart for the legitimacy, independence and transparency of the ECB’s supervisory decisions;
Amendment 34 #
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 #
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 #
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 64 #
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 legitimacycredibility; is worried that said potential loss of credibility may be aggravated by a loss of democratic control;
Amendment 66 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the ECB to look into the strengthening of the international role of the euro with a view of raising its attractiveness as a reserve currency; recalls that the creation of a well-designed European safe asset could facilitate financial integration and help mitigate negative feedback loops between sovereigns and domestic banking sectors; stresses the need for deepening and completing the Economic and Monetary Union as a pre-requisite for a strong international euro; underlines the importance that co-legislators remain in charge throughout the design of the digital euro;
Amendment 101 #
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 #
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 #
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 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the ECB’sPresident Lagarde’s statement that the current geopolitical crisis requires us to progress on EU fiscal integration; welcomes the ECB’s long- standing support for a well thought out completion of the bEconomic and Monetary Union, the Banking uUnion and the c, namely with the establishment of a fully- fledged European Deposit Insurance Scheme, and the Capital mMarkets uUnion; recalls that this would contribute to a larger spread of risks within and the enhanced financial stability of the monetary union, as well as it would further strengthen the international role of the euro and amplify its attractiveness as a reserve currency;
Amendment 120 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 #
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 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes note ofWelcomes the ECB’s progress on the digital euro project and welcomes its dialogue with Parliament in this regard; reiterates that a digital euro must respect competition in the banking landscape, must not endanger the existence or use of cash and must respect the privacy and security of citizens and businesses;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Shares the ECB’s concern regarding the rise of the shadow banking sector and the risk it may pose to financial stability; calls on the ECB to step up its monitoring of the development of crypto- currencies and of the related risks and emerging threats in terms of cybersecurity, money laundering, terrorism financing and other criminal activities; stresses the need for adequate regulation in this field;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Evokes the crucial role of the ECB in supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights as the beacon of equality and social justice guiding the EU towards greater socio- economic convergence;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Acknowledges the ECB’s openness and availability to Parliament; welcomes the formalisation, in writing, of the current accountability practices between the ECB and Parliamenthighlights, nevertheless, the need to further enhance the ECB’s accountability and transparency arrangements in light of the magnitude of the responsibilities assumed by the ECB in the recent years and amidst the ongoing economic and financial crisis; calls for the formalisation, in writing, of the current accountability practices between the ECB and Parliament; endorses, to this end, the relaunch of negotiations on a formal Inter- Institutional agreement as a means to re- anchor the ECB’s credibility and reinforce the standing accountability mechanisms;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls for the enhancement of the ECB’s internal whistleblowing framework;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Calls for the ECB to create an internal evaluation office for ex post assessment of its policy decisions;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the ECB’s substantial and detailed feedback on Parliament’s resolution on the 2021 ECB annual report; calls on the ECB to maintain this commitment to accountability and transparency, and to continue publishing its written feedback on Parliament’s resolutions on the ECB annual reports every year;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. 24. Welcomes the ECB’s new communications policy, which includes more accessible ways to explain and present the ECB policy decisions to citizens and stakeholders; However, is concerned that some of the ECB’s non- conventional communication policies, with high public exposure of the institution and its president, especially in events that have nothing to do with the ECB mandate or with economic policy, may contribute to the perception by citizens and stakeholders of the politicization of the ECB that damages its image of an independent institution.
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the ECB’s new communications policy, which includes more accessible ways to explain and present ECB policy decisions to citizens and stakeholders; encourages the reinforcement of the ECB’s communication about central bank policy objectives and crisis responses in order to stabilise euro area inflation expectations and allow families and business to better manage the higher interest rates environment stimulated by the substantial tightening of monetary policy;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Notes the recent appointment of the new Chair of the Supervisory Board and calls on the ECB to take better account of the position of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on such appointments in the future;