Activities of Maria Lidia SENRA RODRÍGUEZ related to 2018/0231(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and European statistics and repealing Regulations (EU) No 99/2013, (EU) No 1287/2013, (EU) No 254/2014, (EU) No 258/2014, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) 2017/826
Amendments (30)
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The internal market policy has also resulted in losers, increasing inequalities between Member States and regions within Member States in terms of income levels, wages, services, relocation of production and businesses, industrial production, etc.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The internal market has to continuously adapt to a rapidly changing environment of digital revolution and globalisation. A new era of digital innovation continues to provide opportunities for businesses and individuals, creates new products and business models but equally constitutes a challenge to regulation and enforcement as well as in terms of the exclusion of a substantial part of the population owing to the digital divide.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) A modern internal market promotes competition and, in some cases, benefits consumers, businesses and employees whilst exacerbating inequalities between the most disadvantaged and most favoured areas. Making better use of the ever evolving internal market in services should help European businesses create jobs and grow across borders, offer wider choice of services at better prices, and maintain high standards for consumers and workers. To achieve this, the Programme should contribute to the removal of remaining barriers, and to ensure a regulatory framework that can accommodate new innovative business models.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Public procurement is used by public authorities to ensure value for public money spent and to contribute to a more innovative, sustainable, inclusive and competitive internal market. Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council49 , Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council50 and Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council51 provide the legal framework for the integration and effective functioning of the public procurement markets representing 14% of Union’s gross domestic product, to the benefit of public authorities, businesses as well as citizens, including consumers. The Programme should therefore support measures to ensure a wider uptake of strategic public procurement, the professionalisation of public buyers, improved access to procurement markets for SMEs, increase of transparency, integrity and better data, boosting the digital transformation of procurement and promotion of joint procurement, through strengthening a partnership approach with the Member States, improving data gathering and data analysis including through development of dedicated IT tools, supporting exchange of experiences and good practices, providing guidance, pursuing beneficial trade agreements, strengthening coopeDirect management by public administrations is the most effective and efficient and should therefore be the usual and preferred praction among national authorities and launching pilot projects. ce. _________________ 49 Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession contracts (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 1). 50 Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65). 51 Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 243).
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to meet the objectives of the Programme and to facilitate the lives of citizens and businesses, high-quality user- centric public services need to be put in place. This implies that public administrations will need to start working in new ways, bring down silos between the different parts of their administrations, and to engage in the co-creation of these public services with citizens and businesses. Moreover, the continuous and steady increase of cross- border activities in the internal market requires provision of up-to- date information on the rights of businesses and citizens, but also information explaining the administrative formalities. In addition, provision of legal advice and helping to solve problems which occur at cross national level becomes essential. Furthermore, connecting national administrations in a simple and efficient manner as well as evaluating how the internal market works on the ground is necessary. The Programme should therefore support the following existing internal market governance tools: the Your Europe Portal which should be a backbone of the upcoming Single Digital Gateway, Your Europe Advice, SOLVIT, the Internal Market Information system and the Single Market Scoreboard in order to improve citizens' daily lives and businesses' ability to trade across borders.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The Programme should also promote the correct and full implementation and application of the Union legal framework for anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing by the Member States and the development of future policies to address new challenges in the field, keeping in mind that human and fundamental rights take precedence over all other considerations. It should also support the relevant activities of the international organisations of European interest, such as the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism of the Council of Europe.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Strengthening the competitivenesssustainability of European enterprises while reassuring an effective level playing field and an open and competitive internal marketinternal market which prioritises local products is of othe utmost importance. SMEs are the engine of the European economy making up 99% of all businesses in Europe, providing two thirds of jobs, and contributing substantially to the creation of new jobs with a regional and local dimension.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Many of the Union's competitivenesssustainability problems involve SMEs' difficulties in obtaining access to finance because they struggle to demonstrate their credit- worthiness and have insufficient collateral. Additional financing challenges arise from SMEs'the need to stay competitive by engaging e.g. in digitization, internationalization and innovation activities and skilling up their workforcee in an ever more open internal market in which large undertakings and corporations enjoy a far more favourable situation to begin with. Limited access to finance has a negative effect on businesses creation, growth and survival rates, as well as on the readiness of new entrepreneurs to take over viable companies in the context of a business succession.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) To overcome these market failures and to ensure that SMEs continue to play their role as the foundation for the Union economy´s competitivenesssustainability, small and medium sized enterprises need extra support through debt and equity instruments to be established under the SME window of the InvestEU Fund established by Regulation […] of the European Parliament and of the Council52. The loan guarantee facility put in place under Regulation (EU) No 1287/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council53has a proven added value and is expected to bring a positive contribution to at least 500 000 SMEs; a successor will be established under the SME window of the InvestEU Fund. _________________ 52 COM(2018) 439 final 53 Regulation (EU) No 1287/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing a Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (COSME) (2014 - 2020) and repealing Decision No 1639/2006/EC (OJ L 347 of 20.12.2013, p. 33)The most suitable measures to achieve this objective should be explored.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) The Union contributes to ensuring a high level of consumer protection, empowering consumers and putting them at the heart of the internal market by supporting and complementing Member States’ policies in seeking to ensure that citizens when acting as consumers can fully reap the benefits of the internal market and that, in so doing, their safety and legal and economic interests are properly protected by means of concrete actions. The Union has also to ensure that consumer and product safety laws are properly and equally enforced on the ground and that businesses enjoy a level playing field with fair competition in the internal market. Moreover, it is necessary to empower, encourage and assist consumers in making sustainable choices, thus contributing to a sustainable, energy and resource efficient and circular economy. It is, therefore, of fundamental importance that the European economy should prioritise the internal market and not internationalisation or exports.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) A high level of health protection through the food supply chain is necessary to allow the internal market to operate efficiently. A safe and sustainable food supply chain based on agroecological production methods is a prerequisite for society and for the internal market. Cross border health crises and food scares disrupt the functioning of the internal market by limiting the movements of persons and goods and disrupting production.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) The general objective of Union law in the food chain area is to contribute to a high level of health for humans, animals and plants along the food chain, to support the improvement of the welfare of animals, to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community (in particular by increasing individual earnings through higher agricultural prices), to stabilise the markets and to contribute to a high level of protection and information for consumers and a high level of protection of the environment, including the preservation of biodiversity, while improving the sustainability of European food and feed productions, increasing quality standards across the Union, enhancing the competitiveness of the Union food and feed industry and favouring the creation of jobs.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) High-quality European statistics developed, produced and disseminated under the European Statistical Programme are essential for evidence-based decision making. European statistics should be available in a timely manner and should contribute to the implementation of Union policies as reflected in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, notably strengthened and integrated economic governance, social, economic and territorial cohesion, sustainable development, agricultural policy, the social dimension of Europe and globalisationto adopt the necessary political measures to avoid the repercussions of globalisation on society as a whole.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to improve the functioning of the internal market, and especially to protect and empower citizens, consumers and businesses, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by guaranteeing their sustainability, enforcement of Union law, facilitation of priority local market access, standard setting, and by promoting human, animal and plant health and animal welfare; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of Member States and between the competent authorities of Member States and the Commission and the decentralised Union agencies;
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to provide high-quality, comparable and reliable statistics on Europe which underpin the design, monitoring and evaluation of all the Union policies and help policy makers, businesses, trade unions, academia, citizens and media to make informed decisions and actively participate in the democratic process.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) improving the competitivenesssustainability of enterprises with special emphasis on SMEs and achieving additionality through the provision of measures that provide various forms of support to SMEs, priority access to local markets including the internationalisation of SMEs, favourable business environment for SMEs, the competitiveness of sectors, the modernisation of industry and the promotion of entrepreneurshipand a favourable business environment for SMEs;
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point i
(i) empowering, assisting and educating consumers, businesses, trade unions and civil society; ensuring a high level of consumer protection, sustainable consumption and product safety notably by supporting competent enforcement authorities and consumer representative organisations and cooperation actions; ensuring that all consumers have access to redress and; provision of adequate information on markets and consumers;
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point ii
(ii) enhancing the participation of consumers, other financial services end- users, trade unions and civil society in financial services policy-making; promoting a better understanding of the financial sector;
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) creation of the right conditions to empower all actors of the internal market, including businesses, trade unions, citizens and consumers, civil society and public authorities through transparent information and awareness raising campaigns, best practice exchange, promotion of good practices, exchange and dissemination of expertise and knowledge and organization of trainings;
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) provision of mechanisms for citizens, workers, consumers, end-users, civil society and businesses representatives from the Union to contribute to political discussions, policies and decision making process, notably by supporting the functioning of representative organisations at national and the Union level;
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 7
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 7
7. Activities supporting agroecological production, sustainable food producconsumption and consumptionpromoting direct sales and short supply chains.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – indent –1 (new)
Annex II – indent –1 (new)
-1 providing statistics on the creation and destruction of SMEs and micro- enterprises in urban, rural and mountain regions;
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – indent 15
Annex II – indent 15
– providing key environmental statistics and indicators including on waste, water, biodiversity, forests, land use and land cover, land grabbing as well as climate-related statistics and environmental economic accounts;
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – indent 19 a (new)
Annex II – indent 19 a (new)
- providing statistics on depopulation and population shifts in rural and mountain regions;