19 Amendments of Johan VAN OVERTVELDT related to 2019/2110(INI)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the general government deficit is expected to rise from 0.5 % to 0.9 % in the euro area and from 0.6 % to 1.0 % in the EU28 in 2019, and to remain at that level in 2020; whereas the debt-to- GDP ratio in 2019 stands at 85.8 % in the euro area and 80.2 % in the EU28 and is forecast to decrease to 84.3 % and 78.8 % respectively in 2020; whereas such debt levels may be hard to sustain if and when interest rates return to normal levels;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas growth has to an important degree relied upon unconventional and, in the long term, unsustainable monetary policy; whereas this monetary policy has failed to create a momentum for productivity-enhancing reforms;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the stability of financial institutions in the Eurozone is still a matter of grave concern; whereas there is slight progress on reducing non- performing loans; whereas this progress is clearly insufficient;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Agrees that effective growth- enhancing structural reforms, accompanied by well-targeted investments and responsible fiscal policies, continue to provide a successful compass for preparing the EU for its future and present challenges;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises that the average level of debt-to-GDP is projected to decline; notes, however, that the average level still remains significantly above the level required by the Stability and Growth Pact; points out the possibility of rising debt service costs in the future once monetary accommodation is reduced, especially in the euro area; reminds that Member States continue to significantly exceed their pre-crisis public debt levels; underlines, therefore, the importance of bringing down overall debt levels and rebuilding fiscal buffers, in line with EU fiscal rules;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises that the average level of debt-to-GDP is projected to decline; notes, however, that the average level still remains significantly above the level required by the Stability and Growth Pact; points out the possibility of rising debt service costs in the future once monetary accommodation is reduced, especially in the euro area; reminds that Member States continue to significantly exceed their pre-crisis public debt levels; underlines, therefore, the importance of bringing down overall debt levels and rebuilding fiscal buffers, in line with EU fiscal rules;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes, accordingly, with great concern that the average deficit levels appear to be increasing again and that in some Member States deficits above 3 % are projected; underlines that a significant part of the expected deficit expansion originates in countries with high government debt-to- GDP ratios;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that growth-friendly structural reforms do not require fiscal space but rather legislative and administrative efforts aimed at strengthening market forces and private sector initiatives;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Asks the Commission to not only focus on public debt levels, but also take into account the implications for sustainable economic growth of an excessive rise in household and corporate debt;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reminds that debt service costs remain low mainly because of ECB low interest rates policy; recommends to consider the impact of potentially rising interest rates and risks arising from further expansion of the ECB's balance sheet;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Supports shifting the tax burden away from labour and strengthening effective education and training systems and effective investment in skills; stresses the effectiveness of flexible labour market policies;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that principle of European added value should represent the cornerstone of all EU funded investments; points out that EU funding should be accompanied by measurable objectives and outputs including a quantifiable and comparable evaluation mechanism that will allow to compare and rank the efficiency of individual EU programmes; underlines the importance of accountability and transparency for bodies that receive EU funding;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Recognises that public investments are limited as they represent scarce resources mostly funded by the taxpayers; underlines the need to prioritise the public investments according to their efficiency in order to support economic growth;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Emphasises the fiscal benefits of investment efficiency measurements and investment quality comparison; recommends the Commission to systematically monitor the value-for- money of EU funded projects and to publicise the evaluation criteria to maximise the benefits of public scrutiny;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Warns that boosting investment should not be seen as an alternative to productivity-enhancing reforms;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recalls that high levels of taxation in Europe are a hindrance to investments and jobs;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reminds Member States of the importance of committing to and delivering on the CSRs and recommendations of the European Court of Auditors;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls the positive practice of transparency in several Member States in the form of mandatory disclosure of contracts concluded by the public sector which supports the efficiency of public finances and promotes economic growth;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Notes the social priorities in the European semester; demands the necessary respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality; stresses that Member States must continue to have sufficient flexibility in implementing an appropriate social policy;