Activities of Bronis ROPĖ related to 2023/0397(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans
Amendments (14)
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To achieve these goals, special emphasis with respect to investment areas should be placed on sectors that are likely to function as key multipliers for social and economic development: sustainable connectivity, including transport, renewable energy, green and digital transitions, education and skills development.
Amendment 15 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) TEfficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport infrastructure is essential to improve connectivity between the Western Balkan partners and with the EU. It should contribute to integrate the region in the Union. In its proposal revising the trans- European transport framework (TEN- T), the Commission included a new Corridor crossing the Western Balkan region (Western-East Mediterranean corridor). The TEN-T network should be the reference for funding sustainable transport infrastructure in the region.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) Activities under the Facility should create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs in rural areas, including legal and policy aspects, to ensure better access to information, knowledge and skills, as well as to facilitate access to financial resources and thereby create more jobs in rural areas and contributes to generation renewal;
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 b (new)
Recital 13 b (new)
(13 b) Activities under the Facility should contribute to the reduction of income inequalities at the regions in order to foster social inclusion and ensure sustainable longterm growth;
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) This Regulation should promote the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans7 by reinforcing environmental protection, contributing to the mitigation of climate change and increasing resilience to climate change, and accelerating the shift towards a low-carbon economy. and achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. _________________ 7 SWD(2020)223 final, 6.10.2020.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) accelerate green transition in line with the Paris Agreement and 2020 Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and covering all economic sectors, particularly energy, including the transition towards de- carbonised climate-neutral, climate- resilient and circular economy;
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(h a) ensure greater protection of labour rights, reduction of income inequalities between regions;
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities; build resilience in fighting Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), including disinformation as well as other hybrid threats that seek to undermine the region’s stability, democratic processes and its EU perspective;
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Activities under the Facility shall be in line with the EU's environmental acquis and mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and environmental protection, human rights, democracy, gender equality and, where relevant, disaster risk reduction, and shall support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting integrated actions that can create co-benefits and meet multiple objectives in a coherent way. They shall avoid stranded assets, and shall be guided by the principles of ‘do no harm’ and of ‘leaving no one behind’, as well as by the sustainability mainstreaming approach underpinning the European Green Deal.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Beneficiaries should demonstrate commitment to the European core values and principles, rule of law and democracy, including through their full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and restrictive measures against the third countries;
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The Reform Agendas shall be prepared in close cooperation with civil society organisations, social partners and local and regional authorities.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
If progress has not taken place, or the preconditions under the Article 5 is no longer met, the payments should be reduced or reconsidered.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) whether the Reform Agenda can be expected to accelerate progress towards bridging the socio-economic gap between the Beneficiary and the Union, and thereby enhances their economic, social and environmental development and supports the convergence towards the Union’s standards including respect for labour rights, such as labour laws, equality, health and safety at work and non- discrimination as well as the promotion of social protection and social dialogue;
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall assess without undue delay whether the Beneficiary has achieved satisfactory fulfilment of the payment conditions set out in the Commission implementing decision referred to in Article 15(1) and did not violate the principles specified in Article 5 - paragraph 2a (new). The satisfactory fulfilment of these payment conditions shall presuppose that measures related to the same reforms for which the Beneficiary had achieved satisfactory fulfilment in prior decisions have not been reversed by the Beneficiary. The Commission may be assisted by experts.