Activities of James ELLES related to 2011/2019(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
2012 draft budget trilogue (debate)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 10 May 2011 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III1, __________________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0194
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas in the international arena countries in Asia have double digit growth rates and are accumulating huge reserves of capital and the USA is in the throws of a huge political discussion on how to raise the ceiling for the national debt which at this time stands at around $13 trillion (€9.8 trillion) and is growing,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas at the same time it is essential that the implementation of EU programmes and actions, including the financing of actions aiming at tackling the effects of the crisis and promoting growth, continue at EU level,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Notes with concern the current economic situation in Member States, many of which are saddled with unsustainable levels of debt and interest payments, notes also that some Western economies, owing to past fiscal indiscipline, have put themselves in a particularly perilous position; observes with alarm that countries such as China are now active in the Eurozone bond markets, as they have been with US debt for some time;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Stresses that with some European economies beginning to show signs of recovery from recession that efforts to reduce levels of accumulated debt would, in the long term, prove advantageous and should, where possible, begin without delay as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges that if the EU budget is to contribute to the collective effort of Member States in times of austerity this effort should be commensurate with its size, specific features and real economic impact; reminds the Councilbelieves that Europe should show budgetary responsibility and restraint in times of ongoing national budgetary consolidation efforts but recalls that under EU Treaty provisions the EU budget cannot run a deficit and that cuts to it, given its limited size, will have no significant long-term impact in addressing the urgent issue of accumulated national public deficit, which amounted in 2009 to EUR 801 billion for the EU as a wholethe EU budget represents 2% of total public spending in the EU;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Observes that the EU 27 annual inflation rate for 2011 is estimated at 2.7%, meaning that the proposed nominal 2012 increases of 3.7% in CA and 4.9% in PA are, compared to the Budget 2011, in real terms 1% and 2.2%; underlines the fact that several Member States are planning increases in their national budgets greater than the one proposed by the European Commission for the EU budget; notes also some Member States’ efforts to reduce budget deficits and slow the growth of sovereign debt, bringing it to a more sustainable level;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the fact that the proposed figures in the 2012 EU annual budget are consistent with the profile of EU expenditure set in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2007-2013; emphasises that any increase (or decrease) compared to Budget 2011 must therefore be assessed bearing in mind its impact on the delivery of the multiannual programmes; stresses that this is a question of institutional credibility and coherence of the EU project when EU responsibilities and commitments keep on growing; deeply regrets from this point of view that the Commission did not propose endowing policies and new competencies established at EU level following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty with meaningful and visible financial capacityhave increased since the Lisbon Treaty came into force;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Observes that according to the DB 2012 there is an overall margin of EUR 1 603 million in CA under the 2012 ceiling agreed in the MFF; is determined, should it prove necessary, to make full use of this available margin as well as – if necessary – of other flexibility mechanisms foreseen by the IIA to support and strengthen certain targeted political objectives; expects Council’s full cooperation as regards the use of these mechanisms;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that in its resolution of 24 March 2011 the EP stressed that keeping commitment appropriations under control would require not only significant redeployments and reprioritisation, but also the joint identification of possible negative priorities and savings by the institutions; urges its specialised committees to begin the process of determining clear political and budgetary priorities in their policy fields; maintains the view however that the Europe 2020 strategy can be credible only if adequately funded, and recalls that the EP has on numerous occasions raised this serious political concern; reiterates its strong request for the Commission to clarify in detail the budgetary dimension of the flagship initiatives, and to inform Parliament of the budgetary means needed for the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that a first round of discussions on budgetary priorities has already taken place in Parliament in the form of the extensive consultation of its specialised committees by its general rapporteur for the Budget 2012; emphasises that the process must now be fine-tuned in each committee for its respective field of competence so as to identify the positive and negative priorities for the Budget 2012; urges the Rapporteur to produce working documents clarifying this process for the Committee on Budgets;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. ObservTakes the view, however, that the difficult economic situation across the Union makes it more important than ever to ensure proper implementation of the EU budget, quality of spending and optimal use of existing Community financing; notes that a thorough review of those lines which have a history of low outturn or where problems have arisen in implementation was requested by the EP in its resolution of 24 March 2011; welcomes that the Commission has made a first endeavour to identify negative priorities and savings in some policy areas as compared with what was initially foreseen in the financial programming, particularly in those characterised by poor performance and low implementation rates in the recent past; asks the Commission to provide additional information supporting its assessments; notes also that, contrary to previous years, the Commission has frequently departed from its indicative financial programming presented in January 2011; is determined to further check and analyse these proposals before endorsing them;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls in this regard its resolution on the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III calling for the Commission to undertake urgently during 2011 a comprehensive spending review of all areas of activity to ensure all expenditure is delivering value for money in order to identify possible savings which would reduce the pressure on the budget in this period of austerity;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Believes that all demands for increased expenditure in key priority areas can be met by savings from existing programmes and that greater scrutiny should therefore be made of outdated or ineffectual programmes to allow funds to be reallocated as stated in its resolution on the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III;