Activities of Tomislav SOKOL related to 2020/0104(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (debate)
Amendments (39)
Amendment 5 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the Union and in the world, calling for an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the enormous economic and social consequences for all Member. The challenges linked to the demographic context have been amplified by COVID-19. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to tackle and respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The medium and long- term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on health care sector and overall economy will critically depend on how quickly Member States’ economies will recover from the crisis, which in turn depends on the fiscal space Member States have available to take measures to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis, and on the resilience of their economies. Reforms and investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies back on a sustainable and cohesive recovery path and avoid further widening of the divergences in the Union.
Amendment 9 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The implementation of reforms contributing to achieve a high degree of resilience of domestic economies, strengthening adjustment capacity and unlocking growth potential are among the Union’s policy priorities. They are therefore crucial to set the recovery on a sustainable path and support the process of upward economic and social convergence. This is even more necessarycrucial in the aftermath of the pandemic crisis to pave the way for a swift recovery and long-term economic development.
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Past experiences have shown that investment is often drastically cut during crises. However, it is more than essential to support investment with European added value that can contribute in this particular situation to speed up the recovery and strengthen long- term growth potential. Investing in green, sustainable and digital technologies, capacities and processes aimed at assisting clean energy transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing, overall productivity and other key sectors of the economic are important to achievepromote and to achieve inclusive long- term sustainable economic growth and help create jobdecent and high-quality jobs for all, along with improving living standards. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains.
Amendment 15 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Past experiences have shown that investment is often drastically cut during crises. However, it is essential to support investment in this particular situation to speed up the recovery and strengthen long- term growth potential. Investing in green and digital technologies, capacities and processes aimed at assisting clean energy transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economic are important to achieve sustainable growth and overall help create jobs, as well as foster mid-term competitiveness. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains. and boosting a knowledge based economy
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of reforms and related public investments in thethat will entail an improvement of the sustainability and competitiveness of Member States economics. The Facility should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes.
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide robust direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of reforms and related public investments in the Member States. The Facility should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In accordance with Regulation [European Union Recovery Instrument] and within the limits of resources allocated therein, recovery and resilience measures under the Recovery and Resilience Facility should be carried out to address the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis on health care sector and overall economy. Such additional resources should be used in such a way as to ensure compliance with the time limits provided for in Regulation [EURI].
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy, together with other economic development objectives, and the translation of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Facility established by this Regulation will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and environmental sustainability and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives.s long as they may not hinder European Union’s industry growth capacity, affected as it has been by COVID-19 crisis
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to implement these overall objectives, relevant actions will be identified during the Facility’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. Also, due attention should be paid to the impact of the national plans submitted under this Regulation on fostering not only the green transition, but also the digital transformation and the development of a knowledge based economy. They will both play a priority role in relaunching and modernising our economy.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to implement these overall objectives, relevant actions will be identified during the Facility’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. Also, due attention should be paid to the impact of the national plans submitted under this Regulation on fostering not only the green transition, but also the digital transformation. They will both play a prioritycrucial role in relaunching, transforming and modernising our economy.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Facility’s general objective should be the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion for a more harmonious development across Member States. For that purpose, it should contribute to improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis which can strengthen citizens’ trust in European institutions, and supporting the green and digital transitions aimed at achieving a climate neutral Europe by 2050, thereby restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union in the aftermath of the crisis, fostering employment creation and to promoting sustainable growththat would lead to fostering high-quality job creation for all and promoting sustainable, inclusive long-term economic growth fuelled by eco-efficiency improvements, health care resilient measures, climate actions and social inclusion policies .
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) To ensure its contribution to the objectives of the Facility, the recovery and resilience plan should comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects through a coherent recovery and resilience plan. The recovery and resilience plan should be consistent with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, with the national reform programmes, the national energy and climate plans, the just transition plans, and the partnership agreements and operational programmes adopted under the Union funds. To boost actions that fall within the priorities of the European Green Deal and the Digital Agenda, the plan should also set out measures that are relevant for the green, sustainable and digital transitions. The measures should enable a swift deliver of targets, objectives and contributions set out in national energy and climate plans and updates thereof. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the national ownership and a focus on relevant reforms and investments, Member States wishing to receive support should submit to the Commission a recovery and resilience plan that is duly reasoned and substantiated. The recovery and resilience plan should set out the detailed set of measures for its implementation, including targets and milestones, and the expected impact of the recovery and resilience plan on growth potential,sustainable and inclusive long-term growth potential, attraction of investments, high-quality job creation for all and economic, territorial and social resilience for a better reaction on different types of asymmetrical and symmetrical shocks; it should also include measures that are relevant for the green and the digital transitions, health care resilient measures, stronger competitiveness; it should also include an explanation of the consistency of the proposed recovery and resilience plan with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States should be sought and achieved throughout the process.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Commission should assess the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member States and should act in close cooperation with the Member State concerned. The Commission will fully respect the national ownership of the process and will therefore take into account the justification and elements provided by the Member State concerned and assess whether the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member State is expected to contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendation addressed to the Member State concerned or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester; whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green and the digital transitions, better health care resilience, stronger competitiveness and to addressing the challenges resulting from them; whether the plan is expected to have a lasting impact in the Member State concerned; whether the plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential,sustainable and inclusive long-term growth potential, attraction of investments, high-quality job creation for all and economic, territorial and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis and contribute to enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion for a more harmonious development across Member States; whether the justification provided by the Member State of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment; whether the proposed recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects that represent coherent, effective and adequate actions; and whether the arrangement proposed by the Member State concerned are expected to ensure effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the proposed milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion for a more harmonious development by improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis which can strengthen citizens’ trust in European institutions, and supporting the green and digital transitions, thereby contributing to restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, and promoting sustainable growtheconomic long-term growth fuelled by eco-efficiency improvements, health care resilient measures, climate actions and social inclusion policies.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, and supporting the green a competitive knowledge based economy and digital transitions, thereby contributing to restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, and promoting sustainable and competitive growth.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. To achieve that general objective, the specific objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to provide Member States with financial support with a view to achieving the milestones and targets of reformsstructural reforms ( including those of public administration systems) and investments as set out in their recovery and resilience plans. That specific objective shall be pursued in close cooperation with the Member States concerned.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the Union and in the world, calling for an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the enormous economic and social consequences for all Member. The structural challenges linked to the demographic context with asymmetrical consequences for Member States have been amplified by COVID-19. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The medium and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis will critically depend on how quickly Member States’ economies will recover from the crisis, which in turn depends on the fiscal space Member States have available to take measures to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis, and on the resilience of their economies. Reforms and investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies back on a sustainable and cohesive recovery path and avoid further widening of the divergences in the Union.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plans shall be consistent with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular those relevant for or resulting from the greenknowledge based economy and digital transition. The recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the national reform programmes under the European Semester, in their national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under the Regulation (EU)2018/199921 , in the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund22 , and in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under the Union funds. _________________ 21Regulation (EU)2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. 22 […]
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) an explanation of how the plan strengthens the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State concerned, mitigates the economic and social impact of the crisis the improvement of the business fabric,, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) an explanation of how the plan strengthens the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State concerned, mitigates the economic and social impact of the crisis, the improvement of the business fabric, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) an explanation of how the plan strengthens the growth potential, job creation and economic, territorial and social resilience of the Member State concerned, mitigates the economic and social impact of the crisis, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) an explanation of how the measures in the plan are expected to contribute to the greenknowledge based economy and the digital transitions or to the challenges resulting from them;
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point h
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point h
(h) the accompanying measures that may be needed; amongst other issues the reduction of national bureaucracies and increase of public private partnerships
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The Commission shall assess the importance and coherence of the recovery and resilience plan and its contribution to the greenknowledge based and digital transitions, as well as competitive economy and for that purpose, shall take into account the following criteria:
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Past experiences have shown that investment is often drastically cut during crises. However, it is essential to support investmentstrategic investments with European added value in this particular situation to speed up the recovery and strengthen long- term growth potential. Investing in green and digital technologies, capacities and processes aimed at assisting clean energy transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economic are important to achieve sustainable growth and help create jobs. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the greenknowledge based economy and the digital transitions as to develop a competitive economy or to addressing the challenges resulting from them;
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the long-term growth potential, attraction of investments, high-quality job creation, for all and economic, territorial and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion for a more harmonious development across Member States;
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) whether the recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investments projects that represent coherent actions, and they might as well help job growth and the development of a knowledge based society;
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) whether the recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investments projects that represent coherent, effective and adequate actions;
Amendment 207 #
(f) the arrangements for providing access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data, from the regional, local and national administrations.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide robust direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of reforms and related public and private investments in the Member States. The Facility should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes.
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In accordance with Regulation [European Union Recovery Instrument] and within the limits of resources allocated therein, recovery and resilience measures under the Recovery and Resilience Facility should be carried out to address the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis especially on health care, tourism, creative industry and sports sector. Such additional resources should be used in such a way as to ensure compliance with the time limits provided for in Regulation [EURI].
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
Amendment 403 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the national ownership and a focus on relevant reforms and investments, Member States wishing to receive support should submit to the Commission a recovery and resilience plan that is duly reasoned and substantiated. The recovery and resilience plan should set out the detailed set of measures for its implementation, including targets and milestones, and the expected impact of the recovery and resilience plan on growth potential,sustainable and inclusive long-term growth potential, stimulating business environment, high- quality job creation and economic, territorial and social resilience; it should also include measures that are relevant for the green and the digital transitionssustainable green, digital and demographic transitions, health care resilient measures, convergence, stronger competitiveness, including recovery of tourism, creative industry and sports sector; it should also include an explanation of the consistency of the proposed recovery and resilience plan with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States should be sought and achieved throughout the process.
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Commission should assess the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member States and should act in close cooperation with the Member State concerned. The Commission will fully respect the national ownership of the process and will thereforealso take into account the synergies created between the recovery and resilience plans of different Member States and the complementarity between those plans and other investment plans at national level that take into account the justification and elements provided by the Member State concerned and assess whether the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member State is expected to contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevanlatest country- specific recommendations addressed to the Member State concerned or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester; whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green and the digital transitions and tosustainable green, digital and demographic transitions, better health care resilience, strong competitiveness, recovery of tourism, creative industry and sports sector and overall economy as well as addressing the challenges resulting from them; whether the plan is expected to have a lasting impact in the Member State concerned; whether the plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential,sustainable and inclusive long-term growth potential, stimulating business environment, high- quality job creation and economic, territorial and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social, social and demographic impact of the crisis and contribute to enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion for a more harmonious development across Member States; whether the justification provided by the Member State of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment; whether the proposed recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public and private investment projects that represent coherent actions; and whether the arrangement proposed by the Member State concerned are expected to ensure effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the proposed milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 463 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) To ensure that the financial support is frontloaded in the initial years after the crisis, and to ensure compatibility with the available funding for this instrument, the allocation of funds to the Member States should be made available until 31 December 20246. To this effect, at least 60 percent of the amount available for non- repayable support should be legally committed by 31 December 2022. The remaining amount should be legally committed by 31 December 20246.
Amendment 480 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The request for a loan should be justified by the financial needs linked to additional reforms and investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, notably relevant for the green and digital transitions, and by therefore, by a higher cost of the plan than the maximum financial contribution (to be) allocated via the non-repayable contribution. It should be possible to submit the request for a loan together with the submission of the plan. In case the request for loan is made at a different moment in time, it should be accompanied by a revised plan with additional milestones and targets. To ensure frontloading of resources, Member States should request a loan support at the latest by 31 August 20246. For the purposes of sound financial management, the total amount of all the loans granted under this Regulation should be capped. In addition, the maximum volume of the loan for each Member State should not exceed 4.7% of its Gross National Income. An increase of the capped amount should be possible in exceptional circumstances subject to available resources. For the same reasons of sound financial management, it should be possible to pay the loan in instalments against the fulfilment of results.
Amendment 1166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, job creation, and economic, territorial and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social, social and demographic impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion;