33 Amendments of Nicola BEER related to 2021/2251(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas Russia’s aggression in Ukraine on February 24 2022 has led the European Union to impose unprecedented economic sanctions; whereas the conflict generated by Russia has led a high number of Ukrainian citizens to leave Ukraine and to travel and settle in the EU; whereas the military invasion will generate economic and social consequences on the European continent, in particular on Eastern Europe countries;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D (new)
Recital D (new)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented and one-off instrument of solidarity and a cornerstone of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) instrument, ending in 2026, as the main tool in the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the economies of the EU to face the new challenges;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls fiscal consolidation and a sound economic environment for future investments as the underlying reason behind establishing the RRF;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that even if the economic effects of the RRF cannot be fully disentangled from other developments, it seems fair to conclude that, so far, the RRF has hadthe RRF is likely to have a positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and that its effective implementation will be key forcontribute to the EU’s economic growth; recognises that the RRF has helped to cushion EU economies and citizens from the most acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and is positively contributing to the EU’s recovery and resilience;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, according to the Commission, the real GDP of the EU-27 could be around 1.5 % higher in 2024 than without NGEU investments19 , when implemented effectively; notes, furthermore, that the Commission forecasts that RRF grants will fund 24 % of total recovery support measures in 2022; highlights that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine will have economic and social consequences over the continent, particularly in Eastern Europe, that might influence the forecasts; __________________ 19 European Commission discussion paper 144, Quantifying Spillovers of Next Generation EU Investment, July 2021. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/ economy-finance/dp144_en.pdf
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of the successful implementation by the Member States of national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) in order to ensure a long- term impact on the EU economy and society; recalls that the RRF is a performance-based mechanism, whereby funding is disbursed upon completion of milestones and targets related to measures and that the Commission should halt disbursements in case the milestones and targets are not met;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments, particularly growth-enhancing ones under the RRF, should also generate EU added value; improve EU competitiveness ; emphasises that the packages of reforms and investments under the RRF should also contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned, however, that only seven Member States have requested loans amounting to a total of EUR 166 billion out of the EUR 385.8 billion avEmphasises that all grants from the RRF should be invested in the implementation period of 2021-2026 to realise the EU’s objectives of sustailnable for loans, leaving a considerable amount available should Member States require loans at a later stage; is preoccupied that the limited interest for the loan component may lead to lost opportunities and prevent the RRF from reaching its full potential;economic growth, resilience and competitiveness; urges Member States to facilitate private investments in connection to the RRF-funded projects in order to increase volume of the recovery plan and close the major investment gap in the fields of green and digital transition.
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Reminds all Member States and the Commission that the current war in Ukraine poses a serious threat to the EU recovery and resilience strategy; urges the European Commission to explore ways in which unused loans could be requested to tackle the economic, social and energy consequences following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine on February 24 2022;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Tasks the Commission with analysing: a) the reasons why thsome Member States have not requested logrants to the full extent of their allocation;, b) the extent of loans adopted by central banks in Member States to supplement RRF grants and c) private investments generated from RRF-funded projects.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Tasks the Commission with analysing the reasons why the Member States have not requested loans to the full extent of their allocation; calls on the Commission, where relevant, to come forward with targeted measures to incentive the optimal use of the resources available under the RRF, taking into account the new financial needs caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the side-effects of sanctions on Russia;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Tasks the Commission with analysing the reasons why the Member States have not requested loans to the full extent of their allocation; stresses that depleting the funds available for loans is not a goal in and of itself; emphasizes that some Member States can borrow at a rate lower than the European Commission due to their fiscal prudence and are hence not in need of RRF loans;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Recalls that, under Article 21 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, objective circumstances allow a Member State to make a reasoned request to the Commission to make a proposal to amend or replace the approved plan; recalls that objective circumstances do not include political developments in Member States and insists that the Commission should apply a strict definition of the objective circumstances that justify such an amendment;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Looks forward to more granular and disaggregated data allowing for a better understanding of the additionality impacts of the RRF; regrets the lack of public information on how the NRRPs comply with the requirement of additionality; urges the Member States to provide detailed information to the Commission in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF; ; stresses the importance of a transparent and public score board and thus the need of benchmarking reforms and investments
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Looks forward to more granular and disaggregated data allowing for a better understanding of the additionality impacts of the RRF; urges the Member States to provide detailed, transparent and timely information information to the Commission in order to ensure effective reporting of the impact of the RRF;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Recalls that the bonds issued to finance the RRF are to be repaid in a manner that ensures the steady and predictable reduction of liabilities, by 2058 at the latest;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that all approved NRRPs expect to achieve the digital target of at least 20 % set out in the RRF Regulation and that the overall digital expenditure of all approved NRRPs reaches almost 29 % or EUR 130 billion; notes that countries have taken different approaches to supporting SMEs and highlights different initiatives such as measures for tax relief, voucher schemes and R&D incentives, digitalisation and aggregators for available technologies and services to SMEs, or speeding of fund distribution to companies;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Regrets the lack of information on how NRRPs contribute to achieving climate neutrality as outlined in the European Climate Law; calls on the Commission to include data in the national scoreboards on how the investments in the NRRPs reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Member States.
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the importance that the NRRPs dedicate almost 50 % of total expenditure or EUR 203 billion to measures to benefit the well-functioning of the single market, improving the business environment and promoting private investments; calls on the Member States to lift all unnecessary obstacles that would prevent SMEs from accessing the relevant RRF funding; asks Member States to implement the NRRPS according to a transparent schedule to allow the private sector to plan their activities and projects according to the relevant reforms and funding;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 d (new)
Paragraph 29 d (new)
29 d. Recalls that the EU objective to have 5G connectivity in all populated areas of the EU by 2030 is of utmost importance but at the same time particularly challenging to achieve; recalls that scattered and inconsistent approaches between Member States risk countries being left behind and the digital gap between them being exacerbated; notes that several RRPs contain investment proposals in 5G connectivity and recalls that Member States should complement these investments with measures for mobile broadband and infrastructure expansion;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 e (new)
Paragraph 29 e (new)
29 e. Highlights that synergies between RRF and other Union funding programmes are essential in order to ensure a proper recovery and consolidated resilience of the Union; regrets that some Member States have postponed the presentation of their Operational Programmes for the implementation of the EU structural funds for the period 2021-2027; calls on the Commission to assess the causes of these delays and to address them;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 f (new)
Paragraph 29 f (new)
29 f. Underlines the need for complementarity with other EU sources of finance to ensure synergies in EU spending efforts, in particular with cohesion policy funds which cover similar objectives to the RRF but with a focus on more long-term structural actions; calls on Member States and cohesion managing authorities to ensure that the Partnership Agreements are linked to and in complementarity with the RRPs.
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes the Commission assessment that all NRRPs address at least a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant European Semester recommendations but that not all challenges are addressed, such as sustainability of public finances, tax evasion, tax administration and tax avoidance ensuring stability on the housing market and tackling homelessness, equal access to childcare, structural policies that consolidate competition, public administration red tape and malfunctions of state-owned enterprises, ensuring access to independent civil justice and tackling shadow economy and corruption;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Encourages the Commission to make sure that Member States address the Country Specific Recommendations adequately and that this foundational principle of the RRF is adhered to when scrutinising the NRRPs and their implementation;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Underlines that means available for the RRF should be used in the context of REPowerEU before any new instruments are introduced; warns against the automatic reflex in some Member States to push for the creation of additional common debt for that purpose; emphasizes that Member States can use the existing RRF to finance their energy transition in this particular regard; stresses furthermore that the remaining amount of loans available must never become grants;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Is concerned about the lack of control of additionality
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31 b. Invites the Commission to reflect on ways to direct RRF resources towards defence spending, while respecting the distribution of competences in this policy area;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Urges the Commission to ensure that the evaluation of the milestones and targets achieved by the Member States as part of their NRRP will be based on rigurous quantitative and qualitative assessment; is concerned that a simple quantitative evaluation of the milestones and targets achieved would lead to a box ticking dynamic in Member States, which would then miss a historical opportunity for long-term structural reforms;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 e (new)
Paragraph 32 e (new)
32 e. Urges Member States to publish periodically up-to-date data on the funds transfered to final recipients, thereby enabling the accurate monitoring of the NRRP implementation;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the launch in December 2021 of the recovery and resilience scoreboard, which will allow every citizen to monitor the implementation of the RRF; Calls for the Commission to launch its Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard in April 2022 as planned and ensure updates of the scoreboard twice a year in accordance with the RRF regulation; urges the Commission to enforce that Member States should provide the data necessary to report on the progress with regard to the six pillars of the RRF regulation and thereby enable every citizen to monitor the implementation of the RRF.
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that Member States’ NRRPs report on their communication strategies; deplores however that, without a clear standard, such communication campaigns are envisaged to be very different, thus limiting the visibility of the RRF and EU funding overall; Calls for the Commission and Member States to ensure that the mandatory single web spaces on NRRPs include: a) public procurement plans to improve transparency and enable companies across Member States to tender for projects and b) supplier list open for registration so that main suppliers will have a better overview of potential subsuppliers in other Member States;