Activities of Katrin LANGENSIEPEN related to 2020/0101(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards exceptional additional resources and implementing arrangements under the Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy (REACT-EU)
Amendments (29)
Amendment 11 #
Proposal for a regulation
Title 1
Title 1
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards exceptional additional resources and implementing arrangements under the Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy (REACT-EU)
Amendment 12 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States have been affected by the crisis due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in an unprecedented manner. The crisis hamperss exacerbated the situation of people experiencing or at risk of poverty, deepened social cleavages, increased job losses and inequalities, and has hampered growth in Member States, which in turn aggravates the serious liquidity shortages due to the sudden and important increase in public investments needed in their health systems and other sectors of their economies. This has created an exceptional situation which needs to be addressed with specific measures.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) An additional exceptional amount of EUR 58 272 800 000 (in current prices) for budgetary commitment from the Structural Funds under the Investment for growth and jobs goal, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 should be made available to support Member States and regions most impacted in crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy, with a view to deploying resources quickly to the real economy through the existing operational programmes. Resources for 2020 stem from an increase in the resources available for economic, social and territorial cohesion in the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 whereas resources for 2021 and 2022 stem from the European Union Recovery Instrument. Part of the additional resources should be allocated to technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Commission should set out the breakdown of the remaining additional resources for each Member State on the basis of an allocation method based on the latest available objective statistical data concerning Member States’ relative prosperity and statistical data, including equality data, on the extent of the effect of the current crisis on their economies and societies, with special focus on the most deprived, such as homeless people and people living in segregated institutions, who are traditionally not reached by Member State statistical offices; to this end, data should be collected with the involvement of non-governmental organisations working in the field of poverty and social exclusion. The allocation method should include a dedicated additional amount for the outermost regions given the specific vulnerability of their economies and societies. In order to reflect the evolving nature of the effects of the crisis, the breakdown should be revised in 2021 on the basis of the same allocation method using the latest statistical and equality data available by 19 October 2021 to distribute the 2022 tranche of the additional resources.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to allow maximumsufficient flexibility to Member States for tailoring crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy, allocations should be established by the Commission at Member State level. Furthermore, the possibility for using any additional resources to support aid for the most deprived should also be provided for. In addition, it is necessary to establish ceilings concerning the allocation to technical assistance at the initiative of the Member States while allowing maximumsufficient flexibility to the Member States as to its allocation within operational programmes supported by the ERDF or the ESF. It should be clarified that there is no need to respect the ESF minimum share for the additional resources. Taking account of the expected quick spending of the additional resources, the commitments linked to those additional resources should only be decommitted at the closure of the operational programmes.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Possibilities for financial transfers under the ‘Investment for growth and jobs’ goal betweenfrom the ERDF andto the ESF should also be introduced for the additional resources, as is already the case for the part of the global resources available for programming in 2020 in accordance with Article 25a of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013. Such transfers should affect neither the resources available under the European territorial cooperation goal nor the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In order to complement the actions already available under the scope of support of the ERDF, as extended by Regulations (EU) 2020/460 and (EU) 2020/558 of the European Parliament and of the Council5, Member States should continue to be allowed to use the additional resources primarily for investments in products and services for health services for all, for providing support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, infrastructure providing non- discriminatory basic services to citizenspeople or economic support measures for those regions most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis. Technical assistance should also be supported. It is appropriate that the additional resources are focused exclusively under the new thematic objective “Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy”, which should also constitute a single investment priority, to allow for simplified programming and implementation of the additional resources. __________________ 5 Regulation (EU) 2020/460 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 March 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to mobilise investments in the healthcare systems of Member States and in other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak (Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative) (OJ L99, 31.3.2020, p. 5); Regulation (EU) 2020/558 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013 and (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, (OJ L 130, 23.4.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support social inclusion and poverty eradication, with a particular focus on child poverty, job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes providing a living income above the poverty threshold and support to self- employed, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, support to youth employment measures, inclusive education and training, skills development and to enhance access to universal, inclusive, accessible and high-quality services, including healthcare and social services of general interest, including for children. It should be clarified that in the present exceptional circumstances support to short-time work schemes for employees and the self- employed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic can be provided even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. Union support to those short-time work schemes should be limited in time.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to ensure that Member States have sufficient financial means to swiftly implement crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy, it is necessary to provide a higher level of initial pre- financing payment for the quick implementation of actions supported by the additional resources. The initial pre- financing to be paid should ensure that Member States have the means to arrange for advance payments to beneficiaries where necessary and to reimburse beneficiaries quickly following the submission of payment claims.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Member States should have the flexibility to allocate the additional resources to new dedicated operational programmes or new priority axes within existing programmes. In order to allow quick implementation, only already designated authorities of existing operational programmes supported by the ERDF, the ESF, or the Cohesion Fund are allowed to be identified for new dedicated operational programmes. An ex ante evaluation by the Member States should not be required and the elements required for the submission of the operational programme to the Commission’s approval should be limited. However, REACT-EU should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion or provides an income below the Member States' poverty threshold. The gender aspects should be taken into account in all programmes implemented, throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Moreover, REACT-EU should comply with Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union that stipulates that any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation is prohibited.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) With a view to alleviating the burden on public budgets regarding crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy, Member States should be given the exceptional possibility to request a co- financing rate of up to 100 % to be applied to the separate priority axes of operational programmes providing support from the additional resources.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In order to enable Member States to deploy the additional resources for crisis repair quickly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy within the current programming period, it is justified to exempt, on an exceptional basis, Member States from the need to comply with ex ante conditionalities and requirements on the performance reserve and application of the performance framework, on thematic concentration, also in relation to the thresholds established for sustainable urban development for the ERDF, and requirements on preparation of a communication strategy for the additional resources. It is nevertheless necessary that Member States carry out at least one evaluation by 31 December 2024 to assess the inclusiveness, effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the additional resources as well as how they contributed to achieving the goals of the new dedicated thematic objective. To facilitate the availability of comparable information at Union level, Member States are encouraged to make use of the programme-specific indicators made available by the Commission. In addition, while carrying out their responsibilities linked to information, communication and visibility, Member States and managing authorities should enhance the visibility of the exceptional measures and resources introduced by the Union, in particular by ensuring that potential beneficiaries, beneficiaries, participants, final recipients of financial instruments and the general public are aware of the existence, volume and additional support stemming from the additional resources.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) With a view to allow the targeting of these additional resources to the geographic areas where they are most needed, as an exceptional measure and without prejudice to the general rules for allocating Structural Funds resources, the additional resources allocated to the ERDF and the ESF are not to be broken down per category of region. However, Member States are expected to take into account the different regional needs and development levels in order to ensure that focus is maintained on less developed regions, in accordance with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion set out in Article 173 TFEU. Member States should also involve local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and bodies working in the field of poverty, social inclusion, gender equality and non- discrimination, and social partners in accordance with the partnership principles.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) An additional exceptional amount of EUR 58 272 800 000 (in current prices) for budgetary commitment from the Structural Funds under the Investment for growth and jobs goal, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 should be made available to support Member States and regions most impacted in crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic orand in particular its social impacts, and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy, with respect to the “Do no harm principle” and with a view to deploying resources quickly to the real economy through the existing operational programmes. Resources for 2020 stem from an increase in the resources available for economic, social and territorial cohesion in the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 whereas resources for 2021 and 2022 stem from the European Union Recovery Instrument. Part of the additional resources should be allocated to technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Commission should set out the breakdown of the remaining additional resources for each Member State on the basis of an allocation method based on the latest available objective statistical data concerning Member States’ relative prosperity and the extent of the effect of the current crisis on their economies and societies. The allocation method should include a dedicated additional amount for the outermost regions given the specific vulnerability of their economies and societies with a special focus on the most deprived, such as homeless people and people living in segregated institutions, who are traditionally not reached by Member State statistical offices; to this end, data should be collected with the involvement of non-governmental organisations working in the field of poverty and social exclusion. In order to reflect the evolving nature of the effects of the crisis, the breakdown should be revised in 2021 on the basis of the same allocation method using the latest statistical data available by 19 October 2021 to distribute the 2022 tranche of the additional resources.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – title
Article 92b – title
Exceptional additional resources and implementing arrangements for the Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy (REACT-EU)
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 1
Article 92b – paragraph 1
1. The additional resources referred to in Articles 91(1a) and 92a (‘the additional resources’) shall be made available under the Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy (REACT-EU). The additional resources shall be used to implement technical assistance pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Article and the operations implementing the thematic objective in paragraph 10 of this Article.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 6
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 6
Each Member State shall allocate the additional resources available for programming under the ERDF and the ESF to operational programmes. The ESF share shall not be decreased below the current legal obligation of 23, 1 %.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 8
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 8
Following their initial allocation, the additional resources may, at the request of a Member State for amendment of an operational programme pursuant to Article 30(1), be transferred between the ERDF and the ESF, irrespective of the percentages referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 92(1) as long as the ESF share does not decrease below 23, 1 %.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 11
Article 92b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 11
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
8. The additional resources not allocated to technical assistance shall be used under the thematic objective set out in paragraph 10 to support operations fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 3
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 3
For the ERDF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support investment in products and services for health services for all, to provide support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, investments contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, investments in infrastructure providing non- discriminatory basic services to citizenspeople, and economic measures in the regions which are most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
For the ESF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemessocial inclusion and poverty eradication, with a particular focus on child poverty, job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes providing for an income above the Member States' poverty threshold and support to self- employed, even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. The additional resources shall also support job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, youth employment measures, inclusive education and training, skills development, in particular to support the twin green and digital transitions, and to enhance access to universal, inclusive, accessible and high-quality services including healthcare and social services of general interest, including for children.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1
Article 92b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1
9. With the exception of technical assistance referred to in paragraph 6 and of the additional resources used for the FEAD referred to in the seventh subparagraph of paragraph 5, the additional resources shall support operations under the new thematic objective “Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy”, complementing the thematic objectives set out in Article 9.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 6
Article 92b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 6
By way of derogation from Article 30(1), requests for the amendment of a programme submitted by a Member State shall be duly justified and shall in particular set out expected impact of the changes to the programme on fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy. They shall be accompanied by the revised programme.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 10 – subparagraph 2
Article 92b – paragraph 10 – subparagraph 2
By way of derogation from Article 96(2)(a), where such a new operational programme is established, the justification shall set out the expected impact of the operational programme on fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital, inclusive and resilient recovery of the society and the economy.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2
Article 92b – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2
By way of derogation from Article 56(3) and 114(2), the Member States shall ensure that by 31 December 2024 at least one evaluation on the use of the additional resources is carried out to assess their inclusiveness, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and how they contributed to the thematic objective referred to in paragraph 10 of this Article.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 11 a (new)
Article 92b – paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. All programmes implemented under REACT-EU shall ensure gender equality throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also ensure equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, thereby enhancing social inclusion and reducing inequalities.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Member States should have the flexibility to allocate the additional resources to new dedicated operational programmes or new priority axes within existing programmes. The resources should be primarily allocated to regional programmes, where such programmes are in place, in accordance to the objective to target the worst hit regions set out in recital 5. In order to allow quick implementation, only already designated authorities of existing operational programmes supported by the ERDF, the ESF, or the Cohesion Fund are allowed to be identified for new dedicated operational programmes. An ex ante evaluation by the Member States should not be required and the elements required for the submission of the operational programme to the Commission’s approval should be limited. However, REACT-EU should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion or provides an income below the Member States' poverty threshold. Gender aspects should be taken into account in all programmes implemented, throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Moreover, REACT-EU should comply with Article 21 of the Charter, which stipulates that any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, or sexual orientation, is prohibited.
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) With a view to allow the targeting of these additional resources to the geographic areas where they are most needed, as an exceptional measure and without prejudice to the general rules for allocating Structural Funds resources, the additional resources allocated to the ERDF and the ESF are not to be broken down per category of region. However, Member States are expected to take into account the different regional needs and development levels in order to ensure that focus is maintained on less developed regions, in accordance with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion set out in Article 173 TFEU and on the regions and local communities most affected by COVID-19. Member States should also involve local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance withand in particular bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination, as well as social partners, in full respect of the partnership principles.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 92 b – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
All programmes implemented under REACT-EU shall ensure gender equality throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also ensure equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, thereby enhancing social inclusion and reducing inequalities.