Activities of Leila CHAIBI related to 2020/2131(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a new strategy for European SMEs
Amendments (6)
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the decisive contribution of SMEs to innovation, job creation and an inclusive labour market; is extremely concerned about the rising unemployment rates in the EU and the risk of millions of people losing their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 crisis; recognises that at present SMEs are faced with severe liquidity problems and, in this context, highlights the need for sustainable finance to bridge the current investment gap and to reinforce SMEs’ ability to innovate and move towards more sustainable, resource- efficient, circular and climate-neutral solutions, ensuring the successful implementation of the European Green Deal and the related just transition; stresses that, in the context of the European Green Deal, SMEs are major partners to which major investments should be directed, for example to support projects related to the maintenance of the water and sanitation network; recalls that sustainable financing must be accompanied by social guarantees, in particular as regards worker protection, respect for working conditions and equal pay;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that a new strategy for European SMEs must be constructed around the protection of employment and workers, guaranteeing them a high standard of working conditions and social protection; considers that such a strategy must support those companies that respect workers' rights and the environment; stresses the need to revise public procurement rules to favour companies that respect these rights; calls for the urgent introduction of a carbon adjustment mechanism at borders that favours companies that respect the ecosystem and support the creation of local jobs;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the EU recovery instruments and the relevant MFF programmes should complement national schemes, supporting SMEs, particularly in the sectors most affected by the pandemic, and striving to ensure the EU’s industrial independence; calls on companies that benefit from European Union aid, state aid or any other form of financial support from Member States or the European Union to undertake not to lay off their employees, not to lower wages and to extend the contracts of their employees at least for the period during which they benefit from such aid; calls for the introduction of a maximum quota of 10% precarious contracts in SMEs and a maximum quota of 5% precarious contracts in large companies; calls on companies to commit themselves to achieving equal pay for women and men in the short term;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that VSEs and the self- employed have also been strongly affected by the COVID-19 crisis; stresses that SMEs, VSEs and the self-employed often find it difficult to access the aid mechanisms put in place by the Member States, in particular the short-time work arrangements that are essential for job protection; stresses the need to make state aid permanent and to increase the authorised amount up to EUR 400 000 in order to support companies in difficulty and to protect jobs;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the reduction of the regulatory burden and the simplification of rules on access to financeial support for SMEs and genuinely self-employed persons should, accompanied by environmental and social conditions, should, alongside fair and just working conditions, constitute a cornerstone of the future strategy for European SMEs, and would make a crucial contribution to a speedy, fair and sustainable economic recovery;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that many large companies, including the FAAMG group, the pharmaceutical industry and large retailers, have profited from the COVID- 19 crisis by making extraordinary profits; insists on the need for a solidarity contribution from these large companies towards SMEs in difficulty; insists on the need to put an end to late payments by large companies to SMEs and VSEs in order to avoid cash-flow crises that endanger jobs; calls for listed companies to be required to publish the amount of debts they owe to their SME and VSE suppliers and the average number of days in arrears; supports the establishment of penalties that would be automatically applied for each day in arrears;