Activities of Hélène LAPORTE related to 2021/0227(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
2022 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022
Amendments (55)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that, in its abovementioned resolution of 25 March 2021 on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2022 budget, Parliament defined clear political priorities for the 2022 budget to support the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and lay the foundations for a more resilient Union; reaffirms its strong commitment to those priorities and sets out the following position to ensure an appropriate level of financing to deliver on them;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Stresses that Member States still face many challenges, in particular in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic, and is convinced that EU citizens expect the 2022 budget to be more efficient, transparent and result-oriented, to provide for concrete reductions, including but not limited to administrative expenditure, and to ensure efficient and responsible use of taxpayers' money; regrets Parliament's lack of flexibility in comparison with the Council's position, which, on the contrary, remains pragmatic in the current economic context;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the Union budget must be equipped with the tools to enable it to respond to multiple crises simultaneously; reiterates Parliament’s view that the 2022 budget should play a pivotal role in ensuring a positive and tangible impact on citizens’ lives; against this background, supports increases to boost investment with a particular focus on SMEs, strengthen efforts towards the green and digital transitions, give fresh opportunities to young people in particular, build a strong European Health Union; reinforces, further, priorities in the fields of security, migration, fundamental rights, while acknowledging the recent deteriorating situation in external policy and humanitarian aid and the need to be able to react swiftly to the upcoming challenges;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note of Council’s position on the DB, cutting EUR 1,43 billion in commitment appropriations for the MFF headings compared to the Commission’s proposal; considers that the cuts proposed by the Council follow the usual top-down approach of implementing an overall arbitrary reduction target, which is neither driven by an objective assessment of implementation trends nor absorption capacities; points out the contradiction with core shared policy priorities; concludes that the Council’s position is far from Parliament’s expectations for a recovery budget; decides therefore, as a general rule, to restore appropriations on all lines cut by the Council to the level of the DB, for both operational and administrative expenditure, and to take the DB as the starting point to build its position upon; accepts, however,accepts to enter EUR 1 299 million in both commitment and payment appropriations in 2022 for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) as this reflects the political agreement on the BAR Regulation;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses, also, that the Commission announced a package in favour of refugees from Syria and beyond after the publication of its DB; in that respect, calls for a comprehensive agreement to be found on the overall package in the budgetary conciliation on the 2022 budget, which would also include Draft Amending Budget No 5/2021; acknowledges that further measures will be needed to adequately respond to the recent events in Afghanistan, including support for citizens who do not have possibility to continue their work in Afghanistan; underlines that, given the changing situation and the lack of a comprehensive and longer-term needs assessment, these issues could not be fully factored into the Parliament’s reading and will be reassessed in the light of the Commission’s Amending Letter 1/2022 and subsequent information presented at a later stage;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Decides to reinforce lines that have an excellent implementation rate and the operational capacity to absorb the additional appropriations in 2022; iIndicates that, for the purpose of adequately financing the pressing priorities expressed above, the Flexibility Instrument needs to be fully mobilised, and a partial use of the Single Margin Instrument (amount offset against current year margins) will further be required;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the need to restoremake an appropriate estimate of the level of the DB for the financing cost of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) to avoid giving a negative signal towards the financial markets, pending any reassessment of forecasted needs by the Commission in conciliation;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that a successful research programme is essential for the Union’s future prosperity; stresses that Horizon Europe, which has very high European added value, will make a critically important contribution to the Green Deal and efforts towards a climate-neutral economy, to a successful digital transition and to the recovery of the Union economy from the pandemic; highlights in particular the need to bolster Union investment in health research, including funding for cancer research; increases, therefore, the allocation of Horizon Europe over the level of the DB by EUR 305 million in commitment appropriations; is seriously concerned about the use of Horizon Europe funds abroad;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) plays an absolutely crucial role in the building of high-quality, sustainable, interconnected trans-European transport, energy and digital networks and is therefore at the heart of efforts to strengthen the Union economy and make a success of the green and digital transitions; recalls that CEF makes a very significant contribution to the overall target of at least 30% climate expenditure from the MFF and New Generation EU (NGEU); proposes therefore to increase the funding for the three CEF strands by a total amount of EUR 207,3 million in commitment appropriations above the level of the DB;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that the Digital Europe Programme is a vital tool in increasing rates of digitalisation in the Union, thereby leading to significant productivity gains, and in helping to bolster investments in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; recalls the need to support businesses, especially innovative digital SMEs; proposes therefore to increase the amount allocated to the programme by just over EUR 71 million;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Stresses that the government mandated lockdowns to counter possible future pandemics will be especially burdensome for the tourism sector;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the crucial role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme to strengthen European citizenship and democracy, equality and the rule of law in the Union, as well as to support victims of gender-based violence, and insists that additional appropriations are required to support these objectives; increases the Justice Programme to offset the proposed cut to finance increased tasks for the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) under the e-CODEX proposalupport victims of violence;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Deems it necessary to increasecut appropriations for the Turkish Cypriot Community budget line for the purpose of contributing decisively to the continuation and intensification of the mission of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, the wellbeing of Maronites wishing to resettle and that of all enclaved persons as agreed in the 3rd Vienna Agreement, and of supporting the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, thereby promoting trust and reconciliation between the two communities;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Stresses that the agricultural sector will have to face new challenges, particularly with the EU's free trade agreements with third countries;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls, the importance of the LIFE programme in supporting climate action and environmental protection; calls for the level of budgetary support for LIFE to be increased across the various programme strands by 25% above DB; highlights that any annual reinforcement for the LIFE programme will imply progress towards the mainstreaming targets and ambitions in the areas of climate and biodiversity;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
Amendment 105 #
34 a. Underlines the importance of investing inadequate funding and staffing levels for all agencies operating in the fields of migration, asylum and border management, as long as the allocations are devolved to repatriation and border security;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Underlines the failure of European policies on preventing migration flows and human trafficking; reiterates its concerns about the role played by instruments such as the Internal Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in the management of the effects of the migration and refugee crisis;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Recalls the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and law enforcement, in particular with regard to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), and proposes targeted increases and/or staffing changes to allow them to properly perform their tasks;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 41 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls for an immediate stop to the Union’s accession negotiations with Turkey, as well as for the blocking of all Union’s funding for Turkey;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Expresses deep concern about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan; believes that the humanitarian aid budget for Afghanistan and neighbouring countries should be significantly increased to support and protect vulnerable Afghans and their families; given the expected needs to be financed by the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve, both internally and externally, that might lead to financial shortcomings, decides to reinforce the funding of the humanitarian aid by 20% and the role played by the EU in this crisis; expresses its deep concern about the use of EU funds in Afghanistan;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45 a. Denounces Turkey's continued violations of international and EU law, as well as democratic principles and values; demands an immediate end to Turkey's funding; strongly condemns Turkey's repeated provocations and violations of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Considers that Council’s cuts are unjustified and would not allow the Commission to fulfil their tasks; restores therefore the DB for the Commission administrative expenditure, including on its offices;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point a
Paragraph 53 – point a
a) takes note of the upcoming mid- term review of the Environmental Management System (EMAS) Mid-Term Strategy; reiterates its call to amend its current CO2 reduction plan for reaching carbon neutrality by 2030, using an internal carbon price;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point b
Paragraph 53 – point b
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point c
Paragraph 53 – point c
c) welcomes the expansion of voluntary teleworking for Parliament staff; reiterates its call for a preference to be given to hybrid meetings or fully remote meetings when they do not involve political decision making, such as hearings and exchanges of views or internal and preparatory meetings; reiterates its call for fully remote preparatory meetings and post-mission debriefings for all official delegation visits as a condition for authorisation, and the limiting of authorisation of delegations to only those within entitlements from 2022; reiterates its call on the Bureau to ensure that extraordinary committee meetings in Strasbourg are strictly limited to exceptional circumstances and that they are required to be duly justified before they are approved in each individual case;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point d
Paragraph 53 – point d
d) welcomes the on-going process to revise the mission rules; reiterates its call for a proper needs-based approval and for using of low carbon modes of transport whenever possible; reiterates its call to revise the missions rule for APAs following the same principles;eleted
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point e
Paragraph 53 – point e
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point f
Paragraph 53 – point f
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point g
Paragraph 53 – point g
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point h
Paragraph 53 – point h
h) notes that feasibility studies are in progress to assess the cost effectiveness of the installation of new photovoltaic panels in several buildings in Brussels and at the same time reiterates its call for the installation of state of the art rooftop photovoltaics for the maximum potential in Brussels by 2023; reiterates its call for a halt to upgrading of fossil fuel heating installations and for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels with specific milestones to be adopted in 2022 to avoid stranded assets and for an analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of using heat pump systems and other relevant technologies in line with EMAS objectives; reiterates its call in parallel for the gradual replacement of Guarantees of Origin procurement with local renewable energy source;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point i
Paragraph 53 – point i
i) recalls the support of the vast majority of Parliament’s Members for a single seat in Strasbourg to ensure that Union taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently and for Parliament to assume its institutional responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint; recalls that according to the Treaty on the European Union, the European Parliament is to have its seat in Strasbourg; notes that permanent changes would require a Treaty change for which unanimity is needed;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point j
Paragraph 53 – point j
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 – point k
Paragraph 53 – point k
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Notes that, in the main, the DB reflects the estimates of the various institutions falling within the other sections of the budget and therefore matches, with some exceptions, their financial requirements; considers that the systematic cuts proposed by the Council would therefore have a deleterious effect on the working of the institutions concerned and consequently on the vital contribution they make to the functioning of the Union; on that account, proposes to restore the levels of the DB in almost all cases, including with regard to the establishment plan of the Committee of the Regions; in line with the gentlemen’s agreement, does not modify the Council’s reading concerning the Council and the European Council;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 – point a
Paragraph 55 – point a
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 – point c
Paragraph 55 – point c