Activities of Sara CERDAS related to 2021/2079(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU islands and cohesion policy (debate)
Amendments (27)
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the outermost regions and islands have the potential to help ensure a sustainable future for Europe in strategic sectors such as clean energy, biodiversity and ecotourism;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets the EU’s lack of vision for European islands, bearing in mind the major importance of these regions for the EU in expanding its geopolitical, economic and geoenvironmental sphere of influence;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the growing impact of desertification in the islands of the European Union;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that many islands have a fragile environment and endemic marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and that the development of tourism, in particular on certain Mediterranean islands, is further increasing the pressure; calls for a strengthening of biodiversity protection and restoration capacities, the promotion of sustainable tourism, sustainable fisheries and seabed research; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of climate change on islands;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that islands are on the front line of climate change, particularly with rising water levels and the warming of seas and oceans; notes with concern the risks associated with overfishing and marine and coastal pollution; calls, in the context of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, for specific support for islands, to combat and adapt tohis being essential to make them suitably adaptable, resilient and foresighted in the face of climate change;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the increasingly precarious condition of all islands in terms of their environmental assets, particularly water resources; calls, in this context, on the Commission to adopt a common water management policy for islands; recalls also the challenges and high cost connected with waste management in island territories and the strategic role of the circular economy, which must be extended to encompass the collection and economic recycling of marine waste;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for renewables-based energy autonomy to be established as a target for all European islands through the phasing out of fossil fuels and measures to increase the potential of sustainable and renewable energies;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that the sustainable management and conservation of agricultural and forest land play an essential role in containing the increasingly frequent natural disasters caused by climate change;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for urgent measures to counteract the depopulation of islands and to improve quality of life, support local businesses and protect jobs; calls also for the development of professional training and employment establishments for island inhabitants to be promoted, especially in the health sector;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses the importance of encouraging local initiatives through support for all manufacturing companies, especially micro and small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); emphasises the need for innovative, sustainable and resilient investment;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the need for increased support for the sustainable development of island agriculture and aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, crafts and the blue economy, including through European cooperation programmes; calls on the Commission to draw up a regulation laying down specific measures in the area of agriculture for all NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 level islands with a view to achieving food autonomy and increasing the competitiveness of their products;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that the blue economy sectors, in particular fisheries and aquaculture, play a crucial role in island communities and can also help to mitigate the impacts of climate change, promote nature-based solutions and improve the use of marine and aquatic resources;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that the tourism sector is the main contributor to the economic growth of island regions in terms of income and employment; calls, therefore, on the Commission to provide specific additional financial support for sustainable tourism in islands, supporting innovatory pilot projects to promote more ecological and digital solutions in line with European Green Deal objectives, and to help islands that are heavily dependent on tourism to diversify their economies;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that culture and development of the cultural sector in islands are fundamental; considers that islands’ cultural and linguistic identities should be protected and promoted as they contribute to their enhancement, and that of the entire EU, on many levels;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers it necessary to shorten distribution chains in order to reduce emissions from the transport of raw materials and promote the circular economy, this being of great importance in making island regions more competitive and self-sustaining;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses the need for EU islands to participate in all Erasmus+ initiatives so as to encourage close cooperation, mobility and exchanges of knowledge between education, research and technological innovation institutions, businesses, individual citizens, etc.;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Stresses the need to ensure the digital connectivity of islands, in line with the European digital agenda, as a tool for economic development and equal opportunities;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the development of sustainable and less pollutant transport in island countries and regions to be fostered, thereby promoting alternatives to fossil fuels, and for support for the modernisation and greening of port infrastructure;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the need to ensure the territorial continuity and cohesion of all islands through maritime and air transport, to reduce the costs of both passenger and goods transport and to ensure the safety and suitability of land bridges and road links; calls on the Commission to ensure that the 2021-2023 work programme of the Connecting Europe Facility contributes to the territorial accessibility of islands;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of improving the health infrastructure on European islands and of mobilising the necessary funds to offset delays in the provision of health care;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
20a. Believes it necessary to introduce a transport policy fully tailored to the realities of life in the islands and outermost regions, with measures that take into account their insularity, lack of connectivity and dependence on ports and airports;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that the lack of statistical data on islands is hindering the development of targeted policies; calls on the Commission to set up a European Institute for Disadvantaged Territories to collect reliable, aggregated and current data at all administrative levels;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Stresses the need for a more flexible approach to ensure the more effective deployment of European funding in island territories and ORs, without compromising the relevant quality standards and monitoring procedures;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to undertake a dynamic assessment of Article 174 TFEU and to build on that article to create a European strategy for islands that is in line with local needs and realities on the ground and takes into account the specific features of each of the EU’s sea basins; calls on the Commission to carry out a study on the situation of island territories and to consider a strategy for islands with tangible proposals;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls for an Islands Pact to be drawn up and implemented with the participation of the principal stakeholders, namely national, regional and local authorities, economic and social operators, civil society, academia and non-governmental organisations, along the lines of the Urban Pact and the future Rural Pact;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Emphasises that dialogue with and between island communities is essential to foster proximity to the European project, build bridges between cultures, stimulate interest in decision-making processes and promote the construction of the European Union itself;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Stresses that respect for the well- being and dignity of the individual should be at the heart of any response to migration flows and that the Action Plan should accordingly adopt an integrated and articulated approach to the management thereof, based on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum;