Activities of Sara CERDAS related to 2022/2147(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Assessment of the new Commission communication on outermost regions (short presentation)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION assessment of the new communication of the European Commission on Outermost Regions
Amendments (96)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to Article 349s 174, 349 and 355 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which grants the outermost regions (ORs) of the EU their status,
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the outermost regions are especially vulnerable to negative impacts of climate change, like extreme weather events, rising sea levels or heat waves; whereas the outermost regions have an exceptionally high biodiversity value and focus should be put in protecting and restoring ecosystems;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the decarbonisation of the maritime and aviation sector is necessary to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law, sufficient time to adapt to such a transition should be given to the outermost regions;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the outermost regions are highly dependent on transport, especially air and maritime connections, with additional costs with regard to the import and export of goods and the transport of passengers, and that, in the case of archipelagos, double insularity exacerbates these challenges;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the outermost regions are highly dependent on transport, especially air and maritime connections for accessing to basic goods and services, as well as for their regional economic development;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the blue economy sector plays a vital role in the economic growth and prosperity of outermost regions, that, due to their insularity, are especially dependent on blue economy-based activities, such as maritime transport, shipping, and tourism, with ports being important hubs for the transport of goods and passengers;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the outermost regions are characterised by their remoteness, insularity and strong economic and social dependence on the tourism and transport sectors, which makes them even more vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the tourism sector is highly important for the economies of these regions and that boosting this sector can have positive repercussions in terms of employment levels and economic growth;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic had severe negative impacts in the economies of the outermost regions, in particular sectors related with blue economy, of which outermost regions are highly dependent; whereas coastal and maritime tourism represents 60% of the employment in the blue economy and which needs highly qualified and skilled professionals; whereas the promotion of these “blue jobs” can boost the tourism sector and help in raising employment levels in the outermost regions;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas social inequalities are at the heart of theone of the greatest social challenges facing the outermost regions (ORs) of the EU; whereas the ORs collectively are disproportionately affected by high poverty, unemployment and school dropout rates and these issues are exacerbated by the particularities that are common to these regions; a gross domestic product (GDP), which is significantly below EU and national averages (60% in the ORs if the EU-27 average is put at 100%)1a; whereas these issues are exacerbated by the particularities that are common to these regions; _________________ 1a The Commission’s report: “Outermost regions at a glance – assets, challenges and opportunities” from May 2022 illustrates a GDP PPS per inhabitant percentage in 2020 of 60% in the ORs. https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sourc es/policy/themes/outermost-regions/rup- 2022/comm-rup-2022-glance_en.pdf
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution on a new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy (T9- 0369/2021)1a, _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2021-0369_EN.html
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 b (new)
Citation 25 b (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution ‘Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors’ (T9-0135/2022)1a, _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0135_EN.html
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the outermost regions, in the climate and energy transition, have great potential to develop key sectors such as sustainable mobility, renewable energy, and ecotourism;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 c (new)
Citation 25 c (new)
— having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning1a, _________________ 1a OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 135.
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 d (new)
Citation 25 d (new)
— having regard to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources1a, _________________ 1a OJ L 328 21.12.2018, p. 82.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Reiterates the need to ensure territorial cohesion of all outermost regions through maritime and air transport, which should not be affected by disproportionate high costs whether for passengers or goods;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 e (new)
Citation 25 e (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380), and the European Parliament resolution of 9 June 2021 (P9_TA(2021)0277),
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 f (new)
Citation 25 f (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy –putting European transport on track for the future’ (COM(2020)0789),
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 g (new)
Citation 25 g (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 19 November 2020 entitled ‘An EU Strategy to harness the potential of off shore renewable energy for a climate neutral future’ (COM(2020)0741),
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the mainstreaming of the outermost regions and their specificities in future legislative acts, including, when appropriate, by conducting dedicated impact assessments; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure monitoring and reporting tools on the implementation of legislative measures in the outermost regions to assess their adequacy and tailor-made solutions;
Amendment 25 #
— having regard to the Commission Study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outermost regions (ORs)1a, _________________ 1a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/2216604f-7420-11ec- 9136-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the outermost regions (ORs) represent major assets, but also face permanent difficultiegeostrategic assets to the European Union (EU) and their Member States, but face also permanent structural constraints as a result of their insularity (except for French Guiana), geographical dispersion, remoteness, small size, rough terrain and harsh climate, and economic dependence on a few products;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. PHighlights that, due to their particularities and needs, outermost regions need additional support to guarantee a just green transition, especially in the policies of the Fit for 55 package; points out that, taking into account the dependence of the outermost regions on air connections, flights from thbetween an aerodrome located in an outermoset regions to the mainland of of a Member State and an aerodrome located in anotheir respective Member States should be exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System until 2030,gion of the EEA and flights performed between two aerodromes located within the same outermost region should be exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System until 2030; points out that, due to the dependence of these regions on maritime transport, a similar exemption until 2030 should apply to all voyages between a port located in an outermost region of a Member State and a port located in the same Member State, including ports within and between the outermost regions of the same Member State; and calls on the Commission to take into account the regions’ specific characteristics in the revision of all relevant legal acts, including the impacts of lifting such exemptions;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas young people from the outermost regions frequently need to travel and move to other regions to obtain specific training and education; whereas many who have moved away are not coming back later on;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that, taking into account the dependence of the outermost regions on air and maritime connections, flights from those regions to the mainland of their respective Member States should be exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) until 2030, and that the exemptions for maritime transport connections until 2030 in the Parliament's position on ETS should be respected; calls on the Commission to take into account the regions’ specific characteristics in the revision of all relevant legal acts;
Amendment 34 #
A a. whereas these structural constraints are a serious handicap for the development of the ORs and therefore specific measures need to be taken to establish the conditions for the harmonious application of the Treaties, including common policies, without undermining the coherence of the Union legal order;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Points out that the exemptions foreseen in the Parliament's position on FuelEU Maritime should be respected at the same time the green transition is accelerated in a fair way taking into account the outermost regions' specific characteristics;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas GDP per capita in the ORs is below the EU average, including below their own countries’ averages; whereas the ORs economies have suffered heavy consequences following the introduction of restrictive measures due to the pandemic in March 20201a; _________________ 1a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/2216604f-7420-11ec- 9136-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls the necessity for all Member States to have modern, safe and sustainable transport infrastructure in order to facilitate travel across the EU and to make the outermost regions, peripheral and remote areas and islands more accessible for intra-European and international tourism and strengthen territorial cohesion;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the Commission to establish a specific transport programme of options, similar to the POSEI model, in addition to existing EU programmes, as a supplementary support to the outermost regions to face any potential negative impacts in the sector and increase in the costs of transport of passengers and goods;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas these regions have high levels of young people who are not in employment,in unemployment, low rates of education orand training (NEETs) and early school leavers,and a high dropout school rate; whereas those rates are higher than the EU and national averages7 ; _________________ 7 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/source s/policy/themes/outermost-regions/pdf/rup- 2022/comm-rup-2022-glance_en.pdf
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Highlights that the TEN-T guidelines recognise as a priority to ensure and enhance the accessibility and connectivity of all regions of the Union, paying particular attention to outermost regions and other regions with demographic and accessibility challenges such as insular and remote regions; recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027 foresees a maximum co-funding rate of 70% for projects located in outermost regions in the transport, digital and energy sectors;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to support the development of sustainable mobility in the outermost regions, promoting alternatives to fossil fuels and the modernisation and decarbonisation of port and airport infrastructures, including through an increase in investments;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Calls on the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to promote and ensure the diversification of transport modes, supporting the establishment of necessary infrastructures, such as bicycle and pedestrian lanes, taking into account outermost regions’ specificities, such as their orography;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed even more the fragilities of the ORs’ economies; whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the economic impact of the pandemic, in particular in the functioning of the supply and consumption circuits, as a consequence of their insularity and/or geographical situation; whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the economic impact of the pandemic, namely through the increase in the price of fuel and certain raw materials such as cereals for animal feed;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Commission to support investments Calls on the Commission to consider the special characteristics and additional constraints of the outermost regions when formulating and assessing the impact of tourism legislation, in accordance with Article 349 of the TFEU, as these regions rely heavily on tourism for their economic, social and cultural development; recalls the need to ensure proper funding tourism, safeguard the accessibility of the outermost regions and the need to ensure EU funding for itsto support the recovery and the sustainable development and to provide the sector withof the tourism sector and to provide information on EU funding opportunities;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Commission to support investments in tourism, to ensure EU funding for its recovery and sustainable development and to provide the sector with information on funding opportunities; recognises, in particular, the potential of ecotourism to reduce the environmental footprint of the sector, ensuring the protection of our climate and biodiversity, while contributing to the socioeconomic development of local communities in the outermost regions;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas it has been predictedesteemed by the European Commission that economic recovery from COVID-19 will be slower in the ORs when compared to national macroeconomic averages8 ; whereas the EU should support the ORs to help them to respond to the continuous rise of inflation that heavily affects the ORs’ primary economic sector; _________________ 8 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/source s/policy/themes/outermost- regions/pdf/covid19_or_study_en.pdf
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas air and maritime transport are essential for connecting the ORs to the European mainland; whereas the ORs depend strongly on the good state of conservation and sustainable development of ports, as they play a crucial role on the connectivity, economy and cohesion of this regions;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission to present an EU common policy on tourism that should ensure the resilience of the sector against the impacts of future pandemics or any kind of events that put in risk tourism activities, such as climate change, and should take into account the particular case of outermost regions;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Member States to unlock the potential of the outermost regions through appropriate investments and reforms and by supporting the green and digital transitions.; highlights that the outermost regions can be important players in these transitions, with the potential of being hubs for green and digital projects, towards an economic model that values sustainability and innovation;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights the need to prepare contingency plans in the outermost regions for the transport sector, with a view to ensuring its resilience, especially in terms of infrastructure and public services, taking into account the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lessons learned, to avoid any future disruptions on essential services for passengers and goods, in particular in the case of sanitary crises, extreme weather events or conflicts such as the one on Ukraine;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the primary economic sector is very important for the ORs; whereas the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) agriculture scheme is therefore essential for the ORs, as was the former POSEIessential for the socio-economic development and territorial cohesion of the ORs, as was the former specific financial operational program for fisheries schemein the ORs;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Highlights that the potential of the outermost regions can only be achieved through the cooperation of different stakeholders, including European, national, regional and local authorities, economic and social agents, the civil society, the academic community and nongovernmental organisations; highlights, in this regard, the positive contribution of the Conference of Presidents of Outermost Regions to identify priorities and challenges faced by these regions and incentivise further action; points out that collaboration between outermost regions is also essential to ensure an holistic approach which answers to their specific needs and the sharing of best practices;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the ORs are heavily dependent on blue economy sectors, in particular fisheries and sustainable maritime tourism, for their socio- economic development; whereas sustainably developing the blue economy sectors in the outermost regions could boost job creation and economic growth;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Member States as well as the regional and local authorities concerned to put in place or strengthen measures to fight unemployment, poverty and social exclusion in the ORs, including through the strengthening of public employment services, the promotion of lifelong learning and other measures focused on professional development;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas the continuous loss of marine biodiversity will cause major environmental, social and economic impacts in the EU fisheries sector and in particular in the outermost regions, and must be therefore urgently reversed;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Highlights that education and training as well as the integration into the labour market is an important instrument to combat poverty and inequalities; urges the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to support measures aimed at disadvantaged and low-skilled groups in the ORs, with emphasis on education and training that allow for the development of social, scientific and professional skills, in particular basic digital skills; calls on the Member States as well as the regional and local authorities concerned to ensure the diversification of the education and training offers, according to the needs of the regions and to ensure equal opportunities;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
G c. whereas marine protected areas (MPAs) need to be established to comply with the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; whereas the creation of those areas should be seen as a tool for reconciling the protection of habitats and ecosystems with the socio-economic sustainability of the blue economy;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)
Recital G d (new)
G d. whereas the creation of the MPAs have to take place, taking into account public consultation with local authorities and stakeholders, in particular fishers;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G e (new)
Recital G e (new)
G e. whereas the risks of major/regional natural disasters and health emergencies have become systemic and the least developed and most fragile territories, such as the ORs, are often the most affected by such catastrophes;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G f (new)
Recital G f (new)
G f. whereas the ORs are genuine natural laboratories, due to their unique biodiversity that makes them crucial to the promotion of research and conservation of marine resources;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the need to maintain and strengthen coordinated action at EU, national, regional and local level; supports the greaterfull involvement of regional and local authorities in the design of EU policies;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that Article 349 is still not being automatically applied in every legislative initiative from the Commission, while recognising that some progress has been made; calls, therefore, on the Commission to ensure the mainstreaming of the outermost regions and their specificities in future legislative acts, including, when appropriate, by conducting dedicated impact assessments;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that Article 349 of the TFUE is still not being automatically applied in every, where appropriate, in legislative initiatives from the Commission, while recognising that some progress has been made; highlights that the article 349 of the TFUE should be applied in a transversal way to all Union policies and initiatives where appropriate;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Considers that the EU should be more ambitious in deepening integrated policies for the ORs, through a proactive and consistent EU approach and through a clear and robust support for the sustainable endogenous development of each of these regions;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to expand the POSEI model to other sectorcreate more specific measures based in the POSEI model to other economic sectors of the ORs, such as on transport, connectivity, energy and digital transition; stresses that these specific measures are fundamental to the promotion of the sustainable green and blue economies in the ORs;
Amendment 108 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights that the outermost regions' economies are heavily dependent on the tourism and transport sectors, which were severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic; calls therefore on Member-States as well as regional and local authorities concerned to work together to best ensure the socio-economic recovery of the ORs, taking into account challenges such as rising prices due to inflation and disruption of supply chains;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure monitoring and reporting tools on the implementation of legislative measures in the outermost regions to assess their adequacy and tailor-made solutions;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of ensuring the continuity of all existing tax regimes in the ORs, given their impact on the local economies;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that in order to better tackle the ORs’ structural problems, it is necessary to analyse the specificities of each of them and to conceive measures within a specific plan, with specific and adequate financial allocations, that take into account the characteristics, assets and challenges of each OR;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Considers that for ORs to feel a true part of the EU, imbedded into EU’s political action, the EU should be more politically proactive and deliver specific measures to help the sustainable growth of the ORs;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the importance of young people for the revitalisation of traditional sectors in the ORs; calls for measureson the Commission and the Member States to promote measures that improve labour conditions, fair and adequate salaries, gender balance, personal and professional life balance, in order to attract young people into the primary economic sector;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Defends the creation of Blue Erasmus, based on the model of the Erasmus+, to enable young people to take advantage of the opportunities ofcreated within the blue economy sectors;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Stresses that it is crucial to increase the participation of the ORs in all Erasmus+ program actions, to promote strong cooperation, mobility and knowledge exchange between education, research and technological innovation institutions, companies and citizens;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to launch a pilot projectassist the Member States to launch an action plan, as soon as possible, aimed at combating early school leaving in the ORs;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Highlights that the promotion of training and certification in the ORs can create more highly qualified and skilled professionals that are normally more attentive and open to implementing behavioural changes, such as more openness to the use of new technologies; recalls that the digital transition and the use of new technologies should be duly accompanied by a proper training for all, local and regional authorities and civil society;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Stresses that specific training on blue economy activities would contribute to awareness raising for marine ecosystems and the need to protect them;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that the call for proposals ‘Empowering youth in the EU Outermost Regions’ did not have the expected participation levels; defends an enlargement of the initiative to people up to the age of 30 and asks for the involvement of regional and local authorities in its promotion;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Points out the need for urgent measures to combat the depopulation of outermost regions and improve citizens’ lives, including by supporting local businesses and regional production; points out that the need to incentivise vocational training and employment promotion in the outermost regions, namely in the tourism sector;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the ORs’ fishing fleet is old and obsolete; regretis, in certain cases, very degraded, which constitutes a danger for fishers and for the environment ; underlines the fact that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) still does not support the renovation of fleets by covering the purchase of new vessels;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Stresses the need to continue investing in the modernization of the traditional small-scale fishing fleet especially in solutions meant to improve safety and working conditions for fishers, to reduce CO2 emissions, and to improve storage and conservation conditions of the captures; highlights that these measures are crucial for the fisheries’ sector to be able to keep safely and securely providing healthy food, with less negative environmental impact and without increasing the capacity to catch fish;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recalls that the Commission has pledged to write an interim report on the EMFAF chapter on the ORs and to analyse the ORs’ need for an autonomous regulation for fisheries; reiterates its appeal for the re-establishment of the POSEI fisheries scheme in 2027calls on the Commission to establish a specific financial operational programme for the fisheries sector in the ORs in 2027, similar in functioning to the POSEI programme;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Stresses that the fishing and aquaculture sectors play a key role in the sustainable socio-economic development of the ORs, responsible for the creation of jobs and for the supply of a high nutritional value food;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Defends the importance of effectively compensating the ORs’ fishermens for their efforts to meet the Commission’s goal of protecting 30 % of the EU’s marine areas; considers that the marine protected areas should be a tool for reconciling the protection of habitats and ecosystems with the socio-economic viability of the fisheries' sector;
Amendment 200 #
19 a. Points out that defining protected marine areas has allowed local fishers to increase their income, leading to an increase in local employment in the fisheries’ sector and to an increase recreational activities, boosting opportunities for growth in sectors such as sustainable tourism; underlines that, if properly created, with due public consultation with local authorities and stakeholders, in particular fishers, the definition of these protected areas is fundamental for the protection and the recovery of species, as well as for the coastal sectors that depend on them1a; _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank /en/document/IPOL_STU(2022)733087
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the role that the ORs could play in combating illegal fishing and ocean pollution; urges the Commission and the Member States, due to the impact of serious loss of marine biodiversity in the ORs, to take all necessary measures to address the causes of over-exploitation, pollution and climate change in the ORs, and to reform their sectoral policies accordingly;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the role that the ORs could play in the climate and biodiversity crisis, namely through combating illegal fishing and ocean pollution;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Considers that due to their geographic position, the ORs have the ability to lead the blue economy in areas such as offshore renewable energy technologies, development of nature- based activities, like sustainable tourism, but also to help fisheries and aquaculture sectors become fully part of sustainable, resilient and safe food system;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Highlights the importance of collaborative, inclusive and cross-sectoral maritime spatial planning in the ORs that takes socioeconomic, environmental and biodiversity concerns into account;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Highlights the need to ensure territorial cohesion and the principle of territorial continuity by minimising the costs of transport, either of passengers or goods; highlights, in this regard, that ensuring territorial continuity will enable social cohesion, including equality of opportunities for outermost regions’ populations;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the creation of a POSEIspecific financial operational programme for the ORs transport, scheimilar to the POSEI programme, in order to tackle the rising costs resulting from insularity and remotenessremoteness and/or insularity; highlights that a derogation for the ORs regarding integrating maritime transport of goods and persons in the ETS system is fundamental; considers of an utmost importance the development of a EU strategy regarding mobility and transport in the ORs, taking into account the specificities of each OR;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that stability in the transport sector and infrastructure in the ORs is fundamental for their key sectors such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries; highlights the need to diversify modes of transport and their infrastructure in order to promote a sustainable mobility that protects the environment and guarantees air quality;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the crucial role of sustainable tourism for the development of the ORs, which are highly exposed to externalitclimate change effects, natural disasters and health emergencies; urges the Commission to develop a truly European sustainable tourism policy and to launch further measures to promote the recovery of the sector;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Highlights that the ORs should dedicate any future tourism measures towards sustainable tourism, ensuring that they make the most of their natural capital, while at the same time protecting the environment and biodiversity;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Calls on the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to ensure contingency plans in vital sectors for the outermost regions, such as tourism and transport, in light of possible future crisis, in order to mitigate the fragilities shown by the Covid-19 pandemic;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Regrets the fact that the specificities of the ORs have not been systematically taken into account in the ‘Fit for 55’ package; stresses that the EU's environmental objectives and targets need always to take into account the remoteness, isolation and/or insularity of the ORs, particularly with regard to the objectives on transport to and from each OR;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Regrets the fact that the specificities of the ORs have not been systematically taken into account in the ‘Fit for 55’ package; calls, therefore, on the Commission to better reflect their specificities in future climate and energy packages such as this one, in order to ensure their adaptability to the transition;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Highlights that the Member States and the European Parliament should continue to have an active and reactive role to ensure the protection of outermost regions and reflection of their particularities;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the ORs’ vulnerability to climate change effects, in particular to extreme weather events; defends the position, therefore, that the EU Solidarity Fund should be revised to enable it to respond to smaller-scale disasters and to include the costs associated with prevention, evacuation and the disruption of local economies in the event ofdisasters such as extended seismic activity, fires or floods;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Reiterates the potential of the ORs for the development of innovative pilot projects on renewable energies; highlights, in this regard, the enormous potential of outermost regions in the clean energy transition, especially to support the EU’s energy autonomy and complying with the 2050 climate neutrality objective;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Reiterates the need to continue and improve measures aiming at biodiversity protection and restoration, given that the outermost regions have an exceptionally high biodiversity value, including through the LIFE programme and the proposal for a regulation on Nature Restoration;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Commission to support regional and local authorities in designing and funding plans to attract and retain health professionals;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement of the creation of a portal on all available EU funds, programmes and policy initiatives for the ORs; urges the Commission to create this portal without delay; calls on the Commission to continue offering support, as appropriate, to ensure better knowledge and use of existing funds by the Member States and regional authorities;