457 Amendments of Cristian GHINEA
Amendment 38 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for a European horizontal strategy for SME recovery in order to support them by reducing red tape, improving access to finance and by fostering investments in strategic value chains, start-ups and micro SMEs in line with the European Green Deal;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the systematic application of health and safety measures in the workplace, and welcomes the guidelines of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) on adapting workplaces and protecting workers in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic; considers that such guidelines should be further developed in order to provide a coordinated and efficient response in case of future cross-border threats to public health; encourages Member States to raise awareness of Occupational Safety and Health and to take all necessary actions to ensure the safety and health of workers, including through strengthening inspections, where and when necessary;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to urgently support businesses, especially SMEs, by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and by facilitating their access to liquidity; welcomes in this respect the temporary SURE initiative, proposed by the Commission; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that alternative financing options, such as credit unions and private equity investors are available to SMEs; calls for the establishment of capacity building programmes, within the Recovery plan, aimed at helping SMEs, particularly micro SMEs to readjust their businesses to COVID-19 affected markets;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Believes that the digitalisation provides an abundance of opportunities for SMEs and can significantly improve their productivity, business management and resilience; considers that an ambitious timetable is needed to harmonise digital aspects of the single market and foster e-Government solutions; calls for standardisation and digitalisation of procedures and forms which will help SMEs in the long-term;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Believes that EU’s entrepreneurs will be at the heart of the recovery process and stresses that promoting entrepreneurship is an important driver for social inclusion, smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and competitiveness; calls on the Commission and the Member States to foster and support the development of entrepreneurial spirit and skills and to facilitate the establishment of new business models for SMEs;
Amendment 118 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Underlines the importance of SME friendly legislative environment; calls on the Commission for a strict application of the ‘SME test’, which would help implementing the important ‘Think Small Principle’; supports Commission’s plans to appoint an EU SME envoy to address and facilitate SMEs related issues and solutions;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Recommends strengthening the exchange of SME focused initiatives, which have proven to be successful and best practices among the Member States; furthermore, recommends the establishment of platforms for exchanges among SMEs that are developing innovative, breakthrough technologies;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Emphasises the need to support social and solidarity-based enterprises by creating a favourable environment for their development; stresses that the Commission and Member States should promote the establishment of social and solidarity-based enterprises;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Calls on the Commission to consider the need to establish one-stop- shop aimed to support SMEs’ internationalisation, for example by providing information on funds and grants for technical feasibility studies of innovative business products and other relevant information on internationalisation;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Council and the Member States to continue reinforcing coherence between all instruments and initiatives within the framework of common security and defence policy (CSDP) in order to achieve the required level of effectiveness in ensuring strategic autonomy, and of ambition in the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy in line with the Treaty on European Union; considers that PESCO needs ambitious projects, in synergy with CARD, national implementation plans (NIPs) and the CDP to deal with present day threats;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the Union does not have enough competence when it comes to health care; believes, that in parallel, when it comes to defence, an EU common defence strategy needs to be established to respond in the case of an attack on the EU’s borders and territories, and considers PESCO a positive step towards this objective;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes in this regard the political guidelines of the Commission regarding defence policy, and in particular regarding the need for bold steps towards a genuine European Defence Union, and for an integrated and comprehensive approach to the EU’s security; hopes that the creation of a new Commission Directorate- General for Defence Industry and Space will serve as a catalyst for enhanced coherence in the creation of defence capabilities; acknowledges that the development of military infrastructure is essential for the EU's industrial autonomy;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers it necessary to step up the actual contribution of PESCO projects to the achievement of the EU’s ambitions in the area of security and defence, by effectively ensuring that the participating Member States strengthen their collaboration in significant and ambitious capability development, and that there is coherence between the EU and NATO in terms of priorities;
Amendment 35 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the participating Member States to continue making resources available for PESCO projects, while ensuring real ownership of and commitment to PESCO coordinating and pooling processes, especially since no effective compliance mechanism for PESCO is in place;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates that Parliament should play a prominent role in the scrutiny and supervision of the implementation and evaluation of the CSDP; expects in this regard that Parliament will be fully informed and consulted by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the context of the current strategic review of the first PESCO phase, which ends in 2020.; recalls that deepening defence cooperation among Member States at EU level should go hand in hand with the strengthening of Parliament’s power of scrutiny;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas a domestic industry is a motor of growth, innovation and social well-beingprosperity within the EU;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU’s SMEs play a crucial role in the EU industry and have traditionally generated a high share of the EU’s employment, and in so doing havtherefore ensureding social and economic well-being and prosperity all over the EU territory;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the potential across all European regions to provide concrete and innovative answers to societal challenges;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas the changing nature of geopolitical tensions and the recent COVID-19 crisis have led to disruptions in value chains and shown the vulnerabilities in key European strategic industrial sectors;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas the effects of industry relocation tend to be localised, hitting specific regions disproportionately;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. Whereas large scale unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic affected in particular seasonal workers and those in vulnerable situations;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. Whereas Eurostat statistics1a show that almost half of the Europeans in age group 25-64 do not wish to participate in education and training, with 77,8% of them believing they need no further education or training, becoming thus vulnerable to shocks and unaware of the role changes and the professional pathways that they might have in the future; __________________ 1a https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/s ubmitViewTableAction.do
Amendment 44 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that investment in innovative means of productionResearch and Innovation and deployment of innovative technologies, means of production and upskilling workers particularly in SMEs should foster cohesion amongst all EU regions, allowing them to accomplish fair, resilient and inclusive economic growth, allowing them to transition and innovate to access market opportunities;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the importance of cross border and seasonal workers for the provision of services as a key component of the economic recovery effort and calls for measures aimed at encouraging their mobility and protecting their labour rights, including a better implementation of existing legislation;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Urges the European Commission to address the problems of cross border and seasonal workers in acquiring their social entitlements due to lack of portability of entitlements for workers via a swift adoption of the revision to the Social Security Coordination Regulation and the implementation of coordinated digital solutions at Member States level while enhancing and streamlining solutions against fraud of any kind;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes the financial relief provided by the Commission in saving jobs via the SURE programme and further partnerships between employment services, social partners and companies to facilitate reskilling, especially for seasonal workers in all job types in the tourism industry;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that a priority of the New Industrial Strategy for Europe should be to support regions in the diversification of existing industries, upgrading industrial capacity, as well as in stimulating investment and innovation to re-develop and strengthen the resilience of local and regional economies; welcomes the focus put by the European Commission on industrial and innovative regional ecosystems, and asks that the EU industrial strategy enables full involvement of regions and regional stakeholders in its governance and implementation;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Welcomes the proposal for an EU Recovery plan presented by the Commission on 27 May 2020, which includes a reinforced long-term budget of the EU (MFF 2021-2027) and a new recovery instrument of 750 billion euros- Next Generation EU, highlights in this sense the importance of investments in industrial sectors particularly hit by the crisis through the Recovery and Resilience Facility which will allow the development of a strategy for sustainable and competitive industrial policy across the EU;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Highlights the need for the European industry based on ecosystems that rely on entrepreneurial discovery and invest in the creation of start-ups and new SMEs that will reinforce smart specialization and provide the ambition for business growth and expansion; considers that developing entrepreneurial skills is a key factor for building resilience, since several regions in the EU still witness a low survival rate of newly established start-ups and SMEs; stresses the need to boost the next generation of entrepreneurs in order to ensure the emergence of fast growing firms and unicorns helping Europe to have a significant impact on the global industrial landscape.
Amendment 97 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the EU should be attentive to preserving and developing an industrial strategy and production which ensure European strategic autonomy, as well as the availability and delivery of essential products and equipment for citizens if the need arises in the single market; calls upon further efforts to guarantee strong European value chains to reduce dependence from third countries in key strategic sectors and recalls the opportunities new disruptive technologies, such as additive manufacturing, can play in bringing back manufacturing to European regions and re-localizing industrial facilities;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Urges the Commission to set strong mechanisms to mitigate the negative economic and social effects to European regions resulting from industry relocation;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that ESIF financial support should prioritise investments in new or transformed industrial production in carbon-intensive regions in order to facilitate achieving the goals of a just transition; Stresses that Cohesion Policy operational programmes should be developed in line with the new Industrial Strategy for Europe by combining grants with financial instruments in order to fill in the investment gap.
Amendment 118 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the ability to recruit and retain a qualified workforce is essential to a competitive EU industry; considers education in future-oriented sectors, skills and competences, particularly as regards Vocational Education Training and digital skills, to be essential to address current skills shortages; believes that lifelong learning is a prerequisite to ensure efficient and timely upskilling and reskilling of workers and should be an integral part of the EU Industrial Strategy; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to ensure complementarity between the aims of the new Industrial Strategy and the anticipated updated Skills Agenda for Europe; by focusing on concrete measures and coordinated strategies for adults in order to allow them to reinforce their skills and qualifications to fit modern market requirements, demands and transitions;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses the need for a faster integration into the labour market of young apprentices via high quality, paid internship; calls on the Member States to promote the VET educational culture from the time of primary education, in which trades are appreciated and the VET educational path becomes a desirable and predictable path;
Amendment 132 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Emphasizes the role of accessibility of learning activities in creating a lifelong learning culture; calls on the European Commission to develop and encourage more opportunities to access lifelong learning activities, such as universities programs for adults and seniors, public learning centers, vouchers for learning activities, public Massive Open Online Courses, more funds for CSOs in the educational area, career transitions funds and activities.
Amendment 136 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Welcomes the work of the European Training Foundation (ETF), especially on vocational education, in fostering mobility and helping partner countries operating their transitions and developing human capital through the reform of their education and training systems and labour market; calls for more cooperation on insights, information sharing and best practices among CEDEFOP, EUROFOUND, the EEAS and Commission.
Amendment 139 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Calls for a better forecast of the European Commission of the skills needed across sectors and industry to adapt to the change required by a new green economy and in particular to provide models for the employment effects of decarbonizing scenarios; encourages the European Commission to continue the consultation process of all relevant stakeholders, including VET providers, universities, public employment services, companies, trade unions, local and regional authorities.
Amendment 152 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the European Commission to propose an ambitious update of the European Digital Education Action Plan, one that democratises distance learning, includes lifelong learning, and non formal education, ensures better funding to make the digital skills an absolute priority and increases cooperation amongst Member States; calls on the European Commission to explore the acute role and potential of teleworking and telelearning in the public and private sector, while leaving no one behind.
Amendment 171 #
2020/2076(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses the responsibility of local authorities in social protection and reiterates the loss of a significant part of their income during the transition period; Calls on the Member States to support an extended social protection package of measures, including guaranteed minimum income, unemployment benefits, family support allowance, heating allowance, social allowance for pensioners, scholarships for students, payment of internships, and aid for people with disabilities; calls on the European Commission to ensure the sufficient funds and efficient mechanism through ESF+, the JTF and others.
Amendment 4 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas agricultural workers inrural areas, particularly those living in remote areas, suffering from demographic disadvantages, face anexceptional higher risk of poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas rural areas that are faced with depopulation may experience land abandonment and increased risk of forest fires and face difficulties in their economic recovery 1a; _________________ 1aForest fires — Sparking fire smart policies in the EU, European Commission (2018).
Amendment 11 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas, EU Cohesion Policy makes a key contribution to delivering Digital Single Market objectives on the ground, in particular through significant financial allocations from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);
Amendment 24 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the ongoing depopulation of rural areas, which leads to difficulties in accessing public services or inadequate health coverage, is not only having serious economic and social consequences but also hampering our chances of achieving the Green Deal’s ambitious objectives;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the Commission, in developing the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies, to take practical steps to maintain the rural population, to develop local economies that would create job opportunities;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2039(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports innovation and digitisation with a view to promoting a vibrant, dynamic rural environment; calls on the Commission to draw on the smart cities and towns initiatives to develop a new instrument to support start-ups in rural areas, thereby also boosting their economic and productive fabric;, in order to pave the way a digital economy in rural areas; Calls on the Commission to support the financing of renewable resources as part of the Green deal/ Bioeconomy which can generate jobs and can help with the economic renewal of many rural areas2a; _________________ 2a Bioeconomy : investments in wool,which is a quintessentially natural fiber, resistant and durable can create new opportunities and reduce pollution by reducing the use of plastic, and bring innovative solutions for eco farming and keeping water and carbon into soils . The wool processing industry was delocalised from Europe.
Amendment 133 #
2020/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Member States to promote spatial desegregation and engage Roma beneficiaries in the design and implementation of housing projects, to reduce and prevent forced evictions, to address the issue of homelessness and to provide sufficient and appropriate halting sites for non-sedentary Roma;
Amendment 140 #
2020/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Calls on the Member States to address the issues of housing and homelessness, through developing the social housing stock and through promoting non-discriminatory access to social housing;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Highlights the promising approaches of "housing first" initiatives to prevent and combat homelessness and housing in segregated areas and calls on Member States to consider shifting from staircase model of service provision to housing-led services, complementing provision of housing with accompanying support combining elements of employment, education, health and community development;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas agriculture is a sector with a strong reliance on temporary labour, work which is mostly seasonal in nature with peaks and high employment of migrant workers to meet the needs and demands of sector;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s legislative proposal of March 2018 for establishing a European Labour Authority to ensure that EU rules on labour mobility are enforced in a fair, simple and effective way; however regrets that the European Labour Authority is currently not planning to be fully operational before 2024;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights the important and essential role of migrant and seasonal workers in responding to periodic and seasonal peaks in labour demand in the agricultural sector which local supply cannot meet;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that several Member States, such as Denmark, Italy and Spain, have in recent years experienced a significant increase in the share of migrant workers in agriculture;
Amendment 37 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Stresses the disproportionately negative impact movement restrictions introduced as a result of the COVID-19 crisis had on the availability of seasonal workers for necessary agricultural work and across the food supply chain as a whole, notes in this regard the importance of a fully functioning internal market with clear guidelines and uniform interpretation by the Member States;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. CNotes that the full and proper implementation of Directive 2014/36/EU (on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers) should be ensured and monitored in Member States to ensure minimum standards are achieved, considers that better legal frameworks and a greater focus on the implementation and enforcement of labour law are urgently needed, including with regard to employment rights and social security coverage, especially for atypical work and exploited labour; furthermore underlines the importance of the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 48 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that better targeting of EU funds would support worker mobilitysuch as those under the European Social Fund and tools under the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme would support worker mobility, inclusion and increased health and safety training and awareness, enabling better use of the information available and improving the collection and use of data on the patterns of labour mobility flows and imbalances within the labour market;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that family workers still represent the vast majority of agricultural labour in Europe, and that insufficient generational renewal is one of the major challenges faced by the farming sector across the EU, resulting in fewer farmers in the sector year after year; Notes that CAP measures oriented towards young farmer help maintain employment in agriculture, namely through supporting farm succession and generating local jobs in both farming and its up-and downstream sectors. However, regrets that this positive trend remains very limited in its impact because of many other economic factors influencing farming employment, such as access to credit and land as well as lack in succession planning and lack of tax incentives;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that technological innovation is a driver of structural change within farms and agricultural labour markets, and that many holdings across Europe are not sufficiently prepared for taking up technological innovation owing to the low level of agricultural training of their farm managers, a level which differs significantly among Member States; notes that that the current trend towards a technology-oriented agricultural sector has the potential to push labour costs upwards, as farming will demand a higher-skilled labour force; highlights that increased training, education and upskilling will be required by all workers in the sector to meet the challenge of increased technologic innovation and modernisation and notes that this increased training should be planned in close collaboration with social partners within the labour market;
Amendment 21 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic; welcomes in this regard that the 2021 budget will be complemented by €211 billion in grants and approximately €133 billion in loans under Next Generation EU which must also help to address the social and economic impacts of the crisis;
Amendment 23 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the budget for 2021 should primarily focus on mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Member States' recovery, while also building on the European Green Deal and digital transformation; stresses that the Union and all Member States must show full solidarity with those most in need and ensure that no country is left on its own to fight the pandemic;
Amendment 35 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls the commitment by the Commission to present a legislative proposal for a European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance scheme as soon as possible;
Amendment 64 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, particularly by improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market; further underlines the importance of addressing social inequalities pertaining to youth unemployment and young people's access to the labour market;
Amendment 68 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the importance of budgetary accountability and prioritisation when delivering true value for money for EU citizens, including a stronger focus on evidence-based policymaking that is inclusive and special attention to social, regional and territorial disparities;
Amendment 73 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the important contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, social issues and data collection; stresses that their tasks are developing and hence they must be given the necessary resources to fulfil them; therefore calls for a thorough assessment of the new tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations only and that they are equipped with the necessary funding to be able to collect the qualitative data necessary to better fulfil these obligations; insists, in particular, for a proper staffing and financing of the European Labour Authority;
Amendment 129 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with adequate financial resources; ris particularly concerned that school curriculum and textbooks authorised by the Palestinian Authority contain hate speech and violent depictions. Recalls that all teaching and training programmes that are financed from Union funds have to reflect common values and comply with UNESCO standards for peace and tolerance in school education.Recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;
Amendment 4 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the Union and in the world, calling for an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the enormous economic and social consequences for all Member States. The challenges linked to the demographic context have been amplified by COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is far more than a health crisis, and while its economic and social impact will vary from country to country, it will most likely increase poverty and inequalities within the European Union. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The medium and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis will critically depend on how quickly Member States’ economies will recover from the crisis, which in turn depends on the fiscal space Member States have available to take measures to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis, and on the resilience of their economies. Reforms and investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies back on a sustainable recovery path and avoid further widening of the divergences in the Union.
Amendment 7 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The implementation of reforms contributing to achieve a high degree of resilience of domestic economies, strengthening adjustment capacity and unlocking growth potential are among the Union’s economic policy priorities. TheyHowever we cannot repeat the mistakes of our response to the last global financial crisis which resulted in a deep and damaging economic and social divergence. The implementation of reforms are therefore crucial to set the recovery on a sustainable path and support the process of upward economic and social convergence. This is even more necessary in the aftermath of the pandemic crisis to pave the way for a swift recovery.
Amendment 12 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Past experiences have shown that investment is often drastically cut during crises. However, it is essential to support investment in this particular situation to speed up the recovery and strengthen long- term growth potential. Investing in green and digital technologies, capacities and processes aimed at assisting clean energy transitionthe transition to clean, affordable and renewable energy, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economicy are important to achieve sustainable growth and help create jobs. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains. Among the many inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital divide is a serious one, affecting in particular less developed regions, women, elderly people and people living in the Outermost regions and rural, remote and depopulated areas. In times when both work and education are taking place online, the digital divide is undoubtedly threatening to deepen regional inequalities. Digital inequality poses a danger for people that are unable to work remotely and students that are threatened to fall behind due to limited access to education content. Greater investment is needed in digitalisation, digital innovation and digital connectivity, which will enable a fair and equal transition towards a more digital economy and a digital online education system, accessible to all citizens, especially the most vulnerable in society.
Amendment 17 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) As the COVID-19 pandemic has affected regions and municipalities within Member States differently, the involvement of regional and local authorities, economic and social partners and civil society is crucial for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of crisis repair supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Member States should consult with all partners when drawing up its recovery and resilience plan. Partnership and multi-level governance in Member States should be strengthened and closely monitored by the European Commission.
Amendment 19 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 b (new)
Recital 6 b (new)
(6 b) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented challenge for healthcare systems in the European Union. It has shown that in the face of rapid socioeconomic transformation, a very important task ahead for the EU is to build resilience, and to use all possible budgetary means in order to strengthen the European health infrastructure. Investment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility should address the widely existing health inequalities throughout the EU, while guaranteeing equal protection with specific attention to the most vulnerable in society.
Amendment 25 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non- compliance. This should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs, as well as financing not linked to costs as referred to in Article 125(1)(a) of the Financial Regulation. At the same time, the Facility represents a significant amount of additional resources to be spent in a relatively short amount of time, increasing the pressure on control systems. It is therefore encouraged to adopt and apply effective anti-fraud measures through existing anti-fraud agencies at Member States and EU level, such as the EPPO, ECA and OLAF.
Amendment 49 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) To ensure its contribution to the objectives of the Facility, the recovery and resilience plan should comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects through a coherent recovery and resilience plan. The recovery and resilience plan should be consistent with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, with the national reform programmes, the national energy and climate plans, the just transition plans, and the partnership agreements and operational programmes adopted under the Union funds, while they shall allow additional investment in national health services to support the modernisation of health infrastructure and to improve the efficiency of health systems in the EU. To boost actions that fall within the priorities of the European Green Deal and the Digital Agenda, the plan should also set out measures that are relevant for the green and digital transitions. The measures should enable a swift delivery of targets, objectives and contributions set out in national energy and climate plans and updates thereof. All supported activities shouldall be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. In order to protect citizens, support local economies, make local communities resilient to crises and create a sustainable future, Member States shall prepare their recovery and resilience plan together with local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance with the partnership principle. Attention should be paid both to urban areas as drivers of green and digital transformation and to regions suffering from natural or demographic handicaps.
Amendment 57 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to ensure a meaningful financial contribution commensurate to the actual needs of Member States to undertake and complete the reforms and investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available to them under the Facility as far as the financial support (i.e. the non- repayable financial support) is concerned. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the population, the inverse of the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the relative unemployment rate of each Member State, in particular the percentage of young people neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET), the territorial inequalities within Member States and the at-risk-of-poverty rate of each Member State.
Amendment 62 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) It is necessary to establish a process for the submission of proposals for recovery and resilience plans by the Member States, and the content thereof. With a view to ensuring the expediency of procedures, a Member State should submit a recovery and resilience plan at the latest by 30 April, in the form of a separate annex of the National Reform Programme. To ensure a fast implementation, Member States should be able to submit a draft plan together with the draft budget of the forthcoming year, on 15 October of the preceding year. Recovery and resilience plans submitted by Member States shall be publicly available.
Amendment 64 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the national ownership and a focus on relevant reforms and investments, Member States wishing to receive support should submit to the Commission a recovery and resilience plan that is duly reasoned and substantiated. The European Parliament should have access to all information on the negotiations between Commission and member states on individual recovery and resilience plans at all stages of the process, including timely access to the draft cost estimates for reforms and investments. The recovery and resilience plan should set out the detailed set of measures for its implementation, including targets and milestones, and the expected impact of the recovery and resilience plan on growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience, as well as on the promotion of gender equality and intergenerational equality; it should also include measures that are relevant for the green and the digital transitions; it should also include an explanation of the consistency of the proposed recovery and resilience plan with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States should be sought and achieved throughout the process.
Amendment 90 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) For the purposes of transparency, the recovery and resilience plans adopted by the Commission should, as well as a full list of final beneficiaries shall be communicated to the European Parliament and the Council, and communication activities should be carried out by the Commission as appropriate.
Amendment 91 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Pursuant to paragraphs 22 and 23 of the Interinstitutional Agreement for Better Law- Making of 13 April 2016, there is a need to evaluate the Recovery and Resilience Facility established by this Regulation on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, in particular on Member States. These requirements, where appropriate, should include measurable indicators, as a basis for evaluating the effects of the instruments on the ground. The Commission shall include the list of indicators used for the evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in the guidelines, annexed to this Regulation.
Amendment 92 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) It is opportune that tThe Commission providesshall present an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility set out in this Regulation. This report should include information on the progress made by each Member States under the recovery and resilience plans approved; it should also include information on the volume of the proceeds assigned to the Facility under the European Union Recovery Instrument in the previous year, broken down by budget line, and the contribution of the amounts raised through the European Union Recovery Instrument to the achievements of the objectives of the Facility. The Parliament shall adopt a resolution on the annual report published by the Commission. For the purposes of transparency, the Commission shall publish a full list of final beneficiaries.
Amendment 93 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The recovery and resilience plans to be implemented by the Member States and the corresponding financial contribution allocated to them should be established by the Commission by way of implementing act. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. The implementing powers relating to the adoption of the recovery and resilience plans and to the payment of the financial support upon fulfilment of the relevandelegated act. Following the Commission’s approval of recovery and resilience plans, the Parliament will either adopt a resolution specifying that it mwilestones and targets should be exercised by the Commission in accordancl not object to the Commission’s decision or exercise with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the examination procedure thereof13 s veto against the delegated act. After the adoption of an implementing delegated act, it should be possible for the Member State concerned and the Commission to agree on certain operational arrangements of a technical nature, detailing aspects of the implementation with respect to timelines, indicators for the milestones and targets, and access to underlying data. To allow the continuous relevance of the operational arrangements in respect of the prevailing circumstances during the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, it should be possible that the elements of such technical arrangements may be modified by mutual consent. Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding. _________________ 13 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 94 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39 a (new)
Recital 39 a (new)
(39 a) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding, while the protection of final beneficiaries is crucial to enable public investments and reforms to make them more resilient, and better prepared for the future. Local and regional authorities, civil society organisations, NGOs or SMEs cannot lose their funding as a consequence of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States. If necessary, the European Commission should, on agreement with the European Parliament and the Council, temporarily, directly - or indirectly- manage funds with recipients without the involvement of national governments violating the rule of law.
Amendment 96 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council14 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9515 ,Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9616 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193917 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council18 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors. At the same time, strong mechanisms to avoid possible fraud and corruption shall be put in place by Member States such as enhanced cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. _________________ 14Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1) 15 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1) 16 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96, p.2) 17Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1) 18 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29)
Amendment 106 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, while tackling social inequalities and supporting the green and digital transitions, thereby contributing to restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, and promoting sustainable growth.
Amendment 126 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. In the event of significant non- compliance in relation to any of the cases laid down in Article 15(7) of the Regulation laying down common provisions on the […)][CPR], the Council shall, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act to suspend the time period for the adoption of the decisions referred to in Articles 17(1) and 17(2) or to suspend payments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Amendment 129 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
A maximum financial contribution shall be calculated for each Member State for the allocation of the amount referred to in Article 5(1)(a), using the methodology set out in Annex I, based on the population, the inverse of the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the relative unemployment rate of each Member State, in particular the percentage of young people neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET), the territorial inequalities within Member States and the at-risk-of-poverty rate of each Member State.
Amendment 144 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is intended to help the EU tackle the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, implying a territorial diversification of investments, therefore regional authorities, professional associations and NGOs are essential to identify and assess specific investment needs in the recovery and resilience plans. The Commission shall put forward a Code of Conduct on partnership setting minimum standards for the involvement of the competent local and regional authorities, professional and relevant civil society organisations, in line with the partnership principle.
Amendment 145 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plans shall be consistent with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular those relevant for or resulting from the green and digital transition, including investment in digitalisation, digital innovation and digital connectivity in particular internet connectivity to keep all citizens connected, especially the most vulnerable in society, while in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they shall allow additional investment in national health services in order to support the modernisation of health infrastructure and to improve the efficiency of health systems in the EU. Investment in the health care system will help Member States become more resilient and strengthen the entire stability of the Union. The recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the national reform programmes under the European Semester, in their national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under the Regulation (EU)2018/199921 , in the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund22 , and in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under the Union funds. _________________ 21Regulation (EU)2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. 22 […] 22[…]
Amendment 148 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission and Member States shall ensure that recovery and resilience plans as well as any future programmes financed under the Facility contribute to the respect and the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Evaluations have shown the importance of taking the gender equality objectives aspect into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of operational programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and the principle of equal pay for equal work of equal value, the economic independence of women, education and skills upgrading and the reintegration of female victims of violence into the labour market and into society.
Amendment 154 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plan presented by the Member State concerned shall constitute an annex to its National Reform Programme and shall be officially submitted at the latest by 30 April. A draft plan mayshall be submitted by Member States starting from 15 October of the preceding year, together with the draft budget of the subsequent year.
Amendment 159 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) an explanation of how the plan strengthens the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State concerned, mitigates the economic and social impact of the crisis, and itsstrengthens equality, in particular the equality between women and men and intergenerational equality, fights discrimination and contributiones to enhanced economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence, including how territories with geographical specificities will be targeted;
Amendment 171 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) envisaged milestones, targets and indicators which allow the measurement of those targets and an indicative timetable for the implementation of the reforms over a maximum period of four years, and of the investments over a maximum period of seven years;
Amendment 179 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. When assessing the recovery and resilience plan, the Commission shall act in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, including/and consulting the local and regional authorities and professional and relevant civil society organisations. The Commission may make observations or seek additional information. The Member State concerned shall provide the requested additional information and may revise the plan if needed, prior to its official submission.
Amendment 181 #
2020/0104(COD)
2. When assessing the recovery and resilience plan and in the determination of the amount to be allocated to the Member State concerned, the Commission shall take into account the analytical information on the Member State concerned available in the context of the European Semester including the information available on the level of corruption as well as the justification and the elements provided by the Member State concerned, as referred to in Article 15(3), and any other relevant information including, in particular, the one contained in the National Reform Programme and the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and, if relevant, information from technical support received via the Technical Support Instrument.
Amendment 187 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations, including those on rule of law and corruption addressed to the Member State concerned or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester;
Amendment 192 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) whether the recovery and resilience plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, job creation, and economic and social resilience of the Member State, to promote equality in particular between women and men, as well as intergenerational equality, to fight discrimination and mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 201 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall adopt a decision within fourone months of the official submission of the recovery and resilience plan by the Member State, by means of an implementing delegated act. In the event that the Commission gives a positive assessment to a recovery and resilience plan, that decision shall set out the reforms and investment projects to be implemented by the Member State, including the milestones and targets, and the financial contribution allocated in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 214 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The suspension shall be lifted where the Member State has taken the necessary measures to ensure a satisfactory implementation of the milestones and targets referred to in Article 17(1) and guaranteed that funds spent in a non- satisfactory manner will be reimbursed.
Amendment 223 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall transmit the recovery and resilience plans as approved in the implementing act of the Commission in accordance with Article 17 to the European Parliament and the Council without undue delay. The Member State concerned may request the Commission to redact sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State. Such a request shall not be interpreted extensively.
Amendment 224 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may engage in communication activities to ensure the visibility of the Union funding for the financial support envisaged in the relevant recovery and resilience plan, including through joint communication activities with the national authorities concerned, regional and local authorities as well as with professional and relevant civil society organisations.
Amendment 228 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. The performance reporting system shall ensure that data for monitoring the implementation of the activities and results are collected efficiently, effectively, and in a timely manner. In order to address the widely existing gender data gap in the field of cohesion policy and urban planning, Member States should introduce data collection methods corresponding to gender data. To that end, proportionate reporting requirements shall be imposed on recipients of Union funding.
Amendment 232 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 233 #
2020/0104(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. In its communication activities, the Commission should leverage local stakeholder networks to ensure that funds swiftly reach beneficiaries in need, and eliminate any barriers to information about available funds under the facility.
Amendment 18 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to redress huge shocks to the economy and society stemming from the exceptional restrictions put in place by Member States to contain the COVID-19 spreading and the risks of an asymmetric recovery stemming from the different national means available in different Member States resulting in serious impacts on the functioning of the Internal Market, the European Council endorsed on 23 April 2020 the “Roadmap for recovery” with a strong investment component, called for the establishment of the European Recovery Fund and mandated the Commission to analyse the needs so that the resources would be targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of the Union most affected, while clarifying also the link with the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.
Amendment 24 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to allow maximum flexibility to Member States for tailoring crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of 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 maximum 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 31 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 providing support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, especially micro- and small enterprises, in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, infrastructure providing basic services to citizens or economic support measures for those regions most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis as well as helping the most deprived. 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 and resilient recovery of 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 41 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and support to self-employed, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, support to youth employment measures, education and training, skills development, in particular for disadvantaged groups and carers, and to enhance access to 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 50 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In accordance with Regulation [European Recovery Instrument] and within the limits of resources allocated therein, recovery and resilience measures under the European Investment and Structural Funds should be carried out to address the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Such additional resources should be used to ensure compliance with the time limits provided for in Regulation [ERI]. Moreover, additional resources for economic, social and territorial cohesion should be made available through a revision of the multiannual financial framework for 2014- 2020.
Amendment 59 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 as well as for the years 2023 and 2024, where justified by a Member State, 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 and resilient recovery of 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 and where applicable for 2023 and 2024, 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. 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, and where relevant the 2023 and 2024 tranches of the additional resources.
Amendment 65 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
Amendment 66 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding, while the protection of final beneficiaries is crucial to foster crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local and regional authorities, civil society organisations, NGOs or SMEs cannot lose their funding as a consequence of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States. If necessary, the Commission should temporarily, directly or indirectly, manage funds with recipients without the involvement of national governments violating the rule of law.
Amendment 72 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 78 #
2020/0101(COD)
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, staff and services for health services including residential care homes for elderly people, for providing support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, and support to adapt to teleworking in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, infrastructure providing basic services to citizens, including in Outermost Regions, rural and depopulated areas and areas affected by industrial transition, or economic support measures for those regions most dependent on sectors, such as tourism and culture, 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 and resilient recovery of 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 81 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 schemes 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, education and training, skills development, in particular for disadvantaged groups and carers, to support the twin green and digital transitions, and to enhance access to social services of general interest, including for children.
Amendment 91 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 4
Article 92b – paragraph 10 – subparagraph 4
The elements set out in point (b)(v) and (vii) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 2, in paragraph 4, in point (b) and (c) of paragraph 6 and in paragraph 7 of Article 96 shall not be required for such new operational programme. The elements set out in Article 96(3) shall only be required where corresponding support is provided.
Amendment 93 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support job maintenance, including taking into special consideration the needs of the Outermost Regions, rural and depopulated areas, and areas affected by industrial transition, including, but not exclusively, through short-time work schemes and support to self-employed, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations and women bearing the brunt of the ensuing economic crisis, support to youth employment measures, education and training, transition towards a more digital and online education system, skills development and to enhance access to social services of general interest, including for children and people in vulnerable situations. 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 115 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 and resilient recovery of 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 or by 31 December 2026 where additional resources are made available for budgetary commitment in 2023 and 2024, to assess the 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 highly 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 133 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 toshould 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, in accordance with the partnership principles.
Amendment 134 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) REACT-EU represents a significant amount of additional resources to be spent in a short amount of time, increasing the pressure on control systems. Therefore, effective anti-fraud measures should be adopted and applied through existing anti-fraud agencies at Member State and EU level, such as the EPPO, ECA and OLAF.
Amendment 136 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16a) The available resources should be eligible for incurred expenditure related to the COVID-19 crisis as of 1 February 2020, in order to guarantee that all COVID-19 related costs are covered under this instrument.
Amendment 153 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 92 b – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
The additional resources for 2021 and 2022 shall be made available from the addditional resources as set out in Article 92a. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, and based on a reasoned request from a Member State, the additional resources may also be made available for budgetary commitment in 2023 and 2024. The additional resources set out in Article 92a shall also support administrative expenditure up to EUR 18 000 000 in current prices.
Amendment 156 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 4
Article 92 b – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision, by means of implementing acts, setting out the breakdown of the additional resources as appropriations from the Structural Funds for 2020 and 2021 for each Member State in accordance with the criteria and methodology set out in Annex VIIa. That decision shall be revised in 2021 to set out the breakdown of the additional resources for 2022 based on data available by 19 October 2021. Where applicable, it shall also be revised in 2022 in relation to budgetary commitments in 2023 and 2024, based on the latest statistical data available. The revisions in 2021, and 2022 if applicable, shall ensure that operational programmes are not negatively impacted.
Amendment 164 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 5 – subparagraph 6
Article 92 b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 6
Each Member State shall allocate the additional resources available for programming under the ERDF and the ESF to operational programmes, together with local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance with the partnership principle.
Amendment 165 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
The distribution shall take into account the cumulative numbers of COVID-19 infections and the economic impact at NUTS 3 level, and concentrate the additional resources in the NUTS 3 areas with the highest sanitary and economic impact.
Amendment 178 #
2020/0101(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 2
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 2
Member States may allocate the additional resources either to one or more separate priority axes within an existing operational programme or programmes or to a new operational programme referred to in paragraph 11. By way of derogation from Article 26(1), the programme shall cover the period until 31 December 2022, or 31 December 2024 where the derogation referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article applies, subject to paragraph 4 abovof this Article.
Amendment 180 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 8 – subparagraph 2
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 183 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 8 – subparagraph 3
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 3
For the ERDF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support investments in products, staff and services for health services, including residential care homes for elderly people, and to provide support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, investmentsupport to adapt to teleworking in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, investments in infrastructure providing basic services to citizens, and including in the Outermost Regions, rural and depopulated areas and areas affected by industrial transition, or economic support measures infor those regions which are most dependent on sectors, such as tourism and culture, most affected by the crisis.
Amendment 211 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 9 – subparagraph 2
Article 92 b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 2
The thematic objective referred to in the first subparagraph shall exclusively be available for the programming of the additional resources. By way of derogation from points (b), (c) and (d) of Article 96(1), it shall not be combined with other investment priorities.
Amendment 215 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 9 – subparagraph 5
Article 92 b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 5
The revised financing plan set out in Article 96(2)(d) shall set out the allocation of the additional resources for the years 2020, 2021 and, where applicable, for 2022, 2023 and 2024, without identifying amounts for the performance reserve and with no breakdown per category of regions.
Amendment 239 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 12 – point d
Article 92 b – paragraph 12 – point d
Amendment 247 #
2020/0101(COD)
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 13 a (new)
Article 92 b – paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Strong mechanisms to avoid possible fraud and corruption shall be put in place by Member States, such as enhanced cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor´s Office.
Amendment 24 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) In the context of its effort to increase economic, territorial and social cohesion, the Facility should also contribute to eliminating inequalities and promoting gender equality and integrating the gender perspective, as well as combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), Article 10 TFEU and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. All stakeholders involved at all stages of implementation of the Facility should commit to promote gender equality and should ensure that the impact on women is taken into account, given that they are disproportionately impacted by climate change and transition process.
Amendment 25 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding. However, the protection of final beneficiaries is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the investments supported by the Facility. Local and regional authorities cannot lose their funding as a consequence of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States. If necessary, the Commission, in agreement with the European Parliament and the Council, should temporarily manage funds with the recipients without the involvement of national governments violating the rule of law.
Amendment 36 #
2020/0100(COD)
(16) Since the grant component should reflect the divergent development needs of regions across Member States, such support should be modulated. Taking into account that public sector entities in less developed regions, as defined in Article 102(2) of Regulation [new CPR], in the outermost regions, as defined in Article 349 TFEU, and in rural, sparsely populated and depopulated areas generally experience lower public investment capacity, the grant rates applied to loans provided to such entities should be comparatively higher.
Amendment 37 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to speed up implementation and ensure that resources are used in a timely fashion, this Regulation should lay down specific safeguards to be included in the grant agreements. In view of that objective, the Commission, in line with the principle of proportionality, should be able to reduce or terminate any Union support in case of serious lack of progress in the implementation of the project. The Commission, after notifying the Member State of the reduction or termination of Union support, should communicate to the Council and the European Parliament the reasons for the reduction or termination. The Financial Regulation lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation should apply to the grant component and to resources for advisory support provided under this Facility.
Amendment 40 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In accordance with the Financial Regulation and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulations (Euratom, EC) No 2988/95, (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EU) 2017/1939, the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities, including fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used, and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative penalties. Any irregularities identified should be communicated to the Council and the European Parliament. In particular, in accordance with Regulations (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute offences against the financial interests of the Union, as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council. In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the financial interests of the Union, grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO in respect of those Member States participating in enhanced cooperation pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, and the European Court of Auditors (ECA), and ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.
Amendment 52 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. 'territorial just transition plan' means a plan established in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation], together with the relevant local and regional authorities of the territories concerned and in accordance with the partnership principle laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) … /… [new CPR], and approved by the Commission;
Amendment 68 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched no later than 31 December 20247, Union support awarded to eligible projects in a Member State shall not exceed the national shares set out in the decision to be adopted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 4.
Amendment 76 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing actbe empowered to adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 17 setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 85 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 88 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) the projects aim at revitalization and resocialization of the territories associated with the return of people to the region;
Amendment 94 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The amount of the grant shall not exceed 15% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner under this Facility. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions with a GDP per capita not exceeding 75% of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation [new CPR], the amount of the grant shall not exceed 20% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner. For projects located in the outermost regions, as defined in Article 349 TFEU, the amount of the grant shall not exceed 25% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner.
Amendment 97 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The amount of the grant shall not exceed 15% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner under this Facility. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions with a GDP per capita not exceeding 75% of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation [new CPR], the amount of the grant shall not exceed 205% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner.
Amendment 103 #
2020/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The performance reporting system shall ensure that data regarding the indicators referred to in paragraph 1 are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely fashion. Beneficiaries in cooperation with finance partners shall provide to the Commission the data regarding those indicators.
Amendment 28 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission has, in its Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’19 , set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the Union's natural capital, and protect the health and well- being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive, lea and must use clear mechanisms at the Commission level in order to make sure that living no one is left behind. _________________ 19 Commission Communication - The European Green Deal, COM(2019) 640 final of 11 December 2019.
Amendment 51 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Union’s and the Member States’ climate action aims to protect people and the planet, welfare, prosperity, health, food systems, the integrity of eco- systems and biodiversity against the threat of climate change, in the context of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and in pursuit of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and to maximize prosperity within the planetary boundaries and to mincrease resilience and reduce vulnerability of society toimise and decrees the velocity of the climate change.
Amendment 58 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Achieving climate neutrality should require a contribution from all economicthe public and private sectors. In light of the importance of energy production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable, affordable and secure energy system relying on a well-functioning internal energy market is essential. In this context the regulatory framework of energy should be harmonised at the Union level and should incentivise the domestic and economic production and use of green energy. The digital transformation, technological innovation, and research and development are also important drivers for achieving the climate-neutrality objective.
Amendment 73 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Union is a global leader in the transition towards climate neutrality, and is determined to help raise global ambition and to strengthen the global response to climate change, using all tools at its disposal, including climate diplomacy, without jeopardizing the economic development of the European Union.
Amendment 82 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Union should aim to achieve a balance between anthropogenic economy- wide emissions and removals, through natural and technological solutions, of greenhouse gases domestically within the Union by 2050. The Union-wide 2050 climate-neutrality objective should be pursued by all Member States collectively, and the Member States, t. The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission together with the Member States should take the necessary measures to enable its achievement. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective taking into account the different starting position of each Member State in the energy transition as well as their capacity to finance the necessary investments required by the transition towards climate neutrality. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective, but will be adapted to different areas according to the local and regional needs and local measurements of the green house gases emissions.
Amendment 101 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Adaptation is a key component of the long-term global response to climate change. Therefore, Member States and the Union should enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, as provided for in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, as well as maximise the co- benefits with other environmental, development and cohesion policies and legislation. Member States should adopt comprehensive national adaptation strategies and plans.
Amendment 107 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In taking the relevant measures at Union and national level to achieve the climate-neutrality objective, Member States and the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take into account the contribution of the transition to climate neutrality to the well- being of citizens, the prosperity of society and the competitiveness of the economy; energy and food security and affordability; fairness and solidarity across and within Member States considering their economic capability and infrastructural development, national circumstances and the need for convergence over time; the need to make the transition just and socially fair; to leave no one behind; based on impact assessment and best available scientific evidence, in particular the findings reported by the IPCC; the need to integrate climate change related risks into investment and planning decisions; cost- effectiveness and technological neutrality in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals and increasing resilience; progression over time in environmental integrity and level of ambition.
Amendment 118 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The transition to climate neutrality requires changes across the entire policy spectrum and a collective effort of all sectors of thpublic and private seconomytors and society, as illustrated by the Commission in its Communication ‘The European Green Deal’. The European Council, in its Conclusions of 12 December 2019, stated that all relevant Union legislation and policies need to be consistent with, and contribute to, the fulfilment of the climate- neutrality objective while respecting a level playing field, and invited the Commission to examine whether this requires an adjustment of the existing rules.
Amendment 125 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The Commission, in its Communication ‘The European Green Deal’, announced its intention to assess and make proposals for increasing the Union’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 to ensure its consistency with the climate-neutrality objective for 2050. In that Communication, the Commission underlined that all Union policies should contribute to the climate-neutrality objective and that all sectors should play their part. By September 2020, the Commission should, based on a comprehensive impact assessment measuring the impact for the EU as well as for each individual Member State and taking into account its analysis of the integrated national energy and climate plans submitted to the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council36 , review the Union’s 2030 target for climate and explore options for a new 2030 target of 50 to 55 % emission reductions compared with 1990 levels. Where it considers necessary to amend the Union’s 2030 target, it should make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council to amend this Regulation as appropriate. In addition, the Commission should, by 30 June 2021, assess how the Union legislation implementing that target would need to be amended in order to achieve emission reductions of 50 to 55 % compared to 1990. _________________ 36Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1).
Amendment 130 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) To ensure the Union and the Member States remain on track to achieve the climate-neutrality objective and progress on adaptation, the Commission should regularly assess progress considering the specificity of each area. Should the collective progress made by Member States towards the achievement of the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation be insufficient or Union measures inconsistent with the climate- neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience or reduce vulnerability, the Commission should asses the need of technical support and know-how, cooperates with the Member State to establish the necessary measures and the time needed in order to close the gap between the expectations and actual reality. Should the Member State fail in achieving the goal the Commission could take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties. The Commission should also regularly assess relevant national measures, and issue recommendations and offer technical support where it finds that a Member State’s measures are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective or inadequate to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Amendment 140 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) As citizens and, communities and economic operators have a powerful role to play in driving the transformation towards climate neutrality forward, strong public and social engagement on climate action should be facilitated. The Commission should therefore engage with all parts of society to enable and empower them to take action towards a climate- neutral and climate- resilient society, including through launching a European Climate Pact. The European Union should empower the experts through European funding to find and implement innovative solutions in the economic and environmental challenges towards the climate neutrality.
Amendment 145 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
(20a) Innovative technical and natural solutions, like carbon capture and storage, reforestation and others, enhancing the removal of greenhouse gases, as the main way, to achieve the climate neutrality in a developed economy should be facilitated by the European Union through consistent and constant direct funding.
Amendment 157 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Climate change is by definition a trans-boundary challenge and a coordinated action at Union level is needed to effectively supplement and reinforce national and regional policies. Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 2050, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone, but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives,
Amendment 170 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. Union-wide emissions and removals of greenhouse gases regulated in Union law shall be balanced atin the latestEU as a whole by 2050, thus reducing emissions to net zero by that date.
Amendment 172 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national and regional level respectively, to enable the collective achievement of the climate- neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the importance of promoting fairness and solidarity among Member States, social and economic cohesion as well as the different starting position of each Member States in the transition towards climate neutrality. The offsetting instruments for Member States facing greater impact of the transition to a low carbon economy, such as the Modernisation Fund and Solidarity Provision in the EU ETS Directive (2008/87/EC), shall be significantly increased.
Amendment 190 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. By September 2020, the Commission shall review the Union’s 2030 target for climate referred to in Article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in light of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1), and explore options for a new 2030 target of 50 to 55% emission reductions compared to 1990. Where the Commission considers that it is necessary to amend that target based on new solid scientific evidence, it shall make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council as appropriate.
Amendment 246 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) fairness and solidarity social and economic cohesion between and within Member States ensuring the European instruments to support the cohesion policy;
Amendment 253 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) investment needs and opportunities including infrastructural development needs;
Amendment 267 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j a (new)
(ja) diverse starting positions of Member States and different impacts and costs that achieving climate neutrality objective will have on their economies and societies;
Amendment 270 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j b (new)
(jb) the right of each Member State to determine its own energy mix in accordance with article 194 paragraph 2 of TFEU.
Amendment 273 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall ensure continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, ensuring the transfer of knowhow when needed, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change in accordance with Article 7 of the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 276 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall develop and implement adaptation realistic strategies and plans that include comprehensive risk management frameworks, based on the local and regional needs and real local measurements of the greenhouse gases emissions, robust climate and vulnerability baselines and progress assessments.
Amendment 295 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Where, based on the assessment referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission finds that Union measures are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) or inadequate to ensure progress on adaptation as referred to in Article 4, or that the progress towards either the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation as referred to in Article 4 is insufficient, assess the need of technical support and know-how, cooperates with the Member State to establish the necessary measures and the time needed in order to close the gap between the expectations and actual reality. Should the Member State fail in achieving the goal the Commission could it shall take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties, at the same time as the review of the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1).
Amendment 319 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) information submitted and reported by independent experts on voluntary bases,
Amendment 41 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, as well as labour markets that are dynamic, future-oriented and responsive to economic change, with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress, balanced growth and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States shall regard promoting employment based on equality of opportunity and social justice as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate their action in this respect within the Council, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour.
Amendment 45 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The COVID-19 crisis is having, and will have, many effects on employment, social justice and working conditions. As a result of the cessation of economic activity, many workers are on short-time working and businesses, in particular SMEs, face liquidity problems. Workers in insecure employment and those of them who are the most deprived have often been frontline workers whose working conditions have entailed high risks to health. Many workers and businesses have resorted to teleworking and extensive use of digital tools. To respond to this unprecedented crisis in terms of employment and social justice policies, the Union and the Member States must commit to a massive European recovery plan to support businesses by providing them with the support they need to gain access to liquidity and workers, in particular by financing their short-time working and guaranteeing jobs. The aim must be to protect and develop the European labour market in order to guarantee not only jobs and wages but also working conditions. At the time of this crisis and in response to it, the Union and the Member States must undertake to uphold their commitments. Social and employment policies must contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals, be consistent with the objectives set out by the Green Deal and contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 55 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Union is to combat social exclusion and discrimination and promote social justice and protection, as well as equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and the protection of the rights of the child and of the most deprived sections of the population. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of a decent standard of living and adequate social protection for all, the fight against poverty and social exclusion and a high level of education and training as set out in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 62 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for economic and employment policies. As part of these instruments, the present Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States, together with the Broad Guidelines for the Economic Policies of the Member States and of the Union set out in Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184 (), form the Integrated Guidelines. They are tomust accord with the overall strategy of the Union determined by the Sustainable Development Goals, the Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights, and guide policy implementation in the Member States and in the Union, reflecting the interdependence between the Member States. The resulting set of coordinated European and national policies and reforms are to constitute an appropriate overall sustainable economic and employment policy mix, which should achieve positive spill-over effects. __________________ 5Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184 of 14 July 2015 on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the European Union (OJ L 192, 18.7.2015, p. 27).
Amendment 67 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Guidelines for the Employment Policies aremust contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, to the implementation of our growth strategy set out in the Green Deal, and to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. These Guidelines are also consistent with the Stability and Growth Pact, the existing Union legislation and various Union initiatives, including the Council recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee (6), the Council Recommendation of 15 February 2016 on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market (7), the Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on Upskilling Pathways (8), the Council Recommendation of 15 March 2018 on a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (9), the Council Recommendation of 22 May 2018 on Key Competences and Lifelong Learning (10), the Council Recommendation of 22 May 2019 on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems (11) and the Council Recommendation of 8 November 2019 on Access to Social Protection (12). __________________ 6 OJ C 120, 26.4.2013, p. 1. 7 OJ C 67, 20.2.2016, p. 1. 8 OJ C 484, 24.12.2016, p. 1. 9 OJ C 153, 2.5.2018, p. 1. 10 OJ C 189, 4.6.2018, p. 1. 11 OJ C 189, 5.6.2019, p. 4. 12 OJ C 387, 15.11.2019, p. 1–8
Amendment 75 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral coordination and surveillance of economic and employment policies. While pursuing environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and stability, the European Semester integrates the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including strong engagement with social partners, civil society and other stakeholders. It supports the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (13). The Union and Member States’ employment and economic policies should go hand in hand with Europe’s transition to a climate neutral, environmentally sustainable and digital economy which exploits innovation and technology, while improving competitiveness, supporting SMEs, fostering innovation, promoting social justice and equal opportunities and investing in youth, as well as tackling inequalities and regional disparities. __________________ 13 UN Resolution A/RES/70/1
Amendment 87 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Climate change and environmental related challenges, globalisation, digitalisation and demographic change willare profoundly transforming European economies and societies. The Union and its Member States should work together to effectively address these structural factors and adapt existing systems as needed, recognising the close interdependence of the Member States' economies and labour markets and related policies. This requires a coordinated, ambitious and effective policy action at both Union and national levels, in accordance with the TFEU and the Union’s provisions on economic governance. Such policy action should encompass a boost in sustainable investment, a renewed commitment to appropriately sequenced structural reforms that improve productivity, economic growth, social and territorial cohesion, upward social convergence, measures to combat poverty and insecure employment, resilience and the exercise of fiscal responsibility. It should combine supply- and demand side measures, while taking into account their environmental, employment and social impact.
Amendment 94 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission signed an inter-institutional proclamation for a European Pillar of Social Rights (14). The Pillar sets out twenty principles and rights to support well-functioning and fair labour markets and welfare systems, structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion. The principles and rights give direction to our strategy makingand must be so acted upon as to make sure that the transitions to climate- neutrality and environmental sustainability, digitalisation and demographic change are socially fair and just. The Pillar constitutes a reference framework to monitor the employment and social performance of Member States, to drive reforms at national, regional and local level and to reconcile the “social” and the “market” in today’s modern economy, including by promoting the social economy. __________________ 14 OJ C 428, 13.12.2017, p. 10.
Amendment 97 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Reforms to the labour market, including the national wage-setting mechanisms, should follow national practices of social dialogue and allow the necessary opportunity for a broad consideration of socioeconomic issues, including improvements in sustainability, competitiveness, growth, innovation, job creation, lifelong learning and training policies, working conditions, education and skills, public health and inclusion and real incomes. These reforms must ensure a certain flexibility in the labour market, as well as guaranteeing fair wages for European workers, a decent standard of living and an adequate social protection system for all.
Amendment 104 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Member States and the Union should ensure that the transformations are fair and socially just, strengthening the drive towards an inclusive and resilient society in which people are protected and empowered to anticipate and manage change, and in which they can actively participate in society and the economy. Discrimination in all its forms should be tackled. Access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion (including that of children) should be reduced, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and of social protection systems and by removing barriers to education, training and labour-market participation, including through investments in early childhood education and care. Timely and equal access to affordable healthcare services, including prevention and health promotion are particularly relevant in a context of ageing societies. The potential of people with disabilities to contribute to economic growth and social development should be further realised. As new economic and business models take hold in Union workplaces, employment relationships are also changing. Member States should ensure that employment relationships stemming from new forms of work maintain and strengthen Europe’s social model. These new forms of work, including platform work, present not only many opportunities in terms of employability and access to the labour market, but also challenges in terms of fair working conditions and access to social protection.
Amendment 117 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Integrated Guidelines should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. Member States should make full use of the European Social Fund Plus and other Union funds, including the Just Transition Fund and InvestEU, to foster employment, social investments, social inclusion, and accessibility, accompany the transition to a green, digital economy, and promote up- and reskilling opportunities of the workforce, lifelong learning and high quality education and training for all, including digital literacy and skills. While the Integrated Guidelines are addressed to Member States and the Union, they should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, closely involving parliaments, as well as the social partners and representatives of civil society.
Amendment 123 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2a The Member States call on the Commission to present as soon as possible a new proposal for a decision on guidelines for employment policies that takes into account the COVID-19 crisis and its social and employment consequences.
Amendment 132 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The COVID-19 crisis is having, and will have, many social effects and effects on employment policy. In response to this unprecedented crisis, Member States should protect and develop the European labour market and work towards greater European solidarity by protecting the most vulnerable and leaving no one behind. Member States should work towards European coordination to protect European workers and businesses, particularly with the aid of a massive European recovery plan, with the possibility for the Member States to provide direct support to the sectors most affected. Member States should continue and strengthen the establishment of systems to support businesses in difficulty and those suffering from a lack of liquidity, in particular SMEs, as well as to support workers on short-time working schemes to guarantee not only jobs and wages but also working conditions. Support should be given to all workers, particularly those in the most insecure employment, who have been at the forefront of this crisis. Member States should encourage health authorities to introduce measures to address the difficult psychological conditions affecting many workers and reduce general anxiety and the negative impact of social isolation. Member States should provide workers with the best standards of health and safety at work. Member States should facilitate the use of teleworking while guaranteeing workers their working conditions. Member States should ensure the involvement of the social partners in the planning and implementation of such measures. Cross-border workers, who have been hit hard by border closures, must be guaranteed their rights and their jobs. Member States should make use of all the funds at their disposal, such as the European Social Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the Deprived, and should do so extensively to respond to the crisis. The aim must be to ensure safety at work, support for the most deprived and the recovery of economic activity. Member States should also increase their sustainable investment in many sectors such as health, education and the sectors of the future, such as the digital and green economy sectors. Member States should undertake to ensure that the recovery plan contributes to achieving the sustainable development goals, is consistent with the objectives set out by the Green Deal and contributes to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 143 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 3
Annex I – Guideline 5 – paragraph 3
Member States having in place national mechanisms for the setting of statutory minimum wages should ensure an effective involvement of social partners in a transparent and predictable manner allowing for an adequate responsiveness of wages to productivity developments and providing fair wages for a decent standard of living, paying particular attention to lower and middle income groups with a view to upward social convergence. These mechanisms should take into account economic performance across regions and sectors. Member States should promote social dialogue and collective bargaining with a view to wage setting. Respecting national practices, Member States and social partners should ensure that all workers are entitled to adequate and fair wages through collective agreements or adequate statutory minimum wages which can provide a decent standard of living and make it possible to combat job insecurity and in-work poverty, taking into account their impact on competitiveness, job creation and in-work poverty.
Amendment 160 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 1
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 1
In the context of technological and environmental transitions, as well as demographic change, Member States should promote sustainability, productivity, employability and human capital, fostering relevant knowledge, skills and competences throughout people's lives, responding to current and future labour market needs. Member States should also adapt and invest in their education and training systems to provide high quality and inclusive education that is accessible for all, including vocational education and training. Member States should work together with the social partners, education and training providers, enterprises and other stakeholders to address structural weaknesses in education and training systems and improve their quality and labour market relevance, also with a view to enabling the environmental and digital transitions. Particular attention should be paid to challenges of the teaching profession. Education and training systems should equip all learners with key competences, including basic and digital skills as well as transversal competences to lay the foundations for adaptability later in life. Member States should seek to ensure the transfer of training entitlements during professional career changes, including, where appropriate, through individual learning accounts. They should enable everyone to anticipate and better adapt to labour market needs notably through continuous reskilling and upskilling, with a view to supporting fair and just transitions for all, strengthening social outcomes, addressing labour market shortages and improving the overall resilience of the economy to shocks.
Amendment 169 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 2
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 2
Member States should foster equal opportunities for all by addressing inequalities in education and training systems, including by providing access to good quality early childhood education. They should raise overall education levels, reduce the number of young people leaving school early, increase access to and completion of tertiary education and increase adult participation in continuing learning, particularly among learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, the least qualified. Taking into account new requirements in digital, green and ageing societies, Member States should strengthen work-based learning in their vocational education and training systems (VET) (including through quality and effective apprenticeships) and increase the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates, particularly women, both in medium-level VET and in tertiary education. Furthermore, Member States should enhance the labour-market relevance of tertiary education and research, improve skills monitoring and forecasting, make skills more visible and qualifications comparable, including those acquired abroad, and increase opportunities for recognising and validating skills and competences acquired outside formal education and training. They should upgrade and increase the supply and take- up of flexible continuing vocational education and training. Member States should also support low skilled adults to maintain or develop their long-term employability by boosting access to and take up of quality learning opportunities, through the implementation of Upskilling Pathways, including a skills assessment, an offer of education and training matching labour market opportunities, and the validation and recognition of the skills acquired.
Amendment 174 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 3
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 3
Member States should provide unemployed and inactive people with effective, timely, coordinated and tailor-made assistance based on support for job-search, training, requalification and access to other enabling services. Comprehensive strategies that include in-depth individual assessment of unemployment should be pursued as soon as possible with a view to significantly reducing and preventing long-term and structural unemployment. YMember States must make fighting unemployment and insecure employment of young people an absolute priority. In particular, youth unemployment and the issue of young people not in employment, education or training, should continue to be addressed through prevention of early school leaving, privileged access to training for future- oriented sectors linked to the green and digital economies, and structural improvement in the school- to-work transition, including through the full implementation of the Youth Guarantee (15). __________________ 15 ()OJ C 120, 26.4.2013, p. 1.
Amendment 180 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Member States should adopt and enforce strict rules imposing high standards of health and safety at work. This includes reducing to zero the number of fatal accidents at work and cases of occupational cancer, establishing binding occupational exposure limit values, and taking into account occupational psycho- social risks and occupational diseases.
Amendment 181 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 5
Annex I – Guideline 6 – paragraph 5
Member States should ensure gender equality and increased labour market participation of women, including through ensuring equal opportunities and career progression and eliminating barriers to participation in leadership at all levels of decision-making. The gender pay gap should be tackled. Equal pay for equal work, or work of equal value, and pay- transparency should be ensured, including by establishing a wage equality index comparing women and men. Member States should take measures to support entrepreneurship among women and facilitate access to financing for them. Member States should take measures to increase the number of women on company boards. The reconciliation of work, family and private life for both women and men should be promoted, in particular through access to affordable quality long-term care and early childhood education and care services. Member States should ensure that parents and other people with caring responsibilities have access to suitable family leave and flexible working arrangements in order to balance work, family and private life, and promote a balanced use of these entitlements between women and men.
Amendment 190 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 1
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 1
In order to benefit from a dynamic and productive workforce, new work patterns and business models, Member States should work together with the social partners on fair, transparent and predictable working conditions, balancing rights and obligations. They should reduce and prevent segmentation within labour markets, fight undeclared work and foster the transition towards open-ended forms of employment. Employment protection rules, labour law and institutions should all provide both a suitable environment for recruitment, and the necessary flexibility for employers to adapt swiftly to changes in the economic context, while preserving appropriate security and healthy, safe and well-adapted working environments for workers, protecting labour rights and ensuring social protection. Employment relationships that lead to precarious working conditions should be prevented, including in the case of platform workers and by fighting the abuse of atypical contracts. Member States should ensure that these workers genuinely enjoy fair working conditions and access to adequate social protection. Access to effective and impartial dispute resolution and a right to redress, including adequate compensation, should be ensured in cases of unfair dismissal.
Amendment 199 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 3
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 3
Member States should provide the unemployed with adequate unemployment benefits of reasonable duration, in line with their contributions and national eligibility rules. Such benefits should ensure decent living conditions for the unemployed. They should not dis- incentivise a prompt return to employment and should be accompanied by active labour market policies
Amendment 205 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 4
Annex I – Guideline 7 – paragraph 4
The mobility of learners and workers should be adequately supported with the aim of enhancing employability, skills and exploiting the full potential of the European labour market, while also ensuring fair conditions for all those pursuing a cross-border activity, by stepping up the portability of rights and allowances, and stepping up administrative cooperation between national administrations with regard to mobile workers. Barriers to mobility in education and training, in occupational and personal pensions and in the recognition of qualifications should be removed and recognition of qualifications made easier. Member States should take action to ensure that administrative procedures are not an unnecessary obstacle to workers from other Member States taking up employment, including for cross- border workers. Member States should commit themselves fully to the digitalisation of public services in order to facilitate fair labour mobility, particularly with regard to the coordination of social security systems. Member States should also prevent abuse of the existing rules and address underlying causes of ‘brain drain’ from certain regions including through appropriate regional development measures.
Amendment 225 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 2
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 2
Member States should modernise social protection systems to provide adequate, effective, efficient, and sustainable social protection for all throughout all stages of an individual's life, fostering social inclusion and upward social mobility, incentivising labour market participation and addressing inequalities, including through the design of their tax and benefit systems. Complementing universal approaches with selective ones will improve effectiveness of social protection systems. The modernisation of social protection systems should lead to better access, quality, adequacy and sustainability.
Amendment 230 #
2020/0030(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 4
Annex I – Guideline 8 – paragraph 4
The availability of affordable, accessible and quality services such as early childhood education and care, out-of- school care, education, training, housing, health and long-term care is a necessary condition for ensuring equal opportunities. Particular attention should be given to fighting poverty and social exclusion, including in-work and child poverty. Member States should ensure that everyone, including children, has access to essential services. For those in need or in a vulnerable situation, Member States should ensure access to adequate social housing or housing assistance. Member States should also take measures to ensure a just transition as regards improving the energy efficiency of existing housing and to tackle the problem of energy poverty in the right way in the context of the Green Deal. The specific needs of people with disabilities including accessibility should be taken into account in relation to these services. Homelessness should be tackled specifically, taking the Housing First approach as a basis.
Amendment 105 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) As set out in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, a Just Transition Mechanism should complement the other actions under the next multi-annual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027. It should contribute to addressing the social and economic consequences of transitioning towards Union climate neutrality by bringing together the Union budget’s spending on climate and social objectives at regional level, focusing on social impact investment and targeting the regions and areas of society which will be at the greatest risk of economic instability due to the transition.
Amendment 117 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and creating a balanced socio-economic transition that avoids creating or furthering the risks of social precarity or an unstable business environment. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 135 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully tomplement the achievement of this target.
Amendment 140 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy. and focus specifically on the issue of transitioning to a green economy in the regions most heavily dependent on coal or other such unsustainable fuels, for example the Jiu Valley Region, prioritising social impact investment that fosters both business development and the positive development of social indicators, with a care to avoid social shocks or sudden closures of businesses or the loss of human capital and the depopulation of the vulnerable regions.
Amendment 156 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that rely heavily on fossil fuels orwhich initially might require phasing out through natural gas production, or on greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 172 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to social impact investment and activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. __________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 205 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 218 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the real need for external support in the green transition and a present dependence on unsustainable business cycles and provide the needed support for local authorities to begin the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 235 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent withprioritise the alleviation of any socio- economic shocks from the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved by the Commission.
Amendment 239 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to enhance the result orientation of the use of JTF resources, the Commission, in line with the principle of proportionality, should be able to apply financial corrections in case of serious underachievement of targets established for the JTF specific objectiveensure that regions with low performance from the point of view of JTF specific objectives are helped not to fall too much behind in order to avoid the risk of further geographical unbalances, with previously well performing regions or regions which are already on their way to a green transition or are not as dependent on coal or other fuels receiving more funds while the regions still heavily relying on unsustainable energy mixes or slow in beginning their green transition would fall even further behind and receive even less funds to assist in their transition.
Amendment 269 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 272 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Amendment 297 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) social impact investments which foster the development of businesses that can have a positive social impact in their immediate area, providing alternative income sources to citizens affected by the transition to a greener economy;
Amendment 299 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, the conversion to natural gas as a transitional energy source from coal, energy efficiency and renewable energy;
Amendment 313 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) investment in smart, energy efficient local transportation infrastructure;
Amendment 359 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels, with the exception of natural gas as a transitional, intermediate fuel between coal and green energies;
Amendment 370 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Amendment 470 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the allocations resulting from the application of point (a) are adjusted to ensure that no Member State receives an amount exceeding EUR 2 billion. The amounts exceeding EUR 2 billion per Member State, respectively 5 billion for a Member State that can justify through clear indictors that it holds a larger proportion of vulnerable regions where the transition to an environmentally sustainable energy policy would create tangible socio- economic risks than the median of other Member States. The amounts exceeding EUR 2 billion per Member State, respectively 5 billion for heavily affected Member States, are redistributed proportionally to the allocations of all other Member States. The Member States’ shares are recalculated accordingly;
Amendment 887 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1 – point 1.2 – table
Annex II – point 1 – point 1.2 – table
1.2. Identifying (a) the territories expected to be the most negatively affected and justifying this choice with the corresponding estimation of the economic and employment impacts based the outline of Section 1.1; and (b) the other territories where projects may be envisaged [under pillars 2 and 3 of the JTM] that would benefit the territories identified in [(a)] and would be key to the transition in those territories
Amendment 889 #
2020/0006(COD)
Amendment 893 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.3 – table
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.3 – table
Amendment 894 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.4 – table 2
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.4 – table 2
To fill in only if support is provided to productive investments other than SMEs: - an exhaustive list of such operations and enterprises and for each of thementerprises and a justification of the necessity of such support through a gap analysis demonstrating that the expected job losses would exceed the expected number of jobs created in the absence of this investment
Amendment 897 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.4 – table 3
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.4 – table 3
To fill in only if support is provided to investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC: - an exhaustive list of operations to be supported and a justification that they contribute to the transition to a climate- neutral economy and lead to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions going below the relevant benchmarks used for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC and provided that they are necessary for the protection of a significant number of jobs
Amendment 899 #
2020/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table
- Arrangements for involvement of partners in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the territorial just transition plan; - Outcome of public consultatio, including which civil society organisations will be involved and how community representatives are consulted and engaged proactively in the programming process. Consultation and engagement should take place both before and after programming documents are developed; - Outcome of public consultation and how the outcome of the public consultation has been taken into account in the final version of the plan.
Amendment 3 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly called on the Council to strengthen the Union's Budget, especially concerning own resources as foreseen by the article 311 TFEU;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the focus on national issues by the Members of the European Council has led to a deadlock in the negotiations of the Union's budget; whereas , despite the calls from the European Citizens to act, this deadlock is due to a general lack of ambition, unwillingness to create genuine own-resources and a dysfunctional Institutional procedure in setting-up the EU Budget;
Amendment 5 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that communicreal and effective communication and consultation with citizens should be among the top priorities for the EU budget in order to ensure broad, active and effective involvement of citizens in the Conference on the Future of Europe;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that according to the treaties Members or former Members of the European Union are bound to their budgetary obligations until the end of their commitments and that not respecting these would have durable consequences for the mutual trust in their future relations.
Amendment 13 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the creation of dedicated budget lines for the organisation and roll- out of the Conference on the Future of Europe in the budgets of various EU institutions and bodies, and the provision of the resources necessary for the achievement of the Conference goals; calls on the Commission and the Council to take into account in their allocated budget lines for the Conference the high level of ambition for this event as set by the Parliament in its resolution on this issue1a; _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Parliament’s position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (2019/2990(RSP))
Amendment 16 #
2019/2213(BUD)
2a. Insists that, considering the imperious need to have a solid budget to tackle the challenges of our time, the budget negotiations are not a session of horse trading between Member States; reiterates therefore its plea to the rapid setting up of genuine own resources as foreseen in article 311 TFUE in order to constitute a Union's budget more dependent on the common European interest than on consideration of domestic political nature;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the need for sufficient commitment to and payment appropriations for the Europe for Citizens Programme, the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme and the European Citizens’ Initiative, as these instruments are vital for intensifying the participatory democracy processes in the EU, building citizens’ trust and enhancing their understanding of EU policies; Calls for development of effective educational and communication programs, which should focus on the European history and to explain to the citizens both the challenges facing the European Union and the added value of belonging to a strong inclusive and democratic Union.
Amendment 23 #
2019/2213(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that proper levels of financing be secured to enable the activities of the EU institutions and bodies, such as the Commission Representations, to counter disinformation. Underlines that East StratCom Task Force is underfinanced; Calls for a substantial increase in its budget in order for the EU to successfully counter-attack disinformation and foreign interferences; Calls for more information campaigns to better explain EU policies in the Eastern Partnership countries; Points out the paramount importance of the protection of our European democracies and exhorts the Member States to attribute more resources to tackling this issue;
Amendment 25 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the European Semester must consistently contribute to the elimination of social, economic and territorial inequalities and disparities between EU regionsStresses that low incomes in some Member States remain a challenge for the Cohesion Policy, high poverty rates coupled with precarious employment leads to high rates of emigration inside the European Union requiring clear and concentrated measures in order to ensure a demographical balance;
Amendment 86 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Acknowledges that the Green Deal and ecological challenges are among the most important priorities of the European Union and stresses that the European Commission must contribute consistently to the support of the industrial reconversion of the most polluting sector of the European industries;
Amendment 102 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that some Member States are in urgent need for investment in infrastructure and public services and calls on the European Commission to find the necessary instruments to transmit the knowhow of more developed countries in this sector to the countries in need.
Amendment 111 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that the European Semester should take into account the promotion of access to effective funding in highly polluting sectors in order to research and implement ecological and less polluting solutions with the aim of reducing toxic gasses;
Amendment 115 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission to urge the Member States to increase the cooperation between national and regional authorities and all the steak- holders in order to jointly establish development priorities and the distribution of funds stimulating the engagement of the civil society in their own future;
Amendment 117 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Acknowledges the importance of independent communication channels and correct information at the national, regional and local levels; therefore we strongly recommend to the European Commission to put in place measures to support independent journalism at the regional and local level to disseminate the European Values and the achievements of the Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 118 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Points out that the European Semester should assess the measures for real and accessible information for all the potential eligible beneficiaries of European Funds;
Amendment 119 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Considers that there is a need for further simplification and greater flexibility of mechanisms of accessing European Funds both at the Commission and at the Member States level, an increase of the access to the funds for the potential beneficiaries including NGOs and economic actors.
Amendment 120 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Emphasises that the degree of involvement of the social partners at national level is still low and that both the Commission and the Member States governments should do more to ensure that they are regularly consulted and their views are taken into consideration in both policy and decision-making.
Amendment 121 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 g (new)
Paragraph 8 g (new)
8g. Stresses that the ecological transformation of the European economy and society must not overshadow the importance of the economical and industrial development of the European Union and its position in the global economy; furthermore the Commission should take into account the promotion of access to effective development tools for all the steak-holders in the regions most affected by the ecological transition.
Amendment 122 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 h (new)
Paragraph 8 h (new)
8h. Welcomes the European Commission's proposal to establish a Just Transition Fund in order to boost investments in climate-friendly technologies; stresses that the fund also aims to compensate efforts, requiring several economic sectors to comply with the EU’s climate objectives; warns that the money used for the constitution of the just transition fund should not impact the overall level of cohesion allocations; recalls the European Parliament's position to maintain the level of cohesion funding in the next MFF; notes that some existing cohesion funds already contribute to the fight against climate change.
Amendment 123 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 i (new)
Paragraph 8 i (new)
8i. Stresses that the implementation of Green Deal projects will require significant levels of know-how, manpower and expertise; calls for the EIB and the Commission to ramp up their efforts to provide assistance to project holders and local, regional and national authorities;
Amendment 124 #
2019/2211(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 j (new)
Paragraph 8 j (new)
8j. Welcomes the EU's commitment to implement the SDGs both in its policies and their inclusion in the European Semester; believes that Implementation of the SDGs should be on the focus of the EU in the next years.
Amendment 1 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
— having regard to the Republic of Moldovan's National Action Plan on the Implementation of the Moldova-European Union Association Agreement (NAPIAA) for 2017-2019,
Amendment 2 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
— having regard to its previous resolutions relating to the Republic of Moldova, in particular the previous resolution on the Implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement of 14 November 20181 , its resolution of 5 July 2018 on the political crisis in the Republic of Moldova following the invalidation of the mayoral elections in Chișinău2 , of 15 November 2017 on the Eastern Partnership in the run-up to the November 2017 Summit3 , of 4 July 2017 on providing macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova4 , and of 21 January 2016 on Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine5 , _________________ 1 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0458. 2 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0303. 3 OJ C 356, 4.10.2018, p. 130. 4 OJ C 334, 19.9.2018, p. 199. 5 OJ C 11, 12.1.2018, p. 82.
Amendment 3 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the subsequent EU decision of July 2019 to resume budget support disbursements in light of the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to reform the justice system,
Amendment 4 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
— having regard to the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) joint staff working document (SWD(2019)0325) on the Association Implementation Report on the Republic of Moldova of 11 September 2019,
Amendment 5 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
— having regard to the outcome of the fifth Association Council meeting between the EU and the Republic of Moldova of 30 September 2019,
Amendment 10 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
— having regard to the 2018 Transparency International corruption perception list that awards the Republic of Moldova the 117th place out of 180 countries and territories assessed (first place being the best),
Amendment 14 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
— having regard to the opinions and recommendations of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, in particular of 15 March 2018 on electoral reform in the Republic of Moldova, of 24 June 2019 on the constitutional situation with particular reference to the possibility of dissolving parliament, and of 14 October 2019 on the draft law on the reform of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office,
Amendment 16 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
— having regard to the recommendations and activities of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and other representatives of civil society in the Republic of Moldova,
Amendment 19 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
— having regard to the conclusions of the European Parliament election observation mission to the Republic of Moldova parliamentary elections of 24 February 2019 integrated in the international election observation mission led by the OSCE/ODIHR,
Amendment 21 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
— having regard to the Commission economic aid package adopted on 29 March 2020 to help the Republic of Moldova, among other countries, in its fight against the COVID- 19 pandemic, which included the redirection of existing instruments to mitigate the socioeconomic impact of the crisis;,
Amendment 31 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas through the AA/DCFTA the Republic of Moldova committed to incorporating the EU acquis into its own laws and practices in a large number of areas; whereas, in order to support these efforts, the EU committed to provide substantial financial and budgetary assistance to the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas on 13 September 2017 Parliament and the Council adopted a decision to provide macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova worth EUR 100 million in the context of the IMF programme to support the country’s economic and financial reforms;
Amendment 43 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas in November 2019 the Moldovan Parliament of the Republic of Moldova passed a motion of no-confidence in the Government constituted in June 2019, formed a minority government, and subsequently a new coalition government;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the AA/DCFTA remains of primary importance for the development of the Republic of Moldova, especially in current exceptional times, and commends the progress achieved by Moldova to date; recalls, however, that further progress must be achievedsustained engagement in this process of Moldovan society and authorities; recalls, however, that further progress must be achieved in its implementation, to deliver its full potential and benefits; underlines that the AA/DCFTA was the main vector in encouraging and supporting the process of structural reforms, democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 67 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the reforms that led to the introduction of a visa-free regime with the Union; the program has been used extensively by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and represents a very good example of how the implementation of the AA/DCFTA touches upon the lives of citizens by fostering people-to-people contacts with other fellow Europeans;
Amendment 69 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes all intentions towards a closer political, human, and economic integration with the Union in line with the principle of differentiation and based on the performance, results, and aspirations of the Republic of Moldova's authorities and society;
Amendment 74 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the conclusions of the IMF’s March 2020 Article IV consultation and the IMF Board’s sixth and final review of the Republic of Moldova’s economic performance under the Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility arrangements, with particular regard to the rehabilitation of the Moldovan banking system of the Republic of Moldova and the strengthening of financial sector governance;
Amendment 82 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the November 2019 Activity Program of the Moldovan Government of the Republic of Moldova is less ambitious than the previous government’s 2030 Global Agenda, and regrets the lack of a new NAPIAA and underlines the importance of agreeing as soon as possible on a new Agenda as a distinct tool to steer the Association Agreement's implementation; insists that the continuation of EU sector budgetpolitical and financial support remains conditional upon the delivery of tangible reforms, in particular of the judiciary;
Amendment 84 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on new exceptional EU Macro Financial Assistance program aimed at countering the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and looks forward to the implementation of the undertaken commitments;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the European Commission to develop a conditionality mechanism to monitor the concrete implementation of reforms, including clear benchmarks;
Amendment 100 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Moldovan authorities to ensure free and fair presidential elections scheduled on November 1st, 2020;
Amendment 109 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges the adoption by the Moldovan ParliamentParliament of the Republic of Moldova adoption of numerous legislative acts in line with the country’s commitments enshrined in the AA; underlines the importance of a full implementation of these acts, including by adopting secondary legislation;
Amendment 112 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is concerned that political instability and frequent government changes are affecting the implementation of AA/DCFTA provisions and limiting the pace of reforms;
Amendment 113 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Reiterates its concern regarding the lack of a constant commitment to improvements in the public sector, which discourages competent people from pursuing a career in public administration;
Amendment 114 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses the need for the development of a professional public administration and the encouragement of young people to take up a career in the public sector, so as to achieve a more transparent administration in which nepotism and favouritism do not lead to chronic politicisation;
Amendment 121 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the authorities to consider the critical structural changes as priorities to allow the emergence of real self- government since crucial reforms are still not implemented and there are cases in which local authorities are subjected to intense political pressure or harassment by the central authorities or people associated with the ruling groups;
Amendment 123 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Acknowledges the Republic of Moldova's essential steps to increase the performance of public administration and calls for action to start a more comprehensive decentralization reform as soon as possible;
Amendment 124 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Underlines the need for more in- depth and broader cooperation between local authorities, for a reduced number of local administrations and more measures to ensure their greater independence and decrease their operating costs;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is concerned by the high level of concentration and politicisation of the media and advertising sectors, leading to a low level of public confidence in the media; urges the Moldovan authorities of the Republic of Moldova to refrain from exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to adopt measures curtailing freedom of speech and limiting the media’s ability to report facts in an independent and unbiased way;
Amendment 137 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Urges the authorities to step up support in the fight against fake news, hybrid warfare in communication, and the degradation of media programs; underlines that political involvement in mass media structurally undermines fundamental freedoms and access to information;
Amendment 141 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Asks the authorities to sustain the development of actions to ensure full disclosure of media ownership and to support a deeper involvement of civil society in monitoring and assessing of the transparency process;
Amendment 142 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Calls for more support from the government in the development of civil society, calls on government and authorities to refrain from any pressure on NGOs and other civic actors; regrets the distrust and hostility with which political officials approach civil society in general;
Amendment 143 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Urges more meaningful and active involvement of civil society in the policymaking processes;
Amendment 144 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the amendments to the electoral legislation adopted in August 2019, and the ruling of the Moldovan Constitutional Court of Republic of Moldova in February 2020 on the territorial requirements for establishing political parties;
Amendment 150 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Urges Moldovan authorities to further improve the electoral legislation to ensure an effective right to elect, including abroad, as well as the fairness of the electoral campaigns;
Amendment 153 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Asks for strict restraint from changing the electoral legislation to satisfy specific political needs or from altering the rules and regulations to manipulate the results, which will always end in political unrest and instability affecting the commitment for structural reforms;
Amendment 169 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the Republic of Moldovan participation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations, on cyber -security and cyber- crime investigations, as well as Moldova’s cooperation with NATO; calls on the EU to include the Republic of Moldova in new formats of cooperation countering hybrid threats;
Amendment 173 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Acknowledges the Republic of Moldova's unique experience and expertise and the contribution that it can provide to the Union collective security and defence policy;
Amendment 174 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Encourages a deepened cooperation in EU-related defence policies, including participation in PESCO once the issue of involvement of third countries is determined;
Amendment 177 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Reiterates the EU’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, and for the efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Transnistrian issuepeaceful resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, ensuring the protection of human rights on the territories not controlled by constitutional authorities;
Amendment 180 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Acknowledges the increased security interdependence between Moldova and the Transnistria region and the stability of both as the main factor for prevention and resolution of security challenges such as hybrid threats, cyberattacks, election cyber-meddling, disinformation and propaganda campaigns, and third-party interference in the political, electoral, and other democratic processes;
Amendment 183 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Encourages the Moldovan Government to continue promoting an environment favourable to the settlement of conflicts and supporting activities that increase confidence and people-to-people contacts across conflict-divided communities;
Amendment 184 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Welcomes all activities that enhance the economic collaboration and increase the level of goods and services exchanges between Republic of Moldova and Transnistria;
Amendment 188 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Reiterates that the UN General Assembly adopted on 22 June 2018a resolution urging the Russian Federation to withdraw its troops and armaments unconditionally from the territory of the Republic of Moldova and reaffirming the support for the immediate implementation of that resolution;
Amendment 191 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Encourages the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to look for more in- depth collaboration with the Union and its Members States in order to enhance the implementation of good practices and solutions for countering disinformation, propaganda, manipulation and hostile influencing carried out by external forces aimed at dividing, destabilizing, and undermining the integrity of the internal political processes and the relations with the Union;
Amendment 192 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Urges the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to consider the development and implementation of the package of laws regarding the fields of conflict prevention and crisis management part of NAPIAA in 2017- 2019;
Amendment 194 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Moldovan Government of the Republic of Moldova to complete judicial reforms so as to ensure the independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the judiciary and specialised anti-corruption institutions, taking the necessary measures, including the introduction of guarantees of judicial independence in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 198 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Asks for measures to provide more robust and more resilient institutions, the prevalence of the rule of law, the implementation of judicial reforms and the fight against corruption and money laundering, broader participation in the process of all the stakeholders including a permanent presence from the civil society to achieve a meaningful consultation regarding the objectives and the implementation for a significant acceptance of decisions;
Amendment 204 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is concerned by the very high level of disapproval of the judiciary, and therefore calls on the Moldovan authorities of the Republic of Moldova to ensure that the Prosecutor General, his staff, and public prosecutors in general, work independently and abide by the highest standards of professionalism and integrity;
Amendment 205 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges an in-depth reform of magistrates' status using international precedents and good practices to allow the Supreme Council of the Magistracy (SCM) full independence in defending judges and prosecutors against any act of interference in or in connection with their professional activity and to promote a merit-based and transparent system for the selection and promotion of judges; calls on the Moldovan authorities to advance in the transparent process of drafting and timely adoption of the amendments to the Constitution on the SCM, in line with Venice Commission recommendations, and of the new Strategy to ensure justice sector independence and integrity with the participation of and in consultation with the Council of Europe and EU experts, civil society, and other interested actors;
Amendment 208 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Moldovan authorities of the Republic of Moldova to ensure the complete independence of the Constitutional Court, and that it is not subject to any form of political interference;
Amendment 210 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Encourages the strengthening of the Constitutional Court to enable it to resist permanent partisan temptation to use it for political purposes;
Amendment 217 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is concerned by the very high level of perceived corruption in the Republic of Moldova, and therefore urges the Government to step up the fight against it, as well as money laundering, arms smuggling and organised crime; calls on the Moldovan Government of the Republic of Moldova to adopt concrete measures to reinforce the independence and integrity of the National Anticorruption Centre’s Office and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office;
Amendment 223 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its concern at the persistent failure to bring transparent prosecution of all those responsible for the bank fraud exposed in 2014, as well as the slow recovery of stolen assets; calls on Member States to offer the necessary assistance to the Republic of Moldova's authorities in the investigation of the case if there will be any requests for it;
Amendment 231 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Urges the Moldovan authorities of the Republic of Moldova to increase transparency on the funding of political parties, and to investigate all irregularities in a fair and unbiased way;
Amendment 233 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on European Commission to increase funding through the available budget support and technical assistance instruments, aimed at strengthening the justice and law enforcement authorities' capacity and efficiency, taking into account progress in the implementation of the reforms;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the authorities to significantly increase efforts to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for vulnerable groupsAcknowledges the improvement of legislation on the protection of human rights and calls on the authorities to recognize the respect for human rights as a critical criterion and a vital condition for a democratic society;
Amendment 255 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls for more concrete measures to improve detention conditions and to eliminate the detention of people with disabilities in psychiatric hospitals against their will; calls for the complete elimination of torture and ill-treatment in prisons as a method of pressure on imprisoned or detained political opponents;
Amendment 261 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Urges further steps in implementing the national legislation for preventing and combatting trafficking in human beings and for a substantial increase in the quality of services provided to victims;
Amendment 263 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Calls for more protection, assistance, and support of victims of crime, especially children, during investigations and after the judicial process, and for more support during the social reintegration of the victims;
Amendment 265 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Encourages the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to promote programs that include consistent gender equality dimension, offer more support to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in society, implement legislation to fight hate speech and physical violence perpetrated against the more vulnerable groups;
Amendment 267 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Welcomes the progress in the adoption by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova of the new law on NGOs and looks forward to the implementation of the law, which will represent an essential step in strengthening transparent policy dialogue and ensure a favourable climate for the functioning of the civil society in the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 269 #
2019/2201(INI)
19f. Calls for an increased presence of civil society actors in all the actions regarding human rights, fundamental freedoms legislation and implementation, allowing NGOs to act more efficiently as a watchdog for reforms and hold the respective State institutions accountable;
Amendment 271 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the significant increase in Moldovan imports into the EU, as well as the fact that the EU is the largest investor in Moldova; welcomes the Moldovan Parliament’s adoption of the European LEADER approach as the basis for its national rural policy;
Amendment 275 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Encourages full implementation of the DCFTA in order to further increase the EU – Moldova bilateral trade and investment relationship;
Amendment 276 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Welcomes the Moldovan Parliament’s adoption of the European LEADER approach as the basis for its national rural policy;
Amendment 282 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Moldovan authorities to adopt and implement policies aimed at regulating the participation of the entities from jurisdictions that do not implement international transparency standards (offshore jurisdictions) or the businesses that are directly or indirectly controlled by such companies from trading with public authorities (public procurement, privatization, concession, and public- private partnership);
Amendment 289 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Urges further steps to ensureWelcomes actions to strengthen institutional capacity and the independence of the National Agency for Eenergy Rregulation,or and the rapid adoption ofencourages the snecondessary legislation needed to ensure the fulland urgent actions to be taken for the implementation of the Third Energy Package, in particular in the field of natural gas;
Amendment 293 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the National Agency for Energy Regulations of the Republic of Moldova to approve the energy market Rules based on fair competition and ensure compliance by all market participants;
Amendment 295 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Commends the arrangements agreed between Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Romania in December 2019 to enable gas transfers to Ukraine and Moldova via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, and the February 2020 Action Plan to ensure the independence of the transmission system operator Moldovatransgaz;
Amendment 299 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Encourages the Moldovan authorities to continue the efforts to reinforce the energy security of the country and commends the finalisation of the Ungheni – Chișinau gas pipeline by the end of 2020;
Amendment 304 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Urges the Moldovan authorities to ensure the timely implementation of the project for interconnection of Moldova- Romania electricity systems by providing the necessary support and monitoring the activity;
Amendment 321 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Encourages the Moldovan authorities to requestconsider the establishment of a Jean Monnet Dialogue to support inter- party dialogue and parliamentary capacity building;
Amendment 323 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for all EU institutions, the Member States and Moldovan authoritiesin close cooperation with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to better communicate the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and ofthe EU assistance to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2198(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the EU institutions to reply promptly to requests for access to documents;
Amendment 20 #
2019/2198(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU legislators to comply with the judgment of the General Court of 22 March 2018 (case T-540/15) on access to the documents of the trilogues, thereby further strengthening the culture of transparency in the EU’s legislative work; recalls nevertheless the strategic nature of these documents which are the basis of negotiating positions which do not necessarily reflect the final texts to be agreed by the co-legislators and whose publication in advance of the trilogue meeting could be subject to abuse by external parties;
Amendment 83 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas by2050, the proportion of people aged 65 or over is expected to reach 29% of the total EU population[1], and whereas the Covid-19 crisis has shown the precarious situation in which many older people live;
Amendment 148 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to prioritise emissions reductions and energy efficiency through housing renovation, including the social housing sector and particularly for worst performing buildings in the Renovation Wave, while tackling inadequate housing and housing accessibility and eliminating energy poverty in order to ensure a socially just transition to a climate-neutral economy that leaves no one behind; stresses, therefore, that tenants and owner-occupiers should be fully informed and involved in renovation projects and should not see overall costs increase because of them;
Amendment 184 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to create a clear definition of homelessness, decent and affordable housing, in order to facilitate comparative analysis of homelessness and housing data across the EU;
Amendment 204 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for a comprehensive and integrated anti-poverty strategy with a designated poverty reduction target, including for child poverty; calls on the Commission to present an EU Child Guarantee no later than 2021; calls for a European framework for minimum income schemes;
Amendment 214 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to take measures and implement programmes for the youth who reach the age of 18 and finds themselves at risk of being homeless; stresses the importance of reliable data collection on youth homelessness;
Amendment 231 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with deep concern that the living conditions of Roma continue to be extremely worrying; calls on the Member States to promote spatial desegregation and engage Roma beneficiaries in housing projects, to prevent forced evictions, and to provide halting sites for non-sedentary Roma; emphasises the urgent need for public investment and awareness in this regard;
Amendment 252 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the importance of setting transparent eligibility criteria for social and publicly funded housing to ensure equal access to housing; encourages Member States to put in place national strategies to prevent social segregation, through a wider geographical distribution of social housing, available to all citizens regardless of status, gender, religion or ethnicity;
Amendment 272 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Encourages Member States to collaborate and finance social investments aimed at solving housing problems with the social partners, civil society and the private sector, many of who play and can play a key role in the development and maintenance of adequate housing solutions for those in vulnerable situations;
Amendment 274 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to create a platform for exchange of best practices regarding tackling homelessness and providing decent and affordable housing;
Amendment 275 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the of States Members to invest more in accessible nursing homes for the elderly, with quality care services, accessible to a wider range of the elderly population;
Amendment 346 #
2019/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Notes with deep concern that the COVID-19 pandemic increased incidences of domestic violence and child abuse; calls on the Member States to invest in additional and adequate transitional shelters to victims fleeing such situations;
Amendment 29 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Encourages the agencies to pursue the development of a real policy for the digitalization of its services
Amendment 36 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Encourages the Agencies to develop a long term Human Resources Policy Framework which addresses the work-life balance of its staff, the lifelong guidance and career development, the gender balance, the teleworking, the non discrimination, the geographical balance and the recruitment and integration of disabled people;
Amendment 49 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Amendment 52 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes with concern from the Court’s report that shortcomings were found related to excessive dependency on contractors, external consultancy and interims, to the use of inadequate award criteria and the conclusion of contracts with abnormally low tenderers without reasonable justification; notes that several agencies have outsourced, extensively, regular activities and occasionally core business activities, which weakens the internal expertise and control over contract execution, with some weaknesses in the procurement process which may impair fair competition and the achievement of best value for money procurements; notes that for six agencies the framework contract terms for the provision of IT maintenance and equipment were weak, as they allowed the purchase of items not specifically mentioned therein and not subject to an initial competitive procedure, and it also allowed the contractor to charge uplifts on the prices of items purchased from other suppliers; notes that although agencies have no power to change the basic contractual arrangements, their related ex - ante controls did not check the accuracy of the up-lifts charged by the contractor; calls on all agencies and bodies of the Union to strictly abide by public procurement rules; underlines that digitalisation is a great opportunity for the agencies to increase efficiency and transparency, including in the field of procurement; calls, therefore, on all agencies and bodies to rapidly finalize and implement e-tendering, e- submission, e-invoicing and e-forms for public procurement;
Amendment 55 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Considers that agencies, bodies and institutions of the Union must set an example in terms of transparency; calls therefore on the publication of the full lists of contracts awarded through public procurement procedures, including those below the 15.000 EUR threshold legally required;
Amendment 58 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Notes with concern that not all agencies and bodies of the Union have published on their respective websites the declarations of interest for members of the management boards, executive leadership and seconded experts; regrets that some agencies still publish declarations of absence of conflict of interest; highlights that it is not up to the board members or executives to declare themselves out of conflict of interest; calls for a unified model of declarations of interest to be implemented by all agencies; stresses the importance of establishing an independent ethics body to assess conflict of interest and revolving doors situations throughout the institutions, agencies and other bodies of the Union; urges the Member States to ensure that all seconded experts publish their respective declarations of interest and CVs on the respective agency websites;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Notes that, in spite of whistle- blowing rules being in place in all agencies and other bodies of the Union, there are hardly any cases reported, raising concern of either staff not being aware of existing rules, or a lack of trust in the system; points out the necessity of an independent disclosure, advice and referral body, with sufficient budgetary resources, in order to support and ensure the proper implementation of whistle- blowing rules and procedures;
Amendment 63 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22 c. Considers regrettable that there are still no clear guidelines and a consolidated policy on the revolving doors issue; stresses the fact that this issue is of key importance, particularly in the case of those agencies working with the industries; calls on the Commission to provide stronger rules, better controls and clear guidelines on cooling-off periods for out-going staff and other revolving-doors related measures;
Amendment 73 #
2019/2098(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Encourages strongly the agencies to implement the court's recommendations
Amendment 6 #
2019/2094(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. notes with concern from the Court’s report that on 4 May 2018, the Office signed a framework contract with one company for the provision of clerical and secretarial support services for a duration of 4 years for a maximum amount of 433 000 euros (2018 payments: 27 655 euros) and as from June 2018 on average four of that company’s staff were working at the Office in addition to its own 27 employees. stresses that the use of this service contract for the provision of labour is not in compliance with Union's social and employment rules and exposes the Office to legal and reputational risks; calls on the Office to redress the situation and report back to the discharge authority;
Amendment 9 #
2019/2094(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Regrets the gender imbalance within the Office's management board members, with 24 out of 29 being male, 5 being female; asks in this regard the Commission and the Member States to take into account the importance of ensuring gender balance when presenting their nominations for members of the Board;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2092(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, the Authority, in accordance with the related fees regulation, charges fees to credit rating agencies and such fees should exclusively cover the Authority’s expenditure related to the registration, certification and supervision of credit rating agencies; notes that, in 2017, the fees that the Authority charged credit rating agencies exceeded that expenditure by EUR 853 950 and the Authority spent that surplus on other activities, while in 2018, that expenditure exceeded the fees charged to credit rating agencies by EUR 224 664; notes that the cumulated deviation for the period from 2015 to 2018 amounts to EUR 540 412; observes, furthermore, that the Authority charges fees to trade repositories in accordance with the related fees regulation, and that such fees should exclusively cover expenditure related to the registration and supervision of trade repositories; notes that, in 2017, the Authority’s expenditure related to the registration and supervision of trade repositories exceeded the related fees charged by EUR 452 466, and that, in 2018, the Authority’s expenditure in that same field exceeded the related fees charged by EUR 30 882; notes that the cumulated deviation for the period from 2015 to 2018 amounts to EUR 545 735 (or 6 %); observes that, although the Authority followed the guidance provided by the Commission, surpluses and deficits can lead to an annual cross-financing of activities; notes the Authority’s reply that in 2017, it had to reallocate resources to work on a particular risk related to trade repositories, resulting in a gap between the collected fees and the actual expenditures, while always using the Commission’s guidance on the budgeting model for its fees, and that any short-term imbalance has to be offset in the long term; calls on the Authority to avoidcontinue limiting such cross- financing, for example by adjusting the annual fees with the surpluses as long as significandt deficits from previous years or by introducviations are not recurrent ing the assigned revenue model for fee-related activitiesAuthority’s budget;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2092(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that the Authority’s workload is constantly evolving and includes both regulatory tasks and enforcing and applying Union law;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2092(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Questions whether the resources allocated to the Authority are sufficient to enable it to fully fulfil its increasing tasks, for example in the fields of securitisation, Prospectus 3 and Money Market Funds (MMFs) where the workload increased but no new staff has been allocated;
Amendment 12 #
2019/2092(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Questions whether the use of temporary workers and external consultancies rather than increasing the number of its own staff is the best use of resources in the long-term;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2092(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, in 2018, the Authority launched the procurement procedure for the renting of new office space in Paris; notes that initially the Authority had planned a joint procurement procedure with other Union bodies, such as EBA, which was, at the time, preparing for its relocation from London to Paris; notes that the Authorities came to the conclusion that the envisaged advantages of a joint procurement procedure would not materialise and that the Authority and EBA carried out separate procurement procedures for the renting of their office space and other related services, missing the opportunity for economies of scale and efficiency; calls on the Authority to cooper; calls on the Authority to strengthen cooperation with the EBA, and other agencies as appropriate, and to use joint procurement procedures wherever possible;
Amendment 2 #
2019/2090(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Banking Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority’s budget for the financial year 2018 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Banking Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Authority for the financial year 2018;.
Amendment 11 #
2019/2090(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets that cooperation between the Authority and ESMA for the preparation of a joint procurement procedure for the renting of office space in Paris was stopped and that both authorities carried out separate procurement procedures, not only for office space but also for other related services; calls on the Authority to report to the discharge authority on the reasons behind that missed opportunity for economies of scale and efficiency gains and encourages the Authority and ESMA to resume cooperation in the future;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2090(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges the measures the Authority already has in place and its ongoing efforts to secure transparency, to prevent and manage conflicts of interests, and to protect whistle-blowers; welcomnotes theat further steps takenare needed in order to prevent and manage conflicts of interest, enhance the transparency of the Authority’s activities by reporting on the meetings that the Authority’s staff have with external stakeholders, and making such reports available on the Authority’s website;
Amendment 20 #
2019/2090(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Underlines that post-public employment and ‘revolving door’ conflict- of-interest situations are a problem common to many bodies and agencies across the EU;
Amendment 21 #
2019/2090(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Underlines that post-public employment with no cooling-off period is not only affecting the reputation of EBA but of all the EU institutions;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2089(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Encourages the Institute to implement the Court's recommendations
Amendment 8 #
2019/2089(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Encourages the Institute to pursue the digitalization of its services
Amendment 2 #
2019/2088(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) discharge in respect of the implementation of Europol’s budget for the financial year 2018/ Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2088(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with satisfaction that the Agency monitored its performance by means of 38 key performance indicators, 51 other performance indicators and the implementation of around 170 specific actions planned in its work programme, with the performance reporting framework in general aimed at assessing the added value the Agency’s activities and at enhancing its budget management;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2088(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Encourages the Agency to pursue the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2088(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern that, according to the Court’s report, the Agency irregularly prolonged the duration of a framework contract for the provision of business travel services by signing amendment number 2 after the contract had expired and that, with the same amendment, the Agency also introduced new price aspects not covered by the competitive procurement procedure, making amendment number 2 and related 2018 payments irregular; notes the Agency’s reply that the framework contract extension had been initiated well in advance of its expiry and that the delay for the extension of the contract was due to the application of the principle of sound financial management; calls on the Agency to strengthen contract management and ex- ante controls;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2088(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. NoAppreciates the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest and whistle-blower protection; notes the potential conflict of interest case identified concerning a recruitment procedure in 2018; notes that no follow-up action was needed as the adviser recused himself; welcomes the publication on the Agency's website of CVs and declarations of interests for management board members and directorate;
Amendment 4 #
Amendment 5 #
2019/2087(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Raises concerns that the cancellation rate of budget appropriations carried over from 2017 to 2018 is high, at 21 %, demonstrating unjustified commitments in the previous year; calls on the Agency to carry over budget appropriations only when justified;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the Agency has revenues coming from both fees and charges payable by industry and a balancing subsidy from the Union budget; notes with concern that, according to the Court’s report, as the third registration deadline under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 expired in May 2018, income from fees and charges is expected to drop significantly from 2019 onwards; points out that there is a risk that relatively stable expenditure and much less predictable revenue may have a negative effect on the Agency’s operations and budget implementation; takes note, however, that according to the Agency’s reply, it haswelcomes the fact that the Agency has already initiated discussions with the Commission on a new, viable financing model; calls on the Agency and the Commission to keep the discharge authority updated on developments in this regard;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the fact that the Agency publishes on its website the CVs of all members of the Management Board and its Committees, including those of its chairs who are ECHA members of staff, the Executive Director and all members of the Board of Appeal;
Amendment 19 #
2019/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Welcomes the fact that the Agency collects annually updated declarations of interest from all staff and external experts, each of which is published on the website of the Agency;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 5 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2018 / Postpones the closure of the accounts of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 18 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that in the context of the European integrated border management, the largest operational activities were the 12 joint operations at the external land, air and sea borders while the main operational focus in 2018 was on the Central, Eastern and Western Mediterranean areas which experienced the most significant migratory pressure; furthermore, notes thwelcomes the close interagency cooperation, especially in the field of coastguard function but also in the field of customs and law enforcement cooperation; notes that the Agency is working towards setting proper quantitative objectives and specific target values for the joint operations expected to be included in the Single Programming Document 2021-2023;
Amendment 21 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes furthermore from the Court’s report that although the Agency continued further recruitment efforts and increased the number of staff from 526 to 630 in 2018, it still did not achieve the number of 760 staff authorised set out in its 2018 establishment plan; notes the Agency’s reply that a total of 187 vacant posts were filled, but that due to a high internal and external turnover, the net staff increase in 2018 as compared to 2017 was 117 since many posts had become vacant during the year; notes furthermore that the Agency faces challenges in attracting a large number of suitable external candidates and achieving a sound geographical balance mainly due to the low correction coefficient, which is the lowest among all the Union agencies; stresses that agencies located in countries where a low correction coefficient is applied should receive further support from the Commission in implementing complementary measures in order to make them more attractive to current and prospective staff; calls on the Commission to assess the impact and viability of applying salary correction coefficients in the future; notes that the Agency continues to have difficulties in maintaining a desirable sound geographical balance in staff deployed;
Amendment 28 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes with appreciation that the Agency participates actively in inter- institutional tenders led by other institutions, and that, in the procurement procedures of the maritime surveillance domain, the Agency seeks cooperation with Union agencies with similar activities and prepares the terms of reference accordingly; notes furthermore that in 2018 the Agency has handled its first Agency’s led inter-institutional tender procedure with the European Fisheries Control Agency;
Amendment 30 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledgppreciates the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and whistle-blower protection; notes that the whistleblowing policy was adopted on 18 July 2019; welcomes the fact that the Agency provides staff with access to confidential counsellors and trainings concerning whistle-blowing procedures; furthermore, notes that with the aim of being more transparent, the Agency launched a multilingual version of its website in all 24 official languages of the Union and that the communication strategy will be adopted by the end of 2019; regrets however that the Agency publishes statements of commitment, declaring the absence of conflict of interest for the members of the management board, the executive director, and the deputy executive director, and not declarations of interest; recalls that it is not for the members of the management board, the executive director, and the deputy executive director to declare themselves in absence of conflict of interest; calls on the Agency, with the aim to increase transparency, to publish the CVs and declarations of interest for all members of its management board, the executive director, and the deputy executive director, by June 2020;
Amendment 32 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes with concern from the Court’s report that the Agency does not have a sensitive post policy that would identify sensitive functions, keep them updated and define appropriate measures to mitigate the risks of vested interests; calls on the Agency to adopt and implement such a policy to be in line with the Agency’s internal control standards; acknowledges from the Agency's reply that at the end of 2019 the Agency was finalising the process of adopting a sensitive post policy;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2083(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. ObservesWelcomes that, in light of comments and observations from the discharge authority related to the construction of the new headquarters building and the establishment of a European school in Warsaw, that in 2019 an adequate plot of land was attributed to the Agency by the Polish authorities and planning is ongoing to build a purpose- designed premises of the Agency’s headquarters by the end of 2024, and that the board of governors of European schools is to be proposed by Polish authorities in Autumn 2019 to consider accreditation of a Warsaw associate European school of type II, which would be operational partly as from the 2020- 2021 academic year;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2081(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages the Agency to implement the Court's recommendations
Amendment 15 #
2019/2081(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Encourages the Agency to pursue the digitalization of its services
Amendment 5 #
2019/2077(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages the Agency to pursue its digitalization policy
Amendment 9 #
2019/2077(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Encourages the Agency to develop a long term Human Resources Policy Framework which addresses the work-life balance of its staff, the lifelong guidance and career development, the gender balance, the teleworking, the non discrimination, the geographical balance and the recruitment and integration of disabled people;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2076(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages the Agency to implement the Court's recommendations
Amendment 7 #
2019/2076(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Agency cooperates withclosely with other Union agencies such as the European Fisheries Control Agency and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for what concerns the European coastguard function;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Encourages the Foundation to make further use of innovative digital solutions, including e-procurement;
Amendment 2 #
2019/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the Foundation achieved a 91 % activity completion rate with a timely completion rate of 94 %, and that it succeeded in reaching its targets; notes that for 14 out of the 15 KPIs the Foundation is above the target;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that the Foundation has developed and implemented its own anti- fraud strategy since 2014, elaborated by the methodology developed by OLAF;
Amendment 2 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Administrative Director of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) discharge in respect of the implementation of Eurojust’s budget for the financial year 2018/ Postpones its decision on granting the Administrative Director of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Eurojust’s budget for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 5 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of Eurojust for the financial year 2018/ Postpones the closure of the accounts of the Eurojust for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with satisfaction that Eurojust uses quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the achievements of its objectives for its annual activities and impact, outcome indicators, its activity/output indicators and its business/ technical/ operational indicators, as well as for its support/ management/ governance indicators in order to improve its budget management; notes that Eurojust was able to measure and assess the achievement of 98 of the 119 KPIs (82 %) set for 2018, of which 72 % of the initial targets were achieved or exceeded; notes that Eurojust has introduced a number of new indicators in the 2018 Annual Work Programme for which a baseline figure does not exist, and that consequently 15 % of KPIs could not be assessed; calls on Eurojust to address this issue and ensure that all indicators can be properly assessed, and to report to the discharge authority on the progress achieved by June 2020;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages Eurojust to pursue the digitalisation of its services;
Amendment 8 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. NotesWelcomes the fact that Eurojust continues to develop strong operational cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and with other justice and home affairs partners as well as with third countries; notes that in 2018 it started negotiations for a cooperation agreement with the European Borders and Coast Guard Agency; notes that Eurojust also cooperated with the European Anti-Fraud Office, and encourages national authorities to consider involving both bodies aswhere appropriate,; and furthermore encourages Eurojust to participate on joint procurement procedures with Europol and the European Medicines Agency;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NotesAppreciates the fact that on 31 December 2018, the establishment plan was 99.04 % executed, with 207 temporary agents appointed out of 209 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 208 authorised posts in 2017); notes that in addition, 15 contract agents and 16 seconded national experts worked for Eurojust in 2018;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with appreciation that, following the Court’s suggestion of previous years, Eurojust has, since June 2019, been advertising vacancies on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office, making use of the capability to publish the titles of such vacancies in all the Union’s official languages with a link to the full text in the English language only;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with satisfaction that, in light of the observations from the discharge authority, Eurojust will consider adopting a fundamental rights strategy, including a reference to fundamental rights in a code of conduct that could define the duties of its staff and training for staff, and that it shall do so in consultation with the Commission and other Union’s agencies in order to ensure a coordinated approach;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, Eurojust signed an IT framework contract with a company which provided the same service under a previous framework contract, without prior publication of a contract notice during the negotiated procurement procedure; notes that all payments made under that framework contract and all related specific contracts are irregular and that a simplified procedure is only acceptable under specific circumstances which were not substantiated by Eurojust; notesacknowledges from Eurojust’s reply that the negotiated procedure was done on the basis of Article 134 (f) of the Rules of Application of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/246216 , which allow this procedure to be used where a change of supplier would result in incompatibility or disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, and that, therefore, this solution was considered to be the most cost-effective; calls on Eurojust to ensure compliance with public procurement rules; _________________ 16Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2462 of 30 October 2015 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 342, 29 12 2015, p 7)
Amendment 16 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledgppreciates Eurojust’s existing measures and its ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest; notes that Eurojust adopted College Decision 2019-02 on the Eurojust’s guidelines on whistleblowing applicable to all staff; notes that, according to Eurojust, training on such rules was provided during 2019, as required;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2074(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. NotesWelcomes the fact that, in light of the observations from the discharge authority, the publication of declarations of interest in the draft Code of Ethics for the College of Eurojust are at present being addressed by the project team on Rules of Procedure in t; notes that for the time being Eurojust has published draft Code of Ethics for the College of Eurojusteclarations of absence of conflict of interest; calls on Eurojust to also publish the CVs of the management board members and of its executive leadership; notes that Eurojust adopted the updated anti-fraud strategy through College Decision 2018-19 of 6 November 2018;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2073(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2018 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 89,14 %, representing a decrease of 1,91 % compared to 2017; notes furthermore that the payment appropriations execution rate was 73,64 %, representing a decrease of 2,98 % compared to 2017; calls on the Agency to improve its budget implementation and payment appropriation execution rate;
Amendment 12 #
2019/2073(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevent and manage conflicts of interest, and provide whistleblower protection; notes withis highly concerned that, in 2018, the Agency received 21 reports on cases of whistleblowing from an external source raising the problem of maladministration at the Agency, 5 of which were closed in 2017 and 17 cases are still ongoing; calls on the Agency to address the cases and the problems with the matter of urgency and report to the discharge authority on any developments in that regard; welcomes that the Agency has in place declaration of conflict of interest for management board members, for senior management and for experts and makes it available online;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2072(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages the Centre to implement the Court's recommendations;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2072(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Encourages the Centre to develop a long term Human Resources Policy Framework which addresses the work-life balance of its staff, the lifelong guidance and career development, the gender balance, the teleworking, the non discrimination, the geographical balance and the recruitment and integration of disabled people;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2072(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages the Centre to pursue the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2071(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2071(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2018/ Postpones the closure of the accounts of the of the European Agency for Safety and Health for the financial year 2018;.
Amendment 8 #
2019/2071(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NotWelcomes that the Agency proactively shares tasks with other agencies in subjects such as security, facilities management or banking services, and that it joined an inter-institutional call for tender for evaluation and stakeholders’ feedback services launched by Eurofound;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2071(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the Agency is embracing digitisation in procurement and started implementing e-procurement in November 2018 with the launch of its first e-tender and that during 2019, the Agency has also started to use a new module of the e- procurement suite, e-submission; also notes that the Agency intends to explore further use of the whole e-procurement suite during the course of 2019 and 2020;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2071(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Notes that with the proclamation of the European pillar on social rights at the end of 2017, EU-OSHA is given an important role in implementing its principles;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2070(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, according to the Agency, substantial progress was made in the sharing of resources on overlapping tasks among other agencies with similar activities; also notes that the Agency shared efforts with other science-based agencies including the European Chemicals Agency and the European Food Safety Authority on issues around human health; welcomes the fact that there is a growing interest for EEA information and data; is of the opinion that dissemination of environmental information is of key importance in light of dangers of climate change and the new Commission’s policies;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2070(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes from the Court’s reportDeplores that, following the termination of a 1,4 million euro contract due to a contractor’s unsatisfactory performance, the Agency signed, a few months later, a new 2 million euro contract “in cascade” for the same type of service with the same contractor without inserting in the technical specifications elements to neutralise the risk of similar problems arising again under the new contract; calls on the Agency to award contracts only if satisfactory performance can be expectedis of the opinion that such contracting behaviour raises serious concerns on the agency’s sound financial management calls on the Agency to award contracts only if satisfactory performance can be expected; and asks EEA to report back to the ECA and the discharge authority on the performance of the contractor;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2070(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevent and manage conflicts of interests, and provide whistleblower protection; raises concerns that the Agency does not put in place declarations of conflict of interest for in house experts;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2070(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses that the publication of CVs and Declarations of interest of Management Board members should be obligatory and not done on a voluntary basis;
Amendment 2 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre’s budget for the financial year 2018 / Postpones its decision on granting the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Centre for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2018 / Postpones the closure of the accounts of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with appreciationWelcomes that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2018 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 100 %, the same rate as in 2017; notes that the payment appropriations execution rate was 98;02 %, representing an increase of 3,31 % compared to the previous year;
Amendment 9 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Encourages the Centre to pursue the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with satisfaction that the Centre has general provisions in place on building and sustaining a working culture based on dignity and respect to prevent and fight against harassment; acknowledges that it makes confidential counselling available;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with appreciationWelcomes the fact that the Centre put in place a procurement plan in line with the Centre’s management plan, which was successfully executed in close collaboration with all units;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, the Centre did not attract a reasonable number of tenderers in low- value procurement procedures and that in five of these procedures only one candidate submitted a tender and two tenders were submitted in one procedure; notes that, according to the Centre’s reply, it duly invited the number of tenderers required by the applicable financial rules to ensure the necessary level of competition; calls on the Centre to pursue its ongoing efforts to ensure that all public procurement procedures are compliant with the principle of competition and to facilitate the participation in its procurement procedures for low-value contracts;
Amendment 16 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges the Centre’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevent and manage conflicts of interest, and provide whistleblower protection; notes that the CVswith satisfaction that the CVs and declarations of interest of the Director and the members of the scientific committee are published on its website;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes with concern that, according to the Centre, several recommendations included in the 2015 IAS audit on IT project management have been only partly implemented and that, at the end of 2018, two recommendations were still outstanding; notes, however, that these two recommendations were expected to be implemented by mid-2019; calls on the Centre to report to the discharge authority on the progress achieved by June 2020;
Amendment 19 #
2019/2069(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, pursuant to Directive 2008/104/EC17 and Portuguese labour law, interim workers should work under the same working conditions as workers employed directly by the user undertaking; notes, however, that the contracts did not require the temporary work agencies explicitly to respect those conditions and that there is no evidence that the Centre itself carried out any comparison between the working conditions for its own and interim staff, which causes litigation and reputational risks; notes that, according to the Centre’s reply, ithat the contract between the Centre and the temporary work agency refers to the obligation of the Centre to comply with all aspects of the applicable legislation and that, pursuant to that contract, the temporary work agency is the one exposed to the risks of litigation; highlights however that this type of situation still carries high reputational risks for the Centre; welcomes the fact that the EMCDDA is reassessing its policy for the use of temporary workers to further nationalise the latter in line with its operating needs and the legal framework; calls on the Centre to analyse the working conditions of its interim workers and ensure that they are in line with Union and national labour law; calls on the Centre to report to the discharge authority on the progress achieved by June 2020; _________________ 17Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work (OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9).
Amendment 2 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018 / Postpones its decision on granting the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2018 / Postpones the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2018;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, according to the Court’s report carry-overs of committed appropriations were high for operating expenditure, mainly due to the nature of the activities which include financing studies that span several months and often beyond year-end; notes that the Agency has introduced planning procedures to monitor the inevitable delays between the signing of contracts, deliveries and payments; notes that, according to the Agency’s reply, the deviation between the initial planned amount and the final amount carried over was of around 10 %, within the margin of tolerance and that the old application for the monitoring of the budget consumption has been replaced by a new one; calls on the Agency to improve its budget planning;
Amendment 9 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. NotWelcomes the Agency’s cooperation with other agencies, in particular the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, and the European Asylum Support Office, in order to achieve common policy objectives; welcomes the fact that, in addition, the Agency regularly supports other Union agencies to reflect obligations stemming from the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the ‘Charter’) in their work;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Encourages the Agency to pursue the digitalisation of its services;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes, in light of the related comments made by the discharge authority, that e-procurement tools have been compulsory only as of 2019 and that the Agency has introduced all e-procurement tools with the exception of e-submission, which iwas expected to be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2019; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the progress made in this regard by June 2020;
Amendment 16 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. AcknowledgWelcomes the Agency’s existing measures, and its ongoing efforts in relation to securing transparency, in relation to prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and in relation to whistle-blower protection; notes that there were a number of cases of potential and perceived conflicts of interest that were assessed and mitigated and none reported in 2018; notes with appreciation that the CVs and declarations of interest for members of the management board and executives are published on the Agency's website;
Amendment 20 #
2019/2068(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with satisfaction that, following the successful implementation of the anti-fraud strategy adopted in December 2014 and the completion of the action plan over the course of 2015 and 2016, the Agency completed the revision of the anti-fraud strategy which was adopted at the Management Board meeting in December 2018 and complemented by a specific action plan;
Amendment 4 #
2019/2067(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Encourages the Foundation to pursue the digitalisation of its services;
Amendment 8 #
2019/2067(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages the Foundation to implement the Court's recommendations as, for instance, the e-submission process;
Amendment 5 #
2019/2066(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. welcomes the Centre to develop synergies and sharing resources with the other agencies;
Amendment 8 #
2019/2066(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the CEDEFOP to pursue the digitalization of the institution;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2066(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Encourages the Cedefop to implement the Court's recommendations;
Amendment 15 #
2019/2066(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. regrets the lack of clarity regarding the geographical balance of the staff;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2064(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes that East Strat Com Task Force was granted EUR 1.1 million in 2018 for its work to address Russia’s disinformation. In 2019, the budget increases to EUR 3 million; calls for a substantial increase in the budget in order for the Union to successfully counter- attack Russia’s information war; calls for more information campaigns to better explain Union policies in the Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 42 #
2019/2064(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Supports the EEAS’s efforts in order to reinforce the all range of physical and IT security issues from the staff and buildings security with the purchasing of new security equipment, to the training of regional security officers to preserve the EEAS’s security interests and provide further security know-how by implementing a formal security risk management policy as well as the cybersecurity challenge; encourages EEAS to continue a real policy for the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 6 #
2019/2063(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. UNotes that there is a need for greater transparency and cooperation between European data protection authorities; underlines the importance of the cooperation between the EDPS and the national data protection authorities in the Member States to ensure an effective supervision and a collaboration in the preparation for the new legal framework; calls on the EDPS to inform Parliament’s Budget Control Committee on all the results achieved;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2063(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. RecognisWelcomes the EDPS’s intentions in the modernisation of its procurement processes to install an electronic workflow in order to set up a paperless mode; reiterates the importance of the interinstitutional cooperation between the EDPS and the Commission in terms of procurement, financial management and human resources; welcomes the service level agreement with the Commissions’ Directorate-General for Budget and Directorate-General for Informatics related to the IT tools “ABAC” and “Sysper II” as requested in the last discharge report; encourages EDPS to continue a real policy for the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2063(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Underlines that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union will have significant impact on the EDPS’s planned work; highlights the importance of a swift negotiation of a data deal with the United Kingdom;
Amendment 28 #
2019/2061(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Congratulates the Committee on its e-learning training with a specific area dedicated to ethics designed mainly for newcomers and placed on the first page of the Committee's intranet for easy access for all; appreciates the publication of whistleblowing procedures, occupational activities of former senior officials, etc. on the Committee’s website in the context of transparency; encourages the Committee to continue a real policy for the digitalization of its services;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2057(DEC)
22. Notes that according to Article 316 and 335 TFEU, the institutions enjoy administrative autonomy and their expenditure is set out in separate parts of the budget; notes that according to the Financial Regulation, the institutions are individually responsible for the implementation of their budgets;
Amendment 35 #
2019/2057(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that according to TFEU, the institutions enjoy administrative autonomy and their expenditure is set out in separate parts of the budget; notes that according to Article 59 of the Financial Regulation, the institutions are individually responsible for the implementation of their budgets;
Amendment 36 #
2019/2057(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 39 #
2019/2057(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Welcomes the fact that the Council has showed its openness to arriving at an agreement with Parliament on how to cooperate on the discharge process.
Amendment 1 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to afford proper technical assistance to the national authorities of the Member States so that they can take up the amounts allocated;
Amendment 3 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Subheading 4 a (new)
Subheading 4 a (new)
Climate change 10b. Points out that the European Union has committed to making 20% of its budget climate-related; calls on the Commission to develop research, development and innovation in order to achieve this 20% target;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Subheading 5 a (new)
Subheading 5 a (new)
Horizon 2020 11a. Points out that the Horizon 2020 Programme enjoys the political support of the Member States; notes that research is a form of direct investment into smart, sustainable and inclusive growth that fosters employment; 11b. Considers that only by adopting an ambitious budget will the Union be able to develop scientific leadership to meet the challenges facing society in terms of employment, energy transition, digitalisation and medical and pharmaceutical research;
Amendment 14 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that trust funds should be established only when their use is justified and the required action is not possible through other existing financing channels; further calls on the Commission, in line with the principle of budget unity, to consider putting an end to trust funds that are unable to attract a significant contribution from other donors or that do not provide an added value when compared to ‘traditional’ Union external instruments;
Amendment 18 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Insists that the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO) has to be adequately financed and staffed; points out that the EPPO has to be operational already as from November 2020; stresses the importance of having a clear division of tasks and good coordination between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and OLAF;
Amendment 19 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Recalls the importance of the Youth Employment Initiative in promoting the participation and integration of young people into the labour market;
Amendment 4 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the decision of the Office’s Management Board of 6 June 2018 to release the Executive Director from his duties with immediate effect; emphasises, however, that the budget for the 2017 financial year was implemented under the supervision of the Office’s previous management; highlights that this report concerns the discharge procedure for the 2017 financial year; welcomes the designation of an ad interim Executive Director on 6 June 2018 and the appointment of a new Executive Director on 16 June 2019; recognises the commitment of the new Executive Director to deliver significant reforms ensuring solid governance; appreciates the positive message and intention for future close cooperation expressed by the new Executive Director in the public hearing of 4 September 2019 ;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the follow-up report by the Office on the observations of Parliament for the 2017 financial year, in particular corrective measures taken by the Office’s Management Board, the ad interim Executive Director and the new Executive Director in order to improve the governance structure of the Office, restore transparency and build trust; supports and appreciates the measures outlined by the 2019 EASO Governance Action Plan; urges the Office to regularly report to the discharge authority on the implementation of that Action Plan;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the efforts and appreciates the progress made on the implementation of internal control systems, including controls on procurement and expenditure operations; supports the decision to reduce and rapidly end outsourcing legal counselling by the establishment of an internal legal service; supports the Court’s observations on the need for further corrective actions;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. RecognisesNotes with satisfaction the implementation of two thirds of the corrective actions implemented by the Office regarding procurement procedures, in particular regarding the payments under irregular procurement processes, and the completion of new open procedures, which were audited by the Court without raising any comments;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the ambitious recruitment plan put in place and its positive impact on the filling of vacant managerial and other positions; urges the Office to quickly finalise the recruitmentsnotes with satisfaction the implementation of new measures aimed at preventing harassment, increasing staff well-being and reducing turnover; urges the Office to quickly finalise the recruitments in full compliance with the relevant legal procedures and to provide a regular follow up on the results achieved;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Notes with satisfaction that most members of the Management Board have published their declarations of interest and curricula vitae on the Office website; welcomes the commitment of the new leadership to raise awareness, prevent, identify and address any potential situations of conflict of interest; calls on the office to develop and implement in this sense a comprehensive strategy outlining it in their next Governance Action Plan and to report to the discharge authority on the results achieved;
Amendment 16 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Notes with appreciation the measures intended by the new Office leadership to encourage and protect whistle-blowers; recalls that a safe environment for whistle-blowers is a key element for preventing, exposing and addressing irregular and unlawful practices; expects a rapid adoption of internal rules and guidelines concerning whistle-blowing and revolving doors and calls on the Office to further report on the results achieved;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas all Union institutions ought tomust be transparent and fully accountable to all the citizens of the Union for the funds entrusted to them as Union institto perform their dutiones;
Amendment 2 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Parliament is the sole directly elected body among the Union institutions and has, with the responsibility to grant discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the procedure of giving discharge separately to the individual Union institutions and bodies is a long- standing practice accepted by all the other institutions except the Council, and whereas this procedure has been developed to guarantee transparency and democratic accountability towards Union citizens and to pursue the necessary fight against fraud;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the role of Parliament within the discharge procedure, as governed by the Treaty and the Financial Regulation; andds that, in full acknowledgment of a distinction between Parliament's and the Council’'s role as an institution giving recommendations in the discharge procedure, a distinction must be maintained in respect of the different roles of Parliament and the Councilbsolutely must be maintained in order to comply with the institutional framework laid down in the Treaties and in the Financial Regulation;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 8 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the difficulties repeatedly encountered in the discharge procedures to date due to the lack of cooperation from the Council and which is the reason whyled Parliament to refused to grant discharge to the Secretary- General of the Council in relation to the financial years 2009 to 2016 and in March 2019 for the financial year 2017;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the Council replied to the proposal of Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control on the Council discharge procedure on 2 May 2018 with an amended proposal, and that Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control sent its reaction to the Council’s amended proposal on 16 July 2018; urges the Council to react to the latest proposal swiftly so that the new arrangements for the discharge exercise can be applied as soon as possible; stresses that no answer from the Council has been received so far;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that the request to separate the budget of the European Council and the Council into one budget for the European Council and one budget for the Council, made by Parliament in previous discharge resolutions, has not been considered; insists on this separation which will contribute to better transparency in the financial management of both institutions and improve their accountability; deplores, further, its failure to give sufficient information on real estate policy;
Amendment 13 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Acknowledges improvements in the Council's process of administrative modernisation, for example that internal rules for reporting serious irregularities are published on the Council’s website along with a guide to ethics and conduct for members of staff of the Council; calls on the Council to raise awareness about these rules and to ensure that all members of staff are properly informed of their rights;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the Council agreed on the Commission proposal for a mandatory transparency register on 6 December 2017, but has still not implemented it; calls on theCouncilstrongly deplores the Council's failure to participate in the transparency register scheme; strongly calls on the latter to continue discussions on the technical aspects of the package of instruments regarding the Transparency Register, in order to achieve a political agreement between the three institutions as soon as possible;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that Parliament backed the Ombudsman’s proposals in a plenary vote related to the Ombudsman's recommendations to the Council to allow the publicEU citizens to follow the EU legislative process more easily (transparency of the Council legislative process, OI/2/2017/TE); recalls that the Council should systematically record the position of each Member State in preparatory bodies, and should develop a dedicated webpage for each legislative proposal and improve the user-friendliness of the public register of documents;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Insists that an effective budgetary control exercise requires cooperation between Parliament and the Council with due respect for their respective roles; considers that satisfactory cooperation between both institutions in the form of an open and formal dialogue procedure would be a positive sign to send to the citizens of the Union;