Activities of Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA related to 2020/0104(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility
Amendments (42)
Amendment 15 #
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 transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economic are important to achieve sustainable growth and overall help create jobs, as well as foster mid-term competitiveness. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains. and boosting a knowledge based economy
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of reforms and related public investments in thethat will entail an improvement of the sustainability and competitiveness of Member States economics. The Facility should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes.
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy, together with other economic development objectives, and the translation of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Facility established by this Regulation will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and environmental sustainability and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives.s long as they may not hinder European Union’s industry growth capacity, affected as it has been by COVID-19 crisis
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to implement these overall objectives, relevant actions will be identified during the Facility’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. Also, due attention should be paid to the impact of the national plans submitted under this Regulation on fostering not only the green transition, but also the digital transformation and the development of a knowledge based economy. They will both play a priority role in relaunching and modernising our economy.
Amendment 105 #
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, and supporting the green a competitive knowledge based economy 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 and competitive growth.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. To achieve that general objective, the specific objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to provide Member States with financial support with a view to achieving the milestones and targets of reformsstructural reforms ( including those of public administration systems) and investments as set out in their recovery and resilience plans. That specific objective shall be pursued in close cooperation with the Member States concerned.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The amounts referred to in paragraph 1(a) may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of each instrument and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, in so far as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, corporate information technology tools, and all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission. Member States or intermediary management agents for the management of each instrument. Expenses may also cover the costs of other supporting activities such as the obligatory quality control and monitoring of projects on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of reforms and investments.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be transferred to the Facility. (except for ERDF, EAFRD and ESF+) The Commission shall implement those resources directly in accordance with point (a) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation. Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. In pursuance of the objectives set out in Article 4, Member States shall prepare national recovery and resilience plans. These plans shall set out the reform and investment agenda of the Member State concerned for the subsequent four years as well as yearly objectives. Recovery and resilience plans eligible for financing under this instrument shall comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects through a coherent package, which should comprise yearly objectives, as well as an indicators and implementation evaluation system.
Amendment 147 #
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 greenknowledge based economy and digital transition. 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 […]
Amendment 162 #
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 the improvement of the business fabric,, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 163 #
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, the improvement of the business fabric, and its contribution to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) an explanation of how the measures in the plan are expected to contribute to the greenknowledge based economy and the digital transitions or to the challenges resulting from them;
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point h
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point h
(h) the accompanying measures that may be needed; amongst other issues the reduction of national bureaucracies and increase of public private partnerships
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 4
Article 15 – paragraph 4
4. In the preparation of proposals for their recovery and resilience plan, Member States may request the Commission to organise an exchange of good practices in order to allow the requesting Member States to benefit from the experience of other Member States. Member States, and that shall he made public to the rest of the European institutions and bodies once it may have become consolidated. may also request technical support under the Technical Support Instrument in accordance with the regulation thereof.
Amendment 181 #
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 transition, boosting energy efficiency in housing and other key sectors of the economic are important to achieve sustainable growth and help create jobs as well as foster midterm competitiveness. It will also help make the Union more resilient and less dependent by diversifying key supply chains and boosting a knowledge based economy.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The Commission shall assess the importance and coherence of the recovery and resilience plan and its contribution to the greenknowledge based and digital transitions, as well as competitive economy and for that purpose, shall take into account the following criteria:
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the greenknowledge based economy and the digital transitions as to develop a competitive economy or to addressing the challenges resulting from them;
Amendment 194 #
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 competitive growth potential, job creation, and economic and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, and contribute to enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) whether the justification provided by the Member State on the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible, as well as a payment plan in accordance with legislation, and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment;
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point f
(f) whether the recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investments projects that represent coherent actions, and they might as well help job growth and the development of a knowledge based society;
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) whether the arrangements proposed by the Member States concerned are expected to ensure an effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the envisaged timetable, payment plan, milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 207 #
(f) the arrangements for providing access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data, from the regional, local and national administrations.
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to implement these overall objectives, relevant actions will be identified during the Facility’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. Also, due attention should be paid to the impact of the national plans submitted under this Regulation on fostering not only the green transition, but also the digital transformation and the development of a knowledge based economy. They will both play a priority role in relaunching and modernising our economy.
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to enable measures to be taken that link the Facility to sound economic governance, with a view to ensuring uniform implementing conditions, the power should be conferred on the Council to suspend, on a proposal from the Commission and by means of implementingdelegated acts, the period of time for the adoption of decisions on proposals for recovery and resilience plans and to suspend payments under this Facility, in the event of significant non-compliance in relation to the relevant cases related to the economic governance process laid down in the Regulation (EU) No XXX/XX of the European Parliament and of the Council [CPR] (…). The power to lift those suspensions by means of implementingdelegated acts, on a proposal from the Commission, should also be conferred on the Council in relation to the same relevant cases.
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
(20a) To ensure broad debate and consensus at national level on the proposed measures, the plan shall be prepared in close cooperation with relevant national and regional stakeholders such as local authorities, social partners, private sector and civil society representatives. The plan shall be approved by the respective national parliament before being submitted officially to the Commission.
Amendment 514 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) For the purposes of transparency, the recovery and resilience plans adopted by the Commission should be communicated simultaneously to the European Parliament and the Council and communication activities should be carried out by the Commission as appropriate.
Amendment 537 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) It is opportune that the Commission provides an biannual 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 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.
Amendment 559 #
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 implementingdelegated act. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementingdelegated powers should be conferred on the Commission. The implementingdelegated powers relating to the adoption of the recovery and resilience plans and to the payment of the financial support upon fulfilment of the relevant milestones and targets should be exercised by the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the examination procedure thereof13 . After the adoption of an implementingdelegated 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 1180 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) whether the justification provided by the Member State on the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment, as well as a payment plan in accordance with legislation;
Amendment 1232 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall adopt a decision within four monthsix weeks 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 1296 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 7
Article 17 – paragraph 7
Amendment 1323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Where the Commission considers that the reasons put forward by the Member State concerned justify an amendment of the relevant recovery and resilience plan, the Commission shall assess the new plan in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 and shall take a new decision in accordance with Article 17 within four monthsix weeks of the official submission of the request.
Amendment 1326 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 3
3. Where the Commission considers that the reasons put forward by the Member State concerned do not justify an amendment of the relevant recovery and resilience plan, it shall reject the request within four monthsix weeks of its official submission, after having given the Member State concerned the possibility to present its observations within a period of one monththree weeks of the communication of the Commission's conclusions.
Amendment 1338 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. Payment of financial contributions to the Member State concerned under this Article shall be made in accordance with the budget appropriations and subject to the available funding. The Commission decisions referred to in this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).
Amendment 1349 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Upon completion of the relevant agreed milestones and targets indicated in the recovery and resilience plan as approved in the implementingdelegated act of the Commission, the Member State concerned shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution and, where relevant, of the loan tranche. Such requests for payment may be submitted by the Member States to the Commission on a biannual basis. The Commission shall assess, within two months of receiving the request, whether the relevant milestones and targets set out in the decision referred to in Article 17(1) have been satisfactorily implemented. For the purpose of the assessment, the operational arrangement referred to in Article 17(6) shall also be taken into account. The Commission may be assisted by external experts.
Amendment 1412 #
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 implementingdelegated 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.
Amendment 1453 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Article 24 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall provide an biannual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility set out in this Regulation.
Amendment 1461 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
2. The annual report shall include information on the progress made with the recovery and resilience plans of the Member States concerned under the Facility.
Amendment 1466 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The annual report shall also include the following information:
Amendment 1517 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Amendment 1518 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2