Activities of Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES related to 2020/2131(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A new strategy for European SMEs (debate)
Amendments (44)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to Article 3(3) TEU which refers to internal market, sustainable development and social market economy,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
- having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (2019/2956(RSP)),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)
Citation 10 c (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 19 February 2020 entitled ‘Shaping Europe’s digital future’ (COM(2020)0067),
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 d (new)
Citation 10 d (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 11 March 2020 entitled ‘A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe’ (COM(2020)0098),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Europe's moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 b (new)
Citation 12 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Adjusted Commission Work Programme 2020’ (COM(2020)440),
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 d (new)
Citation 12 d (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 1 July 2020 entitled ‘European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience’ (COM(2020)0274),
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 e (new)
Citation 12 e (new)
- having regard to the Annual Report on European SMEs 2018/2019 of November 2019,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 f (new)
Citation 12 f (new)
- having regard to the OECD Report ‘The Missing Entrepreneurs 2019’ of December 2019,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission’s communication ‘An SME strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe’ was published on 10 March 2020, while on 11 March the WHO issued the COVID-19 pandemic alert, rendering the economic, social and political environment referred to by the Commission out of datemaking a revision of the strategy necessary, due to the change in many economic, social and political conditions; whereas the Commission’s strategy presented in March still proposes valid solutions to address the structural challenges SMEs were facing prior to the COVID-19 crisis and the upcoming ones related to the environmental and the digital transitions;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the economic crisis and the consequent grim economic outlook triggered by the pandemic has brought a considerable number of SMEs to the verge of insolvency; whereas the liquidity crunch many SMEs are suffering from will not only have negative repercussions on their day-to-day operations, but also on their future growth perspectives, preventing them from properly planning long-term investments;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas, despite the COVID-19 emergency, the environmental and digital transitions are still a priority since the pandemic has not stopped the climate emergency and the European Union is still facing competition from other global players in the digital and technological sphere; whereas innovation represents an effective way for SMEs to build long-term and sustainable growth;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas many SMEs still lack full access to digitalisation; whereas focus on R&I and skills should accompany, according to the Digital Economy and Society Index 2020, many SMEs still lack full access to digitalisation and are lagging behind large firms both in terms of digital skills and digitalisation of their operations; whereas the use of data represents a competitive advantage in order to reap the benefits of the digital transition, and the focus on skills should go hand in hand with the enhancement of access tothe digital infrastructure as well as with the improvement of data access for SMEs;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas in the European Union there are still “missing entrepreneurs”, such as youth, women, migrants, seniors, whose entrepreneurial potential still needs to be fully developed; whereas the enhancement of the entrepreneurial culture of under-represented or disadvantaged categories can represent an instrument to enable them to fully contribute to the digital and environmental transitions and to increase their participation in the labour market;
Amendment 63 #
G. whereas the costs and complexities of administrative procedures still represent a major obstacle for SMEs’ access not only to intellectual property protection in several Member States, but also to funding opportunities, including those under the scope of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF);
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas the public administration, both at the European and at the national level, has a key role in ensuring the ease of doing business and in promoting investments aiming to boost economic competitiveness, while safeguarding the highest standards of transparency and workers’ health and safety;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on the European Commission to adopt a roadmap identifying the areas for reducing the administrative burden which SMEs suffer from and the way forward, as well as sharing best practices in this domain with the scope of helping Member States undertake concrete actions to make the regulatory framework on SMEs less cumbersome; underlines that, in order to monitor the effectiveness in the reduction of the red tape, it is also important to assess such measures ex-post, taking into account the SMEs perspective and not undermining workers’ rights and environmental standards;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that SMEs will improve their competitiveness and their access to global markets only if supported by a structured and predictable ecosystem both at the local level and internationally; recalls in this regard the role of chambers of commerce operating at the local level and abroad; recallwarns that smaller and micro- enterprises risk exclusion from global markets in the absence of adequate support;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Points out that the strategy on SMEs should be based on an approach that puts knowledge first since a skilled workforce is essential to make SMEs thrive and enable them to successfully cope not only with the environmental and digital transitions, but also with the traditional challenges these enterprises have faced; is of the opinion that those capabilities many SMEs are still lacking, should be prioritised, such as digital literacy, public procurement literacy and financial education as well as credit and supply chain management skills; deems that the chambers of commerce can have a central role in identifying the skills shortage at local level; calls for the development of a specific approach on micro-enterprises skills;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the opening of fast-track training programmes in digitalisation through the Digital Europe programme; stresses that training is instrumental to enhancing the skills of SME personnel in areas such as blockchain, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; calls on the Commission to carry out an ex post evaluation in order to ensure that the programme meets its objectives; agrees with the European Commission that at least one Digital Innovation Hub per Member State[1]should have a high degree of specialisation in artificial intelligence1a; _________________ 1aWHITE PAPER On Artificial Intelligence - A European approach to excellence and trust - COM(2020) 65 final
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes that, in order to make public administration more business friendly, e-government tools, digital innovation policies and the enhancement of digital skills should be promoted within the public sector and among its employees; calls on the Commission to ensure the exchange of national and regional best practices in the field, with specific reference to the public management of economic competitiveness;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for pervasive EU innovation policies and instruments to also support non-digital SMEs, particularly in traditional sectors where digitalisation is not well developedt only those SMEs that would innovate in any case, but also, according to their needs, those lagging behind, particularly in traditional sectors where digitalisation is not well developed; underlines in this regard the potential of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities as they represent an effective way to enhance the collaboration between SMEs, research centres and universities with the scope of promoting local entrepreneurship and addressing the most urgent societal challenges of our age; insists that Horizon Europe represents a priority and needs robust funding;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the role of vocational training and of lifelong learning, which is essential for promoting the absorptionreskilling and the upskilling of graduates and unemployed workers to enable their absorption into the labour market, and ensuring that SMEs can count on properly trained staff; encourages Member Statesthe Commission and Member States to enhance the collaboration in order to make the best use of the forthcoming European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) and the, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Just Transition Fund (JTF) according to the specific needs of the local communities; welcomes that the JTF will, among other things, funnel investments towards SMEs in order to contribute to the reduction of social inequalities;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets that the gender gap in entrepreneurship and access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises led by women still persists; welcomes the gender-smart financing initiative that the Commission will launch; calls on the Commission to assess the barriers that still hamper from fully unleashing women’s entrepreneurial potential and to enhance the exchange of best practices also when it comes to boosting women's skills and self-confidence in this field; underlines that the use of sex- disaggregated data will help make this assessment more thorough and will improve the overall quality of the decision-making process;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that SMEs involved in traditional handicrafts represent a particularly vulnerable segment of the SME network; acknowledges their historical, cultural, economic and social value, and calls on Member States to ensure the sector’s competitiveness;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that following the WHO’s pandemic alert, trade restrictions and supply chain disruptions have increased, demonstrating once again the need for the European Union to gain industrial autonomy and to ensure that strategic value chains, including the manufacturing industry, are located within its borders;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Is deeply concerned that the tourism and the hospitality industry, which is largely composed of SMEs, has been one of the sectors hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis; underlines the importance of continuous swift measures aiming at restoring and retaining the trust among travellers and operators; calls on the Commission to enable the exchange of best practices among Member States and regions to contribute to identifying the way forward for the sector’s recovery;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for special support for social SMEs, including cooperatives, as already called for in the European Parliament’s position on the COSME programme, since they create public value for the local communities where they are rooted; points out that social innovation should be further encouraged;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Regrets that the Recovery Plan dedicated little focus to SMEs, and calls for measures to ensure access for SMEs; reminds the Councildoes not promote gender-sensitive policies and measures in this field; reminds the Council that there is an immediate need to restore the liquidity of SMEs to ensure their basic functioning and warns that the post- COVID- 19 survival of SMEs will depend on swift decision-making and adequate funding;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets that numerous SMEs, including micro-entreprises and startups, are unable to access EU funding because of the excessive complexity of the relevant procedures and eligibility criteria; calls on the Commission to reduce such barriers and to further support tailored incentives for SMEs, including micro-enterprises;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Recalls that, in order to help startups thrive, it is crucial to ensure “patient capital” enabling them to grow even when the business they are developing is not immediately marketable; welcomes in this regard the role of the European Innovation Council and, in particular the dedicated budget for SMEs in Horizon Europe;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Urges Member States to guarantee equitable access to bank lending for SMEs; notes the importance of traditional banking models, including small regional banks, savings cooperatives and public bodies; is of the opinion that the initiatives of the Capital Markets Union can also help SMEs grow through alternative ways of accessing finance, which are not as much developed in the European Union as elsewhere;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for increasing SMEs’ share of government contracts obtained from public procurement by safeguarding SMEs’ access, including through the division of larger contracts into smaller lots, and combating tendering criteria that set demands or qualifications beyond the fundamental elements of the service or goods purchased;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Stresses the need to strengthen tools to protect SMEs when third countries adopt illegal measures having a negative impact on EU businesses;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that the COVID-19 crisis has pushed SMEs towards innovative technologies and, business models as well as new forms of work organisation, such as e-commerce and, the sharing economy, and calls and remote working; points out that a share of SMEs was not ready to swiftly adapt to the new circumstances; calls in this regard on the Commission to ensure that R&I investment is geared towards SME participation; calls also for the respect of workers’ rights throughout this process;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Regrets that only 17 % of SMEs have so far successfully integrated digital technology into their businesses, and calls for instruments such as the Enterprise Europe Network and; points out that, in order to bridge the Ddigital Innovation Hubs to be reviewed in ordergap, it is necessary to increase the share of graduates in STEM subjects and to assddress and improve their effectivenessthe gap women are facing in this field; welcomes in this regard the European Skills Agenda;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Recalls the importance of instruments such as the Enterprise Europe Network and the Digital Innovation Hubs, which are essential to enable the internationalisation, the digitalisation and the pursuit of innovation of SMEs at the local level, including in the environmental field; calls also for the assessment of their outreach through a thorough analysis of the categories of enterprises benefitting from their action, in order to improve their effectiveness and to ensure that these instruments are fit for purpose;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Welcomes the Green Deal package with specific regard to the measures immediately beneficial to the European SMEs, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and the initiatives of the so- called “renovation wave”; points out that the right to repair, while beneficial to consumers, can push SMEs into entering the reparation market segment and that policies aiming at increasing the energy efficiency of buildings can be beneficial not only to the SMEs of the construction sector, but also to promote energy savings among other small and medium firms, thus contributing to reducing their operational costs; calls for the enhancement of a market for Energy Service Companies (ESCos);
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21 c. Is of the opinion that sustainability advisors will be essential in promoting green opportunities among SMEs, including micro-enterprises, and will enable them to understand the changes in the environmental legislation as well as the opportunities arising from the Green Deal, in line with their structure, business model and, more generally, their needs, since there is no one-size-fits-all approach;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for a binding SME test able to assess the economic impact of legislative proposals on SMEs; calls for a proper assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the planned tightening of current CO2 targetin this regard for a comprehensive assessment of the potential costs and burdens for European SMEs and of the effects on workers;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls the need to actively involve SME and workers’ representatives in policy-making in order to reach a sustainable approach to the Green Deal objectives, which need to be based on accurate sustainability assessmen; recalls, in this regard, the importance of promoting social dialogue in designing and implementing SME policies, coherently with the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls that achieving climate neutrality is a global challenge, and notes that a carbon border mechanism can play an essential role in protecting the competitiveness of European SMEs, while pushing for the adoption of higher environmental standards by the EU’s international trade partners; underlines that such an instrument should not be detrimental to the functioning of the Single Market and that consumers, especially those of Member States heavily relying on imports from third countries, should be protected; affirms that a carbon border mechanism should go hand in hand with an overall industrial policy aiming at the promotion of strategic value chains that are based in the European Union, in order to increase its industrial autonomy;