30 Amendments of Billy KELLEHER related to 2019/2211(INI)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the improvement in the economic situation and low interest rates provide an opportunity to implement ambitious reforms, in particular measures aimed at encouraging public investment to tackle climate change and its social consequences and create full-time jobstructural reforms;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, in view of the climate change emergency, the EU’s Annual Growth Survey (AGS) has now been renamed the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS), and considers that this implies a change in the positioning of the report and the implementation of ecological indicators;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers achieving a fair transition to climate neutrality to be a major responsibility for the EU’s citizens and economy and its role in the world; calls for appropriate support and policies, with involvement for and of the public, the various sectors, regions and Member States with a view to benefiting from this transformation and making it a success; calls on the Commission to undertake an annual evaluation of the Union’s ecological debt, carbon budget and imported emissions;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Emphasises that Member States must increase productivity through productive investments that can stimulate much-needed potential economic growth;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Stresses that intra-European foreign direct investment can lead to productivity gains for both the investing firm and local firms in the host regions, and helps generate economic convergence within Europe; considers that clear and enforceable rules, a level playing field and reduced compliance costs are crucial factors for attracting investment, a key component of the EU Single Market that delivers economic growth, creates jobs and secures prosperity for our citizens;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Highlights the urgent Need for a fully-fledged capital markets union, as better integrated financial markets could provide for further private risk-sharing and risk-reduction mechanisms, facilitate cross-border investments and access to finance for SMEs and the real economy, and promote sustainable investments
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Considers that reforms removing disproportionate red tape to investments would both facilitate economic activity and create conditions conducive to long- term growth;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5 e. Stresses that increasing productivity growth requires investment in skills, innovation, Automation, digitalisation, R&D, sustainable mobility and infrastructure, and emphasises the need to invest in both physical and human capital, and thereby calls on the Member States to ensure equal access to lifelong education, upskilling and retraining to best prepare our citizens to face the challenges of the Digital age;
Amendment 166 #
6. Endorses the conclusion of the European Fiscal Board (EFB) that the fiscal framework has not protected the quality of public expenditure, and welcomes the EFB’s proposal for a ‘golden rule’ to protect public investment, provided that it is framed within clear parameters to prevent circumvention; calls, therefore, for the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the introduction of a golden rule aimed at implementing sound fiscal policy on an equal footing with investment within the EU’s policy objectives; whereas this should cover the investment foreseen for the realisation of the Green Deal, the Digital Revolution, the SDGs and the EPSR Rights, including expenditure aimed at reducing poverty and inequality related to social protection, health services and long-term care, and education and training;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. SharesTakes note of the concern expressed in others of the EFB European Fiscal Boards’s conclusions regarding the pro- cyclical elements in the EU fiscal rules, which forced Member S; tatkes to adjust their economies in a poor or difficult economic situation, failing to improve the quality of public finance and promote investment; welcomes the EFBnote of the European Fiscal Board’s recommendation of a seven-year cycle mirroring the MFFulti-Annual Financial Framework so as to better coordinate Member States’ public accounts, and especially investmentregarding investment, thus helping them attain much-needed converge;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the debt levels of all the Member States are above the pre-crisis level and are expected to exceed 60 % in 2021; further notes that in six Member States the ratio will be higher than 90 %; highlights the fact that the fiscal rules have not contributed to bringing down the debt levels of highly indebted countries but have, rather, increased them;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports flexibility in the implementation of the SGP as proposed by the Commission in 2015; considers that much more flexibility should be introduced in order to boost investment and ecological transition in the EU; calls, therefore, for the reform of the SGP and the introduction of a euro area fiscal capacityArgues that the SGP process has to be accompanied by rules that avoid pro- cyclicality and incentivize countercyclical policy measures;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Is concerned that the low interest rates during a long growth period will lead to misperception about the high burden of indebtedness for future generations.
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of the efficient regulation of the banking and financial sectors in order to prevent a new crisis; believes that such regulation must integrate the ecological situation; emphasises the importance of completing the Banking Union and the need to reform the European Stability Mechanism;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Points out that macro-financial stability and sound public finances remain a precondition of sustainable growth;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls for those Member Stateswith high levels of deficits and public debt to undertake continuous efforts to reduce them; acknowledges the efforts made by a number of Member States to consolidate their public finances, but regrets the fact that some have missed the opportunity to carry out the necessary reforms;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Welcomes that some Member States with good fiscal space have consolidated even further;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Urges the Member States to build appropriate fiscal Buffers;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)
Paragraph 15 f (new)
15 f. Welcomes the Commission’sefforts to encourage those Member States with current account deficits or high external debt to improve their competitiveness;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the systematic inclusion of tax matters in the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs), with the aim of ensuring economic coherence across EU Member States as well as the fairness of EU tax systems; believes that the CSRs could ensure a fair balance between sources of revenue and should alsoBelieves that the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) should include innovative elements aiming at promoting the Green Deal; further believes that they should also support Member States in tackling tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning where necessary;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Recalls that the degree of implementation of the country-specific recommendations is too low; believes that the focus of the European Semester should be on national ownership; urges national and regional parliaments to debate country reports andcountry- specific recommendations and to engage with the relevant actors; Points out that a more streamlined and more focused European Semester could increase ownership;