Activities of Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES related to 2022/0212(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 - all sections (debate)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 - all sections
Amendments (18)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with deep concern that the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine and its worldwide effects, including rising food and energy prices, have dramatically increased humanitarian assistance needs, which were already under pressure because of funding gaps and the multiplication of crises in the world; underlines that the numerous and consistent top-ups of the Union’s annual humanitarian budget over the past years have proven the initially allocated funding not to be sufficient to cover the humanitarian needs for the entire year; recalls that as of mid- July 2022, 95 % of the Union’s humanitarian resources had already been committed; insists that humanitarian aid is life-saving, with many millions of lives dependent on the Union’s assistance; calls to significantly increase humanitarian aid by at least EUR 900 million to address the unprecedented gap between needs and available resources, which currently stands at $36.9 billion – the highest ever1 ; calls on the Member States to live up to the commitment to dedicate 0,7 % of their gross national income (GNI) to development and aid; _________________ 1 OCHA Global Humanitarian Overview 2022, Mid-Year Update, https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global- humanitarian-overview-2022-mid-year- update-snapshot-21-june-2022.
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reminds that to meet the additional needs caused by the war in Ukraine, resources should not be diverted from other geographic regions or thematic priorities; calls for an increase of EUR 20 million in commitments for each of the following geographic programmes: West Africa as well as East and Central Africa, to help implement anticipatory and medium to long-term locally led climate adaptation actions to increase the resilience of small-scale local food production and compensate for climate-change induced loss and damage; asks for additional resources to be allocated to the Southern Neighbourhood in order to support peace and stability through political, economic and social reforms as well as gender equality in the relevant countries; underlines the importance of continued support for allies, among other in the Rojava region, in the fight against terrorism;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is extremely alarmed by the deepening food insecurity, with up to 345 million people across 82 countries estimated to be acutely food insecure in 20222 ; calls for additional funding for the “Prosperity” thematic programme of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) to help partner countries develop resilient sustainable agri-food systems and reduce their dependence on food imports20222; points out that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations expects that the consequences of the war in Ukraine will raise the number of undernourished people by 7.6 to 13.1 million in 2022 and 2023, in addition to the 811 million people who were already facing chronic hunger in 2020; calls for additional funding for the “Prosperity” thematic programme of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) to help partner countries develop resilient sustainable agri-food systems, enhance local food production including agroecological practices, promote small- scale producers and local communities, invest in interventions for food security to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reduce partner countries’ dependence on food imports; calls on the Union to increase its contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and to encourage other international partners to fairly contribute as well, as WFP suffers from an EUR 8 billion shortfall; _________________ 2 WFP Global Operational Response Plan 2022, June Update, https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP- 0000140306/download/?_ga=2.9396989.99 022134.1657279887- 893066287.1657279887.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the need to ensure that funds from the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) be mobilised for humanitarian crises outside the EU throughout the whole financial year; underlines the need to ensure predictability of humanitarian aid by guaranteeing appropriate level of commitment appropriations;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls to increase thematic programmes of the NDICI-Global Europe and to focus on human development investments, in particular through the “People” thematic programme, to address growing inequalities; as required by the 20 % budgetary target set in Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a, and in particular through the “People” thematic programme, to address growing inequalities and support women’s, girls’ and children’s rights and needs, including preventing their exposure to gender-based violence, and their participation in building peace; underlines that that programme should also focus on education and social protection with a gender-responsive approach; reiterates the importance of cultural heritage and encourages the Union and its Member States to facilitate dialogue and share best practices on the protection, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage in the framework of that instrument, in particular of indigenous peoples and local communities, and support agreements for the return of cultural property to its country of origin; _________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, amending and repealing Decision No 466/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009 (OJ L 209, 14.6.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to support partner countries to buy and eventually produce vaccines and treatments, as well as to develop more robust health systems and close access gaps to essential health servic against COVID-19 and other serious endemic diseases, such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and to increase support for global programmes and initiatives, as well as to develop more robust health systems and close access gaps to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health and care; points out that 52 countries are unlikely to achieve pre-COVID government health spending over the next 5 years; underlines that development aid should primarily be dedicated to deliver “horizontal” universal health care system coverage through a holistic and rights-based approach, which entails i.a. addressing fully the multidimensional nature of health (with close links to gender, food security and nutrition, water and sanitation, education and poverty); stresses that universal public health coverage must be associated with the expansion of the coverage of social health protection mechanisms during and beyond crises;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out the need to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation measures as well as actions for the protection of biodiversity in partner countries through the “Planet” thematic programme, which should receive adequate funding in view of making a decisive contribution to the goal of dedicating USD 100 billion yearly to climate change adaptation in developing countries, as agreed in the COP 2009 in Copenhagen; calls for an increase in appropriations for the protection of biodiversity under NDICI-Global Europe given the fact that reaching the 2026 and 2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) biodiversity targets remains insufficient; underlines that the effects of climate change are intersectional and affect vulnerable groups the most, which must be accounted for when designing interventions; points out the need to coherently address the targeted promotion of renewable energy partnerships and expansion, including renewable hydrogen, while respecting energy sovereignty and natural resources of partner countries and the prioritisation of their energy needs;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Reminds that to meet the additional needs caused by the Ukraine war, resources should not be diverted from other geographic regions or thematic priorities;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Reiterates the need to increase support for civil society organisations and human rights defenders who are facing growing legal and administrative harassment and criminalisation and to ensure adequate support to sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, LGBTIQ+ people, human right defenders, minorities and other marginalised populations; calls on the Union to act and pursue an intersectional development policy that empowers women, including the full implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan III;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is extremely alarmed by the deepening food insecurity, with up to 345 million people across 82 countries estimated to be acutely food insecure in 20222 ; points out that FAO expects that the consequences of the Ukraine war will raise the number of undernourished people by 7.6 to 13.1 million in 2022 and 2023, in addition to the 811 million people who were already facing chronic hunger in 2020; calls for additional funding for the “Prosperity” thematic programme of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) to help partner countries develop resilient sustainable agri-food systems and reduce their dependence on food imports; calls on the EU to increase its contribution to the UN World Food Programme, which suffers from a €8bn shortfall; _________________ 2 WFP Global Operational Response Plan 2022, June Update, https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP- 0000140306/download/?_ga=2.9396989.99 022134.1657279887- 893066287.1657279887.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is alarmed that there is no margin under Heading 6 in draft budget 2023, which underscores that the multiannual financial framework does not provide sufficient means for Union’s external action and needs to be revised.; urges the Member States to agree to a significant increase in Heading 6 to an extent that is ambitious enough to address the current challenges of the Union's external action; calls for an urgent comprehensive revision of the MFF to increase overall ceilings under Heading 6 and to improve the functioning of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR); insists that the SEAR cushion (amounting to 25 % of the instrument) be allocated strictly on a needs basis and notes with concern the uneven mobilisation of the SEAR; calls for particular attention to be paid to third countries’ needs to ensure that funds from the SEAR be mobilised for humanitarian crises outside the Union; underlines the need to ensure predictability of humanitarian aid by guaranteeing appropriate level of commitment appropriations;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Is deeply concerned with the stalling implementation of the SDGs and the estimated annual SDG financing gap of USD 3.7 trillion; reiterates its call to urgently come up with a designated plan to finance the SDGs, including clearly defined quantifiable targets allowing for the monitoring of SDG-related spending under the Union budget and calls to enhance financial support by the Union and its international partners to multilateral systems and international partner organisations in order to ensure contributions are made in core resources;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Is deeply concerned with the stalling implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the estimated annual SDG financing gap of USD 3.7 trillion; reiterates its call to urgently come up with a designated plan to finance the SDGs, including clearly defined quantifiable targets allowing for the monitoring of SDG-related spending under the EU budget;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls to increase thematic programs of the NDICI-Global Europe and to focus on human development investments, in particular through the “People” thematic programme, to address growing inequalities and support women’s and girls’ rights;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to support partner countries to buy and eventually produce vaccines and treatments against Covid-19 and other serious endemic diseases, such as AIDS, as well as to develop more robust health systems and close access gaps to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health and care, which experience disproportionate pressure due to the fallout of COVID-19; points out that 52 countries are unlikely to achieve pre-COVID government health spending over the next 5 years;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out the need to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in partner countries through the “Planet” thematic programme, which should receive adequate funding in view of making a decisive contribution to the goal of dedicating 100 billion dollars yearly to climate change adaptation in developing countries, as agreed in the COP 2009 in Copenhagen; reminds that the EU has a great responsibility in this matter, since European countries have been among those that have contributed the most to carbon emissions in recent decades;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Reiterates the need to increase support for Civil Society Organizations and human rights defenders, whose protection and empowerment strikes at the heart of SDG 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies and who are facing growing legal and administrative harassment and criminalization;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is alarmed that there is no margin under Heading 6 in draft budget 2023, which underscores that the multiannual financial framework does not provide sufficient means for Union’s external action and needs to be revised to an extent that is ambitious enough to address the current challenges of the EU external action.