Activities of Barry ANDREWS related to 2021/2252(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The future European Financial Architecture for Development (debate)
Amendments (42)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the already significant SDG financing gap and caused an overall decline in resources of USD 700 billion, and, at the same time, an increase in needs of USD 1 trillion, causing a scissor effect, so that the pre-pandemic SDG annual funding gap in developing countries of USD 2.5 trillion is expected to increase by 70 % post-COVID-19, to USD 4.2 trillion (EUR 3.7 trillion)6 ; _________________ 6 OECD report of 10 December 2020 entitled ‘Global Outlook on Financing for Sustainable Development 2021: A New Way to Invest for People and Planet’.
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the entry into force of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, with an overall budget of EUR 79,5 billion, constitutes a historic change in EU external and development policies, leading to the rationalisation and consolidation of EU development spending, and giving new impetus to greater cooperation between European development actors;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), established under the NDICI-Global Europe instrument, provides funding for blending and budgetary guarantee operations, to be implemented by eligible partners in an open and collaborative approach and fully in line with EU policies standards, rules and procedures;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas Russia’s war in Ukraine has drastically exacerbated the situation of SDGs in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries; whereas the current Russian aggression in Ukraine will impact the worldwide implementation of the SDGs, especially concerning the fight against poverty and hunger, which raise the risks of growing civil unrest, conflicts and irregular migration; whereas the humanitarian consequences caused by the criminal act of Putin’s war significantly deviate the already scarce resources of development aid; whereas the long term consequences of this war are yet unknown.
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas leadership and efforts from the EU alone to achieve achieving the SDGs and the goals of the Paris Agreement and addressing other acute global challenges arequires not sufficient, and hence joint engagement at international level is required;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, for the actual achievement of the SDGs and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, policy coherence and close cooperation between all official development finance institutions, their government shareholders and all existing partners is urgently needed to ensure that scarce public money is used in the most effective and efficient way; whereas the successful mobilisation of further capital, both private and public, in addition to official development assistance (ODA) and other existing forms of development finance, is critical;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the EU Institutions and the 27 EU Member States together constitute the largest donor for developing countries, responsible for approximately 46% of the total ODA provided by all OECD ODA members to developing countries; whereas the major shortfall in SDG financing and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been devastating across the developing world, demands an extraordinary sustained response from all EU actors and a system- wide review of the European Financial Architecture for Development (EFAD);
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the establishment of the Team Europe approach as the global EU response to COVID-19 could help to establish a single strategic coordination framework for the EU’s external response to the pandemic, in support of partner countries and other major disasters, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, in support of partner countries; whereas this approach is a promising process in enabling further cooperation between the EU institutions, the Member States and European bilateral and multilateral development finance institutions, the EIB and the EBRD, continuously increasing the EU’s collective effectiveness and visibility;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas EU companies and financing institutions operating in developing countries during the last decade have increasingly faced unfair competition from global players that operate outside the multilateral development finance system which provides for an international sets of rules and regulations, such as specific requirements for ODA, officially supported credits, sustainable lending and debt sustainability, prohibited export subsidies, or international standards to combat bribery and corruption;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Emphasises that the EFAD should provide for an efficient, effective, coherent and inclusive architecture, underpinned by the policy first principle as the backbone of the EFAD structure, and in line with the strategic interests and values of the EU;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 b (new)
Subheading 1 b (new)
Insists that all implementing partners who are part of the EFAD and access EU budget funds under the EFSD+ apply the full range of EU social, human rights, procurement, transparency, and environment standards, policies and procedures; calls on the European Commission to assess, monitor and report back on the adherence to these EU rules;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the policy-first-driven European financial architecture for development (EFAD) should be guided by the principles and objectives set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and that it contributes to achieving the SDGs;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the EU’s political engagement should be embodied in its multiannual financial framework and fully reflected in its European Financial Architecture for Development;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. sStrongly insists that EFAD must strengthen the strategic partnerships between the European Union and its global development partners, notably the African Union; reiterates that such partnerships should always be based on mutual respect and dignity, shared interests and values, particularly human rights, gender equality, environmental, social and climate responsibility, health and security, in order to respond jointly to global challenges and achieve sustainable results for peace and stability in the long term; stresses in this regard the multidimensional influence of and support to Putin’s regime in and by the African continent and calls on the EU and its Member States to carefully assess these cases when building on the existing and new partnerships;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the undeniable interconnection between development and security and recalls that, without peace and security, development and poverty eradication are not possible, while without development and poverty eradication neither sustainable peace, nor human nor state security can occur; highlights the role that development plays in preventing conflicts, ensuring durable exits from conflicts and bolstering crisis management; insists on the importance of further developing a well-tailored development- security nexus to address the complexities of modern crises and violent situations;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the role of a collective, coherent EU approach, politically savvy and tailored to the specificities of the partner country, which could be effective in helping to foster the expansion of social protection systems in developing countries and would help bridge the gap between security and development, with social protection being one of the foundations of the social contract and the way to enhance resilience;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that consistency across all EU financing instruments, initiatives and strategies, notably the new NDICI- Global Europe instrument, Team Europe initiative and the new Global Gateway strategy, is crucial in order to maximise the EU’s global response to sustainable growth, development and peace;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Believes that the EFAD should improve the EU’s visibility and the impact of its development finance in the world, in order to ensure that the EU’s perceived role in the world matches the magnitude of its support;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Stresses that eradication of poverty (SDG1), climate action (SDG 13), good health and well-being (SDG 3), with a particular focus on the most marginalised groups and leaving no-one behind are especially acute challenges in today’s world;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. iIs alarmed at how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the long-standing structural drivers of health inequalities; believes, therefore, that the EFAD should particularly promote investments in healthcare and healthcare services, also in research and development of new health technologies;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls for exploring the possibility of creating a platform for sharing innovation, knowledge and expertise, supporting multi-stakeholder partnerships, fostering public-private dialogue, and exploring innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. believesUnderlines that developing and, even more so, developed countries have a shared responsibility to achieve the SDGs; points out, therefore, that EFAD and the long- awaited EU SDG strategy must reflect and facilitate a coordinated and coherent set of internal and external EU policies and commitments, including through the full set of already existing development policy tools; regrets, in that context, that the Commission has not yet developed an integrated and holistic SDG implementation strategy;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises the need to enhance and improve the institutional set-up, reduce heavy bureaucratic coordination and strengthen institutional flexibility, in order to maximise EFAD’s potential, thus increasing development impact;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned that key features of the Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) principle are systematically missing in regulatory initiatives of the EU; insists that mechanisms for ensuring policy coherence for sustainable development must be enshrined in EFAD and used more systematically and efficiently by all relevant EU institutions and all Member States, including at the highest political level;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. DAcknowledges the Commission’s efforts for better regulation with the aim of creating long-term sustainable investments which promote health and the well-being of people and planet and protecting human rights; demands that EFAD be consistent with future EU due diligence and corporate responsibility legislation and that it adhere to the highest standards of transparency and accountability;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. BNotes that the Team Europe approach emerged as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic; believes that the Team Europe approach should play a key role in further improving strategic cooperation and global coordination and the coherence and effectiveness of development efforts, especially at partner- country level , and believes that it has the potential to further identify key issues that need to be solved, notably stronger policy direction and focus, and stronger mechanisms for communication and visibility;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to put forward a powerful EU policy direction and to further align the EU development financial institutions’ activities within the new open architecture in order to achieve EU development policy objectives; is of the opinion that the programming process must fully cover the use of EU budgetary guarantees, notably the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD +) ;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to ensure that EFAD pursues the goal of restoring the multilateral development finance system in order to help put an end to the unsustainable lending practices of some countries operating outside that system which not only threaten the level playing field for the EU and other compliant countries, but also dramatically increase the already high external debt of many developing countries which were made even more vulnerable as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic; highlights in that light that the war in Ukraine further worsens the debt burden in many developing countries;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. cConsiders EU taxonomy to be an important tool for achieving the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris Agreement; calls on the Commission to further develop the EU taxonomy, elaborating on the six environmental objectives established in the Taxonomy Regulation and enacting further delegated acts to that effect; strongly believes that it is imperative that development finance institutions both at EU and Member State level, and private actors active in development, base their activities, in particular also in developing countries, on the new EU taxonomy regime;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. rReaffirms the European Investment Bank’s specific role – which is set out in Article 209 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in Article 36 of the ‘Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe’ – as the EU’s financial arm with a global reach, delivering EU investments and partnering with the European Commission in implementing the Global Gateway;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the setting-up of EIB Global, a dedicated development branch within the EIB Group, which has been operational since 1 January 2022, hopes that this new branch will enable the EIB to enhance its local presence and become more involved and be more effective in financing for development at country level ;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the EIB and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to further reinforce their complementarity and their business models through greater mutual reliance initiatives, as the needs are greater than their joint resources and they can easily divide their work along different trajectories;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Encourages the EIB, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European development banks and financial institutions to strengthen their cooperation, drawing on their respective financial expertise, added value and resources ;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the EIB to work more closely with the African Development Bank to finance long-term investments that foster sustainable development, building on cooperation to date;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recognises the importance and potential of Member State development banks within the EFAD structure; stresses the pressing need to boost private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa and the difficulties encountered in serving this area of development cooperation;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to report annually on Team Europe initiatives evaluating the resources mobilised, development planning and impact, harmonisation and application of EU standards, the EU integration perspective and Member States’ involvement ;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates that institutional control and scrutiny of EU funding fosters democratic debate and helps to boost the credibility of the EU; calls for obligations ensuring appropriate visibility of the implementation of EFAD and calls on the Commission to take action in an appropriate and timely manner where those obligations are not met;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. iInsists that the Member States honour their commitment to spend 0.7 % of their gross national income on ODA; is alarmed that, in 2020, official development assistance from advanced economies was on average just 0.32% of their gross national income – less than half of the 0.7% commitment 1a , whilst the impact of the war in Ukraine on government spending around the globe will put further pressure on aid budgets which are already low; underlines the important role of ODA as a catalyst for change and a lever for the mobilisation of other resources; stresses the importance of the EU’s commitment to mobilise resources for climate action and the EIB’s role in making progress in this area as well as to help meet climate targets, eradicate poverty and increase healthcare;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Stresses the need for crowding in private capital in order to help tackling the existing 2.5 trillion dollars gap identified for meeting the SDGs by 2030, and in order to finance investments in the most vulnerable regions and LDCs, where needs are the greatest;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Takes note of the two-pillar solution for addressing the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation and globalisation of the economy, as agreed by the members of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting; calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that the agreed global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% for Multinational Enterprises is effectively applied; underlines that this minimum tax is estimated to generate around USD 150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually;