Activities of Miriam LEXMANN related to 2023/0200(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing the Ukraine Facility (A9-0286/2023 - Michael Gahler, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The European Council of 23 June 2022 decided10 to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine, which expressed a strong will to launch the EU accession process for Ukraine and to link reconstruction with reforms on its European path. Ongoing strong support to Ukraine is a key priority for the Union and an appropriate response to the Union’s strong political commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. _________________ 10 European Council Conclusions, 23-24 June 2022; EUCO 24/22.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Union is also providing significant financial support through an additional package combining funds under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI) established under Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council12 and, as well as assistance under the Instrument for Pre- Accession (IPA), which among many things includes the thematic and cross- border cooperation priorities and key performance indicators to assess the readiness of the acceding countries and effectiveness of the assistance, as well as loans by the European Investment Bank. _________________ 12 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 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009 (OJ L 209, 14.6.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Given the damage from Russia’s war of aggression to the Ukrainian economy, society and infrastructure, the support to the country to maintain its functions, as well as short relief, fast recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine will require comprehensive support and an institutional finance management and reform capacity provided by the Union for Ukraine, which is adequate to the needs of recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine to rebuild the economy, to create the foundations of a free and prosperous country, anchored in European values, well integrated into the European and global economy, and progressing well on its path of accession to the European Union.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In this context, it is necessary to set up a medium-term single instrument that brings together the bilateral support provided by the Union to Ukraine, ensuring coordination and efficiency. To that end, it is necessary to establish a Ukraine Facility (‘the Facility’), giving a necessary public and private finance management and reform implementation capacity and providing a balance between flexibility and programmability of the Union’s response to address Ukraine’s financing gap, recovery, reconstruction and modernisation needs, while at the same time supporting Ukraine’s reforms effort as part its accession path to the Union.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Ukraine Facility should be underpinned by a coherent and prioritised plan for reconstruction and accession (the ‘Ukraine Plan’), prepared bytogether by the EU and the Government of Ukraine, providing a structured and predictable framework for the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine, with EU's budgetary, reform and investment support and clearly articulated with Union accession requirements.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In this regard, Union support under the Facility should replacebe complimentary with the bilateral support provided under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), as well as under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI) established under Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council. It is nevertheless important to ensure that Ukraine can continue to benefit from regional, thematic, rapid response, and other forms of support under NDICI, including cross-border cooperation programmes, and more generally continue to advance regional, macro-regional and cross-border cooperation and territorial development, including through the implementation of Union macro-regional strategies.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The recovery, reconstruction and modernisation effort should build on Ukraine’s ownership,a shared Union's and Ukraine’s ownership, joint public and private finance management enterprise, as well as a close cooperation and coordination with supporting countries and organisations, and Ukraine’s path towards accession to the Union. Regional and local administrations are also expected to play an important role. PA joint management of programmes, acts, action plans or measures and peer-to-peer cooperation and programmes embedded in partnerships between cities and regions in the Union and those in Ukraine should enrich and accelerate the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation process.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Support under the Facility should also build on and maximise synergies with G7 Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine, key organisations supporting Ukraine’s reforms and reconstruction, such as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the International Monetary Fund.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The enlargement policy framework, including the assistance under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) which constitutes the overall policy framework to prepare beneficiaries for future membership of the Union and to support their accession process, defined by the European Council and the Council, the association agreement, partnership and cooperation agreement, multilateral agreements to which the Union is a party and other agreements that establish a legally-binding relationship with Ukraine, as well as resolutions of the European Parliament, communications of the Commission and joint communications of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy should constitute the overall policy framework for the implementation of this Regulation. The Commission should ensure coherence between the assistance under the Facility and the enlargement policy framework.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) It is in the common interest of the Union and Ukraine to advance the efforts of Ukraine to reform its political, legal and economic systems with a view to Union membership. Considering Ukraine as a future member of the Union and a candidate to accession is a strategic investment of the Union in peace, security, stability and prosperity in Europe and allows the Union to be better positioned to address global challenges. It also provides increased economic and trade opportunities to the mutual benefit of the Union and Ukraine as an aspiring Member State, while supportensuring a gradual transformation of theUkraine as a beneficiary country. The prospect of Union membership has a powerful transformative effect, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Reconstruction from the damage caused by the war of Russian aggression cannot be limited to rebuilding what was destroyed as it was before the war. The reconstruction offers an opportunity to support Ukraine in its process of fostering economic integration with the Union and promoting socioeconomic development, assistance for cross-border cooperation, integration into the Single Market and in accelerating its sustainable green and digital transitions, in line with Union policies. The Facility should promote reconstruction in a way that modernises and improves Ukraine’s economy and society, building on Union rules and standards, by investing in the transition of Ukraine towards a green, digital and inclusive economy and in the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of its critical infrastructure, productive capacity and human capital in a resilient way.
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Union support should be organised around three pillars, namely (i) financial support to the Ukrainian State for the implementation of reforms and investments, as well as to address the financing gap and maintain macro- financial stability of the country, as set out in the Ukraine Plan as part of Ukraine's EU accession; (ii) a Ukraine Investment Framework to mobilise investments and enhance access to finance; (iii) accession assistance to mobilise technical expertise and capacity building.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) The overall maximum amount for the Union support to the Facility should be EUR 50 billion in current prices for the period from 2024 to 2027, for all types of support. In light of the evolving circumstances and of the objectives of the Facility itself, the Union support needs to provide a balance between flexibility and programmability. This amount is only an indicative one and will be revised upwards in the course of events, as it reflects the needs assessments made before March 2023 by the intenational institutions for the reconstruction of Ukraine to overcome the damages of Russia's war of aggression, to address immediate humanitarian needs of Ukraine and to restore Ukraine's access to financial markets as well as a sustainable level of its public revenues.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) The Union should establish the Ukraine Facility programming framework 2024-2027 for the duration of the Union's current multiannual financial framework. A Framework agreement should be concluded with Ukraine to set up a joint programming and implementation mechanism, the principles of the financial cooperation between the Union and Ukraine, including necessary mechanisms to control and audit expenditures. Financing and loan agreements should also be concluded with Ukraine, where appropriate depending on each pillar, to define conditions for releasing funds.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 66
Recital 66
(66) Ukraine together with the Union should prepare the Plan as a coherent, comprehensive and adequately balanced response to rebuilding and modernising Ukraine, supporting its economic, social and environmental recovery and its progress towards accession to the Union. As such, the Ukraine Plan would also provide a basis for other donors to identify the priority funding areas for the reconstruction of Ukraine and foster ownership, coherence and additional contributions to that end. For that purpose, Ukraine should ensure that the Plan as prepared covers its recovery, reconstruction and modernisation needs in an integrated manner, identifying to what extent the measures of the Plan are expected to be financed by the Union through the Facility. In preparing the Plan, Ukraine should take into account support provided under other Union programmes. Ukraine should develop its Plan ensuring that other donors are able to contribute to supporting the measures of the Plan, including by increasing the funding available under the Facility.
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 82
Recital 82
(82) Under pillar II of the Facility, an investment framework should be set up by the Union, aiming to support recovery and reconstruction investments undertaken by private sector companies, municipalities, state-owned enterprises or other actors. The Ukraine Investment Framework should address priorities identified in the Ukraine Plan, and support its objectives and its implementation. The Ukraine Investment Framework should involve Ukrainian authorities in its governance.
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 91
Recital 91
(91) The Commission should ensure that the financial interests of the Union are effectively protected under the Facility. To this end, an independent Audit Board should be set up to provide the Commission with information on possible mismanagement of funds. Such information should be made available to OLAF and where appropriate to the relevant Ukrainian authorities. The Commission, with the assistance of the Union delegation, should be entitled to perform checks on how Ukraine implements funds under a joint mechanism along the whole project life cycle. The Audit Board should ensure regular dialogue and cooperation with the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) Pillar I: financial support to be provided to Ukraine for the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the country as a future member of the EU and for the delivery of reforms and investments to implement the Ukraine Plan as well as to support Ukraine's budget and maintain macro- financial stability of the country, as set out in Chapter III;
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) address the social, economic and environmental consequences of the war, thereby contributing to the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the country under a joint mechanism and by shared ownership;
Amendment 265 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) provide an additional support for Ukraine in adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required to comply with Union values and to progressively align withto Union rules, standards, policies and practices (‘acquis’) with a view to future Union membership, thereby contributing to mutual stability, security, peace, and prosperity and sustainability.
Amendment 302 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Cooperation under the Facility shall be based on and shall promote the development effectiveness principles, where applicable, across all modalities, namely shared ownership of development priorities by Ukraine and the Union, a focus on results, inclusive development partnerships, transparency and mutual accountability. The cooperation shall be based on effective and efficient resources allocation and use.
Amendment 304 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Support from the Facility shall be additional to the support provided under other Union programmes and instruments, including under the Instrument for Pre- accession (IPA). Activities eligible for funding under this Regulation may receive support from other Union programmes and instruments provided that such support does not cover the same cost.
Amendment 320 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. A precondition for the support to Ukraine under the Facility shall be that Ukraine continues to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system,stitutions and the rule of law, and to guarantee respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; it would also include a strengthened focus on economic development and improved competitiveness, which are the crucial areas of Ukraine's EU accession process.
Amendment 346 #
Ukraine Facility programming framework and Framework agreement
Amendment 347 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Assistance under this Regulation shall be based on a Ukraine Facility programming framework for the delivery of the specific objectives referred to in Article 3. The Commission shall establish the Ukraine Facility programming framework for the duration of the current multiannual financial framework 2021- 2027. The Ukraine Facility programming framework shall be developed in accordance with the policy framework and general principles set out in Article 4. The Ukraine Facility programming framework shall include indicators for assessing progress towards the achievement of the specific objectives referred to in Article 3. The Ukraine Facility will havea a shared ownership between the Union and Ukraine and will establish an institutional public and private finance management and reform capacity under a joint programming and implementation mechanism for rebuilding of Ukraine, which is adequate to the needs of its recovery, reconstruction and modernisation. The Commission shall conclude a framework agreement with Ukraine for the implementation of the Facility setting out specific arrangements for the management, control, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and audit of funds under the Facility, as well as to prevent, investigate and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest. The framework agreement shall be complemented by financing agreements in accordance with Article 10 and loan agreements in accordance with Article 21, setting out specific provisions for the management and implementation of funding under the Facility.