Activities of Max ORVILLE related to 2023/0138(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97
Amendments (34)
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), which initially consisted of Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/9719 , Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 199720 and the Resolution of the European Council of 17 June 1997 on the Stability and Growth Pact21 , is based on the objective of sound and sustainable government finances as a means of strengthening the conditions for price stability and for strong sustainable growth conducive to employment creation underpinned by financial stability, thereby supporting the achievement of the Union’s objectives for sustainable and inclusive growth and employmentiming at full employment and social progress. __________________ 19 Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 of 7 July 1997 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies (OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 1). 20 Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure (OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6). 21 Resolution of the European Council on the Stability and Growth Pact Amsterdam, 17 June 1997 (OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 1).
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to better take into account the growing heterogeneity of fiscal positions, public debt challenges and other vulnerabilities across Member States. The strong policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic proved highly effective in mitigating the economic and social damage of the crisis, but the crisis resulted in a significant increase in public- and private-sector debt ratios, underscoring the importance of reducing debt ratios to prudent levels in a gradual, sustained and growth-friendly manner and addressing macroeconomic imbalances, while paying due attention to employment and social objectives. At the same time, the economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to help address the medium- and long-term challenges facing the Union including achieving a fair digital and green transition, including the Climate Law22 , ensuring energy security, open strategic autonomy, addressing demographic change, strengthening social and economic resilience and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights and the strategic compass for security and defence, all of which requires reforms and sustained high levels of investment in the years to come. __________________ 22 The European Climate Law sets a Union-wide climate neutrality objective by 2050 and requires Union institutions and Member States to progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, requiring significant public investment to reduce the negative socio-economic impacts of climate change on the EU and its Member States, including negative impacts on growth and fiscal sustainability.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) National medium-term fiscal- structural plans should bring together the fiscal, structural reforms and investment commitments of each Member State and these plans should be the cornerstone of the economic and social governance framework of the Union. Each Member State should present a medium-term plan that sets out its fiscal trajectory as well as priority public investment and reform commitments that together ensure sustained and gradual debt reduction and sustainable and inclusive growth, avoiding a pro-cyclical fiscal policy, as well as broader reform and investment commitments, including in relation to the green and digital transitions, social and economic resilience and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including the related targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction by 20301a. During the lifetime of the Recovery and Resilience Facility25 , commitments undertaken in the national Recovery and Resilience Plans should be duly taken into account. __________________ 1a COM(2021) 102 final 25 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17).
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Cohesion policy funds are also synchronised with the European Semester process. As the long-term investment policy of the EU budget strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion, cohesion policy investments and reforms should also be duly taken into account in the drawing of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plans. Each Member State should also explain how its national medium-term fiscal-structural plan will ensure consistency with the expenditure on EU programmes fully matched by EU funds revenue and the relevant national co- financing.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the implementation of the medium-term fiscal- structural plans, the Commission and the Council should monitor the reform and investment commitments made in these plans under the European Semester, based on the annual progress reports submitted by the Member States, and in accordance with the provisions of Articles 121 and 148 TFEU. To that effect, they should engage in a European Semester dialogue withclosely involving the European Parliament.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) To ensure a more gradual debt reduction, the adjustment period can be extended by a maximum of 3 years if the Member State underpins its medium-term fiscal-structural plan with a set of verifiable and time-bound reforms and investment that, taken altogether: are growth-enhancingenhance sustainable and inclusive growth, support fiscal sustainability, address the common priorities of the Union, address relevant country-specific recommendations addressed to the Member State under the European Semester, and address the country-specific investment priorities without leading to cuts in other nationally financed public investment over the adjustment period in order to ensure a macroeconomic impact of investments and avoid crowding out of other investment priorities.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29 a) In order to promote upward social convergence, the multilateral surveillance procedure set out in Article 148(4) TFEU is complemented with an early warning system within the European Semester, whereby the Commission pursuant to Article 148 TFEU alerts a Member State at an early stage about the need to take the necessary corrective measures to prevent a social imbalance. To detect, prevent and address a social imbalance, the Commission draws on situations identified as critical in the Social Scoreboard, and on clear deviations from the trajectory of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including the related targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction by 2030.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
In order to ensure closer coordination of economic and employment policies and sustaineable upward convergence of the economic and social performance of the Member States as well as the implementation of the Union's common priorities, the Council and the Commission shall conduct multilateral surveillance within the European Semester in accordance with the objectives and requirements set out in the TFEU. Multilateral surveillance shall rely on high quality and independent statistics, produced in accordance with the principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the formulation, and the surveillance of the implementation, of the employment guidelines that are to be taken into account by Member States in accordance with Article 148(2) TFEU, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Social Scoreboard and its headline and secondary indicators, and of the related country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(d a) a early warning system for social imbalances, pursuant to Article 148 TFEU;
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) explain how it will ensure the delivery of investment and reforms responding to the main challenges identified within the European Semester, in the country-specific recommendations, correct the identified macroeconomic imbalances under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure if applicable, correct the identified social imbalances under the early warning system for social imbalances if applicable, and address the common priorities of the Union referred to in Annex VI of this Regulation, including the European Green Deal, European Pillar of Social Rights and the Digital Decade while being consistent with the updated National Energy and Climate Plans and the National Digital Decade Roadmaps;
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. The annual progress report referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain in particular information about the progress in the implementation of the net expenditure path, the implementation of broader reform and investment commitments in the European Semester context and the common priorities of the Union referred to in Annex VI and, if applicable, in the implementation of the set of reform and investment commitments underpinning an extension of the adjustment period.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
The European Parliament shall be duly involved in the European Semester in order to increase the transparency and ownership of, and the accountability for the decisions taken, in particular by means of an economic dialogueand employment dialogue as well as for setting macroeconomic and social policy priorities. The Economic and Financial Committee, the Economic Policy Committee, the Employment Committee and, the Social Protection Committee, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions shall be consulted within the framework of the European Semester where appropriate. Relevant stakeholders, in particular the social partners and civil society organisations, shall be involved within the framework of the European Semester, on the main policy issues where appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the TFEU and national legal and political arrangements.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
In order to enhance the dialogue between the institutions of the Union, in particular the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, and to ensure transparency and accountability, the European Parliament may invite the President of the Council, the Commission and, where appropriate, the President of the European Council or the President of the Eurogroup to appear before it to discuss the policy guidance to Member States issued by the Commission, conclusions drawn by the European Council and the results of multilateral surveillance carried out under this Regulation, including early warning systems established pursuant to Articles 121(4) and 148 TFEU.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point j
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point j
(j) Total public investment expenditure, as well as reforms and public investment expenditure addressing each of the common priorities of the Union referred to in Annex VI.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point l
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) A quantification, as much as possible, of the expected impacts of reforms and investment referred to under point (k) on fiscal sustainability, growthsustainable and inclusive growth, competitiveness and employment, where applicable in line with commonly agreed methodologies.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(n a) If applicable, reforms and investments to correct the identified social imbalances under the early warning system for social imbalances.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point n
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point n
(n) Information on labour market, skills and social policy developments, and on the implementation of policy measures taken that foster upward social convergence among Member States towards better working and living conditions, in line with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Employment Guidelines under Article 148 TFEU. That includes the expected impact of measures, in relation to progress on the national targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction by 2030, and if applicable the expected impact of measures to correct identified social imbalances under the early warning system for social imbalances.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
(o a) Information on the consultations of social partners, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders in view of the preparation of the report.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to better take into account the growing heterogeneity of fiscal positions, public debt challenges and other vulnerabilities across Member States. The strong policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic proved highly effective in mitigating the economic and social damage of the crisis, but the crisis resulted in a significant increase in public- and private-sector debt ratios, underscoring the importance of reducing debt ratios to prudent levels in a gradual, sustained and growth-friendly manner and addressing macroeconomic imbalances, while paying due attention to employment and social objectives. At the same time, the economic governance framework of the Union should be adapted to help address the medium- and long-term challenges facing the Union including achieving a fair digital and green transition, including the Climate Law22 , ensuring energy security, open strategic autonomy, addressing demographic change, strengthening social and economic resilience and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, as well as the strategic compass for security and defence, all of which requires reforms and sustained high levels of investment in the years to come. In this context, the integration of a Social Convergence Framework in the European Semester should foster upward social convergence and should improve the assessment and monitoring of employment and social developments in the Member States and the Union. _________________ 22 The European Climate Law sets a Union-wide climate neutrality objective by 2050 and requires Union institutions and Member States to progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, requiring significant public investment to reduce the negative socio-economic impacts of climate change on the EU and its Member States, including negative impacts on growth and fiscal sustainability.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) In order to promote upward social convergence, the multilateral surveillance procedure set out in Article 148(4) TFEU should be complemented with an early warning system within the European Semester through a Social Convergence Framework. Within the Social Convergence Framework the Commission, pursuant to Article 148 TFEU, first identifies risks to upward convergence for Member States in the Joint Employment Report based on the Social Scoreboard headline indicators. In the second stage, the Commission identifies Member States requiring further examination and publishes the ‘Social Convergence Reports’ for those Member States identified as facing risks to upward social convergence. The country-specific conclusions of the multilateral surveillance activities under the new framework should provide input to the Commission’s reflection on CSR proposals.
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Cohesion policy funds are also synchronised with the European Semester process. As the long-term investment policy of the EU budget strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion, cohesion policy investments and reforms should also be duly taken into account in the drawing of the national medium-term fiscal-structural plans. Each Member State should also explain how its national medium-term fiscal-structural plan will ensure consistency with the expenditure on EU programmes fully matched by EU funds revenue and the relevant national co- financing.
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) Investments have proven to be an essential part of the economic and social recovery after the pandemic, as well as following inflation and the rise of the energy prices, In addition to investments in infrastructure, multiannual social investment in human capital, in particular in education, health and labour market integration could harness the opportunities for societal and individual growth and consequently should be subject to favourable treatment in the macro-economic governance procedure and taken into consideration in the fiscal path of a Member State.
Amendment 242 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) Each national medium-term fiscal- structural plan should be drafted following a consultation process, conducted in accordance with the national legal framework, of local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders. The national medium-term fiscal-structural plan should include an explanation the implementation of the consultation process and how the input of the stakeholders is reflected in the plan;
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the implementation of the medium-term fiscal- structural plans, the Commission and the Council should monitor the reform and investment commitments made in these plans under the European Semester and the Social Scoreboard, based on the annual progress reports submitted by the Member States, and in accordance with the provisions of Articles 121 and 148 TFEU. To that effect, they should engage in a European Semester dialogue with the European Parliament.
Amendment 415 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(b a) a recommendation by the Council based on a proposal by the Commission pursuant to Article 148(4) TFEU or reflecting the outcomes of the Social Convergence Framework;
Amendment 599 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Article10a Consultations with relevant stakeholders Prior to the submission of its national medium-term fiscal-structural plan, the Member State concerned shall hold a consultation process, conducted in accordance with the national legal framework, of local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
Amendment 613 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The national medium-term fiscal-structural plan shall also describe the actions of the Member State concerned to address the country-specific recommendations, including those that are relevant for the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure, as well as the challenges identified in the social convergence reports under the Social Convergence Framework, and the warnings by the Commission, where applicable, or the recommendations by the Council, where applicable, made pursuant to Article 121(4) TFEU9 TFEU, Article 121(4) TFEU, Article 148 TFEU and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 656 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) explain how it will ensure the delivery of investment and reforms responding to the main challenges identified within the European Semester, in the country-specific recommendations, correct the identified macroeconomic imbalances under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure if applicable, and the challenges identified in the social convergence reports under the Social Convergence Framework and address the common priorities of the Union referred to in Annex VI of this Regulation, including the European Green Deal, European Pillar of Social Rights, and the Digital Decade while being consistent with the updated National Energy and Climate Plans and the National Digital Decade Roadmaps;.
Amendment 679 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) explain how the consultation process was conducted and how the input of the stakeholders is reflected in the plan.
Amendment 732 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point iv
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point iv
(iv) address relevant country-specific recommendations addressed to the Member State concerned, including, where applicable, recommendations issued under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure; and Social Convergence Framework under Article 148 TFEU;
Amendment 861 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(f a) whether the consultation process was adequately conducted whether the input of the stakeholders is reflected in the plan.
Amendment 880 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
The Council, on a recommendation from the Commission and after consulting the relevant advisory committees identified in Article 26, shall adopt a recommendation setting the net expenditure path of the Member State concerned and, if applicable, endorsing the set of reform and investment commitments underpinning an extension of the adjustment period included in its national medium-term fiscal-structural plan within fourbetween six and ten weeks ofrom the adoption of the Commission recommendation as a rule, depending on the reform and investment commitments included in the plan.
Amendment 1152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point n
Annex III – paragraph 1 – point n
(n) Information on labour market, skills and social policy developments, and on the implementation of policy measures taken that foster upward social convergence among Member States towards better working and living conditions, in line with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Employment Guidelines under Article 148 TFEU. That includes the expected impact of measures, in relation to progress on the national targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction by 2030, and if applicable the expected impact of measures to address the challenges identified under the Social Convergence Framework.