212 Amendments of László SURJÁN
Amendment 30 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Violence against religious communities, with political, socio- economic or ideological roots, persists in many parts of the world; clear condemnation by the European Union of all forms of violence and discrimination should be a basic element of EU policy in the area of freedom of religion or belief. Particular attention should be given to the position of those who changed their religion or belief, as in practice they are often the subject of social pressures, intimidation or outright violence.
Amendment 41 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) As the draft Guidelines state, in accordance with the principles accepted by the international community, manifestation of freedom of religion or belief may be subject only to «such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others»7 ; this is an exhaustive list: limitations in order to protect, for example, national security are therefore not permitted; at the same time, the limitations must be proportionate with regard to the protected rights of others and the right balance must be achieved; the proportionality criterion should therefore be stressed in the Guidelines.
Amendment 43 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) While freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are mutually reinforcing rights, in cases where these two rights are invoked against each other, the EU should also recall that modern media tools can afford a close interconnectedness between cultures and faiths. Therefore steps need to be taken to avoid inter- cultural violence as a reaction to acts of freedom of expression related to criticism and especially ridicule; the EU should help in reducing such tensions, for example by promoting mutual understanding and dialogue.
Amendment 47 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) It should be stressed in the Guidelines that an indispensable part of freedom of religion or belief is the right to manifest the freedom of religion or belief in community with others; this includes: - the freedom to worship or assembly in connection with a religion or belief, and to establish and maintain places of worship and religious sites, for these purposes; - the freedom to establish and maintain appropriate religious, social and charitable institutions with legal personality and organisational acharitable or humanitarian institutions; - the freedom to solicit and receive voluntary financial and other contributionomy, including the freedom to appoint personnel and leaders of these institutions without external interference from the state,s from individuals and institutions. - the freedom to train, appoint, elect or designate by succession appropriate leaders called for by the freedom to provide religious teaching and training, the freedom to exercise one's ministry, the freedom to observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays and ceremonies in accordance with the precepts of one'squirements and standards of any religion or belief; - the freedom to establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion orand belief andt the freedom to carry out charitable activitienational and international levels. Equally, it should be noted in the Guidelines that the right to exercise religion in community with others should not unnecessarily be limited to officially recognised places of worship, and that all undue limitations to the freedom of assembly should be condemned by the EU.
Amendment 53 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) The EU should take action when registration requirements for religious or belief-related organisations unduly limit the freedom of religion or belief. Registration should not be understood as a prerequisite for the enjoyment of one's human right to freedom of religion or belief, as that right cannot be conditional upon administrative or legal requirements. The EU should call for the abolishment of any legislation, such as the mandatory registration of one's religion in civil status documents, if this legislation leads to discrimination against persons holding non-religious beliefs or persons who have changed their religion or belief;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) The EU should continue its initiatives in various multilateral fora in order to promote and protect the freedom of religion or belief. Whenever relevant, the EU will assist third countries in drawing up legislation promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief.
Amendment 74 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) In accordance with Article 36 of the Treaty on the European Union, the European Parliament should be involved in the evaluation of the implementation of the Guidelines which should take place no later than three years after the Guidelines have come into force. The evaluation should be based on an analysis of the EU response to concrete situations related to the violation of freedom of religion or belief in third countries. The European Parliament should be regularly informed of areas or developments of concern, as reported by the EU delegations. Its relevant committees will receive detailed information.
Amendment 75 #
2013/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(r a) The EU Special Representative on Human Rights should see the protection of freedom of religion or belief as an important aspect of his/her mandate and will have a visible role in promoting this freedom through the external relations of the EU. He/she should be formally charged to liaise with the European Parliament on this issue and engage in a structural dialogue with relevant non- governmental organisations such as EPRID.
Amendment 11 #
2013/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – indent 1 (new)
- Urges that open questions during MFF negotiations should be solved as soon as possible, because any further delay can increase Euro-scepticism and provides an image of failure on the functioning of the European Union’s institutions. It also brings a bad message before next year’s European elections.
Amendment 19 #
2013/0156(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
However, it shall apply retroactively to Member States, with effect from the date on which the financial assistance was made available to those Member States in accordance with Article 77(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006.
Amendment 34 #
2012/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Eweida and others v. the United Kingdom, where the Court declared that Ms Eweida enjoys the protection under Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and that her refusal to take off the cross from her neck at the workplace is in accordance with Article 9 § 1, which declares that freedom of religion also encompasses the freedom to manifest one's belief, alone and in private but also to practice in community with others and in public and that the manifestation of religious belief may take the form of worship, teaching, practice and observance.
Amendment 42 #
2012/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Member States to make intense efforts for eliminating discrimination based on religion or belief in the employment sector, to regulate clearly the right to manifest one's freedom of religion and belief at the workplace, and to introduce restrictions on this freedom only if public health, security or safety require that and the principle of proportionality is respected;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Reminds the Member States and the European Commission to foster inter- religious dialogue and reconciliation between different religious or belief communities, in order to tackle the increasing phenomena of antisemitism, islamo-phobia and christiano-phobia that often result in discrimination at the workplace for individuals belonging to one specific religious or belief group;
Amendment 171 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital BX
Recital BX
BX. whereas freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in Article 9 of the ECHR and Article 10 of the Charter is one of the foundations of a democratic society, and w, and whereas according to the Treaty of Lisbon the legislation on the reas the role of the State in this respect should be that of a neutral and impartial guarantor of the right to exercise various religions, faiths and beliefslation between the State and the churches belongs to the Member States' competence; thus there are many differences in how churches are recognized in Member States from official state religion (e.g.: Denmark, Greece, Malta) up to solely operating in the form of associations (e.g.: France);
Amendment 173 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital BY
Recital BY
BY. whereas the Act on Churches established a new legal regime for the regulation of religious associations and churches in Hungary which imposed a set of requirementfreedom of religion is entirely ensured by the Fundamental Law (Article VII) stating that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include the freedom to choose or change religion or any other persuasion, and the freedom for every person to proclaim, refrain from proclaiming, profess or teach his for ther recognition of churches and made such recognition conditional on prior apligion or any other persuasion by performing religious acts, ceremonies or in any other way, whether individually or jointly with others, in the public domain or in his or her proival by the parliament by a two-thirds majorityte life. (...) The Churches shall be autonomous and the State shall cooperate with the Churches for community goals";
Amendment 175 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital BZ
Recital BZ
BZ. whereas the obligation set out in the Act on Churches to obtain recognition by the parliament as a condition to establish a church was deemed by the Venice Commission13 to be a restriction ofOpinion No CDL- AD(2012)004 of the Venice Commission underlined that the Hungarian regulation in place „constitutes a liberal and generous framework for the freedom of religion.";
Amendment 176 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital BZ – footnote 13
Recital BZ – footnote 13
Amendment 178 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CA
Recital CA
CA. whereas as a result of the entry into force of retroactive provisions of the Act on Churches more than 300 registered churches lost their legal status of churchdue to the loopholes in the previous regulation more than 300 state- subsidised registered churches operated in Hungary (among others church of the UFO-believers, of witches, etc.) many of them misusing the offered benefits, not conducting religious activity; and whereas following the new regulations more than 30 are already granted a state-subsidised church status, these covering more than 90% of the Hungarian believers;
Amendment 180 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CB
Recital CB
CB. whereas at the request of several religious communities and the Hungarian Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the Constitutional Court examined the constitutionality of the provisions of the Act on Churches and declared in its Decision 6/2013 of 26 February 2013 some of them unconstitutional and annulled them with retroactive effectspecific concerns raised by the Constitutional Court on the recognition of state subsidized churches have been addressed by Parliament under a new bill (No. T/10750) amending the Act on Churches, according to which the proposed new legislation sets out clear conditions for recognition as a state subsidized church, contains an obligation for detailed reasoning of a decision which refuses church status, specifies deadlines for the procedure of recognition and ensures the possibility of legal remedy at the Constitutional Court in cases of refusal or lack of a decision. Any religious community can freely use the denomination "church";
Amendment 183 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CC
Recital CC
Amendment 187 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CD
Recital CD
Amendment 316 #
2012/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Notes with concern that the modifications introduced in the Fundamental Law by the Fourth Amendment attribute to the parliament the power to recognise, by way of cardinal laws and without the constitthat according to the Treaty of Lisbon the legislation on the relation between state and churches belongs solely to the Member States' competence, thus there are many differences in how churches are recognized in Member States from official state religion (e.g.: Denmark, Greece, Malta) up to solely operating in the form of associations (e.g.: France); takes note that the freedom of religion is entirely ensured by the Fundamental Law (Article VII) stating that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include the freedom to choose or change religion or any other persuasion, and the freedom for every person to proclaim, refrain from proclaiming, profess or teach his or her religion or any other persuasion by performing religious acts, ceremonies or in any other way, whether individually or jointly with others, in the public domain or in his or her private life. (...) The Churches shall be autional duty to justify a refusal of recognition, certain organisations engaged in religious activities as churches, which might negatively affect the duty of the State to remain neutral and impartial in its relations with the variousomous and the State shall cooperate with the Churches for community goals"; takes note that the specific concerns raised by the Constitutional Court on the recognition of state subsidized churches have been addressed by Parliament under a new bill (No. T/10750) amending the Act on Churches, according to which the proposed new legislation sets out clear conditions for recognition as a state subsidized church, contains an obligation for detailed reasoning of a decision which refuses church status, specifies deadlines for the procedure of recognition and ensures the possibility of legal remedy at the Constitutional Court in cases of refusal or lack of a decision. Any religionus and beliefs; community can freely use the denomination "church";
Amendment 2 #
2011/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Europe 2020 Strategy has been conceived as the main instrument for driving the European economies out of the economic crisis and that regional and cohesion policies are recognised as central instruments for the achievement of its targets, due to their budgetary dimension and multi-level governance approach; considers therefore that the outermost regions, along with all os an integral part of the Union, should be instrumental in delivering goals and objectives of ther European regions, deserve a place in 2020 strategy and should, therefore, be allocated the necessary financial means that will enable them to fully contribute to the new economic and budgetary strategy of the European Union for the period to 2020 for their own benefit and the benefit of the EU as a whole;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that in the Commission's proposal for a multiannual financial framework for the period 2014-2020 cuts have been proposed to the entire spectrum of Cohesion Policy measures and objectives and that specific funding(of 5,9% in constant 2011 prices) and that the additional allocation for the outermost regions is also not spared, being cut back at least by 7.5 % or EUR 70 m in constant 2011 prices (from EUR 996 m in MFF 2007 - 2013 to EUR 926 m in MFF 2014 - 2020); is concerned, in this context, that the special allocation of EUR 926 m in the next MFF covers not only the outermost regions but also the sparsely populated areas, as set out in Protocol 6 to the Treaty of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2195(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the outermost regions should benefit from specific measures and additional funding to offset the handicaps resulting from the factors referred to in Article 349 of the Treaty; considers that capping co-financing rates at 85 % for outermost regions is a positive step to this direction and calls on the Commission to determine other ways of assisting these regions, especially if the funding allocated to them is reduced for the next programming period;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that reducing the development gap between communities divided by the external borders of the EU can be achieved by targeted policies concerning economic and social cohesion; Notes that special knowledge management tools, platforms for local and regional authorities for experience- sharing and proper infrastructure alongside the border areas would enable sustainable development of the border regions and would also reduce tensions in the communities generated by visibly different development levels inside and outside the EU;
Amendment 7 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses the high potentials of EGTCs involving regions beyond the external borders; encourages specific agreements with neighbouring third countries with regard the introduction of national laws allowing EGTC structures under their national laws and interstate agreements enabling local and regional authorities of third countries to participate in EGTCs;
Amendment 1 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. CUnderlines the crucial role of the cohesion policy as key instrument for Europe 2020, considers that a strong and well-funded cohesion policy is an effective and efficient instrument to implement EU strategy by 2020the European 2020 objectives, owing to its long-term development programmes, budgetary dimension and decentralised administration system; and the incorporation of the EU's priorities for sustainable developmentdvocates, in line with the report of the Policy Challenges Committee, for the maintenance in the next MFF of at least the same level of funding for this policy as in 2013;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Ssemester is essentially linked to the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy agreed by the 27 Member Stateshas two objectives: to verify the application of budgetary discipline of Member States, and -at the same time- to regularly oversee the good delivery of the Europe 2020 programme by securing the financial means necessary for its implementation,
Amendment 6 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that due to the multi-level governance approach, regional policy has a consolidated methodology for anthe integrated approachion of local actors, and so a well- designed guidance system for mobilising investments on the ground which; notes that this could support economic coordination in an appropriate manner and development of greater synergy between EU and Member States budgets;
Amendment 7 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the failure of the Lisbon strategy can essentially be attributed to the absence of any clear follow-up procedure for the implementation of this strategy by all actors concerned, therefore, it is important to draw the right lessons that will ensure the success of the Europe 2020 agenda,
Amendment 9 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the need to maienstuream that the financing of the Europe 2020 objectives intos duly taken into account in the annual budgets of the EU and of the Member States; stresses that structured and earlthe most simple, democratic, European and efficient way of achieving this objective is to organise in the beginning of every European semester an interparliamentary debate on annualthe common budgetary orientations could help Member States to take more account of the European dimension into their draft budgets; therefore all efforts and activities of the Parliament, in this regard, should concentrate in the first part of the annual budgetary cycle, so to allow for an ex-ante coordinationof the Member States and the Union; believes that such a debate would allow at the same time for the Member States to take more account of the European dimension into their draft budgets and for the European Parliament to better take into account the national concerns;
Amendment 11 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls the important role of the EU budget in financing the Europe 2020 agenda, to which more than half of the community resources are dedicated every year; notes, however, that - given the content of priority actions and the division of competences between the Union and the Member States - the largest share of financing for this strategy should come from national or regional budgets; concludes, therefore, that both the EU budget and the national budgets need to be taken into account in the part of the European semester procedure that deals with the implementation of the Europe 2020 agenda;
Amendment 13 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the Cseveral committees on Budgetsf the European Parliament hasve a long existing tradition in holding inter-parliamentary meetings with national representatives to discuss - inter alia - budgetary issues of both EU and national relevance; reminds that the competencies of each EP committee shall be fully respected in a parliamentary dimension of the European Semester;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets that the national goals are not ambitious, that an excessive importance has been given to short-term results and that, in most areas, the EU is still far from attaining the EU key goals agreed by the European Council; Calls for the involvement of Cohesion Policy priorities in structured and early debate on annual budget orientations, thorough ex-ante impact assessments and results based policy planning and project formulation;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks the Commission to present to the Parliament its Annual Growth Survey and to keep the relevant EP committees informed about the assessment of the National Reform Programmes and on the resources allocatefacilitate the organisation of this interparliamentary orientation debate by providing a common framework of economic and fin the national budgets to the Europe 2020 prioritiesancial forecasts that should be taken into account across the Union.
Amendment 78 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Sees the achievement of European objectives in accordance with the principle of multi-level governance as one of the major advantages of cohesion policy and thus as a form of added value in itself; calls for this partnership principle to be further strengthenedConsiders thorough structures and responsibilities in the multi-level governance as the realisation of the principle of subsidiarity; calls for this partnership principle and the sense of ownership of the actors involved to be further strengthened by introducing detailed binding provisions in a Territorial Pact to be decided in each Member State; in order to boost up i.a. more result oriented planning and implementation;
Amendment 134 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Sees macroregional strategies as affording a major opportunity to harness forms of trans-regional potential and adopt a joint approach to challenges stemming from the natural environment, e.g. in relation to environmental protection; economic, social and territorial cohesion; highlights the need to link territorial cooperation programmes more effectively with territorial strategies that are based on a shared commitment from regional stakeholders; considers that better coordination of existing support mechanisms can create scope for more targeted use of the EU Structural Funds;
Amendment 160 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the key role of towns and cities in achieving the economic, environmental and social EU 2020 objectives; calls for support for ideas and projects which can serve as models, on the basis of integrated development plans, and for the upgrading of urban-rural links; establishing a mutual win-win situation for both the towns and cities and their rural environments; Considers reinforced cohesion between urban and rural areas of special importance in addressing problems of areas populated by disadvantaged communities via Community instruments;
Amendment 407 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Takes the view that new conditionality shall not result in extra administration burdens for the actors involved; encourages development of consistent, standard systems of conditionality for both the ERDF and ESF that should be objectively assessable as well;
Amendment 442 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41b. Calls for attention and further support to those entities that are effected by deep poverty and often tensed co- existence of majority-minority cultures at sub-regional levels; considers that such sub-regional entities can easily remain deep poverty pockets facing even stronger segregation even within regions that are not necessarily lagging behind the statistical averages; notes that concentrated efforts should be made for the development of these entities (e.g.: lower levels of required own resources for growth and job creating projects targeting specifically these entities; thorough technical assistance boosting up the pool of local human resources; encouragement for state aids with regard cost-sharing of projects; concentrated resources from ESF for facing the specific problems of the mass of long term unemployed and unqualified workers via developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs and by paying close attention to cross-cutting priorities such as the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups suffering not only from social and economic exclusion, but also spatial segregation);
Amendment 536 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Considers that while reimbursement should arrive after EU funding has paid out in the projects, no extra burdens should be put on the beneficiaries in terms of interest rates that do not reflect the low risk factor of such loans by any banks or other financial institutions;
Amendment 564 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Draws attention – with up-to-date figures in support of its contention – to the extremely severe financial consequences for cohesion policy of the accession of new Member States11; emphasises that, from a cohesion policy point of view, the Union's capacity to absorb new members would, on the basis of these figures, be severely overstretched; calls for use of the IPA to be extended to special preliminary forms of EU neighbourhood status or membership and rei not only the financial consequences of the accession should be seen but also the advantages of the enlarged markets for the whole EU; considers that European integrates its call for graduated cohesion policy arrangements for largion should proceed according to the natural geographical ties of Europe candidat the cfountries such as Turkeyding values of the Union;
Amendment 32 #
2011/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Beneficiary countries should be encouraged to simplify their national rules in this field, thereby allowing easier access to Union funding for potential beneficiaries.
Amendment 67 #
2011/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period from 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 14 110 100 000 (current prices). Up toAt least 3% of the financial reference amount shall be allocated to cross-border cooperation programmes between beneficiary countries and EU Member States.
Amendment 85 #
2011/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) Beneficiary countries should be encouraged to simplify their national rules in this field, thereby allowing easier access to Union funding for potential beneficiaries.
Amendment 120 #
2011/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii). promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, enhanced respect for minority rights, promotion of gender equality, cultural diversity, non- discrimination and freedom of the press, and promotion of good neighbourly relations;
Amendment 196 #
2011/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period from 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 14 110 100 000 (current prices). Up toAt least 3% of the financial reference amount shall be allocated to cross-border cooperation programmes between beneficiary countries and EU Member States.
Amendment 21 #
2011/0276(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1c (new)
Paragraph 1c (new)
Recalls, in particular, that in the same resolution the European Parliament stresses that “a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding” and concludes that “the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period”;
Amendment 41 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 88
Recital 88
(88) In order to supplement and amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of a code of conduct on the objectives and criteria to support the implementation of partnership, the adoption of a Common Strategic Framework, additional rules on the allocation of the performance reserve, the definition of the area and population covered by the local development strategies, detailed rules on financial instruments (ex ante assessment, combination of support, eligibility, types of activities not supported), the rules on certain types of financial instruments set up at national, regional, transnational or cross- border level, rules concerning funding agreements, transfer and management of assets, the arrangements for management and control, the rules on payment requests, and establishment of a system of capitalisation of annual instalments, the definition of the flat rate for revenue generating operations, the definition of the flat rate applied to indirect costs for grants based on existing methods and corresponding rates applicable in Union policies, the responsibilities of Member States concerning the procedure for reporting irregularities and recovery of sums unduly paid, the modalities of exchange of information of operations, the arrangements for the adequate audit trail, the conditions of national audits, the accreditation criteria for managing authorities and certifying authorities, the identification of commonly accepted data carriers, and the criteria for establishing the level of financial correction to be applied. The Commission should also be empowered to amend Annex V in order to address future adaptation needs. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level.
Amendment 43 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 90
Recital 90
(90) The Commission should be empowered to adopt, by means of implementing acts, as regards all CSF Funds, decisions approving the Partnership Contracts, decisions on the allocation of the performance reserve, decisions suspending payments linked to Member States' economic policies, and, in the case of decommitment, decisions to amend decisions adopting programmes; and as regards the Funds, decisions identifying the regions and Member States fulfilling the Investment for growth and jobs criteria, decisions setting out the annual breakdown of commitment appropriations to the Member States, decisions setting out the amount to be transferred from each Member State's CF allocation to the Connecting Europe Facility, decisions setting out the amount to be transferred from each Member State's Structural Funds allocation for food for deprived people, decisions adopting and amending operational programmes, decisions on major projects, decisions on joint action plans, decisions suspending payments and decisions on financial corrections.
Amendment 77 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 3
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 3
Amendment 188 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) For the Partnership Contract and each programme respectively, a Member State should organise a partnership from the earliest stage possible with the representatives of competent regional, local, urban and other public authorities, economic and social partners, and bodies representing civil society, including environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting equality and non-discrimination. The purpose of such a partnership is to respect the principle of multi-level governance, ensure the ownership of planned interventions by stakeholders and build on the experience and know-how of relevant actors. The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts providing for a code of conduct in order to ensure that partners are involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Partnership Contracts and programmes in a consistent manner.
Amendment 247 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Territorial cohesion has been added to the goals of economic and social cohesion by the Treaty, and it is necessary to address the role of cities, functional geographies and sub-regional areas facing specific geographical or demographic problems, including inter-ethnic tensions. To this end, to better mobilise potential at a local level, it is necessary to strengthen and facilitate community-led local development by laying down common rules and close coordination for all CSF Funds. Capacity building for the local stakeholders is of utmost importance. Responsibility for the implementation of local development strategies should be given to local action groups representing the interests of the community, as an essential principle.
Amendment 295 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) Objective criteria should be fixed for designating eligible regions and areas for support from the Funds. To this end, the identification of the regions and areas at Union level should be based on the common system of classification of the regions established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) . A system to identify regions with severe intra-regional disparities, poverty loops should also be set up, and such disparities should be addressed through the Funds as well, in order to avoid social, inter-ethnic, poverty driven tensions.
Amendment 297 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
Recital 56
(56) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework, the Commission should establish, by means of implementing acts, the indicative annual breakdown of available commitment appropriations using an objective and transparent method with a view to targeting the regions whose development is lagging behind, including those receiving transitional support and those struggling with severe intra-regional disparities creating social, poverty-led or inter-ethnic tensions.
Amendment 362 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 4
Part 1 – article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 4
(4) ‘programming’ means the process of organisation, decision-making and allocation of financial resources in several stages intended to implement, on a multi- annual basis and through the multi-level governance approached involvement of the beneficiaries from the earliest stage possible, the joint action by the Union and the Member States to achieve Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;
Amendment 428 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 5 – paragraph 2
Part 2 – article 5 – paragraph 2
2. In accordance with the multi-level governance approach, the partners shall be involved by Member States in the preparation of Partnership Contracts and progress reports and in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes from the earliest stage possible. The partners shall participate in the monitoring committees for programmes.
Amendment 445 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 7 – title
Part 2 – article 7 – title
Promotion of equality between men and women opportunities and non- discrimination
Amendment 454 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 7 – paragraph 2
Part 2 – article 7 – paragraph 2
The Member States and the Commission shall take appropriate steps to promote equal opportunities for all and to prevent any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and avoid reproducing segregation during the preparation and implementation of programmes.
Amendment 515 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)
(11a) Reducing intra-regional development disparities, producing poverty-led, social or inter-ethnic tensions
Amendment 801 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 28 – paragraph 1 – point b
Part 2 – article 28 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) community-led, by local action groups composed of representatives of public and private local socio-economic interests, open for civil society participation, where at the decision-making level neither the public sector nor any single interest group shall represent more than 49 % of the voting rights;
Amendment 818 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 29 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Part 2 – article 29 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) thorough planning for capacity building for local actors, beneficiaries, potential partners with regard preparation and implementation of projects based on concrete needs of the area
Amendment 842 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 31 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Part 2 – article 31 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) capacity building, trainings for local actors on planning, designing, implementing programs
Amendment 1051 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 52 – paragraph 1
Part 2 – article 52 – paragraph 1
1. At the initiative of a Member State, the CSF Funds may support actions for capacity building, preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information and communication, networking, complaint resolution, and control and audit. The CSF Funds may be used by the Member State to support actions for the reduction of administrative burden for beneficiaries, including electronic data exchange systems, and actions to reinforce the capacity of Member State authorities and beneficiaries to administer and use the CSF Funds. These actions may concern preceding and subsequent programming periods.
Amendment 1054 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 53 – paragraph 2
Part 2 – article 53 – paragraph 2
2 Technical assistance measures implemented at the initiative of, or the Commission or the Member State or implemented on behalf of, the Commission may be financed at the rate of 100%.
Amendment 1254 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 2 – point a
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) eligible population, regional prosperity, intra regional disparities, national prosperity and unemployment rate for less developed regions and transition regions;
Amendment 1266 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 2 – point b
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) eligible population, regional prosperity, intra-regional development disparities, unemployment rate, employment rate, educational level and population density for more developed regions;
Amendment 1415 #
2011/0276(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 87 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point ii
Part 3 – article 87 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point ii
(ii) a description of the specific actions to promote equal opportunities and, to prevent any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and to avoid reproducing segregation during the preparation, design and implementation of the operational programme and in particular in relation to access to funding, taking account of the needs of the various target groups at risk of such discrimination and in particular the requirements of ensuring accessibility for disabled persons;
Amendment 13 #
2011/0275(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls, in particular, that in the same resolution the European Parliament stresses that “a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding” and concludes that “the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period”;
Amendment 57 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Article 176 of the Treaty provides that the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is intended to help to redress the main regional imbalances in the Union. The ERDF therefore contributes to reducing the gap between the levels of development of the various regions and the extent to which the least favoured regions, including rural and urban areas, declining industrial regions, areas with severe and permanent natural and demographic handicaps, such as areas with severe intra- regional disparities, poverty loops, inter- ethnic tensions; islands, mountainous areas, sparsely populated areas and border regions, are lagging behind.
Amendment 67 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The ERDF should contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy, thus ensuring greater concentration of ERDF support on the priorities of the Union. According to the category of regions supported, the support from the ERDF should be concentrated on research and innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises and climate change mitigation. The degree of concentration should take into account the level of development of the region, including the intra regional disparities, as well as the specific needs of regions whose GDP per capita for the 2007-13 period was less than 75% of the average GDP of the EU-25 for the reference period.
Amendment 80 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) A common set of indicators to assess progress of programme implementation should be set out before the Member States draft their operational programmes. These indicators should be complemented by region-specific and by programme-specific indicators.
Amendment 86 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Within the framework of sustainable urban development, it is considered necessary to support integrated actions to tackle the economic, environmental, inter- cultural, climate and social challenges affecting urban areas and to define a procedure to establish the list of cities covered by such actions and the financial allocation set aside for such actions.
Amendment 98 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The ERDF should address the problems of accessibility to, and remoteness from, large markets facing areas with poverty loops and inter-ethnic tensions, or with an extremely low population density, as referred to in Protocol No 6 on special provisions for Objective 6 in the framework of the Structural Funds in Finland and Sweden to the 1994 Act of Accession. The ERDF should also address the specific difficulties encountered by certain islands, mountainous areas, border regions and sparsely populated areas whose geographical situation slows down their development, with a view to supporting their sustainable development.
Amendment 202 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d – point iv – point a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d – point iv – point a (new)
(a) support for reducing intra-regional disparities, promoting inter-cultural understanding;
Amendment 207 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) technical assistance. Including: (i) thematic training and information programs for potential beneficiaries (ii) capacity building for national and regional level decision makers with regard simplification and coordination of procedures
Amendment 462 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c
(c) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures and in the housing sector, including newly constructed housing in justified cases;
Amendment 636 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point a
(a) investing in health and social infrastructure which contribute to national, regional and local development, reducing inequalities in terms of health and social status, and transition from institutional to community- based services;
Amendment 648 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
(b) support for physical and economic regeneration of deprived urban and rural communities, including newly constructed housing;
Amendment 658 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
(c) support for social and cultural enterprises;
Amendment 663 #
2011/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 10
(10) investing in culture and education, skills and lifelong learning by developing education and training infrastructure;
Amendment 9 #
2011/0274(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1b (new)
Paragraph 1b (new)
1b. Recalls, in particular, that in its resolution of 8 June 2011 on "Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe", the European Parliament stresses that “a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding” and concludes that “the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period”;
Amendment 15 #
2011/0273(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls, in particular, that in the same resolution the European Parliament stresses that “a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding” and concludes that “the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period”;
Amendment 56 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Cross-border cooperation should aim to tackle common challenges identified jointly in the border regions (such as poor accessibility, inappropriate business environment, lack of human resources and capacities with regard to regional development, lack of networks among local and regional administrations, research and innovation and take-up of information and communication technologies, environmental pollution, risk prevention, negative attitudes towards neighbouring country citizens) and exploit the untapped potentials in the border area (development of cross-border research and innovation facilities and clusters, cross-border labour market integration, cooperation among universities or health centres), while enhancing the cooperation process for the purpose of the overall harmonious development of the Union. In the case of any cross-border programmes, for example between Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, in support of peace and reconciliation, the ERDF shall also contribute to promoting social and economic stability in the regions concerned, notably by actions to promote cohesion between communities.
Amendment 84 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) It is necessary to adapt the content requirements of cooperation programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal to their specific needs. Therefore they also need to cover aspects necessary for effective implementation on the territory of participating Member States, such as the bodies responsible for audit and control, the procedure to set up a joint secretariat, and the allocation of liabilities in case of financial corrections. Capacity building of the human resources to overcome the barriers due to the different linguistical, administrative aspects of participating Member States is of utmost importance. In addition, due to the horizontal character of interregional cooperation programmes, the content of such cooperation programmes should be adapted, especially as regards the definition of the beneficiary or beneficiaries under the current INTERACT and ESPON programmes.
Amendment 89 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Due to the involvement of more than one Member State and the resulting higher administrative costs, in particular in respect of controls and translation, Member States should be encouraged to reduce administrative burdens with regard implementation of joint projects, and the ceiling for technical assistance expenditure should be higher than under the Investment for growth and jobs goal. In addition, cooperation programmes with limited ERDF support should receive a certain minimum amount to ensure sufficient funding for effective technical assistance activities.
Amendment 174 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) up to 4 thematic objectives with an integral territorial development approach shall be selected for each cross-border cooperation programme;
Amendment 183 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) up to 4 thematic objectives with an integral territorial development approach shall be selected for each transnational cooperation programme;
Amendment 202 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) promoting gender equality and equal opportunities across borders, as well as promoting peaceful co-existence of communities alongside border areas and social inclusion across borders (within the thematic objective of promoting social inclusion and combating poverty);
Amendment 247 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) under transnational cooperation: (i) development and implementation of transnational programmes, including: macro-regional and sea-basin strategies (within the thematic objective of enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration). (ii) development and implementation of programmes addressing transnational challenges of European concern, like: demography, poverty reduction or social inclusion of the Roma population.
Amendment 339 #
2011/0273(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16
Article 16
The amount of the ERDF allocated to technical assistance shall be limited to 6% of the total amount allocated to a cooperation programmes, but shall not be less than EUR 1 500 000, while reserving the possibility for considering individual cases presented by the Member States.
Amendment 29 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Experience with EGTCs set up so far shows that the new legal instrument is also being used for cooperation in the implementation of other European policies. The efficiency and effectiveness of EGTCs should be enhanced by broadening the nature of EGTCs, to find possibilities for such types of cooperation beyond Cohesion Policy as well. EGTCs have the potential to re-activating the economy and meeting the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Particular attention should be paid to cooperation with regard the enhancement of the labour market.
Amendment 31 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
Amendment 32 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) While point (d) of Article 3(1) of the EGTC Regulation allows that bodies established under private law may become members of an EGTC provided that they are considered as being ‘public law bodies’ in terms of Article 1(9) of Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts, EGTCs may be used in the future to manage jointly public services ofin order to respond to concrete needs of cross border regions; particularly to focus on general economic interest or infrastructures. Other private or public law actors may therefore also become members of an EGTC. Consequently, ‘public undertakings’ within the meaning of Article 2(1)(b) of Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors should be covered as well.
Amendment 35 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Experience from the setting up of EGTCs shows that the three months period for approval by a Member State has rarely been respected. The period should therefore be extended to six months. On the other hand, in order to create legal certainty after that period, the convention should be deemed to be approved by tacit agreement. While Member States may apply national rules on the procedure for such approval or may create specific rules in the framework of the national rules implementing the EGTC Regulation, derogations to the provision concerning tacit agreement after the period of six months should be ruled out. The 6 month period provided for the Member State to approve the set up of EGTCs should allow enough time to the Member State to express its concerns with regard the establishment of EGTCs, and also for the applicants to take necessary steps to improve their application.
Amendment 37 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Stronger participation of civil society organisations in the establishment of EGTCs and also in the possibility of acceding existing EGTCs should be strongly encouraged.
Amendment 38 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The purpose of an EGTC should be extended to cover the facilitating and promotion of territorial cooperation in general, includingbringing down barriers in territorial cooperation, including focus on strategic planning and the management of regional and local concerns in line with Cohesion and other Union policies, thus contributing to the Europe 2020 strategy or to the implementation of macro-regional strategies. In addition, it should be clarified that a given competence needed for the efficient implementation of an EGTC should be represented by at least one member in each of the Member States represented.
Amendment 41 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) Coordinated efforts for awareness raising among the institutions, the Member States and the regions with regard the potentials the EGTCs carry in themselves should be undertaken, in order to improve the visibility of the possibilities to use EGTCs as instruments available for cross-border cooperation in all EU policy areas. It should be clarified that Member States inform the Commission about any provisions adopted to implement the EGTC Regulation and to submit these provisions as well as any amendments thereof. In order to improve the information and coordination between the Commission, the Member States and the Committee of the Regions, it should be specified that the Commission will transmit these provisions to the Member States and to the Committee of the Regions. That Committee has set up an EGTC platform allowing all the stakeholders to exchange their experiences and good practices and to improve communication on EGTC opportunities and challenges, facilitating the exchange of experiences on the establishment of EGTCs at territorial level and sharing knowledge of best practices on territorial cooperation.
Amendment 45 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – paragraph 5 – point a – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 5 – point a – subparagraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Following notification under paragraph 2 by a prospective member, the Member State concerned shall approve the convention, taking into account its constitutional structure, and the prospective member’s participation in the EGTC, unless it considers that such participation is not in conformity with this Regulation, other Union law concerning the activities of the EGTC or national law concerning the competences of the prospective member or that such participation is not justified for reasons of public interest or of public policy of that Member State. In such a case, the Member State shall give a statement of its reasons for withholding agreement or shall suggest the necessary amendments to the convention to enable the prospective member’s participation. The 6 month period provided for the Member State to approve the set up of EGTCs has to allow enough time to the Member State to express its concerns with regard the application submitted and also for the applicants to react on the concerns and eliminate shortcomings of the application. Any delays in the process should be avoided and the 6 month period for the approval process should under no conditions be prolonged.
Amendment 47 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – paragraph 8 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 8 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. An EGTC shall act within the confines of the tasks given to it, which shall be the facilitation and promotion of territorial cooperation to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion, overcoming internal market barriers, and be determined by its members on the basis that they fall within the competence under national law of at least one member from each Member State represented in that EGTC.
Amendment 48 #
2011/0272(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – paragraph 8 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 8 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
An EGTC may carry out specific actions of territorial cooperation between its members in pursuit of the objective referred to in Article 1(2), with or without a financial support from the Union. Their taxation, conditions for funding through public- private partnerships should also be improved.
Amendment 139 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Supports the introduction of (mainly ex ante and ex post) conditionality provisions to ensure that EU funding, particularly in respect of the Cohesion Fund, the Structural Funds and the rural and fisheries funds, are better targeted to the achievement of the Europe 2020 objectives; believes that if their implementation is based on a reinforced partnership principle through the stronger involvement of local and regional authorities, these conditionality provisions could improve the legitimacy and effectiveness of EU support;
Amendment 188 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 – point 4
Paragraph 59 – point 4
4) an agreement on the reform of VAT as own resource, as well as its implementing modalities, mustcould be concluded together with the agreement on the MFF;
Amendment 27 #
2010/2276(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on Member States to develop cross sectoral poverty reduction strategies that take into consideration the often sensitive issue of coexistence of the Roma community and the majority community both effected by lack of employment, poverty and marginalisation; highlights the importance of incentive measures that via visible benefits encourage the poor to enter the labour market instead of living of social benefits and possible work on the black market; underlines, that programs promoting mutual understanding and tolerance towards each other are of utmost importance;
Amendment 31 #
2010/2276(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights that the social exclusion affecting Roma has a very strong territorial dimension of poverty and marginalization, and this is concentrated in underdeveloped micro-regions that severely lack the necessary financial resources to provide their own contribution to the Community funding that they are eligible for and most often lack the administrative capacity and human resources to make good use of the funding; Emphasizes the need for the concentration of specific efforts to these micro-regions that are often peripheral intra-regional areas and for the substantial simplification of bureaucratic and implementation rules so that the maximum possible allocation of resources can be achieved under the umbrella of the Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 37 #
2010/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Considers that cross-border cooperation programs are crucial in order to be effective and achieve results with regard strategies that concern poverty reduction and integration of disadvantaged groups (like the Roma) into the European mainstream society; calls on to consider this issue as priority question when designing the regulatory framework;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Advocates for a specific approach towards highly disadvantaged micro regions that struggle with deep poverty, tensed coexistence of majority-minority cultures, and where no human nor financial capacities are available to be engaged in European regional development programmes; calls for the introduction of a temporary instrument that is based on stronger technical assistance, significantly reduced cofinancing rate and simplified implementation rules for these micro regions;
Amendment 93 #
2010/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Highlights that EGTCs can not only contribute to territorial cohesion but also to social cohesion: points out that this instrument has the best capacity to bring the different cultural, linguistical communities closer to each other; promote the peaceful coexistence in a diverse Europe and to make the European added value visible to the citizen;
Amendment 1 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Emphasises that 'Measuring regional economic performance and prosperity' is clearly an aspect of cohesion and structural policy and thus falls within the sphere of responsibility of the Committee on Regional Development;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. ApprovNotes the Commission’'s proposal to make a uset ofther indicators – in addition to GDP figures – available for EU policies with a view to improving both the circumstances in which decisions are taken and the response to the concerns of citizens in Europe’s various regionto measure regional prosperity and innovation and to improve the response to the concerns of special interest groups; to that end, supports Eurostat’s activities;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that GDP is an essential measurement of economic growth, but is insufficient to assess regional development and establish cohesion policiesthe strengths of economic performance;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that the combined envelopes for structural funds, cohesion fund, rural development and fisheries fund for the period 2007-2013 are strictly based on Member States GDP; recalls that this concept is in accordance with the principle of solidarity in the European Union, as the aim of cohesion policy is to reduce the gap between the development levels of European regions;
Amendment 25 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Notes with concern that some European interest groups are questioning the current GDP-based eligibility criteria of regions for the structural funds and the cohesion fund allocations for the post 2013 period; underlines that a new concept of distribution of funds after 2013 based on partial interests would lead to undermining the concept of Cohesion Policy and the sense of European solidarity;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Highlights that the key advantage of the GDP is that its calculation is harmonised world-wide and it gives comparable, comprehensive and timely data; notes that for the time being we do not have comprehensive environmental or social indicators and the existing ones in most cases are too old to provide operational information;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. In the light of the ever closerRecognizes that there is a certain degree of interdependence between economic, social and environmental issues, takes the view that focusing on GDP alone is likely to provide an incomplete impression that takes no account of the actual situations in the regions, and and therefore the Member States might consider investigating further indicators that could rdesult in poor choices being made and inappropriate decisions being takencribe a broader picture of the well being of the society;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates that the condition of natural environments, environmental sustainability, fairness and social integration are now just as important as the economy among the key issuissues that Member States uanderpinning the European model for development; states, furthermore, that an overarching approach should be taken with regard to assessing people’s wellbeing and quality of life, as well as regions’ vulnerabilitiesUnion should keep in mind when it comes to the evaluation of project proposals that would gain funding from the Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 54 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 68 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that GDP must remain the main criterion for determining the eligibility for regional policy assistance, leaving room - in agreement with the principle of subsidiarity - for national authorities to apply at the appropriate level of decision making other indicators which take into account the specific attributes of regions and cities, so that the wisdom of national expertise meets the central EU level objectives;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 90 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes the view that in case Member States will have successful and long- lasting experience in applying environmental and social indicators in the national distribution policy when absorbing structural and cohesion funds, further investigations will be required for an eventual application of them to meet common European challenges;
Amendment 93 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Takes the view that EU-funded cohesion should not lead to investments that do not take real concerns of the European citizens into account.
Amendment 2 #
2010/2048(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
Amendment 4 #
2010/2048(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the remaining margin of EUR 875 530 could be used for the financing of BAM,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2048(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to present a new proposal for the mobilisation of the Flexibility instrument for the remaining part of EUR 56 774 124 470,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. considers that EU cohesion policy plays a crucial role in developing the job potential of a sustainable economy, as it helps eliminate regional differences and create a society with full employment; stresses that the European Structural Funds can encourage the regions to take initiatives to create new, sustainable jobs, particularly in some peripheral and border regions which are increasingly faced with the challenges caused by unemployment;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. recognises the important role of local and regional authorities in the education and training of young people, which forms the basis for the acquisition of further skills; points out that the general conditions governing education and further training in many countries are the responsibility of the regional authorities; therefore encourages the regions to use the Structural Funds to create sustainable jobs in the fields of local transport, urban mobility and, higher education and research and development;
Amendment 24 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. highlights the added value of the life- long learning idea and calls on the Member States to conduct a thorough mapping of local potentials in order to organize demand driven trainings, matching the available resources with the actual needs and to re-establish the prestige of vocational secondary education via providing high standard education, particularly in regions where local potentials and traditional work areas require special skills and knowledge to be fully developed; calls on the Commission to provide the Member States with sufficient technical support on how to map the local needs and notes that vocational secondary schools of high level standard could contribute to reduce graduate unemployment and lead to sustainable employment;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. stresses the importance of the geographical mobility of workers in accordance with the Treaties; recognises that an improvement in mobility through good local transport increases access to job opportunities; therefore encourages the regions to use resources from the Structural Funds for infrastructure measures; , and that the resulting multiplier effect is particularly important in border regions affected by high unemployment; therefore encourages the regions, and the local and regional administrations, authorities and NGOs in border areas, to use resources from the Structural Funds for infrastructure measures carried out in the context of national and inter-regional cooperation programmes;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. reiterates its support for the pilot project ‘Erasmus for elected local and regional representatives’, which could help local and regional authorities, and in particular elected representatives from border regions, to exchange best- practice models and could also have a multiplier effect in the area of labour market policy.
Amendment 70 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a new
Paragraph 29 a new
29 a. Recalls that strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion is one of the fundamental objectives of the EU as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon; considers, therefore, that reinforcing EU cohesion policy should remain a high priority for 2011; highlights the need for a close monitoring of the N+2, N+3 rule and requests that full and updated information be delivered to the budgetary authority in time, in particular on budgetary commitments that are in danger of being cancelled;
Amendment 73 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls the Joint Declaration adopted in conciliation last November, calling for a simplification of implementing procedures and urging the Member States to make use of the possibility of revising their operational programmes in order better to address the effects of the economic crisis; welcomes, in this respect, the current revision of the General Regulation on Structural Funds 2007-2013 that aims at improving simplification in the management of the funds as well as introducing measures to enable Member States tackle the consequences of the economic crisis; requests that these provisions are implemented without further delay in the Member States;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a new
Paragraph 30 a new
30a new. Insists that improving implementation and the quality of spending should constitute a guiding principle for achieving the optimal use of the EU budget; calls on the Commission and the Member States to gear their efforts in this direction and monitor closely the implementation of policies on the ground;
Amendment 280 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 29 – paragraph -1 (new)
Part 1 – article 29 – paragraph -1 (new)
When presenting revised or new spending proposals, the Commission shall estimate the cost of administrative and control systems as well as a tolerable risk of errors with the proposed legislation per funds.
Amendment 282 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 29 – paragraph 1
Part 1 – article 29 – paragraph 1
The Legislative authority shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 322 of the TFEU,in cooperation with the European Court of Auditors shall provide an objective and widely accepted definition for errors, irregularities and fraud and decide on a level of tolerable risk of error at an appropriate aggregation of the budget. That decision shall be taken into account during the annual discharge procedure, in accordance with Article 157(2).
Amendment 310 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 1
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 1
1. Where the Commission implements the budget by shared management, implementation tasks shall be delegated to Member States. These shall respect the principles of sound financial management, transparency and non-discrimination and ensure the visibility of Union action when they manage Union funds. To this end, the Commission and the Member States shall fulfil the control and audit obligations and assume the resulting responsibilities laid down in this Regulation. Complementary provisions may be laid down in sector- specific rules.
Amendment 315 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall prevent, detect and correct irregularities and fraud when executing tasks related to the implementation of the budget. To this end they shall carry out, in accordance with the principle of proportionality and in compliance with the relevant sector- specific rules, ex ante and ex post controlhecks including, where appropriate, on the spot checks on representative samples of transactions, to ensure that the actions financed from the budget are effectively carried out and implemented correctly,. They shall also recover funds unduly paid and bring legal proceedings as necessary.
Amendment 317 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall impose effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties on recipients aswhere provided for in sector- specific rules and without prejudice to specific provisions in national legislation.
Amendment 319 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 321 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 323 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 327 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Bodies accredited pursuant to paragraph 3 of this ArticleMember States at the appropriate level shall:
Amendment 329 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point b
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) use an annual accounting system providing accurate, complete and reliable information in a timely manner;
Amendment 331 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point c
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 333 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point d
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point d
(d) ensure, in conformity with Article 31(2), annual ex post publication of recipients of Union funds; in conformity with Article 31(2); and
Amendment 335 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point f
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 4 – point f
(f) ensure a protection of personal data which satisfiesin conformity with the principles laid down in Directive 95/46/EC.
Amendment 338 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 339 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) their accounts drawn up for the expenditure made in the execution of the tasks entrustedaccounting information at an aggregated level on the expenditure made in the execution of the tasks entrusted and presented to the Commission for reimbursement and sums disbursed for which recovery procedures are underway. This information shall be accompanied by a statement of management responsibilities confirming that, in the opinion of those in charge of the management of the funds: - this information is properly presented, complete and accurate; - the expenditure has been used for its intended purpose, as defined in the sector- specific rules; - the control procedures put in place give the necessary guarantees concerning the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions;
Amendment 340 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) a summary of the results of all available audits and controls carried outfinal audit reports, including an analysis of systematic or recurrent weaknesses as well as corrective actions taken or planned;
Amendment 341 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Amendment 342 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Amendment 343 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 345 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 346 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 347 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 349 #
2010/0395(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
Part 1 – article 56 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 22 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The notion of a European administration requires, as a fundamental principle, adequate geographical representativeness as far as the staff are concerned. Recruitment for posts in the EEAS, whilst being based on merit, should ensure an adequate presence at all levels of nationals from all the Member States. An adequate gender balance at all levels should also be ensured.
Amendment 23 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) Paragraph 7 of the European Parliament's legislative resolution of 8 July 2010 on the proposal for a Council decision establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service states that additional specific measures envisaged in Article 6(6) of that Council Decision for the strengthening of the geographical balance and gender balance should include, as regards geographical balance, measures analogous to those provided for in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 401/2004.
Amendment 24 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 c (new)
Recital 1 c (new)
(1c) In consideration of the current under-representation of certain Member States in the Directorate-General for External Relations of the European Commission, temporary measures should be introduced and remain in force until 31 December 2020.
Amendment 26 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) It is necessary to ensure that staff from national diplomatic services, candidates from the Council and the Commission as well asnd internal candidates can apply for posts in the EEAS on an equal footing. From 1 Julanuary 20132 at the latest this should also apply to officials from other institutions. However, in order to guarantee proper representation of staff from national diplomatic services in the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice- President of the Commission should be able to decide that for posts in function group AD, until 30 June 20131 December 2011 or until staff from national diplomatic services account for one-third of total EEAS staff at AD level, whichever occurs earlier, priority may be given to candidates from national diplomatic services of the Member States in case of substantially equal qualifications.
Amendment 29 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 9
Article 1 – point 9
Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities
Title VIIIa – Article 98 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Title VIIIa – Article 98 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 31 #
2010/0171(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 9
Article 1 – point 9
Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities
Title VIIIa – Article 98 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Title VIIIa – Article 98 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
For the purposes of Article 29(1)(a) and without prejudice to Article 97, when filling a vacant post in the EEAS, the Appointing Authority shall consider the applications of officials of the Council, the Commission and the EEAS, of temporary staff to whom Article 2(e) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants applies and of staff from national diplomatic services of the Member States without giving priority to any of these categories. When staff are appointed in the EEAS, due consideration shall be paid to gender and geographical balance at all hierarchical and organisational levels and for all staff components.
Amendment 17 #
2009/2235(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises that an effective evaluation must be based on indicators allowing data comparison and aggregation among regions; urges the Commission to come up with a proposal for evaluation indicators before 2012 in order to provide the means to measure the impact produced with regard quantity and quality as well and to make the necessary adjustments for the next programming period;
Amendment 47 #
2009/2235(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the call for more sustainable, smart jobs, but acknowledges that a new economic model might lead to an uneven distribution of costs and benefits among individual Member States and regions, and thus may require action at Union level to prevent this happeningin order to prevent this happening, calls up the Union to take the responsibility and identify key areas of action where according to the principle of subsidiarity the European level intervention is the most appropriate to achieve the best results for all;
Amendment 63 #
2009/2235(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that infrastructural deficiencies still vary considerably across Europe, blocking its growth potential; stresses the importance of cross-border cooperation with this regard and believes that a true level playing field in transport, energy, telecommunications and IT infrastructure needs to be created, should be included in the strategy and continue to be a vital part of the cohesion policy;
Amendment 27 #
2009/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that cross-border and transnational programs face specific difficulties due to the different administrative culture, national regulations and languages being used in member states, that effect not just the quantitative, but also the qualitative aspects of such initiatives; therefore development of specific rules regarding the transparency in coordination and cooperation of different managing authorities with each other would be most important;
Amendment 31 #
2009/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Requests the Commission to monitor the utilisation of increased advanced payments received by the Member States according to the 2009 simplifications related to Council’s Regulation 1083/2006.
Amendment 66 #
2009/2230(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the strengthening ofEncourages the development of specific provisions within the forthcoming General Regulation on Structural Founds on the basis of territorial cooperation objective, that is clear, simple and takes into account the different administrative culture, languages of the countries and does not impose extra administrative burdens on the beneficiaries, in order to strengthen the cooperation between countries and regions also in terms of macro-regions and the development of further joint action strategies;
Amendment 97 #
2009/2230(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. For the benefit of future macro-regional strategies, draws attention to the need for the European Commission to resolve the issue of its own appropriate human and financial resources via avoiding duplication of work, and rethinking the new priorities while accordingly shifting the resources to specialised needs and expertise requirements to be met;
Amendment 82 #
2009/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes, furthermore, the new general obligations created by the Treaty of Lisbon to combat social exclusion and discrimination and to promote social justice and protection, equality ofbetween women and men, protection of the family, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child, as well as its explicit reference to persons belonging to minorities, which reflects another founding value of the Union; also welcomes the fact that the Union has acquired legal personality allowing it to accede to international treaties, the improvement in judicial protection with the extension of the jurisdiction of the CJ to areas of obvious relevance to the protection of fundamental rights, such as police and judicial cooperation in the field of criminal law, the strengthened role of the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European decision-making process, especially in evaluating the implementation of EU policy in the AFSJ, and the increased role of European citizens, now invested with the power to initiate EU legislation through the European Citizens‘ Initiative;
Amendment 3 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2007-2013 sets out a challenging amount of budgetary resources for 2010, namely EUR 139 489 000 000 in commitments, which represents 1.02% of EU GNI, and EUR 133 505 000 000 in payments, which constitutes 0.97% of EU GNI (in current prices), and recalls that the next adjustment of the MFF will take place in April 2009, just before the publication of the PDB 2010;
Amendment 7 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that initiatives for growth in jobs and support for SMEs and for research and innovation are of the utmost importance in the current economic situation and have to be top priorities reflected in the Union's budget for 2009; against this background, considers that the support for cohesion amongst regions has to be regarded as a key factor for stimulating economic growth throughout the Union; considers it essential that the political determination to make progress on tackling climate change and providing citizens with a safer Europe become clearly visible in the EU budget; stresses that, in 2009 and in the years to come, the Union has to be in a position to fulfil its role as a global player especially given recent challenges such as rising food prices;
Amendment 10 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. On overall figures, sets the final level of commitment appropriations at EUR xxx xxx million; sets the overall level of payments at EUR 116 096 million, equivalent to 0,89% of EU GNI ; notes that this leaves a significant margin of EUR 7 762 million beneath the payments ceiling of the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) for 2009; underlines the joint commitment of both arms of the budgetary authority to a prompt provision of additional payment appropriations, particularly in the event of structural policies being more quickly implemented during the budgetary year;
Amendment 11 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Undertakes to analyse the related budgetary implications of the Commission's proposal for a European recovery plan; reiterates the commitment of Parliament and of the Council, as stated at the conciliation meeting, to respond with the appropriate financial means to the current economic crisis;
Amendment 13 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the vital importance of effective budget implementation and of reducing unpaid commitments in light of this very modest overall level of payments; calls on the Commission and on Member States to do their utmost to implement, in particular, lines in heading 1b of the MFF, because this sub-heading not only finances numerous important policies and activities aimed at tackling climate change but also supports growth for jobs initiatives contributing to economic growth; stresses that improvement and simplification measures are needed in order to accelerate the implementation of structural and cohesion funds and invites the Commission, within the existing legal framework, to proceed rapidly with its compliance assessments of the Member States' management and control systems in order to facilitate the start of major projects; notes with great concern that the Commission has, on the basis of evidence, seen fit to cut EUR 220 million of funding for Bulgaria; asks the Commission to support both Bulgaria and Romania in their reforms and to report every three months to the Parliament on problems or irregularities in implementing EU funds;
Amendment 15 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Insists that the Commission take the appropriate measures both at political and administrative level to undertake a concrete follow-up to the joint declaration No 3 on implementation of cohesion policy, as adopted at the conciliation meeting on 21 November 2008; undertakes to evaluate before the end of March 2009 whether sufficient progress has been made;
Amendment 18 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that Budget 2009 reinforces the safety and security of EU citizens by bolstering related actions and policies which concern mainly competitiveness, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), transport and energy security as well as securing external borders;
Amendment 19 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Has taken note of the Commission's Letter of Executability regarding the amendments to the draft budget adopted by Parliament at first reading; considers it unacceptable that the Commission presented this document at such a late stage in the procedure, thus rendering it far less useful than it could have been; insists that several important political issues require appropriate visibility in the Union's budget; decides to create new budgetary lines on climate change, on the Small Business Act (SBA),on the financial instrument for the adaptation of the fishing fleet to the economic consequences of fuel prices and on aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Georgia; has decided to take some of the Commission's comments into account in the second reading of the budget; will, however, abide by its first reading decisions especially in those cases in which sufficient time and effort has already been spent at an earlier stage on assessing how Parliament's amendments can best be implemented, as was the case with pilot projects and preparatory actions;
Amendment 21 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Deplores the fact that, for the second consecutive year, the Council has rejected Parliament's proposal for an amendment concerning the creation of a new line 05 02 08 12 - School fruit scheme; welcomes, however, the political agreement of the Council on the legal base for such a programme; had expecteds the programme to start as soon as the legal base is adopted and in time for the 2009/2010 school year 2009/2010 and, as demanded by the European Parliament and agreed by the Council in its political agreement; regrets, therefore, that the Council did not accept the Commission's proposal to create already a token entry ("p.m.") in the budget, which would have allowed for a flexible start of the programme as appropriate during the budget year 2009;
Amendment 27 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that appropriations for assistance to Kosovo will only just suffice to keep pace with reforms and investment; recalls its various commitments to EU assistance in Kosovo that is; at the same time stresses the need for a functioning public administration and a take-over of public duties by the Kosovo government as well as for properly managedment and implementedation of these commitments; insists on a proper follow-up of the conclusions of the final report from the ITF (Investigation Task Force, which closed down its operation at the end of August 2008), as well as on the creation of a successor organisation for combating fraud and financial irregularities;
Amendment 28 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes with satisfaction that the Union has committed itself to tackling soaring food prices in developing countries and that an agreement has finally been reached on the financing of a food facility and that complementarity with the European Development Fund and visibility of EU assistance have been ensured; regrets, nevertheless, that once more, due to the constrained margins in heading 4, a part of the appropriations for financing this food facility could only be found through redeployment within the heading;
Amendment 29 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Takes note of the increasing amount of EU funds being channelled through international organisations; repeats its call for the Commission to make every effort to obtain as much information as possible on external and internal audits of institutions and programmes receiving EU funds;
Amendment 35 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Draws the Commission's attention to the former Amicus preparatory action, which has now been integrated into the "Youth in Action Programme"; requests the Commission to ensure a close follow- up of its implementation and to report to Parliament's relevant committees by 30 June 2009";
Amendment 2 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 2
Paragraph 4 – indent 2
– Continuing cohesion policy in order to reduce inequalities between the Union's regions, which is not just solidarity since it results in a more competitive Europe in a globalised world;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls the European Parliament's priorities as expressed in its abovementioned resolution of 24 April 2008 on the Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy for 2009;
Amendment 7 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that, as a result of the very small margins under the other ceilings of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2007 - 2013, in particular in headings 1a, 3b and 4, the Union's capacity to react to policy changes in budgetary terms is extremely limited; underlines, at the same time, the possibility for recourse to the provisions of the IIA to overcome financial shortfalls;
Amendment 8 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers it its responsibility as budgetary authority to ensure that the funding allocated to the EU budget is spent with a view to optimising the limited resources; intends to strive for a more ambitious, balanced and coherent budget in cooperation with, and in line withtaking into account the requests of, the specialised committees;
Amendment 9 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Cannot always see a clear correlation between the Commission's political priorities, as described in its Annual Policy Strategy (APS) and the PDB, and increases in the corresponding budget lines and policy areas; is still not satisfied with the attempts of the Commission to include Parliament's priorities in the PDB; is not convinced, for example, that the climate change priority really is reflected throughout the budget as proposed by the Commission;
Amendment 12 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Expresses its strong concern that a time has come in which the margins that are available are more and more frequently due to "creative budgeting" such as backloading existing multiannual programmes, excluding budgetary requirements that are already well known and foreseeable and other similar manoeuvres; considers such practices to be in breach of the principle of sound budgeting and requests once more a PDB that is an honest reflection of the budgetary needs to come in the following year; invites the Commission and the Council to cooperate with a view to taking the necessary decisions to reach a satisfactory level of appropriations for the 2009 budget;
Amendment 16 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Requests the Commission to continue its screening exercise started in 2007 and to set out clearly further information regarding human resources policy, andpplication of redeployment strategy for 2009and the degree of externalisation of tasks for 2009; asks for a follow-up report by 30 April 2009 including the conclusions the Commission will draw with regard to their internal organisation; takes note of the Commission's 2008 follow-up report on "Planning and optimising Commission human resources to serve EU priorities" whereby the Commission confirms its commitment not to request any new posts up to 2013, beyond the last tranche of enlargement-related posts in 2009;
Amendment 18 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Is worried about the increasing number of external investigations of OLAF opened in the external aid sector; invites, therefore, the Commission to adopt the necessary measures to ensure proper protection of EU funds; asks the Member States to improve the quality of their cooperation with the Commission in the fight against EU fraud, including the assistance given to OLAF when conducting investigations on their territories; calls for the strengthening of the information exchange, from the Member States to the Commission, on irregularities and frauds, notably in the field of structural funds; asks the Member States to ensure a proper follow-up of the anti-fraud investigations, including the recovery procedure; invites the Commission to focus efforts also on the prevention aspects of the anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies;
Amendment 21 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the Commission's intention to undertake key actions in the field of job creation and support for innovation, SMEs and research;
Amendment 27 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers the planned Small Business Act an important strategy to support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; notes that also a financial framework and legislative acts are required to support SMEs in the most appropriate way; urges the Commission and the Member States to make enhanced use for this purpose also of the resources available through the Structural Funds in this context;
Amendment 41 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Recognises the need for coordination of the different communication policies implemented by the institutions within the Interinstitutional group on information and communication; recalls that communication has long been an important priority for Parliament; considers that Parliament's key role in this process is vital and guarantees continuity and efficiency of the policy, in particular in view of the coming European elections; points out in this context that information provided to citizens concerning their rights stemming from the application of EU law should be enhanced;
Amendment 44 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Notes, therefore, with concern that the Commission has already stated, at this early stage of the budgetary procedure, that appropriations for Kosovo, the Middle East, Food aid and Macro-financial assistance will clearly not be sufficient to fulfil existing EU commitments in the world, let alone expected supplementary needs: the PDB proposes, for example, EUR 161 million in commitments and EUR 100 million in payments for assistance to Palestine and the Peace process, although final amounts for the 2008 Budget were EUR 300 million and EUR 200 million, respectively; regarding Kosovo, appropriations for the EULEX mission drop by 15,7% under the CFSP; believes that, with regard to the decision to vastly increase the original number of experts working in the EUPOL mission to Afghanistan, financial shortfalls can already be foreseen at this stage;
Amendment 53 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Points outRegrets that, as a general principle, the Commission's PDB does not include any commitments for pilot projects and preparatory actions, so that these will need to be financed from the margins of the relevant MFF headings; expresses its astonishment that there are a few exceptions to this general rule insofar as a small number of pilot projects and preparatory actions, in which the Commission seems to be interested, are already budgeted in the PDB with commitment appropriations;
Amendment 54 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. States its willingness to submit to the Commission before the parliamentary summer recess a first indicativeprovisional list of its intentions as regards pilot projects and preparatory actions for the 2009 budget procedure, in accordance with Annex II, Part D, of the IIA, in order to facilitate the establishment of a balanced and coherent final package; points out that this list does not preclude the presentation of any other proposals or amendments ofn pilot projects and preparatory actions by individual MEPs, specialised committees and political groups in its First Reading in the autumn; insists that, for this exercise, all headings and sub-headings of the budget must have sufficient margins available;
Amendment 59 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Deplores the fact that the Commission has still not presented to the budgetary authority the details of how it proposes to finance the two new agencies currently under discussion, one of which is already included in the PDB for 2009 with a pm entry; has come to the conclusion that, in the situation of current margins, for the financing of new bodies, which fulfil in part administrative tasks, all possibilities granted by the IIA of 17 May 2006 should be explored; recalls that prior agreement of the budgetary authority on the financing of any new agency is required in line with point 47 of the IIA;
Amendment 60 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 a (new)
– commitment by the Commission to submit, where the EU Solidarity Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund are concerned, amending budgets that have the mobilisation of these funds as their sole purpose in order to avoid any delay in the delivery of financial aid;
Amendment 61 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 b (new)
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 b (new)
– adequate response to food aid requirements;
Amendment 62 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 c (new)
Paragraph 73 – indent 3 c (new)
- state of play regarding the implementation of Point 44 of the IIA;
Amendment 63 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 4
Paragraph 73 – indent 4
– firstprovisional intentions of the budgetary authority with regard to pilot projects and preparatory actions;
Amendment 64 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 5
Paragraph 73 – indent 5
– clarity of budget presentation, especially concerning administrative expenditure and human resources and outsourcing of tasks;
Amendment 65 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 – indent 6
Paragraph 73 – indent 6
– adequate budgetary provision to allow for a linkage ofenable a response to the EU priorities "competitiveness for growth and employment" and ,"combating climate change and promoting a sustainable Europe" and "making a reality of the Common Immigration Policy";
Amendment 1 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas 2008 is the year of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty which could, foreseen to enter into force in 2009, moving important policy areas from the intergovernmental sphere to the Community framework and granting new competencies to the European Union, all of which will have an important impact on the EU budget,
Amendment 2 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the implementation of the new treaty will require the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to agree, in 2008, on the modifications to the relevant budgetary and legislative instruments and a new set of rules to ensure a smooth running of the new budgetary procedure while fully respecting the new interinstitutional balance between the three institutions as laid down in the Lisbon Treaty; is convinced of the absolute necessity to come to such an agreement in the course of 2008 in order to enable the newly elected European Parliament to make immediate use of the new procedure for the budget 2010start preparations as soon as possible;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Repeats its conviction that the real challenges the European Union and its citizens face in the future require a flexible approach and; requests the Commission to enhance, in the context of the forthcoming circumstances, the information provided to citizens concerning their rights stemming from the application of EU law; emphasises the need for coherence between legislative priorities and budgetary decisions;
Amendment 9 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note that the European Commission, in its Communication on the Annual Policy Strategy for 2009, has presented its political priorities with a clear focus on growth and jobs, climate change and sustainable Europe; recalls and regrets, however, that the margins available under the different expenditure ceilings of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) restrict the room for manoeuvre to finance new priorities such as those proposed by the Commission without jeopardising old ones; calls on the Commission to provide more exhaustive information in relation to the above financial difficulties;
Amendment 14 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is deeply concerned that, for 2009, the Commission has already embarked on a re- prioritisation exercise, especially in those headings of the MFF which have a particularly small margin; admits that, eventually, some re-assessment of EU activities on the basis of an appropriate evaluation might become unavoidable; since, in times when resources are scarce, it may not remain feasible simply to add new priorities without phasing tresses, however, that Parliament's political priorities should be duly taken into account old ones; stresses, however, thatin case of such an exercise and any decisions on re- prioritisation shall be taken by Parliament and Council and not be pre-empted by the Commission;
Amendment 16 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that Parliament will use all the powers grantedmeans foreseen by the IIA of 17 May 2006 including, inter alia, the use of the legislative flexibility of 5% during the seven-year period in order to see its political priorities carried through; asks the Commission, in its preparation for the preliminary draft budget (PDB) for 2009, to produce clear, consistent and sound activity statements for each policy area in order to enable all relevant European Parliament committees to thoroughly scrutinise the implementation of the different EU programmes and policies;
Amendment 17 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. PRecalls that achieving value for money and a budget for results remain an objective; points out the importance of the principle of "sound budgeting"; asks the Commission to prepare a PDB that gives a realistic picture of all budgetary needs for 2009, especially in Heading 4 of the MFF, and to inform the Budgetary Authority on the expected financial needs in the longer term; wishes to recall that the Flexibility Instrument is intended for the financing of unforeseen political challenges and should not be misused in the course of the budgetary procedure to finance EU policies and activities that are already foreseeable;
Amendment 21 #
2008/2024(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is determined to use the full amounts provided for pilot projects and preparatory actions in Annex II, Part D of the IIA of 17 May 2006, if the number and volume of such proposed projects and actions should make this necessary; considers pilot projects and preparatory actions an indispensable tool for Parliament to pave the way for new policies and activities that are in the interest of European citizens; stressbelieves that sufficient margins must be available to allow Parliamentit is essential to emphasise support for those projects already successfully under way; stresses that Parliament intends to explore all possibilities to make full use of this tool within the framework of the IIA; aims to inform the Commission of its intentions regarding pilot projects and preparatory actions before Parliament's summer recess;