Activities of Nikolas FARANTOURIS related to 2024/0176(BUD)
Shadow reports (2)
REPORT on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025
REPORT on the joint text on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 approved by the Conciliation Committee under the budgetary procedure
Amendments (36)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)
Citation 11 b (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law),
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 c (new)
Citation 11 c (new)
– having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights of 13 December 2017 and its resolution of 19 January 2017 thereon,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 d (new)
Citation 11 d (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal and to Parliament’s resolution of 15 January 2020 in response thereto,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 e (new)
Citation 11 e (new)
– having regard to the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 f (new)
Citation 11 f (new)
– having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement) and to the Agreement adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference on 19 December 2022 (the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 g (new)
Citation 11 g (new)
– having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Section III – European Commission - A people-centred EU budget 2025: Investments tailored to improving people’s lives and boosting the Union’s competitiveness and sustainability
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its economic and societal consequences continue to put a severe strain on the everyday lives of people, especially the most vulnerable, across Europe and frontline countries; acknowledges that a confluence of political, security, socio- economic, climate and environmental challenges demand a comprehensive and resolute response from the Union, including by exploiting to the fullest possible extent the crisis response capacity of the EU budget; considers it crucial for the Union to be able to act swiftly and adequately in emergency situations caused by major natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies or public health crises in Member States and accession countries and to support third countries suffering from conflicts, refugee crises or natural disasters;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that while inflation has begun to subside compared to previous years’ peaks, its longer term impact on the cost of living, energy insecurity, energy poverty and food prices continues to be a burden on households’ purchasing power and companies’, and in particular SMEs’, competitiveness and productivity; stresses that, against this background, a combination of policy responses comprising regulatory, fiscal and budgetary measures will have to be deployed to adequately address the broad range of challenges; reminds that the Union budget, in complementarity with the national budgets of the Member States and private finance should play a central role in this regard; recalls that the EU budget is an investment budget in line with Union’s political priorities and programmes which generates a return on investment and growth possibilities; emphasises that the 2024 European Parliament elections have sent a clear message for more solidarity between Member States and more investments in policies and programmes which improve people’s lives; highlights that this call must not be answered by ever more budgetary cuts and by a reduction in badly needed resources to help people go through these difficult times;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underscores that the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework has been partly successful and partly unsatisfactory; acknowledges that the revision has resulted in providing additional resources for Ukraine, the Western Balkan and several other budget lines of strategic importance as well as replenished flexibility mechanism; deplores, however, that the revision has also resulted in cuts to flagship programmes, such as Horizon Europe and EU4Health; welcomes that the Commission has proceeded with translating the outcome of the MFF revision into the Financial Programming as well as amending budgets 2024 and the draft general budget for 2025 (the “DB”); underlines once again that the higher than foreseen repayment costs of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) should have been placed fully in a EURI special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings with a view to restoring some margin within Heading 2b and protecting EU programmes and budgetary space in the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; recalls the Interinstitutional Agreement adopted as part of the 2020 MFF agreement, according to which expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs “shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds”;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the 2025 Budget will be the first full annual budgetary procedure under the revised MFF ceilings and rules; insists that the spirit and letter of the MFF revision be respected and the additional appropriations resulting from the revision be fully authorised and committed; reminds that a certain level of redeployments, in particular under headings 1 and 6 was part of the MFF revision package; wishesstresses its firm position to not see such reductions repeated or made worse in the annual procedure;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its concerngrets, that, despite the MFF revision, overall ceilings and margins are still very low in the Financial Programming and the DB and stand at zero in several headings (Heading 2b, Heading 5, Heading 7); takes note with concern that the NGEU overrun costs, i.e. the needs for the EURI refinancing costs which have not yet been programmed, amount to approximately EUR 2,6 billion, twice the Commission’s forecast; is aware that the Amending Letter 1/2025 will update the needs estimation for 2025; is keenly aware that identifying the sources of financing this amount, without causing undue collateral damage to essential programmes and maintaining some flexibility for unforeseen future events, constitutes the biggest challenge in the 2025 procedure;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes noteDeplores that the Council, in its position which it calls “prudent”, proposes to cut commitment appropriations by EUR 1.52 billion across the MFF headings, leaving a total of EUR 191,527 billion, and reduces payment appropriations by EUR 876 million across the MFF headings; stresses that, by cutting across headings on programme lines to generate additional unallocated margins, the Council’s position may convey an ambiguous message of creating additional availabilities for 2025; underlines that this approach, however, is not in accordance with the reality of current budgetary needs, as these margins are not intended for use in the annual budget 2025, and therefore the cuts proposed by the Council remain unjustified;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is adamant that, in times of geopolitical and institutional change, financial pressure, climate change and societal challenges, a reliable, robust, flexible, investment oriented EU budget remain instrumental for the implementation of the Union’s policies and central in responding to people’s increasing needs, leaving no-one behind through the green and digital transitions, in delivering prosperity and security for people and in boosting the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union economy; to defend the social dimension of Union spending in all policy areas, in other words, we will work to reinforce budgetary lines that have a direct impact on improving peoples’ lives;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Underlines that swift progress on new own resources is essential both for the repayment of EURI borrowing costs and for the financial robustness and implementation of the current and future MFFs; reiterates the need to fully respect the timeline of the legally-binding roadmap for the introduction of new own resources annexed to the IIA and urges the Commission to continue the efforts to identify fresh, new and preferably genuine own resources and other revenue sources for the Union budget beyond the IIA;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Reaffirms the significance of the horizontal principles concerning climate, biodiversity and gender equality that underpin the MFF and all related EU policies, also in the context of annual budgetary procedures; calls on the Commission to fulfil its obligation under the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 to take concrete action to ensure that the agreed targets related to climate and biodiversity, as well as the obligation to respect the ‘do no significant harm’ principle and to promote gender equality are fully met;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that programmes under Heading 1 play a key role in ensuring that the green and digital transitions leave no- one behind by providing the necessary support for research and innovation, in key sectors such as health, food, climate and natural resources, by boosting funding for cross- border infrastructure, in particular in the transport and energy sectors, by bolstering the Union’s investment in cutting-edge technology, by stimulating job creation and by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union economy, with an emphasis on SMEs and youth entrepreneurship;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Highlights the added value of the Digital Europe Programme in view the Union’s digital transition, technological progress and competitiveness and proposes an increase of EUR 10 million for the budget line Artificial Intelligence and EUR 5 million above the DB for the skills strand of the programme;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and to enhance access to markets for EU businesses, especially SMEs and young entrepreneurs; emphasises that SMEs in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices and proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 5 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the key role cohesion policy plays in delivering on Union policy priorities, improving peoples’ quality of life and boosting the Union economy by contributing to fair, inclusive and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, addressing regional and social inequalities, supporting the green and digital transitions, and fostering innovation and employment; calls on the Commission and the Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policreiterates that cohesion policy is not a crisis response tool and, therefore, should not be called on to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms to the detriment of its long-term policy objectives; calls on the Commission and the Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policy, especially in light of the additional pressure for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. UnderliIs highly concernesd that the expenditure programmes under Heading 2b have to share the already tight resources and margins under Heading 2b with the EURI budget line, which covers the NGEU debt management and interest costs and, eventually, debt repayments; underlines that this could have been avoided if the higher than foreseen EURI repayment costs had been placed fully in a EURI special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings as Parliament had repeatedly called for; is intent on covering these borrowing costs in a reliable and transparent manner without having to reduce programme allocations for this purpose; is convinced that, for 2025, the cascade mechanism and the newly created EURI Special Instrument make it possible that this objective can be achieved; emphasises that this is a crucial message to the beneficiaries of EU funding and the public at large;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; reinforcing support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme; investing in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases affecting children and improving peoples’ health, including mental health, by increasing EU4Health; investing in skills development, including through reskilling and upskilling; ensuring social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits; supporting vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated, island and mountainous areas, social dialogue and trade unions, cultural and creative industriesectors;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Emphasises its strong preference forosition to covering a larger share of EURI borrowing costs by availabilities in the de- commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument over and above the MFF ceilings which would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility Instrument; proposes, therefore, to cover 65% of the overrun costs in 2025 by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Is alarmed by the ever-growing impact of natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods and droughts, in Europe and its neighbourhood and is highly concerned about the Union’s ability to respond in a timely and effectively manner; underlines that these disasters are often linked to climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; wishes committed to protect human lives and to augment the Commission’s crisis response capacity; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 42 million above DB; calls for a prioritisation of investments that help reduce the impact of natural disasters and strengthen prevention, preparedness and disaster risk reduction; stresses that the Union, being based on solidarity, will find the resources for the citizens affected by the recent floods;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparednesotection, prevention, preparedness and response against human health hazards; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect, as well as in supporting actions to achieve universal health coverage across the Union, including access to quality sexual and reproductive health services and rights; proposes, therefore, to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 50 million above DB in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diseases affecting children and improving mental health;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reiterates the indispensable role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in fostering active civic engagement, in building resilient societies, in combatting gender-based violence, notably violence against women, girls and the LGBTQI+ community, and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non- discrimination and equality; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 9 million above the DB, with reinforcements for the equality and rights, ‘citizens’ engagement and participation’, Daphne and ‘Union values’ strands;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Underlines the significance of the social dimension in the Union budget and the need for effective social dialogue, proper information and training for workers’ organisations;, with a view to further developing and increasing the capacity and involvement of social partners, free movement of workers, coordination of social security schemes and the EaSI strand of ESF+; reinforces, therefore, financing for the relevant lines;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Proposes to reinforce support to the Turkish Cypriot community by EUR 1 million above DB in order to finance the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and support the bi-communal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Underscores the negative impact of droughts and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector in addition to any competitive disadvantages by imports from third countries without the appropriate environmental, ecological and consumer protection standards; underlines the importance of the fruit and vegetables sector, of school schemes as well as promotional measures of agricultural products under the Common Agricultural Policy; decides, therefore, to increase the allocation of these budget lines under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by a total of EUR 56 million above the DB; emphasises equally the importance of investing in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized farms and the acquisition of equipment to implement good environmental practices in farming and to contribute to environmental sustainability in Union agriculture;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Underlines the indispensable and complementary role that the LIFE programme plays in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal, in line with the Paris Agreement, by investing in nature and biodiversity, supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, creating a circular economy, protecting ecosystems, reversing the alarming trend of biodiversity loss and improving peoples’ quality of life; is concerned by the increase in climate change-driven extreme weather events and stresses the need for urgent action; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 49 million above the DB; supports the EEA with a modest increase in funding and staff;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49 a. Stresses that the Union’s migration and asylum policy should be based on solidarity, shared responsibility and respect for human rights, promote safe and legal pathways and provide certainty, clarity and decent and dignified conditions for people arriving in the EU, in line with Union values and international commitments;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)
Paragraph 49 b (new)
49 b. Underlines the importance of saving lives at sea; highlights the need for the Commission to present a legislative proposal to establish an EU Search and Rescue Fund to show solidarity among Member States in the carrying out of SAR obligations;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Emphasises that, and once more as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the international context has deteriorated rapidly as a result of the food, energy, humanitarian and economic crises , which have dramatically increased pressure on Heading 6; welcomes the fact that the introduction of the Ukraine Facility and the Western Balkan Facility over the MFF ceilings provides a stable basis for support for Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries and releases some pressure on the availabilities within Heading 6 and more particularly on the cushion and buffers in the NDICI envelope; reminds that the commensurate redeployments leave behind gaps on some other budget lines which are difficult to manage;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Stresses the importance of the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region; taking into consideration the increasing humanitarian needs in the region as well as other purposes of regional cooperation in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 60 million above the DB, including to reinforce funding for UNRWA based on EU regulations and values and the intensified needs on the ground;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Shares the Council’s assessment that the need for humanitarian aid needs have reached new heights; considers that, given the highly challenging international context, increasing geopolitical instability, rising extreme poverty and the ongoing climate change- induced emergencies, humanitarian aid needs in 2025 are likelyexpected to be evenmuch higher than estimated by the Council, in particular since humanitarian aid to Ukraine will continue to be covered under Heading 6 rather than the Ukraine Facility; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for humanitarian aid by EUR 120 million compared to the DB; regrets that the lack of available margin under Heading 6 does not allow for further reinforcement;