150 Amendments of Francesco TORSELLI
Amendment 21 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 28 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas today EU industry employs around 35 million people, generates several millions industry-linked jobs and accounts for over 80 % of exports and has dominant role in placing direct foreign investments; whereas Europe has centuries-old strong industrial traditions and is therefore fit for efficient twin transition based on social economy and EU values;
Amendment 30 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas further investment in research and innovation is crucial to boost productiveness and development of the European industry; whereas digitalisation and artificial intelligence are essential for all industry sectors, increasing competitiveness, creating job opportunities and economic prosperity;
Amendment 42 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas a core objective of restructuring processes should be job and productiveness retention;
Amendment 48 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
Amendment 64 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the automotive industry is a vital economic pillar in Europehas been traditionally one of Europe’s vital industrial engines; whereas automotive supply chain in the EU is currently suffering competitive gaps, both concerning cost and technology;
Amendment 70 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas EU climate policy is demanding ambitious targets from the European companies which decrease their competitiveness and lead to layoffs;
Amendment 72 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the current crisis in the automotive industry is endogeneous and is resulting from restrictive EU policies that have not taken into account the social impact thereof on SMEs and companies;
Amendment 73 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 97 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 109 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights that European competitiveness is primarily determined by the general business climate in the EU; calls therefore for the continued work to strengthen the business environment for SMEs as well as strategic industries; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the investments needed in infrastructures to guarantee broad access in all European regions, in particular rural areas and the regions covered by the174 Article of the TFEU and in order to encourage entrepreneurship and new jobs opportunities;
Amendment 113 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 124 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the European Commission to revise the Green Deal in order to prevent deindustrialisation of the EU and to protect job opportunities within the Union; underlines the importance of upholding the technological neutrality principle;
Amendment 125 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the European Commission to provide an impact assessment of the social impact of the Green Deal policies, in particular in industry, in cooperation with the social partners; underlines that relocation and offshoring of companies and the related forced labour migration can lead to irreversible changes and further exacerbation of regional disparities; urges, therefore, the European Commission to address the problem of industrial and social desertification of certain areas in the Member States;
Amendment 126 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 137 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 149 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 164 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 172 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that in order to limit and hopefully invert the current occupational crisis, which concerns both big companies and the supply chain, the loss of jobs and skills should not be taken for granted; calls on the European Union and Member States to put in place accompanying measures for companies, both at union and trade association level and measures aimed at enhancing cross- cutting skills and on improving skills within different industrial sectors;
Amendment 173 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 187 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 194 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 206 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 219 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 229 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 240 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Highlights the importance of maintaining competitive transformation costs in the EU, as well as short-term measures to reduce regulatory burden, ensure coherence, predictability and appropriate timing and consultation for future legislation; calls on the Commission to follow recommendations of Draghi’s report in order to ensure that EU remains a leader in the global automotive industry, preserves jobs, R&D facilities, and manufacturing within the region; underlines that the radical displacement of production away from the EU’s automotive sector or the rapid takeover of EU plants and companies by state-subsidised competitors should be avoided;
Amendment 242 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 251 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the ability to recruit and retain a qualified workforce is essential to a competitive EU industry; considers education in future-oriented sectors, skills and competences, particularly as regards vocational education training and dual formation and digital skills, to be essential to address current skills shortages; underlines that EU industry and enterprises should play a key role in planning and developing educational and training programs in order to ease the transition to the labour market; believes that lifelong learning is a prerequisite to ensure efficient and timely upskilling and reskilling of workers;
Amendment 253 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 261 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the European Commission to anticipate a safeguard clause to revise the 2025 targets for CO2 emissions; underlines that many companies will not be able to meet the deadlines which might lead to another wave of layoffs;
Amendment 262 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 273 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 8 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
– having regard to the Report of the CERIS Expert Group of November 2024 entitled ‘Building resilience in the civil security domain based on research and technology’,
Amendment 30 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Draghi and the Heitor reports are a wake-up call for Europe to face global competition and the significant rise of Chinese science in recent years; welcomes the higher success rate of HEU compared to Horizon 2020 (H2020); appreciates HEU’s responsiveness in crises, such as COVID-19 and geopolitical challenges, but regrets the lack of additional funding, which compromises original priorities; underlines as well the important role of private investments in research and innovation in order to balance the public funding;
Amendment 33 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that there have been negative experiences with the implementation of HEU because the shift from H2020 to HEU has mostly been experienced as an increase in complexity and bureaucracy; underlines that the success rates in some parts of the programme are still so low as to discourage potentially excellent applications; considers that the high cost of strategic planning (due to increased complexity, time and resources invested, as well as slowed-down implementation of the framework programme (FP)) is not compensated by any substantial benefits; believes that the next FP10 should be based on already well-established instruments under Horizon Europe that have proven to be functional and furthermore to stabilise them under the next FP10;
Amendment 41 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of an agile FP; notes that the Heitor report outlines the importance of responding to the fast-changing field of science and innovation and recommends more self- governance in the FP through the establishment of councils as well as less prescriptive calls; recalls that the Draghi report notes that the current governance of the FP is slow and bureaucratic, that its organisation should be redesigned to be more outcome-based and evaluated by top experts and that the future FP should be governed by people with a proven track record at the frontier of research or innovation;
Amendment 67 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is deeply convinced that EU spending on science, research and innovation is the best investment in our common European future and for increasing competitiveness and successfully closing the innovation gap; agrees with Mr Draghi that all public R&D spending in the EU should be better coordinated at EU level, taking into consideration, at the same time, specificities at regional and national level, in order to avoid creating disparities in access to funding opportunities among researchers from different Member States, and that a reformed and strengthened FP is crucial in achieving this;
Amendment 72 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines the significant role of research and innovation across different industrial fields that contributes to creating jobs and increasing the European competitiveness compared to third countries; highlights in this regard the importance of respecting the principle of technological neutrality;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that a large number of beneficiaries do not consider the introduction of lump-sum funding to be a simplification and therefore meets the expected positive outcome since its introduction under HEU;
Amendment 95 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the Commission has not succeeded in creating agile but strong management of HEU, which has led to complex implementation; expects that the interim evaluation report should address shortages and possible solutions;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Considers establishing regular consultation forums with researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to align program objectives with real-world needs and emerging trends;
Amendment 102 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Welcomes the Draghi Report proposal for a “ERC for Institutions”, with the aim to make European research institutions even stronger and more competitive; proposes, to this end, to establish this program in Horizon Europe as a pilot project;
Amendment 103 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Highlights that although EIC was created with the goal of combining support for research on emerging technologies with acceleration tools for start-ups, SMEs, and scale-ups, it is evident that this instrument has marked a clear shift in investment orientation towards a purely “deep-tech” and disruptive type of innovation; therefore, this shift, combined with the high complexity in project design, the use of blended finance funding mechanisms, and the requirement for high TRLs, has made the instrument entirely inadequate and inaccessible for micro enterprises and SMEs;
Amendment 123 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Concludes that Pillar 2 remains too complex; believes that the implementation of this pillar should be improved, simplified and streamlined in light of addressing targeted results rather than solely on the expenditure; notes that the number of instruments involved, the unsuccessful implementation of missions, and the many budgetary shifts have resulted in unnecessary complexity which discourages applicants, and especially newcomers, from participating;
Amendment 131 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for expanding initiatives like the European fellowship program for researchers at risk and prioritize integrating talent from diverse regions to enrich the European Research Area (ERA);
Amendment 148 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the fact that there has been an increase in the number of participants, from widening countries, in HEU; encourages the continuous support of widening countries in order to improve their performances compared to frontrunner Member States across different instruments under the next FP10;
Amendment 159 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that the Commission communication entitled ‘EU Missions two years on: assessment of progress and way forward’ did not positively evaluate missions and concluded that missions had failed on coreve not achieved the expected objectives such as crowding in external funding;
Amendment 163 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recalls the fundamental role of partnerships in regard of bringing together the European Commission and private and/or public partners that must receive a continuous support with a defined target and scope;
Amendment 174 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that no significant changes have taken place in the implementation of the missions since the publication of the communication; concludes, therefore, that further funding of missions under the 2025, 2026 and 2027 work programmes would not be an effective use of the limited resources available to HEU and should therefore be stopped; encourages the Commission to find funding for the continuation of missions in other parts of the EU budget and at national level;
Amendment 182 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. InsistRecommends that the Commission should reducecarefully assess the use of lump-sum funding under HEU until thereand its substantial evidence that lump-sum funding provides aimpact in terms of simplification for the beneficiaries over the full life cycle of the project, including the audit, as well as for the programme as a whole, reflected by lower administrative and transaction costs for beneficiaries with lump-sum projects;
Amendment 184 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Supports the Heitor report’s urgent call to introduce a ‘Choose Europe’ co- funding line and to turn the current ‘European brain drain’ into a ‘brain gain’ by 2035, noting that this should be considered a major and unique opportunity for Europe following the recent US election and should therefore be implemented urgently from 2025; recognizes that there are still significant obstacles to 'brain circulation' among Member States, including the recognition of qualifications and the diversity of tax, social security, and pension systems;
Amendment 206 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone EU programme dedicated to EU research excellence, innovation and competitiveness with a substantially higher budget that is sufficient for achieving the 3 % GDP spending target and for funding at least 75 % of the excellent proposals submitted; recommends that FP10 focus on three core objectives: (i) advancing the European Research Area (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparie general key objective of strengthening the scientific and technological bases of the Union, fostering the competitiveness of the Union in all Member States including in its industry and filling Europe’s innovation gap with key competitors and on four core objectives and support under-represented Member States in their innovation capacities, (ii) creating a European competition of ideas, and (iii) supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research initiatives; recommends that FP10 be structured : (i) advancing scientific excellence, supporting the creation and diffusion of fundamental and applied knowledge, of skills, technologies and solutions, supporting training and mobility of researchers, to attracting talent at all levels; (ii) creating a European competition of ideas fostering all forms of innovation and strengthening the deployment and exploitation of innovative solutions; (iii) supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research and innovation initiatives, enhancing the impact of R&I and supporting the development of priority innovative advanced technologies and their translation into concrete applications of innovative products, processes and services; (iv) advancing three parts, each addressing one of the three core objece European Research Area (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparities and support underrepresented Member States in their innovation capacitives;
Amendment 245 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Amendment 254 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
iii. contribute to EU priorities, but on the terms of and try to align science and innovation rather than on the terms ofs objectives with priorities set by policymakers;
Amendment 261 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv
iv. be based on the principle of self- governance, through whichcooperation among policymakers and top experts from the relevant field, who can determine how research and innovation can best contribute to the achievement of the policy priorities set by policymakers;
Amendment 262 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv a (new)
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv a (new)
iva. be ambitious, focused on competitiveness needs, much more application-oriented and based on simpler and more efficient financial instruments;
Amendment 272 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) setting up the fourthree councils proposed by the Heitor expert group, composed of eminent experts from the field, to decide on the strategic direction of the different parts of FP10, and in particular a European technology and industrial competitiveness council and a European societal challenges council;
Amendment 300 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that an expanded European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC) should be at the heart of the part of FP10 dealing with a European competition of ideas and that this part should receive halfan adequate amount of the FP10 budget; recommends that these programmes be designed so that they create a European, bottom-up funnel for innovation to develop quickly from fundamental science to innovation scale- up; considers that the EIC can only succeed if it can both offer blended finance as a single project and act with the same speed and agility as private actors on the venture capitalist market through a tailor-made legal entity for implementation; underlines that the strengthened autonomy and self- governance of both the ERC and the EIC are crucial to achieving this;
Amendment 314 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Urges the Commission to design the part of FP10 on strategic deployment such that it focuses on a limited number of pan-European research initiatives with 2040 set as the time horizon and which require cross-border collaboration due to the scale and complexity of the issue in question; believes that this part should consider that these initiatives could take the form of societal missions which address socio-economic and/or ecological challenges, technology missions to accelerate the development of strategic technologies in Europe, or joint undertakings to secure joint investments by industry, Member States and the EU to support research-based competitiveness and the resilience of key sectors in the European economy; believes that all of these initiatives should receive a budget of between EUR 2.5 and 5 billion;
Amendment 321 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recommends that not only fundamental research and disruptive innovations in targeted sectors matter, but ‘incremental’ steps across all industrial strategic sectors and all types of company should be adequately supported; highlights that SMEs, Mid-Caps and microenterprises must be considered, alongside large companies, as key players in the R&I activities; believes in this regard that manufacturing SMEs and Mid-Caps should be able to rely on mechanisms that are easier to access and simpler to manage;
Amendment 329 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls the European Commission to continue the simplification of access procedures and rules for participation must continue: regulatory barriers must be removed, administrative burdens for applicants reduced, processes streamlined; highlights that a simplification of procedures should concern both the EU level and the national level, when applicable;
Amendment 337 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Believes that more emphasis should be given on impact and transfer of research results to the market; considers therefore essential to evaluate project proposals by adopting a result-oriented approach, ensure a greater role for industry in defining R&I priorities and topics and focuse on calls for proposals based on business needs;
Amendment 340 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Recommends to preserve the Public-Private Partnerships approach, possibly expanding the scope and funding of the existing Public-Private Partnerships as they play a central role in the implementation of long-term RD&I agendas, and thus for the EU’s long-term competitiveness;
Amendment 347 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Believes that the European Innovation Council (EIC) should aim to identify, develop, and deploy high-risk innovations of all kinds, guaranteeing access to all Start-ups and innovative SMEs; underlines that the action of the EIC should be oriented towards supporting start-ups projects with spill- over effects on the manufacturing industrial system; calls on the European Commission to align the EIC’s objectives and priorities much more with European industrial needs than with investors’ interests;
Amendment 349 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Underlines that financing instruments must be adapted to companies’ needs: to this end, an industry-driven instrument, building on the experience of the Fast Track to Innovation from Horizon 2020, should be introduced; believes that such instrument should become the main implementation mechanism of the pillar dedicated to industrial innovation as it also should strengthen industrial participation in PPPs within which it should equally be promoted;
Amendment 351 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
19g. Recognizes that, as mentioned in the Draghi Report, strengthening EU’s competitiveness in relation to its competitors cannot be separated from the preservation of its fundamental values such as prosperity, social inclusion, freedom, peace, democracy, and sustainability; enhances the funding for research in the humanities, since it is about promoting social and cultural development alongside technological advancement;
Amendment 353 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 h (new)
Paragraph 19 h (new)
19h. Recommends that the forthcoming FP10 prioritizes the allocation of dedicated funding and strategic support for research and innovation in dual-use technologies; enhances that by fostering dual-use research, FP10 can unlock significant synergies between civilian advancements and security needs, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of technological innovation while strengthening its strategic autonomy and resilience; to this end, recommends better coordination and cooperation with other funds dedicated to dual-use technologies, such as the European Defence Fund;
Amendment 354 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 i (new)
Paragraph 19 i (new)
19i. Emphasizes, in the context of the next FP10, the fundamental role of space and space-related research; recognizes the numerous civilian applications of space research and the need of implementing ambitious research programme in the field of space in line with the European Space Programme;
Amendment 355 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 j (new)
Paragraph 19 j (new)
19j. Recommends that the next FP10 to be aligned with the work of the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS); underlines how research and innovation can support EU policy response to different security challenges;
Amendment 356 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 k (new)
Paragraph 19 k (new)
19k. Underlines the importance of nuclear research to be strengthen in the next FP10; underlines the fundamental role of nuclear start-ups but acknowledges, at the same time, a shortage of skills in this sector; calls for the next FP10 to focus on research oriented towards new solution in nuclear energy, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion;
Amendment 357 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 l (new)
Paragraph 19 l (new)
19l. Recommends that the upcoming FP10 explicitly embed the principle of technological neutrality as a cornerstone of its research and innovation strategy; recalls that this principle should guide the selection, development, and implementation of projects, ensuring that FP10 supports a diverse range of solutions without favouring specific technologies, thereby fostering innovation, competitiveness, and adaptability across sectors;
Amendment 358 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 m (new)
Paragraph 19 m (new)
19m. Acknowledges the role of research in the field of agriculture, in particular to enhance our food sovereignty; highlights that research in agriculture is fundamental to enhance crops resilience and to develop technologies directly linked to benefit European citizens’ everyday life;
Amendment 1 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 20 March 2024 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Labour shortages and skills in the EU: an action plan,
Amendment 7 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 19 May 2022 on the creation of a European education area by 2025 - micro-credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environment (2022/2568(RSP)),
Amendment 24 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas different vulnerable groups have different needs, such as women in poverty, labour migrants, children,children, young people, people with disabilities, precarious workers and elderly people; with disabilities and elderly peoplehereas the EU has a particular need to support and strengthen the skills of citizens and workers, and to continue to invest in education, training and lifelong learning, and to encourage innovation; whereas the digital and green transition is much needed but also brings challenges for all people and all workers, and whereas to succeed in this endeavour, the EU must ensure a just transition that does not lose sight of workers and vulnerable peopletakes well- being and prosperity of the EU citizens as a priority;
Amendment 52 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the population of the EU is decreasing; whereas depopulation is taking place in some EU regions and there is an increasing concentration of the population in certain urban areas making development and cohesion difficult; whereas the average life expectancy of men and women has increased by an average of 10 years over the last 50 years;
Amendment 60 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas programmes, projects and actions that promote active ageing and intergenerational ties can be supported through the European Structural and Investment Funds, including the ESF+;
Amendment 66 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Insists that the ESF+ must continue to be the key and primary instrument for supporting the Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Unionregions and people in strengthening the social dimension of the Union and to pursue socio-economic development that leaves no one behind, recognising the region as a level closer to the citizen in defining needs and territorial diversity as a resource requiring the development of specific solutions, also to respond to the challenges of demographic and technological change;
Amendment 76 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the objectives of the ESF+ should be to achieve high employment, training and skills levels with adequate wages, decent working conditions, healthy working environments and social security coverage, in order to develop a skilled, competitive and resilient workforce, ready for the twin transition and the future world of work, and to build fair social protections and inclusive and cohesive societies, with the aims of increasing labour market participation among the inactive population, eradicating poverty and delivering on the principles and the headline targets set out in the EPSR;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a strong, reinforced, stand- alone ESF+ with significantly increased public support for existing instruments aimed at providing for the poorest in our societies; insists, therefore, on doublincreasing the funding for the ESF+ post-2027;
Amendment 97 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that shared management, multi-level governance and the principles of subsidiarity and partnership are the foundations for the Fund in the context of cohesion policies, and that a different ESF+ governance would lead to the loss of priority given to social aspects, including employment, education, training and social inclusion projects, and to the funding not reaching local levels and those most in need, while increasing the risk of reallocation of funds for other purposes;
Amendment 119 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that the ESF+ post-2027 should invest in tackling enduring social challenges such as negative demographic trends and stay close to the general and specific objectives set out in the current ESF+; emphasises the importance of the fund’s principles of shared management, clear objectives and thematic concentrations, and that most of the fund should be spent as close as possible to those using the fundreiterates that the fund - while respecting the principle of multi- level governance - should be planned and implemented in close cooperation with those using the fund, maintaining the current diversity in programme forms (national, regional) that allows for better adaptation to territorial needs and requirements;
Amendment 130 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the ESF+ shcould not be used to respond to emergencies or crises only in exceptional cases as the Fund has its long-term objectives that need to be addressed in the first place; insists that a social rescue facility capable of reacting to social emergencies and crisis situations should supplement the ESF+; calls on the Commission to build on the success of the temporary EU instrument launched in 2020, entitled ‘Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE)’, in fighting temporary unemployment, and to put forward an EU unemployment reinsurance scheme without further delay;
Amendment 143 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that the ESF+ should target the most disadvantaged people in our societies, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, or racial or ethnic origin – in particular marginalised communities such as Roma people, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, homeless people, children and elderly people; underlines that the ESF+ must be inclusive, with special attention given to all kinds of families, including single-parent families, families with more than two parents and rainbow famparadigm of the ESF+ should be shifted from individuals to communities; underlines the importance of supporting families as well as rural, peripheral and outermost regions which are still lagging behind in terms of connectivity and accessibiliesty;
Amendment 160 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission, in the light of current challenges, to include in the specific objectives of the ESF+ theactive ageing and promotion of the just transition, the socio- economic integration of migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion of women who are victims of gender-based violence and the integration of older peopleintergenerational solidarity, support for depopulating areas, support for vocational training and school-to-work transition;
Amendment 164 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights state that every person has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning, in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable full participation in society and manage successful transitions in the labour market, and therefore the ESF+ must continue to play a key role in pursuing this objective, together with those of active support for employment and flexible and secure jobs;
Amendment 169 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that reaching the EPSR’s targets on poverty becomes challenging, unless specific support is dedicated to alleviating the pressure on social protection systems and mitigating the social impact of crises; insists on dedicating support to ensure decent living conditions for all, with access to high-quality essential services; calls for the EU anti-poverty strategy, outlined in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines for the 2024-2029 term, to be implemented via the ESF+, with its binding poverty- reduction targets, national living wage indices and reference budgets used as benchmarks, applying a multidimensional approach;
Amendment 177 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that addressing child poverty requires appropriately funded, comprehensive and integrated measures, together with the implementation of the European Child Guarantee at national level, and insists that it constitute a central pillar of the EU anti-poverty strategy; repeats its previous demands for the ESF+ post-2027 to include a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee; insists that all the Member States should allocate at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources to the European Child Guarantee and at least 10 % for those Member States with a higher portion of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion;
Amendment 185 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 196 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Shares the ambition to prioritise the tackling of the housing crises, and insists that the ESF+ post-2027 should enhance timely and equal access to affordable, decent, sustainable and high-quality services promoting access to housing; believes that all the Member States must invest at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources into tackling homelessnesunderlines that ESF+ resources could be used more often in order to adapt the existing buildings to the needs of persons with disabilities and older people who are often not able to live independently at their homes;
Amendment 206 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises the need to ensure sufficient financing of the ESF+ post-2027 for high-quality and public education and training for all, skills development, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning, and for the addressing of skills shortages, ensuring that individuals can successfully navigate labour market transitions also by encouraging cooperation between educational institutions, businesses and local authorities to develop solutions that respond in a targeted way to technological changes as well as new employment needs, including those caused by demographic change;
Amendment 228 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a strengthening of efforts to support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee with an increased earmarking for all Member States that dedicate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources; repeats in this context its call on the Member States to ban unpaidand for facilitating access to employment; repeats in this context the importance of provision of quality traineeships;
Amendment 234 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the importance of the ESF+ in focusing on different groups with different needs; stresses, therefore, the importance of allocating support to projects on the socio-economic position of migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion of people with disabilities, the ageing population in society, women and children, and female-headedsingle- parent households; insists that the ESF+ post- 2027 incorporate other aspects of social inclusion, such as housing, health and family circumstances and the support of community-based services;
Amendment 241 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 253 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the ESF+ to boost the implementation of the European care strategy by investing in quality early childhood education and care, as well as care for older persons and persons with disabilities, through community-based, person-centred, high- quality, affordable and accessible care systems;
Amendment 257 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that the implementation of the EPSR and the reforms needed to comply with the country-specific recommendations in the European Semester are also dependant on the strong support of the ESF+ for certain policy measures, especially those related to strengthening social welfare systems, ensuring inclusive and high-quality public education and training, reducing child poverty and eradicating homelessness and those relating to equal treatment and opportunities for women and men, which must be guaranteed and strengthened in all areas, including labour market participation, terms and conditions of employment and career advancement;
Amendment 269 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to allocate consistent financial resources to capacity- building, with the aims of empowering social partners to play a relevant role in areas of their competence, of strengthening their capacity to engage in social dialogue both at EU and national level and of enhancing social partners’ actions – and include technical assistance for these three purposes – with an adequate minimum percentage investment obligation from the Member States; further insists that social partners and CSOs should be guaranteed access to funding for social policy objectives in all the Member States on an equal basis;
Amendment 280 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines that it is of the utmost importance that small social enterprises and CSOs have access to all aspects of the ESF+; calls for an increas maintained co-financing rate of at least 90 % for measures targeting the most deprived implemented by CSOs, and at least 70 % for those implemented by social enterprises;
Amendment 290 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Member States to ensure that regional and local authorities and organisations have a say iare consulted on projects financed from national budgets;
Amendment 291 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Reiterates the need to ensure that the programming and management of the programmes supported by the future ESF+ are maintained at the most appropriate level in order to address the regional needs, taking into account the important role played by the regions in implementing policies for people;
Amendment 292 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 297 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for strong and more effective social conditionalities in rules on public procurement and concessions, with effective sanctions; eEncourages the Commission to create a comprehensive database, supplementing the Eurostat data, to allow for timely and reliable monitoring of the developments in employment, living conditions and industrial relations;
Amendment 316 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls to increase spending from ESF+ for the training and retraining of older workers, to encourage companies to include older workers in all forms of training, adapting companies to employ older people and adapting public infrastructure and space to the needs of older people; requests to increase investing in public services in rural and depopulating areas which would attract the younger generation and increase the wellbeing of older people living in these areas;
Amendment 34 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Appreciates the Foundation’s work on enhancing and disseminating knowledge, and providing evidence-based expertise to support the development of better informed social, employment and work-related policies in Europe, to analyse policy options to improve working conditions, industrial relations, employment and living, and to produce expertise on right to disconnect, telework, hybrid work and related impacts on work– life balance, psychosocial risks to workers’ well-being, intergenerational inequalities and quality of working conditions;
Amendment 43 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the corrective action taken by the Foundation on the engagement of trainees and on the conditions for the update of their remuneration;
Amendment 55 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Appreciates the Cedefop’s activities to provide research, analyses and technical advice and expertise in vocational education and training (VET), qualifications and skills policies, as well as modernisation of apprenticeships to compile and disseminate research on skills mismatches and labour shortages, and to ensure digital skills are integrated into VET across the Union, as well as, the Cedefop involvement in the 2023 European Year of Skills;
Amendment 71 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Appreciates the Authority’s work to assist Member States and the Commission in ensuring a fair and effective enforcement of Union rules on labour mobility and coordination of social security systems, in facilitating effective labour mobility in Europe through European Employment Services (EURES) activities, joint inspections and to raising awareness, through training and information campaigns, about the rights and obligations of workers and employers;
Amendment 81 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. In this regards, notes the ECA’s opinion on an irregular contract awarding and subsequent irregular payments under this contract which in 2023 amounted to 1.32 million EUR and the Authority’s reply that the concerned contract was not renewed and ran until the end to avoid disruption in the Authority’s activities;
Amendment 87 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Notes that against ECA’s observation from the previous year, ELA continued to use an interim agent and a trainee to perform core financial activities associated with budget implementation in 2023;
Amendment 88 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Recalls that at the end of 2023, the proportion of ELA's temporary workers (seconded national experts and interims) remained high at 47 %;
Amendment 1 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Recital 1
(1) Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and in particular for the promotion of a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, as well as through strengthening the links between the education system and the labour market needs, thus promoting labour markets that are future-oriented and responsive to economic change, with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress, balanced growth, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment laid down in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Member States are to regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and are to coordinate their action in that respect within the Council, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour.
Amendment 16 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Recital 6
(6) The European Semester combines different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral coordination and surveillance of economic and employment policies within the Union. While pursuing environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and macroeconomic stability, the European Semester integrates the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and its monitoring tool, the Social Scoreboard, also allowing an analysis of risks and challenges to upward social convergence in the Union, and provides for strong engagement with social partners, civil society and other stakeholders. It also supports the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. The economic and employment policies of the Union and the Member States should go hand in hand with the Union’s fair transition to a climate-neutral, environmentally sustainable and digital economy, improve competitiveness and productivity, ensure adequate working conditions, foster innovation, promote social justice, equal opportunities and upward socio-economic convergence, and tackle inequalities and regional disparities.
Amendment 28 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Recital 11
(11) Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Council, in its conclusions of 24 February 2022, condemned Russia’s actions, which seek to undermine European and global security and stability, and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, underlining Russia’s violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. In the current context, temporary protection, as granted by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 and extended by the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2409 (37 ), offers quick and effective assistance in Union countries to displaced people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and allows such displaced peoplewar refugees to enjoy minimum rights across the Union that offer an adequate level of protection. By participating in the Union’s labour markets, persons displacedwar refugees from Ukraine can continue to contribute to strengthening the Union’s economy and help support their country and people at home. In the future, the experience and skills acquired can contribute to rebuilding Ukraine. For unaccompanied children and teenagers, temporary protection confers the right to legal guardianship and access to childhood education and care. Member States should continue to involve social partners in the design, implementation and evaluation of policy measures that aim to address the employment and skills challenges, including the recognition of qualifications of people displacedwar refugees from Ukraine. Social partners play a key role in mitigating the impact of that the war in terms of preserving employment and production. __________________ 37 Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection (OJ L 71, 4.3.2022, p. 1) and the Council Implementing Decision (EU 2023/2409) of 19 October 2023 extending temporary protection as introduced by Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382.
Amendment 45 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Recital 13 – paragraph 2
The potential of persons with disabilities to contribute to economic growth and social development should be further realised, in line with the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (40 ) which invited Member States to set up employment and adult learning targets for persons with disabilities. The EU Roma Strategic Framework highlights the capacity within the marginalised Roma communities to reduce labour and skills shortages and aims to cut the employment gap between Roma and general population by at least half (41 ). New technologies and evolving workplaces throughout the Union allow for more flexible working arrangements as well as improved productivity and work-life balance, whilst contributing to the Union’s green commitments. Those developments also bring new challenges to labour markets, affecting the working conditions, health and safety at work and effective access to adequate social protection for workers and the self-employed. Member States should ensure that new forms of work organisation translate into quality jobs and adequates healthy and safe workplaces and working conditions as well as work-life balance, healthy ageing, maintaining established labour and social rights and strengthening Europe’s social model. __________________ 40 COM(2021) 101 final. 41 EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation for 2020-2030, COM(2020) 620 final.
Amendment 53 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 1
Member States should actively promote a sustainable social market economy and facilitate and support investment in the creation of quality jobs, also taking advantage of the potential linked to the digital and green transitions, in light of the Union and national headline targets for 2030 on employment. To that end, they should reduce the barriersadministrative burden that businesses face in hiring people, foster VET, responsible entrepreneurship and genuine self- employment and, in particular, support the creation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to finance. Member States should actively promote the development of the social economy, including social enterprises, and tap into its full potential. They should develop relevant measures and strategiesfor the social economy, foster social innovation and encourage business models that create quality job opportunities and generate social welfare, notably at local level, including in the circular economy and in territories most affected by the transition to a green economy, including through targeted financial and technical support.
Amendment 57 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 2
To strengthen resilience in the face of possible economic and/or labour market shocks, well-designed short-time work schemes and similar arrangements play an important role. They can also support structural transformations by facilitating and supporting restructuring processes and the reallocation of labour from declining sectors towards emerging ones, thereby increasing productivity, preserving employment and helping to modernise the economy, including via associated skills development. Well-designed hiring and transition incentives and, lifelong learning, VET, upskilling and reskilling measures should be considered in order to support quality job creation and transitions throughout the working life, and to address labour and skill shortages, also in light of the digital and green transformations, demographic change, as well as of the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Amendment 78 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 7
Member States should foster equal opportunities for all by addressing inequalities in education and training systems, including in terms of regional coverage. In particular, children should be provided with access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care, in line with the new “Barcelona targets” and the European Child Guarantee Member States should raise overall qualification levels, reduce the number of early leavers from education and training, support equal access to education of children from disadvantaged groups and remote areas, increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training (VET), support access to and completion of tertiary education, and increase the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates both in VET and in tertiary education, especially women. Top performance and excellence in educational outcomes should also be supported, given their role in fostering the future innovation potential of the EU. Mermber States should facilitate the transition from education to employment for young people through quality traineeships and apprenticeships, as well as increase adult participation in continuing learning, particularly among learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and the least qualified. Taking into account the new requirements of digital, green and ageing societies, Member States should upgrade and increase the supply and uptake of flexible initial and continuing VET, strengthen work-based learning in their VET systems, including through accessible, quality and effective apprenticeships, and support low-skilled adults maintain their employability. Furthermore, Member States should enhance the labour-market relevance of tertiary education and, where appropriate, research; improve skills monitoring and forecasting; make skills and qualifications more visible and comparable, including those acquired abroad, and ensure a more consistent use of EU-wide classifications (i.e. ESCO); and increase opportunities for recognising and validating skills and competences acquired outside formal education and training, including for refugees and persons under a temporary protection status. Beyond using the untapped potential of the EU domestic workforce, attracting talent and skills from outside the EU via managed migrationlegal pathway and preventing exploitative working conditions can also contribute to addressing skills and labour shortages, including those linked to the green and digital transitions such as in STEM sectors and in healthcare and long-term care.
Amendment 87 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 9
Member States should aim to remove barriers and disincentives to, and provide incentives for, participation in the labour market, in particular for low-income earners, second earners (often women) and those furthest from the labour market, including people with a migrant background and marginalised Roma people. In view of high labour shortages in certain occupations and sectors (notably in STEM sectors, healthcare and long-term care, education, transport and construction), Member States should contribute to fostering labour supply, notably through promoting adequate wages and working conditions, ensuring that the design of tax and benefit systems encourages labour market participation, and that active labour market policies are effective and accessible, respecting the role of social partners. Member States should also support a work environment adapted for persons with disabilities, including through targeted financial and technical support, information and awareness raising, and services that enable them to participate in the labour market and in society. The gender employment and pay gaps as well as gender stereotypes should be tackled. Member States should ensure gender equality and increased labour market participation of women, including through ensuring equal opportunities and career progression and eliminating barriers to leadership access at all levels of decision making, as well as by tackling violence and harassment at work which is a problem that mainly affects women. Equal pay for equal work, or work of equal value, and pay transparency should be ensured. The reconciliation of work, family and private life for both women and men should be promoted, in particular through access to affordable, quality long-term care and early childhood education and care services, as well as through adequate policies catering to the changes brought to the world of work by digitalisation. Member States should ensure that parents and other people with caring responsibilities have access to suitable family-related leave and flexible working arrangements in order to balance work, family and private life, and promote a balanced use of those entitlements between parents.
Amendment 98 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 12
Member States should provide the unemployed with adequate unemployment benefits of reasonable duration, in line with their contributions and national eligibility rules. Unemployment benefits should not disincentivise a prompt return to employment and should be accompanied by active labour market policies, including up- and reskilling measures, also in light of labour and skills shortages and mismatches.
Amendment 116 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 19
Member States should modernise social protection systems to provide adequate, effective, efficient and sustainable social protection for all, throughout all stages of life, fostering social inclusion and upward social mobility, incentivising labour market participation, supporting social investment, fighting poverty and social exclusion and addressing inequalities, including through the design of their tax and benefit systems and by assessing the distributional impact of policies. Complementing universal approaches with targeted ones will improve the effectiveness of social protection systems. The modernisation of social protection systems should also aim to improve their resilience to multi-faceted challenges. Particular attentionsupport should be pairovided to vulnerable households that are most affected by the green and digital transitions and by high cost of living, includingthus particularly prone to energy costspoverty. Member States should further address gaps in access to social protection for workers and the self-employed in light of the rise of atypical forms of work.
Amendment 129 #
2024/0599(NLE)
Annex I – paragraph 23
In a context of increasing longevity and demographic change, Member States should secure the adequacy and sustainability of pension systems for workers and the self-employed, providing equal opportunities for women and men to acquire and accrue pension rights, including through supplementary schemes to ensure adequate income in old age. Pension reforms should be supported by policies that aim to reduce the gender pension gap and measures that extend working lives, such as by raising the effective retirement age, notably by facilitating the labour market participation of older persons, and should be framed within active ageing strategies. Member States should establish a constructive dialogue with social partners and other relevant stakeholders, and allow for an appropriate phasing in of the reforms.
Amendment 4 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is designed to provide swift and effective responses to emergencies as a demonstration of solidarity; emphasizes that internal procedures for disbursing financial assistance through EUSF should be streamlined to avoid delays, as natural disasters inflict significant damage that disrupts daily life and local economies;
Amendment 7 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the increasing number of severe and destructive natural disasters in Europe and considers that the budget of the EUSF should be expanded;progressively expanded; considers that the overall amount of funding and the allocation modalities of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) should intentionally ensure the optimal effectiveness of the EUSF and urges the Commission to increase the budget of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR);
Amendment 8 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that, due to climate change, islands and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to natural calamities; acknowledges that phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and droughts - which also affect lakes and rivers - represent an increasing threat to many European regions, particularly those in the Mediterranean; questions whether the EUSF is adequately aligned with the emergency needs related to climate adaptation in these particularly fragile territories; therefore, believes that islands and coastal regions should receive adequate funding within the framework of the EUSF to address their specific vulnerabilities;
Amendment 13 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasizes that the increase in the budget of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) must be accompanied by a revision of the evaluation and approval procedures to accelerate response times and ensure that funds reach the affected regions promptly, also ensuring the extraordinary use of cohesion fund resources, allowing, in the event of natural calamities, the full utilization and interchange of resources between the different funds, namely PSR, ERDF, ESF+, EMFAF and Cohesion Fund;
Amendment 15 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses the urgency of implementing effective preventive measures, not only to mitigate future damage but also to prevent the exacerbation of risk conditions following catastrophic events, such as wildfires, landslides or the drying up of lakes and rivers; emphasizes that land affected by fires is particularly vulnerable to subsequent hazards, including mudflows, and calls for swift interventions to enhance the resilience of the most at-risk areas; asks the Commission and Member States to consider including post-incident risk assessments and immediate intervention plans within natural disaster prevention strategies, including the establishment of a dedicated Prevention Fund to complement existing programs financed through cohesion policies, in order to address urgent needs not covered by ongoing programming cycles;
Amendment 111 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key to boosting investment in high-performance, sustainable trans-European networks and to decarbonising the Union economy, thereby accelerating the green transition and promoting interconnectivity; proposes, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 40 million above the DB in 2025; further proposes to top-up CEF Energy with an additional EUR 30 million, emphasizes the need to address the specific challenges of island regions and, to this end, proposes an additional allocation of EUR 20 million within the CEF Transport specifically dedicated to improving connectivity in island regions; this allocation will prioritise projects in these regions, ensuring they are better integrated into the EU transport network and are able to address the specific geographical and environmental challenges they face;
Amendment 116 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Reaffirms the need to invest in resources dedicated to research and development of new technologies for underwater exploration and the creation of advanced technological infrastructures, such as transatlantic submarine cables, which are essential to ensure greater interconnectivity; encourages targeted investment in scientific and technological research in the marine sector, with particular attention to deep-sea technologies, in order to support Europe's progress and competitiveness in the international context, while simultaneously strengthening the strategic position of the Mediterranean as a hub of innovation and development;
Amendment 119 #
2024/0176(BUD)
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; emphasises that SMEs in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices and proposes, e importance of supporting SMEs as the main drivers of the European economy; notes that SMEs in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices; highlights the importance of considering insularity when reinforcing economic cohesion to ensure that policies effectively support island communities and address their specific challenges; proposes to increase a result,llocations for the COSME programme and other initiatives aimed at facilitating access to credit, internationalisation, and innovation of SMEs, including an increase of EUR 520 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme, also calls for the promotion of administrative simplification and the reduction of bureaucratic burdens for businesses;
Amendment 124 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Opposes the proposed reduction of close to EUR 35 million in funding for the EU Space Programme; underscores the strategic importance of the EU Space Programme in enhancing the Union's technological autonomy, competitiveness, security and defence;
Amendment 133 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Recognizes the unique challenges faced by island regions within the Union, including geographic isolation, higher transport costs, and limited economic diversification; calls for targeted measures and increased funding under the cohesion policy to address the specific needs of these regions, promoting their sustainable development, improving connectivity, and fostering full integration into the internal market;
Amendment 152 #
2024/0176(BUD)
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 mental health by increasing EU4Health; investing in skills development; 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, insular and mountainous areas, social dialogue and trade unions, cultural and creative industries;
Amendment 160 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Is alarmed by the growing impact of natural disasters in Europe and its neighbourhood including earthquakes, floods, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, droughts, heatwaves, and severe storms and the drying up of lakes and rivers, and concerned about the Union’s ability to respond effectively; 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 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; stresses that the Union, being based on solidarity, will find the resources for the citizens affected by the recent floodclimate-related events;
Amendment 163 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Emphasizes the need to establish a Prevention and Rapid Alert Fund aimed at reducing the risk of natural disasters such as fires, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts, and the drying up of lakes and rivers. Highlights that islands and coastal regions, particularly in the Mediterranean, are especially vulnerable due to climate change. Encourages the Commission and Member States to integrate risk assessments with post-event interventions and immediate alert plans within the framework of disaster prevention strategies. Stresses the importance of acting swiftly to strengthen resilience in the most at-risk areas, ensuring that the Prevention Fund complements existing programs and addresses gaps not covered by the current cohesion policy cycles.
Amendment 165 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. Emphasizes the need to provide specific support to regions affected by earthquakes or characterized by high seismic risk; proposes to establish a dedicated fund for prevention, risk mitigation, and reconstruction in the affected areas, while simultaneously promoting the dissemination of anti- seismic technologies in construction;
Amendment 166 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. Emphasizes the crucial role of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) in providing rapid financial assistance to Member States affected by major natural disasters; calls for an increase in the resources allocated to the EUSF to ensure a swift and effective response to emergencies; emphasizes that this increase must be accompanied by a revision of the evaluation and approval procedures to accelerate response times and ensure that funds reach the affected regions promptly; proposes to streamline the application and disbursement processes to facilitate quicker access to funds for affected regions, thereby supporting timely reconstruction and recovery efforts; additionally, calls for ensuring that, in the event of natural calamities, there is extraordinary flexibility in the use of Cohesion Policy funds, allowing for the full utilization and interchange of resources between different funds—namely, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), and the Cohesion Fund—to maximize support for affected areas;
Amendment 169 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparedness; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect; proposes, therefore, to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 5170 million above DB to strengthen health resilience and preparedness for future health crises and in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diseases affecting children and improving mental health;
Amendment 172 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of national healthcare systems and the challenges related to the production and supply of medicines and medical devices. In light of these challenges, it is essential to ensure adequate support for the EU4Health program in order to enhance the availability of medicines, medical devices, improving mental health and to strengthen the resilience of national healthcare systems in the face of serious cross-border threats;
Amendment 174 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability and promoting social inclusion; emphasises that both programmes aim to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities with particular attention to those from regions facing insularity, who may have reduced access to mobility opportunities due to their geographic isolation - an objective that is challenged by soaring inflation and the increased cost of living; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 70 million for Erasmus+ (57 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of individuals and groups, and cooperation, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training — Indirect management; 5 million EUR for Promoting non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth; 8 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of sport staff, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies); insists that the top-up be used to contribute in particular to the programme’s over- arching aim of becoming more accessible, including by providing the necessary increased financial support per participant with fewer opportunities; proposes, moreover, a reinforcement of EUR 1 million for the ESC above DB, specifically to ensure the programme is accessible for all;
Amendment 180 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Underscores the continued socio- economic challenges in the cultural and creative sectors, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists; underlines the importance of protecting and promoting European cultural heritage as a key element of the Union's identity and values; proposes, therefore, to increase financing for programmes dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of cultural and historical sites, as well as for the promotion of regional traditions and languages; additionally, proposes, therefore, to increase financing for the various strands of the Creative Europe programme by a total of EUR 8 million above the DB;
Amendment 208 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability and about farmers’ ability to withstand inflationary pressure and increased input prices; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers and asks for investments on generational change through aimed funding programs as well as small and medium-sized farmers with additional means and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal; proposes, therefore, to increase income support to young farmers by EUR 40 million above the DB;
Amendment 209 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Emphasizes that farmers and rural communities are vital contributors to quality, food security, and the safeguarding of European food sovereignty, and they play a key role in the preservation of rural areas and in countering the depopulation of the most remote areas; it further underscores that they also have a strategic role in zones characterized by high seismic and hydrogeological, and drought risk, and therefore require special support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP);
Amendment 213 #
2024/0176(BUD)
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 sectorprimary production, food security and farmers’ income through an agricultural reserve that reflects the needs of the farmers to cope with the adverse climatic events; 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 217 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44 a. Calls for maintaining an inclusive and strong promotion policy budget of at least 185,9 million to ensure that the policy continues to support all agricultural sectors proportionately, guarantee the competitiveness of agriculture and our food sovereignty and allow the creation of new international markets for the European agricultural products;
Amendment 218 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 b (new)
Paragraph 44 b (new)
44 b. Welcomes the recent CAP simplification package and notes it has no budgetary impact; calls for the prosecution of this package until the end of this programming period and additional measures and resources to address the causes of farmers' discontent throughout the EU in future programming, with the aim of strengthening their position in the agri- food value chain;
Amendment 219 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 c (new)
Paragraph 44 c (new)
44 c. Asks the European Commission that any environmental fund in the future shall not involve financial resources shifted from the CAP;
Amendment 274 #
2024/0176(BUD)
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;
Amendment 275 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61 a. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation with African countries, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, migration management, and economic partnership, in line with the existing instruments of enhanced cooperation between EU Member States and African countries, such as the 'Mattei Plan';
Amendment 276 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 b (new)
Paragraph 61 b (new)
61 b. Calls for increased funding and strategic investments in targeted development initiatives for African countries. These investments, in line with the existing instruments of enhanced cooperation between EU Member States and African countries, such as the 'Mattei Plan,' should focus on strengthening infrastructure, education, and economic opportunities, thereby addressing the root causes of irregular migration, combating human trafficking networks, and promoting legal migration pathways, ultimately contributing to a safer and more prosperous Europe and Africa;
Amendment 277 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 c (new)
Paragraph 61 c (new)
61 c. Insists that the Commission must guarantee that EU funds are not allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; is concerned about the antisemitism, hate speech and incitement to jihad and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks, indirectly funded by the EU; underlines the importance of EU funds to be directed towards the proper training of Palestinian teachers in line with UNESCO education standards; stresses that conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered;