19 Amendments of Jean Marie BEAUPUY related to 2008/2174(INI)
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the analysis contained in the Green Paper which defines three key concepts that should be central to the development of territorial cohesion: concentration, connection and cooperation; considers that these concepts can provide the solution to some basic obstacles that hinder the harmonious development of the Union, like the negative effects associated with the concentration of economic activity, the inequalities in terms of access to markets and services that result from distance and/or concentration, and the divisions that are imposed by boundaries between Member States but also regions;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Agrees with the approach of not including any references to possible budgetary and financial implications of territorial cohesion in the Green Paper and the public debate; considers that such an analysis would be premature until the concept itself is clearly defined and understood by all stakeholders; suggrequests that these considerations should be made in the framework of the next financial perspectives;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Endorses the position of the Green Paper that territorial cohesion is about ensuring the harmonious development of places with different characteristics and specificities, whose assets should be exploited to the full and about making sure that their citizens are able to make the most of inherent features of different territories; places emphasis on the fact that territorial cohesion is a horizontal concept that underpins the development of the Union as a whole by turning diversity into an asset of all its regions; strongly believes that territorial cohesion should prevent the prospect of an asymmetric Union;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that territorial cohesion is a distinct concept that should provide tangible added value to economic and social cohesion; stresses that the three component parts of cohesion (economic, social and territorial) should be complementary and mutually reinforcing, albeit maintaining their own separate mission in a single integrated concept; considers, therefore, that there shouldmust be no hierarchy between these objectives;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that, on the ground, the concept of territorial cohesion frequently comes up against divisions between public authorities at national, regional and local levels and that these geographical and administrative boundaries do not necessarily correspond to the appropriate area of intervention; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take citizens' needs as their starting point, taking account of the relevant basic territorial units when addressing issues of fundamental importance to their daily lives such as population and labour catchment areas;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasizses that one of the main objectives of territorial cohesion is to ensure that progress and growth generated in one specific territory should provide benefits for the whole region and across the EU territory; considers, in this respect, that excellence centres and clusters of research and innovation are vital to economic successt vital to strengthen research and all forms of innovation for economic development, scientific discoveryresearch, technological innovation and jobs and that more interacand non- technological innovation and jobs; emphasises that centres of excellence, clusters and all measures taken by public authorities and business organisations and knowledge transfer should be stimulated between those centres and their surrounding regionsimed at developing innovation, including innovation by and in small and micro enterprises, should be encouraged; calls for the strengthening of interaction and knowledge transfer between those centres, universities, business organisations and individual businesses, including the smallest;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises the single market's vital contribution to economic, social and territorial cohesion; stresses the importance of public services in relation to sustainable economic and social development as well as the need for socially and regionally equitable access to services of general interest; takes the view that in light of the subsidiarity principle and of EU competition law, responsibility for defining, organising, financing and monitoring services of general interest should rest with the national, regional and local authorities; considers howeveremphasises, in this respect, that a guarantee of "equitable access" does not simply involve geographical distance but that availability and accessibility are of crucial importance; takes the view that a reflection on the fair access for citizens to services should be included in the debate on the territorial cohesion;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Emphasises the vital importance of small, medium-sized and micro enterprises for competitiveness and job creation in the regions, where they play an essential role in maintaining cohesion and economic and social stability; considers it essential that the objective of future development policies of the regions should be to increase the competitiveness of all businesses, including those operating on local markets and in traditional sectors, not just the most successful or fast-growing companies; urges the Commission to ensure that organisations representing the various types of SMEs participate directly in the definition and implementation of territorial policies and calls on the Member States and the regions to do the same at their level;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recalls, in this respect, that the conclusions of the Competitiveness Council of 1 December 2008 call on the Member States and the Commission to "ensure the efficient implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe at all relevant levels";
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recalls the specific nature of urban areas and that the combination of a high urban concentration of population and activity creates negative factors for cities, such as congestion, pollution, social exclusion and pockets of poverty, which affect the quality of life of their citizens.
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the need to elaborate, in the context of territorial cohesion, additional qualitative indicators with the purpose of better designing and implementing the corresponding policies on the ground, taking into account the different territorial specificities; recalls, in this respect, that a quantitative database at NUTS III level or at a lower level would make it possible to target needs more effectively and develop potential at both subregional and neighbourhood level in order to take into account intra-urban disparities; underlines, however, that the GDP remains the only eligibility criterion for receiving financial assistance from the Structural Funds;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Believes that in order to better coordinate the territorial impact of sectoral Community policies, there needs to be a better understanding and measurement of those impacts; urges, therefore, the Commission to proceed with a territorial impact assessment of those policies; expects that the Commission will also present concrete ways of creating synergies between these territorial and sectoral policies; emphasises that European policies, and more particularly cohesion policy, have transformed governance from an often centralised system characterised by compartmentalisation (both geographical and sectoral) into an increasingly integrated, multi-level system; recalls, in this respect, that Community initiatives, such as URBAN I and II in urban areas and LEADER in rural areas, have shown the effectiveness of their methodology, which is based, for example, on a multi-sectoral, territorial and bottom-up integrated approach.
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on all European stakeholders, public authorities, states and citizens to establish a formal system of territorial governance which goes beyond the traditional administrative and legal frameworks, and aims: – to combine the forces of the various stakeholders involved in responding to a single need of its citizens/users, in an area corresponding to this need, and – to act coherently and effectively, i.e. by using recognised methods, such as project management, and by using the various existing legal frameworks for cooperation;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Reiterates its request to the Commission that it carry out a specific analysis of the impact and effectiveness of the Structural Funds and European policies aimed at SMEs in the regions, as well as of the administrative and financial difficulties encountered by such SMEs;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. In the light of the results of the analysis of the operational programmes cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund for the period 2007- 2013, calls on the Commission, the Member States and the authorities managing the Structural Funds to improve good urban governance, particularly through the use of technical assistance to promote sustainable urban development or the delegation of action to local urban authorities;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Reiterates its call on the Member States to schedule specific Council sessions involving the ministers responsible for cohesion policy;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that taking an integrated approach will have a greater chance of success if the regional and local authorities, as well as stakeholders, including the economic and social partners, who can provide an overall view and understanding of the needs and specificities of a given territory, are involved from the beginning in the designing and implementation of the development strategies of each territory; calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote, in the regions, the establishment and operation of committees and working parties consisting of representatives of public authorities and the stakeholders involved in order to define the forms of future cooperation and to agree on future development strategies for the territories concerned;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recognises that territorial cohesion introduces some new ideas on how to improve the governance of cohesion policy; agrees with the view that different territorial scales are needed for different problems and that therefore the establishment of real partnerships between all the parties involved in regional and local development, at differentEU, national, regional and local levels, is a precondition in the process of designing territorial cohesion and calls on the Commission and Member States to make all efforts to develop such a multi-level territorial governance; considers that territorial cohesion should be about identifying the appropriate territorial level for addressing each policy or measure;