23 Amendments of Markus PIEPER related to 2010/2088(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Emphasises that 'Measuring regional economic performance and prosperity' is clearly an aspect of cohesion and structural policy and thus falls within the sphere of responsibility of the Committee on Regional Development;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. ApprovNotes the Commission’'s proposal to make a uset ofther indicators – in addition to GDP figures – available for EU policies with a view to improving both the circumstances in which decisions are taken and the response to the concerns of citizens in Europe’s various regionto measure regional prosperity and innovation and to improve the response to the concerns of special interest groups; to that end, supports Eurostat’s activities;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that the environmental and social orientation of the Structural Funds hitherto has been decisive in fostering sustainable regional development; calls for the pro-business, social and environmental aspects of the 2020 Strategy to be made more central to the approach underpinning the Structural Funds as well as from 2014;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that GDP is an essentialthe instrument used to measurement of economic growth, but is insufficient to assess regional development and establish cohesion policiesperformance, GDP, is the key indicator for measuring regional imbalances at European level;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas using GDP as a measure of macroeconomic activity naturally tends to mean ignoring the non-market aspects, and it is therefore not a suitable means ofbut GDP is nevertheless the key indicator for measuring social wellbeing,
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. StressNotes the need to develop indicators which can complement GDPCommission's proposal to develop standards which, in addition to GDP, serve to measure regional prosperity and innovation, and have as their objective the provision of more exhaustive information to support political decisions, notably where they at national and regional level, notably in the case of issues which incorporate such factors as the social and environmental dimensions, development, quality of life, public health, research, social equality and the level of employ, transport links, levels of infrastructure, location costs and the level of employment as key aspects for the European model for development;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Takes the view that the instrument used to measure economic performance, GDP, is the key indicator for measuring regional imbalances at European level;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Takes the view, in the light of the ever closer degree of interdependence between economic, social and environmental issues, that GDP is the only indicator which makes it possible to take proper account of differing socioeconomic characteristics at European level, but emphasises the need to take account of environmental and social factors at national and regional level and to determine suitable criteria for that purpose;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. In the light of the ever closer degree of interdependence between economic, social and environmental issues, takes the view that focusing on GDP alone is likely to provide an incomplete impression thatGDP is the only indicator which makes it possible to take proper account of differing socioeconomic characteristics at European level, but emphasises the need to takes no account of the actual situations in the regions, and could result in poor choices being made and inappropriate decisions being takenenvironmental and social factors at national and regional level and to determine suitable criteria for that purpose;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that GDP is the only indicator which can combine environmental and social, economic and transport criteria in order to measure prosperity at all levels in the EU; fears that if more emphasis is placed on other indicators the result will be arbitrary, random decision-making and excessive bureaucracy, which can only serve to make achieving objectives relating to regional equality more difficult, to the detriment of the poorest and most geographically disadvantaged regions in Europe;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that using further indicators which could at mosto complement GDP should have been proved to result in a better picture of macroeconomic activity, in particular thanks; stresses that GDP is the only indicator which makes it possible to take proper account of differing socio-economic characteristics at European level, but emphasises the need to take account of environmental and social factors at national and regional level and to determine suitable criteria for that purpose, and that, in this process, consideration could be given to the inclusion of non- market factors such as work in the home and voluntary work, as well as both positive and negative externalities relating to economic activity;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises that GDP is the only indicator which can combine environmental and social, economic and transport criteria in order to measure prosperity at all levels in the EU; fears that if more emphasis is placed on other indicators the result will be arbitrary, random decision-making and excessive bureaucracy, which can only serve to make achieving objectives relating to regional equality more difficult, to the detriment of the poorest and most geographically disadvantaged regions in Europe;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. The committeeBelieves nevertheless believes that challenging GDP's monopoly as a statistical indicator guiding economic policies requires excessively radical changes to the system for planning and implementing economic and social policies, in addition to the above actions, so as to take account of both environmental and social parameters.;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates that the condition of natural environments, environmental sustainability, fairness and social integration are now just as important as the economy among the key issues underpinning the European model for developimproved regional competitiveness remains the prerequisite if levels of welfare benefits and environment;al states, furthermore, that an overarching approach should be taken with regard to assessingndards are to be raised; in that connection, points out that people’'s wellbeing and quality of life, as well as regions’' vulnerabilities, transport links, levels of infrastructure and location costs, are key aspects of the European model for development;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission, therefore, to retain GDP as the key indicator when planning measures to enhance prosperity and economic performance and to identify regions eligible for support on that basis at European level, in which connection national authorities must continue to be given the leeway to use other social, environmental and infrastructure-related indicators at the appropriate level, with a view to taking account of the specific circumstances of regions and towns and cities and meeting the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Commission, therefore, to retain GDP as the key indicator when planning measures to enhance prosperity and economic performance and to identify regions eligible for support on that basis at European level, in which connection national authorities must continue to be given the leeway to use other social, environmental and infrastructure-related indicators at the appropriate level, with a view to taking account of the specific circumstances of regions and towns and cities and meeting the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regards the newly-proposed environmental and social criteria for measuring regional prosperity (income distribution, degree to which a region is affected by climate-related problems, gender equality, unemployment, etc.) as a significant addition to the economic and transport criteria (accessibility, proportion of growth sectors, level of infrastructure, etc.); emphasises their importance in ensuring that European structural aid is used in a targeted manner at national and regional level;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Emphasises that GDP is the only indicator which can combine environmental and social, economic and transport criteria in order to measure prosperity at all levels in the EU; fears that if more emphasis is placed on other indicators the result will be arbitrary, random decision-making and excessive bureaucracy, which can only serve to make achieving objectives relating to regional equality more difficult, to the detriment of the poorest and most geographically disadvantaged regions in Europe;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Regards the overemphasis placed on environmental and social indicators in measuring regional performance at EU level as an attempt by a special interest group to secure additional, long-term funding for the relevant European agencies, NGOs and alternative industrial concerns, and fears a loss of influence on the part of environmental and social pressure groups at regional level; sees a danger that social activists, nature conservation groups and volunteers will no longer have an adequate role to play in the implementation of EU regional policy on the ground;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission, therefore, to introduce, as a matter of priority and urgency, indicators in addition to GDP for environmental and social issues, with a view to establishing a more comprehensive picture of regional cohesion policretain GDP as the key indicator when planning measures to enhance prosperity and economic performance and to identify regions eligible for support on that basis at European level, in which connection national authorities must continue to be given the leeway to use other social, environmental and infrastructure-related indicators at the appropriate level, with a view to taking account of the specific circumstances of regions and towns and cities, at the latest by the start of the 2014-2020 programming periodnd meeting the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls on the Commission to continue to retain GDP as the decisive indicator for eligibility in regional policy; fears that the use of any other indicators will jeopardise the main objectives of the cohesion policy to the detriment of the poorest and most geographically disadvantaged regions; believes although that national authorities can continue to apply other social, environmental and infrastructure-related indicators at the appropriate level of decision-making, which taken into account the specific attributes of regions and cities within the EU 2020 Strategy;