56 Amendments of Markus PIEPER related to 2015/0009(COD)
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) In order to cover the risks related to the EU guarantee to the EIB, a guarantee fund should be established. The guarantee fund should be constituted by a gradual payment from the Union budget. The guarantee fund should subsequently also receive rRevenues and repayments from projects that benefit from EFSI support and amounts recovered from defaulting debtors where the guarantee fund has already honoured the guarantee to the EIB should be used to fund rail infrastructure grants in accordance with Regulations (EU) Nos 1316/2013 and 1315/2013.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 a (new)
Recital 28 a (new)
(28a) Over time, the Union budget's contribution to the guarantee fund should be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council as part of the annual budgetary procedure. In the process, if necessary, the budgetary authority should make use of all surpluses and flexibility mechanisms under the Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014- 2020.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 b (new)
Recital 28 b (new)
(28b) So that available margins, unused resources, surpluses and other funding sources referred to in Article 8 of the Regulation can be used outside heading 1a of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, too, the budget lines accommodating the European guarantee fund should be divided up among headings 1a, 1b and 2.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 c (new)
Recital 28 c (new)
(28c) Financing of the guarantee fund, as regards both commitments and payments, must be reassessed at the end of 2016 as part of the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework (under Article 2 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013). Amounts taken from the budget until then, from existing programmes under heading 1a, 1b or 2, must be reinstated in full.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 d (new)
Recital 28 d (new)
(28d) In connection with the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework under Article 2 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No. 1311/2013, the Commission must ensure that the EU guarantee is reliably funded, taking account of the possibility of making a percentage adjustment to the performance reserve under Articles 20 and 22 of general Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, in order to put unused funds to profitable use. A minor percentage adjustment to the reserve could facilitate reliable funding of the guarantee fund, attracting investors and generating added value for the European economy.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productive investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to mid- cap companies, which are companies having up to 3000 employees. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion and digital development.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
The EFSI Agreement shall provide that remuneration attributable to the Union from EFSI supported operations shall be provided following the deduction of payments due to calls on the EU guarantee and, subsequently, costs in accordance with the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 and with Article 5(3) in order to fund rail infrastructure grants in accordance with Regulations (EU) Nos 1316/2013 and 1315/2013 and with the TEN-T annual work programmes.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
The EFSI Agreement shall provide that remuneration attributable to the Union from EFSI supported operations shall be provided for grants for railway projects in accordance with regulation (EU) Nr. 1316/2013 and regulation 1315/2013 as well as the annual TEN-T working programs, following the deduction of payments due to calls on the EU guarantee and, subsequently, costs in accordance with the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 and with Article 5(3).
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Many small and medium enterprises, as well as mid-cap companies, also oriented at digital development across the Union require assistance to attract market financing, especially as regards investments that carry a greater degree of risk. The EFSI should help these businesses to overcome capital shortages by allowing the EIB and the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to provide direct and indirect equity injections, as well as to provide guarantees for high-quality securitisation of loans, and other products that are granted in pursuit of the aims of the EFSI.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(1a) The Commission shall be empowered to adopt the EFSI Agreement by means of a delegated act in accordance with Article 17 of this Regulation.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) development of infrastructure, including in the areas of transport, particularly in industrial centres; energy, in particular energy interconnections; and digital infrastructure; transport infrastructure projects shall be selected in accordance with the objectives and criteria under Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 and shall be in keeping with Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 and the annual work programmes for TEN-T corridors;
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investment in education and training, health, research and development, information and communications technology and innovation; 25% of research projects should be accommodated within small and medium- sized enterprises;
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projects in the sectorial domains specified in the Regulation as well as geographic markets within the Union. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectives. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) payments from the general budget of the Unioncontributions from the general budget of the Union which are provided each year as part of the budgetary procedure by the budgetary authority, drawing on all provisions of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020, with account being taken of the following order: (i) Union budget surpluses; (ii) unused margins, including global margins for payments and commitments; (iii) the flexibility instrument; (iv) if necessary, available or unused funds within heading 1b of the multiannual financial framework; (v) if necessary, available or unused funds within heading 2 of the multiannual financial framework; (vi) if necessary, available or unused funds within heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework,
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) any other payments received by the Union in accordance with the EFSI Agreement until the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
(3) Endowments to the guarantee fund provided for in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 2Guarantee fund returns, any surpluses and amounts recovered from defaulting debtors in accordance with the recovery procedure laid down in the EFSI Agreement as provided for in Article 2(1)(f) shall constitute internal assigned revenues to fund rail infrastructure grants in accordance with Article 21(4) of Regulations (EU) No 966/2012s 1316/2013 and 1315/2013.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) At the level of projects, third parties may co-finance together with EFSI on a project-by-project basis or in investment platforms related to specific geographic or thematic sectors. Special attention shall be given to investment platform that highlights added value related to the potentiality of the digital drivers present in all sectors of the economy to help the Digital Single Market implementation goals and the development of digital infrastructure.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productive investments in the Union that provide an immediate boost to Europe's economy and to ensure increased access to financing. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to, small mid- cap companies, which areand mid-cap companies having up to 3000 employees, but should not be limited to these types of companies. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union'closing the innovation divide in Europe, strengthening the Union's innovation potential, competitiveness, economic growth and employment, as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18
Article 18
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19
Article 19
Amendment to Regulation (EU) No In Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘ 1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the CEF for the period 2014 to 2020 is set at EUR 29 942 259 000 (*) in current prices. That amount shall be distributed as follows: (a) transport sector: EUR 23 550 582 000, of which EUR 11 305 500 000 shall be transferred from the Cohesion Fund to be spent in line with this Regulation exclusively in Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund; (b) telecommunications sector: EUR 1 041 602 000; (c) energy sector: EUR 5 350 075 000; These amounts are without prejudice to the application of the flexibility mechanism provided for under Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013(*). (*) Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-20 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).' ’rticle 19 deleted 1316/2013
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Taking into account that small mid- cap companies with up to 499 employees and mid-cap companies with up to 3000 employees represent the most innovative segment of companies in the private sector, generating on average a higher number of patents, process innovations and product innovations as well as higher returns on investment, while still facing similar problems as SMEs regarding access to finance, the EFSI should tailor some of its financial products towards small mid-caps and mid-cap companies in particular.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 c (new)
Recital 11 c (new)
(11c) In order to ensure that the EFSI fulfils its purpose it is imperative that an amount of at least EUR 5 500 000 000 from the EFSI is allocated for EIB funding to the EIF to be used specifically for the benefit of Small and Medium Enterprises and small mid-cap companies as well as innovative SMEs and innovative mid-caps.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Many small and medium enterprises, as well as mid-cap companies, across the Union require assistance to attract market financing, especially as regards investments that carry a greater degree of risk. The EFSI should help these businesses to overcome capital shortages and market failures by allowing the EIB and the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to provide direct and indirect equity injections, as well as to provide guarantees for high-quality securitisation of loans, and other products that are granted in pursuit of the aims of the EFSI.
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The EFSI should be established within the EIB in order to benefit from its experience and proven track record and in order for its operations to start to have a positive impact as quickly as possible. The work of the EFSI on providing finance to small and medium-sized enterprises and small mid-cap companies should be channelled through the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to benefit from its experience in these activities.
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The EFSI should target projects with a higher risk-return profile than existing EIB and Union instruments to ensure additionality over existing operations. The EFSI should finance projects across the Union, including in the countries most affected by the financial crisis. The EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other sources, including from private or public banks, from regional or national promotional banks, or from the EIB, on reasonable terms.
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of sixtwelve independent experts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance andin the areas pointed in Article 5(2) as well as geographic markets within the Union. The Investment Committee shall be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) improvement and promotion of the smart use of ICT and the integration of SMEs in digital value chains;
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The EFSI should complement and be additional to ongoing regional, national and EU programmes as well as traditional EIB activities. Provided that all relevant eligibility criteria are fulfilled, Member States may use European Structural Investment Funds to contribute to the financing of eligible projects that are supported by the EU guarantee. The flexibility of this approach should maximise the potential to attract investors to the areas of investment targeted by the EFSI.
Amendment 452 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) In order to cover the risks related to the EU guarantee to the EIB, a guarantee fund should be established. The guarantee fund should be constituted by a gradual payment from the Union budget. The guarantee fund should subsequently also receive revenues and repayments from projects that benefit from EFSI support and amounts recovered from defaulting debtors where the guarantee fund has already honoured the guarantee to the EIB. Any remuneration that arises from EFSI operations which surmounts the target amount/needs of the guarantee fund shall be transferred to the respective EU budget lines which were reduced in order to establish the EFSI guarantee fund.
Amendment 461 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 a (new)
Recital 28 a (new)
(28a) The contribution from the Union budget to the EU budget Guarantee Fund will be progressively authorised by the European Parliament and the Council in the framework of the annual budgetary procedures. For this purpose, the budgetary authority should make use, where appropriate, of any available surplus or mechanisms of flexibility and relevant provisions under the 2014-2020 MFF Regulation;
Amendment 464 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 b (new)
Recital 28 b (new)
(28b) Given the soaring need for policy action and spending programmes at Union level to incentivise economic growth and job-creation in Europe, the Multiannual Financial Framework should be revised upon its mid-term review, increasing the available margins and commitment appropriations under heading 1a of the MFF in order to better reflect shifting policy needs and to meet the expectations of European citizens.
Amendment 466 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 d (new)
Recital 28 d (new)
(28d) The financing of the Guarantee Fund, both in respect of commitment and payment appropriations, shall be revised in the frame of the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework due to be launched by the end of 2016 at the latest, as foreseen in Article 2 of Council Regulation 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014 -2020.
Amendment 467 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 e (new)
Recital 28 e (new)
(28e) The Commission should explore in the context of the MFF midterm revision the possibilities under the Union Budget to ensure a steady funding to the EU guarantee, including the possibility to adjust the performance reserve, as provided for and calculated in accordance with Article 20 and 22 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EC) 1303/2013 in order to free unutilized funds; a small reduction of this reserve could provide a stable financing to the EU guarantee, which will attract investors and generate an added value for the European industry (economy);
Amendment 469 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
Amendment 611 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Amendment 689 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Amendment 968 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investment in education and training, health, research and development, information and communications technology and innovation; 25% of investments in research should be realized in small or medium sized companies;
Amendment 1040 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The EU guarantee can be combined with, or can be used to complement, accelerate or strengthen existing EU financial instruments.
Amendment 1042 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
Amendment 1104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The EU guarantee to the EIB shall be of an amount equal to EUR 16 000 000 000, of which a maximum amount oft least EUR 25 500 000 000 mayshall be allocated for EIB funding to the EIF in accordance with paragraph 2. Without prejudice to Article 8(9), aggregate payments from the Union under the guarantee to the EIB shall not exceed the amount of the guarantee.
Amendment 1125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) payments from the general budget of the Union,(a) contributions from the general budget of the Union, which shall be approved every year by the budgetary authority through the annual budgetary procedure and which will mobilise by order of priority: i) any budgetary surplus entered in the general budget of the European Union ii) the unallocated margin, including the global margin for payments iii) the global margin in commitments iv) the Flexibility Instrument, as referred to in Article 11 of Council Regulation 1311/2013 laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014- 2020 v) if necessary available envelopes of programmes under heading 1b of the multiannual financial framework vi) if necessary available envelopes of programmes under heading 2 of the multiannual financial framework vii) if necessary, available envelopes of programmes under heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework
Amendment 1133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) any other paymentcontributions received by the Union in accordance with the EFSI Agreement.
Amendment 1136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Any contributions diverted from existing programmes under heading 1a shall be of a temporary nature until Regulation (EU, Euratom) 1311/2013 will be reviewed. Any contributions diverted from existing programmes to finance the Guarantee Fund shall be fully reassigned to these programmes in the framework of the revision of the Union's Multiannual Financial Framework.
Amendment 1137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. Endowments to the guarantee fund provided for in points (b), (c) and (d) of paragraph 2 shall constitute internal assigned revenues in accordance with Article 21(4) of Regulation (EU) No 966/2012.
Amendment 1147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The target amount shall initially be met by the gradual paymenttransfer of resources referred to in paragraph 2(a). If there have been calls on the guarantee during the initial constitution of the guarantee fund, endowments to the guarantee fund provided for in points (b), (c) and (d) of paragraph 2 shall also contribute to meet the target amount up to an amount equal to the calls on the guarantee.
Amendment 1169 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 7 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 7 – point a
(a) any surplus shall be paid in one transaction to a special heading in the statement of revenue in the general budget of the European Union of the year n+1 and shall be reallocated to the budgetary lines referred to in paragraph 2(a),
Amendment 1170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
(aa) any surplus in the guarantee fund shall constitute internal assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 for any lines which may have been used as a source of redeployment to the EFSI guarantee fund.
Amendment 1179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 9
Article 8 – paragraph 9
9. Subsequent to a call on the EU guarantee, endowments to the guarantee fund provided for in points (b), (c) and (d) of paragraph 2 over and above the target amount shall be used to restore the EU guarantee up to its initial amountshall be used to restore the EU guarantee up to its target amount. Any remaining remuneration shall constitute internal assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 for any lines which may have been used as a source of redeployment to the EFSI guarantee fund.
Amendment 1396 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18
Article 18
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 1439 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19
Article 19
Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013; Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013
Article 5
Article 5