34 Amendments of Markus PIEPER related to 2021/2251(INI)
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the acceptance rate of loans by the Member States is so far and will remain low for the foreseeable future; stresses the need for an independent energy supply for the EU and corresponding investments in cross- border networks, interconnectors and hydrogen projects; calls on the Commission to make the full amount of loans available for Member States interested in investing into cross-border projects that are focused on energy- independence and transforming the energy-grid in the EU; calls on the Commission for a proposal on the revision of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation to amend Art 14.5 of the RRF Regulation to allow Member States who are interested to request a loan higher than 6,8% GNI; calls on the Council to support the Commission in putting forward the proposal;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Is of the opinion that the Russian invasion on Ukraine inter alia requires a recalibration of the European energy policy; highlights that cross-border projects should enhance synergies and cooperation between the EU-countries and reflect common concerns and shared priorities; believes that the Recovery and Resilience Facility plays a significant role in reorienting the EU towards energy- independency and to accelerate the energy transition; is concerned that only 13.68% of cross-border projects are investing in the green transition; believes that under the current policy paradigm shift, too few cross-border projects have been initiated under the framework of the RRF; urges the Member States to make use of Article 21 in the RRF regulation which allows for change to national plans upon request of the Member States; refers to Recital 49 where amending the national plan is possible upon a reasoned request;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented one-off and limited in time instrument of solidarity and a cornerstone of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) instrument, ending in 2026, as the main tool in the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare the economies of the EU to face the new challenges; recalls that the EU response was comprehensive and timely, leading to extensive use of existing instruments and deploying additional financing instruments;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that even if the economic effects of the RRF cannot be fully disentangled from other developments, it seems fair to conclude that, so far, the RRF has had positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and that its the effective implementation of the RRF will be a key for the EU’s economic growthpositive impact on the EU GDP; recognises that the RRF has helped to cushion EU economies and citizens from the most acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and is positively contributing to the EU’sEU recovery and resiliencegrowth, including economic cohesion, jobs, productivity,competitiveness, research, development and innovation, and a well- functioning internal market with strong small and medium enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Believes that in order for the RRF to attain its objectives and support the EU to bounce back from the crisis, it is imperative that Member States implement thoroughly the agreed reforms and investments; reminds that the RRF is an incentive-based mechanism, whereby funding is disbursed upon completion of milestones and targets related to reforms;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reaffirms Parliament’s role in scrutinising the implementation of the Facility, also through the annual discharge procedure.; notes that the involvement of the European Parliament and Council is crucial to ensure the democratic oversight; signals that the discharge can be postponed if the cooperation with both Institutions is hampered and transparent access to the documents is denied or delayed by the Commission;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages those Member States that did not request loans to the full extent available, to do so and prioritise measures aiming at increasing their energy security and mitigating the economic effects of the crisis generated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the European Union.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Is of the opinion that the Russian invasion on Ukraine inter alia requires a recalibration of the European energy policy; highlights that cross-border projects should enhance synergies and cooperation between the EU-countries and reflect common concerns and shared priorities; believes that the Recovery and Resilience Facility plays a significant role in reorienting the EU towards energy- independency and to accelerate the energy transition; is concerned that only 13.68% of cross-border projects are investing in the green transition; believes that under the current policy paradigm shift, too few cross-border projects have been initiated under the framework of the RRF; urges the Member States to make use of Article 21 in the RRF regulation which allows for change to national plans upon request of the Member States; refers to Recital 49 where amending the national plan is possible upon a reasoned request;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Believes that in order to demonstrate its added value, the RRF should focus on investments which could not be adequately financed through other funding instruments of the Union or would have difficulty in obtaining the adequate financing;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that the RRF Regulation provides for the possibility to include in the NRRPs measures started from 1 February 2020 onwards and that some Member States have made use of this possibility rather extensively; believes that the entire concept of “retroactive reforms” and its extensive use is not in line with the spirit of the RRF objectives; urges the Commission to refrain from approving further “retroactive reforms”, particularly reforms which were already planned before the set up of the RRF and the emergence of the pandemic;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Regrets that among the initial payment requests, in some instances, some Member States make extensive use of the retroactivity clause, particularly as regards the reforms component; is of the opinion, that some of the reforms included in the first payment claims were already planned before the emergence of the pandemic and the set up of the RRF and thus should not receive funding from the instrument;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Reminds that the Facility is subject to the sound economic governance and calls on the Commission to apply the existing rules scrupulously;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the fact that 22 NRRPs have been approved and observes that as of early February 2022, one Member State had not yet put forward its NRRP; further notes that four NRRPs are pending assessment by the Commission; is concerned that some of the plans have been under assessment for a considerable time;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that the Commission estimates social spending in the NRRPs to account forMember States’ RRPs at around 20 % of the grants and loans requested; observes that thisose expenditure focuses on employment incentives for specific disadvantaged groups, reforms of employment protection legislation and labour contract regulation; regrets that social investment measures have been rather limited to social infrastructure and that only somsupport the Commission to build through the RRF a more resilient and inclusive labour market; is of the opinion, however, that social expenditure financed though the NRRPs contain measures for the development of proper care services and temporary support measures; supports the Commission’s aim, through the RRF, of building a more resilient and inclusive labour marketF must not replace nor become recurring budgetary expenditure and shall be strictly linked with the overall objectives of the RRF, namely to support the post-crisis economic recovery;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Observes that almost all approved RRPs contain investment in digital education, making up about 30% of the total spending on education; welcomes the focus on the modernisation of education systems in the Member States;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. EStrongly emphasises that the RRF should not be used to substitute recurring national budgetary expenditure, unless duly justified; notes that the Commission has only approved NRRPs to cover the initial costs of setting up and launching reforms, which might become recurring costs, if the sustainable financing of the future costs shall be ensured from the national budget or other instruments and it fully respects the concept of sustainable fiscal policy; is deeply preoccupied by measures included in some NRRPs which foresee important amounts for salaries; believes that such expenditure has the clear potential to become recurring budgetary expenditure after the RRF implementation period; strongly questions the criteria on which the Commission has approved such measures; believes that RRF expenditure should not lead to an increase of public spending;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Believes that NRRPs would benefit from further cross-border projects in order to enhance spill-over effects and contribute to EU added value; believes that further cross-border measures should have been included in the NRRPs in order to enhance its spill-over effect and to boost its EU added value;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29 b. Reminds that according to the RRF Regulation the recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under Union funds; reiterates that this provision is not only important to avoid double-funding or overlapping of objectives, but also to ensure a coordinated approach and maximise the benefits of EU funding; requests the Commission to provide an analysis how this coordination is ensured; takes note that the adoption of the NRRPs has led in some instances to the delays in the adoption of Partnership Agreements and calls on these delays to be addressed;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29 c. Questions how the Commission has encouraged Member States to foster synergies with NRRPs of other Member States;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. NReminds that all RRPs have to contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations including fiscal aspects; notes the Commission assessment that all NRRPs address at least a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant European Semester recommendations but that not all challenges are addressedchallenges remain; deplores that some Member States are not sufficiently tackling some long-standing challenges, particularly as regards the fiscal sustainability or the reform of the labour and pensions systems as well as other structural reforms; strongly questions in this regard the positive evaluation of the Commission of some of the NRRPs which fail to propose serious structural reforms deplores that in some instances, NRRPs have been approved although the final design of important structural reforms had not been finalised by the Member States concerned, nor finally agreed with the Commission;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Paragraph 30 d (new)
30 d. Reiterates, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its possible consequences, particularly as regards the dependence on Russian gas, the importance of EU's energy security; welcomes in this regard the NRRPs containing measures to enhance energy security by decreasing dependence on Russian gas; furthermore, underlines the importance of measures relating to the climate component in order to mitigate the impact of the energy prices crisis upon the EU;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Observes, that by the nature of the instruments, the control focuses on the achievement of results instead of verifications of costs; notes that this approach can simplify the implementation and contribute to the achievement of the desired outcome; nevertheless, is deeply preoccupied that it also makes the detection of abuse of EU funds more difficult; Urges the Commission to take the appropriate measures to ensure early detection of abuse of EU funds; calls on it to monitor rigorously any possible occurrence of double funding and, if such occurrences are confirmed, to proceed with the recovery of funds without delay;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Reminds the Commission that in the evaluation of NRRPs and payment claims it can be assisted by experts and invites to make full use of this provision, particularly if it lacks the in-house capacity to thoroughly scrutinise the plans or the fulfilment of milestones and targets; is concerned that the Council does not have sufficient capacity to analyse NRRPs or payment claims and warns against transforming this evaluation into a mere box-ticking exercise;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that adequate control capacities are in place and that the Commission, OLAF, the Court of Auditors and where applicable the EPPO are granted full access by Member States to information to exert their rights according to the Financial Regulation and the RRF Regulation;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. Calls on the Court of Auditors, OLAF and EPPO to make full use of their role under the RRF Regulation and scrutinise thoroughly all RRF spending, in order to prevent, detect, correct and investigate fraud, corruption, conflict of interests and where applicable to impose administrative penalties, as well as to avoid double funding;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 d (new)
Paragraph 33 d (new)
33 d. Reiterates the importance of the Commission undertaking a continuous, including ex-post, monitoring of the RRF expenditure; believes that full transparency is needed from the Member States, including as regards implementation and management data, in order to analyse the results of the RRF and identify possible weaknesses;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 e (new)
Paragraph 33 e (new)
33 e. Reminds that in the framework of the discharge procedure to the Commission, in accordance with Article 319 TFEU, the Facility shall be subject to reporting under the integrated financial and accountability reporting referred to in Article 247 of the Financial Regulation, and, in particular, separately in the Annual Management and Performance Report.
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Reaffirms Parliament’s role in scrutinising the implementation of the RRF, in particular through five plenary debates held in 2021, two adopted resolutions, four Recovery and Resilience Dialogues held with the Commission in 2021, 20 meetings of the dedicated working group on the scrutiny of the RRF, parliamentary questions, and the regular flow of information and ad hoc requests for information from the Commission; remains committed in ensuring that it will make full use of the entire range of possibilities offered by the Regulation to scrutinise RRF spending, including via local actions in the Member States.
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Invites the Commission to follow an open, transparent and constructive approach during the recovery and resilience dialogues and to observe the provision of Article 26(1)as regards regular interactions with the Parliament; calls to set up a schedule of the recovery and resilience dialogues for the rest of the year, instead of ad-hoc solutions.
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34 b. Deplores that national parliaments, regions and municipalities have had a limited or even no involvement in designing national plans; recalls that regions and municipalities are at the forefront of RRP implementation and demands the Commission and the Member States to ensure proper and deep involvement of regions and municipalities, social partners, civil society, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 d (new)
Paragraph 34 d (new)
34 d. Calls on Member States to ensure that management systems of RRF funds takes into consideration the specific needs of the regional and local level and to put in place management systems that allow for RRF expenditure related to local and regional objectives to be de-centralised;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 e (new)
Paragraph 34 e (new)
34 e. Reiterates the importance of allowing access to private sector to RRF expenditure, where applicable; recalls the importance of SMEs in the implementation of the RRF and warns against measures which would prevent SMEs from accessing RRF funding; invites the Commission to provide detailed analyses on the access of the private sector to RRF funding;
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 f (new)
Paragraph 34 f (new)
34 f. Reminds that according to the RRF regulation the Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the Facility, to actions taken pursuant to the Facility and to the results obtained; and that the Commission shall where appropriate inform the representation offices of the European Parliament of its actions and involve them in those actions;