Activities of Miguel PORTAS related to 2011/2020(BUD)
Plenary speeches (2)
2012 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)
Parliament's position on the 2012 draft budget as modified by the Council (A7-0354/2011 - Francesca Balzani, José Manuel Fernandes) (vote)
Amendments (40)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the promotion of a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy, which creates jobs and high-quality employment by deliveringimplementation onf the Europe 2020 strategy's seven flagship initiatives is a jointly endorsed goal of the 27 Member States and the EU institutions; recalls that the implementation of this strategy will requirean strategy demands a huge amount of future- oriented investment up to 2020, estimated at no less thain EUR 1 800 billion, by the Commission, in its communication entitled ‘'The EU Budget Review’1 ; underlines, therefore, that necessary investments - at both EU and Member State level - must be made now and delayed no longer;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is deeply concerned, against this background, that the current crisis has been aggravated by the austerity policies, resulteding in a drastic drop in public investment in some of these areasand private investment, because of the adjustments that Member States have made to their national budgets, especially those under bailout; calls for this trend to be reversed and firmly believes that investments need to be guaranteedmade at EU and national level if the EU as a whole is to deliver on the EU 2020 strategy; is of the opinion that the EU budget has a role to play as; considers that the EU budget must be a leverage tool for Member States' recovery policies by triggering and supporting national investment to reinforce growth and employment; emphasises that this is fully in line with the dynamics of the European Semester, which, as a new mechanism for enhanced European economic governance, aims at increasing consistency, synergies and complementarities between the EU and the national budgets in delivering on the jointly agreed Europe 2020 goalsthe creation of employment for economic recovery;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls, once more, that the EU budget should in no way be perceived and evaluated as a simple financial item added as a burden to national budgets but, on the contrary, is to be understood as an opportunity to gear up thoseimplement programs, initiatives and investments that are of interest and of added value to the EU as a whole, most of themof common interest, most of them proposed by Member States and co-decided by Parliament and the Council and thus legitimised also at national level;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the margins stemming from the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) do not allow real room for manoeuvre, especially in subheading 1a and heading 4, andseverely reduce the capacity of the EU to react to policy changes and unforeseen needs while maintaining its priorities; points out that the scope of the challenges the EU faces, would require means well beyond the current ceilings of the MFF; recalls, in that respect, that the mobilisation of the instruments foreseen in the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management has been rendered unavoidable by the various challenges and new priorities that havrecalls the the new European priorities and events such as the Arab Spring required the mobilisation of the instruments foreseen in the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) of 17 May 2006; sustains that the challenges which Europe is facing would require an EU Budget much more robust than the marisen, such as the Arab Spring this yeargins allowed by the current MFF;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores, against this background and despite previous calls from Parliament, that Council mad the horizontal cuts in the budget made by the Council, deciding on the overall level of appropriations a priori, without duly taking into account an accurate assessment of the actual needs for the achievement of the Union's agreed objectives and, political commitments, nor and the priorities byof the Parliament, as presented in its mandate for its abovementionedthe resolution of 23 June 2011 on the mandate for the trilogue;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that the sole consideration of past implementation rates, together with the rates of increase as compared to previous year's budget, as a basis for selecting lines and amounts to be cut is a backward-looking approach which does not allow, in the context of multiannual programming, to properly reflect the speeding up of the budget implementation along the year, namely in the multiannual programs;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that EU-2020 policies have been identified by Parliament as one of its most important priorities1 for the 2012 budget since they are essential and necessary parts of the EU strategy for the economic recovery; emphasis; underlines that the proposed increase in appropriations for a selected number of budget items serves both short- and long-term strategies for the future of the EU;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Keeps on consideringReiterates that the level of payments proposed by the Commission is a bare minimum for payments, as also mentioned in several statements by President Barroso and Commissioner Lewandowski; is not confident that Draft Council's statement No 1 on payment appropriations aiming at addressing the issue of possible additional payment needs may be of any help in this respect, notably in light of early 2011 experience, when Council happened to be reluctant to honour the similar statement it initiated for 2011 Budget; therefore also, decides to restore most payment appropriations to DB levels all the more that Council cuts in payments also affect areas and budget lines falling under EU 2020 objecessential prioritives, particularly in Heading 1a;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that Heading 1a is the key heading of the MFF 2007-2013 in terms of reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, thanks to its direct or indirect contribution to the financing of all its five headline targets and the seven flagship initiatives;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Regrets that the Commission and the Council do not generally do not propose to boost – beyond what was originally planned – the support for investments urgently needed to implement the seven flagshipEU programs and initiatives, and notes that they are regrettably inclined to postpone the necessary big leap in terms of common financial effort to the post- 2013 MFF; is convinced that this attitude will seriously endanger the achievement of the headline goals by 2020;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reaffirms its strong opposition to any form of redeployment from FP7 like proposed by the Commission as part of the ITER financing package since this would endanger the successful implementation of FP 7 and significantly reduce its contributions to the achievement of the headline goals and the implementation of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy; therefore restores FP7 to financial programming figures by adding the EUR 100 million to the budget lines cut by the Commission; also restores the bulk of payments cuts brought on FP7 lines by the Council (EUR XXX million or X %), as a matter of avoiding any risk of non implementation of existing legal obligations, which could lead to additional costs due to late interests to pay;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Further increases the overall level of commitment appropriations for the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework programme (CIP - Intelligent energy and CIP - Entrepreneurship and Innovation) compared to what was initially foreseen, as a matter of delivering on the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy; hopes that this increase will contribute to improving the access of SMEs to this programme and to developing specific programmes and innovative financial mechanisms; recalls, in this context, the key role played by SMEs in; hopes that this decision will improve access of SMEs to these lines of credit and boosting the EU economy and supports, in particular, the CIP-EIP programme as an indispensable tool of recovery from the crisidevelopment of innovative projects;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Also iIncreases support for the Lifelong Learning programme, given its high European added value and also because of its strong contribution to the flagship initiatives ‘Youth on the Move’ and ‘Innovation Union’; calls on the Commission to deliver a proposal improving the management of all programmes and potential initiatives for youth mobility within the Union, so that financial support is given in accordance to living conditions in destination countries to avoid social discrimination in the access to these programmes;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Decides to restore DB payments for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) line; underlines the fact that the insertion of payment appropriations not only gives higher visibility tospeeds up the implementation of the fund but also avoids transfers from other budget lines pursuing different aims and covering different needs;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Proposes that, within the 2012 budgetary negotiation procedure, any eventual appropriations' decrease, under subheading 1a, should be made on the line for security research; considers that the EU, following the new challenges and modifications in the international context, should assume a new and daring approach to security matters with the aim to concentrate on cooperation for development and on conflict prevention by pacific means;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Also proposes that, within the 2012 budgetary negotiation procedure, any eventual appropriations' decrease, under subheading 1a, should be made on the lines for Innovative medicines Initiative Joint undertaking and on the Risk- Sharing Finance Facility; these lines support mainly large dimension enterprises, which have a better capacity of alternative financing, instead of targeting SMEs, which can promote a higher degree of convergence between the regions on research;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls the important role regional and cohesion policies play towards the achievement of the goals of the EU 2020 strategy and economic recovery of European regions; deplores Council's restrictive approach on payments, which were cut by some EUR 1 300 million as compared to Commission's forecasts of payment needs for 2012; notes that only the convergence objective and the technical assistance lines remained untouched by the cuts of Council; reminds that these cuts apply to budget allocations that were already far below Member States' own estimates (EUR 61 billion for 2012 or some 50% above DB) and widely considered as being the bare minimum for honouring upcoming payment claims and be consistent with the speeding up of implementation at the end of the programming period; also recalls the recent Commission Communication on the new rates of co-financing to countries with structural adjustment programmes;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Generally restores Council's cuts under this Headings to a level EUR xxxx million, which is XX% above 2011 Budget; considers that the Commission’s estimates of budgetary needs are more realistic than the Council’s proposals, in particular against the current background of great economic uncertainty and of instability in the markets and in terms of farmers’ incomes, which calls for a very careful approach to any important changes;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Maintains the budget allocation dedicated to the EU Food Distribution Programme for the Most Deprived Persons of the Community (MDP); strongly calls for a political and legal solution to be found promptly to avoid any drastic cuts to the respective programmes, especially in view of the difficult social situation in many Member States followis programme that supports 18 million people with problems of malnutrition withing the financial and economic crisisUnion;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Recalls its strong call for an appropriate and balanced answer to the current challenges in the area of migration and solidarity, with a view to the management ofArgues that the current challenges in the area of migration should be managed in a perspective of solidarity mechanisms to promote legal migration and to slowing down of illegal migration; acknowledging the obligation of EU Member States to conform to established EU law, emphasises the need for sufficient funding and support tools to handle emergency situations in a spirit of full respect of internal protection rules and human rights and solidarity amongst allemphasises the need to deal with emergency situations in a spirit of full respect for human rights and mutual support among Member States;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. ReiteratesAdvocates strengthening thate funding for education- oriented programmes, initiatives and bodies should be increased in view terms of their contribution to the completion of EU 2020 strategy's flagship initiatives ‘"Youth on the Move’" and '"Innovation Union'; intends in particular to further increase funding for the "Youth in action" programme";
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. In relation to European public spaces, considers that an assessment report and work programme shouldmust be presented to the budgetary authority in time to be taken into account in the budgetary procedure; decides to hold in reserve part of Communication appropriations until Commission demonstrates its willingness to improve interinstitutional collaboration in this respect;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. WelcomNotes the reinforcement of appropriations for the Neighbourhood Instrument, as proposed in Amending Letter n°1/2012, as in line with its support to a clear and consistent EU response tosupporting the recent political and social developments in Southern Mediterranean; reiterates nevertheless very clearly that such a financial assistance can in no way be detrimental to existing priorities;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Considers indeed that any cut brought to agencies' budget during the budgetary procedure should be more closely related to the process of agencies' work planning and tasks, unless some precise sources of efficiency gains can be identified; In this respect considers the cuts brought to Frontex, the mandate of which has just been revised, as one typical example of the complete disconnection operated by Council between the tasks and activities of agencies - as enshrined by legal texts and requirements - and the budgetary resources allocated to them;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Further decides to increase the 2012 budget allocation to the three new financial supervision agencies as a matter of utmost importance in the current economic and financial situation anccording to the needs requested by them; considers that indeed, full compliance with their mandates cannot be affected, disminished for their build-up procedexcused by the scarcity of resources;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Recalls its position adopted in its abovementioned resolution of 6 April 2011, asking that all institutions should draw up their budgets on the basis of sound and efficient management and looking for savings where possible, in line with Commissioners Lewandowski letter of 3 February 2011 calling on every institution to make all possible efforts towards limiting expenditure increase below 1 % compared to 2011;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Recognises the efforts that were made by all institutions which resulted in real cuts on their own budgets; in real terms, the budget growth in all institutions is negative, despite their new competences, new jobs, actions and activities created as a consequence of the entry in force of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. NotStresses that the administrative and operating expenditure budget from all institutions represents XX% of the global EU budget, of which heading V having a margin of EUR XXX million and that Council has cut appropriations in the sections concerned by EUR 40 millionX% less than budgeted for 2011;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Expresses the willingness of the European Parliament to reach an agreement with the Council and the Commission for the freezing of salaries for the highest category of employees of the Union during the years 2012 and 2013; considers that this commitment must be obtained rapidly and should also freeze the salaries of MEPs in the values of 2011;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Points out that also theStresses the willingness of the Bureau of Parliament isto ready, in view of the general difficult economic context to make savings onlize significant savings in the administrative budget within this institution; however, regrets that this action has not been extended to various items own administrative budget, where possible, as reflected in the amendments tabled by its major political groupsf expenditure that finance the activities of MEPs, with emphasis on the general expenditure allowance in the amount of EUR 51588 per year, which are out of any tax incidence;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62a. Reiterates that the savings expected from the budget lines for translation and interpretation can not harm the principle of multilingualism in the European Parliament and during the dialogues between other institutions; savings will be implemented without jeopardizing the right of any Member to speak during plenary, committees, coordinators meetings and trilogues in his/her own language; Members should also keep their right to write and read in his/her own language;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 b (new)
Paragraph 62 b (new)
62b. Records the agreement for the reduction of travel costs in 5% and for the placing under reserve of 15% of the foreseen appropriation; invites the Bureau to present proposals until 31st March in a way that reserves should be used; recommends the Bureau to study the possibility of strablishing rules that: a) promote flexible economic flights inside the EU, respecting duly fundamented exceptions; b)prevent the accumulation of time and distance allowances with daily allowances; suggests that these values for these appropriations should be freezed from 2012 until the end of the mandate; d) suggests that savings in the institutional visits have into account the primacy of pluralism over the proportionality when defining the delegations composition;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Points out that his amount includes expenditurethe overall for the European Parliament Budget for 2012 includes the preparatory expenses resulting from the future enlargement to Croatia ( EUR 7,8 million), and additional 18s well as the 18 new Members following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (EUR 10,6 million); without taking into account this new expenses, the Budget for 2012, when compared with Budget 2011, presents an increase of X%, below the foressen inflation;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66