Activities of Inese VAIDERE related to 2021/0114(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market
Amendments (8)
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) When applying these indicators, the Commission could take into account different elements such as the size of the subsidy in absolute terms or in relation to the size of the market or to the value of the investment. For instance, a concentration, in the context of which a foreign subsidy covers a substantial part of the purchase price of the target, is likely to be distortive. Similarly, foreign subsidies covering a substantial part of the estimated value of a contract to be awarded in a public procurement procedure are likely to cause distortions. If a foreign subsidy is granted for operating costs, it seems more likely to cause distortions than if it is granted for investment costs. Foreign subsidies to small and medium-sized undertakings may be considered less likely to cause distortions than foreign subsidies to large undertakings. Furthermore, the characteristics of the market, and in particular the competitive conditions on the market, such as barriers to entry, should be taken into account. Foreign subsidies leading to overcapacity by sustaining uneconomic assets or by encouraging investment in capacity expansions that would otherwise not have been built or bought are likely to cause distortions. A foreign subsidy to a beneficiary that shows a low degree of activity in the internal market, measured for instance in terms of turnover achieved in the Union, is less likely to cause distortions than a foreign subsidy to a beneficiary that has a more significant level of activity in the internal market. Finally, foreign subsidies not exceeding EUR 5 million should be deemed, as a general rule, unlikely to distort the internal market within the meaning of this Regulation. Where the Commission has found that a third country has in place a system for the provision of subsidies which ensures in law and in practice a level of protection against undue state intervention into market forces and unfair competition which is at least equivalent to the level within the Union and which effectively protects not only the market of the third country but also the internal market of the Union, foreign subsidies by this third country should also be deemed, as a general rule, to be unlikely to distort the internal market within the meaning of this Regulation. When assessing whether there is an equivalent level of subsidy control in a third country the Commission should take into account the relevant legal provisions as well as their effective implementation in practice. These findings by the Commission should be valid for a limited period of time and be subject to a periodic review. The Commission should also consider whether the third country has concluded a bilateral agreement with the Union which includes substantive level playing field provisions, whether the third country complies with international subsidy obligations and is aligned with the Union on initiatives with regard to improving international rules on subsidies and competitive neutrality, notably within the WTO. The Commission should draft and publish, in close cooperation with the Member States, guidelines with further details for assessing the distortive nature of a subsidy in order to provide legal certainty for all market participants. The guidelines should also provide examples and typical cases of distortive and non- distortive subsidies.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32 a (new)
Recital 32 a (new)
(32 a) In the context of the ex-ante review mechanism for concentrations, concerned undertakings should have the possibility to request pre-notification consultations with the Commission based on good faith, with a view to avoiding over-compliance and excessive administrative burden for both the Commission and potentially concerned undertakings. The aim of those consultations should be to receive guidance on whether or not the formal thresholds for notification have been met. The Commission should ensure that undertakings are informed of this possibility to the broadest extent possible.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 43
Recital 43
(43) The implementation of this Regulation by the Union should comply with Union law, the WTO Agreement and be consistent with commitments made under other trade and investment agreements to which the Union or the Member States are parties. This Regulation should be without prejudice to the development of multilateral rules to address distortive subsidies.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
(2) A foreign subsidy is unlikely to distort the internal market if: (a) its total amount is below EUR 5 million over any consecutive period of three fiscal years; or (b) the Commission has ascertained that the third country granting the foreign subsidy has in place a system for the review of subsidies that guarantees in law and in practice a level of protection against undue state intervention into market forces and unfair competition which is at least equivalent to the level within the Union and which effectively protects not only the market of the third country but also the internal market of the Union. A Commission decision ascertaining equivalence under point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be valid for three years and may be prolonged, if appropriate.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(2 a) The Commission shall publish guidelines on the application of this Article. Those guidelines shall be regularly updated, in close cooperation with the Member States, while keeping the European Parliament and the Council informed.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(1 a) Undertakings may request pre- notification consultations with the Commission based on good faith, the exclusive aim of which shall be to establish whether or not the formal thresholds for notification have been met.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
(4) If the undertakings concerned fail to meet their obligation to notify, the Commission mayshall review a notifiable concentration in accordance with this Regulation by requesting the notification of that concentration. In that case the Commission shall not be bound by the time limits referred to in Article 23(1) and (4).
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 1
Article 46 – paragraph 1