Activities of Donata GOTTARDI related to 2008/2244(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Public finances in the EMU – 2007-2008 (short presentation)
Reports (1)
REPORT Report on public finances in EMU 2007 - 2008 PDF (184 KB) DOC (96 KB)
Amendments (30)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to the conclusions of the Ecofin Council meeting of 4 November 2008 concerning the economic situation, implementation of responses to the financial crisis and preparations for the international summit on the crisis,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 October 2008 entitled ‘From financial crisis to recovery: A European framework for action’ (COM(2008)0706),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
– having regard to the conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 15-16 October 2008 concerning strengthening of the regulation and supervision of the financial markets,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 d (new)
Citation 13 d (new)
– having regard to the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Eurogroup, held on 12 October 2008, with a view to adopting a coordinated rescue plan to combat the economic crisis,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 e (new)
Citation 13 e (new)
– having regard to the conclusions of the Ecofin Council meeting of 7 October 2008 concerning immediate responses to the financial turmoil, and to the European Parliament resolution of 22 October 2008 on the European Council meeting of 15-16 October 2008,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas quality public finances targeting sustainable development signal our commitment to future generations, which is all the more important in the current situation of major upheaval on the markets,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the aim of public finances should be to support the macro-economic framework, provide public services and goods and counterbalance market failures and external impacts,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas a conceptual and operational framework for QPF targeting growth, and making growth the ultimate reference point for the assessment of QPF, are inextricably linked with the consideration that Member States’ budgetary and public expenditure policies must be oriented towards the maintenance and innovation of the welfare state, social security protection and the redistribution of resources,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas it is necessary and appropriate to approach the analysis and assessment of public finances, and the prospects for their sustainability, from a gender perspective,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading (new) - (after recitals)
Subheading (new) - (after recitals)
Change in economic trend in 2007/2008, economic and financial crisis and outlook
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Notes that analysis of the public finance situation in 2007 and the first part of 2008 clearly shows a change in the economic trend and the looming prospect of a slowdown in the economy and in growth, coupled with a continued high rate of inflation and increasing income disparities;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Expresses its concern at the difficult economic and financial situation currently affecting Europe and the world, which is creating an unprecedented level of instability, and notes the new dynamics that are developing in the state-market relationship and changes in monetary and economic policy where, in the face of market failures and a lack of rules and supervision, public sector intervention is reassuming a pivotal role, sometimes taking the form of outright nationalisations;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Points out that the crisis in strategic sectors, and especially in the fields of finance and transport, is spurring public investment in takeovers, without care being taken to limit those rescue operations to what is strictly necessary for sustaining and developing the European economy and to ensure they do not respond to purely national interests;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1c. Considers that the Commission and the Member States must provide for an appropriate assessment of the repercussions for public finances of public sector support and participation in major industries and the financial and credit sector; would also consider it useful for those repercussions to be assessed in relation to competition, the workings of the internal market and maintaining a level playing field;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1d. Emphasises that the revised Stability Pact already allows for action to be taken in response to particularly serious situations and that financial consolidation and the objectives set in the stability and convergence plans remain fundamental to the prospects for recovery and growth;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1e. Points to the importance of a coordinated approach at European level to combat tax evasion and tax havens – in the interests of the public, the taxpayer and public accounts – especially at a time when financial consolidation and levels of public debt are liable to be adversely affected by the considerable public investments being made in support of major financial and industrial players;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Paragraph -1 g (new)
-1g. Takes the view that the wholesale public sector intervention implemented by the various Member States to rescue and support the banking and finance industry will have clear repercussions for public finances and personal incomes; considers it necessary, therefore, for the tax burden to be suitably and equitably spread among all taxpayers, thus entailing, on the one hand, imposing an appropriate level of taxation on all financial players and, on the other hand, providing for a gradual and sharp reduction in the tax burden on mid- to low-level salaries and pensions – with tax deductions, revisions of tax rates and compensation for fiscal drag - in such a way as to reduce poverty, and not just extreme poverty, and to promote consumption and a growth in demand, thereby responding counter-cyclically to the current economic crisis which presages a recession;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 h (new)
Paragraph -1 h (new)
-1h. Stresses that European macro-economic policies must provide a swift and coordinated response to the risks of recession and financial instability, and urges the Commission and the Member States – and particularly those of the euro area - to make intelligent and unidirectional use of the flexibility in the Stability Pact and suitable counter-cyclical mechanisms aimed at structural change, efficient allocation of public funds, restructuring of public expenditure and investments for growth in line with the Lisbon objectives, devoting special attention to the role of SMEs;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 i (new)
Paragraph -1 i (new)
-1i. Emphasises, in that context, the need for a common approach – particularly in the euro area – on wage policies, that provides for wage increases in line with actual inflation and productivity, since fiscal and wage policies are powerful and effective levers on demand and for economic stability and growth;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 j (new)
Paragraph -1 j (new)
-1j. Welcomes the fact that decision-making areas are beginning to emerge in which the Euro Group – in the form not simply of the Ministers for Finance, but also of the Heads of State and Government of the euro area – acts as the (prime) political and economic coordination body to pinpoint swift responses and jointly-agreed strategies not just in response to the economic and financial crisis, but also to revitalise macroeconomic and joint investment strategies aimed at enhancing prospects for growth, averting serious repercussions on public finances and financial stability in the European Union and helping to achieve a better balance between economic and monetary policies within the European Union;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 k (new)
Paragraph -1 k (new)
-1k. Considers that it would be useful to establish a compulsory mechanism for consultation and coordination between the Commission and the Member States – and particularly those of the Euro Group – prior to the adoption of major economic measures, especially in the case of measures addressing the volatility of prices for energy, raw materials and foodstuffs;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Shares the Commission’s views on the importance of the preventive arm of the SGP, on support and reminders for the Member States and on the exchange of best practices; agrees, in particular, that this arm should be based on a medium-term approach to budgetary policies and on coordination at a European level, given that effective action requires joint understanding of the economic and budgetary policy challenges in the European Union and a strong political commitment to addressing these through counter-cyclical interventions that pull in the same direction;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the importance of the medium- term objective (MTO) as a specific target ofbudgetary target hitched to economic, fiscal, budgetary and incomes policies, which should be achieved through macro-economic dialogue, geared to the specific situation in each Member State and determined on a multiannual basis; urges the Member States to strengthen the credibility and legitimacy of the medium-term objective at both national level, through closer involvement of government departments, national parliaments and the social partners (national ownership) and at local level (sub-national public finance) by establishing regional SGPs and MTOs, taking account of the impact which local public expenditure and investment have on national public finances and on the growth prospects of the various countries;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers consistency between multiannual budgetary programmes and the establishing and implementation of annual budgets to be of fundamental importance; calls on the Member States for greater rigour when establishing macro-economic forecasts and closer coordination when establishing the criteria, timescales and objectives for multiannual expenditure frameworks, in order to ensure the increased efficiency and better performance of budgetary and macro-economic policies at European level;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that it would be useful to establish a compulsory mechanism for consultation of the national parliaments, alongside the European Parliament, with an eye to the coordinated development of stability and convergence programmes under the Stability Pact, and of national reform programmes under the integrated Lisbon guidelines, in such a way that these are linked and presented together, possibly in the autumn of each year;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that the financial markets and services covered by Lisbon Strategy policies should be anchored to financial stability and to supervision mechanisms providing a guarantee of protection against negative repercussions for growth and public finances; expresses its concern at indications that derivatives and new financial instruments are being used, especially by local administrations, that could bring local areas to their knees;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers it necessary to adopt a new approach to public finances which is systematic and coordinated among the Member States, and in particular those of the euro area, and which aims to support long-term economic growth (and potential for growth) and is centred on a multi-dimensional framework for defining and measuring the quality of public finances that makes the European economy resilient to external shocks and enables it to respond to demographic challenges and international competition and to ensure social equity and cohesion;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Member States to adopt QPF policies together with a system for assessing budgetary policies – such as performance-based budgeting (PBB) (based on the OECD model) – aimed at improving the quality of public spending by strengthening the link between the allocation of resources and results; notes that gender budgeting is a good example of PBB, a method proposed and promoted by the European Parliament itself and applied to varying degrees at local and central level in the various Member States and which should be implemented more consistently, including at European level; calls on the Commission to establish PBB methods, guidelines and indicators making it possible to compare and harmonise the financial and macro-economic policies of the Member States, and acknowledges that this calls for greater involvement and therefore a greater sense of responsibility on the part of informed citizens;