41 Amendments of Esther DE LANGE related to 2019/2211(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that the Communication makes the European Green Deal the Union's new growth strategy and engine of the economic strategy of the EU in order to put the Union on the right path to carbon neutrality while benefting European citizens and companies by creating additional jobs and new growth;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that the Annual Growth Strategy 2020 report refocus the European Semester process to puts sustainability and the well-being of citizens at the center of economic policy, in particular with the new section created in the 2020 reports focusing on sustainability;
Amendment 18 #
5. Calls on the European Commission to extendStresses the need for the European sSemester by completing the current approach based on fiscal and budgetary discipline with climate and environmental discipline without weakeningto provide Member States with recommendations about the trajectory towards the objectives of the cEurrent EU economic governance process; calls therefore on the European Commission to develop a new climate indicator, mirroring the economic indicators and assessing the discrepancy between Member States budget and a Paris aligned scenario of their national budget; stresses the need for this indicator to provide Member States with an indication on their trajectory of temperature under the framework of the Paris Agreement, thus enabling the extended European Semester to provide recommendations about the decrease of the climate debtopean Green Deal; however, calls on the European Commission to not weaken the current EU economic governance process, and to not overburden the country- specific recommendations as there are concerns about Member States’ commitment to these CSRs given that progress on the current recommendations is worse than in previous years;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes the necessity to implement the virtuous triangle of effective structural reforms, investments and responsible fiscal policies, in order to prepare the EU for its challenges, such as the transition to a low carbon economy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, whilst strengthening competitiveness;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Emphasizes the importance and employment potential of the Member States' contribution towards the achievement of the SDGs as this will create new jobs in the service sector and in the development of sustainable products and markets;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Notes that without sustainable fiscal policy and credible financial situation of Member States any future financing model of Green deal is endangered, therefore, demands that public "green investment" must be treated under Stability and Growth pact just like any other public spending.
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the importance of structured and systematic dialogue with national parliaments and civil society at the national level with a view of increasing ownership.
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, in view of the climate change emergency, the EU’s Annual Growth Survey (AGS) has now been renamed the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS), and considers that this implies a change in the positioning of the report and the implementation of ecological indicator; recalls that the European Semester cycle is a framework for EU Member States to coordinate their budgetary and economic policies;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes the importance of (1) high quality sustainable investments, (2) structural reforms that increase productivity growth, and (3) macro- financial stability and sound public finances in order to prepare the EU for its challenges, such as the transition to a low carbon economy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, whilst strengthening competitiveness; moreover, emphasizes the growth and employment opportunities that are inherent to the environmental sustainability agenda;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the role of the European Green Deal as the EU’s new strategy defining ecological issues and the wellbeing of citizens as principal goals for the Union; notes,a key priority for the new European Commission; notes the need to implement long-term planning to tackle climate change, and with regard to the scope of the European Semester, theo inclusion of the SDGs and of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), which will require the adjustment of existde sustainability withing indicators and the creation of new ones to monitor the implementation of EU economic, environmental and social policies, as well as coherence between policy goals and budgetary means; notes the need to implement long- term planning to tackle climate changets framework of investments, structural reforms, and responsible finances, in order to deliver sustainable economic growth;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CUnderlines that tackling the global climate objectives and safeguarding the competitiveness of our EU economy need to go hand-in-hand; considers achieving a fair transition to climate neutrality to be a major responsibility for the EU’s citizens and economy and its role in the world; calls for appropriate support and policies, with involvement for and ofof both the public, and the various sectors,private sector, the different regions and Member States, with a view to benefiting from this transformation and making it a success; calls on the Commission to undertake an annual evaluation of the Union’s ecological debt, carbon budget and imported emissionset up a distinct framework dealing with the implementation of ecological indicators, and the coordination of those indicators between EU Member States;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines the need to improve the functioning of the European Semester process and ensure sound fiscal policies, reduce public debt, and build up fiscal buffers to improve the euro area economic resilience against future shocks;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls that fiscal cost linked to pensions, health care and long-term are expected to rise over the coming decades, as Europe’s population continues to age significantly; therefore, calls Member States to take responsibility towards future generations and build up fiscal buffers;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned that post-crisis investment has been on a downward path in the EU in spite of historically low interest rates, currently standing at 3.4 %, with overall infrastructure investment now at about 75 % of its pre-crisis level; whereas 80 % of the shortfall is the result of cutbacks in the public sector, which have occurred particularly in countries subject to adverse macroeconomic conditions and the more severe fiscal constraints imposed on disadvantaged regions already characterised by poor infrastructure quality and weak socio- economic outcomes, but also, and surprisingly, in countries with a large fiscal spaceunderlines that targeted investments in tangibles and intangibles that increase productivity, skills and innovation will increase our long-term growth potential;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Endorses the conclusion of the European Fiscal Board (EFB) that the current EU fiscal framework has not protected the quality of public expenditure, and welcomes the EFB’s proposal for a ‘golden rule’ to protect public investment; calls, therefore, for the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the introduction of a golden rule aimed at implementing sound fiscal policy on an equal footing with investment within the EU’s policy objectives; whereas this should cover the investment foreseen for the realisation of the Green Deal, the Digital Revolution, the SDGs and the EPSR Rights, including expenditure aimed at reducing poverty and inequality related to social protection, health services and long-term care, and education and trainingentails multiple sources of unnecessary complexity, and welcomes the EFB’s proposal to simplify the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and make it more effective;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes that without sustainable fiscal policy and credible financial situation of Member States any future financing model of Green deal is endangered, therefore, demands that public "green investment" must be treated under Stability and Growth pact just like any other public spending;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the problem of too low a level of public investment; calls on the Commission to assess the cost of not taking action in thiand private investment, particularly on innovation; welcomes the fact that in some Member States investments alrea, in particular by evaludy exceed the pre-crisis level, regrets that ing othe difference between the neers investment is still lagging behind for investment and the actual investments mades not picking up at the necessary speed;
Amendment 186 #
7 a. Stresses that increasing productivity growth requires a systematic and forward-looking research and innovation strategy, with an emphasis on increasing both physical and human capital; notes thereby that the productivity gap between the best and worst performing firms has increased in most Member States; urges for public and private investment in innovative technologies to foster the creation of new goods, services and business models;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for a European Green Industrial Strategy; Welcomes the announcement that the Commission will come forward with a new European Industrial Strategy, as well as an SME strategy, in March 2020; stresses that the industrial strategy should put focus on incentivising value chains for economically viable and sustainable products, processes and business models aiming at achieving climate-neutrality, resource efficiency, circularity and a non- toxic environment, while maintaining and developing international competitiveness and avoiding the delocalisation of European industries;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Stresses that industrial competitiveness and climate policy are mutually reinforcing and that an innovative and climate neutral reindustrialisation will create local jobs and ensure competitiveness of the European economy;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Shares the concern expressed in others of the EFB’s conclusions regarding the pro-cyclical elements in the EU fiscal rules, which forced Member StatNotes that the European economy is in its seventh consecutive year of economic growth; shares the concern expressed in others of the EFB’s conclusions that even though this growth was unexpectedly job-rich and tax revenues turned out higher than planned, a large share of these to adjust their economies in a poor or difficult economic situation, failing to improve the quality of public finance and promote investment; welcomes the EFB’s recommendation of a seven-year cycle mirroring the MFF so as to better coordinate Member States’ public accounts, and especially investmentax revenues was located in countries that already had fiscal space, and most of the countries that needed to reduce their high debt levels spent their higher revenues instead of building fiscal buffers; thereby the EFB notes that aggregate fiscal policy in the euro area has been overly expansionary;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the debt levels of all the Member States are above the pre-crisis level and are expected to exceed 60 % in 2021; further notes that in six Member States the ratio will be higher than 90 %; highlights the fact that the fiscal rules have not contributed to bringing down the debt levels of highly indebted countries but have, rather, increased themfavourable macro- economic conditions and the low interest rate environment have not been used by highly indebted countries to bringing down the debt levels;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports flexibility in the implementation of the SGP as proposed by the Commission in 2015; considers that much more flexibility should be introduUnderlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro area level must balance long-term sustainability of public financeds in order to boost investment and ecological transition in the EU; calls, therefore, for the reform of the SGP and the introduction of a euro area fiscal capacityfull compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), respecting flexibility in the implementation of the SGP as proposed by the Commission in 2015, with short-term macroeconomic stabilisation;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls, therefore, for the reform of the SGP in order to simplify the European budgetary rules, in particular by ceasing to use indicators which are difficult to quantify, such as those related to the structural budgetary effort and the ‘output gap’;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates its call for a European stabilisation function and a European unemployment benefit reinsurance schemebudgetary instrument for competitiveness and convergence (BICC), with a view to protecting citizens and reducing pressure on public financesthe single currency during externalconomic shocks so as to overcome social and economic imbalances;
Amendment 250 #
12 a. Recalls that growth-friendly structural reforms do not necessarily require fiscal space but rather legislative and administrative efforts aimed at strengthening market forces and private sector initiatives; notes especially that structural reforms aimed at fostering access to finance could enable a wider range of starters to benefit from innovations, thus boosting productivity growth;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is concerned about the accelerating rise in house prices; stresses that rising housing prices are having an impact on household private debt; underlines that private debt, if excessive, can play a significant role in the stability of the euro area; recalls the need for appropriate macro prudential supervision;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of the efficient regulation of the banking and financial sectors in order to prevent a new crisis; believes that such regulation must integrate the ecological situation; emphasises the importance of completing the Banking Union and the need to reform the European Stability Mechanism;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Welcomes the agreement that was recently reached on the EU-wide classification system, or "taxonomy", which provides businesses and investors with a common language to identify what economic activities can be considered environmentally sustainable investment, thereby facilitating the channelling of savings towards sustainable investments;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Urges the Commission to quickly present its new sustainable finance action plan, needed to further incorporate sustainability into the corporate governance framework of companies and financial institutions;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the systematic inclusion of tax matters in the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs), with the aim of ensuring economic coherence across EU Member States as well as the fairness of EU tax systems; believes that the CSRs could ensure a fair balance between sources of revenue andBelieves that the CSRs should also include innovative elements aiming at promoting the Green Deal; further believes that they should also support Member States in tackling tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Emphasizes the importance and employment potential of the Member States' contribution towards the achievement of the SDGs as this will create new jobs in the service sector and in the development of sustainable products and markets;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Takes note of AMR 2020’s finding that wage growth at euro area level remains below what would be expected at the current levels of unemployment on the basis of historical data, and that this affects the inflation rate; highlights that the currently low productivity and inflation together with structural reforms transferring collective bargaining to the enterprise level are detrimental to wage growthNotes that labour markets have continued to improve and unemployment has fallen in all EU Member States, notably for youth and the long-term unemployed; takes note of AMR 2020’s finding that labour market tightening was reflected in stronger wage growth, and that real wage growth is above labour productivity growth since 2018; moreover, stresses AMR 2020’s finding that unit labour costs (ULCs) have been growing at a faster pace in many Member States due to both wage acceleration and are leading to greater income inequality and an increase in the numbers of working poor, widuced productivity growth; accordingly advocates wage growth in line with productivity growth, in-work poverty affecting almost one in ten workers in Europe; accordingly advocates wage growth order to ensure the competitiveness of the EU economy, especially in times of increasing global tensions;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Agrees that it is a matter of great concern that income inequality is above pre-crisis levels in some countries, being frequently linked to unequal opportunities in access to education, and training and social protection; therefore calls on the Member States to set in place proper policies, and to provide investment to ensure equal access to lifelong education and training;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that equality between women and men, gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting must become key elements of the European Semester, leading to action on gender pay, gender career development and the gender pension gap (which currently stands at 40 % in the EU)increased efforts are required by the Member States to promote gender equality at all levels of the workforce;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights the time constraints on the current European semester process, which form an obstacle to full debate and the proper involvement in the process of civil society organisations, social partners, and even national parliaments and the EP, and contribute significantly to the lack of a sense of ownership and implementation; calls for the extension of the semester cycle to a biannual or triannual period, with the possibility of revision in case of major economic shocks;
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Notes that there is evidence of backtracking on elements of certain reforms adopted in the past, and is concerned about Member States’ commitment to the CSRs, given that progress on the current recommendations is worse than in previous years; takes note of the limited implementation levels of the CSR, and calls for a critical assessment of the methods used to address their levels of implementation, and points out that amore streamlined and focussed European Semester could increase national ownership and uptake of reforms by Member States;