Activities of Costas BOTOPOULOS related to 2008/2025(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
2009 budget: First reflections on the 2009 PDB and mandate for the conciliation (debate)
Amendments (8)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the overall margin of EUR 2 638 million can be considered misleading in as much as by far the largest portion thereof, i.e. an amount of EUR 2 027 million, stems from the unused margin of market related expenditure and dirNotes that by far the largest portion of the overall margin of EUR 2 638 million in the preliminary draft budget, i.e. an amount of EUR 2 027 million, stems from the margin of market related expenditure and direct payments under heading 2 (first CAP pillar); deplores the fact that the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework and the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allow this margin under heading 2 (first CAP pillar) to be used only under extremely restrictive conditions and that the EU is therefore unable to respond to new political needs flexibly; stresses that this large margin should be usable to realise the Union's new priority objectives, as was the case in November 2007, following Council and Parliament agreement, for the Galileo project; payments under heading 2oints out that structurally, since 2007, real spending under heading 2 (first CAP pillar) is below the ceilings laid down by the 2007-2013 financial framework;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Is surprised at the extremely low level of payment appropriations (EUR 116.736 billion) proposed by the Commission in its 2009 preliminary draft budget; points out that commitment appropriations adopted under the 2007 and 2008 budgets totalled EUR 126.5 billion and EUR 129.1 billion respectively;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers the planned Small Business Act an important strategy to support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; nothopes that also a financial framework and legislative acts are required to support SMEs in the most appropriate waythe Commission will incorporate into it the positive results of the many pilot projects and preparatory actions which Parliament has been successfully putting forward for a number of years with regard to small and medium-sized enterprises; is eagerly awaiting precise proposals for funding this new strategic tool;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. RStresses the importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions as Parliament's tool to initiate legislative proposals; regrets that the small margin of EUR 22 million left under the heading leaves very limited room for manoeuvre for pilot projects and preparatory actions and reduces the scope for Parliament to propose new ones;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Draws attention to the need to increase the efficiency and improve the coordination of EU civil protection interventions, inter alia by developing common civil protection methodologies among the Member States, developing early warning and prevention systems, and upgrading the facility to transport civil protection assistance, in order to be better prepared to protect EU citizens;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Considers that the core business of communication and information policy is to inform EU citizens on the actions and programmes realised by the EU and the improvements generated over the last years, and involve them more in the political process;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Notes that, while the network of Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) with Western Balkan countries is being completed, it is essential to increase the funding of actions in order to reinforce the stability in the Western Balkans and strengthen their European perspective;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)
Paragraph 73 a (new)
73a. Strongly deplores the custom of the Council to make across-the-board cuts at its first reading of the Union budget without any precise reasons being provided; points out that establishing the Union budget is a fundamental political act which is more than a mere accounting exercise, and looks to the Council to make arrangements for genuine political dialogue with Parliament during this budgetary procedure;