Activities of Victor BOŞTINARU related to 2011/0302(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Connecting Europe Facility
Amendments (24)
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) A fully functioning single market depends on modern, integrated, highly performing infrastructure connecting Europe particularly in the areas of transport, energy and telecommunications. These growth enhancing connections would provide better access to the internal market and consequently contribute to a more competitive market economy in line with Europe 2020 Strategy's objectives and targets.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Experience with the current financial framework shows that manysome Member States, which are eligible to the Cohesion Fund, are facing significant obstacles in delivering on time complex cross-border transport infrastructure projects with a high Union added value. Therefore, in order to improve the delivery of transport projects, in particular cross-border ones, with a high Union added value, part of the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion22 ) should be transfshould be allocated, upon prior agreement between the Commission and the Member States concerrned, to finance transport projects on the transport core network in the Member States eligible to the Cohesion Fund under the Connecting Europe Facility. The Commission should support Member States eligible to the Cohesion Fund to develop an adequate pipeline of projects in order to give greatest possible priority to the national allocations under the Cohesion Fundd implement agreed projects.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) Institutional and administrative capacity are essential prerequisites for an effective delivery of the objectives of the Connecting Europe Facility. The Commission should ensure that they are always at a sufficient level to design and implement projects, and wherever necessary it should offer appropriate means to the Member State concerned.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) On the basis of the sector specific guidelines laid down in separate Regulations, a list of priority areas for which this Regulation should apply has been drawn up and should be included in the Annex. In order to take into account possible changes in political priorities and technological capabilities, as well as traffic flows, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of adopting amendments to the Annex. It is of particular importance that tThe Commission should carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) removing bottlenecks and bridging missing links both within transport infrastructure and at the connecting points at cross-border level, to be measured by the number of new and improved cross-border connections and removed bottlenecks on transport routes which have benefited from the Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 50 000 000 00043XXX. That amount shall be distributed among the sectors referred to in Article 3 as follows:
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) transport: EUR 31 694 000 000XXX, out of which EUR 10 000 000 000 shall be transferredXXX shall be made available from the Cohesion Fund to be spent in line with this Regulation, with Regulation (EU) No [...]/2012 [CPR], and with Regulation (EU) No [...]/2012 [Cohesion Fund], in Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund;
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) energy: EUR 9 121 000 000XXX;
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) telecommunications: EUR 9 185 000 000XXX.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Following the mid-term evaluation according to Article 26(1), the Commission may transfer appropriations between the sectors of the allocation set out in paragraph 1 up to a maximum of 10% per sector, with the exception of the EUR 10 000 000 000 transferredXXX made available from the Cohesion Fund to finance transport sector projects in the Cohesion Fund eligible Member States.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The Commission shall stimulate and facilitate the achievement of the agreement referred to in the previous subparagraph, and shall report every year to the Parliament on the cases where problems are encountered, and on the nature of the difficulties.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 7
Article 8 – paragraph 7
7. Not recoverable VAT shall not be an eligible cost.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
(i) rail and inland waterways: the amount of Union financial aid shall not exceed 20% of the eligible cost; the funding rate may be increased to 30% for actions addressing bottlenecks; the funding rate may be increased to 40% for actions concerning cross-border sections; 20% of the funding under the CEF shall be earmarked for programmes on border crossing points;
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – title
Article 11 – title
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. As regards the EUR 10 000 000 000 transferred from the Cohesion Fund [Regulation XXX Article XX] to be spentXXX made available from the Cohesion Fund to be spent for projects implementing the core network exclusively in Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund, specific calls shall be launched for projects implementing the core network exclusively in Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fundthe Commission shall adopt a decision by implementing act after a prior agreement with the Member State concerned, setting out the amount to be allocated and the transport infrastructure projects of European added value that will be carried out by each Member State.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. By the way of derogation from Article 10, and as regards the EUR 10 000 000 000 transferredXXX made available from the Cohesion Fund [Regulation XXX Article XX] to be spent in Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund, the maximum funding rates shall be those applicable to the Cohesion Fund referred to in Article 22 and Article 110(3) of Regulation (EU) No XXX/2012 [Regulation laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006]45 for the following actions:
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. To ensure the highest possible absorption of the funds made available from the Cohesion Fund for Member States eligible to the Cohesion Fund, particular support shall be given to programme support actions under the Connecting Europe Facility aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the development and implementation of projects referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. The resources of the Cohesion Fund used to finance for transport sector projects in the Cohesion Fund eligible Member States shall not count against the Cohesion Policy's capping system.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) following an evaluation of the progress of the project, in particular in the event of major delays in the implementation of the action resulting from direct responsibility of the beneficiaries.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Actions supported by means of financial instruments shall be selected on a first come first served basis and shall seek sectoral diversification in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 as well as gradualensure geographical diversification across the Member States.
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Member States shall for projects related to transport and, energy and telecommunications sectors, undertake the technical monitoring and financial control of actions in close cooperation with the Commission and shall certify the reality and the conformity of the expenditure incurred in respect of projects or parts of projects. The Member States may request the participation of the Commission during on-the-spot checks.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
In the field of telecommunications in particular, the national regulatory authorities shall also make every effort to ensure the required legal certainty and investment conditions facilitating the implementation of the projects receiving Union financial aid under this Regulation.
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by ensuring that costs are not disproportionate for infrastructure of the same type in the different Member States taking into due consideration local prices, by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportional and deterrent penalties.