10 Amendments of Heide RÜHLE related to 2008/2243(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the application of State aid rules to measures taken in relation to financial institutions in the context of the global financial crisis,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to Written Declaration 0088/2007 on investigating and remedying the abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights in this context that Microsoft's fine for flouting European competition law represents the highest amount ever imposed in 50 years of EC competition law for abuse of dominant position; underlines that this is already the third time in four years that the Commission has had to impose fines or penalty payments for non-compliance with a Commission decision; considers in light of this that Microsoft, on the basis of the EU public procurement rules, should currently not be eligible for future public procurement procedures;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its concern to avoid the abuse of market power by major corporations, andespecially by big supermarkets which are abusing their buying power to force down prices paid to suppliers (based both within the EU and overseas); calls upon theDG Commisspetition to undertake an analysis of the effects on competition of unequal relationships between food producers and retailersinvestigate the impacts that concentration of the EU supermarket sector is having on small businesses, suppliers, workers and consumers and, in particular, to assess any abuses of buying power which may follow from such concentration; requests the Commission to propose appropriate measures, including regulation, to protect consumers, workers and producers from any abuse of dominant position or negative impacts identified in the course of this investigation;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that Articles 86 and 87 of the EC Treaty explicitly authorise certain exceptions to the ban on State aid where the proposed aid regime has clearly beneficial effects for the population and does not harm the general activities of the Union; stresses, in particular, that State aid may be used to correct market failures, thereby improving the functioning of the market and enhancing European competitiveness, to reduce differences in living standards between regions in the European Union and pursue policy objectives such as R&D, promotion of SMEs, social cohesion and environmental and cultural protection; considers it essential, therefore , when assessing whether State aid is compatible with the Treaty, to find the right balance between the negative effects of State aid on competition and its positive effects in terms of common interests;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes a review of the State aid scoreboard but urges the Commission to undertake analyses of the effectiveness of State aid and urges that a revision of the scoreboard identify those Member States that have failed adequately to pursue the recovery of illegal State aid.; underlines in this context that State aid which is not in line with the Lisbon-Göteborg Strategy or which has no other effect but to increase private profits should be targeted and reduced in the future;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Regrets that, despite two waves of liberalisation directives which too often led to private oligopolies, European energy consumers continue to suffer from disproportionate price increases and an distorted energy market, which was recognised as a result of the Commission's sectoral inquiry as not functioning properly;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Urges that the Commission recognise the need to put in place mechanisms which minimise distortions of competition and the potential abuse of the preferential situations of beneficiaries brought about by State guarantees; emphasises in this respect that an appropriate contribution of the private sector is needed, as a counterpart to the introduction of the State guarantee scheme; calls on the Commission to refer back to the European Parliament on the implementation of these principles;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges that the Commission enforce behavioural constraints on financial institutions in receipt of State aid in order to ensure that such institutions do not engage in aggressive expansion, notably against smaller institutions, against the background of the guarantee to the detriment of competitors; stresses the need to change incentives for large financial institutions with potential systemic risks, taking into account that, if they are 'too big to fail', these institutions are encouraged to maximise the risks they take;