Activities of Thierry CORNILLET

131a. Reiterates its call for an assessment by the Commission of the consequences of money laundering and tax crimes involving e-gaming activities; considers such an assessment to be a priority;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 133

133. Notes that the Union’s AML legislation obliges Member States to establish central registers containing complete beneficial ownership data for companies and trusts, and that it also provides for their interconnection; welcomes the fact that AMLD5 obliges Member States to ensure that the information on beneficial ownership is accessible in all cases to any member of the general public except where, exceptionally, such information would expose the beneficial owner to a disproportionate risk of fraud, kidnapping, blackmail, extortion, harassment, violence or intimidation; stresses that the interconnection of registers should be ensured by the Commission; considers that the Commission should closely monitor the functioning of this interconnected system and assess within a reasonable time whether it is working properly and whether it should be supplemented by the establishment of an EU public register of beneficial ownership;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 138

138. Underlines the positive potential of new distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain technology; notes at the same time the increasing abuse of new payment and transfer methods based on these technologies to launder criminal proceeds or to commit other financial crimes; acknowledges the need to monitor technological developments to ensure that legislation addresses in an effective manner the abuse of new technologies and anonymity, which facilitates criminal activity; calls for close cooperation with Europol and Interpol;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Petr JEŽEK, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 138 a (new)

138 a. Calls on the Commission to closely monitor technological developments, assess technological risks and potential loopholes, support resilience to a cyberattack or a system breakdown, and promote data protection projects; encourages competent authorities and the Commission to develop stress testing for distributed ledger technologies applications;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Caroline NAGTEGAAL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 139

139. Stresses that the FATF has recently highlighted the urgent need for all countries to take coordinated action to prevent the use of virtual ~~asset~~currencies for crime and terrorism, urging all jurisdictions to take legal and practical steps to prevent the misuse of virtual assets73; ~~reiterates its call for an urgent assessment by the Commission of the implications for money laundering and tax crimes involving e- gaming activitie~~calls on the Commission to swiftly incorporate into a legislative proposal the recent changes in the FATF standards to regulate these virtual assets; _________________ 73 FATF, Regulation of virtual assets, 19 October 2018, http://www.fatf- gafi.org/publications/fatfrecommendations/ documents/regulation-virtual-assets.html

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 139

139. Stresses that the FATF has recently highlighted the urgent need for all countries to take coordinated action to prevent the use of virtual ~~asset~~currencies for crime and terrorism, urging all jurisdictions to take legal and practical steps to prevent the misuse of virtual ~~assets73~~currencies1a ; reiterates its call for an urgent assessment by the Commission of the implications for money laundering and tax crimes involving e- gaming activities; ~~_________________ 73 FATF, Regulation of virtual assets, 19 October 2018http://www.fatf- gafi.org/publications/fatfrecommendations/ documents/regulation-virtual-assets.html~~

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 140

140. Takes note of the expert-level work on electronic identification and remote KYC processes, which explores issues such as the possibility of financial institutions using electronic identification (e-ID) and of KYC portability to identify customers digitally, and calls for this work to be presented swiftly;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 140 a (new)

140 a. Notes that virtual currencies are used by retail investors as substitutes for other assets and that, unlike other financial instruments, virtual currencies are largely unregulated at present;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 141

141. ~~Recalls that EU AML legislation requires Member States to lay down sanctions for breaches of anti-money laundering rules; stresses that these sanctions must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive;~~Stresses that sanctions for breaching anti-money laundering rules must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive, as required in EU AML legislation; said sanctions should be applied to, inter alia, companies that unjustifiably use non-cooperative jurisdictions for money laundering and tax evasion, intermediaries who resort to such jurisdictions and taxpayers (individuals or legal entities)who, to avoid or evade the payment of taxes in any Member State, carry out activities without economic substance in said jurisdictions

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 141 a (new)

141 a. Asks the EBA to monitor national investigations and the corresponding sanctions, and to submit an annual report to the European Commission.

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Petr JEŽEK, Thierry CORNILLET, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 143 a (new)

143 a. Regrets that, concerning third countries, sanctions are not always applied or sufficiently deterrent in relevant cases; deplores the fact, in this context, that Member States, in spite of the recommendations put forward by the PANA committee, continue to oppose the imposition by the EU of sanctions on third countries whose tax systems are regarded as damaging to the Union; considers that, concerning the European Union, the Commission shall forward, every two years, to the European Parliament and the Council a report on national practices as regards the imposition of administrative and criminal penalties on legal and natural persons found guilty of fraud and financial crimes with a view to analyse whether different national regimes lead to regulatory arbitrage, whether they have a deterrent effect and are appropriate, taking into account the nature of the infractions and the good faith or not of the taxpayer; the Commission should accompany this report with proposals where relevant;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 146

146. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the EU speaks with ~~one~~a coordinated voice at the FATF; stresses, however, that coordinating the European position does not mean masking the shortcomings identified in the FATF mutual evaluation reports of certain Member States; calls on the Commission to include European Parliament staff as observers in the Commission delegation to the FATF;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6.1

List of tax havens inside and outside the EU

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 150

150. Recalls the importance of a common EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (hereinafter ‘EU list’) based on comprehensive, transparent, robust, objectively verifiable and commonly accepted criteria that is regularly updated and includes tax havens inside and outside the EU;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 151

151. Welcomes the adoption by the Council of the first EU list on 5 December 2017 and the ongoing monitoring of the commitments made by third countries; notes that the list has been updated several times on the basis of the assessment of those commitments; underlines that this assessment is based on criteria deriving from a technical scoreboard and that Parliament had no ~~legal~~ involvement in this process; criticises that this lack of transparency and democratic oversight delegitimizes the process; calls in this context on the Commission and the Council to inform Parliament in detail ahead of any proposed change to the list; considers that the current list is not exhaustive enough; calls on the Council to publish a regular progress report regarding black- and grey-listed jurisdictions as part of the regular update from the CoC Group to the Council;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 154 a (new)

154 a. Calls in the specific case of non- cooperative tax jurisdictions inside the EU for measures, such as the suspension of budgetary commitments concerning Union funds, until the national tax legislation complies with regulatory standards (including automatic exchange of information and BEPS implementation);

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 158

158. Reiterates its call for the EU to have a leading role in the global fight against tax evasion, aggressive tax planning and money laundering, in particular through Commission initiatives in all related international forums; calls on the EU and Member States to prepare themselves ex ante in order to express a concerted position in those fora;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 159

159. ~~Recalls its position regarding~~Believes that the creation of a global tax body ~~within the UN framework~~, which should be well equipped and have sufficient resources ~~to ensure that~~only makes sense if all countries can participate on an equal footing in the formulation and reform of global tax policies and which has sanctioning powers and does not function by unanimity voting ;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 160

160. Calls for a global summit on remaining necessary global tax reforms in order to enhance international cooperation and put pressure on all countries, in particular their offshore financial centres, to comply with transparency and fair taxation standards; calls for the Commission to take the initiative for such a summit and for the summit to allow for the establishment of the abovementioned global tax body;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 161

161. Believes that supporting developing countries in combating tax avoidance, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning, as well as corruption and secrecy that facilitate illicit financial flows, is of the utmost importance for strengthening policy coherence for development in the EU and improving developing countries’ tax capacities and domestic resource mobilisation; notes that each year tax avoidance accounts for more than the total figure for aid to developing countries; stresses that the least developed countries (LDCs) are not equipped with a suitable legal and fiscal framework, nor sufficient resources to be effective in combating illicit financial flows; notes that the latter are not, under these conditions, in a position to benefit fully from developments set up by the OECD;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 161 b (new)

161b. Calls on the Union to support fully the fight against use of natural resources to finance conflicts; asks States party to abide by their commitments under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the EU Regulation on Conflict Minerals, particularly regarding the establishment of efficient domestic controls over the production of, and trade in, natural resources and the measures accompanying the EU Regulation on responsible sourcing of minerals; calls for the adoption of mandatory worldwide rules;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 161 c (new)

161c. Calls for support for the developing countries, and in particular the African countries within sub-regional economic unions or the African Union (AU), in standardising transfer pricing documentation across the African continent as the Joint Transfer Pricing Forum is doing;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 162 a (new)

162 a. Acknowledges that tax havens also exist in developing countries and that their political leadership actively pursues such policies;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163

163. Notes that closer work with sub- regional and regional organisations is needed, in particular with the African Union (AU) in order to combat illegal financial flows and corruption in the private and public sectors; highlights the importance of developing countries participating at global level in work being carried out in, for example, the G8, the G20 and the OECD; reiterates the need for a coherent and comprehensive framework summarising initiatives launched and carried out in the various international fora;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163 a (new)

163a. Welcomes the Commission's proposal to improve the traceability of all works of art more than 250 years old by equipping them with an identity card and creating a licencing system for imports to the EU; calls with reference to the fight against terrorism financing for these measures to come into force as soon as possible;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 165

165. Recalls that public development aid targeting poverty reduction should be directed to a greater extent towards the implementation of an appropriate regulatory framework and the bolstering of tax administrations and institutions responsible for fighting illicit financial flows; calls for this aid to be provided in the form of technical expertise in relation to resource management, financial information and anti-corruption rules; calls for this aid to also favour regional and sub- regional cooperation against tax fraud, tax evasion, aggressive tax planning and money laundering; stresses that this aid should include support to civil society and media in developing countries to ensure public scrutiny over domestic tax policies;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 167 a (new)

167a. Points to the role of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the promotion of political dialogue, in particular as regards the exchange of best practices, good governance, including tax governance, and the fight against terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and any other kind of trafficking;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 167 b (new)

167b. Calls on the Commission to include provisions on the fight against tax avoidance, tax evasion and money laundering in the future agreement on the ACP-EU Partnership after the Cotonou Agreement expires in February 2020;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 170 a (new)

170 a. Calls for the Union negotiators to include the issues of, inter alia, financial crimes, tax evasion, tax avoidance, aggressive tax planning and corporate taxation rates when negotiating the details of the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 176

176. Notes that the Commission has opened an in-depth investigation of the application of the Madeira Free Zone regional aid scheme by Portugal1a; _________________ 1a An in-depth Commission investigation to examine whether Portugal has applied the Madeira Free Zone regional aid scheme in conformity with its 2007 and 2013 decisions approving it, namely by verifying whether tax exemptions granted by Portugal to companies established in the Madeira Free Zone are in line with the Commission decisions and EU State aid rules; highlights that the Commission is verifying whether Portugal complied with the requirements of the schemes, i.e. whether the company profits benefiting from the income tax reductions originated exclusively from activities carried out in Madeira and whether the beneficiary companies actually created and maintained jobs in Madeira;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 177

177. Welcomes the broad definition of both ‘intermediary’ and ‘reportable cross- border arrangement’ in the recently adopted DAC683 ; recalls the obligation of intermediaries under DAC6 to report structural loopholes in tax legislation to tax authorities, without having to reveal the identities of any potential clients taking advantage of these loopholes at the time; requests that intermediaries that are convicted for participation in and knowledge of fraudulent behaviour of clients are to have their licenses revoked and be banned from practising their occupation henceforth; _________________ 83 OJ L 139, 5.6.2018, p. 1.

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 179 b (new)

Recalls the revelations of investigative journalists, which have become known as the LuxLeaks, Panama papers, Paradise papers and CumEx scandals;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 180

180. Believes that the protection of whistle-blowers is of major importance to ensure that unlawful activities and abuse of law are prevented or do not prosper; according to fundamental right to freedom of expression and information; Recognises that whistle-blowers play a crucial role in the fight against corruption and other serious crimes or illegal activities and in the protection of the EU's financial interests; stresses that whistle- blowers are often a crucial source for investigative journalism and should therefore be protected against any form of harassment and retaliation; believes that it is necessary to protect the confidentiality of investigative journalism’s sources, including whistle- blowers, if the role of investigative journalism as a watchdog in democratic society is to be safeguarded;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 180 a (new)

180 a. Welcomes the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law.

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 181 a (new)

181 a. Highlights that the safeguarding of confidentiality and anonymity contributes to the creation of more effective channels for reporting fraud, corruption or other serious infringements.

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192

192. ~~Not~~Deplores that, despite requests to the Council, no relevant documents have been made available to the TAX3 Committee; ~~calls into question, therefore, the political will of the Council to enhance transparency and cooperation~~is greatly concerned about the lack of political will of the Member States in the Council to take substantial steps in the fight against money laundering, tax fraud, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning or to comply with the TEU and the principle of sincere cooperation by ensuring sufficient transparency and cooperation with the other EU institutions;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 a (new)

192 a. Recalls that taxation is a national competence and that the European Parliament has very limited powers in these matters; points out that issues of tax fraud, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning cannot be effectively tackled without political will by Member States and the Council

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 199 a (new)

199 a. Calls for the creation of a new Union Tax Policy Coherence and Coordination Centre (TPCCC)within the structure of the Commission that can assess and monitor Member States’ tax policies at Union level and ensure that no new harmful tax measures are implemented by Member States; such a TPCCC should be able to monitor Member States’ compliance with the common Union list of uncooperative jurisdictions in addition to ensuring and fostering cooperation between national tax administrations 1a; _________________ 1a According to recommendations made by the TAXE2 and PANA Committees.

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 201

201. ~~Takes note of the persons who~~Strongly regrets that the persons referred to in Annex XX refused to participate in TAX3 committee hearings ~~as referred to in Annex XX~~;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 202

202. Calls on the Council and the Commission to agree on the establishment of a publicly accessible and regularly updated list of non-cooperative non- institutional parties in the interinstitutional agreement on a mandatory transparency register for lobbyists; considers, in the meantime, that a record should be kept of those ~~stakeholders who have not~~individuals and organisations who without justifiable reason refused to attended the ~~committee’s public meetings~~TAXE, TAX2, PANA and TAX3 committee hearings and that their access badges to the European Parliament should be withdrawn;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Nils TORVALDS, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Wolf KLINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 205

205. ~~Welcom~~Urges the Commission’ to go forward with its intention to propose qualified majority voting for specific and pressing tax policy issues where vital legislative files and initiatives aimed at combating tax fraud, tax evasion, aggressive tax planning or financial crimes have been blocked in the Council to the detriment of Member States and the Union as a whole;

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2121(INI)

Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Petr JEŽEK, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 207

207. Takes the view that the enforcement of the work of the TAXE, TAX2, PANA and TAX3 committees should be ~~continued,~~followed up in the forthcoming parliamentary term~~, in a permanent structure within Parliament such as a subcommittee to~~ by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON);

2018/12/20
Committee: TAX3

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas the last take up of the TLTRO in 2017 showed an increasing demand by banks in the euro area; whereas the objective of the TLTRO is to stimulate bank lending to the real economy;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Reiterates that the independence of the ECB gives the members of the Executive board the freedom to decide, responsibly and based on the respect of appropriate accountability, about participating in fora, including those not open to the wider public, if they consider it is necessary to ensure the best conduct of the ECB monetary policy;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the EU economy grew at its fastest rate in 10 years in 2017 and that all Member States saw their economies expand; that, while continuing to dramatically affect youth in the EU, EU unemployment is at the lowest level since 2008 welcomes the role of the ECB and the structural reforms undertaken in some Member States as part of the ongoing recovery;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Warns, however, of the rise of uncertainties, which stem from the threat of increased protectionism, the Brexit negotiations, rising populism across the political spectrum and rising divergences between Member States on the future of European integration, among other causes;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises the great importance, at this juncture, of maintaining a favourable environment for public and private investment, which is still lagging behind pre-crisis levels; ~~encourages the ECB to take~~believes that it is primarily Member States’ governments responsibility to implement the necessary measures, in to help realinse ~~with its mandate, to help realise this objective;~~ this objective, in order to ensure parliamentary scrutiny at the appropriate level;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the ECB’s positive view on the establishment of a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) as the third pillar of the banking union; recognises that risk sharing is, as ECB President Draghi has stated, an effective risk reduction method and that the two should go hand in hand; considers therefore that in parallel to the risk reduction efforts already implemented or well on track, a third pillar should be completed as soon as possible; this third pillar should allow depositors to be better protected both individually and collectively than in the current system;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Calls~~Is concerned about rapidly rising property prices in certain Member States; calls therefore for vigilance against the risk of a resurgence in real estate bubbles and excessive household and private sector indebtedness in some Member States;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Agrees with the ECB’s decision to end the APP, subject to incoming data confirming its medium-term inflation outlook, and considers that this instrument should only be used on a temporary basis, as it creates new risks for financial stability and reduces incentives to consolidate public finances and to implement structural reforms;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Takes note that of all private sector purchase programmes, the corporate sector programme (CSPP) contributed the most to the APP in 2017, with EUR 82 billion in net purchases; welcomes the fact that since 2017 the ECB has been publishing the full list of all CSPP holdings, including the names of issuers, together with aggregated data on those holdings by country, risk, rating and sector; calls, however, for further measures in order to disclose the operational procedures used in the choice of securities purchased by national central banks (NCBs); stresses that the CSPP shall by no means lead to competitive distortions within the internal market;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Calls for the continuation of the targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO), which provide banks with medium-term financing at attractive conditions aund ~~in accordance with their efforts to grant new credit~~er the condition that these are actually used to grant new credit to the real economy; takes note of an increasing demand by euro area banks in the last TLTRO in 2017, which may be due to expectations of a hike in deposit rates and the possibility of cheap profits; calls on the ECB to closely monitor this development to ensure that the TLTRO are actually used for stimulating bank lending to the real economy;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcome the adoption of the agreement on emergency liquidity assistance (ELA), which clarifies the allocation of responsibilities, costs and risks; notes that this agreement is to be reviewed in 2019 at the latest; is of the opinion that granting ELA should be decided at the EU level;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Echoes the positions expressed by members of the Executive board on the importance of developing truly European payment systems immune from external disruptions such as those of a political nature;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Draws attention to President Juncker's call in his State of the Union 2018 speech to address the international role of the euro and the need for it to play its full role on the international scene; welcomes the willingness of the ECB to work with the Commission and Member States on this crucial issue, in spite of it falling outside the formal mandate of the ECB;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses the importance of the ECB being accountable towards Parliament; welcomes, in this respect, the permanent dialogue between the ECB and Parliament, and the regular appearances of the President of the ECB and, where applicable, other Members of the Executive Board, before the ECON committee and Plenary; encourages the ECB to continue this dialogue ~~and, when necessary, to better explain its decisions and policies~~; stresses that the ECB has improved its communication; believes that the ECB should continue its efforts in order to make its decisions available and understandable to all citizens as well as its actions to maintain price stability in the euro area and therefore preserve the purchasing power of the common currency;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Sander LOONES, Matt CARTHY, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses the importance of the ECB being accountable towards Parliament; welcomes, in this respect, the permanent dialogue between the ECB and Parliament, and the regular appearances of the President of the ECB and, where applicable, other Members of the Executive Board, before the ECON committee and Plenary; encourages the ECB to continue this dialogue and, when necessary, to better explain its decisions and policies; decides to review and improve the setup of the monetary dialogue following the examples of the UK Parliament and the US Congress and the feedback provided by the monetary experts commissioned by ECON in March 2014(see PE 518.753);

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2101(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Recalls that the coming months will see important changes in the Governing Council of the ECB, with several Board members, including the President; concluding their terms; considers that these changes should be prepared carefully and in full transparency with Parliament, in line with the treaties; stresses that the members of the Executive Board must be selected solely on the basis of their recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters; reiterates its position that the Executive Board needs to significantly improve gender balance, as well as in the ECB staff more generally;

2018/09/18
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the approach presented during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’, whereby the future EU budget should promote European added value, ensure finances for new challenges ~~and~~, continue supporting European solidarity, stability and growth as well as the modernisation of EU policies; and the respect and promotion of fundamental values as stated in articles 2 and 3 of the TEU;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; calls on the Commission to prioritise regulations over directives as the legislative tool for the Banking Union and financial services legislation in order to avoid creating fragmentation and having supervisors dealing with different national regimes;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Invites the Commission, with the help of the European Supervisory Authorities, to identify and remove obstacles to the internal market; is of the opinion that one of the main priorities of the Commission should be to effectively enforce EU legislation;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the urgent need to complete the Capital Markets Union; stresses that deep and well-integrated capital markets are complementary to the Banking Union, due to its contribution to private risk-sharing, increasing economic convergence ~~and helping to cushion future shocks~~, helping to cushion future shocks and potentially participating to a better allocation of funds where it is needed; calls for a comprehensive study on the most appropriate framework, including through treaty change if necessary, for the adoption of legislation, enforcement and review in the field of the Economic and Monetary Union, notably to better take into account the rapidly evolving nature of financial services; considers in this respect that enabling the European Supervisory Authorities to write "no action letters" is an interesting path;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of deepening and completing the EMU in order to preserve the stability of the single currency and enhance the convergence of economic, fiscal and labour market policies among the Member States; reiterates that the Euro is the currency of the EU and that, with the exception of Denmark's opt-out, every single Member State is bound to adopt the Euro; is of the opinion that additional provisions for enhanced dialogue between the Member States whose currency is the euro are not necessary provided all the other Member States, with the exception of Denmark, commit themselves to a realistic and middle-term timeline to adopt the common currency, commonly agreed, with the help of the ECB; supports further steps in the development of the ESM and the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) as confirmed by the European Council;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of the Reform Support Programme having in mind that the European Semester has been strengthened and streamlined, but the implementation of key reforms in the Member States is still slow and remains a priority; believes that Country Specific Recommendations should better steer, or even condition, access to European funds; welcomes the convergence facility which will provide an incentive and help Member States outside the euro area to implement reforms and fulfil the criteria for introducing the euro;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Deems it necessary to ~~embark on a~~continue the comprehensive review of existing VAT legislation; welcomes the work of the Commission on the fair taxation of the digital economy.

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2094(INI)

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Invites all the European institutions to enhance to an even greater extent their crucial communication efforts in order to inform and explain to Europe's citizens what they are doing;

2018/09/12
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls its conclusions that intergovernmental decision-tmaking structures and processes increase complexity of institutional responsibility, reduce transparency and democratic accountability and that the Community method is best for the functioning of the Union;

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls for the creation of the seat for a Finance Minister for the Euro Area. A Finance Minister for the Euro Area will manage a Euro area treasury. He/ she will ensure consistent, predictable and coherent decision-making with regard to Euro Area policies and will coordinate and ensure the implementation of the relevant Euro area rules and legislation that these policies entail and shall be accountable to the European Parliament.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls for the creation of a budget line for the Euro Area, in the Multi- annual Financial Framework for the Union. This budget shall support the implementation of Euro Area policies.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Considers that the Banking Union needs to be strengthened by a credible safeguard. Calls for the establishment of a European Monetary Fund that would serve as a fiscal backstop to the European Resolution Fund. It will consist of a credit line to the Single Resolution Fund. It shall be used as a means of last resort and shall be fiscally neutral.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance for convergence of the Cohesion, and Structural ~~and Investment Funds and of the EIB~~Funds and, welcomes programmes such as the Reform Support Programme to ~~help~~support Member States ~~on their way~~ to join~~ing~~ the eEuro ~~and further conversion within the EU, and requests an increase in the budget allocation for such programmes~~Area and adopt the Euro as their currency.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Recalls that the completion of the Single Market is a catalyst for economic integration and convergence of the Member State economies that it consists of; Calls on the Commission as a matter of priority to enforce the current legislation and accelerate the work on removing obstacles to its completion.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2093(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Stresses the importance of the Investment Funds and the EIB in closing the investment gap in the EU and to support capacity building.

2018/10/09
Committee: ECON

2018/2084(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that trade liberalisation ~~is not positive, per se, in terms of reducing pov~~, if propertly ~~and inequalities, and that it can eve~~regulated, can have ~~nega~~positive effects on sustainable development ~~if it is not prop~~by reducing poverlty ~~regulated~~and inequalities; underlines, in this context, the potential of the WTO as an efficient rules-based multilateral negotiating forum which provides a platform for open discussion on global trade-related issues; ~~insists that the EU should continue to promote the democratisation of the WTO;~~

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2084(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for a world trade agenda based on the principle of fair trade for the benefit of all, which puts ~~development and~~ social, environmental and human rights at the centre of the process and has a special focus on the needs of low-income developing countries and least-developed countries;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2084(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Insist~~Stresses how important it is that the WTO should clearly recognise the role that world trade can play in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and the fight against climate change~~, using~~; stresses that the Paris Agreement ~~commitments a~~represents a minimum benchmark;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2084(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Is concerned, in the above context, that bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements could lead to the fragmentation of international trade policy and thus undermine the role of the WTO; calls, therefore, for the EU and its Member StatCalls for the EU and its Member States to make additional efforts to once again place the WTO at the centre of global trade governance; stresses also the important role that bilateral or plurilateral trade agreements can play; considers that these t~~o make additional efforts to once again place the WTO at the centre of global trade governance~~rade agreements can be complementary to the crucial work of the WTO;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2084(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Calls for the EU to continue to make the case for increasing the importance of the parliamentary dimension of the WTO; calls on WTO m~~Urges the Union to insist that WTO Members to ensure the democratic legitimacy and transparency ~~by strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the WTO~~of their organisation; stresses, in this connection, the need to ~~ensure that~~reform the WTO and to give parliamentarians ~~have~~ better access to trade negotiations and ~~are~~to involved them more in the fwor~~mulation and implementation of WTO decis~~k of the WTO, in order to comply with citizens’ expectations.

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Observes, however, that digital technology remains a means and not an end, that priority should be assigned to the most effective ways of attaining objectives and that in some countries, even though digitalisation may be useful, a need still exists for more 'traditional' infrastructure, particularly to afford access to education, energy, food and water; considers, however, that the conditions for digital development must be provided for at the design stage of infrastructure, even if implementation takes place at a later stage;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Points out that, despite the increase in Internet penetration, many populations still do not have access to it and that major disparities exist between countries and between urban and rural areas, so that digital solutions are not always appropriate and cannot always reach the greatest number of people, particularly in the least developed countries;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD); underlines that access to internet connectivity and digital payment methods which are reliable and in line with international standards, accompanied by consumer protection legislation for online goods and services, intellectual property rights, personal data protection rules and tax and customs legislation appropriate to electronic commerce, are pivotal to enabling digital trade, sustainable development and inclusive growth;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), which is an essential element in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); underlines that access to internet connectivity and digital payment methods are pivotal to enabling digital trade, sustainable development and inclusive growth;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for digitalisation to be featured prominently in the future post- Cotonou agreement as an enabler of inclusive and sustainable development, in accordance with the negotiating guidelines; stresses the importance of stepping up collaboration between researchers and innovators at interregional level, encouraging research and development to promote scientific progress and the transfer of technology and know-how;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for a more concerted and holistic cross-sectoral effort from the international community to ensure that the shift towards a more digital economy leaves no one behind and to avoid excessively divergent approaches, overlaps or gaps in legislation;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Regrets that less than half of all developing countries have data protection legislation, and ~~calls for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of data and statis~~encourages the EU to provide technical assistance to the authoritices at local, regional, national and global levels and by all stakeholders in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; notes that timely and accurate data collection enables proper monitoring during implementation, adjusting policies andin drafting such legislation, relying in particular on its experience and its own legislation, which is intervenation~~s when need~~ally recognised, a~~nd evaluating their results and impact upon completion~~s a model of its kind;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Observes that, because of the cross border nature of digital technology, data protection legislation should not differ too much, as that would make it incompatible;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Calls for account to be taken of the cost that may be involved in standardising such legislation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Calls for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of data and statistics at local, regional, national and global levels and by all stakeholders in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; notes that timely and accurate data collection enables proper monitoring during implementation, adjustment of policies and interventions when needed, and evaluation of their results and impact upon completion;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Deplores the persistent digital divides across gender, geography, age, and income within each country; ~~insists, therefore, that international development cooperation should use digital technologies for greater inclusion of disadvantaged groups;~~

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls therefore for increased efforts to address the challenges of digital exclusion through education and training on essential digital skills and initiatives to facilitate the use of ICTs; considers that they should be appropriate to each target population (particularly in terms of age); notes that international development cooperation could build on digital technologies geared to better integration of disadvantaged groups on condition that they have access to digital technologies;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for the introduction of digital literacy in school curricula at all levels of education in developing countries, with a view to the acquisition of the skills needed to improve access to information; insists also on the need for more advanced training centres on the ground (including coding schools), to train developers and to stimulate the creation of IT solutions and digital applications in line with reality and local needs;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Notes that resort to e-learning could improve the everyday lives of pupils, in view of the distances between their homes and schools in some cases;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Expresses its concern about the technological dependence on certain operators who are few in number, particularly the GAFA, calls for alternatives to be developed to promote competition, and notes that this aim could be pursued in partnership between the EU and Africa;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. CRecalls that developing countries are far from being immune to cyber- attacks, and calls on all stakeholders in the digitally connected world to take active responsibility to promote greater cybersecurity awareness; points out to this end the importance of developing human capital at all levels in order to reduce threats to cybersecurity through training, education and increased awareness;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Calls on all stakeholders in the digitally connected world to take active responsibility by adopting practical measures to promote greater cybersecurity awareness; points out to this end the importance of developing human capital in order to reduce threats to cybersecurity through training, education and increased awareness;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Recalls that countries have a responsibility to establish an appropriate framework, particularly comprising criminal-law provisions, to combat cybercrime;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Considers that the participation of developing countries in global forums dedicated to digital challenges, such as the Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity recently created by the OECD, is paramount to ensure that the problems they encounter are not forgotten;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that MSMEs in developing countries make up the majority of businesses and employ the majority of manufacturing and service sector workers; reiterates that facilitating cross-border e- commerce will have a direct impact on improving livelihoods, fostering higher living standards and boosting employment and economic development; reaffirms the contribution that such endeavours could make to gender equality, since a great number of these companies are owned and run by women;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

17a. Stresses the importance of building a sustainable ecosystem for the digital economy, emphasises in particular the importance of training qualified staff in the maintenance of IT systems, and underlines also the economic potential linked to the creation of these jobs in relation to the circular economy and the contribution they will make to the achievement of the SDGs; recalls that certain raw materials needed for the manufacture of digital systems are rare and that efficient recycling methods should therefore be introduced;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Stresses the need to stem trade in minerals whose exploitation finances armed conflicts or involves forced labour;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that e-government applications contribute to making public services faster and cheaper to access, improve consistency and citizen satisfaction, and increase transparency, thus contributing significantly to fighting corruption; stresses the vital role of technology and digitalisation for effective fiscal policy and administration, enabling an effective increase in domestic resource mobilisation and measures against tax evasion and tax fraud; insists that it is imperative to create secure digital identities, as this could help determine the numbers of those in need of certain basic services;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Calls for the opportunities afforded by digital technology as a way of improving registration of children in registers of births, deaths and marriages be exploited, stresses that UNICEF estimates that, in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 95 million children remain unregistered at birth1 a and therefore have no birth certificate, and that this fact prevents the children concerned from being legally recognised, so that their existence as members of society goes unrecorded from birth and through into adult life, which distorts countries' demographic data, with significant consequences for the assessment of the needs of populations, particularly in terms of access to education or health care; _________________ 1a https://www.unicef.org/french/publication s/files/UNICEF_SOWC_2016_French_L AST.pdf

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2083(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Welcomes the 'DEVCO Academy' on-line programme, which makes it possible to train the EU's partners on line, calls for training programmes for local leaders to be further developed and for applications for European subsidies to be drawn up, so that those partners can gain a clearer picture of expectations, aims and conditions and thus improve their prospects of gaining acceptance for their projects; stresses that such initiatives, provided that they are easily accessible, efficient and relevant, would have a positive impact on the absorption of aid and on the image of the EU among its partners;

2018/09/03
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3

– having regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular Goal 4: ‘Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning’; having regard to the 2030 Agenda, which recognises that equity, inclusion and gender equality are inextricably linked to the right to education for all,

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

– having regard to the Charlevoix Declaration on quality education for girls, adolescent girls and women in developing countries, adopted by the G7 on 9 June 2018,

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

– having regard to General Recommendation No 36(2017) of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning the right of girls and women to education,

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the rights that should be respected in education go beyond digital equality and include promotion of genuine gender equality in education;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. having regard to the difficulties experienced by some businesses in developing countries in finding staff with the skills that they require;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas, in order to meet the expectations both of job-seekers and of businesses, the training available must be truly professionalising and whereas, in order to achieve that, partnerships with the private sector in the field of education should not be ruled out;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Is convinced that aid to education must be a priority, because education is a fundamental right but also because it is essential for the achievement of the other SDGs: for economic development and reducing inequalities, for gender equality, to help girls and women to become self- sufficient, and for health, democracy and the rule of law, women’s empowerment and conflict prevention;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Union and its Member States to devote 10% of their official development assistance to education by 2024, and 15% by 2030; calls for the first commitment to be included in the multiannual financial framework (2021- 2027);

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls the importance of higher, secondary and technical education and vocational training; considers that the ~~latter~~y must be geared to the needs of businesses, in coordination with them and, as far as possible, financed by them; notes that the Union’s External Investment Plan could be mobilised for this purpose; stresses the importance of work-based learning and adult learning to build a critical mass of skilled workers;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Draws attention to the existence of projects by means of which the private sector supports training centres with the aim of helping them to meet the needs of the real economy more effectively;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Is convinced that, with a higher level of public funding, these initiatives which induce the public education sector and businesses to work together could benefit more developing countries; calls on the Commission to consider how European development funds could be used to develop such initiatives, given their potential to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2081(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates that only an enabling environment makes quality education possible, including nutritional aspects, health and safety, and access to electricity and water, in order to enable pupils to genuinely benefit from school and to increase completion rates, especially in primary education; considers it necessary to allow everyone to follow a full cycle of free and high-quality primary and secondary education on an equal footing;

2018/09/04
Committee: DEVE

2018/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note of the Commission’s 2018 country-specific recommendations (CSR); is concerned that in the period 2011 - 2017 only 9 % of CSRs have been fully implemented; stresses that in particular the implementation of CSRs targeted to fight corruption and to sustain ageing societies need to be stepped up;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Thierry CORNILLET, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the return of economic growth in the euro area and the fact that unemployment in the EU has reached its lowest levels since 2008;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that growth-orientated ~~fiscal policies are needed at the European level, alongside an appropriate monetary policy, in order to strengthe~~structural reforms are needed to strengthen both the European economy and the economies of the Member States; therefore supports the proposal to make part of the allocation of European funds conditional on the European ~~economy~~Semester;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Supports flexibility in the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact as proposed by the Commission in 2015; considers that much more flexibility is required to boost investment and growth in the EU; calls, therefore, for a reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the introduction of an aggregate euro area fiscal stancein specific cases, which strike the right balance between fiscal responsibility and supporting growth; stresses that Member States need to build up fiscal buffers, particularly in economic good times to improve the resilience of their economies against future shocks with the aim of sustaining jobs and growth;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Is concerned by the still very high public debt levels in the Euro area, which hamper job creation and growth, make Member States vulnerable to crisis and are a burden for future generations; stresses that high levels of public and private debt reduce the possibility to invest, which is necessary to create jobs and growth;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Notes with concern the recent rise in oil prices which generally weakens growth and raises inflation; stresses that, rather than relying on seasonal factors for its recovery,~~Stresses that the only way to make the European economy an area of prosperity is to encourage ~~public~~ investment and ~~promote domestic demand~~structural reforms to modernise the economy;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Regret~~Strongly welcomes the fact that the Commission makes part of the allocation of European funds conditional on the European Semester and economic governance;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses the ~~key~~ importance of structural funds for the stimulation of public and private investment, taking into account their ~~strong~~ multiplier effect;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2033(INI)

Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Nils TORVALDS, Wolf KLINZ, Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Lieve WIERINCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Recalls that the completion of the EMU requires strong political commitment, efficient governance based on the Community method and democratic accountability, and better ~~use of the available financial resourc~~implementation of the existing rules ;

2018/07/16
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

- having regard to the HLEG final report of January 2018 entitled ‘Financing a Sustainable European Economy’,

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 32

— having regard to the ~~Bankwatch Network briefing of May 2017~~European Investment Bank (EIB) 2016 Statistical Report, which ~~found~~shows that ~~in 16 EU Member States European Investment Bank (EIB) support for climate action~~EIB support for climate action continues to reflect the different market contexts across the EU and did not reach ~~even~~ the level of 20 % in 16 EU Member States in 2016, and that while climate action investment in 2016 was predominantly located in the EU’s stronger economies, with 70 % of European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) support for renewable energy being concentrated in Belgium, while 80 % of energy efficiency investment through the EFSI was allocated to France, Finland and Germany,the EIB financed renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 18 Member States in 20161a; _________________ 1aEuropean Investment Bank 2016 Statistical Report, 27.04.2017.

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the potential of a faster green transition as an opportunity for orienting capital markets towards long- term, innovative and efficient investments; notes that environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits and risks are ~~not~~oftentimes not sufficiently reflected in prices and that this provides a market advantage to unsustainable and short- termist geared finance; stresses that a political and regulatory framework to govern sustainable finance is overdue;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the ~~massive~~potential systemic risks that stranded carbon assets represent to financial stability; stresses the need for the identification and mandatory reporting of these assets as essential to the orderly transition to climate-positive investments; calls fto explore the possibility of introduc~~tion of~~ing ‘carbon stress tests’ for banks and other financial intermediaries to determine the risks related to such stranded assets;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Emphasizes the potential risks to systemic shocks that could develop as a consequence of an abrupt shift in finance to sustainability; calls for the need to work towards a balanced, stable and gradual transition, that enables stakeholders to orientate themselves towards a higher degree of sustainability; emphasizes that sufficient access to capital plays an essential role in this process;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to lead a multi-stakeholder process to establish by the end of 2019 a robust and credible ~~green~~sustainable taxonomy, including a ‘~~Green~~Sustainable Finance Mark’, through a legislative initiative;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. Recommends that this taxonomy ~~include three levels:~~be designed as a ‘meta’ framework onto which existing (and future) definitions that are used in a variety of contexts can be mapped, that provides a high level of granularity, enabling comparability of different standards and products, that is a continuously evolving tool, providing a neutral framework, developed by scientific, technical and financial experts;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point 1

~~1. a minimum standard aligned with the Paris Agreement and the do-no-harm principle in accordance with ESG risk analysis;~~deleted

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point 2

~~2. an intermediate level identifying activities that are demonstrably achieving a ‘Positive Impact’ as defined by the UNEP FI;~~deleted

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point 3

~~3. a level including activities that can accelerate a positive transformation and support ecological regeneration;~~deleted

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the recent inclusion of sustainability issues in the PRIIPs and STS Regulations, as well as in Shareholders Rights Directive and the NFRD; ~~applaud~~welcomes the inclusion in the IORPs Directive of recognition of stranded assets; asks for the transversal integration of sustainable finance criteria in all relevant legislation related to the financial sector;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises that disclosure is a critical enabling condition for sustainable finance; ~~applaud~~welcomes the work of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and calls on the Commission and the Council to explicitly endorse its recommendations; urges the Commission to include mandatory disclosure in the framework of the revision of the Accounting Directive and the NFRD;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to develop guidelines for model contracts between asset owners and asset managers, which would clearly incorporate the transmission of the beneficiary interest as well as clear expectations as regards the identification and integration of ESG risks on behalf of the asset manager; Calls on the EU institutions to ensure the allocation of sufficient funding to the ESAs to fulfill this task;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls on the ESA's to explore the option to develop a sustainability stress test;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Notes the urgent need for a uniform standard for green bonds; insists that such green bonds should include periodic reporting on the environmental impacts of the underlying assets; ~~underlines that green bonds should also respect negative criteria and must not include any form of fossil fuel asset, nuclear power or investment in aviation infrastructure~~notes the existence of various methods for investors to establish sustainability criteria;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission to establish a ~~legally binding~~ labelling system for personal bank accounts, investment funds, insurance, and financial products indicating their level of conformity with the Paris Agreement and ESG goals;

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that the EIB ~~has a mixed record~~is well on track concerning its commitment to the financing onf climate action~~; insists that the EIB should only agree to future lending that is compatible with a 1.5 °C climate limit;~~, exceeding its overall target of 25% in 20162a; calls on the EIB to continue supporting through its future lending the transition to a low- carbon and climate-resilient economy that is in line with EU policy objectives; _________________ 2aEIB Group 2016 Sustainability Report, 15.06.2017, p. 24.

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2007(INI)

Lieve WIERINCK, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the ECB to redesign its purchase programmes in order to rebalance and align its portfolio with an investment policy that is consistent with the Paris Agreement and ESG goals; underlines that such redesign may act as a pilot for establishing a future sustainability taxonomy;deleted

2018/03/02
Committee: ECON

2018/2005(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines that trade is not an end in itself, but that an inclusive, free and fair trade policy aligned with the SDGs can contribute to poverty eradication, which (under Article 208 TFEU) is the primary objective of Union development cooperation policy; recalls the principle of policy coherence for development, requiring that the objectives of development cooperation be taken into account in policies that are likely to affect developing countries; calls on the EU to systematically evaluate the impact of its trade policies on developing countries;

2018/06/28
Committee: DEVE

2018/2005(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the damaging impact of tax evasion on developing countries, which are deprived in this way of substantial amounts of public money that could be used, for example, not only to improve economic growth, protection of the environment and public services but also to promote social cohesion; calls on the Commission, in negotiating trade agreements, to prioritise combating this serious problem, using all the tools at its disposal;

2018/06/28
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 a (new)

– having regard to the statement from civil society representatives on the EU's Role in Protecting Forests and Rights, April 2018,

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 b (new)

– having regard to the European Commission's strategic ‘Larger than Elephants’ approach to wildlife conservation in Africa and the forthcoming publication of the ‘Larger than Tigers’ study on biodiversity conservation in Asia,

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 c (new)

– having regard to the UNODC Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime,

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 d (new)

– having regard to the Report on the impact of international trade and the EU's trade policies on global value chains (2016/2301),

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas protected areas should be at the heart of any strategic approach to wildlife conservation; whereas they should act as secure and inclusive economic development poles, based on sustainable farming, energy, culture and tourism, and lead to the development of good governance;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas diasporas may play an interface role in knowledge transfer;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the UN’s Agenda 2030 sets the target of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2020, and this commitment is reiterated in the Paris Climate Agreement;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas as actors and partners in sustainable development, indigenous women and women farmers play a central role in protecting forest ecosystems; whereas promoting their empowerment is important;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas the EU is one of the main importers of agricultural commodities currently associated with deforestation and forest degradation (soya or palm oil, for example); whereas the EU can have a significant impact therefore, particularly in regard to demand and its due diligence requirements;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the Agenda 2030 recognises that forests play a critical role in sustainable development; reiterates that sustainable and inclusive forest management and responsible use of forest commodities constitute the most effective and cheapest natural system for carbon capture and storage;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts regarding the full and effective implementation of the FLEGT Action Plan and to monitor regularly the progress made by consulting all the parties concerned on a regular basis;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for particular attention to be paid to the practice of transhumance, to protecting borders from armed groups, and to the trade sustaining said groups; calls for improvements to technical and political governance to be developed;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls for the promotion of community forestry, which guarantees local communities a means of subsistence while ensuring ecosystems are conserved;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls for local populations living in high biodiversity areas to receive the tangible benefits of conserving these environments;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Urges partner countries to recognise and protect ~~indigenous peoples’ right to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources, as set out~~the right of local forest-dependent communities, and of indigenous peoples, notably indigenous women, in particular, to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources, as set out in international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and in ILO Convention 169; calls on the EU to support partner countries in this effort and in applying the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to large-scale land acquisitions;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Denounces the rising number of attacks on civil society's and local communities' freedom of expression in regard to forest governance;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Deplores the DRC Government's challenge to the moratorium on granting two Chinese companies new licences for logging in the DRC's tropical rain forests; calls for the moratorium to be maintained until the logging companies, the government and local forest-dependent communities reach an agreement on protocols ensuring satisfactory environmental and societal management;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the need to ensure that global supply chains and financial flows only support legal, sustainable and deforestation-free production and do not result in human rights violations;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls too on the EU to promote a similar binding regulatory framework at international level;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Stresses that the new CAP will have to be aligned with the EU's international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls for the SDG indicators to be used to assess the CAP's external effects, as suggested by the OECD;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Recalls that PCD is considered to be a fundamental aspect of the EU's contribution to achieving the SDGs;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Recalls that the Consensus calls for interconnections between the different SDGs to be tackled and a global and strategic approach adopted in order to implement Agenda 2030 in all policies, seeking synergies, particularly on the five strategic challenges (trade and finance, the environment and climate change, food security, migration and security) and in close coordination with the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)

21. Stresses the need to restore natural, biologically diverse forests, recalling that this is a commitment that has already been agreed to (Sustainable Development Goal 15) and must therefore be honoured;

2018/05/22
Committee: DEVE

2018/2003(INI)