23 Amendments of Victor NEGRESCU related to 2016/0276(COD)
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The extended EFSI should address remaining market failures and sub-optimal investment situations and continue to mobilise private sector financing in investments crucial for Europe’s future job creation – including for the youth –, growth and competitiveness with strengthened additionality. They include investments in the areas of energy, environment and climate action, social and human capital and related infrastructure, healthcare, research and innovation, cross- border and sustainable transport, as well as the digital transformation. In particular, the contribution of operations supported by the EFSI to achieving the Union’s ambitious targets set at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) should be reinforced. Energy interconnection priority projects and energy efficiency projects should also be increasingly targeted. In addition, EFSI support to motorways should be avoided, unless it is needed to support private investment in transport in cohesion countries or in cross-border transport projects involving at least one cohesion country. For reasons of clarity, although they are already eligible, it should be explicitly laid down that projects in the fields of agriculture, fishery and aquaculture come within the general objectives eligible for EFSI support. EFSI also needs to fund projects throughout all the Member States of the European Union, with a special focus on underdeveloped East European countries helping them to overcome the current investment difficulties and strengthen competitiveness and economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to reinforce the take-up of the EFSI in less-developed and transition regions, the scope of the general objectives eligible for EFSI support should be enlarged ensuring a balanced distribution of projects across the Union, so that all Member States have access to finance.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Considers it important to count the low level of development of the region where the project is being carried out or from which the beneficiary comes as an additional risk factor, given that the objective of the European Fund for Strategic Investments is to allocate funds to high-risk projects;
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) Calls for a detailed activity report to be presented on the achievement of those goals through the projects financed, taking account of additional criteria on the allocation of funds geared to social and environmental factors or corresponding areas of European funding;
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Calls on the European Investment Bank not to turn the interest rate on funds granted in the form of loans into a deterrent and burden for beneficiaries, given the importance of allocating funds to projects and zones with a high risk factor; calls on the European Investment Bank to increase transparency regarding the interest rate and commission charged for EFSI projects across the European Union, and to ensure that these do not become elements of discrimination between different categories of beneficiaries or between regions;
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) With a view to enhancing the transparency of EFSI operations, the Investment Committee should explain in its decisions, which are made public and accessible, the reasons why it deems that an operation should be granted the EU guarantee, with particular focus on compliance with the additionality criterion. The scoreboard of indicators should be made public once an operation under the EU guarantee is signed. Calls for transparency regarding the scoring and assessment system for projects to be increased, by publishing the assessment reports and the criteria on the basis of which a project has been approved or rejected;
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) Calls for all information material and material that forms part of the financing procedure to be translated into all the languages of the Member States, in order to facilitate information and access at local level;
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) should be enhanced and its activities should focus on needs not covered adequately under current arrangements. It should pay particular attention to supporting the preparation of projects involving two or more Member States and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives of COP21. Notwithstanding its objective to build upon existing advisory services of the EIB and the Commission, so to act as a single technical advisory hub for project financing within the Union, the EIAH should also contribute actively to the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI and support the EIB where needed in originating projects and take into account the specificities of Member States such as maturity of financial markets, the limited experience in the use of complex financial instruments, specific obstacles related to the development and implementation of projects. It should also actively contribute to the establishment of investment platforms and provide advice on the combination of other sources of Union funding with the EFSI.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Calls for increased funding to enable the Advisory Hub to set up offices and advisory services in all Member States for the purpose of ensuring greater access, gaining an understanding of the specific situation at national and regional level and improving information and communication regarding the ESIF;
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
(21b) The definition of the powers and responsibilities of the European Platform for advice on investments, Steering Committee and Investment Committee should be further clarified;
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 c (new)
Recital 21 c (new)
(21c) Takes a positive view of the possibility for certain EFSI funding to be offered in the form of participation in the projects financed; given the possibility for certain financing to be offered in this form, considers it appropriate also to integrate this system into public projects submitted for funding;
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The extended EFSI should address remaining market failures and sub-optimal investment situations and continue to mobilise private sector financing in investments crucial for Europe’s future job creation – including for the youth –, growth and competitiveness with strengthened additionality. They include investments in the areas of energy, environment and climate action, social and human capital and related infrastructure, healthcare, research and innovation, cross- border and sustainable transport, as well as the digital transformation. In particular, the contribution of operations supported by the EFSI to achieving the Union's ambitious targets set at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) should be reinforced. Energy interconnection priority projects and energy efficiency projects should also be increasingly targeted. In addition, EFSI support to motorways should be avoided, unless it is needed to support private investment in transport in cohesion countries or in cross-border transport projects involving at least one cohesion country. For reasons of clarity, although they are already eligible, it should be explicitly laid down that projects in the fields of agriculture, fishery and aquaculture come within the general objectives eligible for EFSI support. EFSI also needs to fund projects throughout all the Member States of the European Union, with a special focus on underdeveloped East European countries helping them to overcome the current investment difficulties and strengthen competitiveness and economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to reinforce the take-up of the EFSI in less-developed and transition regions, the scope of the general objectives eligible for EFSI support should be enlarged ensuring a balanced distribution of projects across the EU, so that all Member States have access to finance.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) It is important to count the low level of development of the region where the project is being carried out, or from which the beneficiary comes, as an additional specific risk factor, given that the objective of the European Fund for Strategic Investments is to allocate funds to high-risk projects.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) providing pro-active support on the establishment of investment platforms;. The tool of the investment platforms is essential in dealing with market failures, especially in the financing of multiple thematic or regional projects, as well as cross border projects. Recognises that investment platforms creation did not reflect the actual market needs in the begging of the EFSI. Further attention should be given in increasing the scope and use of investment platforms for an efficient smaller project aggregation.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) A detailed activity report should be presented on the achievement of those objectives through the projects financed, taking account of additional criteria on the allocation of funds geared to social and environmental factors or corresponding areas of European funding.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) The European Investment Bank should not turn the interest rate on funds granted in the form of loans into a deterrent and burden for beneficiaries, given the importance of allocating funds to projects and zones with a high risk factor; the European Investment Bank should increase transparency regarding the interest rate and commission charged for EFSI projects across the European Union, and ensure that these do not become elements of discrimination between different categories of beneficiaries or between regions.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) With a view to enhancing the transparency of EFSI operations, the Investment Committee should explain in its decisions, which are made public and accessible, the reasons why it deems that an operation should be granted the EU guarantee, with particular focus on compliance with the additionality criterion. The scoreboard of indicators should be made public once an operation under the EU guarantee is signed. There should be greater transparency regarding the scoring and assessment system for projects, through publication of the assessment reports and the criteria on the basis of which a project has been approved or rejected.
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) All information material and material forming part of the financing procedure should be translated into all the languages of the Member States, in order to facilitate information and access at local level.
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) should be enhanced and its activities should focus on needs not covered adequately under current arrangements. It should pay particular attention to supporting the preparation of projects involving two or more Member States and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives of COP21. Notwithstanding its objective to build upon existing advisory services of the EIB and the Commission, so to act as a single technical advisory hub for project financing within the Union, the EIAH should also contribute actively to the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI and support the EIB where needed in originating projects and take into account the specificities of Member States such as maturity of financial markets, the limited experience in the use of complex financial instruments, specific obstacles related to the development and implementation of projects. It should also actively contribute to the establishment of investment platforms and provide advice on the combination of other sources of Union funding with the EFSI.
Amendment 233 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Increased funding should be provided to enable the Advisory Hub to set up offices and advisory services in all Member States for the purpose of ensuring greater access, gaining an understanding of the specific situation at national and regional level and improving information and communication on the EFSI.
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21 a) The definition of the powers and responsibilities of the European Platform for advice on investments, Steering Committee and Investment Committee should be further clarified.
Amendment 241 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
(21b) A positive view should be taken of the possibility for certain EFSI funding to be offered in the form of participation in the projects financed; given the possibility for certain financing to be offered in this form, it would also be appropriate to integrate this system into public projects submitted for funding.