BETA

1610 Amendments of Jean-Paul DENANOT

Amendment 3 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A
A. whereas the common agricultural policy (CAP) is one of the most integrated policy in the Union, and has successfully fulfilled its original objectives to increase food supply, by supporting European farmers and responding to citizens’ demands regarding food security and safety, and quality and sustainability;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to the European Court of Auditors Special report (No 4/2014) entitled “Integration of EU water policy objectives with the CAP: a partial success”,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas it is necessary to ensure support for genuine farmers, and to give priority to small farms, and to help promoting diverse agricultural systems, especially family farms, to strengthen regional economies through a performant agriculture in economic, environmental and social terms; whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living across regions and Member States and to support employment in the rural areas, especially for and amongst young farmers;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
– having regard to Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides and the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Member State National Action Plans and on progress in the implementation of Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 11 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 27 May 2016 entitled “Delivering the benefits of EU environmental policies through a regular Environmental Implementation Review”,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 14 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas in the light of the excessive administrative burden of the greening measures, the control and audit system, and the growing number of overlaps between pillars I and IIthe current greening measures have brought limited results, and require a new comprehensive legal framework allowing for the integration of the different types of environmental actions currently existing under Pillar I (cross compliance, greening payments) as well as agro-environmental measures under Pillar II , it is important to reduce the overall burden of the CAP, in order to improve its value for moneythe greening results and help all farmers more effectively in the adaptation of their farming systems, to meet environmental and climatic challenges and citizens demands and to achieve simplification and transparency;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 14 December 2016 on CAP tools to reduce price volatility in agricultural markets,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 22 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 1 March 2018 on prospects and challenges for the EU apiculture sector,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 23 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 27 October 2016 on how the CAP can improve job creation in rural areas,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 24 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 d (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2016 on enhancing innovation and economic development in future European farm management,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 e (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 7 July 2015 on prospects for the EU dairy sector – review of the implementation of the Dairy Package,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 26 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides”,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 30 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital D
D. whereas as outlined in the Commission communication on the future of food and farming, the future CAP will have common objectives and the Member States, whether at national or regional level, will need to pick fromadopt a range of thoese options in order to maintain a level playing field, avoid distortions in the market and achieve the goals set at EU level;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2018/2037(INI)

1. Emphasises that the CAP can deliver its objectives if sufficiently funded; calls, therefore, for the CAP budget to be at least maintained at an adequate level in the next MFFits current level for the EU-27 at constant prices in the next MFF post 2020 in order to achieve the ambitions of a revised and efficient CAP;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
– having regard to own-initiative report 2017/2116 on a European strategy for the promotion of protein crops,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)
– having regard to the own-initiative report (2017/2117) on the current situation and future prospects for the sheep and goat sectors,
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 39 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 d (new)
– having regard to the Commission report of 15 December 2016 on the implementation of the scheme of specific measures for agriculture in favour of the outermost regions of the Union (POSEI),
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 42 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Draws attention to the intention to simplify and modernise the CAP, but calls on the Commission to ensure that financial and performance control and audit functions are performed to the same standard and under the same criteria across all Member States; underlines that any simplifcation or mordernisation of the CAP may not reduce the level of EU ambition or neither lead to a sectoralisation of EU policies and programmes, nor replace grants by financial instruments;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 45 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming acknowledges that the common agricultural policy (CAP) is the most integrated policy in the EU and is designed to enablinge the EU farming sector to respond to citizens’ demands regarding not only food security, safety, quality and sustainability, but also environmental care, climate change action and high animal welfare standards;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 46 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming acknowledges that the common agricultural policy (CAP) is the most integrated policy in the EU and isthat has gradually been liberalised; whereas it ought to enablinge the EU farming sector to respond to citizens’ demands regarding not only food security, safety, quality and sustainability, but also environmental care, climate change action and high animal welfare standards;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a fair distribution of direct payments between the Member States, so that the gaps between the different regions of the Union can be closed sooner; underlines that direct payments generate clear EU added value and strengthen the single market by avoiding distortions of competition between Member States; opposes any renationalisation and any national cofinancing for direct payments in that respect; stresses the need to continue measures maintaining production in sectors that are vital for vulnerable areas, to reform the agricultural crisis reserve, to increase funding in line with responses to the various cyclical crises in sensitive sectors, to create new instruments that can mitigate price volatility and to increase funding for Programmes of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI);
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 52 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming acknowledges that the common agricultural policy (CAP) is the most integrated policy in the EU and is enablingwith which the EU farming sector has to respond to justified citizens’ demands regarding not only food security, safety, quality and sustainability, but also environmental care, climate change action, biodiversity and high animal welfare standards;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 55 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming acknowledges that the common agricultural policy (CAP) is the most integrated policy in the EU and is enabling the EU farming sector to respond to citizens’ demands regarding not only food security, safety, quality and sustainability, but also environmental care, climate change action, health and high animal welfare standards;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas a transformation of the CAP towards a sustainable agriculture and pinpoint funding is indispensable, as the Special Report n° 21/2017 from the European Court of Auditors states that the greening of the CAP, as currently implemented, is unlikely to meet its objective, mainly due to the low level of requirements, which largely reflect the normal farming practice and that greening has led to a change in farming practice on only around 5 % of all EU farmland;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the fact is that the CAP must now be reformed so that it more satisfactorily meets the needs both of those to whom it is primarily addressed - farmers - and of citizens as a whole;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 62 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, in conjunction with services of general interest, the CAP can ensure that rural and mountainous areas become more dynamic;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the 17 SDGs set new, clear ways for the CAP post-2020;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 65 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the European Union’s overarching objective of a multifunctional agriculture, driven by family farms, that creates jobs, is fair and sustainable and is driven by family farms that are viable and can be acquired and handed down from generation to generation remains key to delivering the positive externalities and public goods that European citizens demand (food and non- food products and services);
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 70 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the move towards increased efficiency of farming and EU added value. but warns against any attempt to use such a definition to call into question the relevance of EU policies and programmes on purely quantitative or short-term economic considerations;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 74 #

2018/2037(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls for increasing synergies between policies fostering rural development and policies supporting the integration of refugees;
2018/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 78 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas over the, for more than 25 years, the CAP has undergone regular re-programming in line with new challengesform dictated by the opening up of European agriculture to international markets and by the emergence of new challenges, such as the environment and climate change, but another step is now necessary in this continuous process of modernisation and simplification, building on previous reforms, is now necessaryadjustment in order to simplify, modernise and reorientate the CAP so that it secures farmers’ incomes and more effectively meets the expectations of society as a whole, in particular as regards food quality and security, climate change, public health and employment;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas over the years the CAP has undergone regular re-programming in line with new challenges, but another step in this continuous process of modernisation and simplification, building on previous reforms, is now necessary in order to achieve sustainable rural areas and ensuring that European climate and environmental targets are being met;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 87 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas over the years the CAP has undergone regular re-programming in line with new challenges, but another step in this continuous process of modernisation and, simplification and greening, building on previous reforms, is now necessary;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 88 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas successive CAP reforms since 1992 have made the European agrifood industry more competitive by allowing it to buy agricultural commodities at low, affordable prices, and the time has come to focus on other CAP objectives, such as farmers’ living standards, the environment, climate change and public health;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 101 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the new delivery model (NDM) which is at the core of the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming, and is to be welcomed, provided that it is not very precise but constitutes a working basis - albeit incomplete - for undertaking a genuine political reform of the CAP; whereas this model should not only ensures a genuine simplification, not only at EU level but also at for the Union, the Member States and regional level, and flexibility for farmers, without adding new constraints on Member States and thus a new layer of complexitythe Regions, but also provide farmers with greater flexibility and freedom in their capacity to adapt to future changes with a view to embarking on the pathways of a model of sustainable development;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 102 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the new delivery model (NDM) is, at the core of the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming, andinvolves many uncertainties regarding its implementation and mighto be welcomed, provided that it does not lead to the renationalization of the CAP, does not damage the proper functioning of the single market and ensures genuine simplification, not only at EU level but also at Member State and regional level, and flexibility for farmers, without adding new constraints on Member States and thus a new layer of complexity;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the new delivery model (NDM) is at the core of the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming, and is to be welcomed, provided that it ensures genuine simplification, not only at EU level but also at Member State and, regional and local level, and flexibility for farmers, while ensuring ambitious environmental goals, without adding new constraints on Member States and thus a new layer of complexity;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the new delivery model (NDM) is at the core of the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming, and is to be welcomed, provided that it ensures genuine simplification, not only at EU level but also at Member State and regional level, and flexibility for farmers, as well as that the targets of the new CAP are being fulfilled without adding new constraints on Member States and thus a new layer of complexity;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 118 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the CAP must play an important role in overcoming stagnation and volatprice volatility and the instability of farm incomes which, despite the concentration, specialisation and intensification of production and despite increasing productivity, are still lower than in the rest of the economy in particular because of the capture of the added value created by the rest of the food chain; but, more fundamentally, this situation tends to show that the productivist model is no longer appropriate today because it produces poor economic results, including in terms of employment, and does not contribute enough to the preservation of natural resources and the fight against global warming;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 135 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas over the last few years farmers have been confronted with increasing price volatility, which has reflected price fluctuations on global markets and uncertainty caused by macroeconomic developments, external policieresulting from a greater openness to international markets, the dismantling of the tools regulating the CMOs, sanitary crises and morthe frequentcurrence of extreme weather events lin the EUked to climate change;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 139 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas over the last few years farmers have been confronted with increasing price volatility, which has reflected price fluctuations on global markets and uncertainty caused by macroeconomic developments, external policies, sanitary crises, self-generated excess quantities in some European sectors and more frequent extreme weather events in the EU;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 140 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas over the last few years farmers have been confronted with increasing price volatility, which has reflected price fluctuations on global markets and uncertainty caused by macroeconomic developments, external policies, sanitary crises and more frequent extreme weather events lin the EU; ked to climate change; this extreme instability requires the introduction of counter-cyclical arrangements;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 150 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas less favoured regions such as the mountain, remote and outermost regions are in a particularly disadvantaged position in terms of socio- economic development, but also population ageing and depopulation;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 155 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas strategies for the developments of these regions on national, macro regional and European level has the potential of giving these regions an impetus for further and faster development;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 162 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living acrossbetween regions and in Member States, in the interests of territorial equity, affordable prices for citizens and consumers, and access to quality food and healthy and sustainable diets, while delivering on the commitments for environmental care, climate action, and animal and plant health and welfare;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 163 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living across regions and Member States, affordable prices for citizens and consumers, and access to quality food and healthy diets, while delivering on the commitments for environmental care, climate action, andhealth, animal and plant health and welfwelfare and the balanced development of rural areas;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 170 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living across regions and Member States, affordable prices for citizens and consumers, and access to quality food and healthy diets, while delivering on the commitments for environmental care, climate action, and animal, soil and plant health and welfare;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 171 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living across regions and Member States, affordable prices for citizens and consumers, and access to quality and sustainable food and healthy diets, while delivering on the commitments for environmental care, climate action, and animal and plant health and welfare;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 173 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas allegedly affordable prices of agricultural products for consumers are often linked to the fact that externalised costs, such as groundwater pollution, are not included and have to be paid by the public;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 180 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas there is a need for an updated and fairer system of payments, as producers receive very different level of support for the same criteria in the different member states or within them and in many Member States the current system of entitlements is based on historic benchmarks which are now almost 20 years old and which constitute an obstacle to generational renewal and hinder young farmers’ access to farmland, as new entrants do not possess entitlements and are thus at a disadvantage;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 185 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas there is a need for an updated and fairergreater equity and legitimacy in the current system of payments, as in many Member States the current system of entitlements is based on historic benchmarks which are now almost 20 years old and which constitute an obstacle to generational renewal and hinder young farmers’ access to farmland, as new entrants do not possess entitlements and are thus at a disadvantage;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 190 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas there is a need for an updated and fairer system of payments, as in many Member States the current system of entitlements is based on historic benchmarks which are now almost 20 years old and which constitute an obstacle to generational renewal and hinder young farmers’ access to farmland, as new entrants do not possess entitlements and are thus at a disadvantage, especially when they do not come from an agricultural background;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 207 #

2018/2037(INI)

I. whereas the emergence of new challenges, such as increasing global trade, is necessitatingincreasing global trade in the context of the emergence of global environmental and climate challenges requires an adjustment of the rules of international trade so as to allow the establishment of fair and sustainable conditions for the global exchange of goods and services, within the framework of the WTO and in accordance with existing EU social, economic and, environmental and health standards,; which should be promotedereas these standards need to be promoted globally, particularly within the framework of the WTO;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 209 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas the emergence of new challenges, such as increasing global trade, isclimate change, water protection, lack of agricultural land and land degradation means that the increasing global trade has to be handled in a sustainable and fair manner and that the necessitating fair and sustainable conditions for the global exchange of goods and services, within the framework of the WTO and in accordance with existing EU social, economic and environmental standards, which should be further promoted;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 216 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas the emergence of new challenges, such as increasing global trade and increased duty free import into the EU from third countries, is necessitating fair and sustainable conditions for the global exchange of goods and services, within the framework of the WTO and in accordance with existing EU social, economic and environmental standards, which should be promoted;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 219 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas, in the face of the stalemate in the Doha Round negotiations, the European Union would be well advised to examine the real causes of this failure of multilateralism and to consider whether the idea of decoupling direct payments - which the EU is alone in respecting - is still a good option;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 224 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the task force launched by the Commission on rural areas in Africa can give the EU an opportunity to reflect on the real causes of migration and ways to boost agricultural development and food self-sufficiency in the countries that cannot feed part of their population, who are therefore required to leave and look for a better future elsewhere;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 231 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas while the focus on research and development for both product and process innovation is to be welcomed, more must be done to translate the results of research into farming practice, facilitated by EU-wide agricultural extensionand to promote a multi-actor approach where the farmers are at its centre, facilitated by EU-wide agricultural extension services and by knowledge exchange and training services;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 259 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas the agriculture and food sector must be incentivised to continue to contribute to the, henceforth, must be remunerated for environmental care and measures for climate action objectives of the EU set out in international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the UN SDGs;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 267 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas closed production circles, which refers to the processes of production, processing and packing taking place in the same region, keep the added value in that region and thus secures more jobs in the respective area and has the potential of reviving rural areas;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 275 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas the European Court of Auditors has underlined the fact that, due to lax greening requirements which often do little more than reflect current practices, the green payments introduced as part of the 2013 reform create added complexity and bureaucracy, are difficult to understand, and fail to significantly enhance the CAP’s environmental and climate performance;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 279 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas the European Court of Auditors has underlined the fact that the way the green payments introducwere conceived as part of the 2013 reform creates added complexity and bureaucracy, are difficult to understand, and fail to significantly enhance the CAP’s environmental and climate performance;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 285 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas the objectives of the Cork 2.0 Ddeclaration for aA Better Life in Rural Areas stipulate vibrant rural areas, multi- functionality, biodiversity in and outside agriculture, rare animal breeds and conservation crops, as well as organic agriculture, less-favouredrequire a better use of endogenous resources in rural areas through the implementation of integrated strategies and multi-sectorial approaches that strengthen the bottom-up approach and the synergy between stakeholders, and require investment in the viability of rural areas, preservation and better management of natural resources, climate action incentives, the stimulation of knowledge and innovation, a stepping-up of governance in rural areas, and commitments in the context of Natura 2000; a simplification of rural development policy and its implementation;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 290 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas the objectives of the Cork 2.0 Declaration for a Better Life in Rural Areas stipulate vibrant rural areas, multi- functionality, biodiversity in and outside agriculture, rare animal breeds and conservation crops, as well as organic agriculture, less-favoured areas and commitments in the context of Natura 2000, as well as the role of young people and women in rural development;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 310 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas it is essential to ensure fair competition within the single market withinusing rules that take account of the spector and with other players inific nature of agriculture in relations between production and other parts of the food chain, both up and downstream, and to further strengthen incentives to prevent crises with active management tools to be deployed at sectoral level and by public authorities;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 318 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Na. whereas these crisis prevention efforts can only be achieved via greater transparency and better control of the markets through monitoring centres, and with rapid intervention mechanisms which, by affecting volumes at the time of an expected drop in value, make it possible for prices to be kept at a viable level;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 323 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas the new challenges for European agriculture within the EU’s political priorities, as stated in the Commission’s reflection paper on the future of EU finances, require the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) to cover the costs of Brexit and provide sufficient public funds to cover both existing and new challenges by bringing about greater synergies between agricultural and migratory policies;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 324 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas the new food security and independence challenges for European agriculture within the EU’s political priorities, as stated in the Commission’s reflection paper on the future of EU finances, require the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) to provide sufficient public fundkeep the agricultural budget stable in constant euros to cover both existing and new challenges;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 335 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Pa. whereas the POSEI is an effective tool intended for the development and strengthening of sector structuring, which addresses the specific agricultural issues in the outermost regions; whereas the Commission, in its report to Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the POSEI, concluded that ‘taking into account the assessment of the [POSEI] scheme, a modification of basic Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 is not deemed necessary’;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 338 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Q. whereas Parliament must play a comprehensive role in setting a clear policy framework to maintain common ambition at European level and democratic debate on the strategic issues which have an impact on the everyday lives of all citizens when it comes to the use of natural resources, the quality of our food, food safety and the modernisation of agricultural and hygiene practices;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 364 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the intention to simplify and modernise the CAP, but emphasises that the integrity of the single market and a truly common policy, including regulatory tools, must be the overriding priorities of reform;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 381 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that even the flexibility that Member States currently enjoy in defining basic rules may riskshows that parts of the CAP can no longer be seen as a common policy and that distorting competition unfortunately appears within the single market and granting unequal access to support for famers in different Member States or even in different regions;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 400 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that subsidiarity for Member States should only be granted within a common set of rules and tools agreed at EU level as part of a uniform approach to all programming efforts and eligibility criteria, should cover both of the CAP’s pillars and ensureTakes the view that Member States may be granted this additional subsidiarity margin only if the objectives of the CAP remain European and that a common set of rules continue to apply to the main types of intervention tool available, the criteria for selecting the measures which Member States may incorporate into their national strategic plan, which also includes a national operational plan, and the assessment indicators, in order to ensure that a uniform approach is taken under the two pillars of the CAP throughout the EU, in particular, a European approach in Pillar I and thus a level playing fields regards all the Pillar I provisions designed to guarantee fair conditions of competition;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 401 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that subsidiarity for Member States should only be granted within a common set of rules and tools agreed at EU level as part of a uniform approach to all programming efforts and eligibility criteria, should cover botBelieves that the additional subsidiarity should be granted only on condition that there are: a strong common set of rules, objectives and indicators concerning the main types of possible intervention tools and the criteria for the selection of measures Member States will be able to apply in their national operational plans, in order to ensure a uniform approach of the CAP’stwo pillars and ensure, in particular, a European approach in Pillar I and thus a level playing field;of the CAP throughout the Union, and for Pillar I in particular to guarantee the respect of conditions of fair competition.
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 419 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that subsidiarity for Member States should only be granted within a common set of rules, checks and tools agreed at EU level as part of a uniform approach to all programming efforts and eligibility criteria, should cover both of the CAP’s pillars and ensure, in particular, a European approach in Pillar I and thus a level playing field;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 421 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the Member States’ increased responsibility in the implementation of CAP aid so as to make it more efficient and better adapted to the realities of the different types of agriculture in Europe, on the condition that this public policy continues to be EU- wide and thereby continues to avoid distortions of competition between the Member States;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 426 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the greater responsibility of Member States in the implementation of the CAP , in order to make it more effective and better adapted to the realities of Europe's different agricultural models, provided that the CAP retains its common character and avoids distortions of competition between Member States;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 440 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that, in the case of the EAFRD, regions that are managing authorities can provide a local administration, which makes it possible for specific local agricultural projects to be funded;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 456 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission to establish programme design, implementation and control of an output-bas results-oriented approach in order to foster performance rather than compliance, while ensuring adequate monitoring via clearly defined, solid and measurable indicators at EU level, including an appropriate system of quality control and penalties;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 508 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the member states to look for better synergies between the CAP and other policies and funds such as the cohesion, structural and other investment funds, in order to create multiplying effect for the rural areas;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 509 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for another chapter in the CAP post-2020 legislation regarding its responsibility for development policy issues;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 533 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers it necessary to maintain the current two-pillared architecture, particularly Pillar I, which is dedicated to income support for farmers; considers it necessary, at the same time, to compensate for the provision of public goods on the basis of uniformcommon, uniform objectives and criteria, while allowing Member States to take specific approaches to reflect local conditions;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 560 #

2018/2037(INI)

9. Considers that the current CAP architecture can only deliver its objectives if sufficiently funded; calls, therefore, for the CAP budget to be increased or maintained in the next MFF at at least the current level in order to achieve the ambitions of a revised and efficient CAP beyond 2020 and to boost synergies in efforts to tackle agricultural and migratory challenges;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 570 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that the current CAP architecture can onlyCAP can deliver its objectives only if sufficiently funded; calls, therefore, for the CAP budget to be maintained in the next MFF at and thus calls for maintaining in constant euros the CAP budget in the MFF at least athe current levels in order to achieve the ambitions of a revised and efficient CAP beyondafter 2020;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 603 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for family farms is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for small farms; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility for capping to be decided by the Member States; is necessary for diverse agricultural systems, especially family farms, to strengthen regional economies through a performant agriculture in economic, environmental and social terms; considers that this can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for farmers managing sustainably productive farms which have the capacity provide employment and retain people in rural territories; stresses that, reflecting economies of scale, support for larger farms should be digressive, with mandatory capping to be decided at European level, with flexibility criteria to take into account employment levels generated by the farm or the co-operative it belongs to;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 606 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for family farms is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for small farms; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility for capping to be decided by the Member Stateat European level, with flexibility criteria to take into account labour to avoid negative effects on jobs;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 617 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for small and medium-sized as well as family farms is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for small farms; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility fan EU-wide mandatory capping to be decided byavoid competitive distortions between the Member States;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 624 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for family farms, such as redistributive payment, is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for small farms; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility for capping to be decided by the Member Statesby the EU;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 625 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for familysmall and medium-sized farms is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsory higher support rate for smallthese farms; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility for capping to be decided by the Member States;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 633 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Points out that public support should be granted only to active farmers – those who own the majority of the capital of their farm, who derive most of their income from it, who work effectively on that farm and who have not yet reached the statutory age for retirement, when they would have to free up their land for young people to establish themselves.
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 636 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that it is essential to ensure that support is targeted to genuine farmers, focusing on those who are actively farming in order to earn their living;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 645 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the necessity of identifying the key elements of a transparent and objective system of penalties and incentives for determining farmers’ eligibility for public funding, which should consist of voluntary and mandatory measures;deleted
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 651 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the necessity of identifying the key elements of a transparent and objective system of rewards, penalties and incentives for determining farmers’ eligibility for public fundingreceiving public money for the delivery of public goods, which should consist of voluntary and mandatory measures;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 655 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the necessity of identifying the key elements of a transparent and, simple, objective system of penalties and incentives for determining farmers’ eligibility for public funding, which should consist of voluntary and mandatory measuresand operational system determining farmers’ eligibility for support and of proportional penalties in case of non-compliance;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 682 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the existing system for calculating direct payments in Pillar I, which is often based on historic entitlements, to be replaced by an EU-wide uniform method of calculating payments, by avoiding disruptive financial consequences for farmers and in order to make the system simpler and more transparent;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 713 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Recalls that the report on the state of play of farmland concentration in the EU: how to facilitate the access to land for farmers recognises that land payments without clear conditionality lead to distortions of the land market, and thus influences the concentration of more and more agricultural land in few hands;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 749 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need for a fair distribution of direct payments between Member States, which must take into account employment and socio-economic differences, different production costs and the amounts received by Member States under Pillar II;
2018/03/22
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 754 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the results of the most recent Commission report on the POSEI implementation and reiterates that the POSEI must be maintained as a specific regime, distinct from CAP direct payments, in order to ensure a balanced territorial development by preventing the risk of abandonment of production due to challenges related with remoteness, insularity, small-size, difficult topography, and climate or economic dependence on few products;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 767 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that, provided that a level playing field in the sSingle mMarket can beis guaranteed, vVoluntary cCoupled sSupport (VCS) payments should be maintained, as a tool to counteract specific difficulties, particularly those arising from the structural competitive disadvantage of less-favoured and mountainond reinforced, not only to prevent the loss of certain sectors on areas with specific difficulties but also as a tool to promote strategic productions, as protein crops, in the future, and with an yearly review to determine which sectors and productions should continue to receive support, as provided for in the Omnibus rRegulations, as well as thosein order to counter impacts which are more temporary in nature, and ariserising, for example, from a shift away from the oldcurrent entitlement scheme, for example or to compensate for the effects of Free Trade Agreements;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 779 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that, provided that a level playing field in the single market can be guaranteed, voluntary coupled support (VCS) payments should be maintained, as a tool to counteract specific difficultie and the possibility of recoupling specific crops considered, as a tool to counteract specific difficulties or to promote crops that are beneficial for the environment but unprofitable such as leguminous plants, particularly those arising from the structural competitive disadvantage of less- favoured and mountainous regions, as well as those which are more temporary in nature and arise from a shift away from the old entitlement scheme, for example;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 794 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Takes the view that voluntary coupled support payments can also be used to promote environmentally-friendly production and the fight against global warming and that the amount can also be adapted to market conditions;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 816 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that generational renewal is a challenge faced bying farmers in many Member States and that each national strategy must be therefore address this issue throughtackled as part of a comprehensive approach, including top-ups in Pillar I and targeted measmobilizing all the financial resources in Pillar II, as well as by means of new financial instruments and national measures, in order to incentivise famers to pass on their farming operationof CAP: the additional payment of young farmers in the first pillar, the measures to help young second-pillar farmers set up, which should be made mandatory for the Member States, and the support from new financial instruments;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 823 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that generational renewal is aand the fight against the concentration of land are challenges faced by famers in many Member States and that each national strategy must therefore address this issue through a comprehensive approach, including backed by a clear strategy of intervention by the European Union, including through a combination of top- ups in Pillar I and mandatory targeted measures in Pillar II, as well as by means of new financial instruments and national measures, such as the regulation of farmland in order to incentivise famers to pass on their farming operations and prevent the disappearance of family farming;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 845 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recommends that the support to the "Young Farmer Scheme" should continue by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2 % for compulsory payments under the first pillar and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 853 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers that this global approach must be consistent with all national competence systems in fields as diverse as taxation, social law, inheritance law, land law;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 862 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Proposes making it mandatory for Member States to implement as part of their rural development programmes start-up support measures for young farmers (young farmer grants) and measures to support farm modernisation, as provided for under the second pillar of the CAP, in order to enhance the financial support for people taking up farming;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 868 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Recommends that access to finance be improved through subsidised interest rates on loans for new entrants;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 875 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Calls for improved cooperation with the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to foster the creation of financial instruments dedicated to young farmers across all Member States;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 880 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the importance of rural development, including particular the LEADER initiative, in their supporting for sustainable and multi-functional agriculture and in fostering additional entrepreneurial activities and opportunities, in order to generproducing food and non-food goods and services and for forestry, which generate added value and jobs which very often cannot be relocated, income from the agri-tourism, and to secure community-supported agriculture and the provision of social services in rural areabio-economy and renewable energies sectors, all of which ensure a ‘presential’ economy in the regions;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 882 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the importance of rural development, including the LEADER initiative, in supporting multi-functional agriculture, maintaining an attractive environment in rural areas, assisting farm holdings in negotiating the transition and in fostering additional entrepreneurial activities and opportunities, in order to generate income from agri- tourism and the bio-economy, and to secure community- supported agriculture and the provision of slocial public services in rural areas(postal, medical, social, educational, cultural and transport);
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 886 #

2018/2037(INI)

16. Underlines the importance of rural development, including the LEADER initiative, in supporting multi-functional agriculture and, in fostering the investments and innovation, additional entrepreneurial activities and opportunities, in order to generate income from agri- tourism, and to secure community- supported agriculture and the provision of social services in rural areaand in enhancing the provision of environmental and climate actions;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 910 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Underlines that rural development provides opportunities to generate income from agri-tourism and to secure community-supported agriculture and the provision of social services in rural areas;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 929 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to introduce a new and comprehensive legal framework which allows the integration of the various types of environmental actions at pa coherent implementation of environmental and climate actions such as gresent, such asing, cross- compliance, greening and (which includes the good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) standardss – and statutory management requirements – SMRs), as well as agri- environment-climate measures (AECMs) for rural development, so that farmers can deliver effectively and with less bureaucracymore efficiently and in a simpler and more targeted manner on environmental care, biodiversity and climate action, while ensuring that Member States have adequate control and taking into account local conditions;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 953 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that the Commission’s first option would allow support for all farmers, as well as many innovative environmental practices that have already been tested by the farmers themselves;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 961 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that the Commission's future legislative proposals should be able to support the largest number of farmers in their efforts to modernize towards more sustainable agricultural development;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 962 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls for development of a specific measure within rural development to encourage serious pesticide use reductions, based around the European Union's eight principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and encouraging uptakes of non-chemical alternatives;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 964 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses the need to ensure a clear separation of measures under Pillar I and Pillar II;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 969 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Considers that this ambition for the CAP must be based on a first level corresponding to a simplified and reinforced conditionality and constituting a common base applicable to all farms, and on a second level to go beyond conditionality and including both the current climate and environmental measures of the second pillar and a new European incentive scheme in the first pillar;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 970 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Proposes that this new concept of greening should be accompanied by significant resources under the second pillar in terms of tangible and intangible investments (transfer of knowledge, training, advice, exchange of know-how, networking, innovation with the EIP ...), while collective and mutual organisation in the use of this support is also an element to be taken into account in the dynamics of change;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 978 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Takes the view that, in the second level of greening, there would be, on the one hand, agri-environmental measures which would continue to offset the additional costs and shortfalls associated with the voluntary establishment, by farmers located in limited areas, of environmentally and climate-friendly practices, but these agri-environmental measures should also be designed to cover risk-taking for farmers who are considering adopting new sustainable farming systems; and that, on the other hand, it would be desirable that the new eco-scheme should be mandatory at the level of each Member State, in order to encourage the maximum number of farmers throughout Europe to adopt virtuous practices for the environment and the climate, through aid in the form of annual payments for environmental services; the level of remuneration possibly being dependent on the level of ambition of each practice, or group of practices, which should be determined at European level, in various environmental domains (organic farming, agroforestry, good agronomic soil management, low pesticide use, presence of EFAs...);
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 979 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Considers that the Commission must present an improved system, determined at European level, with mandatory enhanced conditionality applicable in all Member States, additional agri-environmental tools, along with a mandatory new European incentive scheme, to be settled by each Member State for farmers who can voluntarily participate and for which payment levels would reflect the level of ambition of the different environmental practices;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 981 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Proposes that this new form of greening should be accompanied by significant, coordinated and more efficient means in Pillar II through targeted tangible and intangible investments (knowledge transfer, training, advice, exchange of know-how, networking, EIP innovation) as another driver of change;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 990 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that this new framework should be underpinned by the possible allocation of a minimum amount of the total available budget to AEMs, including organic agriculture, support for biodiversity, agroforestry, and genetic diversity in animals and plants;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 992 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that this new framework should be underpinned by the possible allocation of a minimum amount of the total available budget to AEMs, including organic agriculture, support for biodiversity, pollination and genetic diversity in animals and plants;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 996 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that this new framework should be underpinned by the possible allocation of a minimum amount of the total available budget to AECMs, including organic agriculture, support for biodiversity and genetic diversity in animals and plants;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1023 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to foster innovation and modernisation in agriculture and forestry by supporting training knowledge and best practices' exchange, notably through the Europeand agricultural extension as a pre-condition in programme design and implementation in all Member States, while fostering the transfer of know-how and the exchange of best practice models betweenknowledge and information system (AKIS) and in particular towards innovation-driven research in smart farming technology (smart AKIS), as well as training and agricultural extension as a pre-condition in programme design and implementation in all Member States;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1027 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to foster innovation, research and modernisation in agriculture by supporting traininga strong advisory system, better adapted to beneficiaries 'needs and agricultural extension as a pre- condition in programme design and implementation in all Member States, while fostering targeted training, the transfer of know-how and the exchange of best practice models between Member States, with a general focus on new technologies and digitalization;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1028 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to foster innovation and modernisation in agriculture by supporting training and agricultural extension as a pre-condition in programme design and implementation in all Member States, while fostering the transfer of know-how, for which cooperatives and other producer organizations have been identified as having a crucial role, and the exchange of best practice models between Member States;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1029 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to foster innovation and modernisation in agriculture by supporting training, links between agriculture and health and agricultural extension as a pre-conditions in programme design and implementation in all Member States, while fostering the transfer of know-how and the exchange of best practice models between Member States;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1046 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the importance of making available to all farmers the new spatial and digital technologies for the development of precision farming, which will help them in the technical and economic management of their holding in order to be more efficient both economically and in terms of sustainability;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1051 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights that rural networks at European and national level should play a key role in supporting farmers and forest holders in implementing innovative solutions and facing new challenges and in providing more targeted solutions;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1132 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Insists on the critical need for the future CAP to support farmers more efficiently in order to cope with price and income volatility due to climate, health and market risks, by using counter-cyclical measures and creating additional incentives for flexible risk management and stabilisation tools while ensuring broad access;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1136 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Insists on the critical need for the future CAP to support farmers more efficiently, timely and fairly in order to cope with price and income volatility due to climate, health and market risks, by creating additional incentives for flexible risk management and stabilisation tools while ensuring broad access;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1143 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Insists on the critical need for the future CAP to support farmers more efficiently in order to cope with price and income volatility due to climate, healthsanitary and market risks, by creating additional incentives for flexible risk management and stabilisation tools while ensuring broad access;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1144 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Reminds the Commission that risk management strategies, only based on insurance systems and income stabilization tools, are not sufficiently effective when price volatility is significantly fluctuating compared to production cost levels, which is the case for agricultural markets;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1147 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Commission to encourage re-regulation of production and better proportionality between supply and demand by the use of public and private management measures and tools in order to avoid shortages and surpluses, stabilise agricultural prices at reasonable levels and prevent unfair trading practices;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1149 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Reminds the Commission that in terms of risk management, aid for insurance schemes and income- stabilisation tools is not effective unless price volatility is regular and close to the level of production costs, which sadly is rarely the case with agricultural markets;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1154 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses that a future-oriented CAP should be designed to better address critical health issues, such as those related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), air quality and healthier nutrition;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1157 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Notes that these measures need to be speedier both in their activation and in their results;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1161 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Notes that market risks can also be managed by improved market access for EU agriculture and food products in export markets;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1168 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Insists on the necessity of strengthening the position of producers within the food supply chain, in particular by guaranteeing them a fair share of the added value, by fostering inter-sectoral cooperation, guaranteeing the creation and development of producer organisations (PO) and their associations (APO) and interbranch organizations (IO), tackling unfair and abusive trading practices in the food supply chain, and strengthening transparency in the markets and crisis prevention;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1185 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Underlines the importance of the role of interbranch organisations for producers when faced by the cornering of added value for high-quality products by the rest of the sector; such organisations can take action to increase price levels while safeguarding the reputation of products;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1204 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to allow and indeed encourage – particularly in the dairy sector – active crisis management instruments, such as voluntary sector agreements to manage supply in quantitative terms among producers, producers organisations and processors, and to examine the possibility of extending such instruments and of contracting to other sectors;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1205 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to allow and indeed encourage – particularly in the dairy and the fruit and vegetable sectors – active crisis management instruments, such as voluntary sector agreements to manage supply in quantitative terms among producers, producers organisations and processors, and to examine the possibility of extending such instruments to other sectors;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1213 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to encourage the Member States to put together training programmes on the available risk management tools to enable farmers to learn more about the various instruments;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1216 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Asks the Commission to introduce an integrated, coherent approach to speed up decisions to use the current crisis management tools;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1220 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for an in-depth review of the current crisis reserve mechanism in order to create an independent financial instrument exempt from the budgetary principle of annuality, so as to permit budgetary transfers from one year to the next, thereby enabling quick and effective responses to crisis situations, including those involving animal and plant health, disease-related issues and food safenot subject to the principle of annuality of the budget so as to allow transfers from one year to the next, especially when market prices are sufficiently high, and will increase the speed and effectiveness of crisis responses, including animal health issues, plant diseases, food safety and security;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1235 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that while tradehey agreements are generally beneficial to the EUfor some agricultural sector overall,s and necessary forto strengthening the EUnion’s position on the globalworld agricultural market, theyrade agreements also pose a number of challenges that require reinforced safeguard mechanismdifficulties which require coherence between trade policy and certain objectives of the CAP concerning family farm income, the future of certain rural territories, which in practice implies the establishment of safeguard mechanisms or even exclusion of the most sensitive sectors from the negotiations and the application of the principle of reciprocity in production conditions, so as to ensure a level playing field between farmers in the EU and in the rest of the worlduropean Union their foreign competitors;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1243 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that while trade agreements are beneficial to the EU agricultural sector overall, and necessary foruseful in strengthening the EU’s position on the global agricultural market, they also pose a large number of challenges thatand threaten sensitive sectors such as livestock – some agreements should exclude the most sensitive sectors – and require reinforced safeguard mechanisms to ensure a level playing field between farmers in the EU and in the rest of the world;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1249 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that while trade agreements are beneficial toprofitable for the EU agricultural sector overall, and necessary for strengthening the EU’s position on the global agricultural market, they also pose a number of challenges that require reinforced safeguard mechanisms to ensure a level playing field between farmers in the EU and in the rest of the world;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1253 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission to start seeing agriculture as a strategic activity and to approach free-trade agreements in such a way that it is not regarded as the adjustment variable of the other sectors involved in trade and that key sectors such as raw milk production are protected;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1297 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Urges the Member States to develop and implement quality schemes such as the optional quality terms “mountain product” and “product from island farming” in order to give the opportunity to those producers, who are interested, to introduce them swiftly;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1316 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses that Parliament and the Council should, via the co-decision procedure, set the general objectives, measures and financial allocations, and determine the level of flexibility needed to enable the Member States and the regions to cope with their specificities and needs in line with the single market;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1328 #

2018/2037(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Underlines, however, that as much progress must be made before the end of the current term as possible and that this issue must be highlighted during campaigning for the EP elections;
2018/03/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1 #

2018/2029(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the proposal from the Commission for a new EU Civil Protection Mechanism as a way to prevent and act in situations of natural disasters; believes that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism represents a materialisation of solidarity in the Union, in line with the European Union Solidarity Fund; recalls, in this context, the importance of continuing to give the outermost regions special EUSF access conditions to help them cope with their high level of exposure to natural disasters; calls, in situations where the collection of information is difficult and where justified by the scale of the natural disaster, for more flexibility in the deadline for filing a request for the mobilisation and use of EUSF funds;
2018/03/28
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 4 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that owing to the low cost of agricultural production stemming from its large-scale holdings and well suited natural and weather conditions, Australia has a very competitive, export- focused agricultural sector and points out that it continuously seeks to create sale areas for its products on international markets; emphasises, therefore, that securing increased access to the vast EU market throughis of keen interest to Australian agricultural exporters and that the removal or lowering of EU tariff and non- tariff barriers in the sector will undoubtedly be a priority for Australia as part of the proposed negotiations;
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 34 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Wishes to draw attention to the extremely sensitive nature of some sectors of the European farming industry, such as beef and veal, sheepmeat, sugar, cereals and dairy products; points out that those sectors have recently experienced major crises, as a consequence of surplus production and price volatility, and that special emergency support schemes have had to be adopted by the EU institutions to make it possible for the affected farmers to manage crises of that kind; takes the view that a further opening-up of the EU market in these sectors could seriously disrupt them and have disastrous consequences for European producers;
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 43 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that the EU must refrain from making any sort of commitment concerning the most sensitive agricultural products, such as beef and veal and sheepmeat and special sugars, for example, and should leave those products out of the negotiations;
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 68 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises the cumulative impact of the concessions that the EU has made in the agricultural sector, in both multilateral and bilateral agreements, and; calls for this impact to be taken into account when assessing what concessions could be offered to Australia, therefore, for the evaluation of all EU agricultural concessions that are a part of the proposed negotiations by taking into full consideration the concessions already agreed by the WTO (e.g. hormone-treated beef compensation) and by Canada (CETA) and those which could be agreed upon shortly with Mercosur, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States (if the TTIP discussions recommence);
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that, following Brexit, all tariff quotas which might be granted to Australia will apply to a smaller EU market consisting of 27 Member States and 443 million consumers; points out that Brexit will inevitably affect the economic impact of such quotas, particularly in sectors in which the UK represents a significant amount of consumption and/or imports; emphasises that from now on the EU will have to take careful account of Brexit when deciding what concessions it can offer;
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 101 #

2017/9999(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to carry out without delay an analysis on the impact of a potential EU-Australia agreement which details the effects by sector and country, including the outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, so that it is possible to evaluate fully the potential advantages and disadvantages of such a trade agreement for all European producers; calls on the Commission to include the consequences of the UK leaving the EU in the study, focussing in particular on the existing quotas;
2017/09/06
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 27 #

2017/2286(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the slow recovery from the consequences of the financial, economic and social crisis has fallen short of influencing positively the day-to-day lives of EU citizens, while social inequalities keep on growing; and the outlook for youth keeps deteriorating;
2018/02/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 69 #

2017/2286(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that, in the light of the celebration of its 30th anniversary, Erasmus+ remains the leading programme to foster youth mobility and inculcate key European values in young people, together with the EU’s culture programmes; believes that the 2019 Erasmus+ budget should be sufficient to answer positively to all eligible demands, namely the ones linked to lifelong learning;
2018/02/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 82 #

2017/2286(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) guarantee fund has been financed partly at the expense of Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), whilst both are long term future-oriented programs; reiterates Parliament’s long- standing position that any new initiatives should be financed by new appropriations;
2018/02/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 122 #

2017/2286(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that the Member States’ strong social protection systems have helped them to mitigate the consequences of the crisis; believes that the EU can support the Member States, while fully respecting their competences, by budgeting properly programmes which set out to fight inequalities, alleviate the worst forms of poverty, including child poverty, and overcome the negative effects of digitalisation on working conditions and social protection systems, specifically for most fragile and isolated populations;
2018/02/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 149 #

2017/2286(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to continue to act as an honest, wilful mediator at every single stage of the procedure;
2018/02/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2017/2279(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the crucial role cohesion policy has played in the achievement of economic and social convergence in the EU; stresses its potential for creating a European standard on social rights within the Union and its mission of providing support in the restructuring of European economies, to help them adapt to the technological revolution and cope with population aging and the opening up of European and world markets; stresses, in this regard, that it is a beacon of European solidarity, something that it must continue to embody; expresses concern, however, that inequalities persist between rich and poor regions and between the salaries of the social categories of citizens, and that many regions classed as ‘intermediate’ have suffered general impoverishment; stresses that neither the objectives nor the EU funding of cohesion policy should be watered down; questions whether cohesion policy funding should be conditional on respect for the rule of law, which could penalise final contributors while reinforcing measures taken at national level;
2018/02/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2017/2279(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the shortcomings of the financial planning and implementation system, which have led to the accumulation of unpaid bills and to a form of fraudulent budgeting that runs counter to the spirit of the Treaties; expresses concern at the significant delays in the adoption of operational programmes and in the designation of management, payment and certification authorities for cohesion policy, which have led to extremely low absorption rates of cohesion policy in the current programming period with the project organisers themselves bearing the brunt of the effects; calls in this connection for the simplification begun as part of the review of the Financial Regulation in force since 1 January 2016 to be enhanced, in particular by placing greater emphasis on ex-post checks and harmonising procedures at the level of each fund and introducing greater flexibility in the next multiannual financial framework; stresses that the level of payment appropriations should at least match past commitments, with a view to continuing to support the creativity of our regions;
2018/02/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 20 #

2017/2279(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that financial instruments in EU cohesion policy should not replace direct grants and aid, but should be treated as complementary tools; emphasises in this connection that the ESI funds and EFSI are managed according to different approaches, and that cooperation between these two funds could be beneficial for large-scale projects, but that such links must in no way undermine the strategic coherence, territorial concentration and long-term prospects of cohesion policy programmes;
2018/02/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 23 #

2017/2279(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the legislative proposals for the next MFF should be submitted as soon as possible to avoid delays in the programming for the next period; Takes the view that cohesion policy ceilings should be raised so that the EU can finally have all the funds it needs to meet its objectives and priorities, as set out under the Treaties; points out that cohesion policy is supposed to protect the public from the negative effects of globalisation and provide financial assistance to SMEs, support research and cooperation projects, promote participation in initiatives to develop human capital, and that it must therefore remain strong, effective and visible for citizens;
2018/02/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 28 #

2017/2279(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that cohesion policy should benefit all regions, in particular those with the greatest development delays and the Outermost Regions, and that in the most developed regions it should be directed towards the peripheral areas, which are most affected by poverty and are the least attractive in terms of development., providing in particular aid for infrastructure with a view to putting an end to their isolation; takes the view in this regard that co-financing for investments made as part of regional policy must be removed for the purposes of calculating Member States’ deficits under the Stability and Growth Pact;
2018/02/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 223 #

2017/2279(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Emphasises that financial instruments can be an effective lever and that they should be promoted if they generate added value; stresses, however, that their effectiveness hinges on many factors (nature of the project, of the territory or of the risk) and that all regions, regardless of their level of development, must be free to determuture cohesion policy must establish the right balance between grants and financial instruments, bearing complementarity, efficiency and local circumstances in mind; takes the view, in particular, that logical conclusions should be drawn from the Commission report entitled ‘Financial instruments under the European Structural and Investment Funds’, published in December 2017, and that financial instruments should in future be less widely used for the programmes upon which they have the least impact, i.e. the ESF and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development; opposes any bindineg the most appropriate method of financing; opposes any binding targets for the use of financial instruments; argets for the use of financial instruments and points out that grants, which have been shown to be most effective in a number public policy areas, must be maintained as the main instrument of cohesion policy;
2018/02/28
Committee: REGI
Amendment 246 #

2017/2279(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Believes that it is both legitimate and necessary to establish a link between cohesion policy and the guarantee of an environment conducive to investment, effectiveness and the proper use of funds, while stressing that cohesion policy is not meant to be reduced to an instrument for serving priorities without reference to its objectivesAcknowledges the value of coordinating cohesion policy and the EU’s macroeconomic policies, while stressing that cohesion policy is not meant merely to be a European Semester instrument; expresses its support for a balanced link with economic governance where this helps to maximise the impact of ESI Funds; calls on the Commission to overhaul the European Semester and to ensure they are used correctly; calls on the Commission to strengthen itsthe territorial dimension and take account of other factors which contribute to the achievement of cohesion objectives,of the European Semester by making it more flexible and taking into account factors such as real convergence;
2018/02/28
Committee: REGI
Amendment 9 #

2017/2254(INI)

Stresses, therefore, the importance of having harmonised data on the use of antimicrobials in the livestock sector;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 16 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take an ambitious approach, taking into account the significant differences in antimicrobial resistance between regions, to ensuring that the targets set out in their respective Action Plans are fully and effectively achieved, and to strictly monitor the results that have been achieved;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 51 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for further research and development into new antimicrobials and encourages alternatives to be investigatedor new alternative products to strengthen natural defences at an early stage and during critical farming phases; Encourages also research into and the development of the use of bio-control solutions and products derived from natural substances (in particular algae), including the development of more sustainable farming systems based on less intensive farming models;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that, in order to encourage research into new antimicrobials, incentives are needed, including longer periods of protection for technical documentation on new medicines, commercial protection of innovative active substances, and protection for significant investments in data generated to improve an existing antimicrobial product or to keep it on the market;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 65 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses, therefore, that the current innovation framework does not effectively encourage R&D into AMR and calls for the adjustment and harmonisation of the intellectual property regime at European level, in particular in order to better match protection with the period requested for the innovative medicine in question;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 69 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Highlights that significant volumes of antibiotics are used either prophylactically amongst healthy animals, to stop the development of an infection within a flock or herd, or simply for growth promotion, to speed up the pace at which animals gain weight; notes that both uses are particularly prevalent in intensive agriculture, where animals are kept in confined conditions; considers it necessary to take measures to encourage extensive grazing or organic farming methods;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 95 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises the crucial role of education and, training programmes in raisand public awareness campaigns ing awareness aboutlerting farmers and those involved in livestock farming to the dangers of antimicrobial resistance and thencouraging them to make more prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine for farmers and those involved in livestock farmingso that they are able to use antimicrobials only where necessary and not systematically in a preventive manner;
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 127 #

2017/2254(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food-producing animals has been banned in the EU since 2006; calls on the Commission for public health reasons strictly to enforce this ban as a conditionality to all food imports from third countries through Free Trade Agreements; calls also for this prohibition to be extended and transposed to the whole body of international law that may concern the use of antibiotics in animals (within the Codex Alimentarius, the WHO, the OIE, the FAO ...);
2018/03/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A
A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is an essential financing instrument for boosting economic growth in lagging regions’ rural and mountainous areas, while at the same time providing the financial incentives needed to address specific territorial needs, which in turn contribute to achieving the three cross- cutting objectives of innovation, environmental/climate change mitigation and adaptation;
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 14 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas poorer infrastructure development, of local public services and generally weaker institutions and the skills gap present a major obstacle for the successful development of viable and self- sufficient agricultural businesses, pushing many young people to abandon rural areas and migrate, and worsening the shortage of qualified workers;
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 22 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, promoting ecosystem services, providing jobs and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to preserve the countryside and combat rural depopulation and reductions in services available to the public;
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches; acknowledges, therefore, the input of local action groups representing a number of comparable areas in developing local strategies, supporting stakeholder networking and the appraisal and approval of individual LEADER projects;
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving local services (health, social, postal) and infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions; recalls that good infrastructure, especially the provision of high-speed internet connections helps keep people in rural areas and can help attract a high-calibre workforce needed for growth in those areas;
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 69 #

2017/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a well-connected rural area is essential for building on the work of research partnerships and European Innovation Partnership initiatives, so that innovative practices further enhance the development of agriculture and associated businesses and growth in lagging regions’ rural areas. In this regard, the need to promote cooperation between European regions at NUTS 2 level is the most pertinent.
2017/11/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 12 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) which free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand – even if it were to respects vulnerable sectors of European agriculture, such as dairy andproducts, sheep and goat meat, can be of mutual benefit, offering opportunities for European producers and advancing the EU’s position as a key player on the global marketbeef and veal – would bring relatively few opportunities in terms of prospects for European agriculture, given the imbalance between a market of 500 million consumers in Europe and one of 4.5 million consumers in New Zealand;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Warns against the danger of a serious imbalance in the agricultural provisions of the agreement, to the detriment of the EU, and against the temptation once again to use agriculture as a bargaining chip to secure increased access to the New Zealand market for industrial products and services;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 27 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to secure a level playing field, treating as sensitive those products for which directincreased competition would exposehave an adverse impact on EU agricultural producers; to excessive or unsustainable pressure, for instance by introducing transitional periods or appropriate quotas, or by not making any commitments in the most sensitive sectorakes the view that the EU must refrain from making any sort of commitment concerning the most sensitive agricultural products, such as dairy products, sheep and goat meat, and beef and veal, and therefore exclude them from the negotiations; calls on the Commission to factor in respect for seasonal cycles of production in Europe, particularly for the lamb sector;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 50 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of recognition ofsing the geographical indications (GIs) system as a key component of European interests, and highlights the fact that the issue of GIs must be treated as an essential precondition for any agreement;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 61 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that New Zealand has a very competitive and strongly export-orientated agricultural sector which is unique in its exposure to international markets owing to a low level of agricultural support; notes the dominance of the dairy and sheep and goat sectors in particular; points out that where livestock farming is concerned, New Zealand has the lowest production costs in the world, as a result of its exceptional climate; points out that New Zealand exports 90% of the milk and sheep meat it produces, making it the world’s largest exporter in those sectors, accounting for 35% of international trade in milk, and 75% for lamb, by volume; points out that access to the vast EU market will therefore undoubtedly be a priority for New Zealand;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 67 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that several sensitive European agricultural sectors have experienced the negative impact of the ongoing Russian embargo and extreme price volatility andbeen hit hard by the ongoing Russian embargo and by market crises linked to extreme price volatility; takes the view that a further opening-up of the market in those sectors could cause serious problems for them and have disastrous consequences for European producers; stresses that the final outcome must give due consideration to the interests of all European producers;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 76 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to conclude, as soon as possible its, a detailed impact assessment of thea potential impact of an EU-New Zealand FTA by sector and by country, including the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories, in order to be able to evaluate completely the possible gains and losses of such a trade deal for European producers; calls on the Commission to include therein the consequences of the UK’s exit from the EU, in particular as regards existing quotas;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 93 #

2017/2193(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out that, following Brexit, all tariff quotas which might be granted to New Zealand will apply to a smaller EU market of 27 Member States and 443 million consumers; points out that there will be a knock-on effect on the economic impact of such quotas, particularly in the sectors in which the UK accounts for a large proportion of consumption and/or imports; points out that from now on the EU will have to take careful account of Brexit when deciding what concessions it can offer;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 2 #

2017/2128(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that an implementation report for Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 is being undertaken with the aim of ensuring a high level of protection of both human, plant and animal health as well as the environment and improving the sustainability of agricultural development, while safeguarding the competitiveness of the EU’s agriculture sector by continuing to providinge access to a broad range of active substances and Plant Protection Products (PPP) for all farmers and producers, irrespective of the Members States they are operating in and in tandem with increased research and the use of alternatives to PPPs;
2018/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2017/2128(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of a science-based approach in authorising any active substance, in line with the EU’s risk analysis principles and the precautionary principle as established in the General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002); sees a need to review the procedure currently used to evaluate substances before their approval for distribution in order to improve evaluations, increase the independence of the authorities tasked with carrying out studies, avoid conflicts of interest and make the procedure more transparent;
2018/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2017/2128(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it vital to improve harmonisation in the legislation on placing PPPs on the market in the EU in order to prevent distortions of competition in production and cross-border product- trafficking and enabling a product which is authorised in one country but not in another to enter and be used in the latter;
2018/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 145 #

2017/2128(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Takes the view that Regulation 1107/2009 should also be amended to take more account of substances not regarded as PPPs and which, when used for plant protection, are governed by the Regulation; such substances offer interesting alternatives in terms of integrated production methods and some bio-control products.
2018/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 163 #

2017/2128(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Takes the view that, for each request for a PPP to be placed on the market, Regulation 1107/2009 should provide for a comparative assessment with non-chemical methods of preventing or combating pests in order to give priority to methods which best protect health and the environment.
2018/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2017/2121(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to fully reflect the growing security challenges in its proposal for the next multiannual financial framework; considers that both the size and the flexibility of the CFSP budget must match, inter alia, EU citizens’ expectations on the EU’s role as a security provider, and the likely challenges and opportunities for the EU’s standing as a strategic actor following Brexit; insists on the need for a global vision for EU policy and instruments in the field of security, including fruitful coordination with the proposed European Defence Fund; points out, further, that any new policy must be backed by funding from new sources;
2017/09/22
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 30 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas sheep- and goat-farming play an important role in ensuring environmental sustainability, being as they are present in 70% of geographically disadvantaged areas and contribute to preserving biodiversity (including through the preservation of local breeds) and combating soil erosion, the build-up of unwanted biomass, avalanches and forest and brush fires;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 48 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas such farms are often non- intensive and practise pastoralism making use of summer pastures, raising animals outside during the grazing and transhumance season;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 53 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the production of goatmeat, from kids or adult cull animals, is seasonal and a by-product of milk production, controlled by a few operators, the sale price of which is not enough to remunerate farmers;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas sheep and goat production offer a significant potential for development and employment in many fragile rural and peri-urban areas, notably as regards sheep- and goatmeat and high quality dairy products able to be brought to market through short and local supply chains;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the restructuring of the slaughter industry, compliance with health regulations and the reduction in animals slaughtered associated with the reduction in farming have in many regions led to the disappearance of the economic instruments necessary for adding value and for the sustanability of local supply chains;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 65 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas support for the sheep and goat sectors is extremely important for their sustainability, viability and attractiveness; whereas these are sectors in need of generational renewal which, owing to a lower level of capitalisation than in other farming sectors, are characterised by more human-scale farming structures and a well developed collective organisation (mutual assistance, cooperatives for the use of common equipment, establishment as companies...) and offer a favourable environment and opportunities for a new start for young people wishing to take up farming;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 87 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas the protection afforded to certain animal species under the Habitats Directive has in all regions led to increased attacks on herds of sheep and goats by wolves, bears and lynxes, thus worsening the precarious situation in which some farms find themselves;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 103 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas the electronic identification system for sheep and goats is an efficient way of ensuring the traceability of animals, but losing eartags or inadvertently failing to scan them can give rise to penalties that are sometimes disproportionate; whereas farmers also experience difficulties in implementing the current rules for identification in the case of kids;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 145 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Invites the Commission to create the conditions for the development of ewe’s and goat’s milk sector, allowing for the greatest possible added value in farms, by means of high quality policies favouring the production of milk products in farms, marketed primarily through short or local supply chains; in this connection, it is important that the Commission ensure better implementation of hygiene rules in all the Member States, notably using the ‘Guide for Good Hygiene Practices in artisanal cheese production’ drawn up by farmers from FACE in collaboration with the Commission;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 167 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Commends the Commission on its intention to set up a dedicated budget line for those products in the next promotion campaigns co-financed by the Union, and advocates the need to include goat and ewe’s milk as well as wool among the beneficiary products;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 209 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Believes it necessary to offer greater support to young people, via both direct aid and rural development policy, which may be supplemented by national financial support and in accordance with national legislation (on inheritance, access to land, taxation, training, social protection, etc.), given the high average age of workers in the livestock-raising sectors, exceeding even that in other sectors of agricultural professions; duction;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 229 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Draws attention to the lack of water in many sheep- and goat-farming regions, particularly those in the Mediterranean area, a situation which will only worsen with global warming; stresses, therefore, the need to ensure better management of water resources through adapted facilities, taking into account the distribution of rainfall over the year and sustainability;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 260 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Believes it necessary to improve the bargaining power of producers in the food chain, extending rules on contractual relations for the sheep- and goat-farming, and for meat products as well as milk products, by establishing producer and interbranch organisations similar to those existing in other crop and livestock sectors, in line with the agreement reached as part of the Omnibus Regulation;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 261 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Believes it necessary to improve the bargaining power of producers in the food chain, extending rules on contractual relations for the sheep-and goat-farming by establishing producer organisations similar to those existing in other crop and livestock sectors, in line with the agreement reached as part of the Omnibus Regulation; also stresses in this connection the major importance of the direct marketing of sheep and goat products;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 267 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers it necessary to have crisis prevention and management instruments for the sheep and goat sectors in order to limit price volatility and ensure a fair return for producers and an environment conducive to investment and the taking over of farms by young people;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 271 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Takes the view that action must be taken to prevent sheep and goat products from being sold at less than producer prices;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 274 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls for the establishment of precise indicators to be able to monitor more closely the production and consumption of, and trade in, goatmeat, with a distinction being made between adult animals and kids;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 291 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Commission to exercise caution in negotiating the new free-trade agreement with New Zealand and Australia, pending its analysis of the impact of Brexit on the EU sheep-farming sector; takes the view that this new agreement should split New Zealand’s and Australia’s quota for lamb meat exports into the EU so as to separate fresh or chilled and frozen meat;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 302 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for consideration to be given to the precarious situation of sheep and goat farmers when entering into further trade agreements with third countries, by including their products among sensitive sectors, and or excluding them from the negotiations so as to exclude any provisions that might compromise the European model of production in any way, and to the local or regional economy;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 342 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Invites the Commission and Member States to consider rural development measures to protect herds from attack from predators, to compensate farmers for losses caused by predator attacks and to look into reviewing the Habitats Directive, with the aim of controlling the spread of predators in certain grazing areas;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 352 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that attacks on herds by wolves and non-protected wolf-dog hybrids are on the rise despite the mobilisation of ever-greater resources which are increasingly costly for farmers and communities; stresses that the limits of the measures recommended and implemented to protect herds are now becoming apparent as the number of animals lost rises substantially; points out that this ineffectiveness is now calling into question the future of environmentally-friendly modes of farming, such as pastoralism, as some farmers are starting to confine their animals, which in due course will lead not only to the abandonment of very extensive areas, generating huge fire and avalanche risks, but will also shift farms towards more intensive forms of agriculture;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 370 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to pay greater attention to the diversity of genetic resources in the sheep and goat sectors, given their importance for productivity (fertility, prolificity, etc.), product quality and the adaptation of animals to their environment, and stresses that in this connection the preservation of local and hardy breeds should be taken into account in animal breeding plans;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 382 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Considers it necessary to facilitate innovation (farming practices, new products, etc.), but also advice and initial and ongoing training in the sheep and goat sectors;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 383 #

2017/2117(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Calls on the Commission not to ban the use of certain hormones used for out-of-season breeding, which are imported from third countries and are likely to cause animal welfare problems, until alternatives to out-of-season breeding have been found (light-based treatment, ‘male’ effect, etc.);
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Parliament has on a number of occasions spoken about proteins and the need for a European protein plan, but whereas its initiatives have not led to real effects likely to change Europe’s dependence on others for its supply of vegetable proteins;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 28 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. having regard to the importance in human food of proteins, which, like energy, are an essential component of our food and can be provided in plant or animal form;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Cb. encourages, therefore, good practices such as the Danube Soya Initiative, making non-GMO soya largely traceable, and the development of organic protein crops;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 36 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas proteins are at the core of the challenges of food safety, environmental protection and, global warming and renewable energy; whereas they are essential to life and are present in all foods consumed by both humans and animals;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the world market in vegetable protein, connected with the market in soya and soya meal, has grown considerably over the past 50 years, and whereas consumption of these raw materials has surged in all Europe’s farming countries, with soya consumption rising from 2.42 million tonnes in 1960 to almost 36 million tonnes today.
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas in recent years China has become the world’s largest importer of soya and has launched a genuine security of supply strategy for itself which could threaten our own supplies tomorrow, located outside traditional market mechanisms and based on direct control of the production of the world’s largest soya supplier – Brazil – by investing massively there, at the expense of the environment, in production and in the processing (crushing) and port transport infrastructure; this internationalisation strategy on the part of the Chinese agri-food industry could tomorrow threaten the soya supplies of the EU, which is also a major customer of Brazil;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 53 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the majority of soya imported into the EU comes from genetically modified crops, and whereas European consumers distrust this technology;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 54 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the growing demand for soya worldwide leads to increased competition for agricultural land, which will have new migratory pressure and refugee movements as a potential consequence;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 59 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas the development of agriculture in the past 50 years has given rise to the large-scale long-distance transport of raw materials for the production of vegetable and meat proteins which is now causing problems foro meet our food needs, European agriculture has undergone a transformation, particularly under the influence of the CAP, it has intensified, agricultural produce and raw material markets have opened up and farms have specialised, giving rise to large movements of inputs over long distances for the production of proteins, whether nitrogen crop fertilisers or protein-rich raw materials for feeding livestock, with the impact we know this is having on the environment and the climate;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas the development of agricultureto an export oriented agricultural model in the European Union in the past 50 years has given rise to the large-scale long-distance transport of raw materials for the production of vegetable and meat proteins which is now causing problems for the environment and the climate;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas the nitrogen needed to feed plants and manufacture vegetable proteins is today mainly provided by synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers, which are costly to produce and generate pollution of both water and air; whereas, in these circumstances, the question of proteins needs to be rethought, from production right through to consumption, in terms of productive and environmental performance, based on a more satisfactory management of the nitrogen cycle;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 74 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the question of proteins calls for a thorough revision of the sustainability of our agricultural and food systems;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 104 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas the 1992 Blair House Agreement on proteins is now obsolete and no longer reflects present-day realities; whereas it should not, therefore, constitute an obstacle to the implementation of an ambitious protein plan;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the cost of soya has roughly doubled in real-terms since 2007;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 124 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that the promotion of protein crop cultivation is a powerful tool in the transition towards more sustainable agri-food systems, supporting a shift from input-intensive crop monoculture towards diversified agro-ecological systems;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 126 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Notes that protein crops have a wide range of environmental benefits, such as being able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, using less fossil fuel- based fertilisers, improving soil properties, reducing disease levels and protecting biodiversity;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the establishment of a European platform making it possible to: identify protein cultivation areas by crop category and location; create technical references that are accessible to all farmers; ascertain European protein production capacities; and catalogue all the in order to facilitate marketing; and catalogue all the public- and private-sector research carried out into proteins;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 130 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the establishment of a European platform making it possible to: identify European protein cultivation areas by crop category and location; create technical references that are accessible to all farmers; ascertain European protein production capacities; and catalogue all the research carried out into proteins;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 136 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Recommends focusing on all protein resources, including processed proteins, and thus on crops used both in human food and in farm animal feed;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 140 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises that soybean production can also have negative social impacts in the producing countries, as for instance in Brazil, especially because many of them do have no or only weak formal land tenure rights;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 143 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Acknowledges that soya production in South America resulted in multiple ecological problems such as contamination with pesticides, soil erosion and water depletion;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 153 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines the importance of reducing the competitive disadvantages of European protein plants through the heightening of their yield potential through improved breeding, guidance on cultivation and a better commercialisation;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 158 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it necessary to look in particular at the potential of leguminous crops, whether grain or forage legumes, as this family of plants presents many agriculturalonomic, economic and environmental benefits (being the only one to fix nitrogen from the air), the key advantages of those crops being that they fix nitrogen from the air by means of a symbiotic system, which obviates the need to use synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers, and require very little pesticide use;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 162 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that protein crops have a wide range of environmental benefits, such as being able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, using less fossil fuel- based fertilisers, improving soil properties, reducing disease levels and protecting biodiversity;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 168 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Recommends supporting the cultivation of GMO-free soya, new varieties of which are currently opening up fresh possibilities for some regions where the crop can adapt, but notes that this should not overshadow interest in other grain protein crops (lupins, faba beans, peas, chickpeas, etc.), this wide variety making it possible to maximise protein production in all regions in Europe, depending on pedoclimatic conditions there;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 188 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Considers it advisable to develop regional protein production and processing chains by establishing groups of farmers and by creating closer links between cereal farmers and livestock farmers (supply and exchange contracts), and deems it useful, to that end, to assist risk- taking by operators entering small supply chains for protein-based food and feed;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 204 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Supports the establishment of transparent product labelling systems based on certified production standards, such as the Danube Soya and Europe Soya standards;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 205 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers it worthwhile to diversify production of vegetable-protein- based food intended for human consumption that has health-related nutritional value;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 210 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Considers it necessary to support the self-sufficiency in feed of farms at farm and regional level for ruminants as well as for monogastric animals (including on- farm feed production);(Does not affect the English version.)
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 216 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines the need to focus on regional nutrient cycles in order to limit protein tourism as well as climate- damaging transport of protein plants;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 234 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers that research must make protein crops economically attractive again, since they may suffer by comparison with the margins obtainable from other crops, and that it is important to secure yields in order to consolidate protein production over time and ensure that volume is sufficient, this being essential for structuring production and distribution chains;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 238 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses the need for heavy investment in research to solve the pressing agronomic issues that are limiting protein crop cultivation;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 247 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Intends to promote: the acquisition of new knowledge; knowledge transfer; basic and continued training; and support for all other types of applied innovation and research into both human food and animal feed;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 253 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for support to be given to all forms of innovation and applied research by pooling experience and knowledge and by drawing in particular on local stakeholders offering innovative solutions;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 255 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for sustainability criteria for feed imports in order to ensure a sustainable production of protein plants in third countries which does not lead to negative environmental or social impacts;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 259 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Regards it as essential to step up technical support for farmers and advisory services with a view to promoting the sustainable production of grain and forage protein;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 280 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Considers that the fact that many Member States have made use of the voluntary coupled payments scheme with a view to protein crop cultivation shows that that is currently the most appropriate CAP instrument for supporting protein production; points out that it could be extended if it were better suited to protein production, since it may be used at present only as part of arrangements to maintain production where it is vulnerable or endangered; states that it should therefore be made more flexible;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 284 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Considers it important to support a domestic, sustainable production of protein plants, permanent pastures for grazing as well as land-based livestock farming;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 285 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Recommends an adjustment to greening arrangements in connection with maintaining permanent grassland in order to take account more effectively, in particular regions, of the specific characteristics of alfalfa, either alone or in grass mixes, on temporary grassland that is more than five years old, that time span limit meaning that the grassland concerned will be classified as permanent, as defined in law, thus restricting ploughing up after the five-year period, even though replanting would enable a large volume of feed protein to be produced with greater protein autonomy for the holdings concerned;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 288 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Takes the view that as part of the process of making use of all usable agricultural areas, provided for under the vegetable protein autonomy plan, ecological focus areas can be used for protein production both within conventional farming, with an integrated protection scheme, and within organic farming, but only to a marginal extent, given that, in order to replace soya imports into the EU, the equivalent of nearly 17 million hectares would have to be under soya in the EU; considers that ecological focus areas are furthermore essential for boosting biodiversity, which is under threat, and for our food security, since, in particular by improving pollination, biodiversity can increase yields by some 20% from neighbouring crops, which may be protein crops;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 306 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for research efforts, particularly for public research, to be stepped up into under-developed protein crops, suitable for both human food and animal feed, which are of little or no interest to private investors;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 309 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Recommends increased investment in industrial and agricultural research projects that focus on boosting the quality and diversity of functional proteins for human consumption;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 323 #

2017/2116(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that it is necessary to secure our soya supplies by cooperating more closely with our neighbourhood, in particularand to diversify the sourcing of non-EU- produced protein, in particular involving cooperation with Ukraine, which has opted for Europe and which produces soya that could be brought into the EU via the Danube; calls for those imports to meet the same social and environmental standards as apply to intra-EU production;
2017/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 4 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the beekeeping sector is an integral part of European agriculture, providing over 500 000 EU citizens with their main income or additional earnings; whereas beekeeping is practiced also as a hobby or for production of honey for own consumption;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the sector develops and maintains additional activities such as production of materials for example wooden frames, beehives and others, as well as technique, which can also contribute to the development of the local and regional economies;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 7 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the apitourism generates greater interest and opportunities among consumers in recent years, which can be further popularised to more stakeholders;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 8 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas pollination is the primary purpose of the bees, while production of honey, honey wax and other products is a secondary product from the activities of the bees; whereas the agriculture in the EU can be characterised as monocultural or with a limited plant variety;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas good theoretical knowledge combined with a practical training is a prerequisite for better understanding and dealing with the challenges ahead of the bee families;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 10 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the beekeeping sector is hugely significant (around EUR 14.2 annually), as 84 % of plant species and 76 % of food production are dependent on pollination by bees, which also helps maintain the ecological balance and biological diversity in Europe; recalling also the importance of pollination for food security in Europe and in the world;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 15 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas on 26 February 2016 in Kuala-Lumpur a report was published by the experts of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) which sounded the alarm on the decline in pollinators, of which the European domestic honey bee (apis mellifera) is the most widespread pollinator in the world;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 19 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas per nature the beekeeping is often practiced in the open and the beehives are thus exposed to additional external factors such as attacks from wild animals;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Bc. whereas the scientific community has noted increases in bee mortality for the past fifteen years, with this phenomenon affecting – according to the IPBES – 37% of wild and domestic bees in Europe; their extinction is having a dramatic impact on the environment (biodiversity) and also on our domestic agricultural production: the demise of the bee would, according to the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, cost EUR 150 billion worldwide, or 10% of the market value of agricultural products intended for human consumption, which attests to the need to protect pollinating insects;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 24 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas in 2004 the Commission guaranteed EUR 32 million to national beekeeping programmes for the sole benefit of beekeeping, and whereas this had been increased to 36 million by 2006 (representing 3 thousandths of the CAP budget); whereas for the period 2017-2019 EUR 108 million are foreseen for support of the national programmes for the apiculture sector from the EU budget;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the national programmes for the apiculture sector have a positive effect, but there are some problems in their national application and they do not always enjoy the full confidence of the sector;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 42 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas there is a need for beekeepers to operate in harmony with the services which they carry out and to do so responsibly and professionally and in conjunction and cooperation with farmers;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 50 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas in some Member States the tax laws differentiate between professional and amateur beekeepers, with the latter benefiting from tax relief, although this makes no sense professionallyvarying rules concerning tax relief;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 55 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas some invasive alien species such as Varroa destructor, the small hive beetle, the Asian hornet and American foulbrood are causing widespread destruction in the European bee population and causing serious harm to beekeepersthe decline in the European bee population, the adverse effects of which extend far beyond the beekeeping sector, is mainly due, according to the scientific community, to changes in land use, intensive farming practices and the large-scale use of pesticides, invasive species (e.g. Asian hornet and American foulbrood), the proliferation of parasites including the Varroa destructor, genetic problems, the degeneration of habitats and the disappearance of many species of flowering plant;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas bees, as pollinators, play an important role in our food and agriculture systems and are excellent indicators of the quality of our environment that should sensitise us to agricultural practices which are more natural-resource friendly and which draw directly on the concept of agro-ecology, combining good economic performance and environmental performance to produce more and better;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 73 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas beekeepers, agricultural producers and environmentalists also expect there to be a clear scientific consensus on all substances and other factors which are a danger to bees’ health; but whereas researchers and EFSA have already identified the dangers posed to bees by some neonicotinoids whose use, after being suspended, might be definitively banned following their re- evaluation;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 74 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas beekeepers, agricultural producers and environmentalists also expect there to bin shortest terms to achieve a clear scientific consensus on all substances, particularly those for plant-protection, such as the neonicotinoids, and other factors which are a danger to bees’ health;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 91 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas the statistics indicate progress in the EU’s beekeeping sector, with an increase in the number of bee colonies and honey production over the past 15 years and an ongoing rise in the number of beekeepers;deleted
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 99 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas this statistical increase results in part from the steady rise in Member State numbers and in part from the particular situation of the sector, since each Member State furnishes data for the period with the highest number of bee colonies in a given year;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 103 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas beekeepers always produce less honey once the winter is over, because of autumn and winter losses which can be as much as 50% in some Member States; whereas in some regions the mortality rate of the winter has surpassed 50%, reaching to 100% in some cases with various reasons behind this;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 117 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas the two-fold increase in the amount of honey produced and exported in some countries over the past 15 years whilst the EU is barely 560% self-sufficient in honey – a figure which is not increasing – cannot be explained;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 122 #

2017/2115(INI)

O. whereas the EU imports 25% of the honey it uses (60% of its annual imports) each year from these countries, which is why Europe’s beekeepers are in dire straits; whereas the EU imports highest quantities of honey from People's republic of China, Ukraine, Argentina and Mexico;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 127 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P
P. whereas consumers are aware that no more than one third of the honey they use is produced in the EU; often think they are eating honey from the EU, whereas a proportion of that honey comes from third countries and is sometimes mixed with EU honey, while some of the imported honey is adulterated;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 133 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Q. whereas since 2001 the amount of honey in the world’s major honey- producing regions has stagnated or decreased as a result of the poor health of bees, whilst the amount of honey in China hasand disappearance of bees, whilst honey production in China is said to have increased by over 80 % (200 000 tonnes);
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 154 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Z
Z. whereas many honey packagers and traders now abuse this way of indicating origin in order to conceal the real country of origin, as well as the proportion of honey from the different countries, as purchasers are becoming more knowledgeable and are distrustful of foodstuffs from certain countries;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 163 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AC
AC. whereas annual honey consumption varies hugely across the Member States: whilst Member States in Western Europe have an average consumption of 2.5-2.7 kg per person, the figure for Hungary, for example, is just 0.7 kgthe countries from the 2004, 2007 and 2013 enlargements are as low as 0.7 kg in some cases;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 164 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AC a (new)
ACa. whereas the European quality schemes and particularly the GI schemes have a great importance for the preservation and creation of jobs; whereas more than 30 GIs for honey have been registered so far; whereas "European" and "made in Europe" is often associated with products with high value;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 165 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AD
AD. whereas the positive physiological impact of honey, particularly in terms of health, means that it should be promoted and its consumption encouraged in all the Member States;given its antiseptic, anti- inflammatory and healing properties, means that it should be promoted among medical and paramedical practitioners and its consumption encouraged in all the Member States; calls for the future common agricultural policy to recognise apitherapy as a priority
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 172 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AF
AF. whereas other beekeeping products such as pollen, propolis, beeswax and royal jelly also contribute significantly to people’s wellbeing and play an important role in the healthcare and cosmetics industries and they are looked for from the consumers as a part of a more natural way of life;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 184 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AF a (new)
AFa. whereas only a complete cultivation ban on GMOs will protect all bees from GM pollen and protect European consumers from honey contaminated by GM pollen;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 198 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Understandlines that bees perform a basic agricultural service by pollinating crops, without which European agriculture and in particular plant cultivation would not exist in any form;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 201 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Understands that beekeeping makes a fundamental contribution to maintaining the ecological balance and biological diversity, so that the sector must be at the heart of the common agricultural policy and of an agricultural policy reoriented towards sustainable development enabling improved biodiversity, which is indispensable to bees’ survival and repopulation;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 202 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Understandlines that beekeeping makes a fundamental contribution to maintaining the ecological balance and biological diversity, so that the sector must be at the heart of the common agricultural policy;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 207 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Understands that financing of beekeeping for food and therapeutic purposes must be increased in future agricultural policy;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 210 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Understandlines that financing of beekeeping must be considerably increased in future agricultural policy;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 211 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers investment in technical and scientific know-how essential in the beekeeping sector, which suffers badly, in spite of its potential, from a lack of specialists, information and knowledge; investment in research must be geared towards genetic and veterinary aspects (vaccines...), given beekeepers’ very inadequate knowledge of these areas.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 213 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Proposes a 47.8 Calls on each of the Member States, as set out in Article 55 of Regulation 1308 on the Single CMO, to develop a national programme for its beekeeping sector; proposes a 50% increase inover the 2004 EU budget for national beekeeping programmes in line with the actualorder to maintain and increase in the bee population – as compared with the 2004 level, which translates as EUR 47 million annually;s and support the production and marketing of beekeeping products.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 219 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that, in addition to national beekeeping plans, the CAP currently has a vast array of tools which can be brought to bear in support of the beekeeping sector. These include, in particular, crop diversification measures, ecological focus areas (EFAs), organic farming measures and measures to support other forms of sustainable agriculture, agro-environmental and climatic measures, measures targeting disadvantaged regions, measures in the Natura 2000 and Habitats Directive, product quality measures and those concerned with the diversification of activities on farms, investment measures to restore ecosystems, forestry measures, installation measures, the European Innovation Partnership...
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 221 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Considers that the collective management of ecological focus areas with their biodiversity might be extremely useful in terms of food for bees and of their habitat; this communal management may in fact contribute to the establishment of ecological corridors (land left fallow for flowers, tree plantations...) which, by ensuring the presence of bees, allows for increased yields of crops planted alongside the EFAs through improved pollination.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 227 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to include a new direct support scheme for beekeepers, while developing, asserting and incorporating a fair payment for ecological services, such as pollination, which is done by all bees of every registered bee family based on colony numbers in its proposals for the common agricultural policy post-2020;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 235 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to include a new direct ecosystemic support scheme for beekeepers based on colony numbers in its proposals for the common agricultural policy post-2020;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 238 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers it necessary to develop the potential of beekeeping by further professionalising the sector, in which the vast majority of participants are amateurs (less than 5% in Europe are specialists); considers that developing beekeeping in order to produce hive products and/or swarms for repopulation provides opportunities for jobs and income for farms looking to diversify or for young people aiming to set up as beekeepers, without the need for huge investments at the time of their establishment.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 242 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Sees a need for the European Union and the Member States to implement a large-scale strategy of bee repopulation in a coordinated fashion because of the threat of extinction.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 247 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that it would be wise to broaden and share beekeeping research topics and the findings which result, along the lines of the Apitherapy project consortium – particularly where these are financed by the EU – among the Member States in order to avoid duplication;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 249 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Urges the European Commission and the member states to launch a network of institutes and other scientific and academic establishments, which deal with bees, their lives and products of activities for faster, smoother and more effective exchange of information on bee- related topics;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 257 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to adopt recommendations in order to introduce a uniform, high-quality basic and vocational beekeeping education programme, as well as beekeeping training, in the EU;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 263 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that beekeepers should be granted tax relief in every Member State in view of the agricultural and environmental significance of their work; urges the member states to cut the unnecessary red-tape, which will save time, efforts and financial resources from the beekeepers;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 268 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. calls on the beekeepers for an active dialogue with the competent authorities for a more effective application of the national programmes for the apiculture programmes with the aim of improving them and correcting any occurring problems;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 269 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. calls on the European Commission and the member states to increase awareness among the stakeholders in the sector about the advantages of introducing new technologies, which are not harmful to the bees, with the aim of risk and loss management;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 276 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Reaffirms its support for the pilot project launched by Parliament aimed at restructuring the beekeeping sector and at the breeding and selection programme for research into Varroa resistance, which should be implemented soon.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 278 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. underlines the advantages of well prepared and informed beekeepers and encourages the member states to consider a compulsory prerequisite and not an additional advantage for taking part in the national programmes for the apiculture sector;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 288 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
underlines that bee health is based on a substantial diversity of pollen and a wide variety of nourishment of the surroundings of bees; points out that monocultural farming does not provide this necessity and therefore stands for a loss of food habitats for bees;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 311 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to involve all relevant drug producers in research into bee drugs and to set up a common IT platform to share best solutions and drugs with interested parties;boost research possibilities aimed at solving the problem of parasites and bee diseases and to supplement these with a common IT platform to share best practices and make people aware of the available solutions.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 331 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States and the regions to use all means possible to protect all local and regional bee varietiesstrains of Apis mellifera bees present in Europe from the undesirable spread of naturalised or invasive alien varietspecies in the EU;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 333 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Appreciates the extraordinary genetic heritage and the diversity of bee populations, which render them able to adapt to the peculiarities of any ecosystem and to the local conditions of any region; emphasises the need to maintain this genetic heritage, whose diversity is important in the fight against invasive species and diseases and which will have a long-term impact on maintaining bee populations.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 338 #

2017/2115(INI)

13b. Recalls the right of the Member States to set up protected areas for each honey-producing strain of the Apis mellifera bee, which is present in Europe, in connection with the UN’s 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 340 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the European Food Safety Authority to carry outpursue its toxicological research (laboratory analyses and field experiments), according to a clearly- determined schedule and together with the other EU agencies concerned, into all substances and other factors which endanger bee health; likely to endanger bee health and to recommend that they be banned if they are found to be toxic; calls at the same time for alternative products or methods to be found to replace these substances which pose a risk to bees.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 341 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the European Food Safety Authority to carry out research (laboratory analyses and field experiments) in shortest terms and preferably before the end of 2018, according to a clearly-determined schedule and together with the other EU agencies concerned, into all substances, particularly those, which are used in the plant-protection, such as neonicotinoids, and other factors which endanger bee health;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 356 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Urges the Commission and Member States to prohibit the use of pesticides which are harmful for bees, as for instance neonicotinoids like imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 358 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the European Food Safety Authority to draw up an international inventory to evaluate the emerging health risks in beekeeping.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 366 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Underlines that it is of utmost importance to improve the living and feeding conditions for all wild and endangered animals and plants in the agricultural landscape and to preserve and improve biodiversity;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 381 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Underlines that the best protection of bees is to preserve abiotic resources, in particular soil and waters;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 384 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Urges to improve the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats within and in the surrounding of agricultural landscapes, to increase biodiversity on agricultural land and in particular to ensure the ecological benefits of extensive permanent pastures;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 387 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14e. Urges to protect basic ecosystem services of pollination by relying on current scientific knowledge regarding the damage and susceptibility of honey bees as well as on the precautionary principle; urges that protective measures should be extended to wild pollinators, as these play a crucial role with regard to pollination services;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 393 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)
14f. Urges the Commission to collect analyses on the threat for wild bees in the EU and to develop strategies in order to stop the decimation of wild bees;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 396 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Expects the Member States and the Commission to force honey-producers in non-EU countries who use dishonest methods and EU packagers and traders who wilfully mix adulterated, imported honey with high-quality European honey to comply with EU law, or to penalise them;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 404 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to develop an official data base of honeys to categorise their origin using a common method of analysis.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 405 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Urges the Commission to ensure greater harmonisation by introducing common and binding specifications for honey production so as to facilitate the detection of fraud and guarantee the traceability of honey for consumers.
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 407 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Suggests making honey packaging plants which also process imported honey subject to EU food safety monitoring; this might be achieved by amending Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 420 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Asks the Commission to put forward a proposal incorporating honey into the scope of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;deleted
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 434 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Asks that the ‘blend of EC and non- EC honeys’ descriptor be replaced by an indication of exactly which country or countries the honeys used in the final products come from and that these be listed in the order which corresponds to the proportions used in the final product with percentage numbers for the proportion of honey from every country;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 436 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Asks that the ‘blend of EC and non- EC honeys’ descriptor on labels be replaced by an indication of exactly which country or countries the honeys used in the final products come from and that these be listed in the order which corresponds to the proportions usede proportion from each of those countries, as a percentage, in the final product;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 444 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Requests that the Commission amend the Honey Directive 2001/110/EC by means of a directive on apiculture products that circumscribes all such products:honey, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, pollen pellets, bee bread and bee venom;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 460 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Encouraging honey consumption and, promoting honey and therapeutic use of honey
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 461 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to draw up a report on the amount of honey consumed and consumption patterns in the EU along with a report on the various therapeutic practices employing honey, pollen, royal jelly and bee venom in the EU;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 462 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to draw up a report on the amount of honey consumed and consumption patterns in all member states of the EU;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 470 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Commission to allocate a specific sum from the EU’s promotional budget to advertising EU eating and therapeutic honey in the internal market;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 472 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. calls on the European Commission to include honey wax as a product, which can be covered by Regulation 1151/2012 because of the growing interest from the consumers and producers, as well as the long traditions in some member states in its production;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 475 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Calls for the Horizon2020 and Erasmus+ Programmes to nurture research and training in the field of apitherapy;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 478 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Asks the Commission to ensure that the EU declares honey and other bee products to be ‘sensitive products’ in free trade agreement negotiations and that they are excluded from the coverage of these agreements;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 480 #

2017/2115(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. calls on the European commission to consider introduction of the brand "Honey from Europe" for honey, which is produced by 100% honey collected in the member states of the European Union;
2017/09/12
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 4 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas everywhere, for more than 50 years, agricultural development supported by the CAP has favoured enlargement, concentration of holdings and strong capitalisation of production assets, making it difficult for some holdings to be passed on and/or accessible to young people, owing to the amounts of capital required in order to take them over;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 10 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas there is stiff competition for access to land between young people wishing to take up farming and farmers who are already well established, and in some cases, even between young people and investment firms which have started to take an interest in agriculture;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 15 #

2017/2088(INI)

Ac. whereas in the future a whole agricultural development model based on family farms is at risk;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 18 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the shortage of young people pursuing careers in farming is jeopardising the economic and social sustainability of rural areas and the EU's food self-sufficiency; whereas, for this reason, all European policies should encourage generational renewal, and the CAP should particularly do so in the agricultural sector;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the shortage of young people pursuing careers in farming is jeopardising the economic and social sustainability of rural areas and may jeopardise our food security and the way that farmers have provided us with food for centuries;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 27 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in the EU not all Member States have a genuine policy relating to setting-up in agriculture and not all of them use all the instruments that the CAP offers to support young farmers, especially the second-pillar measure on ‘business start-up aid for young farmers';
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 28 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas young women taking over the responsibility of management of a farming business represent only a small part of young farmers, but are however not a homogenous group and thus have different needs while starting this career;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas within the Union and in all Member States there are a fairly large number of farmers, both young and less young (over 40 years old), who set themselves up in business without any public aid, and whereas this situation should prompt us to reconsider the criteria for granting aid;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 31 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas supporting young farmers is a prerequisite for preserving agriculture across the EU and for keeping rural areas alive on the basis of a large number of diversified farms on a human scale, which create wealth and jobs, facilitating the integration of young people into working life, irrespective of whether the young people in question originally come from farming backgrounds;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 33 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas supporting young farmers is an indispensable prerequisite for preserving agriculture across the EU and for keeping rural areas alive and attractive, fostering the diversity of farms and promoting sustainable family farming;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas EU support for young farmers should be better targeted in order to ensure generational renewal and combat the decline in and concentration of holdings;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas generational renewal depends above all on a real desire on the part of (European and national) elected politicians and the relevant professionals, and particularly on older people; whereas that desire presupposes an ambitious and coherent overall policy - which is not genuinely the case today - involving both CAP tools and various national policy instruments in areas as diverse as land, financing, land tenure modes and farm structure policies, taxation, law of succession, pension schemes, training, etc.
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 61 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the maintenance of local public services (postal, medical, social, educational, cultural and transport) is essential to maintaining an attractive environment; whereas young people living in rural areas should have access to the same services as those in urban areas so as not to increase further the rural exodus and the territorial divide;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 77 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recommends that the support to the ‘Young Farmer Scheme’ should continue and the maximum level of national funding allocation be increased beyond 2 % in order to encourage generational renewal and the setting up of young people outside the family (who often experience additional difficulties);
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 79 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Proposes making it mandatory for Member States to implement as part of their rural development programmes start-up support measures for young farmers (young farmer grants) and measures to support farm modernisation, as provided for under the second pillar of the CAP, in order to enhance the financial support for people taking up farming;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 91 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Recommends that the limit placed on access to supports (currently five years from the establishment of the business) and the intervention logic should be reviewed in order to define more precisely and tangibly the objectives and the expected results and to encourage generational turnover;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it necessary to promote new forms of participatory financing in agriculture and those already observed within the EU on land piggybacking, which can be combined with these new financial instruments;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 117 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Draws attention to the opportunities for young farmers offered in the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds in addition to CAP support to design and implement financial instruments in the form of loan, guarantee or equity funds in order to provide access to finance to those in need;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 136 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for consultancy support to be made systematically available, particularly for young people not from rural areas;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 140 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Is disappointed at the lack of coordination between payments for young farmers and the set-up support measure, which are managed by different authorities;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 142 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls on the Commission to develop a more holistic approach enabling greater synergies between pillar I and pillar II supports, and stresses that the latter should be implemented by all Member States;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 165 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that access to land is the largest barrier to new entrants to farming in Europe and is limited by the low supply of land for sale or rent in many regions, as well as by the competition from other farmers, investors and residential users; considers that the land access problem is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which requires minimal active use of the land and allocates subsidies largely on the basis of land ownership; believes that the existing farmersbelieves that some farmers, whether owners or tenants, are incentivised to retmain land accessactive in order to retain subsidy access instead of ensuring the best use ofcontinue to benefit from subsidies by using service providers to enhance their land or by doing the minimum of work on their land; recommends capping support and increasing the activity levels required to receive payments and to target subsidy payments towards the achievement of particular outcomes (e.g. real working time spent farming, production of specific environmental or social goods);
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 172 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that access to land is the largest barrier to new entrants to farming in Europe and is limited by the low supply of land for sale or rent in many regions, as well as by the competition from other farmers, investors and residential users; considers that the land access problem is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which requires minimal active use of the land and allocates subsidies largely on the basis of land ownership; believes that the existing farmers are incentivised to retain land access in order to retain subsidy access instead of ensuring the best use of the land, leading to the gradual disappearance of family farming; recommends increasing the activity levels required to receive payments and to target subsidy payments towards the achievement of particular outcomes (e.g. production of specific environmental or social goods) and to move to a system combining support per hectare with support per worker;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 174 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that access to land is the largest barrier to new entrants to farming in Europe and is limited by the low supply of land for sale or rent in many regions, as well as by the competition from other farmers, investors and residential users; considers that the land access problem is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which requires minimal active use of the land and allocates subsidies largely on the basis of land ownership; believes that the existing farmers are incentivised to retain land access in order to retain subsidy access instead of ensuring the best use of the land; recommends increasing sustainably and in an ecologically responsible way the activity levels required to receive payments and to target subsidy payments towards the achievement of particular outcomes (e.g. production of specific environmental or social goods);
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 178 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages more active national policies to regulate farmland and reduce the impact of speculation on farmland as much as possible, and for those policies to be better coordinated with EU recommendations on access to land with best practices;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 179 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages more active national policies with EU recommendations on access to land with best practice, based on national farm structure policies that make it possible for newly available land to be freed up for new facilities rather than for enlargements;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 184 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for more aid to be directed towards isolated or less populated areas, or areas affected by insufficient generational renewal;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 186 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission to produce an evaluation of the direct and indirect impact of land and farmland repurchase by non-EU residents on the availability and price of farmland;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 188 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Proposes legislative action to enable the establishment of national programmes aimed at facilitating land mobility and succession planning services; through farmland clearing houses, schemes for the mentoring of young farmers by retiring farmers who wish to pass their farm onto a young farmer, progressive farm transfer schemes to help transfer farms over time, tax incentives to boost the pension levels of retiring farmers who wish to help a young farmer get started...
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 190 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on all the Member States to introduce assistance for the transfer of farms in an effort to support farm managers over the age of 55 and without successors, who can find themselves in a precarious situation when the time comes to retire, on the condition that they hand over all or part of their farm to one or more young person(s);
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that a proper definition of an active farmer, taking account of the work factor, will help generational renewal, drive structural change and aid land mobility;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 207 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that in many Member States the generational renewal and the access of young people to agricultural land is hindered by late succession; considers that the current CAP lacks any incentives for older farmers to pass their businesses to younger generations; recommends reconsidering the implementation of measures that would motivate older holders to pass their farms to young farmers, such as the ‘farm-exit scheme’ and other incentives for retirement, so that lands do not all fall into the hands of neighbouring farms; points out the need for legal structures such as the 'Groupements Agricoles d'Exploitation en Commun' (GAEC), which can help young people to set up business together and ease transfer between generations;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 214 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that in many Member States the generational renewal and the access of young people to agricultural land is hindered by late succession; considers that the current CAP lacks any incentives for older farmers to pass their businesses to younger generations; recommends reconsidering the implementation of measures that would motivate older holders to pass their farms to young farmers, such as the ‘farm-exit scheme’ and other incentives for a retirement, conditional on the transfer of the farm to a young person;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 226 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. notes the difference in the situation between generation renewal within the family and new entrants; believes that vocational training and courses must be adapted to those who plan to take over the family business or to those who plan to start a new business, according to their needs;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 227 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. stresses that young women should be encouraged to take on the responsibility of management in agriculture and should be given adequate support in terms of access to land, credit and further knowledge of rules and regulations;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 234 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Takes the view that national land, urban and land-use planning (e.g. transport infrastructure) policies should take account of the practices of land waste and abandonment, and bring this land back into the agricultural sector so as to make more farmable land available to young farmers setting up;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 240 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Takes the view that the EU should have land quality laws, given that land quality is deteriorating as a result of unsuitable agricultural development; this land deterioration affects the land market and land prices, but also reduces the production capacity of lands passed on to future generations of farmer;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 249 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that a proper definition of active farmer willand a task-based distribution of aid could help generational renewal, driveby bringing about structural change and aidboosting land mobility;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 257 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that there is a need to modernise and give greater value to the vocational training provided in rural regions; believes that access to the European Social Fund (ESF) should be facilitated and an increased budget given to vocational training in rural areas;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 272 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Takes the view that young people wishing to set up a farm should not only be properly trained, but should also have experience from outside their own environment in the form of apprenticeships, in particular outside their country of origin; takes the view that this experience could not only be profitable on a personal level, but could also be useful in the setting-up and development of their future business;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 279 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Takes the view that a welcoming environment should be created for young people in the farming industry, via collective and solidary-based structures such as the joint farming groups of an agricultural enterprise (farmers' societies), cooperatives for the use of communal agricultural equipment , cooperatives for the processing and marketing of agricultural products, labour-sharing groups, replacement services, mutual assistance groups, agricultural extension and innovation groups, farmers' and consumers' associations, networks between agricultural and non-agricultural actors (LEADER) ...; these kinds of organisation help professionals to share experience, advice and certain expenses, which is important for the budget and revenue of young people, who often have to pay significant start-up costs;
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 283 #

2017/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Takes the view that generational renewal depends on the attractiveness of the farming profession, but in particular on its capacity to generate an income for those who wish to make a living from it; for agriculture to be viable, the CAP must allow for a certain level of market regulation, in particular when the markets are not functioning well and are causing crises; the current deregulation of markets is having a negative impact on the development of agriculture, is turning young people away from agriculture, and is having a serious impact on the young people who have already set up farms and have huge debts as a result of their start- up costs.
2018/01/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2017/2053(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas tax evasion and tax avoidance illegally deprive the public purse of resources and render EU countries less able to raise money and implement their economic and social policies; whereas this results in cuts in public services and a less efficient economy;
2018/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 169 #

2017/2053(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Points out that combating tax evasion and tax avoidance represents a budgetary cost of EUR 1000 billion per year; maintains that there is a need to recoup uncollected tax revenue by means of a coordinated policy to combat tax evasion and avoidance via a framework based on transparency, cooperation and coordination;
2018/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 59 #

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that Brexit will have a projected impact of between EUR 3.8 and EUR 4.1 billion a year on the CAP, and calls therefore onasks the Commission to compensate for this loss by finding alternative forms of financing, for example bydeveloping the system of own resources and increasing Member States’ contributions as a percentage of gross national income; stresses the need to increase funding in line with responses to the various cyclical crises in sensitive sectors such as milk, pork, fruits and vegetables, and to create instruments that can mitigate price volatility;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 70 #

2017/2052(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the next MFF should enable the Union to provide solutions and emerge strengthened from the crises of the decade: the economic and financial downturn, rising inequalities, the phenomenon of migration and refugees, climate change and natural disasters, terrorism and instability, to name but a few; underlines that these global, cross-border challenges with domestic implications reveal the interdependency of our economies and societies, and point to the need for joint actions;believes that the next MFF should address the challenge of the digital transformation of European society and economy and help citizens, businesses and public administrations to benefit from it; underlines that these global, cross-border challenges with domestic implications reveal the interdependency of our economies and societies, and point to the need for joint actions; believes in this context that the newt MFF should develop new tools aiming to anticipate and accompany structural mutations, namely in branches undergoing industrial restructuring.
2018/02/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 83 #

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to keep direct payments intactand grant them greater legitimacy, as they help to avoid distortions of competition between Member States, and to maintain them without any national co-financing; urges the Commission to continue the process of convergence of direct payments between Member States;
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that the duration of the next MFF should be as long as possible (at least seven yearsten years, with a mid-term review), in order to ensure the predictability and stability of CAP funding.
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 134 #

2017/2052(INI)

7a. Regrets that the first four scenarios set out by the Commission in its white paper of March 2017 represent a decline in the EU's positions; underlines that the fifth scenario must be the starting point for reflection on the budget post 2020.
2017/11/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 215 #

2017/2052(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Considers that the use of the EGF, providing EU solidarity and support to workers losing their jobs as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns arising from globalisation or as a result of the global economic and financial crisis, has not lived up to expectations and needs to be improved in order to refocus on the purpose it was originally intended, to improve its coordination with the structural funds, and to integrate its activation within a structuring, long-term strategy ; points out, inter alia, that the procedures for implementing support from the EGF are too time- consuming and cumbersome; believes that a revised EGF should be endowed with at least an identical annual allocation under the new MFF; is moreover convinced that the scope of the EGF should be widened to encompass workers losing their jobs as a result of structural changes in the production patterns due to the need to fight against climate changes and to implement the COP21 objectives
2018/02/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 426 #

2017/2052(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
77. Affirms that the common agricultural policy is fundamental for food security and autonomy, the preservation of rural populations, sustainable development and the provision of high-quality and affordable food products for Europeans; points out the necessity of having a common agriculture policy supporting farmers’ income security, environment, climate and health ; points out that food requirements have increased, as has the need to develop environmentally friendly farming practices and the need to tackle climate change; underlines that the CAP is one of the most integrated policies and is mainly financed at EU level and, therefore, replaces national spending;
2018/02/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 481 #

2017/2052(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
81. Stresses that cohesion policy post- 2020 should remain the main investment policy of the European Union in order to tackle complex socio-economic challenges covering all EU regions while concentrating the majority of the resources on the most vulnerable ones; believes that, beyond the goal of reducing the disparities between levels of development and enhancing convergence as enshrined in the Treaty, it should focus on the achievement of the broad EU political objectives and proposes, therefore, that under the next MFF, the three cohesion policy funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund – should concentrate mainly on providing support for innovation, digitalisation, reindustrialisa transition, SMEs, transport, climate change adaptation, employment and social inclusionand mitigation, environment, energy, infrastructuring, employment, education, including vocational education and training, social inclusion and capacity building, social inclusion and gender equality; recalls, in this context, the need for further integrated synergies in order to foster comprehensive, trans-sectorial strategies; calls, moreover, for a reinforced territorial cooperation component and an urban dimension for the policy and dedicated provisions for area with geographic specificities, such as rural, mountainous and remote areas;
2018/02/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 528 #

2017/2052(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
83. Is strongly committed to the delivery of Social Europe and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, into the secondary legislation through binding sectorial measures and points to the existing instruments contributing to these goals, notably the ESF, the Youth Employment Initiative, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, the EGF and EaSI; believes that they should be safeguarded in the next MFF;
2018/02/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 2 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the proposed EUR 59,5 billion in commitments which represent a 1,7 % increase compared to 2017, and a 2,6 % increase in payments amounting to EUR 56,3 billion under the Draft Budget (DB) 2018 for Heading 2; notes, however, that the increase is mainly attributable to the lower amount of assigned revenue estimated to be available to the EAGF in the DB 2018 compared to the 2017 budget, and that commitment appropriations for the EAFRD basically remain at the same level as in the 2017 budgetmongst others as last instalments of significant past clearance decisions are due in 2017;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 5 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that Parliament's reading of the 2018 Budget fully reflects the political priorities adopted by an overwhelming majority in its abovementioned resolutions of 15 March 2017 on general guidelines and of 5 July 2017 on a mandate for the trilogue; recalls that jobs, sustainable growth and security are at the core of those priorities;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes that commitment appropriations for the EAFRD basically remain at the same level as in the 2017 budget, while the requested payment appropriations are actually increasing;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 7 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that the main reason for no significant changes in the DB 2018 compared to Budget 2017 is that the majority of CAP expenditure concerns pre-allocated MS envelopes which show a relatively stable level of execution of the support over the years;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 8 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Notes that the 2017 budget includes the financing for the EUR 500 million solidarity package for the dairy and other livestock sectors, while the decrease of this market measure will not have an impact on the 2018 budget;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 10 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the Union continues to face numerous challenges and is convinced that the necessary financial resources need to be deployed from the Union budget and not increasingly through innovative financial instruments (blending), in order to meet the political priorities and allow the Union to deliver answers and effectively respond to those challenges;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that administrative costs have to be secured for the Common Agricultural Policy, especially to guarantee timely payments and to maintain adequate levels of effective control; insists that further cuts in administrative staff numbers can lead to higher delays and risks of error and should not jeopardise the implementation of the CAP;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 15 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Asks the Commission to ensure uniform application of the criteria of the active farmers clause with a view to the simplified but more reliable identification of these farmers;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 18 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the importance of the rural development commitments and spending and their potential for the creation of jobs in areas of higher unemployment, especially for the younger generations; insists that the initiatives targeting young farmers, which support innovation and generation renewal, should be maintained;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor, in a timely manner, the price volatility of agricultural products, which has adverse effects on farmers' incomes, and to react promptly and effectively when needed;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 22 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses its political support for the establishment of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and welcomes the legislative proposal put forward in this regard by the Commission; considers, however, that, pending a decision on the financing of the ESC and the adoption of the relevant regulation under the ordinary legislative procedure, no financial provision should be entered for this purpose in the 2018 Budget; decides, therefore, that relevant appropriations and redeployments, entered by the Commission in the Draft Budget 2018 (DB), should be for the moment reversed, as the decision on the 2018 Budget should not prejudge in any way the outcome of the legislative negotiations; remains fully committedexpresses its wish to integrate the decision on ESC financing in next year’s budget immediately via an amending budget, in case the negotiations on the relevant regulation are not concluded before the end of the 2018 budgetary procedure;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Welcomes that the reserve for crises in the agricultural sector is part of the DB 2018;calls on the Commission to reconsider the existing crisis reserve system, and to create a new instrument that enables rapid political intervention in the event of a crisis and does not rely on an annual financial discipline mechanism for its funding;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 26 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that Brexit could have a significant financial impact on agriculture; calls on the Commission to take into consideration the higher budgetary risk and to start looking for new financial resources for the EU budget as proposed by Mr Monti's High-Level Group without delay;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 28 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the cohesion policy plays a primary role in the development and growth of the Union; stresses that in 2018, cohesion policy programmes are expected to catch-up and reach cruising speed; and emphasises Parliament’s commitment to ensuring adequate appropriations for those programmes that represent one of the core policies of the Union; is however preoccupied by the unacceptable delays in the implementation of operational programmes at national level; calls on Member States to ensure that the designation of managing, auditing and certifying authorities is concluded and implementation is accelerated; calls furthermore on the Commission to go further on the simplification of the related procedures;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 33 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of pilot projects to the agricultural and rural development sectors in recent years; therefore asks for continued support for ongoing and new pilot projects; insists that the Commission should launch calls for projects as soon as pilot projects for Parliament are adopted;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to take into consideration the modifications put forward in the Omnibus proposal for modernising and simplifying the CAP and to secure finance for them in the 2018 budget;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 39 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that it is essential that funds earmarked for research in the agri- food sector, in particular from the Horizon 2020 budget, remain fully available as such in order to stimulate innovation and smart solutions in the agricultural and rural development sectors; highlights the fact that these 'smart' solutions should maintain coherence with environment, climate and biodiversity policy objectives, ensure close cooperation with relevant stakeholders from all Member States, and incentivise and support initiatives tailored to the needs of smallholdings without economies of scale so that they may benefit from new technologies; notes that integrated 'smart' solutions – such as smart villages, precision farming, digitalisation, the shared and circular economy, and social initiatives – can contribute to agriculture and overall well- being in rural areas; urges the Commission to plan funding for 'smart' approaches in the light of the CAP reform and the Cork 2.0 Declaration;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 40 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that it is essential that funds earmarked for research in the agri- food sector, in particular from the Horizon 2020 budget, remain fully available as such in order to stimulate innovation and smart solutions in the agricultural and rural development sectors, as is the case with funds from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to enable broadband to be installed in rural areas;
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 50 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes that Brexit has no direct impact on the 2018 Draft Budget; regrets however that the Reflection paper on the future of EU finances1a is drawing up some critical scenarios for agriculture and rural development partly due to the departure of the UK; therefore calls on the Commission and the Member States to show responsibility towards the CAP budget during the ongoing discussions. _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publicati ons/reflection-paper-future-eu- finances_en
2017/07/19
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 53 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Regrets that, while preparing its position, Parliament has not been sufficiently informed about the budgetary impact of a possible political decision to extend the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRT); reiterates its longstanding position that new initiatives shall not be financed to the detriment of existing EU external projects; calls therefore on the Commission, in the event of the prolongation of the FRT, to propose its financing through fresh means and through more direct cooperation with local NGOs; notes that the Heading 4 ceiling is vastly insufficient to provide a sustainable and effective response to the current external challenges, including the migration and refugee crisis;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 77 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the importance of stimulating cooperative defence research in Europe for addressing key capability shortfalls at a time when international developments and uncertainties increasingly require Europe to step up its efforts on defence; fully supports the increased allocation for the Preparatory Action on defence research; reiterates, nevertheless, its longstanding position that new initiatives should be financed through fresh appropriations and not at the expense of existing EU programmes;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 99 #

2017/2044(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Is convinced that, in order to effectively tackle security concerns of Union citizens, the budget of the Internal Security Fund must be boosted to equip the Member States better in the fight against terrorism, cross-border organised crime, radicalisation and cybercrime; underlines, in particular, that sufficient resources must be provided for reinforcing security infrastructures and boosting information- sharing between law enforcement agencies and national authorities, including through improving the interoperability of information systems while guarantying at the same time respect to individual rights and liberties;
2017/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 2 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that in its resolution of 15 March 2017, Parliament confirmed that growth, jobs and securitydecent, quality and stable jobs, socio-economic cohesion and convergence, security, energy transition, migration and climate change are the core issues and main priorities for the 2018 EU budget;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 4 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the importance of agriculture and rural development in delivering a number of EU objectives, such as in the areas of food security, job creation, the environment and territorial balance, and the fact that agriculture and rural development constitute an important part of the overall EU budget; recognizes the role of the European Institutions in the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy; recalls that spending on agriculture has declined in relative terms and now accounts for around 38 % of the EU budget;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 7 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the Member States to fully exploit the programming tools available under the current financial period on behalf of agriculture and rural development; urges the Commission to further ensure the smooth implementation of these programs;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that in general terms the Commission proposal corresponds to Parliament’s view that the 2018 EU budget must enable the EU to continue to generate growth and jobs while ensuring the security of its citizen, decent jobs, socio-economic convergence and energy transition while ensuring the security of its citizens, facing the challenge of climate change and addressing the migration challenges;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that in general terms the Commission proposal corresponds to Parliament’s view that the 2018 EU budget must enable the EU to continue to generate growthsustainable growth, public investment and jobs while ensuring the security of its citizens;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. IStresses the important role of the crisis reserves; insists that any funds from the 2017 budget that are allocated to the agricultural sector crisis reserve through the financial discipline mechanism and are left unspent be made available in full as direct payments in the 2018 budget in accordance with Article 26(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 14 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that the points covered by the 'omnibus package' make the implementation potential higher, and that these points should find appropriate reflection in the 2018 budget; highlights that the budgetary implementation has to meet with the improved potential of this simplification; calls for sufficient funds to be made available in order to implement all elements of the CAP simplification; stresses that the simplification of the CAP should also ensure the further reduction of error rates in the use of the funds, while the positive changes also have to mean end user simplifications; supports all steps made towards the performance based approach;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 22 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Insists that the initiatives targeting young farmers should be maintained, which supports innovation and generation renewal;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 24 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. UHighlights the continuing imbalances in the food supply chain, in which the position of primary producers is considerably weaker than that of other actors; urges the Commission to incentivise the creation of producer organisations as one of several means of tackling unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, and recalls its repeated requests for EU legislation in this regard;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its firm conviction that in order to achieve sustainable growth and quality and decent job creation in the EU, investments in research, innovation, infrastructure, education and SMEs are key; welcomes in this respect the proposed reinforcements to Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Erasmus+ as these programmes will contribute directly to reaching these goals; regrets, however, that the proposed allocation for COSME is lower in comparison with the 2017 budget and points to the need to further reinforce SMEs, which are the main source of job creation in the EU and have a crucial role in reducing the investment gap and contributing to the prosperity of the EU; Underlines that a reinforced Youth guarantee would contribute to achieve sustainable growth and quality and decent job creation in the EU;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 29 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its firm conviction that in order to achieve sustainable growth, public investment and job creation in the EU, investments in research, innovation, infrastructure, education and SMEs are key; welcomes in this respect the proposed reinforcements to Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Erasmus+ as these programmes will contribute directly to reaching these goals; regrets, however, that the proposed allocation for COSME is lower in comparison with the 2017 budget and points to the need to further reinforce SMEs, which are one of the main sources of job creation in the EU and have a crucialn important role in reducing the investment gap and contributing to the prosperity of the EU;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Insists that adequate amount of resources are provided for controls in food chain, with a particular attention to trade relations and the equal food nutrient contents throughout the EU;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 36 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that opportunities offered by ‘smart’ solutions should be further analysed and exploitedzed and exploited; notes that integrated 'smart' solutions - such as smart villages which cover precision farming, digitalisation, shared and circular economy, social aspects as well - can contribute to the overall well-being in rural areas; points out that villages need to be considered to ensure economically viable, attractive for living and environmentally sustainable rural areas; welcomes the existing and future projects which are targeting this approach; urges the Commission to plan reserve for the smart approaches in the light of the CAP reform and the Cork 2.0 Declaration;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Commends the role of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) in bridging the investment gap across the EU and between the EU's territories and helping to implement strategic, transformative and productive investments that provide a high level of added value to the economy, the environment and society, and supports its extension until 2020; underlines its position in the on-going legislative negotiations that no further cuts should be incurred on existing EU programmes in order to finance this extension;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 43 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Points out that active organizations in rural development (such as Local Action Groups) might face difficulties in accessing bank guarantees, which is a prerequisite for benefits from advance payments on running and animation cost; urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure the smooth implementation of the community based approaches;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 48 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the creation of new market observatories for crops and sugar; considers that new observatories coveringwhile recognising the Commission's effort to continue the reform aiming at further boosting the fruits and vegetables would be beneficial to thosesector, considers that producers groups and observatories covering this sectors and, together with the milk and meat sectors might be beneficial; notes that market observatories, would can make agricultural markets more transparent by giving a more precise overlook on sectors;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. WelcomNotes the EU initiatives in the field of defence research, which will contribute to achieving economies of scale in the sector and thus lead to greater coordination among Member States in the field; stresses, however, that this activity should be endowed with fresh resources, as it is a new political initiative with a significant impact on the EU budget;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 54 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the importance of pilot projects to the Committee and, on behalf of the agricultural and the rural development sectors in recent years and asks for continued support, especially for those ongoing projects that have proved very successful;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Recognises the role of financial resources in alleviating any impacts resulting from price volatility; notes also that a sector specific income stabilisation tool based on a mutual fund is an appropriate approach; insists further that some specific agricultural sub-sectors and initiatives, such as bee-keeping and the school milk and fruit programmes are in need of staying in focus;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that the Commission has not followed up on Parliament’s request to put forward an assessment and relevant proposals for an ‘18th Birthday Interrail Pass for Europe’; is convinced that this proposal has the potential to boost European consciousness and identity and can serve as a concrete example of European added value; strongly reiterates its previous call on the Commission to put forward relevant proposals in this regarunderlines, once more, that without additional resources, such new expenditures cannot be considered;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 60 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Asks that sufficient funds be earmarked for EU veterinary and phyto- sanitary actions; stresses that the current appropriation of EUR 20 million may not be sufficient to cover an increased number of epidemics such as avian influenza, lumpy skin disease and fresh outbreaks of Xylella fastidiosa.; notes that other risk management tools, in case of environmental incidents, market related hazards or revenue variations have also to be further maintained;
2017/04/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. RegretsTakes note that the Commission has not followed up on Parliament’s request to put forward an assessment and relevant proposals for an ‘18th Birthday Interrail Pass for Europe’; is convinced that this proposal has the potential to boost European consciousness and identity and can serve as a concrete example of European added value; strongly reiterates its previous call on the Commission to put forward relevant proposals in this regard;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 70 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that the draft budget 2018 includes an additional allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), responding thus to Parliament’s previous calls for the continuation of the programme, but highlights that this amount is clearly insufficient for the YEI to reach its goals; notes, in parallel, the proposal for draft amending budget 3/2017 that integrates the provision of EUR 500 million in commitments for YEI, as agreed upon by Parliament and the Council in the 2017 budgetary conciliation; is convinced that while the proposed amounts alone will not be sufficient to tackle youth unemployment, YEI will continue to contribute to the Union’s priority objective of growth and jobs; underlines that YEI canneeds to be further improved andin order to become more efficient;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 73 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that the draft budget 2018 includes an additional allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), responding thus to Parliament’s previous calls for the continuation of the programme; notes, in parallel, the proposal for draft amending budget 3/2017 that integrates the provision of EUR 500 million in commitments for YEI, as agreed upon by Parliament and the Council in the 2017 budgetary conciliation; is convinced that while the proposed amounts alone will not be sufficient to tackle youth unemployment, YEI will continue to contribute to the Union’s priority objective of growth and jobs; calls for the generalisation of YEI to all NEETs in the EU; underlines that YEI can be further funded, improved and become more efficient;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 81 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that in 2018, cohesion policy programmes are expected to reach cruising speed and emphasises Parliament’s commitment to ensuring adequate appropriations for these programmes that represent one of the core policies of the EU; is however preoccupied by the unacceptable delays in the implementation of operational programmes at national level; calls on Member States to ensure that the designation of managing, auditing and certifying authorities is concluded and implementation is accelerated;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 84 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Is particularly concerned at the possible reconstitution of a backlog of unpaid bills towards the end of the current MFF period, and recalls the unprecedented amount of EUR 24.7 billion reached at the end of 2014; welcomes the fact that the Commission, on the occasion of the MFF mid-term revision, provided a payment forecast until 2020 for the first time, but stresses that this needs to be duly updated every year, in order to allow the budgetary authority to take the necessary measures in time; warns of the severe consequences that a payment crisis would have especially in the field of humanitarian operations and on beneficiaries of the EU budget such as students, universities, SMEs, researchers, NGOs, local and regional authorities and other relevant entities; is convinced that the credibility of the EU is also linked to its ability to ensure an adequate level of payment appropriations in the EU budget that will allow it to deliver on its commitments;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 90 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Reiterates that citizens' security and safety is an EU priority which concern the preservation of peace and border security as well as food security and energy security; questions therefore the proposed cuts in Heading 3 compared to the 2017 Budget which do not seem to be in line with the EU pledge to enforce security and tackle terrorism;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 92 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates that while growthsustainable growth, public investment and jobs should remain the underlying priority of the EU budget, obtaining sustainable progress in these fields will be impossible if the citizens feel unsafe or insecure; emphasises, moreover, that the unprecedented mobilisation of special instruments has shown that the EU budget was not initially designed to address the magnitude of the migration and refugee crisis; believes that moving to a post-crisis approach is premature given the volatility of the situation in the EU Neighbourhood and the terrorist threat within the EU; questions therefore the proposed cuts in Heading 3 compared to the 2017 Budget which do not seem to be in line with the EU pledge to deal in an efficient manner with the migration and refugee crisis, enforce security and tackle terrorism and radicalisationnot safe;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 100 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Emphasises, moreover, that the unprecedented mobilisation of special instruments has shown that the EU budget was not initially designed to address the magnitude of the migration and refugee crisis; believes that moving to a post-crisis approach is premature given the volatility of the situation in the EU Neighbourhood and the terrorist threat within the EU; questions therefore the proposed cuts in Heading 3 compared to the 2017 Budget which do not seem to be in line with the EU pledge to deal in an efficient manner with the migration and refugee crisis, enforce security and tackle terrorism and radicalisation;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 102 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Reaffirms that tackling the root causes of the migratory and refugee crisis represent thea long-term sustainable solution, along with stabilisation of the EU neighbourhoods, and that investments in the countries of origin of migrants and refugees are key to achieving this objective; stresses, moreover, that a possible reform of the Dublin Regulation could require additional budgetary means; notes therefore with surprise the decreases in Heading 4 which cannot be fully justified in the framework of past budgetary increases or low implementation rate; is convinced that the EU cannot enter in a post-migratory crisihallenges scenario yet and that the efforts to address the instability in the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood must be enhanced;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 116 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the increase proposed for the eastern component of the European Neighbourhood Instrument responding to Parliament’s previous calls; is convinced that in order to counter the activities of an increasingly aggressive Russian Federationstabilise this neighbourhood and to reaffirms the inviolability of the borders, the EU’s support, especially for the countries that have signed Association Agreements, is essential;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 118 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the draft budget 2018 leaves very limited margins or no margin under the MFF ceilings throughout Headings 1a, 1b, 3, 4 and 5; considers this as a logical consequence of an undersized overall level of the current MFF, which has been effectively reduced compared to the previous programming period, and the significant new initiatives taken since 2014 (EFSI, migration-related proposals, and lately defence research and the European Solidarity Corps), which have been squeezed within the MFF ceilings agreed in 2013; calls, once again, for the introduction of new genuine own resources in the EU budget; recalls also that the MFF, in particular, once its revision is finalised by the Council, provides for flexibility provisions which, albeit limited, should be used to their fullest in order to maintain the level of ambition of successful programmes and tackle the new challenges; expresses Parliament’s intention to further mobilise such flexibility provisions as part of the amending process;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 141 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Takes note of the Commission’s proposal to set up a European Solidarity Corps (ESC); notes, however, with concern that, despite Parliament’s warnings, the legislative proposal adopted on 30 May 2017 envisages that three fourths of the ESC budget would be financed by redeployments from existing programmes, and mainly from Erasmus+ (EUR 197.7 million); is concerned by the risk that this situation would pose to those EU programmes; recalls its position that new priorities should be financed through additional resources;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 161 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to fund the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative and notes the proposed mobilisation of EUR 233.3 million from the global margin for commitments; expresses its intention to further reinforce this programme in the 2018 budget; recalls that any increase in the dedicated allocation for YEI should be matched with the corresponding amounts from the European Social Fund (ESF);
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 189 #

2017/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Takes noteRegrets of the overall decrease of financing for Heading 4, amounting to EUR 9.6 billion (-5.6 % compared with the 2017 budget) in commitment appropriations; notes that the decreases in the main Heading 4 instruments are largely linked with past reinforcements, approved in the 2017 budget, for the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRT) and the New Partnership Framework under the European agenda on migration;
2017/06/21
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 6 #

2017/2039(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas ILO estimates the total needed investment to fully reach the targets of the Youth Guarantee scheme in the EU to 45 billion euros per year;
2017/10/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2017/2039(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that in order to develop a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeship as a way to boost the fight against the youth unemployment, the structural funds could be deployed in a more targeted manner for the financing of Vocational Education and Training (VET) centres as well as any relevant action undertaken to support apprenticeships; and depending on the regional level of development, this support should be more saliently reflected in the investment priorities of the European Social Fund (for the apprentice’s work compensation and the social security coverage) as well as of the European Regional Development Fund as regards the provision of infrastructure and equipment for the VET centres.
2017/10/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 15 #

2017/2039(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to ensure consistency in youth employment investments by mergingencouraging synergies between available sources and creating a single set ofholistic guide of the different existing rules resulting in a greater impact, synergies, effectiveness and simplification on the ground; recalls in this regard the priority to reduce the administrative burden for managing authorities in order to foster public investments and to avoid under-implementation resulting in funds redirected to Member-States as for the ESI funds;
2017/10/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 19 #

2017/2039(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to improve the planning of the post-2020 youth employment investments by applying the approach used in programming the ESI Funds, where funding is subject to comprehensive preliminary planning and indicative- oriented ex-ante conditionalities in order to guarantee the coherence of the different programmes;
2017/10/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2017/2039(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls, moreover, on the Commission to redesign the current evaluation mechanism by focusing on outcome criteria and performance audits in an ameliorative, not sclerosive perspective.
2017/10/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 23 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights Parliament's role in building European political awareness and promoting the Union values;
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 73 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the communication campaign as a helpful effort to explain the purpose of the Union and the Parliament to the citizens; underlines, however, that this campaign should be limited to explaining the role of the European Union and the Parliament;
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 83 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. ConsidersTakes note of the total amount proposed for the communication campaign for the 2019 elections to be too high, with EUR 25 million of expenditure in 2018 and EUR 8,33 million in 2019; notes that with a higher amount of financial commitments are required in 2018, nevertheless considers that the distribution of appropriations could be adjusted by lowering spending in 2018;
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 137 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Considers that the loss of 136 posts from the Parliament’s Secretariat in 2016, due to the annual staff reduction and increase of political group staff posts, may create difficulties for the provision of services by the Parliament’s administration; calls on the Secretary- General to provide more information regarding staff reduction measures last year, and to evaluate the consequences of budgetary decisions on the functioning of the institution;deleted
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 148 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
32. Considers that interpretation and 32. translation are essential to the functioning of the House and acknowledges the quality and added value of services provided by the interpreters; re-iterates Parliament's position expressed in its abovementioned resolution of 14 April 2016 that the Secretary-General should make further rationalisation proposals, such as extending the use of translation and interpretation on demand, particularly for Intergroups of the European Parliament, as well as examining the potential efficiency gains from utilising latest language technologies, and assessing the impact of the revised framework for staff interpreters in improving resource- efficiency and productivity;
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 166 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Considers that recent controversies surrounding the funding of European political parties and political foundations have exposed weaknesses in existing management and control systems;deleted
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 172 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Believes that the entry into force of Regulations (EU) No 1141/201415 and (EU) No 1142/201416 will provide additional control mechanisms, such as the requirement to register with the Authority for European political parties and political foundations; considers however that there is further room for improvement to these measures; notes that parties and foundations will begin to apply for funding under the new rules in the budgetary year 2018; __________________ 15 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1). 16 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1142/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political parties (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 28).
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 173 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Highlights that a number of issues have been identified with the current system of co-financing, in which contributions and grants from the Parliament’s budget for both parties and foundations cannot exceed 85% of eligible expenditure, with the remaining 15% to be covered by own resources; notes for instance that shortfalls in membership contributions and donations are often balanced by contributions-in-kind, despite difficulties in determining both their value and their necessity in realising the work programme of a party or foundation;
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 176 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that European political parties and foundations should become more reliant on own resources and reduce their dependency on the Parliament’s budget; considers that the 85% upper limit of contributions or grants should be progressively lowered; maintains that an increasing reliance on own resources would lower the risk to the Parliament’s budget in recovering amounts erroneously or fraudulently spent;deleted
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 193 #

2017/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
43. Continues to question the added value of the LUX Prize, particularly given that the participants in a survey to determine the awareness and perception of the prize were largely limited to Members and film-makers;deleted
2017/03/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 62 #

2017/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that various support schemes designed to better take into account farming sustainability were introduced in the first and second pillars of the CAP under the last reforms; notes that these schemes will, in future, have to be continued, simplified and adapted to the reality on the ground by relying more on innovative practices implemented by farmers themselves, sometimes in partnerships, in order to support changes in agricultural development, thus leading to a gradual change in production models;
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 75 #

2017/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the significance of sustainable forest management in Europe, which secures jobs, generates added value and makes a crucial contribution to the achievement of biodiversity, climate and environmental protection targets; stresses the need to integrate the multiple uses of wood, so that the entire resource is developed;
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 92 #

2017/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out, nevertheless, that while the development of bioenergy can encourage rural development, it must be done sustainably and must not hamper the production of food and feed;
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2017/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes the view that, in future, the CAP should give greater support to agroecology and the forms of sustainable and quality agriculture related thereto, such as organic agriculture, integrated agriculture, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, etc.; considers that with reinvestment in sustainable technologies and the eco-agronomy, these forms of agriculture will make it possible to produce a large amount and better, based on an optimal enhancement of natural cycles and ecosystems, on fewer chemical inputs and more economical production systems;
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 131 #

2017/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers it essential to promote research, innovation, extension and training, in order to further gear the development of agriculture and forestry towards sustainability and the resulting technological changes and simultaneously to improve the economic, ecological and social performances of these two sectors;
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) meets the criteria for classification as carcinogenic (category 1B) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and therefore is a carcinogen as defined in Directive 2004/37/EC. It is possible, on the basis of available information, including scientific and technical data, to set a limit value for 4,4'- Methylenedianiline. The Committee identified for this carcinogen the possibility of significant uptake through the skin. It is therefore appropriate to establish a limit value in Part A of Annex III for 4,4'- Methylenedianiline and to set out a skin notation in Part B of Annex III to Directive 2004/37/EC indicating the possibility of significant dermal uptake.
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
(11) Ethylene dichloride (1,2- dichloroethane, EDC) meets the criteria for classification as carcinogenic (category 1B) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and therefore is a carcinogen as defined in Directive 2004/37/EC. It is possible, on the basis of the available information, including scientific and technical data, to set a limit value for ethylene dichloride. The Committee identified for ethylene dichloride the possibility of significant uptake through the skin. It is therefore appropriate to establish a limit value for ethylene dichloride in Part A of Annex III and to set out a skin notation in Part B of Annex III to Directive 2004/37/EC indicating the possibility of significant dermal uptake.
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 28 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article I – point 5 a
Work involving exposure to oils that have been used before in internal combustion engines to lubricate and cool the moving parts within the engine., more precisely used motor oils or used crankcase oils consist of blends of hydrocarbons including paraffins, naphthenics, and complex/alkylated polyaromatics and lubricating additives *. Work involving exposure to Diesel engine exhaust fumes. Work involving exposure to rubber dust and fumes. __________________ * as advised in SCOEL/OPIN/2016-405 Mineral Oils as Used Engine Oils Opinion from the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1a Review of limit values The limit values established in this Directive will be kept under review in the light of the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC58 and of the opinions of the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), in particular to take account of the interaction between limit values established in Directive 2004/37/EC and dose-response relations, actual exposure information, and, where available, DNELs (Derived No Effect Levels) derived for hazardous chemicals in accordance with that Regulation.
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 32 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Sunlight exposure For prolonged outdoor work under direct sunlight the following additional measures due to increased cancer risk must be taken: i) Information about health hazards of unprotected UV exposure; ii) Where possible, provision of shading over fixed workstations; iii) Provision of air-permeable UV-safe clothing and head covering; iv) Provision of protective eyewear/sunglasses and protective sunscreen agents.
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 33 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 2
79-01-6 201-167-4 Trichloroethylene 54.73.3 10 _ 164.1 30 _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 35 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 2
79-01-6 201-167-4 Trichloroethylene 54.7 10 0.6 _ 164.1 30 _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 2
79-01-6 201-167-4 Trichloroethylene 54.7 10 _ 164.13.2 30 _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 2
79-01-6 201-167-4 Trichloroethylene 54.7 10 _ 164.1 30 2.4 _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 42 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 6
107-06-2 203-458-1 Ethylene dichloride 8.24 2 _ _ _ _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 44 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 6
107-06-2 203-458-1 Ethylene dichloride 8.2 21 _ _ _ _
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 46 #

2017/0004(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex III – part A – table 1 – row 6 a (new)
Diesel engine 0,11a exhaust fumes __________________ 1a (measured as elemental carbon)
2017/06/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
A budget for growth, jobssustainable growth, jobs, social inclusion and security
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the important role played by the EU budget in delivering concrete answers to the challenges the EU is facing; stresses that jobs, economic growth, migration, security and tackling populismsocial inclusion, decent, quality and stable jobs, eradication of poverty, greening, economic growth and socio-economic convergence, migration, development, security are the main concerns at EU level and that the EU budget remains part of the solution to these issues; stresses that solidarity must stay an underlying principle of the EU budget; underlines that a strong EU budget will benefit Member States and EU citizens alike; expects that the Commission will put forward a draft 2018 budget that enables the EU to continue to generate prosperity and ensure the safety of its citizens;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 52 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the EU budget must be equipped with the tools to enable it to respond to multiple crises simultaneously; is of the opinion that, while growth and jobs continue to remain the core priorities of the EU budget, obtaining a sustainable development progress in these fields will not be possible should EU citizens not feel unsafe or insocial justice and secureity;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 64 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that enhancing the competitiveness of the EU economy is, a sound infrastructure, well-funded research, further support to developing skills of employees and the continued commitment of the EU to strengthen investment are keys to ensuring economic growth and job creation; believes that the creation of socially sustainable, well-paid jobs must be one of the main priorities of the EU budget; argues that jobs are created mainly by the private sector, and that adequate budgetary support therefore needs to be devoted to supporting both private sector investmentsand public investments, namely in the field of public service; consequently, underlines the importance of Heading 1a, which delivers real added value for European citizens and business, and calls for an increase of its share in the global budgetthe allocations for this heading in the budget 2018 in order to provide them the infrastructures they need;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 79 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that investments in research and innovation represent a pre- condition for achieving genuine competitiveness in the EU; regrets the fact that, as a result of an alarmingly low success rate of applications, fewer EU funding for the field of research and innovation is currently inadequate to cover the year on year increase in high- quality projects in the field of research and innovation are receiving EU fundingapplications received, resulting in a low success rate; calls in this respect for an adequppropriate level of appropriationsfunding to be ensured for Horizon 2020;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 99 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the important role and potential of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) in reducing the investment gap in Europe, and recognises the positive results achieved so far; welcomes also the Commission proposal for extending the EFSI until 2020, which will serve to further improve its functioning, especially as regards the additionality principle and the geographical balance, stresses, however, that further efforts are needed to follow the principles of additionality and geographical balance; believes more evidence needs to be presented about EFSI's delivering additionality; calls on the Commission to present an analysis of the added value of EFSI as part of its proposal for extending the EFSI until 2020, which it expects to reflect the above-mentioned principles and the role played by local and national promoting banks;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 131 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. WelcomNotes the proposal to launch an '18th birthday Interrail pass for Europe’; underlines that this project has the potential to become a key component in increasing European consciousness and identity, especially in the face of threats such as populism and the spread of misinformation'; stresses, however, that such a project should not be financed at the expense of other successful EU programmes and should be as socially inclusive as possible; intends to secure adequate financing for the programme in the 2018 budgetespecially in the field of youth and culture, should be as socially inclusive as possible; asks the Commission to assess the potential cost, interest and funding sources of this initiative;;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 154 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the importance of the European agricultural sector in maintaining food security in the European Union; expresses its full support to the farmers affected by the Russian embargo orthe avian flu, the dairy sector crisis, the meat crisis and severe climate-related losses; calls on the Commission therefore to continue to support farmers across Europe in coping with unexpected market volatility;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 168 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Is convinced that, under the current circumstances, where the ceiling in Heading 3 is too low, the EU budget has maximised its impact in dealing with the effects of the migratory and refugee crisihallenges; points out, however, that a sustainable solution must be found to this issue, as it has been shown by the repeated mobilisation of special instruments, such as the flexibility instrument, that the EU budget was not initially designed to address crises of such magnitude;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 189 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly supportsTakes note of the initiatives in the field of defence research with the aim of encouraging better cooperation between Member States stresses however that such an activity needs to be endowed with fresh resources as it is a new political initiative with a significant impact on the EU budget; ; recalls that, while respecting provisions enshrined in the Treaties, strengthened cooperation in the field of defence is needed in order to meet the security challenges that the EU is facing, which are generated by prolonged instability in the EU neighbourhood and uncertainty regarding the commitment of certain EU partners towards NATO objective stresses that any possible expenditure related to the activities of military/defence nature should be counted outside the Multiannual Financial Framework ceilings;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 195 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Recalls the need to provide adequate funding for programmes dealing with education, training and cultural and creative activities; stresses that programmes such as Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens have a key role in supporting cultural and creative industries as well as participatory citizenship; furthermore points to the importance securing sufficient resources for the programme Erasmus+ in order to stand up to Commissions commitment of increasing the student mobility;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 198 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Recalls the Parliament's commitment to the civilian nature of research funding in the legal bases of Horizon 2020 and the Galileo Programme, and the integrity of the European Research Area as having a civilian research mission; calls for any defence funding proposals to be entirely additional to and distinct from the EU's Research and Space Programmes in line with their legal bases;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 213 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Maintains its previous position that ad hoc external financial instruments such as Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRT) and Trust Funds which emerged in recent years must be incorporated into the EU budget, with Parliament having full scrutiny over the implementation of these instruments; stresses however that these instruments should not be financed by cuts in other existing instruments; takes note of the divergence between the promises and contribution to these funds by the Member states and urges Member states to stand by their promises to match the contributions of the EU;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 225 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Underlines that one of the conditions for preserving stability and prosperity in the EU is a stable EU Neighbourhood; calls on the Commission therefore to ensure that priority is given to investments in the EU Neighbourhood in order to support efforts to tackle the main issues that this area is facing: the migration and refugee crisis in the Southern Neighbourhood and Russian aggression in the Eastern Neighbourhood; reiterates that supporting countries which are implementing association agreements with the EU is key to facilitating political and economic reformthe humanitarian, migration and refugee situation in the Southern Neighbourhood and the troubles in both the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood Eastern Neighbourhood; reiterates that supporting countries which are implementing association agreements with the EU while engaging in dialogue with all interested parties is key to improve rule of law and enforcing democratic institutions;
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 263 #

2016/2323(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines that predictability and long-term sustainability of the EU budget is a prerequisite for a strong and stable European Union; draws attention to the fact that the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU will provide an opportunity to address the long-standing issues which have prevented the EU budget from reaching its real potential, especially as regards the revenue side of the budget; reaffirms its position in favour of an in- depth reform of EU own resources, and welcomes in this respect the presentation of the final report of the High-Level Group on Own Resources (HLGOR); invites all involved parties to draw the appropriate conclusions from this report and analyse the feasibility of implementing the recommendations of the HLGOR that would help make the EU budget more stable and predictableautonomous and fair ; welcomes the conclusion of the HLGOR regarding the 'juste retour' and rebate approach, which should end, as it has been shown by the report that all Member States benefit from the EU budget, irrespective of their 'net- balance';
2017/02/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2016/2307(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the complementary role played by the EU budget in achieving the Union’s goals under the social policies charted in the Annual Growth Survey 2017 aiming the creation of more and better jobs throughout the EU; notes the delay in the implementation of some of the 187 employment programmes, and the fact that, by September 2016, only 65 % of competent national authorities had been designated;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 2 #

2016/2307(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member states and the Commission to speed up the implementation of all programmes which can boost the creation of decent, quality, long-term employment for all categories of population and particularly young people; stresses that youth unemployment remains at 18.6 % despite the slight decrease in unemployment in the EU; calls on the Member States to ensure a more proactive follow-up of the programme managing authorities;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 4 #

2016/2307(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the adoption of EUR 500 million in commitment appropriations for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for 2017; stresses that this amount is not sufficient and needs to be increased and secured in the current MFF; notes also, however, that an agreement on appropriate additional financing for the YEI to cover the remainder of the current MFF period must be reached regarding the mid-term revision;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2016/2307(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the leverage effect of the EU budget on national budgets; urges the Member States to speed up the implementation of programmes, in line with the Union’s strategy to increase employment, and step up measures to reduce poverty and inequality; underlines that this responsibility lies with the Member States particularly; stresses also that, according to Eurostat, 122.3 million people in the EU live on or are now below the poverty line, and that tackling this situation is a political priority;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2016/2307(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that instruments such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) must improve the socio-economic convergence of EU Member States and regions by increasing support for SMEs; calls for the European Investment Fund (EIF) to present and implement new products provided for under the SME Window (SMEW) in order to accelerate the implementation of the EIF mandate in InnovFin, COSME and RCR, in accordance with the EFSI Regulation, in particular the SMES Equity Product and the uncapped guarantees for riskier loans to innovative SMEs and small mid-caps, and for the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation to foster access to micro-finance for vulnerable groups, as well as micro- and social enterprises ; calls for the EIB to prioritise projects eligible for EFSI and EIF in order to foster synergies and develop efficient strategies.
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 7 #

2016/2306(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that improving the systems for collecting VAT and custom duties should be the highest priority of all Member States; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for establishing an EU black list of tax havens, which should be enforced by criminal sanctions with the aim of dealing with multinationals that evade taxes; welcomes the Commission's proposals for establishing a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, which should enhance cross-border activities, reduce tax evasion and aggressive tax planning and open the opportunity to create a European taxation on multinational corporates through a common basic tax rate; recalls the need to resort to new own resources for the EU budget, such as taxation on speculative financial movements and on environmental and social drifts;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2016/2306(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that improving the systems for collecting VAT and custom duties should be the highest priority of all Member States; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for establishing an EU black list of tax havens, which should be enforced by criminal sanctions with the aim of dealing with multinationals that evade taxes; recalls the need to resort to new own resources for the EU budget, such as taxation on speculative financial movements, on multinational corporations and on environmental and social drifts;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2016/2306(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that growth is still insufficient to create the jobs the EU urgently needs, especially for its young people, and that it is necessary to encourage more public and private investment in infrastructure and SMEs and to promote actions to tackle unemployment, such as the Youth guarantee;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2016/2306(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the different demographic developments in each country of the European Union should alert the Member States to the need to put public deficits into perspective;
2017/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2016/2302(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the ultimate purpose of financial instruments (FIs) is to act in situations of market failure or suboptimal investment as a catalyst making it possible to mobilise funding for projects which cannot secure adequate support from the market; insists that the funding channelled through the EU-supported FIs should play a social role and not be limited to satisfying private interests only, especially in the field of financial or non- financial services of general interest; emphasises that grant components are a major asset in encouraging beneficiaries to apply for additional funds from private investors; points out, furthermore, that the performance of FIs cannot be assessed on the basis of an appraisal of their financial impact alone;
2017/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 10 #

2016/2302(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Regrets the fact that local public enterprises are being penalised under the current definition of SMEs at European level, under which they are not guaranteed access to the funding that they need in order to fulfil their general interest tasks;
2017/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 24 #

2016/2302(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Is alarmed by the significant delays in the implementation of the programmes; takes the view that challenges such as migration and security, and current or future political developments in the EU, including the practical implications of Brexit, should not have an adverse effect on investments made under the cohesion policy; urges the Member States to tackle promptly all causes of delay, particularly late designation of managing authorities, in order to avoid a repetition of the accumulated backlog of unpaid invoices in the second half of the current MFF, which could seriously impact other EU-funded policies as well;
2017/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 38 #

2016/2302(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Points to the challenges that FIs represent for democratic control, in particular by the European Parliament, as well as for timely and transparent reporting and for accountability; believes that the revision of the Financial Regulation and the ‘omnibus regulation’ could provide an opportunity to streamline the reporting on FIs and thus provide a better basis to assess additionality and complementarity between different forms of EU support, particularly between cohesion funds and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
2017/01/31
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that food waste must be analyzed in a cross-cutting manner, as it affects several policies at the same time, including agriculture, fisheries, food safety, environment, social affairs and tax policy; insists therefore on the need to better harmonize the different policies and establish the reduction of food waste as a clear objective of existing policies;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Calls on the Commission to carry out an impact assessment of the different policies to tackle food waste such as agriculture, fisheries, food safety, environment or tax policy;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 52 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Draws attention to the role public agencies providing services of general interest play in waste management and in efforts to combat food wastage, and calls for the Commission to recognised the efforts of undertakings, such as SMEs, that make a direct contribution to the circular economy;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 54 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses the importance of bringing together farmers in cooperatives or professional associations in order to reduce food losses by strengthening their knowledge of markets, allowing more efficient programming, economies of scale and improving their capacity to market their production;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Stresses the importance of making production forecasting tools available under the CAP in order to match supply as closely as possible to demand and thereby avoid situations in which agricultural and food surpluses result in food wastage;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 91 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Notes the difficulty in quantifying food wastage at the primary production stage, and calls on the Commission to identify and disseminate to Member States best practice in relation to gathering data on food loss and food waste on farms with a view to conducting information campaigns, without placing an additional administrative burden on farmers; calls on the Commission to have the proceedings of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste made available in the 24 EU languages;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 96 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes that food waste is a problem at every stage of the chain, whether it is production, processing, marketing, transport or consumption; insists therefore on the need to improve communication between all actors in the food supply chain, in particular between suppliers and distributors, in order to match supply and demand, the discrepancies of which are one of the main causes of food waste;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 105 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that farmer-led initiatives can offer viable economicsustainable and economically viable solutions and provide value for products which might otherwise go to waste, and highlights the potential of farmer-led social innovation projects such as gleaning and donation of excess foodstuffs to food banks; calls on the Commission to recognise practices of this kind and to promote them under the second CAP pillar; calls on Member States to promote short supply chains, which help to address the problems of over-packaging and food wastage, and to encourage the restaurant trade to make it easier for customers to take leftovers home with them;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 108 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that farmer-led initiatives can offer viable economic solutions and provide value for products which might otherwise go to waste, by developing markets for products that would normally be excluded from the food chain, and highlights the potential of farmer-led social innovation projects such as gleaning and donation of excess foodstuffs to food banks;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 111 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls on the Commission to revise the VAT Directive (2006/112/EC) with a view to ensuring that all Member States offer tax exemptions on food donations;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 115 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that the food industry has already taken initiatives to reduce food waste by strengthening cooperation with food banks throughout Europe; notes, however, that there are still barriers to donations, mainly of legal nature; calls on the Commission to clarify the interpretation of the legal provisions discouraging donations;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 119 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Stresses that, in the context of food aid, VAT on food donations is due, but Member States may consider that the value used for the calculation of VAT is low or close to zero if the donation is made close to the recommended date of consumption or if the foodstuffs are unsaleable; notes that in practice VAT on food aid is treated differently from one Member State to another; calls, therefore, on the Commission to clarify the rules on the application of the VAT Directive in the case of food aid;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 120 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Stresses that price volatility, extreme or unusual climate events and the prolongation of the Russian embargo are responsible for food waste in the agricultural sector; stresses the importance of building bridges between farmers and food banks to encourage the development of agricultural donations;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 121 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Calls for the restoration of an effective policy to regulate agricultural markets in order to better match supply to demand and thus reduce food waste;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 127 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that some wastage at farm level is also due to the role played by retailers in relation to retailer standards regarding product specifications, cancelled orders owing to changes in consumer demand, and over-production as a result of requirements to meet seasonal demands; encourages producer groups to conclude contracts with retailers in order to obviate unwanted effects of this kind.
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 131 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Emphasises that food wastage at the production stage can also stem from the deterioration of our agricultural production base resulting from the degradation of land, biodiversity (reduced pollination) and natural resources of all kinds, and that due account needs to be taken of this in the future development of farming and the common agricultural policy.
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 133 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
(1) Believes it important to ensure that land is properly managed under the common agricultural policy and national policies in order to contain food losses caused indirectly by poorly managed urbanisation and infrastructure development or the abandonment of farmland that has become economically unattractive to farm.
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 143 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Highlights the findings of the Special Report No 34 of the European Court of Auditors "Combating food waste: an opportunity for the EU to improve the use of resources in the food chain"', stressing that Commission's action regarding food waste has so far been sporadic and fragmented;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Regrets the lack of a common definition of 'food waste' at the European level, despite repeated calls from the European Parliament, the Council, the Committee of the Regions and the G20; calls, therefore, on the Commission to reflect on the establishment of such a definition.
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 168 #

2016/2223(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8 e. Stresses the importance of the new "school schemes programmes" and in particular the introduction of compulsory accompanying measures, such as the promotion of conscious food consumption in education; stresses the importance of using these accompanying measures to convey educational messages about food waste and its prevention;
2017/02/09
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas land resources are a source of conflict not just over use, but also because of the rivalry between farming and non-farming investors and between generations of farmers, given that young people seeking to establish themselves have greater difficulty, due to the cost, in gaining access to land, especially when they do not come from a farming family;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 33 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas land is a costly production factor to finance; whereas it is linked to national inheritance rules, which entail the necessity of refinancing whenever a new generation takes over; whereas land prices affect land concentration; and whereas it can happen that farmers at the end of their working life who have no family will sell their farm - if they wish to bolster up their modest pension - to the highest bidder;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 62 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas land ownership, or tenant farmer or sharecropper status to protect the person cultivating the land, is the best way of ensuring a responsible relationship with the land and sustainable land management, and also fosters identification and a sense of belonging,; whereas these forms of tenure encouraginge people to remain in rural areas; whereas this has an impact on and also help to keep the socio- economic infrastructure of rural areas, and whereas the separation of ownership and possession incin place and preases the risk of a division within society, a loss in quality of work and life, and impoverishmentrve the rural way of life;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas, because no purposeful land policies are being pursued in the Member States, EU policies and subsidies tend to encourage concentration phenomena, as direct area payments disproportionatelyare of much more benefit to large farms and to farmers who are already well established, and the use of these funds leads to a rise in land prices, which tends to exclude small and medium-sized undertakings from the land marketput the land market beyond the reach both of young people seeking land on which to set up in farming and of small and medium-sized undertakings, which financially are often less well off;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 124 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the common agricultural policy as reformed in 2013 has helped to limit these effects by introducing an increased payment for the first hectares, with phased reduction of support; whereas, moreover, these direct area payments play an essential role in enabling European farms meeting high production standards to be competitive and sustainable;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 171 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to establish a monitoring centre which will make it possible to study and monitor the development of soil quality in the Union, as soil quality is deteriorating; calls on the Commission to make proposals for combating this phenomenon, which is harmful to the environment and to our future food security;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 179 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it sensible to create a uniform, Europe-wide land inventory in which all ownership rights and rights of use in respect ofinventory of land and land quality in which the use and type of tenure of all farm land areis recorded in an up-to-date and accurate manner and presented in a comprehensible form in a publicly accessible digital data bank;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 203 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that land policy must help to ensure a socially desirable broad distribution of landis essentially a matter for the Member States and that it may be affected by the Common Agricultural Policy, and considers that the issue of ownership, as itnd other forms of land tenure has direct implications for everyone’s living and working conditions and quality of life, and; notes the important social function of land ownershipmanagement, given that a loss of farms and jobs will lead to the collapse of European smallholder agriculture and the demise of rural areas, and thus to structural changes that are undesirable for society as a whole;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 225 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Recommends that the Member States give farmers priority in the purchase and use of farmland, particularly at a time when non-farmers are increasingly interested in purchasing agricultural plots;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 261 #

2016/2141(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls upon the Member States and the Commission to support all innovative land-sharing measures favourable to enabling young farmers to set up, particularly by means of investment funds based on the principle of solidarity which enable savers to invest their funds in a socially useful manner to assist young people who do not have sufficient resources to acquire land and to embark upon careers in farming;
2016/12/14
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 122 #

2016/2100(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the Member States' margin for manoeuvre to implement national aid measures in the agricultural sector, in particular in the event of a crisis, to be restored.
2016/10/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the estimated 7 million equidae in the EU perform hugely varied roles, from racing and competition animals to pets, workare productive animals that can be used ing animals in transport, tourism, forestry and agriculture, sources of milk and meat, research animals, and wild and semi-feral animals, and whereas they may perform several of these roles during their lives variety of ways, i.e. to produce meat, to work, for sporting and recreational purposes and for racing, and any one animal may be used for more than one purpose during its life;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 34 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas there is insufficient data available to directly quantify how many working equidae are used on small and semi-subsistence farms, 86 % of which are found in the newer Member States, and in tourism activities, in connection with which the number of hours for which horses may be worked is not regulated;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 41 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas equidae provide valuable employment and revenue to localities from tourismhat cannot be relocated in connection both with farming, forestry, rearing areas, training centres, equestrian centres and race courses and with professional horsemen and horse traders, but the welfare of some equidae is compromised and tourists are too often insufficiently informed to identify welfare problems15 ; _________________ 15Santorini Donkey and Mule Taxis – an Independent Animal Welfare Report for the Donkey Sanctuary, 2013.;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas welfare issues must accordingly be central to all equine activities;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 56 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas unlimited, indiscriminate and irresponsible breeding of equidae can lead to animals that are devoid of economic value and are often left with serious welfare problems, particularly during an economic downturn; whereas equid abandonment by private individuals has increased since 2008 in western Member States, especially where they have become expensive luxuries as opposed to working animals16 ; _________________ 16The Donkey Sanctuary & University College Dublin: Donkey Welfare in Ireland in 2015.nd are no longer a source of income;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 61 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas private owners are faced with difficult decisions when they are no longer able to sufficiently care for their equidae; whereas in some Member States euthanasia is too often, prior to rendering, is usually the first recourse for private owners who are no longer able to meet the equid’s welfare needs, yet in of their Member States, equidae can only be euthanised wd provide veterinary care for them, rathere there is a clear immediate veterinary need, irrespective of the long-term welfare of the animal concernedan slaughtering with a view to human consmuption, yet in other Member States equidae may be euthanised only on veterinary grounds;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 69 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas a large number of horses are currently excluded from human consumption and may not be slaughtered because of administrative difficulties concerning medication records, and whereas that situation may have a harmful effect on their welfare;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 71 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas horses are not recognised as productive animals in many non-EU countries, whereas horsemeat is often imported from those countries and sold in the EU despite the potential risks to EU consumers' health as a result of unreliable traceability systems in countries of origin, and whereas that situation gives rise to distortions of competition because, for the time being, the EU does not allow meat from horses not originally intended for meat production and slaughter to enter the human food chain;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 74 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M c (new)
Mc. whereas solutions to rectify this situation have been proposed by representatives of the farming and veterinarian professions, such as a six- month waiting period, so that checks can be made in the six months prior to slaughter, albeit on condition that such checks are targeted and scientifically based (on maximum residue limits for medicinal products), and meat hitherto regarded as unfit for human consumption can be safely brought back into the food chain;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the considerable 1. economic and soci, social and educational contribution equidae make throughout the EU, in particular since the equine sector contributes to the development of urban- rural relations and to local sustainability and cohesion and makes for diversification of farm holding activities that is conducive to employment in rural areas;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 84 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for greater EU-level acknowledgement of the equine sector, which makes a significant contribution to the EU's general and strategic objectives, and for it to be incorporated to a greater extent into the various CAP components through direct aids either under the first pillar or under the second pillar (for training, knowledge transfer, setting up, diversification of farm holding activities, innovation, CANH, AECM, etc.);
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 90 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points out that horses are increasingly being used for sporting and recreational purposes on agricultural holdings by farmers seeking to diversify their activities and broaden their income base; whereas such activities are helping to bring equine-related sports and education and equine therapy to a wider audience;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 93 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Whereas this sector, which is currently growing strongly, needs to be placed on a more professional footing, partly by clarifying the VAT regime applying to it, and whereas this process of professionalisation is essential in order to upgrade breeding and animal welfare skills and is also necessary in order to increase the transparency of equine- related activities and thereby combat fraud and address grey economy issues;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 97 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that good equid health and welfare boosts the economic output of farms and related businesses alike and benefits the rural economy overall; points out, however, that the current taxation arrangements are preventing equine professionals from earning enough to ensure the future economic sustainability of their businesses;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 103 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that such clarification should result in the establishment of a uniform, dependable and targeted framework for reduced VAT rates that will leave Member States sufficient leeway to frame their own tax policies;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 105 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Takes the view that VAT law applying to the equine sector should be clarified during the forthcoming revision of the VAT Directive in order to foster the development of a growth- and jobs- oriented equine sector and address grey economy issues;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 107 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Affirms that equid owners shouldmust have a minimum level of knowledge of equid husbandrycare provided by equid professionals, and that with ownership comes a personal responsibility for the standard of health and welfare of the animals in their care, in particular end-of- life animals;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 119 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines, with reference to the 10 OIE principles, the importance of the forthcoming Animal Welfare Reference Centres for improved levels of compliance with, and consistent enforcement of, legislation, along with the dissemination of information and best practice relating to animal welfare;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 160 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to recommit to the development of a European Charter for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism,provide active support for the development of guides to good practice drawn up in consultation with European trade organisations by releasing resources for translation of such documents and assisting with their dissemination of clear information to help tourists make welfare-friendly choices when deciding whether or not to use the services of workingtribution; calls also on the Commission to set maximum daily working hours and minimum rest periods for equidae;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 168 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the problems caused by the administration of medicines to Equidae, a practice which may very often definitively exclude the animal from the food chain in the European Union;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 170 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Stresses the differences in health requirements applicable to horsemeat produced in Europe and that imported from third countries;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 175 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. Calls on the Commission, in this context, to remedy this situation by means of a 'withdrawal period' system which will make it possible to bring an animal back into the chain after a medicine has been administered to it for the last time, while protecting consumer health;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 176 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 f (new)
10f. Recalls that it is desirable to have an equivalent level of health requirements for the European consumer, whatever the origin of horsemeat consumed, and calls on the Commission, therefore, to take action to restore the balance between the level of requirements within the EU and that for which checks are carried out at borders, while protecting consumer health;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 189 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to formulate guidance for the Food and Veterinary Office on the welfare of equidae at the time of slaughterensure the proper application of the current legislation, dating from 2005, on the protection of animals (including Equidae) during transport, particularly the 8-hour limit, and that dating from 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter; calls on the Commission, to this end, to formulate specific recommendations applicable to Equidae in order to improve the application of these two regulations on animal welfare;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 196 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Urges the Commission to promote scientific research in order to develop methods of slaughter more appropriate to Equidae;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 239 #

2016/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on Member States to promote the reintegration into the food chain, after a six-month withdrawal period, of Equidae who have reached the end of their lives, but only on condition that inspections during those six months are carried out for the specific purpose and based on scientific principles, in order to preserve human health;
2016/11/16
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas in Europe the majority of rabbits are farmed for meat production, with over 340 million rabbits slaughtered for meat ever year;hich amounts to some 648 000 tonnes of carcases, whereas more than three quarters of all rabbit farming in the EU takes place in Italy, Spain and France and whereas rabbit farming represents less than 1% of final livestock production in the EU;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Union is the prime producer of rabbits in the world, ahead of Asia and particularly China, which, producing 417 000 tonnes of carcases, is the biggest exporter;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 15 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas European rabbit farming is based on the coexistence of different production systems, and whereas rabbit farming is an important way of diversifying the income of many small farms throughout the territory, at the same time as providing a source of employment, in most cases for women;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 19 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard tohousing, feeding, genetics, health aspects or optimisation of the emotional state of rabbits kept for farming purposes are vital questions for stakeholders involved in rabbit farming, and whereas the subjects under debate also concern animal welfare;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to 1 000 breeding females and 10 000 to 20 000 growing rabbits;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 42 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawingat present European law on organic farming does not include any specific rules on rabbit production, whereas organic production depends on national rules, some onf wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying hich advocate that rabbits be raised in group pens equipped with access to a small area of pasturetched out, hopping and jumping at the base of the pen;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs1 , calves2 , laying hens3 , and broiler chickens4 , as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes5 , but there is not as yet anydespite the fact that there is no specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits, whereas producer countries are updating their production methods without tightening up the rules or codes of conduct on animal welfare; _________________ 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, 18.02.2009 p. 5-13. 2 Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal (OJ L 10, 11.1.2009, p. 7-13). 3 Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal (OJ L 203, 3.8.1999 p. 53-57). 4 Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, 12.7.2007, p. 19-28. 5 Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official JournalJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23-27.
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 86 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges that in some Member States alternatives to barren-cage farming of rabbits exist which reduce the incidence of disease and mortality rates and improve the welfare of farmed rabbits;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 120 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that, to cut costs and save space, a typical barren wire cage for an adult doe in the EU is 60 to 65 cm long, 40 to 48 cm wide and 30 to 35 cm high; concludes that this means that rabbits cannot move normally or adopt normal postures such as stretching out, sitting and standing with their ears erect ( a ‘look out’ posture typical of the species), rearing up, turning around comfortably and hopping; underlines that this lack of exercishe scientific opinion delivered by EFSA experts did not call into question the use of slatted cages, because that system limits health problems, which are common in this species of animal, and makes it possible to isolate breeding does, which require peace can also lead to weakened or broken bonesd quiet when giving birth;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with concern that there is a high rate of disease and mortality amongst caged farm rabbits, compared with other farmed species;deleted
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 143 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its concernObserves that rabbits reared and fattened for meat production in the EU are typically caged in groups, and are provided with a space per rabbit that is less than the area of for reasons associated with the health problems suffered by this species of animal, which is very vulnerable two ordinary A4 sheets of paperdisease and parasites;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 148 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that rabbits can suffer from a wide range of welfare problems and diseases, including fatal viruses, snuffles and sore hocks from sitting on wire-mesh cage floors; is aware that investigations6 have shown that on some farms sick and injured rabbits are not treated and many fall victim to eye and fungal infections and respiratory conditions; notes with concern that the vast majority of these animals end up in the food chain, either as pet food or as meat sold to consumers in supermarkets; _________________ 6 http://www.ciwf.org.uk/our- campaigns/investigations/rabbit- investigations/2014-the-biggest-secret-of- the-cage-age/deleted
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 162 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that growing rabbits, although rabbits weaned for fattening and does kept in pen systems, typically 750 cm²/rabbit for growers and 800 cm²/rabbit for does, benefit from more space for movement, social interaction and play, and that platforms in pen systems allow rabbits to avoid aggressthis system does not resolve problems of aggression and flesh wounds suffered by rabbits, or that of the need fors by getting out of the way, with separate housing for does when they are nursing a litterreeding does to be isolated, and that, this being so, it is evidently necessary to encourage research programmes to improve welfare;
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 197 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that abolishing the use of battery cages across the EU would have a positive impact on the protection of public health and would reduce the use of antibiotics in rabbit farming;deleted
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 204 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission, in the light of the high number of rabbits being farmed and slaughtered in the EU and the severe animal welfare implications of the systems currently used for keeping rabbits, to put forward soon legislative proposals on setting minimum standards for the protection of farm rabbits;deleted
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 215 #

2016/2077(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Invites the Commission to consider pen systems as the guiding principle when proposing measures for housing requirements for breeding does and for rabbits reared for meat production;deleted
2016/09/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 11 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the large investment gap in Europe, which the Commission estimates at a minimum of EUR 200-300 billion a year; , highlights in particular, against this backdrop, the market needs in Europe for high-risk financing, for instance in the fields of R&D, energy and ICT; is concerned by the fact that the most recent data on national accounts do not indicate any surge in investment since the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) was launched, leading to risks of continued subdued growth and continuing high unemployment rates, particularly among young people and the new generations; stresses that closing this investment gap is key to reviving growth, facilitating the establishment of SGIs through which investments can be made, in particular in vulnerable areas, fighting unemployment and attaining long-term EU policy objectives;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 24 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that EFSI was launched to help resolve difficulties and remove obstacles to financing as well as to implement strategic, transformative and productive investments that provide a high level of added value to the economy, the environment and society; stresses that EFSI should not lead to the commercialisation of SGIs, but contribute to their continuity and sustainability.
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 56 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the purpose of EFSI is to ensure additionality by helping to address market failures or suboptimal investment situations that are not optimal for the private and public sectors and supporting operations which could not have been carried out under existing Union financial instruments;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 93 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to draw up a guide for organisations running projects in order to promote synergies between ESIF and EFSI and thereby ensure increased additionality;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 111 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that, as provided for in the regulation, prior to a project being selected for EFSI support, it has to undergo due- diligence and decision-making processes both in the EIB and the EFSI governance structures; observes that project promoters have expressed a wish for swift feedback and enhanced transparency in relation to both the selection criteria and the amount and type/tranche of possible EFSI support; criticises the current lack of clarity, which deters project promoters from applying for EFSI support; calls for the decision-making process to be made more transparent in respect of the selection criteria and financial support and to be speeded up; calls for investment to be stepped up in the social services, healthcare, housing and education sectors, in particular by making it possible to combine different sources of funding;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 138 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the scoreboard is supposed to be used by the Investment Committee (IC) to ensure an independent and transparent assessment of the potential and actual use of the EU guarantee and to prioritise projects; calls for Parliament to be able to check that the scoreboard and its indicators are being properly consulted, applied and used; requests that the project selection criteria be properly applied and this process be made more transparent; recalls that the IC must assign equal importance to each pillar of the scoreboard when prioritising projects, irrespective of whether the individual pillar yields a numerical score, or whether it is composed of unscored qualitative and quantitative indicators; criticises the fact that the EIB itself admits that the IC’s experts only make use of the 4th pillar for information purposes, not for decision- making;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 140 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the scoreboard is supposed to be used by the Investment Committee (IC) to ensure an independent and transparent assessment of the potential and actual use of the EU guarantee and to prioritise projects; requests that the project selection criteria be made transparent and properly applied and this process be made more transparent; recalls that the IC must assign equal importance to each pillar of the scoreboard when prioritising projects, irrespective of whether the individual pillar yields a numerical score, or whether it is composed of unscored qualitative and quantitative indicators; criticises the fact that the EIB itself admits that the IC’s experts only make use of the 4th pillar for information purposes, not for decision- making;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 141 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the scoreboard is supposed to be used by the Investment Committee (IC) to ensure an independent and transparent assessment of the potential and actual use of the EU guarantee and to prioritise projects; requests that the project selection criteria be properly applied and this process be made more transparent; recalls that the IC must assign equal importance to each pillar of the scoreboard when prioritising projects, irrespective of whether the individual pillar yields a numerical score, or whether it is composed of unscored qualitative and quantitative indicators; criticises the fact that the EIB itself admits that the IC’s experts only make use of the 4th pillar for information purposes, not for decision-making;(Does not affect the English version)
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 142 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the scoreboard is supposed tomust be used by the Investment Committee (IC) to ensure an independent and transparent assessment of the potential and actual use of the EU guarantee and to prioritise projects; requests that the project selection criteria be properly applied and this process be made more transparent; recalls that the IC must assign equal importance to each pillar of the scoreboard when prioritising projects, irrespective of whether the individual pillar yields a numerical score, or whether it is composed of unscored qualitative and quantitative indicators; criticises the fact that the EIB itself admits that the IC’s experts only make use of the 4th pillar for information purposes, not for decision-making;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 166 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Considers it important to discuss whether the envisaged leverage of 15 is appropriate to enable EFSI to support high quality projects bearing a higher risk; calls on the Commission to present a study exploring the various ways in which a weaker leverage effect could have a bearing on the selection of high-risk projects; invites the EIB to weigh up complementing the volume requirement with secondary goals to be achieved;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 173 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes with concern that small projects are deterred from applying for EFSI financing based on their sizePoints out that small projects often encounter difficulties in obtaining the funding they need; notes with concern that small projects are deterred from applying for EFSI financing, or are even declared ineligible for that funding, based on their size; points out that small projects do not reach the threshold for EFSI funding; stresses the need to step up the technical assistance available to these projects from the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) and to enlist the European Investment Bank and national development institutions and banks to support them; points to the significant impact that a small project might nevertheless have on a national or regional scale; believes that the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) is instrumental in advising and accompanying promoters of small-scale projects in the structuring and bundling of projects via investment platforms or framework agreements; calls on the Steering Board to look into this issue and put forward proposals to correct this situation;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 187 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises that EFSI is a demand- driven instrument, which should, however, be guided by the political objectives set out in the regulation and defined by the Steering Board; stresses, in that connection, that certain sectors – in particular social services and personal services that are in great need of funding – should be given priority;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 197 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes that all sectors defined in the EFSI Regulation have been covered by EFSI financing; points out, however, that certain sectors, such as social, health and education services, are under- represented; notes that this might be due to the fact that certain sectors already offered better investment opportunities in terms of shovel-ready, bankable projects when EFSI started up; notes, further, that this situation could have been brought about by a lack of information and technical know-how in these sectors about the conditions governing the awarding of EFSI funding; invites the EIB against this backdrop to discuss how to improve sectorial diversification, linking it to the goals set out in the Regulation as well as the issue of whether EFSI support should be extended to other sectors;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 249 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. draws attention, in that context, to the strategic importance of regional and local promotional banks, and calls on the Commission to consider how their work can be coordinated with that of national banks;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 257 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Urges the EFSI governing bodies to pay greater attention to investment platforms with a view to maximising the benefits that the latter can bring in overcoming investment barriers, especially in EU-13; invites the EIB to provide stakeholders with more information on the platforms and the conditions and criteria governing their establishment;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 291 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Acknowledges that GDP and the number of projects approved are linked; recognises that larger Member States are able to take advantage of more developed capital markets and are therefore more likely to benefit from a market-driven instrument such as EFSI; underlines that lower EFSI support in EU-13 may be attributable to other factors, such as the small size of projects, and competition from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the possible synergies with which must be developed and clearly established; observes with concern, however, the disproportionate benefit to certain countries and underlines the need to diversify geographical distribution further, especially in crucial sectors such as modernising and improving the productivity and sustainability of economies;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 301 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Is pleased that the EIAH has been up and running since September 2015, moving through a quick implementation phase; acknowledges that, due to the limited period of its existence and a shortage of staff at the initial stage, not all EIAH services have been fully developed and that activity has predominantly focused on providing support for project development and structuring, policy advice, and project screening; calls for EIAH to recruit experts from various areas in an effort to better target its advice, communication and support for the sectors which cannot currently exploit the full potential of EFSI (in particular the social, healthcare, housing and education and training sectors);
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 342 #

2016/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that awareness of overlaps and competition between EFSI and financial instruments of the EU budget on the part of the Commission and the EIB has led to the adoption of guidelines recommending the combination of EFSI and ESI financing; stresses that this combination of funding should mainly involve EFSI funding and ESIF financial instruments, and only to very limited extents, if at all, involve ESIF grants; points, however, to persistent differences in the eligibility criteria, regulations, timeframe for reporting and the application of state aid rules, which hinder combined usage; welcomes the fact that the Commission has begun to address these in its proposal for a revision of the Financial Regulation; believes that further efforts are required and that the second and third pillars of the investment plan are key to this end;
2017/03/02
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 5 #

2016/2051(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Observes that the adoption of Draft amending budget No 2/2016 will unfortunately reduce the share of GNI contributions from Member States to the Union budget in 2016 by EUR 1 349 million; once again urges the Member States to use the opportunity of such a reflow to honour their pledges in relation to the refugee crisis and to match the Union contribution to the two dedicated Union Trust Funds; notes with concern that in spring 2016 Member States have only contributed EUR 82 million to the Africa Trust Fund and EUR 60 million to the Madad Trust Fund on the Syrian crisis, while the Union's contributions stand at EUR 1,8 billion and more than EUR 500 million respectively;
2016/05/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 23 #

2016/2047(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Requests that the appropriations intended for the fight against the medical crises in the plant and animal fields, currently EUR 20 million, are very strongly increased because they are insufficient to cope with the reappearance of diseases such as Xylella Fastidiosa and Bird Influenza, and with the appearance of contagious nodular dermatosis, a new infectious disease affecting cattle, already present in Greece and Bulgaria and threatening several other countries.
2016/07/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 88 #

2016/2047(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that the Council reduced appropriations in Heading 2 by EUR - 179,5 million in commitments and EUR - 198 million in payments, on administrative support lines, on operational technical assistance lines (such as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the LIFE programme), on operational lines under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), which is an essential to maintain agriculture in living territories, and on decentralised agencies; notes that the biggest cuts in payments are borne by rural development; considers that the Amending Letter should remain the basis for any reliable revision of EAGF appropriations; restores the DB levels accordingly;
2016/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 92 #

2016/2047(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Awaits the presentation of the Amending Letter for the emergency support package in particular for the dairy sector; considers that this measure will contribute significantly to improving market disposition and will be reflected in improved prices for European dairy producers, in particular after the end of the quota system, and the financial impact of the Russian ban, even if it is still insufficient;
2016/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 184 #

2016/2047(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
57. Encourages the Secretary-ies- General to propose detailedof the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee to work together on possible further arrangements for the full sharing of back office functions and services between Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committeethe three institutions;
2016/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 188 #

2016/2047(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 b (new)
59 b. Pursuant to point 15 of its abovementioned resolution of 14 April 2016 on Parliament's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2017, requires that the method of establishment of the budget of the Parliament on the basis of the current needs and not on the basis of a system of coefficients is used for the first time during the budgetary procedure for the financial year 2018;
2016/10/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2016/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that, in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services supported by the EGF should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy; calls on the Commission, in this respect, to propose new measures that would allow SMEs to anticipate changes in production and in the markets;
2016/05/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2016/2043(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF comes in addition to national measures and must not replace actions which are the responsibility of Member States or of companies;
2016/05/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2016/2036(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets that the Member States have not sufficiently exploited the potential of cooperative projects proposed by the European Defence Agency and expresses concern at the freezing of the Agency's budget by the Member States since 2010; considers the pooling of defence research capacities to be indispensable in order to avoid duplication and to prepare for the future; welcomes the establishment of Parliament's pilot project in this field and supports its reinforcement by the appropriate means from 2017 as a preparatory action.
2016/05/03
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2016/2036(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Endorses the efforts of the Commission and Council to implement the initiative seeking to improve capacity building in support of security and defence (CBSD);
2016/05/03
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas high levels of price and income volatility for farmers are related to the market fundamentals of supply and demand, but can be intensifiwhose effects have been felt since the 1990s on account of farming moving closer to the markets as a result both of deregulation of common market organisations within the CAP, and the greater willingness to open up to international markets brought about by the EU’s trade policy; whereas this price and income instability can however be aggravated by other macro-economic variables, the broad political and legislative environment, and speculation on agricultural products which, when sold as financial assets, are exposed to shocks on related commodity markets (such as the energy and metal markets);
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas agriculture and food remain at the centre of various heterogeneous technological, social, economic, environmental and political forces which are currently in danger of becoming unstable;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 10 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas we are facing a double paradox: on the one hand we have a global agriculture with sufficient reserves to feed a world with 9 billion people but which is unable to eradicate hunger, and on the other hand an increasingly unstable market situation marked by prices which are lower than the predictions which formed the basis of the 2014 reform of the CAP;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas the increased vulnerability is being triggered by an increase in extreme weather events and the impact of climate change on agricultural production levels, as well as by structural factors such as energy and fertiliser prices, exchange rates or interest rates; urges farmers to exert better control over the use of inputs on their farms which are expensive to purchase and can have repercussions for the environment;
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the creation of a system to protection farmers’ incomes through the wider use of ‘risk management’ tools, such as insurance and mutual funds used alongside crisis management and prevention tools, changing the efforts undertaken so far in the 2014- 2020 CAP reform;
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes the view that combating excessive price volatility calls for new solutions making markets function better and based on deployment of a set of combinable and/or complementary public- and private-sector tools; states that, as the ongoing very serious farming crises have demonstrated, it is essential to build new crisis prevention and market adjustment mechanisms into a subsequent CAP that are tailored to specific production circumstances, flexible, effective, rapidly deployable and capable of being brought into play where it is necessary to do so in order to rectify major market disruptions;
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 35 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Believes a mandatory precautionary savings scheme for farmers should be set up to replace the current European crisis reserve, to cover risks of all kinds, partly through direct aid, so as to set aside some reserves in good years that can be deployed during difficult times;
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2016/2034(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Considers that food humanitarian aid may give producers a useful role as a safety net;
2016/06/23
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 38 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas, in recent decades, market opening and economic globalisationstarting in the 1990s, the deregulation of the common organisations of the market which occurred in the context of the various CAP reforms and the greater opening up of European agriculture on international markets which resulted from EU trade policy have accentuated price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the financialisation of the global economy and the accompanying speculation might have an impact on agricultural markets and may contribute to increasing their imbalance and the volatility of prices, with agricultural raw materials being used simply as financial assets; as was highlighted by the dreadful hunger riots in 2008, this excessive financialisation can be devastating and ethically reprehensible if it threatens the food security of the poorest, least well- nourished people on the planet;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas price volatility creates a climate of uncertainty, and puts a brake on investment, in farming in farming and the agri-food sectors which is detrimental to investment, growth and employment and which can also seriously affect consumer supply, food security and the smooth operation of the CAP;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 71 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas greater market transparency mayof European and international markets is a necessary yet insufficient condition for limiting price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas greater market transparency mayis a necessary adjunct to public decision-making but is insufficient for limiting price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas models such as the Milk Market Observatory, at Union level, and the Agricultural Market Information System, at world level, aim to enhance market transparency in European markets;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 87 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that volatility must be accepted as a given and that those operators who are most exposed must be supported in order to lessen its negative effectdealing with price volatility must take into account the extremely unstable and imperfect nature, and the possible failure, of agricultural markets; this necessitates ensuring a measure of control over such volatility in the CAP, national (fiscal) policy and the management systems of companies;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 88 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that volatility must be accepted as a given and that those operators who are most exposed must be supported in order to lessen its negative effectsmore incisive action and targeted instruments are required at EU level to tackle the problem of agricultural price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 99 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the current CAP is open to criticism because of the issues of incomes, agricultural employment and excessive price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 106 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the Union’s competitors make considerable sums of public money available for protecting their farmers from the effects of price volatility; points out that public support for agriculture provided by the United States, Brazil and China increased by 40%, 20% and 92% respectively between 2008 and 2012 while European public support in 2012 was 17% down on 2008;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that the European Union is the only agricultural power to base its agricultural policy on support decoupled from production, along with environmental constraints, whereas the major global powers such as the United States, Brazil and China all have mechanisms to support and regulate agricultural production and incomes;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 112 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the most recent reform of the CAP fails to address the strategic issues within agriculture in terms of both responsibility in connection with global food security and European Union autonomy;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the reduction in CAP resources devoted to common market organisation (CMO) measures, opening up the prospect of CAP renationalisation, which runs counter to the European Union project;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 146 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that unregulated liberalisation of agricultural markets has helped heighten price volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 153 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the objectives of the CAP include ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, stabilising markets and guaranteeing viable food production, with an emphasis on fairmers’ incomes for farmers and price stability;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 158 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes the view that combating excessive price volatility calls for new solutions making markets function better and based on deployment of a set of combinable and/or complementary public- and private-sector tools; states that, as the ongoing grave crises have demonstrated, it is essential to build new crisis prevention and market adjustment mechanisms into the CAP that are tailored to specific production circumstances, flexible, effective, rapidly deployable and capable of being brought into play where it is necessary to do so in order to rectify major market disruptions;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 161 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that food autonomy and security, on the basis of food production within Europe, must be long-term aims for the future CAP reforms and that, to achieve them, price volatility must be combated;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 165 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that viable food production cannot be achieved without securingguaranteed when farmers are exposed to price volatility, since price volatility threatens the continued existence of European farms and that doing, which must be a long-term aim for the future CAP;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 170 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that the development over the whole of the Union's territory of competitive and sustainable farming that meets the needs of citizens and takes into account the income and wellbeing of farmers must be addressed as a matter of urgency and must be a long-term aim for the future CAP;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 184 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recommends strengthening the organisational capability of the weakest links in the various agricultural sectorseconomic power of producers within the sectors through a better organisation of production and through more balanced and strengtheningansparent contractual systems based more and more on cooperation and trust between farmers and their buyers;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 185 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. RecommendsStresses the importance of strengthening the organisational capability of the weakest links in the various agricultural sectors and strengthening contractual systems, which must go hand in hand with boosting farmers' negotiating power in the food chain through the right to negotiate their contracts collectively;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 191 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recommends that action should be taken to make contractual systems more effective by extending their use throughout the agri-food chain, so as to include large-scale retailers in particular, and to strike a proper balance between all stakeholders;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 196 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Believes that, with a view to increasing farmers' bargaining power, it should be made compulsory for contracts to be signed between producers and buyers; stresses that those contracts should be of adequate length and should lay down the prices, payment periods and other terms for the supply of agricultural products;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 200 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that inter-branch organisations may encourage dialogue among the various stakeholders and facilitate joint initiativesmay enable the creation of added value through joint initiatives which is then shared out more fairly between the various links in the food chain;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 214 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Believes that cooperatives and producer organisations should be more closely involved in the process of ensuring insurance cover and setting up mutual funds;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 220 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that farmers must be permitted to come together in bodies that carry as much clout as those of the other stakeholders with whom they negotiate; envisages this being achieved by adjusting EU competition policy to agriculture's specific features and by EU competition rules being enforced uniformly in Member States;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 248 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Recommends thatgnises that in addition to crisis prevention and management tools that must form part of the CAP, the development of the tools for risk management, particularly the various types of insurance and mutual funds, be developedcan increase the resilience of farming and help to combat volatility;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 261 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to study new tools to prevent and manage the risks associated with price volatility and thus to lay the foundations for discussion of the future reforms of the CAP towards 2050;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 287 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Emphasises that, against a backdrop of deep uncertainty over agricultural prices, the EU must take more incisive action on the markets, involving the establishment of safety nets and prevention and crisis management systems based on countercyclical aid, in order to secure remunerative prices for farmers;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 289 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Draws attention to the European Investment Bank's key role in developing and implementing innovative financial instruments to curb volatility for the benefit of farmers;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 303 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Calls on the Commission to provide for greater flexibility in the annual budgets, within the bounds of the multiannual financial envelope, in order to take account of the countercyclical aid and the insurance instruments, whilst improving the added value of European expenditure;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 304 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls on the Commission to develop mechanisms to combat price volatility on two main principles, countercyclical aid and insurance-based instruments;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 306 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Considers that countercyclical aid should help meet the economic risks due to the instability of global markets, excessive third-country competition and the disappearance of regulatory tools at European level, in order to ensure a basis for stability of farmers' incomes and thus prevent European food security (in terms of both quality and quantity) from being undermined by an inappropriate CAP;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 307 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Considers that the insurance- based instruments are intended to cope with natural hazards and to complement the countercyclical measures through mutual funds or specific insurance policies in order to enable farmers and the European and national public authorities to implement support for agricultural activities according to strategic objectives by sector and/or by region;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 309 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that mutual funds, ean income stabilished at the initiative of working farmers, and through which farmers’ incomes can be stabilised to some extent as the profit margins on their produce fluctuate, may offer an effective way to limit the effects of price volatilityation tool, in the form of a mutual fund administered by the Member States, should be set up in order to compensate farmers for serious loss of income and should take account of all factors that can have an impact on farm incomes, including market-related risks; believes that that tool should be introduced alongside, and not take the place of, the current system of direct payments and market management measures;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 314 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that mutual funds, established at the initiative of working farmers, and through which farmers’ incomes can be stabilised to some extent as the profit margins on their produce fluctuate, may offer an effective way to limit the effects of price volatility, in addition to the countercyclical aid;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 319 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that, as farmers cannot control the factors that determine their turnover and gross margins, they should be encouraged to develop tools for coping with market volatility, especially mutual funds, such tools being better suited to that purpose than direct payments;deleted
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 336 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Believes a mandatory precautionary savings scheme for farmers should be set up to replace the current European crisis reserve, to cover risks of all kinds, partly through direct aid, so that reserves can be set aside in good years for deployment during difficult periods;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 347 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Considers that agricultural markets must be transparent and that information about prices and production costs must be accessible and useful to all those involved;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 355 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Sees it as part of the Union's role to facilitate transparency in the European marketon European and international markets which are known to be very unstable; points out that international market transparency calls for determined action on the part of the European Union and its Member States and of the rest of the international community, in the form of more active, closer cooperation to develop genuine governance arrangements in the area of world food security;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 364 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Takes the view that greater transparency can contribute to market monitoring and steering, but that its effectiveness in curbing price fluctuations is contingent in particular on the ability to intervene effectively when markets stop functioning normally, through the use of safety nets and crisis management instruments for which provision must be made in the single CMO; considers that these instruments should be overhauled when the next CAP reform takes place;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 370 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Recommends that European agricultural price observatories be established for the various sectors of the industry, to provide ongoing, segment-by- segment analysis of agricultural markets, with the involvement of economic stakeholders, and to make relevant data and forecasts available at regular intervals, but emphasises at the same time the need for early warning and crisis prevention mechanisms; stresses that agricultural price observatories must quickly provide up-to-date data on agricultural production costs and average profit margins in the Member States;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 384 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Believes that the remit of the European agricultural price observatory should be broadened to include the fruit and vegetables and olive oil sectors;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 385 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Believes that the operation of the European agricultural price observatory should be improved and the necessary resources should be provided in order for it become a fully-fledged management tool rather than being used simply to compile statistics;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 390 #

2016/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
29c. Points out that, if the European observatory is to include an efficient early warning system, it must supply more detailed data on the Member States on a monthly basis, so that proper account may be taken of the specific situations in the various parts of the EU;
2016/06/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 3 #

2016/2032(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the EU budget should further facilitate SME access by SMEs, whatever their legal status, to funding and markets;
2016/04/29
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 12 #

2016/2032(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the introduction and the performance of COSME as the first EU programme specifically benefitting SMEs; strongly believes that the current COSME appropriations, as well as those for other well-performing EU funding programmes such as the SME Instrument or InnovFin under Horizon 2020, should at least be maintained for the remaining years of the current MFF; points to the fact that Parliament has constantly sought to reinforce COSME appropriations; stresses the importance of entrepreneurship coaching, guidance and training measures for all COSME population groups, particularly young people, women and older entrepreneurs, in order to promote gender equality;
2016/04/29
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 12 #

2016/2031(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that modernisation of the Customs Union will further strengthen the already strong economic ties between Turkey and the European Union (EU) and will keep Turkey economically anchored to the EU; believes that strengthening trade relations could bring concrete benefits to citizens in Turkey and EU Member States, and also contribute to both sides engaging in a positive reform agenda while mitigating political tensions with Ankara on the deteriorating situation of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the country;
2017/02/02
Committee: AFET
Amendment 17 #

2016/2031(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the upgrade of the EU-Turkey trade relations forms an essential part of the efforts made by the EU and Turkey to deepen their relations in key areas of joint interest identified at the EU-Turkey Summit of 29 November 2015 and in the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March 2016; states that this is even more important now that the accession talks are stalled despite the significant short- and long-term strategic interests for both the EU as Turkey, such as trade, migration, the fight against terrorism, energy and stability in the neighbourhood;
2017/02/02
Committee: AFET
Amendment 21 #

2016/2031(INI)

2a. Recalls its resolution adopted on 24 November 2016 whereby the European Parliament called for a temporary freeze on the accession negotiations as long as the situation of human rights and civil liberties does not improve in Turkey; considers that, out of consistency, the conditions set for resuming the accession negotiations should equally apply to the modernisation of the Customs Union;
2017/02/02
Committee: AFET
Amendment 52 #

2016/2031(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to include political benchmarksa clause on human rights and fundamental freedoms with benchmarks and timetable, in the upgraded Customs Union between Turkey and the EU on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2017/02/02
Committee: AFET
Amendment 8 #

2016/2025(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – Indent 1
- the budget for monitoring and evaluation be used to assess the longer term impact on EGF beneficiaries as well as, the effectiveness and efficiency of deploying support on the ground as well as a deeper analysis on economic mutations causing the dismissals of EGF beneficiaries.
2016/03/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 12 #

2016/2025(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Asks the Commission to include a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the EGF support to young people up to the age of 25 who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in order to assess whether there is a need to maintain this measure after December 2017and to extend this measure after December 2017, in a permanent and sustainable way by proposing a new EGF regulation, especially in view of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the ongoing youth unemployment crisis;
2016/03/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2016/2025(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Asks the Member States and all the institutions involved to defend the wider use of the derogation for the eligibility thresholds also favoring SMEs, the extension of the reference periods as well as the possibility to include redundant workers offering related services to redundant workers of the referent company, thus contributing to a more efficient and valuable use of the EGF budget;
2016/03/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2016/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the Union’s financial assistance to workers made redundant should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to facilitate the redeployment and reinsertion of workers made redundant, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted during the conciliation meeting on 17 July 2008, and having due regard to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF);
2016/03/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2016/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls the importance of improving the employability of all workers by means of adapted training and the recognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's professional career; expects the training on offer in the coordinated package to be adapted not only to the needs of the dismissed workers but also to the actual business environmentand the prospected future of professional sectors;
2016/03/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas this procedure is the second full budgetary procedure conducted in the new legislature and the fourth year of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework;deleted
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 4 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union places an obligation on the Union to respect linguistic diversity and prohibits discrimination on grounds of language, thereby giving the right to any Union citizen to use any of the 24 official Union languages when corresponding with Union institutions, which must reply in the same language used by the citizen;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas additional extraordinary investments of EUR 36,84 million are required to reinforce security and cybersecurity, corresponding to 2% of the overall increase;deleted
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 7 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the real inflation rate in the Parliament's working places was 0.25 % in 2015 and 0.76 % in 2016, while the approved Parliament's budgets for these years were based on a higher estimation of inflation rate;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the real inflation rate was also lower than the rate foreseen in the adopted budget in the previous budgetary years;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 10 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Hc. whereas the Parliament stressed in its resolution of 29 April 2015 on Parliament's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 20161a that the 2016 budget should be set on a realistic basis and should be in line with the principles of budgetary discipline and sound financial management; _____________ 1a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0172.
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Hd. whereas the budgeting based on indexation in several consecutive years may become very remote from the real budgetary needs;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Starts from the premise that the forecast level of inflation of 1,7% does not mean that increases for ordinary expenditure have to be as high; questions the proposal for a 3.9% overall increase and requests the budgetary forecast for the financial year 2017 to be further discussed in the Committee on Budgets before the vote on the budget in autumn 2016;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that extraordinary expenditure representing a 0,2% increase over the 2016 budget for the phasing out for the Irish language and a 2% increase over the 2016 budget for the additional needs for security and cybersecurity have been requested;deleted
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that Parliament should be provided with sufficient resources needed to comply with all its powers and ensure a proper functioning of the institution, although in the current economic context those resources should be managed with rigour, pragmatism and efficiency;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 24 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that while the overall spending levelensuring a proper level of financing the Parliament is appropriate for the exercise of European democracy, efforts to look for savings and to strive for further enhancing the efficiency of the use of public money are strongly encouraged;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Secretary-General to make a proposal for presenting the budget to the general public in appropriate detail and in an intelligible and user-friendly manner on the website of the Parliament in order to enable all Members, researchers, journalists and citizens in generalcitizens to develop a better understanding of Parliament's spending patternactivities and priorities; considers that a first step could consist of making the information graphic currently available in the intranet appear on the website of the Parliament;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 35 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates its call for a medium and long term budgetary planning, including a clear information with regard to expenditure relating to investments (buildings, acquisitions, etc.) and the sdistinction between investments and operational expendingture relating to the functioning of Parliament as well as its statutory obligations, as requested inin line with its resolution of 29 April 2015 on Parliament's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 20167 ; __________________ 7 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0172. Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0172.
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 42 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that any measure in this field should be based on a clear evaluation of Parliament's needs and proportionality with the incurred risks; requests the Secretary- General and the Bureau to present on time before the Parliament's reading on the 2017 budget a global evaluation on risks and security measures envisaged, alternative proposals placed on the table for consideration, accompanied by detailed evaluation of their budgetary impact, with a clear distinction between investments and recurrent expenditure;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 44 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Taking into account the budgetary impact of the security measures proposed so far, invites the Bureau to deliberate on the Global Security Concept by June 2016 and requests the Secretary-General and the Bureau to report to the Committee ofn Budgets;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 53 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. WBelcomieves the increasingat, in order to fulfil their mandate, Members need high quality of advice and research provided to Members and committees, yet, opposes any increase in the dedicated budget of the General Secretariat; recalls that a mid- term evaluation of the efficacy of the cooperation between the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) and the policy departments has been foreseen when creating the EPRS in 2013; requests therefore the Secretary-General to proceed to such an evaluation and present to the Committee on Budgets its results by the end of 2016; considers that this evaluation should contain proposals as to how to ensure that the support provided by EPRS is better articulated with developments in the respective thematic committees and does not overlap with their activities nor encourage competition between services;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 57 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that mobile workspaces for Members and support in constituencies should be based on real needs and use assessment, and should not generate any additional costs to the Parliament; insists that no hardware should be provided as the GEA provides sufficient resources for the purchase of state-of-the- art devices; questions the need for developing a private mobile work space for Members as this does not seem to correspond to the way Members and their offices organise themselves;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 59 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Agrees that the IT tools are an important instrument for Members to deliver on their function; reiterates, however, the necessity to allow the installation of free-source software which would allow considerable cost savings in/from communication fees, and would improve the work-flow of Members' offices, while respecting protection of personal data;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 63 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls the Bureau to revise the rules governing the end of contracts for Accredited Parliamentary Assistants (APAs); suggests that, besides the resignation and dismissal procedures, a third path is introduced, allowing a "termination by mutual consent of employment contracts" (consent between the Parliament's administration and involved Members and APA) and addressing the concern of delays in the conciliation period within the process of request for dismissals;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 68 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the current depiction of Members' parliamentary activities on Parliament's website is not accurate and transparent enough; suggests that a more detailed and accurate system of weighing and categorising of parliamentary activdoes not reflect the real activities and involvement of Members;; suggests that the current use of ranking websities is necessary in order to give a better and more detaigradually phased out while enforcing the information availabled overview of Members' activities which in turn would contribute to a better communication and liaison with citizensn every Member's page on the external, official Parliament website; expects the relevant Bureau working group to present its agenda and findings to the Committee on Budgets as soon as it is available;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 95 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the progress that has been made regarding translation and interpretation efficiencies; askscknowledges the quality and added value of services provided by the interpreters ; calls for an early, sustainable agreement between the Secretary- General to make further rationalisation proposals such as increased translation and interpretation on demandand the representatives of interpreters combining high quality working conditions and efficient management in order to avoid situations of imbalances in terms of working hours and overall insecurity among interpreters; asks the Secretary-General to make further proposals such as increased translation and interpretation on demand, particularly concerning the activities of the Intergroups of the European Parliament;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 99 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Bureau to evaluate and, where necessary, to revise rules governing the statute of trainees, including introducing minimum remuneration and harmonising catering-related price offers for all trainees both in the Parliament's administration and in the Members' offices in order to ensure equal treatment and to protect social rights of trainees;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 100 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Bureau to revise the rules governing the reimbursement of the missions' expenses related to travels between the Parliament's working places and incurred by accredited parliamentary assistants in order to align them with the rules applicable to the rest of the staff;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 107 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Takes note of the proposal of internalisation of chauffeur service replacing the external service provider with Parliament's contractual agents, which will correspond to approximately EUR 23,7 million of immediate additional expenses; considerssupports the principle of an internalisation if its costs do not exceed the costs related to the current system, and if it allows decent working conditions and pay for drivers, greater integration of women drivers, and the use of greener cars; considers as well that a well organised external contract concluded pursuant to applicable public procurement rules, where the external service provider is clearly obliged to take responsibility for security and background checks as well as for decent working conditions and pay, would be a preferable alternativegreater integration of women driver and the use of greener cars, would be an alternative if the costs should remain as high; asks for detailed information to be provided to the Committee on Budgets before any decision is taken;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 113 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
32. Asks the Secretary-General to hold discussions with Parliament's travel agency with view to systematically proposing the cheapest options of travel for Members and all categories of staff while ensuring the same level of comfort, especially for long- haul flights, and the same general conditions for ticket exchanges;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 117 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Reiterates that the utmost should be done in order to assure that the dissemination of the Parliament's information and messages, including the Parliament services welcoming visitors' groups, is available in all of the 24 official languages of the Union;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 121 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Takes note of the construction of mini-Parlamentariums in Berlin (opening on 9 May 2016) and Strasbourg (2017); asks however for more information related to the budgetary impact of developing such installations in other cities across the Union;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 124 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Urges the Secretary-General to devisepresent a detailed arrangements for the full sharing of back office funcreport on the implementation of the administrative parts of the cooperations and servicegreements between the Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee and on this basis to devise possible arrangements for further administrative cooperation in areas such as logistics, infrastructure or security;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 135 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Encourages a greater promotion of healthy and organic food; furthermore, calls therefore on the Bureau to evaluate the possibilities of providing healthy food not only in terms of diversification of services but also, above all, in terms of providing fresh fruit and vegetables at more affordable prices;
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 136 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Sees no added value in financially supporting the European Parliamentary Association;deleted
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 139 #

2016/2019(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Believes that the activities of the Association of former Members should be financed by current or former members taking in interest in said association.deleted
2016/03/15
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 19 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the Union budget has proven to be a crucial resource in tackling recent crises and responding to needs that had not been anticipated during the negotiation of the MFF 2014-2020, such as the migration and refugee crisis or geopolitical tensions in the European neighbourhood producing a number of serious emergencies, and such as the agriculture crisis while in the Union a continuous lowering of investment levels has led to an investment gap;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 28 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the capacity of the Union budget to tackle these crises arises principally from the use of all means available agreed upon in the MFF negotiations, and particularly the use of special instruments such as the flexibility instrument; recalls Parliament’s decisive role in shaping those instruments during the MFF negotiations; highlights, however, that if the crises continue to worsen even the full activation of the existing flexibility provisions will be insufficient to address the problem; in this context, invites the Council to reconsider its position on the question of budgeting the MFF special instruments so as to alleviate the constraints weighing on the Union budget; reiterates in that connection its long- standing position that the payment appropriations for the special instruments (the flexibility instrument, the EU Solidarity Fund, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the Emergency Aid Reserve) should be calculated over and above the MFF ceilings, as is the case for commitments; expects these issues to be resolved, particularly by tackling the own resources system reform;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 36 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the Commission’s European Economic Forecast (Autumn 2015), which indicates a modest recovery; stresses, however, that this recovery remains worryingly weak and too slow for a prompt return to full employment to be achieved, with long-term and very long-term unemployment on the rise, combined with social challenges and difficulties for the European Union to restructure its industrial branches; notes, furthermore, the appearance of new challenges, such as the slowdown in emerging market economies and global trade, with particular pressure arising from volatility on Chinese markets, the need to tackle the refugee crisis, and persisting geopolitical tensions;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 47 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes, additionally, the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey for 2016; strongly believes that boosting investment, including a coordinated increase in public investment with a focus on the Europe 2020 targets, is a proper policy response with a view to a more balanced economic policy; believes that those two elements should be taken into consideration in the preparation of the draft budget for 2017 insofar as this should help identify priorities within an economic context; calls, consequently, for more synergies between the Union dimension of the European semester for economic policy coordination and the Union budget, that is also the cornerstone for the Euro preservation;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 62 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that the Union budget has in recent years been a collateral victim of Member States’ fiscal consolidation efforts aimed at complying with their obligations under the Stability and Growth Pact, which have led them to consider their contribution to the Union budget as a burden and to treat it as an adjustment variable, and calls, in this context, for further flexibility regarding expenditures made by the Member States in specific fields such as defense and investments in the framework of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI);
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 74 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the fact that the Union has had to face numerous crises in recent years, among them the agriculture crisis; recalls that a solution has still not been found for the Europe-wide migrant and refugee crisis, which escalated in 2015 with a sudden and massive increase in the numbers of refugees and migrants travelling to the Union to seek asylum, which has further impacted on the internal crisis; underlines that the Union budget should be used as part of a European solution to overcome these emergencies;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 99 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Considers the European Youth Initiative (YEI), in particular, to be a fundamental contribution to the Union’s priority objective for jobs and growth, and therefore reiterates its commitment to continued funding for this programme with a view to scaling it up and thereby offering a greater number of young people the prospect of effectively entering the labour market by receiving a good quality offer of employment, continued education or apprenticeship; recalls that this objective shall be considered together with the necessity of promoting the young people mobility within the European Union; recalls the commitment made by the three institutions to ‘ensure appropriate funding via an Amending Budget in 2016, by making use of all available means provided for in the MFF, and primarily of the Global Margin for Commitments’; notes that the figures for implementation indicate full success in terms of absorption capacity; calls on the Commission to present its evaluation of the YEI at the latest by the end of April 2016, and at all events in time for the inclusion of a prolongation of the programme in the EU budget 2017, while also laying the groundwork for the search for a permanent source of funding for the YEI as part of the revision of the MFF;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 153 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that in the 2015 and 2016 budgets the Commission in many cases refrained from asking for additional payment appropriations for a number of its crisis responses (frontloading of EUR 2 billion for Greece, first initiatives in the area of migration), instead reverting to the redeployment of already existing resources; stresses that this has increased the burden on payment appropriations in 2016 and beyond, potentially re-creating a situation where appropriations may not be sufficient to meet the actual needs of financial programmes across headings, impacting project leaders and citizens directly; recalls its long-standing position that unforeseen payment needs should be financed with fresh appropriations;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 182 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Confirms its strong support for the international ITER programme and is committed to securing appropriate financing for it; is concerned, however, that further delays and additional costs may arise regarding this programme, as well as at the related potential repercussions for the Union budget; regrets, therefore, that it was unable to assess the level of the 2016 ITER appropriations against the updated payment plan and schedule; expects this revised plan to be included in the preparation of the draft budget for 2017; calls for a proper accountability mechanism that will offer a clear overview of the amount in financial resources provided for the international project and will evaluate the efficiency of their use;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 194 #

2016/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Reiterates its position in favour of anthe required in-depth reform of the system of Union own resources, and gives the highest political importance to the work of the High Level Group on Own Resources created as part of the MFF 2014-2020 agreement; expects the Commission and the Council to take on board the final outcome, which is expected by the end of 2016, including any new candidate for own resources; recalls that the leading idea behind the own resources reform is to make the Union budget more stable, more sustainable, more predictable, and more autonomous, while also alleviating the burden of excessive spending from national budgets and improving transparency for the citizens;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 47 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
(3) The measures applicable to spirit drinks should contribute to attaining a high level of consumer protection, preventing deceptive practices and attaining market transparency and fair competition. They should safeguard the reputation which the Union’s spirit drinks have achieved in the Union and on the world market by continuing to take into account the traditional practices used in the production of spirit drinks as well as increased demand for consumer protection and information. Technological innovation should also be taken into account in respect of spirit drinks, where such innovation serves to improve quality, without affecting the traditional character of the spirit drinks concerned. The production of spirit drinks is strongly linked to the agricultural sector, and is subject to the general rules for foodstuffs set down in Regulations 178/2006 on general food law principles, 1169/2011 on food information to consumers and 2017/625 on official controls. Besides representing a major outlet for the agriculture of the Union, this link is determinant for the quality and reputation of the spirit drinks produced in the Union. This strong link to the agricultural sector should therefore be emphasised by the regulatory framework.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 55 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Furthermore, the protection of geographical indications should be extended to goods brought, in the course of trade, into the Union without being released for free circulation, where such goods, including their packaging, originate in third countries.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
(19) Procedures for the registration, modification and possible cancellation of Union or third country geographical indications in accordance with the TRIPS Agreement should be laid down whilst automatically recognising the status of existing protectregistered geographical indications of the Union. In view of making procedural rules on geographical indications consistent through all the sectors concerned, such procedures for spirit drinks should be modelled on the more exhaustive and well tested procedures for agricultural products and foodstuffs laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 while taking into account specificities of spirit drinks. In order to simplify the registration procedures and to ensure that information for food business operators and consumers is electronically available an transparent and exhaustive electronic register of geographical indications should be established. with the same legal value as Annex III of Regulation 110/2008 should be established. Geographical indications registered under Regulation 110/2008 should automatically be registered by the Commission. The Commission should complete the verification of geographical indications contained in Annex III of Regulation 110/2008, in accordance with Art. 20 of that Regulation, before the entry into force of this Regulation.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 59 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) In order to ensure full compliance with the provisions concerning the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks, consideration should be given to the adoption of rules preventing the fraudulent use of geographical indications to designate products in transit through Union territory, even where they are not intended for free circulation on the Union market.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 62 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
(22) In order to take into account evolving consumer demands, technological progress, developments in the relevant international standards and the need to improve the economic conditions of production and marketing, the traditional ageing processes and, in exceptional cases, the law of the importing third countries, and in order to ensure the protection of geographical indications, while taking into account the importance of respecting traditional practices, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the amendment of or derogations from the technical definitions and requirements of the categories of spirit drinks and the specific rules concerning some of them referred to under Chapter I of this Regulation, the labelling and presentation referred to under Chapter II of this Regulation, the geographical indications referred to under Chapter III of this Regulation and the checks and exchange of information referred under Chapter IV of this Regulation.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 67 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point d – point i – introductory part
(i) either directly by using any of the following methods, individually or in combination:
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 70 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point d – point i – indent 2
- the maceration or similar processing of plant materials in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, distillates of agricultural origin or spirit drinks or a mixturecombination thereof within the meaning of this Regulation,
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 74 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part
(3) ‘mixture’ means a spirit drink listed in Part I of Annex II or corresponding to a geographical indication mixed with anyone or more of the following:
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 76 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7
(7) ‘product specification’ means a file attached to the application for the protection of a geographical indication setting out the specifications which the spirit drink must comply with and corresponding to the "technical file" referred in Regulation 110/2008;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
(8) ‘presentation’ means the terms used on the labelling and on the packaging, includingas well as in advertising and sales promotion, in images or such like, as well as on the container, including the bottle and the closure;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 81 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The alcohol used in the production of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks and to dilute or dissolve colours, flavourings or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks shall be ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 82 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The alcohol used in the production of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks and to dilute or dissolve colours, flavourings or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages shall be ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Distillates used in the production of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks and to dilute or dissolve colours, flavourings or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks shall exclusively be of agricultural origin.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 86 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Distillates used in the production of alcoholic beveragespirit drinks and to dilute or dissolve colours, flavourings or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages shall exclusively be of agricultural origin.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 89 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) solely be sweetened in accordance with point (3) of Annex I and in order to round off the final taste of the product. The Member States' own legislation shall be taken into account.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 121 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the alcohol used in the production of the foodstuffs originates exclusively from the spirit drinks referred to in the compound term or in the allusion(s), except for ethyl alcohol that may be present inof agricultural origin that may be used as a carrier for flavourings used for the production of that foodstuff; and
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Where the origin of a spirit drink is indicated, it shall correspond to the country or territory of origin in accordance with Article 60 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council16 . _________________ 16 Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament anplace or region where the relevant stage in the production process of the finished product took place which conferred ofn the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1)spirit drink its character and essential definitive qualities.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 138 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Without prejudice to paragraph 1, in the case of spirit drinks produced in the Union and intended for export, the geographical indications and the terms in italics in Annex II may be repeated in a language other than an official language of the Union when this is a legal requirement of the importing country.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 141 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – title
Use of a Union symbol for protected registered geographical indications
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 143 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. In order to take into account evolving consumer demands, technological progress, developments in the relevant international standards and the need to improve the economic conditions of production and marketing, while ensuring consumer protection and taking into account traditional practices, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts supplementing this regulation in accordance with Article 43 concerning:
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 149 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. ProtectRegistered geographical indications may be used by any operator marketing a spirit drink produced in conformity with the corresponding product specification.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 152 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. ProtectRegistered geographical indications and the spirit drinks using those protected names in conformity with the product specification shall be protected against:
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The protection of geographical indications referred to in paragraph 2 shall be extended to goods brought, in the course of trade, into the Union without being released for free circulation, where such goods, including their packaging, originate in third countries.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 162 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
3. ProtectRegistered geographical indications shall not become generic in the Union within the meaning of Article 32(1) .
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 165 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take the steps necessary to stop the unlawful use of protectregistered geographical indications as referred to in paragraph 2.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 168 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the name to be protectregistered as a geographical indication, as it is used, whether in trade or in common language, and only in the languages which are or were historically used to describe the specific product in the defined geographical area;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 171 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) details establishing the link between a given quality, reputation or otherand characteristics of the spirit drink and the geographical area referred to in point (d);
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 173 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 5
5. Where the application relates to a geographical area in a third country the application shall be lodged with the Commission, either directly or via the authorities of the third country concerned.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 183 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Acts to cancel the registration of geographical indications shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 185 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts, without applying the procedure referred to in Article 44(2), establishing and maintaining a publicly accessible updated electronic register of geographical indications of spirit drinks recognised under this scheme (‘the Register’)., replacing and having the same legal value as Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 192 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – title
Implementing powers with respect to existing protectregistered geographical indications
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 197 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 2
2. For a period of up to two years followingUp to the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission, by means of implementing acts, may, on its own initiative, cancel the protecregistration of geographical indications referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 110/2008 if they do not comply with point (6) of Article 2(1). Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 44(2).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 5
5. The competent authorities or bodies referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 verifying compliance of the protectregistered geographical indication with the product specification shall be objective and impartial. They shall have at their disposal the qualified staff and resources necessary to carry out their tasks.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 205 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 40 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall be responsible for checks on spirit drinks, in accordance with Regulation 2017/625. They shall take the measures necessary to ensure compliance with this Regulation and designate the competent authorities responsible on compliance with this Regulation.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 216 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point f
(f) any other natural carbohydrate substances or agricultural raw materials having a similar effect to the products referred to in points (a) to (e).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 218 #

2016/0392(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point f
(f) any other natural carbohydrate substancessubstances of agricultural origin having a similar effect to the products referred to in points (a) to (e).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
(1) Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council has been substantially amended several times, including by Directive (EU) 2015/1513 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 amending Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels. Since further amendments are to be made, that Directive should be recast in the interests of clarity.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 40 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Greenhouse gas emissions reductions are of critical importance for the future of our planet; however they should not compete with other environment protection goals nor with improving air quality in general.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 43 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
(3) In particular, increasing technological improvements, incentives for the use and expansion of public transport, including green taxation and application of polluter-payer principle, the use of energy efficiency technologies and the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in the electricity, heating and cooling sectors as well as in the transport and logistics sector are very effective tools, together with energy efficiency measures, for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Union and the Union's dependence on imported gas and oil.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 46 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The European Parliament adopted on 4 April 2017 its resolution on Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests (2016/2222 (INI)).
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 49 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) It is thus appropriate to establish a Union binding target of at least 2735% share of renewable energy. Member States should define their contribution to the achievement of this target as part of their Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans through the governance process set out in Regulation [Governance].
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 55 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) Member States should take additional measures in the event that the share of renewables at the Union level does not meet the Union trajectory towards the at least 2735% renewable energy target. As set out in Regulation [Governance], if an ambition gap is identified by the Commission during the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans, the Commission may take measures at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of the target. If a delivery gap is identified by the Commission during the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Progress Reports, Member States should apply the measures set out in Regulation [Governance], which are giving them enough flexibility to choose.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 61 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
(20) It is necessary to set comprehensive, transparent and unambiguous rules for calculating the share of energy from renewable sources and for defining those sources.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 62 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
(2) Promoting renewable forms of energy is one of the goals of the Union energy policy. The increased use of energy from renewable sources, together with energy savings and increased energy efficiency, constitutes an important part of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Union 2030 energy and climate framework, including the binding target to cut emissions in the Union by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 . It also has an important part to play in promoting the security of energy supply, technological development and innovation and providing opportunities for employment and regionalsustainable development, especially in at regional and local level, including rural and isolated areas or regions with low population density .
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
(2) Promoting renewable forms of energy is one of the goals of the Union energy policy. The increased use of energy from renewable sources, together with energy savings and increased energy efficiency, constitutes an important part of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Union 2030 energy and climate framework, including the binding target to cut emissions in the Union by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 . It also has an important part to play in promoting the security of energy supply, technological development and innovation and providing opportunities for employment and regional development, especially in rural and isolated areas or regions with low population density . , remote, isolated, geographically problematic areas or regions with low population density. Greenhouse gas emissions reductions are of critical importance but shouldn't compete with other environment protection goals.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 66 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
(25) In order to ensure that Annex IX takes into account the principles of the waste hierarchy established in Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council17 , the Union sustainability criteria, the Common Agricultural Policy framework, and the need to ensure that the Annex does not create additional demand for land while promoting the use of wastes and residues, the Commission, when regularly evaluating the Annex, should consider the inclusion of additional feedstocks that do not cause significant distortive effects on markets for (by-)products, wastes or residues. __________________ 17 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3).
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 66 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) The European Parliament, in its resolution of 23 June 2016 on "The renewable energy progress report", urged the Commission to ensure full implementation of the 2020 Renewable Energy Directive and to put forward an ambitious post-2020 legislative framework, stressing the need of a stable long-term regulatory framework, including Union and national renewable energy targets consistent with the most efficient path towards the Union's long- term climate goals (for 2050);
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 70 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
(31) The coherence between the objectives of this Directive and the Union's otherlegislation, especially environmental legislation, should be ensured. In particular, during the assessment, planning or licensing procedures for renewable energy installations, Member States should take account of all Union legislation, including environmental legislation, and the contribution made by renewable energy sources towards meeting environmental and climate change objectives, in particular when compared to non-renewable energy installations.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 73 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 45
(45) It is important to provide information on how the supported electricity is allocated to final customers. In order to improve the quality of that information to consumers, Member States should ensure that guarantees of origin are issued for all units of renewable energy produced. In addition, with a view to avoiding double compensation, renewable energy producers already receiving financial support should not receive guarantees of origin. However, those guarantees of origin should be used for disclosure so that final consumers can receive clear, reliable and adequate evidence on the renewable origin of the relevant units of energy. Moreover, for renewable electricity that received support, the guarantees of origin should be auctioned to the market and the revenues should be used to reduce public subsidies for renewable energy.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 73 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) It is thus appropriate to establish a Union binding target of at least 2735% share of renewable energy. Member States should define their contribution to the achievement of this targetstrive to achieve this goal both individually and collectively and they should bear the primary responsibility for reaching national binding targets on renewables by 2030. Member States' respective contributions reflecting national binding targets aimed at the achievement of the overarching target set at Union level should be included as part of their Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans through the governance process set out in Regulation No (EU) .../... [Governance].
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 75 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) It is thus appropriate to establish a Union binding target of at least 2735% share of renewable energy, to be accompanied by national binding targets. Member States should define their contribution topolicies for the achievement of this target as part of their Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans through the governance process set out in Regulation [Governance].
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 77 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 61 a (new)
(61a) The transport sector accounts for 32% of EU's total energy consumption, is responsible for 22% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions and its energy demand relies for 94% on oil, leading to energy dependency and vulnerability to price fluctuation. While the share of renewable energy in transport is gradually increasing, progress has been slow, partly due to policy uncertainty and low competitiveness of alternative fuels.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 77 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) The establishment of a Union and national binding renewable energy targets for 2030 would continue to encourage the development of technologies which generate renewable energy and provide certainty for investors. A target defined at the Union level would leave greater flexibility for Member States to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets in the most cost-effective manner in accordance with their specific circumstances, energy mixes and capacities to produce renewable energyIt is necessary to translate the Union's 35% target for 2030 into targets for each member state.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) The establishment of an overarching Union binding renewable energy target for 2030, to be achieved individually and collectively by Member States through national binding targets, would continue to encourage the development of technologies which generate renewable energy and provide certainty for investors. A target defined at the Union level would leave greater flexibility for Member States, accompanied by national binding targets at national level, would help Member States in better defining how to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets in the most cost-effective manner in accordance with their specific circumstances, energy mixes and capacities to produce renewable energy.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 81 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 62
(62) The European Strategy for a low- carbon mobility of July 2016 pointed out that fstrong incentives need to be provided to innovate in energies needed for the long-term decarbonisation of transport, such as electro-mobility, advanced biofuels and other alternative renewable fuels. It is also important to keep in mind that all fuels have their benefits and disadvantages, and therefore a diverse mix is necessary. Food-based biofuels have a limited role in decarbonising the transport sector and should be gradually phased out and replaced by advanced biofuels. To prepare for the transition towards advanced biofuels and minimise the overall indirect land-use change impacts, it is appropriate to reduce the amount of biofuels and bioliquids produced from food and feed crops that can be counted towards the Union target set out in this Directive.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 82 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) Member States should take additional measures in the eventmeasures to ensure that the share of renewables at the Union level does not meet the Union trajectory towards the at least 27meet the 35% renewable energy target. As set out in Regulation [Governance], if an ambition gap is identified by the Commission duringthe Commission identifies an implementation gap in the light of the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans, ithe Commission may take measures at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of the target. If a delivery gap is identified by the Commission duringin the light of the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Progress Reports, Member States should apply the measures set out in Regulation (EU) .../... [Governance], which are giving them enough flexibility to choose.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 84 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) Member States should take additional measures in the event that the share of renewables at the Union level does not meet the Union trajectory towards the at least 2735% renewable energy target. As set out in Regulation [Governance], if an ambition gap is identified by the Commission during the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans, the Commission may take measures at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of the target. If a delivery gap is identified by the Commission during the assessment of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Progress Reports, Member States should apply the measures set out in Regulation [Governance], which are giving them enough flexibility to choose.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 88 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) On 12th December 2015, the EU agreed together with other nations on the Paris Agreement on climate action, which the EU successfully ratified on 4th October 2016 and which entered into force on 4th November 2016. The objectives of the global agreement commit the EU to further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to reassess its contribution to the global commitment of limiting the increase of atmospheric temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The revision of this Directive must be in line with the EU's obligations as a party of the Paris Agreement.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 89 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 65
(65) The promotion of low carbon fossil fuels that are produced from fossil waste streams can also contribute towards the policy objectives of energy diversification and transport decarbonisation. It is therefore appropriate to include those fuels in the incorporation obligation on fuel suppliers. But those fuels cannot be considered renewable, and therefore should be addressed in a dedicated legislative text.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 89 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
(11) In order to support Member States' ambitious contributions to the Union in reaching their targets, a financial framework aiming to facilitate investments in renewable energy projects in those Member States should be established, also through the use of financial instruments.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 91 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) National binding targets have been straightforward measurable indicators against which progress can be measured to assess the effectiveness of the measures included in this Directive.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 92 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 66
(66) Feedstocks which have low indirect land use change impacts when used for biofuels, shouldwill be promoted for their contribution to the decarbonisation of the economy. Especially feedstocks for advanced biofuels, for which technology is more innovative and less mature and therefore needs a higher level of support, should be included in an annex to this Directive. In order to ensure that this annex is up to date with the latest technological developments while avoiding unintended negative effects, and to identify possible loopholes in the legislation, a regular evaluation shouldwill take place after the adoption of the Directive, in order to assess the possibility to extend the annex to new feedstockssustainable feedstocks and to address potential weaknesses of the legislation.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 93 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) The Commission should facilitate the exchange of best practices between the competent national or, regional or local authorities or bodies, for instance through regular meetings to find a common approach to promote a higher uptake of cost-efficient renewable energy projects, encourage investments in new, flexible and clean technologies, and set out an adequate strategy to manage the retirement of technologies which do not contribute to the reduction of emissions or deliver sufficient flexibility, based on transparent criteria and reliable market price signals.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 94 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 71
(71) The production of agricultural raw material for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels, and the incentives for their use provided for in this Directive, should respect sustainable production criteria, and should not have the effect of encouraging the destruction of biodiverse lands. Such finite resources, recognised in various international instruments to be of value to all mankind, should be preserved. It is therefore necessary to provide sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria ensuring that biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels qualify for the incentives only when it is guaranteed that the agricultural raw material does not originate in biodiverse areas or, in the case of areas designated for nature protection purposes or for the protection of rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems or species, the relevant competent authority demonstrates that the production of the agricultural raw material does not interfere with such purposes. Forests should be considered as biodiverse according to the sustainiability criteria, where they are primary forests in accordance with the definition used by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in its Global Forest Resource Assessment, or where they are protected by national nature protection law. Areas where the collection of non-wood forest products occurs should be considered to be biodiverse forests, provided the human impact is small. Other types of forests as defined by the FAO, such as modified natural forests, semi- natural forests and plantations, should not be considered as primary forests. Having regard, furthermore, to the highly biodiverse nature of certain grasslands, both temperate and tropical, including highly biodiverse savannahs, steppes, scrublands and prairies, biofuels , bioliquids and biomass fuels made from agricultural raw materials originating in such lands should not qualify for the incentives provided for by this Directive. The Commission should establish appropriate criteria to define such highly biodiverse grasslands in accordance with the best available scientific evidence and relevant international standards.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 95 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 74
(74) In the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy Union, farmers shouldwill comply with a comprehensive set of environmental requirements in order to receive direct support. Compliance with those requirements can be most effectively verified in the context of agricultural policy. Including those requirements in the sustainability scheme is not appropriate as the sustainability criteria for bioenergy should set out rules that are objective and apply globally. Verification of compliance under this Directive would also risk causing unnecessary administrative burdenEnvironmental and health damages cannot be a counterpart to greenhouse gas emissions savings.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 98 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 88
(88) If land with high stocks of carbon in its soil or vegetation is converted for the cultivation of raw materials for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels, some of the stored carbon will generally be released into the atmosphere, leading to the formation of carbon dioxide. The resulting negative greenhouse gas impact can offset the positive greenhouse gas impact of the biofuels, bioliquids or biomass fuels, in some cases by a wide margin. The full carbon effects of such conversion shouldwill therefore be taken into account in calculating the greenhouse gas emission saving of particular biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. This is necessary to ensure that the greenhouse gas emission saving calculation takes into account the totality of the carbon effects of the use of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 99 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
(15 a) As energy poverty affects around 11% of the population of the Union, renewable energy policies should be designed in a way to strengthen effectively the Union's overall action to tackle energy poverty and consumer vulnerability.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 101 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) The establishment of a Union and national binding renewable energy targets for 2030 would continue to encourage the development of technologies which generate renewable energy and provide certainty for investors. A target defined at the Union level would leave greater flexibility for Member States to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets in the most cost-effective manner in accordance with their specific circumstances, energy mixes and capacities to produce renewable energy.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 103 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) 'fuel' means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance that can be used to release energy from various sources;
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 104 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) The opening of support schemes to cross-border participation limits negative impacts on the internal energy market and can, under certain conditions, help Member States achieve the Union target and their respective national targets more cost- efficiently. Cross-border participation is also the natural corollary to the development of the Union renewables policy, with a Union-level binding target repltarget to be achieved individually and collectively by the Member States, which should bear the primary responsibility for reaching national binding targets on renewables by 2030. It is therefore appropriate to require Member States to progressively and partially open support to projects located in other Member States, and define several ways in which such progressive opening may be implemented, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, including Articles 30, 34 and 110.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 107 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) The opening of support schemes to cross-border participation limits negative impacts on the internal energy market and can, under certain conditions, help Member States achieve the Union target more cost- efficiently. Cross-border participation is also the natural corollary to the development of the Union renewables policy, with a Union-level binding target replacingwhich complements national binding targets. It is therefore appropriate to require Member States to progressively and partially open support to projects located in other Member States, and define several ways in which such progressive opening may be implemented, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, including Articles 30, 34 and 110.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 108 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point g a (new)
(ga) 'highly sustainable crop based biofuels' means biofuels that – have limited impact on food and water availability; – save at least 70% GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel according to the methodology in article 28 (1) from 2021, increasing to at least 80% by 2030; – are produced from feedstocks obtained in accordance with the requirements and standards under the provisions referred to Article 93 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural Policy ; or are certified to comply with an equivalent set of sustainability standards.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 108 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
(18) Without prejudice to adaptations of support schemes to bring them in line with State aid rules, renewables support policies should be stable and avoid frequent changes. Such changes have a direct impact on capital financing costs, the costs of project development and therefore on the overall cost of deploying renewables in the Union. Member States should prevenensure that the revision of any support granted to renewable energy projects fromdoes not havinge a negative impact on their economic viability and aims to improve the legal basis for Union and national binding targets relating to this Directive. In this context, Member States should promote cost- effective support policies and ensure their financial sustainability.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
(18) Without prejudice to adaptations of support schemes to bring them in line with State aid rules, renewables support policies should be stable and avoid frequent changes in order not to hinder investments in the development of advanced biofuels. Such changes have a direct impact on capital financing costs, the costs of project development and therefore on the overall cost of deploying renewables in the Union. Member States should prevent the revision of any support granted to renewable energy projects from having a negative impact on their economic viability. In this context, Member States should promote cost- effective support policies and ensure their financial sustainability.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 113 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f f
(ff) ‘waste-based fossil fuels’ means liquid and gaseous fuels produced from waste streams of non-renewable origin, including waste processing gases and exhaust gases;deleted
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 117 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
(25) In order to ensure that Annex IX takes into account the principles of the waste hierarchy established in Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council17 , the Union sustainability criteria, , the Common Agricultural Policy framework, and the need to ensure that the Annex does not create additional demand for land while promoting the use of wastes and residues, the Commission, when regularly evaluating the Annex, should consider the inclusion of additional feedstocks that do not cause significant distortive effects on markets for (by-)products, wastes or residues. _________________ 17 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 120 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
(11) In order to support Member States' ambitious contributions to the Union in reaching their targets, a financial framework aiming to facilitate investments in renewable energy projects in those Member States should be established, also through the use of financial instruments.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 121 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
(26) To create opportunities for reducing the cost of meeting bothe Union and national binding targets laid down in this Directive and to give flexibility to Member States to comply with their obligation not to go below their 2020 national targets after 2020 , it is appropriate both to facilitate the consumption in Member States of energy produced from renewable sources in other Member States, and to enable Member States to count energy from renewable sources consumed in other Member States towards their own renewable energy share . For this reason, cooperation mechanisms are required to complement the obligations to open up support to projects located in other Member States . Those mechanisms include statistical transfers, joint projects between Member States or joint support schemes.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 122 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 2735%.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 122 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
(26) To create opportunities for reducing the cost of meeting the Union targets laid down in this Directive and to give flexibility to Member States to comply with their obligation not to go below their 2020 national targets after 2020 , it is appropriate both to facilitate the consumption in Member States of energy produced from renewable sources in other Member States, and to enable Member States to count energy from renewable sources consumed in other Member States towards their own renewable energy share . For this reason, cooperation mechanisms are required to complement the obligations to open up support to projects located in other Member States . Those mechanisms include statistical transfers, joint projects between Member States or joint support schemes.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 123 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) The Commission should facilitate the exchange of best practices between the competent national or regional and local authorities or bodies, for instance through regular meetings to find a common approach to promote a higher uptake of cost-efficient renewable energy projects, encourage investments in new, flexible and clean technologies, and set out an adequate strategy to manage the retirement of technologies which do not contribute to the reduction of emissions or deliver sufficient flexibility, based on transparent criteria and reliable market price signals.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 123 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Member States' respective contributionbinding targets to this overall 2030 target shall be set and notified to the Commission as part of their Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans in accordance with Articles 3 to 5 and Articles 9 to 11 of Regulation [Governance].
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 124 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
(28) It should be possible for imported electricity, produced from renewable energy sources outside the Union to count towards Member States’ renewable energy sharestargets. In order to guarantee an adequate effect of energy from renewable sources replacing conventional energy in the Union as well as in third countries it is appropriate to ensure that such imports can be tracked and accounted for in a reliable way. Agreements with third countries concerning the organisation of such trade in electricity from renewable energy sources will be considered. If, by virtue of a decision taken under the Energy Community Treaty18 to that effect, the contracting parties to that Treaty are bound by the relevant provisions of this Directive, the measures of cooperation between Member States provided for in this Directive should be applicable to them. _________________ 18 OJ L 198, 20.7.2006, p. 18. OJ L 198, 20.7.2006, p. 18.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 125 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
(28) It should be possible for imported electricity, produced from renewable energy sources outside the Union to count towards Member States’ renewable energy sharestargets. In order to guarantee an adequate effect of energy from renewable sources replacing conventional energy in the Union as well as in third countries it is appropriate to ensure that such imports can be tracked and accounted for in a reliable way. Agreements with third countries concerning the organisation of such trade in electricity from renewable energy sources will be considered. If, by virtue of a decision taken under the Energy Community Treaty18 to that effect, the contracting parties to that Treaty are bound by the relevant provisions of this Directive, the measures of cooperation between Member States provided for in this Directive should be applicable to them. _________________ 18 OJ L 198, 20.7.2006, p. 18.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 128 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
(31) The coherence between the objectives of this Directive and the Union's other environmental legislation should be ensured. In particular, during the assessment, planning or licensing procedures for renewable energy installations, Member States should take accountensure the correct application of all Union environmental legislation andwith the view to strengthening the contribution made by renewable energy sources towards meeting environmental and climate change objectives, in particular when compared to non-renewable energy installations.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 130 #

2016/0382(COD)

(33) At national and, regional and local level, rules and obligations for minimum requirements for the use of energy from renewable sources in new and renovated buildings have led to considerable increases in the use of energy from renewable sources. Those measures should be encouraged in a wider Union context, while promoting the use of more energy- efficient applications of energy from renewable sources through building regulations and codes.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 133 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
For the calculation of a Member State's gross final consumption of energy from renewable energy sources, the contribution from biofuels and bioliquids, as well as from biomass fuels consumed in transport, if produced from food or feed crops, shall be no more than 7% of final consumption of energy in road and rail transport in that Member State. This limit shall be reduced to 3,81% in 2030 following the trajectory set out in part A of Annex X. For 'highly sustainable crop based biofuels' as defined in Article 2 this limit shall be reduced to 3.8%. Member States may set a lower limit and may distinguish between different types of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from food and feed crops, for instance by setting a lower limit for the contribution from food or feed crop based biofuels produced from oil crops, takingand shall take into account indirect land use change, in accordance with Annex VIII and Directive 2015/1513.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 139 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) The opening of support schemes to cross-border participation limits negative impacts on the internal energy market and can, under certain conditions, help Member States achieve the Union target more cost- efficiently. Cross-border participation is also the natural corollary to the development of the Union renewables policy, with a Union-level binding target replacaccompanying national binding targets. It is therefore appropriate to require Member States to progressively and partially open support to projects located in other Member States, and define several ways in which such progressive opening may be implemented, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, including Articles 30, 34 and 110.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 143 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 57
(57) Several Member States have implemented measures in the heating and cooling sector to reach their 2020 renewable energy target. However, in the absence of binding national targets post- 2020, the remaining national incentives may not be sufficient to reach the long- term decarbonisation goals for 2030 and 2050. In order to be in line with such goals, reinforce investor certainty and foster the development of a Union-wide renewable heating and cooling market, while respecting the energy efficiency first principle, it is appropriate to encourage the effort of Member States in the supply of renewable heating and cooling to contribute to the progressive increase of the share of renewable energy. Given the fragmented nature of some heating and cooling markets, it is of utmost importance to ensure flexibility in designing such an effort. It is also important to ensure that a potential uptake of renewable heating and cooling does not have detrimental environmental side-effects, be it inside or outside the EU.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 145 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Two or more Member States may cooperate on all types of joint projects relating to the production of electricity, fuel, heating or cooling from renewable energy sources. That cooperation may involve private operators.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 148 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall notify the Commission of the proportion or amount of electricity, fuel, heating or cooling from renewable energy sources produced by any joint project in their territory, that became operational after 25 June 2009, or by the increased capacity of an installation that was refurbished after that date, which is to be regarded as counting towards the national overall renewable energy share of another Member State for the purposes of this Directive.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 149 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the total amount of electricity or fuel or heating or cooling produced during the year from renewable energy sources by the installation which was the subject of the notification under Article 9; and
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 150 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the amount of electricity or fuel or heating or cooling produced during the year from renewable energy sources by that installation which is to count towards the national overall renewable energy share of another Member State in accordance with the terms of the notification.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 151 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. For the purposes of this Directive , the amount of electricity or fuel or heating or cooling from renewable energy sources notified in accordance with paragraph 1(b) shall be:
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 151 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 62
(62) The European Strategy for a low- carbon mobility of July 2016 pointed out that although they play an important role for rural jobs and produce co-products, food-based biofuels have a limited role in decarbonising the transport sector and should be gradually phased out andmay have negative environmental impacts. Food-based biofuels should therefore be reduced and gradually replaced bywith advanced biofuels. To prepare for the transition towards advanced biofuels that need to be incentivized and minimise the overall indirect land-use change impacts, it is appropriate to reduce the amount of biofuels and bioliquids produced from food and feed crops that can be counted towards the Union target set out in this Directive, and to include an estimate for indirect land-use change in the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 152 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) deducted from the amount of electricity or fuel or heating or cooling from renewable energy sources that is taken into account, in measuring the renewable energy share of the Member State issuing the letter of notification under paragraph 1; and
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 153 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) added to the amount of electricity or fuel or heating or cooling from renewable energy sources that is taken into account in measuring the renewable energy share of the Member State receiving the letter of notification in accordance with paragraph 2.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 154 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall ensure that any national rules concerning the authorisation, certification and licensing procedures that are applied to plants and associated transmission and distribution network infrastructures for the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable energy sources, and to the process of transformation of biomass into biofuels or other energy products, as well as for the deployment of alternative fuel networks, are proportionate and necessary.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 155 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
(26) To create opportunities for reducing the cost of meeting the Union targets laid down in this Directive and to give flexibility to Member States to comply with their obligation not to go below their 2020 national targets after 2020, it is appropriate both to facilitate the consumption in Member States of energy produced from renewable sources in other Member States, and to enable Member States to count energy from renewable sources consumed in other Member States towards their own renewable energy share. For this reason, cooperation mechanisms are required to complement the obligations to open up support to projects located in other Member States. Those mechanisms include statistical transfers, joint projects between Member States or joint support schemes.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 159 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
(33) At national and, regional and local level, rules and obligations for minimum requirements for the use of energy from renewable sources in new and renovated buildings have led to considerable increases in the use of energy from renewable sources. Those measures should be encouraged in a wider Union context, while promoting the use of more energy- efficient applications of energy from renewable sources through building regulations and codes.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 163 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 63
(63) Directive (EU) 2015/1513 of the European Parliament and of the Council23 called on the Commission to present without delay a comprehensive proposal for a cost-effective and technology-neutral post-2020 policy in order to create a long- term perspective for investment in sustainable biofuels with a low risk of causing indirect land-use change and in other means of decarbonising the transport sector. An 12% incorporation obligation on fuel suppliers can provide certainty for investors and encourage the continuous development of alternative renewable transport fuels including advanced biofuels, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, and renewable electricity in transport. It is appropriate to set the obligation on fuel suppliers at the same level in each Member State in order to ensure consistency in transport fuel specifications and availability. As transport fuels are traded easily, fuel suppliers in Member States with low endowments of the relevant resources should be able to easily obtain renewable fuels from elsewhere. _________________ 23 Directive (EU) 2015/1513 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 amending Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 239, 15.9.2015, p. 1).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 167 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 53 a (new)
(53a) Since energy poverty affects around 11% of the population and around 50 million households of the Union, renewable energy policies have an essential role to play in addressing energy poverty and consumer vulnerability.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 167 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph -1 (new)
In order to facilitate the penetration of renewable energy in the transport sector, each Member State shall gradually increase the share of renewable energy supplied to at least 12% in 2030, expressed in terms of national share of final energy consumption and calculated according to the methodology set out in Article 7.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 168 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 53 b (new)
(53b) Member States should therefore actively support policies that focus especially on low-income households at risk of energy poverty or in social housing.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 168 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
With effect from 1 January 2021, Member States shall require fuel suppliers to include a minimum share of energy from advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, sustainable biofuels', from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, from waste-based fossil fuels and from renewable electricity in the total amount of transport fuels they supply for consumption or use on the market in the course of a calendar year.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 169 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 64
(64) AIn respect of the sustainability criteria, advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non- biological origin, and renewable electricity in transport can contribute to low carbon emissions, stimulating the decarbonisation of the Union transport sector in a cost- effective manner, and improving inter alia energy diversification in the transport sector while promoting innovation, growth and jobs in the Union economy and reducing reliance on energy imports. The incorporation obligation on fuels suppliers should encourage continuous development of advanced fuels, including biofuels, and it is important to ensure that the incorporation obligation also incentivises improvements in the greenhouse gas performance of the fuels supplied to meet it. The Commission should assess the greenhouse gas performance, technical innovation and sustainability of those fuels.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 171 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 65
(65) The promotion of low carbon fossil fuels that are produced from fossil waste streams can also contribute towards the policy objectives of energy diversification and transport decarbonisation. It is therefore appropriate to include those fuels in the incorporation obligation on fuel suppliersNevertheless, these fuels cannot be recognised as a renewable energy source and should be addressed in a dedicated legislative text in the context of the Circular Economy Strategy.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 176 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The minimum share shall be at least equal to 1.5% in 2021, increasing up to at least 6.89% in 2030, following the trajectory set out in part B of Annex X. Within this total share, the contribution of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in part A of Annex IX shall be at least 01.5% of the transport fuels supplied for consumption or use on the market as of 1 January 2021, increasing up to at least 3.65.3% by 2030, following the trajectory set out in part C of Annex X.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 177 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
The total greenhouse gas emission savings, also taking into account possible indirect land-use change emissions, from the use of advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX shall be at least 70% as of 1 January 2021.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 178 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 – point a
(a) for the calculation of the denominator, that is the energy content of road and rail transport fuels supplied for consumption or use on the market, petrol, diesel, natural gas, biofuels, biogas, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, waste-based fossil fuels and electricity, shall be taken into account;
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 186 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 71
(71) The production of agricultural raw material for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels , and the incentives for their use provided for in this Directive, should not have the effect of encouraging the destruction of biodiverse lands Such finite resources, recognised in various international instruments to be of value to all mankind, should be preserved. It is therefore necessary to provide sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria ensuring that biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels qualify for the incentives only when it is guaranteed that the agricultural or forest raw material does not originate in biodiverse areas or, in the case of areas designated for nature protection purposes or for the protection of rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems or species, the relevant competent authority demonstrates that the production of the agricultural or forest raw material does not interfere with such purposes. Forests should be considered as biodiverse according to the sustainiability criteria, where they are primary forests in accordance with the definition used by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in its Global Forest Resource Assessment, or where they are protected by national nature protection law. Areas where the collection of non-wood forest products occurs should be considered to be biodiverse forests , provided the human impact is small. Other types of forests as defined by the FAO, such as modified natural forests, semi- natural forests and plantations, should not be considered as primary forests. Having regard, furthermore, to the highly biodiverse nature of certain grasslands, both temperate and tropical, including highly biodiverse savannahs, steppes, scrublands and prairies, biofuels , bioliquids and biomass fuels made from agricultural raw materials originating in such lands should not qualify for the incentives provided for by this Directive. The Commission should establish appropriate criteria to define such highly biodiverse grasslands in accordance with the best available scientific evidence and relevant international standards.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 188 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 62
(62) The European Strategy for a low- carbon mobility of July 2016 pointed out that food-based biofuels have a limited role in decarbonising the transport sector and should be gradually phased out and replaced by advanced biofuels. To prepare for the transition towards advanced biofuels and minimise the overall indirect land-use change impacts, it is appropriate to reduce the amount of biofuels and bioliquids produced from food and feed crops that can be counted towards the Union target set out in this Directive. To speed up the deployment of low-emissions alternative energy for transport, electric mobility has to be promoted and all obstacles to the electrification of transport removed.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 193 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. With effect from 1 January 2021, for the calculation of greenhouse gas emission savings from the use of advanced biofuels and other biofuels, suppliers shall report annually, to the authority designated by the Member State, on the greenhouse gas intensity fuel and energy supplied accordingly to article 7(a) of Directive 98/70/EC. With effect from 1 January 2021, Member States shall require fuel suppliers to reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy from fuel and energy supplied by 31 December 2030, compared with the fuel baseline standard referred to in Directive 2015/652/EC.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 193 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 73
(73) Agricultural feedstock for the production of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels should not be produced on peatland or wetland as the cultivation of feedstock on peatland or wetland would result in significant carbon stock loss if the land was further drained for that purpose while the absence of such drainage cannot be easily verified.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 196 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 63
(63) Directive (EU) 2015/1513 of the European Parliament and of the Council23 called on the Commission to present without delay a comprehensive proposal for a cost-effective and technology-neutral post-2020 policy in order to create a long- term perspective for investment in sustainable biofuels with a low risk of causing indirect land-use change and in other means of decarbonising the transport sector. An mandatory 12% incorporation obligation on fuel suppliers can provide certainty for investors and encourage the continuous development of alternative renewable transport fuels including advanced biofuels, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, and most importantly, renewable electricity with the highest possible share in transport. It is appropriate to set the obligation on fuel suppliers at the same level in each Member State in order to ensure consistency in transport fuel specifications and availability. As transport fuels are traded easily, fuel suppliers in Member States with low endowments of the relevant resources should be able to easily obtain renewable fuels from elsewhere. __________________ 23 Directive (EU) 2015/1513 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 amending Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 239, 15.9.2015, p. 1).
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 196 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 32 to further specify the methodology referred to in paragraph 3(b) of this Article to determine the share of biofuel resulting from biomass being processed with fossil fuels in a common process, to specify the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emission savings from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin and waste-based fossil fuels and to determine minimum greenhouse gas emission savings required for these fuels for the purpose of paragraph 1 of this Article.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 197 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 74
(74) In the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy Union, farmers should comply with a comprehensivelear set of environmental requirements in order to receive direct support. Compliance with those requirements can be most effectively verified in the context of agricultural policy. Including those requirements in the sustainability scheme is not appropriate as the sustainability criteria for bioenergy should set out rules that are objective and apply globally. Verification of compliance under this Directive would also risk causing unnecessary administrative burden.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels based on agricultural biomass shall be produced from raw material produced in respect of common agricultural policy cross compliance criteria.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 203 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 64
(64) Advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non- biological origin, and renewable electricity in transport can contribute to low carbon emissions, stimulating the decarbonisation of the Union transport sector in a cost- effective manner, and improving inter alia energy diversification in the transport sector while promoting innovation, growth and jobs in the Union economy and reducing reliance on energy imports. The incorporation obligation of 12% on fuels suppliers should encourage continuous development of advanced fuels, including biofuels, and it is important to ensure that the incorporation obligation also incentivises improvements in the greenhouse gas performance of the fuels supplied to meet it. The Commission should assess the greenhouse gas performance, technical innovation and sustainability of those fuels and the Commission should put in place incentives to move towards the electrification of transport and propose concrete measures on demand and supply side.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 203 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria shall apply similarly to biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced in the EU or imported from third-countries.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 204 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) where a default value for greenhouse gas emission saving for the production pathway is laid down in part A or B of Annex V for biofuels and bioliquids and in part A of Annex VI for biomass fuels where the el value for those biofuels or bioliquids calculated in accordance with point 7 of part C of Annex V and for those biomass fuels calculated in accordance with point 7 of part B of Annex VI is equal to or less than zero, and where the estimated indirect land-use change emissions are zero in accordance with part B of Annex VIII by using that default value, ;
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 205 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) by using an actual value calculated in accordance with the methodology laid down in part C of Annex V for biofuels and bioliquids and in part B of Annex VI for biomass fuels , adding the estimates for indirect land-use change emissions set out in Annex VIII;
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 206 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) by using a value calculated as the sum of the factors of the formulas referred to in point 1 of part C of Annex V, where disaggregated default values in part D or E of Annex V may be used for some factors, and actual values, calculated in accordance with the methodology laid down in part C of Annex V, for all other factors; or, adding the estimates for indirect land-use change emissions set out in Annex VIII.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 207 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) by using a value calculated as the sum of the factors of the formulas referred to in point 1 of part B of Annex VI, where disaggregated default values in part C of Annex VI may be used for some factors, and actual values, calculated in accordance with the methodology laid down in part B of Annex VI, for all other factors, adding the estimates for indirect land-use change emissions set out in Annex VIII.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 208 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall keep Annex V and Annex VI under review, with a view, where justified, to add ing or revisinge values for new biofuel , bioliquid and biomass fuel production pathways . That review shall also consider the modification of the methodology laid down in part C of Annex V and in part B of Annex VI . In the event that the Commission's review concludes that changes to Annex V or Annex VI should be made, the Commission shall submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and the Council.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 209 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 77
(77) In order to minimise the administrative burden, the Union sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria should apply only to electricity and heating from biomass fuels produced in installations with a fuel capacity equal or above to 20 MW in case of solid biomass fuels and with a fuel capacity equal or above to 2 MW in case of gaseous biomass fuels.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 216 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IX – Part B – point a
(a) Used cooking oil, provided that the Commission comes up with a specific definition of what "used" means.
2017/06/28
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 222 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 101
(101) Since the objectives of this Directive, namely to achieve at least 2735% share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy by 2030 , cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather , by reason of the scale of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union . In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 225 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources. It sets an overarching binding Union target as well as national binding targets at Member State level for the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2030 . It also lays down rules on financial support to electricity produced from renewable sources, self-consumption of renewable electricity, and renewable energy use in the heating and cooling and transport sectors, regional cooperation between Member States and with third countries, guarantees of origin, administrative procedures and information and training. It establishes sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels .
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 226 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources. It sets a binding Union and national targets for the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2030 . It also lays down rules on financial support to electricity produced from renewable sources, self-consumption of renewable electricity, and renewable energy use in the heating and cooling and transport sectors, regional cooperation between Member States and with third countries, guarantees of origin, administrative procedures and information and training, and access to the electricity grid for energy from renewable sources. It establishes sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels .
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 230 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point g
(g) ‘biofuels’ means liquid or gaseous fuel for transport produced from biomass;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 233 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point q
(q) ‘non-food cellulosic material’ means feedstocks mainly composed of cellulose and hemicellulose, and having a lower lignin content than ligno-cellulosic material; it includes food and feed crop residues (such as straw, stover, husks and shells), grassy energy crops with a low starch content (such as ryegrass, switchgrass, miscanthus, giant cane and cover crops before and after main crops), industrial residues (including from food and feed crops after vegetal oils, sugars, starches and protein have been extracted), and material from biowaste;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 234 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point q
(q) ‘non-food cellulosic material’ means feedstocks mainly composed of cellulose and hemicellulose, and having a lower lignin content than ligno-cellulosic material; it includes food and feed crop residues (such as straw, stover, husks and shells), grassy energy crops with a low starch content (such as ryegrass, switchgrass, miscanthus, giant cane and), cover crops before and after main crops), industrial residues (including from food and feed crops after vegetal oils, sugars, starches and protein have been extracted), and material from biowaste;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 238 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 71
(71) The production of agricultural and forest raw material for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels, and the incentives for their use provided for in this Directive, should not have the effect of encouraging the destruction of biodiverse lands Such finite resources, recognised in various international instruments to be of value to all mankind, should be preserved. It is therefore necessary to provide sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria ensuring that biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels qualify for the incentives only when it is guaranteed that the agricultural or forest raw material does not originate in biodiverse areas or, in the case of areas designated for nature protection purposes or for the protection of rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems or species, the relevant competent authority demonstrates that the production of the agricultural and forest raw material does not interfere with such purposes. Forests should be considered as biodiverse according to the sustainiability criteria, where they are primary forests in accordance with the definition used by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in its Global Forest Resource Assessment, or where they are protected by national nature protection law. Areas where the collection of non-wood forest products occurs should be considered to be biodiverse forests, provided the human impact is small. Other types of forests as defined by the FAO, such as modified natural forests, semi- natural forests and plantations, should not be considered as primary forests. Having regard, furthermore, to the highly biodiverse nature of certain grasslands, both temperate and tropical, including highly biodiverse savannahs, steppes, scrublands and prairies, biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels made from agricultural raw materials originating in such lands should not qualify for the incentives provided for by this Directive. The Commission should establish appropriate criteria to define such highly biodiverse grasslands in accordance with the best available scientific evidence and relevant international standards.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 238 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point aa
(aa) ‘renewable self-consumer’ means an active customer as defined in Directive [MDI Directive] or a group of customers acting together, who consumes and may store and sell renewable electricitnergy which is generatproduced within his or its premises, including a multi-apartment block, a commercial or shared services site, a farm or a closed distribution system, provided that, for non-household renewable self- consumers, those activities do not constitute their primary commercial or professional activity;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 239 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point bb
(bb) ‘renewable self-consumption’ means the generation and consumption, and, where applicable, storage, of renewable electricitnergy by renewable self- consumers;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 242 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point dd
(dd) ‘food and feed crops’ means starch- rich crops, sugars and oil crops produced on agricultural land as a main crop excluding residues, waste or ligno- cellulosic material. Intermediate crops, such as catch crops and cover crops, are not considered main crops;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 243 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point dd a (new)
(dd a) 'highly sustainable crop based biofuels' should be defined as biofuels that - have a limited impact on food, water availability and biodiversity - preserve the equilibrium of ecosystems and good soil quality - save at least 70% GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel according to the methodology in article 28 (1) from 2021, increasing to at least 80% by 2030; - are produced from feedstocks obtained in accordance with the requirements and standards under the provisions referred to Article 93 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural Policy ; or are certified to comply with an equivalent set of sustainability standards.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 251 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point ff
(ff) ‘waste-based fossil fuels’ means liquid and gaseous fuels produced from waste streams of non-renewable origin, including waste processing gases and exhaust gases;deleted
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 260 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point nn
(nn) 'biowaste' means biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises, and comparable waste from the food processing industry, as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC. It excludes those by-products of food production that never become waste;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 266 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – title
Union and national binding overall targets for 2030
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 269 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 27%35%, and that this share is at least 12% of the Union's gross final consumption of energy in transport in 2030.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 270 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 2735%.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 272 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. From 1 January 2021 onwards, the share of energy from renewable sources in each Member State's gross final consumption of energy shall not be lower than that shown in the third column of the table in part A of Annex I. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with this baseline ; it must include the phasing out of vegetable oils that drive indirect land use change.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 276 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall support the high ambition of Member States through an enabling framework comprising the enhanced use of Union funds, in particular financial instruments, especially in view of reducing the cost of capital for renewable energy projects and advanced biorefineries.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 285 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Support for electricity from renewable sources shall be designed so as to integrate electricity from renewable sources in the electricity market and ensure that renewable energy producers are responding to market price signals and maximise their market revenues. For renewable cogeneration units, support schemes shall also take into account thermal demand.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 288 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources. It sets a binding Unionminimum targets for the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2030. It also lays down rules on financial support to electricity produced from renewable sources, self-consumption of renewable electricity, andThe Union target is to be collectively achieved by Member States through binding national targets. It also lays down rules on financial support to electricity produced from renewable sources and access to the electricity grid for energy from renewable sources, self-consumption of renewable electricity, renewable energy communities and their cross-border cooperation, renewable energy use in the heating and cooling and transport sectors, regional cooperation between Member States and with third countries, guarantees of origin, administrative procedures and information and training. It establishes sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 308 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
For the calculation of a Member State’s gross final consumption of energy from renewable energy sources, the contribution from biofuels and bioliquids, as well as from biomass fuels consumed in transport, if produced from food or feed crops, shall be no more than 7% of final consumption of energy in road and rail transport in that Member State. This limit shall be reduced to 3,81% in 2030 following the trajectory set out in part A of Annex X. For ‘highly sustainable crop based biofuels’ as defined in paragraph 2.1(a) this limit shall be reduced to 3.8%. Member States may set a lower limit and may distinguish between different types of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from food and feed crops, for instance by setting a lower limit for the contribution from food or feed crop based biofuels produced from oil crops, taking into account indirect land use change in accordance with annex VIII and directive 2015/1513.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 354 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) GHG emission savings may be specified
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 355 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Where relevant, Member States shall assess the need to extend existing gas network infrastructure to facilitate the integration of gas from renewable energy sources.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 356 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. Where relevant, Member States shall require transmission system operators and distribution system operators in their territory to ensure priority access for renewable gases and to publish technical rules in line with Article 6 of Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council34, in particular regarding network connection rules that include gas quality, gas odoration and gas pressure requirements. Member States shall also require transmission and distribution system operators to publish the connection tariffs to connect renewable gas sources based on transparent and non- discriminatory criteria. _________________ 34 Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 98/30/EC (OJ L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 57).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 358 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) are entitled to carry out self- consumption and sell, including through power purchase agreements, their excess production of renewable electricitnergy without being subject to disproportionate procedures and charges that are not cost- reflective;. They should be encouraged to produce and consume their self-generated renewable energy with low taxes.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 363 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that renewable self-consumers living in the same multi-apartment block, or located in the same farm, commercial, or shared services, site or closed distribution system, are allowed to jointly engage in self- consumption as if they were an individual renewable self-consumer. In this case, the threshold set out in paragraph 1(c) shall apply to each renewable self-consumer concerned.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 370 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. In order to facilitate the penetration of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector, each Member State shall endeavour to increase the share of renewable energy supplied for heating and cooling by at least 12 percentage points (pp) every year, expressed in terms of national share of final energy consumption and calculated according to the methodology set out in Article 7.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 380 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
WIn order to achieve the target of at least 12% of the final energy consumption from renewable sources in transport by 2030 as referred to in Article 3, with effect from 1 January 2021, all Member States shall require fuel suppliers to include a minimum share of energy from advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, from ‘highly sustainable crop based biofuels’, from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, from waste-based fossil fuels and from renewable electricity in the total amount of transport fuels they supply for consumption or use on the market in the course of a calendar year. Member States shall gradually increase the share of renewable energy, nevertheless they remain free to choose between different energy sources for the implementation of their energy policy.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 381 #
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 390 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The minimum share shall be at least equal to 1.5% in 2021, increasing up to at least 6.89% in 2030, following the trajectory set out in part B of Annex X. Within this total share, the contribution of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in part A of Annex IX shall be at least 01.5% of the transport fuels supplied for consumption or use on the market as of 1 January 2021, increasing up to at least 3.65.3% by 2030, following the trajectory set out in part C of Annex X.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 396 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Taking into account emissions from possible indirect land-use changes (ILUC), the greenhouse gas emission savings from the use of advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX shall be at least 70% as of 1 January 2021.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 403 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Subject to State aid rules, iIn order to reach the Union and national targets set in Article 3(1) or to achieve higher targets, Member States may apply support schemes. Support schemes for electricity from renewable sources shall be designed so as to avoid unnecessary distortions of electricity markets and ensure that producers take into account the supply and demand of electricity as well as possible grid constraints.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 405 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 – point b – paragraph 1
for the calculation of the numerator, the energy content of advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non- biological origin, waste based fossil fuels supplied to all transport sectors, and renewable electricity supplied to road vehicles, shall be taken into account.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 413 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall put in place a database enabling tracing of transport fuels that are eligible for counting towards the numerator set out in paragraph 1(b), and require the relevant economic operators to enter information on the transactions made and the sustainability characteristics of the eligible fuels, including their life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, starting from their point of production to the fuel supplier that places the fuel on the market. Member States shall also put in place corrective measures and penalties to be applied in the case of non-compliance by the economic operators.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 415 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 32 to further specify the methodology referred to in paragraph 3(b) of this Article to determine the share of biofuel resulting from biomass being processed with fossil fuels in a common process, to specify the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emission savings from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin and waste-based fossil fuels and to determine minimum greenhouse gas emission savings required for these fuels for the purpose of paragraph 1 of this Article.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 426 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Biomass fuels shall have to fulfil the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria set out in paragraphs 2 to 7 only if used in installations producing electricity, heating and cooling or fuels with a fuel capacity equal to or exceeding 20 MW in case of solid biomass fuels and with an electrical capacity equal to or exceeding 0.52 MW in case of gaseous biomass fuels. Member States may apply the sustainability and greenhouse gas emission saving criteria to installations with lower fuel capacity.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 456 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
For the calculation of a Member State’s gross final consumption of energy from renewable energy sources, the contribution from biofuels and bioliquids, as well as from biomass fuels consumed in transport, if produced from food or feed crops, shall be no more than 7% of final consumption of energy in road and rail transport in that Member State. This limit shall be reduced to 3,8% in 2030 following the trajectory set out in part A of Annex X. Member States mayshall set a lower limit and mayshall distinguish between different types of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from food and feed crops, for instance by setting a lower limit for the contribution from food or feed crop based biofuels produced from oil crops, taking into account indirect land use change.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 463 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 5 – point b – point i
i) the forest biomass has been harvested according to a legal permit; or a legal authorisation
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 466 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 5 – point b – point iii
iii) areas of high conservation value and delivering ecosystem services, including peatlands and wetlands, are identified and protected;, including areas designated by international and national law as well as European, national and regional authorities
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 491 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Electricity from biomass fuels produced in installations with a fuel capacity equal to or exceeding 20 MW shall be taken into account for the purposes referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 only if it is produced applying high efficient cogeneration technology as defined under Article 2(34) of Directive 2012/27/EU. For the purposes of points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, this provision shall only apply to installations exclusively transforming biomass starting operation after [3 years from date of adoption of this Directive]. For the purposes of point (c) of paragraph 1, this provision is without prejudice to public support provided under schemes approved by [3 years after date of adoption of this Directive].
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 499 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 10
10. For the purposes referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1, Member States may place additional sustainability requirements for biomass fuels. Sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria shall apply similarly to biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced in the EU or imported from third-countries.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 504 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 6
6. Member States, with the participation of local and regional authorities, shall develop suitable information, awareness-raising, guidance or training programmes in order to inform citizens of the benefits and practicalities of developing and using energy from renewable sources, including by self- consumption or in the framework of renewable energy communities, as well as of the benefits of cooperation mechanisms between Member States and different kinds of cross-border cooperation.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 509 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) where a default value for greenhouse gas emission saving for the production pathway is laid down in part A or B of Annex V for biofuels and bioliquids and in part A of Annex VI for biomass fuels where the el value for those biofuels or bioliquids calculated in accordance with point 7 of part C of Annex V and for those biomass fuels calculated in accordance with point 7 of part B of Annex VI is equal to or less than zero, and where the estimated indirect land-use change emissions are zero in accordance with part B of Annex VIII by using that default value;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 510 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) by using an actual value calculated in accordance with the methodology laid down in part C of Annex V for biofuels and bioliquids and in part B of Annex VI for biomass fuels , adding the estimates for indirect land-use change emissions set out in Annex VIII;
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 511 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) by using a value calculated as the sum of the factors of the formulas referred to in point 1 of part C of Annex V, where disaggregated default values in part D or E of Annex V may be used for some factors, and actual values, calculated in accordance with the methodology laid down in part C of Annex V, for all other factors; or, adding the estimates for indirect land-use change emissions set out in Annex VIII.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 513 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph new2
new2. Member States mayshall submit to the Commission reports including information on the typical greenhouse gas emissions from cultivation of agricultural raw materials of those areas on their territory classified as level 2 in the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) or as a more disaggregated NUTS level in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council35 The reports shall be accompanied by a description of the method and data sources used to calculate the level of emissions. That method shall take into account soil characteristics, climate and expected raw material yields. _________________ 35 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1).
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 523 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. They shall also include a statement that references in existing laws, regulations and administrative provisions to the Directives repealed by this Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made and how that statement is to be formulated. Member States shall decide upon a penalty system applicable to non-compliance.
2017/07/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 540 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IX – part Part A – point b
(b) Biomass fraction of mixed municipal waste, but not separated household waste subject to recycling targets under point (a) of Article 11(2) of Directive 2008/98/EC.deleted
2017/07/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 542 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IX – part Part A – point g
(g) Palm oil mill effluent and empty palm fruit bunches.deleted
2017/07/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 543 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IX – part Part A – point h
(h) Tall oil and tall oil pitch.deleted
2017/07/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 556 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. WIn order to achieve the target of at least 12% of the final energy consumption from renewable sources in transport by 2030 as referred to in Article 3, with effect from 1 January 2021, Member States shall require fuel suppliers to include a minimum share of energy from advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX, from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, from waste-based fossil fuels and from renewable electricity in the total amount of transport fuels they supply for consumption or use on the market in the course of a calendar year.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 559 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IX – part Part B – point c
(c) Molasses that are produced as a by-product from of refining sugarcane or sugar beets provided that the best industry standards for the extraction of sugar has been respected.deleted
2017/07/20
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 590 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Taking into account emissions from possible indirect land-use changes, the greenhouse gas emission savings from the use of advanced biofuels and other biofuels and biogas produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX shall be at least 70% as of 1 January 2021.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 639 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. To determine the share of renewable electricity for the purposes of paragraph 1 either the average share of electricity from renewable energy sources in the Union or the share of electricity from renewable energy sources in the Member State where the electricity is supplied, as measured two years before the year in question may be usedshall be used. However, electricity obtained from direct connection to an installation generating renewable electricity that is not connected to the grid may be fully counted as renewable electricity. In both cases, an equivalent amount of guarantees of origin issued in accordance with Article 19 shall be cancelled.
2017/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 728 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from agricultural or forest biomass taken into account for the purposes referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 shall not be made from raw material obtained from land with high carbon stock, namely land that had one of the following statuses in January 2008 and no longer has that status:
2017/07/24
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 733 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 4
4. Biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from agricultural or forest biomass taken into account for the purposes referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 shall not be made from raw material obtained from land that was peatland in January 2008.
2017/07/24
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 772 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 5 – point a – point iv
iv) the impacts of forest harvesting on soil quality, soil carbon and biodiversity are minimised; and
2017/07/24
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 846 #

2016/0382(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 3
TBy 1 January 2021, the Commission mayshall establish the operational evidence for demonstrating compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 5 and 6, by means of implementing acts adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 31(2).
2017/07/24
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 22 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
(1) This Regulation sets out the necessary legislative foundation for a reliable and transparent Governance that ensures the achievement of the objectives of the Energy Union and the targets of the Energy UnionParis Agreement through complementary, coherent and ambitious efforts by the Union and its Member States, while promoting the Union's Better Regulation principles.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 26 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
(2) The European Energy Union should make a transition to a highly efficient energy system which focuses to a high degree on renewable energy and covers five key dimensions: energy security; the internal energy market; energy efficiency; decarbonisation; and research, innovation and competitiveness.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 32 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
(3) The goal of a resilient Energy Union with an ambitious climate policy at its core is to give Union consumers, both households and businesses, secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy, which requires a fundamental transformation of Europe's energy system. That objective can only be achieved through coordinated action, combining both legislative and non-legislative acts at Union, national and natregional level.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 45 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) The Conclusions of the Council of 26 November 20151616 recognised that the Governance of the Energy Union will be an essential tool for the efficient and effective construction of the Energy Union and the achievement of its objectives. They underlined that the governance system should be based on the principles of integration of strategic planning and reporting on the implementation of climate and energy policies and coordination between actors responsible for energy and climate policy, at Union, regional and national level. They also underlined that the Governance should ensure that the agreed energy and climate targets for 2030 are met; and that the Governance would monitor the Member States' and the Union’s collective progress towards the achievement of the policy objectives across the five dimensions of the Energy Union. _________________ 16 Conclusions of the Council of 26 November 2015 (14632/15).
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 84 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
(38) Member States and the Commission should ensure close cooperation on all matters relating to the implementation of the Energy Union and this Regulation, with close involvement of the European Parliament. The Commission, with the support of the European Parliament, should as appropriate assist Member States in implementing this Regulation, particularly with regard to the establishment of the national plans and associated capacity building.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
(38) Member States and the Commission should ensure close cooperation on all matters relating to the implementation of the Energy Union and this Regulation, with close involvement of the European Parliament. The Commission should, advised by the European Parliament, may as appropriate assist Member States in implementing this Regulation, particularly with regard to the establishment of the national plans and associated capacity building.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 87 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
(40) The European Environment Agency should assist the Commission, as appropriate and in accordance with its annual work programme, with assessment, monitoring and reporting work. Member States should take into account the advice of the European Environment Agency regarding the environmental impact of the use of biofuels in transport.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 88 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
(40) The European Environment Agency should assist the Commission, as appropriate and in accordance with its annual work programme, with assessment, monitoring and reporting work. Member States should take into account the advice provided by the European Environment Agency concerning the environmental impact of biofuel production.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 103 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a description of the policies and measur, measures and investment strategies foreseen to meet the corresponding objectives, targets and contributions set out under point (b);
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 104 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) an assessment of the impacts of the planned policies and measur, measures and investment strategies to meet the objectives referred to in point (b);
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 105 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) results of consultation and involvement of local authorities, civil society, the social partners, relevant sectors and members of the public;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 107 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 1 – point i
i. the Member State's binding national target for greenhouse gas emissions and the annual binding national limits pursuant to Regulation [ ] [ESR], but not falling short of the targets set in Article 7a(2) of Directive 98/70/EC [ESR] to be attained by 2020;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 1 – point ii
ii. the Member State's commitments pursuant to Regulation [ ] [LULUCF] and the advanced biofuel objectives in terms of research and investment;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 1 – point ii
ii. the Member State's commitments pursuant to Regulation [ ] [LULUCF]; as well as objectives for advanced biofuels in terms of research and investments;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 112 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point i
i. with a view to achieving the Union's binding target of at least 27% renewable energy in 2030 as referred to in Article 3 of [recast of Directive 2009/28/EC as proposed by COM(2016) 767], a contribution to this target in terms of the Member State's share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2030, taking into account the necessary writing-off of investment in first-generation biofuels, with a linear trajectory for that contribution from 2021 onwards;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 114 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point i
i. with a view to achieving the Union's binding target of at least 27% renewable energy in 2030 as referred to in Article 3 of [recast of Directive 2009/28/EC as proposed by COM(2016) 767], a contribution to this target in terms of the Member State's share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2030, taking into account the amortisation of investments for first-generation biofuels, with a linear trajectory for that contribution from 2021 onwards;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 115 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point ii
ii. trajectories for the sectorial share of renewable energy in final energy consumption from 2021 to 2030, facilitating optimal use of biomass in the heating and cooling, electricity, and transport sectors;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point ii
ii. trajectories for the sectorial share of renewable energy in final energy consumption from 2021 to 2030 ensuring an optimal uptake of biomass in the heating and cooling, electricity, and transport sectors;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 119 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point iii a (new)
iiia. the trajectories to gradually increase the blending obligation for biofuels derived from agricultural waste which applies to suppliers of fossil fuels;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 121 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a – point 2 – point iii c (new)
iiic. the standards applicable to various types of biofuels and mixtures;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 128 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d – point ii a (new)
(ii a) the stable and local income- support potential of biofuels for farmers facing the end of quotas and an extreme price volatility;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d – point ii a (new)
(iia) the additional stable income represented by biofuels for farmers facing quotas and exacerbated price volatility;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 135 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the macroeconomic, environmental, health, skills and social impact of the planned policies and measures referred to in Article 7 and further specified in Annex I, for the first ten-year period at least until the year 2030 including a comparison with the projectionsbased on of existing (implemented and adopted) policies and measures referred to in paragraph 1;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 148 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall only modify the targets, objectives and contributions set out in the update referred to in paragraph 2 to reflect an increased ambition as compared to the ones set in the latest notified integrated national energy and climate plan.deleted
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 153 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) emissions reductions and enhancement of removals in individual sectors including electricity, industry, transport, the buildings sector (residential and tertiary), agriculture and land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), which should be achieved by preserving natural carbon sinks and upgrading ecosystem services;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 156 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) emissions reductions and enhancement of removals in individual sectors including electricity, industry, transport, the buildings sector (residential and tertiary), agriculture and land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF); it is therefore necessary to conserve natural carbon sinks and to enhance ecosystem services;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 158 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) information on national climate change adaptation planning and strategies, particularly regarding advanced biofuel research and investment in accordance with Article 17(1);
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) information on national climate change adaptation planning and strategies, including in the field of research and investment in advanced biofuels, in accordance with Article 17(1);
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 180 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall announce in advance the indicators that it intends to use to make such assessments.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 191 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1
1. If, on the basis of its assessment of the integrated national energy and climate plans and their updates pursuant to Article 12, the Commission concludes that the targets, objectives and contributions of the national plans or their updates are insufficient for the collective achievement of the Energy Union objectives and, in particular, for the first ten-years period, for the Union's 2030 targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, it shall take measures at Union level in order to ensure the collective achievement of those objectives and targets. With regard to renewable energy, such measures and, in particular, the financing platform set up at Union level to contribute to renewable energy projects, shall take into consideration the level of ambition of contributions to the Union's 2030 target by Member States set out in the national plans and their updates.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4 a (new)
The Commission shall ensure that the contribution sought from the Member States for the financing platform for renewable energy projects is distributed fairly on the basis of the progress made by each Member State.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 206 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall ensure that the recommendations are published and made accessible.
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 218 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex VII – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) if available, changes in commodity prices and land use within the Member State associated with its increased use of biomass and other forms of energy from renewable sources;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 220 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex VII – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) the estimated impact of co- production and use of first generation biofuels on the self-sufficiency and price of protein concentrates and other feed products;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 222 #

2016/0375(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex VII – Part 1 – paragraph 1 – point h b (new)
(hb) the estimated impact of the production or use of biofuels obtained from agricultural losses and waste on the development of the EU’s bio-economy;
2017/07/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 31 #

2016/0308(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Where a product originating in Ukraine is imported on terms which cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties to a Community producer of like or directly competing products, Common Customs Tariff duties on such product may be reintroduced at any time by the Council acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission. The Commission shall put in place a system to monitor the volumes for which concessions have been granted, linked to price levels on the internal markets of the products concerned, so that if those markets deteriorate and an EU producer has problems, the common customs tariff can be re-established immediately.
2017/01/31
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 267 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point (s)
(s) "date of setting up" means the date when the setting up process begins by means of (an) action(s) to be performed by the applicant.; applicant starts his agricultural activity having completed his preliminary business plan and had it approved by the national authorities responsible for granting the aid.
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 141 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 267 – paragraph 1 – point 6 b (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a(new)
6b. In Article 31 – paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added: Member States may set additional objective and non-discriminatory criteria from 2018. They must notify such a decision to the Commission before 01 August 2017.
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 225 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
(12) The concept of performance as regards the EU budget should be clarified. Performance should be described as aon the basis of the achievement of objectives and the direct application of the principle of sound financial management. TWithout seeking to prejudge the relevance of the programme concerned, there should be a link between performance, objective-s setting and performance, indicators, results and economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of appropriations. To avoid conflicts with existing performance frameworks of the different programmes, references in terms of performance terminology should be limited to objectives and monitoring progress in achieving them.
2017/04/18
Committee: BUDGCONT
Amendment 286 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 269 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013
Article 9 – paragraph 8
8. Member States may decide to stop applying the provisions of this Article from 2018. They shall notify the Commission of such a decision by 1 August 2017.deleted
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 315 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 269 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013
Article 44 – paragraph 5 a (new)
“.” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R1307&rid=1)3a. In Article 44, the following paragraph is added: “5a. In the case of a legal person, or a group of natural or legal persons, Member States may apply the thresholds laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 at the level of the members of those legal persons or groups where national law provides for the individual members to assume rights and obligations comparable to those of individual farmers who have the status of a head of holding, in particular as regards their economic, social and tax status, provided that they have contributed to strengthening the agricultural structures of the legal persons or groups concerned. .” Or. fr
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 316 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 269 – paragraph 1 – point 3 b (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013
Article 45 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
3b. In Article 45(1), paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: “1. Member States shall designate permanent grasslands which are environmentally sensitive in areas covered by Directives 92/43/EEC or 2009/147/EC, including in peat and wetlands situated in these areas, and which need strict protection in order to meet the objectives of those Directives.” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R1307&rid=1) As from 2018, Member States may review the designation of those areas covered by Directives 92/43/EEC or 2009/147/EC provided the proportion of sensitive areas remains the same. They must notify the Commission of such a decision before 1 August 2017.” Or. fr
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 356 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 238
(238) The EGF should continue after 31 December 2017 to temporarily provide assistance to young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) who reside in aregions eligible under the Youth Employment Initiative, since those regions are disproportionately impacted by major redundancas affected by high unemployment rates or have been disproportionately impacted by major redundancies. The EGF should also continue to provide assistance to people who have lost their jobs as a result of major structural changes in international trade due to globalisation or the global economic and financial crisis, and should be reinforced by new tools that give it a strategic and prospective role with a view to funding sectors likely to face problems in the future, based on sectoral globalisation impact studies.
2017/04/18
Committee: BUDGCONT
Amendment 371 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 27
27. ‘financial instruments’ means Union measures of financial support provided from the budget in order to address one or more specific policy objectives of the Union. Such instruments may take the form of equity or quasi-equity investments, loans or guarantees, repayable advances or other risk-sharing instruments, and may, where appropriate, be combined with other forms of financial support or with funds under shared implementation or EDF funds;
2017/04/18
Committee: BUDGCONT
Amendment 373 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 27 a (new)
27a. 'repayable advance' means a loan for a project which is paid in one or more instalments, the conditions for the reimbursement of which depend on the outcome of the project.
2017/04/18
Committee: BUDGCONT
Amendment 408 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 270 – paragraph -1 (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Part II – Title I – Chapter I – Heading
-1. In Part II, Title I, the title of Chapter I is replaced by the following: “Public intervention and, aid for private storage” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R1308&rid=1) and contra-cyclical aid mechanism” Or. fr
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 409 #

2016/0282(COD)

-1. In Part II, Title I, Chapter I, the title of Section 1 is replaced by the following: “General provisions on public intervention and, aid for private storage” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R1308&rid=1) and a counter- cyclical aid mechanism” Or. fr
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 410 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 270 – paragraph 1 – point -1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
-1a. In Article 8, subparagraph 1, the following point is added: (ba) a counter-cyclical aid mechanism.
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 454 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 270 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 62 – paragraph 4a (new)
3a. In Article 62, the following paragraph is added: 4a. For the purposes of this chapter, Member States may place areas on which may be produced wine suitable for producing wine spirits with a geographical indication that is listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council in the same category as areas on which may be produced wine with a protected designation of origin or a protection geographical indication.
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 501 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 270 – paragraph 1 – point 4 b (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 209 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
4b. In Article 209, paragraph 1, the third subparagraph is deleted.
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 503 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 270 – paragraph 1 – point 4 c (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Annex VII – Part II – point 1 – point c – indent 2
4c. In Part II, paragraph I, point c of Annex VII, the second indent is replaced by the following: “— the upper limit for the total alcoholic strength may exceed 15 % volume for wines with a protected designation of origin which have been produced without enrichment;” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/leg, with the exception of the partial- contcent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R1308&rid=1)ration procedures listed in Annex VIII, Part I, Section B, paragraph 1;” Or. fr
2017/03/28
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 672 #

2016/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 228 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Financial reporting on the operations carried out by each trust fund shall be established twice every year by the authorising officer. They shall form the subject of a Communication to the European Parliament and to the Council.
2017/04/18
Committee: BUDGCONT
Amendment 73 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 208, 209(1) and 212(2) thereof,
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 110 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The EFSD should foster the creation of decent jobs, economic opportunities and entrepreneurship, with a special focus on young people, gender equality and the empowerment of women and young people in line with the Union’s Gender Action Plan 2016-2020, while strengthening the rule of law, good governance and human rights.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 187 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The EFSD shall contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda with a particular focus on sustainabland be guided by the objectives set out in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 208 TFEU and the internationally agreed development effectiveness principles, thus contributing to the Union's development and Neighbourhood policies and the new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration, with a particular focus on poverty eradication, long-term sustainable and inclusive growth, jobthe creation of decent jobs, socio-economic sectors and on the support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises, thus addressing. In so doing, the EFSD shall, inter alia, contribute to addressing the specific socio-economic root causes of migration and contributing to, foster the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants inmigrants returning to their countries of origin while maximising additionality, delivering innovative products and crowding in private sector fundand strengthen the resilience of host communities.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 237 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) contribute to economic and social development and to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on sustainability and job creation (in particular for youth and women)poverty eradication, sustainability and fostering decent employment, economic opportunities and entrepreneurship, promoting, in particular, gender equality and the empowerment of women and young people, thus addressing specific root causes of migration, enhancing resilience and contributing to the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants inmigrants returned to their countries of origin, while strengthening the rule of law, good governance and human rights;
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 246 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) targetstrengthen a number of socio- economic sectors, in particular infrastructure including sustainrenewable energy, water, transport, information and communications technologies, environment, sustainable use of natural resources and blue growth, social infrastructure, human capital and education and lifelong learning, in order to improve the socio-economic environment;
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 296 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission mayshall define investment windows for specific regions or partner countries or for both, for specific sectors, for specific projects or for specific categories of final beneficiaries or for both to be funded by instruments referred to in Article 9 to be covered by the EFSD Guarantee up to a fixed amount. All requests for financial support within investment windows shall be made to the CommissionThe choice of investment windows shall be duly justified by an analysis of market failure or sub-optimal investment situations. That analysis shall be carried out by the Commission in cooperation with potentially eligible counterparts and stakeholders. Investment windows shall be defined with a view to allocating a significant share of the EFSD Guarantee to fragile and conflict-affected countries, landlocked countries and Least-Developed Countries.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 303 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission shall establish and publish a scoreboard of indicators to be used to ensure an independent and transparent assessment of the potential and actual operations backed by the EFSD Guarantee. Those indicators shall include gender components.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 358 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) a scoreboard of indicators, as provided for in [Article 8(4a)].
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 366 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – title
Transparency, communication and public disclosure of information
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 373 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The eligible counterparts shall clearly specify the support provided by the Union in the information they publish on financing and investment operations covered by the EFSD Guarantee under this Regulation.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 374 #

2016/0281(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 b (new)
EU delegations shall include information on the funding opportunities available under the EFSD in all materials targeted at civil society and the general public.
2017/03/27
Committee: AFETDEVEBUDG
Amendment 219 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
(21) The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) should be enhanced and its activities should focuaddress any shortcomings oin needs not covered adequately under current arrangementhe implementation of the EFSI. It should play an instrumental role in empowering project promoters to initiate and develop viable, sustainable and quality projects. It should pay particular attention to supporting the preparation of projects involving two or more Member States or regions, 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, tThe EIAH should also contribute actively to achieving the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI and proactively supporting the EIB where needand other actors involved in originating projects and launching operations, as well as in initiating demand, where needed. It should also actively contribute to the establishment of investment platforms and provide advice on the combination ofing other sources of Union funding with the EFSIEU funding with the EFSI. It is considered necessary for the EIAH to establish a strong local presence, where needed, to leverage local knowledge about the EFSI and give better consideration to local needs. The EIAH should aim to conclude agreements with national development banks or institutions in each Member State. To achieve those objectives, the staff capacity of the EIAH should be commensurate to the tasks that it is called upon to undertake.
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 282 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
The pProjects supported by the EFSI that consist of physical infrastructure linking two or more Member States or of the extension of physical infrastructure or services linked to physical infrastructure from one Member State to one or more Member States, shall also be considered to provide additionality if they directly concern at least one of the less-developed regions or transition regions listed, respectively, in Annex I and Annex II to Commission Implementing Decision 2014/99/EU1a. _________________ 1a Commission Implementing Decision No 2014/99/EU of 18 February 2014 setting out the list of regions eligible for funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund and of Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund for the period 2014-2020, OJ L 50, 20.2.2014, p. 22.
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 284 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
The pProjects supported by the EFSI that consist of physical infrastructure linking two or more Member States or of the extension of physical infrastructure or services linked to physical infrastructure from one Member State to one or more Member States, shall also be considered to provide additionality provided they do not undermine the commitments made in the context of the COP21 climate agreement by the European Union and by the Member States involved in the project.
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 310 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
(-a) in paragraph 1, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: ‘The Steering Board shall comprise four members: three appointed by the Commission and one by the EIB. The Steering Board shall elect a Chairperson from among its members for a fixed term of three years, renewable once. The Steering Board shall take its decisions by consensus. The members with observer status may be consulted by the permanent members, but shall not be involved in decision-making.’;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 312 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point -a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
(-a) in paragraph 3, the third subparagraph is replaced by the following: The Steering Board shall regularly organise a twice- yearly consultation of relevant stakeholders - in particular co-investors, including national promotional banks and institutions, public authorities, experts, education, training and research institutions, the relevant social partners and representatives of civil society - on the orientation and implementation of the investment policy carried out by the EIB under this Regulation.
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 318 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a – point -i a (new)
Regulation 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point c
c) energy infrastructures-ia) point (c) is replaced by the following: c) energy infrastructures (including marine energy), energy efficiency and renewable energy;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 326 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point l
l) agriculture, forestry, fishery and aquaculture;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 327 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a – point ii a (new)
Regulation 2015/1017
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point l a (new)
la) blue growth
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 344 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point -a (new)
Regulation 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
(-a) in paragraph 2(b), point (iii) is replaced by the following: ‘iii) development and modernisation of energy infrastructure (in particular interconnections, smart grids at distribution level, energy storage and, synchronisation of networks and marine energy);
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 354 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point h
h) agriculture, forestry, fishery and aquaculture;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 356 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(a a) in paragraph 2 the following point (ha) is added: ‘ha) blue growth;’
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 395 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point a a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 11 – paragraph 2
(aa) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. The remuneration for risk-taking of a portfolio shall be allocated amongst contributors in proportion to their respective share in the risk-taking. The EU guarantee shall be eligible to provide either first loss guarantees on a portfolio basis or a full guarantee. The EU guarantee may be granted on a pari passu basis with other contributors. In the case of co-investment in infrastructure projects, the EIB shall be subordinate to the other investors in respect of the portion of the investment for which the EIB enjoys an EFSI guarantee. The EIB’s special activities which are backed by the EFSI and take the form of a guarantee may be offered on more advantageous terms than is the case for normal EIB or EIF guarantee operations carried out on the basis of market conditions and, if appropriate, may be subordinated to other investors to cover first loss portfolio instruments.’
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 415 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point i
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point c
c) leveraging local knowledge to facilitate EFSI support across the Union and contributing where possible to the objective of sectorial and geographical diversification of the EFSI referred to in Section 8 of Annex II by supporting the EIB to originateand the national promotional banks or institutions concerned to originate and develop operations;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 419 #

2016/0276(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii
Regulation (EU) No 2015/1017
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point e
e) providing pro-active support on the establishment of investment platforms with a local presence, taking account of existing support programmes and bodies, in particular national promotional banks or institutions;
2017/03/27
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 194 #

2016/0230(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph 1 is negative in relation to its forest reference level, and following any necessary corrections and compulsory adjustments to harvest levels, as provided for in paragraph 4, a Member State shall include in its managed forest land accounts total net removals of no more than the equivalent of 3,5 per cent of the Member State’s emissions in its base year or period as specified in Annex III, multiplied by five.
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 213 #

2016/0230(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The national forestry accounting plan shall contain all the elements listed in Annex IV, section B and include a proposed new forest reference level based on the continuation of current forest management practice and intensity, as documented between 1990-2009 per forest type and per age class in national forests, expressed in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. It shall be based on the sustainable forestry management principles and the national strategies published by Member States in this area up to the time of submission of the forest reference level and on long- term analyses carried out with a view to fulfilling the objective set out in Article 4.1 of the Paris Agreement, namely to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century. The report shall document practices per forest type and age or diameter class in national forests. The report shall set out the projected wood harvest levels, where possible breaking them down between commercial harvesting and non-commercial direct harvesting by households and/or on the basis of national forest inventory data and the related historical data series. On that basis, the report shall specify a forest reference level expressed in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 223 #

2016/0230(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall demonstrate consistency between the methods and data used to establish the forest reference level in the national forestry accounting plan and those used in the reporting for managed forest land. At the latest at24 months after the end of the period from 2021 to 2025 or from 2026 to 2030, a Member State shall submit to the Commission a technical correction of its reference level if necessary to ensure consistencyand the national forestry accounting report if necessary to ensure consistency. In particular, where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph 1 is negative and where the commercial harvest levels recorded over the period are lower than the projected levels set out in the accounting report, the harvest level in the report shall be adjusted and a corresponding adjustment shall be made to the projected reference level. This compulsory adjustment shall consist in bringing the projected harvest levels in the report down to a level where, following final corrections, either the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph 1 or the disparity between the projected harvest levels, as corrected, and the harvest levels recorded is remedied. This compulsory adjustment may also be made on the basis of total harvest levels, where those levels have been established with an equivalent or greater degree of accuracy than that achieved for commercial harvest levels.
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 229 #

2016/0230(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall reviewAt specified in Annex 4, the Commission shall carry out a technical assessment of the national forestry accounting plans and technical corrections andsubmitted by Member States and of any technical corrections or adjustments, with a view to assessing the extent to which the proposed new or corrected forest reference levels have been determined in accordance with the principles and requirements set out in paragraphs (3) and (4) as well as Article 5(1). To the extent that this is required in order to ensure compliance with the principles and requirements set out in paragraphs (3) and (4) as well as Article 5(1), the Commission may recalculate the proposed new or corrected forest reference levelhe Commission shall draw up reports summarising the findings and making recommendations.
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 238 #

2016/0230(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 14 to amend Annex II in the light of the reviewtechnical assessment carried out pursuant to paragraph (5) to update Member States’ forest reference levels on the basedis onf the national forestry accounting plans or the technical corrections they have submitted, and any rtecalculations made in the context of the review. Until the entry into force of the delegated act, Member Statehnical corrections and/or adjustments made by them. If a Member State has not updated its forest reference levels as, the value specified in Annex II shall continue to apply for the period 2021- 2025 and/or 2026-2030.
2017/03/29
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 23 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
(12) National authorities in the Member States experience difficulties in identifying illegally staying third-country nationals who use deceptive means to avoid their identification and to frustrate the procedures for re-documentation in view of their return and readmission. It is therefore essential to ensure that information on third-country nationals or stateless persons who are found to be staying illegally in the EU areis collected and transmitted to Eurodac and areis compared also with thoseat collected and transmitted for the purpose of establishing the identity of applicants for international protection and of third- country nationals apprehended in connection with the unlawful crossing of the external borders of the Union, in order to facilitate their identification and re- documentation and, in the case of third- country nationals who are staying in a country illegally, to ensure their return and readmission, and to reduce identity fraud. It should also contribute to reducing the length of the administrative procedures necessary for ensuring return and readmission of illegally staying third- country nationals, including the period during which they may be kept in administrative detention awaiting removal. It should also allow identifying third countries of transit, where the illegally staytng third-country national may be readmitted.
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 26 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) The Commission’s Communication on Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security288 highlights the need to improve the interoperability of information systems as a long-term objective, as also identified by the European Council and the Council. The Communication proposes to set up an Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability to address the legal and technical feasibility of achieving interoperability of the information systems for borders and security. This group should assess the necessity and proportionality of establishing interoperability with the Schengen Information Systems (SIS) and the Visa Information Systems (VIS), and examine if there is a need to revise the legal framework for law enforcement access to EURODAC. Such interoperability must always respect the balance between individual liberties and collective security. _________________ 28 COM(2016) 205 final
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
(18) Moreover, Europol plays a key role with respect to cooperation between Member States' authorities in the field of cross-border crime investigation in supporting Union-wide crime prevention, analyses and investigation. Consequently, Europol should also have access to Eurodac within the framework of its tasks and in accordance with Council Decision 2009/371/JHA31 31 , in a manner which is proportionate and respects the balance between individual liberties and collective security. _________________ 31 Council Decision 2009/371/JHA of 6 April 2009 establishing the European Police Office (Europol) (OJ L 121, 15.5.2009, p. 37).
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 35 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
(21) Even though the original purpose of the establishment of Eurodac did not require the facility of requesting comparisons of data with the database on the basis of a latent fingerprint, which is the dactyloscopic trace which may be found at a crime scene, such a facility is fundamental in the field of police cooperation. The possibility to compare a latent fingerprint with the fingerprint data which is stored in Eurodac in cases where there are reasonable and duly stated grounds for believing that the perpetrator or victim may fall under one of the categories covered by this Regulation will provide the designated authorities of the Member States with a very valuable tool in preventing, detecting or investigating terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences, when for example the only evidence available at a crime scene are latent fingerprints.
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 48 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
(33) In view of successfully preventing and monitoring unauthorised movements of third-country nationals or stateless persons who have no right to stay in the Union, and of taking the necessary measures for successfullyreturning third-country nationals and enforcing effective return and readmission to third countries in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC35 and the right to protection of personal data, a period of five years should be considered a necessary period for the storage of fingerprint and facial data. _________________ 35 OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p.98
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 88 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) assist with the control of illegal immigration to and secondary movements within the Union and with the identification of illegally staying third- country nationals for determining the appropriate measures to be taken by Member States, including removal and repatriation of personthird-country nationals residing without authorisation.
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 95 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. Member States mayshall introduce administrative sanctions, in accordance with their national law, for non-compliance with the fingerprinting process and capturing a facial image in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. These sanctions shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. In this context, detention should only be used as a means of last resort in order to determine or verify a third-country national's identity.
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 460 #

2016/0132(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 41 – paragraph 1
1. The costs incurred in connection with the establishment and operation of the Central System and the Communication Infrastructure shall be borne by the general budget of the European Union, in accordance with the principles of sound financial management.
2017/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 80 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
(15) Certain substances, mixtures and micro-organisms, commonly referred to as plant biostimulants, aredo not as suchprovide nutrients as such, but nevertheless stimulate plants’ natural nutrition processes. Where such products aim solely at improving the plants’ nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality traits, they are by nature more similar to fertilising products than to most categories of plant protection products. They therefore act as a complement to fertilisers, with a view to optimising the efficiency of fertilisers and reducing the amounts used. In addition to boosting production capacity, these products are low-risk for humans and the environment, helping to support ecosystem services and make crops more resistant to the effects of climate change. Such products should therefore be eligible for CE marking under this Regulation and excluded from the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council21. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly. __________________ 21 Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1).
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 125 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(ha) Regulation (EC) No 834/2007
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 163 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
A waste-based CE marked fertilising product that has undergone a recovery operation and complies with the requirements laid down in this Regulation shall be considered to comply with the conditions laid down in Article 6(1) of Directive 2008/98/EC and shall, therefore, be considered as having ceased to be waste once the declaration of conformity has been drawn up.
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 188 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009
Article 3 – point 34 – introductory part
3) ‘34) “plant biostimulant” means a productny micro-organism or substance of natural origin stimulating plant nutrition processes independently of the product’s nutrient contentnutrients therein, with the sole aim of improving one or more of the following characteristics of the plant:
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 191 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009
Article 3 – point 34 – point b
(b) tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress;
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 193 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009
Article 3 – point 34 – point c
(c) cropthe quality traits of crops and related ecosystem services.
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 361 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part 2 – CMC 3 – point 1 – point b
(b) AProducts derived from animal by- products of categories 2 and 3 according to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009; referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 for which the end point in the manufacturing chain has been reached in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 5, sub-paragraph 2 of that Regulation;
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 364 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part 2 – CMC 3 – point 1 – point c – indent 2
– sewage sludge, industrial sludge (except food waste not fit for consumption, feed and plantations used for agrofuels) or dredging sludge, and
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 446 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – part 1 – point 2 – point e
(e) A description of all product components above 5% by product weight in descending order of magnitude by dry weight, including an indication of the relevant component material categories ('CMC') as referred to in Annex II.
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 456 #

2016/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – part 2 – PFC 1(A) – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) numbers indicating the totalaverage content of the declared nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K), followed by numbers in brackets indicating the total content of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), sulphur (S) or sodium (Na),
2017/03/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 17 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that, were all policies in the EU, nationally or at Union level, to be entirely financed from the EU budget, the CAP share would only amount to 1 %, which seems very reasonable for a policy that supplies food for over 500 million citizens; considers that the CAP is the best and cheapest security policy of the Union as it ensures sufficient food supply, although efforts should still be made to provide good quality food that is accessible to everyone and has a positive influence on people’s health;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2015/2353(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Considers that a review of the MFF in 2016 should take stock of a number of serious crises and new political initiatives, together with their respective budgetary consequences, which were not anticipated at the time of the MFF’s adoption; notes, inter alia, the migration and refugee crisis, external emergencies, internal security issues, the crisis in agriculture, particularly in the milk and meat sectors, the funding of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the persistent high level of unemployment, especially among young people, and the payment crisis in the EU budget; observes that, in order to finance the additional pressing needs, an unprecedented recourse to the MFF’s flexibility mechanisms and special instruments was deemed necessary, as the MFF ceilings proved to be too tight in some headings; considers that, over the past two years, the MFF has essentially been pushed to its limits;
2016/05/13
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 45 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. notes that price volatility linked to worsening market conditions in many agricultural sectors has significantly increased in recent years, leading to severe income volatility; stresses, therefore,this situation has led the needEU to ensure thatstablish budgetary resources are availablein an effort to deal with market crises, such as those currently affecting the milk, pig meat and fruit and vegetable sectors; adds in this regard that, owing to the CAP budget cuts made during the last MFF negotiations, direct payments from the first pillar of the CAP are currently insufficient to mitigate the income volatility experienced by farmers;losses experienced by farmers; that public authorities and agriculture professionals should consider quickly and efficiently introducing the few market measures adopted by the Agriculture Council on 14 March 2016, with a view, above all, to curbing the overproduction phenomena which have caused prices to plummet and have been severely affecting livestock and, in particular, the dairy industry in the past few months.
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 54 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. deplores the fact that, despite receiving some notes of caution, in its Autumn 2015 crisis plan, the Commission did not take suitable measures to eliminate the overproduction crisis in the livestock sector, and that it simply issued a EUR 420 million package to the Member States, and that package had absolutely no effect on the markets and farming income, but was also a bad use of public funds, which are so valuable in times of budgetary restraint, and so crucial to financing the crises affecting Europe.
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2015/2353(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Concludes that the activities planned by the Commission to cope with the migrant and refugee crisis could not have been foreseen at the time of the conclusion of the MFF 2014-2020; highlights the fact that owing to the lack of sufficient resources the EU has had to set up ad hoc, ‘satellite’ instruments with no democratic control by the European Parliament such as EU trust funds and the Refugee Facility for Turkey; stresses, however, that Member States have not yet delivered on their contribution pledges to the trust funds, thus undermining the success of those funds;
2016/05/13
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 62 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the fixed ceilings for the CAP until 2020 entail much lower margins than in the previous MFF, while the sector faces more challenges; stresses, in this regard, that any use of the margin must be exclusively to address the needs of the agricultural sector, given that long-term planning and investment security are essential for EU farmers; points out that agriculture should not be the only sector to bear the brunt of political decisions, as is currently the case with the Russian embargo; believes that it is essential that room for manoeuvre is created under the 2016 budget, and that it is used as a matter of priority to finance the market measures taken by the Agriculture Council on 14 March 2016 with a view to tackling the current crises.
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 70 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
11. stresses that price volatility is increasing and that it is therefore erroneous to believe that farm subsidies are no longer neededbudget support is no longer needed to achieve public regulation of the markets insofar as that support is controlled and enables market failures to be tackled effectively; points out that logic would dictate that farmers could, in the main, generate their income from selling their goods and services instead of receiving public assistance, which should be used to remunerate public goods and inherent handicaps not taken into account by the market; strongly disagrees, in this context, with the notion that a rise in food prices and sales of produce in recent years have provided farmers with a stable income allowing business planning or security;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 91 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
14. Is convinced that a strong and sustainable CAP for the EU, both in terms of content and financing, is paramount in achieving these objectives, while guaranteeing a level playing field and transparent food chains within the internal market, as well as viable rural areas; considers, furthermore, that increasing resilience and improving employment and quality of life in rural areas should be prioritised in order to combat rural depopulation;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 95 #

2015/2353(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that agricultural production has an extremely high added value, which fosters employment, in the area of good quality food and also the supply of non- food goods and services, since it also supplies the processing sector, thereby contributing to economic and social cohesion in regions and to the EU’s balanced regional development; points out that it is therefore necessary to maintain and, where appropriate, step up the support received by farmers, since this provides an incentive to increase agricultural production;the agricultural sector and rural areas, and, above all, to increase their legitimacy as part of a CAP that meets society’s requirements and is in the general interest stresses that the CAP contributes significantly to growth and employment in rural areas, more so than other Union policies; recalls that, in statistical terms, one farmers provides seven additional jobs in related sectors and in rural territories; points to the importance of maintaining the CAP’s focus on supporting small-scale and family farming businesses as the cornerstone of agricultural production in the EU and of life in the EU’s rural areas;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 142 #

2015/2353(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
22. Regrets that the consequences of this payment crisis have been severe, affecting beneficiaries of the EU budget such as students, universities, SMEs and, researchers and project leaders , as well as local and regional authorities; recalls, in particular, the dramatic shortage of payments in the field of humanitarian operations in 2014, which negatively affected the EU’s life-saving operations; recalls that the Commission had to resort to ‘mitigating measures’ such as reducing pre-financing percentages and postponing calls for proposals/tenders and related contracting; recalls that an artificial slowdown in the implementation of the new 2014-2020 programmes occurred owing to the general lack of payments, an example being an artificial delay relating to EUR 1 billion worth of calls for proposals under Horizon 2020 in 2014, which aimed at ensuring that payments would fall due in 2015 rather than in 2014; stresses, furthermore, that penalties for late payments have been charged to the EU budget, reaching some EUR 3 million in both 2014 and 2015;
2016/05/13
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 202 #

2015/2353(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Considers that the magnitude of the migration and refugee crisis, caused by wars and climate change, goes to show that additional needs with significant budgetary consequences may be expected to arise in the coming years; underlines, moreover, that the need for internal security in the EU and the fight against terrorism are expected also to necessitate additional funding to back up reinforced action at EU level; is of the firm opinion that, even with the mobilisation of the small margins available under Heading 3 (Security and Citizenship) and existing flexibility provisions, the resources available will not be sufficient to tackle the increased needs under this heading; calls, therefore, for significant reinforcements for the AMIF and the Internal Security Fund, as well as for the Union agencies operating in the field, as well as other initiatives that can be undertaken; considers that an upward revision of the ceilings under Heading 3 is required;
2016/05/13
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 29 #

2015/2345(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Suggests that the Commission investigate the possibility of accounting for volunteer hours and donations in kind for small NGOs, since these are often the only resources that they have to tap.
2016/05/30
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 46 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the European Monetary Union established under the Maastricht Treaty was not complemented by a genuine European Economic Union and whereas there can be no true economic union without monetary union;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 55 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas contrary to the budgetary arrangements in all other federations, the EU budget is dependent on contributions from Member State level to EU level, and whereas this situation encourages the emergence of selfishness of states;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 93 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas progress has been achieved in addressing the flaws of EMU throughhaving regard to the adoption of legislation such as the Six-Pack and the Two-Pack regulations, as well as through the introduction of the European Semester and the creation of new instruments such as the ESM;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 102 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the question of upholding the existing convergence criteria, and of their flexibility, is a question worth asking;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 234 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the results achieved since the crisis broke in terms of risk reduction and better coordination; points in particular to the manynotes the measures taken by the EU institutions to address the shortcomings revealed by the crisis by strengthening coordination of national fiscal policies, in particular via the adoption of the Six-Pack and the Two- Pack Regulations; welcomes further the fact that the EU institutions have set up frameworks for action in current and future crises, namely by creating the European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM), the temporary European Financial Stabilisation Facility (EFSF) and its permanent successor, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM); underlines, however, that these mechanisms dramatically lack democratic oversight and parliamentary control, and hence ownership;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 297 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the viewNotes that incentives for sound fiscal policymaking and for addressing structural weaknesses at national level, taking into account the aggregate euro area fiscal stance, are coreurrent elements for the functioning of the euro area, but that the convergence criteria and the implementation of the measures for ensuring compliance with them must now be revised; considers that a fiscal capacity should, moreover, address specific concerns for the euro area in the case of absorbing shocks;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 359 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that three different functions have to be fulfilled; argues, first, that in order to foster economic and social convergence within the euro area and to improve the economic competitiveness and resilience of the euro area, Member States’ structural reforms should be incentivispermitted in good economic times; argues, secondly, that differences in the business cycles of euro area Member States stemming from structural differences create the need for an instrument to address asymmetric shocks; considers, thirdly, that symmetric shocks should be addressed so as to increase the resilience of the euro area as a whole;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 376 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Argues in consequence that three pillars of a fiscal capacity should be distinguished, wherein action should be undertaken in the framework of a common toolbox to address the different functions, i.e. incentivissupporting convergence and sustainable structural reforms, absorbing asymmetric shocks, and absorbing symmetric shocks; takes note of the various proposals regarding designs put forward on this matter by politicians and academia;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 428 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Insists that once it is integrated into Community law, the fiscal capacity for the euro area should be integrated into the EU budget, but over and above the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and must be dedicated to implementing policies within the euro area;
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 537 #

2015/2344(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – indent 2
– labour market, including minimum wages and social harmonisation,
2016/06/09
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 5 #

2015/2343(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that recent political developments and the numerous threats affecting both the EU and NATO further highlight the utmost urgency of shaping a genuine European Defence Union;
2016/12/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2015/2343(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the ‘cost of non- Europe’ in security and defence is estimated to be at least EUR 26 billion annually as a result of duplication, overcapacity and barriers to procurement; considers that the European arms industry can meet the full range of defence needs without relying on imports from outside Europe;
2016/12/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 50 #

2015/2343(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – indent 4 a (new)
- Exemption of the military expenditure of Member States from application of the convergence criteria, as it is of benefit to Europe;
2016/12/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2015/2342(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores that the new satellite mechanisms result in bypassing the budgetary authority and undermine the unity of the Union budget; stresses that the creation of funding instruments outside the EU budget must remain an exception and, in all case, be subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament;
2016/10/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 30 #

2015/2342(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes, however, the Commission proposal for a new European External Investment Plan, with a new focus on investment to promote economic and social development in the EU Neighbourhood and Africa, and stresses the need for systematic additionality, both in the choice of policies supported and in their financial implementation; expresses doubts, however, as to whether the proposal is ambitious enough to fully harness the EU’s borrowing and lending potential;
2016/10/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 127 #

2015/2342(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the assessment and budgetary control of funds used as part of the Union’s external policies on migration, believes it is essential as well to verify the reliability and soundness of the partner third countries concerned;
2016/12/08
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 10 #

2015/2328(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes, in the light of the significant influx of migrants and refugees into the EU in recent years, the programme’s growing intercultural dimension, which will hopefully result in more projects that boost cultural integration and understanding and promote multilingualism as of 2017; given that integration is likely to remain a challenge in many countries in the EU for years to come, underlines that this should be supported as a regular programme component.
2016/11/14
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2015/2320(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on poorer regions and isolated areas, and on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments while using intermediaries;
2016/04/28
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 18 #

2015/2320(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EIB to keep Parliament informed of the concrete measures taken so far to enhance the access to funding of cooperatives, which, together with SMEs, can play an important role in creating more sustainable and decent quality jobs with indefinite work contracts;
2016/04/28
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 26 #

2015/2320(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A
A. whereas the EU budget shall contribute to boost the creation of long- term quality and qualified employment, through the structural funds, in particular the European Social Fund, and to the potential of SMEs to create decent and sustainable jobs;
2016/04/28
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2015/2320(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas SMEs play an important role in cohesion and can further help integrate youth in employment, in particular through training, and inclusively integrate migrants in the EU;
2016/04/28
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 6 #

2015/2285(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that the EU has no economic policy other than the sum of national policies, as is reflected in the fact that no strategy exists for a number of strategic sector-specific policies, such as industrial economic policy; deplores the fact that there is no lever available, given the modest scale of the European budget, that it is impossible to modify the own- resources system, and that economic forecasts, economic policy priorities, and the annual and multi-annual budget- making process do not stand in any form of coherent relationship;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2015/2285(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the European budget helps directly to achieve two out of the three objectives charted in the Annual Growth Survey 2016 (relaunching investment, pursuing structural reforms, and implementing responsible and honest fiscal policies that are commensurate with stated political commitments); welcomes the Commission’s proposal to channel European funding towards technical assistance to support structural reforms;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2015/2285(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the European budget could both relieve the strain on national budgets and bolster fiscal consolidation and growth efforts by providing own resources as well as rationalising expenditure; firmly believes that wider ranging management of public money at EU level would make it possible to achieve economies of scale and hence cut spending, especially in the diplomatic and military fields, while not calling into question the principle of shared management, particularly for the structural funds;
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 26 #

2015/2285(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Urges that the euro area have its own budget in order to counteract asymmetric shocks and reward reform efforts; believes the European Stability Mechanism to be a prototype of such a tool; callsstresses that greater integration within the euro area is indispensable in order to achieve economic and monetary union, and that budgetary union is one of the essential cornerstones for the proper operation of the euro; calls, to that end, for budgetary policy and monetary policy to be brought into a policy mix to boost growth and job creation.
2016/02/02
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is a valuable instrument through which the EU expresses its solidarity with workers and which should continue to operate outside the MFF during the next programming period;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, between 2007 and 2014, 134 funding applications for a total amount of EUR 561.1 million were submitted by 20 Member States to provide support to 122 121 workers and that this amount must be added to the mandatory contributions of the Member States, the inclusion of which is governed by national laws;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 19 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to use the scope for implementing the EGF budget more flexibly, and therefore more effectively, also by making the application procedure faster in order to make the fund more effective for workers who have been made redundant; in spite of its budget reduction for the period 2014-2020, the potential for an optimal use of the EFG remains largely untapped, and 50.2% of contributions have had to be reimbursed by the Member States for 34 cases closed in 2013 and 2014;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 29 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the fact that nearly 50 % of workers who received financial assistance under applications dealt with in 2013-2014 are now back in employment; emphasises, however, that the EGF should provide funding for sectors likely to face problems in the future, in order to ensure that workers concerned, in sectors with future potential, are guaranteed sustainable re- employment;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 38 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need for greater coordination of the EGF with the ESF and the ERDF at national and regional level, in order to accompany businesses in difficulty through a job-creating transitional phase, and proposes that applications for EGF funding should be submitted by the authorities that manage the Structural Funds in each Member State;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 50 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that more widespread use of the derogation from the eligibility thresholds, particularly to benefit SMEs, extension of the reference periods and the possibility of classifying workers who provide related services and who are made redundant as workers made redundant by the company claiming assistance would make for more efficient use of the EGF budget; points out to that end that the impact on sectors connected to those affected by redundancies (local impact on trade, cottage industries and social life) should be included among the application criteria for EGF assistance;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 59 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. TCalls on the Commission to include in its mid-term review a specific analysis of the support given to unemployed young people who have dropped out of school and are not receiving any training; takes the view that the derogation relating to persons who are neither in employment nor in education or training (NEETs) should be extended beyond 2017;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 64 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to carry out sector-specific studies on the impact of globalisation and, on the basis of the findings, make proposals to encourage companies to anticipate changes in their industries and to prepare their workers before making them redundant. , by using, inter alia, EGF applications as an early warning sign for a given sector and by establishing a tool to assess global economic developments and a fund for supporting and advising SMEs with a view to anticipating any market changes;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 68 #

2015/2284(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to draw up proposals to introduce genuine social and fiscal harmonisation, the lack of which is currently causing 'European globalisation', in particular in the transport sector;
2016/04/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point a - point i
i. to ensure the highest level of transparency in the negotiations, in particular by allowing access to documents and by organising a consultation with Parliament and civil society in the three working languages of the European Union;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 19 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point a - point ii
ii. to ensure that before considering the removal of barriers, the agreement seeks to create a level playing field in the services sector, without reducing the possibility of introducing legislation, and has as its main objective to highlight and maintain the high level of protection of consumers, workers and the environment enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 36 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point a - point iii d (new)
iiid. to remove the ratchet and standstill clauses, which imply that any liberalisation defines a new irreversible threshold and that more stringent rules cannot be adopted after the agreements have been signed;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 48 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point b - point i
i. to ensure that the negotiations maintain and strengthen the fundamental role played by public services and services of general interest in the European Union, which provide an essential safety net for citizens and contribute to social cohesionand territorial cohesion, the survival of rural areas, growth and employment;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 53 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point b - point ii
ii. to maintain the Member States' freedom to regulate those services at all levels and toterritorial levels (local, regional and national) and to organise, provide, commission and fund public services in compliance with the Treaties and with the principle of subsidiarity;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 58 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point b - point ii a (new)
iia. to guarantee that TiSA protects against a liberalisation of public services and services of general interest which would be synonymous with job losses and threats to working conditions, the quality of services and access to them;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 67 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point c - point i a (new)
ia. to delete the annex on the ‘public utility clause’, as public services and services of general interest should be excluded from the scope of the TiSA negotiations;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 101 #

2015/2233(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point d - point ii a (new)
iia. to ensure the exclusion of public services and services of general interest from the scope of the TiSA negotiations, in order not to promote their liberalisation ‘by default’;
2015/10/19
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 7 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas our societies are facing multiple challenges in which agriculture is involved and must play its part. These challenges are: the food challenge: worldwide food security must be ensured in terms of both quantity and quality (health and nutritional quality increasingly linked with health in order to deal with malnutrition, obesity, cardio-vascular disease, etc.); the environmental challenge: we need to respond to the depletion and degradation of natural resources (land, water, air, biodiversity, natural mines, etc.) and to manage them better; the climate challenge: global warming is generating extreme weather events that result in droughts or floods causing substantial damage to the population groups affected and posing severe risks for their food security; the energy challenge: as fossil fuels run out we must give serious thought now to meeting our future energy needs by means of renewable energy sources and to improving our energy efficiency;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas population growth, higher average incomes – in spite of growing inequalities – and changing consumer behaviour will lead to revised dietary preferences, in particular resulting in higher demand for processed foods and animal proteins such as meat and dairy;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the global food security issue will only be resolved by tackling the problem of food wastage found in all countries of the world, but especially if each country has the capacity to develop its own agriculture along sustainable development lines; whereas from this point of view international cooperation is extremely important for innovation in production models, technical progress, training, research, extension services and technological developments;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 48 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas consumers are demanding food production in sufficient quantity and with higher environmental and health standards and greater nutritional and health value, while the agricultural sector needs to diversify and innovate to provide good and affordable food for all;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas owing to pressure on natural resources, climate change, the scarcity of land, biodiversity loss, the vulnerability of the environment, the growth of the world population and changing consumer behaviour, it is essential that farmers produce more with less, meaningdrawing inspiration for this from the concept of agro-ecology, which allows the development of ecologically, economically and socially innovative and efficient forms of agriculture and which has a smaller ecological footprint per kg of product produced;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 69 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the development of more sustainable models of agriculture intended not only to provide food for people but also to produce non-food goods and services represents significant potential for creating new jobs in each region, not only related to food production (human and animal), but also to the bioeconomy, green chemistry, renewable energies and tourism, inter alia; whereas these are also very often jobs that cannot be relocated;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas the competitiveness and sustainability of the common agricultural policy (CAP) isare mentioned as one of the key goals in Article 4(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, and increasingthe various regulations reforming the CAP in 2013, and whereas ensuring secure food supplies, increasing agricultural productivity and, ensuring reasonable pricesconsumer prices and ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, as mentioned in Article 39 TFEU, can be best achieved through innovation; whereas innovation also allows agriculture to fulfil other, horizontal-policy Treaty goals related to the environment, health and other areas;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 80 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas the memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the EIB signed on 14 July 2014 explicitly encourages further investments in innovative agriculture, providing tools to foster the uptake of investments in agriculture and including a proposal from the Commission aimed at supporting and expanding financial tools in the farming sector in order to combat price fluctuations; whereas, however, these tools are far from sufficient for effectively combating price volatility;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 98 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that agriculture has always developed new practices, techniques and production methods that have increased outputs and improved the adaptability of farming practices to new and changing circumstances; notes further that agriculture is aand forestry are key parts of our natural world which thus provides goods and services that go beyond producing food and can be enhanced by fostering new developments; is convinced that innovation is a prerequisite for maintaining this progress;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 106 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that innovation is an important factor in the changes that will affect agriculture and that it is a factor in the new economy based on knowledge, intelligence and development sustainability, aided by the revival of lost knowledge and the pragmatic observation of operators in the field;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 108 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers that innovation is essential for improvement in labour productivity and income in agriculture because it allows value-added to be created and shared and the quantity and quality of goods and services produced to be increased, but also because it helps to reduce certain production costs and make businesses more efficient (inputs, investment, etc.) and sometimes more self- sufficient, thus reducing certain risks in respect of their supplies;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Is strongly convinced that economic development and sustainable production are not mutually exclusive and are achievable mainly through innovation; stresses the need to support innovation in technical production methods, new technologyies and human governance by adapting the content of public policies such as the CAP and research and development – support which must be achieved by providing regulatory coherence, clarity and room for entrepreneurship, and urges the Commission to ensure that innovation is explicitly taken into account in forthcoming reviews and reforms of relevant legislation; highlights the fact that European agriculture is able to produce high-quality and high-added value products and services together with profitable, knowledge-based solutions in order to feed a growing and more demanding world population and sustainable solutions based on a knowledge-based economy and society as set out in the Europe 2020 strategy;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 118 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that, in order to respond to the key challenges for agriculture, the CAP should be overhauled so as to allow the sustainable development of European agriculture; to produce in large quantity and with better quality requires major adjustments based on changes in production models and taking greater account of the resources of each ecosystem, and these changes need to be able to be based on innovative practices carried out by farmers themselves, on their own or in partnerships with other actors, for example research bodies; these experiences should be evaluated and taken into greater account in greening the CAP; other innovations of this kind should be sought with additional resources via the measure on the European Innovation Partnership on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability in agriculture and forestry, which was introduced by the last CAP reform within the second pillar;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 124 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. European public policy must provide more support for innovation by funding risk-taking ventures by innovators, by making arrangements for access to and the widest possible dissemination of knowledge and data and by setting up initial and ongoing training (including apprenticeships) for all so that everyone can take up the new practices and technologies; innovation also has an important social component consisting of mobilising and creating synergies between stakeholders around common and shared themes and projects; this strategy of cooperation and alliances will boost confidence in the future and give momentum to development so as to meet not only the challenges faced now but also the wider expectations and new needs of our societies;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 138 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is convinced that information gathered by robotics, sensor technology, automatic control and other technological innovations in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and Big Data will enable real- time monitoring, better decision-making, and improved operations management along the whole food chain; welcomes the creation of the Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation (AIOTI) Working Group 06 on ‘smart farming and food safety’, and stresses in this respect the importance and relevance of the European Digital Single Market for agriculture in terms of tackling problems of interoperability, standards for better convergence and questions of data ownership; considers that this single digital market is extremely important for all rural regions, especially those that are most remote;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 148 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the uptake of precision agriculture that provides new whole-farm management approaches, such as GPS/GNSS-technology driven machinery which, in combination with Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs, or drones) , can work arable land to the nearest centimetre; agrees that these techniques could significantly reduce both the use of plant protection products and fertiliser and water use, and combat soil erosion; calls on the Commission to remove the barriers to adopting precision farming, in particular those linked to complex and fragmented ICT systems and investment level issues; notes that precision agriculture is also important in stock farming as a means of monitoring animal health, nutrition and yield; encourages Member States to support these practices, in particular by using the opportunities under the new rural development rules under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013; stresses the importance of ensuring that all farms, including those in remote and outlying regions and the smallest farms, and all others involved in rural agriculture have access to multipurpose technologies, given the need to maintain and increase employment levels in those most vulnerable areas;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 160 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages innovative solutions in animal housing systems and energy efficiency in buildings used for animal husbandry, that can contribute to a higher level of animal welfare and consequently lead to higher levels of animal health, by reducing the need for veterinary medicinal products, including antimicrobials; stresses that the application of antimicrobials should be prudent and responsible and would be improved by improving the entire production chain with more efficient and faster diagnostic tools that rely on data, better real-time monitoring, targeted precautionary measures and new ways of dispensing in order to combat antimicrobial resistance;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 168 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the innovatory production of plant and animal protein for feed and food through; notes that, in strategic terms, this would significantly reduce EU dependence on outside supply and that, in technical terms, it requires the availability of crop varieties that can be grown in our climate, thereby promoting biodiversity, soil improvement through more diversified crop rotation and greater farm supply autonomy, involving also growing insects that can deliver an efficient conversion of organic residual streams into protein and nutrients with a lower climate impact and using less water than most conventional farm animals; is concerned that the current legislation on processed animal protein does not take into account the specificities of the production process for insects, since use of insect proteins is obstructed by outdated regulatory frameworks that make slaughterhouse requirement applicable to insects; urges the Commission to clarify this issue;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 180 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the enormous potential of technology and innovation for the development of new products and servicesgoods and products (relating to food and feed, machinery, biochemistry, biocontrol...) and job creation along the whole agri-food value chain; highlights the creation of new jobs in the agricultural sector, which is of pivotal importance for rural development, and considers that developing modern agricultural practices will make agriculture more attractive to young farmers and entrepreneurs alike; calls on the Commission to look into the possibilities of incentivising farmers to raise public awareness concerning the workings of the agri-food chain and new production methods;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 193 #

2015/2227(INI)

12. Highlights that a sizeable proportion of biotic waste streams are already used as, for example, animal feed or base material for biofuels; considers, however, that these materials should generate even higher outputs by aiming for the most added value and by using new technologies such as biorefining, insect breeding, solid state fermentation, biogas extraction and the extraction of minerals from manure; notes the lack of economies of scale forunderutilisation of other resources from biomass, such as agricultural by- products and waste streams, and encourages the Commission to support their reuse in the energy sector and elsewhere by facilitating EU-wide recognition systems and special rural development programmes, that could involve farmers and other stakeholders such as the local authorities in small- scale projects; notes that the recognition systems and special rural development programmes could also facilitate cross- border circulation and to improve synergy and coherence with other EU policies;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 201 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Is concernedConsiders that depleted soil quality is compromising future production, necessitating a change in farming methods and systems, given that the phasing out of animal husbandry has contributed to decrease in soil fertility on many farms owing to the inadequate organic content and insufficient use of organic fertilisers; is concerned also that the EU is highly dependent on the import of minerals for the production of artificial fertilisers such as phosphate and that the production of artificial fertilisers has a high ecological footprint; emphasises the possibility of processing animal manure into mineral concentrate that could be used to manufacture ‘green fertiliser’ that can reduce and eventually replace the need for artificial fertilisers, in the light of an efficiency level comparable to that of the latter; welcomes the fact that the production and use of mineral concentrates makes a significant contribution to the circular economy by closing the mineral loop, and asks the Commission to revise the EU fertiliser regulation and remove barriers in the nitrates directive so as to stimulate the development of mineral concentrate from animal manure;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 204 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Advocates the use of biostimulation, an innovative technique using complex natural extract micro-dose mixtures to improve physiological cultivation methods and ensure optimum development; notes that it improves plant quality and nutrient assimilation, reduces chemical fertilizer input and water consumption and enhances abiotic stress tolerance, helping to cut both operating costs and pollution levels;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 214 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Points out that climate-smart farming practices could have a triple-win effect by increasing sustainable production, ensuring climate-resilient farming that is better able to cope with changing and adverse weather patterns, and reducing emissions from the agricultural sector by encouraging productive, resource-efficient and circular systems; stresses that the agricultural sector has the unique opportunitye and forestry can help combat global warming through the capacity of soil to actively capture CO2 by means of forestation, use of cover crops and leguminous crops, limiting tillage and absorbing greenhouse gases in the soil (carbon sinking); notes that, as shown by the COP 21 '4 per thousand' programme, an annual 4/1000 increase in the organic content of soil would be enough to offset all greenhouse gas emissions and achieve large-scale regeneration of depleted soils worldwide;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 229 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Considers soil quality to be of economic and ecological importance since a depletion of the ecological state would result in less productive soil, lower nutrient availability, increases in susceptibility of plants to pests and diseases, lower water holding capacity and diminished biodiversity; calls on the Commission to support innovative practices and the sharing of best practices such as crop rotation systems, permanent soil cover, limited tillage or fertilising with green legumes to avoid further soil degradation; believes that the interplay between organic matter and production needs to be better understood; welcomes research into innovative practices such as the use of microbial interventions and plant-soil interactions which could lower the environmental impact and reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides; recognises the importance of a sustainable soil use that takes account of site-specific needs;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 237 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for more efforts to be made to develop an biological and integrated pest management system by supporting research into non- chemical alternatives and low-risk measures and pesticides which are more environment-friendly; calls on the Commission to come forward with an action plan and to set up an expert group in order to work towards a more sustainable pest management system; urges the Commission also to consider ways of encouraging biostimulation and biocontrol at European level; highlights the potential of a pest management that improves the interaction between plant breeding efforts, natural combat systems and pesticide use; notes that biological control mechanisms relating to pests and diseases could reduce the use of pesticides and may contribute to better plant resilience;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 247 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a continuous development of innovative new breeding techniques for plants facilitating greater biodiversity and the adaptation of reproductive material to the needs of organic farming and the prospect of global warming, as this is of vital importance for the efficient development of new varieties, contributing to the development of plants with higher yields, greater nutritional value and better resistance to pests, diseases and adverse weather conditions; believes that many new breeding techniques provide unprecedented opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture; disapproves of the current administrative and regulatory burdens; urges the Commission to encourage new techniques and ensure access to biological materials for SMEs in the breeding sector, and expects it to give primacy to innovation in this respect;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 279 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Acknowledges that there is a great potential for better risk management and sees the current risk management and market management tools as underdeveloped, a situation which could result in short-term loss of productivity and long-term loss of innovation; calls on the Commission to investigate and report on the possibility of stimulating private insurance schemes covering adverse climatic events, animal or plant diseases, pest infestations or environmental incidents, as mentioned in Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 300 #

2015/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that the CAP should be more focused on farmers’ needs while not compromising policy goals; stresses the need for a more flexible legislative framework that is better aligned to deliver synergies with other sectors such as chemicals, health and technology, by enhancaround multi-partner strategies contributing to a better future for all involved, by promoting knowledge crossovers, integration of resource use and better understanding of reciprocal effects in order to optimise their interplay and better integrate with the circular economy; stresses further that a market-orientedcompetitive and sustainable CAP will enhance the innovative power and competitiveness of the European agricultural sector by reducing government intervention and stimulating entrepreneurshipof agriculture by encouraging public-private partnerships and shared value chains;
2016/01/21
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 7 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas, in many European countries over the past few decades, the number of farmers in rural areas has drastically decreased and agricultural employment in those areas has continued to decline;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, although agriculture remains the main form of land use in Europe it nowadays employs only a fraction of the working population of rural areas; whereas the diversification of land use in rural areas, combining a productive economic function with the functions of accommodating residential and recreational use and those of nature protection and conservation, is a considerable challenge in terms of development and employment in the various rural regions of the Union; whereas, although population decline has been reversed in some regions in recent years with an inflow of people who want to live in the countryside, generating, in most cases, a peri-urbanisation effect, there are also much less prosperous regions tending to decline, where remoteness is a problem and supporting development and employment is more difficult;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas more than nine out of ten people in Europe consider agriculture and rural areas to be important to their future;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the focus of agriculture needs to be shifted so that it becomes territory-based once again, in order to ensure that rural areas are dynamic and job-rich, for too long, insufficient attention has been paid to shifting the focus of agriculture to make it territory- based once again – necessarily rooting production and employment in specific areas – and whereas we have a duty to sustain farming as a core activity performed by men and women in the areas where they live, in order to ensure that rural areas are dynamic and job-rich; whereas this refocusing will also make for a healthy balance between urban and rural development;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 34 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the foundations of the last CAP reform continue to serve as the basis for a dominant mode of agricultural development that relies on increasingly large, concentrated and specialised farms that practise intensive farming, with an increasing focusin many cases supplying commodities for processing outside the rural areas, with an approach to farming primarily in terms of output volumes and financial return, and also focusing increasingly on capital rather than employment;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas job creation in rural areas must be part and parcel of a sustainable policy that is tailored to ecosystems and involves the maintenance and development of agricultural and agriculture-related activities that forge links between the various stakeholders both socially and in terms of solidarity and enhance the environment;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 66 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas the future of rural areas does not depend exclusively on the development of the agricultural sector but is also linked to the rest of the economy, and whereas there is a need to put in place decentralised local policies and a genuine territorial system, seeking synergies between all activities and allowing forin the broader context of jointly building on rural resources through collective and cross- sector approaches, while ensuring that public services are in place everywhere;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 78 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas support should be provided first and foremost to family farms run by one or more, i.e. to individual farmers who, alone or with others, run their farms responsible,y and independent farmers who work on theirly in an effective manner and who, unlike the operators of farms irun an effective manner and whos financial investments, are much better able to deal with any problems by adapting their production and/or their production methods and by diversifying their activities, when necessary, by engaging in on-the-farm processing and the sale of produce, rural tourism, recreational, educational and sports provision (e.g. horse-riding) and the exploitation of farm and forest resources (including waste) to produce renewable energy or organic materials and products based on ecological processes;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 83 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas these family farms, which create added value and jobs, help make it possible for new generations of farmers to emerge, as it is easier to pass on farms that are viable and reasonably sized, whether to family members or to others;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas, in many Member States, women in rural regions have limited access to employment in farming or elsewhere, yet they play an extremely important role in rural development and in the social fabric of rural areas, particularly on farms that engage in diversification (offering farm tourism, high quality produce, recreational, educational and sports activities, etcetera);
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 95 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on all the Member States to implement a comprehensive generational renewal strategy and, in order to do this, to make full use of all the possibilities provided under the new CAP to support young and newly established farmers, including outside the family, particularly the Pillar I and Pillar II measures for aid to young farmers, and also to facilitate newly established farmers aged over 40 in setting up; notes too that such measures must be complemented by and consistent with provisions under national policies (on land-use, taxation and social security, etcetera);
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 103 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Encourages the Member States to step up their support for small and medium-sized farms, in particularby making aid more widely available to viable small farms that currently receive none or very little, by making more use of the redistributive payment, and toby introduceing a ceiling on aid of EUR 150 000 across the board; and by accelerating the reduction of direct aids; considers that the scope for modulating the current basic payment according to the number of people employed on each farm might also usefully be considered;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that the CAP should take greater account of territories with geographical handicaps (such as mountain areas, the most outlying areas and sensitive natural areas) since maintaining farming is an essential vector for economic, social and environmental development that focuses on employment; adds, however, that the CAP must also consider the new dynamics of urban sprawl and lend support to areas on the fringes of such sprawl in facing up to the constraints linked to their particular features;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 116 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the Member States have made extensive use of the option of granting coupled aid – which, by developing production and enabling it to remain in a given place anchors jobs in disadvantaged areas – and calls on the Member States to increase the proportion of such aid, make it more flexible and to earmark more of it towards producing more plant proteins in the EU, which currently depends on imports from third countries for its supply of this commodity; the level of voluntary coupled payments could also be adjusted in line with the level of employment dependent on a given crop, which would provide further support for produce requiring the largest workforce;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 127 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that, given the high mortality rate among honey bees in several EU countries and the essential role they, as pollinators, play in food security and the economy of many plant sectors, the Union should provide greater support for this sector by adopting a genuine European strategy for bee repopulation; adds that this would not require heavy investment but would create many jobs, either by diversifying activities in existing farms or by setting up new specialised farms, which, according to expert opinion, would require 200 hives to be viable and whose primary purpose would be to breed selected queens and swarms and, subsequently, to produce honey, something the EU has a serious shortage of, such an approach, which builds on various European strategies – on innovation, social inclusion and job creation – is fully in line with the will to reorient the common agricultural policy and the development of farming towards greater sustainably;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 132 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that the market measures and exceptional crisis and risk- management measures provided for under the Single CMO must be implemented much more swiftly and proactively so as to limit the negative effects that falling prices have on farming income;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 135 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Asks the Commission to make full use of the potential of the exceptional measures provided for in Articles 219 to 222 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 136 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Takes the view that, in order to play their role of safety net, intervention prices must be adjusted regularly in line with trends in cost prices so as to have a direct impact on producers' income and the perpetuation of their activities as well as on employment; calls for the EU to establish prevention tools along similar lines to the Milk Market Observatory in all major production sectors in order to monitor markets, which would help steer production and ensure a response to crises by means of flexible and responsive market management tools which would be activated when necessary;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 146 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Recommends that the Member States should make more extensive use of the priority area concerning job creation within priority 6 of the second pillar, and of the measures concerning knowledge transfer and vocational and continuing training (including apprenticeships), as well as advisory and management assistance measures in order to improve the economic and environmental performance of farms; takes the view that the CAP should do more to facilitate access to this aid and to help farmers and agricultural and rural workers to become more versatile so as to diversify their activities, which would also give them a heightened sense of initiative and innovation;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 152 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that the current rural development programmes are much less focused on social projects that defend jobs than those of the previous programming period (2007-2013), owing to the measures selected by the Member States in their rural development programmes and the smaller amount of funding earmarked for employment-related measures; therefore asks the Member States to reconsider their choices and calls for greater flexibility in implementation of rural development policy;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 154 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Considers that since the level of complexity of rural development programmes significantly reduces the use of EAFRD funds and acts as a brake on projects conducive to job creation, it is necessary to simplify the implementation of rural development policy, adopt more coherent approaches, along the same lines as multi-funds, and stop the Member States and the Commission imposing overly painstaking administrative and financial checks;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 156 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Points out that the risk factor inherent in innovation is insufficiently taken into account in both national and EU policy, a fact that acts as an obstacle to innovation and job creation, particularly for the many stakeholders who do not have sufficient financial strength to complete innovative projects;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States and their regions to shift the focus of their rural policy to job creationdevelopment programmes and their operational programmes on to job creation and improving rural services, and calls on the Commission to assist them in achieving that objective;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 166 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to pay particular attention to the economic and social consequences of certain EU tax provisions that may prove detrimental to employment growth, as is currently the case with the current VAT arrangements applicable to the equine sector, educational and sporting activities on farms and in rural or peri-urban areas as part of agricultural diversification and arrangements for VAT and excise duties on wine products, which, owing to insufficient harmonisation of tax rules, are a barrier to direct and distance between a producers and consumers based in different Member States;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 170 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers it important that rural development programmes do more to improve relations between rural and urban areas so as to encourage cooperation and offer opportunities for businesses operating in rural areas that are crucial for the development these areas and job creation; takes the view that villages play an important role in urban- rural relations by providing access to basic services for residents of the surrounding rural areas, and that the Member States should therefore promote services in villages as part of their territorial policies;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 175 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Stresses that the forestry sector, currently an underutilised asset in Europe, is a major source of jobs that should be better promoted in its various forms throughout the timber industry, adds that the EU is currently suffering from a serious timber supply shortage that requires investment in the infrastructure necessary for the growth of this sector;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 177 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to undertake to encourage and facilitate women’s access to the labour market in rural areas;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 183 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that the CAP must have sufficient funding to play an effective long- term role in fostering employment, promoting the sustainable development of agriculture and ensuring that rural areas retain their appeal (with a focus on quality of life) in comparison with urban areas as part of a diversified European farming sector, in order to promote sustainable development within this vision of agriculture and the appeal of rural areas; stresses that rural development policy – which enables more direct and more effective action to boost employment and the dynamism of rural areas – should progressively be strengthened, without undermining first pillar support, which must be reorganised to ensure, inter alia, that markets work better and demonstrate greater stability, which is crucial to safeguard agricultural incomes, our model of farming and our food security;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 202 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to clearly redefine and propose a public policy supporting a European agricultural model that makes retaining territory-based jobs a prioritybased on family-run, diversified and multi-functional farming that makes retaining territory-based jobs a priority, while taking into account the environment and the need to protect health;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 210 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Member States to develop land monitoring and regulation tools to help them gain a better knowledge of land markets and put an end to the widespread phenomenon of the concentration or grabbing of land and production apparatus;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 213 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Takes the view that regaining control of the European market and local markets must be a principle for action under the future CAP, before turning to markets outside the EU;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 214 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Takes the views that the CAP must take account of European farming in all of its forms and all rural areas, including the most disadvantaged and most fragile amongst them (such as mountain areas and outermost regions) to ensure the best possible use is made of all resources, this also entails bringing farmland that has been abandoned or left fallow back into use;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 227 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Considers that group farming should be promoted and financially supported because it reduces farm production costs, in particular mechanisation costs, and promotes solidarity between farmers and the transfer of innovation, know-how and best practice, creating a dynamism conducive to development and employment;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 232 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that it is important that the CAP should provide funding for the positive effects that agriculture brings in terms of jobs and the environment, and that it should provide more support for organic farming and all other sustainable production methods, including agroforestry, in the context of agroecology, which will entail moving beyond current cross-compliance standards and agri-environmental and climate measures; believes that the values of these positive effects in terms of employment and the environment are of interest to society as a whole and are a component which should be included in farm incomes;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 255 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that, against a backdrop of deep uncertainty as regards the future of low, volatile agricultural prices, the EU must do more to influence the markets, where they are failing, by establishing safety nets and prevention and crisis management systems that could, for example, draw on countercyclical aid, allowing farmers to benefit from more advantageous prices; believes, also, that in the face of the risks associated with global warming, the EU must do all it can to enhance the positive role that agriculture can play, through measures including agronomy and improved soil management for better capture carbon, and that it is important to provide technical and financial support to farmers to gradually change their practices and to innovate;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 273 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Takes the view that the new CAP must also include insurance mechanisms so that farmers are better equipped to deal with uncertainties of all kinds;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 280 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for the PAC to prioritise, under the EIP in particular, support for innovative, more sustainable agricultural and forestry models for the production of food and non- food goods and services (renewables, bioeconomics, rural tourism, etc.), developing the full range of resources in each rural territory;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 284 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Takes the view that bottom-up approaches to local development such as LEADER/CLLD have proven to be effective not only in terms of jobs created but also in terms of low levels of public expenditure per job created, and that they should therefore be further strengthened and implemented in all Member States by means of multi-fund approaches; stresses in particular the role of Local Action Group (LAG) leaders in providing technical and service support for initiatives aimed at getting projects which promote employment off the ground; calls for the LAGs to have the broadest possible autonomy in order to maximise their effectiveness;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 300 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Takes the view that, for the future, there is a need to develop high-quality, territory-based food systems supplying raw or processed food products by promoting individual responsibility and the involvement of all stakeholders – either grouped together as producers, processors, distributors and consumers, or only as producers and consumer communities – in qualitative and contract- related activities designed to ensure food and health security, as well as fair incomes for farmerso that farmers can earn a decent livelihood and sustain employment on their farms; notes that these food systems can, in particular but not solely, take the form of short supply chains and/or local markets;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 305 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Considers that multi-stakeholder partnerships involving farmers and other rural stakeholders should be promoted because they make it possible to develop many activities which create direct and indirect employment, such as the structuring of local food and non-food chains and the implementation of various services (rural tourism, maintenance of private and public space, etc.);
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 308 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Notes that the tourism sector offers significant opportunities for generating revenue and direct and induced employment in agriculture and rural areas, allowing the historical, cultural, gastronomic, landscape and environmental heritage of each region to be enhanced; notes, also, that a region's attractiveness to tourists is based not only on its history, but increasingly also on the quality of its food products, its landscapes and its environment; believes that, for all these reasons, the tourism sector should receive more support from the rural development policy;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 310 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Stresses that the challenges linked to climate change and the environment call for significant public and private job- creating investment, with support from the emergence of new professions, to ensure that rural resources are maintained and preserved and that the quality of degraded ecosystems is restored, to tackle floods and fires more effectively and to improve protection of water, soil and air quality and biodiversity; notes that while this certainly involves cooperation between agriculture and other rural stakeholders, it offers new opportunities for income diversification in agriculture;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 322 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that it is vital to ensure that public and private services are in place to ensure the attractiveness of rural areas and to make it possible to maintain and develop employment in rural areathose areas; considers that all regions should therefore have quality access to high-speed broadband communication networks;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 329 #

2015/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses that access to basic services such as education, health care and housing and the continuity of these services are prerequisites for an environment conducive to job creation and for meeting the vital needs of people living in rural areas;
2016/05/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 2 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to Regulation (EU) 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/20051a ; ___________ 1a OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 3 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
- having regard to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC1a ; ___________ 1a OJ L 106 , 17.04.2001, p. 0001
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the global population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, meaning there will be 2.4 billion extra people to feed; our societies are facing multiple challenges in which agriculture is involved and must play its part. These challenges are: the food challenge: worldwide food security must be ensured in terms of both quantity and quality (health and nutritional quality increasingly linked with health in order to deal with malnutrition, obesity, cardio-vascular disease, etc.); the environmental challenge: we need to respond to the depletion and degradation of natural resources (land, water, air, biodiversity, natural mines, etc.) and to manage them better; the climate challenge: global warming is generating extreme weather events that result in droughts or floods causing substantial damage to the population groups affected and posing severe risks for their food security; the energy challenge: as fossil fuels run out we must give serious thought now to meeting our future energy needs by means of renewable energy sources and to improving our energy efficiency;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 19 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas global food production must increase by 60-110 %adapt to meet this demand;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas there is a pressing demand to produce more, as well as safe and nutritious, food for EU and global citizens, which must be reconciled with concerns over rapid degradation of natural ressources;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas up to 40 % of global crop yields are lost to plant pests and diseases each year and this percentage is expected to increase significantly in the years ahead, as a result of intensive farming practices, we are seeing each year a loss of yields which may be due to plant pests and diseases, but also to many other factors, including those connected with the degradation of soil structure and quality and the lack of systemic approaches to production and appropriate adaptation of existing production models;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 50 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas insufficient crop protection solutions for specialty crops endangers the quality, diversity and sustainable production of food crops in the EU, with serious consequences for employment and biodiversity loss, and a direct impact that has been estimated to account for more than €1 billion, including production loss and additional costs for farmers;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 56 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the diversity and quality of plant genetic resources play a crucial role in agricultural resilience and productivity, thus being a determining factor for long- term farming as well as food security;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas technological solutions must be used to enhance an agricultural development model and a sustainable common agricultural policy that combines economic, environmental and social performance; whereas these solutions and alternatives exist to the current development model that now dominates in agriculture, and whereas they are based on technological change and changes in production models informed by agro- ecology (conservation farming, organic farming, integrated farming, agro- forestry, etc.); whereas these technological innovations must be strengthened to allow the development of the agricultural resources of all territories and must be accessible to all farmers;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas precision farming involves the use of automation and other technologies to improve the precision and efficiency of key agricultural management practices, using systems-based approaches to collect and analyse data and optimise interactions between the weather, soil, water and crops, and is ultimately designed to lower pesticide, fertiliser and water usage; whilst improving soil fertility and optimising yieldsereas these reductions in inputs must be part of a broader, more comprehensive readjustment of agricultural systems adapted to each ecosystem and each production region;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 73 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas the approvals process, including the criteria for defining active substances and for new substances constituting an alternative to plant protection products, is becoming increasingly challenging for EU agriculture and citizens;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 74 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas short-term cycles in policy and research funding priorities can be detrimental to skills, infrastructure and innovation in agriculture; whereas priority should be given to all research programmes focused on improving the sustainability of agricultural development;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 77 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
L a. whereas it is urgent to guarantee the efficient transfer of research findings from science to farmers;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 89 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Considers PF to be essential for achieving sustainable agriculture in the EU but recognises the constraints for its widespread adoption, including the reliability and manageability of this technology and its adaptability to smaller and irregular farmland areas farm types, whatever their size and production, whether crop and/or animal farming;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 120 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the view that the loss of genetic diversity over the past century threatens food/feed security and undermines EU policies on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection and adaptation strategies under climate change; considers all plant and animal varieties, including landraces and their wild relatives, as essential for maintaining genetic diversity, breeding programmes and the production of nutritious and sufficient food of sufficient (health and nutritional) quality and linked with health;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 125 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the need for greater dialogue between genetic banks, research, breeders and end-users in order to build resilience and support for sustainable food production throughout Europe;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 129 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the previous support from DG Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and DG Research and Innovation (RTD) for genetic resource conservation activities, e.g. the European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), but calls for successor programmes to continue the support for crop and livestock genetic conservation activities, including the use of genetic resources through on farm measures, in order not to lose the significant EU dialogue and momentum gained;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 130 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the previous support from DG Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and DG Research and Innovation (RTD) for genetic resource conservation activities, e.g. the European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), but calls for successor programmes to continue the support for crop and livestock genetic conservation activities in order not to lose the significant EU dialogue and momentum gained; stresses the importance of opening up the conservation of genetic resources to a greater diversity of plant and animal species;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 149 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Supports the need for continuous progress in plant and animal breeding to increase not only the range of pest- and disease-resistant traits in crops, but also the range of food raw materials with nutritional and health-beneficial characteristics on the market; recognises the importance of marker-assisted selection (MAS) and SMART breeding, which are now well-integrated into many breeding programmes, but also the potential offered by precision breeding for crop improvement, techniques such as the use of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and CRISPR in genome editing, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (ODM) and the use of CMS hybrids in protoplast fusion or tissue culture based methods;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 161 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that it is crucial not to hamper the application of high-precision breeding techniques – without scientific reason – by subjecting them to unnecessary regulatory oversight;deleted
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 170 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Considers it timely for the Commission to publish the final report of the ‘New Techniques’ working group and to use its scientific findings, as well as sound legal analysis, as the basis for clarifying the legal status of the breeding techniques currently under scrutiny;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 178 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission to make proposals concerning the production and sale of seeds, to enable wider use to be made of all genetic resources, particularly those comprising heterogeneous material; considers that everybody should have access to these resources where they are in the public domain;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 183 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the urgent needConsiders it necessary to reduce consumption of plant protection products in Europe by cutting their use and by developing alternatives to their use; however, because in many cases their use remains the only solution available to farmers, it seems desirable to review the implementation of the regulatory framework for PPPs and to develop a stronger, coherent, efficient, predictable, risk-based and scientifically robust assessment and approvals system;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 185 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to promote biocontrols, which are methods of protecting crops based on the use of living organisms or natural substances (macro- organisms: insects, nematodes; micro- organisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi; chemical messengers: pheromones; natural substances of animal, vegetable or mineral origin) in order to reduce the dependence of farming on pesticides;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 186 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Considers it important to reduce farmers' dependence on pesticides as much as possible and to develop other alternatives on grounds of health (farmers are often the first victims of them) or the environment (soil, water and air pollution) or for economic reasons; notes that these plant protection products which are placed on the market by increasingly concentrated private undertakings are becoming more and more expensive because of the growing importance of investment in research into increasingly complex molecules which prompts undertakings that produce these substances to abandon research into certain production sectors, creating technical impasses for farmers;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 188 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the 2016 Commission Work Programme REFIT initiatives which commit the EU to carrying out an evaluation of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 which will take greater account of health and environmental concerns;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 195 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights the importance of assessing the benefits of active substances in supporting sustainable agriculture as well as the risk and hazards associated with the use of products, and recalls that the precautionary principle should be used when the degree of uncertainty is too high to ensure public health or good agricultural and environmental conditions;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 197 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Stresses the urgent need for adequate funding and coordination to address the lack of crop protection solutions for minor uses and specialty crops, while welcoming the Integrated Pest Management -European Research Area Network (IPM-ERANET) working package 3;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 211 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Notes that a faster approvals process would increase the availability of low-risk pesticides on the market, stimulate industry research into the development of new low-risk substances and enable farmers to switch more rapidly to sustainable PPPs;deleted
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 240 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the progress made in applied research in recent years, but calls for greater efforts to involve farmers and other users of agricultural technologies and productthe European Innovation Partnership for competititve and sustainable agriculture, contained in the second pillar of the CAP, to be stepped up, which will make it possible to create partnerships of innovative actors, including farmers; notes that in Member States where public- private partnerships are promoted there has been a greater shift towards applied research and a higher involvement of end- users;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 250 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Considers it essential for the Commission and the Member States to develop projects which focus exclusively on the development of more resource- efficient crop varieties, especially given the increasing scarcity of water availability and certain key components of fertilisers such as phosphate, as well as on climate-smart farming practices, with adequate funding incentives for research and uptake by farmers; the merits of aquaponics, as a system for optimized management of water, energy and nutrients, should be duly evaluated, divulged and incentivised;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 251 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Considers it essential for the Commission and the Member States to develop projects which focus exclusively on theinnovative projects to produce food and non-food products (bio- economy, renewable energy, etc.) and services to development of a more resource- efficient crop varieties, especially given the increasing scarcity of water availability and certain key components of fertilisers suagriculture (better use of water, energy, food for crops and animals, etc.), and one which ais phosphatemore autonomous;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 258 #

2015/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes the recently launched European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI), with the aim of linking research and practical farming, and calls on the Commission to have an active role in boosting coordination, at the national and cross-border level, in order to promote an explicit innovation agenda linked to Horizon 2020 and to guarantee the adequate transfer of knowledge towards the end users;
2016/02/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 3 #

2015/2210(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas these measures demonstrate the added value which the EU budget provides, but also highlight the restrictions on EU political action imposed by a budget which does not consist of genuine own resources, which amounts to less than 1 % of EU GDP and which is constrained by a seven- year multiannual framework; whereas this budget is highly insufficient in order to meet the Union’s obligations with regard to agricultural crises, migration issues, support for research, economic development and the deepening of a social Europe;
2015/09/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2015/2210(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the presentation of the five presidents' report, 'Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union', but criticises the fact that the timetable for its implementation is out of step with the severity of the Greek crisis; welcomes, in addition, the Beres report on the review of the economic governance framework, which was endorsed by Parliament;
2015/09/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2015/2210(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the ideas proposed to help strengthen parliamentary oversight, in particular the proposal to adapt Parliament's structures to the specific nature of the single currency, which is vital for building a genuine economic and monetary union;
2015/09/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 21 #

2015/2210(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the ideas put forward for a eurozone budgetary stability mechanism, which would be the first step towards establishing a European treasury; points out that the publication of a white paper in spring 2017 will coincide with the mid- term review of the MFF; reiterates, in that connection, its call that any additional funding or instrument should fall within the scope of Parliamentʼs budgetary oversight and should be financed over and above the MFF ceiling for 2014-2020; reiterates the need for a new own-resources system, which would pave the way for a genuine overhaul of the EU financing arrangements without requiring EU citizens to pay more tax, by turning to other resources, such as the financial transaction tax, an environmental tax and even a social tax, not to mention the vital fight against tax evasion;
2015/09/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 3 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the CAP, as one of the original European policies, is still one of the most important tools of the EU with wide impact, not only in terms of food production but in terms of actual and potential socio-economic improvements in rural areas; considers that the CAP thus contributes to the balance between the regions of the European Union;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that DG AGRI did a considerable amount of work in 2014 to ensure that Member State authorities are increasingly able to prevent errors in agricultural spending and implement their Rural Development Programs, congratulates DG AGRI and the Member States for the positive impact apparent in the 2014 ECA Annual Report, and believes itstheir actions should provide a good foundation for the key years in the 2014- 2020 spending period;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 16 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the improvements on the 20134 annual report figures and notes that the Court of Auditors has concluded that as far as agricultural policy is concerned, the proportion of tested transactions resulted in a reduced error rate compared to 2013, notes that the most likely error rate for 2014 is 2,9% (as compared to 3,6% in 2013) for EAGF audited in 17 Member States; and 6.2% (down from 7% for 2013) for Rural Development, environment and fisheries audited in 18 Member States and an average rate for the “Natural Resources” chapter as a whole of 3.6%;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that 2014 was a transitional year, involving significant payments for the last part of the 2007-2013 funding period and during which the final elements (the implementing and delegated acts) were put in place half way through the year for the CAP 2014-2020 funding period, and believes that the years 2015 and 2016 should be considered as anofurther transitional years;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 31 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes that the European Court of Auditors is exploring how to measure performance in its Annual Report, particularly as the Commission intends its spending to be focused on results, points nevertheless to the difficulty of judging delivery of multiannual funding programmes through a tool which examines a single year and invites the Court to explain its performance orientation specifically in relation to agricultural spending; invites the Court of Auditors nevertheless to take into account the multiple objectives of rural development policy in its performance assessment so as to avoid the use of simplistic indicators and avoid resulting in misinterpretations;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 35 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
12. Echoes the Court´s main recommendations: for Member States to ensure reliable and up to date information and images on LPIS to reduce the risk of errors associated with overstated eligible land; for the Commission to require Member State action plans to include remedial action to deal with the most frequent causes of error, to revise its own strategy for rural development conformity audits, and to ensure the correct application of assurance procedure on legality and regularity of transactions which will be mandatory from 2015; calls on the Court of Auditors and the Commission to take account of the principle of proportionality between the total cost of implementing these recommendations and the benefit expected to be derived from them from the point of view of protecting the EU's financial interests;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 36 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
13. Notes the agreement between Commission and Court3 that rural development expenditure is governed by complex rules and eligibility conditions, partly due to the ambitious nature of the policy and the heterogeneous nature of the regions of Europe, notes furthermore that simplification and preventive measures are included in the 2014-2020 rules and calls for that simplification to be delivered at Member State level in the new Rural Development programmes as an important means of reducing error; __________________ 3stresses, however, that simplification must not jeopardise the attainment of ambitious rural development objectives; __________________ 3 ECA Annual Report 2014 - Para 7.10 ECA Annual Report 2014 - Para 7.10
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 17
17. Points out that CAP plays a significant role in promoting social inclusion - especially but not only through cooperative efforts - poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas by creating jobs, by the LEADER and by putting in place new or improved services and infrastructure, and calls for analysis of the overall effect of the two pillars of the CAP in rural areas, on where and how the funds are allocated and focusing on the real final beneficiaries;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 62 #

2015/2154(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that spending is expected to generate benefits for both rural areas and consumers in general, and recalls that final beneficiaries spend money on goods or services in their local communities, or by employing people on their holdings; this spending thus helps to keep people on the land in these regions, particularly the most isolated ones;
2015/12/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets the cuts made to the budget for intervention in the agricultural markets compared with 2015; disagrees with the Commission that emergency measures related to the Russian embargo on imports from the EU of certain agricultural products be limited to 2015 only, given Russia's expressed ingiven that Russia confirmed the extentsion to extend theof its ban on imports until early 2016; iAugust 2016, calls concerned that further market interventions will be necessary in 2016 as a consequence, to support EU farmers hit the Commission to implement all necessary measures, such as the use of the available margin under ceiling, to support EU farmers in all agricultural fields hit by the embargo;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 12 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Insists on the need to provide funds to compensate for the economic losses suffered by farmers due to market crises and sanitary or phytosanitary crises such as Xylella fastidiosa, and reiterates the need to use the available margins under Heading 2 to this effect; calls on the Commission and the Council to take all the necessary measures to combat the deterioration of those markets;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 14 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Decides to also take action with regard to the ongoing crisis affecting European farmers, notably in the dairy sector, and to already integrate in its position on the 2016 budget the EUR 500 million support emergency measures announced by the Commission; welcomes the decision by the Commission to preserve the reserve for crises in the agricultural sector in the 2016 budget in full under Heading 2 for the following budget year for direct payments to farmers as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013; trusts that the Commission's Letter of Amendment 2/2016 will allow the exact budget lines that will be reinforced in this context to be determined;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges that a lot more effort needs to be undertaken to address the shortcomings in the Union economy by boosting competitiveness, growth and jobs; emphasises the key role played by small and medium-sized enterprises in this regard, particularly in the rural and peri- urban areas; reinforces therefore the COSME programme by EUR 16,5 million; decides also to propose new commitments in 2016 for the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), whose entire financial envelope was frontloaded in the years 2014-2015; acknowledges the significant contribution of this programme to the fight against unemployment and is determined to ensure that the necessary appropriations are made available in order to prevent a funding gap in its implementation; adopts, therefore, a EUR 473,2 million increase for 2016, corresponding to the original instalment that was foreseen for the YEI on a yearly basis;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 18 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets the proposed cuts of EUR 2 million for the school milk programme proposed by the Commission and supported by the Council from EUR 77 million in the 2015 appropriation to EUR 75 million in the DB for 2016; recalls Parliament's request for an increase of EUR 20 million a year for this scheme; welcomes the small increase proposed by the Commission and supported by the Council in the school fruit scheme to EUR 150 million; stresses that both programmes have proven to be useful and efficient within the Member States and underlines their importance given the current crisis and levels of child malnutrition in the Union; calls on the Council to take into consideration the Parliament's proposals calling for a simplification of the bureaucracy for the Member States in order to increase the efficiency of both schemes;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets the Council's proposed cut of €13.8 million to operational funds for producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sector given their importance in the food supply chain and the current challenges facing the sector;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
10. Insists that any revenue accruing to the EU budget deriving from the super levy orfines anyd other assigned revenues from agriculture in 2014/2015 remain under Heading 2; welcomes the Commission's proposal to earmark those revenues to the EAGF;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 33 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor, in a timely way, the significant price volatility of agricultural products, which has adverse effects on farmers' incomes, and to react promptly and effectively when needed;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights the objectives of increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture, and asks for resources to be provided in order to fulfil these objectives.; recalls the potential of agriculture policy in terms of job creation, technical and social innovation and sustainable development, particularly in the rural areas where they promote regional development;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 44 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that it is essential that funds earmarked for research in the agri-food sector, in particular from the Horizon 2020 budget, remain fully available as such in order to stimulate innovation in the agricultural sector;
2015/07/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Notes the Commission's preliminary assessment, based on Member States' latest forecasts, that programme implementation in the area of cohesion policy is likely to be delayed in 2016; is alarmed that any significant underspending in the third year of implementation of the new European Structural and Investment Funds cycle, at a time when programmes should be reaching full swing, will not only have a detrimental effect on the timely achievement of results on the ground, but may also lead to serious pressure on payments in subsequent years, possibly reconstituting a backlog of unpaid bills; urges the Member States concerned to make speedy progress in tackling the underlying causes of these delays in implementation, such as through the prompt designation of programme authorities and the non-multiplication and simplification of national administrative procedures; requests the Commission to closely monitor the situation and make appropriate proposals as needed;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 56 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. NotDeplores that the Council reduced appropriations also in Heading 2 by EUR 199,9 million in commitments and EUR 251,1 million in payments, including rural development, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the LIFE programme; considers that the Amending Letter on agriculture should remain the basis for any reliable revision of EAGF appropriations; regrets the cuts made to the budget for intervention in the agricultural markets compared with 2015; welcomes the decision by the Commission and the Member States to ensure that funds allocated to the reserve for crises in the agricultural sector in the 2016 budget, which are subsequently left unspent, remain in full under Heading 2 for the following budget year for direct payments to farmers, as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013; restores the DB levels accordingly;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 71 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
32. Furthermore, deems it necessary, given their important role in supporting cultural and creative industries that represent key European values, to increase, by a total of EUR 10,5 million in commitment and payments appropriations above the DB the culture and media sub-programmes, including the Multimedia Actions, and the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility (CCSGF) planned for 2016 and intended to tackle the critical issue of access to finance for SMEs and organisations in the cultural and creative sectors;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 114 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86 a (new)
86a. Reiterates the importance of its missions regarding the involvement of civil society and social partners in the Union activities, particularly in the establishment of common rules aiming to protect public services within its territories;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 115 #

2015/2132(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 90 a (new)
90a. Reiterates the need for the local and regional authorities of the Union to support its activities;
2015/10/06
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 6 #

2015/2127(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the cooperation between the EIB and Nnational Pand local promotional Bbanks and Iinstitutions (NPBIs), notably in the framework of the EFSI, in view of their special skills and knowledge in the field of SME financing;
2015/11/24
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 3 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Considers the opening of new markets to be of the utmost importance in the context of the current farming crisis and accordingly favoimportant in the context of the current farming crisis; takes the view, however, that export prospects, which are not the priority objective for European agricultural and food products, would not counterbalance the dangers that a multitude of bilateral trade agreements might pose for the most sensitive agricultural sectors, bearing in mind the competitive advantage enjoyed by farmers in certain third countries owing to their production models, the size of their production structures the balanced negotiation of bilateral or multilateral agreements with third countries, provided that the most sensitive sectors are adequately protectedand their lower social, environmental, health and animal welfare requirements and standards; highlights, further, the need to negotiate and approve only those bilateral or multilateral agreements with third countries that are balanced and likely to provide adequate protection for the most sensitive sectors, through limited tariff quotas or simply by excluding the most sensitive sectors;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 18 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Stresses the importance of ensuring greater coherence between the measures proposed as part of the Union’s new commercial strategy and those adopted as part of the common agricultural policy in order to guarantee adequate income for farmers and preserve a European production model that respects the environment, animals, food safety and regional balance; recalls, as already highlighted by the European Parliament in its resolution of 8 July 2015 on TTIP, the need to guarantee the economic and social viability of the European agricultural model;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Opposes any form of negotiation involving the treatment of European agriculture as an expendable bargaining chip and warns ofemphasises the threats posed by the cumulative effect of tariff concessions granted under different trade agreements; points out that a zero rate of duty is imposed on 71 % of all EU agri- food imports;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. UrgesCalls on the Commission to assess the impact on Europe of fresh trade concessions to third countries anddopt a strategy which protects sensitive sectors and applies to all trade agreements concluded or under negotiation, and to give an overview of the concessions already granted or in the process of being granted so that there is no runaway accumulation of concessions; therefore looks forward to the results of the impact assessment on the cumulative effect of the various sensitive-product quotas already granted to our partners (under negotiation or planned) as promised by the European Commission at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 11 April 2016 and urges it to forward its findings to the European Parliament before accepting or making any commercial offer;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Opposes, with regard to sensitive products, as mentioned in its resolution of 8 July 2015 on the TTIP negotiations, any accumulation of rules of origin for products from third countries with which the EU and its FTA partners already have free trade agreements;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the protection of geographical indications should be a sine qua non in trade negotiations with third countries, especially the USA; considers that any agreement which would not protect geographical indications should not be signed;
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 122 #

2015/2105(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of progress regarding health and phytosanitary barriers, paying particular attention toespecially regarding the red lines drawn by the European Union that might have implications for the health of consumers.
2016/05/04
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 43 #

2015/2074(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 f (new)
16 f. Regrets the reduction in commitments provided to ITER; reiterates its support to this ambitious international science project with both environmental and societal potential;
2015/06/11
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 49 #

2015/2074(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Recalls that an amount of EUR 21.6 billion is needed in the 2016 budget to bring down the level of outstanding payment claims for the 2007-2013 cohesion programmes from EUR 24.7 billion at the end of 2014 and EUR 20 billion at the end of 2015 to around EUR 2 billion by the end of 2016, as described in the Commission's assessment annexed to the joint statement on a payment plan 2015-2016; urges avoiding a similar ‘abnormal' build-up of unpaid bills in the future to not jeopardize the European Union's credibility;
2015/06/11
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 78 #

2015/2074(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses the importance of Pilot Projects (PP) and Preparatory Actions (PA) as tools for the formulation of political priorities and the introduction of new initiatives reflecting and accompanying the economical, ecological and social mutations within the EU that might turn into standing EU activities and programme; notes with concern that the Commission has not foreseen appropriations for the continuation of highly successful PP-PAs, especially in Heading 3; intends to proceed to the identification of a balanced package of PP-PAs; notes that in the current proposal, the margin in some headings is quite limited, or even non-existent, and intends to explore ways to make room for possible PP-PAs;
2015/06/11
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that CAP reform introduced a number of measures aimed at addressing the bargaining power gap between farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain at a time when the number of farmers has fallen significantly, the food chain is lengthening and distribution is highly concentrated, i.e. in superstores waging out-and-out trade wars against each other;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 21 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recognises that unfair trading practices (UTPs) result primarily from income and power imbalances in the food supply chain and that these imbalances must be urgently addressed in order to ameliorate the situation for farmers;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 36 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Points to the limitations of the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), and specifically the absence of farmers’ organisations owing to lack of trust, restriction of anonymous complaints, absence of meaningful mechanisms to adequately combat well- documented unfair trading practices (UTPs), and, in particular, the lack of enforcement measures and sanctions; calls accordingly for the retail price formation process to be as transparent as possible;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Points to the limitations of the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), and specifically the fact that entities in a strong position will exert undue pressure on others, unilateral and retroactive changes to contracts, the absence of farmers’ organisations owing to lack of trust, restriction of anonymous complaints, absence of meaningful mechanisms to adequately combat well- documented unfair trading practices (UTPs), and, in particular, the lack of enforcement measures and sanctions;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes the serious misuse of basic agricultural foods as "loss leaders" by large scale retailers and the risks posed by this activity to primary food producers and the threat to the long term sustainability of European production of such items;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 54 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the relevant stakeholders to facilitate incorporation of farmers' organisations, including producers' organisations and their associations, within the scope of national enforcement bodies governing the food supply chain, primarily by securing anonymity of complaints and effective sanctions regime;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 57 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whetherConsiders that voluntary initiatives are adequate forhelpful but cannot comprehensively addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmoperators in the food supply chain including farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whether voluntary initiatives are adequate for addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmers and retailers, which are increasingly represented by superstore chains with central purchasing bodies;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 59 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whether voluntary initiatives such as the drawing up of a Green Paper on unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food and non-food supply chain in Europe are adequate for addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmers and retailers;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 104 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that European competition law should be applied in a more balanced fashion to the various actors in the food supply chain, that the policy should take account of the specific features of agriculture and that it should be applied in a more harmonised manner in all Member States;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national efforts with a view to selecting best practices for application at EU level; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK as a potential model for adaptation at EU level; calls for independent bodies to be set up to track intermediate and final value added;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 113 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national efforts with a view to selecting best practices for application at EU level in order to bring equity into the food supply chain, particularly for farmers, primary producers but also for consumers; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK as a potential model for adaptation in a strengthened form with enforcement powers at EU level;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 114 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national efforts with a view to selecting best practices for application at EU level; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK or the Food Supply Chain Commissioner in France as a potential model for adaptation at EU level;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 147 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that framework legislation at EU level is essential to tackle UTPs and to address their negative consequences for farmers and weaker businesses in the supply chain wherever they are located; urges the Commission to consider this when assessing the SCI;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 148 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that framework legislation at EU level is essential to tackle UTPs and to address their negative consequences for farmers; urges the Commission to consider this when assessing the SCI; points out that that European legislation must not lower the level of protection in countries which have already adopted national legislation to combat business-to-business UTPs;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 178 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Is convinced that consumer awareness about agricultural products is fundamental to address the problems resulting from imbalances in the food supply chain, including UTPs; calls on all stakeholders involved in food supply chain management to step up transparency in the overall food supply chain, increase consumer information by more adequate product labelling and certification schemes in order to enable consumers to make fully informed choices about available products and to act accordingly;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 189 #

2015/2065(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Notes that short food supply chains will be easier to enforce UTPs from adversely affecting farmers and are better for the environment; demands comprehensive action from the Commission to promote and facilitate short, local and sustainable food supply chains;
2015/09/23
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 2 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the clarification ofs regarding the application of specific provisions of paragraphs 1 and 6 of Article 23 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013;
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 4 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Agrees that a stable macroeconomic environment, including high-quality governance at all levels, is conducive to the successful implementation of the ESI Funds; considers in addition that overlong and badly managed time lags between commitments and payments under the European budget could discourage project leaders; points to the importance of cohesion policy instruments and resources in maintaining the level of European added-value investment in Member States and regions, especially those with natural handicaps;
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 6 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that objective criteria must be used for assessing what constitutes ‘effective action’ on the part of a Member State; underlines the importance of respecting the principles of proportionality and equality of treatment when applying the provisions of Article 23, as well as the need for a timely and comprehensive dialogue with the Member State concerned;deleted
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 10 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the National Reform Programmes (NRPs) are instrumental for delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy at Member State level and that they should be taken into account before requesting a Member State to review and amend its Partnership Agreement and relevant programmes; points out that it is up to Member States and regions to choose their thematic objectives according to their needs and their smart strategy;
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 18 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to use the procedure under the first strand of Article 23 as a last resort and only in exceptional situations where the benefits of the proposed changes clearly outweigh their costs and solely for the purpose of targeting the implementation of ESI funding to more useful effect;
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 20 #

2015/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. WMaintains that the suspension of payments severely penalises initiators of projects as well as Member States as such; warns, in particular, that any suspension of payment appropriations could disrupt financial planning at programme level and, more generally, undermine the predictability and planning of investments, with a potentially greater impact on economically vulnerable Member States, whose public investment relies more heavily on ESI funding;
2015/06/05
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas, as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis, the level of investment in the EU has significantly droppeddropped sharply; whereas, given the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level and the major disparities still to be found between Member States and even between regions within individual Member States, the EU budget plays a key role in fostering competitiveness and increasing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas the EU budget cannot accomplish its mission if its soundness, fairness and credibility are put in question; whereas it is imperative that all commitments forming part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014- 2020 are respected in full, and that a number of problems that have accumulated over the past years, such as the situation of unpaid invoices at year- end, are resolved without any delay; whereas this backlog of unpaid invoices is giving rise to delays in the implementation of EU programmes and funds, with EU citizens being the first to suffer from this situation; whereas the delays in structural payments raise the issue of whether interest should not be charged on late payments, given that regional and local authorities are obliged to turn to the financial markets for advance funding to cover late EU contributions;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Back on track – the ‘threfive Es’: Employment, Environment, Engagement, Enterprises, Entrepreneurship
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 21 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the indisputable potential and added value of the EU budget in the creation of employment, the furtherance of social and territorial cohesion, support for green, sustainable growth, action to combat climate change, support for research and development and the development of enterprises and entrepreneurship across the Union; acknowledges that a wide range of EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, COSME and Erasmus+, contribute directly to the attainment of the objectives; expects that the Commission will place such programmes and instruments at the heart of the Draft Budget 2016, in order to ensure that they are endowed with the necessary resources;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 23 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the indisputable potential and added value of the EU budget in the creation of employment and the development of enterprises and entrepreneurship across the Union; acknowledges that a wide range of EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, COSME and, Erasmus+ and Media, contribute directly to the attainment of the objectives; expects that the Commission will place such programmes and instruments at the heart of the Draft Budget 2016, in order to ensure that they are endowed with the necessary resources to provide support for changes to the labour market and foster student and worker mobility;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Draws attention to the energy transition’s potential for generating new jobs and growth and expects the Commission to make provision for the related sustainable development objectives in the EU budget;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 39 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the European Structural and Investment Funds form the biggest share of expenditure in the EU budget and are instrumental in job creation and competitiveness, boosting growth and enhancing competitiveness and innovation; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make every effort possible for the swift adoption of the remaining Operational Programmes in the coming months, so as to ensure that implementation will reach cruising speed in 2016;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 44 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the funding of the Youth Employment Initiative in 2016, given the frontloading of the entire financial envelope of the programme in 2014 and 2015; acknowledgstresses that the fight against youth unemployment needs to be further intensified and that all funding possibilities should be considered for this purpose; recalls in this connection that 2016 will be the first year when resources under the Global MFF Margin for commitments will be made available for policy objectives related to growth and employment, in particular youth employment; calls on the Commission to ascertain the reasons behind the delays in the utilisation of appropriations, with a view to ensuring that the necessary support is available for the Member States in their efforts to meet the objectives that have been set;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 45 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the funding of the Youth Employment Initiative in 2016, given the frontloading of the entire financial envelope of the programme in 2014 and 2015; acknowledgstresses that the fight against youth unemployment needs to be further intensified and that all funding possibilities should be considered for this purpose; recalls in this connection that 2016 will be the first year when resources under the Global MFF Margin for commitments will be made available for policy objectives related to growth and employment, in particular youth employment;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 51 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the significance of cross- border mobility as a means of enabling Europe to take advantage of the variety of people’s skills while expanding training and job opportunities for all generations; considers that emblematic and successful mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ work to the benefit of both the individuals and the economy and should therefore be exploitused to the full;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 55 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points to the importance of food policies, which cover economic activities that are firmly embedded in the EU's economic, social and territorial fabric; stresses that those policies should ensure that people working in the food industry are properly paid and the EU is self- sufficient in terms of food production; considers it essential to strike a balance between production requirements and the need for sustainable resource management and use;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 60 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Investment Plan presented by the Commission, which can create the potential to mobilise EUR 315 billion of investments in infrastructures, education and research, as well as SMEs and mid-cap companies; notes that the EU budget is expected to provide the backbone of this investment plan by making available the EUR 8 billion required in commitments and payments for the provisioning of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); cConsiders the EU budget contribution as an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effecttinues, nonetheless, to have doubts as to how the EFSI is to operate, with particular reference to its multiplier effect, the procedures for selecting projects and project additionality;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 64 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers the EU budget contribution to be an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effect; points up the need, however, to ring-fence expenditure for projects which, a priori, are less profitable and not eligible under the EFSI (basic research; rail infrastructure in particular) by targeting other programmes and making use of margins below ceilings against the budget headings selected;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 70 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the additional and complementary nature of the proposed Investment Plan and the EU budget and their joint commitment to kick- start the economy and boost job creation; stresses that the EU budget is in itself a major investment tool with a distinctive role and mission, that has provided tangible results with a clear European added value; is convinced that every effort needs to be deployed in order to create synergies not only between the Investment Plan and the EU budget but also with national budgets, in order to bridge the investment gap and maximise the effect of public spending on the real economy; notes the contradiction between the planned mechanism, in particular the leverage effect anticipated, and the objectives of Article 5 of the Regulation establishing the EFSI; calls therefore on the Commission to safeguard the role of the EU budget in funding investment which is not profitable;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 71 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the complementary nature of the proposed Investment Plan and the EU budget and their joint commitment to kick- start the economy and boost job creation; stresses that the EU budget is in itself a major investment tool with a distinctive role and mission, that has provided tangible results with a clear European added value; is convinced that every effort needs to be deployed in order to create synergies not only between the Investment Plan and the EU budget but also with national budgets, in order to bridge the investment gap and maximise the effect of public spending on the real economy; proposes therefore by way of a quid pro quo, and in order to encourage national investment, that national cofinancing amounts under the European Structural and Investment Funds in the areas of infrastructure, research and development´, and assistance for SMEs should not be included when convergence criteria calculations are made, regardless of whether the preventive or the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact is applicable to the Member State concerned;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 77 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the EU budget is a tool of internal solidarity in that it supports economic, social and territorial cohesion, helps combat poverty and, promotes social inclusion and helps minimise development disparities not only between Member States, but also between their regions; stresses that it is also an instrument of external solidarity by helping make the EU the biggest donor of development aid, by offering support to neighbouring countries and by assisting countries and people facing humanitarian and civilian crises;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 90 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with concern that Europe, despite being one of the safest places in the world, is faced with new types of risks to its internal security which require ensuring closer police and judicial cooperation and coordination and at the same time promoting stability and peace in conflict areas; invites the Commission to propose targeted reinforcements of the relevant programmes and instruments, thus demonstrating the EU’s pledge to tackle these threats;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 93 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Is convinced that the EU budget cannot reach its full potential without settling in a definite and unequivocal way a number of problems that have accumulated over the past few years and, regrettably, dominated last year’s budgetary negotiations, notably the recurrent problem of unpaid invoices at year-end as well as, the question of budgeting the MFF special instruments, as well as the delay in implementing cohesion policy operational programmes; considers that 2015 should be the ultimate limit for introducing tangible and sustainable solutions to these outstanding questions;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 102 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes that the first report, submitted on 17 December 2014, by the High Level Group on Own Resources, chaired by Mario Monti, proposes that the question of own resources for the EU budget be looked into from as many perspectives as possible; regards the shortcomings of the current own resources system as the root cause of the serious deadlock encountered during the annual negotiations on the budget and negotiations on the multiannual financial framework; restates its determined backing for an in-depth reform of the EU's own resources system which seeks a major reduction in the share based on Member States' GNI; attaches the utmost political importance to the outcome of the work of the high-level group, and to its proposals, which are due to be presented at an interinstitutional conference in 2016, with the involvement of national parliaments, and considered in the context of the MFF review/revision;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 105 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Commission to take due account of the above-mentioned political priorities when establishing its Draft Budget for 2016 so that the relevant EU programmes and actions are provided with the necessary means to accomplish these objectives; anticipates, in this context, a positive response from the Commission to the further requests and positions expressed in this resolution so as to settle recurrent problems and facilitate this year’s budgetary procedure; also expects the Commission to propose an adequate level of payment appropriations in its Draft Budget, based on real forecasts and needs, so as to give the EU resources to match its ambitions;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 119 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines that the 2016 budget will be crucial as it should serve as a benchmark ofor the post-electoral MFF review / revision, to be launched before the end of 2016; stresses the need to establish political priorities and identify in good time areas of proven added value of EU spending for which further investments will be deemed necessary in the second half of the MFF 2014-2020; stresses, in this context, the importance of closely monitoring the implementation and performance of key EU programmes already during the current budgetary procedure;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 124 #

2015/2008(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms its position in favour of an in-depth reform of the system of EU own resources, whose current shortcomings are causing severe impasses in budgetary negotiations; attaches, therefore, the highest political importance to the work of the High Level Group on Own Resources, under the chairmanship of Mario Monti; eagerly anticipates the results and proposals of the work of this High-Level Group that are due to be presented in an interinstitutional conference, with the participation of national parliaments, during 2016, and considered in the context of the MFF review / revision;
2015/02/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 15 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
(2) Comprehensive action is required to reverse the vicious circle created by a lack of investment. Structural reforms and fiscal responsibility are necessary preconditions for supporting growth and stimulating investment. Along with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, these preconditions can contribute to establishing a virtuous circle, where investment projects help support employment and demand and lead to a sustained increase in growth potential.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
(8) The EFSI is part of a comprehensive approach to address uncertainty surrounding public and private investments. The strategy has three pillars: mobilising finance for investment, making investment reach the real economy and improving the investment environment in the Union; this strategy is complementary to objectives promoting the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union and within the Member States.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productive investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to mid- cap companies, which are companies having up to 3000 employees. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion, particularly in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 34 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving Union policy objectives, especially in terms of social, economic and territorial cohesion through the development of social infrastructures in education, health, research, development, information technology and communication and innovation, as well as expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, infrastructure projects in the field of environment, natural resources and urban development, and the promotion of services of general interest, particularly in terms of quality, safety, affordability, equal treatment, universality and user rights, that are common values recognized by Protocol No. 26 TEU and TFUE. Besides, the CAP, being the only fully communitised field of policy, is of territorial application and is therefore very well suited to carry out projects which can complement those supported by the EFSI. Many of the existing instruments of the CAP make targeted investments successfully.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 43 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
(12) Many small and medium enterprises, as well as mid-cap companies, across the Union require assistance to attract market financing, especially as regards investments that carry a greater degree of risk. This is particularly true of businesses in rural areas, where economic growth and the preservation of services and jobs are urgently needed in order to prevent rural depopulation. The EFSI should help these businesses to overcome capital shortages by allowing the EIB and the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to provide direct and indirect equity injections, as well as to provide guarantees for high-quality securitisation of loans, and other products that are granted in pursuit of the aims of the EFSI.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 48 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
(13) The EFSI should be established within the EIB in order to benefit from its experience and proven track record and in order for its operations to start to have a positive impact as quickly as possible. The work of the EFSI on providing finance to small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies shouldmay be channelled through the European Investment Fund ('EIF') and the EIB to benefit from its experience in these activities.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
(20a) The financial contributions of Member States to the EFSI, including their possible participation in investment platforms, shall not be taken into account by the European Commission in the definition of budget adjustments as under the preventive arm that under the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 80 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
(28) The guarantee fund is intended to provide a liquidity cushion for the Union budget against losses incurred by the EFSI in pursuit of its objectives. Experience on the nature of investments to be supported by the EFSI indicates that a ratio of 530% between the payments from the Union budget and from the Union's total guarantee obligations would be adequate.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 81 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
(29) Tohe partially finance the contribution ofrom the EUnion budget, the available envelopes of the Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council2 , and the Connecting Europe Facility, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3 , should be reduced. Those programmes serve purposes that are not replicated by the EFSI. However, the reduction of both programmes to finance the guarantee fund is expected to ensure a greater investment in certain areas of their respective mandates than is possible through the existing programmes. The EFSI should be able to leverage the EU guarantee to multiply the financial effect within those areas of research, development and innovation and transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure compared to if the resources had been spent via grants within the planned Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility programmes. It is, therefore, appropriate to redirect part of the funding presently envisaged for those programmes to the benefit of EFSI. __________________ 2Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Resear will gradually be established by the co-legislators in the annual budgetary procedure until 2020. In this regard, the budgetary authority will have to properly use all the flexibility mech and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104). 3Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliamentisms and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amendingr provisions under Regulation (EU) No 91311/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010 (OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 1293 (EU, Euratom).
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 86 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
(1) The economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the Union. Investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007, impacting all European regions, especially the less developed ones. The Union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints on Member States. This lack of investment, which particularly impacts the Member States most affected by the crisis, slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation, long-term growth prospects and competitiveness.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 90 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The purpose of the EFSI shall be to support investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 3000 employees, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises, through the supply of risk bearing capacity to the EIB, with particular priority being assigned to businesses and social-cooperative bodies in rural areas and in structurally weak and disadvantaged areas, as well as areas in extremely peripherial locations ('EFSI Agreement').
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 100 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
(1) For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: (a)´EFSI Agreement´ means the legal instrument whereby the Commission and the EIB specify the conditions laid down in this Regulation for the management of the EFSI; (b) ´national promotional banks or institutions´ means legal entities carrying out a financial activity on a professional basis and upon which are conferred a public mandate by a Member State, whether at central, regional or local level, to carry out public development or promotional activities on a non-commercial basis, seeking to address market failures; (c) ´investment platforms´ means special purpose vehicles, managed accounts, contract-based co-financing or risk sharing arrangements or arrangements established by any other means by which investors channel a financial contribution in order to finance a number of investment projects and which may include national platforms that regroup several investment projects on the territory of a given Member State, multi-country or regional platforms that regroup several Member States interested in large projects in a given geographic area, or thematic platforms, which could gather investment projects in a given sector; (d) 'small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' means micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC; (e) ´mid-cap companies´ means legal entities having up to 3000 employees and that are not SMEs.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 106 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
(2) Comprehensive action is required to reverse the vicious circle created by a lack of investment. Structural and fiscal reforms and fiscal responsibility are necessary preconditions for sustaining growth and stimulating investment. Along with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, these preconditions can contribute to establishing a virtuous circle, where investment projects help support employment and demand in the medium and long term and lead to a sustained increase in growth potential.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 118 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) development of infrastructure, including local community related infrastructures, in the areas of transport, particularly in industrial centres; energy, in particular energy interconnections; and digital infrastructure with priority to rural areas lagging behind in fast broadband provisions;
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 123 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investment in education and training, health, research and development, local community capacity building, information and communications technology and innovation;
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 128 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) infrastructure projects in the environmental, agricultural, natural resources, rural and urban development and social fields;
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 141 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
(8) The EFSI is part of a comprehensive approach to address uncertainty surrounding public and private investments. The strategy has three pillars: mobilising finance for investment, making investment reach the real economy and improving the investment environment in the Union. This strategy is complementary to the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion between and within EU Member States.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 142 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point 1 (new)
(1) These operations do not, in any case and in any way, contribute to privatise fields of public intervention.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 145 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
EProgressive endowments to the guarantee fund referred to in paragraph 2 shall be used to reach an appropriate level to reflect the total EU guarantee obligations ('target amount'). The target amount shall be set at 530% of the Union's total guarantee obligations.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 146 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 8
8. From 1 January 2019, if as a result of calls on the guarantee, the level of the guarantee fund falls below 530% of the target amount, the Commission shall submit a report on exceptional measures that may be required to replenish it.
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 154 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 a (new)
Article 17a Investment clause Under Articles 5 (1) of Regulation No 1466/97 and Article 3 (4) of Regulation No 1467/97 : (a) the financial contributions from Member States or national development banks to the EFSI ; (b) the financial contributions from Member States or national development banks to specialized investment platforms ; (c) the financial contributions of the Member States in the projects supported by the EFSI ; will be regarded as exceptional and will thus not be taken into account by the European Commission in the definition of budget adjustments as under the preventive arm that under the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact .
2015/03/27
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 167 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productive and strategic investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises, including social and solidarity enterprises. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to mid- cap companies, which are companies having up to 3000 employees. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 185 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving Union policy objectives, particularly in terms of social, economic and territorial cohesion, through the development of social infrastructure in education, health, research, development, information and communication technologies and innovation, as well as the expansion of renewables and energy efficiency and infrastructure projects in the environment, natural resources and urban development, and through the promotion of services of general interest, in particular as regards quality, safety, affordability, equality of treatment, universality and users’ rights, which are common values recognised under Protocol 26 TEU and TFEU.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 234 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
(13) The EFSI should be established within the EIB in order to benefit from its experience and proven track record and in order for its operations to start to have a positive impact as quickly as possible. The work of the EFSI on providing finance to small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies should be channelled through the European Investment Fund ('EIF') to benefit from its experience in these activitiesDoes not affect English version.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 245 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) The EFSI should target projects delivering high societal and economic, solidarity and sustainable added value. In particular, the EFSI should target projects that promote job creation, long- term growth and, competitiveness and energy transition. The EFSI should support a wide range of financial products, including equity, debt or guarantees, to best accommodate the needs of the individual project. This wide range of products should allow the EFSI to adapt to market needs whilst encouraging private investment in the projects. The EFSI should not be a substitute for private market finance but should instead catalyse private finance by addressing market failures so as to ensure the most effective and strategic use of public money. The requirement for consistency with State aid principles should contribute to such effective and strategic use.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 246 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) The EFSI should target projects delivering high societal and economic value and helping to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion between and within EU Member States. In particular, the EFSI should target projects that promote sustainable job creation, long- term growth and competitiveness. The EFSI should support a wide range of financial products, including equity, debt or guarantees, to best accommodate the needs of the individual project. This wide range of products should allow the EFSI to adapt to market needs whilst encouraging private investment in the projects. The EFSI should not be a substitute for private market finance but should instead catalyse private finance by addressing market failures so as to ensure the most effective and strategic use of public money. The EFSI should also not be a substitute for national financing in the services of general interest sector. The requirement for consistency with State aid principles should contribute to such effective and strategic use: a special Commission communication on this issue accompanies this Regulation.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 275 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
(15) The EFSI should target projects with a higher risk-return profile than existing EIB and Union instruments to ensuremeet the need for additionality over existing operations. The EFSI should finance projects across the Union, including in the countries most affected by the financial crisis. The EFSI should only be used where financing is not available from other sources on reasonable terms.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 325 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projects and partner networking at European, national and local level. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectivesand report on its activities to the European Parliament for approval. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 364 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
(19) In order to allow for further increase in its resources, participation in the EFSI should be open to third parties, including Member States, national promotional banks, regional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States, private sector entities and entities outside the Union subject to the consent of existing contributors. Third parties may contribute directly to the EFSI and take part in the EFSI governance structure.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 365 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
(19) In order to allow for further increase in its resources, participation in the EFSI should be open to third parties, including Member States, national promotional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States, private sector entities and entities outside the Union subject to the consent of existing contributors. The EFSI should also help support the development of new risk-sharing mechanisms, particularly in the area of the social and solidarity economy. Third parties may contribute directly to the EFSI and take part in the EFSI governance structure.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 385 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
(20a) The Member States’ financial contributions to the EFSI, including their potential participation in investment platforms, shall not be taken into account by the Commission when defining the fiscal adjustments under the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 397 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
(21) Provided that all relevant eligibility criteria are fulfilled, Member States may use European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) to contribute to the financing of eligible projects that are supported by the EU guarantee in line with the objectives, principles and rules under the legal framework applicable to these funds. The flexibility of this approach should maximise the potential to attract investors to the areas of investment targeted by the EFSI. The ESIF and the EFSI should be complementary and the crowding-out effect between them should be avoided as far as possible: the EFSI may therefore also be used to cofinance eligible projects in the context of the ESIF.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 405 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
(22) In accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and for the purposes of legal certainty, Iinfrastructure and project investments supported under the EFSI should be consistent with State aid rules, in particular where such investments are necessary for the performance of services of general economic interest under Article 106(2) TFEU. To that end, the Commission has announced that it will formulate a set of core principles, for the purpose of State aid assessments, which a project will have to meet to be eligible for support under the EFSI. 1. If a project meets these criteria and receives support from the EFSI, the Commission has announced that any national complementary support, will be assessed under a simplified and accelerated State aid assessment whereby the only additional issue to be verified by the Commission will be the proportionality of public support (absence of overcompensation), in compliance with the State aid schemes applicable in the Member State and the Commission’s exemption from notification decisions under Decision 2012/21/EU. 2. It shall specify, in the case where a project fulfils the EFSI criteria, whether that would result in an economic advantage constituting a State aid which would have to be taken into account by the Member State in verifying the absence of overcompensation or compliance with the intensity threshold for aid complementing other State aids granted to that investment. The Commission has also announced that it will provide further guidance on the set of core principles with a view to ensuring an efficient use of public funds.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 423 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
(25) The EIB, the European Parliament and the Investment Committee should regularly evaluate activities supported by the EFSI with a view to assessing their relevance, performance and impact and to identifying aspects that could improve future activities. Such evaluations, when published, should contribute to accountability and analysis of sustainability.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 437 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
(26) Alongside the financing operations that will be conducted through the EFSI, a European Investment Advisory Hub ('EIAH') should be created. The EIAH should provide strengthened support for project development and preparation across the Union, by building on the expertise of the Commission, the EIB, national and local promotional banks and the managing authorities of the European Structural and Investment Funds. This should establish a single point of entry for questions related to technical assistance for investments within the Union.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 457 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
(28) The guarantee fund is intended to provide a liquidity cushion for the Union budget against losses incurred by the EFSI in pursuit of its objectives. Experience on the nature of investments to be supported by the EFSI indicates that a ratio of 530% between the payments from the Union budget and from the Union's total guarantee obligations would be adequate.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 470 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
(29) Tohe partially finance contribution of the contribution from the Union budget, the available envelopes of the Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council2, and the Connecting Europe Facility, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3, should be reduced. Those programmes serve purposes that are not replicated by the EFSI. However, the reduction of both programmes to finance the guarantee fund is expected to ensure a greater investment in certain areas of their respective mandates than is possible through the existing programmes. The EFSI should be able to leverage the EU guarantee to multiply the financial effect within those areas of research, development and innovation and transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure compared to if the resources had been spent via grants within the plann shall be established progressively by the co- legislators within the annual budget procedures up to 2020. In this regard, the budget authority shall make appropriate use of all flexibility mechanisms and other provisions provided Hforizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility programmes. It is, therefore, appropriate to redirect part of the funding presently envisaged for those programmes to the benefit of EFSI in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013. __________________ 3 Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amending Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010 (OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 129).
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 505 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
(33) Although the projects identified under the project pipeline may be used by the EIB and the Investment Committee in the identification and selection of EFSI supported projects, the project pipeline should have a broader scope of identifying projects across the Union. This scope may include projects that are capable of being fully financed by the private sector or with the assistance of other instruments provided at European or national level. The EFSI should be able to support financing and investment to projects identified by the project pipeline, but there should be no automaticity between inclusion on the list and access to EFSI support and the EFSI be conferred with discretion to select and support projects that are not included on the list.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 516 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
(34) To ensure accountability to European citizens, the EIB and the Investment Committee should regularly report to the European Parliament and the Council on the progress and impact of the EFSI.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 528 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
(36) Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely to support investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 3000 employees as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States by reason of the disparities in their fiscal capacity to act but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives,
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 540 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall conclude an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the establishment of a European Fund for Strategic Investments ('EFSI') in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 554 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The purpose of the EFSI shall be to support investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 3000 employees, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises proposing projects meeting the general objectives of the Union referred to in Article 5(2) of this Regulation, through the supply of risk bearing capacity to the EIB ('EFSI Agreement').
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 556 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The purpose of the EFSI shall be to support investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 3000 employees, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises, particularly in the social and solidarity economy, through the supply of risk bearing capacity to the EIB and national and local investment banks ('EFSI Agreement').
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 577 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point 1 (new)
(1) For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: a)´EFSI Agreement´ means the legal instrument whereby the Commission and the EIB specify the conditions laid down in this Regulation for the management of the EFSI; b) ´national promotional banks or institutions´ means legal entities carrying out a financial activity on a professional basis and upon which are conferred a public mandate by a Member State, whether at central, regional or local level, to carry out public development or promotional activities on a non-commercial basis, seeking to address market failures; c) ´investment platforms´ means special purpose vehicles, managed accounts, contract-based co-financing or risk sharing arrangements or arrangements established by any other means by which investors channel a financial contribution in order to finance a number of investment projects and which may include national platforms that regroup several investment projects on the territory of a given Member State, multi- country or regional platforms that regroup several Member States interested in large projects in a given geographic area, or thematic platforms, which could gather investment projects in a given sector; d) 'small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' means micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC; e) ´mid-cap companies´ means legal entities having up to 3000 employees and that are not SMEs.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 585 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The EFSI Agreement shall be open to accession by Member States. Subject to the consent of existing contributors, the EFSI Agreement shall also be open to accession by other third parties, including national and regional promotional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States, and private sector entities.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 709 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
To meet that objective, the EIAH shall use the expertise of the EIB, the Commission, national and regional promotional banks and the managing authorities of the European Structural and Investment Funds.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 728 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. Member States that become parties to the EFSI Agreement shall be able to provide their contribution, in particular, in the form of cash or a guarantee acceptable to the EIB. Other third parties shall be able to provide their contribution only in cash. National financial contributions, including any contributions to investment platforms, shall not be taken into account by the Commission when defining the fiscal adjustment under the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 850 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of six independent experts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and; they shall have a background in civil society, with particular attention to representation at local and regional decision-making levels; two of them shall be specialists in the field of infrastructure and social innovation projects. These experts shall be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 910 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
The EU guarantee shall be granted for EIB financing and investment operations approved by the Investment Committee referred to in Article 3(5) or funding to the EIF in order to conduct EIB financing and investment operations by the EIB and by national and local investment banks in accordance with Article 7(2). The operations concerned shall be consistent with Union policies and support any of the following general objectives:
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 931 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) development of infrastructure, including in the areas of transport, particularly in industrial centres; energy, in particular energy interconnections;, intelligent networks and digital infrastructure;
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 958 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investment in social infrastructure in accordance with a ratio that shall be reassessed every year in terms of needs such as education and training, health, research and development, information and communications technology and innovation;
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1005 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) implementation of the objectives of services of general economic interest, particularly a high level of quality, safety, affordability, equality of treatment, promotion of universal access and users’ rights.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1011 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The operations concerned shall in no circumstances lead towards privatisation of public policy areas.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1017 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
In addition, the EU guarantee shall be granted for support of dedicated investment platforms and national and local promotional banks, via the EIB, that invest in operations meeting the requirements of this Regulation. In that case, the Steering Board shall specify policies regarding eligible investment platforms.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1059 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In accordance with Article 17 of the Statute of the European Investment Bank, the EIB or the national and regional investment banks shall charge the beneficiaries of the financing operations to cover its expenses related to the EFSI. Without prejudice to sub-paragraph 2 and 3, no administrative expenditure or any other fees of the EIB for financing and investment activities conducted by the EIB under this Regulation shall be covered from the Union budget.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1082 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) EIB loans, guarantees, counter- guarantees, capital market instruments, microfinance, any other form of funding or credit enhancement instrument, equity or quasi- equity participations. These Instruments shall be granted, acquired or issued for the benefit of operations carried out in the Union, including cross-border operations between a Member State and a third country, in compliance with this Regulation and where EIB financing has been granted in accordance with a signed agreement which has neither expired nor been cancelled;
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1114 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Where the Union makes any payment under the EU guarantee, the EIB or the national and regional investment banks shall pursue the recovery of claims for the amounts paid and reimburse the Union from the sums recovered.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1118 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. An EU guarantee fund (‘guarantee fund’) shall be established from which the EIB or the national and regional investment banks may be paid in the event of a call on the EU guarantee.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1121 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) paymentcontributions from the general budget of the Union,
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1129 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) any other paymentcontributions received by the Union in accordance with the EFSI Agreement.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1140 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
EProgressive endowments made to the guarantee fund up to 2020, referred to in paragraph 2, shall be used to reach an appropriate level to reflect the total EU guarantee obligations (‘target amount’). The target amount shall be set at 530% of the Union’s total guarantee obligations.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1173 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 8
8. From 1 January 2019, if as a result of calls on the guarantee, the level of the guarantee fund falls below 530% of the target amount, the Commission shall submit a report on exceptional measures that may be required to replenish it.
2015/03/25
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1193 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission and the EIB, with support from the Member States, shall promote the creation of a transparent pipeline of current and potential future investment projects in the Union, providing information about the projects’ economic viability, their compliance with social and environmental requirements and how they square with regional development strategy objectives. The pipeline is without prejudice to the final projects selected for support according to Article 3(5).
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1204 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission and the EIB, the EIB and the Investment Committee shall develop, update and disseminate, on a regular and structured basis, information on current and future investments which significantly contribute to achieving EU policy objectives.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1210 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Member States, in cooperation with local and regional authorities, shall develop, update and disseminate, on a regular and structured basis, information on current and future investment projects in their territory.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1211 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall develop, update and disseminate to the European Parliament and the Council, on a regular and structured basis, information on current and future investment projects in their territory.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1218 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The EIB and its institutional partners, in cooperation with the EIF as appropriate, shall report semi-annually to the Commission on EIB financing and investment operations under this Regulation. The report shall include an assessment of compliance with the requirements on the use of the EU guarantee and the key performance indicators established pursuant to Article 2(1)(g). The report shal l also include statistical, financial and accounting data on each EIB financing and investment operation and on an aggregated basis.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1226 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The EIB, in cooperation with the EIF as appropriate, shall report biannually to the European Parliament and to the Council on EIB financing and investment operations. The report shall be made public and include:
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1232 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) an assessment, on an aggregated basis, of the added value, the mobilisation of private sector resources, the estimated and actual outputs, particularly in terms of job creation, outcomes and impact of EIB financing and investment operations at an aggregated basis;
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1272 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. The EIB, in agreement with the Investment Committee, shall provide to the Commission upon request any additional information necessary to fulfil the Commission's obligations in relation to this Regulation.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1282 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. At the request of the European Parliament, the Managing Director and the Investment Committee shall participate in a hearing of the European Parliament on the performance of the EFSI.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1289 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Managing Director and the Investment Committee shall reply orally or in writing to questions addressed to the EFSI by the European Parliament, in any event within five weeks of receipt of a question.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1320 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. The EIB and the Investment Committee, in cooperation with the EIF as appropriate, shall contribute to and provide the necessary information for the Commission evaluation and report under paragraph 1 and 2 respectively.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1322 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4
4. The EIB and, in agreement with the Investment Committee, and the EIF shall on a regular basis provide the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission with all their independent evaluation reports which assess the practical results achieved by the specific activities of the EIB and EIF under this Regulation.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1389 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 a (new)
Article 17a Investment clause In the light of Article 5(1) of Regulation 1466/97 and Article 3(4) of Regulation 1467/97: (a) Member States’ or national promotional banks’ financial contributions to the EFSI; (b) Member States’ or national promotional banks’ financial contributions to dedicated investment platforms; and (c) Member States’ financial contributions to projects supported by the EFSI will be deemed exceptional measures and, therefore, will not have to be taken into account by the Commission when defining the fiscal adjustment under the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact.
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 1390 #

2015/0009(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18
Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013
Article 5 paragraph 1
[...]deleted
2015/03/19
Committee: BUDGECON
Amendment 2 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that over recent years cohesion policy has proven its ability to mitigate the negative impact of the economic and financial crisis on public investment levels in the Member States; inter alia by reducing national co- financing requirements and redirecting a significant part of cohesion funds towards measures with a direct and immediate effect on growth and job creation; underlines the positive contribution that other policies and instruments beyond the field of cohesion make towards achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy; is confident that, due to the usual time lag between action and impact and the fact that funds from the 2007- 2013 period may still be used until the end of 2016, these beneficial effects will continue to grow over the next few years;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the issue of the persistent payments backlog concerns cohesion policy more than any other EU policy area; encourages the Commission to use all available means to cover these outstanding payment bills with EUR 24.8 billion of unpaid payment bills at the end of 2014 for ESF, ERDF and CF 2007-2013 programmes, i.e. a 5.6% increase over 2013; encourages the Commission to use all available means to cover these outstanding payment bills; underlines that this situation hits first and foremost the smallest and most vulnerable beneficiaries of cohesion policy, such as SMEs, NGOs and associations, as their capacity to pre- finance expenditure is limited;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the fact that the Council, the Commission and Parliament have arrived at an agreement to reduce the level of unpaid bills particularly in cohesion policy, to a sustainable level, as laid down in the joint statement accompanying the 2015 budgetary agreement, and looks forward to receiving the Commission’s proposal for a payment plan as soon as possible, and in any event before the presentation of the 2016 draft budget; furthermore, reminds all institutions of their commitment to agree on and implement such a plan as of 2015 and by the mid-term revision of the current MFF;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 21 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Is concerned about the serious delays at the start of 2015 in the programming process for the period 2014-2020 in this area; underlines the fact that the proposed revision of the MFF ceilings[1] transferring EUR 11.2 billion in commitments for the total heading 1b under Article 19(2) of the MFF Regulation and the carry-over[2] of EUR 8.5 billion in commitments under Article 13(2)(a) of the Financial Regulation from 2014 to 2015 avoid cancelling these appropriations in heading 1b, but neither genuinely address the underlying problem of the delays in programming nor change the fact that chronically delayed implementation and systematic late payment can pose significant challenges to final beneficiaries; [1] Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014- 2020, COM(2015) 15 final, 21.01.2015. [2] Commission Decision on non- automatic carryover from 2014 to 2015 and commitment appropriations to be made available again in 2015, C(2015) 827 final, 11.02.2015.
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the extended use in cohesion policy of financial instruments, such as loans and guarantees, to support investment; encourages Member States and regional authorities to make full use of these additional financing opportunities, such as the possibility of using guarantees under the new SME Initiative to cover higher-risk projects;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 26 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the stronger concentration of resources on a limited number of priorities and the enhanced focus on results and measurability in 2014-2020 programmes, which should contribute to further increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of cohesion policy ; underlines, nonetheless, the need to apply this principle flexibly, with full respect for territorial, economic and social specificities;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 30 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Concords with the Commission’s analysis that economic and social priorities, in particular a focus on economic growth on the one hand and social inclusion, education and sustainable development on the other, could be better balanced in some Member States, underpinned by a meaningful dialogue with partners and stakeholders; emphasises that a clear strategy for improving Member States’ institutional framework in terms of administrative capacity and quality of justice is a key determining factor for success in achieving these priorities;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 36 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its strong criticism of the measures linking the effectiveness of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to sound economic governance and therefore requests the Commission not to apply them ; requests the Commission to take into account the different baseline conditions in each Member State and varying degrees of effort needed to meet pre-conditions and to take particular care neither to disadvantage those regions that are most in need nor to punish certain local and regional authorities for specific challenges encountered at national level;
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 40 #

2014/2245(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its deep conviction that a genuine revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) by 2016, at the latest, would be the ideal opportunity to revisit the MFF Regulation to make sure that it addresseccurately reflects the Union’s priorities and addresses the most urgent needs in the Member States and regions in the remaining years of the MFF, as well as the persistent problem of payment appropriations and the possible impact on payments of the delayed implementation of operational programmes in the area of cohesion policy.
2015/04/09
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the objectives of the CAP have to be fulfilled, while the mutual understanding and trust between all EU institutions, national and regional bodies have to be ensured for the effective implementation of the CAP;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas the cost of controls isand providing advice to stakeholders and farmers may be currently estimated at EUR 4 billion at Member State level, and are probably still rising, particularly with the introduction of ‘greening’; emphasizes the need to minimize the cost of controls and their bureaucracy burden;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 16 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the 2013 reform has resulted in significant changes in the data required from farmers to accompany applications and justify claims, with new requirements which risk bringing about a higher error rate in the initial learning and adaptation phase;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas the current system has reachedto deal with an estimated 15 million transactions each year, paid to around 8 million beneficiaries, and includes a million on- the-spot-checks involving millions of reference parcels of land and consequently risks reaching its limits and action is therefore needed;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 30 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the burden of controls is in proportion, inter alia, to the complexity of the CAP; calls, therefore, for complexity to be reduced in order to cut error rates, reduce the cost to the taxpayer and at the same time ensure that the budget is correctly spent; recalls nonetheless that the complexity of the CAP is due to the diversity of farming in Europe, moreover that the aim of reducing the error rate must not be pursued to the detriment of the attainment of the objectives of the CAP, and that simplification must not result in a dismantling of the instruments that have been adopted;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 38 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for a less bureaucratic CAP with a view to reducing the error rate and for instruments to be established which will make it possible to distinguish between error and fraud;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 39 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for a less bureaucratic CAP with a view to reducing the error rate whilst ensuring that farmers are still able to deliver the vital food production which is at the heart of the policy and believes that continuing to tackle complexity and streamlining the operation of the CAP is one of the keys to attracting new entrants to agriculture and retaining them and their skills to ensure a thriving EU agricultural sector in the future;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 47 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that development and administration of performance-based controls should, in no way, become a source of increased uncertainty to the EU’s security of food supply;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 55 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Supports Commissioner Hogan’s initiative of simplifying the secondary legislation and guidelines of the CAP, as this would benefit farmers, paying agencies, EU institutions and taxpayers; also urges that amendments be made to the basic legislativecknowledges, however, the importance of legal stability of the basic acts;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 65 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Advocates an single annual audit so that farmers are not subjected to controls by both the Commission and the European Court of Auditors in the same year; also calls for the bundling of the audit tasks of certifying bodies, the Commissthat the administrative burden arising from audits be lightened, so that farmers are not subjected to multiple controls in the same year; stresses that error rates do not as such constitute an indicator of fraud or waste of public funds, and are derived from a different approach, which is concerned with financial corrections and the European Court of Auditorpplied in the context of conformity clearance procedures;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 71 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that levels of control should be proportionate to the size of agricultural holdings, whilst safeguarding the use of EU funds;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Favours an integrated approach to controls, whereby all the controls required on a given farm are carried out at the same time wherever possible , so that the number of testing visits is kept lower and the concomitant financial and time cost for administrations and agriculture may be reduced;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 80 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Supports the approach of reducing controls in Member States where error rates have been extremely low over a given period; calls at the same time, however, for advice on best practice and controls to be stepped up in Member States where the error rate is high or increasing;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 95 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Believes that 100% coverage of rural areas with fast broadband, with significant awareness raising and training in its use, will be an essential tool to enable all farmers to benefit from the newest application and claims systems associated with the CAP;
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 96 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Favours the increased use of e- Government technology by the Member States in order to forestall errors in the application process, which will require access to broadband internet for beneficiaries.
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 105 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on Member States to ensure that the governmental/regional bodies dealing with the new CAP implementation communicate and work together effectively to the benefit of farmers implementing the policy on the ground.
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2014/2234(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Calls on all institutions and bodies responsible for implementation of the CAP to cooperate to overcome mistrust and anxiety linked to the considerable burden of audit and control which potentially puts at risk future development and innovation and the position of the EU agriculture sector in relation to other markets.
2015/05/13
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 2 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A
A. whereas the EU agricultural sector is a very sensitive and essential part of the TTIP negotiations and one in which the EU, which already enjoys a significant trade surplus with the US, stands to benefit greatly from new or increased market access opportunities;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 6 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A
A. whereas the EU agricultural sector is a very sensitive and essential part of the TTIP negotiations and one in which the EU, which already enjoys a significant trade surplus with the US, stands to benefit greatly from new or increased market access opportunities but could just as well face financial and job losses as a result of stronger competition from US imports;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 9 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the free trade agreement is likely to bring few if any benefits for the agricultural sector, and whereas overall agricultural output in the EU is likely to drop by 0.5%;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 14 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the likely negative impact of TTIP poses a threat to rural jobs, and whereas average farm incomes will fall as a result of a loss of competitiveness; whereas this could lead to agricultural production being transferred to countries with less stringent standards;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas it is important for European agriculture to secure a mutually beneficial trade deal with the US in order to advance Europe’s position as a key player on the global market;deleted
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas it is important for European agriculture to secure a mutually beneficial trade deal with the US in order tof that deal advances Europe’s position as a key player on the global market and does not in an way jeopardise the current standard of quality of European agricultural products and the future improvement of that standard;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 37 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas respect for European food safety and human and animal health standards will beis a fundamental tenet of the negotiations for European agriculture;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 41 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas respect for European food safety and, human and animal health standards will be a fundamental tenetand consumer protection standards will be a precondition for the success of the negotiations for European agriculture;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 46 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the free trade agreement could make it more difficult to introduce and enhance consumer protection standards in the future; having regard to the importance of introducing and the potential problems in enforcing an EU- wide labelling requirement for foods produced from animals reared on GMO feed;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 51 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the harmonisation of EU and US rules must not under any circumstances jeopardise consumer health or lower the quality standards that must be met by US products placed on the European market;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 53 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas industrial animal husbandry is synonymous with widespread damage to the environment, poor working conditions and massive structural change, and whereas increased competition from the United States and more intensive transatlantic trade will speed up that process of change;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 60 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the lack of a positive list means that it will not be possible to restrict the scope of the agreement in the future and that decisions in the areas consumer protection, animal welfare and environmental standards could be taken undemocratically by so-called sectoral coordination bodies or on the basis of regulatory cooperation;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 62 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas steps must be taken to ensure that animal welfare standards can be upheld and enhanced in keeping with public attitudes towards health and ethical issues;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)
Cf. whereas by doing away with tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade a future free trade agreement will put farmers in developing countries under pressure by depriving them of market shares;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 66 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C g (new)
Cg. whereas the mutual recognition of sanitary and phytosanitary rules must not give rise to threats to the environment, people and animals, for example as a result of the abolition of checks on imported food and feed;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 69 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C i (new)
Ci. whereas giving undertakings the right to bring actions against states will make it more difficult for the democratically elected representatives of the people to put democratic decisions into practice;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 75 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point -a (new)
-a. ensure that any deal reached is global and balanced and covers all of the sectors coming under the TTIP. Agriculture must not be used as a bargaining chip in efforts to secure access to the US market for other sectors. Agriculture is a highly strategic political issue on which food security and the way of life of all Europeans depend.
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 77 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point -b (new)
-b. keep to the strategy set out in the negotiating mandate it was given, which is based on parallel progress on tariff and non-tariff issues. The agricultural tariff offers made by the two parties to date place the EU at a considerable disadvantage, in a defensive position. This imbalance is extremely damaging for European agriculture, given that at the same time US agricultural policy is gearing up to take a significant share of profitable export markets. No time must be lost in making up for this error by focusing the negotiations on other agriculture-related issues, in particular non-tariff aspects and geographical indications, on which there has been no progress and the US has shown no inclination to make any progress;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 80 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a
a. prioritise an ambitious and balanced result of the negotiations for agriculture, the three mainkey components of which, such as (market access, geographical indications and sanitary and phytosanitary measures), should be tackled early and in parallel in the negotiation process, in order to give Parliament enough time to discuss and evaluate this chapter with stakeholders and European citizens;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a
a. prioritise an ambitious and balanced result of the negotiations for agriculture, the threfive main components of which (no lowering of food safety standards, consumer protection, market access, geographical indications and sanitary and phytosanitary measures) should be tackled early and in parallel in the negotiation process, in order to give Parliament enough time to discuss and evaluate this chapter with stakeholders and European citizen, focusing in particular on farmers and small family holdings, and with European citizens, civil society and the social partners;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 90 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
aa. prioritise an ambitious and balanced deal in the agricultural negotiations, the three main components of which (market access, geographical indications and phytosanitary and regulatory measures) need to be tackled at a clearly specified early stage, on the basis of a detailed map of all relevant US barriers and in parallel with the negotiating process, in order to provide sufficient time and clarity for Parliament properly and openly to discuss and evaluate this chapter with stakeholders and European citizens;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 92 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
aa. take proper account of the outcome of the public consultation procedure on investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms and reject the inclusion of such mechanisms in the TTIP;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 104 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b
b. firmly commit to the strict preservation of standards on food safety and human and animal health, as defined under EU legislation, and ensure that the enhancement of these standards is in no way hampered in the future and that fundamental values of the EU such as the precautionary principle are not undermined;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b
b. firmly commit to the strict preservation of standards on food safety and human and animal health, as defined under EU legislation, and ensure that fundamental values of the EU such as the precautionary principle and sustainable farming are not undermined;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 121 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
ba. ensure that the deal and the mechanisms it would put in place cannot in any way make it easier for genetically modified organisms to be brought on to the European market or produced in Europe; note, in this connection, that much of the beet sugar originating in the United States comes from GM sugar beet and should therefore be labelled ‘sugar produced from GM crops’, in accordance with EU law;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 127 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b b (new)
bb. ensure that the deal and the mechanisms it would put in place cannot facilitate the authorisation of practices intended to cut production costs which could have an adverse impact on the health of consumers, farmers or the environment, including the use of chemicals such as chlorine to clean foodstuffs, of antibiotics as growth promoters or growth hormones such as ractopamine or of feed containing animal waste, the production of meat from cloned animals or the lowering of animal welfare standards;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 131 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point c
c. ensure a positive final outcome of the negotiations for agriculture reflecting both the offensive and defensive interests of the EU agricultural sector concerning the abolition or reduction of both tariff and non-tariff barriers, including in particular sanitary and phytosanitary standards and procedures, so that EU producers make genuine gains in terms of access to the US market;deleted
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 139 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point c
c. ensure a positive and ambitious final outcome of the negotiations for agriculture reflecting both the offensive and defensive interests of the EU agricultural sector concerning the abolition or reduction of both tariff and non-tariff barriers, including in particular sanitary and phytosanitary standards and procedures, so that EU producers make genuine gains in terms of access to the US market, affording maximum consumer protection; considers that on no account can it be accepted that measures to protect consumers, maintain food safety and protect consumer health should be regarded as non-tariff barriers;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 146 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
ca. take full account of the importance of non-tariff barriers and the fact that they constitute offensive interests of European agriculture, as they correspond to our collective preferences and must not on any account be called into question; behind agriculture and food stand two opposed models of society; food safety, the precautionary principle, and risk management and assessment do not mean exactly the same thing to Europeans and Americans;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 150 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
cb. submit, taking account of the multitude and diffuse character of non- tariff barriers, a scoreboard for all of these non-tariff barriers which it wishes to eliminate, in order to identify clearly the concessions which are at stake and then link them to those relating to tariff aspects in accordance with the principle of parallel progress incorporated in its negotiating directives;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d
d. secure a level playing field, treating as sensitive those products for which direct competition would expose EU agricultural producers to excessivemake the possible ratification of the agreement contingent upon fair competitive conditions which will ensure that farmers are not exposed to even greater pressure than at pressureent, for example in cases wheref products based on values, regulatory conditions and related costs of production which are different in the EU divUSA werge from thoseimported into the USEU, thus causing unfair competition;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 167 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
da. make every effort to provide special protection for agricultural structures in Europe by defining sensitive product areas, since, if tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade were dismantled to too great an extent, the industrial structure of US agriculture would jeopardise smallholder farming in Europe;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 169 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
da. submit, as already called for by several Member States, a summary of the concessions granted in the trade agreements already concluded and in those being negotiated, so that an overview of all these concessions can be obtained per product, without which it is impossible to negotiate on sensitive products;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 177 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
db. guarantee that the TTIP protocol on rules of origin will not bring about the combined application of the concessions granted with those provided for by other trade agreements, which would seriously weaken the protection of sensitive products;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 178 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
db. inform Parliament and the public as early as possible about a potential list of sensitive products so that all stakeholders have enough time to consider and assess the proposals as soon as possible and before the end of the negotiations;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 180 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d c (new)
dc. ensure the protection of the most sensitive products by maintaining the existing tariff lines or excluding them from the negotiations;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 181 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d d (new)
dd. ensure that the products most exposed to American competition because of major disparities in production costs and conditions can be accorded special, differentiated treatment, in which connection the sectors which should be assigned priority are bovine meat, eggs, poultry, rice, isoglucose, starch, sweetcorn and ethanol;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 184 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e
e. secure significantly improved protection of EU geographical indications and better consumer information as an essential element of a balanced agreement, taking the relevant chapter of the CETA with Canada as a good example;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 185 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e
e. secure significantly improved protection of EU geographical indications and better consumer information as an essential element of a balanced agreement, taking the relevant chapter of the CETA with Canada as a good example;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 191 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e
e. secure significantly improved protection of EU geographical indications and of the quality of EU agricultural products and better consumer information and protection, as an essential element of a balanced agreement, taking the relevant chapter of the CETA with Canada as a good example;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
ea. incorporate the wine agreement of 2006 between the EU and the USA into TTIP, deleting the 17 semi-generic names contained in that sectoral agreement;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 206 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 –point e a (new)
ea. officially remove the investor-to-state dispute settlement procedure from the scope of the negotiations, as was also done in the case of the Australia - United States Free Trade Agreement, for instance, since such an arrangement between two developed economies with developed legal systems is superfluous;
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 210 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f
f. engage in a fully transparent, timely and comprehensive manner with allthe European Parliament, all national parliaments and the agricultural stakeholders on all aspects of the negotiations.
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 214 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f
f. engage in a fully transparent, timely and comprehensive manner with all agricultural stakeholders on all aspects of the negotiations, and ensure scrupulous compliance with all the legislation and collective preferences on which our European social model is based.
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 221 #

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
fa. submit without delay a clear and objective study of the impact of TTIP on European agriculture, sector by sector, particularly its impact on small family farms.
2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union hforest is not defined as noa competence to elaborate a common forestry policy and it is the Member States who decide the political approaches linked to forests and forestryof the Union in the Treaties, but some of the Union’s community policies have implications on the Member States’ forestry policies;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 23 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas, although this is clearly an area of Member State responsibility, forest- based businesses are keen to see a genuinely higher profile for this important economic sector, as well as guarantees of jobs at European level;, without prejudicing the responsibility of the Member States.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 27 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas timber is a sustainable resource often exploited in Europe, and the intelligent use of this raw material needs to be ensured, including by the development of know-how;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
F a. welcomes the recognition by the European Commission of the multifunctional role of the forest: apart from the economic function of forestry it performs social, natural, recreational and environmental functions.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 89 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. welcomes the Commission communication on a new EU forest strategy and the accompanying working documents, and stresses in particular that an EU forest strategy must focus on better coordination, because the increasing number of European policy initiatives in areas such as economic and employment policy, energy supply, environmental and climate policy, call for a greater contribution from the forestry sector; these policies must all work together in supporting the sustainable management of forests;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 98 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. stresses in this connection that any attempt tos should be makde forestry a matter of EU policy should be resisted and that the sector’s regional basis and thto seek the best possible structuring of the respective competenceies of the EU and the Member States in this area must be respectedorder to optimise the sustainable management of Europe’s forests;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 137 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Gives its full support to the Commission’s efforts to promote forest- related employment and the generation of prosperity in Europe, and stresses in this connection the important role of the sustainable production of timber and other materials, such as cork, for the development of sustainable economic models and the creation of green jobs; calls for the Commission to analyse the difficulties in the downstream supply chain, related to the increased demand from other countries, particularly for round woods;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 151 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Invites the Commission and the Member States to further study certain issues that have not been sufficiently explored in forest strategy: 1) the problem of the overpopulation of herbivores, which threatens the regeneration capacity of a number of large forests in Europe, 2) the issue of forest genetic resources FGR and the relationship with the ‘Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of FGR’ adopted at the 38th session of the FAO in June 2013, 3) regional approaches, 4) employment, 5) basic, ongoing training ‘from stump to plank’ (management and use/forestry works).
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 161 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. the role of the forest may differ in the various regions of Europe and unlike many of the forests generally used for timber production, the Mediterranean and mountain forests often have a larger diversity of activity such as woodland grazing, tourist or recreational activities...
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 164 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Takes the view that sustainable management of forests in the Southern Mediterranean area of Europe, which is also more subject to climate change, requires the consideration of the risk of fire, in the first place by greater protection against fire through investments intended to protect resources and subsequently by extending the use of the areas currently given prominence, whether through the use of the timber, the maintenance and development of forms of agriculture such as woodland grazing, or recreational and tourist uses of forest areas.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 182 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. considers that the new forest strategy must enable greater cooperation on the issue of the structuring of the timber industry and the regrouping of operators with a view to ensuring better use of the forest resource,
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 247 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. calls for the European Union to encourage quality labels for the timber industry, which could be an effective tool for the improved promotion and mobilisation of the resource.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 250 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. takes the view that it is essential that forest strategy enables, as far as possible, access to timber (particularly in log form) by European businesses, to develop this resource within the EU in order to safeguard and create the maximum number of jobs at regional level, also for furniture businesses and those in the processing and energy sectors; that in this connection there should be better regulation of timber exports to third-party countries.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 279 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise measures and, where possible, use existing European instruments such as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European training programmes (ET2020), to respond to the need for better skills and to compensate for the workforce shortage in the forest sector; further takes the view that training programmes should be developed, particularly for new entrants and young foresters, so that the transfer of knowledge in forest management and its downstream industries is ensured;
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 342 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. takes the view, therefore, that the Standing Forestry Committee should be strengthened to enable expertise from the Member States to be exploited to that end and to play an active role in the implementation process;process of harmonised implementation of European forestry strategy; recalls that the Commission must ensure the cohesion of forestry policy and therefore must consult the Standing Forestry Committee and the Council’s Forest Group with sufficient notice on draft texts that will impact forest management and the timber industry.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 346 #

2014/2223(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Firmly supports the recognition of the role played by local and regional authorities in forest management and that they be included – which is not currently the case – in European advisory bodies and, in particular, in the Standing Forestry Committee and the civil dialogue group ‘Forests and cork’.
2015/01/30
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 22 #

2014/2221(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets once again that Member States persist in viewing their contribution to the EU budget as an adjustment variable in their consolidation efforts, which in turn leads to an artificial reduction in the volume of payments available in the EU budget; proposes therefore that when examining national budgets, the Commission shall enter in the calculations of deficits each countryʼs share of unpaid invoices in order to draw attention to the true state of affairs concerning liabilities attributable to each Member State; proposes, in return, as a way of promoting national investments, to remove from the convergence calculation criteria the amount of public funds invested in infrastructure, research and development, support for SMEs, tackling terrorism and receiving Mediterranean immigrants;
2015/01/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2014/2221(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the urgent need to tackle effectively the tax fraud which is potentially depriving the EU budget of substantial resources;
2015/01/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2014/2221(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the EUR 315 billion investment plan presented by Commission President Mr Juncker to offset on the one hand the deficit in public and private investment brought about by fiscal consolidation efforts, and to stimulate economic activity on the other; questions, nevertheless, the 1:15 multiplier proposed by the Commission, and calls for the EIB to be asked to do more to make the plan credible;
2015/01/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2014/2185(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the amount of EUR 21 580 020 devoted to the Redeployment allowance which will be paid until the end of the congé de reclassement and amounts to 70 % of the worker's last gross salary; notes the fact that Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 limits the share of such allowances to 35% of the total EGF amount mobilised for a given case; but stresses that France submitted the application in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 546/20091a , in force on 20 December 2013 ; _________________ 1a Regulation(EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, OJ L 167, 29.6.2009, p. 26.
2014/12/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2014/2185(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the social partners: training, advisory services for workers, contribution for business creation, redeployment allowance, mobility allowance;
2014/12/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Ac (new)
Ac. whereas it is essential to support the fruit and vegetables sector throughout the entire territory of the Union, given its importance in terms of added value and employment, and given the health benefits that it presents through healthy and balanced diets;
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 17 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas these figures for the Union as a whole are averages reflecting highly divergent situations between Member States, whichor even situations within an individual Member State that are quite different; these situations are attributable on the one hand to historical factors and reflect different starting points in the drive towards setting up PObased on the greater or lesser degree of willingness shown by farmers in setting up POs, and on the other hand to the inadequate support currently being provided to certain producers who do not all have the same marketing system or who live on very small holdings;
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 63 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P
P. whereas the Commission’s report recognises that the F&V regime’s crisis prevention instruments have been little used since the 2007 reform; whilst the crises suffered by the fruit and vegetables sector have been fairly frequent (whether relating to health issues, climate change, embargoes, etc.);
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 104 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a (new)
5a. Considers it vital to contemplate putting instruments in place for managing crises, and the successful initiatives launched by certain POs in that respect need to be clearly identifiable so that they can be replicated elsewhere whenever it is possible; to this end, calls on the Commission to facilitate the awareness and knowledge of those pioneering POs;
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses in this context that it is important to increase the overall level of support to POs and to provide stronger incentives both for the merging of existing POs and the creation of new onesPOs that are more suited to the requirements of the many small producers seeking to better organise themselves collectively;
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 164 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that associations of producer organisations (AOPs) could play an important role in increasing the bargaining power of farmers and urges the Commission to reinforce incentives for setting up APOs and envisage a greater role for them in the future; in this respect, it is absolutely vital to adapt the rules of the competition policy, in order to rebalance the powers of producers with the rest of the sector.
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 173 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers that interbranch organisations need to be encouraged in order to ensure better organisation of the fruit and vegetables sector; such organisations can play an important role in creating added value and sharing it between the different parts of the sector, and also as regards quality, sustainable enhancement of production, and market and crisis management.
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 207 #

2014/2147(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers it crucial to improve the effectiveness of the Community regulations currently in place for protecting plants against the introduction of harmful organisms originating from outside the EU; such organisms are becoming increasingly common in the EU due to rising levels of trade, and are very often having a detrimental effect on the fruit and vegetables sector.
2015/03/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 18 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the input products used in dairy production present a high degree of volatility.
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 43 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the Milk Package, which was intended to bolster the structuring of the supply chains in view of the approaching deadline for quotas, has enabled a limited number of Member States to apply this contractual policy within their own territory;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas the Milk Package obliged Member States to recognise producer organisations and their associations;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 52 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas a huge variety of dairy farms are present all over the EU in terms of size, geographical location, and production and distribution methods;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 53 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas a large number of dairy farms are located in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas could be threatened by a larger concentration of producers in the best placed economic areas within the EU;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 58 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Ha. Whereas one of the main objectives of the CAP is balanced territorial development, in economic, social and environmental terms; this presupposes that agriculture will continue to be productive and sustainable in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 64 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas European dairy products significantlymilk produced throughout the EU contributes to the success of the EU’s agri-food industry and the prosperity of rural economierural economy and provides the raw material for large numbers of processors in the private and cooperative sectors, ranging from SMEs to large companies, and also for some producers who sell their products to local and domestic markets;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 75 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the end of the quota policy will result in a geographical concentration of farming that will be detrimental to the balance of arable/ livestock activities on numerous farms and to the agronomic quality of the soil primarily due above all to the drop in organic matter;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 80 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that a sustainable and competitive dairy sector with responsive toolsviable, competitive and sustainable dairy sector across the EU, with responsive tools that allow fair remuneration to producers, is the goal of the Milk Package; stresses that the issues identified in the Milk Package remain a barrier to a competitive and equitable milk market and a fair income for farmers;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 115 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the 2009 dairy crisis that occurred under the quota structure was not only due to a drop in demand, but also to an increased supply as a result of the deliberate exceeding of quotas by some undisciplined Member States and ‘soft- landing measures’ intended to boost production by a few percentage points in anticipation of the gradual phasing out of quotas; reminds the Commission that the delay in responding to the crisis forced many dairy farmers out of business, and expresses concern regarding the Commission’s capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to market crises;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 151 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reminds that dairy production in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas requires a specific approach in terms of the Investment Plan and financial subsidies to preserve or rebuild the conditions necessary for farming activities, and for the processing and marketing of this production;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 154 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Urges the Commission to closely monitor the evolution of dairy production in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas and to assess the economic impact of the end of quotas on dairy farms;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 162 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that the suppression of the milk quotas system and the greater openness of markets will led to stronger competition between the production areas at a European level, which might endanger the objective of territorial equilibrium across the EU;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 164 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Recommends that, in order to prevent further market instability, previous decisions on milk quotas should be maintaindeleted;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 169 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Acknowledges the difficulty of returning to the dairy quotas policy for want of adequate support within the EU today, in spite of the fact that this policy allowed the dairy sector to adapt, restructure, innovate, become more competitive and export more without at the same time affecting consumer purchasing power.
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 172 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Asks the Commission to define an adequate legal framework to allow production to be organised through supply management in the dairy sector;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 197 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers that stronger competition should be used as a means of ensuring territorial balance and more balanced remuneration for producers within the dairy value chain;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 206 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights that implementation of the Milk Package is still at an early stage; expresses disappointment, nevertheless, with the low levels of implementation and states therefore that the contractual policy must apply in all Member States;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 213 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that strePoints out that with the abolition of quotas, the future of most producers will depend to an even greater extent on the strategy followed by the business buying thening contractual relations represents a concrete method of ensuringir milk and to whom they are contracted ; that it is important to strengthen these contractual relations since they must allow more added value to be created and must ensure a more equitable distribution alongthroughout the supply chain and; these contractual relations also reinforces the responsibility of stakeholders to take account of the market situation and respond accordinglyin managing the markets within the sector;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 235 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that the sector could further explore the potential offered by longer- term integrated supply chain contracts, forwards contracts, fixed margin contracts, and the opportunity toby generalising the contractual policy and extending it to relations with distributors, which would authorise the ‘lock in’ of a milk price for a set period of time; believes that for this the option to avail of new instruments in contractual relations should be available;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 246 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes that an improvement as regards contractualisation may provide solutions to the issue of volatility and control of the markets through a dynamic and shared vision of market conditions and of its future with a view to optimising margins for the producers, this requires a common and more ambitious contractual policy, applied in all Member States, and also encompassing the volumes collected by the cooperative sector that is currently excluded even though it represents a significant proportion of milk collection;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 254 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights the important role of producer organisations (POs) and their associations in increasing the bargaining power and influence producers have in the supply chain, and regrets the fact that there have only been limited moves towards setting up POs; highlights that POs can benefit from financial support under Pillar II and urges further incentivisation to create and join POs as a tool to address imbalances in the supply chain;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 267 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Considers it important to favour producer group associations by production area rather than producer groups by company, in order to better balance the negotiating power of producers, very often unable to influence the content of their contracts concluded with the company to which they sell their milk;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 287 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises the importance of the Milk Market Observatory (MMO) in disseminating and analysing market data and calls for an increased role for the MMO; this observatory that is to become a true market management tool needs to be improved; the definitions of the data collected need to be harmonised, in particular those relating to the final price paid to the producer, and to be complemented with prospective data on the production, consumption, stock situation, prices and exchanges of imported or exported milk at European level; it is equally useful to integrate the monitoring of production costs and of international markets in order to identify any trends and seize export opportunities; recommends that the Commission take the necessary action to ensure that the MMO is in a position to communicate early warnings to the Commission, Member States, regions and relevant stakeholders, when the market situation so requires; considers that the information provided by the MMO should involve updateis con market and price trends, and should bestantly updated and easily accessible and user-friendly for all stakeholders;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 292 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Requests the data contained in the MMO also focuses on the interactions that exist between beef and milk production; the beef market is heavily impacted by the milk sector which supplies over 70 % of the beef market, due to cull programmes and the weakening of the dairy herd.
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 301 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that, under Pillar I, optional coupled support is a tool available to assist the dairy sector, while under Pillar II producers can avail of advisory services to support business decisions and sound financial management – if necessary, Member States can use insurance measures such as the Income Stabilisation Tool and can also determine the grouping and targeting within the sector of rural development measures with a higher level of aid; calls on the sector to investigate the development of further insurance tools when the market is strong;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 307 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Requests that the Commission anticipates for 2017 the report on the development of the situation of the milk and dairy products markets, assessing in particular the effects of the ‘milk package’ on producers and on milk production in the disadvantaged, outlying, isolated and mountainous areas, in line with the general objective to preserve production in these areas, and encompassing potential incentives seeking to encourage the farmers to conclude joint production agreements; this report must be accompanied by any relevant proposals within the scope of these objectives;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 320 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that global dairy demand is predicted to grow by 2 % per annum, offering opportunities for products of EU origin; notes, however, that the market is increasingly dominated by dried dairy productsif this presents opportunities it is important not to neglect the European market; a stable, solvent market, offering quality and reputable products, which represent more than 90 % of the dairy product market in Europe;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 347 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that bilateral trade negotiations may represent strategic opportunities for the EU dairy sector, subject to the preservation and enhancement of European quality and safety standards in production and in the supply of products to consumers;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 371 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Underlines that it is indispensable to keep dairy farms on a human scale and managed by farmers in all of the territories of the Union, especially in disadvantaged areas, mountainous areas, the outermost areas and intermediate areas; that under these conditions it is necessary to carry out ambitious policies to support these regions with the assistance of policies for rural development, promotion and the fine- tuning of CAP aid as permitted by the last reform; requests the Commission to examine the possibility in the context of its handicap support policy as contained in Pillar II, to consider providing support for the collection of milk in areas of very low concentration where the higher costs of collection have an adverse effect on the industry.
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 394 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the sector hadoes not engaged withmake sufficient use of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) schemes in a meaningful manner; call; calls on the Commission, while preserving the reliability and the specifics onf the Commission to simplify access to these schemesexisting systems, to make it easier for small producers or businesses to gain access to them, as these systems offer high added value and a high level of protection;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 422 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Requests the Commission to propose a crisis management tool of the type proposed by the European Parliament during the reform of the CAP;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 444 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Underlines that current experience of the Russian embargo shows that it is desirable to have guidelines that are discussed between the Member States, the Commission and the European Parliament which serve as a guide for the activation of measures;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 447 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the importance of a more responsive and realistic crisis instrument, and recommends that the Commission engage with the sector on the possibility of using risk management instruments such as the futures markets to take advantage of the volatility in the sector to increase its competitivenes, in conjunction with the sector, to investigate exceptional measures that could be taken in the event of market disturbances on the basis of Article 219 of Regulation 1308/2013 on the Single CMO; requests the Commission in this regard to examine the possibility of intervening in product volumes during severe crises by imposing temporary production ceilings;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 458 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Requests that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and participants from the dairy sector, develop effective and appropriate instruments to safeguard against sudden significant falls in the price of milk;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 474 #

2014/2146(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Considers that the guiding principle of the law of competition based on offering the best price to the consumer may have an adverse effect on the remuneration of added value further up the agricultural value chain, specifically on the price paid to producers; likewise, that the application of national laws on unfair commercial practices has prevented neither the dysfunctionality of the dairy sector nor downward pressure on the prices paid to producers; calls on the various departments of the European Commission concerned - Agriculture, Internal Market and Competition – to examine the possibility of developing a sector-specific approach, taking account of the specific features of agricultural business relative to other productive sectors;
2015/04/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 110 #

2014/0257(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 20 – point b
(b) veterinary medicinal products for animal species other than cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats;
2015/05/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 210 #

2014/0257(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) 10 years for the veterinary medicinal products for cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats;
2015/05/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 215 #

2014/0257(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) 14 years for antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products for cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats containing an antimicrobial active substance which has not been an active substance in a veterinary medicinal product authorised within the Union on the date of the submission of the application;
2015/05/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 227 #

2014/0257(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1
1. Where a variation is approved in accordance with Article 65 extending the marketing authorisation to another species listed in Article 34(1)(a), the period of the protection provided for in that Article shall be prolonged by 1two years for each additional target species, provided that the variation has been submitted at least 3 years before the expiration of the protection period laid down in Article 34(1)(a).
2015/05/07
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 101 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) 'medicated feed': a mixture of one or more veterinary medicinal products or one intermediate products with one or more feeds which is ready to be directly fed to animals without further processing, owing to the properties brought by the medicinal part of the mixture for treating or preventing disease and owing to the properties brought by the feed part of the mixture for providing nutrition;
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 109 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) 'medicated feed business operator': any natural or legal person responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this Regulation are met within the feed business under their control, including brokers and livestock farmers using medicated feed intended for the animals in their possession;
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 134 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point i h (new)
(ih) 'medicated feed manufacturer': any medicated feed business operator that manufactures medicated feed;
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 136 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point i i (new)
(ii) 'broker': any person active in the buying or selling of medicated feed (excluding the distribution of medicated feed), which operations do not involve the physical handling thereof but rather the trading thereof, independently and in the name of a physical or legal person;
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 140 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
FMedicated feed business operators shall manufacture, store, transport and place on the market medicated feed and intermediate products in compliance with Annex I.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 144 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. A Member State may impose restrictions for prohibiting or regulating the use of mobile mixers in its territory.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 147 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the provisions of Chapter II shall not apply to livestock farmers who only use medicated feed for their own animals.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 190 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt implementing acts for establishing criteria in respect of: -the definition of the batch, pursuant to this Article; -the analytical methods that must be employed by medicated feed business operators; -the sampling methods and analytical methods that must be employed by medicated feed business operators and the competent authorities in order to check that the specific carry-over limits have been complied with. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 20(2).
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 192 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. A detailed schedule listing, in order of priority, the different active substances for which specific carry-over limits must be adopted shall be established by way of an implementing act. The agencies (EFSA and EMA) shall be consulted as the list is being compiled. On [Office of Publications: please insert date counting [24] months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, indicating the specific carry-over limits adopted.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 241 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Member States may authorise qualified people to prescribe, in accordance with the applicable national laws and pursuant to the conditions set out under Article 10 of Directive 2001/82/CE, medicated feed containing several veterinary medicinal products. However, the prescription of medicated feed containing several veterinary medicinal products comprising one or more antibiotic substances shall not be authorised.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 334 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 4 – point 1 – paragraph 1
1. The tolerances laid down in this point shall include technical and analytical deviations.
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 338 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 4 – point 1 – paragraph 2
Where the composition of a medicated feed or an intermediate product is found to deviate from the amount of an antimicrobial active substance indicated on the label, a tolerance of ± 10% shall apply. For the other active substances, the following tolerances shall apply:
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 342 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 4 – point 1 – paragraph 2 – table
Active substance per kg of medicated feed Tolerance > 500 mg ± 10% > 10 mg and ≤ 500 mg ± 20% > 0,5 mg and ≤ 10 mg ± 30% > 0,5 mg ± 40% deleted
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 343 #

2014/0255(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 4 – point 2
2. For the labelling particulars referred to in points 10 and 12 of Annex III to this Regulation, the tolerances laid down in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 shall apply, as appropriate.deleted
2015/07/02
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 486 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 78
(78) The Commission should consider the situation of the availability of organic plant reproductive material and animals for breeding purposes and present a report to this end to the European Parliament and the Council in 2021. In order to satisfy itself that organic plant reproductive material, feed, and animals raised for breeding purposes are available on the market in sufficient quantities, and before submitting any proposals for the phasing-out of exceptions, the Commission should carry out a study based on the collection or relevant data and on an analysis of the situation in the Member States. On the basis of that study, the Commission should by the end of 2018 present a report to the European Parliament and the Council identifying the reasons for the inadequate development of the market in and the shortage of organic plant reproductive material and feed and the poor local availability of breeds suited to organic husbandry and outlining a plan and possible measures to close these gaps, including support measures to stimulate the market in those products and maintain biodiversity.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 513 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 5
5. In order to take into account new information on production methods or material or international commitments, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36 amendding to the list of products set out in Annex I. Only products which are closely linked to agricultural products shall be eligible for inclusion in that list.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 524 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7
(7) ‘group of operators’ means a group of small operators in which each operator is a farmer who has a holding of up to 5 hectwhose surface area places it in the lower third by aresa of utilithe holdings in its country of origin and/or whosed agricultural area and who mayturnover places it in the lower third by turnover of the holdings in its country of origin and within which the activities of the operators concerned may include, in addition to producing food or feed, be engaged in processthe processing, preparation or marketing of food or feed;.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 535 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)
(10a) 'organic animal breeding' means the enhancement of genetic diversity coupled with the natural reproductive ability of the animals concerned. Organic animal breeding ensures that animals comply as far as possible with the requirements of this Regulation, in particular as regards disease resistance, longevity and adaptation to climatic and natural conditions and slow growth in the case of poultry for meat production as defined in Annex II, Part II, point 2.4.2;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 540 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 16
(16) ‘veranda’ means an additional, roofed, uninsulated, outdoor part of a livestock building, the longest side being usually equipped with wire fencing or netting with outdoor climate, natural and possibly artificial illumination and a littered floor;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 542 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 16 a (new)
(16a) ‘laying pullets’ means young animals of the Gallus gallus species intended for the production of eggs for consumption and of an age of less than 19 weeks;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 545 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 16 b (new)
(16b) ‘laying hens’ means animals of the Gallus gallus species intended for the production of eggs for consumption and of an age of at least 18 weeks;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 556 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 43 a (new)
(43a) ‘region’: the European Union is defined as a region.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 557 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 43 b (new)
(43b) ‘poultry house’ means a covered, independent structure fitted out in such a way as to protect the animals from bad weather;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 573 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) exclusion of animal cloning, artificially induced polyploidy and ionising radiation from the whole organic food chain;
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 577 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
(gb) contribution to the production of a wide variety of foods and other agricultural products that respond to consumers’ demand for products from processes that do not harm the environment, human health, plant health or animal health and welfare.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 579 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point g c (new)
(gc) guaranteed integrity of organic production at all stages of production, processing and distribution of food and animal feed.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 595 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) exclusion of genetic engineering, animal cloning, artificially induced polyploidy and ionising radiation from the whole organic food chain;deleted
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 610 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the entire agricultural holding or aquaculture operation shall be managed in compliance with the requirements applicable to organic production; a holding may be divided into clearly separate agricultural production units or aquaculture production sites, with organic production in the one unit or site and non- organic production in the other, provided that: (i) as regards livestock, different species are involved; (ii) as regards plants, easily distinguishable different varieties are involved. In the case of aquaculture, the same species may be involved. In the case of perennial crops which have to be cultivated over a period of at least three years, the separation may concern varieties not easily distinguishable provided that they are being produced under a conversion plan and with specific control arrangements. In the case of research and educational centres, nurseries, seed multipliers, hatcheries for aquaculture and algae production and breeding operations, the requirements concerning different species and varieties referred to in points (i) and (ii) shall not apply.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 642 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In the case referred to in paragraph 1a, the operator shall keep the organic production and the products used for this organic production separate from the non-organic production and the products used for the non-organic production. The operator shall keep appropriate registers to show this separation.
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 644 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. By means of an implementing act, the Commission shall lay down more specific rules for the application of paragraphs 1(a) and 1a. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 37(2).
2015/06/24
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 655 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 b
2b. The conversion period may be reduced to one year for pasture and open air areas used by non-herbivore species. This period may be reduced to six months where the land concerned has not during the last year received treatments with products not authorised for organic production.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 682 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. Each Member State shall ensure that a computerised database is established for listing the varieties and heterogeneous material, according to Regulation (EU) No XX/XXX (PRM law) for which plant reproductive material obtained by the organic production method is available on its territory. Each Member State shall also ensure that a computerised database is established for listing the varieties selected for the specific aims and objectives of organic farming available on its territory.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 729 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
In order to allow organic production to continue or recommence in the event of catastrophic circumstances and subject to the principles laid down in Chapter II, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36 providing for the criteria to qualify such situations as catastrophic and laying down specific rules on how to deal with them, on monitorresulting from an ‘adverse climatic event’, an animal pandemic, an ‘environmental incident’, a ‘natural disaster’ or a ‘catastrophic event’ within the meaning of indents (h), (i), (j), (k) and (l), respectively, of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, and subject to the principles laid down in Chapter II, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing specific rules on how to deal with such situations as well as conditions for monitoring the introduction of such rules. Those implementing acts shall provide for exceptions, for a limited period, to the production rules set out in this regulation. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 37(2). (b) In all cases, the competent authority shall be responsible for granting aind on reporting requirementividual authorisations for exceptions to the production rules.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 777 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Products in which the presence of products or substances that have not been authorised in accordance with Article 19 is detected beyond the levels established taking account in particular of Directive 2006/125/EC, shall not be marketed as organic. Whenever a competent authority or, where appropriate, a control authority or control body receives reliable information or detects the presence of products or substances for which no authorisation has been given under Article 19 for the purposes listed in Article 19, it shall begin an investigation immediately to determine the origin and the cause of the contamination in order to verify conformity with Article 7(1)(b). On the basis of the results of this investigation, the competent authority or, where appropriate, the control authority or control body shall ensure that the products involved are not marketed as organic, if their presence is due to deliberate use by the operator or an avoidable contamination in the production process. A contamination shall be considered as avoidable when the operator: - has failed to install or maintain appropriate, proportionate measures to identify and avoid the risk of biological products becoming contaminated by unauthorised products or substances; - has not regularly reviewed and adjusted such appropriate measures, while the risk for contamination has clearly been perceptible; - has failed to take appropriate measures following requests from the competent authorities or, where appropriate, the control authority or body to take measures to avoid contamination; - has not complied with the relevant provisions of this Regulation and has failed to take necessary steps in the production process to avoid contamination. Based on the results of the investigation referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority or, where appropriate, the control authority or body shall identify the potential shortcomings or non- conformities responsible for the presence of unauthorised products or substances. The operator concerned shall take the necessary corrective measures to avoid future contamination.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 783 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The control authority or control body shall keep records of the investigations carried out. By 30 June of each year at the latest, Member States shall transmit to the Commission the relevant information relating to the previous year concerning the nature of contamination detected, and in particular the cause, the source, the level of contamination and the volume and nature of products contaminated. By 31 December 2020 at the latest, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the presence of products or substances not authorised in accordance with Article 19 which had been detected in organic products. The report shall be accompanied by a legislative proposal establishing: - thresholds for unauthorised products or substances to be applied to organic products beyond which such products may not be marketed as organic products; - compensation systems for operators for losses in connection with the adventitious contamination of their products and where these operators have taken appropriate measures to avoid the risk of contamination. The Member States may draw in particular on instruments of the common agricultural policy to cover such losses, and a specific fund should be allocated to this end.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 786 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. The compensation fund aimed at ensuring compensation for operators in the event of accidental contamination may be cofinanced by fees and the fines paid by those responsible for the contamination, penalties which stem from applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 826 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
With the exception of products from the wine sector referred to in Article 1(2)(l) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, Where the organic production logo of the European Union is used, an indication of the place where the agricultural raw materials of which the product is composed have been farmed shall also appear in the same visual field as the logo and shall take one of the following forms, as appropriate:
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 842 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 a (new)
Article 23 a Controls General provisions In addition to the provisions set out in Regulation (EU) No XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation), the specific rules set out in this chapter shall apply to official controls and other official activities carried out on organic production and the labelling of organic products. Official controls in relation to organic production and labelling of organic products (a) Official controls of organic production and the labelling of organic products shall be carried out to verify conformity with the provisions of this regulation and shall include, in particular, control of the application of preventive measures as defined in Article 3(4), conditions for exemption from the requirement for notification laid down in Article 24(1a), and the effective separation of organic and non-organic production and the products referred to in Articles 7 and 8, by the control of units or sites of non-organic production b) The nature and frequency of the official controls shall be determined on the basis of the likelihood of non- compliance, taking into account in particular the following: the type, size and structure of the operators and groups of operators; - the length of time the operators and groups of operators have worked in organic production, preparation and distribution; - the product categories; - the type, quantity and value of the products and their development over time; - the possibility that products can be mixed; - the application of derogations or exceptions to the rules by the operators or groups of operators; - the key points concerning non- conformity and the likelihood of non- conformity at each stage of production, preparation and distribution as defined in Article 3(27). All operators and groups of operators apart from those referred to in Article 24(1a) shall be subjected to compliance testing at least once a year. Compliance testing shall mean a physical, on-site inspection. With regard to Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation), the reports written on official controls completed on the occasion of the compliance testing shall be countersigned by the operator or group of operators concerned or by their representative. Delegations to control bodies and measures to be taken in the event of non- compliance 1. Official control tasks or other official activities may only be delegated by the competent authorities in accordance with Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation) if the following conditions are also met: (a) the control bodies are accredited in accordance with the international harmonised standard Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, the reference of which has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union; (b) the delegation of the competent authorities contains a detailed description of the delegated control tasks and other official activities, the registration requirements and other specific obligations (c) the control bodies are submitted to the competent authorities for prior approval: (i) their risk assessment procedures determining in particular the basis for the intensity and frequency of the verification of compliance of the operators and group of operators; (ii) the standard control procedure to be followed, containing a detailed description of the control measures and precautions that the body undertakes to impose on operators and groups of operators subject to its controls; (iii) the measures planned by the control body for application whenever instances of non-compliance are detected; d) the competent authorities have procedures and arrangements in place to ensure the supervision of control bodies, including the verification of the effectiveness, independence and objectiveness of the way in which the delegated tasks are carried out, in particular as regards the intensity and frequency of the verification of compliance. 2. The competent authorities shall not delegate to control bodies the competence to grant exceptions except for the use of plant reproductive material not obtained from organic production. 3. Pursuant to Article 31 of Regulation (EU) No XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation), the competent authorities shall ensure that the information obtained on each instance of non-compliance and on the likelihood of non-compliance identified by the control bodies, and that the measures taken, is properly collected and used in order to guide the activities of the control bodies. 4. Where a control body can be proved to be not carrying out correctly the official control tasks delegated to it, the competent authorities may not suspend it, completely or in part, before withdrawing the delegation in line with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation). 5. In the event of non-compliance which affects the organic status of products at each stage of production, preparation and distribution, the competent authorities or, where appropriate, the control authorities or bodies shall ensure that no reference is made to 'organic production' in the labelling or advertising of the entire lot or production run concerned. 6. In the event of serious, repeated or continuous non-compliance, the competent authorities or, where appropriate, the control authorities or bodies shall ensure that the operators or groups of operators concerned, in addition to the measures set out in paragraph 1 and those taken in line with Article 135 of Regulation (EU) XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation), are not authorised to sell their products with a reference to organic production for a set period and that their organic certificate is suspended or withdrawn accordingly. 7. In addition to the conditions set out in Article 104(1) of Regulation (EU) XX/XXXX (Official Controls Regulation), the competent authorities and the control authorities and bodies shall immediately share the relevant information with all the other competent authorities and control authorities and bodies in connection with any instance of non-compliance or likelihood of non-compliance affecting the organic status of products. 8. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules establishing uniform modalities and specific requirements for the performance of official controls and other official activities carried out in relation to organic production and labelling of organic products, as regards: (a) the specific tasks of the competent authorities; (b) methods and techniques for the performance of official controls; (c) the kinds of sample at each stage of production, processing and distribution: samples must comply with established sampling methods and their laboratory analysis; (d) methods for establishing the probability of non-compliance and the frequency of sampling; (e) the specific recording obligations for the competent authorities and the control authorities and bodies; (f) the specific obligations, arrangements and commitments of operators; (g) cases in which the competent authorities, in the light of a particular suspicion and subsequent finding of non- compliance, must act in accordance with the actions and measures set out in paragraphs 5 and 6; (h) the exchange of information between competent authorities, control authorities and control bodies concerning cases of non-compliance or likelihood of non- compliance including the exchange of relevant information on the results of their controls upon a request duly justified by the need to guarantee that a product has been produced in accordance with this Regulation. These implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 37(2).
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 856 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States may decide that operators who sell less than a limited quantity per year of unprocessed organic products to the final consumer or user, and who notify their activity to the responsible authorities, shall be exempt from the notification obligation and the system of control referred to in paragraph 1, provided they do not produce, prepare or store organic products other than in connection with the point of sale or import such products from a third country or have not contracted out such activities to a third party.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 866 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Operators who sell pre-packed organic products directly to the final consumer or user are exempted from the notification obligations referred to in paragraph 1 provided they do not produce, prepare or store organic products other than in connection with the point of sale or import such products from a third country or have not contracted out such activities to a third party.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 867 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Operators who only handle pre- packed products are exempted from the application of Article 24, provided they do not produce, prepare, store elsewhere other than the point of sale or import such products from a third country, or have not contracted out such activities to a third party. Operators handling only pre-packed products and exporting these products to a third country are also exempted from the application of Article 24.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 872 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3
3. Operators and groups of operators and subcontractors shall keep records on the different activities they engage in, in accordance with this Regulation.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 874 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 4
4. Competent authoritiMember States shall keep an updated list containing the names and addresses of operators and groups of operators that have notified their activities in accordance with paragraph 1 and shall make that list public, together with the information relating to their organic certificates as referred to in Article 25(1). The competent authoritiMember States shall respect the requirements of the protection of personal data under Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council50. __________________ 50 Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31).
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 878 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. For the purposes of the application of this article, ‘final user’ means the operator who uses the product for the purpose of production or transformation but only if the product used is not an ingredient of the end product.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 901 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission includes information on the rules for organic farming in third countries and the barriers to exporting organic products to these third countries on the EU Market Access Database website.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 914 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) In order to create a level playing field and to guarantee fair competition for products processed both by European operators (particularly in extremely remote areas) and operators in third countries, the Commission shall ensure that production conditions for organic products processed by European operators shall be identical to production conditions applicable to organic products coming from third countries. For this reason, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36, in particular with reference to the production rules set out in Chapter III of the Regulation and its Annex II.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 915 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. In order to ensure tThe traceability of the imported products intended to be placed on the market within the Union as organic, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36 concerning documents, issued in electronic form wherever possible, that are necessary for the purposes of import and their conformity to this Regulation must be assured. Through this implementing act the Commission establishes specific rules for the content of the certificates referred to in paragraph 1 and the procedure to be followed for their establishment and control, in particular concerning the role of the competent authorities, control authorities and control bodies, and the possibility of taking regional differences into account in balancing ecological, climate and local conditions, as well as practical conditions regarding specific production matters. These implementing acts are adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 37 (2).
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 959 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 40 – paragraph 1
In order to ensure a smooth transition between the rules on organic origin of plant reproductive material provided for in Article 12(1)(i) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and on animals for breeding purposes provided for in Article 14(1)(a)(ii) of that Regulation and on young stock of aquaculture animals provided for in Article 15(1)(a)(ii) of that Regulation and the exception to production rules that the Commission adopted pursuant to Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, and the new production rules for plants and plant products and livestock and seaweed and aquaculture animals provided for in Articles 10(1) and 11(1), respectively, of this Regulation, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36 providing for exceptions where granting exceptions is deemed necessary in order to ensure access to plant reproductive material and live animals for breeding purposes and young stock of aquaculture animals, that may be used in organic production. The delegated acts adopted under this Article shall cease to apply on 31 December 2021.deleted
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 975 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – indent 2 a (new)
- aromatised wine products as defined in Council Regulation 251/2014,
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 985 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – indent 19 a (new)
- uncarded and uncombed cotton,
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 988 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – indent 19 b (new)
- uncarded and uncombed wools,
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 993 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – indent 19 c (new)
- raw hides and unprocessed skins.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1015 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part I – point 1.4.1
1.4.1. For the production of plants and plant products only organically produced plant reproductive material shall be used other than plant reproductive material. To this end, the plant intended for plant reproductive material production and, where relevant, the mother plant shall have been produced in accordance with this Regulation for at least one generation, or, in the case of perennial crops, for at least one generation during two growing seasons.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1019 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part I – point 1.4.2
PBy way of derogation from point 1.4.1., for a limited period, during which plant reproductive material is not obtained from organic production may be used only when it comes from a production unit in conversion to organic production oravailable on the market in organic form, (a) plant reproductive material sourced from a production unit in conversion to organic farming may be used. (b) where point (a) is not applicable, Member States may authorise the use of non-organic plant reproductive material. However, the use of this non-organic material presupposes the application of the following rules: 1.4.2.1. Non-organic reproductive plant material may be used, provided such plant reproductive material is not treated with plant protection products, other than those authorised for the treatment of seeds in accordance with point 1.6.2, unless the chemical treatment is prescribed by Regulation (EU) No XX/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union on protective measures against pests of plants and plant health, in order to ensure plant health by the competent authority in the Member State for all varieties of a given species in the sector in which the plant reproductive material will be used. 1.4.2.2. Member States may entrust responsibility to grant the authorisation referred to in point 1.4.2.(b) to the control authorities or delegate it to another public administration under their supervision or to control bodies. 1.4.2.3. The authorisation to use plant reproductive material not obtained by organic production methods may be granted in the following cases: (i) where no variety of the species that the user wishes to obtain is listed in the database referred to in Article 10; (ii) where no supplier, namely an operator who sells plant reproductive material on the market to other operators, can supply plant reproductive material before sowing or planting in situations where the user ordered plant reproductive material in good time; (iii) where the variety that the user wishes to obtain is not listed in the database referred to in Article 10, and the user can show that no listed alternative for the same species is appropriate and authorisation is therefore important for its production; iv) where it is justified for use in research, tests in small-scale field trials or for genetic resources for variety conservation purposes agreed by the competent authority of the Member State. decided by the competent authority of the Member State. 1.4.2.4. Authorisation must be granted before the crop is sown. 1.4.2.5. Authorisation shall only be granted to individual users for a single season and the authority or the body responsible for authorisations shall list the authorised quantities of plant reproductive material. 1.4.2.6. By way of derogation to point 1.4.2.5. , the competent authority of the Member State may grant a general authorisation to all users: (i) for given species when the condition provided for in point 1.4.2.3.(i) is met; (ii) for a given variety when the conditions provided for in point 1.4.2.3.(iii) are met. The authorisations referred to in the first sub-paragraph are clearly set out in the database mentioned in Article 10. 1.4.2.7. Authorisation is only granted during periods when the database is up to date.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1028 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part I – point 1.4.2 a (new)
1.4.2 a. Use of plant reproductive material selected for the specific needs and aims of organic agriculture Plant reproductive material selected for the specific needs and aims of organic agriculture may be used and in the future must be increasingly used in the production of plants and plant products. For this purpose, plant reproductive material must be selected in order to allow the resulting plants and plant products to better meet the demands of this Regulation. Plant reproductive material selected for the needs and aims of organic agriculture may include a range of material, such as local breeds or varieties of population, or open pollination varieties, namely plant reproductive material not obtained by controlled pollination or by the hybridisation of inbred lines.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1048 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.3.1
1.3.1. Organic livestock shall be born and raised on organic agricultural holdings. . However, when a flock is established for the first time, or is renewed or restocked, if a sufficient quantity of poultry reared using organic methods is unavailable, poultry reared not using organic methods may be introduced into the organic production unit, provided that chickens for egg production and poultry to be raised for meat are less than three days old. Such livestock and products derived from them may be considered as organic provided that the conversion period specified in Annex II paragraph 2.4.1 is respected.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1066 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.3.5 a (new)
1.3.5a. For restocking of beehives, 20 % of queens and swarms in an organic production unit may be replaced each year by non-organic queens and swarms, provided that the queens and swarms are placed in the hives with honeycombs or honeycomb bases which come from organic production units.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1092 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.4.4 – paragraph 1
Only organic feed materials of plant or animal origin as well as feed materials and feed additives authorised for use in organic production pursuant to Article 19 may be used in the processing of organic feed and in the feeding of organic animals. , animal feed materials derived from invertebrates and fermented products of organic origin as well as feed additives authorised for use in organic production pursuant to Article 19 may be used in the processing of organic feed and in the feeding of organic animals. Non-organic protein animal feeds may be used provided: (i) that they are not available in organic form; (ii) that they are produced or prepared without chemical solvents; and (iii) that their use is limited to piglets weighing less than 35kg and to poultry and to specific protein compounds. This is an exception to the rules on production linked to the unavailability of organic agricultural input products in accordance with Article 17 2.b. When farmers are unable to obtain entirely organic pig and poultry protein feeds, the maximum percentage of non-organic protein feed permitted over a 12 month period for these species shall not exceed 5 % and shall be reduced in relation to the availability of organic protein feeds. Non-organic spices, herbs and molasses may be used provided: (i) that they are not available in organic form; (ii) that they are produced or prepared without chemical solvents; and (iii) that their use is limited to 1 % of the ration for a species, calculated annually as a percentage of dry animal feed of agricultural origin. This is an exception to the rules on production linked to the unavailability of organic agricultural input products in accordance with Article 17 2.b., when farmers are unable to obtain fully entirely organic spices, herbs and molasses. The percentage shall be reduced in relation to the availability of organic spices, herbs and molasses. Products derived from sustainable fishing may be used, provided: (i) that they are produced or prepared without chemical solvents; (ii) that their use is restricted to non- herbivores; and (iii) that the use of fish protein hydrolysates is restricted to young animals. This is an exception to the rules on production linked to the unavailability of organic agricultural input products in accordance with Article 17 2.b., when farmers are unable to obtain products derived exclusively from sustainable fishing and organic fish production. The percentage shall be reduced in relation to the availability of products derived from organic fish production.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1109 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.6.2
1.6.2. Housing for livestock shall not be mandatory in areas with appropriate climatic conditions to enable animals to live outdoors. Livestock, with the exception of pullets and breeding hens, shall have permanent access to open air areas, preferably pasture, appropriate to their species, whenever weather conditions and the state of the ground allow this, unless restrictions and obligations related to the protection of human and animal health are imposed on the basis of Union legislation. Animals shall have access to shelters or shady areas to protect them from adverse weather conditions, taking account of their physiological requirements.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1116 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.7.6
1.7.6. Tethering or isolation of livestock shall be prohibited, unless for individual animals for a limited period of time, and in so far as this is justified for veterinary reasons. Competent authoritiesIsolation of livestock may be authorise cattle in micro-enterprises to be tetheredd, for a limited period, only for the safety of workers and the welfare of the animals. Competent authorities may authorise tethering by farms with less than 50 animals (excluding young animals) if it is not possible to keep the cattle in groups appropriate to their behaviour requirements provided they have access to pastures during the grazing period, and at least twice a week access to open air areas when grazing is not possible. Climatic conditions and the state of the ground should be taken into consideration and the tethering arrangements should not restrict the natural movements of the animal.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1137 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 1.7.9
1.7.9. Mutilation of animals shall be prohibited. The trimming of the beaks of poultry, when undertaken in the first three days of life, the placing of elastic bands on the tails of sheep and animal or human, sheep and tail docking may be authorised by competent authorities for reasons of animal or human health or safety, or if the measures are intended to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the livestock. There is scope to approve the removal of the horns of young mammals if sufficient anaesthetic or analgesic is used.
2015/06/25
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1180 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.3.2 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) at least 640 % of the feed shall come from the farm itself or in case this is not feasible, be produced in the same region in cooperation with other organic farms or feed operators; the specificity of the outermost regions must be taken into account. By adopting implementing acts the Commission shall establish the possibility of taking the specificities of the outermost regions into account.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1201 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Poultry shall either be reared until they reach a minimum age or else shall comefor meat production must be derived from slow-growing poultry strains as defined by the competent authority. Where slow-growing poultry strains are not used by the farmer the minimum age at slaughter shall be as follows:dapted for outdoor rearing, namely with an average daily gain of 35 g/day as chicks. Member States may define stricter criteria for slow growth.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1205 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) 8170 days for chickens;
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1206 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 – section 2 – part 2 – point 2.4 – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 – point h
h) 140 days for male and female turkeys and roasting geese; sold whole and
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1209 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 – point i
i) 10098 days for female turkeys. intended for cutting,
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1210 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
ia) 126 days for male turkeys intended for cutting.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1211 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Laying hens must be derived from strains adapted to outdoor rearing.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1224 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.4 – paragraph 1 – point c
c) poultry shall have access to an open air area for at least one third of their life. Open air areas for poultry shall be mainly covered with vegetation and be provided with protective facilities and permit fowl to have easy access to adequate numbers of drinking troughs;.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1237 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The maximum number of animals per hectare shall respect the following limitsquantity of manure spread per hectare must comply with the limit of 170 kg of organic nitrogen per year and per hectare of agricultural area. For this reason, the maximum number of animals per hectare shall respect the following limits or be calculated on the basis of corresponding national provisions adopted pursuant to the implementation of Directive 91/676/EEC:
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1240 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.5. – paragraph 2
The minimum surface area indoors and outdoors and other characteristics of housing for birds of the species Gallus gallus shall be as follows: Breeders/ Young stock Fattening birds Capons Layers parents Age Breeding birds Pullets Pullets Starter Finisher 22- 91- Laying birds 0-8 weeks 9-18 weeks 0-218 days 22 to 891 days 150 days hens from 19 weeks In house 6 birds 24 birds with a 156 birds 20 birds 10 birds 106.5 birds 69 birds per stocking rate with amaximum of with a with a with a with a m2/usable (birds per m² maximum25 kg maximum maximum maximum of maximum surface of usable area) of 21 kg liveweight/m² of 215 kg of 215 kg 215 kg of 215 kg excluding for fixed and liveweight/ liveweight/ liveweight/ liveweight/m² liveweight/ mobile houses m² m² veranda mobile houses m² m² However, in m² the case of mobile housing do not exceed 150 m2 decks and if left open at night, occupation can be boosted to 16 animals on the understanding that it must not exceed 30 kg liveweight/ m2 Perch space 1815 (cm) Multi-layer 9 birds 36 birds 22 24 birds Not normally applicable 9 birds systems excluding additional veranda area limits/m2 of area ground floor area (including veranda if 24h access) Flock size 3 000, including 10 000* 3 10 000* 10 000 Maximum Maximum 1 Maximum 3 00 10 000* 4 800 2 500 3 000 limits males0 and limits 1 flock per flock per 1 flock per 9 000 poultry poultry house poultry maximum house and and 4 houses house and per poultry 4 houses per 4 houses house and per production per maximum production unit production 18 000 per unit unit farm Open-air run 4 1 4 1 2 4 4 4 4 stocking rates (m2/bird), provided that the limit of 170 kg of N/ha/year is not exceeded * sub-dividable to produce 3x3 000 or 2x4 800 batches
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1244 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.5. – paragraph 3
The minimum surface areas indoors and outdoors and other characteristics of housing for birds of species other than Gallus gallus shall be as follows: Turkeys Geese Ducks Guinea fowl Type Male Male Female All Peking Male Female Mallard All Muscovy Muscovy In house 10 with a 10 with a Starter period 0-63 0-63 days 0-35 0-26 days 0-35 days 0-35 days 0-35 days 0-28 days days days In house stocking 6.5 with 6.25 with 105 with a 10 8 with a 10 8 with a 10 with a 108 with a 10 13 with a stocking rate maximumrate (birds per m2 of a maximuma maximu maximu maximum maximum maximum maximum (birds per m2 of of 21 kg of 21 kgusable area) for fixed maximu maximu m of 2130 m of 2135 of 2135 kg of 215 kg of 2135 kg of 215 kg usable area) for liveweight/ liveweight/and mobile houses m of 35 m of 35 kg kg liveweight/ liveweight/ liveweight/ liveweight/ fixed and kg kg liveweig liveweigh m² m² mobile houses² livewei liveweigh ht/m² t/m² Perch space 40 40 Not Not 40 40 Not 20 (cm) normally normally ght/m² t/m² In house stocking rate (birds per m2 of usable area) for normally applicabl applicabl applicable e e 16 with a maximum of 30 kg liveweight/m2 mobile houses with a floor area of not more than 150 m2 Flock size limits 2,500 2,500 2,500 4,000 3,200 4,000 3,200 5,200 females 3,200 males Open air 10 males Farm size limits A maximum of 1 flock per poultry house and a maximum of 4 buildings per production unit. Open air stocking 6 6 10 2 15 4.5 4.52 4.52 4.5 3 4 stocking2 rate (m2/bird) provided that the limit of 170 kg of N/ha/year is not exceeded
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1247 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(d a) the total utilisable area for poultry houses for fattening purposes in the entire production unit shall not exceed 1 920 m2.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1249 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(db) the total number of laying hens shall not exceed 18 000 per production unit and 9 000 per poultry house.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1250 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.6 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) laying hens and finisher poultry shall have access to an open air area for at least one third of their life. In particular, continuous daytime open air access shall be provided from as early an age as practically possible, whenever physiological and physical conditions allow, except in the case of temporary restrictions imposed on the basis of Union legislation;
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1254 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part II – point 2.4.6 – paragraph 1 – point b
b) open air areas for poultry shall be mainly covered with vegetation composed of a diverse range of plants and be provided with protective facilities and permit fowl to have easy access to adequate numbers of drinking troughs. The vegetation on the open-air area must be harvested and removed at regular intervals to reduce the potential for nutrient surpluses. The open air areas shall not extend beyond a radius of 150 m from the nearest pop-hole of the poultry house. However an extension of up to 350 m from the nearest pop-hole of the poultry house is permissible provided that a sufficient number of shelters and drinking troughsor shrubs/foliage are evenly distributed throughout the whole open-air area with at least four shelters or groves per hectare;
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1267 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Part 3 – point 3.2.1 – point a
a) the growing areas are of high ecological status as defined by Directive 2000/60/EC75, or have a quality equivalent to the production zones classed as A and B in Regulation (EC) No 854/200476 and are not unsuitable from a health point of view; __________________ 75 Directive 2006/1130/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the qua23 October 2000 establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water politcy require(OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1). 76 Regulation of the European Parliament and of sthellfish waters (OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 1 Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (OJ L 139, 30.04.2004).
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1271 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part III – point 3.2.2 – point b
b) to ensure that a wide gene-pool is maintained, the collection of juvenile seaweed in the wild shall take place on a regular basis to supplementmaintain and increase the diversity of indoor culture stock;
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1273 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part III – point 3.4.4
3.4.4. If seaweed is harvested from a shared or common harvest area, documentary evidence produced by the competent authority shall be available that the total harvest complies with this Regulation.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1303 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part IV – point 2.2.5 a (new)
2.2.5a. A flavouring may be certified organic if it meets the following specific conditions for flavourings: - If it is a natural flavouring within the meaning of Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) no 1334/2008; - If it is at least 95% made up of organic ingredients and the flavouring component is itself at least 95% made up of organic ingredients and is of exclusively agricultural origin; - If the flavour carrier (excluding salt, water and permitted additives) is 100% made up of ingredients of organic origin, - If the maximum 5 % non-organic agricultural ingredients in the flavouring component have received a mandatory temporary national derogation in accordance with Annex II, Part IV, Point 2.2.4a; The organic flavouring must also comply with the general provisions of this Regulation for food production.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1307 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part IV – point 3.1
3.1. Without prejudice to Sections 1. and 2. and to specific prohibitions and restrictions provided for in points 3.2 to 3.5, oOnly oenological practices, processes and treatments, including the restrictions provided for in Article 80 and 83(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and in Article 3, Articles 5 to 9 and Articles 11 to 14 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, and in the Annexes to those Regulations, used before 1 August 2010, shall be permitted.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1308 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part V – point 3.2
3.2 The use of the following oenological practices, processes and treatments shall be prohibited: (a) partial concentration through cooling according to point (c) of Section B.1 of Part I of Annex VIII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013; (b) elimination of sulphur dioxide by physical processes according to point 8 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009; (c) electrodialysis treatment to ensure the tartaric stabilisation of the wine according to point 36 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009; (d) partial dealcoholisation of wine according to point 40 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009; (e) treatment with cation exchangers to ensure the tartaric stabilisation of the wine according to point 43 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009deleted
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1313 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part V – point 3.3 – point a
a) for heat treatments according to point 2 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, the temperature shall not exceed 705 °C;
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1314 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part V – point 3.4
3.4 The use of the following oenological practices, processes and treatments shall be re-examined by the Commission before 1 August 2015 with a view to phase out or to further restrict those practices: (a) heat treatments as referred to in point 2 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009; (b) use of ion exchange resins as referred to in point 20 of Annex I A to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009; (c) reverse osmosis according to point (b) of Section B.1 of Part I of Annex VIII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.deleted
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1317 #

2014/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – part VI – point 1.3 – point b a (new)
ba) addition to the substrate (calculated in terms of dry matter) of non-organic yeast extract or autolysate up to a level of 5 % shall be authorised for the production of organic yeasts where they are not available in organic form.
2015/06/26
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 199 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) “breeding programme” means the activities carried out by a breed society or breeding operation in accordance with Article 8(1), including, in particular, the definition and detailed phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the breed, breed orientation and objectives, the definition of the criteria selected and their weighting as regards genetic evaluation, should that be required, the definition of the performance recording and control system, should that be required, and the rules on organising and keeping the breeding book;
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 218 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i – indent 1
– the preservation of the breed and its genetic diversity, or
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 219 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i – indent 2
– the improvement of the breed or cross and, where applicable, deliberate cross- breeding;
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 229 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The competent authority shall approve the breeding programme(s) of a breed society or breeding operation recognised by it in accordance with Article 4(2), provided that the breed society or breeding operation submits an application for approval of its breeding programme, demonstrating compliance with the requirements provided for in Article 4(2)(c) and set out in Part 2, and in the case of purebred equine animals in Part 3 of Annex I.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 236 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the approval of a further breeding programme would fragment the population of purebred breeding animals available in that Member State to an extendt that would compromise the preservation or the genetic diversity of that breed or result in developments that depart from or are inconsistent with the characteristics specified for the breed in that Member State.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 256 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 71 concerning amendments to the rules set out in points 3 and 4 of Chapter III of Part 1 of Annex II under which the progeny of animals recorded in a supplementary section is allowed to be entered in the main section.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 282 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. Breed societies and breeding operations shall, wheWhen breeding animals and their germinal products are to be accepted for breeding, and when performance testing and genetic evaluation activities are necessary to carry out their breeding programme approved in accordance with Article 8(1) or Article 9, designate the institution whichbreed societies and breeding operations shall: a) carriesy out the performance testing and the genetic evaluation of breeding animals provided for in Article 27ose activities themselves; or b) designate a third party to whom those activities are delegated.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 285 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) operate as specialised units under the responsibility of a breed society or breeding operation, provided that they are recognised by the European reference centre designated under Article 31; or
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 309 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 4(3), 8(3), 17(4), 19(4), 20(2), 21(2), 23(4), 24(2), 28(1), 32(2), 33(3), 35(1), 39(2), 45(1) and 52(1) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation 32(2) and Article 33(3) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 310 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 4(3), 8(3), 17(4), 19(4), 20(2), 21(2), 23(4), 24(2), 28(1), 32(2), 33(3), 35(1), 39(2), 45(132(2) and 52(133(3) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified thereiin the text of the decision. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 311 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 5
5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 4(3), 8(3), 17(4), 19(4), 20(2), 21(2), 23(4), 24(2), 28(1), 32(2), 33(3), 35(1), 39(2), 45(1) and 52(132(2) and 33(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period mayshall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 316 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 – section 1 – subsection 1 – point 1 – point a – point i
(i) in point (i) of Article 2(i) in the case of purebred breeding animals of the bovine species (Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bubalus bubalis), porcine species (Sus scrofa), ovine species (Ovis aries) and caprine species (Capra hircus);
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 320 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 – section 1 – subsection 3 – point 4 – paragraph 1
In the case of female purebred breeding animals of the equine species, those conditions shall not be stricter than the conditions set out in point 3(a) and (b) of this Chapter.deleted
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 323 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 3 – section 1 – subsection 2 – point 5 – introductory part
5. Bulls intendedat least 12 months old placed on the market for artificial insemination, with the exception of bulls belonging to breeds threatened with extinction, shall be subjected to a genetic evaluation on, as a minimum requirement, compulsory traits as described in point 6 or 7. TAll of those breeding values shall be published by the breed society.
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 325 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 3 – section 2 – subsection 2 – point 1 – point a – introductory part
(a) the genetic merit of the breeding animal shall be calculated on the basis of genomic information or by assessing the qualities of a suitable number of progeny or collaterals in relation to production characteristics or by a combination of those methods:
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 328 #

2014/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 3 – section 3 – subsection 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The genetic merit of a breeding animal shall be calculated on the basis of genomic information or by assessing the qualities of a suitable number of progeny and, where appropriate, collaterals, or by a combination of those methods, as follows:
2015/06/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 55 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
(4) A trend of declining consumption in particular of fresh fruit and vegetables including bananas and drinking milk has been identified. It is therefore appropriate to focus the distribution under the school schemes on these products, whilst allowing Member States to supply other dairy products and processed fruit and vegetables. This would in turn also help reduce the organisational burden for schools, increase the impact of the distribution within a limited budget and would be in line with the current practice, as these products are most frequently distributed.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 79 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
(5) Educational measures that support the distribution are necessary in order to make the scheme effective in reaching its short- and long-term objectives of increasing the consumption of selected agricultural products and shaping healthier diets. Considering their importance, these measures should support both the fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk distribution. They should be eligible for the Union aid. As supporting measures they represent a critical tool to reconnect children with agriculture and its different products and to meet the objectives that the scheme is pursuing, Member States should be allowed to include a wider variety of agricultural products into their thematic measures, such as honey and olive oil. However, so as to promote healthy eating habits, the national health authorities should be involved in this process and approve the list of these products, as well as the two groups of products eligible for the distribution, and decide on their nutritional aspects of these products.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 161 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. Member States wishing to participate in the aid scheme established in paragraph 1 (ʻthe school schemeʼ) may distribute either fruit and vegetables, including bananas, or processed fruit and vegetables or milk falling within CN code 0401, or bothprocessed dairy products falling within NC code 0403, 0404 90, 0406 or 2202 90.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 194 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 – paragraph 5
5. When drawing up their strategies, Member States shall determine a list of agricultural products, in addition to fruit and vegetables, bananas and milktheir processed products and milk and dairy products, that may occasionally be included under the supporting educational measures and distributed.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 260 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a – paragraph 2 – point b
b) for milk: the historical use of funds under previous schemes for the supply of milk and milk products to children and objective criteria based on the proportionnumber of six- to ten-year old children.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 275 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall implement educational measures, up to a maximum of 20 % of their annual allocation.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 287 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a – paragraph 4
4. Without exceeding the global ceiling of EUR 230 million resulting from the amounts referred to under points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, Member States may transfer up to 1530 % of their indicative allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas or for milk to the other sector under the conditions to be specified by the Commission by means of delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 227.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 299 #

2014/0014(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Member States may decide, consistently with their strategy not to grant aid requested where the amount of the aid request is less than the minimum amount fixed by the Member State.
2015/02/05
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 99 #

2013/0443(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) enteric methane emissions, which are naturally produced when rearing ruminants.
2015/04/10
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 1 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that agricultural policy is the only common policy area funded largely through the Community, as a result of whichby the Community, that agricultural spending currently accounts for a considerable percentage of the total EU budget, even though spending on agriculture has been declining in relative terms35% of the total EU budget and will account for only 32% by 2013 and that the budget allocated to the common agricultural policy (CAP) and rural development represents less than 0.5% of the GDP of the Union;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 3 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Regrets that the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament is called upon to express an opinion on the mid-term review of the 2007-2013 Financial Framework without having received a communication from the Commission to enable it to ascertain precisely the current financial situation and the initial indicators for the future;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 4 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the difficulty of creating financial perspectives for agriculture and rural development in the Union, particularly as regards market management measures, in the context of a world economic and financial crisis and tension on the market, when prices of raw materials, including agricultural inputs, are increasingly subject to international speculation;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 13 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, as a result, new Community economic recovery priorities within the current financial frameworkcontext can only be funded by fresh funds or through a reprioritisation within existing programmes and levels of expenditure outside the agriculture budget; stresses, therefore, the increased need to ensure sufficient margins under different categories of the initial budget figures in order to leave room for Parliament's priorities;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 20 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Warns, however, that the current large margin within the agriculture budget is likely to be a temporary phenomenon, as the phasing- in of the EU-12 Member States, declining prices with additional pressure for market expenditure, the agreed reform in the fruit and vegetables sector, the introduction of the school fruit scheme and the increase in the programme for the distribution of food aid to the most deprived persons programme will make increasing demands on the budget, as a result of which this margin is expected to disappear towards the end of this planning period; stresses, therefore, that no structural use can be made of the current margin;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 23 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to inform Parliament as soon as possible about the additional funding which it expects will be needed in the field of agriculture if Croatia or other States were to join the EU in the period up to 2013 or if fresh expenditure were envisaged within the agricultural guidelines;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 25 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the objectives of the CAP remain unchanged under the Lisbon Treaty: increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, stabilising markets, ensuring the availability of supplies and ensuring that supplies reach consumers at reasonable prices; notes, however, that the successive reforms of the CAP or other Community policies assign new tasks to agriculture in terms of product quality, environmental protection, combating climate change, consumer health or land use planning which entail changes in modes of production and may reduce productivity;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 29 #

2008/2055(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that a strong common EU agriculture policy, both in terms of content and of financing, is paramount to achieving these objectives and remaining internationally competitive, while guaranteeing a level playing field and transparent food chainsin terms of mode of production, product quality, consumer protection and environmental protection on the common internal market, as well as viable rural areas;
2008/12/08
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 7 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5
(5) The current food distribution scheme relies on the distribution of products from Community intervention stocks supplemented, on a temporary basis, by purchases on the market. However, successive reforms of the CAP and favourable developments of producer prices have resulted in a progressive reduction inincreasing strains in the world market for primary agricultural products and the phasing out of tools for the orientation of production and stocks applied under successive reforms of the CAP, have reduced the EU's food self-sufficiency in tervention stocks, as well as the range of products availablems of the quantity and range of products available and its capacity to respond to the food needs of its most deprived citizens or to any food crises or international speculation. Consequently, market purchases should also be made a permanent source of supply for the scheme to complement intervention stocks, where suitable intervention stocks are not available.
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 9 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 7
(7) In order to fully benefit from the cohesive dimension of the Community scheme and reinforce the synergies thereby created, and in order to ensure proper planning, provision should be made for Member States to co-finance the food distribution programme. Maximum Community co-financing rates should be provided for and the Community financial contribution should be added to the list of measures eligible for financing by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) set out in Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005. Higher co-financing rates should apply in the first years of application of the revised scheme in order to ensure the continued high take-up of funds, the gradual phase in of co-financing, to allow for a smooth transition and to avoid the risk of discontinuation of the scheme due to a possible lack of resources.deleted
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 10 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 8
(8) The rate of the contribution from the EAGF should be set taking into account the situation of Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund, as listed in Annex I to Commission Decision 2006/596/EC or in subsequent relevant decisions, in order to strengthen the economic and social cohesion of the Community.
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 12 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 2 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007
Article 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The three-year plan shall set out annual financial allocations by the Community per Member State and minimum annual financial contributions of Member States, determined by the Commission in accordance with a methodology to be set out in the implementing rules adopted in accordance with Article 43(g). Allocations for the second and third year of the programme shall be indicative. Member States participating in the scheme shall confirm every year the requests referred to in paragraph 2. Following these confirmations, the Commission shall decide each subsequent year on the definitive allocations, within the limits of the appropriations available in the budget.
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 13 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 2 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
7. The Community shall co-finance the eligible costs under the scheme.
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 14 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 2 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
The Community co-financing rate shall not excedeleted:
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 15 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 2 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) for the three-year plan starting on 1 January 2010, 75% of the eligible costs, or 85% of the eligible costs in the Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund for the period 2007-2013, as listed in Annex I to Commission Decision 2006/596/EC*;deleted
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 16 #

2008/0183(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 2 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 – point b
(b) for subsequent three year plans, 50% of the eligible costs, or 75% of the eligible costs in the Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund in a given year, as listed in Annex I to Decision 2006/596/EC and in subsequent decisions.deleted
2009/01/26
Committee: REGI
Amendment 13 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas conventional and organic agriculture must remain the favoured modes of production in the European Union, in the light of criteria of social, environmental and economic performance,
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 17 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas developments in biotechnologies have the potential to yield many benefits for agriculture, such as increased yi: - better-quality, healthy food (probiotics, lactic bacteria, anti-allergy products, non- toxic products); - new non-food products: second- generation biofuelds, better product quality,green chemistry (biolubricants, pharmacopeia, cosmetics, wood treatment products, starch-derived fibres, etc.); - reduced use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and fossil fuels and reduced soil erosion and pollution; - preservation of biodiversity; - improved natural functions of ecosystems (organic matter in soils, water cycle, etc.),
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 35 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas Community legislation is sometimeregarding the part of biotechnology which concerns genetically modified organisms is interpreted differently by Member States and its implementation is therefore not always consistent across all Member States; whereas there is a clear need to develop a common approach, particularly with regard to the coexistence of genetically modified crops and Commission has been incapable of presenting common coexistence measures; whereas this incapacity bears out the impossibility of developing new products without posing risks to the environment and health and above all without affecting conventional andor organic crops which would provide the basis for choice for both farmers and consumergrowing in the vicinity of crops consisting of genetically modified organisms,
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 49 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas, before being placed on the market, genetically modified products for use in agriculture necessarily have to pass very stringent assessments and the present authorisation process is slow and bureaucratichave to undergo an assessment procedure; whereas the decision taken unanimously by the Council of Ministers for the Environment on 8 December 2008 to ask the Commission and the European Food Safety Authority to revise the procedures for assessing applications for authorisation of genetically modified organisms so as to take account of socioeconomic criteria was opportune; whereas this revision is justified by the need to assess the environmental and health risks over a longer period,
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 72 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas 114 million hectares of genetically modified crops were grown worldwide in 2007 and this hectarage is very likely tocould be substantially increased in the following years, while the area under genetically modified cultivation in the EU is comparatively low, because the supposed benefits of this new technology have not been fully proven and the people of Europe have certain suspicions about it, being increasingly concerned about environmental protection and sustainable development issues,
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 85 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Encourages efforts to develop biotechnologies in the EU as one way of making agriculture viable and capable of providing a livingpreserving the quality of life of farmers, and takes the view that these biotechnologies facilitatemust permit the development of sustainable methods of production, increased yield, higher quality and more diverse products with reduced use of fertilisers and rational use of water; underlines the need for c which simultaneously combine economic, environvmentional and organic agriculture to remain successful on their marketssocial performance;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 89 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Considers it important to acknowledge that biotechnology could present real opportunities in various fields; believes that, beyond the traditional agricultural products of food, feed and fibre, entiretakes the view that these fields concern the sectors of food for human consumption and health (probiotics, cancer-fighting lactic bacteria, products derived from metagenomics, etc.), animal feedingstuffs, renewable energy and, lastly, novelew products will emerge; (biolubricants, pharmacopeia, cosmetics, wood treatments, new materials derived from starch and gluten, fibres, etc.);
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 96 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that biotechnology applications may helpassociated with agronomic and ecological sciences may assist the emergence of new types of sustainable production which will make it possible to reduce the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers in crop cultivation;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 99 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the need to work towards ensuring that, in the near future, an increased variety of better and healthier food and feedstuffs could also be produced in less favoured areas, such as in restricted climate conditions, in dry or moist conditions and on harsh soil, and notes that the correctgreater cooperation between rich regions and the poorest regions, making use of biotechnology, could be an important factor in these developments; permit genuinely sustainable development based on exploiting local resources and preserving biodiversity and ecosystems;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 113 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the decisive importance, in the approval process, of protecting not only human health and the environment in the approval process and underlines the use of objective scientific criteria in this respectbut also new aspects, particularly those of a socioeconomic nature, in accordance with the statements made by Ministers for the Environment in their unanimous decision of 8 December 2008; underlines the use of objective scientific criteria and observance of a sufficient assessment period to prove that no risk exists;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 123 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Notes the Commission's recent report on the implementation of national measures on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming and urges better harmonisation of rules and conditions within the EU; emphasises the importance of the right of farmers to choose between traditional, organic and genetically modified organism production and, therefore, the need to establish clear, uniform and transparent coexistence measures that enable farmers to coexist with neighbours using different farming methodsnotes that, to date, the Commission has not wished to submit harmonised coexistence measures for the growing of genetically modified organised and/or has been incapable of doing so, which implicitly proves the practical impossibility of developing these new products without risks to the environment and health and without their affecting other types of cultivation, whether conventional or organic;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 140 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Asks for clarificationStresses the importance of establishing strict rules concerning liability for damages incurred in the growing and using of biotechnological products with regard to: who is liable, what can be claimed and, under what circumstances a claim can be made and to what extent the authorities are aware of the risks being run;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 148 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that the existence of publicly funded independent research must be guaranteed and R&D activity in all forms of production, particularly small biotechnology undertakings and plant- technology centres, must be equitably supported in order to maintain maximum competitiveness at the various levels of the food production chain;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 159 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. FearObserves that the existing complex and extensivprocedures for the implementation of the Community legislation on biotechnological trials and the long approval procedure for placing inventions on the market are creating real obstacles to European research and may lead to research activities and human resources being moved outsidecan be simplified but only on condition that it does not call into question the guarantee that these inventions will not create any risks to health and the environment and will not cause socioeconomic problems for citizens of the EU;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI
Amendment 160 #

2006/2059(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers that, for the part of biotechnology concerning genetically modified organisms, it must be possible for research - particularly public research - to be performed in a closed environment when their use has the purpose of promoting health; observes that it is currently difficult to envisage their being cultivated in open fields, in view of: - the insurmountable problem of their coexistence with conventionally and organically farmed crops, - inadequate knowledge of their medium- and long-term impact on health, the environment and socioeconomic factors, - the problems of biodiversity and economic monopoly which they pose;
2009/02/25
Committee: AGRI