Activities of Philippe LAMBERTS related to 2023/0136(NLE)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2011/85/EU on requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States
Amendments (21)
Amendment 8 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) Green budgeting practices pertain to the design, implementation and evaluation of national budgetary frameworks. They involve the collection of reporting data on how revenues integrate the “polluter-pays” principle, and in turn on how expenditures impact both favourably and unfavourably green priorities. Member States should publish the information on how the relevant elements of their budgets contribute to achieving climate and environmental objectives and the methodology used. The latter should rely on relevant targets in line with legal commitments as well as output and impact indicators that measure progress towards these targets. Such practices should be extended to other EU policy objectives including employment, social and distributional aspects and can build on the ongoing work by the European Commission on the performance framework for the EU budget. Member States should publish data and descriptive information separately for expenditure, tax expenditure and revenue items.
Amendment 9 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to enhance compliance with the provisions of the TFEU, and to avoid in particular the procedure for excessive government deficit laid down in Article 126 TFEU, there should be specific provisions in the law of the Member States to strengthen national ownership, in accordance with the Commission Communication of 9 November 2022 on orientations for a reform of the EU economic governance framework, beyond those currently required by Directive 2011/85/EU. Building on the evidence of implementation of that Directive, amendments should also cover provisions on transparency and statistics, forecasts and medium-term budgeting to address weaknesses identified during implementationCommission Communication of 9 November 2022 on orientations for a reform of the EU economic governance framework highlighted the need to strengthen debt sustainability and reduce high public debt ratios while promoting through investments sustainable and inclusive growth in all Member States. The key objectives of the orientations are to improve national ownership, simplify the framework and move towards a greater medium-term focus, combined with stronger and more coherent enforcement.
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) This Directive is part of a package together with Regulation (EU) [XXX]22 of the Parliament and of the Council replacing Regulation (EC) No 1466/9723 (the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact) and Council Regulation [XXX]24 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/9725 (the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact). Together, they establish a reformed Union economic governance framework that incorporates into Union law the substance of Title III ‘Fiscal Compact’ of the inter- governmental Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance (TSCG) in the Economic and Monetary Union26 , in accordance with Article 16 thereof. Title III is binding on the Member States whose currency is the euro and, on a voluntary basis, on Bulgaria, Denmark and Romania. By building on the experience with the implementation of the TSCG by the Member States, the package retains the Fiscal Compact’s medium- term orientation as a tool to achieve budgetary discipline and growth promotion. The package includes a strengthened country-specific dimension aimed at enhancing national ownership, including by means of a stronger role for independent fiscal institutions, which draws on the Fiscal Compact’s common principles proposed by the Commission27 in accordance with Article 3(2) of the TSCG. The analysis of expenditure net of discretionary revenue measures for the overall assessment of compliance required by the Fiscal Compact is set out in Regulation [XXX] replacing Regulation (EC) No 1466/97. As in the Fiscal Compact, temporary deviations from the medium-term plan are allowed only in exceptional circumstances in Regulation [XXX]replacing Regulation (EC) No 1466/97. Similarly, in case of significant deviations from the medium-term plan, measures should be implemented to correct the deviations over a defined period of time. The package strengthens fiscal surveillance and enforcement procedures to deliver on the commitment of promoting sound and sustainable public finances and sustainable growth. The economic governance framework reform, thus, retains the fundamental objectives of budgetary discipline and debt sustainability set out in the TSCG. __________________ 22 Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council of [insert date] [insert full title] (OJ L ..). 23 Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 of 7 July 1997 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies (OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 1). 24 Regulation (EU) of the Council of [insert date] [insert full title] (OJ L ..). 25 Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure (OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6). 26 Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union of 2 March 2012. 27 Communication COM(2012) 342 final of 20 June 2012 from the Commission ‘Common principles on national fiscal correction mechanisms’.
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In order to achieve strengthened responsibility in fiscal policy, fiscal institutions should be composed of members reflecting the diversity of views of various schools of economic thought, have a high degree of operational independence, the necessary resources to perform their tasks and extensive and timely access to necessary information.
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) To improve budgetary planning, due attention should be paid to the macrofiscal risks from climate change and, to the implicationpositive impacts of climate-related policies and conversely to the fiscal costs of climate inaction on public finance over the medium and long term. Understanding the channels through which climate-related shocks affect the economy and public finance is key to national strategies to limit and manage the fiscal risk stemming from climate change and from related disasters.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that annual and multiannual fiscal planning is based on realistic macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts using the most up-to- date information. Budgetary planning shall be based on the most likely macrofiscal scenario or on a more prudent scenario. The macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts shall be either produced or endorsproduced by independent fiscal institutions established in accordance with Article 8. They shall be compared with the most updated forecasts of the Commission. Significant differences between the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts of the Member State and the Commission’s forecasts shall be explained, including where the level or growth of variables in external assumptions departs significantly from the values contained in the Commission’s forecasts.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that independent fiscal institutions, such as structurally independent bodies or bodies endowed with functional autonomy as regards the budgetary authorities of the Member States, or as a unit in the administration of the national parliament, are established by national laws, regulations or binding administrative provisions, and adequately staffed and funded, with resources at least equivalent to the 20% best funded national independent fiscal institutions in the period 2017-2022.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The institutions referred to in paragraph 1 shall be composed of members nominated and appointed on the basis of their experience and competence in public finances, macroeconomics or budgetary management, and by means of transparent procedureby national parliaments, ensuring that minority political groups can contribute a significant share of appointments, with members chosen on the basis of their experience and competence in public finances, macroeconomics or budgetary management and areas related to the common priorities set out in annex VI of Regulation (EU) [on the preventive arm], and by means of transparent procedures that involve consultations with social partners, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders. Social partners shall also nominate members.
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(b a) allow for the disclosure of minority and divergent positions in such assessments and opinions;
Amendment 63 #
(c) have adequate and stable own resources and staff to carry out their mandate in an effective manner, including any type of analysis within their mandate;
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
(e a) regularly exchange best practices among each other coordinated by the European Advisory Fiscal Board (EFB)
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) producing the annual and multiannual macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts underlying the government’s medium-term planning or endorsing those used by the budgetary authorities;
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) producing debt sustainability assessments underlying the government’s medium-term planning or endorsing those provided by the budgetary authorities;
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) producing assessments on the impacts of policies, including reform and investment commitments under the national medium term fiscal-structural plans, on fiscal sustainability and sustainable and inclusive growth or endorsing those provided by the budgetary authorities;
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
(c a) producing assessments of the public investment needs in order to align fiscal policy with the EU Green Deal and the National Energy and Climate Plans, as well as estimates of the fiscal costs of climate inaction;
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point g
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – point g
(g) participate in regular hearings and discussions at the national Parliament and be available to provide technical analysis and advice to the national Parliament upon request.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 8 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 8 – paragraph 5
Article 8 – paragraph 5
Member States shall ensure that when the budgetary authorities of the Member State concerned comply withdo not follow the assessments or opinions issued by the institutions in the context of the tasks referred to in paragraph 4. Where such budgetary authorities do not comply with those assessments or opinions, they shall publicly justify their decision not to comply within a month from the issuance of such assessments or opinions.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point ii Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a description of medium-term policies, including investment and reforms, envisaged with an impact on general government finances, resilience and sustainable and inclusive growth, broken down by major revenue and expenditure item, showing how the adjustment towards the national budgetary objectives over the medium term as referred to in Article 2, point (e), is achieved compared to projections under unchanged policies.;
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point iii Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) an assessment as to how in the light of their direct medium-term and long-term impact on general government finances, the policies envisaged are likely to affect the medium-term and long-term sustainability of the public finances, resilience and sustainable and inclusive growth. The assessment shall specify, to the extent possible, the macrofiscal risks from climate change and their environmental and distributional impacts, and the implications on public finance under different scenarios. In particular, it shall duly account for the impact of climate- related mitigation and adaptation policiublic expenditures on public finances over the medium-term and long- term.; The expected economic losses incurred in case climate related adaptation and mitigation expenditures do not materialise or materialise at an insufficiently quick pace shall be equally assessed.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b – point iii a (new) Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a directive Sole Article – Paragraph 1 – point 13 Directive 2011/85/EU
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. For all subsectors of general government, Member States shall publish relevant information on contingent liabilities with potentially large impact on public budgets, including government guarantees, non-performing loans, and liabilities stemming from the operation of public corporations, potential expenses and obligations arising from court cases, including the extent thereof. Member States shall also publish information on disaster and climate-related contingent liabilities to the extent possible. Member States shall publish information on past calls on one-off guarantees and expenditure recorded for standardised guarantees. Published information shall include information on economic losses incurred due to disasters and climate-related shocks, including the fiscal costs borne by the public sector and the instruments used to mitigate or cover them as well as the methodology and results of the assessments under Article 9(2)(d) based on forward-looking scenarios. Member states shall also publish the targets as well as indicators that measure the performance of their budgetary frameworks towards EU public policy objectives. Member States shall publish information on the participation of general government in the capital of private and public corporations in respect of economically significant amounts.