Activities of François ALFONSI related to 2023/2076(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on current and future challenges regarding cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries
Amendments (46)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the report on the role of Cohesion Policy in addressing multidimensional environmental challenges in the Mediterranean basin (2022/2059(INI))
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the study “EU lagging regions: state of play and future challenges” of September 2020 (PE 652.215),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to the UN IPCC report on Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
– having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 19 April 2021 on a renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new agenda for the Mediterranean,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having in regards Committee of the Regions opinion on Missing transport links in border regions of 8th February 2017 (CDR 4294/2016)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas cross-border cooperation contributes to peace and sustainable development along the EU’s external borders and addresses common challenges, preventing consequently future wars and conflicts; such as PEACE+ programme for example;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the implications of climate change can have the biggest impact on all European regions, bringing more drastic changes to the life of people and livelihood of regions especially in less developed and border areas, mainly located in the southern and eastern parts of Europe; whereas climate change thus is the biggest external threat to Europe’s cohesion in the future;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas Cohesion Policy can help in an emergency manner to respond effectively to asymmetric shocks such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine or COVID-19 pandemic; this emergency help should however not undermine or threaten the strategic approach of the Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas brain drain disproportionately affects less developed and border regions and if left unaddressed, the phenomenon will have long-term and permanent effects on the future of the European Union;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas mass departures from border regions, especially on the part of young people and skilled labour, illustrates the lack of economic development in such regions. Cross- border cooperation can help to create new opportunities of employment and sustainable economic development;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Emphasises the importance of small-scale and cross-border projects in bringing people together and in that way opening new potentials for sustainable local development and cross-border cooperation; stresses the importance of cross-border investments to enhance innovations, technology transfer, common solutions and synergies and that way increase territorial cohesion beyond administrative borders and strengthen European solidarity;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
(1) Underlines that local and regional authorities play a key role in cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries through knowledge of the geographical, cultural, linguistic and social situation, opportunities, constraints and shared challenges; calls on the Member States to provide them with the tools and resources they need to foster ambitious cross-border cooperation;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the removal of the limit on EU funding for large infrastructure projects and believes that sustainable infrastructure development contributes to socio-economic growth in cross-border regions;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses the importance of more sustainable mobility solutions throughout the cross-border areas, including the TEN-T policy; calls on the Commission to promote smart and green mobility; is of the position that smart and sustainable mobility solutions should be prioritized for EU funding;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
(2) Underlines that creating additional cross-border transportation infrastructure, while being costly and environmentally challenging, might not always be a single best solution. Programs must boost and promote cross-border transportation links provided by soft measures, inclusive planning and tailor- made innovations. Cross-border local and regional authorities must have sufficient autonomy to pursue common goals;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for funding from cross-border programmes to be used to develop sustainable and green transport infrastructure, including railway connections with Ukraine, in order to streamline the flow of goods and grain so as to ensure food security;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
(1) Emphasize that cross-border cooperation is an essential step in EU pre- accession processes, which encourages candidate countries to share experience and learn on how the EU functions within;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises the importance of promoting local culture and of heritage conservation; calls, however, for more sustainable infrastructure projects that contribute to the connectivity of the regions to be encouraged;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses as well that all European regions have to play a decisive role in tackling climate change challenges, in coordinated actions with their surrounding regions;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
(2) Points out that the climate change has a serious effect on the border regions including but not limited to the need to search for a common cross-border tailor- made solutions to such natural disasters as forest fires and floods;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 3 (new)
(3) Calls for more cooperation in the field of promotion and implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the cross- border context;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 4 (new)
(4) Underlines the potential of cross- border cooperation and especially sparser inhabited cross-border areas in such fields as renewable energy, circular economy and environment protection and calls to make better use of existing opportunities;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 5 (new)
(5) Emphasize the potential of the less inhabited border areas to develop sustainable and green economy thus making an added value to the local development in opening new green jobs;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deplores the use of energy sources as a means of exerting political pressure; calls for more funding to bolster renewables and energy efficiency and reduce dependence on Russia;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Raises the issue that major challenges of the European Union can only be met by promoting cross-border cooperation between neighbouring regions (e.g. sustainable future of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and other maritime basins; sustainable future for the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians and other mountain ranges; sustainable future for the large river basins of the Rhine basin, the Danube, the Meuse, etc.).
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 17 – point 1 (new)
(1) Deplores the continuous degradation of the environment in the entire Mediterranean basin, the loss of biodiversity and the increasing air and marine pollution; and is concerned about the increasing pollution by plastic and domestic waste and calls for a historic effort to limit and manage them by promoting the circular economy;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Proposes a more coordinated and efficient use of existing funds in order to increase the competitiveness of the Mediterranean basin, while respecting climate and environmental rules;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
(1) Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions for the development of renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transition;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 21 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes the WestMed sea basin strategy in the Western Mediterranean and Interreg programmes such as MARITTIMO, as good examples of direct and diversified cooperation, including at regional level, with shared objectives;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 21 – point 2 (new)
(2) Welcomes the progress of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional strategy (EUSAIR) which has mobilised the member countries and their regions, third countries and their local authorities; considers EUSAIR a successful example where the Union proved to be a driving force and a vector of openness; maintains that these same principles and a similar common approach must be applied to the other areas of the Mediterranean;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 21 – point 3 (new)
(3) Calls on the Commission to provide support for a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean taking account of its ‘new agenda for the Mediterranean’, in particular its point five on the ‘ecological transition, climate resilience, energy and the environment’;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 21 – point 4 (new)
(4) Invites the European Council to submit to the Commission a detailed macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 23 – point 1 (new)
(1) Points out the specific challenges of maritime borders and the need of recognizing them as specific borders with their own needs, especially due to language and cultural differences, administrative and legal burdens, socio- economic disparities and environmental issues;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 24 – point 1 (new)
(1) Considers that mutual trust, political will and a flexible approach among multi-level stakeholders, including civil society, are vital to overcoming the abovementioned persistent obstacles and boosting sustainable growth and development in border regions; calls, therefore, for better coordination, dialogue and a further exchange of best practices among authorities; urges the Commission and the Member States to enhance such cooperation; and also calls for the Member States to ensure adequate functional and financial autonomy of respective local and regional authorities;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 28 – point 1 (new)
(1) Highlights the importance of EU cross-border programmes to include culture as an important indicator of regional development, in particular in border areas sharing the same minority people, to ensure lively regions and increase their attractiveness, to increase cultural exchange and promote diversity and solidarity beyond EU;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 29 – point 1 (new)
(1) Considers that local and regional authorities as well as citizens and NGOs must be more included in the decision- making and funding process to ensure that needs are addressed properly;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 29 – point 2 (new)
(2) Highlights the importance of upholding the Partnership Principle in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU projects in order to set up a strong cooperation between regional and local authorities, NGOs and stakeholders, including environmental NGOs; stresses that this process should take into account the gender perspective as well; reminds therefore that the European code of conduct on partnership fully applies to all cross-border projects within the Interreg programmes equally;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 30 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses the crucial role that investments in high quality public services have on building social resilience and coping with economic, health and social crises;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Calls for the urgent need to support LRAs in the Ukraine reconstruction process while continuing to support neighbouring regions and encouraging increased cooperation;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 32 – point 1 (new)
(1) Considers that the role of the EU macro-regional strategies in addressing challenges related to the border regions should be further enhanced;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 33 – point 1 (new)
(1) Recalls the importance of a stronger gender mainstreaming in all EU funding programmes and highlights the specific role of women, in particular in border areas, as they play a major role in civil society and sustainable economic growth and at the same time face difficulties in accessing the labour market, as well as equal pay, public services such as health and childcare;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 1 (new)
(1) Recalls that the climate change highly effects cross-border areas; therefore highlights the need to increase efforts to fight climate change and enhance climate mitigation particularly in those regions; emphasize that Cohesion policy must support a strong climate mainstreaming in all sectors and ensure that all EU funding programmes and projects are embedded in strategies that support ambitious climate objectives; highlights the importance that regional environmental strategies are linked with ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target of achieving a climate neutral EU by 2050;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls for a better access to funding for cross-border regions to enable investments in the local energy transition, including energy efficiency, decentralised distribution of energy and a strong focus on renewable energy and sustainable circular economy;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Stresses that the regional and local authorities should be involved in the preparation and implementation of projects; calls also for guidelines to be drawn up in this regard;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 36 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls for the overall budget for cross-border territorial cooperation to be increased;