Activities of Kerstin WESTPHAL related to 2016/2148(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on investing in jobs and growth – maximising the contribution of European Structural and Investment Funds: an evaluation of the report under Article 16(3) of the CPR PDF (533 KB) DOC (101 KB)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas unemployment - in particular youth unemployment - remains very high in many Member States, despite all efforts, and cohesion policy must provide answers to this too;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas cohesion policy in the programming period 2014-2020 has gained a more focused policy approach through thematic concentration, supporting the priorities of the Juncker Commission;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the ESI Funds in thise current funding period are more strongly results-oriented;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines, in particular, that consideration should be given to the circumstances of the distinctively urban or rural regions, the so-called ‘lagging regions’ and regions with permanent natural or geographical handicaps (northernmost regions with very low population density, and cross-border, insular, mountainous or outermost regions); recalls in this context that it is important to support new policy challenges, such as immigration, as well as the broadly understood digital dimension of cohesion policy (including ICT and broadband access issues, which are linked to the completion of the Digital Single Market); points to the Energy Union Strategy, as the ESI Funds have an important role to play in its delivery;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that - contrary to what Parliament initially wanted - a performance reserve was introduced for each Member State consisting of 6 per cent of the resources allocated to the ESI Funds; recalls that, on the basis of the national reports from 2017 and the performance review in 2019, the reserve is to be allocated only to the programmes and priorities which have achieved their milestones; asks the Commission to assess, in due course, whether the performance reserve actually creates added value or whether it has led to more red tape;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the regulatory framework for ESI Funds for the period 2014-2020 supports financial instruments; observes that there iseems to be a focus on a gradual shift from grants to loans and guarantees; continues to regard grants as the core feature of structural policy; notes also that the use of the multi-fund approach still appears to be difficult;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Points out that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is presented as a success story when it comes to fast implementation, and against this background asks the Commission to come forward with learning points for the ESI Funds for the new programming period from 2021 onwards;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Supports a furtherArgues for continuing balanced increause inof financial instruments; asks the Commission, therefore, to come forward with incentives f to support managing authorities to achieve thisin that connection;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Regrets that an assessment of administrative burden, including in particular components such as time, cost and paperwork, has not yet been undertaken; calls on the Commission in consequence to produce a fully fledged study of the cost of administrative burden in EU funding based on evidence from the 2007-2013 period and the start of the new period as from 2014;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recommends for the newprospective programming period starting in 2021 that all levels of governance work towards a system of single audit; reiterates that there is a need for further steps in the area of simplification; eagerly awaits the outcome of the work of the High Level Group on Simplification set up by the Commission;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is of the opinion that GDP might not be the onlyis the best measurable and, across Europe, best comparable legitimate indicator for ensuring a fair distribution of money that takes account of specific territorial needs, but might not be the only such indicator; is of the opinion that many regions in Europe are facing a situation of demographic change, as well as shrinking population numbers in rural areas; suggests therefore that the Commission give thought to developing and introducing a ‘demographic indicator’;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the code of conduct agreed during the negotiations on the current funding period, which outlines the minimum standards for a well- functioning partnership; observes, however, that while the code has improved the implementation of the partnership principle in most Member States, many Member States have centralised large parts of the negotiation and implementation of the PAs and OPs;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Emphasises that ESI Funds contribute to GDP in many Member States, an essential element to be considered in the 7th Cohesion Report, to be expected in 2017; is of the opinion that the 7th Cohesion Report should also take account of the possible impact of ‘Brexit’ on structural policy;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Underlines that faster take-up of the available funds is needed in future; takes the view that after adoption of the futuregeneral regulation and the fund-specific regulations, implementation of the OPs in the next funding period as from 2021 will be able to start more quickly, as Member States will already have experience of a performance-oriented policy after the efforts made for cohesion policy 2014- 2020;