Activities of Thomas HÄNDEL related to 2011/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Public finances in EMU - 2011 and 2012 (debate)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the economic, financial and banking crisis has not abated and has demonstrated that public finances issuesissues relating to the financial industry negatively affect socio- economic development and political stability;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas signifradicantl steps have been taken in EU countries to consolidate public financesreduce public expenditure, but not to increase revenue;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Member States are not all in the same situation, so differentiated strategies should be pursued, in line with the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council and reflecting country-specific fiscal and macro-financial risks;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in particular, Member States benefiting from financial assistance programmes and those under close market scrutiny should strictly meet agreed budgetary targetsreceive special assistance;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas democracies require intensive public scrutiny of all layers of decision- making bodies in charge of the economicy and the relevant policies;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that budgetary consolidation remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial marketsas the financial markets have given rise to high costs and any attempt to make it impossible for those markets to bring strong pressure to bear on public finances has so far been avoided;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public finances is a condition for growth and for maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure which meet needs, including investments; stresses that a high level of debtinsufficient State revenue generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the Commission to give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through their country-specific recommendationshelp Member States to improve the revenue side of State budgets and give them both negative and positive feedback on the subject, and to underline noteworthy efforts and best practices;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that budgetary consolidation by means of targeted expenditure and by increasing State revenue can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are sufficiently explained and debated and that they respect equparticularly focus on equity and solidarity among citizens;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Invites the Member States to put in place structural growth-oriented reforms in line with the EU 2020 Strategy, having regard, assigning priority to social protection and social inclusion; recalls for improvements in the labour market policies, in particular, by reducing labour taxationworking hours, promoting decent work and optimising training schemes; invites the national governments to put in place innovation policies in order to improve productivity; invites the Member States to create a more efficient business environment with easier credit access to help industries recover competitiveness; lastly, invites reform of the public administration sector to eliminate the red taperender it efficient and responsive to the public;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on expenditurrevenue rather than on revenuexpenditure tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium-run, and that their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, in particular provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, socially just and lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Member States to focus consolidation efforts on the expenditurrevenue side while at the same time safeguardingparticularly allocating resources to growth-enhancing items such as R&D and education; considers that particular attention should also be paid to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies such as training schemes for unemployed peopleand further schemes for job-seekers;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports the pursuit of the reformdemands of European trade unions for stabilisation and modernisation of statutory pension systems, while respecting the role of social partners, in order to ensure the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions in order to prevent poverty in old age and at the same time ensure that pension schemes are financially viable; calls on the Commission and Member States therefore to prevent prolongation of working life and instead to support statutory pension schemes funded on the basis of parity;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages the Member States to implement consolidation procedures on the revenue side to avoid outright tax hikes, and, to focus on improving tax compliance and its management; considers that, if this is not sufficient, and to ensure appropriate participation by those with high incomes and large assets in the financing of public services; considers that a broadening of the tax base should be considered, also inwith a view tof the reduction of economic and social distortions;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that the Member States have committed themselves to engage in reforming fiscal policy within the Euro Plus Pact, and to hold discussions on a regular basis on the adoption of best practices;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Invites the Member States to clarify the responsibility and role of different levels of government (regional and local) in maintainensuring a sound and sustainable public finance framework;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the majorRejects the reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that, while those reforms not only cannot suddenly solve the crisis, they enhanc but also damage the credibility of the fiscEuropean Union’s objectives of social adjustment, reducing itsice and equal living conditions pursuant to Article 3 TEU and Article 151 TFEU and will aggravate the negative short-term impact on growth;