275 Amendments of George Sabin CUTAȘ
Amendment 2 #
2014/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to prevent any risk of fraud, the entitlement to benefit from autonomous trade preferences should be conditional on the compliance by Ukraine with the relevant rules of origin of products and the procedures related thereto as well as involvement in effective administrative cooperation with the Union. Moreover, Ukraine should abstain from introducing new duties or charges having equivalent effect or new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect or from increasing existing levels of duties or charges or from introducing any other restrictions. A serious deterioration in respect for the fundamental principles of democracy and human rights in Ukraine, including core labour rights, should constitute reasons for a temporary suspension of the preferences. In the event of failure to comply with any of these conditions the Commission should be empowered to suspend temporarily all or part of the preferences.
Amendment 3 #
2014/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Without prejudice to the conditions set out in paragraph 1, entitlement to benefit from the preferential arrangements introduced by Article 1 is subject to respect for human rights, including core labour rights, and the fundamental principles of democracy by Ukraine. If Ukraine adopts measures restricting human rights and workers' rights, the Commission shall immediately propose to repeal this Regulation.
Amendment 24 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In addition to its core mission of financing investment in the Union, which remains its priority and main objective, the European Investment Bank (EIB) undertakes financing operations outside the Union in support of the Union’s external policies. This allows the budget funds of the Union available to the external regions to be complemented by the financial strength of the EIB for the benefit of the targeted third countries. In undertaking such financing operations, the EIB contributes to the general principles and policy objectives of the Union.
Amendment 26 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The EIB should continue to finance investment projects in the areas of social, environmental and economic infrastructure, and should considerprogressively increasinge its activity in support of health and education infrastructure when there is clear added value in doing soin line with the objectives of the Union’s development policy and the Millennium Development Goals.
Amendment 29 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) While the EIB’s strength remains its distinctiveness as an investment bank model as a publicly owned international financial institution whose remit is that of providing long-term lending so as to meet the policy goals set by its shareholders, EIB financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding Union external action, as referred to in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), of promoting and consolidating democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to the implementation of international environmental agreements to which the Union is a party. In particular, iFurthermore, EIB actions should be in accordance with Article 3(5) of the EU Treaty, which, as confirmed by the ECJ on 21 December 2011 in its ATAA judgement, requires the Union to contribute to the strict observance of international law, and in particular the principles of the UN Charter. In relation to developing countries, EIB financing operations should foster their sustainable economic, social and environmental development, particularly in the most disadvantaged amongst them, their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy, the campaign against poverty, as well as compliance with objectives approved by the Union in the context of the United Nations and other competent international organisations. While contributing to the implementation of the measures necessary to further the objectives of Union development cooperation policy in accordance with Article 209(3) of the Treaty, the EIB should strive to support indirectly the achievement of the UN’s 2015 Millennium Development Goals in all regions where it is active.
Amendment 32 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 22 a (new)
Recital 22 a (new)
(22a) The EIB should expand its provision of technical assistance to beneficiaries, with the aim of supporting local capacity-building and economic, environmental, social and political development.
Amendment 33 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The EIB financing operations in support of Union external policies should continue to be conducted in accordance with the principles of sound banking practice. They should continue to be managed in accordance with the EIB’s own rules and procedures, including appropriate control measures and compliance with the EIB's statement on social and environmental standards, as well as with the relevant rules and procedures concerning the Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). In its financing operations the EIB should adequately implement its policies towardsvoid any kind of direct or indirect cooperation with weakly regulated or non-cooperative jurisdictions in order to contribute to the international fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and money-laundering and should follow the European Commission’s most recent criteria to identify jurisdictions which do not meet minimum standards of good governance in tax matters.
Amendment 36 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The EIB shall engage in a dialogue with the European Commission on identifying jurisdictions which do not meet minimum standards of good governance in tax matters.
Amendment 38 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. In addition to the ex-ante assessment of development-related aspects, the EIB shall monitor the implementation of financing operations. In particular, it shall require the project promoters to carry out thorough monitoring during project implementation until completion, inter alia, on the development, environmental, social and human rights impact of the investment project. The EIB shall verify the information provided by the project promoters.
Amendment 39 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The EIB monitoring shall also cover the implementation of intermediated operations and the performance of financial intermediaries in support of SMEs, including ex-ante and ex-post assessment relating to the projects undertaken.
Amendment 40 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a EIB Technical Assistance The EIB shall, when appropriate, provide wide technical assistance to beneficiaries for project preparation and implementation, with the aim of supporting local capacity-building and economic, environmental, social and political development. The technical assistance given should be complementary to the assistance given by other EU bodies in the framework of the EU’s trade and development policy.
Amendment 41 #
2013/0152(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 12
Article 12
In its financing operations, the EIB shall not tolerate any activities carried out for illegal purposes, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, tax fraud and tax evasion, corruption, and fraud affecting the financial interests of the EU. In particular the EIB shall not participate in any financing operation implemented in an eligible country through a foreign non- cooperative jurisdiction identified as such using the European Commission’s criteria on identifying non- cooperative jurisdictions, as well as by the OECD, the Financial Action Task Force or other relevant international organisations.
Amendment 5 #
2013/0089(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) With the aim of strengthening trade mark protection and combatting counterfeiting more effectively, the proprietor of a registered trade mark should be entitled to prevent third parties from bringing goods into the customs territory of the Member State without being released for free circulation there, where such goods come from third countries and bear without authorization a trade mark which is essentially identical to the trade mark registered in respect of such goods. This should be without prejudice to the Union's compliance with WTO rules, notably with GATT Article V on freedom of transit and its right to promote access to medicines for third countries.
Amendment 9 #
2013/0089(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In order to more effectively prevent the entry of infringing goods, particularly in the context of sales over the Internet, the proprietor should be entitled to prohibit the importing of such goods into the Union, where it is only the consignor of the goods who acts for commercial purposes. For this purpose, the proprietor should take relevant actions as provided for under Directive 48/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and Regulation 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights.
Amendment 13 #
2013/0089(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. The proprietor of a registered trade mark shall also be entitled to prevent all third parties from bringing goods, in the context of commercial activity, into the customs territory of the Member State where the trade mark is registered without being released for free circulation there, where such goods, including packaging, come from third countries and bear without authorization a trade mark which is identical to the trade mark registered in respect of such goods, or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from that trade mark. This shall be without prejudice to the Union's compliance with WTO rules, notably with GATT Article V on freedom of transit.
Amendment 5 #
2013/0088(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) With the aim of strengthening trade mark protection and combatting counterfeiting more effectively, the proprietor of a European trade mark should be entitled to prevent third parties from bringing goods into the customs territory of the Union without being released for free circulation there, where such goods come from third countries and bear without authorization a trade mark which is essentially identical to the European trade mark registered in respect of such goods. This should be without prejudice to the Union's compliance with WTO rules, notably with GATT Article V on freedom of transit and its right to promote access to medicines for third countries.
Amendment 9 #
2013/0088(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to more effectively prevent the entry of infringing goods, particularly in the context of sales over the Internet, the proprietor should be entitled to prohibit the importing of such goods into the Union, where it is only the consignor of the goods who acts for commercial purposes. For this purpose, the proprietor should take relevant actions as provided for under Directive 48/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and Regulation 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights.
Amendment 12 #
2013/0088(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Regulation 2009/207/EC
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
The proprietor of a European trade mark shall also be entitled to prevent all third parties from bringing goods, in the context of commercial activity, into the customs territory of the Union without being released for free circulation there, where such goods, including packaging, come from third countries and bear without authorization a trade mark which is identical to the European trade mark registered in respect of such goods, or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from that trade mark. This shall be without prejudice to the Union's compliance with WTO rules, notably with GATT Article V on freedom of transit.
Amendment 38 #
2013/0048(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and ensure that they are implemented. Those penalties must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive, in order to discourage the rogue traders to deliberately introduce dangerous or non- compliant products on the internal market.
Amendment 39 #
2013/0048(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33 a (new)
Recital 33 a (new)
(33a) In order for the penalties imposed on economic operators by the Member States to be effective, they should be introduced in a coordinated manner.
Amendment 41 #
2013/0048(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34 a (new)
Recital 34 a (new)
(34a) The revenues collected from the infringement of this regulation should be earmarked for market surveillance activities.
Amendment 92 #
2013/0048(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)
The penalties shall be earmarked for market surveillance activities in the Member States concerned.
Amendment 219 #
2013/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Urges the Commission to compile and create a European blacklist of tax havens until 31st December 2014; calls on Member States to suspend or terminate existing Double Tax Conventions with jurisdictions that are on the blacklist, and to initiate Double Tax Conventions with jurisdictions that cease to be tax havens;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that regulation of adequate, sustainable retirement income is the sole responsibility of the Member States in question and that the Commission should, where appropriate, encourage the Member States to look critically at their systems and engage in exchanges of experience;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 21 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomDeplores the strengthweakening of the EU's social dimension by, among others, proposing to link the retirement age to the increases in life expectancy and stresses the validity of the principle of subsidiarity in the areas affected by Initiative 1;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that public pension systems are the only ones that rely on inter and intra-generational solidarity;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Believes that public pension systems are the ones most capable to ensure the income of pensioners;
Amendment 31 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Deeply regrets that the White Paper does not address the fundamental concern of strengthening the public pensions systems;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Welcomes the recommendation of the EESC to develop standards on minimum pensions or pension income protection mechanisms in the future legislation in order to provide income above the poverty threshold;
Amendment 33 #
2012/2234(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Is of the opinion that the financial transactions tax can represent an innovative answer for funding pensions in the long term;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that Member States sharing the euro and those committed to adopting it need to further strengthen stability, efficiency and democratic accountability;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Believes that the community method should be used for all measures aiming at reinforcing the European Monetary Union; calls for the Fiscal Compact to be integrated into the EU treaties as soon as possible;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that part of the efforts made to mitigate the crisis, such as the adoptcertain provisions of the Six-Pack and the creation of the ESM, only concern the euro area Member States;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the on-going creation of a single supervisory mechanism covering the euro area and open to all other EU Member States; believes that the single supervisory mechanism should be made accountable to the European Parliament, given the latter's mandate as the only European directly elected democratic institution; the Chairperson should be approved by the EP and should regularly report back to the EP;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that some Member States' economic policies are constrained by the Troïka, which is not held properly accountable; is of the opinion that the Troika should be made answerable to the European Parliament, by means of regular reporting; commits to presenting systematic suggestions for the activity of the Troika;
Amendment 31 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission's ‘'Blueprint’'; calls on the Commission to make legislative proposals under codecision for its implementation without delay, in particular for the creation of a fiscal capacity and for the mutualisation of sovereign debt;
Amendment 33 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out thatSupports new solidarity instruments, such as the "concept of ‘contractual agreements’ applicable only to individual Member States as referred to in the European Council conclusions of December 2012 risks creating legal uncertainty; vergence and competitiveness instrument", to provide financial support for the timely implementation of sustainable growth enhancing structural reforms, fully in line with the Community method, built on the existing EU surveillance procedures;
Amendment 44 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the work on own resources should be accelerated, through measures including the Financial Transaction Tax, as should that on labour mobility, and social pact, a euro area budget, a European Treasury and the mutualisation of sovereign debt, to make it an optimal currency area;
Amendment 50 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that Article 3.4 TEU states ‘'the Union shall establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro’', and Protocol 14 on the Eurogroup foresees ‘'the need to lay down special provisions for enhanced dialogue between the Member States whose currency is the euro, pending the euro becoming the currency of all Member States’'; if this supposedly transitory situation is to last, appropriate accountability for the current euro area and the Member States that committed to join must be developed inside the European Parliament; suggests the creation of a Sub-Committee handling euro-area issues and open to all Members of Parliament; does not support the idea of a duplication of voting responsibilities or of a division of the European Parliament, which would be contrary to articles 10 and 14 TEU.
Amendment 29 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, a WTO member proposing to apply a safeguard measure or seeking the extension of a safeguard measure should endeavour to maintain a substantially equivalent level of concessions and other obligations between it and the exporting members, which would be adversely affected by such a safeguard measure. Similar rules apply in the context of other, including regional or bilateral international trade agreements concluded by the Union. The Union should take rebalancing measures by suspending concessions or other obligations in cases where the third country concerned implements no satisfactoryadequate and proportionate adjustments. Action by the Union in such cases serves the purpose of inducing the introduction of trade- enhancing measures by third countries in order to restore a situation of reciprocal benefits.
Amendment 33 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) It is essential for the Union to have the possibility to swiftly apply measures in the services sector, in particular in order to be well equipped to deal with countries that mostly trade services.
Amendment 40 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The Commission should keep the European Parliament regularly informed, particularly when the Union has referred a matter to a dispute settlement body. After each decision by a dispute settlement body authorising the Union to take measures, the Commission should appear before the European Parliament to give an account of its intention to take such measures. If the Union decides to take measures, the Commission should appear before the European Parliament to give an account of the measures selected.
Amendment 42 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point a
Article 1 – point a
(a) responding to breaches by third countries of international trade rules which affect the interests of the Union, with a view to seeking a satisfactory solution that will provide relief to the affected economic operators of the Union.
Amendment 43 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) rebalancing concessions or other obligations in the trade relations with third countries, when the import treatment accorded to goodimported goods and to services from the Union is altered.
Amendment 44 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall appear before the European Parliament to give an account of its intention to take measures.
Amendment 46 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Where action is necessary to safeguard the interests of the Union in the cases referred to in Article 3(1), the Commission shall adopt an implementing act determining the appropriate commercial policy measures. Such implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examinationadvisory procedure referred to in Article 8(2).
Amendment 48 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) availability of alternative sources of supply for the products or services concerned, in order to avoid or minimise any negative impact on downstream industries or final consumers within the Union;
Amendment 56 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Where, subsequently to the adoption of an implementing act pursuant to Article 4(1), the third country concerned accords satisfactoryadequate and proportionate compensation to the Union in the cases referred to in Article 3(1) (a) and (b), the Commission may suspend the application of that implementing act for the duration of the compensation period. The suspension shall be decided in accordance with the examinationadvisory procedure referred to in Article 8(2).
Amendment 57 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – second subparagraph
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – second subparagraph
The termination shall be decided in accordance with the examinationadvisory procedure set out in Article 8(2).
Amendment 58 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Where it is necessary to make adjustments to commercial policy measures adopted under this Regulation, account taken of the conditions and criteria laid down in Article 4(2) and 4(3), the Commission may introduce any appropriate modifications in accordance with the examinationadvisory procedure set out in Article 8(2).
Amendment 60 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 54 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Amendment 61 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 in conjunction with Article 54 thereof, shall apply.
Amendment 67 #
2012/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9a (new)
Article 9a (new)
Article 9a Dispute Settlement and Enforcement dialogue The Commission shall regularly participate in an exchange of views with the European Parliament's Committee responsible for international trade on the management of trade disputes, including ongoing cases, effects on EU industries, envisaged measures, justification and impact of the envisaged measures, and on the implementation of commercial policy measures pursuant to this Regulation.
Amendment 24 #
2012/0344(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Regulation (EC) No 994/98 authorises the Commission to exempt aid for research and development, but not for innovation. Innovation, including social innovation, has since become a Union policy priority in the context of ‘Innovation Union’, one of the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives. Moreover, many aid measures for innovation are relatively small and create no significant distortions of competition, in particular if they are in line with EU2020 flagship initiatives and the new Innovation policy Horizon 2020.
Amendment 38 #
2012/0344(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In relation to aid for transport by rail, road and inland waterways, Article 93 of the Treaty states that aid meeting the needs of coordination of transport or representing reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service shall be compatible with the Treaties. Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and 1 OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p.1. of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road*1 currently exempts from the prior notification requirement laid down in Article 108(3) of the Treaty public service compensations for the operation of public passenger transport services or for complying with tariff obligations that are established through general rules and paid in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007. In order to harmonize the approach to block exemption regulations in the field of State aid, and in accordance with the procedures foreseen in Articles 108(4) and 109 of the Treaty, aid for the coordination of transport or reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service as referred to in Article 93 of the Treaty should be brought under the scope of Regulation (EC) No 994/98. Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 should be therefore be deleted with effect from six months after the entry into force of a regulation adopted by the Commission concerning this category of State aid.
Amendment 44 #
2012/0344(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 1
Article 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 994/98
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a – subpoint iva (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a – subpoint iva (new)
(iva) social, educational and health services, not involved in commercial and profit-seeking activities;
Amendment 53 #
2012/0344(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 point 2a (new)
Article 1 point 2a (new)
Regulation(EC)No 994/98
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
(2a) The following sentence shall be added to Article 3(4): In order to strengthen transparency and provided that this is not confidential information, the European Commission should publish on its website an annual summary report on the application of group exemptions in member states.
Amendment 56 #
2012/0344(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007
Article 9
Article 9
Amendment 21 #
2012/0342(NLE)
Recital 3 a (new)
Amendment 33 #
2012/0342(NLE)
Article 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 659/1999
Article 6 a – paragraph 1
Article 6 a – paragraph 1
1. After the initiation of the formal investigation procedure provided for in Article 6, the Commission mayshall, if it considers it to be relevant, require an undertaking, an association of undertakings or another Member State to provide all information necessary to enable it to complete its assessment of the measure at stake, if the information available to it is not sufficient.
Amendment 35 #
2012/0342(NLE)
Article 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 659/1999
Article 6 b – paragraph 1
Article 6 b – paragraph 1
1. The Commission mayshall by decision impose on undertakings or associations of undertakings fines not exceeding 1% of the total turnover in the preceding business year where, intentionally or negligently:
Amendment 38 #
2012/0342(NLE)
Article 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 659/1999
Article 6 b – paragraph 2
Article 6 b – paragraph 2
2. The Commission mayshall, by decision, impose on undertakings or associations of undertakings periodic penalty payments not exceeding 5% of the average daily turnover in the preceding business year for each working day of delay, calculated from the date established in the decision, until they supply complete and correct information as requested by the Commission by decision adopted pursuant to Article 6a(4).
Amendment 47 #
2012/0342(NLE)
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 659/1999
Article 23 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 23 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Where the coherent application of Article 107(1) and Article 108 of the Treaty so requires, the Commission, acting on its own initiative, may submit written observations to courts of the Member States. With the permission of the court in question, it may also make oral observations. The Commission may act under this provision only in the Union´s public interest (as amicus curiae) and not in support of one of the parties.
Amendment 183 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 g (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 g (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
1 g. In Article 8(2) the following paragraph shall be added: "When exercising the powers referred to in this paragraph and undertaking the tasks referred to in paragraph 1, the Authority shall have due regard to the principles of good regulation, including to the results of the analysis of costs and benefits produced in compliance with the requirements of this Regulation."
Amendment 221 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010
Article 41 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 41 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
"For the purposes of Article 17 and 19, the Board of Supervisors shall establish an independent panel consisting of the Chairperson and two membersat least five appropriately qualified experts. The panel members shall be fully independent of EBA and of national competent authorities. Members of the panel shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors among its voting members. At least one member of the independent panel shall be f and shall include a proportional representation of eurom a Member State which is not a participating Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) No …/… [127(6) TFEU Council Regulation]rea and non-euro area Member States."
Amendment 427 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
(6a) "Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM)" means a European federal system of financial supervision composed by the European Central Bank and national competent authorities.
Amendment 448 #
Amendment 777 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The ECB shall allow EU citizens to monitor the independence of policy- making and supervisory functions from private interests by participating in the inter-institutional Transparency Register, together with the European Parliament and Commission.
Amendment 816 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Executive Board of the ECB shall submit to the European Parliament a short list of candidates to the Supervisory Council composed of an equal number of men and women.
Amendment 831 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Gender balance shall be taken into consideration for the election of the Chair and the Vice-Chair.
Amendment 929 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The ECB shall create a standing ethics committee to assess possible conflicts of interest resulting from post- office employment of ECB staff members engaged in supervisory activities. The committee will be responsible for elaborating comprehensive and formal procedures for assessment. The results of such assessments shall be publicly disclosed.
Amendment 930 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Former ECB staff members who have been engaged in supervisory activities, and who intend to engage in an occupation during the two years after they have ceased to hold office, shall inform the ethics committee in good time. The committee shall make a decision by one month since receiving the information on the compatibility of the employment offer with the need to ensure the integrity and independence of staff. Former ECB staff members can engage in the occupation only after approval of the ethics committee.
Amendment 931 #
2012/0242(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Members of the supervisory board shall be prohibited from taking paid work in private sector institutions for which the ECB has supervisory responsibility during the two years after they have ceased to hold office.
Amendment 2 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas Hungary, Romania and Latvia were the first Member States to request and benefit from a EU financial assistant at the beginning of the financial and economic crisis by means of a BoP facility; whereas the economic and financial crisis has hit seriously several non euro area Member States;
Amendment 3 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the global economic crisis has had a severe impact on all EU member states, provoking a deterioration of their public deficit, balance of payment as well as the overall debt.
Amendment 11 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that the BoP financial assistance can play an important role in helping EU member states to improve their administrative capacity to absorb EU funds more effectively;
Amendment 34 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point ix a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point ix a (new)
(ixa) article 6.2 of the BoP proposal on enhanced surveillance integrates a certain number of elements which reflect the substance of the Commission proposal on common provisions for monitoring and assessing draft budgetary plans and ensuring the correction of excessive deficit of the Member States in the euro area. Therefore, the BoP proposal should be updated with the aim of ensuring a level playing field so as to reflect the provisional agreement of the Parliament and the Council negotiating teams on the relevant parts of the Ferreira report, namely on standards and procedures regarding specifications for reporting requirements foreseen in article 7 of the Ferreira report;
Amendment 37 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point ix b (new)
Paragraph 5 – point ix b (new)
(ixb) with the purpose en ensuring a level playing field between euro area and non euro area Member States provisions regarding enhanced surveillance in article 6 of the BoP regulation should be updated so as to integrate a certain number of elements provisionally agreed in the Ferreira report such as, where relevant, provisions on economic partnerships programmes and their relationship with macroeconomic adjustment programmes, monitoring requirements on the quality of public finances including provisions regarding the impact of foreseen budgetary measures on EU2020 targets and the adaptations that an assistance programme entails on the National Reform Programmes, as well as indications on cost-benefit assessments on public investments, a description and quantification of budgetary measures, including foreseen tax policy reforms and potential spill-over effects of foreseen measures for other Member States;
Amendment 42 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent a (new)
- specifications regarding the obligation to involve the social partners and civil society and the observation of Article 151 and 152 TFEU and Article 28 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and to ensure that this regulation does not affect the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements and to take collective action in accordance with national law (Article 6 and article 1.2a of the Gauzès report)
Amendment 44 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent b (new)
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent b (new)
- specifications concerning reinforcement of the efficiency and the effectiveness of collection capacity and fighting tax fraud and evasion, with a view to increasing fiscal revenues (Article 6b)
Amendment 45 #
2012/0164(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent c (new)
Paragraph 5 – point x – fifth indent c (new)
- inclusion of a clause regarding respect for the practices and the institutions for wage formation and the observance of article 151 TFEU and article 28 of the Charter for Fundamental Rights (Article 6.1)
Amendment 1 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- Having regard to the EP recommendations for the negotiation of Association Agreements with Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises the short-term sacrifices that need to be made by the Eastern Partners in order to enhance their trade relations with the EUIs aware that greater trade integration can have both costs and benefits for our Eastern Partners, but believes that, in the long run, the benefits will be higher than the costs; emphasises that the support and involvement of civil society in promoting the long-term benefits is key for the success of the reform process;
Amendment 52 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note of the creation on 18 October 2011 of a free-trade zone among the majority of members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which include the EU Eastern Partners with the exception of Georgia and, for the time being, Azerbaijan; recognises that a potential free-trade agreementbelieves that the conclusion of FTAs with othe EU does not prohibit the EU’s partners from concluding free trade agreementsr countries should not harm the DCFTAs that the Eastern Partnership countries conclude with other countries, and EU, emphasises in this regard that it is important for the EU to provide the Eastern Partners with an attractive and viable alternative;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes at the same time that the EU is the main export partner of most of the Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 59 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses that the DCFTAs should form an integrated part of a broader Association Agreement that would include provisions on a political dialogue touching upon human rights, democratic values and the rule of law;
Amendment 61 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Calls for an ambitious approach in integrating the economies of the EU and of the Eastern Partnership countries through DCFTAs by including other aspects related to free and fair trade; recommends that all DCFTAs include a binding sustainable development chapter with provisions on environmental protection and international labour rights;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages Armenia to continue its work with the same enthusiasm in order to be able to meet all the conditions forWelcomes the decision taken by the European Commission to launch talks in view of starting the DCFTA negotiations in the coming monthswith Armenia;
Amendment 68 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Believes that the conclusion of a DCFTA will stimulate Armenia’s economy, by, among others, boosting competition;
Amendment 78 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Azerbaijani Government to genuinely engage in fighting corruption and social inequalities that can lead to social unrest, improve access to financing for businesses, thereby making the country’s economy more competitive and attractive for foreign investment;
Amendment 93 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Recalls that the EU is Belarus´ second biggest trading partner after Russia;
Amendment 103 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Believes that the EU should help strengthening Belarusian civil society by reorienting EU funds in this direction;
Amendment 113 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Regrets however that Georgia still remainhas one of the poorestmost fragile economies among our Eastern Partners, and emphasises that the DCFTA would help to unleash Georgia’s potential and enable the country to become an attractive location for investment;
Amendment 114 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Calls on the European Commission to ensure, through the negotiation of the Association Agreement, the implementation of fair trade, sustainable development, human rights, labour standards, and good governance in Georgia; to guarantee, in particular, that Georgian labour laws fulfil core ILO conventions, in particular conventions 87 and 98, and that child labour is eliminated;
Amendment 115 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)
Paragraph 48 b (new)
48b. Encourages Georgia to perfect its legislation, improve the efficiency of its institutions and ensure high quality- control standards for its products in order to comply with the requirements set out by the European Commission;
Amendment 119 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Recognises with satisfaction that Moldova, while remaining one of the poorest countries in the regiondespite the fragility of its economy, has in recent years undergone a remarkable reform process and greatly improved its economic performance; highlights in this regard the vital importance of the financial assistance provided by the International Monetary Fund and the macrofinancial assistance provided by the EU;
Amendment 131 #
2011/2306(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Points out however that the application of the DCFTA will also bring about structural and political reforms; questions in this regard the current EU position, which makes the political reforms a precondition for the conclusion of the Association Agreement and consequently the DCFTA; calls on the Commission to examine the possibilities of initialling and implementing the DCFTA regardless of the conclusion of the Association Agreement, i.e. as an ad interim agreement;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the EIB Group1 should continue reporting annually to Parliament on its lending activities within the EU, with regard to the promotion of Union's objectives and the Europe 2020 Strategy, and outside the EU, with regard to its mandate and the overall policy coherence of the EU's external action; takes the view that the EIB and the EBRD should also focus on strengthening their coordination and cooperation in third countries, in order to enhance their respective comparative advantages and avoid overlaps in their work2;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the European Union needs economic growth which can be effectively boosted by investing in research and development and fostering the construction of trans-European networks and that in this context the activity of the EIB can contribute to improving the current economic outlook;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EIB Group to make available on its website, where appropriate and prior to project approval, relevant information on the beneficiaries of long- term loans and guarantees, social and environmental evaluations of projects, project eligibility criteria and, in particular, venture-capital loans to SMEs;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the EIB to clarify its stance on the so-called Project Bonds, Eurobonds or other innovative financial instruments based on co-financing between the EU and EIB budgetsBelieves that EU Project Bonds should become operational as soon as possible, preferably before the 2014-2020 budgetary period;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Believes that the EIB should undertake its own independent evaluation of the jurisdictions in which it is activating, in order to fight illicit capital flows and ensure that it is not participating in offshore financial centres;
Amendment 35 #
2011/2186(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Amendment 4 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas in 2010 the euro area recovered with GDP growth of 1.7% and is expected to stagnategrow at a similar level throughout 2011, after the slumpregistering in 2009 ofa -4.2% growth,
Amendment 8 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the average general government deficit in the euro area deterioratincreased to 6.0% of GDP in 2010 and the average debt burden stood at 85.1% of GDP, up from 0.7% and 66.2% in 2007, respectively, and in comparison to a debt burden of 101.1% of GDP for the USA and 212.71% for Japan,
Amendment 23 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas most of the long-term government debt of Greece and Portugal is on the ECB balance sheet and the persistent rumours of Greek debt restructuring may again delay the ECB's exit from non-standard measuresthe ECB has bought long-term Greek and Portuguese government bonds, showing its capacity for stabilising the financial system; considers, however, that a comprehensive, long lasting solution outside the ECB should be sought for sovereign debt management,
Amendment 34 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that most eurozone countries were not in trouble before the financial crisis and had declining levels of public debt to GDP ratios as well as decreasing deficits;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that before the financial crisis, private debt increased in an unsustainable way, and that risks were created through private debt bubbles; furthermore, the increase in government debt was a result of the need to save the private sector, in particular the financial sector;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Notes that the public debt to GDP ratio of the eurozone is much lower that that of the US and Japan;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Believes in the strength of the eurozone economy and in the importance of the euro as an international currency;
Amendment 44 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the singlemain objective of the ECB is price stability; noteswelcomes the fact that de facto financial stability is becoming a second objective as it supports the former; also notwelcomes the work of the ESRB under the auspices of the ECB on financial stability; notes however that policies aiming at achieving higher growth are also necessary;
Amendment 58 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes that, despite unitary monetary policy, monetary conditions diverge considerably in the euro area; in countries experiencing turbulence, banks are tightening the availability of credit, with the opposite happening in other countries with a current account surplus; this asymmetry is likely to become even more pronounced if the ECB keeps increasing rates, given the prevalence of loans indexed to short-term interest rates in the former group of countries; thus believes in the necessity of a common EU fiscal governance;
Amendment 61 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Deplores the current oligopoly and lack of transparency of credit rating agencies and strongly doubts the validity of their assessments;
Amendment 72 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is of the opinion that relying on the OECD’s list of offshore financial centres is not sufficient; asks the European Commission to present a proposal for an EU list;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores the fact that hesitation in the management of the crisis by the Commission and the Member States, particularly in those lacking reforms, has triggered the ECB's position against restructuring of Greece's debtbelieves that solidarity between Member States is in the best interest of each one of the EU countries;
Amendment 98 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. NotBelieves that, whileif deleveraging is continuing in parts of the private sector and most Member States (MS), leveraging is still very widespread in the public sector, the same behaviour in the public sector will tend to deepen the crisis by amplifying the depressing impact of reduced private expenditure; in this sense, takes note of the statement made by Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, calling on the US and EU to abandon fiscal austerity and switch to stimulus measures;
Amendment 103 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the rapid evolution of the leverage ratio of the ECB, measured by its capital and reserves in relation to assets; notes that this leverage ratio by far exceedsis lower than that of other comparable central banks, with the exception of those having implemented quantitative easing programmes, such as the Federal Reserve or the Bank of England;
Amendment 115 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Restates with concern the overthe reliance of many euro area banks on the liquidity provided by the ECB, in the absence of a fully functional interbank market; notes with concern the collateral policies of the ECB as regards the amount and the quality of asset-backed securities provided to the Eurosystem as collateral, estimated at EUR 488 billion;
Amendment 123 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the necessity of non- standard monetary policy measures, but; calls for a phasing-out of those programmes as soon as possible, the achievement of deepened economic governance and the establishment of an EU fiscal union;
Amendment 132 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 140 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks for more public information on flows between euro area central banks measured in the Target-2 programme so that these flows are not interpreted as permanently moving from current account surplus countries to deficit countries in order to avoid their financial collapsefor the sake of increased transparency;
Amendment 151 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for a more integrated macro- prudential policy framework within the monetary policy context, if necessary including differentiated macro-prudential tools in the Union to account for differences between the euro area and non- euro area countries; calls for an analysis of the effectiveness of the new financial supervisory architecture and for an evaluation of the option establishing a single European financial s raise in the funding of the new European Supervisory aAuthority, unifying under its umbrella the current European Supervisory Authorities and the European Systemic Risk Boardies in order to increase their effectiveness;
Amendment 164 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need for a single European minister of Finance that could emerge from the European Commission, in order to coordinate a basic common fiscal policyunion that cwould enhance the effectiveness of the euro; believes that the democratic legitimacy of such a proposal must adequately be addressed; notes in this sense that in a monetary union, fiscal policy does not only concern the Member States but has many cross-border spillovers and that the present crisis has shown the limits of 100% decentralised fiscal policies;
Amendment 169 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses the importance of involving the non-eurozone member states in a future fiscal union, given that EU currencies are interdependent;
Amendment 187 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 197 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the introduction of eurosecurities may constitute the necessary fiscal quantum-leap forward that the Union needs at this juncture; welcomes the rapid implementation of the feasibility report promised by the Commission in its declaration XXX; would stabilise the current situation by reducing the total cost of debt and ensuring the liquidity of the European market; asks for the rapid implementation of the feasibility report promised by the Commission in its declaration XXX; encourages the Commission to use its legislative initiative power to come further with legislative proposals in this sense;
Amendment 215 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates its long-standing call for the minutes of the meetings of the Governing Council to be public; considers their non- publication as a sign of weakness of the monetary union, as if the public and necessary individual accountability in the decision-taking within the Governing Council should be interpreted as a confrontation between Member States;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. to support the opening of negotiations on a DCFTA as soon as possible so that Georgia can be more closely integrated with its largest trading partner, this being necessary in order to sustain Georgia'’s economic growth and overcome the economic crisis and damage caused by the war with Russia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2008;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. to take into account the substantial efforts made unilaterally by the Georgian government in recent years to open up the country'’s economy by setting very low industrial tariffs, adopt a legal and regulatory framework conducive to business and investment, and enforce the rule of law;
Amendment 5 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. to encourage Georgia's progress in perfecting its legislation, improving the efficiency of its institutions and ensuring high quality-control standards for its products in order to comply with the requirements set out by the European Commission;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. to recommend the allocation of the necessary financial resources in order to ensure the continuation of the legislative and institutional reforms of adapting to the DCFTA and to accelerate the process of validating the preconditions for a DCFTA set out in the EU-Georgia Action Plan, which entail excessive costs to the Georgian economy and cause trade diversion;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. to set up the negotiating mandate to allow greater flexibility on issues such as Georgian agricultural exports and to include sequential commitments covering key trade-related chapters such as non- tariff barriers, trade facilitation, rules of origin and investments, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, intellectual property rights, investments and competition policy, and to complete actions in areas covered by the Action Plan;
Amendment 13 #
2011/2133(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. To ensure, through the negotiation of the Association Agreement, the implementation of fair trade, sustainable development, human rights, labour standards, and good governance in Georgia; to guarantee, in particular, that Georgian labour laws fulfil core ILO conventions, in particular conventions 87 and 98, and that child labour is eliminated.
Amendment 17 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. to continue to call for unilateral political and economic reforms in Ukraine that would lead to the modernisation of its infrastructures, notably in energy and transport; to helping business, most urgently through easier access to credit and land and simpler and faster processes for tax collection and customs; to the removal of red tape and corruption; and to enforcement of the rule of law and democratic practices;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. to recognise that the conclusion of the Association Agreement, with the DCFTA at its core, will provide a twofold remedy for reinforcing the rule of law in Ukraine: for EU investors and traders it will result in higher protection standards, and for Ukraine it will enhance European principles of rule of law and democracy, the deficit of which has become so apparent in recent monthbelieves, in this sense, that Ukraine should address the concerns related to the alleged lack of fair trial safeguards (JYulia Tymoschenko case);
Amendment 26 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
(1) Recalls that the Ukraine represents one of the most important oil and gas transit countries for the EU and that the EU can provide the foreign direct investment needed for the reform of the Ukrainian energy sector;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
(2) Encourages the Ukraine to take further steps in order to reform its energy sector, by redressing the gaps between the legislative acts regulating the oil and gas sectors;
Amendment 28 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
(3) Takes note of the fact that, even though the liberalization of services and investment in the energy sector would be beneficial to the EU, there are also some risks involved in taking commitments with regard to particular energy services as strong energy players controlling Ukrainian companies could use the FTA to dominate transmission networks in the EU;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 4 (new)
(4) Recalls that sustainable development is one of the priority areas set out in the 2011-2013 National Indicative Programme; recommends therefore the inclusion of a Sustainable Development Chapter to the free trade area;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 5 (new)
(5) Believes that the Sustainable Development Chapter should contain a provision that will express the engagement of the Ukraine to respect the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises and the ILO Tripartite Declaration on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 6 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 6 (new)
(6) Believes that attracting foreign investments should not undermine the protection of labour standards in the Ukraine;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 7 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 7 (new)
(7) Calls for a transition period in tariff and subsidies reductions in order to tackle possible economic impacts and to ensure sustainable growth;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 8 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 8 (new)
(8) Believes that entrepreneurship and SME development must be promoted through macro-economic cooperation;
Amendment 34 #
2011/2132(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 9 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 9 (new)
(9) Is of the opinion that the cooperation between the EU and the Ukraine should also tackle the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, through the promotion and implementation of international human rights standards, the respect of minorities and the fight against inhuman and degrading treatment;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regards the efficient use and allocation of resources as a key element of the European Union's external relations and believes that fair trade in environmental goods and services can beis an instrument of sustainable economic development, to thehat benefit ofs both trade and the environment;
Amendment 15 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the work carried out in the course of the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round of trade negotiations on the reduction or elimination of tariff and non- tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services, and encourages the Parties to continue to work towards a clear definition of environmental goods; Welcomes the commitments of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, the Monterrey Consensus, and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, given their potential to enable the implementation of sustainable development; Encourages the international community to continue to work towards a clear definition of environmental goods and services that would include the social responsibility of the companies producing them;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes that the inequitable use and allocation of world resources, in terms of food, water and energy, should be addressed urgently, by building a multilateral fair trade environment where all basic human needs are secured;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Believes that the EU should help create a global system for the equitable use and allocation of world resources; encourages the European Commission to push for the inclusion of environmental standards and fair trade principles at the WTO;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that opening up global markets tofair trade in environmental goods and services creates increased export opportunities, encourages the diffusion of technologies, stimulates innovation and leads to lower prices, higher quality and greater consumer choice;
Amendment 34 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reasserts that all current bilateral and regional European trade agreements need to include an ambitious chapter on sustainability, as in the case of the most recent Free Trade Agreement betweens of the European Union andwith the Republic of Korea; that agreement contains a chapter on trade and sustainable development which extends the definition of sustainability beyond the scope of previous agreements and provides for the setting up of a special committee to monitor the implementation of commitments in the environmental field, Colombia and Peru, and Central America;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2068(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that including tariff preferences for environmental products and services produced in a socially-responsible way in the Generalised System of Preferences could generate added value in the area of the European Union's trade with developing countries and act as a further incentive to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy.
Amendment 12 #
2011/2050(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that, in order to restore the confidence of EU citizens in the security of energy supply, the EU and Russia should achieve an energy partnership in which the principles of transparency, fair competition, reciprocity and non- discrimination would prevail; welcomes, in this sense, the recent signature of an upgraded EU-Russia Early Warning Mechanism in the field of energy;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2050(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Partnership of Modernisation as a pragmatic initiative towards a new agreement; regrets however the hesitation onencourages the Russian sideGovernment to implement much needed reforms and to remove obstacles to a mutually beneficial agreement by improving the local environment for business and investment, fighting corruption, removing protectionism, protecting intellectual property rights and strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2050(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that the EU should ensure that respect for fundamental human rights does not lag behind trade and economic aspects within the negotiations of the new agreement with Russia;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2050(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Encourages Russia to join in efforts with the EU in order to tackle the effects of climate change;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2050(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the new agreement should entail legally binding commitments on trade aspects but also on investment and energy matters;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Warns of the dangers that could be posed by the multiplication of bilateral trade agreements in terms of discrimination and distortions in the trading environment; underlines the need for re-establishing the primacy of multilateral over bilateral trade rules;
Amendment 39 #
2011/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Is of the opinion that Multilateral Development Banks should provide additional resources more effectively to target specific local needs, support long- term investments and consolidate local economies;
Amendment 40 #
2011/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Believes that the WTO should be integrated into the UN System and cooperate more closely with the ILO, in order to allow developing countries to obtain more benefits from trade and to ensure decent working conditions and decent wages for all workers;
Amendment 41 #
2011/2011(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Calls on the EU to always promote fair trade, democracy, human rights, decent working conditions and sustainable development in its trade policies, consistent with the Lisbon Treaty, its internal agenda and with the completion of the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 55 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that proportionately more capital should be addressed globally to finance development and fight inequalities, in particular to complete the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 133 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Urges the EU and its Member States to seek solutions to further improve coordination between the G formations and the UN system;
Amendment 134 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Supports the idea put forward by the 2009 UN Expert Commission of creating a Global Economic Coordination Council, under the patronage of the United Nations, to address areas of concern in the global economic system and provide leadership in economic, social and environmental issues;
Amendment 156 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that it is necessary to increase the transparency of international capital flows, in particular by seeking to bring banking secrecy to an end;
Amendment 157 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Recognizes the role of the EIB in fostering growth through long-term investment;
Amendment 21 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) In line with its commitments, the EBRD should contribute through its investments to the effective implementation of relevant principles and rules of international law that relate to labour, environment, as well as corporate responsibility and public access to environmental information.
Amendment 23 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2 b (new)
Recital 2 b (new)
(2b) Bearing in mind the fragility of economies in its new countries of operation and the existence of social inequalities which stand as a root of the turmoil of the Arab Spring, the EBRD should not only focus on delivering a developed private sector, but also on contributing through its financing to the achievement of socially just and environmentally sustainable societies, in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals.
Amendment 27 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In carrying out its activities in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region, the EBRD should be encouraged to continue its close engagement with the EU and to develop a close cooperation with the EIB and other European and international public financing institutions in order to make full use of their comparative advantages. The EBRD should also avoid duplicating the activities of those other public financing institutions.
Amendment 30 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Before the EBRD engages in a potential new country of operation, it is required to make a detailed technical assessment of the economic and political conditions existing in the country concerned, including possible transition gaps in that country's commitment to the principles of multi-party democracy, pluralism and market economics, as enshrined in Article 1 of the agreement establishing the EBRD (the Agreement). Moreover, the EBRD should review the activities of other international financial institutions in that country and should set its priorities in such a way as to make the best make use of its unique knowledge and skills. The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD should encourage the EBRD to take full account fully of the views of the Union and the wider international community in its technical assessments.
Amendment 46 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD shall encourage the Board of Governors of the EBRD to adopt a clear plan on the way in which it will finance its new activities falling within the scope as extended by this Decision, and provide accordingly a public statement of its priorities within this new area.
Amendment 48 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 b (new)
When the Board of Governors of the EBRD has signed an agreement with a donor for the cooperation funds or special funds, it shall inform the Commission and the European Parliament accordingly.
Amendment 49 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 c (new)
The Commission and the representatives of the Union in the governing bodies of the EBRD shall take all appropriate measures to encourage the EBRD to refrain from large-scale lending operations in countries where there is a lack of political accountability, where civic and human rights are infringed or where corruption persists. The Commission shall take all appropriate measures to encourage the EBRD not to undertake activities that conflict with Union policies on civic and human rights and to support projects that promote sustainable development.
Amendment 50 #
2011/0442(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 d (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 d (new)
The EBRD shall disclose the evaluation of projects and beneficiaries of its projects by regularly publishing information with regards to the amounts disbursed, the recipients of these amounts, and the regions and sectors of industry to which disbursements have been made.
Amendment 1 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Takes note of the fact that the division of the Commission’s proposals into three parts does not offer a holistic approach on the Single Market: recalls that Europeans should be at the heart of the single market;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Believes that the main purpose of a Single Market should be to overcome economic and competitiveness divergences, distortions and unequal treatment for European enterprises and citizens, in order to lay the foundation of a Europe of Added Value;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1c. Encourages Member States to eliminate mobility barriers for workers coming from new Member States, having in mind the positive effects of mobility of workers in the context of the financial and economic crisis;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1d. Points to the existence of overlaps between the SMA proposals and the EU 2020 flagship initiatives, creating confusion and reducing the effectiveness and consistency of the Commission's proposals;
Amendment 5 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1e. Considers that the re-launch and the deepening of the internal market are essential in the framework of the EU policies fighting the effects of the financial and economic crisis and the EU 2020 strategy;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 13 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to review the proposal for a simplified taxation system for SMEs active in the single market;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UrgesCalls on the Commission to evaluate the distortions produces byeffects of the state aid granted in order to mitigate the impact of the crisis, and to adopt new guidelines with a view to re-establishing a level playing field as soon as possible;
Amendment 16 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Deplores the absence of a horizontal social clause to be included in all single market legislation, in line with Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) so as to ensure that policies are citizens-centred, distortion of competition avoided, cohesion and basic social rights protected; recalls equally the importance of having thorough social impact assessment when developing single market legislation, as a precondition to guaranteeing an effective and consistent application of the horizontal social clause;
Amendment 17 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Regrets the shy approach of the Commission in terms of services of general interest, where no quality framework is put forward, contrary to the promise made by President Barroso; recalls the urgent need for legal certainty in this area and considers that proposing a tool-kit for local authorities and a benchmark exercise is totally unsatisfactory;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Regrets the fact that the SMA does not include a proposal on collective redress mechanisms, which would ensure a better consumer protection and create incentives for the industry in general to better comply with competition rules;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the proposals aimed at introducing a common consolidated corporate tax base, reviewing the VAT system and revising the Energy Tax Directive12; calls on the Commission to submit, along with a proposal to implement a Financial Transactions Tax applicable to all financial actors active in the EU, a proposal on banking taxation which encompasseswould coordinate all the levies contributed and the taxes currently under consideration;
Amendment 24 #
2010/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for a stronger approach as regards further lifting of tax obstacles and barriers in the internal market and avoiding double taxation; considers, in general, that tax coordination is the weak dimension of the single market and is the cause of many shortcomings for cross border activities; recalls the valuable recommendations of the Monti report in this field;
Amendment 16 #
2010/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. ConsiderWelcomes that access by the EIB to ECB liquidity via the Banque Centrale du Luxembourg should be assesshas been agreed with a view to facilitating the EIB's lending programmes and liquidity management;
Amendment 57 #
2010/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Is of the opinion that relying on the OECD's list of offshore financial centres is not sufficient and that all internationally recognised lists should apply until the EU has established its own list; however the EIB shall perform its own independent assessment and monitoring of relevant non cooperative jurisdictions, and regularly make public its results, which would complement analyses from international and EU Reference Lists;
Amendment 58 #
2010/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is of the opinion that the EIB must not participate in any operation implemented through a non-cooperative jurisdiction, as identified by the OECD, the FATF and other relevant international organisations, as well as its own independent assessment and monitoring;
Amendment 61 #
2010/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Calls on the EIB to further enhance a proactive and timely disclosure of project information, including own assessment on the environmental, social, human rights and development impacts of the project, monitoring reports and ex- post evaluation reports;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that both the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and the Stability and Growth Pact refer to age-related public expenditures; recognisequests that the ecorrect inclusion of pension liabilities is only one of many conditions for sustainability; requests that the economic governance reform takes this dimension duly into accountnomic governance reform takes this dimension duly into account ensuring an adequate treatment of the different pillars of the pension systems without favouring a specific type of pension funding but rather focusing on their sustainability;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Having in mind that a sustainable and well functioning pension system is extremely important to the stability of public finances, calls on the Commission to promote a system which would fairlyensure that the costs of pension reforms continue to be take n into account full costs of pension reforms when initiating decisions linked to the excessive deficit proceduresin the assessment of whether a member state is placed in an excessive deficit procedure and recommends not only favouring a certain type of pension reform but rather the sustainability of the funding system;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that sustainable public finances require including the total of public and private debt in the assessment; recalls that pension savings are not only savings earmarked as pension; requests that the full scale of unfunded public sector pension liabilities is made transparent by including these in the government debt-to-GDP ratioconsiders however that privatising pension schemes is not the optimal solution to fulfil the obligations of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that awareness-raising among older workers and companies, especially SMEs, about innovative staff management and work organisation methods would be favourable to older workers;
Amendment 63 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Member States to support SMEs with regard to the provision of continuous training which enables employees and managers to adapt to changing situations and to maintain their employability;
Amendment 87 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that the EU should promote a higher protection of workers in times of financial crisis through pension benefit guarantee schemes;
Amendment 90 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the increase insetting the retirement age needs to be correlated with life expectancy and working conditionsis an issue to be addressed according to the subsidiarity principle considering the variety of national, demographic and labour force situations, and taking into account life expectancy and working conditions among other factors; is of the opinion, however, that Member States should coordinate to the fullest possible extent their pension policy strategy, using, if appropriate, the Open Method of Coordination;
Amendment 93 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on Member States to promote active employment policies in order to reduce unemployment rates among young workers and increase women's labour force participation rate;
Amendment 95 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Believes that the EU should develop a legislative framework for investment practice and for the prudent management of defined contributions schemes;
Amendment 95 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Views with regret the fact that young people are entering the labour market late and that their final pension entitlements are affected by this; believes, therefore, that the time spent in internships needs to be incorporated into the final pension calculation;
Amendment 174 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Believes that, in order to increase transparency and accountability, pension funds should include social partners and representatives of their beneficiaries on their management board;
Amendment 184 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers that there is a need to strengthen the EU legislation related to employer's insolvency, in order to offer equal protection of savings for each worker, regardless of the nature of their employer’s pension provisioning system;
Amendment 197 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Commission to monitor Member States' regulations in order to track abusive or discriminatory tax rules on cross-border pension capital transfers and make proposals to lift obstacles to mobility if appropriate;
Amendment 198 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Asks for a reflection at the EU level on the fairness of tax incentives for private schemes, particularly as regards tax relief during the accumulation phase, bearing in mind that the poorest people cannot afford private schemes to complement the public pension provision;
Amendment 214 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Believes that more progressive tax systems can generate increased revenues for Member States, thus ensuring the sustainability and adequacy of pensions;
Amendment 242 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to set up a study analysing the way wealth distribution is influencing life expectancy in Member States;
Amendment 261 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that Member States should take into account the need to introduce financial incentives in order to encourage workers to continue working beyond the statutory retirement age: benefits acquired after reaching retirement age should be more attractive than those acquired earlier;
Amendment 265 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on the Member States to introduce socially acceptable incentives for later retirement and, where desirable, develop attractive models for a flexible transition from work to retirement;
Amendment 279 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that the EU 2020 has set out to achieve a 75% employment rate among persons aged 20-64; calls on the Member States to raise employment levels and, in particular, increase employment among older women and men in order to modernise the functioning of labour markets and introduce structural reforms based on the flexicurity approach; calls on the Member States to offer comprehensive advice and support for jobseekers and rehabilitation measures for long-term reintegration into the labour market;
Amendment 367 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Observes that in countries with a strong second pillar not all categories of workers have access to funded occupational pensions; believes that funded occupational pensions should also be accessible for workers with a precarious or fixed-term contract;
Amendment 411 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the social dialogue in order to devise and implement reforms of pension systems at European, national and sectoral levels and labour market reforms;
Amendment 412 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Calls on the Member States to strengthen public pensions by improving the quality of jobs, raising wage levels, enhancing the quality of social services and finding more sustainable ways of financing social protection systems;
Amendment 417 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to give representatives of workers and retirees a significant role on supervisory bodies and on bodies in charge of defining investment policies and strategies for private pension schemes, so as to promote socially responsible investment in the interests of contributors and beneficiaries;
Amendment 422 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Commission to promote a European framework directive on minimum pensions which could lay down that every person from a certain age onwards, irrespective of the number of years he or she has worked, is entitled to a minimum pension;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the agreement reached at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December 2009 is inadequate and disappointing; whereas the European Union did not manage to playassume a leading role because its objectives lacked ambition and it failed to present a united front,
Amendment 9 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Cancun Summit should be a key step towards an operational, comprehensive and legally binding agreement in helping to keep global warming well below 2°C, and should quickly become bindingthe results of the Cancun Summit should find practical expression in a much stronger verification procedure than that decided on at the Copenhagen Summit of December 2009,
Amendment 18 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that the outstanding efforts made by the European Union in combating climate change cannot ensure the success of an agreement for the period after 2012, unless other States closely follow its example. Steps must be taken to ensure that the decision to switch to a 30% reduction will also encourage the other parties to adopt more ambitious commitments;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges that legally binding instruments should be adopted at Cancun so as to avoid a situation in which the conclusion of a comprehensive climate change agreement is constantly deferred;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the common commercial policy is an instrument in the service of the European Union’s overall objectives, that, pursuant to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EU’s common commercial policy must be conducted ‘in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action’, and that, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, it must contribute, in particular, ‘to the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter’;
Amendment 30 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out the need to establish a World Environmental Organisation;
Amendment 41 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Regrets that the current trading system produces a global division of labour and production which is based on a very high input of transport, which does not bear its own environmental costs - of homogeneous products, which could just as easily be produced locally; supports therefore the introduction at European level of food miles;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Takes the view that environmental criteria must be introduced in the reform of the GSP;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Recognise that trade is an important tool for the transfer of technologies to developing countries; emphasises the need to reduce barriers to "green trade" by, for instance, removing tariffs on "green goods" at WTO level;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs notWelcomes the Commission's initiative to launch a fruitful and serious dialogue on improving gross domestic product (GDP) as an indicator for assessing economic activity and progress.;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. The committee bBelieves that GDP suffers from many shortcomings - for example, it does not record unemployment, underemployment, volunteering, education, social inequalities or environmental disasterexternalities - particularly bearing in mind the development model followed as a dogma by our economies, aimed first and foremosto a greater extent at maximum profit. The use and management of the statistical indicators for an economy reflect the type of economic development followed by each society. In the dominant development model applied until now, the quality of life, well-being of citizens and environmental changes play a secondary role.;
Amendment 32 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. In principle it isConsiders it a positive step that the Commission is putting forward five actions to better measure progress in a changing world, i.e. 1. Complementing GDP with environmental and social indicators, 2. Near real-time information for decision- making, 3. More accurate reporting on distribution and inequalities, 4. Developing a European sustainable development scoreboard, and 5. Extending national accounts to environmental and social issues.;
Amendment 46 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Considers that Eurostat should play a major role in the debate on the complementary indicators to the GDP;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4h. Regrets the fact that the existing complementary indicators that measure aspects of sustainability and of welfare, such as the degree of democracy, the happiness, the health, the freedom of expression or the quality of the environment, have proven to be subsidiary to the GDP, which remains the most used indicator;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)
Paragraph 4 j (new)
4j. Believes that an approach based not only on economic growth, but also on economic and social sustainability can help better identify the reasons behind the current problems to which the EU is confronted: unemployment, social and economic disparities, poverty and resource depletion;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2087(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the Black Sea Synergy (BSS) initiative, presented in 2007, did provide new impetus to regional cooperation in the Black Sea region, but deplores the fact that the administrative and fiscal resources allocated for its implementation have been insufficient; considers that EU regional initiatives should not be duplicated and that the strategy for the Black Sea should not be overshadowed by similar regional initiatives; the European Union Strategy for the Black Sea should be a priority of the Union, on the same level with the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region; recommends that all partners in the Black Sea region should be included in a future Black Sea Strategy;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2087(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the project-based approach under the BSS, notably the Environment Partnership, and considers that the planned partnerships on transport and energy are crucial for sustainable development in the region; considers that green development and energy efficiency, which can drive market incentives and long-term investment, should be further prioritised; takes the view that the Black Sea Ring Highway and the Motorways of the Sea would considerably increase the opportunities for trade and development in the region; underlines, however, the need for thorough environmental impact assessments and improved marine safety; considers that investments should be directed towards the development of the major EU ports of the Black Sea region, with particular attention given to the ports of Constanta and Bourgas, the largest EU ports on the Black Sea;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2087(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the increased number of WTO member states in the region, where all but two states are now members, positively contributes to the establishment of a predictable and stable trade regime; recommends that the Black Sea countries continue the adjustment of national legislation to WTO rules and multilateral trade principles, including EU trade- related acquis; invites them to step up the gradual elimination of trade barriers with the aim of further trade liberalisation, including simplification of customs procedures and tax regimes; considers that enhanced cooperation at parliamentary level, both bilaterally and with the Parliamentary Assembly of the BSEC, PABSEC and the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, would further benefit the process; considers, in this context, that the European Union should become a full member of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Amendment 21 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Title
Title
on State aid to facilitate the closuretransition to competitivity of uncompetitive coal mines
Amendment 22 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The small contribution of subsidised coal to the overall energy mix no longer justifies the maintenance of such subsidies with a view of securing the supply of energy on a Union level, as long as this result cannot be guaranteed by other means.
Amendment 23 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
Amendment 24 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Considering the scarcity of autochthonous energy sources in the EU, the Union's policies for promoting renewable fuels and fossil fuels with low carbon content in order to generate electricity justify the support to coal mines. The categories of aid permitted by Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 should not be maintained indefinitely. In any event, all public aid aimed at reducing the effects of pollution caused by coal, should be maintained. Those mines that, after a ten-year period, are able to achieve competitiveness and require a financial boost from the public sector to enable them to make technological investments for environmental purposes, will also be exempt from the elimination of aid.
Amendment 29 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) A minimum level of coal production, together with other measures, especially those aiming at the promotion of renewable energy sources, will contribute to the maintenance of a quota of primary energy sources, which will allow energy security in the Union to be reinforced significantly. In addition, a quota of autochthonous sources of primary energy will help to promote environmental goals in relation with sustainable development. In this framework of boosting autochthonous energy sources in Europe in order to counterbalance the continent's huge dependence on energy sources from outside its borders, consideration should be given to complementing autochthonous energy sources, which in many Member States are represented solely by coal, with non-fossil ones.
Amendment 33 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. Aid shall cover only costs in connection with coal for the production of electricity, the combined production of heat and electricity, the production of coke and the fuelling of blast furnaces in the steel industry as well as in connection with research and investments in technology aimed at reducing coal polluting emissions, where such use takes place in the Union.
Amendment 35 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the operation of the production units concerned must form part of a closure plan the deadline of which does not extend beyond 31 OctoDecember 201420 ;
Amendment 36 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the production units concerned must be closed definitively in accordance with the closure plan, in the event that they have not become competitive and provided that their continued operation is not necessary to meet Union's energy needs;
Amendment 40 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the overall amount of closure aid granted by a Member State for any particular undertaking must follow a downward trend, where the reduction between successive periods of fifteen months must not be less than 33 percent of the aid provided . This aid reduction shall not be applicable to the mines that have succeeded in becoming competitive during the initial fifteen month period of the closure planis period and which require public investments aimed only at reducing the polluting effects of coal ;
Amendment 45 #
2010/0220(NLE)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. If the production units to which aid is granted pursuant to paragraph 1 are not closed at the date fixed in the closure plan as authorised by the Commission, they have not become competitive and their continued operation is not necessary in the light of the energy autonomy conditions of that State, the Member State concerned shall recover all aid granted in respect of the whole period covered by the closure plan.
Amendment 23 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) The reporting and transmission of information by the EIB to the Commission should be strengthened in order to allow the Commission to enhance its annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the EIB financing operations carried out under this decision. The report should in particular assess the compliance of EIB financing operations with this decision, taking into account the operational guidelines, and include sections on added value in line with EU policies and sections on cooperation with the Commission, other IFIs and bilateral donors, including co-financing, as well as evaluations of the accessibility, transparency and effectiveness of the loans. Where necessary, the report should include references to significant changes in circumstances that would justify further amendments to the mandate before the end of the period.
Amendment 24 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) EIB financing operations should continue to be managed in accordance with the EIB's own rules and procedures, including appropriate control measures and measures taken to avoid tax evasion, as well as with the relevant rules and procedures concerning the Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The EIB should not undertake any financing operations through jurisdictions classified as "tax havens" according to OECD standards,
Amendment 28 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The EU guarantee shall cover only EIB financing operations carried out in eligible countries that have concluded a framework agreement with the EIB establishing the legal conditions under which such operations are to be carried out. The EIB shall not undertake any financing operations through jurisdictions classified as "tax havens" according to OECD standards.
Amendment 35 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament and the Council on EIB financing operations carried out under this decision. The report shall include an assessment of EIB financing operations at project, sector, country and regional level as well as, evaluations of the accessibility, transparency and effectiveness of the loans, as well as an assessment of the contribution of the EIB financing operations to the fulfilment of the external policy and strategic objectives of the EU. The report shall in particular assess the compliance of EIB financing operations with this Decision, taking into account the operational guidelines referred to in Article 5, and shall include sections on added value for the achievement of EU policy objectives as well as on cooperation with the Commission and other international financial institutions and bilateral institutions, including co- financing.
Amendment 37 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the EIB shall provide the Commission with yearly reports on EIB financing operations carried out under this decision at project, sector, country and regional level, on the accessibility, transparency and effectiveness of the loans, and on the fulfilment of the external policy and strategic objectives of the EU, including cooperation with the Commission, other international financial institutions and bilateral institutions. The Memoranda of Understanding between the EIB and other IFIs or bilateral institutions relating to carrying out financial operations under this Decision shall be made public.
Amendment 48 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to enhance the coherence of the mandate, strengthen the focus of the EIB external financing activity on supporting EU policies, and for the maximum benefit of beneficiaries, this decision should set out horizontal high- level objectives in the mandate for EIB financing operations across all eligible countries, building on the comparative strengths of the EIB in areas where it has a well-proven track record. In all regions covered by this decision, the EIB should thus finance projects in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, social and economic infrastructure (notably in transport, energy including renewable energy, energy security, environmental infrastructure including water and sanitation, as well as information and communication technology (ICT)), and local private sector development, in particular in support of small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). It should be recalled that improving access for SMEs to capital can play an essential role in stimulating economic development and the fight against unemployment. Within these areas, regional integration among partner countries, including economic integration between pre-accession countries, neighbouring countries and the EU, should be an underlying objective for EIB financing operations. The EIB can support EU presence in partner countries through foreign direct investment that contributes to promoting technology and knowledge transfer, either for investments within the aforementioned areas, or at its own risk.
Amendment 52 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The EIB shall support the achievement of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals in all regions where it is active.
Amendment 61 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 - paragraph 3
Article 3 - paragraph 3
3. The EIB shall progressively increase its activity in social sectors, such as healwith a view to the and educationchievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Amendment 6 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 2
Point 2
Amendment 8 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 3
Point 3
3.Regrets that the Communication of the Commission does not mention the relevance of the Internet of Things to International Trade; i Invites the Commission to make an assessment of any impact that its proposed strategy might have on the productivity and competitiveness of European enterprises in the International Market; invites the Commission to be mindful of the consequences when drafting its legislative proposal;
Amendment 13 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 4
Point 4
4.Invites the Commission to take into account the financial and infrastructural limitations of SMEs when formulating technical and ICT management and standards such as the ones proposed in its communication; reiterates that SMEs form the backbone of European productivity and employment and that their interests should be protected horizontally across the various pieces of legislation the EU produces; the economic experience is that SMEs lead the national economies out of recesseconomy of the European Union out of recession; therefore calls on the Commission to place a particular emphasis on SMEs and their access to new systems and applications;
Amendment 17 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5 (new)
Point 5 (new)
5. Calls on the Commission to continue funding projects under the 7th Framework Programme and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme in order to increase European Union competitiveness on the international market in the field of the Internet of Things;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 6 (new)
Point 6 (new)
6. Underlines the importance of creating a safe and transparent system of governance for the Internet of Things;
Amendment 19 #
2009/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 7 (new)
Point 7 (new)
7. Calls on the Commission to set up a mechanism that will guarantee the safeguard of privacy and the protection of personal data for users of the Internet of Things, by ensuring in particular the right to "chip silence";
Amendment 2 #
2009/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the geopolitical situation of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in relation to the European Union, Russia, Iran and Turkey, and considers it therefore of the utmost importance that cooperation with the South Caucasus be given the highest priority, not least in matters relating to energpolitical stability, the promotion of democracy and good governance and energy security;
Amendment 9 #
2009/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that trade is one of the key components of the EU’s overall policy of fostering political stability, respect for human rights, sustainable growth and prosperity in the Eastern Partnership countries in general and in the South Caucasus region in particular;
Amendment 16 #
2009/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the conclusion of the feasibility studies for Georgia and Armenia in May 2008, showing that deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTAs) would bring significant economic benefits to these countries and the EU, thereby allowing the Commission to enter into a preparatory phase for future negotiations on DCFTAs; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts to help Azerbaijan to accomplish its accession to the WTO as soon as possible , as WTO membership is a prerequisite before any FTA negotiations can be considered; encourages Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to improve their progress in fulfilling their respective ENP Action Plans and the Commission’s recommendations, particularly in terms of improving their institutional capacity and implementation of regulatory reforms (especially regarding the poor levels of intellectual property protection in all three countries), which is one of the necessary preconditions for effective implementation and sustaining the effects of such ambitious FTAs;
Amendment 20 #
2009/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that the conclusion of FTAs with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan could not only lead to economic growth, but could also increase foreign investment, create new jobs and eradicate poverty;
Amendment 21 #
2009/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the efforts of several regional cooperation organisations, in particular the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), aimed at greater integration of the South Caucasus region; calls for greater EU engagement and involvement towards integration in the region, given that the Community now has exclusive competence on trade policy and therefore the EU Member States participating in the BSEC (Bulgaria, Greece and Romania) cannot enter into commitments in the trade area, as this would be incompatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
Amendment 2 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 1
Point 1
1. Points out that the Internal Market and international markets are increasingly interlinked; considers, in this context, that a coherent policy must be followed by legislators in the EU Internal Market and by EU negotiators in the field of international trade should always be mindful of the possible mutual consequences when conducting their activities;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 2
Point 2
2. Believes that a plurilateral agreement such as the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) is the besta tool to ensure a level playing field for European enterprises in regarding market access to public procurement at international level;: therefore urges the Commission to continue its efforts to conclude the ambitious GPA; points out that in its preamble and in its Article V the GPA recognises Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries;
Amendment 14 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 4
Point 4
4. RegretNotes that our international partners have not yet opened up their internal public procurement markets to EU companies in the same way that the EU internal market is open to third-country enterprises; deeply deplores the fact that our major trading partners employ public procurement practices which discriminate against EU suppliers tendering for public contracts in third countries;
Amendment 21 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5
Point 5
5. Firmly bBelieves in the principle of reciprocity in the field of public procurement for developed countries; calls on the Commission to consider imposing targeted restrictions on access to parts of the EU's procurement markets for those developed trading partners which benefit from the openness of the EU market, but have not shown the intention of opening up their own markets to EU companies, in order to encourage our partners to offer reciprocal market access arrangements for European companies.
Amendment 24 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5 c (new)
Point 5 c (new)
5c. In the context of the European Union's commitments in the field of international public procurement, points out, further, the importance of strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms in the field of public procurement and draws attention to the need to focus efforts on ensuring transparency and fairness in the use of public funds;
Amendment 25 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5 d (new)
Point 5 d (new)
Amendment 26 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5 e (new)
Point 5 e (new)
5e. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the possibility of using green public procurement as an instrument for promoting sustainable development;
Amendment 27 #
2009/2175(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 5 f (new)
Point 5 f (new)
5f. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the possibility of incorporating into public procurement agreements with international partners provisions requiring compliance with the fundamental human rights obligations laid down in conventions and international agreements;
Amendment 14 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) The institutions of the European Union should give particular priority to the Nabucco gas pipeline project.
Amendment 21 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) "protected customers" means all household customers already connected to a gas distribution network, and, if the Member State concerned so decides, can also include; in identifying protected customers, Member States should pay particular attention to vulnerable groups, small and medium- sized enterprises, schools and hospitals provided that they are already connected to a gas distribution network;
Amendment 66 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission may declare a CommunityUnion Emergency at the request of one Competent Authority where appropriate or whenre the CommunityUnion is losesing more than 10% of its daily gas import from third countries as calculated by ENTSO-G. It shall declare a CommunityUnion Emergency where more than one Competent Authority has declared Emergency following the verification in accordance with Article 9(6). It may declare a CommunityUnion Emergency for specifically affected geographical regions comprising more than one Member State.
Amendment 74 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14a Nabucco gas pipeline project The European Union institutions shall give particular priority to the Nabucco gas pipeline project as regards its political profile and financing.
Amendment 75 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 b (new)
Article 15 b (new)
Article 15b Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund The European Union Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund as well as financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank shall provide funds towards investment into the EU gas infrastructure, gas storage and supplier diversification, research into the diversification of gas sources and routes, and research into alternative energy mixes for the European Union.