12 Amendments of Marie-Christine VERGIAT related to 2012/2321(INI)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses the view that this greater resilience is in large part due to the cooperative model of governance, which is based on joint ownership, decision-making concerning the enterprise’s strategies and democratic control by their member- stakeholders, and that it is also due to their characteristic method of capital accumulation linked to the allocation of surpluses to the reserve, at least part of which is indivisible, and to the realisation of the enterprise’s objectives; considers that this model helps to ensure that cooperatives take a long-term approach and anchors them in the local economy, giving them a stake in local sustainable development and ensuring that they do not delocalise, even when they internationalise;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes also that cooperatives have a long tradition of cooperation among themselves and that this allows them to take advantage of economies of scale and to share experience and best practice, as well as to pool or to transfer human and financial resources, where necessary; contends that this inherent flexibility allows cooperatives to sustain themselves even in the most trying times;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that this in-built capacity for resilience should be strengthened by paying proper attention to cooperatives in all EU policies designed to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as well as in the relevant flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 strategya different model of economic development which respects the European social model more; believes that the necessary steps should be taken to ensure a level playing field between cooperatives and other forms of enterprises, whilst preserving cooperatives’ aims and working methods;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls the need for the European Union to recognise and treat equally through legislation the various forms of entrepreneurship in order to ensure that the principle of entrepreneurial freedom is respected, whatever the status of the enterprise; regrets the fact that in its Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan the Commission fails to focus on the role of social-economy enterprises, merely recalling their contribution to job creation and social innovation and that they encounter funding difficulties compared to SMEs;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls therefore on the Commission to bolster its services responsible for cooperatives by creating a Directorate focused on cooperatives and other social- economy organisations (such as mutuals, foundations and associations engaged in economic activities) within DG Enterprise, with a unit working solely on the restructuring of industrial and service enterprises in crisis or without a successor into cooperatives;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States, in keeping with ILO Recommendation 193/2002, to review their legislation applying to cooperatives, with a view to adopting a comprehensive policy to support the cooperative business model and creating a regulatory environment favourable to the recognition of the role of cooperatives and their management organisations and development of cooperatives in all fields and sectors; stresses that this should include the introduction of appropriate financial instruments and the recognition of cooperatives’ role in the national social dialogue; the role of cooperatives and social- economy enterprises in general in the national social dialogue; calls for this recommendation to be borne in mind in the context of the review of the Regulation on the Statute for a European Cooperative Society (SCE);
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that, very often, the problem encountered in business transfers to employees is not only a question of length of the relevant procedures but also, and even more importantly, of lack of knowledge about this business scenario amongst relevant professionals (e.g. lawyers and accountants) and within the legal system; stresses that the training and awareness-raising of all players involved in the creation or transfer of enterprises to employees would greatly contribute to promoting this practice; believes, furthermore, that better knowledge about cooperatives should also be promoted amongst trade unions and bodies tasked with providing information on the creation or transfer of businesses; underlines the expertise acquired in creating and transferring enterprises in the form of cooperatives by cooperative cooperation structures in some Member States and calls on the Commission to put in place mechanisms to facilitate cooperation and exchanges of best practices and methods in this field between enterprises and to report to the Council and the European Parliament on the outcome;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes also that the Member States should adopt policies encouraging employees to take part in the capital and results of their enterprises, through concrete fiscal mechanisms in other forms of industrial and service enterprises as well, and with the necessary legal protection and corresponding ratio of participation in the governance, oversight, decision-making and responsibility of the enterprise; emphasises the importance of developing democracy in capital enterprises, in particular by strengthening employee consultation on strategic enterprise decisions, notably by boosting the powers of the works council and introducing a right of veto over stock market redundancies; stresses, however, that the measures in favour of employee ownership are not related to the kind of cooperative structure governance that combines and is based on collective ownership, decision-making on enterprise strategies, democratic control, the allocation of surpluses to ensure the cooperative’s survival and the attainment of the cooperative’s objectives;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that it is not easy forEmphasises that cooperative enterprises in industry and services, and particularly SMEs, tocannot for a variety of reasons, including the nature of their entrepreneurship, gain access to venture capital and credit on the capital markets; notes also that cooperatives are not normally able to obtain large quantities of capital from their members and that ad hoc financial instruments should therefore be created to ensure that their forms of entrepreneurship are respected;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. ConsiderEmphasises that the programmes and funds being established under the Multi- annual Financial Framework (2014-2020) should be important instruments for supporting cooperatives, and social- economy enterprises in general; contends that, when operational programmes are established, there should be a focus on providing support for sustainable business development and responsible restructuring, including measures such asconcerning in particular business transfers to employees, social cooperatives, local development and socialthe role of social- economy enterprises in local development and social, technological and computer- integrated manufacturing innovation, using global grants and other financial instruments, including the Globalisation Adjustment Fund;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes also that Member States should take steps to make it easier for cooperatives, and social-economy enterprises in general, to gain access to the whole range of business support services, since this will help them further to contribute to sustainable growth;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers furthermore that inter-SME collaborative networks, such as those that already exist in the EU under the cooperative form (artisans’ cooperatives, SME cooperatives, activity and employment cooperatives, etc.), should be encouraged, since such networks considerably reinforce the establishment and sustainability of micro and small enterprises through shared marketing, purchases or other services and help micro and small enterprises to be a source of innovation;