37 Amendments of Michael THEURER related to 2011/0276(COD)
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Establishing a closer link between cohesion policy and the economic governance of the Union will ensure that the effectiveness of expenditure under the CSF Funds is underpinned by sound economic policies and that the CSF Funds can, if necessary, be redirected to addressing the economic problems a country is facing. This process has to be gradual, starting with amendments to the Partnership Contract and to the programmes in support of Council recommendations to address macroeconomic imbalances and social and economic difficulties. Where, despite the enhanced use of CSF Funds, a Member State fails to take effective action in the context of the economic governance process, the Commission should have the right to suspend all or part of the payments and commitments. Decisions on suspensions should be proportionate and effective, taking into account the impact of the individual programmes for addressing the economic and social situation in the relevant Member State and previous amendments to the Partnership Contract. When deciding on suspensions, the Commission should also respect equality of treatment between Member States, taking into account in particular the impact of the suspension on the economy of the Member State concerned. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action. If a Member State fails to take appropriate actions within a period greater than three months, the Commission should be able to place the suspended payments and commitments in a programme administered and supervised by the Commission. This programme should prioritise maximising growth, for example by providing grants for economy-related infrastructure, to avoid causing further damage to the regional economy and the social situation.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
19a. The Commission should, at the request of the relevant Member State, be able to make an ad hoc decision on the rules and conditions applicable to this programme, in particular on the basis of the funds released due to corrections and suspensions relating to the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund;
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) It is necessary to lay down specific rules regarding the amounts to be accepted as eligible expenditure at closure, to ensure that the amounts, including the management costs and fees, paid from the CSF Funds to financial instruments are effectively used for investments and payments to final recipients. It is also necessary to lay down specific rules regarding the reuse of resources attributable to the support from the CSF Funds, including the use of legacy resources after the closure of the programmes. These attributable and legacy resources, together with other available resources, e.g. from financial corrections, should be made available to Member States experiencing serious difficulties with regard to their financial stability and managed by the Commission, prioritising the most effective measures to stimulate growth.
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) To ensure the effectiveness, fairness and sustainable impact of the intervention of the CSF Funds, there should be provisions guaranteeing that investments in businesses and infrastructures are long- lasting and prevent the CSF Funds from being used to undue advantage. Experience has shown that a period of five10 years is an appropriate minimum period to be applied, except where State aid rules foresee a different period. It is appropriate to exclude actions supported by the ESF and those not entailing productive investment or investment in infrastructure from the general requirement of durability, unless such requirements are derived from applicable State aid rules, and to exclude contributions to or from financial instruments.
Amendment 291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) In order to promote the Treaty objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion, the 'Investment for growth and jobs' goal should support all regions. To provide balanced and gradual support and reflect the level of economic and social development, resources under that goal should be allocated from the ERDF and the ESF among the less developed regions, the transition regions and the more developed regions according to their gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in relation to the EU average. In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of investment from the Structural Funds, regions whose GDP per capitaich received support for the 2007-–2013 period was less than 75% of the average of the EU-25 for the reference periodunder the ‘Convergence’ objective but whose GDP per capita has grown to more than 75 % of the EU-27 average should receive at least two thirds of their 2007-–2013 allocation. Member States whose per capita gross national income (GNI) is less than 90 % of that of the Union average should benefit under the 'Investment for growth and jobs' goal from the CF.
Amendment 311 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 59
Recital 59
(59) As regards the Funds and with a view to ensuring an appropriate allocation to each category of regions, resources should not be transferred between less developed, transition and more developed regions except in duly justified circumstances linked to the delivery of one or more thematic objectives and for no more than 2 % of the total appropriation for that category of region.
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 19
Part 1 – article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 19
(19) 'category of regions' means the categorisation of regions as 'less developed regions', 'transition regions' or 'more developed regions' according to Article 82(2);
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Part 2 – article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Code of Good Conduct will define, a number of partnership criteria that will be part of the Partnership Contract and the Operational Programmes. These partnership criteria will cover following minimum specifications: (a) description of the partner institutions that from the formal partnership; (b) the cooperation procedure with the competent nation, regional and local institutions, ensuring binding voting rights in partnership decisions, including changes of the Operational Programme; (c) description of the formal consultation procedure of the partner institutions in the drafting of national guidance notes and supplementary implementing rules; (e) description of the stakeholders involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Operational Programmes; (f) transparency of the procedures and the relevant documents concerning the Development and Investment Partnership Contract and the Operational Programmes. These criteria shall be verified ex ante, as well as be subject to annual reporting by the Member States to the Commission.
Amendment 470 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) strengthening research, technological development and innovation, as well as the transfer of technology;
Amendment 489 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 490 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1
Article 35 – paragraph 1
1. As regards financial instruments referred to in Article 33(1)(a), the request for payment shall include and separately disclose the total amount of support paid to the financial instrument. and financial instruments referred to in Article 33(1)(b) implemented in accordance with Article 33(4)(a) and (b), phased applications for interim payments shall be made for programme contributions paid to the financial instrument during the period of eligibility in accordance with the following conditions: (a) the amount of the programme contribution paid to the financial instrument included in each application for interim payment submitted during the eligibility period indicated in Article 55(2) shall not exceed 25 per cent of the total amount of programme contributions committed to the financial instrument under the relevant funding agreement, corresponding to expenditure in the meaning of Article 36(1)(a), (b) and (d) expected to be paid during the eligibility period indicated in Article 55(2). Applications for interim payment submitted after the eligibility period indicated in Article 55(2) shall include the total amount of eligible expenditure in the meaning of Article 36; (b) each application for interim payment referred to in paragraph (a) may include up to 25 per cent of the total amount of the national co-financing as referred to in Article 33 (8) expected to be paid to the financial instrument, or at the level of final recipients for expenditure in the meaning of Article 36 (1) (a), (b) and (d), within the eligibility period indicated in Article 55(2); (c) subsequent applications for interim payment submitted during the eligibility period indicated in Article 55(2) shall only be made: (i) for the second application for interim payment, when at least 60 per cent of the amount included in the first application for interim payments has been spent as eligible expenditure in the meaning of Article 36(1)(a), (b) and (d); (ii) for the third and subsequent applications for interim payment, when at least 70 per cent of the amounts included in the previous applications for interim payments have been spent as eligible expenditure in the meaning of Article 36(1)(a), (b) and (d); (d) each application for interim payment, which includes expenditure related to financial instruments, shall separately disclose the total amount of programme contributions paid to the financial instrument and the amounts paid as eligible expenditure in the meaning of Article 36(1)(a), (b) and (d). At closure, the application for payment of the final balance shall include the total amount of eligible expenditure as referred to in Article 36.
Amendment 496 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 113 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 113 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The Member State may, at its own initiative, designate one coordinating body whose responsibility is to liaise with and provide information to the beneficiaries and interested citizens and to establish contact between those and the respective managing authorities.
Amendment 496 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Part 2 – article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 8
(8) promoting employment and start-up businesses and supporting labour mobility;
Amendment 1055 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 53 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Part 2 – article 53 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Where State co-financing is required, this can also be replaced by private investors.
Amendment 1161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 75 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Part 2 – article 75 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By 1 February30 June of the year following the end of the accounting period, the Member State shall submit to the Commission the following documents and information in accordance with [Article 56] of the Financial Regulation:
Amendment 1191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Resources for the Investment for growth and jobs goal shall be allocated among the following threewo categories of NUTS level 2 regions:
Amendment 1193 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 1194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) more developed regions, whose GDP per capita is above 9075 % of the average GDP of the EU-27.
Amendment 1195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The threewo categories of regions are determined on the basis of how their GDP per capita, measured in purchasing power parities and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2006 to 2008, relates to the average GDP of the EU-27 for the same reference period.
Amendment 1207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 4
Part 3 – article 82 – paragraph 4
4. Immediately following the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt a decision by implementing act setting out the list of regions fulfilling the criteria of the threewo categories of regions referred to in paragraph 2 and of Member States fulfilling the criteria of paragraph 3. This list shall be valid from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.
Amendment 1214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) [50.13 % (i.e., a total of EUR 162 589 839 384) for less developed regions;] 1 (xxx) for less developed regions; __________________ 1 The percentage must be adjusted in accordance with the MFF negotiations
Amendment 1216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 1219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) 16,39 % (i.e., a total of EUR 53 142 922 017) for more developed regions; [28.40 %]1 (xxx) for more developed regions; __________________ 1 The percentage must be adjusted in accordance with the MFF negotiations
Amendment 1240 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
All regions whose GDP per capita for thethat received support in the period 2007-–2013 period was less than 75% of the average of the EU-25 for the refunder the ‘Convergence period but’ objective whose GDP per capita is above 75 % of the GDP average of the EU-27 shall receive an allocation under the Structural Funds equal to at least two thirds of their 2007-–2013 allocation.
Amendment 1276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 3
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 3
Amendment 1320 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 85 – paragraph 1
Part 3 – article 85 – paragraph 1
1. The total appropriations allocated to each Member State in respect of less developed regions, transition regions and more developed regions shall not be transferable between each of those categories of regions.
Amendment 1334 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
In those Member States in which less developed and transition regions cover at least 70 % of the population, the verification shall take place at national level.
Amendment 1335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
In those Member States in which less developed and transition regions cover more than 15 % and less than 70 % of the population, the verification shall take place at national and regional level. For that purpose, those Member States shall provide to the Commission information about the expenditure in the less developed and transition regions at each stage of the verification process.
Amendment 1503 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 99 – paragraph 2
Part 3 – article 99 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant operational programmes shall identify the ITIs planned and shall set out the indicative financial allocation from each priority axis to each ITI. In order to implement ITI, thematic objectives can also be used that are not used outside of ITI.
Amendment 1594 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) When state co-financing is required, this can also be provided by private investors.
Amendment 1597 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
The co-financing rate at the level of each priority axis of operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal shall be nonever be higher than
Amendment 1605 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) 75 % for the less developed regions of Member States other than those referred to in points (b) and (c), and for all regions whose GDP per capita forthat received funding in the 2007-–2013 period was less than 75% of the aunder the converage of the EU-25 for the reference period butnce objective and whose GDP per capita is above 75 % of the GDP average of the EU-27;
Amendment 1606 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Amendment 1607 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Part 3 – article 110 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
In substantiated cases, the rate of EU co- financing for the individual priority axes of the operational programmes are to be increased by the regions in consultation with the Commission in the context of the objective of ‘investing in growth and employment’.
Amendment 1651 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 112 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Part 3 – article 112 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall ensure that no later than 31 December 20145, all exchanges of information between beneficiaries and managing authorities, certifying authorities, audit authorities and intermediate bodies can be carried out solely by means of electronic data exchange systems.
Amendment 1661 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 113 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Part 3 – article 113 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Member States are called upon to nominate a one stop agency for applicants.
Amendment 1803 #
Proposal for a regulation
Part 4 – article 142 – paragraph 1
Part 4 – article 142 – paragraph 1
1. The powers to adopt delegated acts are conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. Delegated acts shall not apply retrospectively.