Activities of Judith A. MERKIES related to 2011/0177(APP)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the interim report in the interests of achieving a positive outcome of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 approval procedure
Amendments (24)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Takes note of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety for the Special committee on policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 (2010/2211(INI));
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Welcomes the working documents on LIFE from Jutta Haug (16/04/2012);
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1c. Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Health for Growth Programme, the third multi-annual programme of EU action in the field of health for the period 2014-2020 (COM(2011)0709 – C7-0399/2011 – 2011/0339(COD));
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes the Europe 2020 strategy accompanied by its flagship initiatives which need to be translated into concrete actions, commitments and legislative frameworks; is committed to transform the European Union with an enhanced engagement in more sustainability towards smart, inclusive and competitive Europe; is convinced that investments in biodiversity and ecosystem measures and in resource efficiency as well as complementary actions at EU level in the public health area will contribute to sustainable growth and jobs;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. SecEnsure environment and climate investments, combining mainstreaming and a dedicated instrument (LIFE), suggesting an earmarking of 20% MFF funds for climate policyan earmarking of 25 % MFF funds for greening, climate policy and secure investments for climate mitigation and adaptation; stresses that sub- earmarking of the 25 % MFF fund is necessary to ensure that different areas of climate policy are dealt with, e.g. energy, promotion of resource and water efficiency, stimulation of eco- and green innovation, research into sustainable raw material substitution, protection of biodiversity, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and prevention of deforestation;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Strongly believes that the Europe 2020 strategy should be the main policy reference for the next MFF; is convinced that all internal policies contribute to achieving the targets set by the Europe 2020 strategy; considers, as a consequence, that the structure of the MFF should reflect and give political visibility to the Europe 2020 dimensions of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; is not convinced that the structure proposed by the Commission, only reshaping slightly the existing structure, is translating the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Ensure adequate financing of the Natura 2000 network, by allocating at least EUR 5.8 billion per year through EU and Member State funding; adequate funding is made available through various EU funds (CAP, Cohesion Policy, LIFE, EMFF, Horizon 2020), with better coherence and synergies between these funds through Prioritized Actions Frameworks at the national level, as referenced in the Common Strategic Framework;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Stresses that clear conditions as to where the safeguarding of the environment is concerned, must be given at calls for concession or public procurement
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Ensure that environmentally harmful subsidies are phased out in the MFF funds, notably support for carbon intensive activities, activities increasing resource and energy intensity, activities that damage ecosystems and biodiversity and fuel subsidies;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Stresses that within Horizon 2020 a significant part should be allocated to eco-innovation; the specific objective of eco-innovation is to foster an innovative European industry and innovation community creating new products, processes and services that deliver sustainable growth as well as environmental benefits; the aim is to increase resource-efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, prevent (water) pollution and / or achieve more efficient, effective and responsible use of natural resources.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Strongly demands that at least 0.5% of the Union budget be allocated to the LIFE Programme, given its extremely positive track record as a small, but well targeted and effective instrument and its high European Added Value as only instrument exclusively targeting climate and environment challenges; emphasises that integrated spending for climate and environment via LIFE Integrated Projects should be actively supported within relevant Union funds; calls for LIFE being equipped with the necessary share to contribute to a sound and steady management of the Natura 2000 network, taking into account the secured contribution of other Union funds;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Strongly believes that the current debt crisis should not lead to short-sighted investments jeopardizing, in addition to its financial capital, the Union's natural capital by further degrading biodiversity and eco-system services; calls instead for the establishment of the appropriate framework to counter the crisis by forward-looking investments into major future challenges such as resource- efficiency, climate change and eco-system preservation, where potential economic and social benefits would be significant;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Common Agricultural Policy
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new) under subheading Common Agricultural Policy
Paragraph 5 c (new) under subheading Common Agricultural Policy
5c. Allocate at least 50% of the total Common Agricultural Policy funds to Rural Development expenditure to provide targeted spending and effective support to rural areas and their communities, stimulate innovation in sustainable agriculture and in resource efficiency;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new) under subheading Common Agricultural Policy
Paragraph 5 e (new) under subheading Common Agricultural Policy
5e. Allocate at least 30% of Direct Payments to support good agronomic practices at farm level which benefit the environment and secure environmental public goods delivery, through a mandatory package at farm level;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Subheading 1 b (new)
Subheading 1 b (new)
Cohesion Policy
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new) under subheading Cohesion Policy
Paragraph 5 h (new) under subheading Cohesion Policy
5h. Earmark resources of European Regional Development Fund to energy efficiency, renewable energy, environment and resource efficiency, eco-innovation and SMEs support;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 i (new) under subheading Cohesion Policy
Paragraph 5 i (new) under subheading Cohesion Policy
5i. Improve the environmental assessments of Cohesion Policy spending through ex-ante conditionalities which will contribute towards preventing environmentally damaging spending and increase quality of Operational Programmes;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Subheading 1 c (new)
Subheading 1 c (new)
Connecting Europe Facility
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 j (new) under subheading Connecting Europe Facility
Paragraph 5 j (new) under subheading Connecting Europe Facility
5j. In view of the long lifetime of major infrastructure projects to be supported by the CEF and financial instruments including Project Bonds, it is a priority to ensure that the funds, instruments and projects shall make a measurable contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy and "20-20-20" energy and climate targets, as well as the Roadmap for Moving to a Low-Carbon Economy by 2050. Infrastructure projects supported by the CEF and Project Bonds in the field of energy, transport and communications shall deliver a measurable positive impact on the environment, climate and low- carbon energy security. Project appraisal, evaluation and reporting shall require a demonstrable contribution towards EU climate and energy policy goals and respect for all relevant environmental policies (SEA, EIA).
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Urges that the interest of a stable economy at longer term be kept in mind, as investments in health care and the quality of health of the European ageing citizen in the short term will reduce health and care costs in the longer term;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Believes that the next MFF should allow for a ring-fencing of large-scale projects such as the Global Monitoring For Environment and Security programme (GMES); considers that the EU budget should make a long-term contribution to this project, in order to ensure its planning continuity and organisation stability; considers that, should additional financial resources be needed for this large-scale project, those should not be found at the expense of smaller successful projects that are financed by the EU budget;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Points to the significant savings that could be made if the European Parliament were to have a single seat; urges the budgetary authority to raise this issue in the negotiations on the next MFF 2014-2020;