Activities of Vicky FORD related to 2011/2071(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
European semester for economic policy coordination (debate)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
– having regard to Articles 121, 126 and 148 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Protocols No 12 thereto, 15 and 16 on the excessive deficit procedure,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas a purelythe intergovernmental coordination system would be inadequate in those areas requiringsystem has achieved many coordinated actions by the Union's Member States,
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the introduction of the European Semester will lead to changes in the work of national parliamust respect the democratic legitimacy of national, regional and local governments,
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Maintains that the Parliament has a crucial role to play in establishing the necessary democratic legitimacy; draws attention to its powers as regards the adoption of the necessary legislative texts to establish the objectives, National Parliaments as well as local and Regional elected representatives have a crucial role to play in establishing the necessary democratic legitimacy of the European Semester;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the European Semester is now the annual framework for the implementation and assessment of the Europe 2020 strategy,of the broad economic policy guidelines and the employment guidelines; emphasises, however, that it must not replace these instruments, which are enshrined in the Treaty, or diminish their importance; calls on the Commission to clarify and explain how these different instruments fit together;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Wishes to step up dialogue and cooperation between EU and national institutions, in particular parliamentary institutions, where appropriate and with mutual respect and consent;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recognises the obligations of individual member states under the TFEU and taking into account protocols thereto, including Protocol 15,
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Intends to organise, prior to the Spring European Council each year, an interparliamentary forum at the European Parliament for members of the national parliamentary committees responsible for the European Semester; recommends that this meeting be an integrated part of the annual meeting organised by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for members of national parliaments; proposes that this forum include meetings of the political groups and the relevant committees, along with a plenary sitting affording an opportunity to adopt a joint resolution in preparation for the Spring European Council; instructs its President to represent it at the Spring European Council on the basis of the resolution thus adopted;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the parliaments and governments of the Member States to modify their calendars and national budget adoption procedures so as to take account of the European Semester, and, in particular, to deliberate on National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and Stability and Convergence Programmes (SCPs) before these are submitted by the respective national governmentRecognises and respects the democratic process of National Parliaments including their national parliamentary calendars;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that these modifications should enhance the ability of national parliaments to scrutinise national budgets by affording them an overall view that incorporates EU coordination of economic policies;As part of the European Semester, the Commission on behalf of the European Union should provide annual analysis on the European Unions own budget forecasts in equivalent detail to that of each Member State,
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Intends to conduct an audit of the Union's macroeconomic situation in the autumn, having recourse to a panel made up of various economic institutesexternal independent advice, in order to foster debate and obtain a second opinion on economic issues in preparation for its discussions with the Commission prior to the drafting of the Annual Growth Survey;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates that Member States should regard their economic and fiscal policies as a matter of common concern and that the economic pillar of Economic and Monetary Union, including its fiscal dimension, must therefore be strengthened, especially within the Euro-zone;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the European Semester is now the annual framework forhas been established to ensuringe sustained convergence of the economic performance of the Member States and closer coordination of economic policies and, as such, includinges the formulation and surveillance of the implementation of the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union (Broad Economic Policy Guidelines, the submission and assessment of Member States' Stability or Convergence Programmes, the submission and assessment of Member States' National Reform Programmes supporting the Union's strategy for growth and jobs, the surveillance to prevent and correct macroeconomic imbalances), the formulation and examination of the implementation of the employment guidelines; recalls that the European Semester shall take place without prejudice to the powers of the European Parliament conferred on it by the TFEU; calls on the Commission to develop proposals establishing how these different instruments are differentiated, create spill-over effects across policy areas and fit together;.
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the quality of National Reform Programmes under the first European Semester varies greatly regarding concreteness, transparency, feasibility and comprehensiveness; calls on the Commission to elevMember States the National Reform Programmes of best quality to the standard format foro provide information of best quality and transparency to the next European Semesters;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that the preparation of the Annual Growth Survey is based on macroeconomic forecasting across Member States and the European Union. Emphasises that steps needed to improve the European economic governance capacity should not lead to any deficit in democratic legitimacy and accountability; warns, therefore, against a set-up of the Annual Growth Survey as a bureaucratic act which lacks the approval of the European Parliament;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15.Calls on the Commission, when drawing up the Annual Sustainability Guidelines, to draw upon heterodox scientific expertise to the greatest extent possible and to take relevant recommendations of the European Parliament, Member States, local and regional governments into account;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission and Council to ensure that policy guidance for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms are fully coherent and consistent with the Union's objectives of social and sustainable development; considers that, in defining and implementing the Annual Sustainability Guidelines, the Union must take into account the impact of developments in micro-financial legislation, in particular prudential regulation, on long-term investment stimulating competitiveness, sustainable growth and job creation; believes that the country-specific recommendations need to be subject of social impact assessments so as to ensure that requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training, retraining and protection of human health are met in order to achieve a high level of competitiveness, growth and employment;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to identify explicitly in the Annual SustainabilitGrowth Survey Guidelines potential cross-border spill-over effects of major economic policy measures implemented at the EU level as well as in Member States;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to come and present its recommendations to the European Parliament at an appropriate time, once the analysis of the NRPs and SCPs has been completed and to highlight the potential cross-border spill-over effects, especially within the Euro-Zone in view of the foreseen interparliamentary forum and the discussions in the Council on the country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a
Paragraph 27 a
27 a. Takes note that the crisis and the developments especially inside the euro area call for an upgrading of the European dimension of the economic policies of its Member States, especially within the Euro-zone, calls on the EP to adapt to this evolution;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47 a. Recognises the importance of the Budgetary frameworks of the Member States Directive and recommends that Member States should implement this Directive as soon as possible;