32 Amendments of Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL related to 2015/2008(BUD)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis, the level of investment in the EU has significantly dropped; whereas, given the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level and fiscal consolidation policies in all the Member States, the level of investment in the EU has dropped sharply, causing long-term harm to growth; whereas, given the persistent economic and budgetary constraints at national level and the disparities still to be found between Member States and even between regions within individual Member States, the EU budget plays a key role in fostering competitiveness and increasing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU budget cannot accomplish its mission if its soundness and credibility are put in question; whereas it is imperative that all commitments forming part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 are respected in full, and that a number of problems that have accumulated over the past years, such as the situationnotably the unprecedented amount of unpaid invoices at year- endthe end of 2014, are resolved without any delay; underlines that de-commitment is not a solution to the payment crisis;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU budget cannot accomplish its mission if its soundness, fairness and credibility are put in question; whereas it is imperative that all commitments forming part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014- 2020 are respected in full, and that a number of problems that have accumulated over the past years, such as the situation of unpaid invoices at year- end, are resolved without any delay; whereas this backlog of unpaid invoices is giving rise to delays in the implementation of EU programmes and funds, with EU citizens being the first to suffer from this situation; whereas the delays in structural payments raise the issue of whether interest should not be charged on late payments, given that regional and local authorities are obliged to turn to the financial markets for advance funding to cover late EU contributions;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Back on track – the ‘three Es’ : Employment, Enterprises, Entrepreneurship for sustainable growth in the European Union
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the indisputable potential and added value of the EU budget in the creation of employment, the furtherance of social and territorial cohesion, support for green, sustainable growth, action to combat climate change, support for research and development and the development of enterprises and entrepreneurship across the Union; acknowledges that a wide range of EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, COSME and Erasmus+, contribute directly to the attainment of the objectives; expects that the Commission will place such programmes and instruments at the heart of the Draft Budget 2016, in order to ensure that they are endowed with the necessary resources;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the indisputable potential and added value of the EU budget in the creation of employment andsustainable growth and job creation, the development of enterprises and also entrepreneurship across the Union; acknowledges that a wide range of EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, COSME and Erasmus+, contribute directly to the attainment of the objectives; expects that the Commission will place such programmes and instruments at the heart of the Draft Budget 2016, in order to ensure that they are endowed with the necessary resources;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that a favourable business environment and the development of an entrepreneurial culture including decent jobs in the EU could give back to SMEs their role as main job creators in the Union, which has been weakened by the economic crisis; considers that, along with legislative simplification and reduction of red tape, available financial instruments under the COSME programme have to be used to their full extent to help SMEs along this path by facilitating in particular their access to markets and credits;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Draws attention to the energy transition’s potential for generating new jobs and growth and expects the Commission to make provision for the related sustainable development objectives in the EU budget;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the European Structural and Investment Funds form the biggest share of expenditure in the EU budget and are instrumental in job creation and competitiveness, boosting growth and enhancing competitiveness and innovation; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make every effort possible for the swift adoption of the remaining Operational Programmes in the coming months, so as to ensure that implementation will reach cruising speed in 2016;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the European Structural and Investment Funds form the biggest share of investment expenditure in the EU budget and are instrumental in job creation and competitiveness; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make every effort possible for the swift adoption of the remaining Operational Programmes in the coming months, so as to ensure that implementation will reach cruising speed in 2016;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the funding of the Youth Employment Initiative inas from 2016, given the frontloading of the entire financial envelope of the programme inwas limited to 2014 and 2015; acknowledgehighlights that the fight against youth unemployment needs to be further intensified and that all funding possibilities should be considered for this purpose; recalls that 2016 will be the first year when resources under the Global MFF Margin for commitments will be made available, as foreseen under the MFF 2014-2020 regulation, will be made available over and above the ceilings established in the MFF for the years 2016 to 2020 for policy objectives related to growth and employment, in particular youth employment;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the funding of the Youth Employment Initiative in 2016, given the frontloading of the entire financial envelope of the programme in 2014 and 2015; acknowledgstresses that the fight against youth unemployment needs to be further intensified and that all funding possibilities should be considered for this purpose; recalls in this connection that 2016 will be the first year when resources under the Global MFF Margin for commitments will be made available for policy objectives related to growth and employment, in particular youth employment; calls on the Commission to ascertain the reasons behind the delays in the utilisation of appropriations, with a view to ensuring that the necessary support is available for the Member States in their efforts to meet the objectives that have been set;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the significance of cross- border mobility as a means of enabling Europe to take advantage of the variety of people’s skills while expanding training and job opportunities for all generations; considers that emblematic and successful mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ work to the benefit of both the individuals and the economy and should therefore be exploitused to the full;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the significance of cross- border mobility as a means of enabling Europe to take advantage of the variety of people’s skills while expanding training and job opportunities for all generations; considers that emblematic and successful mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ work to the benefit of both the individuals and the economy and should therefore be exploited to the full; reminds in this context that social aspects of mobility always have to be taken into account and mobility is only one of the possible tools to combat unemployment and should not be the last resort;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. reminds that any frauds to VAT, like "carousel fraud" directly impact the EU revenue; asks the Commission to strengthen EU programmes, which complement the Member States' efforts in actively fighting fraud, evasion and tax avoidance;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points to the importance of food policies, which cover economic activities that are firmly embedded in the EU's economic, social and territorial fabric; stresses that those policies should ensure that people working in the food industry are properly paid and the EU is self- sufficient in terms of food production; considers it essential to strike a balance between production requirements and the need for sustainable resource management and use;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes as a first step the Investment Plan presented by the Commission to offset the deficit in public and private investment brought about by the reduction of public spending in the context of the economic crisis, which can create the potential to mobilise EUR 315 billion of investments in infrastructures, education and research, as well as SMEs and mid-cap companies; notes that the EU budget is expected to provide the backbone of this investment plan by making available the guarantee fund of EUR 8 billion required in commitments and payments for the provisioning of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); considers the EU budget contribution as an opportunity to deliver a significant return on the objectives of the programmes concerned (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility) through a higher leverage effect;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the complementary nature of the proposed Investment Plan and the EU budget and their joint commitment to kick- start the economy and boost job creation; confirms its willingness to examine with the utmost vigilance how financial commitments by the EU to the EIB for the setting up of the EFSI are entered in the EU budget and in the 2015 budget in particular; stresses that the EU budget is in itself a major investment tool with a distinctive role and mission, that has provided tangible results with a clear European added value; is convinced that every effort needs to be deployed in order to create synergies not only between the Investment Plan and the EU budget but also with national budgets, in order to bridge the investment gap and maximise the effect of public spending on the real economy;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. recalls that the EU budget is an investment budget and invites therefore the European Commission to consider that GNI based national contributions to the EU budget are to be covered by the "investment clause" as interpreted by the Commission in its recent Communication on "making a the best use of the flexibility within the existing rules of the stability and growth pact" (COM 2015 - 12 final);
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the EU budget is a tool of internal solidarity in that it supports economic, social and territorial cohesion, helps combat poverty and promotes social inclusion; stresses that it is also an instrument of external solidarity by helping makemaking the EU the biggest donor of development aid, by offering support to neighbouring countries and by assistingwith the aim to reduce poverty worldwide and contribute to the Post-2015 Global Development agenda, by offering support to countries in need and by urgent assistance to countries and people facing humanitarian and civilian crises;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with concern that Europe, despite being one of the safest places in the world, is faced with new types of risks to its internal security which require ensuring closer police and judicial cooperation and coordination as well as reinforcement of asylum and migration policies and at the same time promoting stability and peace in conflict areas; invites the Commission to propose targeted reinforcements of the relevant programmes and instruments, thus demonstrating the EU’s pledge to tackle these threats;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. reminds the Commission and the Council that EU Agencies execute tasks given to them by the legislative authority and shall thus be respected as important parts of the EU administration; is highly concerned about the positions taken by the Council and the Commission in the budget negotiations for the budget 2015; underlines that agencies need sufficient financial and human resources to execute their tasks; highlights that the first EU agency announced that they had to postpone and cancel ongoing projects as a consequence of the severe staff and budget cuts decided by the budgetary authority; recalls the EP's opposition to the redeployment pool and requests the Commission to reverse the effect of it in the budget procedure 2016;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is convinced that the EU budget cannot reach its full potential without settling in a definite and unequivocal way a number of problems that have accumulated over the past few years and, regrettably, dominated last year’s budgetary negotiations, notably the recurrent problem of unpaid invoices at year-end as well as, the question of budgeting the MFF special instruments, as well as the delay in implementing cohesion policy operational programmes; considers that 2015 should be the ultimate limit for introducing tangible and sustainable solutions to these outstanding questions;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the full implementation of the joint statements on payment appropriations and on a payment plan agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the end of the 2015 budgetary procedure; recalls the commitment to hold, in the course of this year, at least three interinstitutional meetings on payments, in order to take stock of payment implementation and revised forecasts; expects the first of these meetings, in March 2015, to provide a first overview of the level of unpaid bills at the end of 2014 for the main policy areas; regrets that, as anticipated, this level reached at the end of 2014 the unprecedented amount of EUR 24.7 billion for 2007-2013 Cohesion programmes; alone; recalls that the overall ceiling of payment appropriations as foreseen in the current MFF 2014-2020 is historically low; deplores that this debt undermines the credibility of the EU and is in contradiction to the goals set at the highest political level for growth and employment - notably youth employment - and fears that this will deepen the gulf between the European Union and its citizens;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Reiterates its long-standing position that the payments of special instruments (Flexibility Instruments, the EU Solidarity Fund, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the Emergency Aid Reserve) shouldmust be counted over and above the MFF payment ceilings, as is the case for commitments; regrets that no agreement was made possible during last year’s budgetary procedure due to the Council’s misinterpretation of the relevant MFF provision; expects the matter to be settled with the 2015 technical adjustment of the Global Margin for Payments by the Commission;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Commission to take due account of the above-mentioned political priorities when establishing its Draft Budget for 2016 so that the relevant EU programmes and actions are provided with the necessary means to accomplish these objectives; anticipates, in this context, a positive response from the Commission to the further requests and positions expressed in this resolution so as to settle recurrent problems and facilitate this year’s budgetary procedure; also expects the Commission to propose an adequate level of payment appropriations in its Draft Budget, based on real forecasts and needs, so as to give the EU resources to match its ambitions;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls that according to the Treaty the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission shall ensure that the financial means are made available to allow the Union to fulfil its legal obligations in respect of third parties; insists on the use of all means available under the MFF regulation in order to meet the Union's legal obligations and not to jeopardise or delay payments to stakeholders, such as researchers, universities etc.;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Council, in its consideration of next year’s budget, to live up to the expectations raised by its own statements and decisions, whether they relate to the payment crisis, the MFF, the Europe 2020 strategy or the relaunch of investment; considers that such political declarations and commitments are void unless coupled with sufficient budgetary resources to allow their implementation;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Undertakes, within the MFF ceilings and with due consideration to the acute shortage of payments, to play its role as one arm of the budgetary authority with dedication and responsibility by promoting well-targeted increases in those budgetary areas with high absorption capacity that correspond to its political priorities and guarantee successful delivery; in this light, intends to examine, with the support of its specialised committees, the specific programmes and budget lines that can better achieve this objective;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines that the 2016 budget will be crucial as it should serve as a benchmark ofor the post-electoral MFF review / revision, to be launched before the end of 2016; stresses the need to establish political priorities and identify in good time areas of proven added value of EU spending for which further investments will be deemed necessary in the second half of the MFF 2014-2020; stresses, in this context, the importance of closely monitoring the implementation and performance of key EU programmes already during the current budgetary procedure;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines that the 2016 budget will be crucial as it should serve as a benchmark of the post-electoral MFF review / revision, to be launched before the end of 2016; stresses the need to establish political priorities and identify in good time areas of proven added value of EU spending for which further investments will be deemed necessary in the second half of the MFF 2014-2020; stresses, in this context, the importance of closely monitoring the implementation and performance of key EU programmes already during the current budgetary procedure;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms its position in favour of an in-depth reform of the system of EU own resources, whose current shortcomings are causing severe impasses in budgetary negotiations; attaches, therefore, the highest political importance to the work of the High Level Group on Own Resources, under the chairmanship of Mario Monti; eagerly anticipates the results and proposals of the work of this High-Level Group that are due to be presented in an interinstitutional conference, with the participation of national parliaments, during 2016, and considered in the context of the MFF review / revision;