2007/2191(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that, even though rural areas are characterised by a great diversity of situations, ranging from remote rural areas affected by desertification to peri-urban areas under increasing pressure from urban centres, they frequently suffer from a combination of natural handicaps (topography, climate, etc.), human handicaps (small population, older and with less training), and structural handicaps (insufficient jobs, difficulty in accessing basic services) which mean that residents face unequal opportunities;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Believes that democratic decision- making by rural and peripheral communities with regard to their resources (land, services, energy, etc.), and the income from such resources, will act as a catalyst for the revival of those regions, in terms of wealth, population, social cohesion and solidarity; therefore encourages the examination of local forms of ownership (cooperatives, community trusts, mutual societies, etc.) by all levels of European and Member State government;

Amendment 11 #

Ilda FIGUEIREDO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses the need to boost support for farmers' associations, cooperatives, wine cooperatives and other local institutions in the field of crafts and other activities in addition to farming so as to facilitate the marketing of products, the creation of local markets and closer links between producers and consumers;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses that in the long term, in order to avoid competition between farming and non-farming rural development actors, it would doubtless be more effective to create a structural fund specifically devoted to rural areas, and calls on the Commission to look into this topic;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for income-generating ~~production~~ activityies to continue in rural areas, for which purpose particular attention should be devoted to family farming and to small and medium- sized farmers ~~and~~, with the CAP ~~should be~~being revised in order to make it fairer, a~~nd to arrest the steady disappearance of basic social services (post offices, schools, public transport, etc.) and of social forums (shops, cafés, etc.) which is a factor~~ s well as to non- agricultural entrepreneurial activities which supply goods and services that are essential to maintaining the ~~desertification of rural area~~population and welcoming new arrivals;

Amendment 3 #

Ilda FIGUEIREDO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the importance of maintaining quality public services in rural areas, including mountain areas and the outermost regions, in order to combat isolation and guarantee universal access to education, health, transport and communications, culture and a decent life for farmers and their families;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that farming is often the last remaining activity in rural areas and it is therefore necessary to implement measures to encourage young farmers to set up farms, but that in addition to the viability of their farms there should be a particular focus on ensuring quality of life in the rural environment by favouring equal access to public services (post offices, schools, public transport, health services, etc.) and the preservation of services for the public (day-care facilities for young children, facilities for the elderly, social housing etc.) and of social forums that make it possible to break isolation (shops, cafés, cultural centres, etc.);

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Believes that the production of energy from renewable sources, such as agricultural biogases and wood chip fuel from forestry, in local energy-generating plants has the potential to revitalise the economies of rural and peripheral areas and to support a sustainable energy policy, provided that the positive carbon balance of the process is guaranteed, and a negative impact on international security of food supply and the agro- ecosystem can be avoided; calls for more Structural and Cohesion Funds to be invested in developing technologies for such energy production;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Underlines the importance of agricultural and non-agricultural economic activities (such as processing and direct marketing of agricultural products, tourism, services, small and medium-sized industries) in rural areas for employment and the prevention of poverty and rural exodus; calls, therefore, for improved facilities for further vocational training in rural areas to support the development of businesses;

Amendment 7 #

Ilda FIGUEIREDO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Considers it vital to ensure complementarity between various Community funds and programmes in these rural areas in order to guarantee their integrated development, including the multifunctionality of agriculture, forestry and tourism; takes the view that this will be the only way to maintain their populations, young people in particular, and protect the environment and biodiversity, preventing forest fires and other disasters;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Points out that attention must be paid to linkage and complementarity between funds mobilised for the development of rural areas, whether stemming from regional policy or the common agricultural policy;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses the importance of protecting traditional forms of agriculture, such as crofting, which underpin the cohesion of rural communities in peripheral regions;

source: PE-404.536

2008/04/18 REGI 100 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Indent 3 a (new)

- having regard to the Commission communication of 9 February 2005 on the Social Agenda (COM(2005)0033)

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas entire countries still face considerable challenges to their development and convergence is unlikely to occur within the current framework 2007-2013,

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to present a 14. Calls on the Commission to present a specific proposal aimed at addressing in a specific proposal aimed at addressing in a concrete manner the territorial and social concrete manner the problems faced by exclusion of vulnerable communities and vulnerable communities and groups, groups; including social exclusion;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas addressing social, economic and territorial disparities between more prosperous and poorest regions remains the underlying objective of cohesion policy,

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas current instruments and budgetary resources do not constitute an adequate basis for addressing intra- regional disparities, and whereas vulnerable communities and groups and the inter-regional primary objective of cohesion policy should not be affected by the introduction of new instruments and recipients,

Amendment 13 #

Emmanouil ANGELAKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas economic growth tends to be concentrated around capital cities and large urban centres leaving peripheral, mountain, island and rural areas with uneven socio-economic development,

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas economic growth tends to be concentrated around national and regional capital cities and large urban centres leaving peripheral and rural areas with uneven socio-economic development,

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in some Member States economic growth ~~tends to be~~is concentrated around capital cities and large urban centres leaving ~~peripheral and rural~~other areas with uneven socio- economic development,

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas economic growth tends to be concentrated around capital cities and large urban centres, leaving peripheral and rural areas with uneven socio-economic development and extending vulnerability to social communities and groups within these areas,

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas equal development means that every region and urban area must be given the chance, based on its particular potential, to determine its development in accordance with its needs,

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the Lisbon Treaty lisets territorial cohesion as one of the EU's objectives and provides for shared competence between the Union and the Member States in this area,

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the concept 'vulnerable community' is very broad and there are no clear criteria for defining it,

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Indent 10

- having regard to Articles 3, 123 and 141 of the EC Treaty, which require the Member States to ensure equal opportunities for all citizens,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

~~F. whereas many territories still suffer from remoteness and lack the necessary infrastructure which would allow real development opportunities for catching up with the EU average development level,~~deleted

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas improving transport infrastructure will help to make isolated regions more accessible and whereas improving services of general interest, particularly education, will improve the lives of vulnerable groups and communities,

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the poorest territories lack the necessary financial resources to ~~match~~provide their own contribution to the Community funding they are eligible for and moreover these territories most often lack the administrative capacity and human resources to make good use of the funding granted,

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas ~~the poorest territories lack the necessary financial resources~~it falls to the Member States to ensure that their poorest territories are able to match the Community funding they are eligible for and moreover these territories most often lack the administrative capacity and human resources to make good use of the funding granted,

Amendment 24 #

Oldřich VLASÁK

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas~~, due to~~ it its ~~strong territorial impact, rural development policy should be integrated into regional policy in order to foster synergies and complementarities between~~necessary to foster synergies and complementarities between rural development policy and regional policy and to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of reintegrating these policies,

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas, due to its strong territorial impact, rural development policy should be ~~integr~~better coordinated ~~into~~with regional policy in order to foster synergies and complementarities between these policies,

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas there is a lack of available and comparable micro-regional statistical data for all regions of the EU and whereas GDP per capita indicators at NUTS 2 level are not sufficient to target micro- regional territories which are excluded,deleted

Amendment 27 #

Rolf BEREND

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas there is a lack of available and comparable micro-regional statistical data for ~~all~~those regions of the EU ~~and~~ where~~as GDP per capita indicators at NUTS 2 level are not sufficient to target micro- regional territories which are excluded~~ vulnerable communities and groups live,

Amendment 28 #

Emmanouil ANGELAKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multi-dimensional problems related to their peripheral location, lack of logistical infrastructure, socio-economic under- development, de-industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, generational unemployment, deteriorating housing and living conditions, low access to services of general interest, lack of conditions for technological development and progress and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable groups,

Amendment 29 #

Stavros ARNAOUTAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multi-dimensional problems related to their peripheral location, reduced accessibility, lack of basic infrastructure, socio-economic under- development, de- industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, generational unemployment, deteriorating housing and living conditions, low access to services of general interest and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable groups,

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas one of the Community's goals, as laid down in Article 158 of the EC Treaty, is to promote the harmonious economic and social development across the whole of the Community and reduce socio-economic disparities between ~~the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured~~ individual regions,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas there is a lack of available and comparable ~~micro-regional~~ statistical data at LAU 1 and LAU 2 levels (micro-regions) for all regions of the EU and whereas GDP per capita indicators at NUTS 2 level are not sufficient to target micro-regional territories which are excluded,

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas poverty and exclusion have a strong territorial character ~~with a concentration of segregated vulnerable groups in deprived territories and whereas all territories of the Union should benefit from similar development opportunities~~,

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multi-dimensional problems related to their peripheral location, lack of infrastructure, socio-economic under- development, de-industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, generational unemployment, deteriothe Social Agenda requires that Member States combat poverty and exclusion, ensure that every citizen receives a minimum income, actively integrate all individuals suffering from exclusion into the labour market and guarantee every citizen unrestricted access to education, tratin~~g hous~~ing and ~~living conditions, low access to services of general interest and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable~~other services of general interest; whereas ethnic minorities and women immigrants often belong to particularly disadvantaged groups,

Amendment 33 #

Jean Marie BEAUPUY

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multi-dimensional problems related to their ~~peripheral location,~~ lack of infrastructure, socio- economic under- development, de- industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, ~~generational~~high levels of unemployment, deteriorating housing and living conditions, low access to services of general interest and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable groups,

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multi-dimensional problems related to their peripheral location, lack of adequate infrastructure (in particular, in terms of transport and information technology), socio-economic under- development, de-industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, generational unemployment, deteriorating housing and living conditions, low access to services of general interest and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable groups,

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas most of the least favoured micro-regional territories are facing complex multidimensional problems related to their peripheral location, lack of infrastructure, socioeconomic under- development, de-industrialisation processes, low levels of education and training, lack of administrative capacity, generational and structural unemployment, deteriorating housing and living conditions, low access to services of general interest and concentration of segregated minorities and vulnerable groups,

Amendment 36 #

Stavros ARNAOUTAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

F. whereas many territories still suffer from remoteness and their geographical disadvantages and lack the necessary infrastructure which would allow real development opportunities for catching up with the EU average development level,

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the territorial concentration of vulnerable communities and groups and the s~~trong geographic influence~~ocietal neglect strongly affecting ~~social~~ segregation in the most underdeveloped territories is an increasing challenge for the cohesion of EU territories;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the ~~territorial concentration of vulnerable communities and groups and the strong geographic influenc~~most underdeveloped territories could be affect~~ing~~ed by social ~~segregation in the most underdeveloped territories~~exclusion, which is an increasing challenge for the cohesion of EU territories;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the territorial concentration of vulnerable communities and groups ~~and the strong geographic influence affecting social segregation in the most underdeveloped territories~~ is an increasing challenge for the cohesion of EU territories;

Amendment 4 #

Elspeth ATTWOOLL

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. Whereas disparities may arise within as well as between regions,

Amendment 40 #

Emmanouil ANGELAKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the territorial concentration of vulnerable communities and groups and the strong geographic influence affecting social segregation in the most underdeveloped territories is an increasing challenge for the cohesion of EU territories; emphasises, moreover, that this phenomenon is not only to be found inter- regionally in underdeveloped areas but also intra-regionally, to a significant extent, both in developing and developed areas and requires particular attention because such vulnerable communities and groups tend to be lost within a more general, favourable picture,

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to carry out a detailed study on the issue in order to adequately address the problems faced by vulnerable communities and groups;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Stresses that, in order to achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion, there is a common political task to give an equal opportunity to every citizen, irrespective of territorial location and social standing, to combat social exclusion and, in particular, the perpetuation of poverty across generations in particularly disadvantaged groups;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to reach agreement on the criteria for defining vulnerable groups and communities;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

~~2. Points out therefore that due to the territorial nature of exclusion and social segregation the problem should be addressed in the context of territorial cohesion;~~deleted

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Points out therefore that due to~~Considers that the territorial ~~nature of exclu~~dimension ~~and~~of social ~~segregation the problem should be addressed~~exclusion should be dealt with in the context of territorial cohesion policy;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Points out therefore that ~~due to the territorial nature of~~the fact that exclusion and social segregation are often of a territorial nature means that the problem should be addressed in the context of territorial cohesion;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

~~2. Points out therefore that due to the territorial nature of exclusion and social segregation the problem should be addressed in the context of territorial cohesion;~~(Does not affect English version.)

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the Commission to assess the impact of cohesion policy on the relevant population groups and vulnerable categories in the period 2000-2006;

Amendment 49 #

Jean Marie BEAUPUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises in this connection that horizontal actions are not sufficient to overcome the ~~problems of territorial~~territorial problems of exclusion and recommends therefore that the Member States apply a holistic territorial development strategy, putting the cross-sector integrated approach into practice and focusing on the potential of these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicaps;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the economic success of the European internal market is concentrated in the centres of gravity and whereas even in these centres, some sectors of society do not share in the advantages but must struggle increasingly with poverty,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises in this connection that horizontal actions are not sufficient to overcome the problems of territorial exclusion and recommends therefore that the Member States apply a holistic territorial development strategy, carrying out an equalizing policy, putting the cross- sector integrated approach into practice and focusing on the potential of these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicaps;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises in this connection that horizontal actions are not sufficient to overcome the problems of territorial exclusion and recommends therefore that the Member States apply a ~~holistic~~comprehensive territorial development strategy, putting the cross-sector integrated approach into practice and focusing on the potential of these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicaps;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises ~~in this connection~~ that horizontal actions are not sufficient to overcome the problems of ~~territor~~social exclusion and recommends therefore that the Member States apply a holistic territorial development strategy, putting the cross-sector integrated approach into practice and focusing on the potential of ~~these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicap~~all EU territories;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises in this connection that ~~horizont~~individual actions alone are not sufficient to overcome the problems of territorial exclusion and recommends therefore that the Member States apply a holistic territorial development strategy, putting the cross-sector integrated approach into practice ~~and focusing on the potential of these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicaps~~;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Emphasises in this connection that horizontal actions are not sufficient to overcome the problems of territorial exclusion and recommends therefore~~Recommends that the Member States apply a holistic territorial development strategy, putting the cross-sector integrated approach into practice and focusing on the potential of these territories while also taking into consideration their geographical handicaps;

Amendment 55 #

Elspeth ATTWOOLL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Notes that special attention has to be paid to the situation of communities that are particularly vulnerable because of their location in areas subject to a combination of geographical handicaps, including, for example, remoteness, sparsity of population, islands, mountainous areas and difficult climatic conditions;

Amendment 56 #

Antonio DE BLASIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3a (new)

3a. Stresses the importance of an integrated approach and points out that the physical and mental state of health of vulnerable groups is to a large extent determined by the condition of their residential environment, with the result that, in order to enhance the quality of life of those affected, extra assistance must be provided to regions lagging behind for programmes aimed at improving the residential environment and environmental development;

Amendment 57 #

Antonio DE BLASIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3b (new)

3b. Draws attention – since the good state of health of those living in a given region is vital if social factors are to be improved – to the need for making the development of a healthy environment at Community, Member State and regional level a priority in order to achieve the aims of the cohesion policy;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Points out the need to address through a ~~territorially based~~n integrated approach the shortcomings in terms of equal opportunities and the potential concentration of social conflicts ~~arising from the concentration of segregated vulnerable groups in specific~~in underdeveloped areas;

Amendment 59 #

Elspeth ATTWOOLL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Notes, in this regard, that vulnerable groups may exist in all regions, even the more prosperous ones, and that an integrated approach should take such groups into account;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas cohesion policy constitutes an end in itself and therefore its scope should not be reduced to supporting other strategies' objectives, which could hamper economic, social and territorial cohesion,deleted

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines the importance of involving regional and local authorities as well as the economic and social partners and relevant NGOs in the planning and implementation of integrated ~~micro-regional~~ development strategies and the importance of supporting bottom-up initiatives;

Amendment 61 #