Procedure completed
2010/2305(INI) Absorption of Structural and Cohesion Funds: lessons learnt for the future cohesion policy of the EU
Lead committee dossier: REGI/7/04817
Legal Basis RoP 052
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion | EMPL | BAUER Edit (PPE) | |
| Lead | REGI | THEURER Michael (ALDE) | AUCONIE Sophie (PPE), BOŞTINARU Victor (S&D), RÜHLE Heide (Verts/ALE), VLASÁK Oldřich (ECR) |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Subjects
Activites
-
2011/09/27
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
-
T7-0403/2011
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the absorption of Structural and Cohesion Funds: lessons learnt for the future cohesion policy of the EU. Absorption capacity is the extent to which a Member State and its regions are able to spend the financial resources allocated from the Structural and Cohesion Funds in an effective and efficient manner. Parliament recalls that this capacity is necessary for making a maximum contribution to economic, social and territorial cohesion with the resources available from the EU funds.Main problems identified: pointing out that efforts have been made to ensure an acceleration in absorption capacities and budgetary implementation of cohesion policy during 2010, Parliament points out that absorption problems have been caused by the following main factors: (i) difficulties with completing the compliance assessment procedures concerning the new management and control system, that generally fall at the beginning of the programming period; (ii) global economic recession, which has a direct effect in the form of the budgetary restraint measures applied to public budgets and difficulties in obtaining internal financing; (iii) insufficient resources to co-finance projects; (iv) delays in the establishment and introduction of EU and national rules or related guidance, and incomplete or unclear rules; (v) delays in the translation of the guidance notes and in obtaining clarification from the Commission, and inconsistency of Commission guidance; (vi) over-complicated and over-strict national procedures, and frequent changes therein.Improving absorption capacity: the resolution presents a certain number of proposals with a view to improving absorption capacity: encourage and maintain an extensive dialogue with all stakeholders at national, regional and local level in order better to identify the needs of the labour market; improve awareness and accessibility of the ESF and to update project-building capacities in order to contribute to the creation of new, decent jobs and more effective social inclusion; give priority to the integrated approach for local and regional development projects, encouraging the development of bottom-up local initiatives for the ESF and making it possible to combine several sources of financing: operational programmes, national programmes and private resources at the individual project level; the ESF objectives to be brought into line with the real requirements of a labour market that is in need of investment in upgrading vocational training and in measures to protect craft trades; the need for greater synergy and complementarity between all the shared management funds (ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund, EAFRD and EFF) and the EDF in the case of certain European regions which neighbour ACP countries;review the level of co-financing to reflect better the level of development, EU added value, types of action, beneficiaries, their absorption capacities and development opportunities; an adequate Community budget to be allocated to cohesion policy at a time when national and local contributions are being hampered by national budgetary austerity policies; pay more attention to project preparation and to draw up a project pipeline so that the risk of cost overrun can be minimised and a high absorption rate attained; pay attention to better management of human resources by making further efforts to attract and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds, by promoting high-quality training for them, and by avoiding any replacement of staff unless this is strictly necessary and guided by the sole aim of improving their effectiveness and consequently the absorption capacity; establish an Internet-based platform for beneficiaries, local and regional stakeholders and government institutions to exchange best-practices and information on obstacles, problems and their possible solutions; use the information and communication systems to develop an early warning system on the absorption of the funds. Important role of the European Social Fund (ESF): Parliament considers that the European Social Fund (ESF) provides vital support for labour market policies and plays an important role in promoting social inclusion, and whereas its funding needs to be considerably stepped up. It stresses the need to ensure that the European Social Fund (ESF) is used more effectively to address the challenges posed by the current economic financial downturn. It makes the following recommendations:ensure that the ESF is used in a more efficient way, to respond to the present socio-economic challenges brought about by the financial recession, at all levels and in all Member States; ensure that the future ESF makes a meaningful, targeted contribution to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the fields of employment and social inclusion as a visible, transparent, efficient, flexible, simple and user-friendly instrument that is brought to bear to develop human capital, while reflecting the specificities and needs of Member States and regions; the need to concentrate efforts on a limited number of priorities – the most urgent among them being reducing record levels of unemployment in the internal market, with special reference to jobs for young people and women; improve awareness and accessibility of the ESF and to update project-building capacities in order to contribute to the creation of new, decent jobs and more effective social inclusion; on the basis of clear rules, to use the possibility of advance payments to ESF beneficiaries to a greater extent. Facilitating access of SMEs: Parliament points out that most SMEs, and especially small and micro enterprises, cannot access Structural Funds on their own due to current administrative and financial constraints and that they need support and advice from their representative organisations at regional and national level. It considers that a simplification of the rules and procedures is essential to ensuring their access to Structural Funds. Members call for the Small Business Act, its ‘think small first’ and ‘only once’ principles and the proportionality principle to be applied at all levels of decision-making to define investment priorities and the design of management, audit and control procedures in order to ensure better absorption of the funds.Lastly, Parliament reiterates that the mechanisms of multi-level governance and the partnership principle are key elements in the effectiveness of operational programmes and in high absorption capacity.
- 2011/09/26 Debate in Parliament
- 2011/07/25 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
2011/07/12
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
-
2010/12/16
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0287/2011
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0403/2011
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 164 |
2010/2305(INI)
2011/05/03
EMPL
66 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that EU regional policy is a vital instrument in promoting economic and social cohesion, which enables the EU to take measures to reduce regional disparities, promote real convergence and stimulate development, quality employment and social progress, and also benefits less developed regions;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Calls on all EU institutions and Member States to facilitate speedier conclusion of key documents, such as the multiannual financial framework and regulations, with a view to overcoming the start-up difficulties that might arise at the beginning of the next programming period, which was also the case at the beginning of the 2007-2013 programming period;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Stresses the need for gender mainstreaming in the rules and application of all Community funds and draws special attention to the ESF, which should have sufficient capacity to promote policies for equality, high-quality stable jobs and fair redistribution of income;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to strengthen multi-level governance, which should include not only the implementation of policies and management of the ESF, but also the development of the strategy as such;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Warns that the cohesion policy and related expenditure should be used to achieve sustainable (economic, social, environmental and regional) development and that it is more than a mere financial instrument, in keeping with its objectives;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses th
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that there is a need to concentrate efforts on a limited number of priorities – the most urgent among them being reducing record levels of unemployment in the internal market – in order to maximise the impact of the ESF in supporting the Europe 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that there is a need to concentrate efforts on a limited number of priorities, with special reference to jobs for young people and women, in order to maximise the impact of the ESF in supporting the Europe 2020
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the effectiveness of EU economic, regional and social policy
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that the future ESF reflects the specificities and needs of Member States and regions especially with regards to needs of local labour markets and to a need to create and improve entrepreneurship;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Supports the establishment for the next planning period of a performance reserve that would enable more rapid take-up of funds and whereby the Commission would reward at the mid- term stage the efforts and achievements of a limited number of EU priorities laid down in the OPs;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social partners at national and local levels in order to better identify the needs of the labour market and at the same time to take adequate account, in relation to the formulating of policy goals in connection with cohesion policy, of regional and local needs;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social partners at national and local levels in order to better identify the needs of the labour market and help implement policies geared to the development of new skills, jobs and new welfare arrangements;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social partners at national, regional and local levels in order to better identify the needs of the labour market in order to improve the employability of socially disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social partners at national, regional and local levels in order to better identify the needs of the labour market and ensure that they are reflected in the ESF’s objectives;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States to involve the social partners at national and local levels in order to better identify the needs of the labour market; calls for special attention to be paid to the training and education of people in low-skilled jobs, in order to improve the employability of this group;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Urges the Member States systematically to involve local and regional authorities and all stakeholders from the priority definition stage to the evaluation stage, including in relation to National Reform Plans; supports the territorialisation of the ESF with a view to avoiding the application within national OPs of measures that do not differentiate between regions; supports, in this connection, the use of global grants for its management, provided the number of intermediary bodies is rationalised on the basis of a territorial approach, guaranteeing ongoing coordination between administrative entities and the use of joint monitoring tools;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the EU economic, regional and social policy are interlinked and problems of absorption capacity of different funds in Member States are often similar;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on Member States to improve information on accessibility of the ESF
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give priority to the integrated approach for local and regional development projects, making it possible to combine several sources of financing: operational programmes, national programmes and private resources at the individual project level;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses that the ESF should provide vital support for labour market policies and play an important role in promoting social inclusion and that its funding therefore needs to be considerably stepped up;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Supports that the regulatory architecture of cohesion policy should allow greater flexibility in organising operational programmes in order to reflect the nature and geography of development processes better; suggests that Member States and regions are given enough flexibility to select priorities and draw up appropriate policy mixes;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while supporting the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, cohesion policy reduces disparities and promotes a harmonious development in the EU, including by bringing further targeted instruments and measures to bear in areas which still fall far short of European standards;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while supporting the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, cohesion policy reduces disparities between regions, takes due account of the specific needs of the outermost regions and promotes a harmonious development in the EU;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while supporting the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, cohesion policy reduces disparities amongst regions and micro-regions and promotes a harmonious development in the EU;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while supporting the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in all Member States, cohesion policy reduces disparities and promotes a harmonious development in the EU;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the most disadvantaged regions and microregions lack the necessary financial and human resources, and the administrative support to make good use of the accessible EU funds;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Considers that, in order to ensure that it does not encourage the relocation of businesses within the EU, the provision of public aid granted under the structural funds should be conditional on the signing of long-term contracts with the companies as regards location, duration and jobs with rights;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Regrets that due to lengthy administrative procedures
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Regrets that due to lengthy administrative procedures, complicated rules and heavy control mechanisms, the implementation of the ESF is slower than foreseen and that many potential beneficiaries are discouraged to apply for funding; calls for the fund’s objectives to be brought into line with the real requirements of a labour market that is in need of investment in upgrading vocational training and in measures to protect craft trades;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Regrets that due to lengthy administrative procedures, complicated rules and heavy control mechanisms, the implementation of the ESF is slower than foreseen and that many potential beneficiaries are discouraged
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Member States to transpose Community legislation more rapidly into national law; stresses the importance of mobilising trained personnel in sufficient numbers to address challenges on the ground more effectively;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development; calls on the Member States to create
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development, EU added value, types of action and beneficiaries; calls on the Member States to create mechanisms for helping the small beneficiaries preparing for applications and during the period of implementation;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development; calls on the Member States to create mechanisms
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development; calls on the Member States to create mechanisms for helping the small beneficiaries preparing for applications and during the period of implementation, including small and medium-sixed enterprises ;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development; calls, to this end, for an adequate Community budget to be allocated to cohesion policy at a time when national and local contributions are being hampered by national budgetary austerity policies; calls on the Member States to create mechanisms for helping the small beneficiaries preparing for applications and during the period of implementation;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Stresses that management, reporting and control procedures must be proportionate to the scale of the projects, because it is difficult for small institutions and small local authorities to implement projects under the present conditions, therefore special provisions must be designed for small-scale EU grants in the next programming period;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Considers that, given the serious economic and financial crisis affecting a number of Member States and their regions, the co-financing rate applicable to national institutions and associations in respect of projects supported by Community funding should not exceed 10% for all the structural funds, with a view to enabling greater uptake of cohesion funding;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that cooperation between the different Structural and Cohesion Funds is strengthened and coordinated;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a.Calls on the Member States to devise and organise training courses for potential fund beneficiaries;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the Member States, on the basis of clear rules, to use the possibility of advance payments to ESF beneficiaries to a greater extent;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls for a streamlining of programming, monitoring and evaluation of cohesion policy with a view to improving the advisory role of the Commission and decreasing the administrative burden related to control and audit;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the future ESF
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses the need for strong and dedicated focus on the actual outcomes and results of the ESF support by the improvement of evaluation, monitoring and indicator systems at Community, national, regional and local levels.
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses the need for strong and dedicated focus on the actual outcomes and results of the ESF
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses the need for strong and dedicated focus on the actual outcomes and results of the ESF support by the improvement of evaluation, monitoring and indicator systems, which should cover not only spending levels but also the quality of the policies conducted.
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses the need for strong and dedicated focus on the actual outcomes and results of the ESF support by the improvement of evaluation, monitoring and indicator systems; calls on the Commission to take account of the uncertainty factors affecting long-term return-to-work projects.
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 b (new) 9b. Notes that the institutional capacity of the public sector at national, regional and local level, the technical and administrative capacity of the participating public authorities and beneficiaries are key for successful development, implementation and monitoring of the policies needed to reach Europe 2020 targets.
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 c (new) 9c. Notes that a high degree of continuity in management and control system and capacity is necessary in order to build upon acquired management experience and knowledge, so calls on the Member States to take measures to avoid the fluctuation of administrative staff dealing with the management of funds.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the future ESF contributes to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the fields of employment and social
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the future ESF contributes to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the fields of employment and social policy as an efficient, simple and user friendly instrument that is brought to bear to develop human capital;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the future ESF contributes to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the fields of employment and social policy as an efficient, flexible, simple and user friendly instrument;
source: PE-464.702
2011/06/09
REGI
98 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas absorption capacity is the extent to which a Member State
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas absorption capacity is not a parameter but a variable and whereas it differs widely in the different Member States and regions, so that individual solutions are necessary to increase this capacity,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas absorption capacity is not a parameter but a variable and whereas it differs widely in the different Member States and regions, so that individual solutions are necessary to increase this capacity,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas aiming at absorbing as much financial support as possible requires continuous efforts by the Member States and the involvement of the local and regional level of administration in every
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas aiming at absorbing as much financial support as possible requires continuous efforts by the Member States and management authorities and the involvement of the local and regional level of administration in every stage of the process,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas aiming at absorbing as much financial support as possible requires continuous efforts by the Member States and the involvement of the local and regional level of administration in every stage of the process is of particular relevance,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas administrative capacity, especially in terms of projects planning and implementation, is a key issue for the absorption capacity and needs to be strengthened, with particular emphasis on those Member States lagging behind and with low absorption rates,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the rules relating to Structural
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the rules relating to Structural and Cohesion Funds are complex and therefore difficult to comply with, causing errors, so that Member States and regions spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to manage and control these errors,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the rules relating to Structural and Cohesion Funds are complex and therefore difficult to transpose properly into national law and to comply with, causing errors, so that Member States spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to manage and control these errors,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas absorption capacity is the extent to which a Member State is able to spend the financial resources allocated from the Structural and Cohesion Funds in an effective and efficient manner, and whereas this capacity is necessary for making a maximum contribution to the economic
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the rules relating to Structural and Cohesion Funds are complex and therefore difficult to transpose properly into national law and to comply with, causing errors, so that Member States spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to manage and control these errors,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the rules relating to Structural and Cohesion Funds are by their very nature complex and therefore difficult to comply with
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas, in spite of a reduction in the number of errors and in the misappropriation of structural funding, there is a need to reinforce the measures taken by the Member States to reduce the misappropriation of funding and recover sums unduly paid,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas, in spite of a reduction in the number of errors and in the misappropriation of structural funding, there is a need to reinforce the measures taken by the Member States to reduce the misappropriation of funding and recover sums unduly paid,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the Member States that joined the EU in the current programming period in particular are facing substantial difficulties as regards absorption resulting from the significant increase in the amount
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas the lack of visibility regarding the levels of uptake of short- and medium-term funds is an obstacle to absorption capacity, and whereas better transparency is needed at all levels of governance,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Points to the effort made to ensure the acceleration in absorption capacities and budgetary implementation of cohesion policy during 2010 despite the problems mentioned above, and acknowledges the positive effect of the cohesion-policy- related interventions by the European Economic Recovery Plan in speeding up implementation of programmes and accelerating provision of financing to beneficiaries;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Points to the acceleration in absorption capacities and budgetary implementation of cohesion policy during 2010 and acknowledges the positive effect of the cohesion-policy-related interventions by the European Economic Recovery Plan in speeding up implementation of programmes and accelerating provision of financing to beneficiaries and asks the Commission to continue these interventions in the period 2014-2020;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Points to the acceleration in absorption capacities and budgetary implementation of cohesion policy during 2010 and acknowledges the positive effect of the cohesion-policy-related interventions by the European Economic Recovery Plan in speeding up implementation of programmes and accelerating provision of financing to beneficiaries; calls on the Commission to examine the possibility of using, even beyond 2010, accelerated versions of procedures in connection with the Structural Funds and an extension of the temporary increase in thresholds;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Points to the acceleration in absorption capacities and budgetary implementation of cohesion policy during 2010 and acknowledges the positive effect of the cohesion-policy-related interventions by the European Economic Recovery Plan in speeding up implementation of programmes and accelerating provision of financing to beneficiaries; calls on the Commission to examine the possibility of using, even beyond 2010, accelerated versions of procedures in connection with the Structural Funds and an extension of the temporary increase in thresholds;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas absorption capacity is the extent to which a Member State is able to spend the financial resources allocated from the Structural and Cohesion Funds in an effective and efficient manner, and whereas this capacity is necessary for making a maximum contribution to economic
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Believes the cohesion policy lacks the flexibility to adapt to the social and economic realities of different regions; draws attention to those regions with unfavourable demographic development and suggests considering the introduction of special funding for such regions;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Believes the cohesion policy lacks the flexibility to adapt to the social and economic realities of different regions; draws attention to those regions with unfavourable demographic development and suggests considering the introduction of special funding for such regions;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 1 difficulties with completing the compliance assessment procedures concerning the new management and control system that generally fall at the beginning of the programming period;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 2 global economic recession, which has a direct affect in the form of the budgetary restraint measures applied to public budgets and difficulties in obtaining internal financing;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 6 over-complicated and over-strict national
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 7 the need to establish new institutions for the implementation of programmes, where their launch and running is liable to delays;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 8 insufficient separation between the authorities in the Member States, hierarchy problems between the institutions and internal difficulties over the allocation of tasks and responsibilities;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 8 a (new) insufficient involvement of the regional and local level in the establishment of the operational programmes;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 11 Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 11 Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the EU’s cohesion policy is crucial for promoting the harmonious development of the EU and whereas, despite the progress achieved in reducing inequalities in development between regions, there remain major differences in terms of their level of economic, social and regional development,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 12 a (new) insufficient involvement of the regional and local level and of other partners, with resultant failure to incorporate programmes properly in the local context;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Considers that many of the problems identified could be avoided by involving, right from the programming stage, all the relevant players at national, regional and local level, in order to match the proposals under future framework documents and operational programmes as closely as possible to their needs, hence enabling a greater and clearer contribution to be made to meeting EU objectives;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates the need for simplification of rules and procedures at both EU and national level
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates the need for simplification of rules and procedures at both EU and national level without creating major difficulties for the beneficiaries; believes that simplification will contribute to the speedy allocation of funds, higher absorption rates, increased efficiency, fewer errors and reduced payment periods; considers that a balance needs to be struck between simplification and the stability of rules and procedures; maintains that simplifying the rules and procedures without providing potential applicants and beneficiaries with sufficient information on them will not produce the effects desired;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates the need for simplification of rules and procedures at both EU and national level without creating major difficulties for the beneficiaries; believes that simplification will contribute to the speedy allocation of funds, higher absorption rates, increased efficiency and transparency, fewer errors and reduced payment periods; considers that a balance needs to be struck between simplification and the stability of rules and procedures;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates the need for simplification and flexibility of rules and procedures at both EU and national level without creating major difficulties for the beneficiaries; believes that simplification will contribute to the speedy allocation of funds, higher absorption rates, increased efficiency, fewer errors and reduced payment periods; considers that a balance needs to be struck between simplification and the stability of rules and procedures;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates the need for simplification of rules and procedures at both EU and national level without creating major difficulties for the beneficiaries; believes that simplification will contribute to the speedy allocation of funds, higher absorption rates, increased efficiency, fewer errors and reduced payment periods; considers that a balance needs to be struck between simplification and the stability of rules
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that increasing the absorption rates can only lead to effective results if the Community regulatory framework is adhered to;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the EU’s cohesion policy is crucial for promoting the harmonious development of the EU and whereas, despite the progress achieved in reducing inequalities in development between regions, there remain major differences in terms of their level of economic, social and regional development,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Takes the view that
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Takes the view that special emphasis should be placed on
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Takes the view that emphasis should be placed on payments for delivery of results and achievement of objectives rather than checking inputs
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Takes the view that emphasis should be placed on payments for delivery of results rather than checking inputs; believes, in this context, that a better balance should be found between, on the one hand, the rules and procedures required for ensuring the legality and regularity of EU expenditure and, on the other, making cohesion policy more performance-oriented and cost- efficient; calls for the Commission to redouble its efforts to establish the payment arrangements for the forthcoming programming period and to ensure that these are geared to results and the timely training of national system experts;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Takes the view that a stronger focus should be placed on
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Takes the view that
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas absorption capacity
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses that the coordination of audit activities should be improved and calls, to that end, for redundant controls to be removed in Member States which have an adequate fund management system; considers that the single audit principle should be applied in the next programming period and that, as with the ‘contract of confidence’ principle, it should be implemented as often as possible;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Stresses the paramount importance of timely adoption of the multiannual financial framework and clear and definitive rules and guidance for the Member States in order to avoid start-up difficulties at the beginning of the next programming period; underlines that the duration of the multiannual financial framework is a key issue for Cohesion Policy and for the absorption capacity, because a too short MFF creates obstacles to those projects that are at the same time the ones of longer duration and the most substantial ones from the development point of view;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Stresses the paramount importance of timely adoption of the multiannual financial framework and clear and definitive rules and guidance for the Member States in order to avoid start-up difficulties at the beginning of the next programming period; considers it necessary for the Commission to provide technical support to ensure that these are also well understood at Member State level;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Stresses the paramount importance of timely adoption of the multiannual financial framework and clear and definitive rules and guidance for the Member States in order to avoid start-up difficulties and delays related to the elaboration of the national rules and the implementation of the ex-ante conditionalities by the Member States at the beginning of the next programming period;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Highlights the
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Highlights the benefits of synergies between ERDF, ESF and EAFRD, but also with the EDF in the case of certain European regions which neighbour ACP countries; takes the view that flexibility to support ESF-
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Underlines the importance that certain reforms can have in some Member States to increase the absorption capacity, and therefore the need that they are negotiated between the Commission and the Member States concerned when defining the development and investment partnership contract, so as to make them a binding condition for the states; in particular, points out the importance of decentralisation, and of the empowerment of regional and local authorities;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to make further efforts to attract, well train and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds, and to avoid any replacement of the staff done simply on a political basis;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to make further efforts to attract, train and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to make further efforts to attract and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds; calls for closer attention to be paid to the management of human resources, in view of the multiple investments made in developing their expertise through European funding;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to make further efforts to attract and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds; recalls the possibilities for using funds from the ESF and technical assistance for building capacity necessary for programme implementation and follow-up;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to make further efforts to attract and retain qualified staff to manage EU funds; stresses the importance of one-stop shops at decentralised level to assist the partners in the programme;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Calls on the Commission to enhance its assistance to those Member States whose absorption rates, being under the EU's average, show a lack in terms of absorption capacity; believes that such enhanced assistance and close cooperation should continue at least until the countries concerned reach a level of expertise sufficient to produce results without external special aid;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Invites the Member States to establish exchange fora or networks among their implementation structures with a view to discussing experiences and difficulties and exchanging best practices; invites the Member States also to help beneficiaries address more demanding control requirements by providing them with support; proposes that a percentage of the amounts allocated for the technical assistance operational programmes be used for such actions;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Invites the Member States to establish exchange fora or networks among their implementation structures with a view to discussing experiences and difficulties and exchanging best practices; invites the Member States also to help beneficiaries address more demanding control requirements by providing them with support, in particular by using technical assistance loans to train and support those economic and social actors that are eligible to benefit from these funds;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Points out the importance of inter- regional cooperation programmes and of programmes such as INTERACT and URBACT in identifying and disseminating best practices and in training the political and administrative actors in the optimum use of the funds; calls for actions promoting regional planning and effective use of funds to be eligible for appropriations under the ‘inter-regional cooperation’ part of the Territorial Cooperation Objective;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Suggests to establish an internet- based platform for beneficiaries and local and regional stakeholders and government institutions to exchange best- practices, obstacles, problems and their possible solutions;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas absorption capacity is not a parameter but a variable and whereas it differs widely between and within the different Member States, so that individual solutions are necessary to increase this capacity,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Calls on the Commission to explore the introduction of harmonised information and communication systems, bearing in
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Commission to deliver at least an annual report containing information on the absorption of Regional and Structural Funds for each region enabling the European Parliament to monitor the implementation of Cohesion Policy;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Commission to use the information and communication systems to develop a periodical early warning system on the absorption of the funds and to report on a regular basis to the European Council and the European Parliament;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Commission to cooperate actively with the EIB, in particular on setting up Community initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the cohesion policy and strengthening the impact of the Structural Funds by guaranteeing funding to support the financing of SMEs;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Commission to cooperate actively with the EIB, in particular on setting up Community initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the cohesion policy and strengthening the impact of the Structural Funds by guaranteeing funding to support the financing of SMEs;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Notes that the establishment of ‘public- private partnerships’ is often a long and cumbersome procedure, but nonetheless believes that owing to their greater flexibility ‘public-private partnerships’ prepared well in advance could contribute to increasing absorption capacity and to resolving difficulties with co-financing;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Notes that the establishment of ‘public-
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Notes that the establishment of ‘public- private partnerships’ is often a long and cumbersome procedure, but nonetheless believes that ‘public-private partnerships’ prepared well in advance could contribute to increasing absorption capacity and to resolving difficulties with co-financing; emphasises that democratic control over public-private partnerships must be guaranteed;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the Commission to verify the existence and examine the efficiency of the legislative bases for the implementation of PPP projects and, where appropriate, to recommend to those Member States which have not adopted such legislative measures to prepare and adopt as soon as possible, with a view to permitting the mobilisation of resources from the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund for PPP projects in the next programming period, procedures for efficient implementation of these projects at regional and local level;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas absorption capacity is not a parameter but a variable and whereas it differs widely between and within the different Member States, so that individual solutions are necessary to increase this capacity,
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Points out that most SMEs, and especially small and micro enterprises, cannot access structural funds on their own due to current administrative and financial constraints, and that they need support and advice from their representative organisations at regional and national level; considers that a simplification of the rules and procedures is essential to ensuring their access to structural funds; calls for the Small Business Act, its ‘think small first’ and ‘only once’ principles and the proportionality principle to be applied at all levels of decision-making to define investment priorities and the design of management, audit and control procedures in order to ensure better absorption of the funds;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Calls on the Member States to inform
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Stresses the positive effects of using financial instruments provided by the European Investment Bank, such as Jessica, in which the period of financing (N+2, N+3) can be longer;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that multi-level governance and the partnership principle are key elements in the effectiveness of operational programmes and in high absorption capacity;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that multi-level governance and the partnership principle are key elements in the effectiveness of operational programmes and in high absorption capacity; recommends to the Members States, in line with the principles of subsidiarity and of their institutional autonomy, that they consistently reinforce the partnership and transparency principle, while implementing the operational programmes, and that they involve the economic and social actors and sub- national
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that the mechanisms of multi-level governance and the partnership principle are key elements in the effectiveness of operational programmes and in high absorption capacity; recommends to the Members States that they consistently reinforce the partnership and transparency principle, while implementing the operational programmes, and that they involve the sub-
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that multi-level governance and the partnership principle are key elements in the effectiveness of operational programmes and in high absorption capacity; recommends to the Members States that they consistently reinforce the partnership and transparency principle, while implementing the operational programmes, and that they involve the
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on the Commission to have a more open debate on the measures envisaged for accelerating the absorption of the structural and cohesion funds; in this regard the Committee of the Regions might be invited to give a yearly opinion on the absorption capacity in all the member states.
source: PE-467.037
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
2015-11-04Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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Regional PolicyNew
Regional and Urban Policy |
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4.70.01 Structural funds, structural and investment funds in generalNew
4.70.01 Structural funds, investment funds in general |
2015-01-08Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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4.70.01 Structural funds in generalNew
4.70.01 Structural funds, structural and investment funds in general |
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Old
4.70.02 Cohesion, Cohesion FundNew
4.70.02 Cohesion policy, Cohesion Fund |
2014-11-10Show (5) Changes
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