Procedure completed
2011/2288(INI) Attractiveness of investing in Europe
Lead committee dossier: ECON/7/07572
Legal Basis RoP 052
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ECON | KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU Rodi (PPE) | KLEVA KEKUŠ Mojca (S&D), KLINZ Wolf (ALDE), GIEGOLD Sven (Verts/ALE), KAMALL Syed (ECR) |
| Opinion | ITRE | CREUTZMANN Jürgen (ALDE) | |
| Opinion | REGI | VLASÁK Oldřich (ECR) |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Subjects
Activites
-
2012/07/03
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
-
T7-0275/2012
summary
The European Parliament adopted by 546 votes to 58, with 48 abstentions, a resolution on the attractiveness of investing in Europe. The economic, financial and fiscal crisis in the EU has significantly broadened economic and social disparities among Member States and regions, resulting in an uneven distribution of inward and outward investment across the European Union. Parliament considers it is necessary to establish a consistent framework of stability within monetary and fiscal and trade policy, in order to facilitate the flow of direct investment in all Member States and EU regions, thereby contributing to correcting the EU's macroeconomic imbalances. The main recommendations contained in the resolution are as follows: Exploiting the EU’s position: Parliament believes that the EU should fully exploit its position as the world’s largest single common market (including its high standard of living, high labour productivity, legal certainty and research and innovation capacity), foreign investor and trader in tackling the fiscal crisis. It highlights the need for more efficient tools and methods and new funding mechanisms and investment schemes, such as EU project bonds, which could exploit Europe’s competitive advantages and the complementarities between its Member States and achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 growth strategy, in order to combat the recession and the challenge of slow growth. Develop an industrial strategy: Members call on the Commission and on the Member States to develop an ambitious, eco-efficient and sustainable EU industrial strategy in order to revitalise manufacturing capacity across the EU and generate high quality jobs within the EU. Members call on the Commission to step up coordination of Member States' economic, tax and social policies with a view to attracting foreign investment, while taking into account the economic and social divergences observed between euro-area members and between EU Member States. Maximising cohesion policy: Members believe that a prerequisite for attracting investors is the availability of infrastructures that are competitive in the context of the new challenges facing the EU. The EU and the Member States should take action notably to enhance the use of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund as a catalyst for attracting additional funding from the EIB, EBRD, other international financial institutions and the private sector, while encouraging initiatives based on public-private partnerships (PPP), such as EU Project Bonds. Member States are urged to undertake large-scale investment in infrastructure, new technologies and R&D, including multimodal transport systems, in order to enhance the liveability and competitiveness of Europe's cities. Guaranteeing stability and improving access to financing: Members consider that fiscal consolidation and stabilisation and the completion of the internal market should be carried out, ensuring an assessment of the added value that they can offer. They believe that strong cooperation among economic bodies, as well as more complementarities between EU economies, should help reduce the regional disparities in foreign direct investment in order to strengthen the European industrial base and promote sustainable long-term economic development, the latter being the crucial precondition for successful and effective fiscal consolidation. The resolution calls on the ECB to further act in a decisive way in addressing the current euro-area debt crisis by maintaining price stability while at the same time minimising negative spill-over effects on the real economy and the investments that the banking sector’s liquidity problems might generate. It calls on the Commission to include all relevant indicators for measuring macroeconomic imbalances and their effects on the EU’s regions in the scoreboard. Members stress the need for deepening European capital markets in order to ensure access to financing from sources other than banks. They call on the Commission and the Member States to encourage institutional investors to participate in European venture capital funds and European social entrepreneurship funds and to eliminate restrictions on the supply of venture capital funding in small and medium-sized enterprises. Increase public investments: the resolution stresses in particular the enormous potential for attracting foreign direct investment by promoting education, research and development and job creation in the areas of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency in order to meet the 2020 targets and make the EU a world leader in green technology. Members recall that not increasing through sustainable funding or even reducing public investment, due to the fiscal crisis, in crucial sectors such as health, education, research and infrastructures could adversely affect competitiveness and attractiveness to investors, especially if this becomes a long-term pattern. Completing the internal market: Members believe that any strategy aimed at attracting foreign and local investment should be linked to completion of the internal market, cross-border investment and flows, open markets, improved market access and fair competition for liberal professions, given the number and variety of new opportunities. They believe, in this regard, that the EU should promote the Trans-European Networks and worker, student and researcher mobility and reinforce cooperation and complementarities between EU economies. Parliament also notes the importance of the Commission’s proposals to modernise the European public procurement market. Addressing human capital needs: Members express concern about the high youth unemployment figures observed in a number of Member States and the negative employment prospects. They note with concern the European Union’s limited ability to attract high-quality human capital. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to step up action in order to tackle youth unemployment through programmes and concrete action at European and national level. Moreover, the European Union should step up its efforts to achieve the employment objectives of the EU 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, including reduced taxes on labour aimed at attracting more investment in the labour-intensive sectors of the economy. Tax: the resolution stresses that the fight against tax evasion should be a top priority for the European Union, especially in the current crisis situation, where tax evasion represents a major loss for national budgets and extra revenues could be used to increase public investment. It points out the need to ensure smooth cooperation and coordination between the Commission and the Member States to fight against double taxation, double non-taxation, tax fraud, tax evasion and dumping, and the use of tax havens for illicit purposes. More generally, Members call for greater fiscal coordination on both the revenue and expenditure sides. Ensuring fair competition: Members call on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO, G20 and G8, the establishment of common rules that ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the face of international macroeconomic imbalances relating to financial regulation and taxation in order to protect the EU’s competitiveness and ensure respect of the social and environmental objectives of the Union. The resolution urges the Commission to improve international regulatory cooperation, including in multilateral fora, and the convergence of regulatory requirements on the basis of international standards and, where possible, to engage in regulatory dialogue to address existing or potential future barriers to trade with a view to limiting disputes and associated trade costs. Parliament calls on the Commission to draw up a communication on the attractiveness of investing in Europe as opposed to its main partners and competitors and to put forward an integrated strategy including specific policies and recommendations, as well as legislative proposals if appropriate, to improve the EU’s investment environment. Members reiterate its earlier proposal that the Commission, in conjunction with the EIB, engage in a process of strategic analysis of investment funding, without ruling out any possible scenario, including subsidies, the release of sums subscribed to the EIB’s capital by the Member States, EU subscriptions to the EIB's capital, loans, innovative instruments, financial engineering tailored to long-term projects which are not immediately profitable, the development of guarantee systems, the creation of an investment section within the EU budget, financial consortia of European, national and local authorities, and public-private partnerships. Lastly, Members are in favour of the opinion that the creation of an ad hoc European Observatory for foreign direct investments, established within the European Commission, could contribute to reinforcing the coordination of Member States’ policies in this field and promote Europe as an investment destination.
- 2012/07/02 Debate in Parliament
-
2012/06/05
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
A7-0190/2012
summary
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted an own-initiative drafted by Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP, EL) on the attractiveness of investing in Europe. The report underlines that the EU still represents the first worldwide destination of foreign direct investment (FDI) and should as such continue meeting the expectations of investor and beneficiary states while complying with the EU’s broader economic, social and environmental policy objectives, thus protecting its leading role at European and national level. It urges the EU to introduce investment as a key element of all flagship initiatives within the Europe 2020 Strategy in order to meet the critical need for growth and employment and make use of their major contribution towards tackling the fiscal crisis. Members call on the Commission and on the Member States to develop an ambitious, eco-efficient and sustainable EU industrial strategy in order to revitalise manufacturing capacity across the EU and generate high quality jobs within the EU. The Commissionis called upon to step up coordination of Member States’ economic, tax and social policies with a view to attracting foreign investment, while taking into account the economic and social divergences observed between euro-area members and between EU Member States. The main recommendations contained in the report are as follows: Exploiting the EU’s position: Members believe that the EU should fully exploit its position as the world’s largest single common market (including its high standard of living, high labour productivity, legal certainty and research and innovation capacity), foreign investor and trader in tackling the fiscal crisis. The report highlights the need for more efficient tools and methods and new funding mechanisms and investment schemes, such as EU project bonds, which could exploit Europe’s competitive advantages and the complementarities between its Member States and achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 growth strategy, in order to combat the recession and the challenge of slow growth. Maximising cohesion policy: Members believe that a prerequisite for attracting investors is the availability of infrastructures that are competitive in the context of the new challenges facing the EU. The EU and the Member States should take action notably to enhance the use of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund as a catalyst for attracting additional funding from the EIB, EBRD, other international financial institutions and the private sector, while encouraging initiatives based on public-private partnerships (PPP), such as EU Project Bonds. Guaranteeing stability and improving access to financing: Members consider that fiscal consolidation and stabilisation and the completion of the internal market should be carried out, ensuring an assessment of the added value that they can offer. They believe that strong cooperation among economic bodies, as well as more complementarities between EU economies, should help reduce the regional disparities in foreign direct investment in order to strengthen the European industrial base and promote sustainable long-term economic development, the latter being the crucial precondition for successful and effective fiscal consolidation. The report calls on the ECB to further act in a decisive way in addressing the current euro-area debt crisis by maintaining price stability while at the same time minimising negative spill-over effects on the real economy and the investments that the banking sector’s liquidity problems might generate. It calls on the Commission to include all relevant indicators for measuring macroeconomic imbalances and their effects on the EU’s regions in the scoreboard. Members stress the need for deepening European capital markets in order to ensure access to financing from sources other than banks. They call on the Commission and the Member States to encourage institutional investors to participate in European venture capital funds and European social entrepreneurship funds and to eliminate restrictions on the supply of venture capital funding in small and medium-sized enterprises. Increase public investments: the report stresses in particular the enormous potential for attracting foreign direct investment by promoting education, research and development and job creation in the areas of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency in order to meet the 2020 targets and make the EU a world leader in green technology. Members recall that not increasing through sustainable funding or even reducing public investment, due to the fiscal crisis, in crucial sectors such as health, education, research and infrastructures could adversely affect competitiveness and attractiveness to investors, especially if this becomes a long-term pattern. Completing the internal market: Members believes that any strategy aimed at attracting foreign and local investment should be linked to completion of the internal market, cross-border investment and flows, open markets, improved market access and fair competition for liberal professions, given the number and variety of new opportunities. They believe, in this regard, that the EU should promote the Trans-European Networks and worker, student and researcher mobility and reinforce cooperation and complementarities between EU economies. The report notes the importance of the Commission’s proposals to modernise the European public procurement market. Addressing human capital needs: Members express concern about the high youth unemployment figures observed in a number of Member States and the negative employment prospects. They note with concern the European Union’s limited ability to attract high-quality human capital. The Commission and the Member States are called upon to step up action in order to tackle youth unemployment through programmes and concrete action at European and national level. Moreover, the European Union should step up its efforts to achieve the employment objectives of the EU 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, including reduced taxes on labour aimed at attracting more investment in the labour-intensive sectors of the economy. Tax: the report stresses that the fight against tax evasion should be a top priority for the European Union, especially in the current crisis situation, where tax evasion represents a major loss for national budgets and extra revenues could be used to increase public investment. It points out the need to ensure smooth cooperation and coordination between the Commission and the Member States to fight against double taxation, double non-taxation, tax fraud, tax evasion and dumping, and the use of tax havens for illicit purposes. More generally, Members calls for greater fiscal coordination on both the revenue and expenditure sides. Ensuring fair competition: Members call on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO, G20 and G8, the establishment of common rules that ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the face of international macroeconomic imbalances relating to financial regulation and taxation in order to protect the EU’s competitiveness and ensure respect of the social and environmental objectives of the Union. The report urges the Commission to improve international regulatory cooperation, including in multilateral fora, and the convergence of regulatory requirements on the basis of international standards and, where possible, to engage in regulatory dialogue to address existing or potential future barriers to trade with a view to limiting disputes and associated trade costs. The report calls on the Commission to draw up a communication on the attractiveness of investing in Europe as opposed to its main partners and competitors and to put forward an integrated strategy including specific policies and recommendations, as well as legislative proposals if appropriate, to improve the EU’s investment environment. Members reiterate its earlier proposal that the Commission, in conjunction with the EIB, engage in a process of strategic analysis of investment funding, without ruling out any possible scenario, including subsidies, the release of sums subscribed to the EIB’s capital by the Member States, EU subscriptions to the EIB’s capital, loans, etc. Lastly, Members are in favour of the opinion that the creation of an ad hoc European Observatory for foreign direct investments, established within the European Commission, could contribute to reinforcing the coordination of Member States’ policies in this field and promote Europe as an investment destination.
-
A7-0190/2012
summary
-
2012/05/31
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
-
2011/11/17
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0190/2012
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0275/2012
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 226 |
2011/2288(INI)
2012/02/21
ITRE
67 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the fact that in 2011 the number of companies looking to invest in Europe rose by 5 %
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the importance of protecting high level intellectual property rights whilst encouraging investments, whilst developing innovative products and services and ensuring a return on investments; calls for the setting up as quickly as possible of a mechanism to support intellectual property rights, especially when setting out a common patent protection procedure and a common procedure for the resolution of disputes in all member states;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Considers that Europe can maintain long term investment attractiveness only on the basis of developing the competitiveness of all the regions of the European Union, investing in skills, innovation capacity and promoting adaptability;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Respects the subsidiarity of Member States with regard to tax matters but recommends that Member States should consider whether their tax regimes adequately incentivise long-term investments; notes also that stability and certainty of policy decisions are key to encouraging investment especially in longer-term infrastructure projects;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU’s future attractiveness also relies on maintaining its
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU's future
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU’s future attractiveness
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU's future attractiveness relies on maintaining its reputation for quality, specialisation
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU's future attractiveness relies on maintaining its reputation for quality, specialisation and a skilled workforce, while reducing business costs via securing a flexible business environment, and by decreasing the administrative burden for companies;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU's future attractiveness relies on maintaining its reputation for quality, specialisation and a skilled workforce
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that the EU's future attractiveness relies on maintaining its reputation for quality, sustainability, specialisation and a skilled workforce
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Emphasises that improved framework conditions for manufacturers and producers in the EU would establish important incentives for investment;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Requests the Commission and the Member States to apply “The European eGovernment Action Plan”, through which they can provide eGovernment services, for companies also, more efficiently and at a lower cost, both on a local and a cross-border level.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the need for the simplification and harmonisation of rules and the provision of financial and tax incentives for establishing a European venture capital area that would attract investments and promote the creation of high-tech start-up companies;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the need for equal treatment of trading partners such as China to stop the one-way flow of knowledge and production capacity and to stimulate constructive cooperation;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Highlights that continued investment in Human Capital and the mobility of professionals are preconditions in achieving such skilled workforce;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses the important contribution of smart regulation towards simplification and reduction of administrative and business costs, namely in the context of SMEs;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses the importance of a high level research infrastructure in the EU to remain attractive in key sectors over the coming years;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – introductory part 4. Insists, in order to attract more investment, on the need for the EU and EU Member States to:
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a)
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a) become a leader in new kinds of economic technology, such as sustainable and digital economies, key enabling technologies and renewable energy, and strengthen the focus in achieving leadership in the areas where Grand Societal Challenges offer the prospect for rising future global markets,
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a) become a leader in new kinds of
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses th
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a) become a leader in
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a (new) aa) offer economical and effective protection for intellectual property rights in order to make the EU more attractive to innovative businesses, in particular through the rapid introduction of the EU patent,
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point a a (new) aa) invest in transforming the output of European Research and Development into successful innovative products and business models that would benefit European economies and societies,
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point b b)
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point b b)
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point b b) invest in and support innovative businesses in becoming sustainable, socially valuable and commercially successful,
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point b a (new) ba) put forward incentives and support mechanisms for those companies willing to enter and expand into external markets,
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point b b (new) bb) promote standards that contribute towards developing innovation in new products and services, by facilitating access to markets, enabling interoperability between new and existing products, services and processes, enhancing user protection, and giving consumers confidence in innovative products and services,
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point c c)
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point c c)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the need to
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point c c) launch urban infrastructure projects, including digital infrastructure, clean and sustainable energy, buildings and transport, in all EU regions
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point c c) launch stable urban infrastructure development projects, including digital infrastructure, in all EU regions and innovative business pa
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d d) secure a reliable provision of energy and non-energetic raw materials, in particular by prioritising re-use, recycling and research into alternatives in order to foster the EU as an attractive manufacturing base;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d d) secure a
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d d) secure a reliable and affordable provision of energy and non-energetic raw materials in order to foster the EU as an attractive manufacturing base;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) continue to remove existing barriers to the Single market, by promoting the free movement of capital, labour, products and services, building on the attractiveness of a market of 500 million Europeans and stimulating business competitiveness;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) fully implement the third energy package in order to allow access to the EU energy market for companies and households that wish to participate in the energy market;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) stresses the need for an increase in its investments on research and innovation, despite the economic climate, as they constitute the basis for economic and social development;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) encourage and enable corporate investment by non-financial corporations as well as by financial investors;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) implement measures to make labour markets more flexible and responsive to new investment,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the need to harmonise
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) da) secure further investment into a stable transport and logistics infrastructure;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 - point d a (new) da) continue to build a strong public research base with close links to industry and society at large, in order to underpin technological innovation and private investment in R&D;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 - point d a (new) da) rephrase the state aid frameworks for innovative industrial developments and to boost open innovation and high-level production in the European regions;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d b (new) db) prioritise the maintenance in the EU of a strong manufacturing base, namely in sectors where Europe has kept traditionally a strong position, such automobile, aerospace, pharmaceuticals or chemistry, and in new high-technology areas where a strong industrial base is an underpinning element of product, process and service innovation, and of job creation,
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d b (new) db) stimulate domestic demand in core economies to make investment in both core and periphery more attractive to foreign investors,
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d b (new) db) recognise that long timetables and uncertainty regarding planning and development decisions many discourage investment;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d c (new) dc) take advantage of the historical heritage of Europe by fostering the cultural industries, sports and tourism as growing and attractive markets,
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d c (new) dc) improve transport links between core and periphery by leveraging Trans- European Networks and the Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d d (new) dd) foster the trans-Atlantic economy as our current main commercial trade and foreign direct investment partner, taking better advantage of skilled job flows across the two regions and building on the potential for strengthening the innovation economy,.
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 – point d e (new) de) push forward new bankruptcy laws to encourage a second chance policy to foster entrepreneurship and the re-start of new business, building on the advantage provided by the capital of experience acquired by failed entrepreneurs;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the need to harmonise and simplify regulations and to promote pro- FDI fiscal and tax conditions, such as research and development tax credits, to guarantee free and fair competition and patent protection and to simplify investors' access to the EU market;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Suggests that a European Investment Plan aimed at making the territory of the European Union the most competitive in the world in relation to trans-European infrastructure networks is implemented, particularly networks between Member States concerning the areas of energy, information technology and communication (very high speed), industry, university networks, space, transport (high-speed trains, maritime highways, ports, river networks etc.), health;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's proposal for a programme focusing on the competitiveness of SMEs, notes and welcomes recent increases in venture and angel capital in many EU Member States, but reiterates that the EU should simplify regulations and access to finance for SMEs
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a programme focusing on the competitiveness of SMEs, but reiterates that the EU should simplify access to finance for SMEs, for example by structuring an effective EU venture capital system and by enhancing the role of private equity firms in financing long-term corporate growth; calls on the Commission to cooperate more actively with the EIB and other international financial institutions in creating innovative financial mechanisms for the financing of deals involving SMEs.
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a programme focusing on the competitiveness of businesses and SMEs, but reiterates
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Recognises that many investors may consider investing outside the EU as an alternative to investing in EU Member States; recommends that when proposing new EU legislation or revisions to existing EU legislation an impact assessment is prepared which compares these proposals to the equivalent legislation in significant non-EU jurisdictions, assessing the potential consequential impact on investment in EU Member States.
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Emphasises the importance of European standards for the realisation of the internal market and for the attractiveness of investments in the EU, as well as the harmonisation of European standards with international standards.
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a Reiterates its earlier proposal that the Commission, in conjunction with the EIB (in view of the quality of the latter’s human resources and its experience in financing major infrastructure), engage in a process of strategic analysis of investment funding, without ruling out any possible scenario, including subsidies, the release of sums subscribed to the EIB’s capital by the Member States, EU subscriptions to the EIB’s capital, loans, innovative instruments, financial engineering tailored to long-term projects which are not immediately profitable, the development of guarantee systems, the creation of an investment section within the EU budget, financial consortia of European, national and local authorities, public-private partnerships, etc.
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Welcomes the emblematic initiatives of “an integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era”, “A Union of Innovation” and “A resource-efficient Europe” – emblematic initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, which will contribute to the growth of the attractiveness of investing in Europe, create jobs in the EU territory and maintain the competitiveness of the EU at an international level.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the need to
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the need to harmonise and simplify regulations and fiscal and tax conditions to guarantee free and fair competition and intellectual property and patent protection and to simplify investors' access to the EU market;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Believes that investors with a naturally long-term horizon such as insurance funds and pension funds should be enabled and encouraged to make longer- dated investments; is concerned that EU regulatory requirements for liquidity and capital adequacy may reduce long term investment; suggests that implementation of EU legislation for such investors should be carefully monitored and amended if necessary;
source: PE-480.654
2012/03/29
REGI
59 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU's cohesion policy makes an important contribution to the European economy and is the Community's largest source of investment providing targeted assistance for addressing priority needs and lacking behind areas with growth potential both in public and private sectors;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added,
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added, and insists that for geographically targeted support, the size of the enterprise should not matter as the
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added,
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, SMEs, along with large firms, generate a substantive part of the business sector value added, and
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, although large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added,
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added, and insists that for geographically targeted support, the size of the enterprise should not
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in most European countries, industrial undertakings and large firms generate a substantive part of the business sector value added, and insists that for geographically targeted support, the size of the enterprise should not matter as the only criterion should be the quality and required sustainability of the project;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2a (new) 2a. Stresses the key role played by geographically targeted support in the success of a territorial development strategy; thus considers it essential that all kinds of businesses benefit from such support; recalls, however, that cohesion policy mainly targets SMEs as an asset in harmonious regional planning and diversification of the local economy;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU’s cohesion policy makes an important contribution to the European economy
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2a (new) 2a. Underlines that a discriminatory approach towards large enterprises could impede innovation and reduce the competitiveness of other EU companies, SMEs in particular, cutting them from vital global partnerships in collaborative innovation and reducing their access to advanced technology.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2b (new) 2b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to come up with specific measures in order to support all businesses which create jobs in line with EU 2020, national and regional development strategies and also to ensure that decisions for funding are based on quality of the project and its value for EU, national, regional and local strategies.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition, an option of cohesion policy
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition, an option of cohesion policy support provides added value for companies when deciding in which world region to develop their operation capacities and where to transfer their knowhow; acknowledges that investments from third countries can contribute to lessening the effects of the economic crisis and to achieving the objectives of the cohesion policy; stresses the importance of these investments for the regions that face difficulties, by creating jobs and attracting foreign investment;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition, an option of cohesion policy support provides added value for companies when deciding in which world region to develop their operation capacities and where to transfer their knowhow; points out that the provision of business support services, financial engineering and technology transfer, is an additional contribution to the attractiveness of investing in Europe;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition,
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition, an option of cohesion policy support is a key asset in attracting foreign investment insofar as it provides added value for companies when deciding in which world region to develop their operation capacities and where to transfer their knowhow;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that in the world of global competition and growing internationalisation of world trade, an option of cohesion policy
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a place-based development policy rooted in the fundamental logic that the interest of the Union’s less-developed regions is likely to increase, should they be able to offer competitive comparative advantages as well as firm sets of incentives; in this context requests the Commission to support Member States and regions to pursue their own investment incentives policies; notes with regret that less developed regions of the EU are constantly losing their attractiveness to the detriment of third countries; it calls on the competent authorities to draft urgent measures aimed at maintaining the current investments and attracting new ones;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a place-based development policy rooted in the fundamental logic that the interest of the Union's less-developed regions is likely to increase, should they be able to offer competitive comparative advantages as well as firm sets of incentives
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a place-based development policy rooted in the fundamental logic that the interest of the Union’s less-developed regions is likely to increase, should they be able to offer competitive comparative advantages as well as firm sets of incentives; in this context requests the Commission to support Member States and regions to pursue their own investment incentives policies; especially regarding long-term investments, with the emphasis on infrastructure projects, including at the cross-border level;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a place-based development policy rooted in the fundamental logic that the interest of the Union’s less-developed regions is likely to increase, should they be able to offer competitive comparative advantages as well as firm sets of incentives; in this context requests the Commission to support Member States and regions to pursue their own investment incentives policies, with flexible application of competition law and the State aid system;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Endorses the economic rationale of a local/regional place-based development policy rooted in the fundamental logic that the interest of the Union's less-developed regions is likely to increase, should they be able to offer competitive comparative advantages (adequate infrastructure, skilled human resources, etc.) as well as firm sets of incentives; in this context requests the Commission to support Member States and regions to pursue their own investment incentives policies;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that high
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that high taxes and public debt are among the key concerns identified by companies investing in Europe;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that high taxes and public
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU’s cohesion policy makes an important contribution to the European economy and is the Community’s largest source of investment; believes that the EU’s cohesion policy should be used by Member States to attract further investment in the fields of infrastructure, innovation and scientific and social initiatives;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that high taxes and public
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Underlines that high taxes and public debt are among the key concerns identified by companies investing in Europe; would be particularly concerned by any effort to harmonise corporation tax conditions inevitably giving rise to higher fiscal burden in some Member States, and would deny more localised approach allowing individual regions to remain fiscally competitive cultivating their local innovative and entrepreneurial potential;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5a (new) 5a. Believes that a prerequisite for attracting investors is the existence of competitive infrastructures in the context of the new challenges facing us; stresses that to maintain the growth of investments and implicitly of the European economy there is an ongoing need to modernise the infrastructures, and this is where the cohesion policy has a very important role to play, especially in the case of the new Member States;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5b (new) 5b. Believes that besides the existence of a good infrastructure, the main premise of competitiveness and attractiveness of the regions is promoting research, innovation and technological development, and the availability of appropriate high-quality professional training programmes for people in the European regions;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its cities, and that major urban infrastructure projects, and innovative business parks, provide the strongest appeal for investment; urges the Member States to provide large-scale
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its cities, and that
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its cities, and that major urban infrastructure projects, and innovative business parks, provide
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its cities, and that major urban infrastructure projects, and innovative business parks, provide the strongest appeal for investment; urges the Member States to provide large-scale investments in infrastructure
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU's cohesion policy
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its cities, and that major urban infrastructure projects, and innovative business parks, provide the strongest appeal for investment; urges the Member States to provide large-scale investments in infrastructure and technology in order to enhance the liveability and competitiveness of Europe's cities whilst preserving and building upon their traditional virtues.
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Emphasises that the EU has an enormous strength in its
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6a (new) 6a. Believes that investments in transport, energy, broadband infrastructure, as well as in developing human capital, are crucial for attracting more environmentally friendly growth- enhancing investments in order to achieve sustainable development in line with Europe 2020 objectives.
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6a (new) 6a. Emphasises the necessity for research and education not only to be disseminated and implemented at the local level, but also to be produced at the local level. To this end it is necessary for there to be full utilisation of the human potential, of researchers and academic foundations at the local level, so as to attract both domestic investment and direct foreign investment. Also to be noted is the importance of the mobility of the human element: teachers, researchers and students.
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6a (new) 6a. Emphasises the need for horizontal and vertical coordination that would allow cities to collaborate with other levels of governance and to consolidate their cooperation by networking with other cities.
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6a (new) 6a. Believes that in the coming period, the Member States and the regions should set their objectives in such a way as to prioritise the needs of investors and simultaneously to guarantee adequate and accessible funding, attributing a key role to the Structural Funds;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6b (new) 6b. Believes that governance is needed, based on the empowerment of citizens, the participation of all relevant partners and the innovative use of share capital
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6b (new) 6b. Believes that underdeveloped regions should continue to benefit from substantial Community funding to provide investors with other local competitive advantages in addition to reduced labour costs;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6b (new) 6b. Notes the need for strengthening infrastructures so as to reinforce regional cohesion and the competitiveness of the regions; in this context it emphasises the importance of the Trans-European Transport Networks and the use of supplementary financial instruments such as project bonds and public-private sector partnerships.
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6c (new) 6c. Emphasises that reducing the administrative burden for financial operators plays an extremely important role in increasing the attractiveness of the regions, and it is necessary to impose and abide by specific minimum standards as regards services provided by local and regional public administrations throughout the European Union;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU’s cohesion policy makes an important contribution to the European economy and is the
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the EU’s cohesion policy makes an important contribution to the European economy and competitiveness and is the Community’s largest source of investment;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that in
source: PE-486.150
2012/05/03
ECON
100 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 22 a (new) - having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 13 December 2011 on trade and investment barriers (2011/2115(INI))4 __________________ 4 Text adopted P7_TA-PROV(2011)0565
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the economic, financial, fiscal and
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24 a. Proposes the benchmark for the future European investment strategy to relate to the "triple C" principle of investing Climate-friendly, Cross-border efficiently and Cohesion-boosting; believes that focus of investments in Europe should also be on the European added value, which guarantees the effects of investments being the most far- reaching;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. whereas it is necessary to establish a consistent framework of stability within monetary and fiscal and trade policy, in order to facilitate the flow of direct investments in all Member States and EU regions and so contributing to correct the EU's macroeconomic imbalances;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas the Union should further exploit its strengths, such as the high standard of consumption, education and quality of life, the research and innovation capacity, the high labour efficiency and productivity as well as a friendly and motivational business environment in order to tackle the fiscal crisis and enhance growth and employment;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the financing of the Member States' public debt has the effect of absorbing resources for investment, growth and employment, while capital flight from certain Member States to certain other Member States as well as to certain third countries may contribute
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas banks, as the most important source of finance in the euro area, accounting for more than equity and bond finance put together, while in the USA and other regions of the world bank credit accounts for a smaller percentage of total finance, have exacerbated the unsustainable situation in financial markets in the EU in times before and during the crisis and have consequently been strongly affected by the recent developments;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas bank
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) D a. whereas the growth potential provided by sectors, such as Green technologies, health and care, education and social economy can ignite and drive investment through increasing respective demand, thereby boosting investment;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) D a. whereas there is need to monitor and review the impact and implementation of EU financial regulation to ensure that it is not creating unnecessary administrative burdens and stifling foreign direct investment in the EU;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the latest UNCTAD report shows that the EU still has a strong capacity for attracting foreign direct investment
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the latest UNCTAD report shows that the EU still has a strong capacity for attracting foreign direct investment, and that, despite the fact that developing countries have
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 a (new) - having regard to the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020) (COM (2011) 834),
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) E a. whereas internal investment within the Union can significantly expand the markets for foreign direct investment through improvements in sustainable infrastructure for business, education, research and development;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) E a. whereas investment consists of two pillars, which are public investment and private investment and the private pillar is composed of domestic and foreign investment;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) E b. whereas breaking the overdependency on imports of oil, gas and other non-renewable resources requires strong investments in renewable energy, energy and resource efficiency;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) E b. whereas the growth potential provided by sectors, such as Green technologies, ageing education and social economy can ignite and drive investment through increasing respective demand, thereby enormously expanding the amount of attractable investment, pointing out that public investment plays a key role in starting the aforementioned process and tapping this broad investment and growth potential;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E c (new) E c. whereas private capital is widely available, the key challenge is to channel this capital to sustainable long-term investment, instead of volatile short-term investment;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E d (new) E d. whereas the UNEP report on the Global Green New Deal in 2009 underlined the huge potential for growth through fiscal stimulus and investment in efficient buildings, renewable energy, sustainable transport, sustainable agriculture, freshwater, and ecological infrastructure; whereas UNEP argues that an investment of one percent of global GDP over two years would suffice to provide the critical mass of green infrastructure needed to seed a significant greening of the global economy it is essential to complement public stimulus with regulatory and fiscal measures to direct private investment into this critically important sector;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the European sovereign debt and roll-over risks, as well as deficiencies and barriers to trade and to the completion of the internal market, including non-tariff barriers and data restrictions, may limit the EU region's ability to attract both European and international investors;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) F a. whereas as regards competitiveness and entrepreneurship, the main challenges that Union enterprises continue to face are difficulties in accessing finance for SMEs , weak entrepreneurial spirit (only 45% of European citizens would like to be self- employed compared to 55% e.g. in the United States), a business environment not conducive to start-ups and growth, characterised by persistent regulatory fragmentation and red tape, limited capacity of SMEs to adapt to an energy and resource efficient economy and to expand to markets beyond their home country, both within the Single Market and beyond;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F b (new) F b. whereas, according to the latest World Bank's "Doing Business" index, EU Member States represent only 40% (and euro area members just 26%) of the top 35 countries in terms of entrepreneurship at a global level;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas, as shown in the Commission's Alert Mechanism Report (COM (2012)0068), national budget constraints and high unemployment rates highlight the need, especially with regard to current account balances, export market shares and private and public debt, to introduce effective structural reforms in order to improve the business environment, while cutting red tape and optimising the added value of the structural funds and the European Investment Bank's activities, especially in the countries benefitting from the European neighbourhood policy;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 b (new) - having regard to the Parliament's resolution of 19 April 2012 on the proposal for a Council directive on a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB),
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) G a. whereas well-targeted social investments are crucial to securing a high employment level in the long run, stabilising the economy, enhancing human capital and raising competitiveness of the EU;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H a (new) H a. whereas studies conducted by UNEP and ILO reveal investment in human capital formation is crucial to attract investment in the Green economic sectors and exploiting their high growth potential;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas the flow of foreign direct investment in the EU, particularly if directed in such a way as to reduce the disparities between Member States, has positive effects on the real economy and the balance of payments, competitiveness, employment and social cohesion, but also acts as a
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas the euro-area and ECB objective of
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas, in its proposal on a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB), the Commission did not extend harmonisation to corporate tax rates, which are intended to remain within the competence of the Member States, further steps are required to make the tax system in the Union more transparent and less complex for foreign investors while simultaneously harmonizing tax rates towards minimum rates throughout Europe;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) N a. whereas the EU is the market leader in inward investments and therefore holds a global role and responsibility in respect to social and environmental concerns in Free Trade Agreements with other countries;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. whereas in the European Union there still remain significant obstacles to providing cross-border services, which impede the functioning of the free market;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) N a. whereas, in accordance with the EU Treaties, common commercial policy, including foreign direct investments, falls under the exclusive competence of the EU and that, in this field, the European Parliament and the Council operate on an equal footing, since the ordinary legislative procedure is applied;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 c (new) - having regard to the Commission's report "Business Dynamics: Start-ups, Business Transfers and Bankruptcy" (January 2011),
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that the EU still represents the first worldwide destination of foreign direct investment (FDI) and
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Believes that cohesion policy is key to addressing macroeconomic and regional imbalances at EU level and should be a key internal market policy for enhancing competitiveness, productivity, growth and job creation, which in turn has the potential to increase the attractiveness of investing in the EU; highlights that through cohesion policy investment in infrastructure and labour-market skills attractiveness for prospective investors can be significantly increased;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Believes that cohesion policy is key to addressing macroeconomic and regional imbalances at EU level and should be a key internal market policy for enhancing competitiveness, productivity, growth and job creation, as well as the essential social and environmental objectives which provide stable long-term investment opportunities, which in turn has the potential to increase the attractiveness of investing in the EU;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new) (1) Urges the Commission to improve international regulatory cooperation, including in multilateral fora, and convergence of regulatory requirements on the basis of international standards and, where possible, engage in regulatory dialogue to address existing or potential future barriers to trade with a view to limiting disputes and associated trade costs;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Considers that fiscal consolidation and stabilisation and the completion of the internal market should not be carried out
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Considers that fiscal consolidation and stabilisation and the completion of the internal market should be carried out ensuring a balance between the added value that they can offer and the strengthening of cooperation among economic bodies, as well as building on complementarities between EU economies
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that it is crucial to maintain strategic European investors' interest in conducting their activities within the EU, bearing in mind that
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that it is crucial to maintain strategic European investors' interest in conducting their activities within the EU, bearing in mind that, in conjunction with the broader global financial and economic crisis, the negative feelings and uncertainty created by the debt crisis
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to bring forward a communication on the attractiveness of investing in Europe, as compared to its main partners and competitors, identifying the main advantages and weaknesses of the EU as an investment environment, and p
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to bring forward a communication on the attractiveness of investing in Europe, as
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 d (new) - having regard to the World Bank Report "Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World",
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Believes that the EU should fully exploit its position as the world's largest single common market
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Believes that the EU should fully exploit
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Believes that the EU should fully exploit its position as the world's largest single common market (including its high standard of living, high labour
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Urges the EU to introduce investment as a key element of all flagship initiatives within the Europe 2020 Strategy, in order to meet the critical need for growth and employment and make use of their major contribution towards tackling the fiscal crisis; in particular, calls on the Commission and on the Member States to develop an ambitious, eco-efficient and sustainable EU industrial Strategy in order to recreate manufacturing capacity across the EU territory and to generate high quality jobs within the EU;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Stresses in particular the enormous potential for attracting foreign direct investment by promoting education, research and development and job creation in the areas of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency in order to meet the 2020 targets and make the EU a world leader in Green technology;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Recalls that excessively reducing public investment due to the fiscal crisis in crucial sectors such as health, education, research and infrastructures c
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Recalls that
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Supports the newly proposed programme "Erasmus for All" that can significantly increase the funds allocated for mobility and development of knowledge, training and skills, in order to boost young people's personal development and job prospects and thus contribute in enhancing the human potential and addressing the problem of high youth unemployment in Europe; supports "Erasmus for Enterprises" and in particular the exchange programme "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs" which will encourage start-ups, cross- border transfers of knowledge, cooperation between small firms, innovation and job creation;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Believes that any strategy aimed at attracting foreign and local investment should be linked to completion of the internal market; cross-border investment and flows, open markets, and
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 e (new) - having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions "Erasmus for All: the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport" (COM (2011) 787),
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Stresses the urgent need to reduce tax barriers for cross-border workers and employers to facilitate citizens' mobility and promote cross-border investment;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Calls on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO, G20 and G8, the establishment of common rules that ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the face of international macroeconomic imbalances relating to financial regulation and taxation in order to protect EU competitiveness; considers the importance on advancing negotiation on a financial transaction tax;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Calls on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO, G20 and G8, the establishment of common rules that ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the face of international macroeconomic imbalances relating to financial regulation and taxation in order to protect EU competitiveness; stresses in this respect the need for open markets and further convergence particularly between the transatlantic partners;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Calls on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Calls on the EU to negotiate at global level and in the framework of the WTO, G20 and G8, the establishment of common rules that ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the face of international macroeconomic imbalances relating to financial regulation and taxation in order to protect EU competitiveness; calls on the Union to be decisive in negotiating and concluding comprehensive free trade agreements (FTAs) with major partners as a key to opening new markets for goods and services, increasing investment opportunities, facilitating open and fair trade and promoting a more predictable policy environment;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Is of the idea that the creation of an ad hoc European Observatory for foreign direct investments, established within the European Commission, could contribute to reinforce the coordination of Member States policies in this field and, at the same time, provide a better monitoring of the policies applied, progress, including their macroeconomic effects, in order to promote Europe as an investment destination;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Asks the Commission to step up coordination and harmonisation of Member States' economic, tax and social policies with a view to
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that the EU and the Member States should take action notably to enhance the use of the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund as a catalyst for attracting additional funding from the EIB, EBRD, other international financial institutions and the private sector, while encouraging initiatives based on public- private partnerships (PPP), such as EU Project Bonds; notes that SMEs can particularly benefit from investments that strengthen capacities, infrastructure and human capital; recognises the potential of extending the scope of innovative financial instruments so that they are used to a greater effect as an access to finance to complement traditional financing methods; highlights that a revolving nature of financial instruments and a flexible approach to integrating such instruments at regional level could achieve a multiplying effect of the EU budget, foster public-private partnerships, open up alternative sources of finance and provide an important new financing stream for strategic investments, supporting long-term, sustainable investments at a time of fiscal constraint;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 f (new) - having regard to the Commission's report "Interim evaluation of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Pilot project / Preparatory action (2011)",
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the ECB’s longer-term refinancing operations (LTRO); calls on the ECB to further act in a decisive way in addressing the current euro-area debt crisis by maintaining price stability while at the same time minimising negative spill-over effects on the real economy and on the investments that the banking sector’s liquidity problems could generate and, moreover, shaping the operational framework of the banks in such a way that a proportion of the grants be made available for development purposes and for support of small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, that it should establish a network of collaboration and utilisation of EU resources;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the ECB's longer-term refinancing operations (LTRO); deplores the lack of accountability of the banks using the LTRO funds for improving financing conditions for the real economy; calls on the ECB to further act in a decisive way in addressing the current euro-area debt crisis by maintaining price stability while at the same time minimising negative spill-over effects on the real economy and on the investments that the banking sector's liquidity problems could generate; Calls on the EU to ensure that the banking sector takes the necessary steps to address its structural weaknesses with regard to longer-term liquidity risks in order to avoid the need for the ECB to intervene so massively in future, ensure that the sector is able to fulfil its function of sustainable support the real economy and thereby restore long-term investor confidence;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Believes that the forthcoming reform of the Capital Requirements Directive should
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Believes that the forthcoming reform of the Capital Requirements Directive should take into consideration the trade-off between increasing capital reserves
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Stresses the need for deepening European capital markets in order to ensure access to financing from sources other than banks;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Notes the Commission's new proposals to improve the regulation of the credit rating agency market, in particular the amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on credit rating agencies and the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings of collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) and Directive 2011/61/EU on Alternative Investment Funds Managers in respect of the excessive reliance on credit ratings, and
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the many remaining obstacles that impede the provision and receipt of cross-border services in individual Member States;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16 a. Notes the importance of the Commission's proposals to modernise the European public procurement market; stresses that a dynamic pan-European procurement market can provide important business opportunities for European companies and can significantly contribute to stimulating a competitive European industry, as well as attracting investment and promoting economic growth;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17 a. Calls on the Commission to take any appropriate measures to improve the third country regimes embedded in financial services regulation in view of the need to attract foreign investment, including private equity and venture capital, to the Union's single market; considers, in this regard, that improving the regulatory structures in relation to third country regimes in financial services regulation becomes a horizontal priority;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 g (new) - having regard to the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurement (COM(2011)0896),
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage institutional investors to participate in European venture capital funds and European social entrepreneurship funds, and to eliminate restrictions on the supply of venture capital funding in small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage institutional investors to participate in European venture capital funds and Social Entrepreneurship Funds, and to eliminate restrictions on the supply of venture capital funding in small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19 a. Believes that cross border entrepreneurship offers significant benefits both for EU regions by contributing to their economic development and for individual enterprises by offering them opportunities to access new and larger markets and sources of supply, as well as capital, labour and technology;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Expresses concern about the high youth unemployment figures observed in a number of Member States and the negative employment prospects;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Expresses concern about the high youth unemployment figures observed in a number of Member States and the negative employment prospects; notes with concern the EU's limited ability to attract high- quality human capital while there are significant human capital flows from the EU towards the third world; considers, in this regard, that the EU should step up its efforts to achieve the employment objectives of the EU 2020's strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by focusing, amongst other, on reducing red tape and labour costs for EU companies, including through shifting taxes away from labour, and by implementing flexicurity principles;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Expresses concern about the high youth unemployment figures observed in a number of Member States and the negative employment prospects; notes with concern the EU's limited ability to attract high- quality human capital while there are significant human capital flows from the
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20 a. Points to the challenge faced by the Union as a whole and by individual Member States with respect to an ageing population; urges Member States to develop consistent strategies that deal with the demographic challenge, offsetting potential negative implications;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Supports the objectives of the Innovation Union; calls on Member States to target investment in education, research and innovation, given the medium- and long-
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Supports the objectives of the Innovation Union; calls on Member States to target investment in research and innovation, given the medium- and long- term positive effects it can have on growth and development; supports smart specialisation as an important policy principle and concept for innovation policy and stronger links between research and entrepreneurship, particularly in the area of green technology, an area where the Union can become a world-class player;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 34 a (new) - having regard to the United Nations Environment Programme's policy brief on the Global Green New Deal published in 2009,
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for greater fiscal coordination, on both the revenue and expenditure sides; expresses concern about the heavy administrative burdens and high tax compliance costs that European businesses are facing, which create disincentives for investment in the EU; points out the need to ensure a smooth cooperation and coordination between EU governments' tax systems; asks the Commission and Member States to cooperate further on their respective tax policies against double taxation, double non-taxation, tax fraud, tax evasion and dumping, and to combat the use of tax havens for illicit purposes; stresses that the fight against tax evasion should be a top priority for the EU especially in the current crisis situation, where tax evasion presents a big loss for national budgets and extra revenues could be used to increase public investment;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for greater fiscal coordination, on
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for greater fiscal coordination, on both the revenue and expenditure sides; expresses concern about the heavy administrative burdens and high tax compliance costs that European businesses are facing, which create disincentives for investment in the EU; welcomes the Parliament's legislative resolution on a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) while looking forward to the directive's adoption by the Council; asks the Commission and Member States to cooperate further on their respective tax policies against double taxation, double non-taxation, tax fraud, tax evasion and dumping, and to combat the use of tax havens for illicit purposes;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Points out that difficult access to finance remains one of the top concerns for SMEs; is particularly worried about the fact that healthy companies cannot acquire the funding they are planning for; calls on the Commission and Member States to swiftly
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23 a. Emphasises the need for a comprehensive review of the economic impact of EU financial regulation to ensure that implementation is proportionate and does not stifle investment;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23 a. Welcomes the "Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs" (COSME) proposed by the Commission for the period 2014-2020 as a means to encourage an entrepreneurial culture and promote start-ups of SMEs mainly in new sectors such as social media services, green economy and tourism;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 b (new) 23 b. Calls for new, efficient bankruptcy laws, including early warning tools, in order to encourage a second-chance policy designed to foster entrepreneurship and business re-starts given that Second Chance is not adequately recognized by national legislations; stresses the importance of increased networking among entrepreneurs and re-starters in order to promote Second Chance as well as the need to address difficulties in financing the re-starter;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 c (new) 23 c. Calls on the Union to fully exploit investment opportunities in the EU and beyond that arise from the European Neighbourhood Policy and macro- regional strategies;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 d (new) 23 d. Calls on the Commission to include all relevant indicators for measuring macroeconomic imbalances in the scoreboard and the effects on the EU regions;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that it is important to further develop partnerships targeted at environmental sectors, energy efficiency and development of new green technologies, which are attracting increasing interest from investors, taking
source: PE-487.746
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
2015-11-04Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-0275New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-275 |
2014-11-09Show (5) Changes
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