Procedure rejected
2015/2210(INI) European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2015 priorities
Lead committee dossier: ECON/8/03782
Legal Basis RoP 052
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion | BUDG | ARTHUIS Jean (ALDE) | |
| Lead | ECON | ROSATI Dariusz (EPP) | SANT Alfred (S&D), OŻÓG Stanisław (ECR), TORVALDS Nils (ALDE), MATIAS Marisa (GUE/NGL), URTASUN Ernest (Verts/ALE), VALLI Marco (EFD) |
| Opinion | EMPL | GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO Sergio (S&D) | |
| Opinion | FEMM | URTASUN Ernest (Verts/ALE) | |
| Opinion | IMCO | GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó (EPP) | |
| Opinion | REGI | MIHAYLOVA Iskra (ALDE) |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Activites
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2015/10/29
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
- 2015/10/28 Debate in Parliament
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2015/10/20
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A8-0307/2015
summary
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Dariusz ROSATI (EPP, PL) on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2015 priorities. The Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, exercising their prerogatives as associated committees under Article 54 of the Parliament’s internal Rules of Procedure, were also consulted for an opinion on the report. Over the last six months a whole series of budgetary measures - the adoption of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the launch of operational programmes linked to the cohesion funds, the carry-over of commitment appropriations from the 2007-2013 period which were unused in 2014 to 2015, 2016 and 2017, and the decision to increase pre-financing for the European Youth Initiative - have been taken in the service of the objectives set out in the annual growth survey. Members appreciated the fact that economic recovery is slowly gaining ground, with GDP expected to rise by 1.9% in the euro area and 2.1% in the EU in 2016. They noted with concern, however, that the foundations of the recovery are fragile, owing to, among other factors, the EU’s underlying structural weaknesses and regional economic divergences, resulting in uneven growth and low international competitiveness. In this regard, they welcomed the Commission’s focus in the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) on the four main priorities for economic growth: boosting investment, implementation of structural reforms in product, service and labour markets, fiscal responsibility and improving employment policy. Economic prospects and challenges for the EU: Members took note of the Commission’s new approach to streamlining the European Semester process and its current timetable in order to harmonise the mutual impact of national documents (NRPs and Convergence/Stability Programmes) and documents prepared by the Commission (CSRs and country reports), so as to strengthen synergy and facilitate coordination of national policies while not disregarding the original goals posed by a Member State. They noted with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year’s CSRs and the generally poor implementation record. The report reiterated the need for coordinated policy within the Union. The Commission is called upon to: consider, taking note of Parliament’s resolution of 24 June 2015 entitled ‘The review of the economic governance framework: stocktaking and challenges’, the possibility of introducing a mechanism encouraging Member States to implement the CSRs; publish a document providing a comprehensive assessment of the state of implementation of CSRs in every Member State, as well as explicitly identifying recommendations aimed at fulfilling updated Europe 2020 national targets. Deploring the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, Members stressed the need for increased investment alongside reform of national labour markets, and the importance of taking measures to boost the economy in order to increase job creation rates; as well as concentrate on creating quality workplaces. National education systems should be improved and adapt them to the new skill and knowledge demands on the EU labour market, in particular by adapting the dual-track training model. Members welcomed the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private and public investment, through, inter alia, National Promotional Banks in the EU, as a step in the right direction. Moreover, Members emphasised the role Parliament has played in minimising redeployment from Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility in the context of EFSI and reiterated their commitment to reducing cuts during the annual budgetary procedure. CSRs - priorities and objectives: Members called on the Commission to duly take the needs of SMEs into account in the design of the future Capital Markets Union (CMU) project. They also called for the development of the capital market, the removal of administrative barriers (where doing so would not undermine essential protection for workers and consumers), cutting red tape, strengthening the quality and efficiency of Member States’ judicial systems, action against tax avoidance, tax evasion and tax havens, and the reform of Member States’ tax and legal systems. They also stressed, however, the importance of avoiding ‘one size fits all’ policies. As regards undeclared work, the report called for the swift entry into force of the European platform against undeclared work. Member States should adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation, while at the same time respecting the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP). Recommendations: Members deplored the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level, making it difficult to coordinate democratically legitimate national economic policies with European recommendations, as well as from an insufficient democratic accountability mechanism. They called, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments and local and regional authorities, and also for relevant national and European stakeholders, such as representatives of civil society, in the preparation and drawing-up of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs). Members recalled that better economic governance in the euro area is crucial. Members reiterated the need for a new own resources system which would pave the way for a genuine overhaul of the EU financing arrangements without requiring EU citizens to pay more tax and would create a real connection between the citizens and the European Authorities. Budgetary policies: Members pointed out that the publication of a white paper on a euro area budgetary stability mechanism in spring 2017 will coincide with the mid-term review of the MFF. They reiterated their demand that any additional funding or instrument should fall within the scope of Parliament’s budgetary oversight and should be financed over and above the MFF ceiling for 2014-2020. As regards new labour reforms, new labour reforms should strike the requisite balance between flexibility and security for both employees and employers. The Commission is called upon to ensure that in its policy guidance labour market reforms are aimed at, inter alia, reducing segmentation, ensuring better anticipation and matching of skills and jobs, advancing the inclusion of vulnerable groups, reducing in-work poverty, promoting gender equality, strengthening the rights of workers with atypical contracts, and providing more social protection for self-employed workers. Members are concerned about the expansion of ‘zero-hour contracts’. They believe that all types of contractual arrangements should give workers access to a core set of rights and adequate social protection. Members recognised that setting minimum wages is a Member State competence which must be respected in line with the principle of subsidiarity. Lastly, highlighting the reduction in youth unemployment rates, Members welcomed the Commission’s decision to release EUR 1 billion as advance funding for the Youth Guarantee Scheme and called on the Member States to use all available funds swiftly and efficiently in order to implement the Youth Employment Initiative with minimum quality standards.
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A8-0307/2015
summary
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2015/10/13
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- #3413
- 2015/10/06 Council Meeting
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2015/09/10
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Debate in Council: 3413
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A8-0307/2015
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 429 |
2015/2210(INI)
2015/09/10
BUDG
37 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the annual growth survey presented by the Commission on 28 November 2014
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes that the annual cycle of economic and budgetary policy coordination is linked to the Budget Committee's responsibility to monitor the implementation of the EU budget; considers the European Semester an additional means of increasing budgetary rigour in EU spending;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the ideas proposed to help strengthen parliamentary oversight, in particular the proposal to adapt Parliament's structures to the specific nature of the single currency, which is vital for building a genuine economic and monetary union;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes, in any case, the ideas proposed to help strengthen parliamentary oversight, sin
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Highlights the Commission's understanding of the crucial role national and regional authorities play in promoting necessary structural reforms, exercising fiscal responsibility and boosting investment in support of jobs and growth;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the need to apply all existing rules of the Stability and Growth Pact in order to achieve the stability of the public finances. Underlines the possibility to impose financial penalties in case of not keeping these rules.
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas over the last six months
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the ideas put forward for a eurozone budgetary stability mechanism, which would be the first step towards establishing a European treasury; points out that the publication of a white paper in spring 2017 will coincide with the mid- term review of the MFF; reiterates, in that connection, its call that any additional funding or instrument should fall within the scope of Parliamentʼs budgetary oversight and should be financed over and above the MFF ceiling for 2014-2020; reiterates the need for a new own-resources system, which would pave the way for a genuine overhaul of the EU financing arrangements without requiring EU citizens to pay more tax, by turning to other resources, such as the financial transaction tax, an environmental tax and even a social tax, not to mention the vital fight against tax evasion;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the ideas put forward for a eurozone budgetary stability mechanism, which would be the first step towards establishing a European treasury; points out that the publication of a white paper in spring 2017 will coincide with the mid- term review of the MFF; reiterates, in that connection, its call that any additional funding or instrument should fall within the scope of Parliamentʼs budgetary oversight and should be financed over and above the MFF ceiling for 2014-2020;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the ideas put forward for a eurozone budgetary stability mechanism, which would be the first step towards establishing a European treasury; points out that the publication of a white paper in spring 2017 will coincide with the mid- term review of the MFF; reiterates, in that connection, its call that any additional funding or instrument should fall within the scope of Parliamentʼs budgetary oversight and should be financed over and above the MFF ceiling for 2014-2020; reiterates the need for a new own-resources system, which would pave the way for a genuine overhaul of the EU financing arrangements without requiring EU citizens to pay more tax; is in favour of greater transparency and easier access as regards the viewing of EU budgets;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Reiterates the need for a new own- resources system, which would pave the way for a genuine overhaul of the EU financing arrangements without requiring EU citizens to pay more tax and creating a real connection between citizens and European authorities. In this sense the Parliament is looking forward to analyse and discuss the proposals that the High Level Working Group on Own Resources will put forward next year;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Recalls that payment shortages, largely due to insufficient payment ceilings and under-budgeting remain acute in 2015; fears that this will continue to jeopardise the proper implementation of the new 2014-2020 MFF programmes, and to penalise the beneficiaries, especially local, regional and national authorities, who are facing economic and social constraints;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Welcomes the adoption of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investments as a means to boost private investment, and emphasises the role Parliament has played in minimising redeployment from Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Welcomes the adoption of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investments, and emphasises the role Parliament has played in minimising redeployment from Horizon 2020 and the
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas these measures demonstrate the added value which the EU budget provides, but also highlight the restrictions on EU political action imposed by a budget which does not consist of genuine own resources, which amounts to less than 1 % of EU GDP and which is constrained by a seven- year multiannual framework; whereas this budget is highly insufficient in order to meet the Union’s obligations with regard to agricultural crises, migration issues, support for research, economic development and the deepening of a social Europe;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Notes that the European Fund for Strategic Investments has only just begun to fund projects and will therefore reserve judgment on the efficacy of these investments;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Welcomes the contributions of Member States to the Investment Plan for Europe;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Regards it as essential that the plan should succeed and will therefore monitor its implementation very closely, in particular any move to shift investment expenditure and public debt off State balance sheets, in addition to any obstacles to its implementation that might be raised by the internal bureaucracies of each Member State.
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Regards it as essential that the plan should succeed and will therefore monitor
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Regards it as essential that the plan should succeed and will therefore monitor its implementation very closely, in particular
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Recognises the importance of fiscal responsibility following the crisis in Europe, and emphasises the importance of showing restraint in the EU budget in order to maintain the agreed ceilings in commitments and payment appropriations under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Points out that a deficit in the EU budget is illegal and the Council’s budgetary proposals are therefore insincere; notes that the latter institution is making the EU budget an adjustment variable of national budgets and that this consolidation of national budgets by delaying payments for project initiators is counterproductive economically and financially; takes the view that the exclusion of Member States’ contributions from the calculation of the structural deficit would allow for a more accurate reading of the budgetary efforts made by the Member States;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas the
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas these measures demonstrate the added value which the EU budget can provide
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the Council's position with regard to the 2016 budget has been to reduce commitments by EUR 563.6 million and payments by EUR 1.4 billion, once again underestimating the EU's real payment needs, running counter to the plan put forward by the Commission to settle unpaid bills;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the presentation of the five presidents' report, 'Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union', but criticises the fact that the timetable for its implementation is out of step with the severity of the Greek crisis; welcomes, in addition, the Beres report on the review of the economic governance framework, which was endorsed by Parliament;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the presentation of the five presidents' report, ‘Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union', but criticises the fact that the timetable for its implementation is too slow and out of step with the
source: 567.637
2015/09/11
ECON
290 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 4 a (new) - having regard to the Commission communication of 28 November 2014 on the Alert Mechanism report 2015 (COM(2014)0904),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Commission’s spring 2015 economic forecast indicates growth rates of 2.1 % in the EU and of 1.9 % in the euro area for 2016, which already seems overly optimistic;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to re
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term structural unemployment rates;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets in order to increase job creation rates; highlights that this needs a specific approach for some population groups, such as younger people, low-skilled unemployed, older unemployed and women coming back to the labour market; is concerned that discrimination against women, older workers and workers with migrant backgrounds are still impeding their chances to access employment; highlights that shifting taxation from labour to environment is a cost-efficient way to create jobs;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, and is saddened by in particular the youth and long-
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets in order to increase job creation rates; stresses that the dual-track training model has proved particularly valuable in combating youth unemployment;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets and take measures boosting the economy in order to increase job creation rates;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets in order to increase job creation rates; taking care however to ensure that such reforms do not merely amount in practice, to reductions in labour rights and social protection, or to the promotion of precarious forms of employment;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Commission's spring 2015 economic forecast indicates improved growth rates of 2.1 % in the EU and of 1.9 % in the euro area for 2016;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets in order to increase job creation rates, as well as to reform the education system and adapt it to the new skill and knowledge demands on the EU labour market;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; stresses the need to reform national labour markets in order to increase job creation rates; insists that this should be complemented by the active promotion of entrepreneurship via, among others, the inclusion of entrepreneurship skills in school curricula and the creation of a more conducive regulatory and tax environment for start-ups;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Reminds that the ageing of the population and demographic change will continue to put a significant pressure on the health care systems of EU Member States; stresses that this challenge should be tackled through ambitious reforms and considers that the European Semester is an important tool to support Member States in ensuring the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of these systems;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private investment in the EU, as a first step in the right direction and calls on all relevant stakeholders to ensure its swift and effective implementation; points out that in the present low interest rate environment at the zero lower bound, a significant increase of the fund would be needed to provide the necessary macro- economic stimulus;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private investment in the EU, and calls on all relevant stakeholders to ensure its swift and effective implementation, so as to facilitate access to financing for SMEs in particular;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas in the 1st quarter of 2015, real GDP was higher than in the 1st quarter of 2014 in all Member States.
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private investment in the EU, and calls on all relevant stakeholders to ensure its swift and effective implementation; calls Member States to closely involve their local and regional authorities in promoting project pipelines and investment platforms;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private and public investment in the EU, and calls on all relevant stakeholders to ensure its swift and effective implementation; calls Member States to closely involve their local and regional authorities in promoting project pipelines and investment platforms;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting private investment in the EU, and calls on all relevant stakeholders and institutions involved to ensure its swift and effective implementation;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the regulation on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), aimed at boosting
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP); notes the Commission's interpretative communication on flexibility in the SGP, aimed at clarifying the
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP);
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP);
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and, more fundamentally, to stop putting the burden on young and future generations and to be able to finance future-oriented projects and growth enhancing projects; notes the Commission's interpretative communication on flexibility in the SGP, aimed at clarifying the scope of the investment clause and allowing for a certain degree of temporary flexibility in the preventive arm of the SGP;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP); notes the Commission's interpretative communication on flexibility in the SGP, aimed at clarifying the scope of the investment clause and allowing for a certain degree of temporary flexibility in
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP);
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP);
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that further fiscal consolidation is still needed in many Member States in order to comply with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP);
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Considers that all investments, including those that do not take the form of credit or equity, should be excluded from the calculation of the public deficit for the purposes of the SGP;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the Commission's spring economic forecast indicates that annual inflation in both the EU and the euro area
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high public debt levels and large current account
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high public debt levels and large current account gaps, as well as the excessive risks in the
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high public debt levels
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high public debt levels, high unemployment levels and large current accounts gaps, as well as the excessive risks in the banking systems, which stem from structural deficiencies in the Eurozone's institutional design and policies; stresses the need to asymmetrically close current account gaps by increasing domestic demand in surplus countries; regrets that so far the burden of adjustment has been placed on deficit countries, deepening the recession and increasing unemployment and public deficits;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned at the persisting macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high public and private debt levels and large current account gaps, as well as the excessive risks in the banking systems;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Emphasises that current account surpluses do not present the same major risks as deficits, and calls for due account to be taken of this when macroeconomic imbalances are being assessed;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Highlights that the sovereign-bank- loop has not been resolved yet and continues to pose threats to financial and fiscal stability; urges the Commission and the Council to phase out zero risk weighting of sovereign debt;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Underlines that a resource-efficiency indicator to be integrated in the MIP scoreboard should in particular facilitate monitoring progress made towards the decoupling of economic development from the use of natural resources;[CA1]
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas annual inflation in both the EU and the euro area is expected to rise from 0.1 % in 2015 to 1.
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Recalls that poverty and widening income inequality are a threat to growth and its sustainability; calls on the Commission to coordinate and support the Member States in their missions to combat them by facilitating the exchange of best practice and accurate data collection; considers that these responsibilities should explicitly be part of the European Semester for economic policy coordination;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Notes with concern the Commission's asymmetric approach in past CSRs, reflecting a bias towards correcting internal EU imbalances by forcing adjustment on fiscal and current account deficits countries, while ignoring the negative spill-overs of excessive current account surpluses, generated by harmfully tight fiscal policies, internal devaluation aimed at boosting exports, and the flawed construction of the single currency;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy; points out the failure of currently low interest rates to boost investment and calls for the swift implementation of recent measures, such as the Investment plan for Europe;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy; points out the failure of currently low interest rates to boost investment; underlines the potential of the Capital Markets Union project to address these issues and calls on the Commission to duly take the needs of SMEs into account in the design of the future CMU;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy, but rejects any diversification of and innovation in financing mechanisms envisaging instruments similar to those that were at the root of the 2007/2008 financial crisis (specifically, securitisation); points out the failure of currently low interest rates to boost investment;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy; points out the failure of currently low interest rates
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy; points out the failure of currently low interest rates to boost investment; expresses its concern regarding the fact that the lending practice of the banking system has become significantly more cumbersome;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas, according to the Commission, annual inflation in both the EU
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of access to finance for enterprises, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the backbone of the EU economy;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU’s business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment a
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses that the EU's economy is suffering from a lack of innovation while innovation is key to growth and productivity and that fostering innovation is thus crucial in order to improve the international competitiveness of the EU; welcomes in this context the proposal, in the Five presidents' report on completing the EMU, of establishing a euro area system of competitiveness authorities; recalls the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers,
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape and reform of Member States' tax systems; stresses the business opportunities of a Circular Economy;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU’s business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape and reform and increase the transparency of Member States’ tax systems in every respect;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas annual consumer price inflation in both the EU and the euro area is expected to rise from 0.1 % in 2015 to 1.5 % in 2016, which does not reflect the risk of deflation anticipated by the European Central Bank;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers where doing so would not undermine vital protection for workers and consumers, cutting red tape and reform of Member States' tax systems;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape and reform of Member States' tax
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU’s business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape and reform of Member States’ tax systems, for a focus on the development of the capital market, increased innovation and the implementation of structural reforms;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape, strengthening the quality and efficiency of Member States' justice systems and reform of Member States' tax systems;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines the need to improve the EU's business environment as well as to raise productivity levels; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the EFSI; calls, therefore, for the removal of administrative barriers, cutting red tape and reform of Member States' tax systems; stresses that the improvement of administrative capacity at all levels of government is a key priority in many Member States;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Stresses the importance of adopting a far-reaching reform of the financial sector, including a radical bank structural reform based on a clear mandatory separation of trading activities from the core credit function and an effective regulation of the shadow banking sector;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. A
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas enormous differences continue to prevail among Member States in real GDP growth rates, with figures ranging respectively between -0.5 % in Cyprus and +3.6% in Ireland, meaning that economic recovery remains uneven and fragile;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to be more ambitious in implementing socially sustainable structural reforms in order to make product and services markets more competitive; insists that due regard should be given to the social and employment impact of these reforms; welcomes, in this context, the Commission's communication on the roadmap for completing the Digital Single Market;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to be more ambitious in implementing structural reforms in order to make product and services markets more competitive; welcomes, in this context, the Commission's communication on the roadmap for completing the Digital Single Market; believes that this roadmap should define a clear path for Member States to build a comprehensive framework (covering for example tax and legal issues) enabling companies, large and SMEs, to boost their investments in new technologies;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to be more ambitious in implementing structural reforms in order to make product and services markets more competitive; at the same time raises attention again to the fact that structural reforms can be achieved only by taking social aspects into proper consideration; welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s communication on the roadmap for completing the Digital Single Market as well;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to be more ambitious in implementing structural reforms and removing the remaining barriers in order to make product and services markets more competitive; welcomes, in this context, the Commission's communication on the roadmap for completing the Digital Single Market;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees with the Commission that many Member States need to be more ambitious in implementing structural reforms in order to make product and services markets more competitive; welcomes, in this context, the Commission's communications on the roadmap for completing the Digital Single Market and on the roadmap for the Energy Union;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses that the financial and national debt crises and lack of competitiveness will not be resolved by means of a more relaxed monetary policy and that this is no substitute for the necessary structural reforms;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Underlines that, CSRs and Country Reports often address issues linked to territorial differences in terms of both economic performance and administrative capacity, and stresses that policy objectives should systematically take these differences into account, also encouraging regionally-differentiated contributions to the Europe 2020 goals;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas the September 2015 ECB staff macroeconomic projections for the Euro area have revised down real GDP growth and inflation estimates respectively to 1.4 % in 2015 and 1.7% in 2016, and to 0.1% in 2015 and 1.1 % in 2016, suggesting that in spite of the ECB's unconventional policies and a favourable external situation of falling oil prices and euro depreciation, economic growth remains anaemic and fragile,
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to ad
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation and urgently implement the recommended structural reforms, while those with more fiscal space should use it to accelerate investment; stresses also the need for a better coordination between the EU, national and sub-national budgets;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; stresses that counter-cyclical policy entails flexibility within the margins agreed in the SGP in times of economic downturn as well as budget surpluses in times of economic upturn; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation and urgently implement the recommended structural reforms, while those with more fiscal space should use it to accelerate investment;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation and urgently implement the recommended
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation and urgently implement the recommended structural reforms, while those with more fiscal space should use it to accelerate investment or to reduce existing national debts;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 4 b (new) - having regard to the Commission's Main findings of the In-Depth Reviews 2015 from June 2015,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains at unacceptably high levels,
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to a
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses the need for Member States to adapt their public finances by conducting a counter-cyclical policy when necessary and making full use of the existing flexibility clauses foreseen in the legislation, at the same time respecting the rules of the stability pact; considers that Member States with high debt levels in particular must continue with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation and urgently implement the recommended structural reforms,
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Stresses the crucial role of public investments in responding to the crisis and create the conditions for a lasting and inclusive economic recovery; recalls the IMF Working Paper of May 2015 on the macroeconomic effects of public investment, according to which increased public investment raises output and reduces unemployment, both in the short term and in the long term; highlights the fact that, according to the IMF findings, the positive effects on output are stronger when the economy is in recession and monetary policy accommodative, as in the Euro area at present; and points out that public investment financed by debt issuance is found to have larger output effects than investments that are budget- neutral;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015; notes, however, that the number is still relatively high, and reiterates its call for a shift in the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) to
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015; notes, however, that the number is still relatively high, and reiterates its call for the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) to be, where relevant, better
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015; notes, however, that the number is still
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas, according to the Commission's spring forecast, unemployment
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015; notes, however, that the possibility of maintaining this status in the long run is not necessarily guaranteed in the case of every Member State, and the number is still relatively high, and reiterates its call for the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) to be, where relevant, better coordinated with the EDP recommendations so as to ensure consistency between surveillance of the fiscal position and economic policy coordination; at the same time raises attention to the fact that the measures taken for leaving the Excessive Deficit Procedure must consider social aspects as well;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the fall in the number of Member States subject to the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), from 11 in 2014 to 9 in 2015; notes, however, that the number is still relatively high, and
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Stresses the need to adopt policies that enhance growth and employment and considers that fiscal consolidation is a secondary objection; stresses that for Members States suffering from excessive debt burdens, public debt needs to be restructured through extending maturities, lowering interest rates and haircuts;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Stresses the importance to increase the transparency in the way the preventive arm of the SGP is applied as part of the Country Specific Recommendations in order to guarantee equal treatment among Member States;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the Commission to refocus its strategy for growth on the priorities of reducing unemployment, poverty, socio- economic inequalities, and social exclusion, as well as on the urgent need to correct macroeconomic and financial imbalances within the EU by addressing the asymmetries arising from the single currency and the damaging effects of harmful fiscal and commercial policies;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) 14b. Calls on the Commission to replace absurd fiscal rules and numerical targets for budgetary criteria by qualitative indicators of fiscal accountability and tax justice, taking into account the need to fight corporate tax evasion and tax avoidance and the importance to shift the tax burden from labour taxes to other sources of taxation associated with negative externalities, such as a carbon tax and a financial transaction tax;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 c (new) 14c. Stresses the need to refocus the scoreboard on key macroeconomic and social targets, also by including a meaningful set of qualitative indicators; calls on the Commission to make full use of employment and social indicators;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 d (new) 14d. Calls on the Commission to address unambiguous and tailored CSRs primarily to Member States running excessive current account surpluses, by indicating the necessary corrective actions, which especially include policy measures to increase public investment and public expenditure, boost internal demand, and raise wages; stresses the importance of monitoring and impartially assessing the implementation of the CSRs issued under the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure, and to use the instrument of the sanctions in case of non-compliance, as prescribed in the MIP regulation, with the aim of ensuring a fair and smooth adjustment of existing macroeconomic asymmetries and alleviating the burden of the single currency on the most vulnerable economies;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains at unacceptably high levels,
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour markets in combatting unemployment
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour markets in combatting unemployment, in particular the negative impact on job creation rates of rigid rules on dismissal, excessive minimum wage levels and lengthy labour disputes;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of appropriately flexible labour markets in combatting unemployment,
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains at unacceptably high levels
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour markets
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour markets in combatting unemployment, in particular the negative impact on job creation rates of rigid rules on dismissal, excessive minimum wage levels, high labour taxes and lengthy labour disputes
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses the role of flexible labour markets, combined with an adequate level of social and employment protection, in combatting unemployment, in particular the negative impact on job creation rates of rigid rules on dismissal,
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Stresses the role of strong unions and labour protection laws in safeguarding employment and enhancing wage growth; calls for a shift away from consumption taxes to wealth taxes;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Shows its concerns about the strong negative impact of current process of lowering wages will have in a mid and long term period in the sustainability of pension schemes;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Underlines that the flagship initiative for a resource-efficient Europe calls for environmentally harmful subsidies to be phased out; recalls the Commission assessment according to which there is a large policy space for shifting taxes from labour to environmental taxes;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Underlines the fact that, according to the Commission, the subsidies and externalities of fossil fuel and nuclear- based power and heat represent a cost of EUR 262 billion per year;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 d (new) 15d. Emphasises that, according to the Commission, labour taxes account for around 53% of total tax revenue in the euro area as against 5.7% for environmental taxation; points out that there is wide scope for such environmentally friendly fiscal reform;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 e (new) 15e. Urges, therefore, that an updated EU2020 strategy, as well as the CSRs, should include specific targets and benchmarks both for monitoring the phasing-out of market-distorting environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020 at the latest and for increasing the share of environmental taxes in proportion to overall tax revenue by at least 5% by 2020;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains at unacceptably high levels, but is on a declining path
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 f (new) 15f. Reiterates its call on the Member States to incorporate the gender dimension into their stability and convergence programmes and national reform programmes through the setting of qualitative targets and measures that address persisting gender gaps and to systematically apply the principles of gender budgeting;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a transparent and democratically accountab
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a more democratically accountability mechanism for their elaboration and implementation; calls, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments, social partners and National and European civil society organizations in the preparation of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs); stresses that increased ownership is a crucial factor for the successful implementation of the CSRs and, in the longer term, for the success of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments and for increased representation of the regions and regional administrative bodies in the preparation of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs); stresses that increased ownership is a crucial factor for the approval and successful implementation of the CSRs and, in the longer term, for the success of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments, as well as for local and regional authorities, in the preparation of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs); underlines that the implementation of CSRs in political, legal and economic terms could be enhanced by a transparent cooperation between the Commission and the Member State that should start during the preparatory phase of the Annual Growth Survey and continue until the recommendations for specific countries are officially approved; stresses that increased ownership is a crucial factor for the successful implementation of the CSRs and, in the longer term, for the success of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas youth unemployment has to be addressed as a matter of priority, enhancing the current framework of cooperation between national authorities;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments in the preparation of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs); believes that national parliaments should proceed to a formal vote on the NRP before its submission to the Commission; stresses that increased ownership is a crucial factor for the successful implementation of the CSRs and, in the longer term, for the success of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for an
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Deplores the fact that the CSRs suffer from lack of ownership at national level and from a democratic accountability mechanism; calls, in this context, for an increased role for national parliaments, social partners and national civil society in the preparation of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs); stresses that increased ownership is a crucial factor for the successful implementation of the CSRs and, in the longer term, for the success of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Affirms that a credible commitment to the principle of no-bailout would reinstall ownership on national level without much need of further rules of economic governance, thus reinforcing the sovereignty and responsibility of Member States in terms of economic and fiscal policies;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Deplores in particular the Eurogroup decisions taken behind closed doors without transparency and proper accountability; calls for the minutes of the Eurogroup meetings to be published; recalls the conclusion of its report on the troika's activities deploring the absence of EU-level democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Eurogroup when it assumes EU-level executive powers;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Believes the setting-up of independent national Competitiveness Authorities who coordinate their work at Eurozone level as proposed in the Five Presidents' report could foster national ownership of the CSRs and economic convergence more generally;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the role of social and employment indicators in the European Semester process in order to reach a more complete economic impact assessment reflecting the long as well as the short term;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the Commission to further streamline the European Semester and its
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the Commission to further streamline the European Semester and its current timetable in order to harmonise the mutual impact of national documents (NPRs and Convergence/Stability Programmes) and documents prepared by the Commission (CSRs and Country Reports) so as to strengthen synergy and facilitate coordination of national policies but not by reducing the possibility of achieving the original goals;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the European Parliament considers that the reduction in unemployment rates is just as important as improving employment indicators;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the Commission to further streamline the European Semester and its current timetable in order to harmonise the mutual impact of national documents (NPRs and Convergence/Stability Programmes) and documents prepared by the Commission (CSRs and Country Reports) so as to strengthen synergy and facilitate coordination of national policies while ensuring a structural transition to a sustainable economy;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Calls on the Commission to develop comprehensive tools to assess the performance of health care systems, monitor health outcomes and measure access to high-quality healthcare with the aim of reducing divergences and health inequalities between and within Member States;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to make methodological improvements to the underlying procedures of the Semester; stresses the importance of the methodological aspects in order to enhance effectiveness and transparency in applying the current rules and urges both the Commission and the Council to improve the current practice; requests that all underlying analysis regarding the implementation of the SGP and MIP should be made public;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 b (new) 17b. Requests the Commission and the Council to include an explicit reference to the required fiscal effort for the current and the upcoming year in the relevant recommendations under the preventive and corrective arm of the SGP;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of high debt levels on economic growth in the EU; calls on the Commission to explore, with due regard for the principle of liability, innovative ways of speeding up and lessening the negative impact of deleveraging in the banking, private and public sectors;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of high debt levels on economic growth in the
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fiscal outlook in relation to the EU and the euro area
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of high debt levels and low investment environment on economic growth in the EU; calls on the Commission to explore
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of high
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines the destructive impact of high debt levels on economic growth in the EU; calls on the Commission to explore innovative ways of speeding up and lessening the negative impact of deleveraging in the banking, private and public sectors
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Recalls that the high levels of public and external debt in some EU Member States were largely originated by reckless lending and predatory interest rates, and further exacerbated by fiscal austerity policies; stresses the need to recognize public debt accumulated in this unbalanced way as illegitimate, odious and unsustainable; calls therefore for establishing a multilateral international framework for debt haircuts providing substantial debt relief through cancellation and reduction of illegitimate and unsustainable sovereign debt, in order to bring it to sustainable levels; stresses the importance of finding a fair, sustainable and lasting solution to the problem of external public debt, as an alternative solution to devastating austerity policies, technocratic governance of sovereign debt and creditors' domination on debt negotiations;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Underlines the destructive impact of an overvalued currency on exports, production, employment, wages, income, government revenue and social security systems; calls on the Commission to explore innovative ways of lessening the need for painful internal devaluation;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 b (new) 18b. Emphasizes that a currency union - in a currency area which is far from optimal - necessarily leaves some Member States trapped with a currency which is overvalued vis-à-vis other members in the currency union; deplores that no easy remedy for the disadvantaged members of the currency union exists and that internal devaluation implies great and long-lasting sacrifices of people living in these Member States;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 c (new) 18c. Calls on the Commission to openly acknowledge the fact that some problems of the weaker euro area economies are due to the impossibility of a nominal depreciation in the Eurosystem;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 d (new) 18d. Insists that European Semester documents be intellectually honest by discussing the full range of policy options available to tackle problems related to the overvaluation of a currency and to lessen the effects of austerity policies on ordinary people;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Re
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the position of the Commission's Chief Economic Analyst (CEA),
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the position of the Commission's Chief Economic Analyst (CEA), whose mandate is to verify independently the implementation of the EU governance rules within the European Semester; calls, in particular, for the CEA's analysis to be made public and for the establishment of a regular dialogue between the competent committee of Parliament and the CEA; notes also in this context that the Five Presidents' Report on completing EMU proposes the setting-up of a European Fiscal Board (EFB); underlines that all EU countries should be engaged in each stage of completing the EMU, so that the openness and transparency of the EMU reform process is guaranteed;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the position of the Commission's Chief Economic Analyst (CEA), whose mandate is to verify independently the implementation of the EU governance rules within the European Semester; calls, in particular, for the CEA's analysis to be made public and for the establishment of a regular dialogue between the competent committee of Parliament and the CEA; notes also in this context that the Five Presidents' Report on completing EMU proposes the setting-up of a European Fiscal Board (EFB); recalls that a better economic governance in the euro area is crucial and that, according to the Five Presidents' Report on Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union, "a complete EMU is not an end in itself. It is a means to create a better and fairer life for all citizens, to prepare the Union for future global challenges and to enable each of its members to prosper";
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the position of the Commission's Chief Economic Analyst (CEA), whose mandate is to verify independently the implementation of the EU governance rules within the European Semester; calls, in particular, for the CEA's analysis to be made public and for the establishment of a regular dialogue between the competent committee of Parliament and the CEA;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. 'Welcomes the 5 Presidents' Report and the fact that the roadmap towards 'A More Integrated European Semester' is one of the main parts of the document; recognizes that the increasing interdependence among euro area Member States requires more coordination of national policies; admits that in order to successfully complete Europe's Economic and Monetary Union, the EU has to build four pillars of the Union - Financial, Economic, Fiscal and Political
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Rejects as incompatible with the very core of national sovereignty all attempts to gradually transfer the budget autonomy of national parliaments to European bodies or institutions; insists that the latter have no competence to go beyond the level of non-binding recommendations (CSRs);
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fiscal outlook in the EU and the euro area continues to
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 b (new) 19b. Emphasizes that the European Fiscal Board will not have any more competences than are already with the Commission today, hence warns that the EFB may be a completely superfluous body whose only effect is additional costs for the taxpayer;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 a (new) - having regard to the Council conclusions on Equal income opportunities for women and men: Closing the gender gap in pensions of 4 June 2015 (9302/15)
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fiscal outlook in the EU and the euro area
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fiscal outlook in the EU and the euro area continues to improve with a broadly neutral fiscal stance on aggregate, there are still substantial budget deficits in some Member States, however;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas, despite the overall improvement in aggregate towards a broadly neutral fiscal stance, the crisis regarding the third bailout for Greece in early summer 2015, again highlighted that the problems arising from divergences in economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union, are not being well managed, and this with particular reference to the Eurozone, but also to the Union as a whole;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas there may be a lack of cohesion between the CSRs as separately drafted for different countries of the Union situated in the same regional context, not only with regard to their contingent economic situation but also to the structural reforms they need jointly or separately to undertake so as to overcome intra-regional and intra-national economic divergences;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas investment in the Euro area remains subdued and well below the pre- crisis levels, in spite of the ECB's unconventional monetary policy and the launching of the European investment plan, suggesting that investment is still insufficient to support economic recovery and the monetary stimulus largely ineffective;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas the cuts to public spending imposed by fiscal consolidation have resulted in a decline in social protection, while the European population at risk of poverty and social exclusion has increased to over 25%;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas gender differences in income persist, with the gender pay gap standing at 16 % and the gender pensions gap at 39 %;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas equality is a founding value of the EU and a necessary condition for achieving the Europe 2020 employment and poverty reduction targets, which can only be attained if Member States implement new policies to promote gender equality;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 b (new) - having regard to the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council 'strengthening the social dimension of the economic and monetary union' (COM (2013) 690)
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the fact that economic recovery is slowly gaining ground, with GDP in the euro area expected to rise by 2.1% in 2016; notes with concern, however, that its foundations are fragile
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the fact that
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the fact that economic recovery is slowly gaining ground, with GDP in the euro area expected to rise by 2.1% in 2016; notes with concern, however, that its foundations are fragile, mainly owing to the EU's underlying structural weaknesses
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the fact that economic recovery is slowly gaining ground, with GDP in the euro area expected to rise by
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes that major policy initiatives which included policy recommendations were based on economic forecasts that had not anticipated the low growth and inflation experienced as a consequence of frontloaded austerity measures, and largely underestimated the size of the fiscal multiplier in a context characterised by severe financial turmoil as well as by the importance of spill-over effects across countries in a period of synchronised consolidation combined with the deflationary impact of cumulative and fast-tracked structural reforms;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Points out that a revision of the EU economic governance framework should include inter alia a qualified treatment for investments using capital budgeting methods such as the amortised cost method for accounting certain categories of high-quality public investments generating large and measurable societal and environmental benefits over periods during which employment and output are below their potential;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 c (new) - Having regard to its report of 21 February 2014 on 'Employment and social aspects of the role and operations of the Troika (ECB, Commission and IMF) with regard to euro area programme countries' (2014/2007(INI))
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission's
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission's focus in the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) on the four main priorities for economic growth:
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission's focus in the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) on the four main priorities for economic growth: boosting investment, implementation of structural reforms in product, service and labour markets, fiscal responsibility and improving employment policy; stresses the importance of these growth drivers, also in the context of achieving the goals set out in the Europe 2020 strategy; and the overall objective of making the EU globally more competitive;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the Commission's new approach to streamlining the European Semester process, i.e. through placing a stronger focus on a limited number of most important priorities and challenges and publishing its country-specific and euro area analysis three months earlier than in previous years; however recommends that all major structural reforms and changes promoted by the CSRs are accompanied by a social impact assessment regarding their short and long term effects especially on the vulnerable sectors of the European population; calls on Member States to involve local and regional authorities and other relevant stakeholders in a more structured manner along those three months;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the Commission's new approach to streamlining the European Semester process, i.e. through placing a stronger focus on a limited number of most important priorities and challenges and publishing its country-specific and euro area analysis three months earlier than in previous years; taking into account the new time line of the European Semester, calls on Member States to involve national parliaments as well as local and regional authorities in a more structured manner while engaging stakeholders;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 d (new) - having regard to Communications from the European Commission 'Europe 2020, A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' (COM (2010) 2020) and 'Taking Stock of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' of 13/03/2014 (COM(2014) 130 final/2)
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the Commission’s new approach to s
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the Commission's new approach to streamlining the European Semester process, i.e. through placing a stronger focus on a limited number of most important priorities and challenges and publishing its country-specific and euro area analysis three months earlier than in previous years; believes this should be complemented by a stronger multi-annual approach as proposed in the Five Presidents' report;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes and encourages the Commission’s new approach to streamlining the European Semester process, i.e. through placing a stronger focus on a limited number of most important priorities and challenges and publishing its country-specific and euro area analysis three months earlier than in previous years;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Welcomes that the Commission is publishing its country-specific and euro area analysis three months earlier than in previous years but is worried that the country reports are too complex, hindering the democratic participation of civil society organisations in the process
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Welcomes the proposal in the Five Presidents’ report to create a fiscal capacity of the eurozone. Suggests that the aforementioned eurozone budget should be funded through the financial transaction tax and profits from the European Central Bank, among other sources.
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year’s CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 a (new) - having regard to the Commission Communication "White paper - An Agenda for Adequate, Safe and Sustainable Pensions" (COM(2012) 055 FINAL);
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year’s CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States; deplores in this context the non-binding nature of the recommendations and calls for the establishment of a stronger mechanism aimed at ensuring that commitments are delivered on and recommendations are effectively and consistently followed;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year’s CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States; restates the importance of a harmonised policy within the Union, and deplores in this context the non-binding nature of the recommendations;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs and the generally poor implementation record; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States; deplores in this context the non-binding nature of the recommendations;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States; deplores in this context the non-binding nature of the recommendations; stresses the need for a mechanism through which Member States are politically and financially incentivised to carry out the needed reforms;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Commission's spring 2015 economic forecast
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes with concern the varying degrees of commitment demonstrated by Member States to implementing last year's CSRs; stresses the importance of the implementation of the CSRs in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across Member States;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Is extremely worried that in some cases there is no progress at all in the implementation of CSRs; stresses that in several cases this is a major obstacle to creating a growth- and investment- friendly environment; calls on the Commission to support the implementation of the CSRs by making use of the economic governance toolkit, particularly the MIP;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Considers that the structural reforms need to be redefined so as not to be identified solely with reducing the cost of labour.
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Notes the proposal in the Five Presidents’ report to base access to future fiscal capacity from the eurozone on the implementation of the structural reforms in the widest possible sense.
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 c (new) 4 c. Considers that the European Parliament must adopt the country- specific recommendations so as to give them greater democratic legitimacy.
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Is strongly concerned that the Commission has dropped almost all of the recommendations on environmentally harmful subsidies, environmental tax reform, and the promotion of renewable energies from the CSRs; regrets in particular that the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations did not address fossil fuel subsidies which account for €70bn within the EU and are a double negative, cutting public budgets and harming the transition to a low-carbon economy; urges the Commission to reverse direction with a view of greening the EU Semester;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Favours an enhanced process regarding the elaboration, follow-up and monitoring of country-specific recommendations; believes that the Commission should identify explicitly recommendations aimed at fulfilling updated and ambitious EU2020 national targets; recalls that the legislation enshrines the principle according to which Member States have to 'comply with or explain' these recommendations; calls in that perspective for Member States to explain how alternative policy measures can help achieve the national EU2020 targets in a measurable way if the recommendations are not followed;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Asks the Commission to make the three-pillar strategy (investment, fiscal rules and structural reforms), presented in the AGS 2015, more concrete under the euro area recommendation and in the CSRs and to strengthen its approach by building a fourth pillar on taxation which would include a yearly monitoring mechanism covering, for example, developments regarding tax fraud and evasion, the state of play of environmental taxation and subsidy reform, and measures put in place at both national and European level to address specific CSRs for improving tax justice;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts and low investment, which requires an integrated approach in tackling these issues;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Commission’s spring 2015 economic forecast indicates growth rates of 2.1 % in the EU and of 1.9 % in the euro area for 2016, which figures result from a new method of GDP calculation imposed on European countries last year and that includes the underground and criminal economy, the effect of which is to artificially increase the wealth created, without an improvement in the economic situation;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts and low investment; stresses that high levels of (public) debt have a discouraging effect on investments.
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts and low investment; in this context, welcomes the fact that the Five Presidents’ report proposes to complete the banking union with a common Deposit Insurance Scheme.
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts and low investment; therefore welcomes interparliamentary activities where exchange of knowledge, experience and practices on reforms and implementation of CSRs take place with the aim to increase efficiency and quality of the changes as well as to speed up the reforms.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, resulting in part from the period of economic policy characterised by a global austerity regime, including most importantly high debts and low investment;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts and low investment; welcomes in this respect the proposal in the Five Presidents' report to divide the European Semester in a European stage followed by a national stage;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts, both public and private, and low investment;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that many Member States, in particular in the eurozone, are faced with similar macroeconomic challenges, including most importantly high debts ratios and low investment;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, in particular the youth and long- term unemployment rates; therefore, not only stresses the need to
source: 567.602
2015/09/14
IMCO
83 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Acknowledges the new approach for a more streamlined European Semester 2015 to focus on the four key priorities for economic growth: boosting investment, implementation of structural reforms, fiscal responsibility and improving employment policy;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Reiterates its call on the Commission to put forward proposals for classifying the single market as a specific pillar of the European Semester, including dedicated guidelines and country-specific recommendations (CSRs) thereon; asks the Commission to enhance the linkage between the pillars; recalls that good economic governance and the impact thereof can be effective only if the ones implementing and applying the rules are adequately involved;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Reiterates its call on the Commission to put forward proposals for classifying the single market as a specific pillar of the European Semester in order to cover a clear set of priorities related to the real economy, including dedicated guidelines and country-specific recommendations (CSRs) thereon;
Amendment 11 #
3. Welcomes the closer links between the objectives of the European Semester process and the programming of the ESI Funds 2014-2020, and especially the systematic references to CSRs and NRPs (National Reform Programmes) in the programming exercise; considers that cohesion policy investments could play a very important role in supporting structural reforms by following up the relevant CSRs and NRPs; calls for steps to be taken to ensure compl
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Calls for the strengthening of the governance of the internal market through the European Semester by establishing a set of specific indicators measuring its performance, as well as more data; calls for a specific section to be included in the country reports showing barriers and progress in the internal market;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that, for the European Semester to have a Single Market dimension, the Annual Growth Survey should encourage Member States to involve their local and regional authorities in setting differentiated contributions to the Europe 2020 targets and in designing and implementing the National Reform Programmes on the basis of the principle of Single Market governance;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls for the investment clause to be reviewed so as to enable regional and national investments co-financed through ESI Funds to be excluded from the calculation of national deficits in the framework of the European Semester;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls upon the Commission to explicitly consider in its CSRs their impact on the implementation of the rights listed in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as of the international obligations of the Member States concerned, in particular in respect of the European Social Charter;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure the quality of interventions co-financed by cohesion policy and compliance with most relevant CSRs; notes that
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Recalls the Commission's promise to - if necessary - use infringement procedures to ensure full implementation of legislation on the single market of goods, services and in the digital sphere and to ensure structural reforms in product, services and labour markets in Member States;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that the Single Market has not been representing either convergence, cooperation or solidarity, but rather economic domain, development divergence and asymmetries;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure the quality of interventions co-financed by cohesion policy and compliance with most relevant CSRs and NRP; notes that
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Requests the Commission to call upon the Member States to introduce in their annual National Reform Programmes a specific and detailed section on the single market where the evolution of its integration is specified at national level and the measures to be adopted the following year; calls on the European Commission to handle the same structure for its CSRs;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes with great concern the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, especially as regards youth and long-term unemployment; stresses the need for structural reforms related to labour market, educational system and financial services for the SMEs, highly supported with Cohesion Policy financial instruments, to be implemented at regional, national and EU level in order to create employment opportunities and boost job creation;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes with great concern
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance and added value of the single market integration reports of previous years, given their contribution to the overall priorities set in the Commission
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes with great concern the persistently high unemployment rates across most Member States, especially as regards youth and long-term unemployment; stresses the need for structural reforms to be implemented at regional, national and EU level in order to create sustainable employment opportunities and boost quality job creation;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Acknowledges the new approach for a more streamlined European Semester 2015 to focus on the four key priorities for economic growth: boosting investment, implementation of structural reforms, fiscal responsibility and improving employment policy
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the Commission’s new approach to streamlining the European Semester process;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Member States to ensure swift and effective implementation of the respective CSRs for 2015 and those outstanding from previous years in order to achieve sustainable growth and jobs;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the Commission
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Member States to ensure swift and effective implementation of the respective CSRs for 2015
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Is concerned about the persistent macroeconomic imbalances in some Member States, in particular the high levels of public debt and large current account deficits and excessive risk in the banking systems; is also concerned that although this procedure is designed to help Member States it may also reduce investor confidence towards that Member State;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Member States to ensure swift and effective implementation of the respective CSRs for 2015 and those outstanding from previous years in order to achieve sustainable growth and jobs;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Supports the emphasis in 2015's CSRs on the importance of removing unjustified restrictions and barriers to entry in the key sectors; requests furthermore the Member States concerned to give those recommendations their utmost consideration and to remove, with urgent priority, these obstacles to the growth of the Single Market;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Notes that single market is one of the most important elements of the European project, and recognizes that for the European Semester process to be inclusive, the European Parliament (EP) should take an active role in the process; calls for Member States that have not implemented the CSRs as regards the internal market to explain the reasons at the competent Parliamentary Committee (IMCO); asks that the EP use such explanations as a basis to give input to the Commission in the development of new CSRs in time for publication in May;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses that there needs to be a competitive system for education and professional qualification in the EU to enhance EU competitiveness; notes that harmonization in this area will damage proven structures like the German crafts system; is convinced that the harmonization of training and professional qualification does not meet national or regional needs;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Considers that the dialogue with national parliaments and civil society is essential to restore confidence in the European project and therefore calls for greater and earlier collaboration of social partners and national and regional parliaments in the European Semester process;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider innovative ways to encourage investment in the EU and highlights the fact that the increased use of financial instruments within the 2014- 2020 cohesion policy can help to produce a multiplier effect with the EU budget and also to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of ESI Funds investment; emphasizes, however, the need to ensure transparency, accountability and scrutiny for financial instruments or any other mechanisms that involve the EU budget, and in particular the EFSI.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Regrets that there are many complaints about implementation deficits; asks the Commission for a better monitoring and feedback system for legal implementation; asks the Commission to re-evaluate legal frameworks that have severe implementation deficits;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 29 #
5. Urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve access to finance for SMEs
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider innovative ways to encourage investment in the EU and highlights the fact that the increased use of financial instruments within the 2014-2020 cohesion policy c
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented and the great potential for growth, innovation and jobs largely untapped; calls on the Commission and the Member States to honour their commitments and to safeguard the revival of the single market as one of the Union’s main priorities; reiterates that the European Semester should embrace the objectives of an overarching, long-term EU strategy for growth and jobs looking to 2020 and beyond;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Recalls that the provisions related to the macroeconomic framework
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve access to finance for SMEs, and to ensure an improved business environment, simplify procedures and reduce administrative burdens in the single market; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the European Fund for Strategic Investments; recalls the need to focus investments on the priorities set out in the Europe 2020 strategy, i.e. developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation, promoting a more resource-efficient, greener and more competitive economy and fostering a high-employment economy delivering a high level of social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve access to finance for SMEs and to ensure an improved business environment, simplify procedures and reduce administrative burdens in the single market; stresses the importance of competitive and highly integrated markets with sound
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve access to finance and public procurement for SMEs and to ensure an improved business environment, simplify procedures and reduce administrative burdens in the single market; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the European Fund for Strategic Investments;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Considers that a greater support to SMEs from the Commission and the Member States is needed in expanding their markets and fostering innovation, promoting their export capacity and stimulating job creation and helping businesses to compete more effectively, particularly in domestic markets, and improve the overall productivity; calls for the opportunities presented by the COSME 2014-2020 programme to be maximized in order to improve SMEs' access to financing in the domestic and international markets; and calls for other forms of financing to be promoted as an alternative to financing via banks;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5c. Calls upon the Member States to make use of the fiscal space that will allow them to invest in the potential for future growth of the economy and address the backlog of investment while ensuring adequate public investment at all levels of government;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that better and stronger tax coordination, with due respect for national competences, is needed in order to ensure a level playing field and to avoid unfair competition and detrimental distortions within the single market; therefore reiterates its recommendation for renewed efforts in the fight against fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that better and stronger tax coordination as well as renewed efforts to combat fraud and tax avoidance, with due respect for national competences,
Amendment 39 #
7. Emphasises that the
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented and the great potential for economic growth, innovation and job
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Recalls that the macroeconomic framework seems to be essential to achieving the objective of reducing disparities in the levels of development as defined in Article 174 of the TFEU and that cohesion policy can be a strong driver for achieving this objective if accompanied by a sound macro-economic framework; is
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Emphasises that the European Semester is a great opportunity to urge Member States to step up their efforts towards the digital single market (DSM); welcomes, in this context, the Commission
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Emphasises that the European Semester is a
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Emphasises that the European Semester is a great opportunity to urge Member States to step up their efforts towards the digital single market (DSM); welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s communication on the roadmap for
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Considers that the insufficient level of digital skills, uneven coverage and high costs limit the benefits of information and communications technology (ICT); urges the Commission and the Member States to give priority in the CSRs and the NRP to the digital training of individuals and companies, securing access to network infrastructure for all citizens;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Believes that
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Believes that the Member States have to step up their efforts to modernise their public administrations by providing more, and better accessible, digital services for citizens and businesses; supports the implementation of capacities for evaluation and exchange of best practice in digital services;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Believes that the Member States have to step up their efforts to modernise their public administrations by providing more, and better accessible, digital services for citizens and businesses and with a particular focus on SMEs;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Believes that the Member States have to step up their efforts to modernise their public administrations by providing more, and better accessible, digital services for citizens and businesses, and to facilitate cross border cooperation and interoperability of public administrations;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Recognizes that there are several constraints that hinder the proper functioning of markets for products and services; supports the work done by the Commission regarding regulated professions, but believes that policy action to stimulate competition in the services sector, especially in professional services has been very limited; believes that further action should be taken against the restrictions of the regulated professions such as professional qualification requirements, legal form and participation; considers that more ambitious measures should be taken in order to stimulate competition in the services sector, particularly in professional services as a driver of innovation and job creation, which constitute an important instrument for promoting economic and social recovery that many Member States need;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 b (new) 8b. Notes that most Member States are below the EU 2020 targets for R&D; asks the Commission to comply with the intention of publishing the review of the EU 2020 Strategy at the end of this year at the latest to strengthen the role of the single market and the single digital market as key instruments for the revival of economic growth and quality job creation in the EU; calls on Member States to guide more decisively their economies to innovation and knowledge;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented, in particular in terms of legislation concerning products and services, employment and consumer protection, and the great potential for growth, innovation and jobs largely untapped; calls on the Commission and the Member States to honour their commitments and to safeguard the revival of the single market as one of the Union’s main priorities;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Recalls that the macroeconomic framework seems to be
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the full and fast implementation of EU public procurement and concessions legislation would provide a great opportunity to enhance innovation and access for SMEs and to modernise public administration, by improving the quality, effectiveness and transparency of public spending and investment.
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the full implementation of EU public procurement and concessions legislation would provide a great opportunity to enhance innovation and access for SMEs, to promote sustainable development and to modernise public administration, by improving the quality, effectiveness and transparency of public spending and investment.
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the full implementation of EU public procurement
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Believes that the ownership of the CSR by national parliaments needs to be strengthened; encourages the Member States to provide the possibility for the Commission to present the CSRs in the national parliaments; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to implement the CSRs and to rigorously transpose the EU targets into national targets; reiterates, furthermore, its request that the Commission report to the competent committee of Parliament on the measures taken to ensure progress in the implementation of the CSRs and the progress achieved thus far.
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Regrets the implementation of too high standards in public procurement legislation; calls on the Commission to introduce certificates that will enable officials to easily check environmental and social requirements in public procurement; calls on the Commission to accept self-declarations of companies in regards to technical or professional requirements in international procurement; calls on the Commission to limit the examination requirements when awarding contracts to 2 applicants.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented and the great potential for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, innovation and jobs largely untapped; calls on the Commission and the Member States to honour their commitments and to safeguard the revival of the single market as one of the Union’s main priorities;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Recalls that the macroeconomic framework
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the single market remains
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Reminds the initial rejection by the European Parliament of the macroeconomic conditionality in Cohesion Policy; asks the Commission to avoid the application of Article 23 CPR;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Welcomes the closer links between the objectives of the European Semester
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Reiterates its call on the Commission to put forward proposals for classifying the single market as a specific pillar of the European Semester
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
source: 565.190
2015/09/22
EMPL
19 amendments...
Amendment A #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that many Member States still have large deficits while others accumulate current account surpluses and that there is a need to develop and coordinate fiscal responsibility programmes
Amendment B #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls for the country-specific recommendations (CSR) to include the Commission’s recommendation2 on pr
Amendment C #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment D #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Takes note of the recommendations on the need to move forward within new labour reforms, and calls for such reforms, if carried out, to guarantee social
Amendment E #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a bis. Calls on the Commission to ensure that in their policy guidance labour market reforms are aimed at, amongst others, reducing segmentation, ensuring better anticipation and matching of skills and jobs, advancing the inclusion of vulnerable groups, reducing in-work poverty, promoting gender equality, strengthening the rights of workers with a-typical contracts and provide more social protection for self-employed workers;
Amendment F #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have warned of the social (in-work poverty) and economic (depressed internal demand) problems
Amendment G #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Notes that some labour reforms have introduced new contractual formulas and that, according to the Commission, some of these have increased precariousness in the labour markets
Amendment H #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take note of the IMF2 report on the causes and consequences of inequality, which states that the increase in the income gap
Amendment I #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Notes that high rates in long-term unemployment in the EU, especially in some Member States, are resulting in an increasing number of workers losing their benefits before finding a new job;
Amendment J #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the reduction in youth unemployment rates, but points out that they are still at alarming levels in many Member States and regions and not necessarily based on net job creation; stresses that job insecurity and underemployment have also risen and that 43 % of young people w
Amendment K #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Underlines the fact that, according to an IMF report3, the progressivity of tax systems has been weakened in some Member States in recent years,
Amendment L #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment M #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 12. Considers
Amendment N #
Paragraph 13 13. Calls for pension reforms to be made taking into account Parliament’s6 repeat recommendations to ensure their sustainability, safety and adequacy
Amendment O #
Draft opinion Paragraph 14 14. Is
Amendment P #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a bis. Highlights that the social economy provides employment for over 14 million people representing around 6.5% of workers in the Union; regrets the fact that enterprises in the social economy – primarily SMEs and micro-enterprises representing 10% of European enterprises – find it even more difficult than traditional enterprises to obtain public or private financing; underlines the need to give them more support, by, for example, enabling them to access different forms of financing such as European funds, micro-credits and crowdfunding or improving their access to the digital economy; In this context, considers that the CSR should place stronger emphasis on the role of social economy enterprises in promoting social and economic cohesion in Europe in line with the EU 2020 Strategy;
Amendment Q #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a bis. Regrets that no overall reference is made to Europe 2020 goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; Stresses that social and employment policies should not merely be looked at from a cost perspective but that consideration should also be given to the long term benefit perspective; therefore calls for the mainstreaming of the social and environmental targets in the new assessment frame to ensure that country- specific recommendations are proposed to all countries that are not making progress on combating poverty, decent jobs leading to quality employment, prevention of early-school leaving and lifelong learning, resource efficiency and prevention of climate change;
Amendment R #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a bis Stresses that while SMEs constitute the backbone of job creation in the Union, points out they continue to face some difficulties such as access to credit, unnecessary administrative burden and bureaucracy that hinder their growth and sustainability as well as their job creation potential; Notes the Commission's initiative to modernise the regulatory and administrative environment in order to improve investment climate and conditions for SMEs and supports recommendations leading to improvement while respecting social and labour standards; stresses the importance of investing in the development of innovative funding channels such as crowdfunding and microcredit and of investments aiming to develop SMEs, microenterprises, innovative start-ups and business promoting, for example, green employment;
Amendment S #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b new Welcomes the reduction of unemployment rates in the Union; however, points out that unemployment remains in high levels and asks Member States to implement effective active labour market policies in a holistic approach, targetting both the employability of the jobseeker and a more inclusive labour market, including additional support measures for both jobseekers and for employers; stresses the need to address the problem of skills mismatch and skills obsolescence as a mean to tackle long- term unemployment and believes that a greater coordination of these policies are necessary at national and European level; therefore calls for stronger measures to support and further develop effective vocational education and training, cooperation between education institutions, businesses, employers organisations and other relevant stakeholders as well as the need to improve effectiveness of public and private employment services in order to tackle skills mismatches on the labour market and to facilitate job seeking in the Union;
source: 567.471
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History
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