2015/2282(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

– having regard to Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on combating late payment in commercial transactions,

Amendment 10 #

Remo SERNAGIOTTO, Andrew LEWER, Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)

– having regard to the opinion from the Committee of the Regions of 30 July 2013 entitled 'Closing the Innovation Divide' (2013/C2018/03),

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Urges the Commission to make cohesion policy an integral part of the 'better regulation' strategy, with the aim of reducing bureaucratic burdens for SMEs;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that according to the first evaluation released by the Commission the amounts allocated to support for SMEs have increased substantially as compared with the previous programming periods; highlights that ESI Funds, and notably Operational Programmes aimed at supporting research and development, could help SMEs in increasing their capacity of patent application to the European Patent Office, by providing viable and user-friendly financing schemes;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Member States to establish conditions for state aid at national level which will not discriminate against SMEs, but will put them on an equal footing with large companies, which would be a decisive factor in the modernisation and development of services and knowledge, and would create new SME jobs;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Regrets the delays in implementing cohesion policy during the current programming period; points out that SMEs urgently need access to finance and that, although all operational programmes have now been approved, implementation itself is still at a very early stage;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Regrets the delays in implementing cohesion policy during the current programming period; points out that, although all operational programmes have now been approved, implementation itself is still at a very early stage; draws attention to the fact that these delays are hampering cohesion policy implementation and calls on the Commission to find ways of cutting down the backlog more rapidly;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Urges the Commission~~Calls on the Member States to monitor closely the acceleration of implementation, in particular the setting-up of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Urges the Commission to monitor closely the acceleration of implementation of cohesion policy, in particular the setting-up of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Urges the Commission to ~~monitor closely~~encourage and monitor the acceleration of implementation, in particular ~~the setting-up~~ of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential;

Amendment 108 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Urges the Commission to monitor closely the acceleration of implementation, in particular the setting-up of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential, focusing on projects in and for rural areas, for the creation of new services, and for measures to help contain the rural exodus;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Urges the Commission to monitor closely the acceleration of implementation, in particular the setting-up of projects with sustainable growth and quality job creation potential; calls on the Commission, in determining eligibility criteria, to consider the added value in economic and social terms and the environmental impact of projects;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 b (new)

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 20 November 2014 entitled 'Measures to support the creation of high-tech start-up ecosystems' (2014/C415/02),

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Emphasises that as the main source of employment in the EU are SMEs, the setting up of enterprises should be facilitated by the promotion of entrepreneurial skills such as creativity, innovation, ability to plan and manage projects, because education plays a major role in providing the right basis for an entrepreneurial career;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses that the internationalisation of SMEs is a process that requires support measures at local level and not only on third markets; hopes that Commission programmes for SMEs will take greater account of their needs and provide greater guarantees for foreign direct investment;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to identify, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, and to provide ~~specific recommendations for action and guidance~~a comprehensive analysis thereof to national governments and, above all, to beneficiaries; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to identify and reduce, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, and to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to identify, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, and to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation of cohesion policy;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to identify, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, a~~nd to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance~~s well as the opportunities for increased synergies not only among the ESI Funds but also with other SME- relevant funds (e.g. Horizon2020, PSCI, COSME, LIFE), and to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance towards further simplification of the implementation rules, and effective monitoring and evaluation system, a transparent performance framework, a clear regulation of the use of financial instruments, as well as sound management and control system and effective financial management; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to identify, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, as well as for start-ups, and to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to set up a working party with the support of the Member States to identify, at the earliest possible stage, obstacles preventing the efficient use of funds for SMEs, and to provide specific recommendations for action and guidance; emphasises Parliament’s role in the supervision of results-oriented implementation;

Amendment 118 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes that, despite their dynamism, SMEs in the outermost regions are facing increased difficulties with access to finance;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Highlights that the poor quality of key infrastructure such as roads, telecommunications, distribution networks of electricity and water often leads to low amounts of private investments for projects that depend on such infrastructures;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas cohesion policy ~~represents a fundamental~~should be a tool for invest~~ment~~ing in growth and jobs in the EU, with a budget of over EUR 350 billion until 2020; whereas ~~the tangible results of cohesion policy investment can help shape~~investments using cohesion policy funds should strengthen the current ~~and future~~ growth of regions within Member States;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that, especially in microcredit schemes, adequate training and business support is fundamental both for the beneficiaries and the success of business ventures;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses the need for structured dialogue between the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund in order to improve and facilitate the access of SMEs to diversified funding sources;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds; highlights that better regulation is not only less but also smarter;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds, in particular by clarifying the link between the rules on ESI Funds for SMEs and the rules on state aid;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds; calls on the High Level Group Monitoring Simplification of the ESI Funds to update Parliament on the results of its work on an ongoing basis through the EP’s Committee on Regional Development;

Amendment 125 #

Krzysztof HETMAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds, with particular focus on auditing requirements;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to d~~raw attention to the need for SMEs to~~eliver concrete proposals on how to simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds for SMEs; underlines that simplification should be directed towards reduceing the administrative burden ~~and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds~~on beneficiaries, more flexibility of the management and control systems, stronger focus on risk assessment and correct allocation of responsibilities of all authorities, while continuing thinking the right balance between accountability and simplification;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Monitoring Simplification for Beneficiaries of European Union Structural and Investment Funds to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds; regrets that Commission excluded Member States’ representatives from the High Level Group, thus not including their opinion in order to improve the system;

Amendment 128 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds; calls on the High Level Group to suggest ways of simplifying procedures in connection with the mid-term review of the current programming period; urges the national authorities to give priority to recommendations from the High Level Group regarding best practices for reducing administrative burdens;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to ~~draw attention to the need for SME~~take measures to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds, particularly for SMEs;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas cohesion policy represents ~~a fundamental~~the main tool for investment in growth and jobs in the EU, with a budget of over EUR 350 billion until 2020; whereas the tangible results of cohesion policy investment can help shape the current and future growth of regions within Member States;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Fund~~Highlights that the main obstacles that hamper a broad access of SME's to ESI Funds include administrative burden, a large number and high diversification of aid schemes, complexity of rules and procedures, delays in introducing executive acts and gold plating risk; therefore, asks the High Level Group on Simplification to promote the necessary measures including the promotion of aid schemes closer to enterprises, a better coordinated and more shared management system and more coherence with competition rules and other EU polices;

Amendment 131 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to ~~draw attention to the need for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden and~~identify the main obstacles for SMEs to fully use available funds, and to express recommendations on reduction of administrative burdens for SMEs and on more effective ways to simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Asks the High Level Group on Simplification to ~~draw attention to the need for SME~~propose practical measures to reduce ~~the~~ administrative ~~burden~~and financial burden SMEs project managers have to face and simplify procedures in the management of ESI Funds; requests that such simplification measures respect Small Business Act rules of ´´Only once´´ and ´´Think small first´´, and be conceived and implemented at different levels in total cooperation with representatives of different categories of SMEs in order to meet their specific needs;

Amendment 133 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Urges Member States to make full use of aid schemes based on the general block exemption regulation, so as to reduce the administrative burden for administrations and beneficiaries and increase the take-up of ESI Funds;

Amendment 134 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Asks the Commission to encourage the Member States to exchange data, knowledge and best practices in this respect, ensuring appropriate reporting, and motivating them to support projects with high job creation potential;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Calls on Member States to foster the implementation of 'e-cohesion', in the interests of simplification and burden reduction for beneficiaries;

Amendment 136 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to find a lasting solution to the problem arising from the backlog of payments related to regional policy, including in the application of the Late Payment Directive, so as to ensure ~~that SMEs, as project partners,~~during the current programming period that SMEs will not be deterred from taking part in support programmes and projects ~~during the current programming period on account of payment delay~~as project partners;

Amendment 137 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to find a lasting solution to the backlog of payments related to regional policy, including in the application of the Late Payment Directive, so as to ensure that SMEs, as project partners, will not be deterred from taking part in support programmes and projects during the current programming period on account of payment delays; recalls, moreover, that more rigorous adherence to the directives currently in force, which require, inter alia, public authorities to make payments within 30 days, would help to create the conditions for the stabilisation and growth of SMEs;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently find a lasting solution to the backlog of payments related to regional policy~~, including in the application of~~ and to properly apply the Late Payment Directive, so as to ensure that SMEs, as project partners, will not be deterred from taking part in support programmes and projects during the current programming period on account of payment delays;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses that smart specialisation strategies, although not formally required as ex ante conditionalities in TO 3, are ~~a crucial tool in~~intended to guarantee~~ing~~ innovation and the adaptability of Thematic Objectives; asks the Commission to report to Parliament on the results of smart specialisation strategies devoted to SMEs at national and/or regional level;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas, as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis, levels of poverty and social exclusion have increased, as have long-term unemployment, youth unemployment and social inequalities, ~~and Europe’s SMEs are key to~~therefore, SMEs can play relevant and important role in Europe’s recovery;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses that smart specialisation strategies~~, although not formally required as ex ante conditionalities in TO 3,~~ are a crucial tool in guaranteeing innovation and the adaptability of Thematic Objectives; asks the Commission to report to Parliament on the results of smart specialisation strategies devoted to SMEs at national and/or regional level; (Over the period 2014-2020, smart specialisation strategies are formally required as ex ante conditionalities in Thematic Objectives 1 and 3.)

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses that smart specialisation strategies, although not formally required as ex ante conditionalities in TO 3, are a crucial tool in guaranteeing innovation and the adaptability of Thematic Objectives; asks the Commission to report to Parliament on the results of smart specialisation strategies devoted to SMEs at national and/or regional level highlighting the coherence of smart specialisation strategies adopted by every single region with the related territorial economy;

Amendment 142 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Remo SERNAGIOTTO, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Member States which still did not fulfilled ex-ante conditionalities in TO 3 to undertake necessary actions and speed up achievement of targets set in Small Business Act;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Highlights that these strategies should not only target science and technology-led innovation but also foster innovation that is non-science based (i.e stimulating entrepreneurship, innovation in the public sector and service innovation);

Amendment 144 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Reiterates that digital is profoundly changing the whole world, also in terms of SMEs opportunities and new challenges that derive; reiterates therefore the importance of supporting initiatives to make digital part of the education and training or re-training systems for youth, jobseekers and workers; calls to support strengthening the innovative uses of ICT by SMEs, in particular the digital literacy, e-learning, e-inclusion, e-skills and related entrepreneurial skills;

Amendment 145 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Stresses that governance capacities are as important as techno-economic potentials; asks the Commission how to resolve the particular challenge of the implementation of smart specialization in non- metropolitan areas which may lack the critical mass of supporting infrastructure;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics and specific competences of individual territories, with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant green growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be used to the full in the context of green growth, as a way to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainabilitystresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be used to the full;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics, with an emphasis on underdevelopment, depopulation and high unemployment rates, and specific competences of individual territories, with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant green growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be used to the full in the context of green growth, as a way to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics and specific competences of individual territories, with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant green growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be used to the full in the context of green growth, as a way to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability; Strongly encourages to introduce entrepreneurship in school curricula in order to foster entrepreneurial interest and talent, as identified in the Small Business Act;

Amendment 149 #

Hannu TAKKULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics and specific competences of individual territories, especially also of outmost regions with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant green growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be used to the full in the context of green growth, as a way to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability; Believes this necessitates better training possibilities to prepare young people for the green economy in the different Member States;

Amendment 15 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas, as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis, levels of poverty and social exclusion have increased in many Member States, as have long-term unemployment, youth unemployment and social inequalities, and Europe’s SMEs are key to Europe’s recovery;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Managing Authorities to take into consideration the characteristics and specific competences of individual ~~territorie~~areas, with a view to promoting both traditional and innovative economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up specific programmes which embody all relevant ~~green~~smart, sustainable and inclusive growth elements for SMEs; stresses the need for youth entrepreneurship potential to be usencouraged to the full ~~in the context of green growth,~~ as a way to reconcile economic growth ~~with~~, greater employment, social inclusion and professionalization and environmental sustainability;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Highlights that only about 25% of EU-based SMEs have exporting activities in the EU, therefore the problems faced by SMEs when trying to internationalise their business should be urgently tackled;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recalls the gender gap as also identified in the Small Business Act; Is concerned about the on-going low participation of women in starting-up and running a business; Requests the Commission and the Member States to pay particular attention to the gender dimension when supporting SMEs and to provide incentives for increasing women's participation;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the managing authorities, where there is a need, to step up the inclusion of the available funds for technical assistance;

Amendment 154 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission, in consultation with Member States and managing authorities, to encourage joint efforts for the creation of an ecosystem involving social and economic stakeholders, including educational establishments, universities, research centres, trade associations and public organisations, capable of stimulating business skills;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recalls that often small and micro enterprises, which do not have the internal human, financial and organizational resources to be directly involved in ESIF, can only have such an access via their local organizations and associations; calls therefore to better support their collective actions and activities of coaching/ mentoring; notes also that the technical assistance of Thematic objective 11 must benefit to all the partners referred to in Article 5 of the CPR on partnership and that it is still usually reserved to administrative services; calls therefore to ensure the access of the territorial SME organizations to the provisions of TO 11 and to capacity building measures;

Amendment 156 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Asks the Commission to establish a participatory platform for the dissemination of SME project results, including examples of good practice also carried out under the ERDF during the 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 programming periods;deleted

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Asks the Commission to establish a participatory platform within existing budgets for the dissemination of SME project results, including examples of good practice also carried out under the ERDF during the 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 programming periods;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Notes that the 'smart guide to innovation services' drawn up by the Commission stresses the importance of public support strategies, developed in consultation with social and economic stakeholders at regional level, in providing SMEs with a favourable environment and helping them maintain a competitive position in global value chains;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the future challenges facing SMEs in adapting and complying with the recent decisions taken at the COP21 conference, and calls on the Commission to help the managing authorities in the Member States adapt the programmes in order to streamline this adaptation process;deleted

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which account for around 99% of all businesses, make a fundamental contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and high quality job creation, providing over 100 million jobs which generate 2 out of every 3 private sector jobs;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses th~~e future challenges facing SMEs in~~at adapting and complying with the recent decisions taken at the COP21 conference~~, and calls on the Commission to help the managing authorities in the Member~~ involves additional constraints on SMEs, which are already affected by the environmental dumping practised by the United States and~~apt~~ the ~~programmes in order to streamline this adaptation proces~~emerging countries;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the ~~future~~ challenges facing SMEs in adapting and complying with the recent decisions taken at the COP21 conference, and calls on the Commission to help the managing authorities in the Member States adapt the programmes in order to streamline this adaptation process;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

~~19. Emphasises that, in light of the current migration and asylum crises, SMEs can deliver innovative opportunities for the integration of refugees and migrants entering the EU labour market;~~deleted

Amendment 163 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 165 #

Remo SERNAGIOTTO, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Emphasises that, in light of the current migration and asylum crises, SMEs can deliver innovative opportunities for the integration of refugees and migrants entering the EU labour market; recommends providing incentives for SMEs whose activities include migrant integration programmes;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Emphasises that, in light of the current migration and asylum crises, ~~SME~~suitable support for SME initiatives can deliver innovative ~~opportunitie~~solutions for the integration of refugees and migrants entering the EU labour market;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls on the Commission, when preparing cohesion policy for the post- 2020 period, to increase funding for the strengthening of the competitiveness of SMEs;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls on the Commission to pursue equality between men and women in terms of access to ERDF funding; calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage MFIs to implement specific strategies to address women and support female entrepreneurship, including through cooperation with relevant associations and organisations in the field;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which account for around 99% of all businesses, make a fundamental contribution to economic growth, innovation, social cohesion and job creation, providing over 100 million jobs which generate 2 out of every 3 private sector jobs;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Calls on the Commission to multiply the initiatives and funding available for granting more resources to innovative start-ups run by young people, in order to support youth entrepreneurship and high technological, scientific and social innovation in a time of economic crisis and difficulty in obtaining access to credit;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)

19c. Calls on the Commission to explore new ways and to make greater use of ESI funds to help SMEs to seize the opportunities offered, and to address the challenges posed, by international trade (and trade agreements) and to support them in addressing adjustment costs and the negative impacts of increased international competition.

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which account for around 99% of all businesses, make a fundamental contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and job creation, providing over 100 million jobs which generate 2 out of every 3 private sector jobs; and maintaining double the employment growth rate of larger enterprises;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas only 13% of European SMEs are involved in commercial and investment activities in the global markets; whereas compared to large enterprises, SMEs benefit most from the advantages of internationalisation;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

– having regard to the COSME programme for small and medium-sized enterprises

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas European SMEs are very diverse and include a vast number of micro-enterprises based at local level, which often operate in traditional sectors, ~~and~~ a growing number of new start-ups and fast- growing innovative enterprises as well as social-economy enterprises focused on specific targets and groups; whereas these business models have different problems and, therefore, different needs;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas European SMEs are very diverse and include a vast number of micro-enterprises based at local level, which often operate in traditional sectors, and a growing number of new start-ups and fast-growing innovative enterprises; whereas these business models have different problems and, therefore, have different needs;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas SMEs are highly adaptable to change and well able to keep step with technological progress;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas microcredit, which mostly aims microentrepreneurs and disadvantaged people who wish to enter into self-employment, is pivotal in overcoming obstacles in accessing traditional bank services and whereas JASMINE (Joint Action to Support Microfinance Institutions) and the Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis of EaSI can provide a valid support for improving access to finance, including for social enterprises;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas it is necessary to simplify national and European legislation in order to facilitate access to credit for SMEs;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas Cohesion Policy in the 2007- 2013 programming period provided € 70 billion of support to SMEs~~, creating~~ thanks to Member State contributions, helping to create more than 263 000 SME jobs, and helped SMEs modernise through increased use of ICT, access skills, innovation or the modernisation of working practices;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas cohesion policy can, at best, mitigate the harmful effects of EU policies in the areas of employment and investment in SMEs; whereas the objective is not only to inject public money into the economy, but also to tackle the difficulties faced by SMEs, in particular red tape, cash flow, funding and competitiveness;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas Cohesion Policy in 2014- 2020 will further support SMEs by doubling the 2007/2013 support to achieve 140 billion euros;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas the EU does not protect our industries and our SMEs against unfair international competition; whereas the EU fosters social, environmental and fiscal dumping on the single market itself, as demonstrated by the 'posting of workers' directive;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas the eurozone is not a fully developed monetary zone, and whereas it therefore provides no protection against exogenous asymmetric shocks; whereas the eurozone Member States are deprived of the monetary policy leverage they could use to generate growth, investment and jobs, and whereas the single currency makes the products exported by some SMEs, with the exception of those in Germany, more expensive;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2011 on practical aspects regarding the revision of EU instruments to support SME finance in the next programming period,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas the EU forbids Member States from practising economic patriotism, which involves favouring local businesses, and thus local jobs, when awarding public contracts;

Amendment 31 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the thematic objective entitled ‘enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs’ (TO 3) is one of the thematic objectives with the highest percentage of overall funding, with 13,9% and is of primary importance in order to achieve the objectives of cohesion policy and the Europe 2020 strategy;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the SMEs which would be eligible for ESI funds, in that they operate in a competitive environment and have to deal with a wide range of constraints, including cash-flow constraints, are being hit particularly hard by the complexity and instability of the rules and by the red tape involved, in particular the fact that the administrative costs are out of all proportion to the funding allocated, the time taken to process funding applications and the need to advance funds;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the introduction of thematic concentration into cohesion policy programming for 2014-2020 provided an effective tool for the design of operational programmes with a better focus on investment priorities to achieve a critical mass for real impacts;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the ~~introduction~~use of thematic concentration into cohesion policy programming for 2014-2020 ~~provided~~could be an effective tool for the design of operational programmes with a better focus on investment priorities if it did not favour the take-up of structural fund support by metropolitan areas to the detriment of rural and peri-urban areas;

Amendment 35 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes are strategic tools to guide investments in Member States and regions, provided for in Articles 14, 16 and 29 of the Common Provision Regulation;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award exists since 2009, launched by the Committee of the Regions to encourage the implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) at regional and local level;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas SMEs ensure that industrial production represents a share of at least 20% of Member States' GDP by 2020;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)

Gc. whereas only a small percentage of European SMEs are now able to identify and exploit the opportunities offered by international trade, trade agreements and the global value chains, and that only 13% of European SMEs has been active at the international level outside the EU over the past three years;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)

Gd. whereas the process of internationalisation of SMEs should rely on corporate social responsibility, on the respect of human and workers' rights, and on the highest protection of the environment, in order to ensure a fair competition and an increase of the quality jobs;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 14 January 2014 on smart specialisation: networking excellence for a sound cohesion policy,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that~~, through~~ thematic concentration, should make operational programmes ~~appear to be~~ better targeted towards a limited number of strategic goals, in particular in terms of growth enhancement and high-quality job creation potential for SMEs;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that, through thematic concentration, operational programmes appear to be better targeted towards a limited number of strategic goals, in particular in terms of growth enhancement and high-quality job creation potential for SME, including micro-enterprises;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that, through thematic concentration, operational programmes ~~appear to be better~~have been targeted towards a limited number of strategic goals, in particular in terms of growth enhancement and high- quality job creation potential for SMEs;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Criticises the fact that the Commission's only means of strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs is to attack the employment rights of EU workers by recommending that the Member States cut wages, since they cannot devalue their currencies, or try to harmonise national social protection systems downwards;

Amendment 44 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that SMEs are the driving forces for the European economy but often face multiple challenges due to size; Recommends therefore to focus support from ESI Funds on SMEs exclusively and refrain from subsidising large enterprises;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes the guidebook 'Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs' supplied by the Commission with the aim of assisting both stakeholders who use ESI Funds and SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the international market;

Amendment 46 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Considers that regional state aid should be coherent with Cohesion Policy support for enterprises; Invites the Commission to set-out provisions that subsidies are targeted towards SMEs and to exempt those ones from state aid obligations that are future-oriented and generate societal and eco-system benefits;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Is of the view that supporting the competitiveness of SMEs is key to the success of regional development policy;

Amendment 48 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Remo SERNAGIOTTO, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and Member States to take into account the added value of SME projects for the development and innovation of traditional sectors whilst respecting the principles of sustainability, as this will not only stimulate job creation, but also maintain local and regional business specificities;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and Member States to take into account the added value of SME projects for the development and innovation of traditional sectors, as this will not only stimulate job creation, but also maintain local and regional business specificities; highlights the need to also take into account the context of such sectors and not to disrupt the delicate balance between traditional knowledge- based production techniques and innovation;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 9 September 2015 on investment for jobs and growth: promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union,

Amendment 50 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and Member States to take into account the added value of SME projects for the development and innovation of both traditional sectors and new areas and services, as this will not only stimulate job creation, but also maintain local and regional business specificities;

Amendment 51 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Reminds that the sector of services is crucial for economic recovery, growth as well as job creation; points out that SMEs play an important role in this sector, which is undergoing a significant change as a result of digitalisation, therefore the skills gap with regard to ICT skills should be dealt with by placing more emphasis on relevant training and education;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Supports therefore the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award, aimed at identifying and rewarding EU regions with outstanding, future-oriented entrepreneurial strategies applying ten principles of ‘Small Business Act for Europe’;

Amendment 53 #

Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights that there is an overall need for mechanisms that help to simplify business environment and fasten the process of setting up new businesses with REFIT to support the SME competitiveness and absorption of ESI funds, which also stresses the need for fulfilment of ex-ante conditionalities;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Asks the Commission to take into consideration the principles of the circular economy package in the implementation of TO 3, in order to foster more sustainable economic growth and generate new high- quality jobs for SMEs, with special attention to promoting green jobs;

Amendment 55 #

Hannu TAKKULA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Points out that the problems being experienced by SMEs are partly caused by the fact that the austerity policies implemented by Member States have stifled demand;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Believes in this respect that it is important to continue efforts to promote the green competitiveness of SMEs by improving access to finance, providing more information, simplifying legislation, cutting red tape and strengthening a green business culture;

Amendment 57 #

Hannu TAKKULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Points out that a greener value chain, which involves re-manufacturing, repair, maintenance, recycling and eco-design, can provide considerable business opportunities for many SMEs, but legislative, institutional, technical and cultural barriers prevent SMEs from taking advantage of this, and these barriers should be removed or, if this is impossible, ways must be found of overcoming them;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro-enterprises; regrets that investors and banks are often reluctant to finance businesses in their start-up and early expansion phases;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to ~~make full~~consider cautiously the use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro-enterprises;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

– having regard to the communication from the Commission on 10 June 2014 entitled 'Research and innovation as sources of renewed growth' (COM(2014)339),

Amendment 60 #

Krzysztof HETMAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 61 #

Mercedes BRESSO, Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro-enterprises; asks the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to pay particular attention to improving access to finance for start-ups that want to scale-up;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit and for appropriate technical and administrative support to be provided, in order to deal with the complexities of those instruments, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro- enterprises;

Amendment 63 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Remo SERNAGIOTTO, Andrew LEWER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make ~~full~~proper use of the financial instrument ~~opportunities~~s and of SME Initiative Programme aimed at financially supporting SMEs; highlights that financial instruments should be used always taking into account the goals of cohesion policy; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro-enterprises;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. EReminds that in a highly regulated environment, with many financing institutions deleveraging and seeking to avoid risk, many SMEs, especially small start-ups, have found it hard to gain access to external funding, therefore, encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro- enterprises;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States and regional authorities to make full use of the financial instrument opportunities; emphasises the need to ensure the transparency, accountability and scrutiny of such financial instruments; calls for simplified access to credit, taking into account the particular characteristics of micro-enterprises; points out the need to equalise interest rates for financing SMEs with interest rates for larger companies;

Amendment 66 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes the lack of evidence on the outcomes and results achieved by financial instruments and the loose link of those financial instruments to overarching objectives and priorities of the EU; Calls on the Commission to further improving the provision of grants instead of primarily promoting the use of financial instruments;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Welcomes establishing of Capital Market Union with the aim to facilitate movement of the capital, diversify the financing sources, reduce the cost of capital, and improve access to finances, in particular in regard to the SMEs; calls on the Commission and the Member States to work on removing the existing barriers on capital markets which cause fragmentation and high cost of capital;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that European small businesses tend to lean heavily on financing sources such as banks, and are often unaware of the existence of additional funding sources; reminds, therefore, that two thirds of EU SME business finance is bank-led, while in the US the majority of SMEs rely on other forms of finance than bank debt, including capital markets finance;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 b (new)

– having regard to the Commission's Sixth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion entitled 'Investment for jobs and growth' of 23 July 2014,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned about the low absorption of funds devoted to SMEs in certain Member States in the 2007-2013 programming period, and warns that the underlying reasons need to be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same problems in the 2014-2020 programming period; calls on the Commission to promptly prepare, in cooperation with the Member States, and submit this assessment to Parliament;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned about the low absorption of funds devoted to SMEs in certain Member States in the 2007-2013 programming period, and warns that the reduction of excessive bureaucracy and other underlying reasons need to be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same problems in the 2014-2020 programming period;

Amendment 72 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes that in the past programming period 2007-2013 several obstacles, as the effects of economic crisis, the complex management of structural funds and administrative burdens, caused an insufficient absorption of such funds by SMEs; Is concerned about theis low absorption of funds devoted to SMEs in certain Member States in the 2007-2013 programming period, and warns that the underlying reasons need to be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same problems in the 2014-2020 programming period;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned about the low absorption of funds devoted to SMEs in certain Member States in the 2007-2013 programming period, and warns that the underlying reasons ~~need to be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same problems in the 2014-2020 programming period~~, such as the administrative procedures making it cumbersome for SMEs to apply for the available funds, should be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same problems in the 2014-2020 programming period; regrets the too general and incomplete nature of the existing studies at European level and in the Member States on the efficiency and real impact of Structural Funds on SMEs and particularly on small and micro enterprises in terms of gains in competitiveness, innovation and job creation;

Amendment 74 #

Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned about the low absorption of funds devoted to SMEs in certain Member States in the 2007-2013 programming period, ~~and warns that the underlying reas~~which is an indicator that shows a stronsg need ~~to be addressed in order to avoid any recurrence of the same probl~~for improvement in providing access to financing for SMEs and there is a need to reduce complexity of implementation of support schemes in the 2014-2020 programming period;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the ex-ante conditionality relating to the Small Business Act which shall help improving the environment and administrative procedures for business development and entrepreneurship as well as the uptake of funding opportunities for SMEs;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; r~~Recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden;

Amendment 77 #

Krzysztof HETMAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to ~~continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden~~remove excessive administrative burdens and prevent the creation of additional requirements at national level, given that these are one of the main causes of error;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; calls on contracting authorities that wish to group contracts to take care not to exclude SMEs from the process by the sheer scale of the final lot, since larger contracts could carry more cumbersome criteria; urges therefore that obstacles faced by SMEs in bidding for contracts be removed as far as possible; stresses the need to continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden; urges the Member States to introduce legislative framework provisions with a view to resolving public purchasing disputes as rapidly as possible;

Amendment 8 #

Mercedes BRESSO, Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 c (new)

– having regard to the communication from the Commission of 26 November 2014 entitled 'An Investment Plan for Europe' (COM(2014)903),

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to continue with the strict application of anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden with unnecessary checks and requests for information that is not necessary for detecting such errors and fraud;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is paying increased attention to good governance and high-quality public services; recalls the importance for SMEs to have a transparent, consistent and innovative public procurement set-up; stresses the need to ~~continue with the strict application of~~apply in a strict way anti-error and anti-fraud measures without adding to the administrative burden and simplifying administrative procedures to prevent errors;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership; Encourages organizations representing future-oriented, sustainable and eco-innovative sectors of the economy to get involved in the partnership, and calls on the Commission and Member States to empower these organizations including by making use of technical assistance and capacity building;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership; deplores that while RLA were consulted in most cases, their involvement did not amount to full partnership as outlined in the European Code of Conduct on Partnership; Regrets that RLA have rarely been sufficiently involved in drafting the PAs and OPs as the role they are often given is more that of a stakeholder rather than that of a partner;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership; emphasises that the partnership principle should be respected in both the preparation and implementation stage of the Partnership Agreement and Operational Programmes;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders ~~and interested partie~~, entrepreneurs and other interested parties, especially in the process of defining the requirement in calls for projects proposals in order to better target final beneficiaries' needs; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; ~~reiterat~~stresses, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

– having regard to the communication from the Commission of 6 October 2010 entitled 'Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020'. (COM(2010)553),

Amendment 90 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership, in particular regarding the appropriate involvement of beneficiaries; underlines that a proper application of partnership principle leads to a better use and stronger efficacy of cohesion policy, making SMEs instruments more effective and compliant with the needs of SMEs;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its calls to enhance transparency and the participation of all relevant regional and local authorities, civil society stakeholders and interested parties; is concerned that still many SMEs organizations in the Member States are not really involved and often only informed without being adequately consulted; reiterates, therefore, the need for implementation of the partnership principle as detailed in the Common Provisions Regulation and the Code of Conduct on Partnership;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses in this regard that local, regional and national authorities have primary administrative responsibility for the management of the projects and that poor administrative capacity may hinder the successful and timely implementation of TO3;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; stresses, in particular, the need to harmonise management rules and promote synergies between programmes under ESI funds and other EU instruments such as Horizon 2020 or the European Fund for Strategic Investments; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; urges the Member States to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; ~~welcom~~notes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; ~~urges~~suggests that the Member States to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; urges the Member States to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs as well as administrative support for preparation and implementation of projects;

Amendment 96 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; notes that enhancing the synergy between ESI Funding and other policies and financial instruments targeted at SMEs will maximise the impact of investments; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; urges the Member States to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; urges the Member States ~~to provide a one-stop shop at regional level for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs~~, in consultation with social and economic stakeholders, to promote existing local information points, or to create new ones where necessary, to assist SMEs by informing them on how to take advantage of the opportunities offered by EU funding;

Amendment 98 #

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Hannu TAKKULA, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies ~~targeted at SME~~, including Capital Markets Union initiatives, targeted at SMEs; as well as to increase European SMEs´ awareness of their financial options; welcomes the plan to ease access to ESI funds through the introduction of a ‘seal of excellence’ for projects which have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ but are not financed by Horizon 2020; ~~urges~~Calls therefore the Commission and the Member States to provide a con~~e-stop shop at regional level~~solidated platform for the various EU financing instruments aimed at SMEs;

Amendment 99 #