2015/2320(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Calls on~~Suggests that Member States ~~to focus on~~ facilitat~~ing~~e an adequate EU funding mix for SMEs – grants, loans, guarantees, equity, microfinance – in view of the ever- increasing role of financial instruments and synergies between instruments funded by the EU budget through the ERDF and through direct management programmes such as Horizon 2020, the PSCI, COSME and LIFE;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Urges~~Calls on the Commission ~~and the Member States~~ to focus its efforts on regions with low take-up of financial instruments, including scale-up financing for the transition from start-ups to SMEs~~, in view of the important role of financial products in operational programmes, the EFSI and the EIB Group operations~~;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission and the Member States to focus efforts on regions with low take-up of ~~financial instrument~~ESI funds, including scale-up financing for the transition from start-ups to SMEs~~, in view of the important role of financial products in operational programmes, the EFSI and the EIB Group operations~~ and to concentrate support from ESI funds primarily on SMEs as driving forces for the European economy;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 13 #

Hannu TAKKULA, Jasenko SELIMOVIC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission and the Member States to focus efforts on ~~regions with low~~promoting financial and non-financial services in less developed regions and to bring particular attention to bear when the take- up of financial instruments is found to be low or non-existent, including scale-up financing for the transition from start-ups to SMEs, in view of the important role of financial products in operational programmes, the EFSI and the EIB Group operations;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 15 #

Maria SPYRAKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission and the Member States to focus efforts on regions with low take-up of financial instruments, including scale-up financing for the transition from start-ups to SMEs, in view of the important role of financial products in operational programmes, the EFSI and the EIB Group operations; recommends the combination of ESIF and the EFSI in co-investment facilities in order to address market failures in risk capital financing for SMEs in their early and growth stages and invites the Commission and the EIB Group to intensify their efforts in communicating thematic and multi- country investment platforms and venture capital funds financed by the EFSI under the SME Window in order to maximize the mobilization of private investments and improve SMEs access to finance;

Amendment 16 #

Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Martina ANDERSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 17 #

Hannu TAKKULA, Urmas PAET, Jasenko SELIMOVIC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Welcomes the Commission Communication of 22 February 2016 entitled "An investment Plan for Europe: new guidelines on combining the European Structural and Investment (ESIF) and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) "; recommends to the Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to take full advantage of opportunities to combine the ESIF and EFSI, having in view that the two instruments are designed differently, but complementary in terms of motivation, design and legal framework, while they are mutually sustaining; at the same time, calls the local and regional authorities to make the most of the possibilities for combining EFSI and ESI funds, in supporting the SMEs;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines the importance of accessibility to supportive EU funding measures for SMEs located in rural and sparsely populated areas understanding the emphasized positive impact for employment potential of SMEs in these areas;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an EU-wide public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisationased on objective analysis and the principle of proporionality;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on Member States to focus on facilitating an adequate EU funding mix for SMEs – grants, loans, guarantees, equity, microfinance – in view of the ever- increasing ~~role of financial instruments and~~ synergies between instruments funded by the EU budget through the ERDF and through direct management programmes such as Horizon 2020, the PSCI, COSME and LIFE; suggests a more cautious approach towards financial instruments, which should be used consistently with the goals of economic, social and territorial cohesion; considers, moreover, that better information and empirical evidence of the usefulness of financial instruments in cohesion policy should be provided;

Amendment 20 #

Urmas PAET, Hannu TAKKULA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges ~~both the Member States and~~ the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing ~~an EU-wide public procurement procedure,~~ complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 22 #

Csaba MOLNÁR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an uniform EU- wide electronic public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation; recalls that, on the basis of the Commission's calculations, European e-procurement, transparency and reductions in administrative expenditure could make it possible to save as much as EUR 50 billion per annum;

Amendment 23 #

Stanislav POLČÁK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 24 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an EU-wide public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation, and also to diversify the financial instruments designed to provide funding for entrepreneurs, with the emphasis on SMEs in areas at risk of depopulation, in order to improve access to employment for young people and to contribute to sustainable economic growth;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an EU-wide public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation; Asks the Commission to come forward with proposals for legislative changes to the Regulations during the mid-term review/revision with the aim of facilitating access to finance for SMEs and in particular for start-ups wanting to scale-up;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an EU-wide public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation; stresses, however, the need to ensure a proper balance between simplification on the one hand, and the detection and prevention of irregularities, including fraud, on the other;

Amendment 27 #

Marc JOULAUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges both the Member States and the Commission to make significant progress in further simplification of EU funding by 2017 with regard to application, management and monitoring/control of projects by introducing an EU-wide public procurement procedure, complete e- cohesion, a single audit based on risk, the reduction of data and information requirements and the elimination of gold- plating through extensive regulatory optimisation; calls on the Commission to clarify the link between the rules on ESI Funds and the rules on state aid;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underlines the importance of cutting bureaucratic burdens imposed on SMEs and of facilitating their access to finance, as well as the need to support programmes and training that promote the development of entrepreneurial skills;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underlines the importance to fulfil 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 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on Member States to focus on facilitating an adequate EU funding mix for SMEs – grants, loans, guarantees, equity, microfinance – in view of the ever- increasing role of financial instruments and synergies between instruments funded by the EU budget through the ERDF, through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and through direct management programmes such as Horizon 2020, ~~the PSCI, COSME and LIFE~~in particular the SME instrument under Horizon 2020, the PSCI, COSME and LIFE; Asks the Commission to come forward with clear guidelines specifying the circumstances under which grants, loans or guarantees should be used; Calls on the Commission to evaluate the use of the SME instrument in the Member States and to specify the reasons of Member States to use or not use the instrument;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. stresses that 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;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Strongly encourages to introduce entrepreneurship in school curricula in order to foster entrepreneurial interest and talent, as identified in the Small Business Act;

Amendment 32 #

Hannu TAKKULA, Jasenko SELIMOVIC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. 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 33 #

Stanislav POLČÁK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises the role of predictivable rleguislation and process facilitation in the context of rapid developments in the knowledge-intensive and highly innovative SME sector, bearing in mind its role in smart specialisation and the EU Urban Agenda, and looking ahead to the Pact of Amsterdam;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises the role of predictive regulation and process facilitation in the context of rapid developments in the knowledge-intensive and highly innovative SME sector, ~~bearing in m~~underlinindg its role in smart specialisation and bearing in mind the EU Urban Agenda, and looking ahead to the Pact of Amsterdam;

Amendment 35 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Remo SERNAGIOTTO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises the role of predictive regulation and process facilitation in the context of rapid developments in the knowledge-intensive and highly innovative SME sector including social-economy enterprises, bearing in mind its role in smart specialisation and the EU Urban Agenda, and looking ahead to the Pact of Amsterdam;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Emphasizes that SMEs, due to their size, are particularly constrained by non- competitive real exchange rates, limited access to finance, cumbersome bureaucratic procedures for setting up, operating and growing a business, poor state of infrastructure and lack of effective institutional structures, therefore, the removal of these constraints is a daunting task calling for holistic SME support;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Underlines that facilitating the triple helix approach can boost the development of growth and jobs for SMEs;

Amendment 38 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Urges the Member States to support, inter alia, physical investment aimed at improving economic performance, including that of small and medium-sized enterprises, with an emphasis on SMEs in rural areas, including expenditure on modernising facilities, machinery and equipment, and even on product processing and marketing under projects for the development and adaptation of products, practices, processes and new technologies in fields such as agriculture, forestry and food, especially as part of the European Innovation Partnership;

Amendment 39 #

Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Martina ANDERSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Highlights the importance of closing the skills gap that innovative SMEs are facing; Considers it necessary that the Commission puts emphasis on facilitating relevant training and education which can contribute to closing the skills gap with regard to ICT skills essential for innovative SMEs;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on Member States to focus on facilitating an adequate EU funding mix for SMEs – grants, loans, guarantees, equity, microfinance – especially in regions that have been affected by an increased youth unemployment; in view of the ever- increasing role of financial instruments and synergies between instruments funded by the EU budget through the ERDF and through direct management programmes such as Horizon 2020, the PSCI, COSME and LIFE;

Amendment 40 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA, Remo SERNAGIOTTO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Reminds that SMEs development requires a crosscutting strategy that touches upon many areas (e.g. ability of governments to implement sound macroeconomic policies, capability of stakeholders to develop conducive microeconomic business environments, inter alia, through simplified legal and regulatory frameworks, good governance, abundant and accessible finance, suitable infrastructure, supportive education, sufficiently healthy and flexibly skilled labour and the ability of SMEs to implement competitive operating practices and business strategies);

Amendment 41 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Remo SERNAGIOTTO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Stresses the importance of encouraging and supporting the private sector associations and enterprises able to provide information on markets and standards, advice on strategies, and access to technology and innovation coupled with appropriate financing packages to promote tools, such as value chain analysis, which enable entrepreneurs to see what problems and challenges they need to address within and beyond their own borders and what kind of partners they need to help them;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes that Thematic Objective 3 'enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs' has lead to a Member States including focus on enhancing growth and job creation potential for SMEs in the operational programmes; Stresses that neither future unexpected EU-wide crises nor major initiatives should lead to a decrease in commitments or payments relating to Thematic Objective 3 ~~(‘Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs’)~~ and relevant instruments under Heading 1b of the EU General Budget;

Amendment 43 #

Maria SPYRAKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that neither future unexpected EU-wide crises nor major initiatives should lead to a decrease in commitments or payments relating to Thematic Objective 3 (‘Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs’) and relevant instruments under Heading 1b of the EU General Budget; acknowledges that SMEs have a weak equity position and therefore delays in payments of invoices from Cohesion Policy should be minimized in order to reduce insolvency risks; therefore, urges the Commission and Member States to further improve the pace of payments for SMEs;

Amendment 44 #

Ivana MALETIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that neither future unexpected EU-wide crises nor major initiatives should lead to a decrease in commitments or payments relating to Thematic Objective 3 (‘Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs’) and relevant instruments under Heading 1b of the EU General Budget; calls on the Member States and the Commission to put more effort in fulfilling the ex-ante conditionality for the Thematic Objective 3 in order to accelerate implementation;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission and the Council to provide further support for COSME~~, Horizon 2020~~ and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the context of the MFF review/revision, given the~~ir crucial role for SMEs locally and regionally and the important effects of innovation and clustering~~ advantages that those programmes can bring for SMEs;

Amendment 46 #

Urmas PAET, Hannu TAKKULA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission and the Council to provide further support, for the post 2020 period, for COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the context of the MFF review/revision, given their crucial role for SMEs locally and regionally and the important effects of innovation and clustering;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission and the Council to provide further support for COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the context of the MFF review/revision,; stresses the importance of first analysing their effectiveness and then asses ways of better implementation given their crucial role for SMEs locally and regionally and the important effects of innovation and clustering;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission and the Council to provide further support for COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the context of the MFF review/revision, given their crucial role for SMEs locally and regionally and the important effects of innovation and clustering with special attention to promoting existing and creating new green jobs;

Amendment 49 #

Csaba MOLNÁR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission and the Council to provide further support for COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the context of the MFF review/revision, given their crucial role for SMEs locally and regionally and the important effects of innovation and clustering, with particular attention to helping less developed regions to catch up;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Emphasizes the key role of SMEs in job creation and calls for a favourable regulatory environment that is conductive to the setting-up and running of such enterprises, especially those launched by young people and those situated in rural areas;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Recognizes the high potential of SMEs with respect to the creation of new and sustainable jobs, as well as to make existing jobs more green; Encourages to integrate the principles of circular economy in order to achieve economic growth and to create quality jobs in the SMEs sector;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Encourages to invest further efforts in order to benefit from the potential of SMEs to turn ecological challenges into business opportunities (Green Action Plan for the SMEs) and to promote the shift towards the green economy; Promotes the creation of business opportunities through integration of green business models and green technologies, as well as the Green Public Procurement on all governance levels;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Invites the Commission to, before it initiates a full- fledged debate with Parliament ~~as early as 2016~~ on the future of cohesion policy, in~~cluding scenarios and preparatory work for the post-2020 period, allowing regions and SMEs time for gearing up~~ the post-2020 period, to carry out the quantitative studies necessary to gauge the impact of SME support polices and instruments, as this would make it possible to carry out preparatory work by monitoring results and assessing their effectiveness compared with that of other forms of assistance not geared towards businesses below a given size;

Amendment 54 #

Stanislav POLČÁK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Invites the Commission to ~~initiate~~present a schedule for a full- fledged debate with Parliament ~~as early as 2016~~ on the future of cohesion policy to be initiated as early as 2016, including scenarios and preparatory work for the post-2020 period, allowing regions and SMEs sufficient time for gearing up;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the EC for a higher and more active involvement of SMEs and SME organizations at all levels, in the elaboration of the post – 2020 strategy for ESI funds; from this perspective, calls on the Commission to facilitate exchanges of best practices between Member States regarding their different regulatory environments for SMEs;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

~~8. Calls for faster and even implementation of country-specific recommendations and National Reform Programmes relating to the enterprise environment.~~deleted

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

~~8. Calls for faster and even implementation of country-specific recommendations and National Reform Programmes relating to the enterprise environment;~~deleted

Amendment 58 #

Ivana MALETIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls for f~~aster and e~~ull, quick and effectiven implementation of country-specific recommendations and National Reform Programmes relat~~ing to the enterprise environment~~ed to improving business environment, more specifically in taking effective action in removing high administrative burdens, uncertain and non-transparent regulatory environment, barriers to establish business and excessive parafiscal charges imposed to the SMEs;

Amendment 59 #

Andrey NOVAKOV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls for faster and even implementation of country-specific recommendations and National Reform Programmes relating to the enterprise environment and SME dimension in EU's regions in order to avoid business-as-usual attitude to locally specific issues and sub-optimal EU budget investments regionally;

Amendment 6 #

Marc JOULAUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on Member States to focus on facilitating an adequate EU funding mix for SMEs – grants, loans, guarantees, equity, microfinance – in view of the ever- increasing role of financial instruments and synergies between instruments funded by the EU budget through the ERDF and through direct management programmes such as Horizon 2020, the PSCI, COSME and LIFE; stresses that the funding mix, and in particular the link between grants and financial instruments, must take account of the different parameters that determine the nature of SMEs and dictate their needs and conditions of access to financing, in particular, the territory on which they are based, their area of activity and the business's phase in the lifecycle;

Amendment 60 #

Andrey NOVAKOV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Points out that both the Annual Report on European SMEs 2014/2015 as well as the Annual Growth Survey 2016 reveal regional divergence in SME environment and disparities which should be effectively addressed by Member States before the end of the programming period, accompanied by efforts to improve internationalisation of SMEs through removing non-tariff barriers;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Emphasize the important role of the social enterprises (to achieve social, cultural, and environmental outcomes) and the cooperative-enterprises (such as handcraft cooperative) through job creation and the provision of social services; calls on the Commission and Member States to give particular attention to these enterprises, by creating a more friendly environment for establishing them and their subsequent developing;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses that the austerity measures imposed by the Commission on the Member States have had the effect of increasing fiscal pressure on SMEs;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Notes that 20,7 million SMEs account for over 67% of private-sector employment in the EU with 30% deriving from micro-enterprises; calls on the Member States and the regions to put effective information and support system in place so as to enable micro-enterprises to better benefit from the EU funding, having in view that micro-enterprises have the need for a greater extent for accompanying measures, coaching and mentoring;

Amendment 64 #

Andrey NOVAKOV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Calls on Member States with limited decentralisation of EU funding management to tip the balance of administrative capacity for technical assistance and local support systems for SMEs towards local authorities which will enable more regionally balanced outcomes and absorption rates;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Calls on the Commission to promote a common framework at the EU level, concerning the networking of the micro, small and medium enterprises, in order to improve their possibility to access to the European funds;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that the integrated use of ESI Funds with Horizon 2020 and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) provides excellent options to boost research and innovation; notes that research and innovation are crucial to the sustainable success and growth of SMEs in the EU;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, therefore, not only to improve financing, but also to provide further support both for female entrepreneurship, given that women still have to overcome considerable gender barriers in order to start up and develop a business, and for youth entrepreneurship, to enable young people to acquire the entrepreneurial skills needed to set up a business and to improve the running and management of businesses already set up;

source: 578.835

2016/04/28 BUDG 33 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines the necessity to increase investment into research, innovation, qualified training and development in order to spur the qualitative growth and job creation potential of European SMEs; welcomes the fact that EUR 75 billion have been earmarked to support SMEs under the EFSI;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes also that women entrepreneurs often face additional barriers and emphasises that more should be done to unlock their potential as job creators and drivers of economic growth; this should be considered by the Commission as a measure of success or failure in its reports to the Parliament;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide further support for female entrepreneurship, given that women still have to overcome considerable gender barriers in order to start up and develop a business;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Draws attention to~~Notes that regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on poorer regions and on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU- supported financial instruments while using intermediaries exist;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on poorer regions and regions facing serious problems of depopulation and/or dispersion, as well as on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments while using intermediaries;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on ~~poorer regions and~~less developed, poorer and more remote regions as well as on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments while using intermediaries;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for ~~a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure~~establishing a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on poorer regions and on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments while using intermediaries;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs’ access to funding from national promotional banks, EU funded programmes and other private and public funding institutions; calls for a correction mechanism at EU level to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs – with special focus on poorer regions and isolated areas, and on countries that have been under financial and economic constraints – in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments while using intermediaries;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Invites the Commission, before it initiates a full-fledged debate with Parliament on the future Financial Framework and on cohesion policy in the post-2020 period, to carry out the quantitative studies necessary to gauge the impact of SME support polices and instruments, which would make it possible to carry out preparatory work by monitoring results and assessing their effectiveness compared with that of other forms of assistance not geared towards businesses below a given size;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the EIB to keep Parliament informed of the concrete measures taken so far to enhance the access to funding of cooperatives, which, together with SMEs, can play an important role in creating more sustainable and decent quality jobs with indefinite work contracts;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the EIB and the European Commission to keep Parliament informed of the concrete measures taken so far to enhance the access to funding of cooperatives, which, together with SMEs, can play an important role in creating more sustainable and decent quality jobs;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Welcomes the move towards using financial instruments for SME support but believes grant funding should be maintained where it plays a critical and necessary role in the promotion of innovation, development and research which are critical for job creation and the future economic success of Europe ;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the EIB to keep Parliament informed of the concrete measures taken so far to enhance the access to funding of ~~cooperativ~~social economy enterprises, which, together with SMEs, can play an important role in creating more sustainable and decent quality jobs;

Amendment 21 #

Liadh NÍ RIADA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights that further efforts should be made in overcoming the migrant and asylum seekers crisis; considers, in particular, that within the specific measures being taken to help Member States in their efforts to foster the settlement and integration of the migrant communities, the enhancement and facilitation of the possibilities for the migrants, benefitting from international protection, to set-up micro-enterprises, social enterprises and SMEs beyond ensuring them access to the labour market, would help on the EU objectives of a higher degree of local,

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to boost information and training channels for small businesses and entrepreneurs on the various European funding possibilities that they can access, so that they can acquire information on all the financial instruments provided for them by the European budget; calls for the greatest possible simplification in terms of both documents and procedures in order to facilitate access to these financial instruments, as well as greater flexibility in this regard;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

~~5. Calls on the Member States to provide guarantees to address SME job losses and to ensure a level playing field for SMEs in progressive taxation systems.~~deleted

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

~~5. Calls on the Member States to provide guarantees to address SME job losses and to ensure a level playing field for SMEs in progressive taxation systems.~~deleted

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that an investment of EUR 75bn is expected to be triggered under the SME Window of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); welcomes the successful implementation of SME financing under the EFSI among the approved projects so far;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the EU budget shall contribute to boost the creation of long- term quality and qualified employment, through the structural funds, in particular the European Social Fund, and to the potential of SMEs to create decent and sustainable jobs;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the EU budget shall contribute to boost the creation of long- term quality and qualified employment and to the potential of SMEs to create ~~decent and sustainable~~ jobs;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas access to finance is still one of the main barriers to the creation and growth of SMEs; , given inter alia the lack of a sufficiently diversified range of equity instruments and risk capital across the Union, which is needed along the growth path of a company;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas access to finance is one of the main barriers to the creation and growth of SMEs, particularly in the case of social economy enterprises;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls that the European Union committed itself to the strengthening of its industrial base, by setting a target of at least 20% in industrial production as part of the European GDP until 2020, which should be increased to 30% until 2030; considers that this is an essential prerequisite for effectively improving the employment situation in Europe;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas SMEs play an important role in ~~cohesion and can further help integrate youth in employment, and inclusively integrate migrants in the EU~~strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion, while also contributing to more intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas SMEs play an important role in cohesion and can further help integrate youth in employment, in particular through training, and inclusively integrate migrants in the EU;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas SMEs contribute to the integration of young people and women into the labour market, and may also help improve the inclusion of migrants in the Union;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas even though 90% of global growth is occurring outside the EU, only 13% of SMEs have been internationally active outside the EU;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that SMEs in Member States that do not have public investment banks may be at a disadvantage compared to those in countries with functioning publicly owned investment banks as an assessment of public interest is not a priority for private banking institutions;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Would welcome smart simplification initiatives to improve application processes and the ex-anti assessment of projects; particularly in the case of microfinance; would further welcome accountability measures targeted at financial intermediaries which don’t overburden SMEs or unreasonably increase costs;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Insists that both public and private support to people – with a focus on young people ~~– that~~- in channelsling investment into education and skills, help~~s young people~~ing in acquireing entrepreneurship skills and matchesing SMEs’ demand for skilled workers –, should be strengthened;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Insists that both public and private support to young people – that channels investment into education and skills, helps young people acquire entrepreneur~~ship~~ial and financial skills and matches SMEs’ demand for skilled workers – should be strengthened; notes that it needs further incentives especially for females and migrants to become entrepreneurs in order to boost the creation of employment;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Insists that both public and private support to young people – that channels investment into education and skills, helps young people acquire entrepreneurship skills and matches SMEs’ demand for skilled workers – should be strengthened; stresses that this support should be granted both for setting up a business and for improving the running and management of businesses already set up, in particular for businesses carrying out or intending to carry out their commercial activity outside the EU’s borders;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes in the huge potential offered by the Digital Single Market towards job creation and thinks that EU policies should respond to new labour market demands spurred by the digitalization of industry;

source: 582.198

2016/05/13 EMPL 358 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report (2012) Public measures to support self-employment and job creation in one- person and micro enterprises;

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 d (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report "Public measures to support self- employment and job creation in one- person and micro enterprises" (2012),

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, rather, undermines the image of entrepreneurship; calls on the Commission to regularly request information from Member States on this subject, including action taken to combat the phenomenon;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, rather, causes precariousness of employment, leads to low level working conditions and lack of social protection, and undermines the image of entrepreneurship;

Amendment 102 #

Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI, Amjad BASHIR, Ulrike TREBESIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Is concerned about the precarious working conditions of a high number of self-employed workers and their increasing levels of poverty; calls on the Commission and Member States to promote micro and small enterprises collaborative networks under the cooperative form (such as cooperatives of individual producers, cooperatives of freelancers, cooperatives of SMEs, activity and employment cooperatives) as those networks considerably reinforce the sustainability and the employment potential of the constituent units;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Highlights that the administrative burden of regulation is disproportionately higher for the self-employed and micro enterprises than for larger companies; considers in this regard that any measures concerning 'bogus self-employed workers' must be clearly targeted and must not place additional administrative burden on the individual;

Amendment 104 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Elena GENTILE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Takes note of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a t~~ransparent pipeline for investable projects in the EU~~ool to create more quality jobs, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development as the fastest way to reduce unemployment and at the same time to support the creation of more quality jobs;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Takes note of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a transparent pipeline for investable projects in the EU, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development as ~~the fastes~~an important way to reduce unemployment; calls therefore for different categories with proper thresholds to be included in the European Investment Project Portal in order to allow SMEs and start-ups to fully benefit from its functioning;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Takes note~~Welcomes the establishment of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and competitiveness and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a transparent pipeline for investable projects in the EU, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development, as the fastest way to reduce unemployment;

Amendment 107 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Takes note of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a transparent pipeline for investable projects in the EU, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development as the fastest way to reduce unemployment; deplores the fact that the Investment Plan does not promote public investments and has failed to promote investment in countries of the European Periphery that need these the most;

Amendment 109 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 e (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report "Social dialogue in micro and small companies" (2014),

Amendment 110 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Takes note of the Investment Plan for Europe, which is designed to create new jobs and boost innovation, and hopes that the European Investment Project Portal, as a transparent pipeline for investable projects in the EU, will help orientate investors towards existing opportunities, in favour of financing SMEs and start-up development as the fastest ~~way to reduce un~~and most efficient way to reduce unemployment and promote long-term employment;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Stresses the key role of enterprises, including SMEs and micro-enterprises, in collaborating with policy makers and social partners in transforming the educational systems and vocational training programmes in Europe, both with regard to teaching methods and curricula design, so as to put a stronger focus on the development of 21st century working skills, in particular digital skills, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork; highlights in this context the importance of hands-on and real-life experiences;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Considers that EU and national policies should not only focus on SMEs start-ups and creation of new jobs in SMEs and calls on the Commission and Member States to continue to support business transfers as an tool for maintaining existing jobs in SMEs that risk closing down; calls for the promotion of business transfers to employees under the cooperative form as a well-working type of business transfers;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses, in this regard, the fact that so far the promised effects of this investment plan have yet to be seen; also stresses that it is not investment in major infrastructure that generates new jobs, but practical opportunities offered to SMEs;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Reminds the Commission that SMEs run by vulnerable groups have a harder time accessing finance, calls therefore on the Commission to assess and fight discrimination in access to finance;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Member States to incentivise through taxation the growth and emergence of business angel, seed fund and early stage market player sectors;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Calls on the European Commission to create the European framework regulation to facilitate the creation of pan-European crowd-funding and crowd investing markets;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6 c. Calls on the European Commission to facilitate the securitisation of loans to micro-companies and SMEs to increase their available credit;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6 d. Calls on the European Commission to encourage young, senior, and female-owned SMEs;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on ~~the EU to better engage Member State authoriti~~Member States, universities, businesses and financial institutions with a view to promoting and making full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas SMEs (22.3 million1-Awere active in the EU-28 in 2014) create more jobs than other private sector companies, providing about two thirds of all private- sector employment in the EU; Points out that supporting SMEs helps to combat European unemployment and youth unemployment rates, which are at 8.9% and 19.4% respectively2-A; __________________ 1-A Annual Report on European SMEs 2014/2015 (http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/business -friendly-environment/performance- review/index_en.htm) 2-AData from February 2016 (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2 995521/7225076/3-04042016-BP- EN.pdf/e04dadf1-8c8b-4d9b-af51- bfc2d5ab8c4a)

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the EU to better engage Member State authorities, ~~univers~~third level education and training facilities, businesses, and financial institutions with a view to making full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs;

Amendment 121 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the EU to better engage Member State authorities, ~~universities~~education community, businesses and financial institutions with a view to making full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the EU to ~~better engag~~encourage and enable Member State authorities, universities, businesses and financial institutions ~~with a view~~ to mak~~ing~~e full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME~~, Horizon 2020~~ and Erasmus+), so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the EU to better engage Member State authorities, universities, businesses and financial institutions with a view to making full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs; Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs; also emphasises the importance of cross- border SME promotion programmes under the framework of the European research initiative EUREKA as a means to further cooperation between SMEs and research institutes;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the EU to better engage Member State authorities at every jurisdiction level on the subject, universities, businesses and financial institutions with a view to making full use of EU funding sources (e.g. the EFSI, the ESF, the ERDF, COSME, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+) so as to help overcome the difficulty in accessing finance which is still one of the main barriers to the growth of SMEs;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission, when it revises the multiannual financial framework 2014-2020, to find a way to fully compensate for the reductions to the EFSI budget in the allocations to the Horizon 2020 programme, given its importance to economic development and job creation, particularly for SMEs;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Underlines the importance of accessibility to supportive EU funding measures and to electronic public services for SMEs located in smaller urban zones and rural areas, enhancing their employment potential and contributing to the development of areas at risk of depopulation;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas SMEs create more jobs than other private sector companies, providing about two thirds of all private- sector employment in the EU and whereas entrepreneurs and SMEs make an important contribution to the socio- economic growth and development of the EU;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses, in this regard, that so far, training and information on such opportunities is almost non-existent, in comparison to actual needs and the many opportunities that these funds could create;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Urges the Commission to work with national contact points to develop assertive and effective marketing campaigns, designed solely for SMEs, on the ‘Fast Track to Innovation’ instrument which is part of the Horizon 2020 programme.

Amendment 132 #

Flavio ZANONATO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Calls on the Commission and on Member States to better coordinate the different funding instruments for SMEs;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Urges Member States to develop forms of cooperation that involve their governments, their business base (including businesses linked to the social economy), teaching institutions and social partners, with a view to adapting their education and training systems to address the disparity between skills/qualifications and the needs of the job market, particularly those of SMEs;

Amendment 134 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs~~Calls for greater cooperation between education and training systems and the business sector, with a view to better meeting the real needs of the employment market; believes that vocational training, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs, ~~should be given~~must be boosted, including by means of more public support;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the ~~artificial~~right balance needs to be found regarding the academisation of specific professions i~~s not helpful if one wishes to~~n tackleing the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; believes that vocational training, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with ~~SME~~businesses, should be given more public support; considers that informal training, on-the-job training and knowledge sharing among staff should be encouraged; 1b __________________ 1bBased on Eurofound report Job creation in SMEs: ERM annual report 2015 (27 January 2016). Some companies have a training plan in place to ensure that workers’ skills are kept up-to-date. Furthermore, more informal training is widely encouraged, including on-the-job training or knowledge sharing among staff.

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the ~~artificial~~ academisation of specific professions idoes not ~~helpful if one wishes to tackl~~necessarily solve the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; believes that vocational training, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs, should be given more public support; stresses that dual training is an important tool in reducing youth unemployment and calls for support for SMEs which train young people to become qualified skilled workers and thus make an important contribution to including young people in the labour market and in society;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; bBelieves that vocational training in education must be more in keeping with the profiles that are needed on the labour market and that vocational training, and especially dual systems o~~perat~~rganised in cooperation with SMEs and businesses, with the aim of acquiring recruits with specific competences, should be given more public support;

Amendment 139 #

Antanas GUOGA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial requirement to have a university degree set for certain professions is counterproductive in dealing with the shortage of skills experienced by SMEs; ~~Takes the view~~Believes that vocational training ~~and, in~~, particular,ly in the context of the internal Digital Single Market, and dual vocational training systems managed in cooperation with SMEs should receive greater public support;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas employee representation and social dialogue are not as widespread in SMEs as they are in larger companies and trade unions in some countries are making it a priority to try to increase employee representation in SMEs, for example by trying to encourage the establishment of works councils in SMEs 1a; __________________ 1aEurofound report (2011) Employee representation at establishment level in Europe

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; calls for encouraging more informal training including on the job training and knowledge sharing among staff; believes that vocational education and training (VET), and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs and social partners, should be given more public support with attention also given to increasing the attractiveness of VET to young people; points out that a dual education system used in one Member State cannot be copied blindly into another Member State;

Amendment 141 #

Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; believes that vocational training, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs, should be given more public support; recommends, however, that it is taken into account that the cultural value of teaching should be guaranteed and protected;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; believes that vocational training, the link between schools and businesses, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs, should be given more public support;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the artificial academisation of specific professions is not helpful if one wishes to tackle the problem of skills scarcities in SMEs; believes that vocational training, and especially dual systems operated in cooperation with SMEs, should be given more public support and that their professional value should receive greater recognition;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Calls on the Commission to set up programmes to enhance entrepreneurship, in particular women entrepreneurship, and SMEs financial literacy through education but also better access to information and the creation of one-stop-shops for SMEs;

Amendment 145 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to boost ICT and STEM training and education in order to equip both the current and the future workforce with the relevant e-skills; Encourages the Commission and Member States to support programmes that provide unemployed young people with e-skills such as open online courses, and encourage the same for Generation 50+/active seniors.

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Underlines the need for targeted incentives for start-ups, SMEs, micro- enterprises in order to facilitate their establishment and operation, as well as the necessity to facilitate the hiring of qualified labour force and training of employees;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Points out the importance and worth of professional training, courses and apprenticeships when it comes to giving young people the qualifications and skills that they need for the labour market;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Asks Member States to foster the development of a strong enterprise culture by embedding entrepreneurial and management skills in education at all levels;

Amendment 149 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Encourages Member States to establish a clear framework for setting up high quality training courses, professional training and apprenticeship schemes which genuinely help young people to develop their careers;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas recent Eurofound research shows that SMEs which tend to create jobs are often young, innovative, internationally active, located in urban areas and run by skilled managers, and have comprehensive growth and investment strategies;

Amendment 150 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States~~, including through financial incentives~~;

Amendment 151 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be better promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; highlights that vocational education and training plays a vital economic and social role in Europe as an instrument to promote equal opportunities for all citizens, including vulnerable and disadvantaged groups;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that quality internship and apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives and by establishing national legal quality frameworks on internships and apprenticeships, ensuring in particular employment protection and adequate social security coverage;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; In this regard, dual education programmes and the combination of education and traineeship opportunities must also be encouraged;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; urges that apprenticeships and traineeships be considered equal to any other type of work, and benefit from the same treatment;

Amendment 155 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; underlines the importance of trainings for the managers and members of boards;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that traineeship and apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives; recalls that SMEs have very specific skills 'needs;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through financial incentives and better recognition of the skills that they offer;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that apprenticeship schemes within SMEs should be promoted by Member States, including through tax and financial incentives;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Member States to provide for and impose the requisite sanctions for any kind of abuse by employers of their trainees or apprentices;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas, despite the fact that 90 % of world growth occurs outside the EU, only 13 % of SMEs have conducted international business outside the EU;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Points out that the aim of training courses, professional training and apprenticeship schemes is to provide genuine professional experience which young people can apply in the future;

Amendment 161 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Takes the view that a European plan for mobility in European apprenticeships and professional training must be established;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Encourages the~~ Member States tocould create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills~~; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs~~ if they include these in broader social development programs of job creation and strong social security; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs; deeply regrets the phenomena where young people are taken advantage of (amongst others in bad quality internships) and have to work under precarious conditions, sometimes without payment or social security;

Amendment 163 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages ~~the~~ Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire ~~entrepreneurship skills; also stresses the importance of mentoring for~~working and entrepreneurial skills, starting from an early age, by updating the education curricula and the development of transversal competencies, skills and knowledge; also stresses the importance of mentoring for apprentices, interns, newly employed, as well as young entrepreneurs;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills; also stresses the importance of mentoring for ~~young~~new entrepreneurs;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to create ~~opportun~~possibilities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills~~; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young~~ from an early age by offering them training and visits to businesses which will give them a broad view of the business world; stresses the crucial role of a number of associations for young entrepreneurs which offer young people opportunities to develop innovative projects, gain business experience and give them the requisite tools and confidence to become entrepreneurs themselves; also insists on the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs to enable them to draw on the knowledge and support of more experienced entrepreneurs;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills~~; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneur~~ as well as to better recognise and validate non formal education and skills; also stresses the importance of support that is not only relevant for start-ups, but also early-phase entrepreneurship such as mentoring for young entrepreneurs, to improve survival rates and sustainability of companies;

Amendment 167 #

Deirdre CLUNE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs; support that is not only relevant for start-up but also for early-phase entrepreneurship to improve survival rates and sustainability of the company and jobs; for example, business mentor programmes;

Amendment 168 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills, ranging from creating businesses to managing them; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs; points out that this support will be very important for companies seeking to conduct business internationally;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Encourages the Member States, regional governments and educational institutions to create opportunities for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills; also stresses the importance of mentoring for young entrepreneurs;

Amendment 17 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas, owing to their smaller scale, SMEs are less able than large companies to comply with regulatory standards;

Amendment 170 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Stresses that lifelong skills development and counselling are important tools to ensure equal opportunities, including for people from disadvantaged groups, as well as more gender equality;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10 b. Considers business mentorship programmes essential to improving survival rates not only for start-ups but also for young SMEs and SMEs wishing to expand;

Amendment 172 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’' programme, which helps provide ~~aspiring European~~young entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a ~~small~~ business; calls for the European Commission and Member States to make this programme better known among the target groups;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ programme, which helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with ~~the~~useful skills ~~necessary~~ to start and/or successfully run a small business;

Amendment 174 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ programme, which helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business; recommends, what is more, that ongoing support should be provided with a view to giving added value to youth entrepreneurship and making it an effective tool for creating high-quality jobs;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’' programme, which helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business; and believes that such programmes should be further promoted in order to help more young people become established and succeed;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ programme, which helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the ~~requisite skills~~skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business, and helps them to understand the advantages and challenges of the European Single Market;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ programme, which helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. asks the Commission to organise major information and education campaigns in cooperation with Member States with a view to promoting the socio- economic benefit and attractiveness of entrepreneurship as a career opportunity;

Amendment 179 #

Jutta STEINRUCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

~~12. Calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;~~deleted

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas a growing number of SMEs are forced into bankruptcy or closure by the bureaucratic and administrative burden of European standards;

Amendment 180 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Maria ARENA, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt ~~favourable~~ legislative frameworks ~~for young graduates who are employed by a~~which will promote and support the employment of young graduates in SMEs or ~~are starting up an enterprise~~encourage them to start their own businesses;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to ~~adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young graduates who are employed by an SME o~~support young graduates entering the labour mareket or starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young ~~graduates~~people who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise; believes that such frameworks should also include promotion of work placements programmes for students so they could get their first practical experience in an SME;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young ~~graduates~~people who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to avoid regulatory gold-plating which stifles business’ competitiveness and their potential to create jobs, and to adopt favourable legislative frameworks, particularly for young graduates ~~who are~~ employed by an SMEs or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt ~~favourable~~ legislative frameworks ~~for~~that will incentivise young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise including through facilitating young entrepreneurs' access to credit, while ensuring adequate social protection and employment protection for young workers;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise, including by simplifying access to loans and funding methods;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States and sub- state authorities that have their own areas of responsibility to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks and funding arrangements for young graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas in 2014 SMEs highly contributed to the employment growth, up to 71 % in the non-financial business economy;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for young students and graduates who are employed by an SME or are starting up an enterprise;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Notes that measures should be taken to better enable the recognition of qualifications and diplomas across Europe, including diplomas and online certificates such as those provided by MOOCs, and the validation of non-formal learning in order to enable professionals to contribute with their knowledge and skills throughout Europe;

Amendment 192 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Calls on the Member States to promote the creation and development of cooperative enterprises as they have proven to be more resilient during the crisis and less subject to job losses than the average enterprise as well as to create quality jobs that do not delocalise;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Calls on Member States to provide appropriate training and ensure an ongoing professional development of teachers to promote up to date teaching methods and the development of 21st century skills and competencies;

Amendment 194 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Welcomes the Commission legislative proposal on business insolvency, including early restructuring and second chance, to address fear of failure and make sure that entrepreneurs have a second chance;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Underlines the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) studies also with regard to enabling European SMEs to play a leading role at the global stage;

Amendment 196 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12 c. Emphasises that corporate social responsibility has a long European tradition and that socially responsible businesses continue to set an example today; stresses that SMEs can play an important role in ensuring environmentally, socially and economically sustainable growth; calls on SMEs to live up to their environmental and social responsibility and take proactive measures to identify and prevent any violation of human or environmental rights, corruption or tax evasion, including in their subsidiaries and supply chains; points out that the organisation of work, equal opportunities and social inclusion, anti-discrimination measures, adequate transparency standards, reliable accountability mechanisms and the development of lifelong education and training are crucial in this context;

Amendment 197 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

SFavourable and stable regulatory environment

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Stable and favourable regulatory environment

Amendment 199 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that ~~reduc~~improving the regulatory and administrative ~~burd~~environment, together with improving the quality of regulation and enforcement, ~~constitute the right way to lower SMEs’ costs, including labour~~supported by information campaigns and prevention, const~~s, in order~~itute the right way to increase their job creation potential of SMEs;

Amendment 2 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Elena GENTILE, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 b (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report (2011) SMEs in the crisis: Employment, industrial relations and local partnership;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas the social and solidarity- based economy provides employment for more than 14 million people, representing around 6.5% of workers in the EU; whereas there are 2 million social and solidarity-based economy enterprises in the EU, representing 10% of undertakings in the Union; whereas social enterprises have proven resilient during the economic crisis;

Amendment 200 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that ~~reducing the regulatory and administrative burden~~, together with improving the quality of regulation and enforcement, constitute the right way to lower SMEs’ ~~costs, including labour costs~~, in order to increase their job creation potential; strongly believes, that any regulation change should aim to strengthen social security, collective bargaining, and the role of the social partners;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that ~~reducing the regulatory and administrative burden, together with~~ improving the quality of regulation and enforcement, constitutes the right way to lower SMEs’ costs, including labour costs, in order to increase their job creation potential;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that reducing the unnecessary regulatory and administrative burden, together with improving the quality of regulation and enforcement, constitute ~~the right~~one way to lower SMEs’ costs, including labour costs, in order to increase their job creation potential; stresses, however, that making improvements to the quality of regulations cannot be to the detriment of worker protections;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that reducing the regulatory and administrative burden, together with improving the quality of regulation and enforcement, constitute the right way to lower SMEs’ costs, including labour costs, in order to increase their job creation potential; recommends, at the same time, that a robust regulatory framework should be established with a view to ensuring that the regulation is not only high quality but also sustainable, and also guarantees vital safeguards for workers;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes the view that reducing the regulatory and administrative burden, together with improving the quality of regulation ~~and enforcement~~, including through systematic use of the ‘SME test’, as well as its effective enforcement in all Member States, constitute the right way to lower SMEs’ costs, including labour costs, ~~in order~~ to increase ~~their~~ job creation potential;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. takes the view that only with improved access to financing through the SME correcting factor is a stable financial situation created which fosters growth and thereby sustains employment;

Amendment 207 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. takes the view that only with improved access to financing through the SME correcting factor is a stable financial situation created which fosters growth and thereby sustains employment;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Stresses the importance of a comprehensive European regulatory environment which harmonizes the rules existing in 28 Member States thereby facilitating market access of SMEs;

Amendment 209 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Flavio ZANONATO, Siôn SIMON, Elena GENTILE, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the regulatory framework for social businesses;

Amendment 21 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas SMEs better resist economic crisis in terms of job losses, in particular cooperatives in industry and services have shown better resilience since the 2008 crisis than other enterprises in the same sectors;

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13 c. Acknowledges the importance of taking into account the situation, specific needs and difficulties with compliance by micro and small enterprises in the context of the implementation of OSH measures at company level; stresses that awareness raising, exchange of good practices, consultation, user-friendly guides and online platforms are of utmost importance to help SMEs and micro enterprises comply more effectively with OSH regulatory requirements; calls on the Commission, EU-OSHA and the Member States to continue developing practical tools and guidelines, which support, facilitate and improve the compliance of SMEs and micro enterprises with OSH requirements;

Amendment 211 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13 d. Calls on the Commission to continue taking into account the specific nature and situation of SMEs and micro- enterprises when revising the strategic framework in order to help these companies meet the objectives set as regards to health and safety in the workplace;

Amendment 212 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)

13 e. Welcomes the introduction of the EU-OSHA's online interactive risk assessment (OiRA) as well as other e-tools in the Member States that facilitate risk assessment and aim to promote compliance and a culture of prevention, in particular in micro and small enterprises; urges the Member States to use the European funding for OSH actions in general and the development of e-tools in particular with the aim of supporting SMEs;

Amendment 213 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)

13 f. Calls for easier access to credit and microfinance as well as tailor-made counselling and support for start-ups and micro-enterprises, to enhance their job creation potential; underlines the importance of the European programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), as well as the Investment Plan for Europe in this context;

Amendment 214 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 g (new)

13 g. Stresses the need for one-stop- shops at national and regional level to provide SMEs with the necessary information on regulatory requirements and financing possibilities;

Amendment 215 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and ~~to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle~~when drafting legislation, to take into account the effects it will have on SMEs, in order to ~~rem~~improve the ~~bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted~~regulatory environment and to achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for ~~job~~employment quality and stability;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to ~~remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for j~~ensure quality standards for workers such as working conditions, working time and health and safety without burdening SMEs with bureaucratic ob sta~~bility~~cles;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Calls on the~~Points out that almost 99% of European businesses are SMEs, calls on Member States and the EU to review the rules a~~ffecting SMEs~~pplicable to SMEs by enforcing systematic use of the ‘SME test’ at all stages of the legislative process, and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 218 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to re~~mov~~duce the bur~~eaucratic obstacles~~den with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty, transparency and proportionality as a precondition for job stability and full job creation potential;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas in many countries working conditions and factors such as working hours are more flexible and informally arranged in SMEs than in larger companies 1b; __________________ 1bEurofound report (2011) SMEs in the crisis: Employment, industrial relations and local partnership

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles and administrative burden with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls ofor a review within the Member States ~~to review~~of the rules affecting SMEs and for the Member States to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of regulatory certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve ~~a high level of~~ regulatory certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 224 #

Monika SMOLKOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. calls on the Member States to review the rules affecting SMEs and to introduce measures based on the ‘Think Small First’ principle, in order to remove the bureaucratic obstacles with which SMEs are confronted and achieve a high level of legal, regulatory and fiscal certainty as a precondition for job stability;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Calls on member states to ensure that a full regulatory impact is carried out on all new legislation and regulation to assess its impact on SMEs;

Amendment 226 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes the view that a stable regulatory environment is an ~~essential prerequisite for~~important factor to job perennity and job creation in SMEs; considers ~~that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rul~~, however, that the importance of a stable regulatory environment cannot prevent policy makers from takings a~~nd also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness~~ction to improve this regulatory framework;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes the view that a stable regulatory environment is an essential prerequisite for ~~job perennity and~~sustainable quality job creation in SMEs; considers that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, workers' protection, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rulings and also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness;

Amendment 228 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes the view that a stable regulatory environment is an essential prerequisite for job perennity and job creation in SMEs; considers that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rulings and also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness; recommends, in this regard, that the participation and involvement of workers in this process should be stepped up in order to include everyone;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes the view that a stable and favourable regulatory environment is an essential prerequisite for job perennity and job creation in SMEs; considers that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rulings and also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the SME sector is important at regional level and particularly in rural regions;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes the view that a favourable and stable regulatory environment is an essential prerequisite for job perennity and job creation in SMEs; considers that this regulatory certainty must encompass, among other elements, contract law and fiscal and social regulation, as well as tax rulings and also legal certainty and procedural effectiveness;

Amendment 231 #

Jutta STEINRUCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Recalls that competition policy is enforced at EU level; highlights that unfair competition in the single market has a negative effect on law-abiding businesses in particular SMEs; calls on the Commission together with the Member States to take decisive measures to tackle unfair competition that is based on for example avoidance of social, fiscal or labour law; considers the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place as advocated by Commission President Junker as an important tool to fight market distortions;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Considers that, in addition to stability, the intrinsic clarity of rules is key to ensuring the continuity and creation of jobs; calls on the Member States, therefore, to adopt laws that achieve this goal and, as a result, legal certainty;

Amendment 233 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Believes that the stability of the regulatory environment is best achieved by an ongoing involvement of social partners in the decision making process;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Points out that SMEs can only fulfil their employment creation role in a healthy and stable economic environment;

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Believes that taxation should be shifted away from labour towards other broad based systems of taxation;

Amendment 236 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15 b. Recalls that competition policy is enforced at the European level; highlights that unfair competition in the Single Market damages law-abiding companies, in particular small and medium enterprises; calls on the Commission together with the Member States to take decisive measures to tackle unfair competition that is based on for example avoidance of social, fiscal or labour law;

Amendment 237 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15 c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take decisive measures to curb letterbox companies;

Amendment 238 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15 d. Recalls that all workers in the Single Market must have the right to enjoy the highest possible level of protection as regards to health and safety at work regardless of the size of the company which employs them, the place of employment or the underlying contract;

Amendment 239 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary health and safety standards;deleted

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

A c. whereas trade union/employee representation and social dialogue/collective bargaining arrangements have been well documented as being not as widespread in SMEs as they are in larger companies; whereas there are considerable differences between different countries in this regard;

Amendment 240 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles ~~and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary health and safety standard~~which need tailor-made solutions and support and that there is a wide variety amongst SMEs;

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that ~~SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary~~the impact of administrative requirements is felt disproportionately by SMEs and that measures such exemptions should therefore be systematically considered to minimize the burden, while ensuring that employees receive adequate health and safety ~~standards~~protection;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that ~~SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedure~~the impact of administrative requirements is felt disproportionately by SMEs and that measures such as exemptions should therefore be systematically considered to minimize such requirements, while ~~always~~ ensuring that the~~y provide their employees with the necessary~~ir employees receive adequate health and safety ~~standards~~protection;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be ~~exempted from~~subject to appropriate legislation, including through systematic use of the ‘SME test’ at all stages of the legislative process, so that SMEs avoid excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary health and safety standards;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be ~~exempted from~~relieved of excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary health and safety standards;

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore ~~be exempted from~~not be subject to excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide their employees with the necessary health and safety standards;

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider that SMEs face specific obstacles and should therefore be exempted from excessively burdensome administrative procedures, while always ensuring that they provide ~~their~~ employee~~s with the necessary health and safety standards~~ protection;

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Considers that SMEs should enjoy favourable tax treatment for two specific reasons: to remedy the inherent inequalities between SMEs and multinationals; to make it possible to use additional resources, together with public investment, to create jobs;

Amendment 249 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. calls on the Commission to carry out an SME test on legislation relevant to SMEs in accordance with its guidelines on impact assessment;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

A c. whereas despite the stabilisation of the EU unemployment rate in 2014 at the level of 10,2 % (11,6 % in the Euro area) and its slight fall in early 2015, the number of unemployed - about 23 million people in 2015 remains historically high;

Amendment 250 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. calls on the Commission to carry out an SME test on legislation relevant to SMEs in accordance with its guidelines on impact assessment;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses the importance of SME- friendly, effective, flexible and responsive public administration in the Member States in order to promote entrepreneurship values, facilitate the growth of SMEs and enable them to achieve their full ~~job creation potential;~~ potential in generating high-quality jobs;

Amendment 252 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses the importance of SME- friendly efficient, flexible and responsive public administration in the Member States in order to promote entrepreneurship values, facilitate the growth of SMEs and enable them to achieve their full quality job creation potential;

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the Commission to facilitate efficient exchanges of best practices between Member States regarding their different regulatory environments for SMEs; welcomes in this regard the Network of SME Envoys, whose role is to improve the consultation process with national SMEs and cooperation between EU countries; also encourages cooperation between SMEs and local authorities, which can be beneficial for the creation of business clusters and incubators and hence increase their job creation potential; encourages SMEs' associations to better support SMEs and to play a stronger role as a reliable social partner;

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the Commission to facilitate exchanges of best practices between Member States regarding their different regulatory environments for SMEs; welcomes in this regard the Network of SME Envoys, whose role is to improve the consultation process with national SMEs and cooperation between EU countries; also encourages cooperation between SMEs, sub-state authorities with their own exclusive competences and local authorities, which can be beneficial for the creation of business clusters and incubators and hence increase their job creation potential;

Amendment 255 #

Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI, Ulrike TREBESIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the Commission to facilitate exchanges of best practices between Member States regarding their different regulatory environments for SMEs; welcomes in this regard the Network of SME Envoys, whose role is to improve the consultation process with national SMEs and cooperation between EU countries; also encourages cooperation between SMEs and local authorities and the education sector, which can be beneficial for the creation of business clusters and incubators and hence increase their job creation potential;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Draws attention to the insolvency and bankruptcy risks for SMEs facing delays in payments; calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the enforcement of the Late Payment Directive; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to consider adequate financial mechanisms, such as bank guarantees;

Amendment 257 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to adopt, in the framework of the European Semester’s country-specific recommendations, a differentiated approach to improve the environment for SMEs, taking into account the country- specific circumstances and the EU regions’ specific structural differencesbear in mind country-specific circumstances and structural differences specific to each EU region, and asks the Commission to allow each Member State to put in place the requisite national measures to improve the conditions for SMEs in their country;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to adopt~~, in the framework of the European Semester’s country-specific recommendations,~~ a differentiated approach to improve the environment for SMEs and to promote stronger social security and workers’ rights, taking into account the country- specific circumstances and the EU regions’ specific structural differences; calls further more on the Commission to focus not only on SME but on Micro Enterprises as well;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to adopt, in the framework of the European Semester’s country-specific recommendations, a differentiated approach to improve the environment for SMEs, taking into account the country- specific circumstances and the EU regions’ specific structural differences, as that move would enable progress to be made towards greater economic, social and territorial cohesion;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas too many posts remain vacant because some training systems are inadequate for today’s labour market;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to adopt, when appropriate for specific Member States, and in the framework of the European Semester’s country-specific recommendations, a differentiated approach to improve the environment for SMEs, taking into account the country- specific circumstances and the EU regions’ specific structural differences;

Amendment 261 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to adopt, in the framework of the European Semester’'s country-specific recommendations, a differentiated approach to improve the environment for SMEs, taking into account the country- specific circumstances and the EU regions’' specific structural differences among SMEs;

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Notes that the difficulties faced by SMEs are more tangible in some European regions, specifically the Outermost Regions which, besides their geographical distance from the big markets, are also by their very nature geographically disperse/islands; Calls on the Commission to create an ‘OR SME’ programme that takes into consideration the specific nature of those regions and creates the conditions for their SMEs to compete on an equal footing with other European SMEs;

Amendment 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Emphasises the need to bring together business developers and business incubators, with a view to making start- ups an important tool for creating lasting jobs and to keeping potential within companies, discouraging ‘the sale of an important idea’ for pure profit;

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

~~20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member States;~~deleted

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. ~~Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view~~Welcomes the creation of a Capital Market Union and calls for further measures to facilitat~~ing~~e market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member States;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the ~~Member~~Commission to fully implement the Single Market Strate~~s to~~gy by removeing the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member States;

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. ~~Calls on the Member Stat~~Highlights the fact that three out of four SMEs do not trade beyond their national borders and the need to facilitate access to ~~remove the~~the EU Single Market by removing remaining administrative barriers; w~~ith a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member State~~elcomes the strong focus on SMEs in the 2015 Single Market Strategy and urges the Commission and Member States to follow up on the positive initiatives with specific measures that are tangible to small traders;

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ~~remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member Stat~~ensure equitable access conditions to their national market for SMEs from other Member States, in compliance with the legislation of the host Member State and European legislation, and prioritise the fight against bogus self-employment and ‘letter box companies’;

Amendment 27 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas business transfers to employees under the cooperative form as a well-working type of business transfers proven their high survival rates;1c __________________ 1cCECOP publication (2013) Business Transfers to Employees under the Form of a Cooperative in Europe

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ~~rem~~improve the re~~maining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs from other Member State~~gulatory environment with a view to facilitating cross-border employment and ensuring fair market access for SMEs from other Member States, whilst combatting market distortions;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs ~~from other Member States~~throughout the EU, which is preconditioned by further steps to complete the single market;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs ~~from other Member Stat~~, particularly those providing cross-border services;

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro-enterprises and SMEs ~~from other Member Stat~~, particularly those providing cross-border services;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining unjustified administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro- enterprises and SMEs from other Member States;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to remove the remaining unnecessary administrative barriers with a view to facilitating market access for micro- enterprises and SMEs from other Member States;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Underlines the importance and potential of the Internal market for the development and growth of SMEs, through the freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services;

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Highlights the importance of implementing effectively the SMEs related measures announced in the 2015 Single Market Strategy of the European Commission;

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Encourages the Commission and Member States to identify and tackle administrative and regulatory barriers preventing the swift delivery of funding;

Amendment 279 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Member States to ~~adopt favourable legislative frameworks for newly- created SMEs, focusing in particular on incentive measures aimed at tackling the shadow economy~~tackle the shadow economy and make full use of the newly established platform to tackle undeclared work;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas the job creation in SMEs is influenced by a number of internal and external factors, among the latter the essential conditions are manageable competition (including from multinational corporations - MNC, and the shadow economy), manageable administrative burden and overall production costs, as well as access to finance and skilled workers;

Amendment 280 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for newly- created SMEs, ~~focusing in particular on incentive measures aimed at tackling the shadow economy~~believes that among other initiatives, the Start-up Initiative announced in the Commission's Single Market Strategy will provide a constructive framework for such improvements;

Amendment 281 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for newly- created SMEs, focusing in particular on incentive measures aimed at tackling the shadow economy; stresses the importance of having the requisite resources for inspection services and stresses the crucial role that the platform to tackle undeclared work in dealing should play with a view to combatting the shadow economy;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Member States to adopt favourable legislative frameworks for newly- created SMEs, focusing in particular on incentive measures aimed at tackling the shadow economy; recognizes that austerity measures implemented in many Member States had a catalytic impact in the growth of the shadow economy;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Takes the view that the appropriate Member State authorities must provide SMEs with comprehensive, tailored support and advice on integrating refugees into the labour market;

Amendment 284 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Calls on Member States to develop active labour market policies, foster research and innovation, and provide good quality public services and infrastructures, in order to also encourage private sector investment into SMEs;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Encourages Member States to continue to create one stop shops to provide information on all regulatory requirements and funding opportunities that anyone starting a business in any sector of the economy will encounter;

Amendment 286 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21 b. Stresses the need for Member States to foster partnerships between local authorities, education institutions, employment services, enterprises, trade unions, and civil society associations, also with regard to the creation, implementation and monitoring of sustainable and inclusive quality employment strategies and action plans;

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21b. Is firmly convinced that integrating refugees into the labour market will be impossible without active, solid support from micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU;

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)

21c. stresses that comprehensive language training for refugees is of the utmost importance; stresses that such training should begin as soon as possible and that job-related language knowledge is essential for refugees to integrate in companies;

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)

21d. Calls for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) not to be required in any way to disclose non-financial information about their voluntary social engagement; emphasises that such disclosure can generate disproportionately high bureaucratic costs and would jeopardise, rather than foster, social engagement from firms;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas the Green sector was one of the main net creators of jobs in Europe during the recession and SMEs with a long-term plan to operate in the Green economy create jobs that are more resilient to the current externalities of the globalised economy2b; __________________ 2bEP Resolution of 8 July 2015 on the Green Employment Initiative: Tapping into the job creation potential of the green economy

Amendment 290 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)

21e. emphasises that the European Parliament made it absolutely clear in its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (2012/2097 (INI)), that in a free society, CSR can never make charitable action compulsory; is firmly convinced that if CSR were made compulsory, people would be less willing to support charitable causes;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 f (new)

21f. calls on the Commission and the Member States to intensify their efforts to combat the letterbox company problem;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 g (new)

21g. stresses that the temporary employment industry is particularly important to SMEs and a nuanced view should be taken of it, and this is particularly the case for its collective systems; the Commission and Member States should support all forms of temporary employment, particularly those which act as a bridge to permanent employment ;

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 h (new)

21h. firmly believes that the Master Craftsman Certificate must be maintained;

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Notes that in some cases EU competition policy results in privileging that mostly benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; stresses in this regard~~stresses the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential;

Amendment 295 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 296 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that in some cases EU competition policy results in privileging that ~~mostly~~ benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs;, stresses in this regard the need for specific measures ~~for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential~~to protect SMEs with regard to tax matters, specifically employment tax; in addition, calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess very carefully and consequently take action on future trade agreements or those already in force, such as TTIP, TiSA, CETA, and MES for China; believes that making these decisions without involving the European Parliament, the only body that is democratically elected by European citizens, would put at serious risk the economy, productivity and employment throughout the European Union; recommends, therefore, considering this prospect as opening the EU up to the serious risk of unfair competition, the deterioration of social guarantees and a huge loss of jobs, thereby making the paradigm of social dumping more than just symbolic;

Amendment 297 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that in some cases EU competition policy results in privileging that mostly benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; stresses in this regard th~~e need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boost~~at EU competition rules must guarantee a level playing field for small, medium-sized and large enterprises active ing the~~ir job creation potential~~ European market;

Amendment 298 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that ~~in some cases EU competition policy results in privileging that mostly benefits~~ big market operators ~~that~~ are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential; Notes that EU Competition policy protects SMEs by preventing monopolies, cartels, market dominance or state aid and thus facilitates the job creation potential of SMEs;

Amendment 299 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that in some cases EU competition policy could results in privileging ~~that mostly benefits~~ big market operators that are characterised by greater economi~~c efficiency~~es of scale than SMEs; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs ~~in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus~~ enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential;

Amendment 3 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 c (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report (2011) Employee representation at establishment level in Europe;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas data on contractual arrangements and work organisation in SMEs is difficult to find in general;

Amendment 300 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that in some cases EU competition policy results in a privileg~~ing~~e that mostly benefits big market operators ~~that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs~~; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their ~~job creation potential~~potential to generate high quality jobs;

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that in some cases EU competition policy results in privileging that mostly benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; therefore asks that cooperation between larger businesses and SMEs be stimulated; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus en~~abling their internationalisation and boosting their job~~suring access to innovative research and process-oriented innovation and access to public tendering procedures; also points out the increasing importance of internationalising SMEs and the need to organise and introduce targeted initiatives and measures – tailored to SMEs – in order to foster export opportunities for SMEs and their internationalisation and to encourage them to explore and enter new and rapidly growing markets outside the EU, and thereby increase the competitiveness, market share and employment creation potential of SMEs;

Amendment 302 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Notes that ~~in some cases~~ EU competition policy too often results in privileging that mostly benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential;

Amendment 303 #

Monika SMOLKOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. notes that in some cases, EU competition policy results in privileging, in the field of state assistance, for instance, that mostly benefits big market operators that are characterised by greater economic efficiency than SMEs; stresses in this regard the need for specific measures for SMEs in order to curb their market diseconomies, thus enabling their internationalisation and boosting their job creation potential;

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Notes that the negative impact of the relocation phenomenon, caused by the differing economic situations in Member States, is now apparent; recommends that not only should this impact be assessed, but also transparent and clear recommendations should be put in place to enable SMEs to make choices which are shrewd and sustainable in the long term;

Amendment 305 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. appeals to Member States for public bodies to officially restrict themselves to their statutory sector when providing services so that their special tax position does not give rise to SMEs suffering because competition has been distorted;

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Points out that SMEs across Europe are characterised by a diversity of business models and legal forms and that a playing field should be guaranteed for all of them, including social economy actors;

Amendment 308 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Takes the view that SMEs’ unequal access to markets, skills and finance across the EU, as well as being detrimental to their employment creation prospects, is the result of a number of structural differences in terms of enterprises’ scale and performance; considers, therefore, that these differences should be taken into account when evaluating EU ~~internal market performance and implementing Union competition policy rules~~competition policy and the functioning of the internal market;

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Takes the view that SMEs’' unequal access to markets, information, counselling, public services, skills and finance across the EUuropean Union, as well as being detrimental to their employment creation prospects, is the result of a number of structural differences in terms of enterprises’' scale and performances; considers, therefore, that these differences should be taken into account when evaluating EUthe Union's internal market performance and implementing ~~Union~~ competition policy rules;

Amendment 31 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas according to Eurofound, working conditions including working hours are often more flexible and informally arranged in SMEs than in larger companies, in the case of many countries; whereas the initial impact of the crisis appears to have had the effect of increasing existing 'internal' flexibilities, as organisations try to cope with shifting external circumstances and demands;

Amendment 310 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Takes the view that SMEs’ unequal access to markets, skills and finance across the EU, as well as being detrimental to their employment creation prospects, is the result of a number of structural differences in terms of enterprises’ scale and performances and in national legislative provisions; considers, therefore, that these differences should be taken into account when evaluating EU internal market performance and implementing Union competition policy rules;

Amendment 311 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to combat fiscal and social dumping which creates unfair competition between the economies of Member States, causing intolerable imbalances which, with the opening of borders and removal of barriers for goods and services, are likely to grow, to the detriment of the quality of those goods and services, not to mention jobs and working conditions; believes that this is the only way that the single market will be able to withstand the competition from third countries and prevent the social safety net from becoming ever smaller, leading to huge job losses;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Considers that an image of a SME as an attractive employer, based on good working and employment conditions, is an important competitive advantage with regard to the recruitment of skilled staff;

Amendment 313 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Takes the view that ~~over~~regulat~~ed and bureaucratic economic systems induce higher labour costs, which represent a higher financial burden for SMEs than for big companies owing to the differences in business volumes~~ions serve the general interest and are intended, among other objectives, to establish a competitive and fair marketplace, protect employees, protect health and safety, promote innovation and preserve the natural environment; stresses the urgent need for a clear and effective regulatory framework which does not cause SMEs unnecessary bureaucratic burdens when they come to apply it;

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Takes the view that ~~overregulated and bureaucratic economic systems induce higher labour costs, which represent a higher financial burden for SMEs than for big companies owing to the differences in business volumes~~tax policies should favour job creation;

Amendment 316 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Takes the view that overregulated and bureaucratic economic systems induce higher labour costs, which represent a higher financial burden for SMEs than for big companies owing to the differences in business volumes; points out that falling salaries are brought about by the current monetary policies, which do not allow public investment to exceed budgetary ceilings and therefore have an effect on salaries;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices should be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restoring their employment creation capacitiMNCs are sometimes treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that all businesses must be on a level playing field in order to safeguard SMEs’ employment creation capacities as well; calls upon authorities to create favourable conditions for smaller enterprises;

Amendment 319 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs arcan be treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices should be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restoring their employment creation capacities; Recognises that multinational companies can have a positive effect on a workforce through the provision of jobs skills and training; Acknowledges the fact that many SMEs are created to support MNCs and their employees through the provision of supply chain products and services; Welcomes the move by the OECD to boost transparency in the International Tax system and calls for swift implementation of the BEPS measures;

Amendment 32 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas SMEs representatives point out high labour costs as one of the major restriction to job creation and expect the reduction of said costs; the highest levels of labour costs having been identified in overregulated and bureaucratized systems,

Amendment 320 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; ~~believes that these practice~~stresses the need to closely monitor the respect of workers' rights in these cases; believes that a preferential treatment of MNCs should also be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field ~~for SMEs and restoring~~and to diminish their potential negative impact on their employment creation capacities of SMEs;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs are treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices ~~should~~must be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and restoring their employment creation capacities; calls for firm, decisive action by the Commission with a view to tackling so-called ‘tax engineering’ by certain Member States, in order to ensure equal conditions for SMEs;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 323 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that in regions where economic development is focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), MNCs ~~are~~could be in some cases treated preferentially in both legislative and tax matters; believes that these practices should be examined with a view to ensuring a level playing field for SMEs and ~~restor~~enhancing their employment creation capacit~~ies~~y;

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 325 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Takes the view that tax rules (which vary on the basis of company size) create unfair competition between SMEs and large multinational groups;

Amendment 326 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that a ~~reduc~~n improved regulatory ~~burden, better regulation and improvement of~~framework, and efficient law enforcement can contribute to tackling the ~~issues of the~~ shadow economy and tax avoidance~~, as the attractiveness of such ‘exits’ from the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced~~;

Amendment 327 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that ~~a reduced regulatory burden,~~simplified and better regulation and improvement of law enforcement can contribute to tackling the issues of the shadow economy and tax avoidance, as the attractiveness of such ‘exits’ from the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced, but on no account may jeopardise workers’ rights, particularly health and safety standards at work;

Amendment 328 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that a reduced regulatory burden, better regulation and improvement of law enforcement can contribute to tackling the issues of the shadow economy and tax avoidance, as the attractiveness of such ‘~~exits’ from~~bypassing’ of the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced;

Amendment 329 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that a reduced regulatory burden, better regulation and improvement of law enforcement can contribute to tackling the issues of the shadow economy and tax avoidance, as the attractiveness of such ~~‘exits’ from~~'bypassing' of the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)

Af. having regard to differences in SMEs characteristics across the EU, i.e. scale and impact on national economies; e.g. the largest SMEs from the Southern as well as Central and Eastern Europe can be considered as small-sized companies comparing to their Western counterparts; whereas these differences mainly result from historical reasons;

Amendment 330 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that ~~a reduced regulatory burden,~~ better regulation and improvement of law enforcement can contribute to tackling the issues of the shadow economy and tax avoidance, as the attractiveness of such ‘exits’ from the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced;

Amendment 331 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes that a ~~reduced regulatory burden, better~~mong others, regulation and improvement of law enforcement ~~can~~ contribute to tackling the issues of the shadow economy and tax avoidance, as the attractiveness of such ‘exits’ from the regulatory systems would be substantially reduced;

Amendment 332 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Calls on the Member States to adopt the principle of income taxation in the place where it is generated and other measures against profits shifting practices of MNC in order to ensure a level playing field with the SMEs thus their job creation potential;

Amendment 333 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)

26 b. Calls on the Member States to enforce the legislation on the equal access of SMEs to public procurement;

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Takes the view that ~~new EU regulations and~~trade agreements with third countries should take into account ~~the EU regions’~~ specific structural differences in the SMEs sector, across the Union, and assess~~ing~~ their impact ofn future ~~rules on~~ employment perspectives;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. ~~Takes the view that~~Calls for new EU regulations and agreements with third countries ~~should~~to take into account the EU regions’ specific structural differences in the SME sector, assessing the impact of future rules on employment perspectives;

Amendment 336 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Takes the view that new EU regulations and agreements with third countries should take into account the EU regions’ specific structural differences in the SME sector, assessing the impact of future rules on employment perspectives and workers ‘rights and wages of SMEs employees;

Amendment 337 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Takes the view that new EU regulations and agreements with third countries should take into account the EU regions’ specific structural differences ~~in the SME sector~~for micro- and SMEs, assessing the impact of future rules on employment perspectives;

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Points out that combatting social dumping should remain a top priority and should always be taken into account in negotiations with third countries;

Amendment 339 #

Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI, Ulrike TREBESIUS, Amjad BASHIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

~~28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the future TTIP agreement for jobs in the SME sector in all Member States;~~deleted

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)

Ag. having regard to skills' scarcity and disparities across the EU, as well as skills' flows mostly from the post-2004 enlargement Member States and Eurozone crisis countries to other Member States, creating peripheral regions with difficult access to skilled workers, suffering from the brain drain phenomenon;

Amendment 340 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Jutta STEINRUCK, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the ~~future~~proposed TTIP agreement, for the number and quality of jobs in the SME sector in all Member States; stresses that such an impact assessment should include a detailed analysis of the types of SMEs and sectors that might be affected;

Amendment 341 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the future TTIP agreement for jobs in the SME sector, particularly SMEs in the farming sector, in all Member States;

Amendment 342 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the future TTIP agreement and granting China market economy status for jobs in the SME sector in all Member States;

Amendment 343 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the future TTIP agreement for jobs in the SME sector in all Member States and to take proper account of the results before continuing negotiations;

Amendment 344 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the disastrous implications of the future TTIP agreement for jobs in the SME sector in all Member States;

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Commission to conduct an impact assessment regarding the implications of the future TTIP agreement for SME jobs ~~in the SME sector~~ in all Member States;

Amendment 346 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Deplores the current negotiations on future trade agreements, for example, TTIP, CETA and the decision to grant China MES, as it considers that these agreements would cause significant and uncombatable damage to European SMEs ;

Amendment 347 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28 a. Underlines the importance of a robust SME Chapter in the future TTIP agreement in order to ensure that structures, processes and rules are established that facilitate SMEs' capacity for transatlantic trade and enhances their capacity to create jobs;

Amendment 348 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the opportunities of~~fered by~~ the Digital Single Market ~~to generate growth and jobs, notably in the field of e- commerce~~; stresses, however, the need for an ~~SME-focused~~ evaluation of the potential risks and benefits ~~in different Member State~~for SMEs with regard to their growth and job creation potential in the different Member States, as well as for the impact on workers and social security systems;

Amendment 349 #

Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI, Ulrike TREBESIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the opportunities offered by the Digital Single Market, particularly in rural areas, to generate growth and jobs, notably in the field of e- commerce; therefore encourages Member States to facilitate and guarantee high quality access to new information technologies and communications throughout their territories; stresses, however, the need for an SME-focused evaluation of the potential risks and benefits in different Member States;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)

Ah. whereas, despite of the internal market rules, important differences across the European Union persist in terms of the SMEs' regulatory frameworks, in particular regarding the levels of certainty of future regulatory developments and of the legal quality of regulation in general;

Amendment 350 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the opportunities offered by the Digital Single Market to generate growth and jobs, notably in the field of e- commerce; stresses, however, the need for an SME-focused evaluation of the potential risks and benefits in different Member States; suggests that the Commission create the requisite conditions for SMEs to adapt and move gradually into the Digital Single Market.

Amendment 351 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the opportunities offered by the Digital Single Market to generate growth and jobs, notably in the field of e- commerce; stresses, however, the need for an SME-focused evaluation of the potential ~~risks and benefit~~benefits and risks in different Member States;

Amendment 352 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Draws attention to the regional disparities and imbalances in SMEs' access to funding; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure a level playing field for all SMEs in accessing funding from EU-supported financial instruments, with a special focus on poorer regions and countries that have been under financial and economic constraints.

Amendment 353 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Encourages SMEs to promote teleworking and smartworking, which are effective tools for reducing companies’ material costs and enabling workers to balance their professional and personal lives better;

Amendment 354 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the presence of information portals aimed specifically at SMEs, such as the ‘'Access to Finance Portal’' on Your Europe, and calls on the Commission to ~~continue with them and~~further improve their functionality, accessibility and to transform them into more interactive instruments;

Amendment 355 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the presence of information portals aimed specifically at SMEs, such as the ‘'Access to Finance Portal’' on Your Europe, and calls on the Commission to continue with them and improve their functionality; highlights in particular the importance of delivering effectively the new Single Digital Gateway announced in the Single Market Strategy as an online access point to all Single- Market related information and services;

Amendment 356 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30 a. Calls on the Members State to encourage SMEs to become members of representative organisations in order to make their voice heard at national and European levels, as it is mostly the case of multinational corporation;

Amendment 357 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Calls on the Commission to develop and launch an application for smartphones and tablets that provides information on European funding;

Amendment 358 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)

30b. Calls on the Member States to foster the inclusion of people with disabilities in SMEs;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)

Ai. whereas some SMEs tend to 'bypass' regulatory systems by means of tax and social contribution avoidance, bogus self-employment, precarious working conditions and shadow economy activities, undermining both employees' and employers' interest, the latter being unable to attract skilled workers; whereas these issues have multiple negative consequences for the SMEs sector, such as the unfair market competition and higher tax and social contributions rates;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A j (new)

Aj. whereas the ECB argues that the sovereign debt crisis increased banks' financing costs in the Eurozone crisis countries, which were then passed on to SMEs in the form of higher lending rates or smaller loans;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A k (new)

Ak. whereas due to historical reasons some societies perceive entrepreneurs rather negatively, which in some cases is also reflected in the governments' discriminatory treatment of the SMEs sector, in comparison, for example, to the advantageous environment created in these countries for foreign investment, especially the MNC;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A l (new)

Al. whereas the unlevel playing field between Multinational Corporations (MNC) and SMEs also results from the practice of profits shifting to the Members States or third countries considered as tax heavens;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 d (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report (2014) Social dialogue in micro and small companies;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A m (new)

Am. whereas the Commission's studies do not provide detailed assessment of the potential impact of the future Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on SMEs in different Member States;

Amendment 41 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector ~~Member States must~~, the EU Institutions and Member States must promote pro-demand and counter-cyclical economic policies and address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: financial fragmentation, investment shortage, skills scarcity and brain drain; regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty; ~~the shadow economy~~fraud and undeclared work; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs); Tackling these structural problems would result, inter alia, an increase of overall demand, economic growth, fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, thus creating better condition for job creation;

Amendment 42 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for quality job creation for the SME sector the European Commission and the Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; ~~regulatory burd~~difficulties to fulfil administrative requirements and regulatory uncertainty; ~~the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);~~access to finance; the motivation of owner–managers to grow a business and take some level of risk; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs); 1a __________________ 1aBased on data from the Eurofound report Job creation in SMEs: ERM annual report 2015 (27 January 2016)

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different Members States and different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; skills mismatch, insufficient dialogue between labour market stakeholders and estimation of future skills´ needs, regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; a~~nd the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs)~~s well as high taxation on labour;

Amendment 44 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: ~~skills scarcity and brain drain; regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);~~ lack of investment in real economy; lack of public investment and creation of decent secure jobs; one-sided austerity measures which minimize the buying power of people due to wage cuts and social spending cuts and force SMEs to closure; skills scarcity and brain drain, and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs); stresses the need to include SMEs into the centre of public investment policies of economy revitalization, which will also promote investments in real economy and local businesses;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 49 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 10 September 2015 on creating a competitive EU labour market for the 21st century: matching skills and qualifications with demand and job opportunities, as a way to recover from the crisis;

Amendment 50 #

Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 52 #

Jérôme LAVRILLEUX

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that in order to ensure better conditions for job creation for the SME sector Member States must address the following problems, which are unequally present in different regions: skills scarcity and brain drain; the mismatch between the training on offer and employers’ needs; regulatory and tax burdens and regulatory uncertainty; the shadow economy and undeclared work; and the de facto privileged position of multinational corporations (MNCs);

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that, with a view to balancing supply and demand in employment, Member States should reform their education systems to take account of the changed social context with regard to the importance of teaching and learning one or more languages and technological innovations;

Amendment 56 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Jutta STEINRUCK, Richard HOWITT, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Stresses the need for a regulatory environment that encourages investment that concurrently fosters sustainable growth and quality jobs;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recalls that almost 99 % of the European companies are SMEs being therefore the backbone of the EU economy;

Amendment 58 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that tackling the above-mentioned structural problems would result, inter alia, in fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, leading to lower labour and administrative costs and thus creating better condition for job creation;deleted (The wording have been added to the previous amendment)

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that tackling the above-mentioned structural problems would result, inter alia, in social development, fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, lthus creadting ~~to lower labour and administrative costs and thus creating better condition for~~better condition for job creation, which should be part of holistic policies of social development, which will promote viable and sustainable SMEs and safe and decent job creation;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 8 July 2015 on the Green Employment Initiative: Tapping into the job creation potential of the green economy 2a __________________ 2a Text adopted, P8_TA(2015)0264

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that tackling the above-mentioned structural problems would result, inter alia, in fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, ~~leading to lower labour and administrative costs and thus creating better condition for job creation~~giving Member States the opportunity to finance employment-friendly policies, particularly for SMEs;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that tackling the above-mentioned structural problems would result~~, inter alia,~~ in fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, leading to lower labour and administrative costs and thus creating better condition for job creation; and ensuring fair competition between Member States and fairer market conditions;

Amendment 62 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that tackling the above-mentioned structural problems would result, inter alia, in fairer competition and the extension of the social contribution and tax base to a higher number of economic operators, leading to lower ~~labour and~~ administrative costs and thus creating better condition for job creation;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that the potential for SME job creation would increase tenfold if training better met the needs of the workplace;

Amendment 65 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Patrick LE HYARIC, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

~~3. Notes that labour costs have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness;~~deleted

Amendment 66 #

Jutta STEINRUCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

~~3. Notes that labour costs have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness;~~deleted

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that ~~labour costs have an impact~~wages and social benefits onf SMEs~~’ job creation~~ workers should be prote~~ntial and competitiveness~~cted, since higher wages favour SME growth;

Amendment 68 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that ~~labour costs have an 3. impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness;~~ the SMEs' job creation potential and competitiveness is also impacted by major external factors like the macroeconomic and sector situation, fair competition, a favourable entrepreneurship image, feasible business regulations and taxation, effective public administration, access to financing, availability of sufficient workers with the required skills, insufficient demand, labour costs, and many others;

Amendment 69 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that high labour costs have an negative impact on SMEs’' job creation potential and competitiveness; to this end, stresses that the tax burden should be shifted away from labour to other sources of taxation that are less detrimental to employment and growth, while protecting adequate social protection;

Amendment 7 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Elena GENTILE, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)

- having regard to recommendation 2003/361 by the European Commission concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that labour costs can have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness; nevertheless, stresses the importance of not using this one criterion as the basis for deciding labour cost levels;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that ~~labour costs~~European constraints on budget policies, austerity, excessive fiscal pressure and inadequate public spending have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Not~~Acknowledges that labour costs have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness; and recognises that labour costs are a part of doing business.

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that labour costs and the business climate have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential ~~and~~, competitiveness and market share;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that labour costs, including social security contributions, have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and competitiveness;

Amendment 75 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Ivo VAJGL, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that labour costs have an impact on SMEs’ job creation potential and can influence competitiveness;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Believes that promoting digitalisation in public sector (e- government) and increasing broadband availability in remote areas would reduce establishing and operating costs to SMEs, therefore enabling them to further increase job creating potential;

Amendment 77 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Highlights the growing significance of self-employment, both as a form of economic activity and as a stepping stone to business creation;

Amendment 78 #

Antanas GUOGA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses ~~however~~ that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’ protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’ rights induces higher skills outflows, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workersand the flexibility of legislation on labour relations are a correct means of achieving lower unemployment;

Amendment 79 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Siôn SIMON, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses~~, however~~ that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’' protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’' rights and wages induces higher skills outflows, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workers, while at the same time generating precarity in Europe;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 b (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report "SMEs in the crisis: Employment, industrial relations and local partnership" (2011),

Amendment 80 #

Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses~~, however,~~ that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’ protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that~~, in addition,~~ reducing workers’ rights induces higher skills outflows and jeopardises their job security, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workers;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses, however that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’' protection ishould not abe co~~rrect~~nsidered as means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’' pay and rights could induces higher skills outflows, and expos~~ing~~e SMEs to shortages of skilled workers;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses~~, however~~ that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’ protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’ rights induces higher skills outflows, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workers;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses, however that high level workers' protection has to be guaranteed at all times and that lowering labour costs by reducing workers’ protection is not a correct means of achieving lower unemployment, and that, in addition, reducing workers’ rights induces higher skills outflows, exposing SMEs to shortages of skilled workers;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers, what is more, that radical change is required in economic policy, through public investment in sectors deemed strategic by each Member State, as the main means to initiate a virtuous circle that would have the following outcomes: an upward adjustment of wages, an increase in domestic demand and an increase in the number of people in employment;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Notes a growing impact on the labour market of the emerging new forms of employment aiming mainly at increasing flexibility for employers and/ or employees, especially in cases of SMSs; calls for an immediate analysis of their impact on working conditions and social protection schemes in the EU;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls for extra measures also to be taken for the integration of the Generation 50+ into the labour market, business, education or training with the aim of preventing long-term unemployment and the risk of social exclusion for this category of workers and their families;

Amendment 87 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that the main objective should be to combat social dumping and unfair competition effectively, therefore sacrificing worker protections to enable labour costs to fall is wholly unacceptable;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls on SMEs to overcome the gender gap in the labour market with regard to employment and pay, amongst others, by providing or supporting childcare facilities, carers' leave, flexible working hours for carers, and to ensure equal pay for equal work;

Amendment 89 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Siôn SIMON, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Considers that SMEs have an important role to play in creating green jobs; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure policies and funding to support SMEs that help realising the Green economy;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 c (new)

- having regard to the Eurofound report "Employee representation at establishment level in Europe" (2011),

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Takes the view that when increased labour market flexibility creates precarious employment or leads to workers' protection reduction, it does not increase SMEs job creation potential;

Amendment 91 #

Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Patrick LE HYARIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Calls on Member States to ensure that local childcare infrastructure is provided in order to facilitate parents access to the workforce;

Amendment 92 #

Antanas GUOGA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned with the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, rather, undermines the image of entrepreneurshipTakes the view that increasing self-employment across the EU is a means to tackle unemployment problems;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘growing number of micro-enterprises’, but, ~~rather, undermines the image of entrepreneurship~~should rather be dealt with policies against bogus self-employment by expanding social security, the welfare state, collective bargaining, promoting the role of social partners and secure and decent jobs;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment ~~across the EU, which~~and the establishment of ‘letterbox companies’ across the EU, as a growing number of micro-enterprises cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ~~growing number of micro-enterprises~~image of entrepreneurship, but, rather, they undermine~~s the image of entrepreneurship~~ it;

Amendment 96 #

Emilian PAVEL, Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU, Jutta STEINRUCK, Flavio ZANONATO, Javi LÓPEZ, Georgi PIRINSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which ~~can~~should not be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘growing number of micro- enterprises’, but, rather, undermines the image of entrepreneurship;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is concerned at the growing phenomenon of bogus self-employment across the EU, which cannot be considered in positive terms as contributing to the ‘'growing number of micro-enterprises’', but, rather, undermines ~~the image of entrepreneurship;~~ social security systems, social protection of individuals and also the image of entrepreneurship, putting many people in vulnerable situations, thereby generating new social problems that need to be tackled;

Amendment 98 #