2016/2101(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Reiterates the importance of~~Emphasises the need for a well- functioning and integrated Single Market tofor the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Welcom~~Stresses the fact that a large number of CSRs ~~that~~should support a well- functioning and integrated Single Market, including financing and investment opportunities which support ~~businesses~~SMEs in particular and help create jobs, e- government, public procurement and mutual recognition of qualifications; stresses that enforcement is key if the impact from these policy areas is to be felt;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the large number of CSRs that support a well-functioning and integrated Single Market, including financing and investment opportunities which support businesses and help create jobs, e-government, public procurement and mutual recognition of qualifications; stresses that enforcement is key if the impact from these policy areas is to be felt; considers it crucial, in this regard, that the Commission pay as much attention as possible, in connection with CSRs, to introducing long-term reforms which have a significant impact, especially in relation to social investments, quality employment and training;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the progress made by the Member States~~, and reiterates the importanc~~; States that, while the Single Market is a backbone ofn the ~~formal inclusion of th~~EU economy, Single Market issues should be Sin~~gle Market~~cluded in the already existing pillar ins of the European Semester ~~so as to enable continuou~~; Stresses, nevertheless, that CSRs mon~~itoring of~~ Single Market ~~indicators, allowing for systematic follow-up and assessment of Member States’ progre~~- related questions should continue be proposed by the Commiss ion ~~CSRs;~~.

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the progress made by the Member States, and reiterates the importance of the formal inclusion of the Single Market pillar in the European Semester so as to enable continuous monitoring of Single Market indicators, allowing for systematic follow- up and assessment of Member States’ progress on CSRs; stresses that an inclusive Single Market, with enhanced governance which favours better regulation and competition, is a crucial instrument to improve growth, employment and competitiveness and to preserve the confidence of the business sector and consumers;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the progress made by the Member States, and reiterates the importance of the formal inclusion of the Single Market pillar in the European Semester so as to enable continuous monitoring of Single Market indicators, allowing for systematic follow- up and assessment of Member States’ progress on CSRs; draws attention, in this regard, to the social value of the European Single Market, the original goal of which was to create tools for growth, cohesion and investment;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes note that Member States play a crucial role in the good governance and proper functioning of the single market, and that they therefore need to jointly exercise proactive ownership and management of the single market, generating a new political impetus through consolidated state-of-health reports on the single market and the formal inclusion of the single market as a pillar of governance in the European Semester;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Acknowledges the new structure of CSRs in 2016, which allows for more effective targeting on key identified challenges; stresses, however, that progress by Member States on all CSRs should not be overlooked and existing difficulties of implementation should be thoroughly analysed;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of ensuring consistency between ongoing and future Commission Single Market initiatives and the European Semester process, in particular those involving the Single Market and Digital Single Market Strategies; Calls on the Member States to fully cooperate in implementing the Digital Single Market and Single Market Strategies; urges the Commission and Member States to support the further development of the collaborative economy;

Amendment 2 #

Robert ROCHEFORT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis~~; supports~~, and its contribution to sustainable, future- oriented growth; calls, therefore, for the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond ~~narrow~~ fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help ~~sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcom~~establish sustainable growth that fosters economic, social and environmental progress, progress that will, inter alia, foster support for and recognition of the benefits of the internal market among EU citizens; encourages thise repositioning~~, as well a~~ of CSRs along these lines; welcomes the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of ensuring consistency between ongoing and future Commission Single Market initiatives and the European Semester process, in particular those involving the Single Market and Digital Single Market Strategies; recalls the need to carry out appropriate and fair economic and social reforms and to tackle red tape and protectionism, in order to improve productivity and the competitiveness of the European economy;

Amendment 21 #

Pascal DURAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of ensuring consistency between ongoing and future Commission Single Market initiatives and the European Semester process, in particular those involving the Single Market and Digital Single Market Strategies; stresses, further, the need for investment to be concentrated on the priorities set in the Europe 2020 Strategy;

Amendment 22 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to take into account future policies, such as those relating to the Capital Markets Union and the digital single market, as well as the situation on the ground in each country, when drawing up the CSRs, with a view to preparing the Member States in advance and hence ensuring smooth implementation of those policies;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Supports~~Underlines the importance of an inclusive and transparent process ~~for~~leading to relevant and necessary reforms through the European Semester;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports an inclusive and transparent process for the European Semester; stresses the importance of listening to the voices of social and democratic representatives, the majority of whom, over the past few years, have been calling for a review of the European Semester procedure, to the benefit, in particular, of investments, the quality of social spending and extraordinary measures for employment and training;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports an inclusive and transparent process for the European Semester as well as a continuous communication process;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to do all they can to ~~fos~~creater a healthy business environment through innovation, R&D and digitalisation, in order to create jobs, particularly through strengthening micro- businesses and SMEs in southern European countries, such as Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus, which have been affected by the austerity measures;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to do all they can to foster a healthy business environment through innovation, R&D and digitalisation, in order to create jobs, particularly through micro-businesses ~~and SME~~, SMEs and the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPPs); reiterates, in this regard, its support for extraordinary measures which allow quality investments to be kept separate from general macro- economic standards, as long as they are geared to well-defined criteria relating to decent employment, sustainable growth and social policies;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to do all they can to foster a healthy business environment by further reducing red tape and improving administrative efficiency and the quality of legislation, as well as through innovation, R&D and digitalisation, in order to create jobs, particularly through micro-businesses and SMEs;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond ~~narrow~~ fiscal and macroeconomic targets and ~~allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain~~foster greater stability, increased economic growth and employment and greater competitiveness, without which there cannot be a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 30 #

Pascal DURAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to do all they can to foster a healthy business environment through innovation, energy efficiency, R&D and digitalisation, in order to create jobs, particularly through micro- businesses and SMEs, including enterprises in the social economy;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Welcomes the Commission's determination to address the lack of tax coordination within the EU, in particular the difficulties faced by SMEs as a result of the complexity of differing national VAT regulations; calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of further coordination and, in particular, to assess the possibility of a simplified VAT approach in the Digital Single Market;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Welcomes the new rules on e-commerce brought forward by the Commission; believes these to be an essential precondition for prosperous cross-border e-commerce, to the benefit of SMEs and consumers in particular;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Commission to establish an efficient monitoring system to ensure that procedures do not prevent SMEs from participating in public procurement;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Condemns~~Points to the barriers which still exist that hinder a well-functioning and integrated Single Market, in particular the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States~~, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law~~;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Condemns the barriers which still exist, or have been created, that hinder a well-functioning and integrated Single Market; draws attention, in particular, to the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Condemns the barriers which still exist that hinder a well-functioning and integrated Single Market, in particular the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law; recalls the Commission's promise to - if necessary - use infringement procedures to ensure full implementation of legislation on the single market of goods, services and in the digital sphere and to ensure structural reforms in product, services and labour markets in Member States;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Condemns the barriers which still exist that hinder a well-functioning and integrated Single Market, in particular the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law; highlights, among those existing barriers, the obstacles which prevent persons with disabilities from fully enjoying the benefits of the internal market; hopes that the Disability Act launched by the Commission may be promptly implemented and will focus effectively on specific measures to promote inclusion and access;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Condemns the barriers which still exist, which are being created and will be created in the future, that hinder a well- functioning and integrated Single Market, in particular the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix ~~with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery~~; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition of professional qualifications~~, and welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans~~;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. NStresses that many Member State rules governing access to regulated professions do not meet actual needs and disturb the balance of the market; notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans; points out that the system relating to the recognition of professional qualifications is underpinned by the principles of reciprocal trust between legal systems and mutual checking of the quality of qualifications; calls, therefore, for greater efforts on the part of Member States and the Commission to speed up the process to approximate national systems for monitoring and issuing qualifications;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition of professional qualifications, ~~and~~stresses that correct enforcement and better regulation are essential, given the fragmentation of the Single Market, which restricts economic activity and consumer choice, and should cover all business sectors and apply to existing and future legislation; welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition principle including mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Regret~~Notes that CSRs continue to point to deficiencies in public procurement such as the lack of competition and transparency, with 21 Member States failing to fully transpose the legislative package; calls on the Commission to act swiftly to ensure that Member States meet their legal obligations by taking the necessary infringement procedures;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Regrets that CSRs continue to point to deficiencies in public procurement such as the lack of competition and transparency, with 21 Member States failing to fully transpose the legislative package; calls on the Commission to act swiftly to ensure that Member States meet their legal obligations by taking the necessary infringement procedures; reiterates, in this regard, the importance of systematically monitoring transparency in the general government sector as a crucial criterion for increasing trust in Europe and as a way of promoting a virtuous circle of growth and investment;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Reminds the Commission that reducing administrative barriers for businesses and Member States and strict compliance with the principle of subsidiarity when proposing new EU laws will necessarily bring about more effective implementation of CSRs;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning, competitive and integrated Single Market, strictly based on all of the EU's four freedoms. to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country- Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the Member States in their endeavours to modernise public services, in particular through e-government, and calls for better cross-border cooperation and interoperability of public administrations to the benefit of all citizens; considers it to be of great importance, in order to facilitate structural reforms and long-term growth, to concentrate a substantial part of the Juncker Plan investments on digital distribution programmes for small companies and general government; calls, therefore, for a greater focus on this goal in the next strategic expenditure guidelines of the Plan;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the Member States in their endeavours to modernise public services, in particular through e-government, and calls for better cross-border cooperation and interoperability of public administrations to the benefit of all citizens, and at the same time calls on the Commission, where digitalisation of public services is financed from the EU budget, to engage in more effective monitoring of the transparency and appropriate use of the funds, including checks on the related public procurement contracts;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the Member States in their endeavours to modernise public services, in particular through e-government, and calls for better cross-border cooperation, de-bureaucratization and interoperability of public administrations to the benefit of all citizens;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

Amendment 55 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the Member States in their endeavours to modernise public administrations and their services, in particular through e-government, and calls for better cross-border cooperation and interoperability of public administrations to the benefit of all citizens;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

Amendment 57 #

Robert ROCHEFORT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that several CSRs focus on skills and labour markets; stresses that the right skills and good initial and lifelong training are key to ensuring productivity and ~~output~~ growth; calls on the Commission and the Member States to pursue, a~~nd a~~dopt and step up digital and lifelong learning programmes as a matter of urgency; stresses, moreover, the need to enable and encourage both students and apprentices to take an apprenticeship, traineeship or study trip abroad as part of their training.

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that several CSRs focus on skills and labour markets; stresses that the right skills are key to ensuring productivity and output growth; calls on the Commission and the Member States to pursue and adopt digital and lifelong learning programmes as a matter of urgency; considers it vital, therefore, in order to achieve this goal, to grant Member States broad leeway for investing in vocational training and education, starting with greater national co- financing margins to support the main EU projects in these areas.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs; stresses that fragmentation of the single market is one of the major impediments to higher structural economic growth;

Amendment 60 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that several CSRs focus on skills and labour markets; stresses that the right skills are key to ensuring competitiveness and productivity and output growth; calls on the Commission and the Member States to pursue and adopt digital and lifelong learning programmes as a matter of urgency.

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Welcomes the greater emphasis placed on labour markets in the country reports, highlighting serious structural problems such as long-term unemployment and the poor implementation of active labour market policies; stresses the fact that too many of the problems identified have not been addressed by way of targeted recommendations.

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes that the full potential of public-private partnerships (PPP) has not yet been harnessed in the majority of EU Member States; calls for the harmonisation of Member State framework rules on PPPs, the dissemination of best practices and the promotion of PPPs;

Amendment 7 #

Pascal DURAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs; calls for efforts to combat tax fraud and tax evasion to be stepped up;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix, such as, for example, quality indicators for public spending and social investments, with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustain a socially balanced recovery to enable the development of new jobs and SMEs; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;

source: 585.806

2016/07/20 EMPL 145 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Recital - A (new)

-A. whereas, according to the European Commission1a , economic growth remains relatively modest and the recovery remains uneven with some countries registering quarterly declines; __________________ 1a Employment and Social developments in Europe, summer 2016, quarterly review (June 2016)

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery, ~~making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility~~create quality employment and boost social cohesion. Therefore, recalls that it is necessary to strongly increase public and private investment, implementing socially responsible structural reforms which reduce economic and social inequalities and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility, making the best use of the existing flexibility margins so as to make it compatible with economic growth and quality employment;

Amendment 100 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Regrets that the social economy has been overlooked by the Commission in its package of assessments/recommendations; points out that the sector encompasses 2 million businesses employing more than 14 million people and contributing to the achievement of the 2020 targets;

Amendment 101 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Calls on Member States to reduce the tax wedge on labour, particularly for low earners, in a budgetary neutral way to foster job creation and to implement tax rules that foster incentives on entrepreneurship and employment creation;

Amendment 102 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Strongly believes that a more business and employment friendly regulatory environment will encourage greater private investment, growth and job creation;

Amendment 103 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Points out that the economic and social crisis began in 2008 and has not yet been overcome; firmly believes that this crisis cannot be considered a temporary shock; whereas Euro-zone member states cannot devalue their own currency and therefor stresses the need for greater labour market flexibility; outlines that member states unable to regain their competitiveness should be able to temporarily withdraw from the Euro- zone;

Amendment 104 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Stresses the fact that the imbalances on pension systems are basically the consequence of unemployment, wage devaluation and labour precarisation; calls therefore for reforms which guarantee adequate financing for a strong first pension Pillar which ensures decent pensions, at the very least over the poverty threshold;

Amendment 105 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Recalls once again that free movement of people is fundamental to enhance convergence and integration between European countries;

Amendment 106 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Welcomes the Commission statement that "The European Semester now has a stronger focus on employment and social performance"1a as well as the increase in the country specific recommendations on poverty, from 6 to 11 with regards to the previous cycle; nevertheless regrets the lack of global coherence to reach this goal taking into account the calls for cuts in public spending and the absence of promotion of social investment; calls for urgent action to ensure decent work with living wages, access to adequate minimum income and social protection (which already reduce poverty rate from 26.1% to 17.2%); and quality universal public services to help close the poverty and inequality gap that is also undermining inclusive growth and support for the EU. Such measures will also support the implementation of the new proposal by the European Commission on European Pillar of Social Rights; __________________ 1aCOM (2016) 321 final European Semester 2016: country specific recommendations 18.05.2016, page 5

Amendment 107 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Notes the increase of recommendations (to five member states) on minimum income regimes, however, taking into account that broad income inequalities are not only detrimental for social cohesion but also for sustainable economic growth (as both the IMF and the OECD have recently stated) calls on the Commission to deliver on the promise of President Junker in his inaugural address to provide an adequate income to all Europeans through a European framework of minimum income set at a level of at least 60% of the median income of Member States in order to cover basic living costs while respecting national practices and the subsidiarity principle;

Amendment 108 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Jean LAMBERT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4f. Notes the rapid increase in extreme poverty, such as homelessness in many EU Member States; calls for CSRs to be addressed to all member states on social inclusion strategies and to be issued in a consistent manner across the Member States; calls for greater emphasis on transnational exchanges of best practices and success stories to combat homelessness through the use of mutual learning, and acknowledge the role of the Employment and Social Innovation (EASI) program in this context;

Amendment 109 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)

4g. Is concerned about the increase in income inequalities linked partially to inefficient labour market reforms; calls on the Commission and Member States to implement measures improving job quality in order to reduce labour market segmentation combined with measures raising minimum wages to a decent level and strengthening collective bargaining and workers position in wage-setting systems in order to reduce wage dispersion; warns about the fact that in recent decades, corporate management has been taking a greater share of the economic share while workers' wages have stagnated or have been reduced; considers that this excessive dispersion in wages increases inequalities and damages productivity and competitiveness of companies;

Amendment 11 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery and job creation, making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility; Request that major structural reforms advocated by CSRs should be accompanied by a social impact assessment regarding their medium-long term effects with the propose to better understand the impact on job creation and economic growth;

Amendment 110 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)

4h. Is concerned about the fact that long-term unemployment is still high, with 10.5 million people in the EU and reminds that their integration in the labour market is crucial to guarantee the sustainability of social protection systems as well as for their self-confidence; therefore regrets the lack of action by the Member States when implementing the Council Recommendation on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market; reiterates its call on the Commission to support efforts to create inclusive lifelong learning opportunities for workers and jobseekers at all ages and to take measures as soon as possible to improve access to EU funding and mobilise additional resources where possible;

Amendment 111 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 i (new)

4i. Considers that, social protection, including pensions and services such as healthcare, child care and long-term care, remain essential for balanced and inclusive growth, to contribute to a longer working-life, to create employment and to reduce inequalities; therefore calls on the Commission and the Member States to boost policies which guarantee sufficiency, adequacy, efficiency as well as quality of social protection systems throughout all the life cycle of a person, guaranteeing a decent life, fighting inequalities and boosting inclusion with the aim to eradicate poverty, especially for those excluded from the labour market and the most vulnerable groups;

Amendment 112 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 113 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that, in its package of recommendations, the Commission has disregarded Parliament’s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU, in particular through the adoption of specific measures, with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ integration into the EU; notes that these regions have ~~unemployment rates over 30%~~specific characteristics and constraints and have unemployment rates over 30%; stresses the need for differentiated measures and programmes to be implemented to reduce asymmetries in these regions and maximise social cohesion in the EU;

Amendment 114 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that the Commission has disregarded Parliament’'s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ ' integration into the EU; notes that these regions have unemployment rates over 30%; Priority should be also given to economies and regions that still face high long-term and youth unemployment and that productivity growth remains slow affecting living standards and competitiveness;

Amendment 115 #

Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that the Commission has disregarded Parliament’s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ integration into the EU; notes that these regions have unemployment rates over 30 %; calls also on the Commission to pay particular attention to rural areas that are faced with a great many economic, environmental, demographic and social challenges;

Amendment 116 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Regrets the fac~~Points out that the Commission has disregarded Parliament’s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ integration into the EU; notes that many of these regions have unemployment rates over 30 %, as do other regions of Europe;

Amendment 117 #

Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ, Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT, Francisco José MILLÁN MON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Reg~~Deplorets the fact that the Commission has disregarded Parliament’s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ integration into the EU; notes that these regions have unemployment rates over 30%;

Amendment 118 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to show greater commitment to combating demographic challenges through implementation of the cohesion policy, as laid down in Article 174 TFEU, especially in those regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps; considers that with reference to the European Semester, the focus on demographic problems should be widened to take in other aspects that go beyond the impact of ageing on national budgets; is of the opinion that these points should be included in the country-specific recommendations as a sign of not just national but also regional and local awareness; reiterates that territorial cohesion needs to be strengthened through strategic investment in areas suffering from serious demographic problems, in order to increase competitiveness, improve the industrial fabric and territorial cohesion, and, ultimately, maintain population levels;

Amendment 119 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the implementation of labour-market and social policy related CSRs depends on the availability of sufficient public funding; opposes any further budget cuts in these areas and is concerned by the significant reduction of payments for Cohesion Policy and the Youth Employment Initiative proposed in the draft EU budget for 2017;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 120 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Member States for the establishment of a specific investment programme, for their subregions whose unemployment rates exceed 30 %; reiterates its call on the Commission to help those Member states in the design and the finance, within the MFF as agreed, of those investment programmes;

Amendment 121 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Believes that the lowering of administrative burdens and compliance costs on businesses, especially SMEs, and repealing unnecessary legislation, while continuing to ensure high standards of consumer, employee, health and environmental protection is key to delivering growth and jobs;

Amendment 122 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Calls for account to be taken~~Argues that solutions must be found ofn the ~~challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation efforts; calls on the Commission not to apply any sanctions to the~~basis of full respect for national sovereignty, equal rights and the safeguarding of each Member State’s specificities; rejects, accordingly, the application of any sanctions and use of blackmail against Member States ~~in 2016~~;

Amendment 123 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, ~~which have required serious adaptation effort~~such as the need to welcome refugees, fight terrorism and boost security, the ongoing economic crisis, the farming crisis and the identity crisis affecting the European Union itself, which have required serious adaptation efforts and careful consideration with regard to the application of sanctions to Member States with an excessive deficit; highlights the serious efforts made to adapt to these new circumstances; calls on the Commission not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016;

Amendment 124 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation efforts; calls on the Commission and on the Council not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016; deeply regrets the fact that macroeconomic conditionality implies a possible suspension of the application of the structural funds in the countries under sanction at the moment when they most need them;

Amendment 125 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since ~~2015~~the beginning of the crisis, which have required serious adaptation efforts; calls on the Commission ~~not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016~~to apply the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) exactly the same way in every Member State, so as to prevent any sort of discrimination; Notes the flexibility already contained within the SGP;

Amendment 126 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 201508, which have required serious adaptation efforts; ~~calls~~believes that if any onf the ~~Commission not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016~~reforms outlined in the CSRs and the Five Presidents Report are to be implemented, all member states must be held to account including though the use of sanctions without exceptions;

Amendment 127 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Calls for acc~~Points ount t~~o be taken of~~hat the challenges that have been emerging ~~in the EU since 2015, which have~~since 2015 required serious adaptation efforts; ~~calls on the Commission not to apply any penalties to the Member States in 2016;~~

Amendment 128 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for ~~account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation effort~~the problems afflicting EU citizens, requiring an urgent response, to be addressed immediately; these include the fight against unemployment and poverty and support for our businesses; calls on the Commission not to apply any penalties to the Member States in 2016;

Amendment 129 #

Thomas MANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation efforts; ~~calls on the Commission not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016;~~

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States and the difficulties in creating a one-size-fits all solution; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms tailored to their own policy bottlenecks that will strengthen their economic recovery, competitiveness and job creation by making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility;

Amendment 130 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation efforts; calls on the Commission ~~not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016~~to consistently and coherently apply and enforce the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact;

Amendment 131 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, which have required serious adaptation efforts~~; calls on the Commission not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016~~, especially with regards to the migration crisis and terrorism (that hit certain regions more than others);

Amendment 132 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that more EU transfers might be expected to generate greater additional growth, but in reality, it appears there may be decreasing returns from investment and investment- stimulating transfers; More funds do not necessarily mean more growth and better results; A point may be reached where returns begin to decline and additional funds do not lead to higher growth; Transfers to regions should therefore not exceed maximum desirable levels if inefficiency and misuse are to be avoided;

Amendment 133 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission to help and to exchange best practices with Member States to improve administrative capacity at national, regional and local level which is a key challenge for re- launching long-term investments and ensuring job creation and sustainable growth;

Amendment 134 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Stresses that Member States deficit levels may be increased due to the Member States need to co-finance projects financed by ESI funds; Having regard to budgetary restrictions, many deprived regions have less possibilities to benefit from ESIF. Asks the Commission to revise the requests of co-financing in areas with dramatic indebtment or deficit;

Amendment 135 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets that Parliament’s position, after being adopted in plenary, will not have any possibility of influencing the CSRs under discussion; calls for an agenda in which Parliament’s position is strengthened and can be taken into consideration before the Council takes a decision.Condemns the repeated marginalisation of the role of this Parliament, the only European institution that is democratically elected by the citizens;

Amendment 136 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets that Parliament’'s position, after being adopted in plenary, will ~~not~~ have ~~any~~little possibility of influencing the CSRs under discussion; calls for an agenda in which Parliament’'s position is strengthened and can be taken into consideration before the Council takes a decision. Calls for an enhanced democratic accountability mechanism at both EU and national levels, including an inter-institutional agreement with guidelines for cooperation;

Amendment 137 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets that Parliament’s position, after being adopted in plenary, will not have any possibility of influencing and indeed modifying the CSRs under discussion; calls for a stronger democratic component in the European Semester procedure, in particular the creation of an agenda in which Parliament’s position is strengthened and can be taken into consideration before the Council takes a decision;

Amendment 138 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 139 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Points out, in this context, that it is the very people who never questioned the fact that the Treaties were not put to a popular vote and the consequent lack of democratic legitimacy, or the failure to respect the outcome of the referendums that were held, who are now calling for the democratic legitimacy of the economic governance framework and the European Semester to be strengthened by involving the European Parliament, with the aim of deepening economic governance and EMU, and in short continuing and intensifying the policies of austerity, exploitation and impoverishment;

Amendment 14 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Jean LAMBERT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States and the need for upward social and economic convergence; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their social and economic recovery, making a commitment to investment, ~~implementing~~particularly social and environmental, implementing socially responsible structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility;

Amendment 140 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Regrets that stakeholder engagement in the European Semester at national and EU level is still insufficient, too low quality and inadequately monitored. Calls for the Commission and Council to give strong recommendations particularly on the involvement of civil society organizations in a quality structured dialogue, on a par with social partners, to ensure visibility, ownership and accountability to citizens which is essential for democratic engagement and societal understanding of the role of the Semester process;

Amendment 141 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Highlights the obstacles and barriers, both physical and digital, which persons with disabilities still encounter today; hopes that the Disability Act launched by the Commission may be promptly implemented and will focus effectively on specific measures to promote inclusion and access;

Amendment 142 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Acknowledges the position of the European semester in the overall Enhanced Economic Governance; deems it necessary that the European Parliament adopts its position on the Annual Growth Surveys and National Parliaments are directly involved in the adoption of the CSRs;

Amendment 143 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes that the Juncker Plan will be unable to support the Greek economy as long as the Troika imposes a straitjacket on it.

Amendment 144 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses the importance of listening to the voices of social and democratic representatives, the majority of whom, over the past few years, have been calling for a review of the European Semester procedure, to the benefit, in particular, of investments, the quality of social spending and extraordinary measures for employment and training;

Amendment 145 #

Marian HARKIN, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls for the European Semester to be revoked and an intergovernmental conference convened with the aim of establishing an institutional basis for the reversibility of the treaties, the immediate suspension of the budget treaty and its repeal, and the repeal of the Lisbon Treaty;

Amendment 15 #

Romana TOMC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States under the European Semester framework; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery, making a commitment to growth-friendly investment, implementing necessary structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that the EU-imposed austerity measures, strengthened in particular under the European Semester, are helping to exacerbate the social and economic crisis; highlights the fact that these measures have worsened working and social conditions throughout the EU, increasing rates of unemployment, poverty and inequality;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital - A (new)

-A. whereas the main objective of the European Semester includes safeguarding national budgetary discipline and should thus ensure a more effective economy;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Despite producing results in skills and knowledge, European Union's education and training systems do not perform internationally and present growing skill shortages, leaving European employers unable to locally fill in the job vacancies; underlines the need to further invest and develop education and training systems, providing the society with the tools and capacities to readapt to changing labour market demands;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to provide stronger guidance on the implementation of the CSRs. Notes that the dialogue with Member States and other European institutions and social partners must continue to be intensified to enhance the ownership of CSRs in order to improve the unsatisfactory rate of reform implementation;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that unemployment and in particular youth unemployment remain an overriding problem for European societies; insists that in the CSRs greater priority is given to overcoming structural imbalances on the labour market including long-term unemployment and mismatch of skills;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for a stronger effort from the Commission and Members States to reduce poverty, social exclusion and growing inequalities, for instance through Member States´ exchange of best practices on the implementation of national minimum income schemes; Reiterates that tackling economic inequalities is fundamental to achieve long lasting economic growth and a socially sustainable rhythm of implementation;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Notes that the number of poverty related CSRs has increased in comparison to 2015; stresses, however, that poverty and social exclusion remain the main concern of EU citizens and instead of declining, the number of people affected by poverty is constantly rising; is of the opinion that combating poverty and social exclusion and reducing inequalities should be a top priority reflected in CSRs;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Reminds the invite of the European Council2a to use the gender equality annual reports in the context of the European Semester to enhance gender mainstreaming; reiterates the goal of coordinating economic and fiscal policies in the Member States can only be achieved if policies on equality are also coordinated; __________________ 2aCouncil conclusions on Gender equality 337/16

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for a completion of the European internal market as the most potential tool for growth and fight against unemployment in the EU, with a parallel control of law enforcement and respect for rules;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Recalls that the longer-term vision outlined in the Europe 2020 Strategy is a good first step, but these targets should be adapted to the reality and needs in different Member States, leaving sufficient political space for Member States to find their own contextually adapted path to reform in close consultation with stakeholders while ensuring that the 2020 Strategy remains central to their objectives;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Regrets the absence of gender mainstreaming in the Europe 2020 strategy, and calls on the Commission and the Council to introduce into the strategy a gender equality pillar and an overarching gender equality objective;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Underlines that, according to the European Commission 1a , 2052 labour market reforms have been undertaken in the EU between 2008 and 2013 without finding the correct balance between flexibility and security; recalls that there are many other pending structural reforms in areas such as fiscal policy, energy, industrial policy or the economic model which are much more necessary to gain competitiveness without undermining social standards; __________________ 1a https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/labref/public /result.cfm

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital - A (new)

-A. whereas, based on country 1a reports , the gender gap is still significant, remaining one of the main barriers for achieving gender equality and an unacceptable form of gender discrimination, and urgent efforts are needed to narrow the gap in the employment rate between men and women; __________________ 1a COM(2016) 95 final/2

Amendment 30 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Reiterates its call for including a gender mainstreaming approach and policies targeted at equality between women and men throughout the European Semester process; calls on the Commission to continue to provide CSRs with regard to improved childcare services and long term care and with regard to flexible work arrangements that can have a positive impact on the labour market participation of women;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1e. Recalls that, as stated by Parliament, socially responsible reforms must be based on solidarity, integration, social justice and a fair distribution of wealth, a model that ensures equality and social protection, protects vulnerable groups and improves living standards for all citizens;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Believ~~Notes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, the Commission has attempted to 'humanise' its 'structural reforms' by including three new social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure: the activity rate, youth unemployment and long-term unemployment; notes that this attempt has turned out to be ineffective in combating th~~is connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced~~e further destruction of the social rights of EU citizens;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline ~~social~~employment indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure~~; reiterates the call for these~~ but it is aware that those indicators don't have any legal repercussion or change the MIP objective; reiterates the call for the inclusion of new social indicators such as quality employment, inequality or poverty and for all of them to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced as well as social impact assessments to be carried out on all economic policies and in the design of the CSRs;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new ~~headline~~ social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced; reiterates its call on the Commission and Member States to use gender disaggregated data in European Semester monitoring process, and to define additional gender-specific indicators for example to monitor the gender employment gaps;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 36 #

Georges BACH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced; takes the view that placing employment and economic indicators on an equal footing go hand in hand with upgrading the role of the EPSCO Council in the European Semester;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact~~; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure~~, through effective redistributive policies that will counter the worsening inequalities seen in recent years; reiterates the ~~call~~need for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introducedeffective compensation mechanisms to deal with private debt and persistent and systemic macroeconomic imbalances in the EU; calls for the Stability and Growth Pact to be revoked as a brake on public investment, since it is clear that it has been the countries with fiscal margins of manoeuvre that have best withstood the crisis and the worsening social indicators, through increased public investment;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that sustainable economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; Calls for ex-ante and ex-post social impact assessments to be carried out on all economic policies and in the design of the CSRs; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced without delay;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital - A a (new)

-Aa. whereas, according to the European Commission, unemployment has continued to gradually decrease, but remains above 2008 levels with 21.2 million unemployed people in April 2016 with huge differences among Member States; whereas the increase in the employment rate in many Member states can be explained by a distribution of the working time through the increase of precarious work and the decrease of the labour force;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that only economic growth ~~should~~can guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of ~~the~~ three new ~~social~~employment indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that i~~nternal i~~mbalances within each Member State are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; ~~calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced;~~

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed ~~and making structural reforms more effective~~; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introducedreiterates the call for the three new employment indicators in the macroeconomic scoreboard to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators in order to avoid a two class approach in its application thus allowing them to trigger in-depth analyses, thereby also contributing to a better assessment of Member State internal imbalances and making structural reforms more effective;

Amendment 44 #

Thomas MANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should ~~guarantee a positive social impact~~be conducive to social fairness; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these ~~to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicator~~indicators to be duly taken into account in order to better capture the employment and social dimension of the adjustment processes, thereby ~~guarantee~~ensuring that internal imbalances are better assessed and ~~making~~ structural reforms more effective; ~~calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced;~~

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that social protection, including pensions and services such as healthcare, child care and long-term care, are considered in the 2016 country specific recommendations3a to be essential for balanced and inclusive growth and can support to increase the employment rate and to reducing the gender gap; but reminds that the fiscal consolidation policies and structural reforms such as pensions systems and labour market reforms have disproportionately affected women and have increased gender inequalities in the EU; __________________ 3a COM(2016) 321 final

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that economic policies should adapt to social needs and should guarantee minimum social policies and basic services for its citizens; Highlights that a renewed process of upward economic and social convergence is needed, notably through investments in human capital and other social infrastructures, in order to tackle the economic and social disparities between Member States and within societies;

Amendment 49 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Argues that the balance between the economic and social dimension of the European Union must also be reflected in the European institutions; calls on the Council, in this connection, to consider reforming its organisational structure so that the activities of the EPSCO Council are given the same profile and importance as those of the ECOFIN Council;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital - A b (new)

-Ab. whereas, since 2008, there are 4.2 million more Europeans 1a at risk of poverty and social exclusion, being now more than 22 million (22.3%) in the EU; whereas the European Commission has stated that "most of the Member States are still facing the acute social legacy from the crisis"2a hence this scenario leads to the non-compliance of the most important social objective of the EU2020 Strategy; __________________ 1aEurostat 2014. EC European Semester Thematic Fiche: Poverty and Social Exclusion (03.05.2016) 2aCOM (2016) 321 final 2016 European Semester: country specific recommendations 18.05.2016, page 3

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Reiterates that the introduction of social indicators, the construction of new pillars to support policies or more human statements of intent do not alter the austerity-based, federalist and antidemocratic nature of the policies advocated as part of the European Semester;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recognises that the Commission has initiated work on the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights which seeks to deliver a deeper and fairer EMU; highlights in this regard the five Presidents Report which recognises that there are no one size fits all solution;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. The introduction of the 3 employment indicators shows that the European Employment Strategy, including Employment Guidelines, plays an important role in the EU economic governance process, but more efforts need to be made, notably through the introduction of social indicators, like the gini coefficient, palma index and persistent-at-risk-of-poverty rate;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the Member States to incorporate the gender dimension and the principle of equality between women and men in their National Reform Programmes and stability and convergence programmes through the setting of qualitative targets and measures that address persisting gender gaps;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Recognises that setting of wages is a Member State competence which must be respected in line with the principle of subsidiarity;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls for the creation of an emergency plan to support the economy of those countries that were under the Troika’s intervention;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Commission to deliver the results of the consultation and to move forward with new effective steps on the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights, which is fundamental to broader efforts to deliver a fairer Union;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Stresses that the provision and management of social security systems are a Member State competence which the Union coordinates but does not harmonise;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Suggests involving the European Institute for Gender Equality more closely in the European Semester;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

~~3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation;~~deleted

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

~~3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation;~~deleted

Amendment 61 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI)~~Is concerned by the fact that the great majority of investments under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) are concentrated in EU's top five economies; underlines that such concentration leads to divergences among Member States and regions; urges the Commission and the EIB to undertake specific measures including targeted technical assistance to promote projects in Member States with a low level of participation;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets the fact that, as stated by the Commission, investment has so far failed to emerge as a strong driver of the recovery; Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI), especially in Member States with a low level of participation; and considers that, as requested by Parliament, the projects should be focusing on quality and additionally, boosting the creation of quality employment and upward social convergence; reiterates its call on the importance of investments in human capital and other social investments, such as healthcare, childcare or affordable housing and on the need of the effective implementation of the Social Investment Package;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a ~~strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of~~ n assessment to be made of the Juncker Plan (EFSI); points out that this Plan will benefit the financial system and large multinationals, taking EUR 16 billion away from other EU programmes that could offer structural benefits for the Member States; points out, in this connection, that for the purposes of eligibility for EFSI funding, SMEs are lumped together with mid-cap companies with up to 3 000 employees, and this creates dispariti~~cipation;~~ es when it comes to competing for funds that companies with fewer resources (which are those that create most jobs) find it impossible to overcome;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation; considers it to be of great importance, in order to facilitate structural reforms and long-term growth, to concentrate a substantial part of the Juncker Plan investments on digital distribution programmes for small companies and general government; calls, therefore, for a greater focus on this goal in the next strategic expenditure guidelines of the Plan;

Amendment 65 #

Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation, particularly with regard to SMEs as the Plan does not just represent a new source of finance for them but also provides them with technical assistance and advice; calls at the same time on the Commission to continue its efforts to improve the business environment and conditions for obtaining business finance;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. CApplauds the success of the first year of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which is playing a key role in leveraging investment and promoting growth and job creation; calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan ~~(EFSI)~~ in Member States with a low or zero level of participation in this instrument in the past year;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation; Calls for an increase in social and environmental investments and support for the participation of social actors in the operation of the fund;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation; stresses in this regard the importance of ensuring that the rules governing the EFSI funded programmes are fully adhered to;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation with a parallel analysis of the obstacles encountered;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Not~~Argues that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery, making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibilitMember States are the only stakeholders that are able to manage the crisis democratically and efficiently and that, accordingly, procedures such as the 'European Semester' and the Commission's continuous interference in the day-to-day affairs of the Member States should cease immediately;

Amendment 70 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) and use of the resources earmarked for it in Member States with a low level of participation;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States ~~with a low level of participation~~that are especially affected by severe unemployment;

Amendment 72 #

Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls fo~~Demands in particular a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation;

Amendment 73 #

Romana TOMC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls ~~for~~on the Commission to make a strong commitment to promoting the ~~Juncker Plan (~~EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give social enterprises greater recognition and a higher profile; considers that this lack of recognition makes it harder for them to access funding; calls on the Commission to come forward with a legal framework for social enterprises through, for example, a European statute for cooperatives, associations, foundations and mutual societies;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes the increase of CSR's on poverty from 6 to 11 in relation to the Europe 2020 poverty target, but underlines that nearly 1 in 4 people (122,3 millions) are still at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU, with wide variations across the EU and 12 Member States experiencing increases in income inequality (2008-2012). Calls for urgent action to address these inequalities, which cannot be done by only addressing the situation of those in greatest need but also requires measures to address the increasing concentration and levels of wealth of the most privileged; Stresses that the new proposal by the European Commission on the European Pillar of Social Rights should play an important role in addressing inequality;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that the establishment of the 'European Semester', as a result of the proposals put forward by the Commission in 2010, is the umpteenth attack on the national sovereignty of Member States; points out that with the introduction of the European Semester, the coordination of national economic policies – both fiscal and structural – actually becomes ex ante rather than ex post, by implementing a system of governance that is totally lacking in transparency, undemocratic and does not take account of the subsidiarity principle;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that to date, the Juncker Plan (EFSI) has not achieved its intended results, as the projects it has financed concern exclusively major infrastructure, which does not create sustainable and lasting employment; highlights the fact, moreover, that there is a need for measures and investment for existing infrastructure that is currently obsolete, which needs to be secured and modernised;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the European Commission to closely monitor and control the investments under the Juncker Plan; A report should audit and measure the economic and employment impact of the investments in real terms;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on Member States to use their fiscal space to increase public investment in areas conducive to growth, such as infrastructure, education and research;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) ~~demonstrate the differences that exist between Member Stat~~- a form of unacceptable anti-democratic interference - demonstrate that the policies imposed on the Member States in the context of economic governance mechanisms are strangling investment and development capacities; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to ~~reforms that will stre~~the implementation of urgent measures regarding the~~n their economic recovery, making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility;~~ productive sectors that are vital to each economy and therefore play an essential role in the potential development of each country; calls for the creation of investment policies and policies to promote public projects and support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives and local government, and for Community funds to be reinforced and oriented in that direction; argues that these measures should promote an increase in the number of jobs, based on collective bargaining, labour protection, higher wages and action to combat precarious employment;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Firmly believes that urgent action is needed to ensure that Member States workforce has the necessary skills to keep pace with the fast-changing global labour market;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~deleted

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~deleted

Amendment 83 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Javi LÓPEZ, Jutta STEINRUCK, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Recognises the signi~~Points out that the structural reforms and pro-cyclical fisca~~nt progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further prog~~l retrenchment required in the European Semester are a major contributing factor to the social and economic crisis; stresses that the consequence of the austerity promoted by the EU institutions has been a general increase in levels of poverty (125 million in the EU-28), increasing inequality, lower wages, unemployment and precarious employment, attacks on workers’ rights and the destruction and privatisation of public services, above all in the aresas ~~is necessary~~of health and education;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the ~~significant progres~~efforts made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms~~, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~ with the social costs being suffered by the citizens, however points out that institutions like the IMF or the European Court of Auditors have criticized the accelerated pace of implementation, the unequal treatment between Member States, the lack of quality control and deficiencies in their documentation; takes the view that future reforms should measure their social effects and serve to reach upward social convergence between and within Member States;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the ~~significant progress made by th~~unwillingness or inability of some Member States into implement~~ing~~ structural reforms, ~~while nevertheless taking the view~~believes that further ~~progress~~action is necessary: in those member states;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises th~~e significant~~at the progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms~~, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~ has increased flexibility at the expense of security for workers; insists therefore on rebalancing the overall approach in implementing structural reforms focusing on the well- being of citizens;

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms~~, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~ to enhance productivity, foster job creation, raise competitiveness and improve the business environment, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary, especially from Member States with large current account surpluses, notably through the implementation of measures to channel excess savings towards the domestic economy and thereby boost domestic investment;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:, especially with regards to pension and health care systems overburdened by the demographic changes of the European population;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:, i.e. shift in taxation to support a socially and environmentally sustainable economic development;

Amendment 9 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery, ~~making a commitment to~~restore jobs and relaunch investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility; considers that the social partners, employers and trade unions, need to be closely involved in the process of drafting and implementing structural reforms; reiterates that these reforms should enable the European Union and its Member States to meet the five targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy and insists on these reforms not weakening the protection afforded workers and SMEs;

Amendment 90 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:, especially in relation to a greater quality of public spending and social investment;

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises th~~e significant progress made by~~at, in spite of the Member States in' commitment to implementing structural reforms, ~~while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~the positive effects of these efforts have had no impact on unemployment, which continues to be unsustainably high;

Amendment 92 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary and that we must not go back on what has been achieved:

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Takes note of the fact that youth unemployment has decreased but points out that it is still at incredibly high levels with more than 4 million young persons (under 25) unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.885 million were in the euro area; regrets that more than 3 years after the launch of the Youth Employment Initiative, the results of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee are so uneven, and sometimes, inefficient; calls on the Commission to present in October a thorough analysis of its implementation so as to be the basis of the continuation of the programme with more fund allocation, a European framework to guarantee the quality of the job offers as well as the sustainability of the jobs created;

Amendment 94 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlighted the importance of private investment, but believes that public expenditure should be also promoted in an efficient and effective way; Member States should focus on sources of expenditure that will raise productivity capacity in the future and that will have strong positive spill-overs on the economy as a whole - especially through education and training (academic, professional and vocational), R&D and infrastructures (transport, energy and communication);

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes the importance of the structural reform support service and therefore calls for the necessary efforts to be made to swiftly convert it into a Union instrument, in the form of a structural reform support programme, enabling specialised technical support to be mobilised for the various areas in which reforms will be implemented;

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers it vital to grant Member States broad leeway for investing in vocational training and education, starting with greater national co-financing margins to support the main EU projects in these areas;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that Member States should take on board the realities of the single market and the digital single market which will bring new opportunities and challenges, and that future reforms must be of benefit to workers, businesses and consumers alike;

Amendment 98 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Recalls that in many member States unemployment benefits are decreasing year after year, as a result of, among other factors, long term unemployment, therefore increasing the number of people under the poverty and social exclusion threshold; calls for the guaranteeing of adequate unemployment benefits for people to live with dignity or actions for the smooth integration of these people in the labour market;

Amendment 99 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Reiterates the importance of systematically monitoring transparency in the general government sector as a crucial criterion for increasing trust in Europe and as a way of promoting a virtuous circle of growth and investment;

source: 587.450

2016/07/27 REGI 53 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Citation 1 a (new)

— having regard to the Council Conclusions of 7 December 2015 titled "The promotion of the social economy as a key driver of economical and social development in Europe" (1507/15),

Amendment 10 #

Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that cohesion policy funds represent for many regions the main or only source of funding for investment in growth, development and employment;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Underlines the opportunities within the European semester to explore tools and mechanisms to ensure that the flexibility permitted by the Stability and Growth Pact could be used in strategic areas of investment to ensure growth and sustainable employment;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned by the cumulative lack of investments, which affects long-term growth and job creation; stresses the importance of swift and consistent implementation of cohesion policy 2014- 2020 operational programmes and other EU-funded programmes and initiatives; ~~underlines also the necessity of enhancing multi-level governance and improving the overall quality of public administration, both horizontally and vertically~~reminds in this context that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should become more geographically balanced and must remain complementary and additional to the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds and that synergies between different EU funds, programmes, initiatives and national investments must be exploited in order to maximize the full potential of the projected investments; underlines also the necessity of enhancing multi-level governance and improving the overall quality of public administration, both horizontally and vertically, with a particular focus on administrative capacity, as well as strengthening public procurement rules, transparency, accountability and fight against corruption;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned by the cumulative lack of investments, which affects long-term growth and job creation; regrets the late adoption of the Operational programmes in the current programming period; stresses the importance of swift and consistent implementation of cohesion policy 2014- 2020 operational programmes and other EU-funded programmes and initiatives; underlines also the necessity of enhancing multi-level governance and improving the overall quality of public administration, both horizontally and vertically and involving civil society already in the early stage of programming;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is concerned by the cumulative lack of investments, which affects long-term sustainable growth and quality job creation; stresses the importance of swift and consistent implementation of cohesion policy 2014- 2020 operational programmes and other EU-funded programmes and initiatives; underlines also the necessity of enhancing multi-level governance and improving the overall quality of public administration, both horizontally and vertically;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to take action to ensure that Member States fully use their fiscal space to support productive investments;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Recognis~~Deplores the strong links that cohesion policy has established with the wider economic governance framework ~~by providing support for recovery efforts to stimulate compliance with the European Semester rules; underlines, however, that~~, as the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity; is therefore of the opinion that measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance ~~should be applied judiciously, with caut~~punish sub- national level actors for failures of processes that are steered at national level, and that there are therefore counterproductive for the development of regions and ~~only as a last resort~~municipalities, also considering that the reprogramming would entail a further administrative burden to Local and Regional authorities; recalls, moreover, that the decision of the application of such measures should ~~always take into~~be taken consider~~ation~~ing the specific socio- economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments;

Amendment 18 #

Martina ANDERSON, Martina MICHELS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Re~~cognises the strong~~grets the links that cohesion policy has established with the wider economic governance framework ~~by providing support for recovery efforts to stimulate compliance with the European Semester rule~~leading to counteracting recovery efforts through suspension of ESI funds; underlines~~, however,~~ that the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity; is therefore of the opinion that measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance should be applied judiciously, with caution and only as a last resort; recalls, moreover, that the application of such measures should always take into consideration the specific socio-economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments;

Amendment 19 #

Mercedes BRESSO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the ~~strong links~~importance of coherence between thate cohesion policy ~~has established with~~instruments and the wider economic governance framework ~~by providing~~, in view of support ~~for~~ing the recovery efforts ~~to stimulat~~needed to achieve compliance with the European Semester rules; underlines, however, that the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity; is therefore of the opinion that measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance should be applied judiciously, with caution and only as a last resort; recalls, moreover, that the application of such measures should always take into consideration the specific socio-economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Acknowledges the greater coherence of the new mainstreamed European Semester, which allows for more opportunities to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders at all levels~~Is highly concerned about the increasing subordination of the EU cohesion policy under the new mainstreamed European Semester;

Amendment 20 #

Martina MICHELS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Recognises~~Notes with concern the strong links that cohesion policy has established with the wider economic governance framework ~~by providing support for recovery efforts to stimulate compliance with~~including the European Semester rules; underlines~~, however,~~ that the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity; is therefore of the opinion that the measures linking ~~the~~ effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance ~~should be~~currently in force should be reviewed, revised and until then applied judiciously, with caution and only as a last resort; recalls, moreover, that the application of such measures should always take into consideration the specific socio-economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments;

Amendment 21 #

Lambert van NISTELROOIJ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the strong links that cohesion policy has established with the wider economic governance framework by providing support for recovery efforts to stimulate compliance with the European Semester rules; underlines, however, that the legitimacy of cohesion policy derives from the Treaties, and that this policy is the expression of European solidarity having as main objectives strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU through reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and financing investment linked to Europe 2020 goals; is therefore of the opinion that measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds with sound economic governance should be applied judiciously, with caution and only as a last resort; recalls, moreover, that the application of such measures should always take into consideration the specific socio-economic circumstances of the Member State concerned, in order to avoid restricting regional and local investments, which are absolutely essential for the Member States economies- particularly for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), maximising growth and job creation and stimulating competitiveness and productivity, especially in times of strong pressure on public expenditure;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 24 #

Marc JOULAUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to take better account of the Europe 2020 strategy and address its key targets properly by improving its implementation, carrying out a strategy analysis in the context of the European Semester and suggesting measures and a methodology for improved monitoring of the EU Funds expenditures related to Europe 2020 goals; believes that the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) review will provide an opportunity to analyse, evaluate and, where necessary, improve the added value of and support from ESI Funds, towards delivering the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy, having an indirect relation to European Semester processes;

Amendment 27 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Welcomes the European Commission 2016 Country Recommendations with focus on economic and budgetary recommendations tailored to each country and designed to boost growth, job creation, training and education opportunities, research and innovation; notes that boost of the social economy through projects that are encouraging growth of social enterprises could bring employment and prosperity to the regions;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Points out the importance to rebalance the economic asymmetries generated by the different monetary policies between euro-area and not in order to achieve the main goals of the territorial cohesion policy;

Amendment 29 #

Isabella ADINOLFI, Rosa D'AMATO, Marco ZULLO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Regrets that the infringement procedure for excessive deficit against Spain and Portugal, recommended by the Commission, might lead to a fine and a partial suspension of the ESI Funds as a result of the macroeconomic conditionality; stresses that these two Member States have already carried out significant structural reforms in past years, as documented in their national reform programmes and in the Commission's dedicated Country Reports for Spain and Portugal;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Acknowledges the greater coherenc~~Takes note of the new mainstreamed European Semester~~, which allows for more opportunities~~ to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders ~~at all levels~~;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Regrets the decision by Council from 12 July 2016 to trigger a macro- economic conditionality procedure following Article 126(8) of the Treaty and in accordance with Article 23(9) of the Common Provisions Regulation; stresses that the suspension of resources meant for investment in the real economy threatens the recovery process of the Member States concerned; recalls that as a result of such measures regions, local authorities and other beneficiaries suffering from suspension of ESI funds are punished for national budgetary policies which are beyond their reach;

Amendment 31 #

Andrea COZZOLINO, Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Notes that Member States are still facing a high unemployment rate; stresses that the capacity to create jobs is still limited in many of them; calls on the Commission and Member States to better utilize the synergies between ESIF and EFSI in order to eliminate this handicap, maximize growth and reduce territorial disparities;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Believes that the Commission should involve all beneficiaries of the 2014-2020 Structural Funds when assessing the ongoing European Semester, in order to ensure an effective implementation of the Cohesion Policy;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Stresses that cohesion policy instruments could play a very important role in the implementation of the relevant CSRs, thus supporting structural reforms and contributing to the fulfillment of the EU´s strategic goals in line with the targets of the EU 2020 strategy;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Encourage EU Member States to involve their local and regional authorities in making the most of the Structural Funds, as well as the Investment Plan for Europe (EFSI), which must be implemented flexibly and in a way that complements the Structural Funds, so that the full public and private investment potential can be harnessed;

Amendment 35 #

Martina MICHELS, Martina ANDERSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of public expenditure is essential for creating a growth-friendly environment; ~~welcomes the fact~~remarks that several Member States have been able to address the CSRs in their operational programmes (OPs) by means of targeted investments or reforms undertaken in the context of ex-ante conditionalities; ~~appreciates the fact that the ESI Fund investments already contribute to the implementation of structural reforms and improve overall economic performance~~considers that the rationale of the ESI Funds do not lie in the implementation of structural reforms and that the ESI Funds remain the main tool for public investment in Member States;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of public expenditure is essential for creating a ~~growth-friendly environment; welcomes the fact~~n environment that encourages more and enhanced use of EU funding and that is beneficial to social and economic regional development; notes that several Member States have been able to address those CSRs in their operational programmes (OPs) ~~by means of~~that targeted public investments or reforms undertaken in the context of those ex-ante conditionalities that help enhance participation and proper implementation of cohesion policy; appreciates the fact that the ESI Fund investments ~~already~~ contribute to ~~the implementation of structural reforms and improve overall economic performance in Member Stat~~improving overall economic performance in regions and Member States in many cases while in some Member States and regions they remain a large or even the main source of public investment and at least help mitigating the impacts of unresolved crises;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of public expenditure is essential for creating a growth-friendly environment; welcomes the fact that several Member States have been able to address the CSRs in their operational programmes (OPs) by means of targeted investments or reforms undertaken in the context of ex-ante conditionalities; points out that the CSRs together with the ex-ante conditionalities within cohesion policy could play a key role, as they have important positive spill-over effects on the broader investment environment; appreciates the fact that the ESI Fund investments already contribute to the implementation of structural reforms and improve overall economic performance in Member States;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of public expenditure is essential for creating a growth-friendly environment; welcomes the fact that several Member States have been able to address the CSRs in their operational programmes (OPs) by means of targeted investments or reforms undertaken in the context of ex-ante conditionalities; appreciates the fact that the ESI Fund investments already contribute to the implementation of structural reforms and improve overall economic performance in Member States, producing economic growth, quality jobs and sustainable development across the Union, including in regions or areas suffering from natural or geographical handicaps;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of public expenditure is essential for creating a growth-friendly environment; welcomes the fact that several Member States have been able to address the CSRs in their operational programmes (OPs) by means of targeted investments or reforms undertaken in the context of ex-ante conditionalities; appreciates the fact that the ESI Fund investments already contribute to the implementation of structural reforms and improve overall economic performance in Member States; make active use of the ESI Funds, the EaSI programme and Horizon 2020 to build up the investment capacity of the relevant intermediaries and the investment readiness of social economy enterprises;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the greater coherence of the new mainstreamed European Semester, which allows for more opportunities to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders at all levels, reinforcing national ownership and proposing fewer recommendations focusing on key economic, social priorities and functioning as an important stabilization factor for the European Union;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that any suspensions of payments would weaken economic recovery and Commission-led reprogramming to address new CSRs would destabilise the long-term and stable planning framework that Cohesion policy brings to public investment and would involve significant administrative costs and burden for beneficiaries;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Believes that simplification should be pursued more vigorously with a view to reducing the administrative burden of procedures and management for beneficiaries;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Is of the opinion that~~Strongly opposes the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistanceand regrets that EUR 142 800 000 will be deduced from the technical assistance resources of 2014-2020 ESI Funds programming; emphasises that the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.

Amendment 43 #

Lambert van NISTELROOIJ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, ~~only when such reform~~as can~~not be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistance~~ additional support; emphasises that the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, ~~only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other~~at the same time ensuring that there is no overlapping/double financing with other Community instruments or ~~supported by~~ other types of technical assistance; emphasises that the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.

Amendment 45 #

Martina MICHELS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms avoiding austerity measures, only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistance; ~~emphasises that~~rejects the Commission’s proposal of the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP ats th~~e initiative of the Commission should not b~~is could create a precedent for ~~any~~ future proposals.

Amendment 46 #

Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the proposal for a Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) shcould provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistance; emphasises that the proposed budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistance; stresses that the SRSP should be open to local and regional authorities as necessary; calls the European Commission to issue a single strategic document setting priorities and criteria to use the SRSP in coordination with other EU capacity- building measures; emphasises that the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should provide dedicated and targeted support to Member States on a voluntary basis to assist them with the design and implementation of institutional, structural and administrative reforms, only when such reforms cannot be addressed by other instruments or supported by other types of technical assistance already in place; emphasises that the budgetary transfer from the technical assistance under cohesion policy to the SRSP at the initiative of the Commission should not be a precedent for any future proposals.

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considering that structural reforms might have a negative impact on national budgets, notes that the mismatch between the flexibility granted by the Stability and Growth Pact and the temporal horizon needed to reap the benefits of structural reforms maturation is counterproductive.

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the greater coherence of the new mainstreamed European Semester, which allows for more opportunities to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders at all levels; and welcomes the Commission’s focus on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the necessity to include local and regional authorities in the implementation of the guidance, commitments and good practices of the European Semester at local and regional levels.

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes that the Country Specific Recommendations could be a useful tool for the dissemination of investment opportunities including the promotion of synergies between European structural funds and all other EU funds; recognizes the effort of the Commission to explore all investment opportunities in Europe.

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recognizes that further involvement of national parliaments would contribute to ensure legitimacy, ownership and democratic accountability of the European Semester as acceptance of the common rules and compliance in Member States are still low.

Amendment 53 #

Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Believes that the division of the Semester into two phases – the European phase (from November to February) and the national phase (from February to June) would better identifies the different areas of responsibility and enables European social partners to take part in in depth consultations on reform processes in Europe.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the greater coherence of the new mainstreamed European Semester, which allows for more opportunities to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders at all levels; reiterates its call for a code of conduct the involvement of the local and regional authorities in the European Semester, similar to the one on partnership within cohesion policy1a; ____________________ 1aEuropean Parliament resolution of 28 October 2015 on cohesion policy and the review of the Europe 2020 strategy (2014/2246(INI))

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the greater coherence of the new mainstreamed European Semester, which allows for more opportunities to engage and communicate with Member States and stakeholders at all levels; is of the opinion that the involvement of regional and local authorities still needs to be enhanced and procedures be adapted accordingly;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Emphasises the key role social economy enterprises play in generating a highly competitive and fairer regional development through its diverse range of business models with social and ecologic objectives; stresses the need to increase the visibility of the already existing partnerships between regional and local authorities and social economy organisations across the Member States; calls on the Commission to present a EU Action Plan for Social Economy Enterprises in order to unlock the full potential for a sustainable growth;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes with great concern the high unemployment rates in some Member States, especially regarding youth and long-term unemployment; highlights the need to strongly support labour markets, education systems and financial services for SMEs through cohesion policy financial instruments at regional, national and EU level in order to boost quality employment opportunities;

source: 587.499

2016/08/30 ECON 328 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3

~~— having regard to the European Council conclusions of 28 and 29 June 2016 (EUCO XX/16),~~deleted

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, theoretically creating~~, in order to improve its competitiveness that is the precondition for sustainable economic growth, Europe needs to increase investment mainly by taking advantage of the more favourable conditions for public and private investment ~~due to~~caused by the exceptionally low interest rates ~~on government borrowing~~;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4a (new)

4a. Stresses the need to reduce economic disparities between Member States and to achieve convergence; underlines that an EU-wide vision is necessary in order to properly coordinate national efforts towards convergence; welcomes in this regard the decision of the Commission to establish an advisory European Fiscal Board and to entrust it, inter alia, with advising the Commission on the prospective fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area as a whole, as this body could be in a position to have such EU-wide prospective; looks forward to the concrete setting up of the European Fiscal Board and calls for fully exploiting its potential;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

~~5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process;~~deleted

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

~~5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process;~~deleted

Amendment 103 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater~~ Highlights that ‘national ownership’ in the process of formulation and implementation of CSRs ~~as an ongoing reform process;~~ only refers to the ad hoc involvement of national authorities and civil society organisation in the deepening of the EU's neoliberal agenda, rather than a genuine expression of national sovereignty and democracy;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Fully supports the efforts~~Asks Member States to madke tocontinuous effort in ensureing greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process that is highly important for their future prosperity;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater ~~national~~Member State ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process; considers that, in order to increase national ownership and foster the implementation of CSRs, the latter should clearly be articulated around well-defined priorities at European level, in the areas of macroeconomic imbalances, EU 2020 strategy and upward social convergence; calls to the Members States to ensure a debate and approbation of their National Reform Programmes in their respective National Parliaments;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process; highlights the need, given the new timetable of the European Semester, to involve national parliaments, regional authorities and local stakeholders in a more efficient and better-structured way in order to ensure effective implementation;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process; stresses that the best way for the implementation of the CSR by the governments of the EU is their citizens to feel that they possess equity on the suggested reforms; these reforms should be progressive, socially sensitive and able to liberate the productive market forces;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process; stresses that more than half of CSRs are to be implemented by or relevant to local and regional authorities, and that therefore reform formulation and implementation must be ensured in partnership with the sub-national government levels;

Amendment 11 #

Sylvie GOULARD, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowingand this is having a negative impact on employment in the EU Member States;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process; recalls that CSRs are endorsed by the Heads of State and Government and adopted by the EU Finance Ministers; believes that to achieve greater national ownership CSRs should become part of a legally binding convergence code;

Amendment 111 #

Marisa MATIAS, Fabio DE MASI, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ensure greater national ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs as an ongoing reform process, which requires that public threats or sanctions are not used to pressure governments into policies which were rejected;

Amendment 112 #

Joachim STARBATTY, Sander LOONES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Fully supports the efforts made to ~~ensure greater nat~~ensure less complexity, more transparency and greater national and where applicable regional ownership in the formulation and implementation of CSRs asin an ongoing reform process;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a (new)

5a. Calls on Member States to implement the country specific recommendations from Commission, especially reforms creating more flexible labour markets and reforms reducing national regulation hindering investments; also underlines the importance of low taxes on labour and on companies;

Amendment 114 #

Marisa MATIAS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Matt CARTHY, Fabio DE MASI, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a (new)

5a. Notes that the structural reforms introduced by those Member States worst affected have not borne fruit; calls therefore for a review of the austerity policy in Europe and, given the context, for the encouragement of public investment;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’'s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public ~~and private~~ investment, in order to ~~enhance the EU’s competitivenes~~mobilise investment and generate growth and jobs;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown th~~at there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness~~e failure of the current model of economic governance and the strong need to radically change approach in order to grant Member States democratic sovereignty in fundamental economic policy decisions, enabling them to focus on public and private investment and to regain competitiveness through normal exchange rate readjustments, rather than through the internal devaluation of wages and income that is required by a fixed exchange-rate system;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to f~~ocus on public and private investment~~acilitate private investment and increase public investment in areas such as education and infrastructure, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 118 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on ~~public and privat~~responsible fiscal policies, pursuing structural reforms, and to create a better environment to encourage investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’'s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on ~~public and~~structural reforms, public investment where Member States have fiscal space and regulatory initiatives that incentivise greater private investment, in order to enhance the EU’'s competitiveness;

Amendment 12 #

Marisa MATIAS, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Matt CARTHY, Fabio DE MASI, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, ~~theoretically creating more favourable conditions~~which indicates the need for pubolic ~~and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowing~~ies geared toward internal demand and public investment;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; notes with concern the discrepancies in the extent to which the Member States have implemented the Country Specific Recommendations in recent years; stresses the importance of making implementation of the Country Specific Recommendations more binding to ensure the fair and unified implementation of the economic governance framework in all the Member States;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; notes that while the overall assessment of the European Fund for Strategic Investment after one year of functioning is moderately positive, its geographical balance and the truly additional character of its investments should be improved, as should the efforts to develop Investment Platforms including at regional level;

Amendment 122 #

Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; considers that internal demand – and especially improving purchasing power, the adoption of innovative measures and investment in the digital economy – is essential for tapping the full potential of the Single Market;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; notes that the CSRs could be a useful tool for the dissemination of investment opportunities; encourages the Commission to explore all investment opportunities in Europe;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus equally on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; underlines the need for increased bank lending in connection with private investment by SMEs;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, ~~in order to enhance the EU’s competitivenes~~combined with structural reforms to modernise economies, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness; stresses that the economic crisis has also shown a strong need for sustainable public finances;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, on innovation as well as on improving business environment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to boost job creation as much as possible and to enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to boost growth, create jobs and enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness and employment in its Member States;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, ~~even though~~while the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, ~~theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private inve~~reflecting the compression of internal demand and persistment ~~due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowing~~macroeconomic imbalances among countries;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Europe’s long economic crisis has shown that there is a strong need to focus on public and more important private investment, in order to enhance the EU’s competitiveness;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6a (new)

6a. Highlights that one of the greatest challenges in EU is to increase competiveness and the level of investments; stresses the importance of making the European economy attractive to investments; notes that there is no lack of liquidity in Europe; calls therefore on Commission to continue with the initiative on creating a Capital Markets Union and reforming the internal market in order to increase investments in EU;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6a (new)

6a. Takes the view that it is essential to boost public investment in order to preserve and enhance the quality of health and education systems and the quality of services provided for the public, as well as to create favourable conditions for economic development;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6a (new)

6a. Notes the little focus of the CSRs on renewable energy sources, greater resource efficiency and energy efficiencies; call on the Commission to integrate a specific energy and environmental strategy into the European Semester;

Amendment 134 #

Marisa MATIAS, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6b (new)

6b. Notes the little focus of the CSRs on renewable energy sources, greater resource efficiency and energy efficiencies; calls on the Commission to integrate a specific energy and environmental strategy into the European Semester;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that ~~the still-~~too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; ~~emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall~~;

Amendment 136 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overallcalls for a radical shift in economic policies; stresses, as a first set of priorities, the need to increase public employment, reduce working-hours without a reduction in wages and strengthen social protection for the unemployed, including through minimum income schemes; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners, to increase wages and protect workers’ rights;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show th~~at the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further~~e systematic failure of the neoliberal economic strategy hitherto pursued and that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is hampered by the collapse in domestic demand and by budgetary constraints; emphasises that huge public investments and targeted action isare needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall and to promote full quality employment;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, ~~even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise,~~ theoretically creating more favourable conditions for ~~public and~~ private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates ~~on government borrowing~~;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates in some Member States show that the capacity to create jobs in mthoste Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more competitive and inclusive overall;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall; express concerns on the fact the most of the new job created are low-quality jobs, characterised by low salary and precarious conditions, and are therefore unable to significantly stimulate consumption and internal demand;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall; stresses that the youth unemployment should not be left unaddressed considering that its effects are negative for the young people in the long-run and affects the period of their professional maturity;

Amendment 145 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates, a consequence of the IMF’s mistaken policy on deflation and austerity measures, show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates, and high levels of youth unemployment especially, show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowing; whereas Europe continues to suffer from a lack of innovation, which is crucial for the growth and productivity needed to increase competitiveness internationally;

Amendment 150 #

Neena GILL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create quality and sustainable jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7a (new)

7a. Reiterates the importance of ensuring a quality workforce within the EU and ensuring full respect for the right to health and safety at work; recalls also the urgent need to adapt legislation concerning the posting of workers in order to put an end to the unacceptable practice of social dumping within the Union;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7a (new)

7a. Calls for a completion of the European internal market as the most potential tool for growth and fight against unemployment in the EU, with a parallel control of law enforcement and respect for rules;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7a (new)

7a. Underlines that the high unemployment rates in EU clearly shows the need for reforms creating flexible labour markets in Member States;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Expresses disquiet about the current ‘liquidity trap’ the EU economy seems to have fallen into, with interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB), weak demand prospects, and restricted investment and spending by households and companies, not least in surplus countries;Deleted

Amendment 155 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Expresses disquiet about the current ‘liquidity trap’ the EU economy seems to have fallen into, with interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB), weak demand prospects, and restricted investmen~~Reiterates that under the current economic situation with the liquidity surplus and interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB), the key macroeconomic measures that can~~d spending by households and companies, not lea~~ promote economic growth lie in structural reforms and effective and sust ain ~~surplus countries~~able fiscal policy;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Expresses ~~disquiet about~~it concerns that the deeply ideologised monetary policy of the ECB has led to the current ‘liquidity trap’ theat EU economy ~~seems to have fallen into~~is facing, with interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB), weak demand prospects, and restricted investment and spending by households and companies~~, not least in surplus countrie~~; Stresses that an alternative monetary policy focused on purchases of sovereign debt of Member States in secondary markets, as well as debt mutualisation through instruments such as Eurobonds, would have avoided the contagion of the financial crisis to the sovereign debt markets;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Expresses disquiet about the current ‘liquidity trap’ the EU economy seems to have fallen into, with ~~interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB),~~ weak demand prospects, and restricted investment ~~and spending by households and companies, not least in surplus countries~~;

Amendment 158 #

Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY, Fabio DE MASI, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Expresses disquiet about the current ‘'liquidity trap’' the EU economy ~~seems to have fallen~~fell into, with interest rates at the Zero Lower Bound (ZLB), weak demand prospects, and restricted investment and spending by households and companies, not least in surplus countries;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still faces a ~~huge~~n investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowing;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 161 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Points to the need for fiscal policies to stimulate economic growth; notes that debt renegotiation is necessary in some countries in order to bring down government and household debt to sustainable levels; draws attention to the disastrous effects of the austerity policies (not least in the countries being bailed out by the Troika), whereby fiscal consolidation strategies have put public investment, the social functions of the State, and economic growth in jeopardy;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8a (new)

8a. Underscores that a steadily increased number of European citizens are fallen in poverty traps undermining thus the preservation and development of the human and social capital in the EU;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;deleted

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); ~~agrees with the Commission~~states that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reformsn undervalued internal exchange rate and constitute a case of "beggar-thy- neighbour policy" of countries with such undervalued internal exchange rates; calls on the Commission to develop legal and technical procedures to enable countries to leave the Eurozone if they wish to do so;

Amendment 167 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’'s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), but stresses the need to abolish the economic governance structure of the EU, as implemented by the SGP, the Two-Pack and the Six-pack; agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment ~~in order to cope with the~~; chall~~enge~~s ofn the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reformCommission to end its support for austerity budgetary policies and structural reforms in all Member States;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education, innovation and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; ~~calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;~~

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses ~~reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the futur~~that are growing since the economic crisis also reflect a weak domestic demand; stresses the need to promote an effective investment particularly in the are~~garding~~a of transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support responsible and sustainable budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the debt exposure that firms and households created in the previous economic cycle impairs their capacity to invest in new endeavours; whereas the process of deleveraging is very slow and creates further macroeconomic frictions in the investment incentives of firms and households;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses ~~reflect a clear~~hint at a possible need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to ~~continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable~~encourage responsible budgetary policies and to act accordingly when supervising and enforcing the rules of the stability and growth pact; calls on the Commission to support meaningful structural reforms;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’'s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that ~~large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand~~Europe needs sustainable structural reforms and investments in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States ~~and support sustainable structural reforms~~while at the same time respecting the SGP;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’'s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that ~~large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to~~both the Euro area and national fiscal stance need to strike the right balance between the goals of long term sustainability of public finances and the need to support economic recovery; notes that this requires that countries with large and consistent current account surpluses more actively stimulate demand and productive investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population, and that countries with high debt levels further pursue growth-friendly fiscal consolidation efforts; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;

Amendment 173 #

Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY, Fabio DE MASI, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that ~~large and consistent current account surpluses reflect~~there is a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;

Amendment 174 #

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to ~~continue to support~~actively support and foster budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States, namely by putting more emphasis on investment and efficient public expenditure, and support sustainable structural reforms;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’'s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and ~~support sustainable structural reforms~~to act toward excessive surpluses with the same level of zeal that is dedicated to countries with high levels of public debt;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; ~~calls on~~asks the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms which also consider social aspects;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment, in particular long term investment, in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable structural reforms;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the Commission’'s recommendation for three Member States to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP); agrees with the Commission that large and consistent current account surpluses reflect a clear need to stimulate demand and investment in order to cope with the challenges of the future regarding transport and communications, the digital economy, education and research, climate change, energy, environmental protection and the ageing population; calls on the Commission to continue to support budgetary policies that underpin growth and recovery in all Member States and support sustainable and socially balanced structural reforms;

Amendment 18 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Miguel VIEGAS, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains one of the main challenges that Member States are facing as ithere are currently ~~stands at a very~~ over 21,1 million unemployed (of whigch ~~rate (~~10.5 million long-term unemployed ~~in the EU), even if the numbers have improved slightly compared with previous year~~); whereas official figures underestimate real unemployment, registering workers as underemployed or inactive or otherwise failing to register them accurately due to national statistical practices;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Deplores the asymmetrical and arbitrary approach taken by the Commission in its recommendations for deficit countries, onto which the entire burden of the adjustment is being offloaded, while some countries continue freely to accumulate excessive current account surpluses, preventing rebalancing among countries and helping to worsen the crisis and the macroeconomic imbalances within the eurozone; stresses that high and persistent current account surpluses in a monetary union primarily reflect the competitive advantages of an undervalued currency and deflationary policies designed to damage EU partners; calls on the Commission, therefore, to take decisive action to correct excessive surpluses through policies to support demand and significant public investments, and to impose appropriate sanctions;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Calls on Member States to follow the rules in the stability and growth pact; calls on Commission to better monitoring that each member state follow the rules agreed on in the stability and growth pact; underlines that the fulfilment of the stability and growth pact is one of the most important steps in order to increase the financial stability;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Is concerned about the Commission's lack of vigour when it comes to enforcing budgetary discipline in line with the provisions of the stability and growth pact; demands that the Commission applies the same standards to all Member States when evaluating and enforcing compliance with the stability and growth pact;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9d (new)

9d. Invites the Commission to take into account possible pro-cyclicality in SGP rules, noticing that some countries in EDP, after suffering from a recession in previous years, are now experiencing a pick-up in real GDP growth but also due low potential output and consequently rapid closing of the negative output gap, it does not lead to reduction of the structural budget deficit, while the nominal budget deficit is decreasing;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Considering that structural reforms might have a negative impact on national budgets, notes that the mismatch between the flexibility granted by the Stability and Growth Pact and the temporal horizon needed to reap the benefits of structural reforms maturation is counterproductive;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Endorse further reform in the national jobs markets, specifically targeting solutions to address youth unemployment in the form of increased incentives to hire young people through reduced social security charges or an effective implementation of the Youth Guarantee scheme;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a (new)

9a. Notes with concern that no reference to the euro area aggregate fiscal stance and to fiscal space have been made in national 2016 CSRs;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9b (new)

9b. Calls to increase the link between Euro area recommendations and national recommendations;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9c (new)

9c. Regrets the enforcement of the rules of the SGP has been discretionary with different treatment between Member States;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Notes that further~~Highlights with concern the fact that the problem of non-performing loans (NPL) is directly linked to the effects of a deep and prolonged economic and financial crisis; stresses that wide-ranging measures are needed to reduce non- performing loans ~~(NPL)~~ in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs, through significant public investments and measures to strengthen long-term funding channels in support of the real economy;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas unemployment in the EU remains one of the main challenges that Member States are facing as it currently stands at a very high rate (10.5 million long-term unemployed in the EU), even if the numbers have improved slightly compared with previous years; whereas, however, this improvement is due in part to the fall in the working population caused by rising emigration, especially in the countries hardest hit by the crisis, and to the way in which unemployed workers in many countries are counted and defined for statistical purposes;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area ~~and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs~~;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to increase financing opportunities, notably for SMEs, by reduceing non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and tohereby increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, ~~notably to SMEs~~as well as by building a genuine CMU with high-quality securitisation, increased venture capital investment and a more effective prospectus regime;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area ~~and to~~in order to make bank balance sheets sounder and thereby increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs; welcomes therefore the recommendations addressed to a number of countries on this issue; agrees with the Commission that more effective insolvency frameworks may help to speed up the resolution of such bad loans;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs, while having regard to their social and macroeconomic impact as well as to financial consumer protection; underlines that the conclusion of a functioning securitization regulation will help banks to gain access to the liquidity necessary for addressing the financial needs of the real sector;

Amendment 194 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, ~~notably to SMEs~~boosting the liquidity of SMEs in particular;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that ~~further measures are needed~~boosting aggregate demand is needed in order to reduce non- performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs;

Amendment 196 #

Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Note~~Reminds that ~~further measures are needed to reduce~~the high level of public debt and the huge number of non- performing loans (NPL) in the banking sector in some Member States are still fragmenting the euro area financial market; notes that further measures are needed to reduce NPL in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in ~~the euro area~~all the Member States and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs; emphasises the importance to complete the Banking Union and advancing on progress towards the establishment of a European Deposit Insurance Scheme;

Amendment 199 #

Cătălin Sorin IVAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 2 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13

~~— having regard to the Commission Green Paper of 18 February 2015 entitled ‘Building a Capital Markets Union’ (COM(2015)0063),~~deleted

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs; stresses the need not to disincentivise banks to write off such a loans;

Amendment 201 #

Neena GILL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that further urgent measures are needed to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in the euro area in conformity with EU legislation, and to increase the ability of banks to lend to the real economy, notably to SMEs;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10a (new)

10a. Calls for neutralisation in the calculation of debt and deficit in public investment carried out by Member States’ public operators, particularly with regard to the impact of the new ESA 2010 system of accounts, which prevents Member States from paying their co-financing share to the Structural Funds (in particular the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative) and thus using these funds to escape from the economic crisis and re- launch growth and employment;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to ~~sustainable and inclusive~~economic growth in the EUurozone and that under the current circumstances, ~~monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules mad~~neither expansionary monetary nor fiscal policy will return the Eurozone nec~~essary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed~~ onomies to their long-term potential growth path in the absence of exchange rates reflecting the ~~EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphas~~ir relative competitiveness; underlines that the best way to help the most affected countries to significantly lower unemployment in the medium term is oan ~~public and private investment~~exit from the currency union;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that ~~under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about~~monetary policy can only support cyclical recovery, but not structural recovery, even though the rules made necessary by the banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment;

Amendment 205 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Miguel VIEGAS, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that private investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauseswill bring no recovery; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, in order to place emphasis on public ~~and private~~ investment;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that ~~investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to~~the restrictions on investment and on public spending have greatly damaged the prospects for sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on but, on the contrary, will have an adverse effect on financial stability, especially given the lack of stringent and rigorous rules to govern the financial system; considers, therefore, that the EU needs to move beyond the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, which have hampered the management of effective policies to combat the economic and social crisis, in order to place emphasis on policies to support domestic demand and to boost public and private investment;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules mad~~e necessary by banking union~~opted in reaction to financial crisis, have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated ~~fiscal expansion~~anti-cyclical fiscal stance of Member States' fiscal policies is also needed in the EU, ~~therefore,~~ in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment, while ensuring responsibility and sustainability of fiscal policies in Member States;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Underlines the fact that~~Welcomes the Commission's intention to extend the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments; regrets however that overall investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery~~, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers~~; considers that faster progress on growth-enhancing structural reforms is crucial, that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU~~, therefore,~~ in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment; in particular, it stresses the importance of ensuring greater additionality and risk taking of the EFSI, especially for the countries most affected by the economic crisis. In this respect, it underlines the need of excluding national co-financing to ESIF-EFSI projects from the calculation of general government deficits and clarifying and making more consistent the classification of PPPs;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment; stresses that a more accommodative fiscal stance can only result from higher internal demand in surplus countries, which is essential, not only to comply with CSRs, but also to achieve a coherent and cooperative macroeconomic policy in the EU;

Amendment 215 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment; reiterates that specifically investment-friendly rules, or those where public investment or other priority outlays are excluded from the perimeter of the rule, are the most effective way to increase counter cyclicality in fiscal policy;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the fact that investment has so far lagged and failed to lead to sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU because measures to improve the business environment are missing and that under the current circumstances, monetary policy alone is unlikely to bring about recovery, even though the rules made necessary by banking union have imposed more stringent financial criteria on banks; considers that a coordinated fiscal expansion is also needed in the EU, therefore, in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and its flexibility clauses, in order to place emphasis on public and private investment;

Amendment 217 #

Alfred SANT, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11a (new)

11a. Points out that almost two thirds of the territory-related CSRs this year concerned administrative capacity issues and were addressed to vast majority of Member States; stresses therefore, that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) should be open to local and regional authorities, involving them directly when putting together the structural reform project in question;

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11a (new)

11a. Stresses that private investment through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (ESIF) should be encouraged and calls on the Member States to involve their local and regional authorities closely in developing project pipelines and launching investment platforms;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11a (new)

11a. Calls for continued investment in the Structural Funds across all regions including transition areas in order to ensure continuity in the effects of the funding and efforts already invested;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11b (new)

11b. Notes that investments at sub- national governments level have decreased strongly in recent years, now counting for around sixty per cent of public investment in the EU; underlines that investment policy instruments such as the EFSI and ESIF require a territorial dimension and complementarity between each other;

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls for an immediate end to the so-called memoranda of understanding and the counter-productive and socially devastating austerity and neo-liberal policies that they have imposed; takes the view that these memoranda have imposed unfair tax policies which violate the principle of proportional equality and progressive taxation; calls for emergency plans to be drawn up to support the economies of countries under the Troika regime in order to provide for financial resources and for the necessary exceptions to the operation of the single market and common policies;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Urges the EU institutions to embark on and support a process to renegotiate government debt in the most heavily indebted countries (covering amounts, payment deadlines, and interest rates) with a view to substantially reducing debt levels and annual charges so as to restore sustainability, thereby making debt service compatible with economic and social development in the countries concerned;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Recommends that measures be taken as a matter of urgency to aid the productive sectors which are vital to every economy and hence play an essential role in the potential development of individual countries; calls for the promotion of public projects and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, and local government, and for Union funds to be boosted and channelled in that direction;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11d. Calls for support programmes to be set up for Member States should they wish – having realised that their participation in EMU has become unsustainable and intolerable – to negotiate their exit from the euro, and considers that programmes of this kind should provide for the compensation necessary to make good such social and economic damage as the countries in question might have suffered because they adopted the single currency;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need ~~to improve the EU’s overall capacity~~for the EU to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs ~~and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however,~~by creating a regulatory framework that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investmentssupportive of growth;

Amendment 227 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain quality jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but and in-work poverty, through a strengthening of collective bargaining and the protection of social and labour rights; emphasises that ithis should be complemented with ~~efficient~~ public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments and an expansion of the welfare state;

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to ~~impr~~remove the ~~EU’s overall capacity to~~external constraints on the management of fiscal policies, which are currently preventing Member States from createing and sustaining jobs and thus tofrom tackleing intolerably high levels of unemployment, ~~while considering that migration could play~~poverty and inequality through specific fiscal stimulus and important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investmentncome support measures and targeted public investments that are of high quality from a social and environmental point of view; takes the view that migration alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment~~, while considering that~~. In order to sustain demand and avoid a crisis in the welfare state that could create an intergenerational clash, migration could play a~~n important~~ role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population~~; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but~~ as well as policies directed to increase the natality rate among European citizens through structural reforms in the fiscal and labour domains; moreover emphasises, that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas unemployment in general, and structural unemployment in particular, in the EU remains one of the main challenges that Member States are facing as it currently stands at a very high rate (10.5 million long-term unemployed in the EU), even if the numbers have improved slightly compared with previous years;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to ~~improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration~~tackle high levels of unemployment by structural reforms and an exit from the Eurozone, while considering that migration of well- educated young citizens of non-EU countries could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure~~, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments~~ and lower taxes on labour;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

~~12.~~ Emphasises the need to ~~improve the 12. EU’s overall capacity~~optimise the framework conditions in the Member States to enable more jobs to be create ~~and sustain jobs and thus to tackl~~d across the EU, thereby reducing the high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in ~~high-quality~~sustainable social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure~~, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments~~;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments and on the ability of the Member States to better use migrants' skills and to adapt labour migration management systems to employers' needs;

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments and further progress in balancing overburdened pension and health care systems;

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’'s overall capacity to create and sustain quality jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges, but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments to integrate workers into the labour market and reduce unemployment;

Amendment 237 #

Cătălin Sorin IVAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, which is liable to exacerbate social polarisation, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’'s overall capacity to grow and create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with structural reforms and efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient ~~public expenditure, especially~~ sustainable and responsible fiscal policy promoting high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 24 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas it is imperative to break with the neo-liberal principles that have been governing the policies imposed by the EU on the peoples and workers of Member States, and whereas sustainable economic growth, that is to say, based on decent wages, work with rights, state control of strategic economic sectors, universal free access to all levels of education, and the promotion and socialisation of innovation, is the only way to boost the Member States’ economies and their competitiveness;

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable growth enhancing investments;

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the need to improve the EU’s overall capacity to create and sustain jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration, if properly handled, could play an important role in compensating for the negative effects of the ageing population; emphasises, however, that this alone cannot be the main response to address structural demographic, labour market or fiscal challenges but that it should be complemented with efficient public expenditure, especially in high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)

12a. Points out that the economic and monetary integration process has been at a standstill for many years due to political disagreements that are difficult to overcome and that the economic and social crisis has worsened, especially in the peripheral countries; in this regard, stresses the urgent need to provide for an opt-out procedure for any Member States which might democratically express the need to withdraw from the euro area; highlights the need, moreover, for a controlled monetary union dissolution plan to be organised, so as not to be taken unawares by an uncontrolled dissolution, while at the same time promoting friendly cooperation between European states in a manner that respects their respective national constitutions;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient and efficient labour markets ~~where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational~~and stresses the importance of educational systems to teach skills that are relevant for the labour market; points out that the system~~s and~~ of vocational education has a particularly good track record of doing so;

Amendment 244 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational educationith a focus on maintaining and improving social and workers’ rights, also in the design and implementation active employment policies;

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

~~13. Highlights the importance of 13. resilient labour markets wher~~Points out that structural reforms to liberalise the labour market have been counter-productive ain ~~appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU~~terms of employment, generating further unemployment and job insecurity and exacerbating the already high economic, social and human costs produced by years of austerity policies; stresses the need to associate appropriate social protection measures with government intervention, with a view to establishing inclusive, resilient and quality labour markets, respecting European values of solidarity, participation and subsidiarity, with a focus on ~~the upgrading of educational systems~~investment in human capital, research and development, education and vocational ~~education~~training;

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the ~~importance of~~fact that resilient labour markets ~~where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a~~in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity are important for a high level of employment and that this must be accompanied by a specific focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education;

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of ~~resilient~~flexible labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between ~~economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity~~interests of employers and employees, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education;

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient labour markets with an appropriate combination of flexibility and security and where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity~~, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education~~; stresses the urgent need to focus on addressing skills gaps and mismatches by upgrading educational systems and vocational education and by more effectively including vulnerable groups such as older workers and students with a migrant background; welcomes in this respect the review of the European Qualifications Framework to allow for a better understanding of qualifications and to make better use of all available skills in the European labour market; emphasises the need for greater commitment to tackling youth unemployment and calls for continued investment in the Youth Guarantee scheme; underlines furthermore the necessity of a more tailor-made, individualised approach to integrate the long-term unemployed in the labour market;

Amendment 249 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient ~~labour~~job markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education, including lifelong learning;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Ca (new)

Ca. whereas the single currency, by preventing normal adjustments in competitiveness between countries and depriving them of the basic economic policy tools that would enable them to absorb asymmetric shocks, has hindered economic recovery and exacerbated the divergences and macroeconomic imbalances between core and periphery countries;

Amendment 250 #

Cătălin Sorin IVAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education and their adaptation in response to new demands for aptitudes and skills on the European job market;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education; while avoiding a race to the bottom in wages and working standards;

Amendment 252 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs and where wages are in line with productivity in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education;

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient and competitive labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Highlights the importance of resilient and efficient labour markets where an appropriate trade-off is maintained between economic, social and human costs in accordance with the EU values of solidarity and subsidiarity, with a focus on the upgrading of educational systems and vocational education;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13a (new)

13a. Highlights the importance of innovation in order to foster productivity, create steady sustainable growth and help addressing current structural challenges; insists therefore on the need for well- designed policies to promote innovation and research and development in order to close the innovation gap with other economies without the systems established and policies implemented being vulnerable or conducive to abuses or misuses;

Amendment 257 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13a (new)

13a. Calls the Commission to focus more on its recommendations on the harmful effects of fiscal centralization for the effectiveness of economic reforms in many European regions and the importance of building a strong an sustainable productive economy less based on transfers and subsidies from the capital and more in innovation and economic policy flexibility;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13a (new)

13a. Highlights the importance of flexible labour markets in Member States in order to tackle the challenges related to high unemployment rates;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13b (new)

13b. Highlights that the decentralisation of expenditure without decentralisation of tax revenue control can increase economic divergences between regions and harm its fiscal sustainability;

Amendment 26 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital Ca (new)

Ca. whereas unemployment rates remain significantly higher in the Eurozone and the European periphery, which have suffered most from neoliberal policies; whereas these divergences are in fact much higher, but are disguised due to forced migration flows of the workforce in the periphery;

Amendment 260 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requiremensupport the improvement of public services, particularly in those countries most deeply affected by past budgetary cuts;

Amendment 261 #

Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to ~~greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed~~long-term productive investments with high social and environmental added value, especially in the fields of energy, ~~transport~~sustainable mobility, communications and the digital economy~~, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake~~; highlights, in this regard, the distorting and penalising effects ofn the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirementscommercial banking model based on the provision of credit to the real economy, which are caused mainly by the EU banking union's asymmetric regulatory and supervisory framework and the failure to separate lending activities from trading activities in banks, in addition to the lack of more stringent rules to combat financial speculation;

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise ~~at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed~~from privatization policies, especially in the fields of energy, transport, and communications ~~and the digital economy~~, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirementsof insufficient aggregate demand;

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures ~~that reduce the~~enabling obstacles to greater investment flows~~, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be follow~~ to be removed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, ~~as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adop~~bank lending and of better regulation of, the ~~banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems,~~fight against corruption, and lack of transparency~~, outdated bureaucracy~~ in the financial sector, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors~~, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements~~;

Amendment 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, and inadequate digitalisation of public services~~, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements~~;

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, ~~lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors,~~ and educational systems that are~~main~~ out of synch with ~~modern~~the requirements of the labour market;

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from the absence of a genuine CMU and a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, a~~s well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adop~~nd a national level from unduly hampering sector-specific regulation, disproportionate restrictions o~~f the banking union, and a national level from~~n business services and regulated professions, ineffective taxation systems, cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications and learning outcomes in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, ~~as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union,~~ and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements;

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements; Stresses the importance to complete the single market;

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the ~~banking union~~new regulatory framework, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated and excessive bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, misallocation of resources, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the European Semester and the related instruments, which are basically intended to make Member States, regardless of the letter of their constitutions and the will of the people, institutionalise austerity-based fiscal and economic policies in line with the debt and deficit targets laid down in the Stability and Growth Pact, the economic reform plans set out in their country- specific recommendations, and the Europe 2020 growth and employment targets, are by nature profoundly neo- liberal and anti-democratic;

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and at national level from the application of austerity policies, cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Invites the Commission to give priority to measures that reduce the obstacles to greater investment flows and commercial traffic, which arise at both an EU level from a lack of clarity regarding strategies that are to be followed, especially in the fields of energy, transport, communications and the digital economy, as well as from the effect on bank lending in the wake of the adoption of the banking union, and a national level from cumbersome legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency, outdated bureaucracy, inadequate digitalisation of public services, lack of mutual recognition of academic and technical qualifications in the professions and certain services sectors, and educational systems that remain out of synch with modern requirements;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14a (new)

14a. Points out that corruption, organised crime, money laundering, tax avoidance and evasion, excessive red tape and the opacity of the financial system are having the effect of discouraging investment and entrepreneurial activities and are distorting the normal functioning of the internal market; stresses the importance of taking effective action at EU level to combat these issues;

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14a (new)

14a. Considers that negative sentiment about the EU and EMU ability to achieve effective cooperation and implement an efficient and coordinated policy strategy also affect private investment prospects; calls in this respect to move forward towards the completion of the EMU, in particular the budgetary capacity, to revamp the European Integration Project;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14a (new)

14a. Considers that the presence of barriers to the internal market in the banking and insurance sectors, and in certain postal communication sectors such as the certification of contents delivered, holds back the growth and efficiency of commercial traffic;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14b (new)

14b. Highlights, in addition, the negative impact on financial stability, the real economy and productive investment of the Capital Markets Union project which is focusing on the further liberalisation of capital flows, the expansion of the shadow banking system and the revival of securitisation, namely on the same mechanisms that caused the 2008 financial crisis;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14a (new)

14a. Calls for a full review of the European Fiscal Pact (TSCG) so as to include an economic recovery policy from which all European citizens and the European economy will benefit;

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 279 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Deeply deplores the ~~fact that with regard to~~neoliberal approach of the Europe 2020 strategy, ~~the biggest failure to be recorded concerns the goal of reducing the scale of poverty in the Union, as~~which explains the lack of progress in achieving its most significant goal, lifting 20 million Europeans out of poverty and social exclusion, since not only will the goal not be reached, but poverty will in fact ~~have increased~~increase under the current policy framework;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Cb (new)

Cb. having regard to the social and human toll and the poor economic results of the austerity policy within the Union;

Amendment 280 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Deeply deplores the fact that with regard to the Europe 2020 strategy, the biggest failure to be recorded concerns the goal of reducing the scale of poverty in the Union, as ~~not only will~~ the goal might not be reached~~, but poverty will in fact have increased~~;

Amendment 281 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Deeply deplores the fact that with regard to the Europe 2020 strategy, the biggest failure to be recorded concerns the goal of reducing the scale of poverty and unemployment in the Union, as not only will the goal not be reached, but poverty and unemployment will in fact have increased, especially in southern European countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal;

Amendment 282 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. De~~eply de~~plores the fact that with regard to the Europe 2020 strategy, ~~the biggest~~one failure to be recorded concerns the goal of reducing the scale of poverty in the Union, as not only will the goal not be reached, but poverty will in fact have increased;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Deeply deplores the fact that with regard to the Europe 2020 strategy, the biggest failure to be recorded concerns the goal of reducing the scale of poverty in the Union, as not only will the goal not be reached, but poverty will in fact have increased; notes however for the first time fighting poverty was part of an EU strategy; considers that fighting poverty should be included right from the conception of all EU policies;

Amendment 284 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Greatly deplores the fact that Portugal and Spain are currently being blackmailed and consequently threatened with a series of penalties, resulting in intolerable instability incompatible with the need to revitalise economic growth and overcome the social crisis which the two countries are undergoing; calls, therefore, for the above process and the mechanisms underlying it to be halted immediately; maintains that the European institutions have to respect the sovereignty of each Member State and the decision taken by citizens to move towards development, growth, and social cohesion, and that no country should be penalised for stimulating its economy, whether through public investment plans or through redistributive fiscal and progressive tax policies;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Invites the Commission to make effective the use of social indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure targeting specific policies to address social challenges, recognising the positive effect of progressive social standards on sustainable growth and competitiveness and assessing carefully possible negative spill overs on social indicators arising from other policy recommendations;

Amendment 286 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Rejects macroeconomic conditionality whereby cohesion policy is made subject to EU economic governance; stresses that regional policy is an important tool for promoting economic and social cohesion, as its main aims are to reduce disparities among regions – especially where poorer regions and the outermost regions are concerned – promote real convergence, and encourage growth and employment; maintains that cohesion policy should not be used as a means of financial punishment if a region or Member State rejects deregulation and privatisation policies;

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15b (new)

15b. Calls to ensure the implementation of the landmark Paris Agreement; acknowledges the macroeconomic implications of failed climate policies; calls to add indicators on climate and energy to the main scoreboard of indicators in the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) to contribute to making national economies more sustainable and energy and resource efficient while recognising the macroeconomic relevance of missed climate policies;

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15c (new)

15c. Welcomes the Commission initiatives to launch consultation over setting up a European pillar of social rights; considers crucial that this initiative will be able to trigger concrete corrective actions;

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of better addressing the high tax wedge on labour ~~given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive,~~by shifting the unemp~~loyed, second earners and low- wage earners to return to employment, by promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption and environmental taxes~~hasis to taxation of capital and by waging a permanent war on fraud and tax evasion;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Ca (new)

Ca. whereas continuing high levels of youth unemployment especially, are cause for concern;

Amendment 290 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of better addressing the high tax wedge on labour given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive, the unemployed, second earners and low- wage earners to return to employment, by promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption and environmental taxesneed for the Member States to reduce the high tax wedge on labour in order to create more jobs in Europe; stresses, however, that the setting of tax rates is a crucial component of the principle of subsidiarity and must therefore remain within each Member State's own competence;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of ~~better addressing the high tax wedge on labour given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive, the unemployed, second earners and low- wage earners to return~~tax reform to eliminate its current regressive bias; deeply rejects the shift towards indirect taxation due to its strong regressive nature; calls for a shift towards redistributive direct taxation with an special focus on corporate and wealth taxation in order to eimp~~loyment, by promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption and environmental tax~~rove public budget revenues and addressing the rising problem of inequality in EU Member States;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of better addressing the high tax wedge on labour given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive, the unemployed, second earners and low-wage earners to return to employment, by ~~promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption and~~reducing the overall size of government and by promoting a tax shift towards more neutral taxes and smart environmental taxes;

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 295 #

Neena GILL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 296 #

Marisa MATIAS, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 297 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 298 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of ~~better addressing the high~~avoiding an excessive tax wedge on labour given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive, the unemployed, second earners and low-wage earners to return to employment, by promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption, wealth and environmental taxes;

Amendment 299 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)

- having regard to the protocol 26 of the Treaties,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas almost 125 million citizens of the EU are at risk of poverty;

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 302 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of better addressing the high tax wedge on labour given that high taxation diminishes incentives for the inactive, the unemployed, second earners and low-wage earners to return to employment and weights on household disposable incomes for middle, and low income earners, by promoting a growth-friendly tax shift towards consumption, wealth and environmental taxes, including phasing out environmental harmful subsidies;

Amendment 303 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16a (new)

16a. Calls for a coordinated EU approach in order to increase the progressivity of national tax system by ensuring progressive taxation of the wealthiest and of corporations where their income flows are generated and where their real assets are located; notes that the implementation of CCCTB in this regard can be successful only if it ensures a clear link between real production and corporate profits and minimum rates are set at a level that does not encourage further tax competition; stresses the need for further progressivity in capital, wealth and corporate taxes, as well as labour taxes, to fight inequality and reduce the financing needs of the public sector;

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16a (new)

16a. Highlights that a critical step toward the conclusion of the Fiscal Union in the EU is the gradual harmonization of the tax systems of the Member States considering also that taxation is not only a method of income redistribution but also an instrument for correction of market inefficiencies and distortions of intra-market competition;

Amendment 305 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16a (new)

16a. Considering that the output gap is a key measure in order to assess whether a government is meeting European Union budget rules, invites the Commission to speed up its work on a possible revision of the methodology for the calculation of the output gap;

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16a (new)

16a. Underlines the importance of addressing the high tax wedges in Member States in order to increase competitiveness and the level of investments;

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 308 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Points out that efforts should be made to remove ~~remaining barriers to investment in the Member States and allow for a more suitable~~the constraints and restrictions on government investment being imposed on the Member States and allow for greater freedom in the management of economic and fiscal polic~~y mix~~ies, including a genuine focus on ~~research and development spending~~the requirements and specific features of different economic contexts; believes that public ~~and private~~ spending and ~~support for research and higher education institutions~~ investment to support employment, quality public services, research and development and education are crucial factors and that the weakness or absence of ~~this infrastructure~~such fiscal leeway places ~~certain~~EU countries, in particular those of the eurozone, at a massive disadvantage;

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the EU must develop policies to help the victims of austerity;

Amendment 310 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Miguel VIEGAS, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Points out that efforts should be made to remove remaining barriers to investment in the Member States and allow for a more suitable policy mix, including a genuine focus on research and development spending; believes that public ~~and private~~ spending and support for research and higher education institutions are crucial factors and that the weakness or absence of this infrastructure places certain countries at a massive disadvantage; In this regard, urges the creation of co-financing exception clauses that allow room for budgetary manoeuvre, in order to provide liquidity for public investment purposes, the development in the fields of education, culture and health and social development as a whole, which will facilitate the creation of quality jobs, as well as the strengthening of the welfare state;

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Points out that efforts should be made to remove remaining barriers to investment in the Member States and allow for a more suitable policy mix, including a genuine focus on research and development spending; believes that public and private spending and support for research and higher education institutions are crucial factors and that the weakness or absence of this infrastructure places certain countries at a massive disadvantage; calls for exception clauses to be established – pending the final repeal of the Fiscal Stability Treaty – in order to afford a degree of fiscal latitude to provide liquidity for investment, for development in the spheres of education, culture, and health, and for holistic social development to help create secure employment of high quality and strengthen the Welfare State;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Points out that efforts should be made to remove remaining barriers to investment in the Member States and allow for a more suitable policy mix, including a genuine focus on research and development spending; believes that public and private spending and support for research and higher education institutions are crucial factors and that the weakness or absence of this infrastructure places certain countries at a massive disadvantage; stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all ideal EU innovation policy prescription but in order to close the innovation- capacity divide in the EU, sufficiently differentiated innovation policies in Member States, which are tailored to address each country's specific innovation capacity position are needed by building on the models of success stories that have already been attained;

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Points out that efforts should be made to remove remaining barriers to investment in the Member States and allow for a more suitable policy mix towards policies fostering sustainable growth, including a genuine focus on research and development spending; believes that public and private spending and support for research and higher education institutions are crucial factors and that the weakness or absence of this infrastructure places certain countries at a massive disadvantage;

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Points out that in 2014 only 10 of the 157 main recommendations made to Member States in the framework of the European Semester were fully implemented or showed substantial progress[1]; calls, in this context, for the recommendations on the European Semester in the Five Presidents' report on deepening the EMU to be followed, namely: more concrete and ambitious Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) and a clearer focus on defined priorities while leaving the necessary room for manoeuvre to Member States in the implementation of CSRs, as well as a more systematic use of reporting, peer review and the 'comply-or-explain' approach in order to ensure proper implementation as well as a greater public debate leading to greater national ownership; [1] Success rate of around 6.5%: Zsolt Darvas and Alvaro Leandro, 'The Limitations of Policy Coordination in the Euro Area under the European Semester', Bruegel, November 2015;

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Welcomes the continuation of the consultations regarding the improvement of European economic governance and the enchasing of the EU's budgetary capacity, as they are vital elements for the achievement of the Economic Union and the strengthening of the EU's capacity to manage and absorb internal, external symmetric and asymmetric macroeconomic shocks;

Amendment 316 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)

17a. Underlines that, given the current distribution of powers and competences in most Member States, delivery on the Country-specific Recommendations will improve with the active participation of the local and regional authorities; to this aim, supports the proposal of a code of conduct for the involvement of the local and regional authorities in the European Semester;

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)

17a. Requests a report from the Commission no later than three months after the adoption of this resolution, which lists all CSRs and Single Market laws by Member State that are not fully implemented and details concrete measures the Commission will undertake to ensure full implementation as well as a timetable by which full implementation will be achieved;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)

17a. Underlines that the initiative from Commission to create a Capital Markets Union is one important step in order to remove barriers to investments in Member States and in EU as a whole;

Amendment 319 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)

17a. Calls for the exclusion of public investment from the calculation of the deficit of the Member States in order to boost investment in the EU;

Amendment 32 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas depressed wage dynamics, slow economic growth and falling oil prices at the start of 2016 a~~ppear to be the key reason~~re dragging down the inflation rate to below zero levels;

Amendment 320 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Firmly rejects the idea that the EU economic governance framework would be improved by strengthening its social dimension;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Calls for the treaties governing integration to be made reversible, in particular the Lisbon Treaty with a view to its repeal, together with the repeal of the EMU Fiscal Compact and the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance, the European Semester, the six-pack, and the two-pack; calls, therefore, for an intergovernmental conference to be convened by the European Council to discuss the reversibility and repeal of the treaties; maintains that Member States must, as a matter of urgency, regain the ability to determine the economic policies best suited to their needs;

Amendment 322 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17b (new)

17b. Rejects the use of sanctions against Spain and Portugal by the European Commission as they will increase inequalities and prevent the recovery of their economy; underlines that any sanctions represents an undemocratic attempt to impose neoliberal measures; highlights the serious impact that the freeze of European funds will have on both economies, with negative cumulative effects over time; stresses that the proposed path of fiscal consolidation will further depress economic activity by reducing public spending and slowing down the de-leveraging of the private sector;

Amendment 323 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17b (new)

17b. Stresses that private risk-sharing , e.g. through the capital and financial markets, alleviates the burden to governments to provide insurance and furthermore has, in fiscal terms, a smoothing potential; regrets, therefore, that private risk-sharing in the EMU is still relatively limited due also to the outstanding completion of the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union, in particular the absence of a third pillar, through a privately funded European Deposit Insurance Scheme;

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17b (new)

17b. Emphasises the fact that the European Semester recommendations to MS have a similar responsiveness rate as the unilateral OECD recommendations (29% vs 30% in 2014), even though the compliance with the latter is based just on a voluntary basis; notes that, according to data, compliance in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic is systematically higher for OECD recommendations;

Amendment 325 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17b (new)

17b. Highlights the importance of removing obstacles and barriers in order to enable the financial sector to provide funding for companies;

Amendment 326 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17c (new)

17c. Calls to the Commission and Member States to open a process of renegotiation of public debt in the most indebted countries, substantially reducing its level and the annual charges, and bringing it down to sustainable levels, thereby making the debt service compatible with economic and social development;

Amendment 327 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17c (new)

17c. Underlines the need for reducing national regulations hindering the well- functioning capital markets in EU;

Amendment 328 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17d (new)

17d. Underlines that new proposals from Commission must not lead to more complex regulation that can affect investments negatively, undermining banks possibilities to investment and market making, to their ability to facilitate liquidity on the single market, thereby hurting the functionality of the existing capital markets;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas falling oil prices at the start of 2016 appear to be ~~the key reason~~an additional factor in the dragging down of the inflation rate to below zero levels;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas falling oil prices at the start of 2016 appear to be the key reason dragging down the inflation rate to below zero levels; whereas core inflation has so far failed to show an upward trend, as moderate economic growth and subdued wage developments have drag on domestic price dynamics;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas falling oil prices at the start of 2016 that have a positive impact on the EU economy appear to be the key reason dragging down the inflation rate to below zero levels;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas falling oil prices at the start of 2016 a~~ppear to be~~re one of the key reason ~~dragging down~~s why the inflation rate toin some Member States is falling below zero ~~levels~~;

Amendment 37 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, relations with Russia and the refugee crisis have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;deleted

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the ~~question of the UK’s membership of~~UK’s decision to leave the Union, relations with Russia and the refugee crisis, which have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment, reflect the deep political crisis under way in the EU institutions;

Amendment 39 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’'s membership of the Union, relations with Russia ~~and~~, the refugee crisis and the unwillingness of Member States to commit to serious structural reforms have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)

- having regard to the FMI report "Fiscal Monitor. Taxing times" of October 2013

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, relations with Russia and ~~the refugee crisis~~growing political instability have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, relations with Russia ~~and~~, the refugee crisis and uncertainties in global economic development, particularly concerning future development of China's economy, have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, relations with Russia and ~~the refugee crisi~~poor management of the influx of refugees by Member States have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s ~~membership of~~impending departure from the Union, relations with Russia and the refugee crisis have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the ~~question~~result of the UK’s ~~membership of the Union~~referendum, relations with Russia and the refugee crisis have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, and relations with Russia ~~and the refugee crisis~~ have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas political developments such as the question of the UK’s membership of the Union, relations with Russia, the economic crsis and the refugee crisis have compounded uncertainties and further served to inhibit investment;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Ea (new)

Ea. whereas the immigration crisis in particular created extra costs and budgetary pressures for the Member States and the EU as a whole, reducing thus their necessary fiscal space and making for many of them very difficult to attain their macroeconomic targets;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

~~F. whereas Parliament, in its resolution on the Annual Growth Survey 2016, requested an improved policy mix and a specific focus on the euro area;~~deleted

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Parliament, in its resolution on the Annual Growth Survey 2016, requested an improved policy mix ~~and a specific focus on the euro area~~stressing the importance of structural reforms and fiscal responsibility;

Amendment 5 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Commission’s spring 2016 forecast indicates growth rates of 1.6 % for the eurozone and 1.8 % for the EU in 2016. whereas this growth rate is unequally distributed, with rising inequality both across and within Member States;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas European Parliament, in its resolution on the Annual Growth Survey 2016, requested an improved policy mix and a specific focus on the euro area;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fa (new)

Fa. whereas low implementation of key reforms is observed across all EU countries; whereas indicators show that those countries that have been under a Financial Assistance Programme have delivered stronger reform efforts; whereas many of these reforms have been proven inadequate to boost growth, having in parallel a negative impact for the fulfilment of the EU 2020 targets;

Amendment 52 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fa (new)

Fa. whereas putting an end to tax evasion and tax fraud of corporations and wealthy individuals would suffice to close the remaining public deficit; whereas public spending is not constrained but available resources, but by the political constraints imposed by the EU and particularly, its governance structure and the euro;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fa (new)

Fa. whereas austerity policies have had a major depressing and destabilising effect on the economy, causing a collapse in domestic demand, an increase in unemployment levels and absolute poverty and an explosion of social and economic inequalities;

Amendment 54 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fb (new)

Fb. whereas the current account surplus in Germany has further expanded in 2015 and is expected to remain at a level higher than 8% of GDP for 2016- 2017 too, having a severe negative impact on the entire European economy and hampering its recovery;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fb (new)

Fb. whereas Ireland has shown a 26% growth rate for 2015. Whereas this data demonstrates the way how a model of growth could be based in protect transnational capital interest and foster capital mobility with no impact on the real economy. Whereas Ireland has been a model country for the European Commission;

Amendment 56 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital Fc (new)

Fc. whereas the Juncker Plan has failed to increase investment and has only served as another avenue for financial speculation, as many critics had noted before its implementation; whereas the funds diverted have had serious consequences for public spending through the EU budget, in programs such as Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility;

Amendment 57 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

Europe’s ~~investment~~ challenges in the context of the global economic slowdown

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes with concern that the EU economy ~~will grow less than expec~~is to continue growing at a modest rated on the basis of the European economic ~~winter~~spring forecast 2016, as GDP in the eurozone is expected to increase by ~~only~~ 1.6 %, reaching 1.98 % by 2017~~, which is less than what was previously being estimated~~;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Notes with concern~~Deplores the fact that the EUuropean economyic wi~~ll grow less than expected on the basis of the European~~nter forecast is once again inaccurate for 2016, since the EU economicy wi~~nter forecast 2016~~ll grow less than expected, as GDP in the eurozone is expected to increase by only 1.6 %, reaching 1.9 % by 2017, which is less than what was previously being estimated;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Commission’s spring 2016 forecast indicates expected growth rates of 1.6 % for the eurozone and 1.8 % for the EU in 2016;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes with concern that the EU economy will grow less than expected on the basis of the European economic winter forecast 2016, as GDP in the eurozone is expected to increase by ~~only~~ 1.6 %, reaching 1.9 % by 2017, which is less than what was previously being estimated;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes with concern that the EU economy will grow less than expected on the basis of the European economic winter forecast 2016, as GDP in the eurozone is expected to increase by only 1.6 %, reaching 1.9 % by 2017, which is less than what was previously being estimated; stresses that the growth prospects for 2016 which were initially predicted had to be corrected downwards and that the stagnating or increasing sovereign debt in the Member States is continuing to hamper the competitiveness of Europe's economy as a whole;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1a (new)

1a. Strongly objects to the decision by the members of the euro area to support the European Commission's recommendation that Spain and Portugal be declared in breach of EU budget rules;

Amendment 63 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the ~~deteriorating international environment and the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union~~inadequacy of the neoliberal economic model, which depresses economic growth and increases divergences in the economic and social performance in different Member States of the Union by reducing public spending and wages, while fostering market-driven economic policies regardless of its economic and social effects;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the ~~deteriorating international environment and the~~increasing divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union, the continuing excessive macroeconomic imbalances caused by the single currency, the accumulation of major systemic risks in the financial system and the unsustainability of an export-led growth model in a deteriorated global economic environment;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment and the ~~divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union~~failure to implement meaningful structural reforms in certain parts of the Union to improve productivity and competitiveness;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment and the divergences in ~~the~~ economic and social performance, a~~chieved~~nd in particular unemployment rates, which have increased significantly in different parts of the Union;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. SEmphasises that investment in the eurozone remains guarded and is considerably below the pre-crisis level, in spite of the ECB's unconventional monetary policy and the start of the European investment campaign; stresses that the continuous challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment and the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union;

Amendment 68 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Sylvie GOULARD, Sophia IN 'T VELD, Michael THEURER, Lieve WIERINCK, Enrique CALVET CHAMBON, Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment and the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union; stresses that the deterioration in external demand put into question the export-driven growth strategy followed by the EU as a response to the crisis;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment and the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union due to a lack of structural reforms as well as the short-comings in completing the single market, which deprive the EU of its full growth potential;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A. whereas the EU, along with its Member States, is continuing to struggle with the most serious economic and social crisis in its history; whereas neo-liberal EU policies and the austerity-oriented policies imposed by the EU for the purposes of economic governance have added to government debt and, as was to be expected, exacerbated socio-economic inequalities within and among Member States, reflected in the increase in the numbers at risk of poverty and social exclusion (who in 2015 accounted for 24.4% of the population in EU-28);

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international environment ~~and~~, the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union and the effects of the austerity policies;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the challenges in the EU are linked to the deteriorating international economic and political environment and the divergences in the economic and social performance achieved in different parts of the Union;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that the worsening global outlook means that domestic sources of growth need to be strengthened, involving a different policy mix to boost public and private investment, above all with a view to expanding and upgrading infrastructure, production equipment, and production and organisation methods and techniques, and to stimulate domestic demand, in particular by restoring the income lost as a result of so-called austerity policies and by implementing a genuinely redistributive and progressive tax policy;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2a (new)

2a. Stresses that some of the main challenges in EU is lack of investments and lack of competitiveness; underlines that they are linked to the high tax wedge on companies, investments and labour;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2b (new)

2b. Notes with concern that the level of taxes in EU are 10 to 15 percent higher than in any other competing region;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and presConsiders the country-specific recommendations to be a blatant affront to sovereign, democratic decision-taking by the Member States’ peoples and workers concervning ~~responsible public financ~~the future of their countries;

Amendment 77 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcom~~Deplores the Commission’s ~~focus~~insistence in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the usual three main priorities ~~to further strengthen economic growth:~~: continuing with the austerity policies, supporting private investment, and pursuing structural reforms ~~and preserving responsible public finance~~, even though these have been counter-productive in terms of economic growth and have helped to exacerbate the crisis;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcome~~Rejects the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on ~~the~~ three main priorities ~~to further strengthen economic growth~~: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances, as they continue the failed stance of current policies;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs)~~Takes note of the poor track record many Member States have when implementing country-specific recommendations (CSRs); welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 CSRs on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and ~~preserv~~encouraging responsible public finances; stresses however that the Commission could do more to enforce responsible fiscal policies in line with the provisions of the stability and growth pact;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~Europe still faces a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus~~public investment, in particular in the eEuro~~zone continues to rise, theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowing~~ Area, is considerably lower in percentage of GDP than in many other countries (2.6% of GDP in the EA, 3.8% of GDP in US, 3.6% of GDP in Japan);

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving ~~responsi~~stable public finances;

Amendment 81 #

Marisa MATIAS, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Commission’'s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances; considers that the three priorities implies in a certain number of cases trade-offs, especially in relation to the time sequences in the implementation of these three pillars, which undermines the effectiveness of the overall strategy;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcomes~~Is concerned the Commission’'s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances; These priorities fail to recognise the policy failures on the basis of the current outlook, going for more of the same;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcom~~Notes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances; stresses that investment alone is not enough to drive the economic recovery of the European Economic Area; emphasises that necessary structural reforms must accompany monetary policy stimuli in the Member States if the economy is to be rebooted;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the Commission’'s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment~~, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances~~ for innovation, growth and job creation, pursuing sustainable and socially balanced structural reforms to modernise European economies making them more competitive and preserving responsible public finances which would foster investments and a sustainable growth;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances; notes, however that macroeconomic targets should be accompanied by social and quality of life targets for the people residing in the EU;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the Commission’s focus in its 2016 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) on the three main priorities to further strengthen economic growth: supporting investment, pursuing structural reforms and preserving responsible public finances; stresses at the same time the need to consider social aspects when implementing these priorities;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3a (new)

3a. Calls to the Commission to align these three pillars of the Semester to decarbonise the economy, and thereby align public financial flows to the requirements of Article 2 in the Paris Agreement; Calls to the Finance Ministers to take into account Article 4 of the Paris Agreement and prepare long- term decarbonisation plans;

Amendment 9 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Europe still flaceks a huge investment deficit, even though the current account surplus in the eurozone continues to rise, theoretically creating more favourable conditions for public and private investment due to the exceptionally low interest rates on government borrowingfrom public investment, capable of steering away the economy from market-driven dynamics to a more robust model for economic growth, capable of ensuring social and regional cohesion in the EU;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3a (new)

3a. Recalls that the final objective of economic growth must be to create employment and improve the well-being of all citizens;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcomes~~Notes that the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months~~; reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and~~ is not a response that can meet the need to promote economic recovery and convergence between EU countries, unless there is an in-depth review of the neoliberal approach taken by the Commission and of the technocratic coordination mechanism of the European Semester as regards economic and social policies that are of strictly national competence; stresses that coordination at EU level must be confined to measures that cannot be dealt with effectively and sufficiently at the national level, because of the presence of clear negative and positive externalities, in particular the fight against tax avoidance and evasion, organised crime an~~ingful range of social benchmarks~~d corruption, the fight against financial speculation and environmental pollution and the correction of macroeconomic imbalances that are caused and amplified by the single currency;

Amendment 92 #

Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Fabio DE MASI, Miguel VIEGAS, Marisa MATIAS, Matt CARTHY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcom~~Notes the Commission’'s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; ~~reiterat~~deplores that this ~~facilitat~~enhances the i~~mplem~~nterventation of ~~recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks~~the Commission over the democratic will of its elected, national authorities; underlines that, notwithstanding the introduction of alleged "social" indicators and benchmarks, the overall aims of the recommendations have single-mindedly pushed for the same neoliberal agenda, with dramatic effects on the social cohesion and the economic development of the Member States under supervision;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to ~~mainstream the semester by~~ cover~~ing~~ mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; ~~reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks;~~

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; ~~reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations in line with a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks;~~

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and focus its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of the recommendations ~~according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks~~;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcom~~Notes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; reiterates that th~~is facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks~~ese recommendations are very subjective and have not proved to be fully effective;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcomes~~Takes not of the Commission’'s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; regrets that, contrary to the demand of the European Parliament Resolution on the 2016 Annual Growth Survey, environmental fiscal reforms are not addressed in country-specific recommendations; reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of social benchmarks; stresses that reduction of number of recommendation by merging thematically different recommendation under one point does not yield any benefits;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s continuing approach to limit the number of recommendations and its effort to mainstream the semester by covering mainly key priority areas of macroeconomic and social relevance, when setting the policy objectives for the next 18 months; reiterates that this facilitates the implementation of recommendations according to a comprehensive and meaningful range of economic and social benchmarks;

source: 587.444

2016/09/08 CULT 60 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment ~~is a~~and especially NEET's (neither in employment nor in education or training) rates are perpetual challenges for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative, the early school leaving rates, the provision of early childhood education and care and the completion of tertiary education level vary significantly across the EU; is of the opinion that quality job creation, education, innovation and research should be key priorities of the AGS and should guide the Country Specific Recommendations; points therefore to the need for lifelong learning educational schemes and labour market reforms that would improve the employment situation and tackle inequalities in education which needs to be inclusive and accessible for all; however, points out that education should not only provide skills and competencies relevant to the job market needs, but should also contribute to the personal development and growth of young people in order to make them proactive and responsible citizens; stresses therefore the need of civic education in the whole educational system both formal and non- formal; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative and urges the Member States to implement fully the Youth Guarantee, based on a strong cooperation between employment services and the education system;

Amendment 10 #

Nikolaos CHOUNTIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment, which is exceptionally high, is a perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU~~; points therefore to the need for labour market~~ and that initiatives such as the European Semester have made matters worse rather than better; concludes thereformse that ~~would adapt education to market demands an~~is is necessary to introduce reforms that would tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU;, p~~oints therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle inequalities in education~~articularly in southern European countries, such as Greece, that are subject to economic austerity; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative;

Amendment 12 #

Damian DRĂGHICI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Emphasizes the need of continuing the efforts of reducing early school leaving and fostering the education of disadvantaged young people in line with the targets set by the Europe 2020 Strategy; notes that the results of the Education and Training Monitor 2015 show that in spite of some advancements towards the achievement of the EU 2020 targets, there is a raising risk of increasing the inequalities gap by leaving out the most vulnerable people, including young people having different socio- economic backgrounds and disadvantaged groups; draws attention to the need to increase participation levels in the labour markets among young women – particularly women after maternity leave and single mothers – and young migrants, low-skilled, young people with disabilities and all youngsters at risk of discrimination;

Amendment 14 #

Nikolaos CHOUNTIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Strongly rejects the European Semester process, since it is undemocratic and undermines the right of each Member State and its people to adopt policies in line with their economic and social situation and with their entitlements and aspirations; is deeply concerned that this process is seeking to introduce even harsher pay and pension cuts, encourage further exploitation of workers, increase the retirement age, and bring about additional privatisation and deregulation and the dismantling of public services and welfare entitlements;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Highlights that labour market policies generally, and skills matching in respect of VET policies specifically, must aim to create and promote high quality and secure jobs, in line with the ILO Decent Work agenda; notes that these policies must contribute to combatting the phenomena of precarious employment, zero-hour contracts, and unpaid internships;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Welcomes the Commission initiatives to launch consultation over setting up a European pillar of social rights; considers crucial that this initiative will be able to trigger a more flexible skills and competences development, life- long learning actions and active support for quality employment;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Highlights that social entrepreneurship is a growing field that can boost the economy whilst simultaneously alleviating deprivation, social exclusion and other societal problems; therefore considers that entrepreneurship education should include a social dimension, and address such subjects as fair trade, social enterprises, and alternative business models, such as co-operatives, in order to strive towards a more social, inclusive and sustainable economy;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Calls for measures to facilitate the transition of young people from education to work by ensuring quality internships and apprenticeships, giving young people clearly defined rights that include access to social protection, written and binding contracts and fair remuneration in order to ensure that they are not discriminated when it comes to accessing the world of work;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Emphasises the huge innovation and employment potential of renewable energy sources, search for greater resource efficiency and energy efficiencies; calls on the Commission to integrate a specific energy and environmental strategy into the European Semester with a view also to education and employment;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, itPoints out that the current unacceptable high youth unemployment is a tell-tale indicator revealing deep structural flaws of the present European economic and political model; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU and also across the eurozone, demonstrating the absence of a real economic convergence; points therefore to the need for in-depth social, political and economic reforms that would allow to stop first, and then reverse, the current trend of growing inequality; highlights that labour market reforms, the favourite recipe of neoliberalism, have utterly failed to produce such results; notes that, on the contrary, they have produced a generation without hope, afflicted by double-digit unemployment, by misery jobs lacking any security or career perspective, by extremely debilitated social rights, including pension; further notes that, as a result, for the first time after the Second World War, many experts agree that European citizens fcur~~ther support for the You~~rently under-30 will need to accept worse life conditions than their parents' generation, despite having an average better education; warns that unless the E~~mployment Initiative~~uropean Union quickly adopts decisive actions against such situation, the disaffection of many of its young citizens towards the European project will grow exponentially;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Re~~iterates that~~calls that the level of education funding across Member States remains low in comparison to the pre-crisis situation and calls to increase the investment in infrastructures, quality and relevance of the education and training system through all available European funding instruments, in particular the structural funds (ERDF and ESF) and the EFSI; reiterates that sustainable investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and quality job creation in the EU; ~~underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member Stat~~furthermore, calls on Member States to channel investments into inclusive education which responds to societal challenges with regards to ensure equal access and opportunities for all, including by broadening early childhood education and adult learning opportunities and facilitating the return to education and training for those young people who have already left initial education; underlines the need for structural reforms and modernisation of school education and vocational education and training systems in the Member States, including a holistic policy approach of learning and teaching, fostering innovation, creativity and the use of digital technologies and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that despite the serious damage brought by the current structural crisis to the once existing relationship between a good education and a quality job, investments in education and culture still reinforce employability and could contribute to bring back sustainable gpro~~wth~~sperity and job creation ~~in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster~~to the EU, on condition that deindustrialisation, delocalisation, financial speculation, tax evasion, demolition of social security systems and growing inequality are tackled with decision at the same time; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States, parallel to even more important in-depth social, political and economic reforms, and the need to foster a radically improved solidarity among Member States, without which the very project of an Union is deprived of its main meaning, better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States; highlights the need to strengthen synergies between culture and education and promote arts education as a crucial tool for the development of critical thinking, creative and transferable skills and competences as well as civic values which enable learners to become active, responsible and open-minded members of society;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States; takes the view that it is essential to boost public investment in order to preserve and enhance the quality of health and education systems and the quality of services provided for the public, as well as in order to create favourable conditions for economic development;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; considers that promoting investment in lifelong education would also encourage retraining and thereby countering the risks of long-term unemployment, particularly in adulthood; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 25 #

Jana TOOM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States; highlights the need to consider specific educational needs of minority and immigrant youth as well as young people with disabilities with due respect for cultural and linguistic diversity of the Union;

Amendment 26 #

Ernest MARAGALL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; regrets that austerity policies pushed by the European Semester did trigger heavy cuts in education and culture in those countries where education and lifelong learning are key to exit the crisis; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 27 #

Damian DRĂGHICI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to inclusive and sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States in order to equip learners of all ages with competences, skills and knowledge they need to live and work in increasingly demanding and changing realities and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 28 #

Nikolaos CHOUNTIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture must reinforce ~~employability~~full- time high-quality employment and contribute to sustainable growth ~~and job creation in the EU~~; underlines the need for ~~structural reforms of~~improvements to the education and training systems in the Member States, so as to make them universally accessible and provide a more genuinely public service, and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 30 #

Eleftherios SYNADINOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education, technology, entrepreneurship and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; underlines the need ~~for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need~~ to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States, with regard to education and training systems;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall; expresses concerns on the fact that most of the new jobs created are low-quality jobs, characterised by low salary and precarious conditions, and are therefore unable to significantly stimulate consumption and internal demand;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Reminds that the impact of the economic and financial crisis imposed austerity policies and measures in many Member States, which affected the right to education; underlines that the priority given to reduce macroeconomic imbalances has to be balanced with the need to ensure and maintain minimum standards in the field of education, which deserves special attention; stresses, moreover, that structural reforms should take into account the most vulnerable members of our societies;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recalls the key role that non- formal education and informal learning can play in developing and sustaining necessary skills for youth employability such as entrepreneurship, leadership and capacity building, especially amongst marginalised groups;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Emphasises the need to improve the EU's overall capacity to create and sustain quality jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role, including education schemes, complemented with efficient public expenditure, with a view to high- quality social and environmentally sustainable investments to integrate workers into the labour market and reduce unemployment;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Calls on Member States to increase the attractiveness of sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes and studies in order to address the existing shortage in this field as well as to intensify the development of digital skills and media literacy at all level of education;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Underlines the fact that the education and training reforms have proved successful where social partners have been involved within the European Semester consultations;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that Erasmus+ contributes to mobility and cultural exchange across the EU; calls for better promotion and use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working; stresses that mobility must be freely chosen by workers and job-seekers and never forced upon them by the economic and social hopelessness that has conquered their place of origin; reminds that most mobility among Member States, on the contrary, has been forced by the current structural crisis, and that it hits disproportionately young and middle-aged citizens of Mediterranean and Eastern Europe Member States, in a way often uncorrelated with their professional and academic achievements; warns that unless the European Union is able to stop such phenomena, the disaffection of its citizens towards the European project will continuously grow;

Amendment 39 #

Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Andrew LEWER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that Erasmus+ as well as other EU mobility programmes in the field of education and youth boost employability, contributes to mobility and cultural exchange across the EU; calls for better promotion and use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills, competences, knowledge and qualifications with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working;

Amendment 42 #

Damian DRĂGHICI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that Erasmus+ contributes to mobility and cultural exchange across the EU; calls for better ~~promotion and~~ use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications ~~with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working~~in order not to hinder the mobility of EU citizens wishing to study abroad;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Highlights that~~Welcomes Erasmus+ contributesion to foster mobility and cultural exchanges across the EU and with third countries; calls for better promotion and use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working;

Amendment 45 #

Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Andrew LEWER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Stresses the importance of achieving validation of competences, skills and knowledge acquired through informal, non-formal and lifelong learning by 2018, as stated by the Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012; notes in this regard that the recognition is crucial in enhancing access to formal education and new professional opportunities, while reinforcing self- esteem and motivation to learn; emphasises the fact that some countries made significant progress in developing relevant legal framework, while others have difficulties in creating comprehensive validation strategies; highlights therefore the need of developing comprehensive strategies to enable validation;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls for debt and deficit calculations not to factor in public investment carried out by Member States’ public operators, particularly in view of the impact of the new ESA 2010 system of accounts, which is preventing Member States from putting up co-financing for projects eligible for structural funding (in particular under the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative) and thus from using this important source of funding to help find a way out of the economic crisis and kick- start investment in the area of culture, growth and employment;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Specifies nevertheless that the scope of the Erasmus+ programme is far too wide, currently benefiting 'migrants' from outside Europe without EU citizenship; is alarmed at this hijacking of the Erasmus+ system that could lead to its eventual demise; calls for the programme to serve only students who are citizens of EU Member States, in line with the initial framework;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a serious and perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU, but that youth unemployment rates are still very high, at 18.8 % in the EU-28 and 21.1 % in the eurozone, according to 2016 Eurostat data; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle social and economic inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to the fight against youth unemployment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs ~~and combating youth unemployment.~~, part-time, temporary and full time, and combating youth unemployment, provided that innovative business and entrepreneurial models in the cultural and creative field, based on interconnectivity and access, and on an increased citizen participation in cultural and creative activities, are allowed to develop and flourish;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to youth employment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs and combating youth unemployment.Highlights the potential of CCIs regarding youth employment; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative sector may contribute substantially to investment, growth, innovation and employment; calls on the Commission to consider therefore the special opportunities offered by the whole CCIs, comprising NGOs and small associations, in the framework for example of the Youth Employment Initiative;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to youth employment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; recognises that more than 6 million people in the EU are working in the cultural sector; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs and combating youth unemployment.;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 56 #

Eleftherios SYNADINOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the arts, cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to youth employment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs and combating youth unemployment.

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the cultural and creative ~~industrie~~sectors contribute significantly to youth employment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; stresses that further ~~promotion of and investment in~~support for the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs and combating youth unemployment.

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Reiterates that the Programme Europe for Citizens is the only EU programme exclusively dedicated to promote active European citizenship, strengthening social cohesion and creating economic opportunities by the creation of transnational partnerships, town twinning and network of towns;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Furthermore encourages the Commission to facilitate the promotion and distribution of the works and products of the European cultural and creative industries in order to raise their profile and ensure sustainable and lasting employment;

Amendment 6 #

Jana TOOM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU; acknowledges the vulnerable situation of youth of Roma, other minority or immigrant origin and young people with disabilities in labour markets of most Member States; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Highlights the key role of research and science for building a sustainable economic growth; recommends therefore to continue to invest in higher education and research, in line with the Horizon 2020 agenda; emphasises the key role of science diplomacy in the EU's external relations to build international economic cooperation;

Amendment 7 #

Eleftherios SYNADINOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a perpetual challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU, particularly in the southern European countries; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to market demands and tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative and the implementation of youth entrepreneurship support policies;

Amendment 8 #

Julie WARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that youth unemployment is a ~~perpetual~~deepening challenge for Europe; notes that the employment situation varies significantly across the EU; points therefore to the need for labour market reforms that would adapt education to ~~market demands~~better reflect the employment situation and tackle inequalities in education; expresses, in this context, its further support for the Youth Employment Initiative and recalls the need to further promote youth and cultural entrepreneurship;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

source: 587.634

2016/09/15 EMPL 14 amendments...

Amendment A #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States under the European Semester framework and the need for upward social and economic convergence; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms tailored to their own policy bottlenecks that will strengthen their social and economic recovery~~, making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility~~ and competitiveness, and create quality employment and boost social cohesion. Therefore, recalls that it is necessary to increase public and private investment, implementing socially responsible structural reforms which reduce economic and social inequalities and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility, making the best use of the existing flexibility margins where necessary so as to make it compatible with economic growth and quality employment;) considers that the social partners should be actively involved in the process of drafting and implementing structural reforms; when is necessary, in order to improve the unsatisfactory implementation of reform reiterates that these reforms should enable the European Union and its Member States to meet the five targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy and insists on these reforms not weakening the protection afforded to workers and SMEs;

Amendment B #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a (new) Considers that the Council and the Commission should aim to achieve that the fiscal consolidation processes are accompanied by measures that help to reduce inequalities and highlight that the European Semester process should help to provide answers to existing and emerging social challenges, thus ensuring a more effective economy; Points out that social investments in human capital shall constitute core complementary action, since human capital is one of the factors of growth and a motor of competitiveness and development; request that major structural reforms advocated by CSRs should be accompanied by a social impact assessment regarding their short, medium-long term effects with the purpose to better understand the social, economic and employment consequences, especially the impact on job creation and economic growth;

Amendment C #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b (new) Underlines that unemployment and in particular youth unemployment remains an overriding problem for European societies and that according to the European Commission, unemployment has continued to gradually decrease, but remains above 2008 levels with 21.2 million unemployed people in April 2016 with huge differences among Member States) Points out the need of qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the employment created, in order to avoid an increase of employment rates as a mere consequence of precarious employment or by the decrease of the labour force level ); notes that despite producing results in skills and knowledge some Member States's education and training systems do not perform internationally and present growing skill shortages, which contributes to the fact that 39 % of companies still have difficulties in finding staff with the required skills; insists that in the CSRs greater priority is given to overcoming structural imbalances on the labour market including long-term unemployment and mismatch of skills and underlines the need to further invest and develop education and training systems, providing the society with the tools and capacities to readapt to changing labour market demands;

Amendment D #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c (new) Highlights the importance of private investment, but believes that public expenditure should be also promoted in an efficient and effective way; Considers it vital to grant Member States broad leeway for investing in quality vocational training and education, as well as in granting equal access to them, starting with greater national co-financing margins to support the main EU projects in these areas Member States should focus on sources of expenditure that will raise productive capacity in the future and that will have strong positive spill-overs on the economy as a whole- especially through education and training (academic, professional and vocational), R&D and infrastructures (transport, energy and communication);

Amendment E #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d (new) Points out that from 2008 to 2014, there were 4.2 million more Europeans 1a at risk of poverty and social exclusion, raising to more than 22 million (22.3%) in the EU; takes note that the European Commission has stated that "most of the Member States are still facing the acute social legacy from the crisis”; Calls for a stronger effort from the Commission and Members States to reduce poverty, social exclusion and growing inequalities, in order to tackle the economic and social disparities between Member States and within societies; is of the opinion that combating poverty and social exclusion and reducing inequalities should be one of the priorities reflected in CSRs, which is fundamental to achieve long lasting economic growth and a socially sustainable rhythm of implementation;

Amendment F #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline ~~social~~employment indicators in the macroeconomic ~~imbalances procedure~~scoreboard ; reiterates the call for these to be placed on an equal footing with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this ~~connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced;~~ sense, in order to avoid a selective application, to allow them triggering in-depth analyses, and to understand better a cause-effect link of policies and actions; Proposes in the design of CSRs ; for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced, which must prevent a race to the bottom in terms of social standards, building on an effective use of the social and employment indicators in macroeconomic surveillance; takes the view that in case of placing employment and economic indicators on an equal footing it should go hand in hand with upgrading the role of the EPSCO Council in the European Semester;

Amendment G #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a (new) Recognises that the Commission has initiated work on the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights; but recalls the need to deliver the results of the consultation process and to move forward with new effective steps which seeks to deliver a deeper and fairer EU and should play an important role in addressing inequality; highlights in this regard the five Presidents Report which calls for greater, economic and social convergence but recognises that there are no one size fits all solution ; in this sense each common policy should be adapted to each Member State; considers that the European action should also address inequalities and income differences within Member States and cannot be done by only addressing the situation of those in greatest need;

Amendment GA #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b (new) Recognizes that the European Semester has now a stronger focus on employment and social performance; respecting Member States own competences, calls on Member States for urgent action to ensure decent work with living wages, access to adequate minimum income and social protection , (which already reduced poverty rate from 26.1% to 17.2%) and quality public services and advocates the development and establishment of a proper sustainable social security systems; Calls on the Commission to help and to exchange best practices with Member States to improve administrative capacity at national, regional and local level, which is a key challenge for re-launching long-term investments and ensuring job creation and sustainable growth;

Amendment H #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participation;~~ Recognises the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), has been developed to play a key role in leveraging investment and promoting growth and job creation ; Demands on the Commission to make a strong commitment to promoting the EFSI and use of the resources earmarked for it in European territories that are especially affected by severe unemployment , and in those with a low or zero level of participation; Calls on the European Commission to closely monitor and control the investments under the Juncker Plan, in order to assess the economic and employment impact of the investments in real terms with a parallel analysis of the obstacles encountered, particularly with regard to SMEs as the Plan does not just represent a new source of finance for them but also provides them with technical assistance and advice; calls at the same time on the Commission to continue its efforts to improve the business environment and conditions for obtaining business finance; Advocates an increase in social and environmental investments and support for the participation of social actors in the operation of the fund; stresses also the importance of ensuring that the rules governing the EFSI funded programmes are fully adhered to; considers that, as requested by Parliament, the projects should be focusing on quality and additionally, boosting the creation of quality employment and upward social convergence; reiterates its call on the importance of investments in human capital and other social investments and on the need of the effective implementation of the Social Investment Package;

Amendment I #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises the ~~significant progress made by th~~efforts made by several Member States in implementing structural reforms to enhance productivity, foster job creation, raise competitiveness and improve the business environment, Recalls that, in some Member States in, the implement~~ing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary:~~ed reforms have favoured flexibility at the expense of security and insists therefore on the need to rebalance the general approach so as to implement new socially responsible reforms focusing on the well-being of citizens making efficient and sustainable economic growth compatible with EU social standards; while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary, especially in cases of inefficiency; Recalls that, in order to boost strong and sustainable growth and upwards social convergence, there are many other pending structural reforms in areas such as fiscal policy, energy and industrial policy and reforms with regards to pension and health care systems, public spending and social investment,, as well as shift taxes from labour in a way to foster job creation and to foster incentives on enterpreneurship and employment creation;

Amendment J #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the fact that the Commission, in its package of recommendations, has disregarded Parliament’s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU, in particular through the adoption of specific measures, with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ integration into the EU; notes that these regions have specific characteristics and constraints and unemployment rates over 30 %; stresses the need for differentiated measures and programmes to be implemented to reduce asymmetries and maximise social cohesion in the EU ;Calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to other rural areas that are faced with a great many economic, environmental, demographic and social challenges; Considers that priority should be also given to all regions that still face high long-term and youth unemployment and that productivity growth remains slow affecting living standards and competitiveness; Calls in this regard on the Member States for the establishment of a specific investment programme, for their subregions whose unemployment rates exceed 30%; reiterates its call on the Commission to help those Member States in the design and the finance, within the MFF as agreed, of those investment programmes );

Amendment L #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Calls for acc~~Points ount t~~o be taken of~~hat the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015, such as the need to accommodate refugees, fight terrorism and boost security, the ongoing economic and social crisis, the farming crisis and the identity crisis affecting the European Union itself, which ~~have~~ required serious adaptation efforts~~; calls on the Commission not to apply any~~ and careful consideration with regard to the application of sanctions to Member States with an excessive deficit; highlights the serious efforts made to adapt to these new circumstances; notes the importance of the Commission to consistently and coherently apply the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact; calls on the Commission and on the Council to consider not to apply any cuts on structural and investment funds as sanctions to the Member States in 2016, given the current situation, and considering that it would imply a suspension of the application of these funds in the countries under sanction at the moment when they most need them;

Amendment M #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets that Parliament’s position, after being adopted in plenary, will ~~not~~ have ~~any~~little possibility of influencing and indeed modifying the CSRs under discussion; calls for an enhanced democratic component in the European Semester procedure at both EU and national levels;; calls for an agenda in which Parliament’s position is strengthened and ~~can be~~is taken into consideration before the Council takes a decision.;

Amendment N #