2017/2114(INI) Economic policies of the euro area
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ECON |
HÖKMARK Gunnar ( PPE)
|
SILVA PEREIRA Pedro ( S&D),
ZĪLE Roberts ( ECR),
WIERINCK Lieve ( ALDE),
VALLI Marco ( EFDD),
KAPPEL Barbara ( ENF)
|
| Committee Opinion | EMPL |
TOOM Yana ( ALDE)
|
Dominique MARTIN ( ENF),
Tamás MESZERICS ( Verts/ALE),
Sofia RIBEIRO ( PPE),
Ulrike TREBESIUS ( ECR)
|
| Committee Opinion | REGI |
VALCÁRCEL SISO Ramón Luis ( PPE)
|
Norica NICOLAI ( ALDE),
Davor ŠKRLEC ( Verts/ALE)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
2018/03/08
EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2017/10/26
EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
2017/10/26
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted by 382 votes to 176, with 51 abstentions, a resolution on the economic policies of the euro area.
Context : Members recalled that according to the Commission’s forecasts, the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre-crisis levels while still being insufficient to boost job creation in the Member States.
The euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017. Significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %. In addition, the general government debt-to-GDP ratio in the euro area is forecast to stand at 90.3 % in 2017 and 89 % in 2018.
Structural policies : Parliament considered that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of economic policies , in particular through improved and consistent national ownership and sound implementation of the country-specific recommendations (CSR) in the framework of the European Semester. Reforms should take due account of the specific situation and challenges in each Member State.
Stressing that elevated and persistent youth unemployment is a long-term structural risk, Members called for the implementation of sustainable structural reforms to tackle as a priority long-term unemployment, employment not making full use of skills and abilities, and ageing societies to high levels of private and public debt.
Parliament called on the Member States to reduce excessive levels of indebtedness . It also expressed concern at the persistently high level of non-performing loans (NPLs) in some Member States could present a risk to financial stability in Europe. It stressed the need for reforms to improve the business climate to boost productivity, price and non-price competitiveness, investment and employment in the euro area.
The resolution stressed the need:
to agree on additional efforts to boost access of SMEs to finance; to maintain the high employment rates where they have already been achieved; to take account of responsible and growth-friendly wage developments; to introduce tax reforms with a view to improving tax collection, preventing tax avoidance, tax evasion, as well as tackling the high tax burden on labour in Europe.
Investments : given the investment deficit in the euro area, Parliament stated that the economic recovery should be supported by public and private investment, in particular in education, innovation and research and development in order to better adapt to the knowledge economy. Completing the Capital Markets Union is also crucial for attracting and increasing investment, and improving the financing for growth and job creation.
Budgetary policies : Members considered that prudent and foresighted fiscal policies play a fundamental role for the stability of the euro area and the Union as a whole. They underlined that strong coordination of fiscal policies , the proper implementation and compliance with the Union rules, including the full respect of its existing flexibility clauses, provided by the Stability and Growth Pact, in this area are a legal requirement and key to the proper functioning of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
Highlighting the need to make public finances sustainable while promoting economic growth and jobs, Parliament emphasised that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies and one-off measures to ease the burden of current debt are only temporary.
Country-specific recommendations (CSRs) : Members expect a greater commitment from Member States to take the necessary policy actions based on agreed country-specific recommendations . While recognising that Member States have made progress in the implementation of CSRs in the area of fiscal policy and active labour market policies, not enough progress was made in areas such as competition in services and the business environment.
All Member States should take steps to correct macro-economic imbalances , in particular high levels of indebtedness, current account surpluses and competitiveness imbalances.
Employment and social policies : Parliament called for continued efforts to strike a balance between the economic and social dimensions of the European Semester process and to promote socially and economically balanced structural reforms that reduce inequalities and promote decent jobs leading to quality employment.
Increased attention should be paid to structural imbalances in the labour market in country-specific recommendations. In addition, the social impact of European policies should be evaluated.
The Commission and the Member States are called on to:
secure adequate funding to combating youth unemployment by continuing the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) beyond the end of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) and by enhancing the implementation of the Youth Guarantee Fund; enhance the effectiveness of labour market policies through funding that focuses on the environment, the employer, the worker, health and consumer protection; give greater recognition and visibility to social economy enterprises ; enhance social dialogue , collective bargaining and the position of workers in wage-setting systems; put forward ambitious proposals for a European Pillar of Social Rights ; explore ways of defining what a decent living wage might entail and how to measure it; better coordinate at European level the management of social security schemes ; put in place all suitable mechanisms for greater youth mobility, including apprenticeships.
Parliament called for an integrated anti-poverty strategy to achieve the Europe 2020 poverty target, and called for Member States to work towards the gradual establishment of minimum income schemes ensuring sufficient coverage and take-up.
Lastly, Members called for the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to be used more effectively to promote investment in quality social, health, education and employment services, and to tackle energy poverty, increasing living costs, social exclusion, housing deprivation, and the insufficient quality of housing stock.
Documents
2017/10/26
EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2017/10/25
EP - Debate in Parliament
Documents
2017/10/23
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Gunnar HÖKMARK (EPP, SE) on the economic policies of the euro area.
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, exercising its prerogative as an associated committee in accordance with Article 54 of the Rules of Procedure, also gave its opinion on the report.
Members recalled that according to the Commission’s forecasts, the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre-crisis levels while still being insufficient to boost job creation in the Member States.
The euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017. Significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %. In addition, the general government debt-to-GDP ratio in the euro area is forecast to stand at 90.3 % in 2017 and 89 % in 2018.
Structural policies : Members considered that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of economic policies , in particular through improved and consistent national ownership and sound implementation of the country-specific recommendations (CSR) in the framework of the European Semester.
In this context, they called for the implementation of sustainable structural reforms to tackle as a priority long-term unemployment, employment not making full use of skills and abilities, and ageing societies to high levels of private and public debt.
They called on the Member States to reduce excessive levels of indebtedness. Members also expressed concern at the persistently high level of non-performing loans (NPLs) in some Member States could present a risk to financial stability in Europe.
The report stressed the need:
to agree on additional efforts to boost access of SMEs to finance; to maintain the high employment rates where they have already been achieved; to take account of responsible and growth-friendly wage developments; to introduce tax reforms with a view to improving tax collection, preventing tax avoidance, tax evasion, as well as tackling the high tax burden on labour in Europe.
Investments : Members called for action to address the 'investment gap' accumulated since the outbreak of the crisis.
Investments in education, innovation and research and development would allow to better adopt to the knowledge economy. Completing the Capital Markets Union is also crucial for attracting and increasing investment, and improving the financing for growth and job creation.
Budgetary policies : Members considered that prudent and foresighted fiscal policies play a fundamental role for the stability of the euro area and the Union as a whole. They underlined that strong coordination of fiscal policies , the proper implementation and compliance with the Union rules, including the full respect of its existing flexibility clauses, in this area are a legal requirement and key to the proper functioning of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
Given that public debt remains high in some Member States, the report stressed the need to make public finances sustainable while promoting economic growth and jobs.
Country-specific recommendations (CSRs) : Members expect a greater commitment from Member States to take the necessary policy actions based on agreed country-specific recommendations.
While recognising that Member States have made progress in the implementation of CSRs in the area of fiscal policy and active labour market policies, not enough progress was made in areas such as competition in services and the business environment.
All Member States should take steps to correct macro-economic imbalances , in particular high levels of indebtedness, current account surpluses and competitiveness imbalances.
Employment and social policies : Members called for continued efforts to strike a balance between the economic and social dimensions of the European Semester process and to promote socially and economically balanced structural reforms that reduce inequalities and promote decent jobs leading to quality employment, sustainable growth and social investment.
Increased attention should be paid to structural imbalances in the labour market in country-specific recommendations. In addition, the social impact of European policies should be evaluated.
The Commission is invited, inter alia , to:
secure adequate funding to combating youth unemployment , which remains unacceptably high in the Union, and to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) beyond the end of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF); give greater recognition and visibility to social economy enterprises; put forward ambitious proposals for a European Pillar of Social Rights; explore ways of defining what a decent living wage might entail and how to measure it; put in place all suitable mechanisms for greater youth mobility , including apprenticeships.
The report called for an integrated anti-poverty strategy to achieve the Europe 2020 poverty target, and called for Member States to work towards the gradual establishment of minimum income schemes .
Lastly, Members called for the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to be used more effectively to promote investment in quality social, health, education and employment services, and to tackle energy poverty, increasing living costs, social exclusion, housing deprivation, and the insufficient quality of housing stock.
Documents
2017/10/16
EP - Vote in committee
2017/09/29
EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2017/09/08
EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2017/07/10
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2017/07/06
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2017/07/06
EP - Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
2017/06/15
EP - TOOM Yana (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in EMPL
2017/06/02
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2017/04/25
EP - VALCÁRCEL SISO Ramón Luis (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in REGI
2016/07/12
EP - HÖKMARK Gunnar (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in ECON
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2018)7
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T8-0418/2017
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A8-0310/2017
- Committee opinion: PE606.272
- Committee opinion: PE606.263
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE606.306
- Committee draft report: PE605.977
- Committee draft report: PE605.977
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE606.306
- Committee opinion: PE606.263
- Committee opinion: PE606.272
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2018)7
Activities
- Gunnar HÖKMARK
Plenary Speeches (3)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- Marco VALLI
Plenary Speeches (3)
- Valdis DOMBROVSKIS
Plenary Speeches (2)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- Pervenche BERÈS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Enrique CALVET CHAMBON
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Nicola CAPUTO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- Andrejs MAMIKINS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Notis MARIAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Bernard MONOT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Luigi MORGANO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Sofia RIBEIRO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Richard SULÍK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Eleftherios SYNADINOS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jakob von WEIZSÄCKER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2016/11/22 Economic policies of the euro area (debate)
- Lieve WIERINCK
Plenary Speeches (1)
Votes
A8-0310/2017 - Gunnar Hökmark - Am 1 26/10/2017 12:28:20.000 #
2017/10/26 Outcome: -: 527, +: 68, 0: 15
NI
GUE/NGLA8-0310/2017 - Gunnar Hökmark - Am 2 26/10/2017 12:28:32.000 #
2017/10/26 Outcome: -: 506, +: 75, 0: 32
A8-0310/2017 - Gunnar Hökmark - Résolution de la commission ECON 26/10/2017 12:31:04.000 #
2017/10/26 Outcome: +: 382, -: 176, 0: 51
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 648 |
2017/2114(INI)
2017/07/10
ECON
408 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) - having regard to the Protocol (No 1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the role of national parliaments in the European Union,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 19 a (new) - having regard to the COP 21 agreement adopted at the Paris Climate Conference on 12 December 2015,
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for growth need to be improved; takes the view that
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that, for this to materialise, the EU must adopt a convergence code which includes such economic, social and environmental indicators, thus improving the structural conditions for growth
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for growth need to be improved; takes the view that the potential growth of all Member States should increase in the long term to at least 3 %; for this to happen, establishing clear benchmarks on how to improve the potential growth of Member States could provide the necessary guidance for policy actions; points out that such a regular benchmarking exercise would have to take due account of individual structural strengths and weaknesses of Member States and should include areas such as the digital economy, the services sector, the energy market, but also the quality of public services, conditions for investment, the inclusiveness and preparedness of education systems;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for growth need to be improved; takes the view that the potential growth of all Member States should increase in the long term to at least
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for growth need to be improved; takes the view that the potential growth of all Member States should increase in the long term to at least 3 %;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for sustainable growth need to be improved; takes the view that the potential sustainable growth of all Member States should increase- on average- in the long term to at least 3 %; for this to happen, establishing clear benchmarks on how to improve the potential growth of Member States could provide the necessary guidance for policy actions; points out that such a regular benchmarking exercise would have to take due account of individual structural strengths and weaknesses of Member States;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises th
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that this would complement ongoing efforts on improving the quality and management of national budgets by addressing the triggers for growth in line with
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that this would complement ongoing efforts on improving the quality and management of national
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that this would complement ongoing efforts on improving the quality and management of national budgets by addressing the triggers for growth in line with Union fiscal rules and with full respect of its existing flexibility;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that this would complement ongoing efforts on improving the quality and management of national budgets by addressing the triggers for a sustainable and social inclusive growth in line with Union fiscal rules;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that this would complement ongoing efforts on improving the quality and management of national budgets by addressing the triggers for growth in line with Union fiscal rules and the EU 2020 framework;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Believes that the EU Institutions should assess whether the EU methodologies for the evaluation of the economic and social performance of EU Member States as well as the targets applied under the Stability and Growth Pact are still up-to-date, given that the overall economic and social conditions both at national and European level have changed drastically since the time when they were first drafted;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Agrees with the assessment from the Commission that the correction of macroeconomic imbalances continues, reflecting progress in implementing relevant reforms, but it remains largely asymmetric across the EU also in the sense that it is countries with external deficits or debt that have made further progress while, at the same time, large current account surpluses persist in some other countries;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Considers that, in order to ensure upward convergence and macroeconomic stabilisation in the short term, it is necessary to create a fiscal capacity for the euro area;considers that that fiscal capacity should comprise a European unemployment insurance system designed to mitigate the impact of the economic cycle;
Amendment 117 #
5 a. Supports efforts to enhance the credibility of banking union by applying its rules both in letter and in spirit more reliably, by bolstering the availability of loss absorbing capital and by completing banking union with a European Deposits Insurance Scheme;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Reminds all Eurozone Member States that the euro coins and banknotes issued by the Eurosystem is the only legal tender and thus it must not be rejected in economic transactions excepting when a high denomination banknote is provided against a minor payment;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Underlines that the correct implementation of EU law is a basic instrument for economic convergence inside the EU and the Eurozone, and calls for stronger enforcement and public pressure from the Commission on infringing Member States;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas, according to the Commission's forecasts, the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation i
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires
Amendment 127 #
6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires
Amendment 129 #
6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall,
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of structural reforms, in particular through improved implementation of the country-specific recommendations (CSR); thereby calls on the Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal to strengthen the link between structural reforms and EU spending; a partnership-based approach could ensure greater accountability and ownership for the outcome of the implementation of CSRs.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of structural reforms, in particular through improved implementation of the country-specific recommendations (CSR); notes that in 2016 55 % of CSRs have not been implemented or only seen limited progress, and only 2 % have been fully implemented; warns that the low implementation rate of CSRs jeopardizes the convergence process in the euro area and hinders growth and job creation;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth and employment situation in the euro area requires better coordination of socially balanced structural reforms, in particular through improved implementation of the country-specific recommendations (CSR);
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Considers that the uneven growth
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Agrees with the Commission that addressing the legacy of the crisis, from long-term unemployment to high levels of private and public debt, remains an urgent priority, which calls for the implementation of sustainable and inclusive reforms designed to foster social justice, mitigate income inequalities and support convergence towards better outcomes;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Notes that youth unemployment remains excessively high across the countries of the Euro area;points out that elevated and persistent youth unemployment represents a dangerous long-term structural risk to the economy of the Euro area;considers that specific policies must be developed and implemented to tackle this;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Recalls the importance of technical assistance in order to help Member States build capacity and converge;welcomes the attention paid to the issue of technical assistance in the Commission's reflection paper on the deepening of the economic and monetary union;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Takes the view that the current environment of low interest rates offers additional opportunities for Member States to implement structural reforms;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6 b. Urges all Member States to focus on reforms that facilitate investment in social infrastructure, education, early childhood education and care and lifelong learning, as well as on reforms promoting research and innovation capacity;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 c (new) 6 c. Recalls that sustainable structural reforms should be supported by EU instruments, particularly by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI);
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non- performing loans
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is deeply concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non-
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of unemployment, inequality and indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non- performing loans (NPLs) in some Member States, which are a legacy of the crisis and a result of the protracted period of sluggish growth since then, could have significant spill-over effects from one Member State to another, presenting a risk to financial stability in Europe; notes that capital buffers in the financial sector have been strengthened, but challenges arise from low profitability, coupled with high levels of NPLs; supports the proposal, backed by several European institutions and supervisory authorities, to create a European solution or blueprint for dealing with the current stock of NPLs in many banks' balance sheets; is convinced an EU-level strategy to deal with NPLs could promote a more comprehensive approach and concerted action at both national and European level;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; calls on Member States to reduce excessive levels of indebtedness; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non-
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non- performing loans in some Member States could have significant spill-over effects from one Member State to another, presenting a risk to financial stability in Europe; calls therefore for an urgent European solution for the non performing loans problem.
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non- performing loans in some Member States could have significant spill-over effects from one Member State to another, and between banks and sovereigns, presenting a risk to financial stability in Europe;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on sustainable growth and pose potential systemic risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non-
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre- crisis levels while still be
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still act as a drag on growth and pose potential downward risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non-
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Is of the opinion that legacies from the crisis such as a high level of indebtedness in all sectors of the economy still often act as a drag on growth and pose potential risks; is concerned in this regard that the persistently high level of non- performing loans in some Member States could have significant spill-over effects from one Member State to another, presenting a risk to financial stability in Europe;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Notes with concern, in this context, that the limited attention devoted by European supervisors to the high exposures to illiquid and opaque securities classified as level 2 and level 3 assets in other Member States favours large investment banks which are very exposed to systemic market risks, which currently are paradoxically regarded as more secure than banks which mainly engage in retail credit transactions;stresses that the volume of such illiquid securities, which is estimated to be twelve times that of net non- performing loans, could have grave repercussions, seriously endangering financial stability in Europe;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Invites all relevant European institutions and bodies to step up their work on the completion of the Banking Union, including the setting-up of a common European Deposit Insurance Scheme together with a sound and robust backstop, and on the creation of a full- fledged Capital Markets Union;stresses that new capital and liquidity requirements, albeit necessary to enhance the resilience of the banking sector, should not undermine banks' ability to lend to the real economy;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Notes that doubtful claims, particularly in the banking sector, remain one of the most pressing problems;stresses the need finally to create the political will to disclose and set down these requirements according the principles of balance sheet reality and transparency;points out that large-scale bank insolvency is unavoidable if the foundations for future growth are to be laid;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Considers that, as a consequence of the non-binding character of CSR's, responsibility for the consequences of non-implementation towards their population remains with the Member States;takes the view that the sharing of the burden of the consequences is conditional to the implementation of the CSR's;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7 b. Is disappointed that, after many years of work, Italy's bail-in rules are not being applied;reminds the Commission that it is the Guardian of the Treaties and that it is not doing justice to this distinguished task;stresses that the aim of the new rules on resolution was to break the vicious circle between states and banks and that this work was abruptly ruined by Italy's and the Commission's assumption of bank debts;considers that as a result the markets will put Italy's capital market access to the test sooner or later, as happened in 2012;regrets the fact that this will put the euro and, as a result, the savings of European savers at risk;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre- crisis levels while still being insufficient
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate and overall resources efficiency are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area and trigger the ecological transformation of the EU economy; underlines in this context the importance of well-designed and context adapted supply- side
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms; recalls, on the other hand, that growth is impossible without an adequate level of demand for goods and services; stresses, in this context, the need to support demand for consumption and investment, particularly by means of a positive fiscal policy in the euro area;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; believes additional efforts are required to boost access of SMEs to finance, which is a crucial factor for businesses to innovate and expand; underlines in this context the importance of both demand- and supply-side reforms, also taking into account distributional impacts;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms being undertaken jointly with demand-side improvements;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms in combination with fiscal and monetary stimulus;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that quality reforms to improve the business climate are needed to help boost productivity and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity, competitiveness and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that reforms to improve the business climate are needed to boost productivity, investment and employment in the euro area; underlines in this context the importance of supply-side reforms;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre- crisis levels while still being insufficient; whereas significant differences in growth rates remain across the EU, ranging between 0.0 % and 5.2 %;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Recalls that ultimately, consumers benefit from lower corporate tax;stresses that unrestricted tax competition is the only way to keep taxes low;in this context, considers the efforts to harmonise corporate tax rates and bases in the EU to be damaging;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Emphasises that digital structural reforms are essential for fostering the EU's competitiveness, creating high- quality jobs and highly skilled jobs;highlights the significant growth potential of both already observed efforts and of further ambition in terms of digital structural reforms;urges in this context that they should be prioritized;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Agrees on the need for reforms that improve productivity and boost price and non-price competitiveness in order to better support growth;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the GDP growth rate for the euro area was 1.8 % in 2016 and, according to the European Commission's projections, is set to remain steady at 1.7 % in 2017 and at 1.9 % in the EU overall, surpassing pre-
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the Commission
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the Commission
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the Commission’s view on the need for changes in labour market legislation that provide flexibility and security for both employees and employers, thereby increasing employment and ensuring sustainable growth; stresses, in this context, the need for labour market reforms at national level to be accompanied by the rules proposed in the Commission communication on a European pillar of social rights;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the Commission’s view on the need for changes in labour market legislation that provide flexibility and security for both employees and employers, thereby increasing employment and ensuring sustainable growth; underlines the importance of maintaining the high employment rates;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Shares the Commission’s view on the need for changes in labour market legislation that provide flexibility and security for both employees and employers, thereby increasing employment and ensuring sustainable growth and social right protection;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of linking wage
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. whereas the growth rates of the EU's and the euro area's economies have for years been too low and politicians are not sufficiently ambitious to help boost them by means of reforms;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of growth- friendly wage developments
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of wage developments
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses th
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of wage developments in line with productivity and asks the Commission to put forward specific recommendations with that purpose;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of wage developments in line with productivity; takes note of the fact that wage growth is forecast to be relatively moderate;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the importance of wage developments in line with productivity in order to maintain competitiveness;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) - having regard to the report of the European Fiscal Board on "Assessment of the prospective fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area" of 20 June 2017,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas in order to succeed, expansionary monetary policies must be accompanied by expansionary fiscal and budgetary policies;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 201 #
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 (-11
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that the l
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that one of the factors underlying the lack of competitiveness and investment in the EU is
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. whereas euro area deficit is projected to decrease to stand at 1,4% in 2017 and 1,3% in 2018;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that the lack of competitiveness and investment in the EU is, in part, linked to a general tax burden that is 10 to 15 % higher than in competing markets, creating hindering tax wedges on companies, investments and labour; believes that moderately lowering the tax burden on labour would increase employment and foster growth;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Considers that inequality and poverty need to be addressed when designing policy reforms and monitoring their implementation;agrees with the Commission that tackling income inequality and poverty requires a comprehensive set of preventive and mitigating policies, including equal access to education and health care, improved labour market opportunities and earnings prospects, affordable quality services and well-designed tax and benefit systems;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Points out in this context that a tax wedge as well as taxes themselves have a negative impact on competitiveness;finds that charges borne by employees and employers place work as a production factor at a disadvantage and make the automatisation of jobs more attractive;is concerned that this will worsen disruption at the lower end of the pay scale;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Notes that difficulties in access to finance faced by companies across the EU, in particular by small and medium- sized enterprises, represents an obstacle to the overall competitiveness of the euro area;considers the implementation of measures to improve access to finance a key priority for the improvement of competitiveness in the euro area;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Stresses, therefore, the importance of shifting the tax burden from employment and SMEs to effective taxation of the profits of multinationals, pollution of the environment and financial speculation;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Stresses the importance of national ownership for the successful conduct of structural reforms;strongly encourages the continuation of efforts made in order to foster effective dialogue between the EU and national level;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Calls to the Commission to align the Semester to decarbonise the economy, and thereby align public financial flows to the requirements of Article 2 in the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Underlines that structural reforms in housing, products, services and labour markets must be a priority in the Member States;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11 a. Stresses the need for a better coordination of taxation in the EU to fight unfair tax competition;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Considers the deepening of the single market to be a major contributor to the economic development of the euro area;notes that administrative, legal and financial obstacles remain to cross-border economic activity, which represent a particular burden to small and medium- size enterprises;considers that steps should be taken for the harmonisation of administrative, legal and financial requirements for cross-border economic activity;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) A b. whereas euro area government debt is projected to decrease to stand at 90,3% in 2017 and 89,0% in 2018;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Calls on the Commission to include in the next AGS a fourth pillar based on a comprehensive strategy to move towards a low-carbon economy, in order to translate in concrete policy actions the results of the COP21 for the purpose of fighting climate change and promoting sustainable growth based on innovation, an efficient use of energy and resources, renewable energy, green investment and new employment opportunities;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Highlights that accountability of governments to their national Parliaments as regards their economic policies is crucial in order to foster ownership of structural reforms and prevent scapegoating of the EU level;encourages accordingly the strengthening of relevant national scrutiny mechanisms;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11 b. Underlines that fiscal stimulus, where possible, through lower taxes can support domestic demand, social security and supply of investments and labour;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 c (new) 11 c. Emphasises that excessive and inefficient government bureaucracy represents an obstacle to business across the EU, being particularly burdensome to small and medium-sized enterprises, and could represent a barrier to entry;considers that measures need to be implemented to streamline government bureaucracy and make it more efficient;stresses that digitalisation of such bureaucracy would be a welcomed step forward;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be guided and supported by public investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment and notes that there is still a
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by both public and private investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment and demand for goods and services, and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017,
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by public and private investment and notes that there is still a
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area; recognises, however, that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre-crisis level; in this regard stresses that, while countries which have to continue on the path of fiscal consolidation must do that by cutting public expenditure in unproductive areas, countries having the margin for manoeuvre must use it for more productive investment;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area; notes that there are a number of Member States with fiscal scope and favourable financing conditions where investment is still subdued; is of the view that such countries should use the available means to increase the investment levels; recognises, however, that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre- crisis level;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by investment, particularly in innovation, and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area; recognises, however, that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre-crisis level;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by sustainable green investment and notes that there is still an investment gap in the euro area; recognises, however, that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre- crisis level;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Calls on euro area Member States and the Commission to speed up and maximize the use of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in order to take advantage of all internal growth drivers, targeting public investment to projects with significant macroeconomic impact that can boost innovation, productivity, competitiveness, as well as social inclusion, with a view to promoting upward convergence between Member States;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Believes that the composition and quality of investment expenditures matter strongly;takes the view that investment should primarily support long-term growth and, to this aim, focus on areas that are most likely to deliver it such as, in particular, education, life-long learning, research and development and energy transition;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Stresses that SMEs play a fundamental role in investment and innovation in Europe;underlines the differences in financing conditions for SMEs between Member States, which are influenced by country-specific factors;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Stresses that investment stems from private capital accumulated as savings and cannot be replaced by the Central Bank or other vehicles of centralised planning;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Emphasises that main reasons for low private investment are taxes, red tape and debts;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12 b. Underlines that public investments in human capital and infrastructure are of the utmost importance;considers that the economic crisis has highlighted the strong need to facilitate public and private investment in areas such as education, innovation and research and development;stresses the crucial role of public spending on education and life- long learning;believes the rate of public investments in education, infrastructure and research and innovation should grow, particularly in those Member States where there is more room to increase public expenditure;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks would allow for immediate support for economic activity
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks would allow for immediate support for economic activity and at the same time set the conditions for long-term growth; recalls that further harmonisation of legislation in areas such as insolvency and taxation of cross-border activities present significant potential in this respect; welcomes in this context the agreement on double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms reached at the Council and calls for a swift adoption of the Commission's proposal for a directive on preventive restructuring frameworks and second chance; also underlines the potential benefits of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base regarding the facilitation of cross-border investment;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks would allow for immediate support for economic activity and at the same time set the conditions for long-term growth; stresses that the completion of the Capital Markets Union is a crucial factor to attract and to increase investment, and improve the financing of growth and jobs;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks as well as more robust level of aggregate demand would allow for immediate support for economic activity and at the same time set the conditions for long-term growth;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks would allow for immediate support for economic activity and at the same time set the conditions for long-term sustainable growth;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that reforms removing investment bottlenecks would allow for immediate support for economic activity and at the same time help set the conditions for long-term growth;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13 a. Considers research, technology and education to be of vital importance to the long-term economic development of the Euro area;stresses the vast disparities between member states in investment in these areas;notes that investment in these areas can contribute to the development of innovation in the EU;considers that member states should take active measures to meet their target gross domestic expenditure on research and development in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the on-going negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) could help to improve the effectiveness of this instrument and to address shortcomings experienced in its implementation so far by facilitating the financing of near viable projects with strong potential of spreading positive externalities and reducing negative externalities while respecting a strict enforcement of the additionnality concept;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the ongoing negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) could help to improve the effectiveness of this instrument
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the ongoing negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the ongoing negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) could help to improve the effectiveness of this instrument and to address shortcomings experienced in its implementation so far; stresses that geographical and sectorial coverage must by significantly improved in order to strengthen territorial and social cohesion and promote real convergence, as well as to achieve a more impactful macroeconomic effect;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the ongoing negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) could help to improve the effectiveness of this instrument and to address shortcomings experienced in its implementation so far; Calls on the Commission to ensure that effective funding is redistributive between member- states, thereby contributing to the necessary upward convergence;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017, their lowest rates since March 2009 and December 2008; whereas significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %; whereas the euro area and EU28 youth unemployment rates were still at high levels in April 2017, specifically 18,7% and 16,7%;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Takes the view that a timely agreement in the ongoing negotiations on the revised European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) could help to improve the effectiveness of this instrument and to address shortcomings experienced in its implementation so far; stresses the importance of EFSI-funded projects being truly additional in nature;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Points out that the interest rate is effectively the market price and that the manipulations of the ECB undermine its effectiveness as a pointer, thereby making investment decision-making extremely difficult;is concerned at disruption in the production structure caused by the sustained low-interest-rate policy;is convinced that many EFSI investments and investments in sectors affected by the low-interest-rate policy will soon prove unsustainable;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Takes the view that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has proven to be an inadequate instrument to tackle the investment gap in the EU and to facilitate economic recovery;deplores in particular the emphasis on large infrastructure projects with a major environmental impact which have no real added value for the economy and society;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Considers that, after a long period of nominal adjustment, focus should be put on investments aimed at fostering a sustainable transition of Member States' economies towards a decarbonised economy and reduced use of natural resources, promoting fair and sustainable welfare systems and reducing social inequalities;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Stresses that SMEs are the backbone of the European economy, and therefore they have to be supported by increasing their access to finance and by fighting the business uncertainty connected to their activities, also in relation with dealing with bankruptcy;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Stresses that a fully functioning Capital Markets Union can, in a longer perspective, provide alternative financing to SMEs, complementing that of the banking sector;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14 a. Agrees with the Commission that in countries with excess savings and low investment, additional investments are needed to ensure future economic success;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) 14 b. Highlights that public and private investment is crucial to allow for the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy;recalls the commitments of the European Union, particularly in the Paris Agreement, to finance the deployment of clean technologies, the scaling-up of renewable energies and energy efficiency, and the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 c (new) 14 c. Signals that some country specific recommendations (CSR) address obstacles to investment which the local and regional authorities can help remove;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017, their lowest rates since March 2009 and December 2008, but still above the pre-crisis levels; whereas significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %; whereas there is still a high share of involuntary part-time work;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that prudent fiscal policies play a fundamental role for the stability of the euro area and the Union as a whole;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that prudent fiscal policies play a fundamental role for the stability of the euro area and the Union as a whole; underlines that strong coordination of fiscal policies and compliance with the Union rules in this area are a legal requirement
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017, their lowest rates since March 2009 and December 2008; whereas significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %, due to the increasingly divergent path between economies within the Euro and Eurozone;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Considers that
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 – point a (new) (a) Notes that countries experiencing imbalances due to high current account surplus should make use of fiscal policy in order to achieve a sustained upward trend in investment and thus limit the negative spill-over effects to the rest of the euro area;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Considers that the fiscal policy rules in the euro area have lost all credibility;expects the rules currently in force to be broken as much as all those which preceded them;is disillusioned at the majority support, in spite of this history of rule-breaking, for a fiscal regime for the euro area which will institutionalise rule-breaking rather than prevent it;recommends that investors position themselves accordingly and continue to expect the rules to be broken;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017, their lowest rates since March 2009 and December 2008; whereas significant differences in unemployment rates remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %; whereas youth and long-term unemployment is still very high;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline; is concerned, however, that
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline; is concerned, however, that this process is slowing down and agrees that government debt remains too high in
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that government deficits in the euro area are projected to decline;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline; is concerned, however, that this process is slowing down and agrees that government debt remains too high in some Member States impeding on investment and growth and making them vulnerable to interest rate shocks;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) - having regard to the Commission communication (2016)0727 of 16 November 2016,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the euro area and EU28 unemployment rates were 9.3 % and 7.8 % respectively in April 2017, their lowest rates since March 2009 and December 2008; whereas significant differences in unemployment rates and more specifically on youth unemployment remain across the EU ranging between 3.2 % and 23.2 %;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Welcomes the fact that deficits in the euro area are projected to decline; is concerned, however, that this process is slowing down and agrees that government and private debt remains too high in some Member States;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16 a. Agrees with the Commission that, when taking policy measures to achieve the recommended budgetary adjustments under the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, Member States should give serious consideration to the need to keep supporting the economic recovery and the potential impacts on employment;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16 b. Incentivizes all Member States to step up their efforts towards achieving a more growth-friendly composition of fiscal policies;supports rational and country-specific efforts towards improving the quality, efficiency and growth-friendly character of public expenditure, especially by shifting unproductive expenses towards growth enhancing investments, but without jeopardizing the essential provision of public and social services;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that sound fiscal policies must
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that sound fiscal policies must be self-sustaining and take into account future liabilities; seriously questions whether the aforementioned measures fall within the scope of the mandate of the European Central Bank of maintaining price stability;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas employment in the euro area – nearly a decade after the global financial crisis – is still below the pre- crisis levels, although some further growth is projected;whereas the EU needs an inclusive labour market which helps fight inequality;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Warns that low interest rate payments, accommodative monetary policies, one-off measures and other factors alleviating the current debt burden are only temporary and that sound fiscal policies must be self-sustaining and take into account future liabilities; points out that the possibility of rising costs of debt service underlines the importance of bringing down overall debt levels;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17 a. Does not expect the European Central Bank to change its policy in the future; rather, anticipates that it will continue to pursue fiscal policy in the guise of monetary policy;does not assume that it will raise interest rates in the euro area, although all indicators suggest that they should be higher;takes the view that this is because the ECB does not pursue a monetary policy for the euro area as a whole but protects the interests of certain euro area members;reminds the politicians that they paved the way for this breach of the mandate by dismissing the idea of structural reform and not demanding such reform now;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that, given the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must b
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas global economic growth is still fragile and the euro area economy is faced with increased uncertainty and important internal and external political challenges;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances in full compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact with short-term
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances in full compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact with short-term macroeconomic stabilisation; stresses that Member States which did not comply with the fiscal rules of the SGP were more vulnerable and could not effectively handle economic shocks during the financial crisis;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro-area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances in full compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact, including the provision made for flexibility, with short- term
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18 a. Believes the EU budget could help relieve the strain on national budgets by collecting own resources instead of relying extensively on national contributions;stresses that greater integration within the euro area is indispensable and that the creation of a budgetary capacity to absorb economic shocks, mitigate asymmetries and foster convergence is a key element in the completion of the EMU;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18 a. Calls for the introduction of a European Unemployment Insurance Scheme, combining a self-insurance mechanism that ensures counter-cyclical behaviour across the business cycle with a catastrophe insurance as a solidarity mechanism for extreme crises;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the E
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Points out that the
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Points out that the current aggregate fiscal stance for the euro is broadly neutral
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Points out that the current aggregate fiscal stance for the euro is broadly neutral and
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Points out that the current aggregate fiscal stance for the euro is broadly neutral and does not present
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Points out that the current aggregate fiscal stance for the euro is broadly neutral and presents an appropriate balance of debt sustainability requirements with support for investment; in this context, welcomes the first assessment of the prospective fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area by the independent European Fiscal Board (EFB) and notes that the EFB recommends a neutral fiscal stance for the euro area as a whole and does not support a case for discretionary fiscal expansion;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19 a. Recalls the assessment of the European Fiscal Board of 20 June 2017, which concludes that in 2018 there is neither the case for a discretionary fiscal impulse nor for a fiscal contraction;supports its recommendation to recompose government expenditure towards higher investment spending in full compliance with the SGP;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises,
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises, however, that the aggregate view ignores the heterogeneous situation across Member States and the need to
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises, however, that the aggregate view ignores the heterogeneous situation across Member States
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises, however, that the aggregate view
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises, however, that the aggregate view ignores the heterogeneous situation across Member States and the need to differentiate the fiscal efforts
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises, however, that the aggregate view ignores the heterogeneous situation across Member States and the need to differentiate the fiscal efforts required by each Member State; emphasises that the concept of an aggregate fiscal stance must not imply that surpluses and deficits in different Member States can offset each other;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20 a. Agrees that a better coordination of the implementation of structural reforms, in particular through the improved implementation of and commitment to the country specific recommendations by the Member States, would create positive spill over effects;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20 a. Stresses that, within the existing rules of the Stability and Growth Pact, euro area Member States that have fiscal scope are therefore recommended to use it to support domestic demand, notably investment in infrastructure, research and innovation;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Recommends setting up a specific programme to assist Member States seeking to leave the euro area, either because they themselves have decided to do so or because their membership has become untenable ;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20b. Considers, however, that, in the absence of adequate compensation schemes, for some countries a departure from monetary union would become an unavoidable option as a way of overcoming the crisis and promoting the recovery of their own economy;considers, in this context, that a democratic procedure urgently needs to be introduced to permit Member States to decide whether to leave or to remain outside monetary union, on the basis of appropriate termination and opt-out clauses;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s excessively low productivity and global competitiveness calls for
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20 b. Deplores the fact that, contrary to other unified currency areas around the world, the EU's current fiscal framework contains no rules or instruments to directly manage the aggregate fiscal stance of the euro area;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20 b. Welcomes the timely publication of the implementation of the 2016 country specific recommendations (CSR) and the presentation of the 2017 draft country specific recommendations by the Commission;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 c (new) 20 c. Notes positively that over time Member States have made progress with two thirds of the recommendations;takes however the view that the implementation of the CSRs is still lagging behind and expects a greater commitment by Member States to take the necessary policy actions based on the agreed CSRs;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 d (new) 20 d. Is looking forward to the upcoming work of the EFB also regarding its other key task to assess the application of the EU fiscal rules and the upcoming annual report announced for autumn;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 e (new) 20 e. Reminds of the uncertainties surrounding fiscal stance assessment and points out that any policy recommendation regarding the euro area fiscal stance should err on the side of caution;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 c (new) 20 c. Notes that around two thirds of the country-specific recommendations issued until 2016 have been implemented with at least 'some progress';
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Re
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Recognises that Member States have made progress in the area of fiscal policy
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Recognises that Member States have made progress in the area of fiscal policy and active labour market policies, while
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Recognises that Member States have
Amendment 361 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Recognises that Member States have made progress in the area of fiscal policy and active labour market policies, while least progress was made in areas such as competition in services
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21 a. Welcomes that the recommendations by the Commission for the CSR include now for the first time limits to nominal growth rate of net primary government expenditure and the corresponding annual structural adjustment of GDP, based on the commonly agreed adjustment matrix;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Considers it necessary to enhance and supplement internal market cohesion and freedom of movement in line with the specific recommendations for each Member State;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21 a. Invites the Commission to draft a proposal regarding the fiscal capacity of the Eurozone;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 b (new) 21 b. Agrees with the Commision´s Communication (2016)0727 of 16 November 2016 that states that 'In light of the slow recovery and risks in the macroeconomic environment, there is a case for a moderately expansionary fiscal stance for the euro area at this point in time.Based on estimates from the Commission services, a fiscal expansion of up to 0.5% of GDP at the level of the euro area as a whole is considered desirable for 2017 in the present circumstances'.This fiscal expansion is roughly equivalent to EUR 50 billion;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission’s recommendation to close the Excessive Deficit Procedures for several Member States;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission’s recommendation to close the Excessive Deficit Procedures for several Member States; welcomes past and ongoing fiscal and reform efforts, yet insists that these efforts will need to continue
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission’s recommendation to close the Excessive Deficit Procedures for several Member States; welcomes past and ongoing fiscal and reform efforts, yet insists that these efforts will need to continue to ensure the
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes note of the Commission
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Notes that the in-depth analysis conducted by the Commission in 2017 under the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure shows that 12 Member States are experiencing macroeconomic imbalances
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23.
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Notes that 12 Member States are experiencing macroeconomic imbalances of varying nature and severity, while excessive imbalances exist in six Member States; takes note of the Commission's conclusion that there are currently no analytical grounds for stepping up the macroeconomic imbalance procedure for any Member State;
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Notes that 12 Member States are experiencing macroeconomic imbalances of varying nature and severity, and that excessive current account deficits are just the reversal of excessive current account surpluses, while excessive imbalances exist in six Member States;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Notes with concern that 12 Member States are experiencing macroeconomic imbalances of varying nature and severity, while excessive imbalances exist in six Member States;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Highlights th
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s excessively low productivity and global competitiveness calls for socially balanced structural reforms,
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Highlights that the macroeconomic imbalance procedure is aimed at
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Highlights that the macroeconomic imbalance procedure is aimed at preventing imbalances within and between Member States with a view to avoiding negative spill-over effects to other Member States; Considers that excessive current account surpluses are just as harmful to the Eurozone as unsustainable public debts; Notes that persistent current account surpluses signal a beggar-thy-neighbour dynamic which has detrimental effects both to specific member-states and the Eurozone as a hole; reminds that external imbalances are a symptom of unresolved deficiencies in the Eurozone design, which must be urgently tackled;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Highlights that the macroeconomic imbalance procedure is aimed at preventing imbalances within Member States, particularly excessive current-account surpluses, with a view to avoiding negative spill-over effects to other Member States and to the economic stability of the euro area; expresses its concern about the fact that the corrective arm provided for by the procedure has never been used;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Highlights that the macroeconomic imbalance procedure (MIP) is aimed at preventing imbalances within Member States with a view to avoiding negative spill-over effects to other Member States;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24 a. Is convinced that these macroeconomic imbalances are the price to be paid for the euro and must be accepted as such, as they take the place of the traditional aligning of exchange rates in a fixed rate regime such as the euro, thereby indicating where national economies are particularly uncompetitive;stresses in this context that all euro area countries have had ample time since 2012 to make the crucial adjustments;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24 a. Reminds that the Excessive Imbalance Procedure (EIP) is an enhanced surveillance mechanism to ensure compliance with the MIP;is of the view that EIP should be consistently applied to countries that significantly and constantly experience imbalances and fail to take adequate actions to correct them, regardless of the type of imbalances;
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States which have greater room for manoeuvre take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address i
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness, and commit to
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness and excessive current- account surpluses, and commit to structural reforms ensuring the economic sustainability of each individual Member State, thereby ensuring the overall
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness
Amendment 395 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness, and commit to structural reforms, with due regard for social policy aspects, ensuring the economic sustainability of each individual Member State, thereby ensuring the overall competitiveness and resilience of the European economy;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance therefore that all Member States take the necessary policy action to address imbalances, in particular high levels of indebtedness and account surpluses, and commit to structural reforms ensuring the economic sustainability of each individual Member State, thereby ensuring the overall competitiveness and resilience of the European economy;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Considers it of great importance
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 b (new) - having regard to the Protocol (No 2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s excessively low productivity and global competitiveness calls for
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Considers that the inability of Member States to conduct effective economic policies against the crisis and unemployment is largely due to the unsustainable economic constraints derived from the legal framework of the EU, which hamper economic recovery and aggravate the recession;stresses therefore the urgent need to work towards a radical revision of the EU's current economic governance rules, particularly the Treaties, the Six Pack and the Two Pack, and to revoke the Fiscal Compact, in order to restore governments' ability to tackle the crisis and pursue policies appropriate to the specific requirements of their area and people;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Considers it crucial for the euro area to be equipped with a mechanism for dealing with sovereign default;stresses that the euro area needs an exclusion mechanism and a withdrawal mechanism;notes that the stability of a currency does not mean its political imposition in a particular geographical area but the long-term conservation of its purchasing power;
Amendment 402 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25 a. Considers that the implementation of country-specific recommendations launched in the framework of the European Semester is crucial to addressing imbalances in the Euro area;notes that the voluntary nature for the implementation of the recommendations represents a vulnerability for the Euro area as a whole;calls on the Commission to make the country-specific recommendations binding;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25 a. Urges the Commission to consistently and vigorously enforce the existing macroeconomic governance rules to all Member States, regardless of the type of imbalances;notes that increased tolerance for breaches of rules risks undermining the effectiveness of the existing economic governance framework;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25 a. Notes with concern the increasing economic impact of growing corruption in some Member States and asks the Commission to specifically monitor this situation through the Country-specific Recommendations;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25 a. Highlights the importance of national parliaments debating country reports and country-specific recommendations, as well as national reform programmes and stability programmes;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 b (new) 25 b. Regrets that, contrary to the demand of the European Parliament Resolution on the 2016 Annual Growth Survey, environmental fiscal reforms are not properly addressed in country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 b (new) 5b. Opposes the incorporation of the Fiscal Compact into the legal framework of the Union, and calls on Member States to terminate that agreement;
Amendment 408 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 c (new) 25 c. Highlights the importance of renewable energy sources, greater resource and energy efficiency, including through the development of the circular economy;calls on the Commission to include country specific recommendations in these areas;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s excessively low productivity and global competitiveness calls for structural reforms, continued fiscal efforts and investment in Member States as well as massive deregulation, a reduction of bureaucracy and a return to the subsidiarity principle on the part of the EU in order to bring about sustained growth and employment and achieve upward convergence with other global economies and within the EU;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) C a. whereas monetary policy designed to fight deflationary risks played a key role in stabilizing the euro area as a collateral benefit in recent years, monetary policy in the coming years will need to control inflationary pressures which will present a renewed challenge of fiscal sustainability for countries with below average growth rates and above average debt levels;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the current account surpluses in some countries continue to far exceed economic fundamentals and to exceed the alert threshold of 6% of GDP for current account surpluses provided for by the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure;whereas in particular the large current account surplus in Germany further increased during 2015 and 2016, attaining nearly 9% of GDP, due to a constant increase in the balance in previous years;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) C a. whereas in 2016 only 2 % of country-specific-recommendations (CSRs) have been fully implemented, 43 % with some progress and 45 % with limited or no progress;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) C a. recalls that the euro is the currency of the European Union;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) C a. whereas the euro area is still facing a significant 'investment gap';
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C b (new) Cb. whereas the single currency prevents normal competitiveness adjustments between countries by means of fluctuations in exchange rates and deprives them of basic economic policy tools to absorb economic shocks, thus obstructing recovery and exacerbating the disparities and imbalances between countries at the centre and on the periphery;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 b (new) - having regard to the Occasional Paper No 182 on a 'Euro area fiscal stance' by the European Central Bank of January 2017,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C b (new) C b. reminds that all Member States without a derogation shall adopt the euro upon meeting the economic and legal criteria;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C b (new) C b. whereas aggregate demand in the euro area is sluggish and inflation remains below target;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C c (new) Cc. whereas the austerity policies which for years have been promoted by the Commission have had a very depressing and destabilising impact on the economy, causing domestic demand to collapse, and bringing about rapid rises in unemployment, poverty and socioeconomic diparities;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C c (new) C c. considers that All Member States without a derogation shall actively implement all necessary policy measures in order to meet the economic and legal criteria for the adoption of the single currency;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C c (new) C c. whereas private consumption remains the key driver of growth;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C d (new) C d. considers that after the 2019 elections to the European Parliament, all MEPs elected in Member States that have not yet adopted the euro shall voluntarily refrain from participating in votes regarding Eurozone affairs;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C d (new) C d. whereas some Member States continue to accumulate high current account surpluses, which goes counter and makes it more difficult to achieve the goal of economic growth;
Amendment 57 #
C e. welcomes the policies adopted by the European Central Bank in support of the single currency and economic recovery since August 2012;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C f (new) C f. considers that the main goal of the economic policy of the Eurozone is achieving full employment as a guarantee of decent living standards while reducing divergences among Member States;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 b (new) Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 64 #
1. Welcomes the
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of the European economy, supported by moderate GDP growth and decreasing, yet still high, unemployment rates; notes that the modest recovery remains fragile and that the
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of the European economy, supported by moderate GDP growth and decreasing, yet still high, unemployment rates; notes that the modest recovery remains fragile and that the development of GDP per capita is close to stagnation; finds that the gap between the per capita GDP of the EU and of emerging countries has narrowed dramatically; notes that this is not only because of favourable economic conditions in emerging countries but also as a result of unfavourable conditions in the EU;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of the European economy, supported by moderate GDP growth and decreasing, yet still high, unemployment rates; notes that the modest recovery remains fragile and that the development of GDP per capita is close to stagnation; notes with concern that debt levels in many Member States remain far in excess of the threshold as specified in the stability and growth pact;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of the European economy, supported by moderate GDP growth and decreasing, yet still high, unemployment rates; considers that the positive trend is due to the right policy mix in the past years; notes that the modest recovery, however, remains fragile and that the development of GDP per capita is close to stagnation;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 c (new) - having regard to Commission Recommendation 2010/191/EU of 22 March 2010 on the legal tender of the euro,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the good performance of the European economy, supported by moderate GDP growth and decreasing, yet still high, unemployment rates; notes that the modest recovery remains uneven, fragile and that the development of GDP per capita is close to stagnation;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates, particularly in some member States and especially for youth unemployment, show that the capacity to create quality employment in several Member States is still limited, and emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with the social partners, in order to step up investment in skills, make labour markets more inclusive and reduce social exclusion and growing inequalities in income and wealth;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Underlines nevertheless that there should be no complacency on the current state of play as macroeconomic and financial imbalances remain wide and the EMU still needs ambitious and far reaching reforms of its economic governance in order to fulfil the necessary conditions for its medium to long-term sustainability;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Notes with concern that GDP and productivity growth rates remain below full potential and that there is therefore no time for complacency, and that this moderate recovery requires relentless efforts if it is to achieve greater resilience through higher growth and employment;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 d (new) - having regard to Article 128(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States’ economies; emphasises that the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States could facilitate
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States’ economies; emphasises that the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States could facilitate at least
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States’ economies; emphasises that the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States could facilitate at least 1 % higher growth; underlines in this regard as a key priority to tackle the investment gap as well as to step up the fight against tax avoidance,tax evasion and corruption.
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States’ economies; emphasises that the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States could facilitate at least 1 % higher growth, as already evidenced in certain Member States;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that Europe harbours untapped economic potential as growth and employment are advancing unevenly; underlines that this is the result of the heterogeneous performance of the Member States’ economies; emphasises that the implementation of socially balanced structural reforms in the Member States could facilitate at least 1 % higher growth;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider the challenges linked to ageing societies as a matter of priority;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward convergence would be needed to sustain the economic recovery in the EU and the euro area in the longer term; considers there is an urgent need to tackle the significant imbalances that persist within the euro area and the EU more generally, namely the fact that in many cases convergence among and within the Member States is stalled; notes that high current account surpluses imply the possibility of boosting domestic demand; urges Member States with fiscal space to expand their domestic demand for their own and general benefit;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 a (new) Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward convergence would be needed to sustain the economic recovery in the EU and the euro area in the longer term; considers that upward convergence should be guided by a set of economic, social and environmental indicators to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward convergence would be needed to sustain the economic recovery in the EU and the euro area in the longer term; is concerned that the desire for upward convergence by means of structural reform is not shared by all;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward convergence
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward convergence improving overall competitiveness would be needed to sustain the economic recovery in the EU and the euro area in the longer term;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that a greater degree of upward social and economic convergence would be needed to
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that cohesion policy is the EU's principal investment activity, seeking to promote job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development, while improving the quality of life of citizens in all regions and municipalities of the European Union;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Considers that for this to materialise the structural conditions for
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92 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at promoting investment, employment and
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at promoting investment, employment and sustainable growth, and is one of the most important and comprehensive policies for strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion; welcomes the measures introduced in the current programming period to better align cohesion policy with the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at promoting investment, employment and growth, and is one of the most important and comprehensive policies for strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion in all Member States without any distinction between those inside and outside the Eurozone;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at reducing regional disparities, promoting investment, employment and
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at reducing development gaps among European regions by promoting investment, employment and growth, and is one of the most important and comprehensive policies for strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020 period (32.5 % of the EU budget), is aimed mainly at promoting investment, employment and growth, and is
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Recalls that EU cohesion policy covers all Member States and regions and supports tackling local and specific challenges in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, aligned with the common policy objectives of the Union;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it far beyond 2020
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it beyond 2020, in order to combat the disparities that have increased following the crisis; stresses that there is a close link between cohesion and economic policy objectives and that a notable share of the EU budget is dedicated to Annual Growth Survey and European Semester priorities, primarily through sub-heading 1a and ESI Funds;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it beyond 2020, in order to combat the disparities that have increased following the crisis; considers that cohesion policy can and should help to find ways of exploiting the untapped potential of the regions;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is not the best tool for contributing to
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it beyond 2020, in order to combat the disparities that have increased following the crisis; underlines that the long-term and integrated approach to cohesion policy should be maintained in the future;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it beyond 2020 for all regions of the Union, in order to combat the disparities between and within regions that have increased following the crisis;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions,
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Believes that EU cohesion policy is the best tool for contributing to both competitiveness and solidarity throughout the EU regions, and it is therefore essential to continue it in all European regions beyond 2020, in order to combat the disparities that have increased following the crisis;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that a strong euro area is a precondition for a strong Europe as a whole; however, the euro area cannot make progress and attain the significant level of growth required for job creation and development without joint efforts in the implementation of a good economic policy mix, consisting of investment, structural reforms and fiscal consolidation in all Member States, within and outside the euro area; therefore, economic policies should be developed for each Member State individually, based on the specificities of the Member State concerned, as is done within the European Semester, and avoid the “one size fits all” approach, as well as geographical or any other division such as between euro area and non-euro area Member States;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that disparities and divergences, particularly with regard to employment or unemployment rates, constitute a threat to Economic and Monetary Union and to the European Union in general; emphasises that cohesion policy, which is the main expression of solidarity within the Union, should be accompanied by 'real' convergence efforts and objectives in the economic and social fields to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Maintains that, whatever their nature, imbalances within the euro area need to be averted as far as possible and that cohesion policy could accordingly play a key role in preventing fluctuations and helping to provide stability; stresses, therefore, that cohesion policy should remain ready for use by all regions, including those which are more developed;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Underlines that, bearing in mind the objectives, structure, and fundamental importance of cohesion policy for the EU regions, it is unacceptable to link it to the macroeconomic performance of central governments; strongly believes therefore, that macroeconomic conditionalities should under no condition be part of post- 2020 cohesion policy;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recalls that the timing of the European Semester and of the programming and implementation of ESI Funds is different as they do not have the same objective; warns that a shorter and more cyclical approach to cohesion policy would undermine its objective of overcoming long-standing disparities and structural challenges in EU regions;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls for a golden rule according to which co-financing provided by local and regional authorities in the context of EU Cohesion Policy is excluded from the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recalls that keeping track of regional disparities and monitoring their evolution is definitely of key importance for the design and conduct of cohesion policy;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Is of the opinion that the unity of the EU budget should be preserved;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses that the single currency, like cohesion policy, serves long-term aims, seeking to generate growth and employment, greater stability, more protection and more opportunities; emphasises that the challenges in the euro zone, namely improvement of its governance, efforts to increase fiscal convergence and better coordination with the measures of the ECB, are likely to create an environment more favourable to the attainment of the objectives of cohesion policy;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Takes note of the study on the externalities of cohesion policy investments1a which shows that there is a return on investments in net payer Member States as a consequence of the investments made in beneficiary Member States in the framework of the operational programmes; _________________ 1aReport prepared as part of the Ex-post evaluation and forecast of benefits to EU- 15 countries as a result of Cohesion Policy implementation in V4 countries, commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and entitled ‘How do EU-15 Member States benefit from the Cohesion Policy in the V4’.
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Recalls the need to close the gap between the EU and its citizens; emphasises that cohesion policy is a unique tool to make Europe deliver on the ground, by combining main EU objectives with territorial needs and realities through a place-based approach; calls for the EU institutions and all stakeholders to step up their efforts to better communicate the tangible results and added value of this common, solidarity-based EU policy; insists that cohesion policy has an important economic and social impact, as well as constituting an important contribution to European integration;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that the swath of the European population below the poverty line is extremely broad; calls for a comprehensive poverty eradication strategy to the implemented with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 goals; points to the importance of minimum income schemes, which all Member States should adopt in order to reduce poverty and foster social inclusion;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Recalls the need to close the gap
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Recalls the need to close the gap between the EU and its citizens; calls for the EU institutions and all stakeholders to step up their efforts to better communicate the tangible results and added value of this common
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Opposes macroeconomic conditionalities as they counteract economic and social recovery efforts, and have a negative impact on the local authorities, citizens and SMEs which are the main beneficiaries of cohesion policy, on the basis of economic policies led by their central government; is concerned by the negative impact such arbitrary measures could have on public opinion on the EU;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Underlines that a substantial number of Country-Specific Recommendations cannot be fully implemented without an active role for the local and regional authorities; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to design a process for the proper involvement of local and regional authorities in the European Semester;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs and innovation, not only in major urban areas, but also in all regions with special geographical characteristics; stresses the high level of expertise in urban areas and their ability to administer the use of EU funding;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs and innovation, in not only
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs and innovation, not only in major urban areas, but also, first and foremost, in all regions with special geographical characteristics referred to in Article 174 TFEU;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs, inclusion, integration and innovation, not only in major urban areas, but also in all regions with special geographical characteristics;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting growth, jobs and innovation, not only in major urban areas, but also in rural areas and all regions with special geographical characteristics;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Notes that the trend in the euro area's per capita GDP is close to stagnation point; also calls for wider socio-economic assessment criteria to be applied, including for example the Social Progress Index, in order to provide the essential complement to GDP;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that the urban dimension of cohesion policy can play an important role in supporting
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Is convinced that
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses the need for 'greening' the European Semester to better integrate environmental sustainability into the wider cycle of economic governance;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Believes that boosting growth and employment requires strengthening support for research and innovation projects, especially new initiatives involving talented young people and start-ups, as well as simplifying access to, and the conditions for obtaining, the necessary resources;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Believes that boosting growth and employment requires strengthening support for research and innovation projects, especially new initiatives involving talented young people and start-ups, as well as simplifying access to, and the conditions for obtaining, the necessary resources; recognises the importance of promoting technological start-ups and ecosystems that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, specialists and advisers in a bid to step up innovative projects;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Believes that boosting growth and employment requires strengthening support for research and innovation projects, especially new initiatives involving
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Believes that boosting sustainable growth and quality employment requires strengthening support for education, social inclusion and for research and innovation projects, especially new initiatives involving talented young people and start- ups, as well as simplifying access to, and the conditions for obtaining, the necessary resources;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses that the major cause of the gap between different countries' GDP/capita is the different level of labour productivity (per hour or per employee);employees in poorer Member States tend, in fact, to work more hours than those in rich countries; however, points out that the much lower productivity leads to a big gap in income levels;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Stresses that labour productivity depends primarily on the amount of capital used, the technologies employed and the speed of innovation; emphasises that structural reforms are supposed to alleviate adjustment and change from less productive companies and industries to more productive ones;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Points out that persistent high inequality between Member States leads to migration from poorer into richer countries; this often implies a serious brain drain when the most qualified people leave for better-paid jobs in the core regions of the EU;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Points out that the use of aggregated data does not make for a deep understanding of the contrasts and the fundamental economic and social differences between Member States and between parts of individual countries; also maintains that the parameters imposed by the Stability and Growth Pact amount to economic constraints which are undermining the prosperity and well- being of European citizens;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Is concerned by the serious repercussions caused by high unemployment levels in various Member States, especially in the case of young
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Is concerned by the serious repercussions caused by high unemployment levels in various Member States, especially in the case of young people and older people; believes, in this regard, that the
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Rejects the imposition of macroeconomic conditions to be complied with and maintains that the relationship between cohesion policy and European Semester economic governance processes must be balanced, reciprocal, and non- punitive towards stakeholders in general;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Asks for the social scoreboard for the European Pillar of Social Rights to be fully integrated into the European Semester;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Considers, given that cohesion policy funding is intended to boost investment, growth, and jobs in the EU as a whole, that the national contributions necessary to co-finance cohesion policy projects after 2020 should be excluded from deficit calculations for the purposes of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Reminds that reducing inequality, promoting inclusion and fighting against poverty is the key driver of cohesion; believes that the ESF share of ESI Funds must be increased to reach 30% of cohesion funding in each Member States, and that its earmarking for poverty and social inclusion should be maintained at least as long as inequalities are not decreasing in the EU;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges,
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy could be a very important source of financial support for various issues, such as the integration of migrants, education, employment, housing and combating discrimination; points out, however, that in order to be able to face challenges additional to today's ones, cohesion policy's financial resources should be adapted upwards accordingly;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Points out that the structural reforms bound up with the European Semester and the country-specific recommendations have translated into situations which, in some cases, have widened the gap between European countries and regions;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy could be a very important source of financial support for various issues, such as climate change, the integration of migrants, education, employment, housing, environmental degradation and combating discrimination;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy could be a very important source of financial support for various issues, such as the integration of migrants whose status is regular, education, employment, housing and combating discrimination;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address new, serious challenges, and that cohesion policy could be a very important source of financial support for various issues, such as
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Recognises that the EU needs to address
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Points out that Brexit will have an important impact on the budget of the European Union; calls in this respect for a strengthening of communication efforts so as to show the added value of the contribution of cohesion policy to fostering growth and creating jobs in the regions of the EU, and thereby show that EU cohesion policy should remain the main investment tool of the EU in the next programming period;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Believes that investments in infrastructure help boost growth and overcome disparities between Member States and regions; calls for the Cohesion Fund to be extended post-2020;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that the different sources of cohesion policy financing must be coordinated by strengthening and creating new synergies for
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 e (new) 1e. Points out that whereas euro area economic and monetary policies are imposed with binding force, that does not happen in other contexts, for example immigration, in which solidarity, a European core value, has been lost;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that different sources of financing must be coordinated by strengthening and creating new synergies for a better use of money throughout all existing instruments, such as
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that different sources of financing must be coordinated by strengthening and creating new synergies for a better use of money throughout all existing instruments, such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments and Horizon 2020; notes, however, that in order to achieve its objectives cohesion policy should be implemented mainly through grants which guarantee equal access to funding for all regions and do not lead to increase in public debt;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that different sources of financing must be coordinated by strengthening and creating new synergies for a better use of money throughout all existing instruments, such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments and Horizon 2020; emphasises, however, the full independence of cohesion policy from the EFSI, both in terms of objectives and resources;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Believes that different sources of financing
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. Stresses that three-fourths of the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) are relevant to the cohesion policy objectives in the operational programmes of the Member States and their regions; is of the opinion that there must be a balanced link between cohesion policy and the European Semester;
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Is convinced that cohesion policy should
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Is convinced that cohesion policy should become more flexible, use more efficient tools, reduce gold plating, be result-oriented, and become simpler and more efficient in order to ensure effective use of money and better results in the forthcoming post-2020 period; considers that the proper, transparent and responsible use of Union resources is generally in line with the principle of bringing the European project closer to the EU grassroots.
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Is convinced that cohesion policy
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Is convinced that cohesion policy should become more flexible, transparent, use more efficient tools, reduce gold plating, be result-oriented, and become simpler and more efficient in order to ensure effective use of money and better results in the forthcoming post-2020 period.
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Is aware of the fact that cohesion policy funding, which represents EUR 454 billion at current prices for the 2014-2020
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Observes that the annual procedure of adopting country-specific recommendations to the Member States under the European Semester is not compatible with the medium- and long- term programme planning approach required for the ESIF and that in many cases the recommendations are contrary to social, economic and territorial cohesion objectives; rejects, therefore, any attempt to make access to EU funding instruments conditional on compliance with the country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Recognises that country-specific recommendations have an important role to play in creating an economic environment in which the Structural Funds can be made even more effective, but also considers it vital that the regions and managing bodies in general be involved more fully in the European Semester process;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Rejects the concept of macroeconomic conditionality, as this type of linkage between the ESIF and economic-policy guidance 'penalises' regional and local authorities for the failures of the national government, over whose performance the local and regional level, as well as other beneficiaries, have no influence of any kind;
source: 608.121
2017/07/20
EMPL
135 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the employment rate in the euro area
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Recital A e (new) Ae. whereas the arrival of millions of migrants has not boosted the economy in the EU countries concerned but has entailed considerable costs and jeopardised the safety of Europeans; whereas the term 'new people' used in the institutions' plans is extremely worrying;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 j (new) 4j. Considers that promoting women's participation in the labour market would boost GDP; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen policies and increase investment supporting female employment in quality jobs, particularly in sectors and positions where women are under- represented, such as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and green economy sectors, or senior management positions across all sectors;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 k (new) 4k. Underlines that the integration of long-term unemployed individuals through individually tailored measures is a key factor for fighting poverty and social exclusion and will ultimately contribute towards contributing to the sustainability of national social security systems; considers that necessary, taking into account the social situation of these citizens and their needs in terms of sufficient incomes, adequate housing, public transport, health and childcare as well as a better monitoring at the European level of the policies implemented at the national level;
Amendment 102 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 l (new) 4l. Notes that an increased effort is required in many Member States to educate the workforce, including adult education and vocational training opportunities; puts emphasis on life-long learning, including for women, as it gives the opportunity to re-skill in the ever- changing labour market; calls for an increase in the promotion of STEM subjects aimed at girls to address existing education stereotypes and combat long- term gender employment, pay and pensions gaps;
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 m (new) 4m. Recalls that the role of Member States is to guarantee an access to quality education and training at affordable cost notwithstanding the labour market need across the EU;
Amendment 104 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 n (new) 4n. Calls on the Commission and Member States to fully implement the Recommendation on Investing in Children and closely monitor its progress; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and introduce initiatives, such as a Child Guarantee, placing children in the centre of existing poverty alleviation policies and ensuring dedicated resources necessary for its full implementation;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 o (new) Amendment 106 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 p (new) 4p. Calls on the Member states to support apprenticeship and to fully use the Erasmus+ funds available for apprentices in order to guarantee the quality and attractiveness of this kind of training;
Amendment 107 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Takes the view that better skills matching and improved mutual recognition of qualifications is necessary to address skills shortages and mismatches; calls on the Commission to develop a pan- European skills needs forecasting tool, including the skills needed in growing sectors, such as the low carbon and circular economy; believes that in order to anticipate future skills needs, all labour market stakeholders must be strongly involved at all levels;
Amendment 108 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Takes the view that better skills matching and improved mutual recognition of qualifications is necessary to address skills shortages and mismatches; highlights the role that VET and apprenticeships can play in this regard; calls on the Commission to develop a pan- European skills needs forecasting tool;
Amendment 109 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Takes the view that better skills matching and improved mutual recognition of qualifications is necessary to address skills shortages and mismatches;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Recital A f (new) Af. whereas unemployed Europeans should be given priority over non- Europeans in regard to accessing jobs;
Amendment 110 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Notes the importance of skills and competences acquired in non-formal and informal learning environments ;stresses, therefore, the importance of creating a validation system for non-formal and informal forms of knowledge, especially those acquired via voluntary activities; insists in the implementation of the lifelong learning framework approach on a flexible education path recognizing formal, but also non formal and informal learning to foster equity and social cohesion and allowing employment opportunities for more vulnerable groups;
Amendment 111 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the social partners and the Commission to prepare in collaboration and the Commission to present a framework directive on decent working conditions in all forms of work, extending minimum standards to new forms of labour; stresses the importance of the joint understanding of new forms of employment and work, and the importance of collecting comparable data on this issue, in order to increase the efficiency of labour market legislation, therefore to increase employment and sustainable growth;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Calls for joint efforts to reduce gender based inequalities in Member States and for continuous support for designated, locally adjusted plans to reduce gender employment, pay and pension gaps through economic policies;
Amendment 113 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls for an integrated anti-poverty strategy in order to achieve the Europe 2020 poverty target; underlines the role of Member States’ minimum income schemes in seeking to reduce poverty
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls for a
Amendment 115 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls for an integrated anti-poverty strategy in order to achieve the Europe 2020 poverty target; underlines the role of Member States’ minimum income schemes in seeking to reduce poverty
Amendment 116 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Takes the view that the European Central Bank's policy of printing money poses a significant risk to the economic stability of the euro area, as undermining the value of Europeans' assets has led to non-European interests taking control of a great many European companies without any positive outcome for EU jobs; calls on the European Central Bank to set a target for growth in employment rates for Europeans;
Amendment 117 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) Amendment 118 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Points to the need for the coordination at European level regarding the management of social security systems, for which the Member States are responsible; stresses the absolute priority of ensuring the sustainability of social security systems, this being a central pillar of the European social model;
Amendment 119 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on Member States to ensure adequate and sustainable pensions in light of continued demographic change; in this regard, highlights the importance of older workers continued participation and women’s integration into the labour market to combat old age poverty;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas in March 2017 the youth unemployment rate in the euro area was 19.4 %, compared with 21.3 % in March 2016; whereas youth unemployment remains unacceptably high; whereas the austerity policies advocated by Brussels have been tested for several years in Greece where youth unemployment has hit disastrous levels (46.6 %);
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. highlights the low level of public investment within EU15 and calls for greater public investment in employment, focused and sustainable activities including decarbonisation and low carbon productive sectors;
Amendment 121 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 d (new) 6d. Calls on the Member States to establish specific investment programmes for their regions whose unemployment, youth unemployment and long-term unemployment rates exceed 30 %;
Amendment 122 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Member States to set minimum social standards;
Amendment 123 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Deplores the fact that, in its package of recommendations, the Commission has disregarded Parliament’s request to step up the implementation of Article 349 TFEU, in particular through the adoption of specific measures designed to integrate the outermost regions more closely into the EU; notes that these regions have their own particular characteristics and constraints, with unemployment at over the 30 % mark; stresses the need for differentiated measures and programmes to reduce asymmetries and thereby maximise social cohesion in the EU;
Amendment 124 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Takes the view that those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis, which resulted in massive unemployment in Europe and the transfer of astronomical amounts of private bank debts to EU taxpayers, ought to have severe penalties imposed on them and be debarred from working in the banking sector;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Deplores that the Commission’s and the Council’s goals regarding the fiscal consolidation processes do not prioritize the reduction of social inequalities and demands that this is changed;
Amendment 126 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Calls on Member States to invest in public childcare thereby improving the opportunities for workers, particularly women to re-enter the workforce;
Amendment 127 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Calls on the Commission to devote next Spring Council to social investment in the sectors where strong evidence exists that it promotes social and economic returns (e.g. early childhood education and care, primary and secondary education, training and active labour market policies, affordable and social housing, and healthcare);
Amendment 128 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Regrets that Parliament’s position, after being adopted in plenary, will have little possibility of influencing the CSRs under discussion; calls for an agenda focusing more closely on Parliament's position and taking in into account before a decision is reached; calls for the strengthening of the role of the EPSCO Council in the European Semester;
Amendment 129 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Calls for Eurostat to consolidate the economic figures of EU countries outside the euro area as a basis for informed decision-making;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas in March 2017 the youth unemployment rate in the euro area was 19.4 %, compared with 21.3 % in March 2016; whereas youth unemployment remains unacceptably high; Whereas in 2015 the share NEET's remains high and represents 14,8 % of 15-29 year olds, namely 14 million of NEET's;
Amendment 130 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 d (new) 6d. Calls on the Commission and Council to adopt a ‘golden’ rule ensuring that Member State’s social investment level do not fall under a previously adopted benchmark of social investment; calls on the Commission and Council to adopt the ‘silver’ rule on social investment to be applied when implementing the Stability and Growth Pact, namely to allow and incentivise Member States to pursue higher levels of public social investment in the sectors where it generates a positive impact on economic growth;
Amendment 131 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 e (new) 6e. Urges the Commission to set up a forum, with independent experts and relevant stakeholders, to develop a methodology to measure the economic and social returns of social investment in the five above-mentioned piloting sectors;
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 f (new) 6f. 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 133 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 g (new) 6g. Calls for the completion of the EMU with full transparency towards non- euro area Member States;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 h (new) 6h. Calls on the Commission, after due consultation of the civil society, notably the social partners, to submit a proposal by 2020 to the European Parliament and the Council, to establish a European Unemployment Insurance scheme, complementing national benefit schemes; considers that such an appropriately funded automatic stabiliser can play an important role in reducing inequality between countries and in neutralising the consequences arising from the absorption of asymmetric shocks; this scheme should be targeted to Eurozone countries, with the possibility for other Member States to join afterwards;
Amendment 135 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 i (new) 6i. Calls for additional joint efforts to improve the integration of migrants and people with a migrant background into the labour market.
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas Young people not in employment, education or training are estimated to cost the EU €153bn (1.21% of GDP) a year – in benefits and foregone earnings and taxes[1]while the total estimated cost of establishing Youth Guarantee schemes in the Eurozone is €21bn a year, or 0.22% of GDP ; [1] Euro found report on youth unemployment
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas gender employment gaps, gender pay and pension gaps remain significant despite continuous increases in the labour market participation of women and this has negative economic impact;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas youth unemployment could have very serious long-term consequences on retirement pensions and social security benefits in general;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Recital B b (new) Bb. Whereas an amount of € 1bn is currently allocated to the Youth Employment Initiative plan which is to be matched by €1 billion from the European Social Fund for the period 2017 - 2020;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Recital B c (new) Bc. whereas in many Member States the working-age population and the labour force are continuing to shrink, notably as a result of low birth rates; whereas the employability of women as the ongoing arrival of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are opportunities for Member states to cope with this issue and reinforce the work force in the EU;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the employment rate grew by 1.2% in 2016 in the EU28, 234.2 million people were in employment in the first quarter of 2017, the highest number ever recorded1a;however, the considerable number of jobs created in relation to economic growth hides challenges, such as the incomplete recovery in hours worked and modest productivity growth. If lasting, these factors may put additional pressure on long-run economic growth aspects and social cohesion in the EU1b; _________________ 1aEmployment and Social Developments in Europe, Annual Review 2017(ESDE),P11 1bEmployment and Social Developments in Europe, Annual Review 2017(ESDE),P46
Amendment 20 #
C. whereas poverty is decreasing
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas poverty is decreasing but remains very high
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. Whereas also one of the five Europe 2020 targets aims at reducing by at least 20 million the number of people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion; whereas this objective is far from being achieved and in 2013 almost 123 million people in the EU are in this situation of whom 32,2 million persons with disabilities in 2012;whereas in 2013 26,5 million children in the EU28 were at risk of falling into poverty or social exclusion; points out that high levels of inequality reduce the output of the economy and the potential for sustainable growth;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas restrictions on public spending and austerity measures are seriously hindering urgently needed investment in critical sectors of the economy and society and therefore withholding economic growth; whereas austerity measures and lack of public investment overly affect the most vulnerable households and may cause social crisis;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Recital C b (new) Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Recital C c (new) Cc. Whereas the most precarious work involves the inability of individuals to enforce their rights, where social insurance protection is absent, where health and safety is put at risk and where work does not provide sufficient income to enable people to live decently; whereas insecurity is another key element of precariousness and it encompasses work uncertainty, income insufficiency, lack of protection against dismissal, an unknown length of employment where there is uncertainty about future employment;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Recital C d (new) Cd. Whereas as opposed to precarious work, decent jobs with employment security must be promoted and required to help tackle unemployment across the EU but also to boost the domestic demand and stimulate growth;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Recital C e (new) Ce. Whereas growth in most of member states remains low, the EU growth rate for 2016 having even declined to stabilize at 2 % (whereas Global growth (excluding the EU) is expected to strengthen to 3.7% this year and 3.9% in 2018 from 3.2% in 2016) despite positive temporary aspects such as low oil prices, low interest for credits and unconventional monetary policies showing therefore that the EU can do more to boost the economic and social recovery so as to make it more sustainable in the medium term;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas employment rates are generally lower among women, in 2015, the employment rate for men aged 20–64 stood at 75.9 % in the EU-28, as compared with 64.3 % for women;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Recital C f (new) Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Recital D D. whereas labour market conditions and performances show substantial differences across Member States
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Recital D D. whereas labour market conditions and performances show substantial differences across Member States
Amendment 33 #
D. whereas labour market conditions and performances show substantial differences across Member States
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Recital D a (new) Da. whereas economic policies of the euro area highly affect other Member States’ economies too;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Recital D b (new) Db. whereas the increasingly cross- national tax evasion and corruption affect all Member States and undermines the EU’s economic performance, the rule of law and the credibility of democratic institutions;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Recital D c (new) Dc. whereas new forms of employment and labour are becoming more widespread with digital revolution of labour market;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Recital D d (new) Dd. whereas investment, being it private or public is a key tool to increase cohesion and real economy growth, as well as productivity and global competitiveness;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that further efforts are needed to achieve a balance between
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that further efforts are needed to
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the fiscal rules are restricting expansionary economics in Member States and public investment in job creating infrastructure;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that further efforts are needed to achieve a balance between the economic and social dimensions
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Reiterates the call for the three new headline employment indicators 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;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Agrees to the inclusion of working indicators, which shall have the same weight as macroeconomic indicators, in order to identify economic imbalances more easily and make structural reforms more successful;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that Member States should give priority to reforms that will give sustained support to social and economic recovery, create quality employment and boost social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Highlights that socially responsible reforms must be based on solidarity, integration, social justice and a fair wealth distribution - a model that ensures equality and social protection, protects vulnerable groups and improves the living standards for all citizens; stresses also the need to re-orientate the union's economic policies towards a social market economy;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Believes that the European Semester process should help to address not only existing but also emerging societal challenges in order to ensure greater economic efficiency coupled with a more socially cohesive European Union; acknowledges, in this respect, the need for an assessment of the social impact of EU policies;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Proposes introducing a non- punitive social imbalances procedure in the design of the CSRs so as to prevent a race to the bottom in terms of social standards, building on effective use of the social and employment indicators in macroeconomic surveillance;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Is concerned that labour market reforms in many Member states have mainly promoted precarious jobs; observes that 50 % of the jobs created that last 3 years were temporary; in this context, calls for a wage increase not only to guarantee decent income, but also which serves to consolidate the economic recovery through the strengthening of the internal demand;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas in May 2017 the unemployment rate in the euro area stood at 9.3 %, down from 10.2 % in May 2016;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 e (new) 1e. Reiterates the call for the three new headline employment indicators 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
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to secure adequate funding for fighting youth unemployment which remains unacceptably high in the EU and to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) up to the end of the current MFF, while at the same time improving its functioning and implementation
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission not to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to continue and better fund the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Underlines that the European Social Fund (ESF) is the most important EU tool for investment in human capital; recommends that the share of ESF in the future Cohesion Policy be increased to at least 25 % of the respective national envelopes;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Member States to implement the proposals contained in the Council Recommendation of 15 February 2016 on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market (2016/C 67/01);
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that increasing the scope, efficiency and effectiveness of active and sustainable labour market policies
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas despite increasing profit, private investment decreased in the majority of EU15 countries due to the negative impact of stagnation and in some cases falling wage share has on demand across the EU15;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that the scope, efficiency
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that the scope, efficiency and effectiveness of active and sustainable labour market policies should be increased; takes the view that the phenomenon of in- work poverty shall be addressed;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that the scope, efficiency and effectiveness of active and sustainable labour market policies as well as the public funding for them should be increased;
Amendment 63 #
3. Considers that
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Regrets that the social economy has been overlooked by the Commission in its package of assessments/recommendations; points out that this sector encompasses 2 million businesses employing more than 14 million people and contributing to the achievement of the 2020 targets; calls on the Commission and the Member States to give social economy enterprises greater recognition and a higher profile, through a European Action Plan for the social economy; considers that this lack of recognition makes it harder for them to access funding; calls on the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a European statute for associations, foundations and mutual societies;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. In this context, recalls the need to support and enhance social dialogue which plays a critical role in achieving high-level working conditions; emphasises that labour law and high social standards have a crucial role to play in rebalancing economies, supporting incomes and encouraging investment in capacity; stresses that EU law and policy documents must respect trade union rights and freedoms, comply with collective agreements and uphold equal treatment of workers;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that the European economy has not recovered enough to provide employment for all job seekers and unemployed; stresses that alongside job creation, including through public investment, integrating those further from the labour market through individually tailored measures benefits the individual, stabilises social security and supports the economy;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the importance of increasing public investment and enhancing private-sector involvement in economic and social development;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls on the Commission to build on the resolution of the European Parliament by putting forward ambitious proposals, including a framework directive on decent working conditions and a Social Protocol, for a strong European Pillar of Social Rights and full pursuit of the Treaties' social objectives in order to improve everyone's living and working conditions and provide good opportunities for all;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to make every effort to reduce the resulting administrative burden and financial cost to the business sector, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and to repeal legislation resulting in excessive bureaucracy, thereby boosting growth and employment;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas the unemployment rate in May 2017 in countries outside the euro area was much lower: Czech Republic (3.0 %), United Kingdom (4.4 %), Poland (4.8 %), Denmark (5.7 %) Bulgaria, (6.0 %), Sweden (6.7 %);
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Warns about the declining wage share in the EU, the widening wage and income inequalities and the increase of in work-poverty; recalls that the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN, 1948) recognizes the need for workers to earn a living wage as does the ILO Constitution (ILO, 1919) and that all human rights declarations agree that remuneration should be sufficient to support a family;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3d. stresses that wages must enable workers to meet their needs and those of their families and that every worker in the European Union should receive a living wage that provides not only for the mere necessities of basic food, shelter and clothing, but that it is also sufficient to cover healthcare, education, transportation, recreation and some savings to help provide for unforeseen events, such as illnesses and accidents; emphasises that this is the decent living standard that living wages should provide for workers and their families in the EU;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 e (new) 3e. Asks the Commission to study how to identify what a living wage could encompass and how it should be measured, serving as a reference tool for social partners and help to exchange best practices in this regard;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 f (new) 3f. Recalls that decent wages are important not only for social cohesion, but also for maintaining a strong economy and a productive labour force; calls on the Commission and the Member States to implement measures to improve job quality and reduce wage dispersion, including by raising wage floors also in the form of, where applicable, minimum wages set at decent levels;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 g (new) 3g. Calls for policies that respect, promote and strengthen collective bargaining and workers' position in wage- setting systems which play a critical role in achieving high level working conditions; believes all this should be done with a view to supporting aggregate demand and economic recovery, reducing wage inequalities and fighting in-work poverty; stresses in this context, that European legislation and policies must respect trade union rights and freedom, comply with collective agreements and uphold equal treatments of workers;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 h (new) 3h. Warns that excessive levels of top managers' pay come not only at the expense of the shareholders but at the expense of workers; highlights that this excessive dispersion in wages is unethical, increases inequalities and damages productivity and competitiveness of companies; calls on the Commission to present a proposal to adopt at European level a legal obligation requiring listed as well as public companies to disclose the annual total compensation of the chief executive officer (CEO) and the top managers and the median of the annual compensation of all other employees of the company;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 i (new) 3i. Highlights the importance of the automatic stabilisation dimension of welfare systems to absorb social shock waves caused by external effects as recessions; calls therefore on the Member states to introduce policies to re-establish security in employment by providing pro- active protection, including in case of dismissals; with a view to ILO Recommendation No 202 which defines the social protection floors, calls also on the member states to ensure and increase their investment in social protection systems in order to guarantee their performance in tackling and preventing poverty and inequalities while ensuring their sustainability;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 j (new) 3j. Highlights that universal access to public, solidarity-based and adequate retirement and old age pensions must be granted to all; acknowledges the challenges faced by Member States to strengthen the sustainability of pension systems but stresses the importance of safeguarding the solidarity in the pension systems by strengthening the revenue side without necessarily increasing the retirement age;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 k (new) 3k. Underlines the importance of public and occupational pension systems which provide an adequate retirement income well above the poverty threshold and allow pensioners to maintain their standard of living; believes that the best way to ensure sustainable, safe and adequate pensions for women and men is to increase the overall employment rate and quality jobs across all ages, improving working and employment conditions, and by committing the necessary supplementary public spending; believes that reforms of pension systems should focus amongst others on the effective retirement age and reflect labour market trends, birth rates, the health and wealth situation, working conditions and the economic dependency ratio;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 l (new) 3l. Considers that these reforms must also take account of the situation of millions of workers in Europe, particularly women, youngsters and self- employed, suffering insecure, atypical employment, periods of involuntary unemployment and working-time reduction;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Recital A c (new) Ac. whereas 19 092 million Europeans (EU 28), including 15 011 million in the euro area, were unemployed in May 2017;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 m (new) 3m. Calls on the Commission to continue to pay particular attention to the improvement of childcare services and to flexible working time arrangements, to the needs of ageing men and women and other dependent persons as regards long- term care;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 n (new) 3n. Deplores the persistence of the gender pay and pension gap; calls on the EU and the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners and gender equality organisations, to set out and implement policies to close the gender pay and pension gap; calls on the Member States to carry out wage-mapping on a regular basis as a complement to these efforts;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that insufficient and inadequately focused investment in skills development and lifelong learning, particularly digital skills and programming may undermine the Union’s competitive position; notes that inequality has intensified in around ten Member States and is one of the main socio- economic challenges in the EU1c; _________________ 1cEmployment and Social Developments in Europe, Annual Review 2017(ESDE),P47
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that insufficient and inadequately focused investment in digital and green job skills and programming may undermine the Union’s competitive position; calls on the Commission to help foster skills development through the updating of qualifications and corresponding education and training curricula at EU level;
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that insufficient and inadequately focused investment in digital skills
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Points out that the growing inequalities and unemployment in the Member States show clearly that the EU and its policies have not encouraged progress but rather a constant erosion of social rights, devaluation of work, social insecurity and poverty; reiterates that the Member States play a key role in contributing to growth and employment in the European Union and that they have to be free to implement anti-cyclical economic policies to protect the purchasing power of wages, boost domestic demand and create decent jobs;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Regrets that the increase in the employment rate has been accompanied by the increase of atypical, precarious and non-formal forms of employment, zero- hour contracts included and the weakening of social dialogue; encourages the Member States to make further efforts in order to reach the Europe 2020 employment rate target of 75 % while guaranteeing European citizens the best quality of life via quality and inclusive jobs;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Underlines the profound changes ushering in the labour market of the future following the emergence of artificial intelligence; calls on Member States and the Commission to develop instruments and cooperative initiatives, involving the social partners, to enhance skills in this sector by means of preliminary, initial and ongoing training;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Recital A d (new) Ad. whereas economic policy in the euro area has caused unemployment figures to rise by 3 267 million over 10 years (since May 2007) ;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Underlines that the implementation of the Youth Guarantee should be strengthened at national, regional and local level, and stresses its importance for school-to-work transitions; points out that special attention has to be paid to young women and girls, who could face gender-related barriers to obtaining a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship; emphasises the need to ensure that the Youth Guarantee reaches young people facing multiple exclusions and extreme poverty;
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. To this end and also as a means achieving work-life balance, calls for consideration to be given to flexicurity arrangements, including teleworking and flexitime, in consultation with the social partners;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Stresses the need to guarantee suitable forms of collaboration between public and private employment services and individualised and mainstream social support services; highlights that a better collaboration of public administrations and stakeholders at the local level and better synergies among levels of governments would increase the outreach and the impact of the programmes;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Highlights the importance of investment in human capital a driving force behind development, competitiveness and growth;
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Regrets that in some member states the youth guarantee has failed to deliver the expected results; regrets also that the financing of the youth guarantee had not been enough to effectively address the issue and the lack of coordination on the use that member states have done with the funding; reiterates its continuous call for a European framework for introducing minimum standards for the implementation of youth guarantee;
Amendment 95 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 e (new) 4e. Emphasises that a better work-life balance and strengthened gender equality are essential for supporting the participation of women in the labour market; underlines that the key to women's economic empowerment is the transformation and adaptation of the labour market and welfare systems in order to take into account women's life cycles;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 f (new) 4f. Welcomes the proposal for the Work-life balance Directive as a positive first step forward in ensuring reconciliation of the work and private lives for men and women caring for their children and other dependants and increasing the participation of women on the labour market although regretting that no progress on the maternity leave has been made; insists however that securing appropriate remuneration and strong social security and protection are key to achieving these goals;
Amendment 97 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 g (new) 4g. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop transformative policies and to invest in awareness-raising campaigns to overcome gender stereotypes and to promote a more equal sharing of care and domestic work, focusing also on the right of and need for men to take up care responsibilities without being stigmatised or penalised;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 h (new) 4h. Calls on the Member States to put in place proactive policies and appropriate investment aimed and designed to support women and men entering, returning to, staying and advancing in the labour market, after periods of family and care- related types of leave, with sustainable and quality employment, in line with Article 27 of the European Social Charter; stresses in particular the need to guarantee reinstatement to the same post or to an equivalent or similar post, protection against dismissal and less favourable treatment as a result of pregnancy, applying for or taking family leave, and a protection period after their return so that they can readjust to their job; reiterates that changes in working hours and/or routines on the return to work (including the need for the employer to justify a refusal) and training periods should also be guaranteed;
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 i (new) 4i. Calls on the Member States to step up protection against discrimination and unlawful dismissal related to work-life balance, calls in this context on the Commission and the Member States to propose policies to improve enforcement of anti-discrimination measures in the workplace, including increasing the awareness of legal rights regarding equal treatment by conducting information campaigns, reversal of the burden of proof and empowering national equality bodies to conduct formal investigations on their own initiative of equality issues and help potential victims of discrimination;
source: 608.051
2017/09/26
EMPL
13 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas in March 2017 the youth unemployment rate in the euro area was 19.4 %, compared with 21.3 % in March 2016; whereas youth unemployment remains unacceptably high; whereas in 2015 the share NEET's remains high and represents 14,8 % of 15-29 year olds, namely 14 million NEETs; whereas NEETs are estimated to cost the Union €153bn (1.21% of GDP) a year – in benefits and foregone earnings and taxes[1] while the total estimated cost of establishing Youth Guarantee schemes in the Eurozone is €21bn a year, or 0.22% of GDP; whereas € 1bn are currently allocated to the Youth Employment Initiative which is to be matched by €1 billion from the European Social Fund for the period 2017 - 2020; _________________ [1] Eurofound report on youth unemployment;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Urges the Commission to put in place all suitable mechanisms for greater mobility among young people, apprenticeships included; calls on the Member states to support apprenticeship and to fully use the Erasmus+ funds available for apprentices in order to guarantee the quality and attractiveness of this kind of training; calls for better implementation of the EURES regulation; highlights that a better collaboration of public administrations and stakeholders at the local level and better synergies among levels of governments would increase the outreach and the impact of the programmes;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Takes the view that access to and quality of education should be improved; recalls that the role of Member States is to ensure an access to quality education and training at affordable cost notwithstanding the labour market need across the EU; notes that an increased effort is required in many Member States to educate the workforce, including adult education and vocational training opportunities; puts emphasis on life-long learning, including for women, as it gives the opportunity to re-skill in the ever- changing labour market; calls for an increase in the promotion of STEM subjects aimed at girls to address existing education stereotypes and combat long- term gender employment, pay and pensions gaps;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Stresses the need to invest in people as early as possible in the life cycle to reduce inequality and foster social inclusion at a young age; calls therefore for access to quality, inclusive and affordable early childhood education and care services for all children in all member states; stresses also the need to fight against stereotypes from the youngest age at school by promoting gender equality at all level of education; Encourages the Commission and Member States to fully implement the Recommendation on Investing in Children and closely monitor its progress; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and introduce initiatives, placing children in the centre of existing poverty alleviation policies;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Points to the continuous need for better coordination at European level of social security systems, for which the Member States are responsible; stresses the absolute priority of ensuring the sustainability and fairness of social security systems, this being a central pillar of a European social model; highlights that adequate, sustainable pensions are a universal right; calls on Member States to ensure adequate and sustainable pensions in light of continued demographic change; underlines that pension systems should ensure an adequate retirement income above the poverty threshold and allow pensioners to maintain a proper standard of living; believes that the best way to ensure sustainable, safe and adequate pensions for women and men is to increase the overall employment rate and decent jobs across all ages, improving working and employment conditions; points out that gender pension gaps remain significant and this has negative social and economic consequences; in this regard, highlights the importance of women’s integration into the labour market and other adequate measures to combat gender-pay gap and old age poverty; believes that reforms of pension systems and in particular retirement age should also reflect labour market trends, birth rates, health and wealth situation, working conditions and the economic dependency ratio;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital C Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Reiterates the call for the three new headline employment indicators 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; proposes introducing a non-punitive social imbalances procedure in the design of the CSRs so as to prevent a race to the bottom in terms of social standards, building on effective use of the social and employment indicators in macroeconomic surveillance; notes that inequality has intensified in around ten Member States and is one of the main socio-economic challenges in the EU1c; _________________ 1cEmployment and Social Developments in Europe, Annual Review 2017(ESDE),P47
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Highlights that socially and economically responsible reforms must be based on solidarity, integration and social justice; stresses that reforms should also take into account sustained support to social and economic recovery, create quality employment and boost social and territorial cohesion, protect vulnerable groups and improve living standards for all citizens;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to secure adequate funding for fighting youth unemployment which remains unacceptably high in the EU and to continue the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that the scope, efficiency and effectiveness of active and sustainable labour market policies should be increased with proper and adequate funding with focus on environmental, employer, worker, health and consumer protection; takes the view that the phenomenon of in- work poverty shall be addressed; stresses the importance of increasing public investment and enhancing private-sector involvement in economic and social development;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recalls the need to support and enhance social dialogue, collective bargaining and workers' position in wage- setting systems which play a critical role in achieving high-level working conditions; emphasises that labour law and high social standards have a crucial role to play in the social market economy, supporting incomes and encouraging investment in capacity; stresses that EU law must respect trade union rights and freedoms, comply with collective agreements in line with Member States practices and uphold equal treatment in employment and occupation;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that insufficient and inadequately focused investment in
source: 610.754
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2017-10-28Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
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