2017/2208(INI) Lagging regions in the EU
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | REGI |
GIUFFRIDA Michela ( S&D)
|
RUAS Fernando ( PPE),
TOMAŠIĆ Ruža ( ECR),
VAN MILTENBURG Matthijs ( ALDE),
ROPĖ Bronis ( Verts/ALE),
D'AMATO Rosa ( EFDD)
|
| Committee Opinion | PECH |
CAPUTO Nicola ( S&D)
|
Verónica LOPE FONTAGNÉ ( PPE),
Norica NICOLAI ( ALDE)
|
| Committee Opinion | AGRI |
DĂNCILĂ Viorica ( S&D)
|
Beata GOSIEWSKA ( ECR),
Hannu TAKKULA ( ALDE)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
2018/08/30
EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2018/03/13
EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
2018/03/13
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted by 488 votes to 90 with 114 abstentions a resolution on lagging regions in the EU.
According to a Commission report on lagging regions, 47 regions in eight Member States are lagging behind. There are two types of lagging regions:
low-growth regions : regions with a GDP that is close to the EU average but with no growth, this being the case of Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal; low-income regions : regions with a GDP that is still very low but with a very encouraging upward curve. In those regions (in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania), which were seriously lagging behind at the outset, cohesion policy is working extremely successfully though.
Strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion : Parliament stressed that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring and promoting public and private investment in all EU regions. The EU as a whole should carry out actions in order to promote its overall harmonious development and reduce disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of lagging regions.
The Commission is called on to:
define lagging regions at NUTS III level, on the basis of general economic and social conditions, and to better target the financing of these areas in line with ESI fund programming cycles; create tailor-made strategies, programmes and actions for the different lagging regions.
Fight unemployment : Parliament stressed that unemployment remains drastically high, particularly among young people, and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in the vast majority of lagging regions. It stressed the key role of secondary and higher education, and of professional training in combating the alarming levels of youth unemployment and the large numbers of young people departing these regions.
Members hoped that the implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy in the area of employment, education and training, as well as the forthcoming EU long-term strategy and its objectives, will continue to take due account of the specific needs of lagging regions. In this regard, Members called on the Commission to look into the impact of a possible increase in the ESF co-financing rate for the next financing period.
Addressing weak investment : Parliament highlighted the adverse effects of the economic and financial crisis, especially for low-growth regions, which have reduced the margins of budgetary policies, leading to public investment cuts. It stressed the need to apply the agreed position on the Stability and Growth Pact regarding flexibility for cyclical conditions, structural reforms and government investments aimed at implementing major structural reforms and similar projects, with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 goals.
Members also stressed the importance of ensuring easier access to credit in order to assist SMEs, to encourage new business models, and to promote growth in lagging regions. They suggested that the Commission should look into the possibility of proposing the allocation of a larger share of support to community-led local development .
Improving governance : the resolution stressed the importance of:
promoting the quality of administration and institutions in the regions concerned by disseminating examples of good practice; the partnership principle, and of multilevel governance , which needs to be strengthened without prejudice to the principle of subsidiarity; and involving all levels of government and interested stakeholders in designing and implementing strategies and specific programmes and actions aimed at these regions in order to create effective European added value for citizens.
Members were of opinion that the Commission should consider adjustments to how the European Semester and cohesion policy are linked . A system of positive incentives should be proposed, with margins to be created in the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), which could serve as an envelope to be used when Member States comply with the country-specific recommendations and other requirements under the European Semester. They called for:
cohesion policy to continue to be a priority for the Union and to be backed by ambitious funding accordingly, even in the light of pressures on the EU budget; the synergies with other EU funds to be increased and complementary financial support via financial instruments in the post-2020 multiannual programming framework to be attracted.
Documents
2018/03/13
EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/03/12
EP - Debate in Parliament
Documents
2018/02/27
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Regional Development adopted an own-initiative report by Michela GIUFFRIDA (S&D, IT) on lagging regions in the EU.
According to a Commission report on lagging regions, 47 regions in eight Member States are lagging behind. There are two types of lagging regions:
low-growth regions: regions with a GDP that is close to the EU average but with no growth, this being the case of Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal; low-income regions: regions with a GDP that is still very low but with a very encouraging upward curve. In those regions (in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania), which were seriously lagging behind at the outset, cohesion policy is working extremely successfully though.
Members noted that the Commission report proposes a number of positive solutions to support economic growth, sustainable development and job creation in these regions. They considered that the EU as a whole, in order to promote its overall harmonious development, should carry out actions which strengthen its economic, social and territorial cohesion and reduce disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of lagging regions.
The Commission is called on to:
define lagging regions at NUTS III level, on the basis of general economic and social conditions, and to better target the financing of these areas in line with ESI fund programming cycles; create tailor-made strategies, programmes and actions for the different lagging regions.
The report stressed that unemployment remains drastically high, particularly among young people, and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in the vast majority of lagging regions. The role of secondary and higher education, of professional, on-the-job training should be enhanced.
Members hoped that the implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy in the area of employment, education and training, as well as the forthcoming EU long-term strategy and its objectives, will continue to take due account of the specific needs of lagging regions. In this regard, Members called on the Commission to look into the impact of a possible increase in the ESF co-financing rate for the next financing period. They highlighted the adverse effects of the economic and financial crisis, especially for low-growth regions, which have reduced the margins of budgetary policies, leading to public investment cuts.
The report stressed the need to apply the agreed position on the Stability and Growth Pact regarding flexibility for cyclical conditions, structural reforms and government investments aimed at implementing major structural reforms and similar projects, with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 goals.
Members also stressed the importance of ensuring easier access to credit in order to assist SMEs, to encourage new business models, and to promote growth in lagging regions. They also suggested that the Commission should look into the possibility of proposing the allocation of a larger share of support to community-led local development (CLLD).
The report stressed the importance of the partnership principle, and of multilevel governance , which needs to be strengthened without prejudice to the principle of subsidiarity and that the involvement of all levels of government and interested stakeholders in designing and implementing strategies and specific programmes and actions aimed at these regions is fundamental in order to create effective European added value for citizens.
Members are of opinion that the Commission should consider adjustments to how the European Semester and cohesion policy are linked. A system of positive incentives should be proposed, with margins to be created in the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), which could serve as an envelope to be used when Member States comply with the country-specific recommendations and other requirements under the European Semester . They called for cohesion policy to continue to be a priority for the Union and to be backed by ambitious funding accordingly, even in the light of pressures on the EU budget, and for the synergies with other EU funds to be increased and complementary financial support via financial instruments in the post-2020 multiannual programming framework to be attracted.
Documents
2018/02/20
EP - Vote in committee
2018/01/31
EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/01/25
EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2017/12/19
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2017/10/26
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2017/10/05
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2017/06/21
EP - CAPUTO Nicola (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in PECH
2017/06/20
EP - DĂNCILĂ Viorica (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI
2017/04/25
EP - GIUFFRIDA Michela (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in REGI
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2018)366
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T8-0067/2018
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A8-0046/2018
- Committee opinion: PE612.274
- Committee opinion: PE612.186
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE615.495
- Committee draft report: PE612.353
- Committee draft report: PE612.353
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE615.495
- Committee opinion: PE612.186
- Committee opinion: PE612.274
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2018)366
Activities
- Nicola CAPUTO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Michela GIUFFRIDA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Andrejs MAMIKINS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Notis MARIAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Stefano MAULLU
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Momchil NEKOV
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Laurenţiu REBEGA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Fernando RUAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Csaba SÓGOR
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Adam SZEJNFELD
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Claudiu Ciprian TĂNĂSESCU
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Maria Gabriela ZOANĂ
Plenary Speeches (1)
Votes
A8-0046/2018 - Michela Giuffrida - résolution 13/03/2018 13:02:09.000 #
2018/03/13 Outcome: +: 488, 0: 114, -: 90
GUE/NGL
NI
ENF| Amendments | Dossier |
| 328 |
2017/2208(INI)
2017/11/13
AGRI
79 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas there is a need to ensure the continuity of the type of investment currently carried out by the second pillar of the common agricultural policy, which is an essential financing instrument for boosting economic growth and innovation in lagging regions’ rural areas
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas agriculture provides for a significantly higher share of employment in
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) B a. whereas one of the biggest and complex issue in the EU is the improvement of the situation of rural areas, which might be tackled by smart approach;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas poorer physical and digital infrastructure development, generally weaker institutions, lack of e-services and the skills gap present a major obstacle for the successful development of viable and self-sufficient agricultural businesses, pushing many young people to abandon rural areas and migrate, and worsening the shortage of qualified workers;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas poorer infrastructure development
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas poorer infrastructure development,
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the agricultural crisis seriously affects many rural areas both in terms of agricultural production and the primary processing industry, so that the development criteria for these areas must be reviewed in the light of data from the past two years and not before, the latter taking no account of the recent dramatic development of a large number of these areas;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) C a. whereas gender issues are usually more often addressed in ‘soft’ policy areas, rather than in ‘hard’ ones, such as regional policies, which receive higher financial support;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, providing jobs and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to preserve the countryside and combat rural depopulation; highlights the strategic role that agriculture plays for lagging regions, by supplying food and guaranteeing food security for these regions;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is an essential financing instrument for boosting economic growth in lagging regions’ rural areas, while at the same time providing the financial incentives needed to address specific territorial needs, which in turn contribute to achieving the three cross- cutting objectives of innovation, environmental/climate change mitigation and adaptation; whereas the first pillar gives incentive and support for agricultural and agro-ecological practices, which both help the environment and give stimulus to people, for example young farmers, to engage with agriculture;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, providing jobs and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to preserve the countryside and combat rural depopulation, but in order to do so it is essential to have a strong public agricultural policy that adopts measures to guarantee fair prices for agricultural products, including measures to regulate production and markets;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, pro
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, promoting ecosystem services, providing jobs and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to preserve the countryside and combat rural depopulation and reductions in services available to the public;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, providing jobs and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing the sustainab
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Takes the view that agriculture is part of the solution for enhancing sustainable growth, providing jobs, especially for young people, and increasing levels of income in lagging regions, while at the same time helping to preserve the countryside and combat rural depopulation;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Considers that particular attention should be devoted to the phenomenon of rural depopulation involving the departure of young people, who are a necessary resource for economic and social revival of the localities concerned;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need for greater flexibility in the management of rural development funds, and underlines the importance of severing the link between agricultural funding and budgetary constraints;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Notes that rural areas are not only where farmers are working and food is grown, but there are millions of Europeans living in there in communities with less and less possibilities;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is an essential financing instrument for boosting economic growth and promoting competitiveness and employment in lagging regions’ rural areas, while at the same time providing the financial incentives needed to address specific territorial needs, which in turn contribute to achieving the three cross-
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to invest in education to attract and keep high quality human resources in agricultural lagging regions;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches; acknowledges, therefore, the input of local action groups in developing local strategies, supporting stakeholder networking and the appraisal and approval of individual LEADER projects; points out that involving young people in agricultural activities leads to improved performance, since they contribute with innovative solutions and bring state-of- the-art technology to farming;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches; acknowledges, therefore, the input of local action groups in developing local strategies, supporting stakeholder networking and the appraisal and approval of individual LEADER projects; recognizes the important role of the first pillar’s payment schemes especially for lagging regions and thus calls for keeping them as close as possible to the levels in the current CAP;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches; acknowledges, therefore, the input of local action groups in developing local strategies, supporting stakeholder networking and the appraisal and approval of individual LEADER projects; underlines the importance of knowledge transfer and providing lagging regions with easier access to agricultural innovations;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the competitiveness of those regions through tailor-made projects based on bottom-up approaches; acknowledges, therefore, the input of local action groups representing a number of comparable areas in developing local strategies, supporting stakeholder networking and the appraisal and approval of individual LEADER projects;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the importance of rural development funds in boosting the
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Stresses that comprehensive and well-timed development strategies are needed not only to address some of the basic problems of agricultural lagging regions, but also to enhance their capacity to adopt new technology, retain and attract talent, as well as generate and stimulate new investments;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is a
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Stresses the usefulness of the territorial approach, which ensures sufficient infrastructure and social capital for each region to function as a viable economic unit, in order to foster creation of vibrant rural economies and so reverse rural depopulation;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the importance of maintaining levels of financing adequate to meeting the needs of the regions, taking account, above all, of the growth potential of farming;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. In the light of the above, emphasises the importance of maintaining EU regional development funds post 2020;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2 b. Underlines the importance of community-led local development approaches such as LEADER in providing local communities with tools to develop tailor-made solutions to local challenges and empowering rural communities;and therefore calls for a larger share of support to be distributed to CLLD, thus both helping to tackle challenges and build up capacities;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Considers that one of the greatest challenges facing lagging regions is that of increasing productivity and employment in farming;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Emphasises the importance of the possible synergetic effects from ensuring that a large share of the total employment in lagging regions is in agriculture, with the prospect of being able to provide a solid basis for traditional quality products and developing tourism activities, specifically agro-tourism; highlights Parliament’s call in 2015 to extend EU- wide geographical indication protection to non-agricultural products; believes that such an extension would boost all rural regions in the EU by adding value to traditional products and creating employment in rural regions; encourages the Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal to extend geographical indication protection to non- agricultural products;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Emphasises the importance of the possible synergetic effects from ensuring that a large share of the total employment in lagging regions is in agriculture, with the prospect of being able to provide a solid basis for traditional quality products, promoting food security and environmental sustainability measures and developing tourism activities, specifically agro-tourism;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Emphasises the importance of the possible synergetic effects from ensuring that a large share of the total employment in lagging regions is in agriculture, with the prospect of being able to provide a solid basis for traditional quality products, such as GI products, mountain products or local specialties, and developing tourism activities, specifically rural and agro-tourism;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Emphasises the importance of the possible synergetic effects from
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is an essential financing instrument for boosting e
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Highlights the social farming model and its potential to connect people in rural areas, and in particular bringing farming closer to citizens;believes that this model is an important tool that offers a range of therapeutic support services to the local community while connecting farmers to the wider community;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Reiterates the need to safeguard these regions against any business project or megaproject that might represent an attack on the territorial base, farmland, the countryside, water pollution, etc.;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Highlights the importance of supporting local initiatives geared to the processing, marketing, distribution and consumption of local products, as well as local trading;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions; recalls that good infrastructure, especially the provision of high-speed internet connections helps keep people in rural areas and can help attract a high-calibre workforce needed for growth in those areas; welcomes the Commission's reflection paper regarding the future of farming, which envisages a greater concentration of investments in the field of the circular economy, offering significant potential for employment, and the development of the ‘smart villages’ initiative through support for local communities with a view to digitalisation and the development of service infrastructure;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving local services (health, social, postal) and infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions; recalls that good infrastructure, especially the provision of high-speed internet connections helps keep people in rural areas and can help attract a high-calibre workforce needed for growth in those areas;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitali
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of innovation, digitalisation and
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the second pillar of the common agricultural policy is an essential financing instrument for boosting economic growth in lagging regions’ rural and mountainous areas, while at the same time providing the financial incentives needed to address specific territorial needs, which in turn contribute to achieving the three cross-
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions; recalls that good infrastructure, especially the provision of high-speed internet connections helps keep people in rural areas and can help attract a young and high-calibre workforce needed for growth in those areas;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of digitalisation and of improving infrastructure, thus creating a positive environment and good foundation for boosting growth and enhancing cohesion in lagging regions; recalls that good infrastructure, especially the provision of high-speed internet connections helps keep people in rural areas and can help attract a high-calibre workforce needed for
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Notes that the full implementation of innovative projects, such as the 'smart villages' initiative heavily rely on the expanded connectivity along with education;urges further steps to stop the depopulation of the rural areas, to boost family farming, to promote better environmental management, social inclusion, poverty reduction and job creation with smart approach;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Notes that the promoting a change in traditional gender roles, so that women are increasingly able to share the benefits of regional enlargement, has an intrinsic value and can also strengthen the competitiveness of trade and industry particularly in the lagging regions;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Calls on the Member States and local and regional authorities to provide innovative infrastructure, including fast internet connections and IT, to help encourage diversification in the agricultural lagging regions;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Welcomes the Commission’s prioritisation of generational renewal in the framework of the next reform of the CAP;believes that this focus will contribute to the sustainability of Europe's rural regions;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Notes that diversification has become a necessity for many farmers, particularly in the lagging regions, in order to provide additional sources of income;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that a well-connected rural area is essential for building on the work of research partnerships and European Innovation Partnership initiatives, so that innovative practices further enhance the development of agriculture and associated businesses and growth in lagging regions’ rural areas
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that a well-connected rural area is essential for building on the work of research partnerships and European Innovation Partnership initiatives, so that innovative practices further enhance the development of agriculture and associated businesses and growth in lagging regions’ rural areas. In this regard, the need to promote cooperation between European regions at NUTS 2 level is the most pertinent.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the report on lagging regions largely concerns the period 2000- 2013, with an update containing data up to 2014 or 2015, and does not take farming into account;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Underlines that the future agreements on structural funding should take into account support for lagging regions while bearing in mind the need for continued financing for all EU regions, as the impacts of globalisation, climate change and industrial transition are not limited to less developed regions, as presented in European Commission´s 7th Cohesion report, but also significantly affect, for instance, sparsely populated areas.
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that boosting support for maintaining and developing agriculture must take into account not only historical data for the areas concerned but also the impact of the agricultural crisis of the past three years, which threatens both the handing-down of a large number of farms and the future of a large number of sectors.
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Points out that agricultural areas are suffering due to the distribution of tasks established under a patriarchal system;considers it necessary, therefore, to implement specific funding plans to foster and protect women’s agricultural work and equal opportunities in these areas, and thereby to boost the role of women farmers in the fight against climate change;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Highlights the need for services in rural regions to alleviate the pressures that farming brings such as professional counselling, financial advice and advice on farm management practices, such services are highly important for the well- being of farmers and rural dwellers;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Calls on member states to consider the possibility of helping communities in the lagging regions with corresponding tools in establishing producing facilities which create closed production circuits and help value-adding processes remain in the regions.
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Highlights the negative effects, particularly in these areas, of austerity policies that promote cuts to public investment in the works and services that are so necessary in order to maintain the population across wide areas of rural Europe;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses the importance of initiatives to reduce disparities among Europe's regions in the context of the new cohesion policy.
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b. Stresses that funding for rural development cannot be compromised due to pressures on the EU budget;highlights that Brexit will have consequences for all Member States and may negatively impact rural regions;calls for these regions to be identified and supported.
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Reiterates that, in order to maintain these areas, it is vital to offer free public services such as education and health, public social services, public transport and the public postal service;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Calls on the Commission to ensure that co-financing under the European Structural and Investment Funds remains outside the constraints of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) A a. whereas in some of the low-income regions of the EU the problem of land- grabbing and concentration of land is a big obstacle for helping the regions develop and grow;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas agriculture provides for a significantly higher share of employment in both low-income and low-growth regions than the average for the EU-28; whereas this share has been declining over the years; whereas it is notably five times higher in low-income regions and 2.6 times higher in low-growth regions than the average for the EU-28;
source: 613.450
2017/12/05
PECH
76 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 a (new) - having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 6 July 2017 on promoting cohesion and development in the outermost regions of the EU:implementation of Article 349 of the TFEU[1],[1] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0316,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas attaining MSY requires applying a regional focus that takes account of scientific criteria and socio- economic considerations;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas Article 349 of the TFEU recognises the special economic and social situation of the ORs, which is compounded by structural factors (remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate, dependence on a few products, etc.) the permanence and combination of which severely restrain their development;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas the European Union is the world's largest market for fish products, making it all the more necessary to ensure that fisheries activities are not only profitable but also balanced and sustainable;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas preferential access for small-scale artisanal fishing on the coast, up to 12 nautical miles out, is not always respected;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas fishing has continued to decline, further contributing to the severe economic decline of many coastal and island areas, including those in the lagging regions, resulting in depopulation, with inhabitants leaving for areas offering better employment and education prospects;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas artisanal fishing uses gear and techniques that have less impact on the status of endangered stocks;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas the measures affecting these regions that are adopted as part of the common fisheries policy must be sustainable from the social and economic point of view so as to ensure that artisanal fishing remains viable;whereas the species fished in coastal fisheries are extremely valuable in socio-economic terms even though they account for only a small proportion of commercial fisheries;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Recital B c (new) Bc. whereas Article 17 of the CFP stipulates that 'when allocating the fishing opportunities available to them, (...) Member States shall use transparent and objective criteria (...).The criteria to be used may include, inter alia, (...) the contribution to the local economy (...).' Within this framework, the European Union must pay particular attention to the fleets of the less developed regions;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Recital B d (new) Bd. whereas artisanal fishing has significant repercussions for the future of the Union's less developed coastal and island communities;whereas it is necessary to foster young people's interest in joining the sector and to offer them high-quality training, including in artisanal and coastal fishing, with the aim of contributing to the development of areas that rely on fishing and encouraging the population to remain;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 a (new) - having regard to Regulation (EU) No1380/2013 on the new Common Fisheries Policy,
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Recital B e (new) Be. whereas women play a vital role in artisanal fishing, particularly in tasks related to the processing chain and shellfish fishing;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Recital B f (new) Bf. whereas the EU’s cohesion policy aims to reduce the differences between European regions and Member States, fostering economic, social and territorial confluence;mindful of the role played by the fishing sector and sectors directly or indirectly linked to it in the development of coastal regions;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Recital B g (new) Bg. whereas the large number of jobs, both direct and indirect, that are generated in the fishing, shellfishing and aquaculture sector and ancillary industries, as well as the fish marketing and processing industries, gives them a high degree of socio-economic importance;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas some coastal fishing areas in the lagging regions are situated near economically developed regions and tourist destinations, but are nonetheless unable to achieve adequate economic growth precisely because mass tourism, building speculation and industrial fishing and aquaculture drive fishing communities away from these regions and threaten their future;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas some coastal fishing areas in the lagging regions are situated near economically developed regions and tourist destinations, but are nonetheless unable to achieve adequate economic growth, given the marked difference between the fisheries sector and tourism in terms of their social and economic impact;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Recital D Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Recital D D. whereas the pressure to make use of
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the outermost regions (ORs) face strong structural constraints that seriously hinder their development;whereas Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) confers special status on the ORs, as 'least developed regions', and provides for the adoption of ‘specific measures' aimed at laying down the conditions of application of the Treaties to those regions;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Recital D a (new) Da. whereas one way of guaranteeing that fishery products from the ORs are competitive is to ensure that the price of fish from those regions is not inflated as a result of transport costs when it reaches the main destination markets;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Recital D a (new) D a. whereas recreational fishing and the tourism linked to this activity has an important economic impact and could bring economic diversification to these regions;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 b (new) - having regard to Regulation (EU) NoRegulation (EC) No 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products,
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Recital D b (new) Db. whereas it should be noted that, because of the particular geographical characteristics of the outermost regions and their extreme remoteness from Europe, coastal fishing is integral to the economic development of these regions;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Recital D b (new) D b. whereas the EU blue economy strategy encourages and supports sustainable economic development in coastal area;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Recital D c (new) Dc. whereas maritime and coastal tourism provides jobs for 3.2 million people and generates a total of EUR 183 billion in gross value added in the European Union;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance of fishing and sustainable coastal and maritime tourism for the development of an all- inclusive social and eco-friendly maritime economy; recalls, in this connection, that maritime planning must not endanger fishing and tourist areas in favour of environmentally unsustainable activities;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance of small- scale fishing and sustainable coastal and maritime tourism for the development of an all-
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance of fishing a
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Emphasises the importance of diversifying the range of tourism on offer by boosting economically and environmentally sustainable activities that facilitate and promote access to the maritime heritage, undersea tourism, gastro-tourism and watersports throughout the year, with the aim of offsetting seasonality;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that many anthropogenic factors are endangering fish stocks, including increased coastal stocking density, oil extraction, marine transport, sewage discharge, seawater desalination, plastic pollution, etc.;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Considers it necessary to provide greater financial support for SMEs that are developing innovative solutions for coastal and maritime tourism through financial instruments such as Horizon 2020;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that diversification
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 c (new) - having regard to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF),
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that diversification has become a necessity for many small-scale fishermen almost everywhere, but particularly for those in the l
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses, however, that such diversification must in no way replace actual fishing activities and that the work of small-scale fishermen must receive recognition and financial support, even during biological rest periods;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Notes that the development of quality labels could increase the incomes of fishermen, in particular artisanal fishermen;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to invest in
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to invest in education in order to attract high-quality human resources to the fisheries sector in the l
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new) Calls on the Member States and the Commission to step up measures to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which presents the main social and economic threat to small-scale fisheries, particularly in lagging regions;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that investment in human capital and action to promote training in the fisheries sector are essential preconditions in order to achieve sustainable and competitive growth;highlights the role that the ESF can play in improving education and training, including in artisanal and coastal fishing;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to establish sustainable fisheries agreements with third countries so as to ensure stable trading conditions with equal regard on both sides for ecological fishing methods and the social and economic conditions of fishermen;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the importance of the establishment and performance of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), which provide assistance to the fisheries sector;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Considers it necessary to preserve the use of traditional gear and techniques such as the almadraba technique and xeito fishing gear, given their link to the identity of coastal regions and their way of life, by recognising them as part of the cultural heritage;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas fishing, particularly small- scale artisanal fishing, is a traditional activity which, through its specific character, defines identities and lifestyles in most coastal areas of the ‘low-
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States and local and regional authorities to provide sustainable innovative infrastructure, including fast internet connections and good-quality IT, in order to help fishermen in the l
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States and local and regional authorities to provide sustainable innovative infrastructure, including fast internet connections and good-quality IT, in order to help fishermen in the lagging regions diversify from traditional fishing activities into other sectors of economic activity for example;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Highlights the potential of multi- sector projects that promote economic, social and territorial development in the least developed coastal regions by capitalising on synergies between European funds, in particular the ERDF, EMFF and ESF;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the importance of the Blue Economy, which can contribute to the economic growth of lagging coastal and island areas;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Emphasises the need to support the work and creation of producer and inter-professional organisations with the aim of improving the sector’s competitiveness and positioning in the market;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which for the first time combines both Integrated Maritime Policy funding and fisheries funding, together with funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), to support the sustainable and environmentally friendly development of fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing, to support revenue diversification in fishing communities dependent on those sectors, particularly small-scale coastal fisheries, to promote vocational training for women and young people, and to attract new entrepreneurs to the sector; calls on the Member States to speed up utilisation of the fund, in particular the components of the fund geared to vocational training and skills for local populations and the development of complementary activities to traditional fishing;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Considers it crucial for support for the transport of fish from the ORs, up until it reaches the international market, to be maintained and preferably increased so as to guarantee fair competition with products from other locations;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Highlights the importance of providing the EMFF with sufficient financing in the post-2020 period to continue supporting the coastal development of regions that rely on fishing;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses the absolute necessity of simplifying the conditions of use of the EMFF;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the livelihood of 12 % of the world’s population depends on fishing and aquaculture, meaning that trade in fish products can have an enormous social and economic impact, almost 40 % of production being traded internationally, with an annual export value of over EUR 115 billion;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Calls on the Commission to look into the possibility of creating, as soon as possible, a financial instrument specifically to provide support for fisheries, on the basis of POSEI for the agricultural sector in the ORs, with the capacity genuinely to enhance their fisheries potential;believes that consideration should be given to the possibility of bringing together in this specific instrument, in particular, the provisions of Article 8 (State aid), Article 13(5) (Budgetary resources under shared management), Article 70 (Compensation regime), Article 71 (Calculation of the compensation), Article 72 (Compensation plan) and Article 73 (State aid for implementing compensation plans) of the existing EMFF;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Points out that the EMFF must be sufficiently well funded to pay compensation to fishermen if they were to lose access to United Kingdom waters to some extent;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Stresses, further, the importance of the sea and marine resources in promoting cohesion and development in the ORs and in the implementation of Article 349 of the TFEU;urges the Commission, in this context, to respect Article 349 of the TFEU, also in relation to fisheries, by fully reinstating the independent POSEI-Fisheries scheme, which was abolished as part of the reform of the current EMFF;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Stresses that the costs associated with the obligation to land, which is a regulatory obligation, must be fully compensated by the EMFF;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that small fishermen in many lagging regions experience difficulties in accessing finance owing to the debt burden and pressures on public finances in those areas, as well as bureaucratic and administrative delays hampering the operation of the EMFF; calls on the Commission, therefore, to work with national and regional authorities to develop adequate financial instruments tailored to the needs of small fishermen and their enterprises;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that fishermen in many lagging regions experience difficulties in accessing finance owing to the debt burden and pressures on public finances in those areas; calls on the Commission, therefore, to work with national
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls for the full application of Article 349 TFEU in the European Union’s policies, regulations, funds and programmes relating to fisheries, particularly in the EMFF, in order to respond to the specific difficulties encountered by the ORs;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to support the use of different EU funds, together with the EMFF, in order to develop fishery tourism and fish processing in these areas and thus diversify the income sources.
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Calls on the Commission, in order to allow the survival of the fisheries sector in the outermost regions and in compliance with the principles of differential treatment for small islands and territories mentioned in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, to introduce supporting measures based on Article 349 of the TFEU to allow the funding (at EU or national level) of the outermost regions’ artisanal and traditional fishing vessels which land all their catches in ports in the outermost regions and contribute to local sustainable development, so as to increase human safety, comply with European hygiene standards, fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and achieve greater environmental efficiency;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6 b. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to implement a more simplified and faster procedure for using the EMFF for these regions.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas small-scale, artisanal, coastal and shellfish fishing are of economic, territorial, social and cultural importance in many of the EU's coastal areas, including its islands and outermost regions, and this sector should therefore be protected and supported in the face of industrial and large-scale fishing and industrial aquaculture;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Calls for the full application of Article 349 TFEU in the European Union’s policies, regulations, funds and programmes relating to fisheries, particularly in the EMFF, in order to respond to the specific difficulties encountered by the ORs;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6 c. Supports the Member States in establishing a preferential fiscal regime for these area, as to encourage investments and combat poverty
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 d (new) 6d. Calls on the Commission to look into the possibility of establishing an instrument dedicated to supporting fisheries in the ORs, along the lines of the POSEI scheme for agriculture, that would help derive maximum benefit from the fisheries potential in these regions;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Emphasises the importance of developing and promoting sustainable aquaculture
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7 a. Encourages Member States and local authorities to support blue economy projects in order to help the people in the lagging regions to develop environmental sustainable income sources.
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to focus more efforts on resolving issues of administrative burden affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sector;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas a large percentage of local populations in the less developed regions, particularly in the outermost regions (ORs), rely on activities linked to small-scale coastal and local fishing, and there is a shortage of young people involved in this type of activity because it is unattractive, low-skilled and often badly paid;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas small-scale fishing still receives a minority share of the quotas, even though it accounts for the largest share of employment in the sector;
source: 615.240
2017/12/19
REGI
173 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 – having regard to Articles 174, 175, 176 and
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the economic crisis in the EU has adversely affected economic growth at regional level, despite the fact that cohesion policy has contributed
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that demographic and social development criteria,
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that social development criteria, as set out in the Regional Social Progress Index, should be included in future alongside economic progress criteria in
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls on the Commission to incorporate into cohesion policy new indicators, including the EU regional Social Progress Index, that give a fuller picture of the specific challenges facing less developed regions;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Highlights the adverse effects of austerity policies, especially in low-growth regions, encouraging public investment cuts and giving priority to debt repayment over any other national budget items; draws attention, however, to the need to tailor public investment to growth requirements and expresses concern at the impact of increased public investment on deficit targets;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Highlights the adverse effects of
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Highlights the adverse effects of
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that cohesion policy continues to apply to the Union as a whole and to safeguard access to resources, expertise and assistance for every region, regardless of Member States' GDP;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Stresses the detrimental effects of recentralisation on regions in countries affected by austerity policies, as it exacerbates the development conditions in lagging regions;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Considers that growth and employment, especially in the most disadvantaged regions, can only be properly stimulated through cohesion policies if the necessary co-funding is unaffected by budgetary constraints under the Stability Pact; reiterates in this regard the call for exemption of total national contributions to European structural and investment funding from Stability and Growth Pact constraints, given their objective of achieving Europe 2020 objectives and supporting competitiveness
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the protracted economic crisis in the EU has adversely affected economic growth at regional level, despite the fact that cohesion policy has contributed
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Considers that
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Considers that the impact of cohesion policy in creating growth and employment, especially in the most disadvantaged regions, can
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Calls on the Commission to consider reviewing the investment clause to enable regional and national investments co-financed through ESI Funds to be excluded from the calculation of national deficits in the framework of the European Semester;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that applying the principle of ‘resilience’ to economic problems facing such regions would allow broader scope and greater flexibility in finding ad hoc solutions with EU support to specific crises such as those affecting lagging regions;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls for strengthened action to increase convergence between all regions also with a view to ensure their resiliency to sudden shocks;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes that access to credit is harder in lagging regions, especially those that are also low-income regions because of the high interest rates charged by banks; stresses the importance of ensuring easier access to credit to assist businesses in difficulty and to promote new business models; points out that full implementation of the general balanced regional development priority objective involves: reducing growth disparities between and within regions that are lagging behind, while fostering the targeted development of growth poles in these regions;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes that access to credit is harder in lagging regions, especially those that are also low-income regions because of the high interest rates charged by banks; stresses the importance of ensuring easier access to credit to assist small and medium-sized businesses in difficulty and to promote new business models;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes that access to credit is harder in lagging regions, especially those that are also low-income regions because of the
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes that access to credit is harder in lagging regions, especially in those that are
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas cohesion policy (European Regional Development Fund- ERDF, European Social Fund- ESF and Cohesion Fund- CF) is the EU’s main investment, growth and development policy aligned with the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and aimed at reducing economic, social and territorial disparities between regions and promoting convergence and, thus, improving the quality of life of European citizens;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Believes that, particularly for lagging regions, there should be no binding target for the use of financial instruments in the new programming period; stresses, in this regard, that low- risk financial instruments are preferable to equity, trust funds and some types of bond and proposes promoting loans at a subsidised rate - preferably with sufficiently long payback times - and regulating and facilitating forms of crowd funding and peer-to-peer and social lending;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Points out that tax policy needs to create more favourable conditions for investment and the running of businesses in lagging regions;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 2 Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Strongly reaffirms opposition to macroeconomic conditionality, given that it penalises regions and social groups already weakened by the crisis, involving suspension of payments with possibly serious repercussions, especially in lagging regions; supports, in this regard, the need to thoroughly review the very rationale of the link between the European Semester and the cohesion policy, thus eliminating any provision for penalties which are unjust, unnecessary and penalise in particular regional and local authorities and project beneficiaries;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Strongly reaffirms opposition to macroeconomic conditionality, given that it penalises regions and social groups already weakened by the crisis, involving suspension of payments with possibly serious repercussions, especially in lagging regions; considers, in this connection, that the principal aim of macroeconomic conditionalities must be to correct shortcomings and that this must not result in delays that contribute to increasing disparities;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Takes into consideration the importance of sound economic governance for an effective increase of the overall performance of ESI Funds;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Notes that, with regard to cohesion policies and other Union policies, any conditionality should be centred on fundamental values, coexistence
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the 2016 report by the Joint Research Centre on the regionalisation of demographic and economic projections states that if the current economic and demographic trends continue, a growing number of regions will be classified as 'less developed' and will therefore need more aid under cohesion policies;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Notes that, with regard to cohesion policies and other Union policies, any conditionality should be
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Believes that respect for the principle of good governance in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources; calls on the Commission to take action to disseminate in lagging regions best practices regarding the use of Cohesion Policy funds both in the programming and in the implementation and spending phases;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Believes that respect for the principle of good governance in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources; stresses that examples of effective governance, for example in the areas of streamlining enterprises and accelerated business creation, should be among the basic recommendations for lagging regions;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Believes that respect for the principle of good governance in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources; for this reason draws attention to the issue of supporting administrative capacity for the regions that need it;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Believes that respect for the principle of good governance, infrastructural projects, better connectivity and digitalisation in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Believes that solidarity, stronger institutional capacity, and respect for the principle of good governance in these regions has a significant impact on their economic growth and on the more efficient and effective use of existing resources;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Considers that in the new programming period there must be a necessary balance between simplification requirements, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and controls; considers furthermore that the reduction of gold plating must be accompanied by an adequate consultation of public administrations and other economic and social players in the regions, since, especially in certain contexts, more stringent rules (for example on anti- corruption issues) may be necessary precisely in order to increase the transparency and the correct execution of calls for tender;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Believes that multi-level governance needs to be strengthened in setting funding objectives and priorities while respecting the principle of subsidiarity; stresses that in order to achieve the next stage of economic development, investments and differentiated political responses at regional level are needed;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Underlines in this context the importance of the Partnership Principle and Multi Level Governance; believes that the involvement of all levels of government and interested stakeholders in designing and implementing strategies and specific programmes and actions aimed at these regions are fundamental to create effective European added value for citizens;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Notes that some of the determinants of competitiveness, especially in the less developed regions, concern actions to strengthen administrative capacity and improve the quality of institutions;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the principal objective of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund for the period 2014-2020 is investment in growth and employment with a view to strengthening the labour market, regional economies and European regional cooperation
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Notes that country-specific recommendations in the framework of the European Semester should be made on an multiannual basis and seen as positive incentives for the launch of structural reforms and in no case as instruments that could exclude access to the benefits of cohesion policy; stresses at the same time that the introduction of region-specific recommendations could be useful for achieving the common objectives of the European Union;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Notes that country-specific recommendations in the framework of the European Semester should be made on an multiannual basis, with medium-term monitoring and reviews, and seen as positive incentives for the launch of structural reforms and in no case as instruments that could exclude access to the benefits of cohesion policy;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Believes that the measures linking the effectiveness of ESI Funds to sound economic governance as outlined in Regulation 1303/2013 should be carefully analysed, including through the involvement of all the stakeholders; furthermore, believes its rationale should be rethought, with a view to the next programming period and taking into account its 2014-2020 implementation; is of the opinion that the Commission should consider adjustments regarding the link of the European Semester to cohesion policy; in this regard, suggests a system of positive incentives, with margins to be created in the new MFF, that could serve as an envelope which can be used when member states comply with the Country Specific Recommendations (CSR) and other requirements under the European Semester;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Considers it necessary to support productive business activities specific to lagging regions, including sustainable tourism and agriculture, through the increasingly effective combination of funding from regional and national bodies and from EU instruments
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Considers it particularly necessary to support productive and endogenous, specific business activities
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Considers it necessary to support productive business activities specific to lagging regions, including sustainable tourism and agriculture and innovation focused on SMEs, through the increasingly effective combination of funding from regional and national bodies and from EU instruments
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Considers it necessary to support productive business activities specific to lagging regions, including sustainable tourism and agriculture, through the increasingly effective combination of funding from regional and national bodies and from EU instruments. It is important to simplify legislative and bureaucratic procedures in order to stimulate the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises with an outward-looking approach, especially for young people living in lagging regions;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Considers it necessary to support productive business activities specific to lagging regions, including sustainable tourism and agriculture, through the increasingly effective combination of funding
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Stresses the importance of having reliable, up-to-date, disaggregated statistics for the purposes of well informed, more efficient and impartial political decisions; requests, therefore, for the Commission and Eurostat to provide the greatest detail and geographical disaggregation possible in statistics of relevance for devising suitable European Cohesion policies, including policies aimed at lagging regions; in this context welcomes the information provided in this Commission Report;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the principal objective of the E
Amendment 150 #
18a. Considers that streamlining the rules and introducing greater flexibility in the use of cohesion policy instruments would help improve the absorption of funds, especially in lagging regions;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 b (new) 18b. Points out that, when preparing operational programmes, the national authorities of the Member States should pay particular attention to lagging regions;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 c (new) 18c. Cross-Border Cooperation programmes should be tailored, inter alia, to meet the needs of lagging regions, which are often located in border zones where there are insufficient infrastructure connections;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 3 a (new) Underlines the importance of exploiting all the opportunities offered by the EU for sustainable development and growth in these regions; recalls, therefore, the importance of also encouraging the use of direct funds and the ESIF, alongside and in coordination with the opportunities offered by cohesion policy;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls on the Commission to consider reviewing the existing relationship between cohesion policy and macroeconomic governance,
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Calls on the Commission to consider increasing the European Social Fund's co-financing rate to 85% for less developed regions, 80% for transition regions and 75% for developed regions;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Calls on the Commission to recognise the role played by cohesion policy as an essential European economic policy instrument to promote public investments that take into account the specific economic, social and territorial characteristics of the regions; stresses that such investment should therefore be exempt from the budgetary constraints of the Stability Pact, especially in lagging
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20.
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Calls on the Commission to recognise the role played by cohesion
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Member States to adopt national and regional development strategies and programmes aimed at
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas according to the European Commission's report, 47 regions are lagging behind in eight Member States; whereas, however, this difference is not reflected in the regulations; deplores the fact that, in its report, the Commission did not include the Mayotte region or any French outermost regions among those deemed to be lagging, and points out that Mayotte is one the EU regions lagging furthest behind in terms of per capita GDP;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21.
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Member States to adopt national regional development strategies to improve administrative governance and other key growth factors in lagging regions; stresses the need to boost investment in administrative consolidation and the digitisation of public services;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Member States to adopt national regional development strategies t
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for cohesion policy to continue to be a priority for the Union and accordingly provided with adequate funding, keeping in mind the review of the post-2020 multiannual programming framework.
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for cohesion policy to continue to be a priority for the Union and accordingly provided with adequate funding, keeping in mind the review of the post-2020 multiannual programming framework
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for cohesion policy to continue to be a priority for the Union and accordingly provided with a
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Recalls the importance of the involvement of the European Parliament in all discussions related to the design of innovative or new policy strategies related to cohesion policy and its future;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas according to the European Commission's
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Calls on the Commission to better support the development of innovation systems and to strengthen the interaction between businesses, universities and research centres in lagging region;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 b (new) 22b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to explore the extension of the application of Article 7 of ERDF by financing the links of cities with their surrounding areas in the lagging regions;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 b (new) 22b. Reiterates the importance of the information contained in this report and strongly recommends making it publicly available in all European Union official languages;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 c (new) 22c. Calls on the Commission and Member States to increase the efficiency of the public sector administration involved in the management of ESI Funds, not necessarily by increasing its staff;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas according to the European Commission's report, 47 regions are lagging behind in eight Member States; whereas
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas according to the European Commission's report, 47 regions are lagging behind in eight Member States;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 a (new) – having regard to its Resolution of 16 February 2017 on investing in jobs and growth – maximising the contribution of European Structural and Investment Funds: an evaluation of the report under Article 16(3) of the CPR,
Amendment 20 #
Ca. whereas cohesion policy plays an important role in all lagging regions and accounts for a very high share of their public investment in most of them;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the European Commission Report distinguishes two types of lagging regions: 'Low-growth regions', which cover less developed and transition regions that did not converge to the EU average between the years 2000 and 2013 in Member States with a GDP per head in PPS below the EU average in 2013- meaning almost all the less developed and transition regions in Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal and 'Low-income regions' covering all regions with a GDP per head in PPS below 50% of the EU average in 2013, which means several less developed regions in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. taking into account the persistently high unemployment rates, the rise in poverty and social exclusion and growing inequality levels in the EU;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas low growth regions suffer from economic stagnation particularly due to a drop in public and private investment, unlike low-income regions which maintain in general their development potential
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas lagging regions suffer more than others from the shortage of public and private investment
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas lagging regions suffer more than others from the shortage of public and private investment
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas lagging regions are affected by the lack of Structural reforms which makes the limited public investments ineffective and which makes lagging regions less attractive to private investments;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas lagging regions have serious
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas lagging regions have serious infrastructural shortcomings and are in need of
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 a (new) – having regard to its Resolution of 13 June 2017 on building blocks for a post-2020 EU cohesion policy,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas the Commission
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas mass departures from lagging regions, especially on the part of young people and skilled labour, are making them less attractive in terms of employment and threatening them with permanent depopulation and long-term developmental lags;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas mass departures from lagging regions, especially on the part of young people and skilled labour, are making them less attractive in terms of employment and investments;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas mass departures from lagging regions, especially on the part of young people and skilled labour, are making them less attractive in terms of
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas mass departures from lagging regions, especially on the part of young people and skilled labour, are
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J a (new) Ja. whereas some lagging regions, particularly in Italy and Greece, are under considerable migratory pressure and are also forced to use the Structural and Investment Funds to cope with the current emergency; whereas, furthermore, the contribution of the ESI Funds in tackling this challenge can only be effective if accompanied by the effective application of the principles of solidarity and the equitable redistribution of migrants;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas it is important to raise awareness among end-users of EU-funded regional and local programmes and the results achieved, regardless of funding levels in any specific region;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 a (new) – having regard to its Resolution of 24 October 2017 on the reflection paper on the Future of EU Finances,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the efficient public services contribute significantly to
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) La. whereas according to the Seventh Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, lagging regions are ranked lowest in the Quality of Government Index, which means a reduced impact of public investment;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) La. whereas reliable, up-to-date and disaggregated figures and statistics are important for a well-informed, more transparent and impartial, fairer political decisions;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) La. whereas obstacles limiting growth and gaps in infrastructures should be reduced in lagging regions;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L b (new) Lb. whereas four out of five lagging regions have at least 25% of their population in a City and its Commuting Zone (FUA- functional urban area) and one out of five lagging regions has more than 50% of their population in a FUA;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L b (new) Lb. whereas lagging regions' SMEs are financed with much higher interest rates and have more difficulties in receiving loans from the banking sector in order to co-finance ESI Funds projects;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L c (new) Lc. whereas strengthening administrative capacity should be seen as improving efficiency and better using ICT tools, and not as continuing to increase the number of public administration staff only;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes the Commission's report on competitiveness in low-income and low- growth regions: the lagging regions (SWD (2017) 0132)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) – having regard to the report of 17 February 2014 on optimising the potential of outermost regions by creating synergies between the Structural Funds and other European Union programmes (2013/2178(INI)),
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes the Commission's report on competitiveness in low-income and low- growth regions: the lagging regions (SWD (2017) 0132) and the solutions proposed to support growth and the economy in these regions; deplores, however, the fact that the report ignores the situation in the Union's outermost regions;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes the implementation of the pilot initiatives for lagging regions in two regions in Romania and two regions in Poland (the latter carried out with the support of the World Bank), particularly through the definition of strategic priorities and concrete, quickly implementable actions, and looks forward to the publication of its results;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring investment in all EU regions, especially in lagging regions; in order to perform this role, it must maintain its resources, while providing for the allocation of a necessary proportion of these resources to lagging regions through simplified and direct procedures;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring investment in all EU regions, especially in lagging regions; stresses, in that regard, the overriding importance of applying Article 349 TFEU in order to protect the outermost regions;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring and promoting public and private investment in all EU
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring investment in all EU regions, especially in lagging regions, and in reducing development disparities;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring investment in all EU
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) – having regard to ex-ante conditionalities for smart specialisation strategies,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that cohesion policy plays a key role in ensuring investment in all EU
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to better define regional categories (e.g. low- income, low-growth, transitional regions) based not only on general economic conditions but also on the results of the social indicators especially of those regions with high rates of chronic unemployment and on reference periods in line with ESI fund programming cycles;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to better define regional categories (e.g. low- income, low-growth, transitional regions) based on general economic, employment and social conditions and on reference periods in line with ESI fund programming cycles;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create tailor-made strategies, programmes and actions for the different lagging regions, focused on their particularities and idiosyncrasies, using smart specialisation strategies, consequently accelerating their convergence and assuring the best solutions for job creation, economic growth and sustainable development of their territories; in this regard and given the fact that lagging regions are not purely rural, believes that these strategies, programmes or actions should be coordinated with the Urban Agenda;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that the paths taken by and challenges facing low-income regions and low-growth regions differ greatly and therefore call for separate development strategies; stresses that future cohesion policy will be effective only if it is tailored to each region's specific characteristics;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission, in an environment of low investment, to reconsider how it allocates aid between more and less developed regions so that lagging regions receive more aid in the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses that the Commission's report spells out that if cohesion policy is to provide responses tailored to territories' needs, it must not rely solely on static data but must also take account of trends and sub-regional disparities; calls for cohesion policy reform to be based on the insights gained in this way;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 c (new) Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) – having regard to the Seventh Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that in addition to SMEs' low development and investments, unemployment, particularly among young people, remains dramatically high and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in a large majority of lagging regions; stresses the fundamental role of education and on-the-job training in combating the particularly alarming unemployment and departure levels among young people in these regions; stresses the importance of education and training in relation to the needs and the development of SMEs;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that unemployment, particularly among young people, which remains dramatically high and negative demographic trends represent
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that unemployment, particularly among young people, remains dramatically high and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in lagging regions; stresses that it is important for future cohesion policy to take account of such indicators along with per capita GDP; stresses the fundamental role of education and training in combating the particularly alarming unemployment and departure levels among young people in these regions;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that unemployment, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, such as women and young people, remains dramatically high and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in lagging regions; stresses the fundamental role of
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that unemployment, particularly among young people, remains dramatically high and represents one of the most serious and pressing problems in lagging regions; stresses the fundamental role of education and training, as well as of increased investments creating more job opportunities, in combating the particularly alarming unemployment and departure levels among young people in these regions;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a properly educated and trained workforce has a powerful impact on competitiveness, productivity and the attractiveness of the labour market, which flourish in growth and investment-friendly environments; strategies to reinforce European, national and private investments that focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and exploit local advantages in an innovative way should therefore be sought, providing employment incentives especially for young, highly skilled workers;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a properly educated and trained workforce has a powerful impact on competitiveness, productivity and the attractiveness of the labour market; draws attention to the depopulation of low-income regions owing to the exodus of young people towards more developed areas; regrets that these regions find it so hard to attract highly skilled workers;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a properly educated and trained workforce that matches the needs of the economy has a powerful impact on competitiveness, productivity and the attractiveness of the labour market;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a properly educated and trained workforce has a powerful impact
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 b (new) – having regard to the implementation report on promoting cohesion and development in the outermost regions of the EU: implementation of Article 349 TFEU (2016/2250(INI)),
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the presence of a properly educated and trained workforce has a powerful impact on competitiveness, productivity and the attractiveness
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Believes that, particularly for lagging regions, the share earmarked for technical assistance and aimed at strengthening the administrative capacity of the Member States in the use of Community funds should also be maintained in the new programming period and contain new performance indicators;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. stresses that the proper training of national, regional and local administrations in the analysis and application of the complex rules relating to the Structural and Investment Funds is crucial for improving the quality of projects and increasing the take-up rate of the Funds;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Hopes that, in implementing the 2020 education and training strategy and its objectives, account will be taken of
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Hopes that, in implementing the 2020 education and training strategy and its objectives, account will be taken of existing situations in lagging regions, in particular the departure rates and their adverse impact on employment; stresses the need for training to enhance workers' professional skills, which should ideally be tailored to employment market requirements;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Hopes that
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Hopes that, in implementing the 2020 education and training strategy and its objectives, account will be taken of existing situations in lagging regions, in particular the early departure rates and their adverse impact on employment;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, in lagging regions especially, it is necessary to strike the correct balance between structural interventions, social policies and industrial policies in the programming of ESI funds to stimulate growth; hopes that, in indicating the lines of development of the future cohesion policy, the Commission reaffirms the importance of continuing to invest in infrastructure interventions in all the lagging regions, thereby helping to address the remaining shortcomings;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the economic crisis in the EU has adversely affected economic growth at regional level, which is currently being compounded by a crisis of confidence in the EU, despite the fact that cohesion policy has contributed significantly to boosting growth and employment and reducing disparities between EU regions;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, in lagging regions especially, it is necessary to
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Considers it necessary to distinguish and clarify the concept and scope of application of structural reforms in the context of cohesion policy; underlines, in this regard, that measures relating to the improvement of administrative capacity, the fight against corruption, the implementation of more effective strategies against tax evasion and the transparency of public procurement have a functional role to play both with regard to increasing the take-up of Community resources and to improving the quality of the projects;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Highlights that lagging regions are also areas seriously affected by industrial transition and industrial decline; considers that cohesion policy should return to its aim, stipulated in Article 174 TFEU, to pay particular attention to such areas, and that more adequate measures with corresponding resources should be encouraged and implemented for reindustrialisation and boosting economic growth and employment in lagging regions;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Underlines the importance of tackling the main issues affecting the promotion of entrepreneurship and businesses in low-growth countries, which are getting credit, enforcing contracts and protecting minority investors, while in low-income countries, the biggest issues are resolving insolvency, electricity supply and contract enforcement;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Notes that cohesion policy can serve as a tool for correcting competitiveness gaps and imbalances and macroeconomic asymmetries between regions, encouraging the construction of an attractive and sustainable environment for businesses and citizens;
Amendment 95 #
7a. Stresses the need for structural reforms in countries and regions with development problems as a prerequisite for better outcomes for investments made under cohesion policy programmes;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Notes that the fact that cohesion policy is not as effective as it should be, especially in lagging regions with more extensive operational programmes, is directly due to the lack of any real simplification of that policy; advocates decisive action to reduce the excess of rules, controls and the length and complexity of procedures, starting from the current programming cycle;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Considers that structural reforms intended as privatisation processes, interventions in the labour market and any measures aimed at undermining the welfare state of Member States should in no way be set as a conditionality - or as punitive measures in the event of failure to implement the above-mentioned actions - in the current or new post-2020 cohesion policy framework;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Points out that decentralisation and the application of the principle of subsidiarity in underdeveloped Member States can be a significant factor in stimulating economic development in underdeveloped regions, and particularly in lagging regions;
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