2018/2094(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the ~~approach~~ views expres~~ent~~sed during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’~~, whereby~~; is of the view that the future EU budget ~~should promote European added value, ensur~~needs to continue contributing towards the economic and social cohesion between the Member States so as to enhance European solidarity, stability and growth; stresses, therefore, the need for adequate financesing for ~~new challenges and continue supporting European solidarity, stability and growth as well as the~~the cohesion policy; deeply regrets the proposed cuts in cohesion policy as set out by the Commission in its Multiannual financial framework (MFF) proposal; notes that the EU budget also needs to promote European added value and ensure finances for new challenges and modernisation of EU policies;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Points out that the level of debt in some Member States remains among the highest in the world; calls, therefore, for the Commission and the Member States to embark on and support a process for renegotiating government debt (as regards the amounts involved, maturities, and interest rates) and for the illegitimate speculative component to be removed in the most indebted countries so as to make debt servicing compatible with economic and social development; notes that economic recovery in Member States is impossible without debt relief;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Expresses concern at data highlighting the growing economic divergence at regional and national level within the European Union; is alarmed at evidence suggesting that economic policies to date have exacerbated social inequality and regional disparities;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of ~~commitment to~~reversing the Banking Union, since theis pro~~cess of completing~~ject has merely brought about concentration in the Bbanking ~~Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in~~sector and exacerbated systemic risk and the ‘too big to fail’ problem; maintains that public control of banks, and shifting their focus towards each country’s specific needs, are the only way to make the Bbanking ~~Union~~sector stable;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of ~~commitment to~~debate for the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union, while guaranteeing the rights of European consumers;

Amendment 14 #

Esther DE LANGE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; stresses the possible benefits of a European approach to deposit insurance for the financial stability of the Union as a whole and stresses, in that regard, that risk sharing can only go hand-in-hand with risk reduction; recalls the 2015 Commission communication "Towards the completion of the Banking Union"1a and underlines the need for a reduction of NPLs with the creation of an effective statutory prudential backstop for non- performing exposures and the need for a review of the prudential treatment of bank's exposures to sovereign risk; _________________ 1a COM(2015) 587 final

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States ~~participating in the Banking Union~~and, by extension, financial institutions participating in the Banking Union; notes, however, that the functioning of the already existent pillar of the Banking Union – the Single Supervisory Mechanism – needs to be improved in order to avoid in future situations whereby the directly-supervised financial institutions are actively facilitating money laundering;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; reminds that an effective and proportionate European deposit insurance scheme is the remaining pillar of the EU’s banking Union; stresses that risk sharing must go in hand with risk reduction, most notably a reduction of non-performing loans and a different prudential treatment of sovereign debt on the balance sheet of credit institutions.

Amendment 17 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is extremely worried about the risks arisen from the delay to complete the Banking Union and emphasises that a robust and ambitious Banking Union is a key component of a deeper and genuine EMU, and a key policy; Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; Calls for a fully mutualised EDIS by 2022;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; calls on the Commission to prioritise regulations over directives as the legislative tool for the Banking Union and financial services legislation in order to avoid creating fragmentation and having supervisors dealing with different national regimes;

Amendment 19 #

Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; recalls that the Banking Union is currently still missing a fiscal backstop for the SRF and a common approach to deposit (re)insurance; calls for swift progress in the discussions on those two elements;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcome~~Rejects the approach presented during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’~~, whereby~~ and on the future EU budget ~~should promote European added value, ensure finances for new challenges and continue support~~in particular; condemns, therefore, the militaristic, security-focused approach being Epur~~opean solidarity, stability and growth as well as the modernisation of EU polici~~sued at the expense of territorial, social, and economic cohesion as well as peace and solidarity among countries and peoples;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union; takes the view that the Banking Union can only be fully effective if the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) is established;

Amendment 21 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of commitment to the process of completing the Banking Union by establishing a credible European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) and finalizing the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF); and the need to ensure openness and equal treatment of all Member States participating in the Banking Union;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Invites the Commission, with the help of the European Supervisory Authorities, to identify and remove obstacles to the internal market; is of the opinion that one of the main priorities of the Commission should be to effectively enforce EU legislation;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Emphasises the urgent need to complete~~Takes the view that, by increasing the degree of 'financialisation' of Member States' economies, the Capital Markets Union; stresses that deep and well-integrated capital markets are complementary to the Banking Union, due to its contribution to private risk-sharing, increasing economic convergence and helping to cushion future shockserves only the interests of financial investors and nothing else, adding greatly to the danger of a fresh financial crisis; calls for an immediate halt to the process of establishing a Capital Markets Union and reiterates the need to separate investment banking from retail banking in order to avoid contamination and concentration in the industry;

Amendment 24 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the ~~urgent~~ need to ~~complete~~discuss the Capital Markets Union; stresses that deep and well-integrated capital markets ~~are complementary~~may be an important adjunct to the Banking Union, due to its contribution to private risk-sharing, increasing economic convergence and helping to cushion future shocks;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the urgent need to complete the Capital Markets Union; stresses that deep and well-integrated capital markets are complementary to the Banking Union, due to its contribution to private risk-sharing, increasing economic convergence ~~and helping to cushion future shocks~~, helping to cushion future shocks and potentially participating to a better allocation of funds where it is needed; calls for a comprehensive study on the most appropriate framework, including through treaty change if necessary, for the adoption of legislation, enforcement and review in the field of the Economic and Monetary Union, notably to better take into account the rapidly evolving nature of financial services; considers in this respect that enabling the European Supervisory Authorities to write "no action letters" is an interesting path;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to show genuine political determination in taxing the actual wealth- holders; deplores the inadequate EU response to tax scandals, especially when it comes to doing away with tax havens; calls on the Member States and the European institutions to press for a UN international summit to be held for the purpose of drawing up a road map and a joint action plan to eliminate tax havens and tax dumping;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Highlights that better access to capital market would be especially helpful to start-ups and fast-growing SMEs, but traditional SMEs depend on bank lending, therefore stresses the importance of introducing the new measures which will increase the capacity of banking sector to lend to SMEs.

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses the importance of establishing an European safe asset; Welcomes the Commission's proposal on establishing a European safe asset for the euro area Banking Union, starting with the issuance of European Sovereign Bonds-Backed Securities (ESBBS);

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the approach presented during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’, whereby the future EU budget should promote European added value, ensure finances for new challenges and continue supporting European solidarity, stability and growth as well as the modernisation of EU policieConsiders it necessary for the future Union budget, based on an increasing share of own resources, to promote European added value, ensuring the economic and social convergence of Member States and support for a more solidarity-based and inclusive Europe; takes the view, to that end, that the common budget can help to fund European automatic stabilisers;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of ~~deepening and~~ completing the EMU in order to preserve the stability of the single currency and enhance the convergence of economic, fiscal and labour market policies among the Member States; supports further steps in the development of the ESM and th, subject to guarantees that the process is in the hands of responsible and democratically legitimate institutions; believes that EU economic governance can no longer remain in the hands of intergovernmental institutions and that democratic control is essential to ensure healthy and sustainable eco~~mmon backstop to~~nomic policies serving the Sin~~gle Resolution Fund (SRF) as confirmed by the European Council~~terests of the majority;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 32 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of deepening and completing the EMU in order to preserve the stability of the single currency and enhance the convergence of ~~economic, fiscal and labour market~~necessary economic policies among the Member States; ~~supports fur~~notes ther steps taken in the development of the ESM and the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) as confirmed by the European Council; emphasises, however, that risk- sharing should go hand-in-hand with risk-reduction;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of deepening and completing the EMU in order to preserve the stability of the single currency and enhance the convergence of economic, fiscal and labour market policies among the Member States; reiterates that the Euro is the currency of the EU and that, with the exception of Denmark's opt-out, every single Member State is bound to adopt the Euro; is of the opinion that additional provisions for enhanced dialogue between the Member States whose currency is the euro are not necessary provided all the other Member States, with the exception of Denmark, commit themselves to a realistic and middle-term timeline to adopt the common currency, commonly agreed, with the help of the ECB; supports further steps in the development of the ESM and the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) as confirmed by the European Council;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of deepening and completing the EMU in order to preserve the stability of the single currency and enhance the convergence of economic, fiscal and labour market policies among the Member States; supports further steps in the development of the ESM and the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) as confirmed by the European Council; is of the opinion that new governance-related arrangements and figures, such as a European Minister of Economy and Finance, may improve the process to coordinate economic policies and increase the effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny at the various stages of the European Semester;

Amendment 35 #

Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers that, should a Member State decide to withdraw from the euro because its participation had become unsustainable and intolerable, that decision must be fully respected and open the way to an orderly negotiated exit, carried out fairly, without pressures, penalties, or blackmail, under a comprehensive support programme; believes that any such programme should allow for the possibility of proper compensation, to be determined according to the social and economic damage done;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that the completion of the EMU requires strong political commitment, efficient governance on European level, democratic accountability and determination to proceed with the solidarity instruments needed for the sustainability of the EMU;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that there are a number of Member States outside of the EMU, some of which may never join it; urges respect for the paths the Member States have taken and warns against the effective creation of the so-called “multi-speed Europe”;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of the Reform Support Programme having in mind that the European Semester has been strengthened and streamlined, but the implementation of key reforms in the Member States is still slow and remains a priority; welcomes the convergence facility which will provide an incentive and help Member States outside the euro area to implement reforms and fulfil the criteria for introducing the euro;deleted

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the approach presented during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’, whereby the future EU budget should promote European added value, ensure finances for new challenges and continue supporting European solidarity, stability and growth as well as the modernisation of EU policies; considers also that the challenges of building Europe cannot be met without a more ambitious budget endowed with funding that reflects the expectations of European citizens. stresses accordingly the need to ensure that the next budget at least remains at 1.3% of the Community GDP if current levels of solidarity and inclusion are to be sustained;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 41 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of the Reform Support Programme having in mind that the European Semester has been strengthened and streamlined, but the implementation of key reforms in the Member States is ~~still~~often slow and inadequate, and remains a priority; is concerned that in the period 2011 -2017 only 9% of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSR) have been fully implemented; welcomes the convergence facility which will provide an incentive and help Member States outside the euro area to implement reforms and fulfil the criteria for introducing the euro;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of the Reform Support Programme having in mind that the European Semester has been strengthened and streamlined, but the implementation of key reforms in the Member States is still slow and remains a priority; believes that Country Specific Recommendations should better steer, or even condition, access to European funds; welcomes the convergence facility which will provide an incentive and help Member States outside the euro area to implement reforms and fulfil the criteria for introducing the euro;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Condemns the fact that, even though the economic adjustment programmes have ended, the Member States which underwent them are continuing to face serious economic and social problems; calls, therefore, for an emergency plan to be drawn up to support the economies of those countries subjected to Troika intervention and for that plan to provide for financial resources and the necessary exceptions to the functioning of the single market and common policies;

Amendment 44 #

5a. Highlights that more involvements of national parliaments debating national reform programmes, country reports and country-specific recommendations would improve national ownership through public debates which would lead to better implementation of CSRs thus improving the European Semester process; calls for a stricter and more consistent application of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) in order to pursue sound public finances and coordinate MS’s fiscal policies.

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Reiterates the importance of the social dimension of the European Semester; points out that significant steps forward are still needed to reduce early school leaving, the number of NEETs and youth unemployment; highlights, in addition, the role of education as a tool for reducing economic inequalities and for the full exercise of citizens' rights, as also evidenced by the European Pillar of Social Rights;

Amendment 46 #

5a. Stresses the need to modernize the EU budget, doting it with a credible Own Resources System; Recalls that the Report of the High Level Group on Own Resources of December 2016 proposes the use of several alternative new own resources including the profits of the European Central Bank;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that it is first and foremost the responsibility of the Member States to choose adequate and sustainable fiscal and economic policies; stresses that Member States, especially those with high debt and deficit levels, are responsible for observing fiscal self-restraint;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Underlines the need for a reformed European Semester with reforms for economic, social and environmental transformations, being on equal footing, and with the establishment of EU minimal social standards;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Stresses the importance of ensuring greater national ownership and democratisation in the formulation and implementation of CSRs; deems it necessary for the CSRs to take account of the European Pillar of Social Rights towards upwards convergence of real economies, decent working and living conditions, while reducing income divergences among Member States;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the approach presented during plenary debates on the ‘Future of Europe’, whereby the future EU budget should promote European added value in terms of socio-economic impact, ensure finances for new challenges and continue supporting European solidarity, equality, stability and ~~growth~~smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, prosperity and social cohesion as well as the modernisation of EU policies;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Insists on the need for a reform of the Stability and Growth Pact with more flexibility and the introduction of an aggregate euro area fiscal stance in order to boost investment and growth in the EU; reiterates that exemption of the public investment from debt accounting is the most effective way to increase counter- cyclicality and growth-enhancing in fiscal policy;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Underlines that the European Pillar of Social Rights shall be reflected in all European policies;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Underlines that fighting economic and social divergences in the euro area is necessary not only for the economic governance of the Eurozone but also for fighting extremism; thereby supports the development of new budgetary tools aimed at stabilisation and convergence in the euro area, including European insurance against unemployment;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Welcomes the Commission’s proposals on the Euro area fiscal capacity, the European Monetary Fund and the Euro Area finance minister and underlines the need to proceed swiftly with the implementation of those proposals;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)

5g. Recalls that the EU cohesion policy is vital for strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion and has a direct impact on citizens’ lives; Deeply regrets the proposed cuts in cohesion policy as set out by the Commission in its MFF proposal; strongly believe that making part of the allocation of European funds conditional on the European Semester and economic governance is against the main principles of cohesion policy and has adverse effects; Stresses the key importance of structural funds for the stimulation of public investment, taking into account their strong multiplier effect;

Amendment 55 #

Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the future InvestEU programme and stresses the need to ensure finances for more risky private projects, innovation and the quick scaling-up of start-ups; also stresses the need for adequate protection of public investment in economic downturns and looks forward to discussing the design of an investment stabilisation function proposed by the Commission;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the future InvestEU programme and stresses the need to ensure finances for more risky private projects, innovation and the quick scaling-up of start-ups; stresses that the proposed investment programme should aim to create quality employment in the EU and guarantee a more balanced budget allocation among Member States and regions;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the future InvestEU programme and stresses the need to also ensure finances for more risky private projects, innovation and the quick scaling- up of start-ups;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that a joint effort is needed to promote policies and investments that facilitate the acquisition of the skills that are necessary for participating in a labour market that is constantly evolving and greatly influenced by current technological innovation processes;

Amendment 59 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Underlines that digitalisation is substantially transforming labour markets, therefore stresses the importance of dynamic and flexible labour market responding to the needs of modern economy.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the need to encourage public investment and promote domestic demand in order to ensure Europe’s economic integration and prosperity;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Stresses the importance of the establishment of the European Pillar for Social Rights, which should promote a sustainable and inclusive Europe, boost the fight against social and regional inequalities and contribute to the social market economy.

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Recalls the necessity to support and promote solid growth and sustainable development of micro, small and medium- sized enterprises, especially in Member States where the crisis has had a greater negative impact;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Deems it necessary to embark on a comprehensive review of existing VAT legislation; ~~welcom~~urges the need to step up fight against tax fraud, including cross-border VAT fraud as well as tax avoidance and evasion; notes the work of the Commission on the fair taxation of the digital economy.

Amendment 64 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Deems it necessary to embark on~~Welcomes the work done to ensure a comprehensive review of existing VAT legislation; welcomes the work of the Commission on the fair taxation of the digital economy.

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Deems it necessary to ~~embark on a~~continue the comprehensive review of existing VAT legislation; welcomes the work of the Commission on the fair taxation of the digital economy.

Amendment 66 #

Ivana MALETIĆ, Brian HAYES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Deems it necessary to embark on a comprehensive review of existing VAT legislation; welcomes the work of the Commission on the fair taxation of the digital economy with measures that can make the EU a global leader in designing tax laws fit for the modern economy and the digital age.

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses that an ageing population and other demographic developments present a major challenge to sustainability of public finances, therefore emphasises the need for sustainable and adequate pensions; considering the economic and fiscal constraints of 1st pillar PAYG pensions, complementary retirement savings have to play a greater role in securing the future adequacy of pensions.

Amendment 68 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Wolf KLINZ, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission to scrutinise the unfair clauses and practices employed by the banking sector in consumer contracts and to insist on the effective implementation of the relevant European Directive, in order to ensure fairer competition and consumers’ protection;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Invites all the European institutions to enhance to an even greater extent their crucial communication efforts in order to inform and explain to Europe's citizens what they are doing;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Urges the Commission to halt the neo-liberal right-wing policy trends; considers it imperative to terminate the Treaties governing European integration, specifically by repealing the Treaty of Lisbon and, in particular, the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, the ‘Six Pack’, and the ‘Two Pack’, since these are a straitjacket on sovereign economic and social development; calls for an intergovernmental conference to be convened by the European Council to discuss the termination and repeal of the Treaties; maintains that Member States must, as a matter of urgency, regain the ability to determine the economic policies best suited to their needs;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers it essential to help develop the EU social pillar and focus European economic concerns on the living and working conditions of EU workers and citizens; urges accordingly that social pillar requirements go beyond the social scoreboard incorporated in the European Semester;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers it important that the future Union budget should be able to achieve greater integration of the common European defence policy and the common migration management policy, thereby also contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable model of economic development from an environmental and social perspective;

source: 627.789

2018/09/20 AFCO 244 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, to the European Social Charter, the Additional Protocol thereto and the revised version thereof,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 36

~~— having regard to the European Council meeting of 28-29 June 2018,~~deleted

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes in particular the fact that the Commission and some Member States are also contemplating using QMV for the common foreign and security policy, given the importance of speeding up decision-making and making it more effective, and the need for the Union to speak with one voice;deleted

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes ~~in particular the fact that the Commission and some Member States are also contemplating using QMV~~the fact that, in that same address given on 13 September 2018, the President of the Commission alluded to the need to use QMV in the Council for the common foreign and security policy, given the importance of speeding up decision-making and making it more effective, and the need for the Union to speak with one voice;

Amendment 102 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Richard CORBETT, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Welcomes in particular~~Expresses serious concerns with the fact that the Commission and ~~some~~a few Member States are also contemplating using QMV for the common foreign and security policy, given th~~e importance of speeding up decision-making and making i~~at such policies must remain a national competence as an independent mfore ~~effective, and the need for the Union to speak with one voice~~ign policy is a key requirement for a nation to be sovereign;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes in particular the fact that the Commission and some Member States are also contemplating using QMV for the common foreign and security policy, given the importance of speeding up decision- making and making it more effective, and the need for the Union to speak ~~with one voice~~clearly;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Welcomes in particular the fact~~Notes that the Commission and some Member States are also contemplating using QMV for the common foreign and security policy, given the importance of speeding up decision- making and making it more effective, and the need for the Union to speak with one voice;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates its suggestion to transform the Council into a true legislative chamber and to improve the transparency of its decision-making process; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect;deleted

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates its suggestion to transform the Council into a true legislative chamber and to improve the transparency of its decision-making process; however, considers that it would be appropriate, in the first place, to redefine the competences of the Council vis-à-vis those of the European Parliament with the aim of strengthening the co-decision procedure and increasing the transparency of the whole legislative process, including the Trilogues; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency of~~rom~~ the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect; asks to the Council to swiftly address the concerns raised with regard to the transparency of its decision-making process and the access to documents by taking into account, inter alia, the Recommendation of the European Ombudsman in case OI/2/2017/TE on the Transparency of the Council legislative process, the recent judgment of 22 March 2018 of the General Court in the case Emilio De Capitani v. European Parliament (T-540/15) and the Letter of the COSAC Delegations to the EU Institutions of 20 December 2017 on the transparency of political decision-making within the EU;

Amendment 107 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates its suggestion to transform the Council into a true legislative chamber, on an equal footing with Parliament, and to improve the transparency of its functioning and of the EU decision-making process in general; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process, which finds evidence of maladministration, and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect; takes the view that in general, as co-legislators, the Council and Parliament should be equally transparent, which means, inter alia, that the standpoints defended by the representatives of the Member States, from the stage involving consideration in working parties, should be made public and that MEPs should be able to attend the relevant meetings as observers;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates its suggestion to transform the Council into a true legislative chamber for territorial representation, limiting his action to the shared or exclusive competence of the national States, and to improve the transparency of its decision-making process; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Re~~iterates its suggestion to transform~~calls that the Council i~~nto a true~~s a legislative chamber and toreiterates that this should be made more visible to the public by improveing the transparency of its decision-making process; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

~~A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration without equal and has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples;~~deleted

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Reminds that in the period 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2016 the majority of complaints received by the European Ombudsman concerned an alleged lack of transparency, as highlighted by the Commission in its Report of 24.1.2017 “On progress towards effective EU citizenship 2013-2016”; recalls that transparency of the decision- making process of the EU institution is vital for building and strengthening credibility and trust in the EU as a whole; asks all the EU institutions and bodies to address the still existing shortcomings in line with the provisions, amongst others, of articles 9 and 10(3) TEU, 15 TFEU and 41-42 of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union;

Amendment 111 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Underlines its support to modernise the Luxembourg Compromise where any government raising a “very important interest”, mandated by its parliament, would demand a unanimity- based decision at the Council of Ministers and European Council on strategic matters;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Reminds that the number of European Commissioners should be reduced in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon (art. 17 TUE);

Amendment 113 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8 b. Calls, moreover, on the Commission to provide concrete follow- ups to the concerns expressed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 14 September 2017 on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions and to those highlighted by the European Ombudsman in the joint inquiry into complaints 194/2017/EA, 334/2017/EA, and 543/2017/EA on the European Commission’s handling of post-mandate employment of former Commissioners, a former Commission President and the role of its ‘Ethics Committee’;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8 b. Recalls the need to provide the European Parliament with a legislative initiative power, taking into account that is the only institution directly elected by citizens, and without prejudice to the basic legislative prerogative of the Commission;

Amendment 115 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8 c. Reiterates its proposal according to which, in the event of a possible future revision of the Treaties, the right of legislative initiative be mainly attributed to the European Parliament, as direct representative of the EU citizens;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8 c. Insists that Parliament’s right of inquiry should be reinforced and that it should be granted specific, genuine and clearly delimited powers which are more in line with its political stature and competences;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

~~9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working;~~deleted

Amendment 118 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working; Recalls that the Task Force found that there is EU value added in all existing areas of EU activity and therefore did not identify any Treaty competences or policy areas that should be re-delegated definitively, in whole or in part, to the Member States;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working; recalls, in this respect, that the effective application of the principle of subsidiarity is one of the ways of combating euroscepticism and underlines the fundamental role of local and regional authorities in the application of Union law;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is an ex~~ample~~periment of supranational integration without equal ~~and~~which has brought lasting peace~~, prosperity and welfare to its peoples~~ among its members and engaged to put the promotion of its values – namely respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities – and the well-being of its peoples at the core of its action;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working; considers that many of these recommendations, particularly regarding the role of national parliaments within the Union and the advisability of reforming the early warning system, have already been highlighted by Parliament;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘'Doing Less More Efficiently’' of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working on subsidiarity and proportionality;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Proposes a major transparency drive at EU level, with a view to increasing the transparency of decision- making on public policy and guaranteeing that decisions are taken in the public interest and not unduly influenced by private interests; considers that that drive should be based on the establishment of a high authority responsible for ruling out conflicts of interest among civil servants, political office-holders and elected representatives, the mandatory preparation of a legislative footprint, the introduction of a genuine, binding transparency register covering all the Union institutions and agencies, the strengthening of the arrangements for the provision of public expertise independent of the Union and the strict enforcement of citizens' right to information, including as guaranteed by the Aarhus Convention;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Takes the view that, in order to meet the objectives set in the Paris Agreement, the Union should revise upwards its targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the share of the energy mix accounted for by renewables and energy savings and commit itself to moving towards a zero- carbon economy by phasing out the use of fossil fuels;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)

9c. Takes the view that, in order to halt the dramatic loss of biodiversity and guarantee a healthy environment for current and future generations, the Union should take effective action to combat all sources of pollution by introducing and strictly enforcing more ambitious standards, targeting the most polluting industries in particular, whether they operate in the area of agri-foods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, transport or finance, and by taking active steps to combat deforestation and over- fishing and promoting a new farming model which safeguards the environment, farmers' livelihoods and animal welfare;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)

9d. Calls on the Commission to bring about a radical paradigm shift in its commercial policy by ensuring that the public interest, human rights, the combating of climate disruption, environmental protection and the safeguarding of social rights are the primary objectives in any negotiation with third countries;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)

9e. Proposes the introduction of a green card for national and regional parliaments with legislative powers, so that they can make proposals at EU level; takes the view that, in order to improve the representation of citizens at EU level, democratic criteria should be applied in the Member States in order to ensure that all the national parliaments can scrutinise the standpoints adopted by their governments in the Council and in the Eurogroup;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; ~~points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of l~~regrets, however, the non-binding character of the Social Pillar, unable, as such, to shift the EU focus from macro- economic policies, internal market and fiscal policy to social~~, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should r~~ policy targets; is convinced that social targets must be prioritised, by giving full effect to article 9 TFEU, and that social rights must be decoupled from economic and fiscal conditionality; recalls in this context that collecetive ~~particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that so~~rights have proven to be indispensable to improve EU policy- and law-making; calls for the replacement of the European Semester with democratic decision-making of the co-legislators - European Parliament and Councial ~~dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law-making~~- with close involvement of the social partners and civil society, using the instrument of directives to set social minimum standards at EU level for gradual upwards convergence of social standards in the Member States;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Welcom~~Notes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are and must remainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should receive particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law-making;

Amendment 13 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Pervenche BERÈS, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is a~~n example~~ unique experiment of supranational integration with~~out equal and has brought last~~ the aims of bringing peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples; whereas these goals are being threatened by the political drive for an ever closer union which has led to a European Union which is too centralised, too overreaching and too out of touch with ordinary citizens;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should receive particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law- making and that the more it offers a high level of social protection to its citizens, the less the question of its legitimacy will arise;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation shcould receive ~~particular~~balanced attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law- making;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should receive particular attention within ~~the~~European economic policy ~~coordination of the European Semester~~; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law- making;

Amendment 133 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Takes the view that minimum social protection rules can already be introduced on the basis of the Treaties as they stand; calls for the introduction in the eurozone of automatic stabilisers which are open to all other Member States wishing to take part; takes the view that these automatic stabilisers should incorporate at least a European unemployment insurance system and a minimum income fixed at 60% of the median national income; proposes that work should start on a roadmap for the gradual pooling of public debt among the eurozone countries;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Points out that horizontal social clause enshrined in article 9 TFEU requires the Union to give careful consideration to the impact of EU legislation on social standards and employment and with a due consultation of social stakeholders,

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Reiterates its call for a social protocol to be introduced in the Treaties in order to strengthen fundamental social rights in relation to economic freedoms;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10 b. Calls once again on the Member States to sign and ratify the revised European Social Charter and the European Convention on Social Security (ETS No 78); calls also on the Commission to start negotiations with the Council of Europe in order to launch the process for the accession of the EU to the European Social Charter; meanwhile, asks the Commission to use the provisions of the Social Charter as guiding standards for the impact assessments carried out on the basis of article 12 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making and for drafting the explanatory memoranda foreseen in article 25 of such Agreement;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10 c. Stresses that environmental protection shall become a short-term top priority for the EU in the light of the current environmental degradation, and shall be mainstreamed in all policies and actions of the Union; moreover suggests, in order to better attain the above- mentioned objective, to introduce in the Treaties a specific reference to the Right of Nature, as developed, for instance, in the Constitution of Ecuador;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Recalls its own proposals and welcomes~~Deplores that the current economic governance system of the EU has proved itself ineffective to tackle those made by the Commission and some Member States for better governance of the EMU and for a stronger and more democratic institutional architecture, but regrets the slow pace of adoption and implementation of its proposals, as well as the disappointing results of the last European Council summit of 28-29 June 2018 in this regardjor challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, high-rate unemployment and work insecurity; calls for a reformed governance of the EMU, for a new European deal to face the social adversities of globalisation and for a stronger and more democratic institutional architecture, based on the principles of transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Deplores strongly the massive harm caused by austerity policies, especially welfare cuts and rising unemployment, and the devastating effects thereof on the lives of European citizens;

Amendment 14 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration without equal ~~and has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples~~, whereas today it continues to embody one of the greatest political ambitions Europeans have held, and whereas peace, prosperity and shared security are unthinkable without a united Europe endowed with the resources and powers needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Suggests that the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU should become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member States;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls for the governance institutions of the EMU to be designed in such a way to take full account of the need for democratic support of its decisions by Parliament and its relationship with national parliaments by ensuring appropriate parliamentary scrutiny mechanisms, in order to provide the economic and financial governance for the euro area with the maximum social, economic and democratic legitimacy and improve the follow-up of Union recommendations;

Amendment 142 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Pervenche BERÈS, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls for the governance institutions of the EMU to be designed in such a way to ~~take full account of the need for democratic support of its decisions by Parliament and its relationship with national parliaments, in order to provide~~provide for a stronger decision-making power of the European Parliament, while taking into account its relationship with national parliaments, and for a full judicial oversight of the Court of Justice, in order to confer to the economic and financial governance for the euro area ~~with the maximum social an~~an enhanced democratic legitimacy;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Recalls that all Member States excepting those with a derogation in the Treaty shall adopt the euro and should take all the necessary steps to meet the legal and economic requirements for its adoption in a timely fashion; Calls for the establishment of a maximum of a 10-year transition period for joining the EMU for new Member States;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Recalls that, according to the Court of Justice (Joined Cases C-8/15 P to C-10/15 P, Ledra Advertising), the European institutions are bound to respect and uphold the provisions of the EU Charter of fundamental rights even when they act outside the EU legal framework;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Welcomes the convergence of positions taken by France and Germany on the idea of a budgetary capacity for the euro area; reiterates its view that this capacity should be developed within the EU framework and should be open to Member States which have not yet joined the euro, but wish to do so; takes the view that this budget, to be used to fund joint investments, may be established on the basis of enhanced cooperation and should be funded by an own resources system;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Welcomes the convergence of positions taken~~Takes note of the document drawn up by France and Germany on the idea of a budgetary capacity for the euro area; reiterates its view that this capacity should be developed within the EU framework and believes that this should provide for tax transfers from trade surplus countries to deficit countries in order to ensure real solidarity within the EU;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Welcomes the~~Takes note of the alleged convergence of positions taken by France and Germany on the idea of a budgetary capacity for the euro area; reiterates its view that this capacity should be developed within the EU framework;

Amendment 149 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration w~~ithout equal and~~hich has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples ever since the groundbreaking Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950;

Amendment 150 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the Commission communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance; points out that merging the positions of Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability a~~t European level~~nd the democratic control of economic governance at European level, as well as avoid a duplication of roles that is confusing for the public; recalls in this respect its wish to progressively see the coordination of economic policies, as presented in Article 5 TFEU, become a shared competence;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Welcomes the Commission communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance; p~~Points out that merging the positions of Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability at European level; insists, however, that the EU should firstly clarify the legal nature of the decisions taken by the Eurogroup as well as its functions and responsibilities;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Welcomes the Commission communication~~Strongly rejects the proposal onf a European Minister of Economy and Finance; points out that ~~merging the posi~~this and any harmonisations of ~~Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability at European level~~taxation policies would imprison the member states in a 'fiscal cage'; recalls how Europe needs fair fiscal competition between its Member States;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Asks the European Council, the Council, when meeting informally, and the Eurogroup to start applying the Transparency Regulation and to develop rules of procedure that are in line with the standards developed in EU legislation and case law, as already requested in the Letter of the COSAC Delegations to the EU Institutions of 20 December 2017 on the transparency of political decision- making within the EU;

Amendment 155 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Stresses the need to aim to reduce the economic costs of regulatory burden which have resulted from excessive existing Union regulations by 25% by 2020, with a more ambitious and longer term target of 50% by 2030, taking particular regard for the effects of such over-regulation on SMEs;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Calls for the completion of the Banking Union with the implementation of the European Deposit Insurance Scheme;

Amendment 157 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Supports the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism into a European Stability Fund, accountable to the European Parliament;

Amendment 158 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14 c. Reminds the need to issue European bonds in order to generate additional own resources and provide the Eurozone with a European Safe Asset;

Amendment 159 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)

14 d. Calls for the development of a European Unemployment Insurance linked to the Euro Area fiscal capacity;

Amendment 16 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration without equal and has brought lasting peace, stability, prosperity and welfare to its peoples;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)

14 e. Calls on the Commission to activate article 116 TFEU in order to circumvent the hijacking of the Council by certain Member States in the field of tax harmonization and calls for the fight against tax fraud and avoidance to become an objective of the Union;

Amendment 161 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021- 2027, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources;deleted

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 because it suffers from the lack of financial engagement to face the current as well as the new challenges ahead for the EU, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources; points out that spending at EU level can save money at national level by avoiding duplication and through economies of scale;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources; Regrets that the Commission suggested cuts in cohesion policy, which proved to work on the ground and boost convergence within the entire EU, which is key to ensuring the Union's competitiveness and staying an important global player;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Commission’s proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by the Parliament, but regrets the non- introduction of other possible sources of revenues such as an EU wide coordinated wealth levy, a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) and a carbon tax; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new common challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Welcome~~Rejects the Commission proposal on own resources ~~introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament~~; expresses concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, a~~nd regre~~s it fails to take into account the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and the necessary reduction in EU spending that must coincide with it; supports the positions taken by ~~some~~the many Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU~~, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources~~ recognising the failure of the Commission to propose a MFF that is more efficient, better targeted and solely focused on areas in which the EU can add value;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament to avoid increasing fiscal transfers from Member States; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, ~~and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despit~~given the unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities~~, and therefore the need for more financial resources~~;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Points out that the MFF should be consistent with the Union's climate and environmental commitments and ensure that European public money is used to finance our societies' green transition; considers that, with that aim in view, at least half the EU budget should be earmarked to cover expenditure on measures to combat climate disruption and that no European programme should serve to fund the use of fossil fuels;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Points out that, if shared challenges are to be met, the EU budget should on no account be reduced below 2020 levels, Brexit notwithstanding; takes the view, further, that no rebates should be granted under the MFF and that the MFF should mostly be funded from own resources; considers that the EU budget should reflect the Union's political priorities, in particular its climate-related and environmental ambitions, and the need to combat socioeconomic inequalities and all forms of discrimination, including those based on gender;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up neither to its call for a convergence code – to be adopted by codecision – in order to have a more effective framework for economic policy coordination, nor to its call for an interinstitutional agreement (IIA) to be concluded to give Parliament a more substantial role in the European Semester; recalls in this context its suggestion that budgetary calendars at national and European level need to be better coordinated throughout the process in order to better involve both the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European Semester; takes the view that this convergence code should incorporate economic objectives, but also environmental and social ones, in such a way as to make the Union the guarantor not only of a balanced budget, but also of measures to combat socioeconomic inequalities, the exploitation of resources and environmental degradation and can intervene when the Member States fail to meet these criteria;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational ~~integ~~co-operation without equal ~~and has brought la~~which has sustainged peace~~, prosperity and welfare to its peoples;~~ in Europe

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up neither to its call for a convergence code – to be adopted by codecision – in order to have a more effective framework for economic policy coordination, nor to its call for an interinstitutional agreement (IIA) to be concluded to give Parliament a more substantial role in the European Semester; stresses, however, that the criteria to lay down in the Convergence Code shall never entail any levelling down of social, environmental and human rights standards enshrined in the European and international human rights law or impede the adoption, by the Member States, of more favourable provisions in this area; recalls in this context its suggestion that budgetary calendars at national and European level need to be better coordinated throughout the process in order to better involve both the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European Semester and to promote the social dialogue as provided for in articles 151, 154 and 155 TFEU;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up neither to its call for a convergence code – to be adopted by codecision – in order to have a more effective framework for economic policy coordination, nor austerity and macro- conditionality still remain very much the order of the day, preventing the introduction of fairer criteria for economic policy coordination; regrets also that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up to its call for an interinstitutional agreement (IIA) to be concluded to give Parliament a more substantial role in ~~the European Semester~~EU economic coordination; recalls in this context its suggestion that budgetary calendars at national and European level need to be better coordinated throughout the process in order to better involve both the European Parliament and national parliaments ~~in the European Semester~~;

Amendment 172 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up ~~neither to its call for a convergence code – to be adopted by codecision – in order to have a more effective framework for economic policy coordination, nor~~ to its call for an interinstitutional agreement (IIA) to be concluded to give Parliament a more substantial role in the European Semester; recalls in this context its suggestion, specifically in line with its report on the implementation of the Treaty provisions concerning national parliaments (A8- 0127/2018), that budgetary calendars at national and European level need to be better coordinated throughout the process in order to better involve both the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European Semester;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Stresses that Europe is, and should continue to be, a positive force in the world, by upholding its values, multilateralism and International law; recalls that the Union and its Member States are the largest contributor to international development aid;

Amendment 174 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Is of the opinion that taking into account the results of both the Lisbon and Europe 2020 strategy, the EU should refrain from asking for more competences in economic matters;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16 b. Considers that the Union should continue to advance international trade while defending social, labour and environmental standards; warns against tradewars that only produce losers and increase political and security tensions;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) as important steps towards a common defence policy, and notes proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; recalls its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and underlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard;deleted

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) as important steps towards a common defence policy, and notes proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; recalls its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and underlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard; welcomes the strengthening of the European Civil Protection Mechanism and calls once again for the creation of a European Civil Protection Corps, given that the existing Treaties provide a good basis for this;

Amendment 179 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. ~~Welcome~~Regrets the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) ~~as important steps towards a common defence policy, and note~~, and rejects proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; ~~recall~~also rejects its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR)~~, and underl~~; remineds th~~e importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard~~at defence policy must remain a matter of national sovereignty, with NATO as the cornerstone of Europe’s defence and security objectives; insists therefore that any further developments by the EU in this area must adhere to the commitments made in the 2016 EU-NATO Joint Declaration;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the Union has achieved fundamental transformations, such as the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, the single currency, the Erasmus programme, regional, agricultural and cohesion policies, and Horizon 2020, among many others, that contribute to the well-being of European citizens;

Amendment 180 #

Barbara SPINELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) ~~as important steps towards~~in view of setting a common defence policy, and notes proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; recalls its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and underlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regardunderlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard; reminds that any action or measure adopted by the Union in the field of external action shall be subjected to the strict observance and the full respect of the principles enshrined, amongst others, in article 2, 3(5) and 21 TEU;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) ~~and the European Defence Fund (EDF)~~ as important steps towards a common defence policy, and notes proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; recalls its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and underlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate migratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; stresses the need to abandon the crisis mentality that has to date been dictating European strategy and underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project; therefore considers it an absolute and immediate priority to ensure that European policy is based on the fair distribution of responsibilities between Member States and solidarity, principles expressly stated in Article 67;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration and asylum policy, which would ~~make it possible to organise and regulate m~~establish a well- functioning migration and refugees policy rooted on articles 67 and 80 TFEU and on the principles of solidarity, non- discrimination, non-refoulement and on proactive search and rescue, in line with the obligrat~~ory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee~~ions deriving from the Geneva Convention, the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, providing for the full respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers~~, among other objectives~~; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project;

Amendment 185 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate migratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project; points out that one effective, rational and safe way of preventing the human dramas linked to the displacement of persons forced to flee their homes is to establish legal channels for migration;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. DStrongly deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate migratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project which suffers directly from an instrumentalisation of the migration issue by the Eurosceptic parties;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Recognizes that the strategic interest of the EU lies in deepening and adapting its partnership with Africa and that it is necessary to ensure stronger mutual commitment based on shared values and interests and closer dialogue and cooperation in international forums; welcomes the 'Communication for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU Partnership' and hopes for the achievement of a new and ambitious EU- ACP partnership focused on individuals (people-centred partnership), based on values such as peace, stability and democracy, good governance and economic and human development and driven by a willingness to form a united front in response to challenges such as migration, mobility and climate change, in accordance with the UN 2030 agenda;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas over the past few years the Union has ~~faced~~struggled to cope with multiple crises which have ~~tested its resilience and capacity to act in a decisive and united manner~~demonstrated that the EU's 'one size fits all' approach to all policy areas has created a Union which is too bureaucratic and over-centralised;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Reaffirms that the Union must adopt a long-term strategy to address the root causes of migration in third countries (persecution, military conflicts, generalised violence, climate change, natural disasters and extreme poverty) and create safe and regular channels to access the EU; in this regard, calls for negotiations to be stopped on all types of agreements related to migration, including readmission agreements, with third countries which do not guarantee the protection of refugees and respect for fundamental rights and of the Geneva Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Takes the view that the Dublin system does not guarantee either reception arrangements for asylum seekers which are such as to safeguard their dignity and their fundamental rights or solidarity between Member States, and that it should therefore be overhauled as a matter of urgency; considers that a new system should be based on the fair allocation of asylum seekers within the Union, in keeping with objective criteria which take account of their emotional and family ties;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Points out that the Union must commit itself fully to the green transition and sustainable development, both of which are key, strategic components of a European recovery, and in particular make them the guiding principles underpinning an investment strategy in the service of a new economic model designed to help it meet the threefold challenge - environmental, economic and social - it faces;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Emphasises that a series of scandals and revelations have severely shaken citizens' confidence in our financial and tax system; points out that, if the Union's credibility is to be restored, it is vital to guarantee tax and social justice by quickly implementing and strengthening the legal tools required to ensure that opacity gives way to transparency, to combat tax evasion and money laundering and make taxation fairer;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18 b. Stresses the urgency of effective integration policies of migrants who have entered the EU, and calls on the Member States to refrain from any form of labour exploitation or religious discrimination of migrant workers; calls also on the Member States to put an end to their reluctance to ratify the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the social legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereignty;deleted

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; takes the view that the European Council should propose for the post of Commission President the candidate most likely to secure a parliamentary majority; points out that that person will not necessarily be the candidate from the political grouping which won the European elections; considers it essential to strengthen the ~~soci~~political legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereignty;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Underlines its determination to continue~~Expresses concerns with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President~~, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who w~~; regrets that in 2014 the process failed to engage with citizens as nbot appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the social legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereigntyh the candidates and European political parties were entirely unknown to a vast majority of citizens, weakening the political legitimacy of both Parliament and the Commission; warns that this same situation will occur in the 2019 European elections;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that ~~it will reject any candidate~~, in the investiture procedure of the Commission President, the Treaties are being interpreted in line with the usage that any candidate who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority~~; considers it essential to~~ will be rejected; considers that this usage has amply proved its worth, strengthening the social legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereignty;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the ~~social~~ legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship ~~and European sovereignty~~;

Amendment 2 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 26 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights,

Amendment 20 #

Barbara SPINELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas over the past few years the Union has faced multiple crises which have testrongly weakened its resilience and capacity to act in a decisive ~~and united manner~~, united and rights-based manner and to fulfil its duty of solidarity;

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the ~~social~~ legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European ~~sovereignt~~democracy;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Recalls that, as stated by the Ombudsman, when appointing its Secretary-General the Commission 'failed to comply with either the letter or the spirit of the relevant rules'; points out that a new procedure, consistent with the rules, for filling this post should be conducted when the new President of the Commission and the new Commissioners are appointed;

Amendment 202 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

~~20.~~ Regrets the frequent and ~~20.~~ widespread temptation to attribute unpopular decisions to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalism and discredits the EU institutions; considers that the Member States’ failure to comply with agreements adopted at European Summits and Councils seriously undermines the credibility of the European institutions, and their implementation should therefore be more effectively guaranteed;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the frequent and widespread temptation to attribute unpopular decisions to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalism and discredits the EU institutions; requests the national authorities to promote a pro- European message of cohesion to achieve a major civil implication in the attainment of the future aims of the Union;

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the frequent and widespread temptation to attribute unpopular decisions to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalism and discredits the EU institutioof MEPs to state one policy position in Brussels and an entirely different one to their citizens in the Member States, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, discredits the EU institutions and has contributed to further supranational integration without and even against the consent of its citizens;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the frequent and widespread temptation, made possible by the Council's opaque working methods, to attribute unpopular decisions to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalism and discredits the EU institutions;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. ~~Regrets the frequent and widespread~~Notes the temptation to attribute unpopular decisions to ~~Brussel~~the EU institutions and to free national authorities of their responsibilities ~~and politics, given that this unjust~~, notes that this can indicate and opportunistic attitude ~~damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalism~~which can damage and discredits the EU institutions;

Amendment 209 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the frequent and widespread temptation to attribute unpopular decisions only to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European ~~nationalism~~feelings and discredits the EU and the national institutions;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the 2014-2017 period has seen more socially balanced and effective monetary and macroeconomic policies that have contributed to the economic ans social recovery, such as the non-standard policies of the ECB, the flexibility of the Stability and Growth Pact, and the Investment Plan for Europe;

Amendment 210 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Underlines the need for a stronger assessment of the social and environmental consequences of EU policies, by keeping in mind also the cost of non-legislation at European level (so- called “cost of non Europe”);

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sp~~her~~ace as a supranational ~~area of European democracy~~democratic space; takes the view that this must involve, for example, the Europeanisation of public debates, in particular in the media, devoting more time in school curricula to the functioning of the Union and its powers, and significantly strengthening the tools for citizens' participation in political life, such as the European citizens' initiative, which should be significantly upgraded; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not only from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs agenuine European ~~identity, a genuinely European demos, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework~~citizenship, which should, ultimately, be granted directly by the Union to any person living on EU territory, irrespective of their nationality;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing ~~must~~can be addressed and discussed ~~from a European perspective and not from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identi~~through the introduction of an annual European week allowing Members of the European Parliament and Commissioners to appear simultaneously before national parliaments to discuss the European agenda with their MPs and with representatives of civil society, a ~~genuinely European demos, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework~~nd explain it to them; points out that this measure will strengthen European identity, interlinking the peoples of Europe and bringing them closer together;

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the ~~European public sphere as a supra~~democratic legitimacy of the European institutions by increasing the role of national par~~ea of European democracy~~liaments in the EU decision- making process; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from both a European perspective and ~~not from~~ a national perspective; poremintds ~~out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a Europe~~that Europe is a continent with diverse cultures and identit~~y, a genuinely European demos, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework~~ies and that there can never be a European demos; points out that the diversity in the European Union is its strength, and that it should therefore refrain from attempting to harmonise the cultures and identities of its Member States;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to ~~strengthen~~clear the way for the European public sphere as a ~~supra~~transnational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed ~~from a European perspective and not from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity,~~with the full involvement of all the parties concerned, at European and national level, and by giving full effect to the provisions enshrined in articles 10 and 11 TEU; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs to develop a concrete EU participatory, social and rights-based dimension able to foster the development of a genuinely European demos, and to promote more European institutional education ~~and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework~~;

Amendment 215 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; s~~Stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a ~~European~~national perspective and not from a ~~national~~European perspective; points out that~~, for this reason,~~ European democracy ~~need~~lacks a European ide~~ntity, a genuinely European demos, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social frame~~mos and therefore legitimacy; underlines however the deep cultural ties that unite Europeans and distinguish them from the rest of the workld;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not just from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs ~~a European identity, a genuinely~~to protect all the fundamental values and principles of our democratic system while promoting the development of an European ide~~mos~~ntity, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national ~~social~~ framework;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the ~~major~~re are challenges which Europe is facing ~~must be~~which are more effectively addressed ~~and~~when discussed ~~from~~at a European perspective and not from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity, a genuinely European demos, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework;level, in co-operation with all national perspectives of Member States, without prejudice to their competencies and their national authorities.

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs ~~a European identity, a genuinely European demos,~~ more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; s~~Stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not from a national perspective only; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity, ~~a genuinely European demos,~~ more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory ~~and less national social framework~~societal framework as well as a more European and less nationally focused campaign for the upcoming European elections in 2019;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas, among the major challenges the Union must meet, that of putting the public interest ahead of private interests, and more particularly the most powerful of those, is one of the most important and most fundamental;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Welcomes the approach taken to the current negotiations on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; notes that experience in the negotiations to date has ~~shown the enormous complexities of such decis~~highlighted the extent of the dangers which the decision to leave the Union is creating for the nationals of a State, its economy, its businesses and its ability to exert influence on the world stage; takes the view, whilst expressing regret at the United Kingdom's decision to leave the Union, that Brexit could offer the Union an opportunity to consolidate its political integrations;

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Welcomes the approach taken to the current~~Is aware of the complexity of the negotiations con ~~the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal~~cerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; ~~notes that experience~~ demands the negotiating parties to fully honour their earlier commitments concerning the ~~negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such decis~~content of the Withdrawal Agreement by providing for positive and concrete solutions to the still outstanding issues specifically in the areas of citizens’ rights and the Status on Northern Ireland as also requested in the European Parliament resolution of 14 March 2018 on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship;

Amendment 222 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Richard CORBETT, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Welcomes the approach taken to the current negotiations on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union~~, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States~~ ; notes that experience in the negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such decisions;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Welcomes the Union's approach taken to the current negotiations on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; notes that experience in the negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such decisions;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Asks the EU and UK negotiators to spell out in detail, in the Withdrawal Agreement, all the issues concerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union so as to guarantee their binding nature and avoid, as much as possible, any legal uncertainty in their interpretation;

Amendment 228 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines ~~once more that neither~~that national sovereignty ~~nor~~and subsidiarity ~~can~~ justify orand legitimise the systematic refusal on the part of a Member State to comply with the interpretation of fundamental values of the European Union ~~which inspired the introductory articles of the European Treaties, which every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect~~made by the European parliament ; underlines furthermore that upholding these values is fundamental for the cohesion of the European project, the rights of all Europeans and the mutual trust needed among the Member States; ~~recalls its recommendation to establish a European mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;~~

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas in order to meet it the Union should guarantee the independence of its civil servants, its elected representatives and its political office-holders, in particular by monitoring their dealings with lobby groups, guaranteeing the impartiality of the expert advice on which they base their decisions and making decision-making processes as transparent as possible;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines once more that neither national sovereignty nor subsidiarity can justify or legitimise the systematic refusal on the part of a Member State to comply with the fundamental values of the European Union which inspired the introductory articles of the European Treaties, which every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding these values is fundamental for the cohesion of the European project, the rights of all Europeans and the mutual trust needed among the Member States; recalls its recommendation to establish a European mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rightsRecalls that, according to article 2 TEU, the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, which reflect binding and well-established principles of international law that every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding and promoting these principles is a precondition for guaranteeing the legitimacy of and building trust in the European project;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Reminds that, according to Article 49 TEU, candidate countries must demonstrate to satisfy the Copenhagen criteria in order to become members of the EU and the Commission has a duty to demand full compliance with them; stresses that, once part of the EU, Member States have a corresponding obligation to respect and protect the principle of the rule of law and its constitutive elements but regrets that the Union has limited instruments to ensure that Member States comply with such obligation; asks once again to the Commission to swiftly submit a proposal giving effect to the European Parliament resolution of 25 October2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Stresses that the process of reflection on the future of Europe has already started on the basis of the various positions on EU reform taken by the Parliament, European Council and the Commission; regrets that, despite this positions, only marginal reforms have been envisaged;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23 b. Emphasize that, once the new Parliament and Commission are installed, they should capitalize on the work done in the previous legislature and start working on the proposals made;

Amendment 235 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that the process of reflection on the future of Europe ~~and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty should eventually lead to a Convention being convened – guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflec~~should eventually lead to a genuine constitutional development process designed to endow the Union with a concise and comprehensible Constitution which safeguards fundamental rights and the separation of powers, defines the nature of the institutions and ~~engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclus~~their respective powers, sets out the decision-making processes and lays down the division of competences between the varionus ~~from the variou~~levels of power; takes the view that this cCon~~trib~~stitution~~s to th~~ cannot be pre~~flection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and o~~pared by the heads of state and government at an intergovernmental conference and that it is high time that citizens were given the opportunity to draw up together, b~~odies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultatio~~y means of a democratic constitutional development process involving an open and collaborative phase, the document which will lay down rules governing their society; takes the view that the text should be ratified by means of a trans-European referendum requiring a double majority of States and citizens;

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that t~~he process of reflection on the future of Europe and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty should eventually lead to~~aking into account the present state of the integration project, the EU must exhaust every possible avenue to ensure the full implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Points out that a subsequent revision of the Treaties should be based on a Convention being convened –- guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflection and engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclusions from the various contributions to the reflection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and other bodies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultations;

Amendment 237 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that the process of reflection on the future of Europe and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty should eventually lead to a Convention being convened – guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflection and engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclusions from the various contributions to the reflection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and other bodies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultations;(Does not affect the English version.)

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that the process of reflection on the future of Europe and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty ~~should eventually~~has to lead to a Convention being convened – guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflection and engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclusions from the various contributions to the reflection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and other bodies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultations;

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Considers that that Constitution should introduce a two-chamber federal parliamentary system in which the Commission would be a fully fledged executive and the Council, transformed into an upper chamber representing the States or, where appropriate, the regions, would act as co-legislator alongside a Parliament endowed with a legislative right of initiative, including in the budgetary and fiscal sphere, and a large proportion of whose Members would be elected from a common constituency; takes the view that in such a Union the Commission presidency should be elected by the European Parliament on the basis of a political majority and a clear programme and that its composition should be determined without interference from the Member States;

Amendment 24 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the ~~economic~~financial crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery of the social standards of our welfare statets structural causes are yet to be tackled and significant economic challenges remain which can only be solved by the Member States building dynamic competitive economies and through improving levels of productivity and innovation to create jobs and prosperity;

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Recalls the pending Union’s accession to the European Convention of Human Rights;

Amendment 241 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Takes the view that, if the Union is to guarantee certain fundamental and enforceable rights and objectives in practice, a pillar of civic, economic, social and environmental rights should be incorporated into primary EU law; considers that this would endow the EU with powers to act in these areas and to respond each time these rights were violated, thereby ensuring full gender equality throughout its territory, combating all forms of discrimination and guaranteeing press freedom, the protection of minorities, media pluralism, access to public goods and services, the right to a healthy environment, etc.;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24 b. Affirms the importance to proceed towards a simplification of the constitutional amendment and ratification procedure, insists in this regard on the added value of a potential EU-wide referendum for the improvement of legitimacy and democracy of the Union;

Amendment 243 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24 c. Suggests the reform of article 7 of the TEU in order to abolish the unanimity requirement for the imposition of sanctions;

Amendment 244 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Calls for the absorption of the Euratom Treaty´s provisions in the Constitutional Treaty;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the economic crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of ~~recovery of~~further strengthening of the Single Market and the social standards of our welfare state;

Amendment 26 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the economic crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in some Member States, in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery of the social standards of our welfare state;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the economic crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery and development of the social standards of our welfare state;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, although Europe has managed to ~~overcome~~contain the most critical moments of the ~~economic~~financial crisis, important and urgent reforms are still ~~lie ahead in the area of~~necessary to boost economic grecover~~nance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery of the social standards of our welfare state~~y, promote social progress and inclusion and bridge the gap between surplus and deficit countries;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas substantial reforms of the EU policies aimed at tackling the major challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, high-rate unemployment, work precariousness, unchanged debt unsustainability and ineffective social protection, represent the first and indispensable step to regain grassroots support for the EU project as a whole;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2017 on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, terrorism, security, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and dthe EU should promote a renewed spirit of cooperation and solidarity among its Members in view of the multiple current and future challenges the Union is facing, taking as reference, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together point the founding principles enshrined in articles 2 and 3 TEU and the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union, in ~~a hostile global world, in~~ particular those concerning migration, climate change, the gradual depletion of biodiversity, the safeguarding of the environment and public health, widening socioeconomic inequalities and increasing levels of exclusion, terrorism, security, completing the EMU, globalisation, ~~climate change,~~ international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against ~~anti-EU~~ populism, nationalism, intolerance and xenophobia, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple internal and external current and future challenges facing the Union in an unstable and partly hostile global ~~world~~environment, in particular those concerning migration, terrorism, security, preserving the multilateral world order, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, free and fair and rules-based international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together;

Amendment 33 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Pervenche BERÈS, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, terrorism, security, ~~completing the EMU,~~ globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actUnion needs to avoid becoming overreached by focusing on doing less more efficiently as outlined in scenario four of the Commission's ~~taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together~~White Paper on the Future of the European Union;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a ~~hostile~~ global world, in particular those concerning migration, demographic decline, terrorism, security, climate change, completing the EMU, globalisation, ~~climate change,~~ international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe ~~should~~must continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union~~; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together~~ in order to complete the process of European political integration, so these challenges can be effectively tackled;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, terrorism, security, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, rising nationalisms and economic protectionism, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together;

Amendment 36 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas by ratifying the Paris Agreement the Union has undertaken to continue the efforts to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 °C by comparison with pre-industrial levels, and whereas this objective can only be achieved if we revise upwards our targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the share of the energy mix accounted for by renewables and energy savings;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas theEuropean Parliament is very concerned about the rise of populist, xenophobic and anti-European movements all over Europe; whereas the Union and its Member States must strengthen their efforts to defend and promote the democratic values, founding principles and objectives of European integration;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’'s announcement on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 which lead~~ing~~ to the UK’s announcement on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union ~~has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Eur~~, despite the fact that the people of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groupsNorthern Ireland voted to remain within the EU; has intensified the debate on the future of them Union;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)

- having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents,

Amendment 40 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’s announcement on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them; whereas the decision of the British people demonstrates the discontent of citizens with current state of the European Union;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’s ~~announcement~~notification on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them;

Amendment 42 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. Whereas the negotiation on the envisaged departure of the UK from the EU have revealed the high level of interdependence of the member states, the degree to which we all rely on joint instruments and policies and the costs of any departure;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas the last elections in various Member States clearly show a rise of euroscepticism;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the latest Eurobarometer survey, conducted between 17 and 28 March 2018, shows that a majority of Europeans have a positive image of the EU (40 %) and that this proportion continues to exceed that of those who have a neutral image of the EU (37 %); whereas just above a fifth of Europeans have a negative image of the EU (21 %);deleted

Amendment 45 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas according to the Eurobarometer the EU is at its highest level of popularity since 1983; whereas the latest Eurobarometer survey, conducted between 17 and 28 March 2018, shows that a majority of Europeans have a positive image of the EU (40 %) and that this proportion continues to exceed that of those who have a neutral image of the EU (37 %); whereas just above a fifth of Europeans have a negative image of the EU (21 %);

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. Whereas the results of recent elections, referenda and opinion polls consistently show that the citizens of the European Union reject the supranationalist model of a centralised European Union driven by ideology which undermines the principles of subsidiarity and democracy as highlighted by the German constitutional court;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas the values and principles on which the Union is based define a sphere with which every European citizen can identify himself or herself, irrespective of political or cultural differences linked to national identity;

Amendment 49 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the upcoming elections to the European Parliament present an opportunity to ~~take stock of~~draw some concrete and appropriate conclusions from the debate on the future of Europe, also in view of the principal institutional priorities of the three institutions for the new term; whereas the upcoming European Parliament elections represent also an opportunity to reshape the Union’s course of action through a redefinition of its political priorities by promoting a new socially and environmentally oriented economic and political model based on the full implementation of the principles enshrined in Part I, Title II, of the TFEU and in the EU Charter of fundamental rights;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

- having regard to the 2018 State of the European Union address of 12 September 2018 by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the upcoming elections to the European Parliament present an opportunity to take stock of the debate on the future of Europe, also in view of the principal institutional priorities of the three institutions for the new term; whereas the views of all political groups in the European Parliament need to better be taken into account in the next term;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the upcoming elections to the European Parliament present an opportunity to take stock of the debate on the future of Europe, also in view of the principal institutional priorities of the ~~three institutions~~European Parliament, the Commission and the Council for the new term;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the EU is ~~facing a particularly important period in its construction process~~at a critical juncture point, given the nature and dimension of its challenges, and whereas these c~~an only be solved by working together and through greater and better integration~~hallenges cannot be solved by undertaking more supranational integration but only by a far more free and differentiated cooperation between Member States and a restoration of a genuine democratic control by national parliaments;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the EU is facing a particularly important period in its construction process, given the nature and dimension of its challenges, and whereas these can only be solved by working together and through greater and better integration and through more consistent efforts of solidarity;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the EU is facing a particularly important period in its construction process, given the nature and dimension of its challenges, and whereas these can only be solved by working together ~~and through greater and better integration;~~in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity and fundamental rights

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the EU is facing a particularly important period in its construction process, given the nature and dimension of its challenges, and whereas these can ~~only~~ be solved by working together ~~and through greater and better integration~~;

Amendment 56 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas the task of implementing greater and better integration requires working in three different and related levels: a) defending past achievements and the acquis; b) exploiting to the full extent the current provisions of the Treaty Lisbon; c) reforming the Treaties in order to improve the institutional decision- making and the balance of competencies;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas institutional reforms should aim at making decision-making processes more democratic, enhancing the transparency of decision-making and the accountability of the Union and its institutions; whereas, in view of these aims, it is a~~n opportune tim~~ppropriate to organise consultations and promote a regular dialogue with citizens and representative associations, in line with the requirements of article 11 TEU;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas institutional reforms should aim at making decision-making processes more democratic, enhancing the transparency of decision-making and the accountability of the Union; whereas, in view of these aims, it is an opportune time to promote a major civil implication in the European project and organise consultations and dialogue with citizens;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18

~~— having regard to the Sorbonne Speech of French President Emmanuel Macron of 26 September 2017, entitled ‘Initiative for Europe: A sovereign, united democratic Europe’,~~deleted

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas the European governance structure of supranational and intergovernmental ad hoc elements has become obsolete; whereas the Union needs a stronger government structure, regulated in the Treaties and with an enhanced democratic control of the European Parliament, to face the challenges of today and the future;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas transparency and integrity of the EU institutions and bodies are essential conditions to build trust and confidence vis-à-vis citizens and to allow them to fully enjoy and exercise the rights deriving from the EU law;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

~~J. whereas the Meseberg Declaration proposes putting in place transnational lists for the European elections as of 2024;~~deleted

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the Meseberg Declaration proposes putting in place transnational lists for the European elections as of 2024, while this Parliament has rejected the introduction of transnational lists;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the Meseberg Declaration proposes putting in place transnational lists for the European elections as of 2024; and that proposal was rejected by the European Parliament 1a ; _________________ 1a Composition of the European Parliament - Wednesday, 7 February 2018 - Strasbourg

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas ~~the Meseberg Declaration proposes putting in place~~in February 2018, Parliament voted comprehensively against the introduction of a transnational lists for ~~the~~ European elections ~~as of 2024~~;

Amendment 66 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas in its report (2017/2054 (INL) - 2017/0900), the European Parliament rejected at the outset the creation of transnational lists; whereas the debate on the future of the Union must not be a return to the past, bearing in mind that the legitimacy and the democratic nature of the European project are fundamentally based on respect for decisions taken by Parliament; whereas transnational lists are in breach of the degressive proportionality principle, serving to consolidate the Eurosceptic movements and alienate voters from their constituencies, as well as being perceived as a drift towards centralism, widening the gap between Member States and upsetting the democratic balance of the Union;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas the promotion of an European dimension of culture and education are vital for the reinforcement of European citizenship, taking into account that the Union suffers from a knowledge deficit which causes that the Unions achievements tend to be taken for granted by the younger generations;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Re~~call~~grets that Parliament’s resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017 emphasised the importance of the single institutional framework and the Community method and suggested several flawed proposals and initiatives ~~of particular importance for European integration that can contribute to building Europe’s future~~that will lead to further centralisation whilst deconstructing European democracies and diversity; instead proposes reforming the European Union by taking an intergovernmentalist approach that allows for common action to be taken between Member States only when it fully respects the principles of conferral, subsidiarity and proportionality;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that Parliament’s resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017 emphasised the importance of the single institutional framework and the Community method and suggested several proposals and initiatives ~~of particular importance for European integration that can contribute to building Europe’s future~~in this regard;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22

— having regard to the Commission’s roadmap for deepening Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) of 6 December 2017 (COM(2017)0821) and in particular the proposal to establish a European Monetary Fund (EMF) (COM(2017)0827), the proposal to integrate the substance of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance into the Union legal framework (COM(2017)0824) and the communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance (COM(2017)0823),deleted

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recalls that Parliament’s resolutions~~Considers that a debate on the state of the debate on the fFuture of Europe ~~of 16 February 2017 emph~~should be an opportunity to objectively asisedss the importance of the single institutional framework and the Community method and suggested several proposals and initiatives of particular importance for European integration that can contribute to building Europe’s futurestate of European integration and not an exercise of self-satisfaction aimed at proposing the same solutions to increasingly pressing problems ;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects theirpolitical co-operation. Acknowledges that there are problems that can be resolved more effectively through co-operation between Member States, when pursued in compliance and promotion of human rights, and ~~their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together~~in full respect for fundamental freedom, democratic principles and the sovereignty of Member States;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, as well as the Single Market, freedom of movement of goods, services and capital, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future ~~with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together~~by reforming to become a community of nations cooperating in shared confederal institutions in areas in which the nations have common interests; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe who stated that citizens ~~want a Europe that protects~~ are concerned by the federalist vision behind the call for furtheir ~~rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together~~integration but remain determined to continue working together on the basis of shared sovereignty in areas which are mutually beneficial to do so;

Amendment 74 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europeand promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the democratic principles; invites the heads of state and government to pursue this path in a renewed spirit of solidarity and collaboration reminding that the problems having an European dimension can only be solved together;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with ~~grea~~better and ~~better~~new political ~~integration~~proposals, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their way of life, their rights and their social model on the basis of ~~shared~~ sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can ~~only~~ be solved together;

Amendment 78 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Underlines~~Points out that the Union ~~must~~could tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as a~~n example~~ method of deeper European integration, ~~not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutions~~although this must not be confused with "à la carte" method; insists on the need to avoid any perception of the creation of first-class and second-class membership within the European Union in the current debate on the evolution of differentiated integration;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23

— having regard to the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2017, and to the Leaders’ ‘meeting and Euro summit meetings taking place in the margins thereof,

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated ~~integ~~cooperation must remain open to all Member States and ~~continue to act as an example of deeper European integration, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solu~~provide an option to both Member States and citizens which wish to remain part of the European project whilst simultaneously protecting their national democracy, culture and identities by refraining from further supranational integrations;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as ~~an example of deeper European integration, not as~~ a way to facilitate à la carte solutions;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as an example of deeper European integration and solidarity, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutions;

Amendment 83 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as an example of ~~deeper~~ European ~~integ~~co-operation, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutions;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Suggests to render the requirements for establishing enhanced and structured cooperation less restrictive, inter alia by lowering the minimum number of participating Member States and recalls that differentiated integration should not be a way to reduce the political integration;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’'s right of initiative; reiterates its call on the European Council to fully respect the boundaries of its competences as enshrined, in particular, in article 15 TEU;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’s right of initiative; considers this to be a flagrant misuse of the Union method; reiterates the European Parliament's numerous resolutions in this regard;

Amendment 87 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’s right of initiative and Parliament's power of scrutiny;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the ~~Council, and in particular the~~ European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’s right of initiative by reinforcing the intergovernmental method;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Stresses that the Commission, when exercising its right of initiative, should act only after conducting thorough impact assessments, and should seek formal authority from the Member States to the principle of proposing a legislative initiative in advance;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)

- having regard to the statement on the Future of Europe made by the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) on 26 January 2018;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates that the unanimity, which the Treaties require in some fundamental matters, is an almost insurmountable obstacle in important moments and decisions, and advocates therefore, with regard to decision-making procedures, the principle of qualified majority voting (QMV) in Council and the use of the ordinary legislative procedure; recalls that under the current Treaties this can be achieved by using the various passerelle clauses or, in the case of enhanced cooperation, by using Article 333 TFEUintentionally high requirement in the decision-making procedure in order to ensure that all Member States have a strong voice in the Council and can protect their national interest with the use of a veto; stresses that the introduction of qualified majority voting (QMV) in Council would further weaken the EU's respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality whilst isolating Member States who are opposed to further integration;

Amendment 93 #

Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Mercedes BRESSO, Richard CORBETT, Jo LEINEN, Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates that the unanimity, which the Treaties require in some fundamental matters, is an almost insurmountable obstacle in important moments and decisions, and ~~advocates~~ therefore suggests, with regard to decision-making procedures, that the principle of qualified majority voting (QMV) in Council and the use of the ordinary legislative procedure should be investigated; recalls that under the current Treaties this can be achieved by using the various passerelle clauses or, in the case of enhanced cooperation, by using Article 333 TFEU;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes in this regard the announcement by President Juncker in his State of the Union address of 13 September 2017 of the intention to propose using QMV in the Council for matters such as the common consolidated corporate tax base (CCTB), VAT and taxation of the digital economy, ~~but regrets that the MFF regulation is not among the subjects listed~~and calls for that proposal to be put into practice; takes the view that, in order to guarantee more effective financing of European public policies, the MFF should also be one of the subjects for which QMV is introduced in the Council; takes the view, further, that Article 116 TFEU should be employed as of now in an effort to eliminate fiscal dumping between Member States;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes in this regard~~Regrets the announcement by President Juncker in his State of the Union address of 13 September 2017 of the intention to propose using QMV in the Council for matters such as the common consolidated corporate tax base (CCTB), VAT and taxation of the digital economy~~, but regrets that the MFF regulation is not among the subjects listed~~; reminds that the ability for citizens to elect national representatives to set taxes is a fundamental part of a modern democracy and that any taxes set at an EU level would further exacerbate the problem of the EU's democratic deficit;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcom~~Notes in this regard the announcement by President Juncker in his State of the Union address of 13 September 2017 of the intention to propose using QMV in the Council for matters such as the common consolidated corporate tax base (CCTB), VAT and taxation of the digital economy, but regrets that the MFF regulation is not among the subjects listed;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

source: 627.860

2018/10/11 AGRI 97 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas Union agricultural products contribute to the Union’s living cultural and gastronomic heritage, enhancing territorial and social cohesion, as well as local and regional traditions; whereas there is increased demand for high quality and traditional products at European and global level; whereas the current agricultural policy is dominated by industrial intensification and crop monocultures that put the Union's model of family farming with its crop diversity at risk;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital Б

B. whereas the Union’s major critics point to the existence of a gap between the Union’s proposed action and its realisation at national and local levels, and whereas the withdrawal of the UK will have important impacts on the future financing of the Union, which should not be the cause of any reduction in the funding for rural development and other existing measures under the CAP;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the Union’s major critics point to the existence of a gap between the Union’s proposed policy and action and its realisation at national and local levels, and whereas the withdrawal of the UK will have important impacts on the future financing of the Union;

Amendment 12 #

Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. C. (new) whereas gender equality is a core objective of the EU and its Member States; whereas many roles played by women in rural areas help to keep farms viable and rural communities dynamic; whereas efforts to prevent rural depopulation are linked to opportunities for women and young people, and whereas women in rural areas currently face many challenges;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. Where as CAP plays an important role in a sustainable productivity and a fair competitiveness of the sector in order to avoid the volatility of farm incomes, which, despite the concentration and intensification of production and increasing productivity, are on average still lower than in the rest of the economy;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas according to the FAO the global demand for food will rise by 70% by 2050 and that the change in diets will put more pressure on the natural resources, the European agriculture needs to produce more food with less ressources;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the new CAP proposal seeks to ensure economic added value for farming activities;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

B b. Whereas ensuring food security for Europe’s citizens, providing consumers with healthy and high-quality food at reasonable prices, and safeguarding farm incomes have been the core objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) since its inception and these need remain key objectives of the EU in the future;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is ~~still~~ one of the oldest, most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future, points out that as CAP has evolved it has been assigned many new tasks and roles in the areas of climate change mitigation and the provision of public goods that are not remunerated by the market place and therefore its budget share must not be reduced;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recall~~Stresses the importance of the cCommon aAgricultural pPolicy (CAP) ~~in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still~~supported by a well-funded budget; recalls the CAP's central importance to the history of the Union; notes the fundamental role that it plays in ensuring vibrant rural regions and a secure supply of food; notes that the upcoming reform of the CAP is an opportunity to strengthen the delivery of its objectives; highlights that the CAP is one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future; regrets that successive CAP revisions have all been seeking to deregulate the markets and open the EU to world markets, resulting in huge income losses for farmers;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital А

A. whereas Union agricultural products contribute both to the Union’s economic development in terms of production and processing and to its living cultural and gastronomic heritage, enhancing territorial and social cohesion, as well as local and regional traditions; whereas there is increased demand for high quality and traditional products at European and global level;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it ~~will~~should continue to contribute to building Europe’s future and therefore regrets that the proposals made by the European Commission to reform the CAP go into the direction of more differences and less cohesion between Members States;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recalls the~~Highlights the economic and social importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future, inter alia through food production, job creation, the protection of the environment and the preservation of biodiversity;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union when the food security of postwar Europe was at stake; recalls that the CAP is still and it must continue to be one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’'s future and Europe's security and safety;

Amendment 23 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Ivan JAKOVČIĆ, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important and most integrated policies, and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future; stresses that the primary role of the CAP is ensuring food security for Union citizens;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of the budget and of its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important and most integrated policies, which ensure food production and food security in all parts of the Union and that it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the importance of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in terms of ~~the budget and of~~ its legacy to the history of the Union; recalls that the CAP is still one of the most important ~~and most integrated~~ policies, and th~~at it will continue to contribute to building Europe’s future~~erefore requires a sufficiently large budget;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that approximately 46 million people work in the agriculture and agri-food sector in the EU and that in many regions (including remote and mountain regions) it is the only livelihood option; highlights, too, the many challenges arising from international trade crises and also from the spread of various diseases, such as African swine fever, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), lumpy skin disease and the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, which need to be addressed through a community approach;

Amendment 27 #

Jan HUITEMA, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that agricultural and rural development policies have great potential in providing public goods; highlights that agriculture is not only responsible for the provision of raw materials and products for the food and other industries but has also a strong influence on the environment and the countryside; considers therefore that the EU environmental quality highly depends on resource management and applied management at farm level;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Reflects the long term aim for a transition to a market-driven and sustainable European agriculture that increases competiveness and decreases the farmers needs for income support; calls for alignment of the CAP with other EU policies and underlines the need for a general budgetary discipline; when budgetary increases are necessary for certain priorities, at first and foremost cuts are needed elsewhere;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Is concerned at the relentless pressure on farmers and farming families in the food supply chain, exacerbated by poor weather conditions and financial pressures, which impacts the wellbeing of farming communities; notes that EU legislative action to tackle unfair trading practices aims to ensure a more sustainable food supply chain for the benefit of farmers and consumers;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas Union agricultural products and human know-how contribute to the Union’s living cultural and gastronomic heritage, enhancing territorial and social cohesion, as well as local, regional and ~~reg~~national traditions; whereas there is increased demand for high -quality and traditional products and products from a specific geographical area at European and global level;

Amendment 30 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Jan HUITEMA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Regrets the recent trend of decreasing budget allocation to rural development and so decreased investment in territorial cohesion, thriving rural communities and local economies; recalls that the opportunities offered by this funding is vital to prevent frustration, exodus and large scale rural depopulation;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Underlines the need for true simplification of the CAP, aiming for a policy focusing on results and output rather than compliance; believes the CAP needs to be more market oriented, where farmers become less dependent on public support and where competitiveness in the sector is increased;

Amendment 32 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Points out that the growing problem of depopulation of rural areas must be tackled with targeted measures and with the synergy of EU policies in order to boost the sustainability of the European agricultural sector, thus supporting and encouraging young farmers of those areas;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that European farming is conducted against the background of the international market and plays a vital role in feeding the planet; notes, in particular, that European farming contributes by supplying quality products with a high standard of food safety;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Recalls that generational renewal is a challenge faced by farmers in many Member States and that the EU must therefore address this issue through a comprehensive approach, including top- ups in Pillar I and targeted measures in Pillar II, as well as by means of new financial instruments and national measures, in order to incentivise famers to pass on their farming operations, thereby contributing to build Europe's future;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Highlights the role played by the CAP in maintaining the health and status of soil, water and other natural resources; points out that European agricultural producers are committed to good environmental practices and to the targets set for tackling climate change;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of European agriculture results in part from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers; stresses also that this competitiveness should be based on emphasising the fact that all European producers have to comply with a system of strict standards and rules, which places them in a position of economic weakness in relation to imported products; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 37 #

Mara BIZZOTTO, Angelo CIOCCA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the ~~competitiven~~success of European agriculture results from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers; crecalls that long term competitiveness can only be assured if natural resources underpinning production are safeguarded, such as soil, water and functional biodiversity; Calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of European agriculture results partly from the ~~synergy~~promotion of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit ~~both~~ producers and consumers~~; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure~~ who invest in quality and in traditional specialities; calls for the new CAP to include measures to support recourse to new professional profiles involving specialisation in these fields so as to maintain the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of a section of European agriculture results from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit ~~both~~ producers ands well as consumers~~; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuff~~ and regional stakeholders; calls for a cross-cutting employment metric to be introduced within one pillar of the new CAP for monitoring job creation in agricultural regions and for this to be factored into the evaluation of the various measures;

Amendment 4 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

A a. Recalls the central role that Agriculture and forestry play in the achievement of the ambitions of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement and EU policies, particularly in the areas of sustainability, the environment, climate, public health and food;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of European agriculture results farmers access to innovations, fair functioning of food chain from the synergy of organic and conventional production and geographical indications, which benefit ~~both~~ producers and consumers; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of European agriculture results from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers; calls for ~~one pillar of~~ring-fenced dedicated funding in the new CAP to be ~~dedica~~targeted ato these priorities which create jobs in rural areas and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the competitiveness of European agriculture results from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality and protection of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the ~~competitiveness~~importance of European agriculture results from the synergy of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers; calls for ~~one pillar of~~ the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs within an agroecological system and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises th~~at the competitiveness of European agriculture results from the synergy~~e importance of organic production and geographical indications, which benefit both producers and consumers, for European agriculture; calls for one pillar of the new CAP to be dedicated to the priorities which create jobs and assure the highest quality of Union agricultural products and foodstuffs;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that climate change is affecting both agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods and that agricultural sector is one of the main source of GHG emissions, producing up to 20% of total global emissions; reminds that agriculture and forestry could contribute to carbon storage and, through investments, could develop and implement more resource saving and climate friendly production technologies;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises the need to make the transition towards a single agroecological production model that can help the planet cool down and safeguard farmers as well as the environment;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance of European agriculture in meeting world energy needs, helping to combat climate change;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Draws attention to declining farm incomes in the EU, caused by rising production costs and price volatility, which impact negatively on farmers’ ability to maintain production; highlights the costs that European farmers have to bear in meeting the highest food safety, environmental, animal welfare and labour standards in the world; stresses that farmers must be compensated through CAP for providing public goods to society;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Urges the Commission and the Member States to foster and promote local markets and the small-scale processing of agricultural products;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the future of the Union also depends on thriving, dynamic rural areas;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that Union quality schemes of geographical indications (Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) protect product names from misuse, raise their profile, enhance their value in the framework of international agreements, and boost the level of consumers’ trust; points out that Member States also have the option of introducing other terms to indicate quality, for example 'mountain produce', and that several Member States have already chosen to do so;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that Union quality schemes of geographical indications (Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) protect product names from misuse, enhance their value in the framework of international agreements, and boost the level of consumers’ trust; takes the view, in that connection, that they should be systematically and fully protected in cases where the conclusion of trade agreements with third countries might call them into question;

Amendment 52 #

Mara BIZZOTTO, Angelo CIOCCA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that Union quality schemes of geographical indications (Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) protect product names from misuse, enhance their value in the framework of international agreements, and boost the level of consumers’ trust; stresses that use of the European logo gives more visibility and guarantees the quality of agricultural products for export;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that Union quality schemes of geographical indications (Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) protect product names from misuse~~, enhance their value in the framework of international agreements, and boost the level of consumers’ trust~~ and boost the level of consumers’ trust in them; stresses also that the value of quality products must be protected uniformly and actively in the context of the various international agreements;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Stresses the importance to shift towards sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that would allow the achievement of international and EU climate objectives; underlines therefore that the new CAP should support such a transition towards agroecological approaches, especially in ensuring high biodiversity approaches to minimise susceptibility to pests, reversing the trend of local extinction events, closing nutrient cycling loops, stopping and reversing soil erosion and water and air pollution, ensuing effective water cycling; further notes that these have been repeatedly demanded by citizens and EU commitments and objectives still exist;

Amendment 56 #

Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Insists that special consideration should be granted to farmers who face extra costs owing to specific constraints linked to high value natural areas such as mountain areas, islands, the outermost regions and other less favoured areas; believes that, owing to their specific constraints, CAP financing is vitally important for these regions and that any reduction would have a very damaging impact on many agricultural products; urges the Member States to develop and implement quality schemes in order to give the producers concerned the opportunity to introduce them swiftly;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Recalls Parliament’s support in 2015 to extend geographical indications to non-agricultural products; believes that such an extension should be seriously considered in the debate on the Future of Europe given its potential to support rural regions by adding value to traditional products and creating employment; urges the Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal, without delay, to extend geographical indications to non- agricultural products;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Highlights the necessity of more investments in agriculture and agri-food systems, as well as greater spending on research and development, to promote innovation, support sustainable production increases and find better ways to cope with issues like water scarcity and climate change;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Highlights the richness of European foods and tastes and its culinary varieties, therefore stresses the need to preserve its regional and local traditional products and flavours through CAP instruments like rural developments support programmes;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the Union and its Member States have extensive rural areas;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Notes further the adoption of long term planning in a number of Member States towards a non-toxic future;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of ~~a well~~taking the time to reform thed CAP properly, with maximum transparency, democracy, dialo gue and discussion, to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future~~; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering~~, especially the need for farmers to earn a decent income for their produce, the need to offer nutritious and healthy food to all Europeans, to fight climate change and loss of biodiversity; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering exchanges of skills, acquisition of knowledge and know-how about sustainable practices, innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP, with full respect for the needs of the rural populations of the Member States, to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme; stresses the need to prioritise domestic products of the Union Member States by more thorough scrutiny and restraint in the conclusion of preferential agreements with third countries with crops associated with Member States;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; recalls that CAP needs to support farmers more efficiently in order to cope with the agricultural crisis, sustain the possible proces, price and income volatility, health and market risks, and free trade agreements; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme; stresses the importance of creating public supply regulation instruments to safeguard the food sovereignty of Member States and farmers' incomes;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programmat there is an urgent need for a European agriculture and food policy that meets the needs of society as a whole;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in underpinning farmer incomes, encouraging generational renewal,combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 67 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme and providing funding for farmers for the implementation of new technologies;

Amendment 68 #

Bronis ROPĖ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP, which must be fully supported and strengthened, to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, ~~inclu~~reminding th~~e agricultural aspects of~~at the objectives of the CAP should be taken into account while drafting the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas in order to manage land effectively with a view to combating climate change and safeguarding drinking water and the right to food sovereignty, large numbers of farmers are needed to produce food throughout the territory of the Union;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well-funded and reformed CAP to ~~respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the futur~~tackle the many challenges facing the Union in the future, in particular climate change; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well financed and reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance of the future CAP in fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of a well reformed CAP to respond to the maximum number of the challenges that will face the Union in the future; stresses the importance ofor the future CAP inof fostering innovation and research and development, including the agricultural aspects of the future Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls that around 10 million persons are employed by the European agricultural sector and points out that only 6% of European farmers are younger than 35, and at the same time that no fewer than 4.5 million farmers will retire in the next 10 years; calls for keeping existing measures beneficial to young farmers such as installation premiums and for new measures such as subsidised interest rates on loans. Calls also for the removal of all administrative constraints preventing young people from taking up farming;

Amendment 74 #

Michela GIUFFRIDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls the role of women in rural areas and their contribution as entrepreneurs and promoters of sustainable development; stresses the need to develop their potential in sustainable agriculture and in the resilience of rural areas; calls therefore for increased support for family farms and young farmers and for support for employment in agriculture in rural areas, especially for young farmers;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights the role that young farmers play in the current and future competitiveness of European agriculture and guaranteed food production; stresses that agriculture is more than just an economic activity, it is also a vital part of a sustainable EU; emphasises the importance of the younger generation in the future of Europe;

Amendment 76 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights the importance of innovation and research especially in the field of plant breeding and selection work in order for the Union to be able to fully compete with the rest of the world in this field;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights the need to introduce legislation to put an end to discrimination against women farmers;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural and cohesion policies, such as the CAP, reduce the gap between the Union and its citizens by promoting integration at local level, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas., and therefore stresses the importance that rural development remains strongly supported in the CAP, and that the EAFRD remains part of a common funding approach with other EU funds as is currently allowed for in the Common Provisions Regulation, so that national, regional and local authorities can mix and match different EU funds and so optimise investment into their territories;

Amendment 79 #

Bronis ROPĖ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural and cohesion policies, such as the CAP, reduce the gap between the Union and its citizens by promoting integration at local level, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas; believes that the CAP is the only instrument that addresses both rural vitality and the provision of high-quality and varied food, including organic food.

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the Union’s ~~major critics point to the existence of a gap between~~actions in agrocultural policy of persuing international trade deal which undermine the viability of the Union’s ~~proposed action and its realisation at national and local levels, and whereas~~farmers do not match up with its words and aspirations of protecting our agricultural heritage and farming systems, and whereas political choices and priorities of where funds should assigned to, combined the withdrawal of the UK will have important impacts on the future financing of the CAP and of the Union;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural and cohesion policies, such as the CAP, reduce the gap between the Union and its citizens by ensuring balance territorial development promoting integration at local level, especially in rural, peripheral and disadvantaged areas.

Amendment 81 #

Philippe LOISEAU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural and cohesion policies, such as the CAP, are~~duce the gap between the Union and its citizens by promoting integration at local level, especially~~ necessary for supporting rural and disadvantaged areas and the outermost regions.

Amendment 82 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural and cohesion policies, such as the CAP, aim to reduce the ~~gap~~discrepancies between ~~the~~ Union ~~and its~~ citizens in terms of prosperity by promoting integration at local level, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas.

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that structural ~~and~~, cohesion policies~~, such as the~~ and CAP, reduce the gap between the Union and its citizens by promoting integration at local level, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas.

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Highlights the need to preserve the diversity of agriculture in the EU, acknowledges that local markets supplied by fresh and locally produced agricultural goods are environmentally sustainable and provide support for established farming communities; Calls for better promotion of short supply chains;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recognises the need to pay due attention to the control and disposal of products from third countries in order to exclude the possibility of creating unfair competition between the above products and those of indigenous European producers.

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the CAP helps to keep less favoured areas, including mountain areas, viable, and therefore plays a vital role in preventing the abandonment and depopulation of many areas in Europe.

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Underlines the importance of rural development in supporting multi- functional agriculture and fostering partnerships between farmers, local communities, civil society and additional entrepreneurial activities, in order to generaste income from diversified economic activities.

Amendment 88 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Stresses the crucial role of Agriculture in the Union's priorities to mitigate the effect of climate change and promote a sustainable development; recalls the necessity of a strong and adequate budget for agriculture in that regard;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the current rural exodus requires interaction between CAP instruments and Cohesion Policy to increase the attractiveness of rural areas;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the ~~Union’s major critics point to the existence of a gap~~re is a clear discrepancy between the Union’s proposed action and its realisation at national and local levels, ~~and~~which shows that the European-level decision-making system used for the CAP is no longer suitable for the modern agricultural context; whereas the withdrawal of the UK will have important impacts on the future financing of the Union, but whereas this does not justify any reduction to CAP funding;

Amendment 90 #

Bronis ROPĖ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Stresses that the European Union's procurement system, including the implementation of the short-circuit principle, and competition system must strengthen the CAP.

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Stresses the CAP’s added value in terms of fostering rural development which is vital to prevent population exodus from the countryside;

Amendment 92 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for remunerative agricultural prices to be placed at the heart of the CAP.

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Underlines that the CAP is not simply about farming and farmers but is also about helping and developing the wider rural communities in which they operate; notes that the EU should strengthen its rural development policy, which focuses on a wide range of issues, from support for start-ups in rural areas and access to broadband to specific environmental or societal challenges faced by the rural population;

Amendment 94 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Acknowledges the worrying hunger problem that affects our Planet and therefore believes that the EU should seek to build resilience to food crises, thus ensuring sufficient, nutritious and affordable food, and contributing to the achievement of a "Zero Hunger World";

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Stresses that the incentives for sustainable energy crops currently being planned should not in any way compromise food security for the public;

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Underlines the importance of rural development, including the LEADER initiative, in supporting multi-functional agriculture and in fostering additional entrepreneurial activities and opportunities, in order to generate income from agri-tourism, and to secure community-supported agriculture and the provision of social services in rural areas;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Calls on the Member States to facilitate exchanges of best practices between European farmers, in order to enhance cooperation and to strengthen the European identity.

source: 627.641

2018/10/16 INTA 44 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Introductory paragraph

The common commercial policy ~~must continue to be consolidated as a fundamental pillar of external policy, helping to make the Union a~~shall remain an important aspect of the Union's external policy with direct implications for the lives of citizens, and it shall help the Union to adapt to its new role in a world of multiple leading players on the international stage. To that end, Parliament urges the Council, the Commission and the EEAS to cooperate in the following areas

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Leading the defence of an open, fair and sustainable global trading system, ensuring the effective implementation of international rules and agreements ~~and ensuring that European companies~~so to further the competitiveness of European companies and ensuring that they can operate globally within a framework of equal conditions, predictable rules, effective competition and ~~fair~~a competitionve position in global value chains;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Leading~~Cooperating internationally for the defence of an open, fair and sustainable global trading system, ensuring the effective implementation of international rules and agreements and ensuring that European companies can operate globally within a framework of ~~equal condi~~mutually agreed conditions, defined obligations, predictable rules and fair competition;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Working on a common EU position and engaging genuinely and constructively in the UN intergovernmental negotiations regarding corporate liability for human rights violations; In this regard, recalls that a legally binding instrument for corporate responsibility for Human rights abuses on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with transnational characteristics could not only play an important role in balancing the current asymmetry between investor rights and responsibilities but would also give greater access to remedy for victims;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Promoting fair and ethical trade as the norm of the Union's international trade relations; rewarding fair and ethical trade, including the conditions of production, with preferences in market access to the European Union;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Ensuring that raw materials, agricultural products, and other goods that were extracted or produced using child labour, forced labour, work under slave-like conditions, or agricultural work rewarded only with food and shelter, are not permitted to enter the European Union's market;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Promoting due diligence in all sourcing of EU economic operators regarding their entire supply and production chains;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Keep~~Comprehensive and long-term involving of Parliament ~~fully and immediately informed on the negotiation and~~in the negotiation process and the necessary mandate from the EU Council, as well as immediate information on the implementation of international agreements ~~in order to guarantee~~with the aim of ensuring the exercise of its powers and prerogatives; simplifying and reducing the scope of negotiation ~~and entry into force procedure~~s; easing the usage of agreements in order to increase predictability and legal certainty for economic operators, andllowing them to make better and timely use of the opportunities ~~arising for the European Union~~;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Keeping Parliament fully and immediately informed on the negotiation and implementation of international agreements in order to guarantee the exercise of its powers and prerogatives; ~~simplifying and reducing the negotiation and entry into force procedures in order to~~increasing Parliament scrutiny throughout the negotiation process, including before the adoption of negotiating mandates and increasing transparency vis à vis European citizens by publishing all negotiating mandates before starting negotiations of trade agreements; increaseing predictability and legal certainty for operators and to make better and timely use of the opportunities arising for the European Union;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Keeping Parliament fully and immediately informed on the negotiation and implementation of international agreements in order to guarantee the exercise of its powers and prerogatives; simplifying and reducing the negotiation ~~and entry into force procedures in order to increase predictability and legal certainty for operators and to~~of Rules of Origin in order to increase the take-up of Free Trade Agreements by SMEs thus makeing better and timely use of the opportunities arising for the European Union;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Keeping Parliament fully and immediately informed on the negotiation and implementation of international agreements in order to guarantee the exercise of its powers and prerogatives; simplifying and reducing the negotiation and entry into force procedures in order to increase predictability and legal certainty for operators and to make better and timely use of the opportunities arising for the European Union and by fully respecting treaty provisions that proscribe the common commercial policy to be an exclusive competence of the European Union, including through the respect of recent case-law;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Strengthening the common commercial policy by integrating it into the wider policy framework, reinforcing cooperation with our bilateral, strategic and regional trade partners and with multilateral organisations, in particular ECOSOC, UNCTAD, the ILO, and the WTO, and by playing an active role in ~~its~~promoting enhanced institutional cooperation, and for the necessary reforms to make ithe WTO more effective and responsive to the new global challenges;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Adapting trade policy to the global trends of automisation, digitalisation, servicification, the rise of global value chains and the interconnectedness oftrade in goods and services by working for the inclusion of suitable provisions to ensure data transfers, competitive prices of intermediary goods and liberalisedtrade in services in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Working on a new inter- institutional agreement providing for the right of the European Parliament to co- legislate together with the Council on the mandate to the Commission for trade negotiations and making sure that national parliaments are asked for opinion before the mandates to the Commission for trade negotiations are finalized;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Making trade policy an active instrument for the conversion of productive and consumptive parameters in economic and social development in the EU 28/27 as well as in the partner and third countries, to cope with the challenges of sustainable development for tackling climate change, poverty reduction, diversification and climate change; promoting the regionalization of independent economic potentials and therefore consistently in the context of rule-based multilateral trade architecture according to the principles of fair and ethical trade; Increasing public investment in research and technological development and innovation, supporting ~~European companies with a view to lead~~companies in all EU Member States with a view to state-of-the-art performance ing this sector at global level, t~~hereby increasing competitiveness and creating jobs;~~o provide for opportunities to find their place in production chains, and to participate in the most dynamic international cooperation projects and technology partnerships, thereby increasing competitiveness and creating decent jobs; initiating international cooperation and participation processes, especially on the African continent, which could promote sustainable regional economic cycles, support the creation of new job capacity and social protection policies supporting SMEs to allow them to benefit fully from the common commercial policy;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Supporting SMEs to allow them to benefit fully from the common commercial policy; Increasing investment in technological development and innovation, especially in view of the decarbonisation of our economy, supporting European companies with a view to leading this sector at global level, thereby increasing competitiveness and creating ~~jobs; supporting SMEs to allow them to benefit fully from the common commercial policy~~decent jobs while stepping up the fight against climate change; stresses that such investments are particularly important for local firms, especially in developing countries to be able to interact digitally with MNEs and to access global value-chains; highlights that sustainable development should not be seen as a barrier for investments in the digital economy, but rather as a means to achieve a rules-based investment regime that aims at sustainability and inclusiveness;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Systematically ~~including~~addressing issues related to digital trade in trade agreements and multilateral discussions, ~~and promoting the strengthening of international standards on consumer protection and market access~~defending data privacy of EU citizens to the full extend enshrined in the Union's General Data Protection Regulation, and promoting the strengthening of international standards developed together with our partners on consumer protection, seeking global alliances and supporting Member State authorities in fighting cross-border cyber crime;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Systematically including SMEs and digital trade in trade agreements and multilateral discussions, and promoting the strengthening of international standards on consumer protection, data protection and market access; developing a European digital strategy that includes investment in digital infrastructure and digital enterprises to benefit the whole society;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Systematically including digital tr~~Taking a leade in t~~rade agreements and~~he multilateral discussions on regulating digital trade, and promoting the strengthening of ~~international standards on~~European standards on data privacy, consumer protection and market access;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Taking a lead in the multilateral discussions, especially within the WTO and the UNFCCC framework, and in bilateral undertakings for mainstreaming the 1,5° C goal into trade policy-making;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Exploring how trade can promote women´s economic empowerment; including the gender perspective in all EU trade agreements, namely through a dedicated gender chapter;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Systematically including in all EU trade agreements binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development chapters, anti-corruption provisions and associated sanctions;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Strengthening the common commercial policy by reinforcing cooperation with our bilateral, strategic and regional trade partners and with multilateral organisations, in particular the WTO, by playing an active role in its reform to make it more effective, and by taking the lead in furthering trade liberalisation through negotiations in the WTO and through complementary regional trade agreements that are not too burdened with non-trade provisions;

Amendment 30 #

Sander LOONES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

~~6. Facilitating access to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in order to anticipate the effects of the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade;~~deleted

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Facilitating access to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ~~in order to anticipate the effects of the progressive and reciprocal~~; ensuring a fair share of the private sector in covering the social costs emerging from trade liberalisation and relocation of production facilities; refraining from trade liberalisation oif ~~trade;~~ it would lead to the loss of decent jobs;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Facilitating the application procedure and access to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in order to anticipate the negative effects of the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Facilitating acc~~Reviewing the effectiveness tof the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in order to anticipate the effects of the ~~progressive and reciprocal~~ liberalisation of trade in goods in services;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Strengthening the coherence of the common commercial policy with othe~~r policies, in particular with the CFSP and development aid policy, in order to guarantee the~~ Union's external relations values and objectives set out in Article 3(5) TEU, and Articles 21, 207 and 2078 TFEU, in full adherence to the Union's Consensus on Development, and the Union's commitment to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Strengthening the coherence of the common commercial policy with other policies, in particular with the CFSP and development aid policy, in order to guarantee the values and objectives set out in Article 3(5) TEU and Articles 21, 207 and 2078 of the TFEU;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Strengthening the coherence of the common commercial policy with other policies, in particular with the climate, CFSP and development aid policy, in order to ~~guarantee the values and objectives set out in~~fulfil the requirements emanating from Article 3(5) TEU and Articles 21 ~~and 207~~ TFEU;

Amendment 37 #

William (The Earl of) DARTMOUTH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Identifying the existing differences in participation in regional and global trade among EU Member States, increasing the involvement of economic operators, including in particular SMEs, from all Member States of the European Union;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Recognises further that the politicisation of EU Trade Agreements inhibits Trade and thereby diminishes the prosperity and growth of EU Member States;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Creating fair trade relations and economic cooperation with economies in the Union's Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood, in order to promote their economic and social prosperity and the creation of decent jobs;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Strengthening the common commercial policy by reinforcing cooperation with our bilateral, strategic and regional trade partners and with multilateral organisations, in particular the WTO, by playing an active role in its reform to make it more effective and more aligned with the Sustainable Development Agenda, namely by enhancing its cooperation with ILO and UNEP;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Anticipating the effects of Brexit and proposing ~~alternatives to minimise its impact~~ways to mitigate negative economic consequences for the Union and its citizens, and also for UK citizens living currently in the Union;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Improving t~~he communication strategy for the common commercial policy by providing better information about the opportunities it offers to our citizens and companies, strengthening transparency and~~ransparency and facilitating the involvement of trade unions, civil society organisations and public interest groups in trade policy; improving the communication strategy for the common commercial policy by providing more public analyses of the potential effects of new economic and commercial treaties before establishing a negotiating mandate. Such analyses should take into account social, environmental as well as sectorial and regional impacts of trade deals and assess their contribution to EU main objectives in terms of sustainable development, reduction of inequalities, and fight against climate change; providing independent information about its opportunities and challenges for our citizens and companies, especially SMEs, deepening the dialogue with professional organisations, companies and civil society.

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Improving the communication strategy for the re-defined common commercial policy by providing better information about the opportunities it offers to our citizens and companies, strengthening transparency ~~and~~, deepening the dialogue with ~~professional organisations, companies and civil societ~~trade unions, companies and civil society organisations, and improving the impact of these dialogues on the design and objectives of the Union's common commercial policy.

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Improving the communication strategy for the common commercial policy by making consolidated texts during trade negotiations publically available and by providing better information about the opportunities itrade offers to our citizens and companies, strengthening transparency and deepening the dialogue with professional organisations, companies and civil society.

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Ensuring an active involvement of social partners and civil society in the monitoring and implementation of trade agreements, notably through the joint dialogue with civil society and the domestic advisory groups; allocating more resources to these mechanisms and providing support to ensure more effective participation of civil society.

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Strengthening EU leadership in the promotion of a value based trade policy by strengthening the Human rights dimension in trade and the uptake of the highest social, environmental and safety standards; rebalancing EU policy towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, upholding EU standards, safeguarding public services and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. helping the Union's citizens and economic operators to better understand and to adapt to the changing balances in the architecture of global economic relations,

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. finding new ways of international trade and economic cooperation, partnerships for development, and peaceful co-existence of interests to enable our European Union to remain among the top 5 economies by the end of this century;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Leading the defence of an open, rules-based, fair and sustainable development oriented global trading system, ensuring the effective implementation of international rules and agreements ~~and~~such as ILO conventions, environmental and climate change agreements as well as provisions on anti- corruption and agreements on financial transparency, anti-money laundering and tax cooperation; ensuring that European companies can operate globally within a framework of equal conditions, predictable rules and fair competition, including by promoting corporate accountability and binding and enforceable due diligence obligations throughout global value chains;

source: 629.436

2018/10/18 CONT 50 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas Europe is at a crossroads, with a cn understaindable crisis of legitimacy in relation to European decisions, given its handling of all of the many crises in the past decade;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital G

G. whereas inertia at European level is no longer an option given the major challenges to be faced by the Union, particularly in relation to globalisation, migration, defence on the basis of reinforced cooperation, and social issues~~, completion of the European Monetary Union and the choice of new EU own resources~~;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital H

H. whereas the EU budget ~~remains a valuable~~is a source of f~~und~~inancing for Member States through the redistribution of their contributions;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that citizens’ trust in the EU institutions is fundamental for democracy~~, good governance~~ and effective policy-making;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that it is essential to go beyond conflicting visions of Europe, and to reconcile competing priorities in order to avoid the risk of tearing the Union apart or weakening it; considers in that regard that a new EU-wide debate is needed to reach a consensus on where the Union is now headed, with a readiness - if needed - to revise the Lisbon Treaty; this debate must also include an honest discussion of the future of the euro, with exit clauses to be negotiated for those who wish to leave;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that it is essential to go beyond conflicting visions of the European Union, and to ~~reconcile competing prioriti~~take account of all the positions of the Member States in order to avoid the risk of tearing the Union apart or weakening it;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Acknowledges that Brexit has made more urgent the need to reflect further on the EU’s institutional and spending architecture, and to design new EU policy dynamics~~, more urge~~ that would enable high-quality cooperation with the Member States on the basis of confidence and respect for their sovereignty;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Points out that the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the Union will have complex budgetary consequences and will negatively affect the EU budget; ~~insists that the remaining EU- 27 should be more ambitious in terms of budget reform given the EU’s current and future challenges;~~

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Points out that the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the Union will have co~~mplex budgetary consequences and will negatively affect~~nsequences for the EU budget; insists that the remaining EU-27 should be more ambitious in terms of budget reform given the EU’s current and future challenges;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recalls the need for an urgent budgetary and administrative reform of the EU that would streamline the inner processes and make the EU more understandable and accessible to the citizens;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that any further development within the Union's architecture in relation to existing bodies or to the creation of new legal entities should always take the issues of the EU’s democratic accountability, public auditing arrangements ~~and~~, the efficiency of activities and the prerogatives and sovereignty of the Member States into account;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is at a crossroads with a certain crisis of legitimacy in relation to ~~European decision~~its decisions with regard to the citizens and certain Member States;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Believes that there is a need to reduce the accountability gaps within the EU and to move towards more collaborative modes of scrutiny, combining democratic oversight and auditing activities, while also providing greater transparency; calls for this to ensure full accountability and effective democratic oversight of the European Investment Bank, and the European Central Bank ~~and for future bodies to be set up such as a European Monetary Fund~~;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Believes that there is a need to reduce the accountability gaps within the EU and to move towards more collaborative modes of scrutiny, combining democratic oversight and auditing activities, while also providing greater transparency; calls for this to ensure full accountability and effective democratic oversight of the European Investment Bank, the European Central Bank and for future bodies to be set up ~~such as a European Monetary Fund~~;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses, furthermore, that the time has come to reflect pragmatically on the EU’s delivery modes by answering the core questions of how best to implement the Union’s policies ~~and which governance models should be applied in order to pave the way for a Europe of tangible results~~;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that it is time both to put forward new European narratives and to deliver EU policies more strategically, based on a certain number of clearly defined and understandable Union priorities, collective goals and competences to improve readability and efficiency;deleted

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. CRecalls the need for a long-term EU strategic vision; considers that it is time both to put forward new European narratives and to deliver EU policies more strategically, based on a certain number of clearly defined and understandable Union priorities, collective goals and competences to improve readability and efficiency;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines that the translation of the overarching political objectives into tangible and visible actions and results for EU citizens has to be subject to regular reality checks, therefore making it strictly necessary to maintain EU budgetary control as a fundamental component of democratic control;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Points out that the strengthening of democratic oversight and Parliament’s scrutiny should be based not only on the traditional monitoring of stocks and financial flows, but also on a thorough assessment of value for money, and of a valuable and sustainable impact for citizens ~~and respect for the Union’s values and the rule of law~~;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Considers that respect for fundamental values, ensuring the protection of the rule of law in Member States, or the introduction of ecological conditionality are necessary democratic prerequisites for the definition of any new EU financial solidarities; is concerned about recent developments in relation to the lack of respect for the rule of law in some Member States; appreciates, in this context, the Commission’s proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (COM(2018)0324); stresses that the European institutions should take action in order to protect the rule of law;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Demands that the current framework for the protection of Union’s financial interests be strengthened by a system of sanctions, proportional to the degree of the deficiencies or attempts to undermine ~~the rule of law~~safeguarding of the Union's financial interests based on an independent assessment, ranging from the reduction of EU funding up to the suspension of payments and commitments for recurrent deficiencies; considers that, in any such circumstances, Parliament should be part of, and on an equal footing with the Council, in the decision-making process in relation to such proceedings and the lifting of such measures;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas there is a need to bring the European project closer to EU citizens, paying particular attention to the~~ir needs, lives and expectations~~ various successful Citizens' Initiatives, paying attention also to citizens' needs, lives and expectations, which must be paramount in all Union decisions and legislation, above the demands of the finance sector, global corporations, or any other vested interest, in order, above all, to strengthen the EU’s legitimacy and to restore trust in, and enthusiasm for, the European project, th~~anks to renew~~rough citizen-oriented EU governance;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Demands that the current framework for the protection of Union’s financial interests be strengthened by a system of sanctions, proportional to the degree of the deficiencies or attempts to undermine the ~~rule of law~~Union's budgetary resources based on an independent assessment, ranging from the reduction of EU funding up to the suspension of payments and commitments for recurrent deficiencies; considers that, in any such circumstances, Parliament should be part of, and on an equal footing with the Council, in the decision-making process in relation to such proceedings and the lifting of such measures;

Amendment 31 #

José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 15

15. Considers it necessary for better tools to be designed for structural reforms across the EU by providing ~~substantial European public goods~~targeted assistance to Member States which request it, and that this be done with due regard to the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 16

16. Is of the opinion that the pre- conditionality of policies has to be reinforced, where necessary and without this jeopardising the functionality of programmes, so as to ensure effective sound financial management in the implementation of the Union’s spending;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 16

16. Is of the opinion that the pre- conditionality of policies ~~has to be reinforced to ensure effective sound financial management in the implementation~~with respect to a correct use of the budget has to be reinforced to ensure the sound management of the Union’s spending;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 17

17. Reiterates that, in the context of the debate on the future of Europe, consideration must be given to the issue of how the Union budgetary system could be reformed to provide an adequate budget to guarantee the funding of planned policies without creating additional own resources, a better balance between predictability and responsiveness as well as how to ensure that overall funding arrangements are no more complex than necessary to achieve Union policy goals and ensure accountability vis-à-vis the Member States;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Considers it appropriate to ensure the budget provides real added value for EU citizens and does not constitute an additional burden in terms of Member State contributions; calls for a sound review of the budget aimed at pinpointing potential savings, for example by merging decentralised agencies that perform similar tasks and reviewing administrative expenditure; considers that Member States’ national contributions should be withdrawn from the calculation of the national deficit level;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses that securing sufficient financial means, coupled with the modernisation of the system of own resources, namely through securing stable, efficient and genuinely European own resources, is key to maintaining a high level of investment and of the Union’s ambitions and influence on the international scene, so long as those funds - current or additional - are not spent on arms or a European Army/Defence Force;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses that securing sufficient financial means, coupled with the modernisation ~~of the system of own resources, namely through securing stable, efficient and genuinely European~~and rationalisation of the system of own resources, is key to maintaining a high level of investment and of the ~~Union’s~~EU's and Member States' ambitions and influence on the international scene;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses that securing sufficient financial means, coupled with the modernisation of the system of own resources, namely through securing stable, efficient and ~~genuinely~~easily-identifiable European own resources, is key to maintaining a ~~high~~n appropriate level of investment and of the Union’s ambitions and influence on the international scene;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Highlights that the European Agencies fulfil an irreplacable role in expertise in their respective fields and at the same time in representation of the EU in the Member States; stresses that it is therefore essential to ensure that in the future the work of the Agencies is well structured and organised, that the activities pursued by the Agencies are viable and that visibility is ensured at all times; calls on the Commission to ensure that the Agencies represent the EU also on the outside and fulfill tasks that might otherwise be delegated on external organisations;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas there is a need to bring the European project closer to EU citizens, paying particular attention to their needs, lives and expectations in order, above all, to strengthen the EU’s legitimacy and to restore trust in, and enthusiasm for, the European project thanks to ~~renewed EU governance~~the recasting of cooperation in matters of governance between the institutions and Member States;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Considers that the allocation of EDF resources must be made conditional on the strict and effective management by beneficiary third countries of any Europe- bound migration flows passing through their territory;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on all the EU institutions to enhance their procedures and practices aimed at safeguarding the financial interests of the Union, and to actively contribute to a results-oriented discharge process; believes, in this context, that the discharge procedure is an indispensable instrument of democratic accountability towards the citizens and the Member States of the Union;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 22

22. Recalls the difficulties repeatedly encountered in the discharge procedures to date, owing to a lack of cooperation on the part of the Council; insists that the Council must be accountable and transparent, as are the other institutions; stresses that there should be no exceptions to this;deleted

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 23

23. Considers the creation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to be an important milestone in the achievement of a European public space; calls on the Commission to work towards a swift setting-up of the EPPO by providing sufficient resources;deleted

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 23

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 23

23. Considers that the creation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) tocould be an ~~important milestone in the achievement of a European public space~~effective instrument for combating fraud; calls on the Commission to work towards a swift setting-up of the EPPO by providing sufficient resources;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 24

24. Draws attention to the phenomenon of corruption, which has significant financial consequences and poses a serious threat to democracy, the rule of law and public investment; repeats its call on the Commission to resume publication of an annual report on corruption;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 24

24. Draws attention to the phenomenon of corruption, which has significant financial consequences and poses a serious threat to ~~democracy, the rule of law~~the stability of national institutions and public investment;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the Commission to propose to the Member States options for future methods of cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)~~, including for the EU to apply for membership, and for Parliament to be kept up to date with the progress of this application~~;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 26

26. Calls for the integrity policy and ethical framework of all EU institutions and agencies to be enhanced through a better implementation of codes of conduct, whistleblower protection, ethical principles ~~and~~, transparency and accountability;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas parliamentary scrutiny of public spending is ~~a vital~~one of the components of a modern democratic system;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 27

27. Encourages, by way of a guiding principle, the outlining of the contours of the Europe of the future, ensuring a balance between responsibility and new solidarity and ~~by favouri~~streng the ~~Community method over the use of~~ning intergovernmentalism as a method of ~~governance~~cooperation and government for the EU;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas more democracy in the EU goes hand in hand with greater transparency, accountability and integrity, the latter should be the leading principles of the culture within the EU institutions for promoting ~~efficient governance and ensuring greater openness in the~~the better functioning of the EU and its decision- making process;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital E

E. whereas all EU institutions - including especially the European Central Bank - ought to be transparent and fully accountable to the citizens of the Union as regards the funds entrusted to them and controlled by them as EU institutions;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital E

E. whereas all EU institutions ought to be transparent and fully accountable to the citizens of the Union and the Member States as regards the funds entrusted to them as EU institutions;

Amendment 9 #