2020/1998(BUD) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Is of the opinion that, instead of the current ad-hoc decision-making, a more long-term approach to search and rescue operations is necessary; proposes, therefore, a new budget line for an EU Search and Rescue Fund to encourage Member States to provide their assets for such operation;

Amendment 11 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the small increase by 3% of commitment and payment appropriations of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL); requests an additional funding increase from EUR 10 400 000 to EUR 1~~7 100 000~~5 429 951 and additional 2318 posts in the Agency establishment plan; ~~stresse~~considers that the ~~requested~~ additional ~~funding will~~resources should allow the Aagency to ~~keep up with the constantly growing~~strengthen training in diversity and to keep up with the demands of Member States;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the small increase (+0.5%) of commitment and payment appropriations of the Justice programme; requests, in line with position of the Parliament on the financial envelope for the Justice programme included in the European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2018 on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, to further increase the funding of that programme in 2021 by a total of EUR 6 800 000 to EUR 50 500 000; stresses that Justice is a key component of a Security Union as defended by the President of the European Commission, and that judicial cooperation should be strengthened with the help of European JHA agencies, in particular to fight organised crime and terrorism;

Amendment 13 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Is concerned by the reduction (- 10,2%) of the commitment appropriations for the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF), at a time where the pressure on national authorities for asylum remains very high, with huge gaps in terms of proper reception of asylum seekers and major delays in the procedures for asylum in the Member States; recalls the importance of providing adequate financial capacities to support the development of a Common European Asylum System, to bring concrete solidarity to Member States most exposed to migration and asylum flows, as well as to ensure efficient and fair asylum and return procedures; requests a budget increase for the AMF commitment appropriations to at least the level of 2020, i.e. 1 228,7 million euros;

Amendment 14 #

Fabienne KELLER, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Is deeply concerned by the continuing loss of lives in the Mediterranean in the absence of functioning SAR capacities; believes that SAR is a state responsibility that cannot be left to non-state actors; calls on the Commission to urgently create a fund to support the setting up of a EU Search and Rescue mission for the Mediterranean;

Amendment 15 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that the small funding increase (+1.8%) proposed for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction will not be sufficient to comply with its legal obligations deriving from the Staff Regulations as well as its rental contracts; emphasises, moreover, that additional funding should be provided for the Centre to fully deploy its operational capacity and to effectively respond to the most recent developments of the drug phenomenon, including effects of Covid-19 outbreak; highlights that the drug retail value in Europe is estimated at 30 billion euros per year, and that 100 tonnes of cocaine were seized in the EU in 2019; requests, therefore, to increase the Centre’s budget to EUR 18 100 000;

Amendment 16 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of the proposal to increase the appropriations of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) by 11.5% while leaving the number of statutory staff unchanged; reminds that ~~the Agency~~Europol is requested to provide increased analysis and operational support ~~to Member States and, upon request, has recently launched new initiatives such as the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the Innovation Lab which require additional funding~~, tools and innovation to Member States’ law enforcement authorities, in areas such as countering terrorism and its financing, radicalisation and extremism, migrant smuggling, drugs trafficking or cybercrime, and, upon request, has recently launched new initiatives such as the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the Innovation Lab which require additional funding; also stresses the increase of criminal activities during the pandemic, such as cyberattacks and cybercrimes, online child abuse and exploitation, goods counterfeiting, and the surge of new activities in the recent years like environmental crimes, showing the adaptability and flexibility of criminals and the need for Europol to adapt likewise; expects Agency’s tasks to be further extended in 2021 with the upcoming revision of the Agency mandate; considers, therefore, that EUR 184 900 000 should be provided to the Agency in line with its request; requests to add further 63 posts to the Agency establishment plan;

Amendment 17 #

Tomas TOBÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 18 #

Sabrina PIGNEDOLI, Laura FERRARA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of the proposal to increase the appropriations of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) by 11.5% while leaving the number of statutory staff unchanged; in particular, it is concerned by the lack of increase of human resources for Europol, which will undermine Europol’s development and operational activities in 2021; reminds that the Agency is requested to provide increased operational support to Member States and, upon request, has recently launched new initiatives such as the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the Innovation Lab which require additional funding; expects Agency’s tasks to be further extended in 2021 with the upcoming revision of the Agency mandate; considers, therefore, that EUR 184 900 000 should be provided to the Agency in line with its request; requests to add further 63 posts to the Agency establishment plan;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets that the proposed commitment appropriations for the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme” at EUR 90 600 000 are much lower than initially requested by the Parliament; requests, in line with the first reading position of the Parliament adopted on 17 April 2019, that commitment appropriations are increased to EUR 265 000 000 and that a new budget line to “promote and protect Union values“ (EUR 120 000 000 in commitment appropriations) is created; calls, in line with the partial agreement reached with Council, to increase the commitment appropriations under the “Daphne” budget line to EUR 37 100 000 and to earmark EUR 27 300 000 of this amount for the fight against gender-based violence by creating a subline “Combating all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls and domestic violence”; calls further for an increase of the commitment appropriations of the budget line “Promote citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union” to EUR 70 600 000, to rename the budget line “Promote equality and rights” to “Promote equality, rights and gender equality” and to earmark EUR 10 300 000 to “Promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming” by creating a new subline;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of the proposal to increase the appropriations of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) by 11.5% ~~while~~and to leav~~ing~~e the number of statutory staff unchanged; ~~remind~~notes that the Agency is requested to provide increased operational support to Member States and~~, upon request,~~ that it has recently launched new initiatives such as the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the Innovation Lab ~~which require additional funding; expects Agency~~; also notes that Europol’s tasks mighto be further extended in 2021 with the upcoming revision of the Agency mandate~~; considers, therefore, that EUR 184 900 000 should be provide~~ and recalls that any possible extension of Europol’s mandate should tgo ~~the Agency in line with its request; requests to add further 63 posts to the Agency establishment plan~~hand-in- hand with increased parliamentary scrutiny;

Amendment 21 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of the proposal to increase the appropriations of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) by 11.5% ~~while leaving the number of statutory staff unchanged; remind~~; notes that the Agency is requested to provide increased operational support to Member States and~~, upon request,~~ has recently launched new initiatives such as the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the Innovation Lab ~~which require additional funding; expects Agency’s tasks to be further extended in 2021 with~~; believes however that an increase to the Europol budget should not be the priority and proposes to keep Europol budget at the same level as 2020; considers that a decision on additional funding and posts with a view on the upcoming revision of ~~the Agency~~Europol mandate; c~~onsiders, therefore, that EUR 184 900 000 should be provided to the Agency in line with its request; requests to add further 63 posts to the Agency establishment plan~~an be taken only at the end of the legislative process; reminds that extended tasks would entail additional work for the EDPS;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of integrated border management to ensure the functioning of the Schengen area; ~~highlights the important role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in this regard and~~notes that the Covid-19 outbreak showed to which extent borders management has implications in various areas, not only in security and migration, but also in mobility; highlights the important role of the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) in this regard; regrets that Commission’s proposal is below the anticipated budget in the financial statement of the Agency’s regulation, hence putting at risk the ability of Frontex to deliver the European standing corps of border by 2024, as requested by the President of the European Commission; underlines that the recruitment, training and deployment of 10,000 border and coats guards requires exceptional resources that cannot be reduced; calls for a significant budget increase for 2021 to EUR 838 000 000 to allow the Agency to build and train its standing corps as well as to purchase own equipment, thereby allowing a successful and timely deployment and operational support to the Member States at the external borders;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of integrated border management to ensure the functioning of the Schengen area; highlights the important role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in this regard and calls for a significantNotes the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in coordinating and developing an integrated border management; calls therefore for a budget increase for 2021 to EUR ~~838 000 000~~770 365 795 to allow the Agency to build and train its standing corps as well as to purchase own equipment, thereby allowing a successful deployment and operational support to the Member States at the external borders; stresses that this task requieres compliance with fundamental rights; regrets that the number of deaths at sea keeps increasing in light of the absence of SAR assets in the Mediterranean; suggests that any boost in resources should also be used for rescuing lives at sea and strengthen the Frontex fundamental rights monitors;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of integrated border management to ensure the functioning of the Schengen area; highlights the ~~important~~ role of the European Border and Coast Guard ~~Agency~~ (Frontex) in this regard and ~~calls for a significant budget increase for 2021 to EUR 838 000 000 to allow~~reminds that it is by large the Aagency t~~o build and train its stand~~hat has been receiving cmor~~ps as well as to purchase own equipment, thereby allowing a successful deployment and operational support to the Member States at the external borde~~e significant budget increases in the last years;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. StExpresses the importance of integrated border management to ensure the functioning of the Schengen area; highlights the important role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in this regard and calls for a significant budget increase for 2021 to EUR 838 000 000 to allow the Agency to build and train its standing corps as well as to purchase own equipment,concerns regarding the increased violations of fundamental rights at the EU's external borders; believes that the considerable budget FRONTEX has been allocated over the years should rather be spent to providing safe and legal ways to access the European Union as well as in the short ther~~eby allowing a successful deployment and operational support to the Member States at the external borders~~m a pan-European Search and Rescue operation in order to save people's lives at sea;

Amendment 26 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of integrated border management to ensure the functioning and further integration of the Schengen area; highlights the important role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in this regard and calls for a significant budget increase for 2021 to EUR 838 000 000 in order to allow the Agency to build and train its standing corps as well as to purchase own equipment, thereby allowing a successful deployment and operational support to the Member States at the external borders;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Takes note of the decrease in commitment appropriations (-5%) and the increase in payment appropriations (12%) for eu-LISA; highlights the important role of the Agency in the proper implementation and operational management of EU large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (EES, ETIAS, ECRIS-TCN, EURODAC, VIS, SIS) and to provide interoperability between these systems for faster and more reliable data to border management and law enforcement authorities; regrets that Commission’s proposal does not meet eu-LISA’s request in terms of staff; requests 14 additional staff to support the securing information networks and databases, the project for the extension of the operational sites of the Agency and the activities of the management board;

Amendment 28 #

Sabrina PIGNEDOLI, Laura FERRARA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Highlights the crucial role played by Europol to ensure the security of EU citizens and the support to national law enforcement authorities in fighting ever evolving security threats; notes the impact of the COVID 19 crisis on the European organised crime landscape and the surge of criminal activities in specific areas, such as child sexual abuse online and goods counterfeiting. Underlines that post-COVID economic recovery efforts calls for the highest level of vigilance to prevent and fight criminal infiltrations in the legal economy; believes that, as part of an EU coordinated approach, the EU agencies and bodies, such as Europol, EPPO, Eurojsut and OLAF, can contribute to combat organised crime activates and potential fraud of the EU recovery budget.

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls for a new budget line to support Search and Rescue operations to guarantee access to international protection in accordance with the obligations contracted by the Member States in the field of human rights and maritime law, including the right to life and the principle of non-refoulement;

Amendment 3 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Reg~~Deplorets that the proposed commitment appropriations for the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme” at EUR 90 600 000 are much lower than initially requested by the Parliament; requests, in line with the first reading position of the Parliament adopted on 17 April 2019, that commitment appropriations are increased to EUR 265 000 000 and that a new budget line to “promote and protect Union values“ (EUR 120 000 000 in commitment appropriations) is created; calls, in line with the partial agreement reached with Council, to increase the commitment appropriations under the “Daphne” budget line to EUR 37 100 000 and to earmark EUR 27 300 000 of this amount for the fight against gender-based violence by creating a subline “Combating all forms of gender-based violence”; calls further for an increase of the commitment appropriations of the budget line “Promote citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union” to EUR 70 600 000, to rename the budget line “Promote equality and rights” to “Promote equality, rights and gender equality” and to earmark EUR 10 300 000 to “Promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming” by creating a new subline;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Takes note of the estimation of the 7. European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) that it will process information equivalent to 4,300 cases and 2,000 investigations in its first year of operation; expects the workload to increase further during the coming years, as up to 3700 in 2027, due to the overall increase of EU financial interests in the next MFF and the Recovery Plan; reminds that the EPPO is a prosecution office with mandatory competences; ~~notes with~~is deeply concerned with the low funding level proposed in the Draft EU Budget 2021; and the amount of staff representing only half of what has been requested by EPPO; considers that such a proposal would significantly affect the ability of the new agency to start its activities and deliver its mandate stresses that a substantial funding increase to EUR 55 000 000 will be required to allow the EPPO to meet its legal obligation to translate a huge volume of documents that are transmitted to judges at national level and to provide it with the requested 140 European Delegated Prosecutors and 219 staff members;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Takes note of the estimation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) that it will process information equivalent to 4,300 cases and 2,000 investigations in its first year of operation; expects the workload to increase further during the coming years; reminds that the EPPO is a prosecution office with mandatory competences; notes with concern the low funding level proposed in the Draft EU Budget 2021; stresses that a substantial funding increase to EUR 55 000 000 will be required to allow the EPPO to meet its legal obligation to translate a huge volume of documents that are transmitted to judges at national level, to cover recruitment and staff related expenditure, especially for security infrastructure, and to provide it with the requested 140 European Delegated Prosecutors and 219 staff members;

Amendment 32 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Takes note of the estimation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) that it will process information equivalent to 4,300 cases and 2,000 investigations in its first year of operation; expects the workload to increase further during the coming years; reminds that the EPPO is a prosecution office with mandatory competences; notes with concern the low funding level proposed in the Draft EU Budget 2021; stresses that a substantial funding increase to EUR 55 0500 000 will be required to allow the EPPO to meet its legal obligation to translate a huge volume of documents that are transmitted to judges at national level and to provide it with the requested 140 European Delegated Prosecutors and 219 staff members;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Stresses that the Recovery plan is a new opportunity for criminals to make profits and misappropriate funds intended to saving jobs and supporting the legal economy in Europe; considers that the fight against fraud to EU’s budget, corruption, money laundering, criminal financing should be strengthened in 2021; in this context, stresses the importance of adequate funding for European JHA agencies, in particular Europol, EPPO, CEPOL, OLAF and Eurojust;

Amendment 34 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Welcomes the new Security Union Strategy published by the Commission on 24 July, focusing on critical infrastructure protection, the fight against cybercrime, responding to hybrid threats and organised crime; also notes the three action plans presented on online sexual abuse against children, on firearms and on drugs; considers therefore that adequate funding is necessary in the Union’s budget and for the European JHA agencies to pursue these objectives;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. RDeeply regrets the reduction of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)’ budget by 0.4%; ~~requests instead~~urges to increase the Agency’'s commitment and payment appropriations to ~~EUR 24 600 000~~at least the Agency’s initial request (EUR 24 600 000) and to also take into account the considerable extra efforts made by FRA to closely monitor the impact of fundamental rights during the COVID-19; deplores the fact that the budget for FRA has barely increased in the last years, and underlines that this can affect the quality of work that FRA provides, which has proved to be extremely valuable for EU policy; calls for adding two AD6 and two cContractual agent function group IV posts to the Agency establishment plan; highlights that without adequate financial and staff resources, the Agency may not be able to implement projects that respond to identified needs;

Amendment 36 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Regrets the reduction of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ budget by 0.4%; requests instead to increase Agency’s commitment and payment appropriations to EUR 24 600 000; calls for adding two AD6 and two contractual agent function group IV posts to the Agency establishment plan; highlights that without adequate financial and staff resources, the Agency may not be able to implement projects that respond to identified needs; considers necessary to support the agency in its response to the Covid-19 crisis in the areas of fair technologies to safeguard public health, domestic abuse, seniors, Roma, migration and asylum, particularly in view of a possible second wave during 2021;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Regrets the reduction of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ budget by 0.4%; requests instead to increase Agency’s commitment and payment appropriations to EUR 24 600 000; calls for adding two AD6 and two contractual agent function group IV posts to the Agency establishment plan; highlights that without adequate financial and staff resources, the Agency may not be able to implement projects that respond to identified needs, in particular in countering discriminations and racism, defending individuals data protection and fundamental rights, including at the external borders, protecting migrants and refugees, supporting justice and victims’ rights;

Amendment 38 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Regrets the reduction of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ budget by 0.4%; requests instead to increase Agency’s commitment and payment appropriations to EUR 246 60079 000; calls for adding ~~two~~six AD6 and two contractual agent function group IV posts to the Agency establishment plan; highlights that without adequate financial and staff resources, the Agency may not be able to implement projects that respond to identified needs and monitor adequately fundamental rights in the EU;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Considers the proposed increase of appropriations for the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) insufficient in light of the challenges faced by the Agency with regard to digitalisation and the continuously growing caseload; requests to provide the Agency with 217 additional posts and to increase its budget accordingly to EUR 43 800 000;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets that the proposed commitment appropriations for the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme” at EUR 90 600 000 are much lower than initially requested by the Parliament; requests, in line with the first reading position of the Parliament adopted on 17 April 2019, that commitment appropriations are increased to EUR 265 000 000 and that a new budget line ~~to “promote and protect~~ named “Union values“ (EUR 120 000 000 in commitment appropriations) is created; calls, in line with the partial agreement reached with Council, to increase the commitment appropriations under the “Daphne” budget line to EUR 37 100 000 and to earmark EUR 27 300 000 of this amount for the fight against gender-based violence by creating a subline “Combating all forms of gender-based violence”; calls further for an increase of the commitment appropriations of the budget line “Promote citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union” to EUR 70 600 000, to rename the budget line “Promote equality and rights” to “Promote equality, rights and gender equality” and to earmark EUR 10 300 000 to “Promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming” by creating a new subline;

Amendment 40 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Abir AL-SAHLANI, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Considers the proposed increase of appropriations for the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) insufficient in light of the challenges faced by the Agency with regard to ~~digitalisation and~~ the continuously growing caseload; requests to provide the Agency with 17 additional posts and to increase its budget accordingly to EUR 43 800 000;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the proposed increase of the European Asylum Support Office’s commitment and payment appropriations by 16.5% but regrets that the number of posts in its establishment plan have not been increased accordingly; requests therefore to reinforce the establishment plan of the Office by an additional 50 posts; recalls that Office plans to keep the same level of staff as requested for 2021 throughout the new programming period but stresses that additional staff will be needed if the new Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum is adopted; recalls that EASO’s operational activities have increased considerably in the recent years to address the challenge of the migration crisis and to assist Member States for the reception of asylum seekers and the processing of asylum procedures, in particular in EU hotspots; stresses that EASO has also been tasked with a number of new missions, in the fields of disembarkation or relocation; highlights that the additional staff will reinforce field operations, development and delivery of trainings, information and analysis, practical tools, governance activities and administrative functions, while the pressure on EU migration and asylum systems remains high.

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the proposed increase of the European Asylum Support Office’s commitment and payment appropriations by 16.5% but regrets that the number of posts in its establishment plan have not been increased accordingly; requests therefore to reinforce the establishment plan of the Office by an additional 50 posts; recalls that Office plans to keep the same level of staff as requested for 2021 throughout the new programming period but stresses that additional staff will be needed if the new Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum is adopted; highlights that the additional staff will reinforce field operations, development and delivery of trainings, information and analysis, practical tools, governance activities and administrative functions. ; notes however concerns expressed by NGOs over interviews practices carried out by EASO staff and proposes to create a reserve to ensure EASO puts in place safeguards to ensure their staff is not involved in fundamental rights violations in the course of the operational support it provides to Member States;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Urges the Commission, the Council and the Member States to implement gender budgeting in all public expenditure; recalls that gender budgeting should be an integral part of the budgetary procedure at all its stages and budget lines;

Amendment 5 #

Fabienne KELLER, Ramona STRUGARIU, Olivier CHASTEL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Nathalie LOISEAU, Malik AZMANI, Anna Júlia DONÁTH, Michal ŠIMEČKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on the Commission to develop budget lines in respect of the future Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the future Border Management and Visa Instrument based on the specific objectives of those funds in order to facilitate the work of the Budgetary Authority in scrutinising implementation of the Funds, helping to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of funding between the Funds different objectives and provide better readability and transparency regarding how the financial resources are allocated annually; calls to strengthen the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund by increasing the commitment and payment appropriations by 14%, and reinforcing the Common European Asylum System, legal migration, integration and solidarity objectives of the fund;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recalls that independent and qualitative investigative journalism is an essential component of a well-functioning democracy, by bringing quality fact-based information, combating disinformation, raising awareness to citizens, and revealing wrongdoings or crimes; stresses that journalism across Europe faces strong challenges, in particular the lack of financial resources, hence threatening their independence or survival; calls for ambitious funding programmes in the European budget in this field;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls, in line with the European Parliament first reading position of 13 March 2019 on the proposal for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, to create separate budget lines for each specific objective of this fund to increase transparency, ensure adequate financing of each separate objective and guarantee a better budgetary scrutiny;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Considers that the budget lines under AMIF should be separated to facilitate greater transparency regarding how the financial resources of the Fund are allocated to the different specific objectives of that Fund;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Regrets the proposal to disproportionately increase the Border Management and Visa Instrument Fund while other budget lines such as rights and values are being cut and in light of increased evidence of fundamental rights violations; calls, therefore, for this appropriation to be restored to its level of 2020 and for the Commission to use its powers to ensure that EU funding is being used in full respect of fundamental rights;

source: 655.893

2020/08/20 AFCO 16 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that there is no specific mention of the Conference on the Future of Europe in the relevant communication budget lines of the Commission’s proposals. Proposes a dedicated budget for the Conference on the Future of Europe that is in line with the objectives set out in the European Parliament’s positions on the Conference on the Future of Europe 2019/2990(RSP) and 2020/2657(RSP).

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Proposes a~~n in~~ decrease for the line ‘Commission Representations’ as ~~such representations play an important role in informing citizens about the EU activities, fostering public debate on EU matters and countering disinformation and they will need~~institutional propaganda should not be a priority under the current circumstances and needs; considers that no additional resources should be mobilised to finance activities in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Proposes an targeted increase for the line ‘Commission Representations’ ~~as such representations play an important role in informing citizens about the EU activities, foster~~for the purpose of increasing public debate on EU matters ~~and~~, countering disinformation ~~and they will need~~, proactively engaging with citizens and providing additional resources to finance activities in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Amendment 12 #

Antonio TAJANI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the proposed increase by 35% in commitment appropriations and by 24% in payment appropriations for ‘Communication services for citizens’; proposes a further increase in view of the scale of communication actions that will be needed in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe; invites the Commission to present the necessary proposals, in case further appropriations will be needed.

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes~~Considers that the proposed increase by 35% in commitment appropriations and by 24% in payment appropriations for ‘Communication services for citizens’~~; proposes a further increase in view of the scale of communication actions that will be needed in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe~~ should be better used if channelled to support cohesion policies.

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the proposed increase by 35% in commitment appropriations and by 24% in payment appropriations for ‘Communication services for citizens’; ~~proposes a further increase in view~~believes that the proposed increase could be justified because of the scale of communication actions that will be needed in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Urges that the above budget augmentations serve the purpose of delivering concrete results and quality communication to citizens. In order to ensure the delivery of these goals by the aforementioned budget lines, regular overviews of how the resources have been used and what impact they had should be made public.

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Reminds that Cohesion Policy must have sufficient resources to effectively stop divergence and promote convergence among Member States; considers that the reinforcement of the structural and cohesion funds is a fundamental pre-requisite to fulfil values and principles enshrined in the Treaties;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that there is no specific mention of the Conference on the Future of Europe in the relevant communication budget lines of the Commission’s proposals. Insists on the importance of an adequate funding for taking into account the Conference goals as set out in the European Parliament’s position.

Amendment 3 #

1. ~~Notes~~Regrets the fact that there is no specific mention of the Conference on the Future of Europe in the relevant communication budget lines of the Commission’s proposals.

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Stresses that, as a general rule, any increase of the Union's budget must be strictly justified by objective and detailed reasons and shall be expected to produce a very favourable cost/benefit ratio.

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. IConsi~~sts on a signific~~ders that ant increase in appropriations for the budget line ‘Promoting citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union’ in line with the Parliament’s amendments to the Commission proposal establishing the ‘Rights and Values programme’1 . _________________ 1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-8-2019-0040_EN.html' must not contribute to the creation of an artificial European identity, falsification and historical revisionism, anti-communism and the laundering of Nazi-fascism.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. WBel~~comes~~ieves that the proposed increase by 12% in commitment appropriations and by 5% in payment appropriations as compared to the 2020 budget for the ‘Executive and corporate communication services’~~; proposes a further increase to enabl~~ is excessive; finds that the present budgetary resources are adequate to guarantee active engagement by the Commission in its communication on the Future of Europe and to step up the fight against disinformation.

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the proposed increase by 12% in commitment appropriations and by 5% in payment appropriations as compared to the 2020 budget for the ‘Executive and corporate communication services’; ~~proposes a further increase to enable active engagement by the Commission in its communication on the Future of Eu~~in this regard, believes that while it is important to strengthen communication on where and how the EU budget is used, institutional prope agand ~~to step up the fight against disinformation~~a should not a priority under the current circumstances and needs.

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the proposed increase by 12% in commitment appropriations and by 5% in payment appropriations as compared to the 2020 budget for the ‘Executive and corporate communication services’; proposes a further increase to enable active engagement by the Commission in its communication on the Future of Europe and to step up the fight against foreign interferences and disinformation.

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Proposes an increase for the line ‘Commission and European Parliament Representations’ as such representations play an important role in informing citizens about the EU activities, fostering public debate on EU matters and countering disinformation and they will need additional resources to finance activities in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

source: 655.899

2020/08/26 ECON 60 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Calls for a strong and ambitious budget for the year 2021 to support fair, inclusive and sustainable growth, mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID- 19 crisis, enhance economic, social and regional convergence, cohesion and resilience and accelerate the implementation of core European objectives, such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, the European Pillar of Social Rights, digital transformation and the just transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that the principle of value for money should represent the cornerstone of all EU funded investments; points out that EU funding should be accompanied by measurable objectives and outputs including a quantifiable and comparable evaluation mechanism that will allow to compare and rank the efficiency of individual EU programmes;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to put European citizens at the heart of a sustainable recovery strategy, including by delivering on the Green Deal and the EU commitment to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest, on the digital agenda and on an inclusive industrial strategy;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Points towards the asymmetric impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the economies of the Member States; underlines the devastating blow felt by service based economies, particularly the tourism sector;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for budgetary rationalisation at all levels; underlines the importance of accountability and transparency for bodies that receive EU funding;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for ~~the~~a more ambitious 2021 Union budget to support the rapid implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which aims to address the ~~challenges identified in the European Semester, in which the Sustainable Development Goals shall be integrated;~~ multiple socio-economic challenges faced by the Member States; calls for the increase of grants and a flexible conditionality for loans, well beyond the austerity oriented rules of the Stability and Growth Pact; calls for the Facility to support investments that promote fair, inclusive and sustainable growth and enhance convergence, cohesion and resilience, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, the “do no significant harm” principle, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the objective of a just transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest; stresses the need for the swift implementation of the Facility and calls for payments to start the soonest possible in 2021; deplores the macro- economic conditionalities attached to the Facility, the exclusion of the European Parliament from its governance, which moves away from the community method and endorses an intergovernmental approach, and the emergency brake procedure adopted by the European Council, which could lead to detrimental delays;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to support the speedy implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility which aims to address the challenges identified in the European Semester, in which the Sustainable Development Goals shall be integrated; underlines that such Facility should focus on growth-enhancing investment in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Paris Agreement and the “do no significant harm” principle and should be consistent with national energy and climate plans; reminds that the Union budget should also support delivering sustainable and socially balanced structural reforms that increase competitiveness, convergence, sustainable, inclusive and cohesive growth and urges, in that context, first payments to be done as early as possible in 2021; calls for a role of the European Parliament in the governance of the Recovery and Resilience Facility ensuring that there is a balance of institutional powers and that the European Commission is empowered in the monitoring of the Recovery and Resilience Plans;

Amendment 17 #

Aurore LALUCQ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to support the speedy implementation of the Recovery ~~and~~, Resilience and Full Employment Facility which aims to address the challenges identified in the European Semester, in which shall be guided by the Sustainable Development Goals ~~shall be integrat~~; welcomes the Commission’s suspension of EU fiscal rules until 2022; takes the view that the revision of the EU’s fiscal and economic policy framework must be finalised by the time the escape clause is repealed;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to support the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility which aims to address the challenges identified in the European Semester, in which the Sustainable Development Goals shall be integrated; highlights the importance for the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support Member States meeting the commitments from the Paris agreement and towards a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to support the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility which aims to address the challenges identified in the European Semester, in which the Sustainable Development Goals shall be integrated, taking into full account the growing need to bridge within the Union the widening economic and social disparities between its different parts and regions;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to be aligned with the objectives of the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement and to help reach the EU climate commitments by 2030 and the commitment to a carbon- neutral economy by 2050 at the latest;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 22 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Stéphanie YON-COURTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to map practical best practices regarding green budgeting tools; emphasizes that sound public finances are the primary goal of the European fiscal rules, and that green investments should therefore never be treated outside the budgetary framework of the SGP;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Considers that significant technical support is essential to strengthen the Members States’ administrative capacities in order to develop and implement the administrative and structural reforms necessary for resilience and recovery;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the importance of s~~upporting companies with solvency issues as a result of COVID-19~~olvency as a basis for sound, robust and sustainable economic development; calls for an institutional overhaul to focus more on solvency, equity and restrained monetary policy, rather than liquidity, cash and accommodative monetary policy; stresses that the devastating economic consequences of the national and regional lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 require this overhaul; highlights that the proposal for a Solvency Support instrument ~~and calls for fast-acting support;~~ should in no way be used as rogue State Aid for Member States who did not manage their public finances well over the last years, and therefore have less budgetary space to provide State Aid. This would create an incentive for Member States not to pursue sound budgetary policies, but speculate on future EU emergency programmes, mainly financed by those Member States who did pursue sound budgetary policies.

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the importance of supporting companies with solvency issues as a result of COVID-19; ~~highlights the proposal for a Solvency Support instrument and calls for fast-acting support~~warns about the risk of distortions within the Single market due to uneven capacity to provide financial support for Member States; regrets the withdrawal of the temporary Solvency Support instrument by the European Council; insists that firms at risk of insolvency would need rapid support to avoid any supplementary negative impact on investment and unemployment levels, as part of the current Multiannual Financial Framework of the Union;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Underlines~~Stresses the need for enhanced and targeted emergency measures to swiftly and effectively support citizens, workers, the self-employed and sectors hit harder by the pandemic; underlines, in this regard, the importance of supporting companies, especially SMEs, with solvency issues as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic; highlights the Commission proposal for a Solvency Support iInstrument and ~~calls for fast-acting support~~deplores its complete abolishment by the Council;

Amendment 27 #

Aurore LALUCQ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the importance of supporting companies with solvency issues as a result of COVID-19, subject to social and environmental conditionalities; highlights the proposal for a Solvency Support instrument and calls for fast-acting support;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the importance of supporting companies with solvency issues as a result of COVID-19; highlights the proposal for a Solvency Support instrument and calls for fast-acting support in line with the Green Deal and the EU commitment to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the importance of supporting companies with solvency issues as a result of COVID-19~~; highlights the proposal for a Solvency Support instrument~~ and calls for fast- acting support;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Reiterates its position for the 2021 budget of EUR 192.1 billion in current prices in commitment appropriations and its call for major additional appropriations on top of this position in order to respond to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis; deplores, in this regard, the lack of ambition and decisiveness shown by the Commission in its 2021 Draft Budget proposal, which represents a reduction by 9.8% compared to the 2020 budget in terms of commitments and incorporates significant cuts to core EU policies and programmes, such as cohesion, agriculture, SMEs support, health, research and innovation; underlines that these cuts cannot be considered counter-balanced by the Next Generation EU top-ups and calls for the significant enhancement of the above policies and programmes in the 2021 budget;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investments capacity aimed at supporting jobs, SMEs, sustainable infrastructure, research, and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments; calls on the Commission to ensure that the enterprises which play a role in the European value chain, such as subcontractors, remain viable and oriented towards greening and digital transitions;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19 and supports its application for as long as necessary during the recovery period; is concerned however with the risk of market distortions and an unlevel playing field due to increased divergences between the levels of State aid support granted by Member States; calls on the Commission to set common minimum standards in order to specify the requirement for companies receiving financial assistance to be in line with ESG criteria and taxation transparency in order to avoid different national criteria giving rise to further discrepancies and to demonstrate how the public support received is used to align their operation with EU’s climate and environmental objectives and the Paris Agreement; recalls that aid should only be granted to cover the losses incurred due to COVID-19; urges that companies registered in tax havens should be banned from accessing state aid or financial support packages if they do not commit to change their behaviour; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of Union competition policy;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of COVID-19; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of Union competition policy; highlights in this regard the possibility granted by the Third Amendment to the State aid Temporary Framework to provide public support to all micro and small companies, even if they were already in financial difficulty on 31 December 2019 and supports its application for as long as necessary during the recovery period; encourages Member States and the EU via its new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, to make full use of the State aid Temporary Framework; anticipates that the Commission will also have to monitor such schemes approved under the Temporary Framework and their impact on the functioning of the Single Market; recalls inequality of means amongst Member States to provide such economic support via State Aid creating distortions in a fully functioning internal market.

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the ~~State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of Union competition policy~~activation of the general escape clause to suspend the Growth and Stability Pact and the introduction of the State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19, including its amended version allowing public support to micro and small companies, even in cases where the companies were already in financial difficulty on 31 December 2019; points out, however, the uneven capacity of Member States to provide financial support to sectors and citizens hit harder by the pandemic, which could lead to distortions of the European level-playing field and calls for specific measures to minimise the side-effects of the state aid rules’ relaxation that intensify inequalities and jeopardise single market; calls for the repeal of the Growth and Stability Pact and its replacement by a Sustainable Development and Employment Pact that will promote fair, inclusive and sustainable growth, high- quality employment and environmental protection;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of Union competition policy; especially urges the Commission to promote European companies that invest in technologies enabling the transition to a green economy, and to ensure a level playing field compared to third-country companies;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19; calls for reinforced resources to ensure full and fast application of Union competition policy;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the European Green Deal as one of the main pillars for the transformation of the EU economy to a fair, inclusive, sustainable, resilient and carbon-neutral economy; calls for adequate funding to allow economic, social and environmental challenges related to sustainable development to be met, including through the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan; reiterates its position for a climate mainstreaming spending level of 30% and a biodiversity spending level of 10% for 2021;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the European Green Deal; calls for adequate funding to allow challenges related to sustainable development to be met, including through the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan; recognises that public investments are limited as they represent scarce resources mostly funded by the taxpayers; underlines the need to prioritise the public investments according to their efficiency in order to support economic growth;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the European Green Deal; calls for adequate funding to allow challenges related to sustainable development to be met, including through the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan; recalls the importance of moving the economies of the Member States towards the EU objective of climate neutrality economy;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the European Green Deal; calls ~~for adequate funding to allow challenges related to sustainable development to be met, including through the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan~~to postpone its implementation until COVID-19 is defeated;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1b. Stresses that the symmetric shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused asymmetric consequences between Member States; is extremely worried about the Commission summer 2020 economic forecast, which predicts deeper recession with wider divergences than initially projected, as well as about the significant rise of unemployment; stresses, therefore, the need for solidarity, ambition and decisiveness at European level to overcome the negative effects of the crisis;

Amendment 40 #

Aurore LALUCQ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that the EU officially ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016; recalls, further, the EIB’s commitment to scrapping financial support for fossil fuels from 2021;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for increased resources to fight social and gender inequalities, poverty and unemployment, paying particular attention to the youth and vulnerable groups;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for sufficient resources to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance and against financial crime and money laundering and for adherence to the economic governance framework; stresses that estimates of annual losses due to tax evasion and tax avoidance vary between 750 and 1000 billion euros for all Member States; notes in particular the Commission’s Action Plan for a Comprehensive EU policy on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing that should be implemented in 2020 and 2021 and which foresees six pillars including one aimed at ensuring EU-level supervision;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for sufficient resources to fight against financial crime and money laundering a~~nd for adherence to the economic governance framework~~s well as tax evasion and tax avoidance, to minimize the loss of revenues essential for the post-COVID-19 recovery; welcomes in particular the Commission’s Action Plan for a Comprehensive EU policy on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and calls for corresponding legislative proposals to be presented as soon as possible;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for sufficient resources to fight both at EU and at Member States level against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance as well as against financial crime and money laundering and for adherence to the economic governance framework and deal in an effective and coordinated way with the tax havens issue, including Member States;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for sufficient resources to fight against financial crime and money laundering and for adherence to the economic governance framework; calls therefore for a swift repeal of the escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for adequate resources for the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to be able to properly carry out their tasks; considers, however, that conditional budget lines should be introduced to incentivise increased transparency on the functioning of the boards of supervisors of the different ESAs;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises th~~at funding to~~e need for increased human and financial resources for accounting entities and tax authorities ~~should continue~~, including to support the Union action to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance; welcomes the creation of the EU Tax and Financial Crimes Observatory as a preparatory action and its inclusion in the Commission Action Plan for fair and simple taxation supporting the recovery;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises that funding to accounting entities and tax authorities should continue, including to support the Union action to fight tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance; welcomes the creation of the EU Tax and Financial Crimes Observatory; calls for adequate funding and human resources for the relevant programmes and agencies;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for ~~the~~an increased 2021 Union budget to make an ambitious and effective contribution to the fair, inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery of the Union economy in view of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak; ~~welcomes the proposal for a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU~~acknowledges the European Council agreement on a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, as an important first step towards this end; deplores, however, the massive cuts to the grant component of the Next Generation EU in the final agreement that seriously upset the balance between grants and loans; regrets the massive cuts to the top-ups for Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the withdrawal of top-ups for EU4Health, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as the complete cancellation of the Solvency Support Instrument; stresses that these cuts will seriously undermine the recovery efforts;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

~~8. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities.~~deleted

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities. and remains the only way to ensure that the financing of the green and the digital transitions does not weigh directly on citizens; urges Member States to swiftly agree on an increase of the own resources ceilings and to adopt rapidly the legislative proposals that will create new own resources that would feed into the 2021 Union budget; such taxes should include a share of revenue based on a common consolidated corporate tax base, digital services taxation, a financial transaction tax, a plastics contribution and a carbon border adjustment mechanism and would include the simplification of the VAT-based own resource;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Re~~calls that~~jects the introduction of a basket of new own resources ~~is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union prioriti~~; recalls that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle; recalls that tax burdens across the EU are already at the highest level in the developed world; believes that citizens of euro area Member States have already contributed enough to European integration and solidarity through e.g. the ultra-loose accommodative policies of the European Central Bank, and increased TARGET 2-imbalances.;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities.; urges Member States to swiftly agree on an increase of the own resources ceilings and to adopt additional own resources such as a share of the revenues of a common consolidated corporate tax base, a digital services tax, a financial transaction tax, a plastics contribution and a carbon border adjustment mechanism;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities.; believes that repayment of the debt incurred by the Recovery and Resilience Facility must not be made at the expense of future European budgets and generations of Europeans, and should start as soon as possible if the economic situation allows starting within the 2021- 2027 budgetary period;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Re~~call~~iterates that the ~~introduction of a basket of new own resources is~~revision of the EU’s own resources system and the introduction of a basket of new own resources as of 1 January 2021 according to a legally binding timetable is extremely essential to meet the increased financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities.

Amendment 56 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Stéphanie YON-COURTIN, Ondřej KOVAŘÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls that the introduction of a basket of new own resources that do not particularly target in a damaging manner the economy of any single Member State, is essential to meet the financial needs of supporting the recovery and for other Union priorities.

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses the need to go forwards with new own resources proposals asking for a clear and binding calendar for their introduction; recalls the importance of creating European sovereignty in digital, industrial, health and security fields;

Amendment 58 #

Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Demands an immediate stop to any funding granted to countries that do not respect the EU’s founding values, the rule of law, the human rights, European and International law and the sovereignty of the Member States;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls for the budget to contribute to fulfilling policy priorities in terms of the completion of the Capital Markets Union, including fostering investments in a post-pandemic recovery context;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the 2021 Union budget, which corresponds to the first year of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021- 2027, to make an ambitious contribution to the recovery of the Union economy in view of the COVID-19 outbreak effects; welcomes the pEurop~~osal for~~ean Council agreement on a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, based on common borrowing by the Union, relying on necessary solidarity to face a symmetric shock and that is composed of mainly of grants, loans and provisioning for guarantees; welcomes the initiative of the President of the European Commission to directly involve the Parliament in the negotiations of the recovery plan by activating Article 324 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Calls for adequate financial and human resources for the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in view of their newly assigned tasks and powers deriving from the adoption of the Regulation (EU) 2019/2175 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a; believes, however, that the governance structure and accountability should be improved; highlights that developments in the fields of fintech, payments and non-bank financial intermediation may entail new competences and tasks for the ESAs, which should be matched by adequate resources; _____________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2019/2175 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Banking Authority), Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority), Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Securities and Markets Authority), Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 on markets in financial instruments, Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts or to measure the performance of investment funds, and Regulation (EU) 2015/847 on information accompanying transfers of funds (OJ L 334, 27.12.2019, p. 1).

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to make an ambitious contribution to the recovery of the Union economy in view of the COVID-19 outbreak; welcomes the proposal for a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU; calls hereby for an ex-ante democratic and parliamentary scrutiny and therefore demands for the European Parliament to be involved through delegated acts, as well as in the ex-post verification that money under the Recovery and Resolution Facility is well- spent, in the interest of European citizens and ensure its genuine European added- value;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to make an ~~ambitious~~efficient contribution to the recovery of the Union economy in view of the COVID-19 outbreak; welcomes the proposal for a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU; stresses that any assistance from Next Generation EU should be conditional on the implementation of the growth-enhancing structural reforms which are the backbone of the economic recovery;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ~~make an ambitious contribution~~be adapted and committed to the recovery of the Union economy ~~in view of~~following the economic downfall as a result of the national and regional lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; ~~welcom~~deplores the proposal for a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, which establishes a debt union in violation of Article 311 TFEU;

source: 655.919

2020/09/01 AGRI 69 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets that, in the proposed revised ceiling for the new heading 3 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the major categories of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending are likely to be cut in 2021, namely direct payments, market measures and rural development; recalls Parliament’s previous resolutions asking for the CAP funding to be maintained at least at current levels; points out that a number of agricultural sectors have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and that possible cuts will lead to a deepening of the crisis, extending to other sectors also;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Takes note of the EUR 55 182 million in commitments and EUR 54 879,9 million in payments for agriculture; is concerned over the severe decrease in European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) appropriations (EUR -3 231 million in commitments and EUR -3 215 million in payments ) compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; ~~notes that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) appropriation~~takes note of the net transfer of EUR -753,9 million from the EAGF to the EAFRD; requests aren increase~~d to EUR 15 002,9 million in commitments (+2,1 %) and~~ of expenditure of the EAGF in commitments of EUR 3 231 million to EUR 154 ~~715~~413 million ~~(+12,2 %) in payments compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; takes note of the net transfer of EUR -753,9 million from the EAGF to the EAFRD~~, so expenditure of the CAP will not be reduced in comparison to the year 2020;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Takes note of the EUR 55 182 million in commitments and EUR 54 879,9 million in payments for agriculture; is concerned over the severe decrease of -7,4 % in European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) appropriations (EUR -3 231 million in commitments and EUR -3 215 million in payments ) compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; notes that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) appropriations are increased to EUR 15 002,9 million in commitments (+2,1 %) and EUR 14 715 million (+12,2 %) in payments compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; takes note of the net transfer of EUR -753,9 million from the EAGF to the EAFRD;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Points out that the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has emphasised the strategic role that agriculture plays in avoiding a food crisis, by providing safe and high-quality food at affordable prices; insists that food chain security, sustainability and resilience requires further investments to farmers, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Requests the allocation of additional resources for market measures in order to ensure adequate means are readily available in the event of further market disturbance as a consequence of COVID-19 outbreak and the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union in particular;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Recalls also that the Commission evaluation deemed the CAP to be the appropriate framework for developing the targets in the European Green Deal; notes, therefore, that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the Council to allow the Union to meet its commitments in providing sufficient funding for a safe, high-quality food supply, climate action, environmental protection ~~and for the Just Transition Mechanism and the Just Transition Fund~~, which the agriculture sector needs to benefit significantly from in order to reach the targets of the European Green Deal; notes that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding; draws attention to the fact that the COVID-19 crisis has had a severe impact on numerous Union holdings and has highlighted the importance of Union food production and supply; recalls that food s~~ecuri~~overeignty and food chain sustainability require investments and support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas, especially in deprived rural areas; highlights therefore that both the COVID-19 outbreak and the climate and biodiversity crises demonstrate the need for a strong EAFRD;

Amendment 16 #

Salvatore DE MEO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the Council to allow the Union to meet its commitments in providing sufficient funding for a safe, high-quality food supply, climate action, environmental protection and for the Just Transition Mechanism and the Just Transition Fund~~, which the agriculture sector needs to benefit significantly from in order to reach the targets of the European Green Deal~~; notes that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding and substantially improved baseline; draws attention to the fact that while the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of Union food production and supply~~; recalls that food security and food chain sustainability require investments and support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas;~~ , the failure to adapt and mitigate climate change has been assessed as the gravest risk for a number of years now and half of the biggest risks we face are environmental risks 1a; recalls that those challenges require investments, independent advice and knowledge transfer and other support to farmers, other land managers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas; _________________ 1aGlobal Risk Reports - 2018, 2019 and 2020 reports rank climate crisis among the top 10 crisis, with 2019 and 2020 ranking it number one. All three list five environmental risks, including biodiversity loss (ranking 3rd in 2020) among the gravest, both in terms of impact and likelihood.

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges, therefore, the Council to allow the Union to meet its commitments in providing sufficient funding for a safe, high-quality food supply, climate action, environmental protection and for the Just Transition Mechanism and the Just Transition Fund, which the agriculture sector needs to benefit significantly from in order to reach the targets of the European Green Deal; ~~not~~stresses that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding; draws attention to the fact that the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of Union food production and supply; recalls that food security and food chain sustainability require investments and support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areasthe support from Next Generation EU to meet those targets in the scope of rural development needs to be made available as soon as possible, from 2021;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets that, in the proposed revised ceiling for the new heading 3 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the major categories of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending are likely to be cut in 2021, namely direct payments, market measures and rural development; recalls Parliament’s previous resolutions asking for the CAP funding to be maintained at least at current levels; in that connection recalls, specifically, its resolution of 30 May 2018 on the future of food and farming1a where it insisted that any budget cuts in agriculture and rural development must not lead to a lowering of ambition; _________________ 1aTexts adopted, 30.5.2018, P8_TA(2018)0224.

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the Council to allow the Union, as requested by the Parliament's previous resolution, to meet its commitments in providing ~~sufficient~~realistic funding for a safe, high-quality food supply, climate action, environmental protection and for the Just Transition Mechanism and the Just Transition Fund, which the agriculture sector needs to benefit significantly from in order to reach the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal; notes that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding; draws attention to the fact that the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of Union food production and supply; recalls that food sovereignty, food security and food chain sustainability require investments and support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas and in the outermost regions;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Highlights that, according to the Court of Auditors' opinion No 5/20201a, the linkage between performance and funding in the Just Transition Fund is relatively weak and there is a significant risk that further spending will be allocated to finance the unsuccessful transition repeatedly; stresses that a sound needs analysis would support better allocation of the Union’s financial resources, and target the objectives to be achieved; _________________ 1aOpinion No 5/2020 (pursuant to Articles 288(4) and 322(1)(a), TFEU) on the Commission’s 2020/0006 (COD) proposals of 14 January 2020 and of 28 May 2020 for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund, available at https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/OP20_05/OP20_05_EN.pdf

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Criticises the fact that the budget for the POSEI programme is being cut by EUR 9 million, i.e. 3.9%, despite the Commission's commitments to maintaining the same level of support for the EU's outermost regions;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Underlines that according to the tracking exercise of biodiversity related expenditure, the CAP provides approximately 75 % of the total contribution of all the Union instruments1a; highlights the conclusion of the Court of Auditors that the way the Commission tracks biodiversity expenditure in the Union budget is unreliable1b; stresses that the impact of CAP direct payments is limited or unknown and that the Commission and Member States have favoured lower- impact rural development measures; calls urgently on the Commission to improve tracking of biodiversity-related expenditure and to objectively assess its true contribution to halting biodiversity loss; _________________ 1aDraft General Budget of the European Union for the ﬁnancial year 2019; Draft General Budget for the financial year 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ab out_the_european_commission/eu_budget /draft-budget-2020-wd-1-web-1.4.pdf 1b https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/SR20_13/SR_Biodiversity_on_far mland_EN.pdf

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Takes the view that the cut to appropriations for the promotion of agricultural products (- 4 million, i.e. a 2.1% cut) and the lack of appropriations for intervention measures in agricultural markets such as private storage and public intervention (EUR 10 million) seem removed from the situation for agricultural markets, which are still unstable, and from the need for the production and consumption of agricultural products on the single market and on external markets to be revived;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Underlines that the Court of Auditors found the estimated CAP contribution towards climate change objectives unrealistic and concluded that overestimating the CAP contribution could lead to lower financial contributions for other policy areas, thus reducing the overall contribution of Union spending to climate change mitigation and adaptation1a; calls for the Commission to objectively assess the contribution of the CAP to climate objectives as part of coherent, complementary and ambitious actions at Union level; _________________ 1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/RW20_01/RW_Tracking_climate_ spending_EN.pdf

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Stresses that, without ambitious revision of the financing and functioning of the agricultural crisis reserve, the EU will not be able to effectively and swiftly respond to further market disruptions; reiterates, therefore, Parliament's proposal to revise the financing and functioning of the agricultural crisis reserve as part of the negotiations on the regulation on the CAP transition;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Notes and deplores the fact that the draft general budget for 2021 fails to indicate the contribution of different instruments, including the CAP, to financing biodiversity; reiterates that the Union should track its biodiversity-related expenditure to fulfil its reporting obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Calls, with a view to contributing to the recovery of the EU's agricultural sectors and rural areas, for part of the recovery plan appropriations under the EAFRD for 2022, 2023 and 2024 to be made available within the framework of advance payments from 2021;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission to commit, when revising the draft budget via the amending letter, to adjusting its figures in order to address the market crisis in certain key sectors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, as well as sectors impacted by tariff measures imposed by third parties, whilst taking into account the need to condition support for certain polluting sectors on their efforts towards the transition to a resilient and sustainable model;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission to commit, when revising the draft budget via the amending letter, to adjusting its figures in order to address the market crisis in certain key sectors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis; points out that a number of support measures to combat the effects of the pandemic have not been implemented in certain Member States and need to be more closely tailored to the specific needs of the various agricultural sectors;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission, therefore, to commit, when revising the draft budget via the amending letter, to adjusting its figures in order to address the market crisies in certain key ~~sector~~European agricultural sectors and rural territories negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and to contribute to their recovery;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Asks~~Stresses that the Commission ~~to commit~~, when revising the draft budget via the amending letter, needs to adjust~~ing~~ its figures upwards in order to address the market crisis in certain key sectors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Underlines the fact that Union spending on European agriculture must capitalise on the climate change mitigation potential of European agriculture in the form of a commensurate support policy; stresses that Union expenditure on the Common Agricultural Policy must be in line with the objectives of the Paris climate accord and the Union’s climate objectives;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights the importance of small farms in rural areas, which require particular attention and increased financial resources;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses that there has been embezzlement of Union agricultural aid; underscores, in this context, the importance of tying Union agricultural aid in future to a review of the rule of law in the Member States;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Stresses that, in its Special Report 13/2020, the European Court of Auditors found that most CAP spending has little positive impact on biodiversity, that the Commission does not track biodiversity spending reliably and that, furthermore, that spending does not have any effect;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products. regrets the lack of a balanced geographical distribution at Union level regarding funding under the Horizon 2020 programme and urges that as many of those in the farming sector as possible be allowed to benefit from it;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme into support~~ing~~ research~~, development~~ and innovation in ~~the agri- food sector~~food, agriculture, rural development and the bio-economy~~, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.~~ in the transition to a more sustainable and future-proof land-use and zero-carbon, resource- efficient circular economy;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the Union budget, through rural development and Horizon Europe programmes in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products. and calls for an increased earmarking of funds for agri-food within the Horizon Europe programme;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme and European Innovation Partnership (EIP) funding for natural resources in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy~~, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.~~;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of Horizon Europe programme in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector ~~and bioeconomy~~, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.;

Amendment 46 #

Isabel CARVALHAIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Rejects any reduction in the financial allocations of the POSEI programme and calls for the maintenance of, at least, the current level of support, as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 228/2013; stresses the vital importance of that programme for the maintenance of the agricultural activity and for the supply of food and agricultural products in the outermost regions, which must be provided with adequate resources; recalls the specific socio-economic problems of those regions as a result of their geographical situation, in particular their remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate, as acknowledged in Article 349 TFEU;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the necessity to dedicate a significant share of the funds from the Horizon Europe programme to the agri- food sector, especially in the broader context of the “Farm to Fork Strategy”; is convinced of the importance of research, development and innovation in that sector and of ensuring that the results of research and innovation reach farm level; supports increasing the programme’s appropriations to ensure safe, high quality food and innovative forms of agriculture in the Union and further recalls that proper advisory services for farmers and other rural operators play an important role in reaching those targets;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that achieving ambitious environmental and climate action objectives depends mainly on the allocation of sufficient financial resources;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Regrets the proposed cuts to the CAP budget in the Council’s MFF proposal especially in light of the new demands that will contribute to the Union’s climate and biodiversity objectives in line with the targets set by the Paris Agreement, and also in the fields of food security, economic growth, territorial and social balance, health and economic crises such as that caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as other factors affecting food security; recalls that the decreases in the CAP budget have continued constantly and the funds from the CAP budget have been transferred to other headings;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. RDeeply regrets that, in the proposed revised ceiling for the new heading 3 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the major categories of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending are likely to be cut in 2021, namely direct payments, market measures and rural development; recalls Parliament’s previous resolutions asking for the CAP funding to be maintained at least at current levels;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Suggests ensuring sufficient funding for the use of new breeding techniques as well as their development and research to improve the sustainability and competitivity of agriculture and its adaptation to climate change;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Urges the Member States to tackle the demographic problem and lack of generational renewal faced by the agricultural sector and further insists to give sufficient support measures for young farmers and gender equality in rural areas;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Welcomes the establishment of a crisis reserve fund of EUR 450 million, in 2018 prices, per year and further insists that using the fund should not result in corresponding cuts in direct payments for later years;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Considers that the trade agreement between the Union and Mercosur will cause additional stress for many agricultural sectors, especially meat production, and reminds the Commission of the need to maintain a level playing field in the agricultural markets; points out the need to cope with possible similar negative effects caused by other trade agreements and calls for necessary budgetary preparations to provide for market measures for the impacted sectors;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)

5g. Points out that the sanctions regarding the Russian military intervention in Ukraine are still justified despite their negative impacts on the agricultural sectors; asks for proper allocation of the budget to mitigate those impacts;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)

5h. Demands that import standards on agricultural products from outside the Union need to be equal to Union standards and recalls that in the recent Farm to Fork strategy the Commission underlined that imported food must continue to comply with relevant Union regulation and standards; demands compensation from the budget for the Union's farmers if there is a gap in production standards;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 i (new)

5i. Reiterates its concern about the market and budgetary consequences of a “no-deal” withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union; calls for market and policy measures to prepare for and help farmers overcome income losses and market disturbances; strongly opposes any unexpected cut in CAP allocations in 2021 in case there is no agreement between the Union and the United Kingdom;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 j (new)

5j. Regrets that bioeconomy has been side-lined in the European Green Deal initiative and further insists that the Union’s bioeconomy strategy is followed and the funding is sufficient for the actions to be taken;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 k (new)

5k. Calls for adequate financing of forestry measures through the Union’s budget as sustainable forest management taking into account all of the economic, social and environmental aspects of the forest-based value chain is the key to step up the fight against climate change; acknowledges the need for sustainably managed forests;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 l (new)

5l. Underlines the importance of carbon farming to reach the European Green Deal targets; emphasises the importance of funding for new pilot projects regarding the carbon farming initiatives in 2021;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the Parliament’s position that the next MFF should incorporate a legally binding climate-related spending target of 30 % and a biodiversity-related spending target of 10 %; stresses therefore that a transparent, comprehensive and meaningful tracking methodology should be adopted swiftly, for both spending targets, and adapted if necessary during the MFF mid-term revision; highlights that a year 2021 without adequate climate and biodiversity spending and reliable tracking risks impeding the achievement of those targets throughout the next MFF;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 m (new)

5m. Emphasises that digitalisation is the key to modernising agriculture, making it more competitive and helping it in adaption to climate change; calls on the Commission to provide adequate budgetary allocations for constructing and improving rural broadband; further recalls that in the Farm to Fork strategy the Commission aimed to accelerate the roll-out of fast broadband internet in rural areas to achieve the objective of 100 % access by 2025;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 n (new)

5n. Recalls the importance of information campaigns, improved labelling and education to help citizens in transforming their consumption habits towards more sustainable agricultural products produced in the Union; suggests promoting schemes for animal welfare, healthy food and nutrition;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 o (new)

5o. Recalls that all new sustainability requirements should be paired with matching funding for producers; welcomes the aim to determine the best arrangements for setting minimum mandatory criteria for sustainable food procurement in Q3 2021 and calls for sustainability aspects to be better taken into consideration;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 p (new)

5p. Recalls that improving the food security, resilience and the sustainability of the food chain requires investments and welcomes that agriculture is among the recipients of the investment support through EAFRD in the Recovery Package; demands that the appropriation of the Recovery Package is also implemented for the year 2021; further considers that agriculture should not be negatively impacted by sustainable finance requirements (e.g. taxonomy); expresses its gratitude for the Commission’s aim to make a food sector contingency plan for times of crisis in Q4 2021;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 q (new)

5q. Notes that rural development funds in the Recovery Package play an important role in funding the CAP Pillar II; however deplores the fact that the support is temporary and lasts only until 2023;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 r (new)

5r. Calls for a better implementation and renewal of animal welfare policy to achieve concrete results in improving the welfare of animals; points out that many Member States do not comply with the current rules; suggests proper allocation of budget to monitor and enforce the obligations;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 s (new)

5s. Insists that the COVID-19 crisis measures supporting agricultural sectors need to continue in 2021; further demands for labour mobility to be taken into account to tackle possible long-term labour and other agricultural inputs shortage in Union farming;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 t (new)

5t. Is concerned about possible price spikes and shortages of important food products due to COVID-19 crisis; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor the price volatility of agricultural products, which has adverse effects on farmers' incomes as well as consumers, and to react punctually and effectively when needed;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 u (new)

5u. Reaffirms the vital importance of the Union school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme to tackle the challenges of obesity and malnutrition created by unhealthy diets in the Union; asks the Commission to cut the red tape involved in the scheme and stresses the need to promote healthy eating habits in children and the consumption of fruit, vegetables and plain milk;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 v (new)

5v. Recalls that the Commission has pledged EUR 20 billion a year to tackle the possible new sustainability requirements imposed by the biodiversity strategy; insists that the funding must come from outside of CAP budget; points out that meeting those objectives must not reduce food security or the livelihood of rural areas in the Union; reiterates the importance of maintaining biodiversity and further reminds that responsibility for this lies not just with farmers and forest owners but with all of society; underscores the importance of voluntary protection measures.

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Agrees with the draft budget for 1a 2021 that the fact that new reform of the CAP will apply only after 2021 must not come at the cost of failing to deliver on the European Green Deal; expresses hope that while in 2021 the CAP will still be implemented in accordance with the 2014- 2020 rules, the choices and measures implemented on the ground will lead to more positive changes and set us on the path of truly sustainable transition including for the sake of farmers, food security, and the future of Union farming; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ab out_the_european_commission/eu_budget /2020-06-24_12h30_-_soe2021_-_full_- _v3.pdf

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Notes that the Next Generation EU commitment appropriation as assigned revenue to the 2021 budget amounts to EUR 211 billion; notes with some concern that that amount is equal to approximately 126 % of the regular Union budget commitment appropriations, but is without the same level of parliamentary scrutiny; calls in particular for spending targets of 30 % for climate and 10 % for biodiversity to be applied to the Next Generation EU and the general budget alike;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses that the Next Generation EU funds allocated to the EAFRD should be made available on the same schedule as for other Next Generation EU- supported programmes, given the urgency of frontloading Union commitments from this new recovery instrument;

source: 655.968

2020/09/02 REGI 55 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to support recovery, convergence, fair and inclusive sustainable growth and competitiveness of the European economy and other EU priorities such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, digitalisation and innovation, ~~security and the management of migration,~~ while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new and unexpected challenge that the EU and its Member States need to respond determinedly and provide solutions at the EU level; Recognises cohesion policy as a key to make the European Green Deal a success, to fight climate change and to enable the Union to fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement as all Union policies should be consistent with the objective of limiting global warming to under 1,5 °C and with the objective of halting and reversing biodiversity loss;calls for 50 % of climate-related spending across the programmes and the immediate phasing out fossil fuels; Asks for an ambitious, climate-proofed, bottom-up and gender responsive Union cohesion policy, reinforced with fresh resources, as the main Union investment policy and recovery tool benefiting all regions and abolishing macroeconomic conditionalities.

Amendment 10 #

Francesca DONATO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to support recovery, ~~convergence,~~ fair and inclusive ~~sustainable~~ growth and competitiveness of the European economy and other EU priorities such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, digitalisation and innovation, security and the management of migration, while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new and unexpected challenge that the EU and its Member States need to respond determinedly and provide solutions at the EU level;

Amendment 11 #

Tomislav SOKOL, Krzysztof HETMAN, Pascal ARIMONT, Peter POLLÁK, Maria SPYRAKI, Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Reiterates its position for a 2021 budget of EUR 192,1 billion in current prices in commitment appropriations and its call for major additional appropriations on top of this position in order to respond to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis; deplores, in this regard, the lack of ambition and decisiveness shown by the Commission in its 2021 Draft Budget proposal, which represents a reduction of 9,8 % compared to the 2020 budget in terms of commitments and incorporates significant cuts to core Union policies and programmes, such as cohesion, regional development, agriculture, SMEs support, health, research and innovation; underlines that these cuts cannot be considered counter-balanced by the Next Generation EU top-ups and calls for the significant enhancement of the above policies and programmes in the 2021 budget;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reminds that cohesion is a shared competence between the EU and Member States and that as a main public investment policy it will play a major role in mitigating the economic and social impact and it will also play a crucial role in the recovery path from the COVID-19 pandemic consequences; emphasises that cohesion ~~policy is~~is fundamental and most recognised policy that has shaped the Union we know today, based on a solidarity and its goal is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between Member States a~~nd within the EU and regions~~long with strengthening economic, territorial and social resilience within the EU and regions for a more harmonious development that will help the Union to remain globally competitive; emphasizses in that context that programmes managed under European Structural and Investments (ESI) Funds support and contribute significantly to sustainable solutions for fair and long-term inclusive economic growth, investments and competitiveness, as well as high quality, safe and secure working and living conditions of the citizens, including equal opportunities, social justice and non- discrimination; in order to maximise the impact of ESI Funds, it is essential that Member State authorities at all levels work closely with each other and in partnership with employers, trade unions, academics, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reminds that cohesion is a shared competence between the EU and Member States and that as a main public investment policy it will play a major role in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; emphasises that cohesion policy is based on a solidarity and its goal is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between Member States and within the EU and regions; emphasizes in that context that programmes managed under European Structural and Investments (ESI) Funds support and innovative and smart economic transformation and ecological transition, to a green, energy and resource efficient and zero-carbon Union; to contribute significantly to sustainable solutions for fair and inclusive economic growth, ~~investments and competitiveness,~~ as well as high quality, ~~safe and secure~~decent working and living conditions of the citizens, including equal opportunities, social justice and non- discrimination; as well as a Union which is more connected aiming to secure long- term, high quality and sustainable employment with respect to gender equality and non-discrimination, and based on the partnership principle; calls for the shifting of all kinds of investments towards sustainable investment as ESI Funds have to be used for sustainable mobility, eco- entrepreneurs, green infrastructure and phasing out fossil fuels to avoid doing any harm to the environment and climate.

Amendment 14 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK, Laurence FARRENG, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Re~~mind~~iterates that cohesion is a shared competence between the EU and Member States and that as a main public investment policy it will play a major role in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; emphasises that cohesion policy is based on a solidarity and its goal is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between Member States and within the EU and regions; emphasizses in that context that programmes managed under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) ~~Funds~~ support and contribute significantly to sustainable solutions for ~~fair and~~ inclusive economic growth, and investments ~~and competitiveness~~, as well as high -quality, safe and secure working and living conditions ~~of the~~for citizens, including equal opportunities, social justice and non- discrimination; maintains that the competitiveness of businesses and farms is based on due protection for national economies and balanced international trade;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reminds that cohesion is a shared competence between the EU and Member States and ~~that as a main~~as an effective public investment policy it will play a major role in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; emphasises that cohesion policy is based on a solidarity and its goal is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between Member States and ~~within the EU and regions~~their regions; notes, however, that the regional differences in all Member States have not narrowed in the desired way; emphasizses in that context that programmes managed under ~~European Structural and Investments (~~ESI) Funds support and contribute significantly to sustainable solutions for fair, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, investments and competitiveness, as well as high quality, safe and secure working and living conditions of the citizens, including equal opportunities, social justice and non-discrimination;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Rem~~Underlindes that cohesion is a shared competence between the EU and Member States and ~~that a~~constitutes a main public investment policy ithat will play a major role in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; emphasises that cohesion policy is based on a solidarity and its goal is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between Member States and within the EU and regions; emphasizes in that context that programmes managed under European Structural and Investments (ESI) Funds support and contribute significantly to sustainable solutions for fair ~~and~~, inclusive and resilient economic growth, and investments ~~and competitiveness~~, as well as high quality, safe and secure working and living conditions of the citizens, including equal opportunities, social justice and non- discrimination; rejects, in this regard, the massive cuts to cohesion in the 2021 Draft Budget proposed by the Commission;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 starts the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of an updated and reoriented Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while carefully considering available resources as well as budgetary rules and principles that will ensure realistic, immediate and satisfactory implementation without transfers from cohesion policy to other EU policies to ensure that cohesion policy has enough financial means to fulfil its tasks and objectives enshrined in the treaties;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to~~Calls for a strong and ambitious Union budget for the 2021 to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and support the recovery~~, convergence, fair and~~ of the Union, enhance economic, social and regional convergence, cohesion and resilience, support fair, inclusive and sustainable growth and ~~competitiveness of the European economy and other EU priorities~~accelerate the implementation of core Union priorities and objectives, such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, ~~digitalisation and innovation, security and the management of migration, while acknowledging~~the European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, the “do no significant harm” principle, the just transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights, digital transformation, innovation and the management of migration on the basis of solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility; stresses that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided amultiple new and unexpected socio-economic challenges that the EUnion and its Member States need to respond determinedly and provide ~~solutions at the EU~~fair and effective solutions at both Union and Member State level;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 starts the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of an updated and reoriented Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a fair, inclusive, sustainable and resilient way, while carefully considering available resources as well as budgetary rules and principles that will ensure ambitious, realistic, immediate and ~~satisfactory~~effective implementation;

Amendment 21 #

Tomislav SOKOL, Krzysztof HETMAN, Pascal ARIMONT, Peter POLLÁK, Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 starts the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of an updated and reoriented Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while carefully considering available resources as well as budgetary rules and principles that will ensure realistic, immediate and satisfactory implementation that is tailored to the specific needs of the regions;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 starts the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of an updated and reoriented Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social ~~and~~, economic and health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while carefully considering available resources, including new own resources, as well as budgetary rules and principles that will ensure realistic, immediate and satisfactory implementation;

Amendment 23 #

Andżelika Anna MOŻDŻANOWSKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 starts the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of an updated and reoriented Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while ~~carefully~~ considering ~~available resources as well as~~ budgetary rules and principles that will ensure ~~realistic,~~ immediate and satisfactory implementation;

Amendment 24 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK, Laurence FARRENG

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the budget for the year 2021 ~~starts~~is the first year of the new programming period 2021-2027 and that it should reflect the principles and priorities of ~~an updated and reorient~~revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and contribute effectively to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while carefully considering available resources as well as budgetary rules and principles that will ensure realistic, immediate and satisfactory implementation;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Stresses the need for enhanced and targeted emergency measures to swiftly and effectively support citizens, workers, the self-employed and sectors hit harder by the COVID-19 crisis in order to avoid even wider divergences among Member States and regions; calls for significantly increasing resources to fight social and gender inequalities, poverty and unemployment, paying particular attention to the youth and vulnerable groups;

Amendment 26 #

Andżelika Anna MOŻDŻANOWSKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Acknowledges the European Council agreement on the European Union Recovery Instrument (Next Generation EU) as an important first step towards a fair, inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery of the Union; deplores, however, the massive cuts to the grant component of the Next Generation EU in the final agreement that seriously upset the balance between grants and loans and have led to massive cuts to the top-ups for Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Rural Development (EAFRD), REACT-EU and the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the withdrawal of top-ups for EU4Health, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as the complete cancellation of the Solvency Support Instrument; stresses that these cuts will seriously undermine the recovery efforts;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the necessity to provide a sufficient level of payment appropriations in the budget for the year 2021 in order to avoid the accumulation of unpaid claims from MFF 2014-2020 and to finance the frontloading of expenditure related to COVID-19 pandemic; notes that due to the delays in implementation of the programming period 2014-2020 most of the refunds will be done in years 2021- 2022; underlines the increased accuracy of the Member States forecasts which need to be fully taken into account in the budget for the year 2021. Therefore, a credible payments plan for the whole MFF 2021-2027 is needed, providing for a sufficient payments in its first years with possibility to carry unused payments forward to the next years with the help of special instruments placed over and above the MFF payments ceilings.

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the necessity to provide a sufficient level of payment appropriations in the budget for the year 2021 ~~in order to avoid the accumulation of unpaid claims from MFF 2014-2020~~that will take into account the volume of outstanding commitments at the end of 2020 in order to avoid the accumulation of unpaid claims from MFF 2014-2020 and a new payment crisis, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that due to the delays in implementation of the programming period 2014-2020 most of the re~~fund~~levant payments will be ~~done~~settled in years 2021- 2022; stresses, however, that this should not hinder the launch of new programmes;

Amendment 29 #

Tomislav SOKOL, Krzysztof HETMAN, Pascal ARIMONT, Peter POLLÁK, Maria SPYRAKI, Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Reiterates that the revision of the EU’s own resources system and the introduction of a basket of new own resources as of 1 January 2021, based on a legally binding timetable, is extremely essential to meet the increased financial needs of supporting the recovery and delivering other Union priorities and objectives; urges Member States to swiftly agree on an increase of the own resources ceilings and to adopt rapidly the legislative proposals that will introduce new own resources;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to support recovery, convergence, reforms, fair and inclusive sustainable long-term growth and competitiveness of the European economy to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience and other EU priorities such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, green transition, digitalisation and innovation, security and the management of migration, to avoid widening of the divergence in the Union, while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new and unexpected challenge on economic and health sector that the EU and its Member States need to respond determinedly and provide efficient solutions at the EU level;

Amendment 30 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK, Laurence FARRENG, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Underlines that for timely and effective absorption of 2021 budget allocation, the necessary regulation and follow up documents must be adopted as soon as possible;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds -– introduced in March and April 2020, and believes that it - should also be maintained ~~also~~ in MFF 2021-2027; would like the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to provide a greater degree of cohesion among countries via the redistribution of the funds, including by making all European regions eligible for all the funds;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcom~~Stresses the ~~enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – incr~~importance of a temporary character of the flexibility and simplification measures imposed by the CRII and CRII+ regulations and the need to revert to normal rules and strategic approach geasred ~~co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds - introduced in March and April 2020 and believes that it - should be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027~~towards the sustainable investments when the crisis is over thus safeguarding the high-standards and criteria in Cohesion policy, especially in the field of climate proofing, thematic concentration and fight against irregularities and fraud;

Amendment 33 #

Laurence FARRENG, Irène TOLLERET, Stéphane BIJOUX, Sandro GOZI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds - introduced in March and April 2020 and believes that it - should be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027, while ensuring full respect of the applicable rules for the sound management of the resources and for the transparency of their spending;

Amendment 34 #

Tomislav SOKOL, Krzysztof HETMAN, Pascal ARIMONT, Peter POLLÁK, Maria SPYRAKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds - introduced in March and April 2020 and believes that it - should be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027 as a mechanism that will act as a safeguard of the Union economy during turbulent and unpredictable times;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds -– introduced in March and April 2020 ~~and~~, believes that it - should also be maintained ~~also~~ in MFF 2021-2027 in line with core cohesion policy principles and goals;

Amendment 36 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility and simplified programmes in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds - introduced in March and April 2020 and believes that it - should be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds - introduced in March and April 2020 and believes that ~~it - sh~~some parts could be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the measures already approved by the European Parliament such as the extension of the EU Solidarity Fund to cover public health emergencies that will make available almost EUR 800 million in 2020 and the Corona Response Investment Initiative (CRII and CRII+) that aim at providing €8 billion of liquidity to accelerate up to EUR 37 billion of European public investment in order to support citizens, regions and countries hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic; Stresses the need for a significant increase of resources if Cohesion policy is to become a substantial tool for financing the current crisis and recovery that will inevitably lead to diminished resources available to address other most urgent regional needs such as fight against global warming and climate change, thus contributing to the Green Deal, Just Transition and the Paris Agreement objectives; points to the lessons learnt from the 2008/2009 crisis that show how much it is worth to invest in the European Green Deal areas;

Amendment 4 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes the measures already approved by the European Parliament~~Takes note of the recovery measures approved and welcomes the measures already approved such as the extension of the EU Solidarity Fund to cover public health emergencies that will make available almost EUR 800 million in 2020 and the Corona Response Investment Initiative (CRII and CRII+) that aim at providing €8 billion of liquidity to accelerate up to EUR 37 billion of European public investment in order to support citizens, regions and countries hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic;

Amendment 41 #

Ondřej KNOTEK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Underlines the necessity of fostering the continuity and development of the EU Space agency (including Galileo and EGNOS programmes) through financial support;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the legislative resolution of 17 April 2020 that approved specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the ESI Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; notes that this will result in the acceleration of their implementation and therefore in increased needs of payment appropriations which need to be reflected in the budget for the year 2021; takes the view that specific measures producing tangible results should continue to be taken;

Amendment 43 #

Andżelika Anna MOŻDŻANOWSKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Welcomes~~Acknowledges that the legislative resolution of 17 April 2020 that approved specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the ESI Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak was an important measure to take; notes that this will result in the acceleration of their implementation and therefore in increased needs of payment appropriations which need to be reflected in the budget for the year 2021;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal not to claim from the Member States the reimbursement of unspent pre- financing paid at the start of the year, i.e. the provision that Member States would not need to return the funds remaining from the planned expenditures to the Commission, while acknowledging that it may create a financial gap in the 2020 budget (pre-financing constitutes the assigned revenue for the EU budget) and in consequence may result in increased need of payment appropriations in the budget for the year 2021; underlines the need for sufficient pre-financing for the cohesion programmes of MFF 2014-2020 at the level of 3 % stemming from legislative acts in force.

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal not to claim from the Member States the reimbursement of unspent pre- financing paid at the start of the year, i.e. the provision that Member States would not need to return the funds remaining from the planned expenditures to the Commission, since this could adversely affect the implementation of projects under way, while acknowledging that it may create a financial gap in the 2020 budget (pre-financing constitutes the assigned revenue for the EU budget) and in consequence may result in increased need of payment appropriations in the budget for the year 2021;

Amendment 46 #

Josianne CUTAJAR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Underlines the importance of mainstreaming the gender dimension into the EU budget, including cohesion policy, since it is an effective way to bridge the gap women still suffer from in our society, including their participation in the labour market; calls for the development of gender budgeting tools at Union level;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Welcomes the proposal for the creation of the REACT-EU programme that will make additional funds available to the ERDF and the ESF as well as to the FEAD in the fight against the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for the rapid implementation of the programme and for payments to start as early as possible in 2021;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8 b. Welcomes the activation of the general escape clause to suspend the Growth and Stability Pact that allows for further flexibility as well as the introduction of the State aid Temporary Framework in the context of COVID-19; points out, however, the uneven capacity of Member States to provide financial support to citizens and sectors hit harder by the pandemic, which could lead to even wider divergences among Member States; calls for specific measures to minimise such side-effects;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8 c. Calls for the rapid implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which aims to address the multiple socio- economic challenges faced by the Member States; calls for the increase of grants and a flexible conditionality for loans; calls for the Facility to support investments that promote fair, inclusive and sustainable growth and enhance convergence, cohesion and resilience, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, the “do no significant harm” principle, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the objective of a just transition to a carbon- neutral economy by 2050 at the latest; calls for payments to start the soonest possible in 2021; deplores the macro- economic conditionalities attached to the Facility, the exclusion of the European Parliament from its governance, which moves away from the community method and endorses an intergovernmental approach, and the emergency brake procedure adopted by the European Council, which could lead to detrimental delays; stresses the need for transparency and scrutiny in the distribution and use of the funds that will be provided through the Facility;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to support recovery, convergence, fair and ~~inclusive~~ sustainable growth and the competitiveness of the European economy and other EU priorities such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, digitalisation and innovation, security and the management of migration, including tighter controls at the EU’s external borders, while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new and unexpected challenge that the EU and its Member States need to respond to determinedly and provide solutions at ~~the~~ EU level;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to share clearly and determinedly their post- crisis plans, ambitions and expectations as well as acknowledge their shared role in preparation for a coordinated EU approach that leads to innovative means of production, manufacturing, research, education and re-skilling/up-skilling that foster cohesion among all EU regions, allowing them to accomplish a fair, inclusive and sustainable economic prosperity, therefore supporting the local development and local economies more strongly as well. Calls for the alignment of the economy with the principles of sustainable development and achieving the EU climate neutrality by 2040 with an integrated approach and gearing up all EU policies toward this objective. Reiterates that the sufficient funds are necessary in order to achieve the ambitious goal of a fair, smooth and inclusive transition as well as a climate neutral Europe by 2040.

Amendment 51 #

Tomislav SOKOL, Krzysztof HETMAN, Pascal ARIMONT, Peter POLLÁK, Maria SPYRAKI, Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS

9. Calls on the Member States to share clearly and determinedly their post-crisis plans, ambitions and expectations as well as acknowledge their shared role in preparation for a coordinated EU approach, resulting in improved distribution of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) among Member States.

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to share clearly and determinedly their post-crisis plans, strategies, ambitions and expectations as well as acknowledge their shared role in preparation for a coordinated EU approach., which will enable high- quality and measurable results that will lead to long-term sustainable growth;

Amendment 53 #

Francesca DONATO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to share clearly and determinedly their post- crisis ~~plans, ambitions and~~ expectations as well as acknowledge their shared role in preparation for a coordinated EU approach.

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Calls for the the strengthening of the gender mainstreaming in the Budget 2021 and inclusion of the Gender impact assessment in the spending of the European Structural and Investment Funds

Amendment 55 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Ondřej KNOTEK, Laurence FARRENG, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9 b. Calls for more direct funding for European cities as important drivers of recovery and tackling climate-related issues.

Amendment 6 #

Laurence FARRENG

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the need for the EU budget to continue to support recovery, convergence, fair and inclusive sustainable growth and the competitiveness of the European economy and other EU priorities such as social, economic and territorial cohesion and regional development, climate action, digitalisation and innovation, culture, education, security and the management of migration, while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new and unexpected challenge that the EU and its Member States need to respond to determinedly and provide solutions at the EU level;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 8 #

Tamás DEUTSCH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

source: 657.144

2020/09/03 TRAN 48 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. Whereas the Union transport sector is essential for Union’s economic, social and environmental development and its sustainability and for ensuring the territorial accessibility and connectivity of all regions of the Union; stresses that, till the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, transport was the main economic sector where greenhouse gas emissions were still growing;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

C a. Whereas transport sector is estimated to experience one of the largest losses in real gross value added in 2020 (approx. 20%); whereas tourism ecosystem is estimated to experience the largest losses in equity losses in 2020 (approx. 171bn, 26.4%of the total ecosystems losses) and represents 22% of the investment needs;

Amendment 11 #

Clotilde ARMAND

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

C b. Whereas it is essential to guarantee that European citizens do not fall victims of the transportation cost increases related to pandemic;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recalls that Article 2-1(c) of the Paris Agreement compels Parties to “make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development”; Calls for the following article to be inserted into the MFF-OR regulation to enshrine in law the do-no harm principle, in line with the political declarations of all three institutions: Article X (new) Projects financed by the EU budget shall be screened to determine if they have an environmental, climate or social impact and if so, shall be subject to climate, environmental, including biodiversity, and social sustainability proofing with a view to minimise detrimental impacts and maximise benefits on climate, environment and social dimension. For that purpose, entities requesting financing shall provide adequate information based on mandatory guidelines to be developed by the Commission. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt those guidelines in the form of a delegated act, taking fully into account the criteria established by the [Regulation on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment] for determining whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable, and in line with EU climate objectives. Projects that are inconsistent with the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and with a pathway compatible with the objective of limiting global warming to under 1,5°C shall not be eligible for support under the EU Budget.

Amendment 13 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Reiterates its call on the Commission for a more transparent, stringent and comprehensive methodology, including reformed performance indicators for defining ex ante estimates and ex post tracking and accounting climate and biodiversity- relevant expenditures as well as tools to monitor the mid and long term impact of measures, the prevention of financial support for harmful measures and the monitoring of the mid to long-term impact of climate mainstreaming

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. [02 03 01] Reiterates the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in fostering the development of a high-performance trans-European network (TEN-T) that is sustainable and interconnected across the areas of transport, energy and digital services infrastructure and in achieving the goals of the Green Deal; Considers unacceptable the drastic reductions in commitments for the Energy and Digital branches of the CEF and the global reduction of the CEF budget resulting from these cutes; Considers that the increase in the CEF transport budget is the step in the right direction but insufficient in view of the needs of the sector; Therefore requests a budget in line with the European Parliament position on MFF1 ; recalls that the CEF’s short-, mid- and long- term planning of spending should take into consideration a result-oriented approach and seek for an EU added value; _________________ 117,746 bn euros for 2021-2027 in 2018 prices (an average of 2,542 billion euros per year).

Amendment 15 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA, Marianne VIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. [02 03 01] Reiterates the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in fostering the development of a high-performance trans-European network (TEN-T) that is sustainable, safe, multimodal, interoperable and interconnected across the areas of transport, energy and digital services infrastructure and in achieving the goals of the Green Deal, particularly in regards to the promotion of smart and sustainable mobility, including an increase in rail freight transport; Considers unacceptable the drastic reductions in commitments for the Energy and Digital branches of the CEF and the global reduction of the CEF budget resulting from these cutes; Considers that the increase in the CEF transport budget is the step in the right direction but insufficient in view of the needs of the sector; Therefore requests a budget in line with the European Parliament position on MFF1 ; _________________ 117,746 bn euros for 2021-2027 in 2018 prices (an average of 2,542 billion euros per year).

Amendment 16 #

Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. [02 03 01] Reiterates the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in fostering the development of a high-performance trans-European network (TEN-T) that is sustainable and interconnected across the areas of transport, energy and digital services infrastructure and in achieving the goals of the Green Deal; Considers unacceptable the drastic reductions in commitments for the Energy and Digital branches of the CEF and the global reduction of the CEF budget ~~resulting from these cutes; Considers that the increase in~~as compared to the European Parliament's initial proposal; Considers particularly unacceptable that following the July European Council, the commitment appropriations for the CEF tTransport ~~budget is the step in the right direction but~~2021-2027 shall now even be inferior to that of MFF 2014-2020 and thereby completely insufficient in view of the needs of the sector; Therefore requests a CEF budget in line with the European Parliament position on MFF1 ; _________________ 117,746 bn euros for 2021-2027 in 2018 prices (an average of 2,542 billion euros per year).

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. [02 03 01] Reiterates the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in fostering the development of a high-performance trans-European network (TEN-T) that is sustainable and interconnected across the areas of transport, energy and digital services infrastructure and in achieving the goals of the Green Deal; asks that the planned revision of TEN-T projects must take in consideration the ECA special report 10/2020 and the budget will be set accordingly; Considers unacceptable the drastic reductions in commitments for the Energy and Digital branches of the CEF and the global reduction of the CEF budget resulting from these cutes; Considers that the increase in the CEF transport budget is the step in the right direction but insufficient in view of the needs of the sector; Therefore requests a budget in line with the European Parliament position on MFF1 ; _________________ 117,746 bn euros for 2021-2027 in 2018 prices (an average of 2,542 billion euros per year).

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. [02 03 01] ~~Reiterates the crucial~~Notes the role of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in fostering the development of a high- performance trans-European network (TEN-T) that is sustainable and interconnected across the areas of transport, energy and digital services infrastructure and in achieving the goals of the Green Deal; ~~Considers unacceptable the drastic reductions in commitments for the Energy and Digital branches of the CEF and the global reduction of the CEF budget resulting from these cut~~underlines that the sustainability of financed projects shall be enhanced through life cycle assessments which take into account all negative externalities; Considers that the increase in the CEF transport budget is the step in the right direction but insufficient in view of the needs of the sector; Therefore requests a budget in line with the European Parliament position on MFF1 ; _________________ 117,746 bn euros for 2021-2027 in 2018 prices (an average of 2,542 billion euros per year).

Amendment 19 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Asks that, in order to ensure continuous progress towards the achievement of climate neutrality, any transport infrastructure projects financed by the EU budget must, upon independent assessment, be deemed consistent with the 2030, 2050 and possibly 2040 climate objectives and coherent with the EU objective of building a fully renewables- based, highly resource and energy- efficient, climate-neutral and circular economy;

Amendment 2 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Josianne CUTAJAR, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA, Marianne VIND

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. Whereas the Union transport sector is essential for Union’s economic, social and environmental development and its sustainability and for ensuring the territorial accessibility and connectivity of all regions of the Union, with particular attention for peripheral, rural, insular and outermost regions;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Considers that transport projects financed by the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF) and by the Cohesion Fund (CF) must give priority to the development and completion of the TEN-T core and comprehensive networks;

Amendment 21 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. [new] Regrets ~~the absence of~~Commission’s unwillingness to present a specific allocation and specific programme for sustainable tourism at European level, including the allocation of a budget of EUR 300 million as repeatedly and regularly requested by the European Parliament; Requests that this allocation should be added in order to take into consideration a sector that has strong links to transport, has been severely hit by the COVID-19 crisis and is very important for the ~~Union economy~~EU economy, competitiveness, employment and social development;

Amendment 22 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Josianne CUTAJAR, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. [~~new~~01 20 03 00] Regrets the absence of a specific allocation and specific programme for sustainable tourism, including the allocation of a budget of EUR 300 million as requested by the European Parliament; ~~Requests that this allocation be added in order to take into consideration a sector that has strong links to transport,~~reiterates the need to create a new budget line in order to take into consideration the important role of tourism for competitiveness and employment in the EU transport sector which has been severely hit by the COVID-19 crisis and is very important for the Union economy;

Amendment 23 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. [13 04 01] Deeply regrets that the new commission’s proposal for MFF foresees a 75 % reduction in commitments for military mobility under the transport pillar, ~~limiting~~which aims to adapt parts of the TEN-T networks for a dual use of the transport infrastructure in view of improving both civilian and military mobility; this reduction, limits de facto this new policy objective of the Union to merely symbolic actions ; requests the initial level to be restored and the level of commitments for 2021 to be set accordingly;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Deeply regrets~~Welcome that the new commission’s proposal for MFF foresees a 75 % reduction in commitments for military mobility under the transport pillar~~, limiting de facto this new policy objective of the Union to merely symbolic actions ; requests the initial level to be restored and the level of commitments for 2021 to be set accordingly~~;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Deeply regrets that~~Takes note of the new commission’s proposal for MFF foresees a 75 % reduction in commitments for military mobility under the transport pillar~~, limiting de facto this new policy objective of the Union to merely symbolic actions ; requests the initial level to be restored and the level of commitments for 2021 to be set accordingly~~;

Amendment 26 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Deeply regret~~Welcomes that the new commission’s proposal for MFF foresees a 75 % reduction in commitments for military mobility under the transport pillar, limiting de facto this new policy objective of the Union to merely symbolic actions ~~; requests the initial level to be restored and the level of commitments for 2021 to be set accordingly;~~

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. [02 01 01] Notes with satisfaction the important surge in investment due to the EUR 9,645 billion contribution from the Next Generation EU to InvestEU in 2021; welcomes the incorporation of the new strategic European investment policy window in InvestEU programme which includes key investment opportunities for the transport and logistics sectors of the EU; however; deeply regrets the suggested cuts on MFF and Next Generation EU for the InvestEU programme recently adopted by Council, which could have an impact on budget 2021;

Amendment 28 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI, Clotilde ARMAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes with satisfaction the important surge in investment due to the EUR 9,645 billion contribution from the Next Generation EU to InvestEU in 2021; recalls that InvestEU Fund should support investments contributing to greater economic,territorial and social cohesion in the Union and that, in order to maximise the impact and the added value of EU financing support, it is appropriate to maximise synergies across relevant Union programmes in areas such as transport, energy, tourism and digitalisation;

Amendment 29 #

Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Notes with satisfa~~Deeply regrets the very important reduction of the ~~important surge in investment due to the EUR 9,645 billion contribution from the Next Generation EU to InvestEU in 2021~~Next Generation EU contribution to InvestEU from EUR 30.3 billion to EUR 5.6 billion over the next MFF, as envisaged by the July European Council, with the contribution for 2021 melted down from EUR 9.645 billion to EUR [xyz] billion;

Amendment 3 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA, Marianne VIND

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. Whereas transport will be key to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and any significant contribution from the transport sector to this goal will require enormous public and private financial investments on EU and national level in order to accelerate the shift to sustainable, safe, smart, interoperable, multimodal mobility;

Amendment 30 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Josianne CUTAJAR, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA, Marianne VIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. [02 01 01] Highlights the importance of InvestEU programme in supporting the investment in sustainable and safe transport infrastructures, mobility solutions and equipment and deployment of innovative technologies, including investment in multimodal transport hubs and road safety; reiterates InvestEU Programme should be key to support operations promoting innovative and digital and sustainable tourism;

Amendment 31 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Josianne CUTAJAR, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. [09 03 01]Highlights the importance of the necessary investment for the transport sector under the Just Transition Fund to ensure a fair, inclusive and socially acceptable transition to climate neutrality where nobody is left behind; stresses the need to support the up- and reskilling of workers and jobseekers in the transport sector, productive and sustainable investment in SMEs, the investment in smart ,and sustainable mobility, as well as environmentally-friendly transport infrastructure; however, deeply regrets the suggested cuts on MFF however; deeply regrets the suggested cuts on MFF and Next Generation EU for the Just Transition Fund recently adopted by Council, which could have an impact on budget 2021;

Amendment 32 #

7. Reiterates the importance of a simpler, more efficient own resources system able to bring a substantial reduction in the proportion of GNI-based contributions and to guarantee the adequate funding of Union spending; in particular stresses the importance to introduce a new own resource for the EU budget based on the European Union emissions trading system to promote mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Member States and to incentivize the reduction of emissions in line with the proposals of the Green Deal and the Paris accords;

Amendment 33 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates the importance of a simpler, more efficient own resources system able to ~~bring a substantial reduction in the proportion of GNI-based contributions and to~~ guarantee the adequate funding of Union spending;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 35 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Josianne CUTAJAR, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates the important role that European partnerships could play in improving the transport sector’s performance and safety and in fostering a reduction of transport emissions based on technological progress and rules; highlights that EU financing programmes such as Horizon Europe could play a key role in promoting partnerships with EU countries, the private sector, foundations and other stakeholders; requests that such initiatives - for example the creation of a European partnership for the maritime sector - receive adequate funding in order to contribute to the aforementioned objectives; however, deeply regrets the suggested cuts on MFF and Next Generation EU for the Horizon Europe research programme recently adopted by Council, which could have an impact on budget 2021;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates the important role that ~~European~~public-public partnerships could play in improving the transport sector’s performance and safety and in fostering a reduction of transport emissions based on ~~technological progress and rules; requests that such initiatives - for example the creation of a European partnership for the maritime sector -~~a general reduction of passengers and goods transport and model change ; requests that such initiatives receive adequate funding in order to contribute to the aforementioned objectives;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Stresses that beyond its key role in implementing the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and InvestEU, it is vital that the revision of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) transport policy due in 2021 paves the way for more fundamental overhaul of the Bank’s transport financing; recalls that the EIB has provided approximately €140 billion in loans for transport projects in the 2007-2018 period, of which around 80% relate to road infrastructure1a; calls on the EIB to report on all steps of its transport policy revision to Parliament in a timely manner. _________________ 1aEuropean Court of Auditors - Audit preview “Roads connecting European regions” p.9 - https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/AP19_08/AP_CONNECTING_R OADS_EN.pdf

Amendment 38 #

Clotilde ARMAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Underlines that poor quality of transport causes severe under-investment, regional disparities and inclusion gaps that adversely affect the business environment and jeopardise cohesion efforts. Insists therefore that investment is particularly needed in areas where transport infrastructure is in a precarious condition. Highlights that infrastructure underdevelopment is often caused by poor local institutional capacity and therefore the investment should be accompanied by substantial technical assistance and supervision from the EU;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. [02 10 03] ~~Regrets~~Takes note of the decrease in the budget 2021 of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) whose role is crucial to achieving a lasting shift from road to rail; ~~notes that such a decrease is particularly unfortunate since~~recalls that 2021 will be the European year of Rail; ~~Therefore requests that the ERA budget be re- established in its 2020 level and that the percentage increase planned in the Draft budget for the following years apply from that limit;~~

Amendment 4 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. Whereas transport accounts for at least a quarter of the Union’s greenhouse gas emissions and hence will be key to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and any significant contribution from the transport sector to this goal will require enormous financial investments;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. [02 10 03] Regrets the decrease in the budget 2021 of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) whose role is crucial to achieving a lasting shift from road to rail and to advance in the establishment of the Single European Railway Area; notes that such a decrease is particularly unfortunate since 2021 will be the European year of Rail; Therefore requests that the ERA budget be re- established in its 2020 level and that the percentage increase planned in the Draft budget for the following years apply from that limit;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Welcomes that the Commission launched a tender for a pilot project on the revitalisation of cross-border night trains; Encourages the Commission to further promote the revitalisation of comfortable European night trains as a possible and sustainable alternative to short-distance flights and long-distance car travelling; Calls on the Commission to explore the options of possible combinations of the co-financing of the EuroVelo network with the comprehensive rail network

Amendment 42 #

Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. [02 10 01] Notes the slight increase in the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) budget for 2021 and beyond proposed by the European Commission for the MFF 2021-2027; reiterates that EASA is classified as a “European Strategic Investment” agency, which received in 2018 significant new core tasks; Recalls the strong performance and investment of resources of EASA within the “Green Deal” context (e.g. EASA Eco-label Programme) and the sanitary crisis-management in 2020 delivering the Aviation Health Protocol in close coordination with the ECDC to allow the restauration of safe air operations s within the EU and worldwide; recalls also the EASA efforts i.e. activities on the green recovery of the EU aviation industry including the renewal of the airlines´ fleets by aircraft with the highest environmental certification requirements; recalls the importance of air transport and its infrastructures (e.g. airports) to ensure the interoperability with other means of transportation in particular with rail and its added value in terms of connectivity with long-haul connections, peripheral regions, territories and islands; Requests that the subsequent increases be confirmed in the next MFF in order to allow for a stronger EASA;

Amendment 43 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Sara CERDAS, Maria GRAPINI, César LUENA, Marianne VIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. [02 10 01] Notes the slight increase in the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) budget for 2021; Requests that the subsequent increases be confirmed in the next MFF in order to allow for a stronger EASA, in view of progressively advance in the Single European Sky initiative, among others;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Recalls that public investment in infrastructure is particularly sensitive to corruption; stresses the importance of guaranteeing a transparent and competitive tendering process for large- scale transport infrastructure projects financed by the EU; insists that contracting authorities and bidders for these large-scale projects must enter into Integrity Pacts under which third parties monitor their compliance with commitments to best practice and transparency

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. stresses the need of rationalizing the use of the resources allocated to boost and develop the sectors of transport and tourism, as well as promoting a strong reduction of bureaucracy in order to cut the implementation times and costs for the European infrastructure network that is still unrealized.

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. notes with concern the absence of any strong effort to boost the realization of the comprehensive network, which has a fundamental socioeconomic value especially for the peripheral areas where improving mobility is one of the key factors to avoid depopulation and economic decline.

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11 c. notes with concern that the cross compliance related to the Green New Deal could prevent Member States and companies from having access to resources, even though the actual economic crisis due to the COVID-19’s pandemic requires a full and strong injection of liquidity to the enterprises.

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11 d. deeply regrets the Council conclusions agreed by the Member States on 21July 2020 pre-allocating EUR 1 384 from the general envelope of CEF to the completion of missing major cross-border railway links between cohesion countries in order to complete the Rail Baltica; recalls that CEF funding is based on the competitiveness of projects for the EU-27 and it is not dedicated to the Cohesion Countries only, therefore it is not possible to pre-allocate funds to a specific project of a limited number of Member States; calls the Parliament to confirm its position allocating the full amount of CEF for the EU-27.

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. Whereas transport will be key to achieving 70% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 20540 and any significant contribution from the transport sector to this goal will require enormous financial investments to sustainable transport modes;

Amendment 6 #

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ, Dominique RIQUET, Caroline NAGTEGAAL, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Elsi KATAINEN, Nicola DANTI, Clotilde ARMAND

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. Whereas transport will be key to achieving climate neutrality ~~by 2050~~at the earliest and by 2050 at the latest and any significant contribution from the transport sector to this goal will require enormous financial investments;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. Whereas transport will be key to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and any significant contribution from the transport sector to this goal will require ~~enormous~~considerable and sector-specific financial investments;

Amendment 8 #

Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ, Rovana PLUMB, Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. Whereas the transport and tourism sectors are among the most hardly hit by the recent COVID 19 crisis; whereas transport has proven vital to providing all necessary goods, including medical and sanitary equipment to the Union population amidst the crisis; whereas the recovery of the transport and tourism sectors are key to well-functioning of the EU internal market, as well as for connectivity and competitiveness in the EU;

Amendment 9 #

Clotilde ARMAND

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

C a. Whereas transport plays a crucial role in the economic recovery of the EU and has proven to be particularly essential in delivery of emergency help during COVID 19 crisis; whereas the EU’s capacity to respond in a crisis situation heavily depends on a developed and modern infrastructure that needs to be extended to remote and sparsely populated areas;

source: 655.863

2020/09/07 EMPL 82 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Milan BRGLEZ, Brando BENIFEI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Elisabetta GUALMINI, Manuel PIZARRO, Klára DOBREV, Gabriele BISCHOFF

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Whereas a Eurofound survey found that the financial measures implemented by governments and social partners during the pandemic have reduced financial hardship; whereas the survey also finds much higher levels of trust in both the national government and in the EU among respondents who received support; whereas the survey reveals that due to the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, more households are under financial strain than before the crisis began; whereas almost half of all respondents (47%) indicate that their household has difficulties making ends meet;

Amendment 10 #

Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ, Agnes JONGERIUS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 million Europeans were struggling with poverty and material deprivation on a daily basis and that the situation ~~is likely to~~will deteriorate further as a result of the pandemic; recognises the crucial role of all European funds and programmes in the social area, in particular the European Social Fund (ESF), the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in the current 2014-2020 MFF and the even more essential role the future ESF+ and EGF will play in the next 7 years;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 million Europeans were struggling with poverty and material deprivation on a daily basis and that the situation is likely to deteriorate as a result of the pandemic; ~~recognises the crucial~~notes the role of the European Social Fund (ESF), the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in the current 2014-2020 MFF;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 million Europeans were struggling with poverty and material deprivation on a daily basis and that the situation is likely to deteriorate as a result of the pandemic, particularly in vulnerable social groups; recognises the crucial role of the European Social Fund (ESF), the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in the current 2014-2020 MFF;

Amendment 13 #

Marc BOTENGA, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Özlem DEMIREL, Leila CHAIBI, Sandra PEREIRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 million Europeans were struggling with poverty and material deprivation on a daily basis and that the situation is likely to deteriorate as a result of the pandemic; recognises the crucial role of the European Social Fund (ESF), the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in the current 2014-2020 MFF; calls for the Union to increase its efforts to boost cohesion and social convergence in Europe; proposes that the ESF budget, and notably the FEAD be doubled to overcome poverty in Europe;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that ~~the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in~~ only a social and sustainable budget that leaves no one behind- including atypical households such as LGBTIQ+ families, or single parent families, elderly, migrants and refugees, Roma people, youth, and other disadvantaged groups, and the cultural and creatimve ~~of unprecedented crisis~~sectors- will help have an impact in the recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, and their families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights in this context that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget~~, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlight~~; underlines in particular that the budget should ~~help improving~~prioritise improvement of the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak ~~has~~and Member State governments’ disproportionate measures have claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the ~~situation in the social~~economic and employment ~~area~~situation, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 17 #

Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers ~~and businesse~~, in particular cross-border workers, and businesses, especially microenterprises and SMEs, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 19 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Sylvie BRUNET, Ilana CICUREL, Stéphane BIJOUX, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Whereas a Eurofound survey has found that 13% of self-employed respondents without personnel, and 8% of respondents who worked for an employer, became unemployed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas respondents in the youngest age group (18-34), and those with primary or secondary education, were more likely to have become unemployed during the pandemic;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic; highlights the fact that the 2021 budget not only must address the host of social and employment-related challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also must support workers and businesses in the move towards a more solidarity-based, more digital and greener economy;

Amendment 21 #

Samira RAFAELA, Radka MAXOVÁ, Cristian GHINEA, Jordi CAÑAS, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic; welcomes in this regard that the 2021 budget will be complemented by €211 billion in grants and approximately €133 billion in loans under Next Generation EU which must also help to address the social and economic impacts of the crisis;

Amendment 22 #

Marc BOTENGA, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Özlem DEMIREL, Leila CHAIBI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Emphasises that, in accordance with Article 151 TFEU, the Union and the Member States, having in mind fundamental social rights such as those set out in the European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961 and in the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, shall have as their objectives the promotion of employment, the improvement of living and working conditions, proper social protection, the development of lasting high quality employment and the combating of exclusion;

Amendment 23 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Cristian GHINEA, Jordi CAÑAS, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that the budget for 2021 should primarily focus on mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Member States' recovery, while also building on the European Green Deal and digital transformation; stresses that the Union and all Member States must show full solidarity with those most in need and ensure that no country is left on its own to fight the pandemic;

Amendment 24 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Jordi CAÑAS, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Recalls that the European Parliament, in its resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, called on the Commission and the Member States to prioritise aid and crisis-mitigation measures for the Overseas Countries and Territories and outermost regions by means of a dedicated exceptional support fund;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered; is of the opinion that the best way to combat poverty is to create jobs; calls therefore on Member States to ensure the full inclusion of vulnerable people, especially those with disabilities, in the labour market; calls on Member States to tackle child poverty and poverty in old age;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly ~~potentially~~ vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, ~~whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered~~such as those in poverty, jobless, elderly, young people, persons with disabilities, mobile workers and migrants;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should b~~oost jobs and growth~~ring quality employment opportunities that fit in the context of the European Green Deal and growth sustainable development in a climate neutral economy, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly current and potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered; acknowledges that most of the sectors which have been hardest hit by the crisis were feminized and essential sectors with already precarious working conditions, and that special efforts should be made and special resources should be allocated during the recovery period to improve employment conditions and recognition of such sectors;

Amendment 28 #

Marc BOTENGA, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Özlem DEMIREL, Leila CHAIBI, Sandra PEREIRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts ~~should boost jobs and~~and the Union budget should benefit the people and be focused primarily on boosting quality jobs and sustainable growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered;

Amendment 29 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1b. Whereas a Eurofound research highlights that the COVID-19 crisis poses a serious risk of rolling back decades of gains achieved in gender equality in the labour market participation, particularly if activity is further hampered in sectors where women are overrepresented ; whereas taking actions is both a social and economic imperative; whereas it points to the importance of implementing policy responses which can support gender equality and female integration into the labour force;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities within the EU and its Overseas Territories and Countries, and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered;

Amendment 31 #

Romana TOMC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered; stresses that older people are among the most vulnerable groups, and that programmes to relieve their hardship should be given financial support;

Amendment 32 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Sylvie BRUNET, Ilana CICUREL, Stéphane BIJOUX, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 33 #

Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on Member States and the Commission to make combating youth unemployment a priority, in particular as part of the European recovery effort, to make full use of financial instruments such as the Youth Guarantee, as well as European programmes such as Erasmus+, and to take tailored action to tackle youth unemployment and make young people more employable;

Amendment 35 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Cristian GHINEA, Jordi CAÑAS, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls the commitment by the Commission to present a legislative proposal for a European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance scheme as soon as possible;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcom~~Notes the Commission proposal to allocates in 2021 EUR 1,5 billion to the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and highlights that the JTF must play a key role in supporting the reskilling of workers;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the Commission proposal to allocates in 2021 EUR 1,5 billion to the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and highlights that the JTF must ~~play a key role in supporting the reskilling of workers~~focus on the needs of individuals and social well- being and lead to social sustainability by supporting the creation of decent and sustainable jobs, reskilling of workers, and creating social infrastructure so no one is left behind;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the Commission proposal to allocates in 2021 EUR 1,5 billion to the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and highlights that the JTF must play a key role in ~~supporting the reskilling of workers~~boosting equal job opportunities among all genders and supporting the reskilling of workers by providing adequate life-long training;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)

-1c. Whereas it can be expected that the health crisis triggers an economic and social crisis that deeply affects the labour markets; whereas previous Eurofound research shows that such situation can be tackled by public and social-partner based measures to maintain and create employment or income support for the unemployed and those outside the labour force, acknowledging the importance of co-financed measures by European funds such as the ESF and the EGF, in this respect;

Amendment 40 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Dragoş PÎSLARU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the Commission proposal to allocates in 2021 EUR 1.5 billion to the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and highlights that the JTF must play a key role in supporting the reskilling of workers for new, modern jobs;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the Commissions proposed budget with a bigger envelope for external action, which includes the European Development Fund (EDF.); recalls the addressed proposal on the budgetisation of the EDF and its inclusion in the EU budget, which is supported by the Parliament and the Commission; also recalls that the Overseas Territories and Countries should benefit from the EDF funds;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes the forthcoming rationalisation of~~Is of the opinion that the current ESF, the YEI~~, the FEAD~~ and the EaSI under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which will allow to enhance synergies and reduce administrative burden; recalls that ESF + will be the main financial instrument to strengthen Europe’s social dimension, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice; draws particular attention to the key role of ESF+ in the post-pandemic phase; warns that any decrease of the budget of ESF+ risks to endanger its effective implementation and reaching its objectives; is concernhave had little effect to date and that the problems which they were created to deal with have not been tackled effectively; points out in particular that ESF bureaucracy is preventing aid programmes from being carried out effectively; stresses that the wide-ranging and complex administrative conditions are very labour-intensive and time-consuming for small organisations and that the ESF structure is geared much more to procedures than to analysis; stresses the need,, ~~in this respect, about the draft appropriations proposed by the Commission for ESF+ in the draft budget 2021 (EUR 12 655,1 million in commitment appropriations, EUR 15 374,8 in payment appropriations)~~therefore, for those funds to be thoroughly rationalised and for administrative burden to be reduced;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the forthcoming rationalisation of the current ESF, the YEI, the FEAD and the EaSI under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which will allow to enhance synergies and reduce administrative burden; recalls that ESF + will be the main financial instrument to strengthen Europe’s social dimension~~, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice~~; draws particular attention to the key role of ESF+ in the post-pandemic phase; warns that any decrease of the budget of ESF+ risks to endanger its effective implementation and reaching its objectives; is concerned,, in this respect, about the draft appropriations proposed by the Commission for ESF+ in the draft budget 2021 (EUR 12 655,1 million in commitment appropriations, EUR 15 374,8 in payment appropriations);

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcom~~Acknowledges the forthcoming rationalisation of the current ESF, the YEI, the FEAD and the EaSI under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which ~~will~~should allow to enhance synergies and reduce administrative burden; recalls that ESF + will be the main financial instrument to strengthen Europe’s social dimension, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice~~; draws particular attention to the key role of ESF+ in the post-pandemic phase; warns that~~ and for the post-COVID-19 recovery; rejects any decrease of the budget of ESF+ risksing not only to endanger its effective implementation and reaching its objectives but also ensuring effective recovery; is concerned,, in this respect, about the draft appropriations proposed by the Commission for ESF+ in the draft budget 2021 (EUR 12 655,1 million in commitment appropriations, EUR 15 374,8 in payment appropriations) and calls for its considerable increase, in particular, to tackle long-term unemployment and unemployment among young people and the elderly, child poverty, the risk of poverty and social exclusion, discrimination, to ensure a reinforced social dialogue, addressing long-term structural demographic change and guarantee access for all, and especially for ageing populations, to vital and key services such as healthcare, social protection, mobility, adequate nutrition and decent housing;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the forthcoming ~~rationalisation~~merger of the current ESF, the YEI, the FEAD and the EaSI under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which will allow to enhance synergies and reduce administrative burden, regrets nevertheless that the total sum is still below the 2014-2020 level and is deeply worried about the long-term consequences of such inadequate financial resources; recalls that ESF + will be the main financial instrument to strengthen Europe’s social dimension, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice; draws particular attention to the key role of ESF+ in the post-pandemic phase; warns that any decrease of the budget of ESF+ risks to endanger its effective implementation and reaching its objectives; is concerned,, in this respect, about the draft appropriations proposed by the Commission for ESF+ in the draft budget 2021 (EUR 12 655,1 million in commitment appropriations, EUR 15 374,8 in payment appropriations);

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the forthcoming rationalisation of the current ESF, the YEI, the FEAD and the EaSI under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which will allow to enhance synergies and reduce administrative burden; recalls that ESF + will be the main financial instrument to strengthen Europe’s social dimension, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice; draws particular attention to the key role of ESF+ in the post-pandemic phase; warns that any decrease of the budget of ESF+ ~~risks to~~will endanger its effective implementation and reaching its objectives; is concerned, in this respect, about the draft appropriations proposed by the Commission for ESF+ in the draft budget 2021 (EUR 12 655.1 million in commitment appropriations, EUR 15 374.8 in payment appropriations);

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Welcomes, in this regard, the Commission proposal for a new REACT- EU instrument designed to increase the amount of funding dedicated to Cohesion Policy, additional to the existing 2014- 2020 envelopes and on top of the proposed envelopes for the 2021-2027 period; is however concerned about its temporary short-term nature and the fact that ESF+ alone does not have enough financial resources for the rest of the MFF period; calls on the Commission to provide the European Parliament and the Council with an evaluation report on REACT-EU by 31 March 2025, covering budgetary commitments for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 including information on the achievement of the objectives of REACT- EU, the efficiency of the use of its resources, the types of actions financed, the beneficiaries and final recipients of the financial allocations and its European added value in aiding the economic recovery;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Echoes the Commission prediction that, in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak, tackling child poverty will become even more important in the coming years; highlights in this regard the position of both the Parliament and the Commission that Member States should allocate at least 5 % of the ESF+ resources under shared management to support activities under the European Child Guarantee; consequently, and in line with the Parliament’ position on ESF+, insists that a separate budget line under ESF+ needs to be created for the European Child Guarantee with an allocation of 3 billion for the year 2021;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Highlights that the COVID-19 crisis has already left many people jobless, especially young people who find themselves more often in precarious employment; welcomes in this context the Commission’s plans to strengthen the European Youth Guarantee and highlights that it is necessary that Member States continue to invest sufficient ESF+ resources in measures to support youth employment and that they shall therefore allocate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources under shared management to targeted actions and structural reforms to support quality youth employment;

Amendment 5 #

Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Milan BRGLEZ, Brando BENIFEI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Elisabetta GUALMINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 ~~and regrets that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million)~~;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Welcomes a number of new proposals by the Commission to tackle the social impacts of the current or future crises; notes in this context the introduction of temporary measures under the ESF+ in response to exceptional circumstances; warns about the possible risk of a weakening of the thematic concentration obligations that would put at risk key objectives and investments of ESF+, as well as the good use and effectiveness of the investments made by the ESF+, as, in the event of exceptional circumstances, the Commission may adopt implementing acts extending the scope of the ESF+ itself, as well as reducing the thematic concentration obligations;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Furthermore acknowledges, in this regard, the Commission’s proposal to finance short time work schemes under such temporary measures; recalls, however, that short time work schemes will already be financed by the newly introduced temporary SURE instrument of a much more significant volume, and that the Commission has committed to soon introduce a permanent instrument in form of a European Unemployment Reinsurance Scheme; stresses, in this context, that the ESF+ has already scarce resources for its original thematic concentrations that could be in such case further reduced; reminds furthermore that short time work schemes require much more money; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to introduce the European Unemployment Reinsurance Scheme without further delay;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)

6f. Stresses the importance of the partnership principle, in order to ensure the involvement of social partners in all stages of the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF); considers it necessary that the partnership principle is included in the ESIFs, as well as in other relevant EU funds, including the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF), REACT EU, also for the 2021-2027 period;

Amendment 53 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that this forthcoming rationalisation should be based on evidence and impact assessment, and should be in line with the better regulation agenda, as well as with related recommendations of the European Court of Auditors; highlights, in this regard, that the activities implemented in the area of employment and social affairs should always result in strategic measures with clearly defined objectives and targets and that efficient and effective spending is as equally important as the total budget ceilings;deleted

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that this forthcoming rationalisation should be based on evidence and impact assessment, and should be in line with the better regulation agenda, as well as with related recommendations of the European Court of Auditors; believes the rationalisation should also help to address the social impacts highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis; highlights, in this regard, that the activities implemented in the area of employment and social affairs should always result in strategic measures with clearly defined objectives and targets and that efficient and effective spending is as equally important as the total budget ceilings;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that this forthcoming rationalisation should be based on evidence and impact assessment, and should be in line with the better regulation agenda, as well as with related recommendations of the European Court of Auditors; highlights, in this regard, that the activities implemented in the area of employment and social affairs should always result in strategic measures with clearly defined objectives and targets, while respecting the sovereignty of the Member States, and that efficient and effective spending is as equally important as the total budget ceilings;

Amendment 56 #

Marc BOTENGA, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Özlem DEMIREL, Leila CHAIBI, Sandra PEREIRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls for EU programmes to focus on projects that promote and enhance the safeguarding of existing jobs and the creation of quality jobs with rights and stable and regulated pay and working conditions, as well as effectively and incisively combating poverty and social exclusion;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcomes~~Notes that, in the light of the expected increase in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Commission is proposaling to increase the annual funding available for EGF to EUR 386 million from 2021 onwards and is concerned that the Council proposal to limit this funding to EUR 197 million in 2021 could undermine its paramount role in offering assistance to workers who lost their job in restructuring events;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcom~~Notes, in light of the expected increase in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Commission proposal to increase the annual funding available for EGF to EUR 386 million from 2021 onwards a~~nd is concerned that~~s well as the Council proposal to limit this funding to EUR 197 million in 2021; c~~ould undermine its paramount role in offering assistance to workers who lost their job in restructuring ev~~alls for a thorough assessment of the measures financed from EGF with the goal of using the money in an effective way and only on the measures that have proven to improve the re- employments;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

Amendment 6 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Sylvie BRUNET, Ilana CICUREL, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 and ~~regret~~notes that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million);

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes, in light of the expected increase in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Commission proposal to increase the annual funding available for EGF to EUR 386 million from 2021 onwards and is concerned that the Council proposal to limit this funding to EUR 197 million in 2021 could undermine its paramount role in offering assistance to workers who lost their job in restructuring events; points out accordingly that the Commission’s undertaking to mobilise the EGF, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on employment, and extending the scope of the fund by way of support for the digital and green transitions call for sufficient funding, for 2021, beyond the ceiling laid down by the Council;

Amendment 61 #

Marc BOTENGA, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Özlem DEMIREL, Leila CHAIBI, Sandra PEREIRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes, in light of the expected increase in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Commission proposal to increase the annual funding available for EGF to EUR 386 million from 2021 onwards and is concerned that the Council proposal to limit this funding to EUR 197 million in 2021 could undermine its paramount role in offering assistance to workers who lost their job in restructuring events; insists that particular emphasis shall lie on Member States and regions having been hit hardest and where the national and regional authorities lack adequate resources for taking the necessary measures; recalls that the EGF is without prejudice to the social responsibilities of the companies concerned, in particular where it concerns their contribution to the social plans for displaced workers;

Amendment 62 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Jordi CAÑAS, Cristian GHINEA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, which must includ~~ing~~e future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, a~~utomatisatio~~nd the green and digital~~isa~~ transitions, particularly by ~~improved~~decent working conditions, long-term security, adequate social protection, affordable and high quality child care, gender-balanced opportunities, and a working environment adjusted to people with disabilities and foster the integration of current and potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market;

Amendment 63 #

Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, including in rural areas, particularly by improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market and by giving young people sound prospects for the future;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, particularly by improved integration of ~~potentially~~ vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market; further underlines the importance of addressing social inequalities pertaining to youth unemployment and young people's access to the labour market;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget~~, including~~ where it is needed the most, to fight poverty, including child poverty and unemployment, in particular youth unemployment, including through future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, particularly by improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market;

Amendment 66 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, particularly by improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market; reiterates that the use of digital solutions based on the human-centric AI should be seen as a great opportunity to create jobs and integrate disadvantaged groups in the labour market;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Strongly believes that gender responsive budgeting must be mainstreamed in the 2021 general budget to better align policies and activities that promote the equal participation of women in the labour market and to have comprehensive systems to monitor and measure gender budget allocations;

Amendment 68 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Cristian GHINEA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Emphasises the importance of budgetary accountability and prioritisation when delivering true value for money for EU citizens, including a stronger focus on evidence-based policymaking that is inclusive and special attention to social, regional and territorial disparities;

Amendment 69 #

Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Sylvie BRUNET, Ilana CICUREL, Stéphane BIJOUX, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Emphasises the importance of budgetary accountability and prioritisation when delivering true value for money for EU citizens, including a stronger focus on evidence-based policymaking and special attention to social, regional and territorial disparities; and income inequality;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 ~~and~~; welcomes the historic recovery plan adopted by the European Council, but regrets that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 on the MFF is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million);

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Highlights the important contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, social issues and data collection; stresses that their tasks are developing and hence they must be given the necessary resources to fulfil them;Points out that, in the social and employment fields, the various agencies and bodies work in parallel and that their remits and powers overlap; is therefore ~~calls for~~promoting a thorough assessment of the new tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations only; ~~insists, in particular, for a proper staffing and financing of the European Labour Authority;~~

Amendment 71 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Cristian GHINEA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Highlights the important~~Strongly criticises the contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, social issues and data collection; stresses that their tasks armay still be developing ~~and hence they must be gi~~, but a check shall be carried out to establish whether they haven the necessary resources to fulfil them; therefore calls for a thorough and transparent assessment of the new tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations only; insists, in particular, ~~for a proper staffing and financing of the European Labour Authority~~on the need to review and evaluate whether to equip the European Labour Authority with proper staffing and financing;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Highlights the important contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, and social issues ~~and data collection~~such as living and working conditions, mobility, health and safety, skills, etc. and data collection, particularly through surveys; stresses that their tasks are ~~develop~~constantly evolving and hence they must be given the necessary resources to fulfil them; therefore calls for a thorough assessment of the new and existing tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations ~~only~~; insists, in particular, ~~for~~on a proper staffing and financing of the new European Labour Authority;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Highlights the important contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, social issues and data collection; stresses that their tasks are developing and hence they must be given the necessary resources to fulfil them; therefore calls for a thorough assessment of the new tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations only and that they are equipped with the necessary funding to be able to collect the qualitative data necessary to better fulfil these obligations; insists, in particular, for a proper staffing and financing of the European Labour Authority;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Points out, in this regard, that the resources currently foreseen for the ELA in 2021 are lower than the ones defined in the updated financial statement for the agency, which foresaw 29 million for 2021 instead of 24 million; in the light of the challenges in ensuring fair labour mobility highlighted by the Covid-19 crisis, in particular for posted and seasonal workers, considers that the budget for the ELA should be strengthened to at least the amount originally foreseen;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Calls for the establishment of a cross-national forum for national policy makers to exchange on practices and experiences related to support for employers and workers affected by economic and labour market crises which could draw information on such interventions gathered in Eurofound’s European Restructuring Monitor (support instruments and legal databases), the expertise built up in similar previous exercises (such as Eurofound’s Regional Industrial Policy Seminars realised in the framework of the Pilot Project “Future of Manufacturing in Europe” or DG Employment’s national seminars on anticipating and managing restructuring (A.R.E.N.A.S.)), and implemented by a collaboration of various EU institutions (e.g. DG Employment, Eurofound, Cedefop);

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Reminds of the Commission commitment to swiftly assess the revision of the Biological Agents Directive (BAD) and possibly other occupational health and safety legislation in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to accelerate their work on the new EU OSH strategic framework; calls in this regard for appropriate resources to be allocated to the responsible unit in DG Employment to meet this commitment;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11d. Is concerned about the Commission proposal to merge different budget lines linked to social policy objectives, in particular the lines supporting Information and training measures for workers’ organisations, Information, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings, Industrial relations and social dialogue into one single budget line“07 20 04 06 - Specific competences in the area of social policy, including social dialogue”; believes that separate budget lines as was the case in the past would guarantee the necessary transparency and resources for each of these key areas;

Amendment 78 #

Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Milan BRGLEZ, Brando BENIFEI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Elisabetta GUALMINI, Manuel PIZARRO, Gabriele BISCHOFF

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Reiterates that pilot projects (PPs) and preparatory actions (PAs) are very valuable tools to initiatest new activities and ~~innovative solution~~policies in the fields of employment and social inclusion~~; recalls that it is paramount for~~ and that several ideas of the EMPL Committee have been implemented successfully in the past as PPs/PAs; is however concerned about the objectivity of the Commission’s pre- assessments having a significant impact on their adoption in the Parliament; moreover calls for the implementation of PPs/PAs to be ~~assessed solely on the basis of their merit and EU added valu~~in line with their adopted objectives and recommendations; calls the Commission to prioritise, for efficiency reasons, the implementation of these projects and actions through European Agencies when they fall under their areas of expertise;

Amendment 79 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Radka MAXOVÁ, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Reiterates that pilot projects (PPs) and preparatory actions (PAs) are very valuable tools to test new activities and innovative solutions in the fields of employment and social inclusion; recalls that it is paramount for PPs/PAs to be assessed solely on the basis of their merit and EU added value. These tools should be efficient, low threshold and clear to be able to promote new and innovative ideas that reflect the needs of the current crisis and the future policies.

Amendment 8 #

Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Milan BRGLEZ, Brando BENIFEI, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Elisabetta GUALMINI, Manuel PIZARRO, Gabriele BISCHOFF

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 and regrets that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million); moreover deplores the late and insufficient response of both institutions to tackle the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 80 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Reiterates that pilot projects (PPs) and preparatory actions (PAs), if carefully prepared, are very valuable tools to test new activities and innovative solutions in the fields of employment and social inclusion; recalls that it is paramount for PPs/PAs to be assessed solely on the basis of their merit and EU added value.

Amendment 81 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes that it is crucial for Parliament to be given regular updates on evaluation of the results and to be involved in the various stages of the implementation of PPs/PAs by the Commission; emphasises the importance of a transparent approach by the Commission when assessing and implementing PPs/PAs.

Amendment 82 #

Samira RAFAELA, Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Jordi CAÑAS, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Emphasises the importance to include the Overseas Territories and Counties in its budgeting; urges the Commission to implement measures and funding to address the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the Overseas Territories and Countries.

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 and regrets that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million); highlights that the current exceptional circumstances cannot be tackled with a budget designed for “business as usual” and emphasises that a more ambitious response is needed, in line with the European Parliament’s position;

source: 657.169

2020/09/09 CULT 20 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps programmes for both social cohesion and economic development within the Union; deeply regrets that the proposal of the Commission did not follow the promises made regarding increases in the budget allocated to those programmes, namely tripling the budget for the Erasmus+ programme, or responding to the will of the European Parliament to double the budget for the Creative Europe programme~~, while the Council proposes further irresponsible cuts~~; takes the view that the Council's position, to further reduce the budget for the programmes proposed by the Commission, is unacceptable; takes the view that the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic should not adversely affect investments of a social, educational and cultural nature;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets that the proposal of the Council on the Creative Europe programme is lower than the initial proposal of the Commission; recalls that a doubling of the budget for the programme compared to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework is necessary to provide targeted support to the cultural and creative sectors and to fully finance the ambitions and new priorities of the programme, as the sectors require proper investment to foster job creation and financing to complement national schemes, while undertaking their ecological transition;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets that the proposal of the Council on the Creative Europe programme is lower than the initial proposal of the Commission; recalls that a doubling of the budget for the programme compared to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework is necessary to provide targeted support to the cultural and creative sectors and to fully finance the ambitions and new priorities of the programme, as the sectors require proper investment to foster job creation, which has been weakened by the health crisis, and financing to complement national schemes;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. RDeeply regrets that the proposal of the Council on the Creative Europe programme is lower than the initial proposal of the Commission~~; recall~~ and far from meets Parliament's expectations and those of the cultural and creative sectors; stresses that a doubling of the budget for the programme compared to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework is necessary to provide targeted support to the cultural and creative sectors and to fully finance the ambitions and new priorities of the programme~~, as the sectors require proper investment to foster job creation and financing to complement national schemes~~;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Reiterates its support for the dissemination of impartial information on European affairs; expresses, therefore, its support for the Multimedia Actions set up by the Commission which aim to strengthen news reporting on European affairs; calls on the Commission to be transparent in the management of the funds for this line; highlights the conclusions of the Rapid Case Review of the European Court of Auditors on how the Commission monitors the Union support to Euronews; calls on the Commission to address those conclusions and to answer without delay Parliament’s request for more details on how it plans to ensure maximal transparency in its relationship with the channel so as to avoid a situation whereby the channel's financial situation is impacted due to the budget allocated to it being put into reserve;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that for the European Solidarity Corps programme, any reduction in funding compared to the Commission proposal impacts on the extent to which the programme can offer opportunities; ~~insists on focusing on resourcing the core activities of~~takes that view that it is necessary, especially in times of social and economic uncertainty, to provide young people with opportunities to get involoved in society, to develop on a personal level and to gain work experience; insists therefore that adequate funding be allotted to the programme;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Insists~~is concerned that the inclusion of the previous Europe for Citizens programme into the new Rights and Values programme, which itself suffers from considerable cuts under the proposal of the Council, may ~~prevent~~lead to a significant reduction in the budget dedicated to “Citizens engagement and participation” ~~from remaining at the level already agreed to by Parliament.~~; insists that, under the next MMF, at least EUR 500 million need to be allocated to “Citizens engagement and participation”;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Notes that, since 2010, relations between the Commission and Euronews have been covered by successive Framework Partnership Agreements (FPA), implemented through annual action programmes; stresses that the current FPA was signed in 2017 with a duration of four years and that, according to the independent performance audit made in 2016, ‘Euronews is providing good-quality, independent reporting on EU affairs’[1];calls on the Commission to publish more recent documents at its disposal to establish full transparency; considers it essential, in light of the European Court of Auditor’s recent rapid case review, to explore ways to further improve Multimedia Actions’ line in terms of efficiency and accountability; [1]‘Performance Audit of Actions Funded in Euronews - final report’, Moore Stephens, 28 June 2016, p.8.

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. reaffirms its support for the 'Multimedia Actions' set up by the Commission, which help to improve the visibility and media coverage of European affairs on the continent and beyond; calls on the Commission to be more transparent in the management of the funds for this line, and, in this respect, calls on the Commission to promptly clarify the modalities of its financing to Euronews, which provides Europeans with information recognised in the Court of Auditors' rapid case review as independent and of high quality, so as not to disrupt the channel's financial situation or jeopardise the jobs of its employees;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

(5 a) calls on the Commission to bring about more transparency in the allocation of funds under the various programme components and sub-programmes of the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps support programmes, by creating new budget lines; also reiterates its request to the Commission to increase transparency in its use of the budget assigned to multimedia activities, in particular by creating a series of new budget lines in connection with the measures;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. reiterates its request to the Commission to improve its external communications and outreach activities; sees the need, in that connection, for greater diversification of the activities supported under the budget line for multimedia measures and to work with new or different cooperation partners with a view to providing citizens with independent and extensive information on the Union's affairs; deeply regrets that the Commission still has not responded to Parliament's call for a comprehensive review of the budget line for multimedia measures, particularly with regard to the framework contract with Euronews; calls on the Commission therefore to phase out its cooperation with Euronews and to invest instead in a new mix of information instruments;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps programmes; deeply regrets that the proposal of the Commission did not follow the promises made regarding increases in the budget allocated to those programmes, namely tripling the budget for the Erasmus+ programme, or responding to the will of the European Parliament to double the budget for the Creative Europe programme, while the Council proposes further ~~irresponsible cut~~cuts, that are particularly irresponsible given the dramatic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on European cultural and creative actors;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. stresses that Europe's diverse cultural landscape has suffered considerably as a result of the measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and that, without public investment and aid, the very existence of many companies and organisations in the cultural and creative sectors is at risk; stresses that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many weaknesses in our education systems and that a coordinated investment plan is needed to improve those systems; calls on the Commission, accordingly, to give particular consideration to both the cultural and creative sectors and the education sector under the European Recovery Programme, and to support them with at least 5 percent of the funds assigned to the recovery programme;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps programmes; deeply regrets that the proposal of the Commission did not follow the promises made regarding increases in the budget allocated to those programmes, namely tripling the budget for the Erasmus+ programme, or responding to the will of the European Parliament and all the stakeholders to at leasto double the budget for the Creative Europe programme, while the Council proposes further irresponsible cuts;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the Erasmus+ programme is a strategic investment that supports education and training opportunities across Europe, and helps increase social cohesion and the building of a European sense of belonging and is therefore a crucial investment in the future of the Union; insists on the fact that without tripling the budget available, no new initiatives can be taken on board, as the Parliament has already stated; recalls that insufficient funding for the Erasmus+ programme will endanger its capacity to reach its new objectives and to uphold the challenges of becoming more inclusive and ecological;

Amendment 5 #

Maxette PIRBAKAS, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the Erasmus+ programme is a strategic investment ~~that~~in the Union's future, which supports education ~~and~~, training opportunities and youth exchanges across Europe, and helps increase social cohesion and ~~the~~ building of a ~~European~~ sense of belonging ~~and is therefore a crucial investment in the future of the Un~~to Europe; takes the view that priority should be given to promoting inclusion and increasing the number of participants in the next programme periond; insists on the fact that without tripling the budget available, ~~no new initiatives can be taken on board, as the Parliament has already state~~as sought by the Parliament, no new Commission initiatives for the Erasmus+ programme can be taken on board;

Amendment 6 #

Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the Erasmus+ programme is a strategic investment that supports education and training opportunities as well as sports, especially for people with disabilities, across Europe, ~~and~~ helps increase European integration, social cohesion and the building of a European sense of belonging and building life-long cross-border networks, and is therefore a crucial investment in the future of the Union; insists on the fact that without tripling the budget available, no new initiatives can be taken on board, as the Parliament has already stated;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the Erasmus+ is the symbolic and one of the most successful Union programme ~~is a~~s with strategic investment that supports education and training opportunities across Europe, and helps increase social cohesion ~~and the building of a European sense of belonging and is~~ therefore a crucial ~~investment in~~for the future of the Union; insists on the fact that without tripling the budget available, no new initiatives can be taken on board, as the Parliament has already stated;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 9 #

Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regrets that the proposal of the Council on the Creative Europe programme is lower than the initial proposal of the Commission; recalls that a doubling of the budget for the programme compared to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework is necessary to provide targeted support to the cultural and creative sectors to reduce the substantive losses of the sector due to the unforeseeable closure of venues during the COVID-19 pandemic and to fully finance the ambitions and new priorities of the programme, as the sectors require proper investment to foster job creation and financing to complement national schemes;

source: 655.906

2020/09/14 PECH 47 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the economic, social and environmental aspects of fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs; stresses their vital role in boosting the development of the blue economy and their contribution to developing and revitalising coastal areas and overseas territories;

Amendment 10 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the importance of putting right the economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the entire fisheries and aquaculture sector hard; considers that the serious health situation and its economic consequences call for exceptional financial support to be made available immediately to every part of the sector but in particular small fisheries, which have suffered the most from the public health crisis;

Amendment 11 #

Gabriel MATO, Francisco José MILLÁN MON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the importance of putting right the economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the entire fisheries and aquaculture sector, throughout the whole seafood supply chain, including processors, retailers, distributors, hard; considers that the serious health situation and its economic consequences call for exceptional financial support to be made available immediately;

Amendment 12 #

Manuel PIZARRO, Pietro BARTOLO, Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Ivo HRISTOV, Giuseppe FERRANDINO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Recalls that at the peak of the confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fishing sector, in particular small-scale coastal fishing vessels, continued to operate maintaining the regular supply of local markets, guaranteeing Union citizens access to healthy marine food, particularly in isolated coastal areas and regions where supply chains were hampered by logistical constraints

Amendment 14 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the action taken by Parliament and the Council to amend Regulations (EU) No 508/2014 and (EU) No 1379/2013 as regards specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID‐- 19 outbreak in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; believes that the Commission must assess in real time how the health and economic situations unfold and, if necessary, consider extending these measures beyond 31 December 2020 if the pandemic continues; believes that the Commission needs to set up a system to monitor these measures to ensure proper and timely use of the funds and that there are no barriers to accessing them;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Welcome~~Considers the action taken by Parliament and the Council to amend Regulations (EU) No 508/2014 and (EU) No 1379/2013 as regards specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak in the fisheries and aquaculture sector to be positive, despite it still falling short of the sector's needs; believes that the Commission must assess in real time how the health and economic situations unfold and, if necessary, consider extending these measures beyond 31 December 2020 ~~if the pandemic continues~~for as long as the pandemic and its effects last;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the action taken by Parliament and the Council to amend Regulations (EU) No 508/2014 and (EU) No 1379/2013 as regards specific measures to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; believes that the Commission must assess in real time how the health and economic situations unfold and, if necessary, consider extending these measures beyond 31 December 2020 if the pandemic continues;

Amendment 17 #

Manuel PIZARRO, Pietro BARTOLO, Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Ivo HRISTOV, Giuseppe FERRANDINO

4a. Takes the view that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) should allow for the ceiling for EU funding to be raised to 100%, eliminating national co-financing, in exceptional situations, including measures intended to promote response capacities to crises in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; for financial resources to be used flexibly by Member States under the EMFAF, with the possibility of shifting between headings and priorities, in parallel with the funding of new requirements justified in the context of the pandemic; and for the funding system for accessing EU funds to be modified through the implementation of a pre-financing mechanism, eliminating the problems created by the need to make advance payments using own funds;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Stresses that the negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union seem to be moving towards a no-deal scenario, and the social and economic consequences for the fishing fleets operating in UK waters will be huge; emphasises that financial support for the Union fishing fleet operating in those waters, now third country waters, needs to be ensured from the beginning of 2021 and that fishermen who are already in a difficult situation due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be subject to a double penalty .

Amendment 19 #

Peter van DALEN, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK, Gabriel MATO, Francisco José MILLÁN MON, Maria WALSH, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Stresses the need to financially support the Union fisheries sector, especially those operating in UK waters, in the event that no agreement is reached between the Union and the UKbefore the end of the transition period.

Amendment 2 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be socially, economically and environmentally viable, increased funding for these industries is needed, but that this should not affect the general budget; believes that the budget for this sector must be fully consistent with the EU’s new goals, particularly those set out in the Green Deal, the new industrial strategy, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goals; but equally should not have a detrimental effect on the sector and in particular on small fisheries, which suffer the most from the damage done by IUU fishing;

Amendment 20 #

Pierre KARLESKIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the Commission’s prompt and ambitious response to the economic crisis, specifically the far- reaching economic recovery plan that it proposed on 27 May 2020; also welcomes the Commission’s proposal to increase the 2021-2027 budget for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, fisheries and aquaculture by EUR 530 million over its initial proposal; stresses, however, that this increase will still leave the budget below the amount called for by Parliament; deplores the European Council position of 21 July 2020 reducing by EUR 32 million the EMFF budget initially proposed by the Commission for 2021-2027;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes the Commission’s prompt and ambitious response to the economic crisis, specifically the far- reaching economic recovery plan that it proposed on 27 May 2020; also welcome~~Considers the Commission’s proposal to increase the 2021-2027 budget for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, fisheries and aquaculture by EUR 530 million over its initial proposal to be restrictive and that this fund should be significantly strengthened; stresses~~, however,~~ that this increase will still leave the budget below the amount called for by Parliament;

Amendment 22 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcom~~Notes the Commission’s ~~prompt and ambitious~~ response to the economic crisis, specifically the ~~far- reaching~~ economic recovery plan that it proposed on 27 May 2020; also ~~welcom~~notes the Commission’s proposal to increase the 2021-2027 budget for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, fisheries and aquaculture by EUR 530 million over its initial proposal; stresses, however, that this increase will still leave the budget far below the amount called for by Parliament;

Amendment 23 #

Pierre KARLESKIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Takes note of the European Council proposal to create a Brexit adjustment reserve to assist the Member States and sectors hardest hit by Brexit; considers that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors should be clearly designated as recipients; considers, however, that the creation of such a fund should in no case serve to justify a reduction in the EMFF budget;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Criticises the fact that the implementation rate for the 2014-2020 EMFF is still far too low – only 35% – six years after it was adopted; stresses that this poor rate is partly due to national and European red tape, and sometimes to how the fund is structured, penalising whole categories of workers and especially those employed on a temporary basis;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Criticises the fact that the implementation rate for the 2014-2020 EMFF is still far too low – only 35% – six years after it was adopted; stresses that this poor rate is partly due to national and European red tape, but also to the mismatch between the EMFF rules and the real needs of the sector;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 27 #

Peter van DALEN, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK, Maria WALSH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Considers that measures to support the sector should be strengthened, inter alia through the reintegration of EMFF funding to support fleet renewal and upgrade or the purchase of new vessels, under the conditions already proposed by Parliament; that a minimum price system should be set and implemented for the first sale, with the aim of protecting fishers' revenues and ensuring that fish continues to be offered to the public, if necessary with the intervention of public entities to cover operational expenses — subject to EMFF funding — and the disposal of fish as an emergency; that the EMFF should be able to finance a Wage Guarantee Fund to support fishers' revenues on the basis of the average revenue of each professional; that temporary support for cessation of activity should not be limited to six months, as provided for currently under the EMFF, and may be extended beyond this period and also cover small and medium-sized shellfish and aquaculture operators; that aid should be provided for storage, funded by the EMFF; that specific aid should be provided for investment on board vessels or for personal protective equipment related to specific needs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; and that administrative procedures should be simplified;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Stresses the need to increase investment in more selective fishing gear by increasing research and development as well as by financially supporting fishermen to invest in new selective fishing gear.

Amendment 29 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission to provide Member States with all necessary assistance to make using the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) as simple and efficient as possible; .

Amendment 3 #

Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Manuel PIZARRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM, Pietro BARTOLO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be viable, increased funding for these industries is needed; believes that the budget for this sector must ~~be fully consistent with the EU’s new goals, particularly those set out in the Green Deal, the new industrial strategy, the ‘Farm to Fork’ str~~meet the needs identified by the Member Stategys and t~~he EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goal~~ake into account social, environmental and economic objectives;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the importance of controls on fishing activities; believes that these controls must remain a priority in the financing of the common fisheries policy, especially since new rules to harmonise and improve the fisheries control system in the Union are expected to be approved soon;

Amendment 31 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the importance of controls on fishing activities, especially in relation to IUU fishing, and on aquaculture activities, particularly as regards food safety; believes that these controls must remain a priority in the financing of the common fisheries policy;

Amendment 32 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Stresses the need to maintain a sufficiently high level of funding for the small-scale coastal fisheries sector when planning the budget;

Amendment 33 #

Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Manuel PIZARRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM, Pietro BARTOLO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates that the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) must be given the additional funding and equipment it needs to carry out its activities properly and to ensure that the EU meets its sustainable fishing goals, including digitalisation and adapting to new technologies; points out, furthermore, that research and development should be included in the area of control and inspection techniques and provision of assistance to the Commission and the Member States in specific fields;

Amendment 34 #

Manuel PIZARRO, Pietro BARTOLO, Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Ivo HRISTOV, Giuseppe FERRANDINO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates that the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) must be given the additional funding and equipment it needs to carry out its activities properly and to ensure that the EU meets its sustainable fishing goals, in particular with the changes to Fisheries Control Regulation that are now being negotiated and, seems to increase the competences and tasks to be assumed by EFCA;

Amendment 35 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates that the ~~European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)~~Member States and their authorities must be given the additional funding and equipment ithey needs to carry out ~~its~~their activities properly and to ensure that the EU meets its sustainable fishing goals;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates that the work of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) must be ~~given the additional funding and equipment it needs to~~monitored to ensure it carryies out its activities properly and ~~to ensure~~ that the EU meets its sustainable fishing goals;

Amendment 37 #

Bert-Jan RUISSEN, Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates that the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) must be given ~~the additional~~sufficient funding and equipment ~~it needs~~ to carry out its activities properly and to ensure that the EU meets its sustainable fishing goals;

Amendment 38 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient financial resources for the collection, management, use and exchange of data in the fisheries sector;

Amendment 39 #

Bert-Jan RUISSEN, Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Takes the view that the policy of reducing staff numbers at all EU agencies that has been pursued in recent years must be assessed; r~~Recalls that the budget implementation rate for the EFCA is more than 99%;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be viable, increased funding for these industries is needed; believes that the budget for this sector ~~must be fully consistent with~~can contribute to the EU’s new goals, particularly those ~~set out~~proposed by the Commission in the Green Deal, the new industrial strategy, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goals; takes the view that impact assessments are necessary before the European Parliament and the Council can take decisions on those goals;

Amendment 40 #

Francisco GUERREIRO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Stresses that the next EMFF should be used to further improve animal welfare standards in fisheries and aquaculture, following the EU citizens Special Eurobarometer 442 report on Attitudes of Europeans towards Animal Welfare;

Amendment 41 #

Gabriel MATO, Francisco José MILLÁN MON, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses that generational renewal is one of the European fishing sector’s priorities; considers that Member States should draw on the EMFF and the European Structural Funds to finance measures that would allow for greater safety and more attractive working and living conditions on board fishing vessels, as well as the introduction of programmes specifically designed to help young people to take up careers in fisheries, to make the sector more diverse and to encourage people from under-represented groups, particularly women, to join the industry;

Amendment 42 #

Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Manuel PIZARRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM, Pietro BARTOLO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

Amendment 43 #

Valentino GRANT, Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses that generational renewal is one of the European fishing sector’s priorities; considers that Member States should draw on the EMFF and the European Structural Funds to finance the introduction of programmes specifically designed to help young people to take up careers in fisheries, to make the sector more diverse and to encourage people from under-represented groups, particularly women, to join the industry; is not in favour, however, of boosting policies on, for example, excessive digitalisation, that could leave a large number of those employed in the sector on the sidelines, unable to do their work properly unless given suitable support through parallel policies on training and refresher courses; At the same time measures should be provided for to help those who are no longer young, but have not yet reached pensionable age, to return to a sector in renewal;

Amendment 44 #

Bert-Jan RUISSEN, Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Stresses that a sufficient part of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve should be earmarked for fisheries-related support, since this sector will be one of the hardest hit by the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit.

Amendment 46 #

Maxette PIRBAKAS, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the need to provide substantial support for disadvantaged coastal areas and European outermost regions.

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the need to provide substantial support for disadvantaged coastal areas and European outermost regions.

Amendment 5 #

Gabriel MATO, Francisco José MILLÁN MON, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy and the challenges that the sector is facing, such as the achievement of a maximum sustainable yield, the landing obligation, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, generational renewal; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be viable, increased funding for these industries is needed; believes that the budget for this sector must be fully consistent with the EU’s new goals, particularly those set out in the Green Deal, and the new industrial strategy~~, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030~~; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goals;

Amendment 6 #

Francisco GUERREIRO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be viable in the long term, increased funding for the~~se industrie~~ protection and restoration of marine ecosystems is needed; believes that the budget and policies for this sector must be fully consistent with the EU’s new goals, particularly those set out in the Green Deal, the new industrial strategy, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goals;

Amendment 7 #

Clara AGUILERA, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Manuel PIZARRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM, Pietro BARTOLO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the EU budget for 2021 should include enough commitment and payment appropriations to meet the financing needs of the common fisheries policy; asserts that, for fisheries and aquaculture to continue to be viable, increased funding for these industries is needed, given the harsh impact on them of COVID-19 and, in all likelihood, Brexit; believes that the budget for this sector must be fully consistent with the EU’s new goals, ~~particularly those set out in the Green Deal,~~ the new industrial strategy, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes the view that maintaining the competitive position of the fisheries sector must be go hand in hand with achieving these goals;

Amendment 8 #

Pierre KARLESKIND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that 2021 will be a pivotal year for implementing the Green Deal fisheries objectives, which will alone require a significant increase in the budget allocated to the EMFF for this year; points out that the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis also necessitate increased funding; regrets, therefore, the failure of the Commission to present a more ambitious proposal and the Council's own position regarding the EMFF budget for 2021; calls on the Commission and Council to take all these factors into account, review their position and accept a considerable increase;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the importance of putting right the economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the entire fisheries and aquaculture sector hard; considers that the serious health situation and its ~~economic~~ consequences call for ~~exceptional financial support to be made available immediatel~~a fresh ‘aid package’ to complement the previous ones and deploy new exceptional financial support to be made available immediately, given that the pandemic and its economic and social effects are not going away;

source: 657.146

2020/09/18 ITRE 25 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the agreement reached by the European Council in July on the 2021- 2027 MFF with regard to the programmes in the ITRE remit; highlights that the financial envelopes for all those programmes are below the level initially proposed by the Commission in 2018 and below the level considered necessary by the European Parliament; strongly believes that without sufficient funding those programmes risk not being able to deliver on their policy objectives which would result in the Union not being in a position to attain its twin goals of a digital and green transformation; furthermore stresses that the Union should provide sufficient funding if it expects research and innovation to have an impact on important challenges such as finding a vaccine, overcoming the healthcare and economic crisis, decarbonising our economy, speeding up our energy transition, becoming a leader in new and innovative technologies, supporting businesses (especially SMEs) in the recovery ; hence reiterates the European Parliament’s intention to negotiate targeted financial reinforcement of flagship Union programmes in the next MFF;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Draws attention to the fact that digital transition must be framed within well-established social and environmental goals; points out that the digitalisation of public services must not be reduced to a technological problem of dematerialising procedures nor used as an excuse for cuts in human resources;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. The impact and consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated persistent weaknesses in health systems and demonstrated the need for investing in health research in order to ensure health as a public good for all and to raise the quality of life of citizens. New approaches for human centred health care are required. Calls, therefore, for stronger support in the 2021 budget for ensuring access to diagnostics, therapeutics and quality public health services for all;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights in particular the fact that additional funds are needed for Horizon Europe, the new Digital Europe Programme, CEF-Digital and the Space Programme in order to support the digital transformation of societies and industries, which is vital for the future prosperity of Europe in a challenging geopolitical context; Underlines that the COVID-19 outbreak showed the increasing importance of digitalisation for the daily functioning of the economy, asks therefore for adequate funding to be allocated for increased connectivity, with investment in strategic digital capacities (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data and cloud infrastructure, high-speed networks) building areal data economy and sustainable value chains;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights in particular the fact that additional funds are needed for Horizon Europe, the new Digital Europe Programme, CEF~~-Digital~~, Single Market Programme/ COSME, and the Space Programme in order to support the ecological, energy and resource-efficient and sustainable digital transformation of societies and ~~industr~~companies, which is vital for the future prosperity of Europe in a challenging geopolitical context;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights in particular the fact that additional funds are needed for Horizon Europe, the new Digital Europe Programme, CEF-Digital and the Space Programme in order to support the digital transformation of societies and industries, including the up-skilling and re-skilling of Union workers and citizens, which is vital for the future prosperity of Europe in a challenging geopolitical context;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that Union industry and entrepreneurship-related actions should be at the core of the Union’s industrial and green recovery budget plans and initiatives;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Insists furthermore that additional funds are necessary to make the European Green Deal a success, to ~~adequately~~ address the climate crisis and contribute to the transition towards a ~~climate-neutral economy and society by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement~~net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy and society by 2050 at the latest in a targeted manner; notes that to this end substantial increases are needed for Horizon Europe, CEF- Energy ~~and the Space Programme as well~~ , Single Market Programme/ COSME, and the Space Programme; furthermore demands to substantially increase the ~~Just Transition Fund~~climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets across all Union programmes as well as to put in place a corresponding annual reporting mechanism based on actual expenditure rather than estimates;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Insists furthermore that additional funds are necessary to make the European Green Deal a success, to adequately address the climate crisis and contribute to the transition towards a climate-neutral economy and society by 2050 and a 70% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement; notes that to this end substantial increases are needed for Horizon Europe, CEF- Energy and the ~~Space Programme as well as the Just Transition Fund~~Just Transition Fund in order to support renewables energies;

Amendment 19 #

Valérie HAYER, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Insists furthermore that additional funds are necessary to recover and make the European ~~Green Deal a success, to adequately address the climate crisis and contribute to~~industry more competitive, achieve relocation especially in the key sectors shown by the COVID 19 outbreak and enhance the transiformation to~~wards a climate-neutral economy and society by 2050 in line with the Paris Agree~~ make Union industry more respectful of the environment; notes that to this end substantial increases are needed for Horizon Europe, CEF-Energy and the Space Programme as well as the Just Transition Fund;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the ~~agreement reached~~proposed cuts by the European Council in July on the 2021- 2027 MFF with regard to the programmes in the ITRE remit; highlights that the financial envelopes for all those programmes are below the level initially proposed by the Commission in 2018 and below the level considered necessary by the European Parliament; strongly believes that without sufficient funding those programmes risk not being able to deliver on the~~ir policy objectives which would result in the Union not being in a position to attain its twin goals of a digital and green transformation~~ Union’s policy priorities and objectives, in particular its transition towards a socially, economically and environmentally resilient net zero emissions society;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Reiterates that investments in research and innovation need to be stepped up with a view to improving access to knowledge, promoting social development and raising the quality of living standards; Recalls also the importance of research and innovation to address the key challenge of tackling climate change in time to reach a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 at the latest; deplores, in that context, the continuous funding through Union taxpayers’ money of projects that are not climate-proof; calls, therefore, for transferring the Union contribution from the budget of ITER to renewables and energy savings;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the need to support the Union's competitiveness and industrial capacity, calls in this regard for sufficient funding to support SMEs, micro entreprises and startups, which have been severely affected by the crisis; underlines in addition the importance of programmes such as the European Defence Fund in supporting the strategic autonomy of the Union;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission to put forward a comprehensive and detailed legislative proposal on tracking, accounting and proofing for climate and biodiversity mainstreaming and requests that the European Parliament is closely involved in the development of these methodologies;

Amendment 23 #

Ivars IJABS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the important role that 5. Union agencies play in helping to achieve policy objectives set by the European Parliament and the Council; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies in line with their tasks and responsibilities; underlines in particular the need to substantially reinforce ACER, which has been underfunded and understaffed for many years, risking to jeopardise ACER’s functioning and its ability to perform its tasks on monitoring and market transparency as well as the additional tasks conferred on it through recent legislation including the Clean Energy Package; regrets that the Commission once again did not address this problem already in its draft budget; requests, furthermore, targeted increases for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme ~~and for the~~; As noted by the European Parliament in its last discharge report, an appropriate increase of budget allocated to BEREC Ooffice is essential, due to the fact that BEREC is dependent on external resources and a company, which creates a risk of business continuity.

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the important role that Union agencies play in helping to achieve policy objectives set by the European Parliament and the Council; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies in line with their tasks and responsibilities; underlines in particular the need to substantially reinforce ACER, which has been underfunded and understaffed for many years, risking to jeopardise ACER’s functioning and its ability to perform its tasks on monitoring and market transparency as well as the additional tasks conferred on it through recent legislation including the Clean Energy Package; regrets that the Commission once again did not address this problem already in its draft budget; re~~quests, furthermore, targeted increases for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and~~calls that as from 2021 the European GNSS Agency will be converted into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme with a broad list of new tasks assigned to it; requests in this regard an adequate increase in that agency’s budget; requests, furthermore, an adjustment of the establishment plan and a targeted budget increase for the BEREC Office.

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Underlines that given the current economic situation, it is highly important to establish and strengthen the support mechanism for micro enterprises and SMEs; Calls, therefore, for stronger support in the 2021 budget for micro enterprises, SMEs and their representative associations, thus helping to increase their productivity, improve access to technology and funding, and promote better labour conditions.

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Reiterates that the Union budget shall benefit its citizens and shall primarily be focused on sustainable growth and quality jobs, on the transition to a more efficient and renewable-based energy system, on the fight against climate change, and on the eradication of energy poverty. In this regard, underlines that public money shall not be spent on military investments or defence matters;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Any budget increase to the programmes in the ITRE remit should be assessed according to their added value for citizens and society;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes therefore that the 2021 budget should aim at using the entire available margin and make recourse to all available flexibility instruments in order to strengthen in particular Union programmes that support digital and green transformation and the fight against the social and economic impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic; Insists that the 2021 budget should greatly contribute to funding the European Green Deal Investment, which aims to create an enabling framework to facilitate and stimulate public and private investments needed for the transition to a climate-neutral, competitive and inclusive economy;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes therefore that the 2021 budget should aim at using the entire available margin and make recourse to all available flexibility instruments in order to strengthen in particular Union programmes that support diecologitcal, energy and greensource-efficient and sustainable digital transformation and the fight against the social and economic impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic;

Amendment 8 #

Valérie HAYER, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes therefore that the 2021 budget should aim at using the entire available margin and make recourse to all available flexibility instruments in order to strengthen in particular Union programmes that support ~~digital and green transformation~~transformations to enhance competitiveness and the fight against the social and economic impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes therefore that the ~~2021 budget should aim at using the entire available margin and make recourse to all available flexibility instruments in order~~use of margins to strengthen in particular Union programmes that support the digital and green transformation ~~and the~~should be considered as of 2021, as well as the use of flexibility instruments in order to fight against the social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic;

source: 657.368

2020/09/23 AFET 65 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the budgetary year 2021 is the first of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework (MFF); further notes th~~at the bulk of external action spending is concentra~~e alarming increase of many Member States contributions to the Union budget following the withdrawal of the United Kin ~~the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), on which inter-in~~gdom from the Union; notes the European Council’s complete disregard for rule of law - exemplified by the loans for grants scheme in violation of Article 311 TFEU which will diminish the stiatu~~tional legislative negotiations are still ongoing~~re of Europe as a bastion of rule of law in the world;

Amendment 10 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Rejects the deep cuts to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period, at a time when EU leadership is needed more desperately than ever; regrets the European Council's decision to discard the external pillar of Next Generation EU, namely the top-up of EUR 10,5 billion for the NDICI proposed by the Commission; calls for significant reinforcements for the NDICI as one of the EU's flagship programmes;

Amendment 11 #

Radosław SIKORSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Rejects the deep cuts to heading 5, especially with regards to the Military Mobility as well as to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for ~~increased~~a significant reduction in funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas on the latter;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for indecreased funding levels ~~for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the~~across the board - including geographic and thematic programmes ~~within~~under the NDICI~~, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas~~;

Amendment 15 #

Angel DZHAMBAZKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for ~~increased~~the funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI to be maintained, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, ~~should be reinforced in order to~~ allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for increased funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI~~, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions,~~ should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas; calls in particular for a more ambitious budget in the human rights components of the instrument, in order to address the increasing challenges to human rights in the world, which face unprecedented pressures further compounded by the COVID-19 crisis;

Amendment 17 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for increased funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas; underlines that its position on the allocations for the NDICI is fully aligned with the amounts laid down in Parliament's first-reading position on the NDICI;

Amendment 18 #

Francisco José MILLÁN MON, Gabriel MATO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 19 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Rejects the introduction of an “emerging challenges and priorities cushion” budget line, with no substantial information on the intended use of the funds under this line provided by the Commission; insists that such a blank cheque is not compatible with the principles of transparency and democratic accountability and undermines the budgetary authority's prerogatives;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the budgetary year 2021 is the first of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework (MFF); further notes that the bulk of external action spending is concentrated in the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), on which inter-institutional legislative negotiations are still ongoing; stresses that these negotiations should conclude with an agreement as soon as possible;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for increased funding for all kind of human rights activities of the Union, for example for the EU Special Representative on freedom of religion or belief, for activities to fight antisemitism, and for other groups of societies in the world who are suffering under pressure or discrimination;

Amendment 21 #

4a. Calls for increased funding for electoral observation missions and stresses their fundamental role of being a strong deterrent to electoral fraud and violence whilst also contributing to improving future elections, fostering peace and development and supporting democracy;

Amendment 22 #

Radosław SIKORSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for further and permanent funding for strategic communication actions to counter disinformation campaigns, propaganda and foreign influence, especially for the flagship project of the European External Action Service - East Strat Com Task Force - EU vs. Disinfo;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Emphasises the need for increased funding for the Western Balkan countries and the countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood in order to support political and economic reforms, with a focus on the most committed partners following the principle of ‘more for more and less for less’;deleted

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Emphasises the need for increased funding for~~Calls for an end to the accession process of the Western Balkan countries and, the countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood in order to support political and economic reforms, with a focus on the most committed partners following the principle of ‘more for more and less for less’o this end, the dismantling of IPA III; calls for an immediate end to all European Union funding for Turkey, including funds allocated under the 2016 agreement on migrants and under IAP III;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Emphasises the need for increased~~Considers the funding for the Western Balkan countries and the countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood in order to support political and economic reforms, with a focus on the most committed partners following the principle of ‘more for more and less for less’;

Amendment 26 #

Francisco José MILLÁN MON, Gabriel MATO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Emphasises the need for increased funding for the Western Balkan countries and~~Highlights the numerous challenges and the situation of instability in the European Neighbourhood; strongly calls for an increase of funding for the countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood in order to support political and economic reforms and support democratic transitions, with a focus on the most committed partners following the principle of ‘more for more and less for less’;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 28 #

Emmanouil FRAGKOS, Hermann TERTSCH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 29 #

Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the EU financial support of over EUR 980 million for the Eastern Partnership during the COVID- 19 pandemic to help tackle the immediate needs in the health sector; notes as well the tailor-made COVID-19 package for Belarus worth over EUR 60 million; however, calls on the Commission to provide greater funding aiming to support civil society of Belarus, human rights defenders, independent unions and independent media, while freezing any EU financial transfers to the current Belarusian government;

Amendment 3 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Regrets that the new nomenclature for the external action part as proposed by the Commission is much less detailed than the previous one, reducing transparency, predictability, accountability, scrutiny, and limiting the budgetary authority’s capacity to make budgetary choices reflecting political priorities; insists, therefore, that a more differentiated budget structure, with dedicated lines for the most important beneficiaries and sub- regions, is needed; notes that the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development have proposed a revised nomenclature that is adapted to the new instruments, but introduces a higher level of detail by creating new budget lines within the extremely broad geographic and thematic lines proposed by the Commission; emphasises that the revised nomenclature enjoys strong support in both committees;

Amendment 30 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Believes that it is important to continue confidence building with the Eastern Partnership countries and especially with the associated ones; underlines the importance of promoting fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law; therefore calls for the allocations to Azerbaijan and Belarus to be limited to support to civil society and non-state actors, as well as people-to- people contacts;

Amendment 31 #

Francisco José MILLÁN MON, Gabriel MATO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Reiterates the need to pay greater attention to, and increase the funding for, our southern neighbours; deplores the fact that, 25 years on from the start of the Barcelona Process, the creation of an area of shared prosperity, stability and freedom with the Mediterranean countries of North Africa has still not been completed;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the importance of the accession process of the Western Balkan countries; calls for increased funding in this regard to uphold the EU's engagement in the region, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the importance of a progressive framing of the EU’s common security and defence policy and the need to support further funding to ensure its implementation; highlights the need for increasing the budget for the European Defence Fund;

Amendment 34 #

Sunčana GLAVAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for supplementary supervision of international and development aid spending in light of global developments, while respecting the rule of law and strengthening democratic processes in individual countries in Europe and around the world;

Amendment 35 #

Assita KANKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Emphasises the need for increased funding for the development and security of the Sahel countries, given the fact that the jihadists are gaining ground in this region, threatening also West Africa´s coastal states;

Amendment 36 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recalls the challenges the countries of South Neighbourhood are facing especially due to the tumultuous developments in the region, including but not limited to the COVID-19 emergency and the security environment; is of the opinion that, especially following the dramatic events in Lebanon, an increased support should be foreseen;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Emphasises the strong need for financial support to civil society and non- governmental organisations in Belarus;

Amendment 38 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. In order to support a peaceful resolution to the Libyan conflict proposes the creation of a dedicated budget line for "the support to the political process in Libya";

Amendment 39 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Calls for an increased financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in recognition of the essential role played by UNRWA as unique provider of vital services for millions of Palestine refugees and as an investment towards security, stability and development in the region;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Regrets that the new nomenclature for the external action part as proposed by the Commission is much less detailed than the previous one, reducing transparency, scrutiny, and limiting the budgetary authority’s capacity to make budgetary choices reflecting political priorities; insists, therefore, that a more differentiated budget structure, with dedicated lines for the most important beneficiaries and sub- regions, is needed, so that the budget is better to read and to understand, for example in how much money is going to Turkey, and how much more is spent on the EU Special Representative, especially for religious freedom and the staff; stresses that more clarity in the budget is needed;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the stronger focus of the funding under the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA III) on the so- called fundamentals, notably democracy, the rule of law, respect for human and fundamental rights, good governance and civil society, as well as people-to-people contacts.; calls for the termination of all funding to Turkey in terms of the pre- accession process;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 43 #

Assita KANKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the stronger focus of the funding under the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA III) on the so- called fundamentals, notably democracy, the rule of law, respect for human and fundamental rights, good governance and civil society, as well as people-to-people contacts., and calls for the reconsideration of future pre-accession assistance to Turkey given the fact that Turkey is not committed to reforms, backslides and plays a negative role concerning the stability and security in the Mediterranean;

Amendment 44 #

Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the stronger focus of the funding under the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA III) on the so- called fundamentals, notably democracy, the rule of law, respect for human and fundamental rights, good governance and civil society, as well as people-to-people contacts.; strongly believes that Turkey is moving further away from the respect of EU values and Copenhagen criteria, and that it should receive substantially diminished IPA shares;

Amendment 45 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that the revised nomenclature proposed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs envisages separate budget lines for the Western Balkans and Turkey; insists on the need for dedicated budget lines for Turkey in view of the highly sensitive nature of EU funding for Turkey; underlines that due to the lack of progress on democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, the allocations for Turkey should be limited to the so called fundamentals, be directly managed by the EU and focus exclusively on support for civil society and people-to- people contacts with the objective of protecting and promoting democratic values and principles, human rights and the rule of law;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Underlines that the allocation of EU funding should be conditional on the respect of rule of law, democracy, human rights, European and international law, the sovereign rights of Member States and the principle of good relations between neighbours; underlines that in Turkey, an EU candidate country, there are serious violations of the rule of law, human rights and democracy as well as an aggressive behaviour towards the EU, disrespecting European and international law, the sovereign rights of Member States and the principle of good relations between neighbours;

Amendment 47 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for increased funding for the European Defence Fund (both Research and Non-Research) in order to fully foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base that will contribute to the much-needed strategic autonomy of the EU; emphasizes that in order to better address emerging and future security threats, the EU must offer enough funding for research in innovative defence products and technologies aimed to strengthen collaborative actions and cross-border cooperation throughout the Union.

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Emphasis that at a time when external challenges and matters of international politics are gaining of importance and are dominating international politics, it has to be ensured that the external dimension of the Union budget is appropriately funded and prepared to respond without delay to current, emerging, as well as future challenges;

Amendment 49 #

Emmanouil FRAGKOS, Hermann TERTSCH

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Emphasizes the need to increase funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in light of the crucial role it plays in protecting and ensuring the essential needs of Palestine refugees as well as contributing to their human development;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to propose strategic guidelines for strengthening the permanent structured cooperation, in order to counter the new threats in the eastern Mediterranean;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to stop, under IPA III, the funds for the pre- accession talks with Turkey and put the budget at zero; stresses that it is time for a different approach towards Turkey;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the responsibility of the EU to support the protection of the Arctic; underlines the importance of investing into developing a more coherent EU Arctic Policy;

Amendment 52 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls for increased funding for military mobility with the aim of helping Member States act faster and more effectively in the context of a future possible conflict; highlights that the goal of military mobility is to harmonise rules across Member States and to explore the potential of a civilian-military approach to infrastructure development; notes, therefore, that sufficient funding is needed to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy, including by measures such as funding dual-use transport infrastructure and simplifying diplomatic clearances and customs rules;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Recalls that various European political leaders have highlighted the importance of significantly advancing the relations with the African continent, and hence stresses the need to adequately match words with deeds and provide adequate funding in order to address the many joint short-, medium-, and long- term challenges and opportunities which Europe and Africa can only tackle together;

Amendment 54 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Costas MAVRIDES, Juozas OLEKAS, Sven MIKSER, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Regrets the low level of funding for heading 5, and in particular for the European Defence Fund and for military mobility; calls for a significant increase of funding so as to meet the ambition of the EU in the defence area;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. recalls that funding instruments, projects or programmes need to be assessed in the light of the Green Deal in general and the Union climate objectives in particular, and should take them fully into account;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls for increased visibility and transparency for funding the EU's near neighbourhood and monitoring that no funding is misused or used to encourage corruption;

Amendment 57 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Following the recent worrying developments in Belarus, calls for an increase in the allocations for the Special Representatives and for the creation of a new Special Representative for Belarus, to support the process for a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Belarusian people.;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. At a time where democracy is more and more under threat around the world, reiterates its support for funding dedicated to election observation missions, including local observers, and calls for an appropriate level of funding;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Insists that the European Investment Bank reports in a timely and comprehensive manner on all its external spending to the relevant its committees;

Amendment 6 #

Sunčana GLAVAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises that the European Parliament is the second branch of the budgetary authority and that implementation of the budget is highly dependent on expenditure monitoring capacities;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. While condemning any attack against religious minorities, in particular Christians, around the world, emphasises that adequate funding for actions to protect persecuted minorities must be available, and in this light further underlines its support, including adequate funding, for the EU Special Representative on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU;

Amendment 61 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Calls for the increase of budget lines on Foreign Policy Needs and Priorities, Crisis Response and Civilian CSDP emergency measures in order to deal with the dramatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 62 #

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Recalls that the respect of human rights worldwide continues to be a core business for EU external action and enough financing should be available to face the multiple human rights crises throughout the world; reiterates its strong support to human rights defenders, including environmental defenders, in particular those most at risk, and calls for adequate funds to support the project Protect Defenders EU in order to extend and reinforce its protection;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Underlines the importance of enhancing increased European cooperation in defence matters since it not only makes Europe and its citizens safer, but also leads to a cost reduction, which means that more money is available for other pressing matters; in this light very much rejects cuts to the European Defence Fund and calls for a significant increase in this field;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)

6f. Repeats its previous statements about the threats related to cybersecurity as well as the spreading of fake news; in this light highlights the need for the Union budget to better address and respond to those key challenges on a horizontal level, including in particular at the headquarters of the EU, as well as its delegations around the world;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 g (new)

6g. Reiterates its firm belief that in countries of specific strategic interest for the EU, particularly the accession countries and the associated countries of the Eastern Partnership, a closer link between the Parliament and the respective national parliaments should be established, and therefore calls for adequate funding to ensure additional staff to enhance the important field of parliamentary cooperation;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Rejects~~Takes notes of the deep cuts to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period;

Amendment 9 #

3. ~~Reject~~Notes the deep cuts to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period;

source: 657.458

2020/10/20 BUDG 161 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that 2021 should be the first year of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF); regrets that because of the delays in the MFF/Own Resources negotiations, for which Parliament stayed ready since November 2018 in its initial proposal but pending the trilogue provided for in the Treaties and which could not start before the European Council’s 21 July conclusions, as well as because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the budgetary procedure for the year 2021 could not build so far on a solid and ambitious MFF agreement;

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the EU Recovery plan; agreed in principle by the Council, insists, however, on the need to clearly enshrine the role of the budgetary authority in authorising external assigned revenue, notably of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument, under the annual budgetary procedure;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39 a. Intends to support the European Environment Agency (EEA) with additional financial and human resources, considering that the agency is expected to play a fundamental role in supporting Green Deal related actions, by monitoring and reporting on the EU biodiversity strategy, circular economy, climate change adaptation and zero pollution initiatives.

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Increases funding for Parliament’s priorities in the fields of migration and border management, most prominently the Integrated Border Management Fund and the Asylum and Migration Fund; at the same time, aims to enhance budgetary transparency by reflecting both Funds’ specific objectives into the budget structure, so that the budgetary authority can track expenditure more closely; notes the recently presented migration package of the European Commission and an upcoming proposal to widen the mandate of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol); asks the Commission to present a Draft Amending Budget should further resources become necessary during the implementation of the budget 2021;

Amendment 102 #

Anna BONFRISCO, Valentino GRANT, Hélène LAPORTE, Joachim KUHS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. ~~Increases funding for Parliament’s priorities in the field~~Faced the failure in areas of migration and border management, must abolish funding for these areas of migration and border management, m~~ost prominent~~ainly the Integrated Border Management Fund and the Asylum and Migration Fund; at the same time, aims to enhance budgetary transparency by reflecting both Funds’ specific objectives into the budget structure, so that the budgetary authority can track expenditure more closely;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Underlines the failure of European policies on preventing migration flows and human trafficking; reiterates its concerns about the role played by instruments such as the ISF and the AMIF in the management of the effects of the migration and refugee crisis;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

~~42. Underlines that it is of paramount importance to invest in adequate funding and staffing levels for all agencies operating in the fields of migration, asylum and border management;~~deleted

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Underlines that it is of paramount importance to invest in adequate funding and staffing levels for all agencies operating in the fields of migration, asylum and border management; such as the European Asylum Support Office(EASO), the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT-Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-Lisa) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex);

Amendment 106 #

Anna BONFRISCO, Valentino GRANT, Hélène LAPORTE, Joachim KUHS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Underlines that it is of paramount importance to invest in adequate funding and staffing levels for all agencies operating in the fields of migration, asylum and border management; requests additional staff resources for the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), which will be necessary for the agency to properly implement its field operations, training development, analytical activities and governance framework.

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Stresses the importance of a progressive framing of the EU’s common security and defence policy; underlines the importance of enhancing European cooperation in defence matters since it not only makes Europe and its citizens safer, but also leads to a cost reduction; calls for increased funding for the European Defence Fund in order to fully foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base that will contribute to the much-needed strategic autonomy of the EU;deleted

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Stresses the importance of a progressive framing of the EU’s common security and defence policy; ~~underlines the importance of enhancing European cooperation in defence matters since it not only makes Europe and its citizens safer, but also leads to a cost reduction;~~ calls for increased funding for the European Defence Fund ~~in order to fully foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base that will contribute to the much-needed strategic autonomy of the EU~~;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Stresses the importance of a progressive framing of the EU’s common security and defence policy; underlines the importance of ~~enhancing European~~European enhanced cooperation in defence matters since it not only makes Europe and its citizens safer, but also leads to a cost reduction; calls for increased funding for the European Defence Fund in order to fully foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base that will contribute to the much-needed strategic autonomy of the EU;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Calls for increased funding for military mobility with the aim of helping Member States act faster and more effectively; notes that sufficient funding is needed to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy, including by measures such as funding dual-use transport infrastructure and simplifying diplomatic clearances and customs rules;deleted

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Calls for increased funding for mMilitary mobility with the aim of helping Member States act faster and more effectively; notes that sufficient funding is needed to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy, including by measures such as funding dual-use transport infrastructure and simplifying diplomatic clearances and customs rules;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

~~46. Recalls that the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and proposes targeted increases to allow them to properly perform their tasks;~~deleted

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Recalls that the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and proposes targeted increases to allow them to properly perform their tasks; recalls that agencies operating in the area of security and law enforcement cooperation are requested to provide increased operational support to Member States with statutory staff unchanged, which leads to an unsustainable work situation;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls its position that the 2021- 2027 MFF climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets must go beyond the levels of targeted spending shares as set out in its interim report; aims, therefore, to achieve a biodiversity spending level of 10 % and a climate mainstreaming spending level of 30 % for 2021; reiterates its demand for a gender mainstreaming concept that draws together gender- specific information on objectives, inputs, outputs, results, including financing commitments for gender equality and the methodology for tracking and reporting gender equality expenditure

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Recalls that the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and proposes targeted increases to allow them to properly perform their tasks, especially for the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) to ensure its important activity in the areas of fight against terrorism and organised crime;

Amendment 121 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Recalls that the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security such as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and proposes targeted increases to allow them to properly perform their tasks;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Recalls that the important role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and border protection and proposes targeted increases to allow them to properly perform their tasks on the outer borders of the EU;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. ~~Reinforces~~Opposes the strengthening of the Heading 5 overall by EUR 372 320 760 above DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions), of which EUR 312 829 132 for flagship programmes; considers, that in the period of crisis the actions in this field are not a priority;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Emphasises that at a time when external challenges and matters of international relations are gaining importance and are dominating international politics, the external dimension of the Union budget must be appropriately funded and prepared to respond without delay to current, emerging, as well as future challenges; notes that the bulk of external action spending is concentrated in the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), on which inter-institutional legislative negotiations are still ongoingforeign policy should remain an exclusive competence of the Member States;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Emphasises that at a time when external challenges and matters of international relations are gaining importance and are dominating international politics, the external dimension of the Union budget must be ~~appropriately~~ funded and prepared to respond without delay to current, emerging, as well as future challenges; notes that the bulk of external action spending is concentrated in the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), on which inter-institution pragmatic and non- ideological chal le~~gislative negotiations are still ongoing;~~nges

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

~~50. Proposes the creation of a dedicated budget line for "the support to the political process in Libya" with the objective of contributing to a peaceful resolution to the Libyan conflict;~~deleted

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Proposes with urgency the creation of a dedicated budget line for "the support to the political process in Libya" with the objective of contributing to a peaceful resolution to the Libyan conflict;

Amendment 128 #

Valentino GRANT, Hélène LAPORTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood~~, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with adequate financial resources~~; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 129 #

Niclas HERBST, Olivier CHASTEL, Frédérique RIES, Cristian GHINEA, Carmen AVRAM, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with adequate financial resources; ris particularly concerned that school curriculum and textbooks authorised by the Palestinian Authority contain hate speech and violent depictions. Recalls that all teaching and training programmes that are financed from Union funds have to reflect common values and comply with UNESCO standards for peace and tolerance in school education.Recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls its position ~~that the 2021- 2027 MFF climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets must go beyond the levels of targeted spending shares as set out in its interim report; aims, therefore,~~ to achieve a biodiversity spending level of 10 % and a climate mainstreaming spending level of 30 % for 2021;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with adequate increased financial resources taking into account its key role as unique provider of vital services for millions of refugees and as an investment towards stability, security and development in the region; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with adequate financial resources and therefore calling for an increase of EU’s support to the Agency in recognition of its essential role as a unique provider of vital services for millions of Palestine refugees; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with ~~adequate~~increased financial resources in view of the growing needs of Palestine refugees and as an investment towards stability and development in the region; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 133 #

Nils TORVALDS, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the Union’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with ~~adequate~~increased financial ~~resources~~support to allow UNRWA to continue the provision of vital services to millions of Palestine refugees in the region; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Points to the persistent challenges in the EU~~nion~~’s Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, as well as the importance of endowing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Near East with adequate financial ~~resources~~support to fulfill its mandate; recalls the importance of developing stable relations and strong cooperation between the EU and Africa and deems appropriate to dedicate sufficient financial resources to the development of this continent, which would contribute inter alia to mitigating the root causes of forced migration;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Highlights the relevance of the accession process of the Western Balkan countries; deems it essential that the new nomenclature for the IPA III instrument comprises separate budget lines for the Western Balkans and Turkey, in view of the highly sensitive nature of EU funding for Turkey;deleted

Amendment 137 #

Anna BONFRISCO, Valentino GRANT, Hélène LAPORTE, Joachim KUHS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. ~~Highlights the relevance of the accession process of the Western Balkan countries~~Underlines the need for a meaningful financing for Western Balkans countries in a view of the accession process as well as numerous challenges that the EU and the candidate countries need to face; deems it essential that the new nomenclature for the IPA III instrument comprises separate budget lines for the Western Balkans and Turkey, in view of the highly sensitive nature of EU funding for Turkey;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Calls for an immediate stop to the Union’s accession negotiations with Turkey, as its government is openly threating to invade Europe with an unprecedented migratory flood and as it does not respect fundamental rights, in particular with regard to democracy and media freedom;

Amendment 139 #

Georgios KYRTSOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52 a. Strongly condemns Turkey’s repeated provocations and violations of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty. Calls to continue the freezing of Union’s accession negotiations with Turkey according to the latest decision of the European Parliament and to adjust its position on the budget lines dedicated to Turkey by suspending pre-accession funding on the domains of Democracy & governance, Rule of law & fundamental rights where the Commission recognizes lack of political will. The funds may be reallocated to support civil society and non-state actors and sectors which still may have great impact on the EU – Turkey cooperation.

Amendment 14 #

Anna BONFRISCO, Valentino GRANT, Hélène LAPORTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 140 #

Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52 a. Strongly condemns Turkey’s repeated provocations and violations of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty; Denounces that Turkey continuously violates international and EU law, EU principles and values; Calls on the Commission and Council to terminate all pre-accession funds to Turkey.

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52 a. Calls for the prompt suspension of Union funds for Turkey, in particular those falling under the IPA and asks the European Investment Bank to end all the activities it has in place for the benefit of Turkey;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52 a. opposes any attempt to fund Turkey, a country that does not respect Human Rights and democratic values;

Amendment 143 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

54. Following the recent worrying developments in Belarus, calls for the creation of a new Special Representative for Belarus, to support the process for a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Belarusian people;deleted

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

54. Following the recent worrying developments in Belarus, calls for the ~~creation of a new Special Representative for Belarus~~support of EU through the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), to support the process for a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Belarusian people;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. In the light of threats related to cybersecurity as well as the spreading of fake news, highlights the need for the Union budget to better address and respond to them on a horizontal level, both at the headquarters and at EU delegations around the world; Deems necessary to reinforces therefore lines dedicated to strategic communication for external action;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Decides not to restore, at this stage, the Council’s cuts in Heading 7, except for the needed reinforcement of the DG ENV, in order to ensure the good implementation of the Green Deal;;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)

57 a. Deeply regrets that the Commission still has not responded to Parliament's call for full access to contracts and informations regarding theCOVID-19 vaccines-related contract covered by the DAB 8/2020; decides to put part of the budgetary allocation reserved to the special advisors in reserve until the Commission has answered the concerns raised by the EP;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 11

~~Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP-PAs)~~deleted

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. reiterates its call on the Commission to lay down clear eligibility criteria for a new stringent and comprehensive methodology for both climate and biodiversity related expenditure, in the form of Framework Regulations ensuring that only projects meeting the relevant technical screening criteria developed under Regulation(EU) 2020/852 shall be accounted for when contributing to those spending targets, together with the corresponding corrective measures, where relevant, and the full implementation of the "do no significant harm" within the meaning of Article 17 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 to ensure that the EU fulfils its commitments under the Paris Agreement and its call for phase-out of indirect fossil fuel subsidies and a ban on direct ones in the entire EU budget;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Recalls the importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP-PAs) as tools for the formulation of political priorities and the introduction of new initiatives that have the potential to turn into standing Union activities and programmes; having carried out a careful analysis of all the proposals submitted adopts a balanced package of PP-PAs that reflects Parliament’s political priorities; calls on the Commission to swiftly implement PP-PAs, in close cooperation with the members of the European Parliament, and provide feedback on their performance and results delivered on the ground;deleted

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Recalls the importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP-PAs) as tools for the formulation of political priorities and the introduction of new initiatives that have the potential to turn into standing Union activities and programmes; having carried out ~~a careful~~ analysis of all the proposals submitted adopts a ~~balanced~~ package of PP-PAs that reflects Parliament’s political priorities; calls on the Commission to swiftly implement PP- PAs, in close cooperation with the members of the European Parliament, and provide feedback on their performance and results delivered on the ground;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)

60 a. Reiterates Parliament's position of 4th of April 2019 on the proposed regulation of Protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in Member States; underlines the importance of a mechanism to protect the EU budget where there is a systemic threat to values enshrined in Article 2 of the TEU, and where the financial interests of the Union are at stake; Stresses that the Parliament will not accept an agreement on a mechanism which does not protect the budget against general deficiencies in the rule of law;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61

61. Expresses its surprise and deep concern at the Commission’s cuts in Parliament’s budget, which break once more the tradition of good cooperation between the two institutions; restores the appropriations established in the estimates on the basis of a careful and responsible analysis of the needs of Parliament for 2021 and adopted by plenary in its abovementioned resolution on 14 May 2020 with a large majority; ~~takes into account the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and~~and adjusts those to take into account the setting-up of five new parliamentary committees ~~when restoring the appropriations~~;.

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Notes the ongoing negotiations on the new multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and the uncertainty regarding the funding level of the new Heading 7 - European Public Administration; stresses that Parliament has fulfilled the 5 % staff reduction objective and actually saw an overall cut of 6 %; highlights the fact that, since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, Parliament has had to cope with an increased amount of tasks; notes that synergies and re-prioritisation were achieved in the last legislative term; stresses that the functioning of Parliament depends on the fulfilment of its political and administrative tasks, which require adequate staffing levels; is deeply concerned by the serious and structural understaffing in many committees’ secretariats in contradiction with the important increase of their workload and invites the ~~Secretary-General~~bureau to urgently provide solutions to adequately staff the committees’ secretariats via ~~internal redeploym~~an increase of temporary agents and ~~increase of~~ contractual agents, and, if feasible, internal redeployment;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Notes the ongoing negotiations on the new multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and the uncertainty regarding the funding level of the new Heading 7 - European Public Administration; stresses that Parliament has fulfilled the 5 % staff reduction objective and actually saw an overall cut of 6 %; highlights the fact that, since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, Parliament has had to cope with an increased amount of tasks; notes that synergies and re-prioritisation were achieved in the last legislative term; stresses that the functioning of Parliament depends on the fulfilment of its legislative and administrative tasks, which require adequate staffing levels; is deeply concerned by the serious and structural understaffing in many committees’ secretariats in contradiction with the important increase of their workload and invites the Secretary-General to urgently provide solutions to adequately staff the committees’ secretariats via internal redeployment and increase of contractual agents;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63

63. Reiterates Parliament’s priorities for the forthcoming financial year, namely, focusing the Parliament’s budget on its core functions of legislating, acting as one arm of the budgetary authority, representing citizens and scrutinising the work of other institutions, as well as providing the resources for priority projects on engaging with citizens, green Parliament promoting the saving of resources, accessible Parliament, ~~fully respecting gender issues,~~ building security, cyber-security and IT development, and multiannual building projects;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)

63 a. Regrets the continuous increases in the Parliament budget; considers necessary, in order to give a signal to the European citizens, to identify savings in the administrative expenditures; calls for a serious revision of the priorities due to the current situation and invites the General Secretary to identify more source of savings for the 2021;

Amendment 158 #

Angelika WINZIG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 – point e – indent 2

- a detailed breakdown of expenditure for the establishment of the new Europa Experience centres for 2021 and cost of the creation of a series of mobile versions of the Parlamentarium; a breakdown of expenditure for the new visitors strategy and the four-year information campaign, as well as a thorough evaluation of the communication campaign undertaken before and during the European election 2019; is of the opinion that any new communication measures should be based on an objective and factual analysis of this evaluation;

Amendment 159 #

Angelika WINZIG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 – point e – indent 5

- an overview of all other currently rented Parliament buildings that will remain occupied in 2021 as well as a detailed projection of the growing energy costs; calls in this regard for green energy savings;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65

65. Notes that, in the main, the DB reflects the estimates of the various institutions falling within the other sections of the budget and therefore matches, with some exceptions, their financial requirements; considers that the horizontal and systematic cuts proposed by the Council would therefore have a deleterious effect on the working of the institutions concerned and consequently on the vital contribution they make to the functioning of the European Union; on that account, proposes to restore the levels of the DB in almost all cases, including with regard to the establishment plans of the Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the Ombudsman and the European External Action Service; in line with the gentlemen’s agreement, does not modify the Council’s reading concerning the Council and the European Council;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66

66. Considers that, in a limited number of cases and taking into account the institutions’ estimates, it is necessary to increase lines above the DB; proposes therefore: a) in relation to the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, to increase the appropriations above the DB for a few lines, so as to maintain a level of appropriations in line with their estimates; b) in relation to the European External Action Service to increase the appropriations above the DB for the line 2214 “Strategic Communication Capacity” and the line 3001 “External staff and outside services”.deleted

Amendment 17 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Decides to increase to the levels set up in the MFF interim report of November 2018 ~~the fifteen flagship~~ programmes identified in its resolution of 23 July 2020 (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, ~~Erasmus+,~~ the Child Guarantee, ~~the Just Transition Fund,~~ Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, LIFE+, EU4health, the Integrated Border Management Fund, Creative Europe, the Right and Values programme, the European Defence Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as relevant EU agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office); decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB; considers that any increase for the flagship programmes should be accompanied by the corresponding rise of the ceiling of the given MFF heading; decides to reinforce funding for Parliament’s priorities inter allia in the fields of security, migration, fundamental rights and external actionCreative Europe, humanitarian aid; decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Decides to increase to the levels set up in the MFF interim report of November 2018 the fifteen flagship programmes identified in its resolution of 23 July 2020 (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Erasmus+, the Child Guarantee, the Just Transition Fund, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, LIFE+, EU4health, the Integrated Border Management Fund, Creative Europe, the Right and Values programme, the European Defence Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as relevant EU agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office); decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB; considers that any increase for the flagship programmes should be accompanied by the corresponding rise of the ceiling of the given MFF heading; decides to reinforce funding for Parliament’s priorities inter allia in the fields of security, migration, fundamental rights and external action; through reinforcement of both the funding and establishment plans of the EU agencies working in this field, such as European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), European Asylum Support Office (EASO), European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) and European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex);

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Decides to increase to the levels set up in the MFF interim report of November 2018 the fifteen flagship programmes identified in its resolution of 23 July 2020 (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Erasmus+, the Child Guarantee, the Just Transition Fund, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, LIFE+, EU4health, the Integrated Border Management Fund, Creative Europe, the Right and Values programme, the European Defence Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as relevant EU agencies such as the EU- Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT-Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-Lisa) and the European Borderand Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control(ECDC), and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office); decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB; considers that any increase for the flagship programmes should be accompanied by the corresponding rise of the ceiling of the given MFF heading; decides to reinforce funding for Parliament’s priorities inter allia in the fields of security, migration, fundamental rights and external action;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that 2021 should be the first year of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF); regrets that because of the delays in the MFF/Own Resources negotiations, for which Parliament stayed ready since November 2018 and which could not start before the European Council’s 21 July conclusions, as well as because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the budgetary procedure for the year 2021 could not build so far on a ~~solid and ambitious~~ MFF agreement;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Decides to increase to the levels set up in the MFF interim report of November 2018 the fifteen flagship programmes identified in its resolution of 23 July 2020 (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Erasmus+, the Child Guarantee, the Just Transition Fund, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, LIFE+, EU4health, the Integrated Border Management Fund, Creative Europe, the Right and Values programme, the European Defence Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and humanitarian aid, as well as relevant EU agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office); decides further to base its reading on the MFF ceilings proposed by the Commission in the DB; considers that any increase for the flagship programmes should be accompanied by the corresponding rise of the ceiling of the given MFF heading; decides to reinforce funding for Parliament’s priorities inter allia in the fields of ~~security, migration~~research, space, SMEs, tourism, security, migration, border management, fundamental rights and external action;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Accept~~Opposes the Council’s increases in Heading 1, 2a, and 3~~, unless for the lines wh~~; rejects the introduction of the Resilience clustere i~~t decides on a higher amount of appropriations; accepts further the mov~~nto the annual budget; believes that the Recovery packages should remaing o~~f the Resilience cluster from Heading 5 to Heading 2b~~utside the classical budgetary framework;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Reaffirms its previous commitme~~Considers importants to ~~make fu~~pay back all unuse ~~of the possibility to re-use~~d funds coming from de-commitments ~~for research laid down in Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation~~to the Member States;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points to the importance of ensuring that sufficient financial resources and adequate human resources capacities are allocated to Union agencies such as the EU-Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT-Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-Lisa) and the European Borderand Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), enabling them to fulfil their mandate, execute their tasks and respond optimally to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak; underlines the fact that proper coordination and synergies between agencies are needed to increase the effectiveness of their work, especially where there is convergence towards specific policy objectives, in order to allow for a fair and efficient use of public money;

Amendment 26 #

Nils TORVALDS, Martin HOJSÍK, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points to the importance of ensuring that sufficient financial resources and adequate human resources capacities are allocated to Union agencies enabling them to fulfil their mandate, execute their tasks and respond optimally to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak; underlines the fact that proper coordination and synergies between agencies are needed to increase the effectiveness of their work, especially where there is convergence towards specific policy objectives, in order to allow for a fair and efficient use of public money;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points to the importance of ensuring that sufficient financial resources and adequate human resources capacities are allocated to EU~~nion~~ agencies enabling them to fulfil their mandate, execute their tasks and respond optimally to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak; underlines the fact that proper coordination and synergies between agencies are needed to increase the effectiveness of their work, especially where there is convergence towards specific policy objectives, in order to allow for a fair and efficient use of ~~public money;~~ the European taxpayers money; insists that the Commission must ensure optimal allocation of personnel among its Directorates General reflecting urgent needs and long-term priorities related to the COVID19 response and the European Green Deal in particular;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Sets the overall level of appropriations for the 2021 budget (all Sections) at EUR 181 684 729 002 in commitment appropriations, representing an increase of EUR 14 938 547 026 compared to the DB; decides in addition to make available an amount of EUR 1 631 420 001 in commitment appropriations further to de-commitments under Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation; Notes, however, that even with ambitious funding, the available funds will not be unlimited; Emphasises therefore the need for prioritisation among the 2021 budget expenditures;

Amendment 3 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Takes note of the Council’s position on the DB in that it preserves the interest of the contributing States, including the importance it attaches to the Letter of amendment; concurs with the Council on the latter, while ambitioning to present a reading which follows its priorities on MFF/OR and budget 2021 in a coordinated manner; notes that this approach is also motivated by the limited time that will be left following the presentation of the Letter of amendment;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Sets the overall level of appropriations for the 2021 budget (all Sections) at EUR 181 684 729 002 in commitment appropriations, representing an increase of EUR 14 938 547 026 compared to the DB; decides in addition to make available an amount of EUR 1 631 420 001 in commitment appropriations further to de-commitments under Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation; however recalls that this level should be adjusted after the publication of the draft amending letter and as the negotiations and conciliation advances;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 33 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 36 #

Pierre LARROUTUROU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. In order to finance this budget, reminds that, as expressed in its legislative resolution of 16 September 2020, the new categories of own resources should be introduced as of 2021 and that any amounts generated by new own resources beyond the level necessary to cover the repayment obligations of the NGEU in a given year should remain in the Union budget as general revenue notably to top-up the 15 EU flagship programmes as of 2021 accompanied by the corresponding rise of the MFF ceilings; asks, in order to fulfil these objectives, for the introduction of a basket of new own resources and especially for the urgent adoption of those of the new own resources which are the most advanced in terms of technical preparation (directive proposal and impact assessment ready), and which can generate the highest volume of revenues ; Underlines that, as expressed in its report on SEIP adopted on 16 October 2020 in BUDG-ECON, the new own resource which meets these 2 criteria is a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) which, based on the original Commission proposal from 2012 and taking into account Brexit and economic growth, could raise up to 57bn EUR/year ; reiterates, in that connection, its call to all Member States to join the enhanced cooperation framework on the FTT ; Reminds that, since 2018, Parliament has reiterated several times that It will not give its consent for the MFF without an agreement on the reform of the EU’s own resources system ; Stresses that in 2020, in order to answer the climate, health and social crises, there is a need to fill an investment gap of 600bn € per year, as assessed by the European Commission and as recalled by the EP’s SEIP report ; adds therefore that Parliament will not give its consent to the 2021 Budget without a decision by the Council on the FTT allowing for revenues and increased spending of at least 50bn EUR/year, or, at least, first a decision in enhanced cooperation on the FTT allowing for revenues and increased spending of at least 30bn EUR/year to be implemented at the latest on 1st January 2024.

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Recalls the request to propose new own resources, in particular related to the internal market, in order to progressively reduce the direct contribution from the Member States by easing the pressure on their budgets; invites the Commission to work towards the establishment of a financial transaction tax acceptable to all EU members as a potential basis for a new own resource for the EU budget; invites the Council to open a discussion to this issue and to set up a realistic roadmap;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Highlights the importance of Horizon Europe ~~in making the European Green Deal a success, and contributing to the transition towards a climate-neutral economy and society by 2050~~, and in supporting the digital transformation, which is vital for the Union’s future prosperity; stresses also that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to invest in health research; proposes therefore significantly to increase Horizon Europe, in line with its long-held position calling for an overall budget of EUR 120 billion; considers, furthermore, that the full amount of decommitments made over the whole of the current MFF should be made available, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, to support the climate and digital transitions and health research;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Highlights that Horizon Europe provides very strong European added value and stresses the importance of the programme for significant areas of European research; points out the importance of Horizon Europe in making the European Green Deal a success, and contributing to the transition towards a climate-neutral economy and society by 2050, and in supporting the digital transformation, which is vital for the Union’s future prosperity; stresses also that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to invest in health research on Covid 19, but also other important health areas such as cancer; proposes therefore significantly to increase Horizon Europe, in line with its long-held position calling for an overall budget of EUR 120 billion; considers, furthermore, that the full amount of decommitments made over the whole of the current MFF should be made available, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, to support the climate and digital transitions and health research;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that in its resolution of 19 June 2020 on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2021 budget, Parliament stressed that the primary focus of the 2021 budget should be to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and support the recovery, built on the European Green Deal and digital transformation; stresses the importance of a rapid and effective answer to the needs of European citizens that are suffering the most important economic crisis in the last 70 years; calls the Institutions for a fast agreement in order to start a real economic recovery of the situation;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Highlights the importance of Horizon Europe in making the European Green Deal a success, and contributing to the transition towards a climate-neutral economy and society by 2050, and in supporting the digital transformation, which is vital for the Union’s future prosperity; stresses also that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to invest in health research; proposes therefore significantly to increase Horizon Europe, in line with its long-held position calling for an overall budget of EUR 120 billion over the 2021-2027 MFF period; considers, furthermore, that the full amount of decommitments made over the whole of the current MFF should be made available, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, to support the climate and digital transitions and health research;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Is convinced that the fight against cancer should be an absolute priority for the Union, and that significant efforts need to be stepped up in this direction; underlines the fact that cancer research is an important pillar in this process; supports, therefore, an increase of financial resources of Horizon Europe; stresses that research intensifies in this field without any delay;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments; notes with deep regret that the European Council has cancelled the Commission proposal on a Solvency Support Instrument(SSI); supports its line envisaged in the EP preparatory works to the legislative file to transfer the appropriations foreseen for the SSI to the InvestEU Programme;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, innovation, digitalisation, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments; Underlines the importance of rebuilding European long term competitiveness;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments and to support the solvency of companies established in the Member States and operating in the Union;

Amendment 45 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for the 2021 Union budget to ensure that the sufficiently funded InvestEU Programme delivers on both its long term objective by providing more investment capacity aimed at supporting sustainable infrastructure, research, SMEs, and social investments and its new short term mission to support the economic recovery via strategic investments;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European networks, boosting transport projects in particular the ones supporting a sustainable and cross-border mobility as well as modal shift, supporting energy projects in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy and preventing a carbon lock-in, with security of supply, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re-skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the transport and energy strands to ensure that the necessary investment is made to decrease GHG emissions by 65% until 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 49 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network, supporting energy projects in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re-skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the transport and energy strands and calls for a comprehensive analysis of the financed projects in order to establish what are the effective priorities and not to finance projects with negative environmental impact;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that in its resolution of 19 June 2020 on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2021 budget, Parliament stressed that the primary focus of the 2021 budget should be to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and support the recovery, built on the European Green Deal and digital transformation; notes that a lack of a significant top-up in the MFF negotiations could lead the budgetary authority to further prioritization amongst the 15 EU flagship programmes;

Amendment 50 #

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network, supporting energy and transport connectivity projects in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply taking into consideration the special situation of European insular and peripheral regions, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re-skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the transport and energy strands;

Amendment 51 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network~~, supporting energy project~~ and interconnectivity, supporting transport and energy projects across Member States in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re- skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the digital, transport and energy strands;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network, supporting energy projects in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply, and but stressing the need for a digital transition, including the up-skilling and re- skilling of ~~Unio~~European workers; proposes therefore major increases, in particular for the transport and energy strands;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the crucial role of the Connecting Europe Facility in fostering the development of a high-performance trans- European network, supporting energy projects in the shift towards a climate- neutral economy with security of supply, and buttressing the digital transition, including the up-skilling and re-skilling of Union workers; proposes therefore major increases~~, in particular~~ for the transport, digital and energy strands;

Amendment 54 #

19 a. Recalls the fundamental value of the European Space programme, in particular the contribution of Copernicus and Galileo to the European Green Deal and consequently requests targeted reinforcements to ensure the programmes can support the Union’s environmental goals; stresses the importance of independence of the European space industry in the global competition and highlights the added-value of these programmes for job growth, competitiveness, and the development of SMEs;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19 b. In line with the goals of the Green Deal highlights the need for increased support under Horizon Europe for the European aviation industry and the development of sustainable and climate- friendly technologies; stresses the consequences of unfair subsidies of third states for the European aviation sector and calls for European funding to achieve a level playing-field of sustainable aviation technologies;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the heading; calls, inter alia, for a substantial increase in the amount dedicated to SME objectives; recalls the important role that Union agencies play in helping to achieve Union policy objectives; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies in line with their tasks and responsibilities;

Amendment 57 #

Elisabetta GUALMINI, Giuseppe FERRANDINO, Paolo DE CASTRO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the heading; calls, inter alia, for a substantial increase in the amount dedicated ~~to SME objectives; recalls the important role that Union agencies play in helping to achieve Union policy objectives; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies~~objectives of SMEs which are a cornerstone of the Union economy and play a crucial role in delivering excellent quality investment and job creation in all Member States as well as key programmes of the Space Cluster; recalls the important role that Union agencies play in helping to achieve Union policy objectives; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies such as EU-Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), European Union Agency for Railway, European Banking Authority (EBA), European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), European Union for the Space Programme and Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) in line with their tasks and responsibilities;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the heading; calls, inter alia, for a substantial increase in the amount dedicated to SME objectives and actions, in particular with the scope of supporting and increasing the participation of women in SMEs and their access to markets; recalls the important role that Union agencies play in helping to achieve Union policy objectives; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies in line with their tasks and responsibilities;

Amendment 59 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the heading; calls, inter alia, for a substantial increase in the amount dedicated to SME objectives; recalls the important role that EU~~nion~~ agencies play in helping to achieve EU~~nion~~ policy objectives; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies in line with their tasks and responsibilities;

Amendment 6 #

Elisabetta GUALMINI, Giuseppe FERRANDINO, Paolo DE CASTRO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. reiterates the demand for a substantial increase in the amount dedicated to support SMEs, in particular in the tourism sector, so as to build up their capacity to recover from the consequences of the pandemic, in areas such as sustainability, digitalisation and innovation and foster concrete actions to promote EU tourism businesses; moreover, reiterates EP request to create a new specific budget line in order to take into consideration that this sector, which is of paramount importance for the whole EU economy, competitiveness, employment and social development, has been particularly hard hit by the COVID- 19 crisis and is experiencing a rapid and sharp drop in demand and a surge in job losses, putting many European SMEs at risk;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities regarding SMEs, which are a cornerstone of the Union economy and play a crucial role in delivering excellent quality investment and job creation in all Member States; highlights the need to ensure enough funding in 2021 for SMEs in sectors which have been the most affected by the pandemic COVID-19, such as tourism, creative industry and transport;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Regrets that the Commission did not propose the creation of a dedicated line for tourism due to the current situation; calls for a quick direct and undirect support to this sector, in particular to SMEs;

Amendment 63 #

Nils TORVALDS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Underlines the parliament position on the creation of the new Tourism line under heading 1.

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20 b. Notes that tourism is an important economic sector, that ensures 23 million direct and indirect jobs in Europe, especially to young people, and that it is one of the most affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic; proposes therefore to present new budget line for Tourism in order to support the European tourism ecosystem;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Emphasises the need to allocate additional resources to the EU4Health Programme, in complementarity with other EU programmes such as the ESF+ or Horizon Europe, in contributing in particular to address the significant structural needs identified during the COVID-19 crisis, setting out key action areas such as the improvement of national health systems, the availability and affordability of medicines and other crisis- relevant products and to ensure continued and timely provision of accessible ~~and safe sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)~~health services;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Emphasises the need to allocate additional resources to the EU4Health Programme, contributing in particular to address the significant structural needs identified during the COVID-19 crisis, focus on disease prevention, setting out key action areas such as the improvement of national health systems and reduce health inequalities, the availability and affordability of medicines and other crisis- relevant products ~~and to ensure continued and timely provision of accessible and safe sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services~~, strengthening the EU fight against cancer;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Emphasises the urgent need to allocate additional resources to the EU4Health Programme, given the inexplicable cuts of the NGEU top-ups by the Council, contributing in particular to address the significant structural needs identified during the COVID-19 crisis, setting out key action areas such as the improvement of national health systems, the availability and affordability of medicines and other crisis-relevant products and to ensure continued and timely provision of accessible and safe sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+ as a symbolic and one of the most successful Union programmes with strategic investment in the Union's future; recalls that insufficient funding for the Erasmus+ programme would endanger its capacity to reach its new objectives and to uphold the challenges of becoming more inclusive and ecological; decides therefore to substantially increase Erasmus+ in line with its position to triple its budget;deleted

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+ as a ~~symbolic~~key flagship and one of the most successful Union programmes withat is broadly known among its citizens. Stresses that Erasmus +the primary programme for education, training, youth and sport represents strategic investment in the Union's future; recalls that insufficient funding for the Erasmus+ programme would endanger the continuation of creation of new opportunities for young people and increase their employability as well as its capacity to reach its new objectives and to uphold the challenges of becoming increasingly more inclusive and ecological; decides therefore to substantially increase Erasmus+ in line with its position to triple its budget;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 70 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Emphasises the importance of Erasmus+ as a symbolic and one of the most successful EU~~nion~~ programmes with added value and as a strategic investment in the ~~Unio~~EU citizen's future; recalls that insufficient funding for the Erasmus+ programme would endanger its capacity to reach its new objectives and to uphold the challenges of becoming even more inclusive and ecological; decides therefore to substantially increase Erasmus+ in line with its position to triple its budget;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Recalls that the cultural and creative sector is one of the most hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for adequate answers and financing to reduce the substantive losses of the sector due to the unforeseeable closure of venues during the pandemic; proposes therefore to substantially increase the respective budget lines of Creative Europe;deleted

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Recalls that the cultural and creative sector is one of the most hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for adequate answers and financing to reduce ~~the~~continuing substantive losses of the sector due to the unforeseeable closure of venues during the pandemic; proposes therefore to substantially increase the respective budget lines of Creative Europe;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Insists on the need for more transparency in the allocation of funds under the various programme components and sub-programmes of Erasmus+, by restoring its previous nomenclature, and ~~of Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme by creating a new budget line for the Union values strand; reiterates its~~ request to the Commission to increase transparency in its use of the budget assigned to multimedia activities, in particular by creating a series of new budget lines in connection with the measures;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Decides to create new budget line 07 06 04 “Protect and promote Union values” in order to reinforce the funding focus on protecting and promoting democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights including supporting activities by civil society organisations in this area;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Echoes the Commission prediction that, in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak, ~~tackling~~fighting against extreme poverty, and especially child poverty will become even more important in the coming years; consequently, insists that a separate budget line under ESF+ needs to be created for the European Child Guarantee with an allocation of EUR 1 billion for the year 2021;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Recalls that the COVID-19 crisis affects women, groups of people who are subject to systematic gender-based discrimination and other vulnerable groups disproportionately and calls for reinforcement of the Employment and Social Innovation strand to support programmes and trainings targeted at advancing ~~women's~~their participation and tackling their precarity on the labour market;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Stresses the crucial role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme to protect and promote the rights and values enshrined in the EU Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and insists that additional appropriations are required for each stand and notably for the Daphne strand to fight violence against women;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 80 #

Moritz KÖRNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Emphasise the importance of the Justice Programmein contributing to the further development of a European area of justice based on rule of law, mutual recognition and mutual trust. Decides therefore to reinforce lines promoting juridical cooperation, juridical training and effective access to justice;

Amendment 83 #

David CORMAND, Laurence FARRENG, Salima YENBOU, Francisco GUERREIRO, Valérie HAYER, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Alexis GEORGOULIS, Irena JOVEVA, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Niyazi KIZILYÜREK, Eva KAILI, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrey SLABAKOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)

29 b. Deems it necessary to increase appropriations for the Turkish Cypriot Community budget line for the purpose of contributing decisively to the continuation and intensification of the mission of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and supporting the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, thereby promoting trust and reconciliation between the two communities;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Deeply regrets that the Commission still has not responded to Parliament's call for a comprehensive review of the budget line for multimedia measures, particularly with regard to the framework contract with Euronews; decides to put its budgetary allocation in reserve until the Commission has answered the concerns raised by the Court of Auditors; notes however that the Court of Auditors does not point to any shortcomings on Euronews’s part in its contractual reporting duties under the current framework; regrets that such a reserve of 18 million euros endangers the financial viability of Euronews, and consequently its staff, while it is highly important that the EU supports independent and high-quality journalism on EU affairs;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Deeply regrets that the Commission still has not responded to Parliament's call for a comprehensive review of the budget line for multimedia measures, particularly with regard to the framework contract with Euronews; recognised as a quality media and as neutral as possible, decides to put its budgetary allocation in reserve until the Commission has answered the concerns raised by the Court of Auditors;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30 a. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this heading; demands to provide the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) with sufficient financial and human resources to perform its tasks, considering the additional projects which have been identified through the agency’s consultation process with stakeholders; asks to provide the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the European Labour Authority (ELA) with adequate budgetary resources, taking into account the relevance of their mission, as well as the expected role of ELA in ensuring fair labour mobility in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Decides to apply targeted reinforcements to EPPO; believes that its nature requires a stronger guarantee of independence, and its budget should therefore be presented under Heading 7, an independent organism rather than assimilated to an agency;deleted

Amendment 88 #

Nils TORVALDS, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Valérie HAYER, Martin HOJSÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Decides to apply ~~targeted reinforcements to EPPO; believes that it~~justified and significant reinforcements to EPPO to allow the body to take up its duties without delay and in line with the requirements to fulfil its mandate; underlines that the establishment of the EPPO must not result in a deterioration of capacity of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to function properly; believes that EPPO’s nature requires a stronger guarantee of independence, and its budget should therefore be presented under Heading 7, an independent ~~organism~~entity rather than assimilated to an agency;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Decides to apply targeted reinforcements to E~~PPO; believ~~uropean Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO); believes and underlines that its nature requires a stronger guarantee of independence, and its budget ~~should~~ therefore should be presented under Heading 7, as an independent organism rather than assimilated to an agency;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31 a. Considers that it is also necessary to strengthen further important priorities in the heading; calls therefore for sufficient funding and staffing for all agencies such as the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA),the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the European Labour Authority (ELA) in line with their tasks and responsibilities;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Decides to reinforce the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) in order to help local, regional and national authorities and government in order to improve their capacity to design, develop and implement reforms, including through exchange of good practices, appropriate processes and methodologies and a more effective and efficient human resources management;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Reminds that the European Council, in its position on the European Recovery Instrument, did not retain the level of support for the Just Transition Fund as foreseen by the Commission proposal; expresses its concerns that these cuts will seriously undermine the recovery efforts; re-iterates that the Just Transition Fund is a vital and indispensable building block in the architecture of the European Green Deal; proposes therefore an increase of EUR 500 million in commitment appropriations for this flagship programme in 2021;

Amendment 93 #

Nils TORVALDS, Martin HOJSÍK, Olivier CHASTEL, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Valérie HAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. In line with the overall priority to tackle climate change and prevent irreversible biodiversity loss, focuses substantial increases worth EUR 237 million in commitment appropriations on budget lines pertaining to LIFE+ programme; notes that this increase is intended to contribute to the main objectives such as preservation of nature and biodiversity, the circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as the clean energy transition; expects the Commission to warrant the necessary absorption capacity for an effective use of these additional means;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. In line with the overall priority to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, focuses substantial increases worth EUR 237 million in commitment appropriations on budget lines pertaining to LIFE+ programme; notes that this increase is intended to contribute to the main objectives such as preservation of nature and biodiversity, the circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as the clean energy transition; expects the Commission to warrant the necessary absorption capacity for an effective use of these additional means;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reminds that a number of agricultural sectors have been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore supports targeted reinforcements on budget lines for market support measures under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) which aim at mitigating the effects of the crisis caused by that outbreak especially for organic farms and small- scale farmers; expects the Letter of amendment to adjust further the level of appropriations of EAGF by taking into account the assigned revenue expected to be available in 2021 and other parameters such as the impact of the COVID pandemic on agricultural sectors;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reminds that a number of agricultural sectors have been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak and drought and therefore supports targeted reinforcements on budget lines for market support measures under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) which aim at mitigating the effects of the crisis caused by that outbreak; expects the Letter of amendment to adjust further the level of appropriations of EAGF by taking into account the assigned revenue expected to be available in 2021 and other parameters such as the impact of the COVID pandemic on agricultural sectors;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37 a. Reminds that tourism and the hospitality sector were severely and particularly hit by the consequences of the COVID-19; recalls, in this regard, its request for the introduction of a specific allocation for sustainable tourism in the interim report on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 - Parliament's position with a view to an agreement; believes, furthermore, that the pandemic increased the need for the European Commission to put forward a specific programme on sustainable tourism in the EU.

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37 a. Considers that any appropriations, especially from the CAP, shall not be used for supporting breeding or rearing of bulls used for lethal bull fighting activities.

Amendment 99 #