P5_TA(2004)0368
Thirdreportoneconomicandsocialcohesion
European Parliament resolution on the third report on economic and social cohesion
(COM(2004)107/dashC5-0092/2004/dash2004/2005(INI))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtotheCommissioncommunication(COM(2004)107/dashC5-0092/2004),/dash havingregardtoArticle299(2)oftheECTreaty,/dash havingregardtoitsresolutionsongenderequalityintheEuropeanUnionand,inparticular,itsresol-
utionof13March2003ontheobjectivesofequalityofopportunitiesbetweenwomenandmenintheuseoftheStructuralFunds(
1),
/dash havingregardtothePresidencyConclusionsoftheCopenhagenEuropeanCouncilofDecember2002
onenlargement,
/dash havingregardtothedecisionsonthereformofthecommonagriculturalpolicytakenattheAgricul-
tureCouncilinLuxembourgon26June2003,
/dash havingregardtotheconferenceontheprospectsforruralareasinanenlargedEurope,whichtook
placeinSalzburgon13and14November2003,
/dash havingregardtothecommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheCouncilandtheEuropeanParlia-
mententitled‘Buildingourcommonfuture/dashPolicychallengesandbudgetarymeansoftheenlargedUnion2007-2013’(COM(2004)101),
/dash havingregardtoRules47(2)and163ofitsRulesofProcedure,/dash havingregardtothereportoftheCommitteeonRegionalPolicy,TransportandTourismandthe
opinionsoftheCommitteeonBudgets,theCommitteeonIndustry,ExternalTrade,ResearchandEnergy,theCommitteeonEmploymentandSocialAffairs,theCommitteeonAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentandtheCommitteeonWomen’sRightsandEqualOpportunities(A5-0272/2004),
A. whereastheneedforacomprehensiveEuropeancohesionpolicyisdemonstratedbythecontinued
existenceofwidedisparitiesindevelopmentofthevariousregions,asituationwhichwillbeexacer-batedbytheforthcomingenlargementoftheUnion,
B. whereasthestrengtheningofeconomicandsocialcohesion,thereductionofterritorialdisparitiesand
thepromotionofharmonious,polycentricbalancedandsustainabledevelopmentconstituteTreatyobligationsthathaveconsistentlyreceivedthesupportoftheEuropeanParliament,
C. whereasthedraftTreatyestablishingaConstitutionforEuropereinforcesthecohesionobjectiveby
theinsertionofitsterritorialdimension,
D. whereasthestructuralinvestmentbroughtaboutintheareascoveredbycohesionpolicybyintra-
Europeantrade,primarilyincapitalgoods,entailseconomicbenefitsfortheotherpartsoftheUnion,
E. whereas,followingthenextenlargement,thenumberofpeopletowhichcohesionaidapplieswillrise
from68millionto116million,correspondingtoapercentage increasefrom18%to25%;andwhereastheEuropeanParliamenthaspreviouslystatedthatthecurrentthresholdof0,45%ofCom-munityGDPallocatedtothecohesionpolicyisathresholdbeneathwhichitisnotpossibletofallwithoutjeopardisingtheachievementoftheobjectiveslaiddownintheUnion’scohesionpolicy,
(1) OJC61E,10.3.2004,p.370.C104E/1000 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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F. whereasmoreconsultationwithcivilsociety,enablingbalancedandequalpartnerships,willhelpto
ensurethattheneedsofpeople,theenvironmentandtheeconomicinterestsoftheregionsaregivenavoiceinthewholeprocessofprogramming,implementationandmonitoringoftheStructuralandCohesionFunds,
G. whereas, overall,theEuropean economicandsocialcohesionpolicyhassofarproducedpositive
results,enablingcountrieswhosedevelopmenthadbeenlaggingbehindtomakesignificantprogress,particularlyintermsofeconomicgrowth,inmostcasesatalevelhigherinpercentagetermsthatthat
oftherichestEuropeanUnioncountries,
H. whereascompetitionpolicyandregionaldevelopmentpolicymustbemadeconsistent,implyingthat
Stateaidmaynotconstituteanincentivefortherelocationofeconomicactivities,
I. whereastheenlargedEuropeanUnionwillonlybeabletomeetthechallengesoftheLisbon,Göte-
borgandTampereagendasifitrecognisesthattownsandcitiesconstituteaprecioussourceofawiderangeofbenefitsforthepublic,whichhavenotyetbeenfullyexploited,andthattheyareamajordrivingforcebehindalleconomicgrowth,environmentalsustainability,regionalcohesion,democraticparticipation,socialinclusion,multiethnicintegrationandsecurity,
J. whereastheregionsoughttobemorecloselylinkedtoamoreeffectiveandtransparentsystemfor
monitoringtheallocation,distributionanduseoftheStructuralFunds,
K. whereasdespitethewishtopromotegenderequality,progressinthisareaisfarfromsatisfactory,
L. whereasEurope’suniquepotentialforstablegrowthandsustaineddevelopmentcanonlybefully
exploitedthroughagenuinelycommonEuropeanstrategybasedonCommunityfunding,whichisaimedatareasandsectorswithparticulardifficulties,
M. whereastheEuropeanSocialFund(ESF)hasbeenplayingthemainroleinachievingtheequaloppor-
tunitiesobjectivewhencomparedwiththerestoftheStructuralFunds,
N. whereasthesizeandsocialimportanceofruralareasintheEuropeanUnionwillincreaseconsiderably
afterenlargement,addingtotheirimportanceintermsofsocialandregionalcohesion,
O. whereastheruralworldisfacingnewchallengesandhasanimportantroletoplayinsocialand
regionalcohesion,
P. whereasmaintainingalivingcountrysideandagriculturalproduction,inparticularindisadvantaged
regionsorregionssubjecttonaturalconstraints,onislands,inoutlyingregionsandmountainousandsparselypopulatedareas,mustinfuturecontinuetobeacentralobjectiveofallEuropeanUnionpolicies,particularlycohesionpolicy,
Generalcomments
1. SharestheCommission’sjudgmentthatCommunityinterventionsnotonlyprovidesignificantadded
valueintermsofeconomicandsocialcohesionbutalsorepresentgenuinevalueformoneyfortheUnionandtheMemberStatesandenhancethesenseofbelongingtotheEuropeanUnion;
2. Welcomestheaccounttakenoftheterritorialdimensioninthereformedcohesionpolicy,whichis
fullyintunewiththephilosophybehindthedraftEuropeanConstitution,inwhicheconomic,socialandterritorialcohesionaregiventhesameimportance;
3. RecognisesthattheEuropeanSustainableDevelopmentStrategyagreedattheGöteborgEuropean
Councilof15and16June2001isintegraltoachievingthestrategicgoaloftheLisbonStrategy,andthereforethisshouldbemorevisibleforEuropeancitizensinthefutureStructuralFundsandCohesionFundinterventions;30.4.2004EN C104E/1001 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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4. ApplaudstheacknowledgementbytheCommissionthatEuropeanregionalpolicyconcernsallthe
regionsandMemberStatesoftheUnionandexpresses,therefore,itssatisfactionthatnorenationalisationofcohesionpolicyhasbeenproposed;
5. WelcomestheCommission’ssupportfortheneedbothtocomplywithEUenvironmentallegislation
inallstructuralinterventionsacrosstheEUandtofulfiltheobjectivesoftheEnvironmentalActionPro-gramme;
6. Pointsout,onthebasisoftheexperiencesofrecentyears,thateconomicandsocialcohesionpolicy
canmakeanimportantcontributiontothedevelopmentofaregioniftheresourcestransferredresultinhigh-qualityprojectscapableofhavingasignificanteffectontheterritory;
7. Welcomes the acknowledgement by the Commission of the need to fulfil the objectives of the
EnvironmentalActionProgrammeandtocomplywithEUenvironmentallegislationinallstructuralinter-
ventionsacrosstheEU;
8. Recognisesthelimitsimposedbyfinancialdisciplineuponthebudgetallocationtoregionaland
cohesionpolicyandconsiders,therefore,thatthesumof0,41%ofUnionGNI(or0,46%beforetransferstothesingleruralandfisheryinstruments)couldrepresentanacceptablecompromise;
9. Believes,atthesametime,thatitneedstobeguaranteedthattheappropriationstransferredforrural
developmentwillcontinuetobeputtouseintheregionsaffected;
10. Notesthatincorporationoftheenlargementcountriesentailsanexponentialincreaseininvestment
needsandininequalitieswithintheUnion;
11. Urges that the Structural Fundsandthe CohesionFund shouldretain their structure based on
expendituretargets;considersthattheN+2rulefortheautomaticdecommitmentofappropriationsthathavenotbeenimplementedshouldberetained,sinceithasproveditseffectivenessinimprovingtheimplementationoffundsoverthecurrentprogrammingperiod;
12. Agreeswiththeoverallapportionmentoffundstothethreeobjectives;13. Welcomesthefactthattheabsorptionlimitof4%ofnationalGDPforallocationoffundstothe
MemberStateshasbeenretained,andthatamountscoveredbyruraldevelopmentandfisheriesinstru-
mentsarealsotobetakenintoaccountinthisconnection;
14. IsconvincedthatcohesionpolicyisanessentialtooltoenabletheEuropeanUniontoachievethe
Lisbonobjectives;thereforeendorsestheprinciplesofsupportforinnovationandenterpriseinordertostimulateregionalcompetitiveness;considersthattheimplementationofthetenrecommendationsmadebytheEuropeanCharterforSmallEnterprisesoughttobeoneofthecornerstonesofthispoliticalambi-tion;
AnewarchitectureforEUcohesionpolicyafter2006
Objective:Convergence
15. Endorsesthepreservationofthethresholdof75%ofpercapitaCommunityGDPasthemain
groundsforinclusioninthisobjective;welcomestherecognitionoftheso-calledstatisticaleffectandtheproposedtemporarysupportforthoseregionswhichwouldotherwiseloseoutasaresultoftheloweringofCommunityGDPfollowingenlargement;
16. Insiststhatthesupportenvisagedforregionssubjecttothestatisticaleffectbesatisfactorilycon-
firmedinthefuturelegislativeproposalsoftheCommissionandbeendowedwithadequatefinancialprovision;
17. WelcomestheintegrationoftheESFintothenewConvergenceobjective,andhopesthatthiswill
leadtomoreinvestmentinhumancapitalintheleastdevelopedareas;C104E/1002 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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18. PointsoutthattheProtocoloncohesionannexedtotheTreatyonEuropeanUnionstipulatesthat
theCohesionFundistobeimplementedtoaidthoseMemberStateswhoseGNPisbelow90%oftheCommunityaverage;believesthatthiswillbeofparticularbenefittothenewMemberStates;
19. CallsforsupporttobegivenfromtheESFandtheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF)to
the priority topics, particularly as regards local infrastructure, the development of infrastructure forinformationandcommunicationtechnologies,transportandsocialinfrastructure;pointsoutthatinthesepriorityareas,thesocialinclusionofdisadvantagedgroupsshouldbepromotedandbarrierstoaccessforpeoplewithdisabilitiesshouldberemoved;
20. UrgestheCommissiontodrawupparticularlyrigorouslegislativeproposalsinordertomakesure
thatthetransportinfrastructurewhichisfinancedundertheCohesionFundafter2006contributesfullytothedevelopmentofthemostenvironmentally-friendlymodesoftransport(rail,inlandandmaritimewater-ways,multimodaltransportprogrammes),inaccordancewiththeWhitePaperonEuropeantransportpolicyfor2010;
Objective:RegionalCompetitivenessandEmployment
21. WelcomestheintroductionofagenuinelynewObjective2tocoveralltheregionsoutsidethe
ConvergenceObjective;welcomes,atthesametime,theCommission’sapproachtowardsregionalzoningsothatinterventionscanbecarriedoutflexiblywithintheregionalterritory,concentratingonareasofgreatestneed;
22. Believes,moreover,thatthetwinapproachtotheanticipationandpromotionofeconomicchange,
basedonregionsandonpeople,canbebothcoherentandinnovative,providedthattheuseofERDFandESFfundscanbeguaranteedtotakeplaceinacoordinatedmanner;calls,inthisconnection,ontheCommissiontoensurethatthestructureoftheEqualInitiativewillalsobefullyincorporatedintothisprioritywhencombatingsocialexclusion;
23. BelievesthattheaimofEUinterventionsshouldbetoincreaseconvergenceandreduceregional
disparitiesandsocialexclusion;askstheCommissiontodevelopcriteriaforensuringthatEUresourcesare
targeted,withthisobjectiveinmind,onareasofgreatestneed;
24. ConsidersthatafaircompromisehasbeenachievedwiththeproposalthatcurrentObjective1
regionswhich,througheconomicdevelopment,donotmeettheeligibilityrequirementsforthefutureConvergenceObjective,willneverthelessbenefitfromatemporaryphasing-insupportunderthisobjective;
25. Supportsthe proposedallocationoffinancial resources onthe basisofCommunityrecognised
economic,socialandterritorialcriteria;notesinthiscontextthatregionalwealthmustbethedecisivecriterionforbudgetallocation;
26. StressesthatfirmswhichhaverecentlyreceivedEUsubsidiesshouldonnoaccountbeaccorded
newaidpurelyonthebasisoftherelocationoftheiractivities;
27. CommendstheconcentrationofCommunityinterventiononalimitednumberofthemesreflecting
thestrategiesforcompetitivenessandsustainabledevelopmentlaiddownbytheLisbonandGöteborgEuropeanCouncils;believes,however,thatitisnecessarytogainadeeperinsightintothetrendregardingandthesubstanceofthefuturelegislativeproposals;
28. Drawsattentiontothevitalroleofsmallandmicrobusinesses,includingthoseintraditionalsec-
tors,intheeconomicdevelopmentofurbanandruralareas;stressesthattheseenterprisesprovideregionaleconomicstabilityandarekeyincombatingdepopulation;
29. Welcomesthethemeoftheenvironmentandriskprevention,theconsiderationoftheimplemen-
tationofEuropeanParliamentandCouncilDirective2000/60/EC(
1)(theWaterFrameworkDirective),the
developmentofenvironmentallysustainabletransportmeasuresandthefinancialsupportforNatura2000;
(1) OJL327,22.12.2000,p.1.30.4.2004EN C104E/1003 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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30. ApprovesthelinkbetweentheEuropeanEmploymentStrategyandtheinterventionsundertheESF;
expresses,however,itsstrongconcernattheweaknessoftheregionaldimensionwithregardtointer-ventionsundertheESF;requeststhattheCommissionrectifythisshortcominginitsimpendinglegislativeproposals;
31. Pointsoutthat,withoutcallingintoquestionthehighlypositiveresultsofregionalpolicy,itisnow
acceptedthatthispolicyhasnotbeenabletosolvetheseriousproblemofemploymentinthecohesion
regions;asks,therefore,forspecificproposalsandappropriatefundingforemployment;
32. Maintainsthatlowpercapitaincomeislinkedtounemploymentintheregionscoveredbythe
objectiveandthattheStructuralFundsneedtobeimplementedwithaviewtocreatingjobs,settingupnewenterprises,andincreasingproductivity;
33. CallsontheCommissiontomanageandmonitortheuseoftheStructuralFundsmoreeffectively,
partlyinordertopreventanegativeimpactonemployment,workingconditionsandlandmanagementintheeventoftheineffectiveuseofthesefunds;thereforeasksforamorefocusedstrategywithregardtoindustrialrestructuringanditssocialimpact;
34. CallsontheCommissionandtheMemberStatestoemployinatargetedwayactivelabourmarket
policyandadulteducationmeasuresthroughthetargeteduseofresourcesundertheStructuralFundsandCommunityinitiativesundertheheading‘Developmentofhumanresources’;
35. Underlinesthattheseinequalitiescanbecombatedbygreaterparticipationbywomeninalllevels
ofeducationandtraining,lifelongaccesstolearning,andtraininginnewtechnologies;resourcesdisbursedfortrainingpolicies,includingthoselinkedtoeconomicchangesingeographicalareasorresolutionofurbanissues,ordevelopmentsinthecountryside,mustbenefitwomeninasignificantmanner;
36. IsconcernedthatESFfundingundertheCompetitivenessobjectiveislimitedtospecificmeasuresin
relationtoemploymentstrategyandappearsnottotakeintoaccountsubstantiallythewiderapproachonsocialinclusion;
37. NotesthattheeffectsofeconomicandsocialrestructuringinthenewMemberStatesareoften
detrimentaltowomen(risingunemployment,reducedchildcareinfrastructure)andcallsonthestatescon-cerned tochannel the structural fundsintoimproving the situationofwomenasof2004-2006andbeyond;considersthatagreaterdrivetowardsachievingequalopportunitiesshouldbeintroducedintopoliciessuchasinfrastructure,transport,theenvironment,regionaldevelopment,fisheriesetc.,andcallsontheCommissiontodrawupspecificguidelinesonequalopportunitiesassoonaspossibleforallthoseareasofpolicy;
38. Notesthattherehasasyetbeennosummaryreportonincorporatinggenderequalityintomeasures
co-financedbytheStructuralFundsandcalls,therefore,ontheCommissiontoexamine,inthecontextofthemid-termreviewoftheStructuralFunds,whethertheprovisionsoftheregulationonpromotingequal-ityarecompliedwithand,onthebasisofthatreview,toplantherestoftheprogrammingperiod;
39. Recallsoncemoretheimportance ofdeveloping statisticsbrokendownbygender inorderto
enhancetheeffectivenessofprogrammingbyallowingmeasurestobebasedonrelevantqualitativeandquantitativeindicators,soastoenableactionstobeproperlyevaluatedandtofacilitatesharingofexperi-enceandinformationonsuccessfulmeasuresrelatingtoimprovingthesituationofwomen;
Objective:EuropeanTerritorialCooperation
40. CongratulatestheCommissionontheproposaltocreateaseparateobjectiveforterritorialcoop-
eration,buildinguponthesuccessoftheInterregInitiative;
41. Proposesthatthisneworganisationalstructureshouldbebasedonthesignatureofatripartite
contractbetweentheEuropeanUnion,theMemberStateandtheregions;C104E/1004 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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42. Underlinestheimportanceofcontinuingthethreestrandsoftransnational,cross-borderandinter-
regionalcooperationwiththeclearobjectiveofpromotingtheharmonious,balancedandenvironmentallysustainabledevelopmentoftheterritoryoftheUnion:merelyshiftinginterregionalcooperationintomain-streamprogrammesisnotadequatetoachievethatend;
43. Stressesthat,infuture,greateraidandencouragementshouldbegiventocooperationbetween
regionsinoldandnewMemberStates;
44. AgreesstronglywiththelinktobeestablishedbetweentheintegratedprogrammesandtheLisbon
andGöteborgagendas;
45. Welcomestherecognitionofmaritimefrontiers,oftencalledforbytheEuropeanParliamentand
others,inthecontextofcross-bordercooperation;asksforthisrecognitiontoapplytoallEuropeanUnionmaritimefrontiers;welcomestheproposalforadialoguebetweentheCommission,MemberStatesandRegionsforareviewofthetrans-nationalcooperationzonesunderInterregIIIB;callsforaclear,compre-hensibledefinitionfortheirenforcement;
46. ApprovesofthecreationofasinglelegalinstrumenttoallowMemberStates,regionsandlocal
authoritiestomanagecross-borderprogrammesmoreeffectively;callsfortheinstrumenttobeadminis-tered,insofarastheirpowerspermit,bytherelevantauthoritiesbelowstatelevel;
47. ValuesthecoherencebetweentheNewNeighbourhoodinstrumentandtheCooperationObjective
andhopesthatthiscanbetestedasearlyasduringthe2004-2006period;
Anintegratedresponsetospecificterritorialcharacteristics
48. Stressesthe importance ofanintegrated responsethatencourages aharmoniousrather thana
conflictualrelationshipbetweenurbanandruralstrategies;
49. CallsontheCommissiontotakeintoconsiderationtheinfrastructuredistributionpatternsinthe
enlargedUnionandtocreateopportunitiesforeffectivelyexploitingtheurbandimensionasamainstreamcomponentoftheStructuralFunds;
50. Underlinesthenecessityforastrongurbandimension,presentinallthreeproposedobjectives,
aimedespeciallyatpromotingurbanregenerationandcombatingurbandeprivation,developingtheroleoftheurbanareasaseconomicdriversfortheregion,andtheurban-ruralrelationship;
51. AlsoaskstheCommissiontoprepareaframeworkofruleswhichenhancesthepotentialforgrass-
rootsinitiativestoflourishincitiesandotherterritorialunits;
52. Stresseswithout,however,disassociatingurbanproblemsfromtheirregionalandnationalcontext,
thattowns,particularlysmallandmedium-sizedtowns,oughttoberegardedasvitalelementsineconomicandsocialcohesion;
53. Reconfirmsitscommitmenttothenecessityoftakingintoaccountthespecificproblemsofthe
outermostregionsasrequiredunderArticle299(2)oftheTreaty;congratulatestheCommissiononitsinitiativeinthisregard;
54. Reaffirmstheimportanceofcontinuedsupportfortraditionalindustrialareasastheypursueefforts
toregeneratetheireconomiesandtheircommunities;
55. Callsforthespecificprogrammetooffsetthestructuralhandicapsaffectingtheoutermostregions
tobeconsolidatedinfuturelegislativeproposalsfromtheCommissionandprovidedwiththefinancialallocationrequiredtoensurethattheseregions,includingthosewhichhaveceasedtobecoveredbytheConvergenceObjective,cancontinuetomeettheinvestmentneedsentailedintheiroutermostlocation,especiallywhereinfrastructureisconcerned;30.4.2004EN C104E/1005 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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56. WelcomesandsupportsthedirectionoftheCommission’sthinkinginrelationtothoseareassuf-
feringfromapermanenthandicapsuchasislands,mountainousregionsandthosewithalowpopulationdensity;believes,moreover,thatthisapproachisinaccordancewiththeconsistentandoftenrepeateddemandsmadebytheEuropeanParliamentinthepast;considers,nevertheless,thattheneedsoftheseregionsmustalsobecoveredbyotherEUsectoralpolicies;
57. BelievesthattheCommissioniscorrectinitspositiveapproachtothoseareassufferingfromstruc-
turalhandicapssuchasdepopulation,populationageingordifficultaccessibility;considersthattheneedsoftheregionsaffectedbythesestructuralhandicapsshouldbedealtwiththroughadhocregionalcoop-erationoractioninitiatives;
58. ConsidersalsothatislandssuchasMaltaandCyprusshouldbetreatedinasimilarwaytoother
eligibleislandsintheregionthatareatasimilarlevelofdevelopment,soastoensurealevelplayingfield;
59. Drawsattentioninparticular,asregardsregionsandareassufferingfrompermanenthandicaps,to
specificaccessibilityandcommunicationspolicies,relatingforexampletopostalservices,educationandhealth,andtowater,aresourceessentialforlife;
60. CommendstheinitiativeforanincreaseinERDFco-financingratestotakeintoaccountcertain
territorialcharacteristicsandproposesthatthisalsoapplytoaregionalisedESF;
Instrumentsforruralareasandthefisheriessector
61. Considersthateffortstoenhancethequalityoflifeinruralareasandpromotediversificationof
economicactivitiesmustincludemeasuresspecificallytargetedatalleviatingtheadversesocialandecon-omiceffectsofdownsizingintheagriculturalsectorandatfosteringquality-orientedandenvironmentallysustainableproduction;
62. Considersitnecessarytoretainspecificinnovativemeasuresinruralareastoo;callsthereforefor
thelaunchofLeader+programmestobecontinued;urgestheCommissiontopreserveinparticularthemulti-stakeholderandparticipativeapproach;
63. Calls on the Commissionto retain in the agricultural development programme the bottom-up
methodtypical ofthe Leader Programme in which localactiongroups are abletodetermine amongthemselvesthesubstanceoftheiractivities;
64. Notesthe placingofthewholeofrural developmentwithin thesecondpillarofthe common
agricultural policyandwelcomesthe Commission’sintentiontocreate aunifiedfundforrural devel-
opmentmeasures,withaviewtopromotingsustainabledevelopment;
65. Reiterates its insistence on the distinct nature of the problems affecting the fisheries sector as
opposedtothosemoregenerallyassociatedwithruraldevelopment;believes,moreover,thatitisnecessarytodistinguishmoreclearlybetweensectoralandterritorialinterventions;agreesstrongly,therefore,withtheCommission’sproposaltoclarifytheroleofthevariousinstrumentsofsupport;
66. Maintainsthatitisvitallyimportanttofishingcountriesforthefisheriessectortobedevelopedin
suchawayastoensurethatsupportinstruments,whichmustbeimplementedinamannerconsistentwiththestockconservationpolicy,servetopromotethesustainabledevelopmentofactivitiesandthelivingandworkingconditionsoffishermen;
67. WelcomestheintentionoftheCommissiontoestablishasinglefundforruraldevelopmentpolicy
andtopromotesustainabledevelopment;urgesthat,infuture,ruraldevelopmentprogrammesshouldremainessentiallyhorizontalandthuscoverallruralareas;
68. Callsforruraldevelopmentmeasurestocontinuetobeseenasanadjuncttothecommonagricul-
turalpolicyandforcorrespondingfundstofocusdirectlyonactiveagriculturalproductionandrelatedanddownstreamareas;C104E/1006 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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69. EmphasisestheimportanceofastrongruraldevelopmentpolicyalsointhenewMemberStates,by
stimulatingthecompetitivenessofthefarmingsectorandpromotingactiontosupportwomen,togetherwithinvestmentinabroaderruraleconomy;
70. Believesthat,whilesimplerandmoredecentralisedmanagementisnecessary,itisappropriateto
maintainavarietyofprogrammestailoredtospecificactionsinordertospendpublicfundseffectively;requests,therefore,thattheLeader+approachbecontinued;
71. PointsoutthatPriority3oftencoverspredominantlyagriculturalregionsinwhichamultifunctional
farmingindustryisessentialforalivingcountryside,afactorwhichshouldbereflectedinthewaythemeasuresareimplemented;
72. CallsontheCommissiontopayparticularattentiontoyoungfarmersinconnectionwithrural
developmentmeasures,sinceyoungfarmersmakeasignificantcontributiontothecontinuedexistenceof
farmingandthedevelopmentofruralareas;
73. NoteswithregretthattheCommissionhasnotconfirmedanincreaseinthesecondpillarinthe
futureEUbudgetaspartoftheproposedfinancialframework/dashasannouncedinthereformofthecommonagriculturalpolicy/dashbutthatinsteaditintendstofreezeplannedruraldevelopmentspendingatthe2006level,whichwouldleadtoaconstantfallinruraldevelopmentappropriationsgiventhatinthefuturetherewillbe25or27MemberStates;
Coordinationwithotherpolicies
74. Viewsfavourablythedeterminationtoachieveimprovedcoordinationwithothersectoralpolicies;
recognises,inthiscontext,thatcoherenceandcomplementaritywillbeenhancedbytheconcentrationofregionalpolicyonlimitedthemesandbytheexistenceofacomprehensivecohesionstrategy;
75. DeclaresitssatisfactionatthemaintenanceofstateaidsunderArticle87(3)(a)oftheTreatyinorder
topromoteeconomicdevelopmentinConvergenceregions;demandsforcefullythatequaltreatmentbeaccordedtoConvergenceregions,subjecttothestatisticaleffect;notesthattheseaidsshouldmakeadecisivecontributiontothecreationofsustainablejobs,andnotmerelytotherelocationofjobs;
76. BelievesthatthenewStateaidguidelinesforthepost-2006periodshouldpermitArticle87(3)(a)
statustobeaccordedtoallregionseligibleforconvergenceprogrammes,includingthoseaffectedbythestatisticaleffectofenlargement;
77. UrgestheCommissiontocomeforwardwithproposalsforthefutureofStateaidsbasedonArti-
cle87(3)(c)oftheTreatyandtoreflectonhowterritorialdifferentiationmightbeincorporatedintotherulesthroughtheuseofappropriate indicators;considersitabsolutelyessentialtomaintainterritorialdifferentiationincompetitionstateaidpolicyinordertopursueaterritorialcohesionobjective;
78. CallsontheCommissiontoensurethattherelocationofbusinessesisnotsubsidisedbyEuropean
regionalpolicy;
79. Considersthattheeconomicandsocialsituationoftheoutermostregionsjustifiestheadoptionofa
differentapproachtolevelsofintensityofthestateaidreferredtoinArticle87(3);
80. Believesthatanewapproachtoeconomicandsocialdevelopment/dashgearedtothenotionofa
knowledge-basedeconomy/dashrequires:
(a) policiesbasedontheregionalcomparativeadvantage,ensuringabusinessenvironmentconduciveto
adaptability, innovation and reform that promotes fair competition, enhances infrastructure andensuresbettercompanylawandcorporategovernance;
(b) policiesthatencourageinnovationandentrepreneurship,basedonfiscallegislationthatfavourthe
establishmentandsustenance ofSMEsby addressing the structural deficiencies arising frompoormarketaccessibilityandtheburdenoffinancing;30.4.2004EN C104E/1007 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
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81. Proposesalso,aspartofthenewapproachtoregionaldevelopment,tolinkresearchfinancedby
theEUunderitsseventhresearchframeworkprogrammetoindustrialapplication;
82. Stressesthefactthat,inanewknowledge-basedeconomyofthetypeenvisagedbytheLisbon
EuropeanCouncil,humancapital(alabourforcewithappropriatelevelsofskillsandtraining)isapre-requisiteandallregionsshoulddevelopthecapacitytoinnovate,usebothexistingknow-howandnewtechnologieseffectivelyandapplytechniquesandmethodsofproductionthatwouldbesustainableinenvironmentalterms;
83. AttachesimportancetotheliberalisationoftheenergymarketwithintheTrans-EuropeanEnergy
Networksundertheconditionthatthesenetworksarecompletedandthattheperipheryislinkedtosuchnetworks;
84. Callsforafocusonjobcreationinremoteregions;believesthatthepromotionofnetworksand
clustersofparticularactivitiessuchasinventionsandapplicationstoculturalindustrybasedonregionaldiversitiesandcustoms,anddevelopingthepotentialofthetouristindustrybasedontheprincipleofregionalspecialisationmaysolvethisproblem;
85. Proposesthattheincreasingeconomicimportanceofnewareasofindustry,suchaseco-industries
ortheculturalindustries,beconsideredasaviablemeansofcreatingemployment,especiallyinremoteregions;askstheCommissiontodrawupmeasuresforpromotingthiskindofemploymentinthoseregions;
Areformeddeliverysystem
86. Considersthatthesimplificationofcohesionpolicymusthaveahighpriorityandthereforecon-
gratulatestheCommissiononitsgenerallypositiveattitudetowardsasimplificationofcohesionpolicyandon the advances it has proposed, particularly with regard to programming, partnership, co-financing,evaluation,anddecentralisationofresponsibilitiestopartnershipsontheground;considersthattheCom-missionshouldmaintainanindependentmonitoringandcontrolpowerontheimplementationofstruc-turalinterventionsandontheircompliancewithEUlawsandtargets;reservestheright,however,toexpressitsdefinitiveopiniononlyonceithasseentheproposalsforregulationsontheStructuralFundsandtheCohesionFund;
87. ConcurswiththeadoptionofanoverallEuropeanstrategicdocumentforcohesionpolicyandthe
preparationofstrategicpolicydocumentsbytheMemberStates;requeststhattheworkoftheEuropeanSpatialDevelopmentPerspectiveadoptedinPotsdamin1999becontinuedinordertobuildaframeworkfortheterritorialdevelopmentoftheEuropeanterritory;
88. UrgestheCommission,insimplifyingregionalpolicy,totakeaccountofthe‘userviewpoint’,i.e.to
makeiteasierforbusinesses,universitiesandnationalorganisationstoparticipateinprojectswithouttheiractivitiesbeingunnecessarilyhamperedbybureaucracy,paymentreportingrequirementsetc.;
89. AssertsthattheEuropeanstrategicdocumentforcohesionmustbethesubjectofaEuropeanlaw
embodyingthefulllegislativeparticipationoftheEuropeanParliamentasenvisagedunderArticleIII-119ofthedraftTreatyestablishingaConstitutionforEurope;
90. Believesthatsuchastrategicapproachwouldenhancecoherenceandaccountabilityforthepolicy
asawhole;respondsfavourably,therefore,totheproposalforanannualreviewbytheEuropeaninstitu-tionstodiscussprogressmade;suggeststhatthisreviewcouldtakeplaceduringthespringEuropeanCouncil,followingconsultationofParliament;
91. Welcomesthelimitingofthenumberoffundstothreeandtheintroductionoftheprincipleofone
fundper programme; demandsthatthisprinciple befullyrespected andstressesthatitisthe soundmanagementoftheStructuralFundswhichmustbetheoverridingconcernratherthantheinternaladmin-istrativestructureoftheCommission;C104E/1008 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
92. Underlines,inthelightoftheslowtake-upofESFfundinginthecurrentprogrammingperiod,and
theproposeddecentralisation,theneedtostrengthenadministrativecapacity,withspecialfocusonthenewMemberStates;
93. ApprovesoftheintegrationofthevaluableexperienceandbestpracticeofCommunityinitiatives
such as Equal into mainstream programming in particular, the principle of transnational cooperationshouldbeemphasised;
94. Declaresitselfinfavouroftheproposalstoenhancepartnershipandcooperationbetweenthelocal,
regional,nationalandEUspheresofgovernmentandtoencourageMemberStatestoutilisethepossibilityofconcludingtripartiteagreementswhereappropriate;askstheCommissiontodevelopharmonisedandbindingrulesandcriteriaforpartnershipassociationanddevelopmentintheframeworkofthe2007-2013StructuralFundsregulations,atthesametimeensuringefficientpartnershipthroughfundingthecostsoftheirparticipation;
95. Pointstotheneedforspecialattentiontoensurethatthestateandregionalauthoritiesconcerned
complywiththeadditionalityprinciple,wherebyCommunityresourcesaretobeaddedtoandnotreplacestateresources,andfortheCommissiontobeprovidedwiththenecessarymeansofsupervision;
96. SupportstheideaofthecreationofaCommunityreserveforrewardingprogress;welcomes,more-
over,thesetting-upofnationalreservesforrespondingtounexpectedsectoralorlocalshocksoncondition
thatthesefundshaverealsubstanceandarenotsimplysymbolicgestures;
97. AskstheCommissiontodrawupforthenextprogrammingperiodproceduresforverifyingaddi-
tionalitythataremoreworkable,thatareintegratedintotheprogramming,monitoringandevaluationframeworksandthataresuitableforusewiththebudgetaryandstatisticalinformationavailable;fur-
thermore,askstheCommissiontodevelopspecificmeasuressuchassanctionsinordertoensurecom-
pliancewiththisprinciple;
*
**
98. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandCommission.
P5_TA(2004)0369
Commission’sannualpolicystrategyfor2005
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononthe2005budget:theCommission’sAnnualPolicyStrategy
report(2004/2001(BUD))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtothecommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheEuropeanParliamentandtheCoun-
cil/dashAnnualPolicyStrategyfor2005(COM(2004)133),
/dash havingregardtotheInterinstitutionalAgreementof6May1999betweentheEuropeanParliament,
theCouncilandtheCommissiononbudgetarydisciplineandimprovementofthebudgetarypro-cedure(
1),
/dash havingregardtoArticle272oftheECTreatyandArticle177oftheEuratomTreaty,
/dash havingregardtothereportoftheCommitteeonBudgetsandtheopinionsoftheothercommittees
concerned(A5-0269/2004),
(1) OJC172,18.6.1999,p.1,AgreementasamendedbyDecision2003/429/EC(OJL147,14.6.2003,p.25).30.4.2004EN C104E/1009 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004