Amendments adopted by the European Parliament on 4 July 2018 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/825 to increase the financial envelope of the Structural Reform Support Programme and adapt its general objective (COM(2017)0825 — C8-0433/2017 — 2017/0334(COD))
Date: 2018-07-04
Institutions: Committee on Budgets, Committee on Culture and Education, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Committee on Fisheries, Committee on Regional Development, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, EU financing, EU programme, administrative reform, economic convergence, economic reform, institutional reform, structural adjustment




C_2020118EN.01023701.xml










8.4.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 118/237






P8_TA(2018)0281
Structural Reform Support Programme: financial envelope and general objective***I
Amendments adopted by the European Parliament on 4 July 2018 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/825 to increase the financial envelope of the Structural Reform Support Programme and adapt its general objective (COM(2017)0825 — C8-0433/2017 — 2017/0334(COD)) (1)

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
(2020/C 118/35)

Amendment 1


Proposal for a regulation


Recital - 1 (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(-1)






The Union is required to support Member States, upon their request, to improve their administrative capacity to implement Union law.











Amendment 2


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(1)


The Structural Reform Support Programme (‘the Programme’) was established with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. Support under the Programme is provided by the Commission, upon request by a Member State, and can cover a wide range of policy areas. Developing resilient economies built on strong economic 
and
 social structures, which allow Member States to efficiently absorb shocks and swiftly recover from them, contributes to economic 
and
 social cohesion. The implementation of institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms 
is an
 appropriate 
tool
 for achieving such a development.












(1)


The Structural Reform Support Programme (‘the Programme’) was established with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining administrative and structural reforms 
with European added value
, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. Support under the Programme is provided by the Commission, upon request by a Member State, and can cover a wide range of policy areas. Developing resilient economies 
and a resilient society
 built on strong economic, social 
and territorial
 structures, which allow Member States to efficiently absorb shocks and swiftly recover from them, contributes to economic, social 
and territorial
 cohesion. 
Reforms supported by the Programme require efficient and effective national and regional public administration as well as ownership and active participation of all stakeholders
. The implementation of institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms 
that are country-specific
, 
and the ownership on the ground of structural reforms which are of interest to the Union, in particular through local and regional authorities and social partners, are
 appropriate 
tools
 for achieving such a development.









Amendment 3


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 1 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1a)






Efficient delivery and communication of the Programme’s results at Union, national and regional level are needed in order to ensure the visibility of the results of the reforms implemented based on the request of each Member State. That would ensure exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices, which is also one of the Programme’s aims.











Amendment 4


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 1 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1b)






It is expected that demand for support under the Programme will remain high, meaning that certain requests will need to be prioritised. Preference should be given, where appropriate, to requests that are aimed at shifting taxation away from labour to wealth and pollution, promoting stronger employment and social policies and thus social inclusion, fighting tax fraud, evasion and avoidance through improved transparency, establishing strategies for innovative and sustainable re-industrialisation and improving education and training systems. Special attention should be paid to requests for support which have a high level of democratic support and involvement of partners and which have spill over effects on other sectors. The Programme should complement other instruments in order to avoid overlaps.











Amendment 5


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 1 c (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1 c)






In its pursuit of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining structural reforms, the Programme should not replace or substitute funding from national budgets of Member States, or be used to cover current expenditure.











Amendment 6


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(3)


Strengthening economic 
and
 social cohesion 
by reinforcing
 structural reforms is crucial for successful participation in the Economic and Monetary Union. That is particularly important for Member States whose currency is not the euro, in their preparation to join the euro area.












(3)


Strengthening economic, social 
and territorial
 cohesion 
through
 structural reforms 
which benefit the Union and are in accordance with its principles and values
 is crucial for successful participation 
and enhanced real convergence
 in the Economic and Monetary Union, 
ensuring its long-term stability and prosperity
. That is particularly important for Member States whose currency is not 
yet
 the euro, in their preparation to join the euro area.









Amendment 7


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(4)


It is thus appropriate to stress in the general objective of the Programme — within its contribution towards responding to economic and social challenges — that enhancing cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, 
and
 job creation should also contribute to the preparations for future participation in the euro area by those Member States whose currency is not the euro.












(4)


It is thus appropriate to stress in the general objective of the Programme — within its contribution towards responding to economic and social challenges — that enhancing 
economic, social and territorial
 cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation
, social inclusion and reducing disparities between Member States and regions
 should also contribute to the preparations for future participation in the euro area by those Member States whose currency is not 
yet
 the euro.









Amendment 8


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(5)




It
 is also necessary to indicate that actions and activities of the Programme may support reforms that may help Member States that wish to adopt the euro to prepare for participation in the euro area.












(5)




Bearing in mind the positive experience that the Union has had with the technical assistance offered to other countries that have already adopted the euro, it
 is also necessary to indicate that actions and activities of the Programme may support reforms that may help Member States 
which joined the Union at a later date and
 that wish to adopt the euro to prepare for participation in the euro area.









Amendment 9


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5a)






Seven Member States are subject to a Treaty obligation to prepare for participation in the euro area, namely Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden. Some of those Member States have made little progress towards that goal in recent years, making Union support for euro participation increasingly relevant. Denmark and the United Kingdom are under no obligation to join the euro area.











Amendment 10


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5b)






Regional and local authorities have an important role to play in structural reform, to a degree which depends on the constitutional and administrative organisation of each Member State. It is therefore appropriate to provide for an appropriate level of involvement and consultation of regional and local authorities in the preparation and implementation of structural reform.











Amendment 11


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 6








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(6)


In order to meet the growing demand for support from Member States, and in view of the need to support the implementation of structural reforms in Member States whose currency is not the euro, the financial allocation for the Programme should be increased to a sufficient level that allows the Union to provide support that meets the needs of the requesting Member States.












(6)


In order to meet the growing demand for support from Member States, and in view of the need to support the implementation of structural reforms 
which are of interest to the Union
 in Member States whose currency is not 
yet
 the euro, the financial allocation for the Programme should be increased, 
by using the Flexibility Instrument under Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013

 (1a)

,
 to a sufficient level that allows the Union to provide support that meets the needs of the requesting Member States. 
That increase should not negatively impact the other priorities of cohesion policy. Moreover, Member States should not be obliged to transfer their national and regional allocations from European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) with a view to filling the financing gap of the Programme.











Amendment 12


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 7








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(7)


In order to provide support with the least possible delay, the Commission should be able to use part of the financial envelope also to cover the cost of activities supporting the Programme, such as expenses related to quality control 
and
 monitoring of projects on the ground.












(7)


In order to provide 
quality
 support with the least possible delay, the Commission should be able to use part of the financial envelope also to cover the cost of activities supporting the Programme, such as expenses related to quality control and monitoring
, and evaluation
 of projects on the ground. 
Such expenses should be proportional to the overall value of expenditure under the support projects.











Amendment 13


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 7 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(7a)






In order to ensure smooth reporting on implementation of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Council, the period in which the Commission is to provide annual monitoring reports should be specified.











Amendment 14


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 1

Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 4 — paragraph 1







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to 
national
 authorities for measures aimed at reforming and strengthening institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges, with a view to enhancing cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation, 
and
 investment, which will also prepare for participation in the euro area, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient, effective and transparent use of the Union funds.


The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms in the Member States, by providing support to 
Member State
 authorities
, including regional and local authorities where appropriate,
 for measures aimed at reforming and strengthening institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges, with a view to enhancing 
economic, social and territorial
 cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation, 
social inclusion, the fight against tax evasion and poverty,
 investment, 
and real convergence in the Union,
 which will also prepare for participation in the euro area, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient, effective and transparent use of the Union funds.





Amendment 15


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 1 a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 5 — paragraph 1 — point d a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 





(1a)
   
in Article 5(1) the following point is added:










‘(da)






to support the involvement and consultation of regional and local authorities in the preparation and implementation of structural reform measures to a degree commensurate with the powers and responsibilities of those regional and local authorities within the constitutional and administrative structure of each Member State.’












Amendment 16


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3 — point a

Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 10 — paragraph 1







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






1.   The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme is set at EUR 222 800 000  in current prices.;




1.   The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme is set at EUR 222 800 000  in current prices
, of which EUR 80 000 000  shall be provided from the Flexibility Instrument under the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013



 (*1)

;






Amendment 17


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3 a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 16 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — introductory part







Present text




Amendment





 










(3a)





in Article 16(2), the introductory part is replaced by the following:










2.   
The
 Commission shall provide the European Parliament and the Council with an annual monitoring report on the implementation of the Programme. That report shall include information on:




‘2.   
From 2018 until and including 2021 the
 Commission shall provide the European Parliament and the Council with an annual monitoring report on the implementation of the Programme. That report shall include information on:’






Amendment 18


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3 b (new)

Regulation (EU) 2017/825
Article 16 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point d a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(3b)





in Article 16, paragraph 2 point da is inserted:









‘(da)






outcomes of quality control and monitoring of support projects on the ground;’
















(1)  The matter was referred back for interinstitutional negotiations to the committee responsible, pursuant to Rule 59(4), fourth subparagraph (A8-0227/2018).

(1a)  
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).



(*1)  
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).