Motion for a resolution - B7-0315/2013Motion for a resolution
B7-0315/2013

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Commission Work Programme for 2014

26.6.2013 - (2013/2679(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 35(3) of the Rules of Procedure and the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission

József Szájer, Joseph Daul on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0315/2013

Procedure : 2013/2679(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0315/2013
Texts tabled :
B7-0315/2013
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B7‑0315/2013

European Parliament resolution on the Commission Work Programme for 2014

(2013/2679(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission Communication on the Commission Work Programme for 2013 (COM(2013)0629),

–   having regard to the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission[1], in particular Annex IV thereto,

–   having regard to Rule 35(3) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the financial, economic and debt crisis has highlighted the need for reinforced democratic control and accountability;

B.  whereas budgetary choices at Union level must meet the EU’s political priorities, not only in terms of amount but also in terms of flexibility and equilibrium;

Part 1 Key priorities

1.  Calls for a deeper democratic process in the field of economic governance, with closer involvement of Parliament, that will contribute to improving citizens’ understanding of the situation and of the measures taken at EU level to combat and manage the crisis; believes that restoring the confidence of European citizens, and of economic actors and partners, is a prerequisite for the restoration of growth;

2.  Believes that jobs are the top priority and that all available levies at European level must be used to preserve existing jobs and to create new ones for young people in the fields of services and industry; believes, therefore, that investments to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness will play a key role in the next year and in the years to follow;

3.  Takes the view that, should the MFF negotiations be concluded successfully in 2013, the Commission should ensure the smooth functioning of the new financial framework; urges the Commission, in particular, fully to utilise the new rules on MFF flexibility, for both commitment and payment appropriations, both in the implementation of the EU Budget 2014 and in its proposals for the EU Budget 2015; stresses the need to monitor closely the alarming payments situation in the EU budget, and to come forward with amending budgets in 2014 whenever the need arises;

4.  Stresses the importance it attaches to the issue of reforming the system of the EU’s own resources; calls on the Commission to work actively in this direction, on the basis of its own legislative proposals and in line with the agreement on this issue that Parliament and the Council will reach in the course of the MFF negotiations;

5.  Stresses the need to keep strict and credible scrutiny over taxpayers’ money, through close controls on funding, and to monitor the cost-effectiveness of EU financing and administration, thus ensuring high value for money of EU action, but also ensuring that revenues are collected in accordance with the applicable rules and in the way that the democratically elected institutions have decided;

6.  Reiterates the need for an assessment of the implementation of the European Citizens’ Initiative, which constitutes a good way of getting the EU closer to citizens;

 

Part 2 Specific proposals

Towards a deeper Economic and Monetary Union

Towards a Banking Union

7.  Considers it essential for the stability of the EU economy, and for a return to sustainable economic growth, to successfully establish a Banking Union through the setting up of a single supervisory mechanism together with a single resolution mechanism for banks and an EU framework for the national deposit guarantee schemes; asks the Commission, in this connection, to present without delay all necessary proposals in this regard, along with the regulatory technical standards needed for the proper implementation of the CRD 4 package;

Fight against tax evasion

8.  Calls on the Commission to come up with an appropriate proposal for a common EU definition of tax havens and to introduce a black list of non-cooperative third countries and jurisdictions; urges the Member States to follow up on their commitments to implement the Commission’s recommendations on measures intended to encourage third countries to apply minimum standards of good governance in tax matters and aggressive tax planning, and to take the necessary measures to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion;

 

Boosting competitiveness through the single market and industrial policy

9.  Calls on the Commission to table a legislative proposal on better governance of the single market, based on the legislative initiative report thereon, in view of the key contribution that the single market can make to growth in the European Union;

10. Reiterates its request for a proposal of a 14th Company Law Directive on the cross-border transfer of company seats;

 

Better connections in order to compete

11. Regards the Single European Sky (SES), designed more than 10 years ago, as a very important project; fears that if the European Union does not act in the coming years the central airspace of Europe will become so saturated that growth will no longer be possible; calls, therefore, for a reform of the airspace, an idea that has already been adopted by Member States through the reform of existing systems of air traffic control and the introduction of functional airspace blocks (FABs); regrets the fact that some functional airspace blocks did not become operational in October 2012, and that some are still not operational; welcomes, however, the fact that SESAR, the SES technology element, is developing well; stresses that the new system will be beneficial for all, in particular for the European airlines; urges the Commission to make all FABs operational;

 

Growth for jobs: inclusion and excellence

12. Calls on the Commission to ensure in 2014, through the revised employment guidelines, that employment and social policies play an active role in the response to the crisis; urges the Commission, in this regard, to help the Member States to develop strategies for building new skills and helping unemployed persons find their way into the labour market as soon as possible; recalls, nevertheless, that a major effort should be made, through the Youth Employment Initiative, to provide support in the Union’s most seriously affected regions to vulnerable groups, and to young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), who are unemployed or inactive, by reinforcing and accelerating the delivery of activities supported by ESF funding;

13. Reiterates its request of May 2012 to submit a proposal (for a new act to replace, or for the amendment of, the existing Directive 2006/54/EC) on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation, relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women; stresses that discrimination against women must be addressed adequately; deplores, in view of the pay gap of around 17 % that persists at EU level, that until today no further measures have been taken by the Member States to address this issue in an effective way;

14. Reiterates that education and training are the EU’s main objectives when it comes to answering the needs of the European citizens, especially in this period of economic crisis;

15. Stresses the importance to be given to the sectors of education, culture, audiovisual, youth, sport and citizenship, and to ensuring that they have adequate and efficient budgets;

 

Using Europes resources to compete better

Research and innovation

16. Points out that research and innovation are elements that enable the EU to be an innovating and competitive place, through the establishment of research and innovation programmes, the simplification of procedures, the pooling and coordination of financing at all relevant levels (EU/Member State/region) and the establishment of synergies between European programmes, and calls on the Commission to implement these principles;

Energy and Climate

17. Stresses that, in accordance with the EU’s climate and energy legislation, measures should be taken to include maritime transport emissions in the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitment, and that the proposal for a new climate and energy framework for the period up to 2030 should consider how to meet the objective of reducing GHG emissions by 80-95 % by 2050 relative to 1990 levels, how to foster long-term competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability, and how to provide a long-term perspective for investments until 2030; underlines that early proposals for such a framework are necessary to allow the EU better to prepare a clear position for international talks on a global agreement on climate change;

18. Insists that – as a European policy framework for 2030 with potential targets would have massive implications for, inter alia, consumer energy prices, industrial competitiveness, and job creation, as well as for infrastructure investments and their public acceptance the Commission presents concrete proposals, in good time before the European elections in the first quarter of 2014, in order to ensure a maximum level of democratic legitimacy for future EU energy and climate policies;

19. Asks the Commission to present an overall review the EU’s waste policy and legislation, including the targets of the waste acquis and the diversion targets of the Landfill Directive;

Cohesion policy

20. Stresses that the European Union’s cohesion policy is providing investment for growth and jobs as well as for improved competitiveness in Europe, in line with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU;

21. Stresses that the comprehensive legislative package of the regulations on cohesion policy in the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020 is necessary for the appropriate implementation of the multiannual budget; recalls that these regulations must be supplemented by the adoption of implementing and delegated acts, as well as mechanisms – such as smart specialisation – for ensuring the coherence and consistency of programming, followed by the conclusion of partnership agreements and the implementation of operational programmes;

22. States that measures are needed to promote more efficient administration, in particular by providing sound financial management and by cutting red tape for all recipients of Structural Funds;

Fisheries and agriculture

23. Calls on the Commission to bring forward the proposals for new multi-species plans (concerning cod stocks and pelagic stocks in the Baltic Sea, and southern hake and Norway lobster stocks in the Cantabrian Sea and off the Western Iberian Peninsula), as announced for 2013 in its Work Programme 2012;

24. Calls on the Commission, in the context of negotiation of Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPAs), to search for new fishing grounds for the European fleet in third-country waters;

25. Calls on the Commission to continue to strengthen its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

26. Calls on the Commission to guarantee a swift and correct implementation of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that will result in a strong, sustainable and fair CAP that serves European farmers and consumers, promotes rural development and protects the environment;

27. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a new animal health strategy, as well as its commitment to ensuring consistency amongst the horizontal principles of the legislation in the fields of animal health, animal welfare and food safety; calls for a close alignment of the animal health strategy with the Europe 2020 strategy in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market in animals and animal products while, at the same time, enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of European agriculture;

 

Building a safe and secure Europe

28. Suggests that proposals for mutual recognition of the effects of certain civil status documents, together with minimum standards for civil procedures, would be indicative of an important step forward in the creation of an area of justice, with simpler, clearer and more accessible procedures for citizens, and greater trust in the mutual recognition of civil justice measures;

29. Considers that, in the interest of safeguarding the security of European citizens, the continued fight against terrorism is of paramount concern to the European Union, and calls strongly for a revision of the European legislation on data retention and for consideration of a Terrorist Finance Tracking System (TFTS);

 

Pulling our weight: Europe as global actor

Foreign affairs

30. Recalls that the EU’s Eastern And Southern Neighbourhood continues to be a top priority, keeping in mind the upcoming Eastern Partnership and the continuing uncertainties in both the east and the south, and underlines that the new EU strategy and the More for More principle still need to be clearly defined and implemented;

31. Supports the political processes and developments in countries in the Western Balkans that are moving these countries closer to the European Union;

32. Calls for a broadening and deepening of the Union’s transatlantic relations, as these remain a key aspect of its foreign policy;

International trade

33. Asks the Commission to concentrate human resources and political efforts on the ongoing trade negotiations with third countries and, in particular, with strategic partners such as the United States, Japan and Mercosur, with a view to making substantial progress towards a balanced final agreement; asks the Commission fully to involve Parliament in this process, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty of Functioning of the European Union;

34. Calls on the Commission to launch a process of deep reflection, with the involvement of Parliament, on the future international trade strategy, including a possible reform of the functioning of the WTO; stresses that this assessment must take full account of the outcomes for the EU economy of the recent international trade strategy;

Development

35. Points out that addressing child malnutrition and food security, combating gendercide – the persistent selection, practised on an enormous scale, of males over females – and promoting the provision of health insurance and pensions in developing countries remain high priorities;

36. Underlines the fact that disaster risk reduction is also an important strategy that needs to be improved;

37. Calls for the effectiveness of development aid to be improved by enhancing coordination and complementarities, and by regularly assessing the outputs, outcomes and impact of such aid;

 

Interinstitutional relations

38. Believes that cooperation between the EU institutions must be improved and modernised in order to become more efficient and allow for deeper democratic scrutiny of the executive powers at EU level; notes that the Better Law-Making Agreement between Parliament and the Commission is outdated and needs to be revised; calls for closer coordination with the Council, as foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty;

39. Stresses that the Community method, which allows for public debate through the democratic involvement of Parliament, must always be favoured;

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40. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.