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To · opinion parliamentary committee · 2025-03-19 ITRE-AD-768240 on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

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~~PA_NonLeg~~

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on ~~Foreign~~Industry, ~~Affairs~~Research and Energy submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee ~~responsible :~~responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

~~Citation~~Recital 1E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

~~– having regard to the Preamble and Articles 24(1) and 42(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 2(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),~~

Ea. whereas the challenges posed by ongoing geopolitical events, particularly the Russian aggression in Ukraine, has led to disruptions in value chains and energy markets, impacting the timely implementation of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF);

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

~~Citation~~Recital 13H a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

~~– having regard to the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022,~~

Ha. whereas the Budapest Declaration on the new European competitiveness deal committed the Union and its Member States to achieving the objective of spending at least 3 % of the Union’s GDP on research and development by 2030, an objective first set for 2010 under the Lisbon Strategy;

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

~~Citation 13 b (new)~~

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘A new European Defence Industrial Strategy: Achieving EU readiness through a responsive and resilient European Defence Industry’ (JOIN(2024)0010),

3a. Reiterates its commitment to phasing out all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally harmful subsidies from the next MFF; requests that the Commission put forward its planned roadmap for further scaling down and phasing out the use of fossil fuel subsidies well ahead of its proposal for the next MFF;

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital A~~

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

~~A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;~~

A. whereas the Union aims to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens; whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;

10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects without losing triple-A status; believes, therefore, that alternative instruments, such as the European Innovation Council, should be used to deliver the Union financial instrument investments needed to unlock and attract sufficient private venture capital to ensure a financing environment for European start-ups that can compete with the EU’s global competitors;

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital C~~

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;

C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted inside and outside the Union, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market, to boost the overall impact of public investment and to promote peace, security and progress in the world; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

11. Stresses that the innovation gap is one of the causes of the Union’s slowing productivity growth; emphasises that, in order to put research and innovation at the heart of the EU economy, the Union needs to significantly increase investment in research and innovation, in particular by fostering public spending on research and development (R&D), including at national level, and leveraging private R&D spending, including via a more attractive internal market for start-ups, scale-ups and venture capital, with a particular focus on strategic sectors; emphasises the importance of efficient funding processes, guaranteeing predictability and efficient use of public resources, in attracting private investment in cutting-edge research and innovation; notes that in order to achieve the Union’s policy objectives, the Union and its Member States need to fund the best possible science (including basic science), research and innovation and attractive research infrastructure and complete the European research area, most notably by introducing the Fifth Freedom1a and by continuing research cooperation through Euratom; considers that under the next MFF, the 10th Framework Programme should receive an overall budget that is in line with the 3 % of GDP spending target and is sufficient to fund at least 75 % of high-quality proposals, namely a budget of at least EUR 220 billion; underlines that the 10th Framework Programme has to be an independent funding programme encompassing all Union funding and financing for excellent research, technology development and innovation activities across the Union; emphasises that in order to ensure budgetary stability, the budget for this Framework Programme should be ring-fenced in the MFF and any decommitments stemming from this Programme or its predecessors should automatically return to the Programme or its successors; notes the generally positive assessments (in particular in terms of EU added value) of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) by independent experts; regrets, however, that the relevance of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology as a programme is questioned by several stakeholders, including some of its biggest beneficiaries; underlines that in principle, the concept of KICs is appreciated by stakeholders as a useful instrument for the effective development and integration of innovation ecosystems; stresses that the two main concerns raised are the financial self-sustainability requirement for KICs1b, and the central management by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology, which is considered too bureaucratic and burdensome and creates governance difficulties for the KICs1c; concludes that for many stakeholders, the financial and other costs, including the high burden of participating in a KIC, outweigh the benefits of the relatively small amount of funding support that is relevant for them;

_________________

1a Letta Report, pp. 19-26.

1b See, for example, European University Association, ‘Paving the way for impactful European R&I – EUA’s vision for FP10’, position paper, 2024, p. 14, https://www.eua.eu/publications/positions/paving-the-way-for-impactful-european-r-i.html.

1c See, for example, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, ‘Towards a bigger bang for the buck: Bid farewell to the EIT’, position paper, May 2024, https://www.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/zv/en/institutes/international/brussels/finalpapers/Fraunhofer_PositionPaper_EIT.pdf.

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G~~

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11a. Believes that the continued presence of nuclear technology in the Union and the continued interest in the use of nuclear power as part of the national energy mix in some Member States, which currently means that about 22.8 % of electricity generation in the Union stems from nuclear production, requires that the Union be a world leader with regard to knowledge of, R&D into and expertise on these technologies, including on their safety, through the Euratom Research and Training Programme and the continued involvement of the Union in the ITER project; stresses that the budgets for these programmes should reflect the new realities of the significant development towards the commercialisation of fusion technology; underlines, against the backdrop of the project’s delays and unspent appropriations in the current MFF, that the funding structure for the Union’s contribution to the ITER project should reflect the inherent uncertainty in the long-term financial planning of such a high-tech, ambitious project, in order to ensure that the Union’s budget can be used optimally in each financial year as well as over the full MFF period; expresses deep concern regarding Russia’s continued membership of the ITER project, considering Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing threat that Russia poses to a free and democratic European continent; recalls China’s membership of the ITER project; points out the members participating in the ITER project share ownership of the technology that is developed and the intellectual property rights that arise;

G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly; whereas the EU must adopt a holistic approach in which all external action financing programmes should comprise a security dimension; whereas the territorial integrity of the Union could be challenged on its eastern flank before the end of the post-2027 MFF;

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G a (new)~~

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G a. whereas given the new geopolitical reality marked by the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe and the likelihood of worst-case military scenarios materialising on the European continent, the post-2027 MFF must enable the EU to prepare itself for potential military aggression on its soil before the end of this decade;

12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;

12. Stresses that the deepening of the energy union will be crucial in order to deliver affordable, clean and secure energy to European citizens and businesses, in particular through the ramp-up of renewables in line with the Renewable Energy Directive, such as through the Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism); notes that this will require European investment in critical and cross-border energy infrastructure, energy storage and flexibility and in improving energy efficiency and further decarbonising the energy system, with respect for national energy mix choices and the principle of technological neutrality; underlines that investments should be directed at ensuring the open strategic autonomy of the Union with regard to its energy supply to increase energy security and provide affordable energy, as well as achieve the Union’s climate neutrality target; calls for the funding for energy infrastructure provided by CEF Energy to be significantly increased under the next MFF in order to support the transition of the EU energy system into a more resilient, cheaper, cleaner and smarter future and to meet the growing demand for transformative investments in critical projects; underlines that investments should improve flexibility and efficiency, mitigate price volatility and enhance the security of the energy supply; notes that for cross-border infrastructure projects, investments should continue to follow the priorities set out in the TEN-E Regulation and focus on supporting projects of common interest in order to ensure the further deployment and integration of clean energy so as to deliver affordable and secure energy to consumers and businesses; recommends that funding to facilitate cross-border cooperation in renewable energy be continued, in addition to funding for promoting energy system integration and system efficiency via support for the modernisation and development of electricity grid interconnections and increased investments in hydrogen transport infrastructure, CO2 transport infrastructure, offshore grids and projects of mutual interest with third countries, particularly with Ukraine and other countries in the EU’s neighbourhood; underlines the essential role of electrification in the energy transition and calls, therefore, for measures that accelerate the modernisation and expansion of national electricity grids in order to increase the coherence of the Union’s electricity grid; underlines, furthermore, the importance of the Modernisation Fund for accelerating the transition to climate neutrality in the 13 beneficiary Member States by providing funding for the ramping-up of renewables and energy storage, promoting energy efficiency and modernising energy networks;

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G b (new)~~

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G b. whereas, in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022, the Member States collectively committed to significantly increasing defence expenditure and investing in defence capabilities developed in a collaborative way, as well as in joint projects and joint procurement;

13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;

13. Recalls that ‘European competitiveness’ refers to the ability of European companies to compete successfully in global markets; points out that fostering sustainable European industrial competitiveness will require levelling the playing field for European industry compared to global competitors in terms of the cost of doing business, including by making it easier to invest, lowering energy costs, enhancing productivity, increasing long-term public investments, reducing the administrative burden and facilitating access to public contracts, critical raw materials and private capital; considers that the Union must foster its competitiveness in line with its own values and political aims, including economic growth, social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital H~~

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy with a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries; recalls that European industrial policy has to complete the twin green and digital transitions of European industry; recalls the previous term’s debates on a European sovereignty fund; considers, in that regard, that a new competitiveness fund should deliver on investments to ensure the strategic autonomy of the Union by fostering the sustainable industrial competitiveness and resilience of the Union, in particular through investments in strategic industrial sectors and projects, and that its priorities should be based on the Union’s industrial policy; underscores that this fund needs to be a new and targeted funding instrument to fill a funding gap in the current MFF, rather than partly or completely taking over the role of existing funding programmes; insists, in particular, on the need for a stand-alone European framework programme for research and innovation to fund European research and innovation activities, in the context of the envisaged discussion of the anticipated competitiveness fund; underlines that the primary aim of the anticipated competitiveness fund should be to facilitate private investments in industrial capacity in the Union by levelling the playing field with the conditions for industrial investment in other parts of the world; notes that, in this regard, the fund might be built on the experience garnered with InvestEU and the Innovation Fund, for example through the use of the ‘auction as a service’ approach;

H. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions that make the budget more opaque, undercutting Parliament’s role as a legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; whereas, in the area of the foreign, security and defence policies, the institutional balance between the budgetary functions of the Council and Parliament needs to be respected;

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 1~~

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

13b. Insists that in order to ensure open strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the space sector and reduce dependence on non-EU actors in space activities, the EU needs a significant increase in investments to deliver its space policy; underlines that the Union’s space policy has become increasingly important as a result of the changing geopolitical climate and fundamental changes to the global space industry, including through the emergence of New Space and increased commercialisation; highlights, in this context, the need to invest in space-based technologies, particularly communication technologies and earth observation, and in technologies related to access to space; believes that the Member States will not be able to efficiently meet these investment challenges alone, and that European intervention and cooperation are therefore increasingly important in this field and must be strengthened, including through the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Space Agency (ESA); stresses that the coordinated action of the EU, leveraging the EUSPA’s operational leadership alongside the ESA’s technical expertise, will become increasingly important in this field; believes that the investments in space system development and deployment, as currently provided by the European Union space programme, InvestEU, the European Defence Fund and Horizon Europe, should be increased significantly compared to the current MFF in order to strengthen European open strategic autonomy in space; underlines, in this regard, the need to continue investing in the leading role of the Copernicus and Galileo satellite systems while significantly ramping up investments in European space-based secure communication systems, such as IRIS2, and in space-based civil security-related systems, including space situational awareness systems; highlights the important work of the EUSPA in ensuring the proper and strategic implementation of these investments; notes that further investments in access to space should also be included in the next MFF, including investments in launch infrastructure and in advanced launch technology development, and that investments should, as far as possible, promote the reform of the European space market into a more competition-driven market with due support for new European space players; underlines that investments in space systems under the next MFF must prioritise integrating cybersecurity by design, enhancing the production of European space data and ensuring its optimal use within the EU, thus ensuring resilience across the entire life cycle of space infrastructure, from development to decommissioning;

1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, be resilient, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, prepare for and respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 616

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;

6. Is convinced that achieving EU defence sovereignty, boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term security, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

deleted

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1021

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;

21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society, that they must therefore be supported by strong research and innovation efforts, and that the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1223

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;

12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections, dual use and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;

23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that this transition will take place in the context of global competition that is characterised by a relatively high cost of doing business in Europe and by unfair and anti-competitive efforts by the Union’s global competitors; considers that innovation, and in particular cleantech innovation, is the only way to keep European industry competitive, securing economic growth and quality jobs while also decarbonising; underlines, in this regard, the importance of a strengthened Innovation Fund as part of the MFF; believes that the Innovation Fund should continue to serve the clear objective of decarbonising European industry and should form, together with the anticipated competitiveness fund and investments in the digital and space sectors, a coherent and easy-to-access suite of funding programmes to support the competitiveness of European industry; believes that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 16~~

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23a. Underlines that for the Union to fully benefit from the digital transition, it needs to invest in its technology leadership and sovereignty, including through standardisation and the development of a European technology stack to support the EU’s digital autonomy and influence in international standards; notes that the full deployment of scalable and user-centred digital technologies will make the EU’s public sector and administration more efficient, improve the quality of life of EU citizens and increase the competitiveness of EU companies; highlights that the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure shows the need for reliable, future-ready connectivity that combines terrestrial, satellite and next-generation mobile networks (i.e. 5G and 6G) into a seamless, secure system capable of supporting large-scale, high-speed communication networks; strongly believes that in order to achieve this, the Union should prioritise the development of innovative, trusted and adaptable networks; emphasises, furthermore, that the continued acceleration of the digital transition underlines the importance of ongoing Union spending on deploying, using (digital skills) and innovating with digital technologies, and on the data infrastructure that forms the backbone of an internal market for digital products and services; notes that given the speed of technological development, the next MFF needs to have enough flexibility to include new priorities as they arise, while ensuring streamlined access to funding for stakeholders; calls for an increased budget for digital infrastructure investments; believes that the objectives of both the Digital Europe Programme and CEF Digital remain relevant, but that rationalising the programming landscape for digital investments could be considered, in particular to foster the development of a European technology stack; highlights the need to ensure robust cyber- and physical security for all digital technologies and infrastructure, and the need for this to remain a horizontal priority in Union spending in order to safeguard critical investments, withstand hybrid attacks, such as sabotage and espionage, and foster trust in digital and technological advancements;

16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors, such as the energy and defence sectors, and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 17 a (new)~~

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17 a. Points out that energy independence is of critical importance for EU security; calls for investment in financial incentives for Member States investing in the development of strategic energy infrastructure, particularly in renewable energy projects that reduce dependence on Russia and other suppliers posing strategic risks;

24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;

24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must increase support for research and development related to such technologies and the safe application of such technologies; notes the importance of further investments to help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use such technologies;

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2035

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;

20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;

35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values; underlines that science diplomacy can be a very effective tool in this regard, particularly considering the strength of the European scientific sector;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2556

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;

25. Recalls that peace and security are the foundation for the Union’s stability and prosperity, global standing and social model and that the next MFF, as the Draghi report clearly states, must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the existential external threats it faces;

56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, Article 33(2)d of the Financial Regulation, which sets out that Union programmes ‘shall, where feasible and appropriate in accordance with the relevant sector-specific rules, be implemented to achieve their set objectives without doing significant harm to the environmental objectives of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control and the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, as set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council’;

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12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2658

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, fostered by autocratic and revisionist powers, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include sabotage, cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, terrorism, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and to exploit the Union’s vulnerabilities;

58. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic attachment to a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly enforce the Digital Services13 and Digital Markets Acts14, thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness; highlights, in this regard, the negative effect of the understaffing of the Commission on the efficiency of the Union’s industrial policy, as it undermines the Commission’s ability to quickly process state-aid notifications or effectively apply trade defence instruments, leading to a non-level global playing field for European industry;

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13 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).

14 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 27~~

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation;

59a. Believes that the programme-specific implementation of any potential horizontal policies or mainstreaming efforts set out for the MFF, for example related to competitiveness or the twin green and digital transitions, should be left to sectoral legislation in order to ensure that it is effective and does not create unnecessary administrative complexity for the final recipients of Union funds;

27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the new reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation; recalls the need to deploy the means fostering a common strategic culture in security and defence that promotes cohesion among the Member States and that ensures intelligence sharing and assessment from the Member States to the EU level and a coordinated response to the threats the Union faces; urges, therefore, the European Council to support the establishment of the Defence Union without any further delay;

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 28~~

Paragraph 91 a (new)

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;

28. Stresses that the targets for national and collective defence require substantial investment efforts at national level, which the Commission estimates at several percent of GDP; stresses the need for long-term investments in defence capabilities to improve strategic autonomy, cohesion among Member States and the defence readiness of the Union; stresses the importance of establishing a clear and transparent governance structure for security investments to avoid fragmentation and the duplication of efforts at the EU level;

~~Amendment 21~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 29~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;

29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base that is autonomous and independent from non-European actors and considers that EU-level investment in defence should generate economies of scale and scope, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability and effectiveness of their armed forces;

~~Amendment 22~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 29 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

29 a. Points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, ranging from SMEs to prime contractors, and towards defence training and education, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs and unleashing the full potential of a balanced and strategic European defence ecosystem, in particular to avoid competition between the Member States and to tackle duplication and fragmentation; emphasises the importance of ensuring that joint EU defence procurement initiatives benefit not only major defence industry players but also other companies, including SMEs, mid-caps and those companies that do not fall within these categories but are considerably smaller in comparison with the multinational companies that can act as prime contractors in joint capabilities development initiatives, thus reinforcing the whole supply chain, as well as fostering innovation and competitiveness in the defence sector; calls for alignment with the recommendations of the Draghi and Niinistö reports to create a balanced and strategic European defence ecosystem;

~~Amendment 23~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 30~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;

30. Points to the importance of increasing allocations in the MFF for military mobility, transport, energy and data infrastructure, their upgrading and maintenance, civil protection, collaborative research and development and innovation for military and civilian purposes, in order to strengthen the Union’s defence capabilities;

~~Amendment 24~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 30 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

30 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase funding for defence by possibly increasing national contributions to the Union budget, introducing new own resources, reusing unspent appropriations and considering issuing common debt and adapting the fiscal stability rules for Member States; insists that procurement should primarily focus on suppliers from the Member States to foster technological sovereignty and contribute to the Union’s strategic autonomy;

~~Amendment 25~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 33~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;

33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; recognises that cybersecurity and technological innovation are critical components of the EU’s global competitiveness and security; calls for further investment in emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, to ensure EU leadership in these strategic sectors and in order to address constantly evolving threats; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity in order to fight disinformation with swift, efficient and coordinated mitigation actions; points out the importance of strengthening the Union’s strategic communication capabilities;

~~Amendment 26~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 33 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

33 a. Underscores the importance of building new European capacities in the context of hybrid warfare and ever increasing cases of foreign information manipulation and interference; stresses the urgent need to have the necessary funds to effectively build up resilience, both for EU institutions’ headquarters and EU delegations in third countries; stresses that free and independent media should be considered a fundamental component of Europe’s resilience, safeguarding not only the free flow of information but also the democratic mindset, critical thinking and informed decision-making of European citizens; points to the importance of increased investment in independent journalism, fact-checking initiatives, digital and media literacy and critical thinking as a shield against disinformation and foreign information manipulation and electoral interference;

~~Amendment 27~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 34~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;

34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders, such as constructing the East Shield; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks; calls for a comprehensive approach to security that brings together diplomacy, development, efforts to tackle inequality, and security cooperation ensuring that EU foreign policy reinforces stability – as well as the protection of human rights and the promotion of inclusive governance; stresses the importance of addressing hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;

~~Amendment 28~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 35~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, human rights, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values and its international commitments; stresses the need to ensure that the next MFF provides robust and dedicated funding for democracy support and human rights, particularly in light of the growing global trend toward authoritarianism;

~~Amendment 29~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 36~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve;

36. Notes that geopolitical crises, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or the situation in Gaza, have been putting considerable pressure on the current Heading 6; regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision that fell short of the needs identified by Parliament; reiterates the urgent need to increase funding and strengthen the geopolitical position of the EU, particularly in crisis-affected regions where the needs are greatest, such as the Middle East and Ukraine; considers that external action financing instruments should not be subject to redeployment or to the use of special instruments and that emergency reserves should be used in case of urgent need; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve; underlines the utmost importance of transparency, traceability and accountability within the above-mentioned instruments, as well as effective oversight by the European Parliament;

~~Amendment 30~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 37~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;

37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, including humanitarian crises, climate change and food security, while defending human rights and democracy, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and contributing to global supply chain stability; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods; supports targeted funding to strengthen regional security, capacity building for institutional development and cooperation in the field of migration that is strictly conditional on the full respect of EU and international law and EU values; calls for secure, sufficient and predictable support for actors providing aid and relief to achieve long-term stability and security in the Middle East region; calls for the development of an instrument similar to the Ukraine Facility, dedicated to the reconstruction of Gaza, once a political agreement for its reconstruction has been established; calls for an increase in funding for democracy support, particularly for electoral observation missions and for the European Endowment for Democracy;

~~Amendment 31~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 38~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;

38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the commitments taken linked to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, non-discrimination and fundamental values; calls for a streamlined foreign policy instrument supporting women’s organisations and gender equality; stresses that in the face of the United States’ withdrawal of funds, the EU must take responsibility for providing appropriate funding for civil society and democratisation efforts worldwide;

~~Amendment 32~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 39~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based;

39. Insists that, given the ever-increasing scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced, correspond to growing needs and be made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based; underlines the need to maintain specific EU humanitarian aid instruments and avoid any possible merging; notes the uncertainty of future commitments by the United States, which would need to be compensated;

~~Amendment 33~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 40~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;

40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, diversify its political and trade alliances with third countries and its supply chains, effectively address its overdependence on certain third countries, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;

~~Amendment 34~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 40 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

40 a. Calls for the enhancement of the Global Gateway offer through integrated country packages that combine infrastructure investment, trade and macroeconomic support while delivering on development results, including poverty reduction; stresses that the next funding instrument should provide predictability to develop long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships; calls for the establishment of a European-African infrastructure fund;

~~Amendment 35~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 41~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards;

41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and ensuring that EU candidate countries receive structured financial support for institutional and economic transformation; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards; emphasises the importance of integrating the EU candidate countries into the EU internal market and EU political structures and of providing sufficient resources in support of civil society and independent media; emphasises that the EU’s presence in candidate countries is essential not only because these countries are key partners for the EU but also because any void left could encourage Russia and China to reinforce their influence;

~~Amendment 36~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 42~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);

42. Calls on the Commission to present a proposal for an instrument for pre-accession assistance for the next MFF that incorporates the new facilities to avoid overlap, covers all 10 enlargement countries and should ensure strong institutional and economic preparedness for EU membership; stresses that sufficient budgetary resources need to be allocated to enable meaningful gradual integration of the candidate countries into the EU; points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings), as a strong political signal of the EU’s commitment to integrating the candidate countries;

~~Amendment 37~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 43~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control and that ensures a strengthened conditionality mechanism, based on the improved rule of law reporting and clear criteria, in particular a strong and functional anti-fraud architecture; considers that support for civil society in enlargement countries should remain independent of government reform progress;

~~Amendment 38~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 44~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part; calls for a dedicated reconstruction fund for Ukraine and for the use of immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction;

~~Amendment 39~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 44 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

44 a. Underlines the need to strengthen the EU’s preventive diplomacy, including mediation and dialogue, as a proactive foreign policy instrument; calls for continued funding to be available in particular for peace mediation, dialogue and reconciliation efforts, particularly in high-risk regions, in response to increasing demand for EU-led conflict resolution initiatives;

~~Amendment 40~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 44 b (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

44 b. Underlines the constructive role that a vibrant civil society plays, especially in terms of the EU integration process and therefore for enlargement countries; stresses, in this regard, the need to increase meaningful engagement with and budget allocations for civil society, specifically where civic spaces are closing, and with a particular focus on the protection of human rights defenders and journalists; calls for increased funding to strengthen the capacities of EU delegations and key stakeholders in designing and implementing key public policies for the promotion and protection of a stronger civil society;

~~Amendment 41~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 44 c (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

44 c. Underlines the importance of the role that citizens and their organisations in candidate countries play in the enlargement process; believes in the importance of the role that citizen-to-citizen projects and interactions between the Member States and accession countries play in preparing societies for enlargement; stresses that organisations from accession countries should participate in the various EU programmes with a transnational dimension on an equal standing as those from the Member States;

~~Amendment 42~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 44 d (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

~~44 d. Underlines that the next MFF should contribute to strengthening the fight against transnational repression and support the victims of transnational repression inside the EU;~~

~~Amendment 43~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 45 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

45 a. Underlines the need for increased coherence between internal and external EU policies to better serve EU interests and competitiveness; advocates for external action funding that supports new solutions in green technology, digital innovation, health, education and migration, while aligning with EU investment and trade objectives; emphasises the importance of promoting a level playing field for private sector investments;

~~Amendment 44~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 45 b (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

45 b. Highlights the necessity for the EU to deepen its engagement with emerging economies and developing regions through sustainable investment programmes; calls for the next MFF to introduce targeted funding mechanisms that promote economic cooperation, technology transfer and regulatory harmonisation in key partner countries;

~~Amendment 45~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 45 c (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

45 c. Calls for greater flexibility in funding guidelines to ensure that organisations forced to leave a third country can continue receiving support, even if they relocate to the EU; believes that funding designated for projects in third countries should also be accessible to organisations operating from the EU while continuing their work on the situation in the affected country;

~~Amendment 46~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 45 d (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

~~45 d. Underlines that conflict prevention and peacebuilding should be included as objectives in all external financing instruments;~~

~~Amendment 47~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 45 e (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

~~45 e. Stresses that the budget allocations for the thematic programme on peace, stability and conflict prevention need to be increased;~~

~~Amendment 48~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 47~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;

47. Stresses that worldwide instability, persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of climate change, continue to contribute to an increased number of people forcibly displaced globally; stresses that 71 % of all refugees and people in need of protection are hosted in low- and middle-income countries; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must include a sufficient budget to support protection and reception in third countries and support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, governed by the principle of solidarity and the fair sharing of global responsibility while respecting fundamental rights, in line with Union values and international commitments; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;

~~Amendment 49~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 49 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

49 a. Emphasises the importance of ensuring that future EU assistance for third countries in the next MFF aligns with human rights and peace objectives, with robust safeguards to prevent the funds from directly or indirectly supporting terrorist or violent activities;

~~Amendment 50~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 49 b (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

~~49 b. Stresses that there must be no disbursements from the European budget for countries where proven violations of the rule of law jeopardise the management of European funds;~~

~~Amendment 51~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 50~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States; recognises that about 65 % of sustainable development goal targets require local and regional authority involvement; calls for the restoration of a dedicated budget for local and regional authorities in external action funding to enhance their role in EU development policies; recommends integrating local and regional authorities into EU funding tools, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) and the Global Gateway strategy, without decreasing support for and the funding opportunities of civil society organisations; supports a localisation marker to measure the impact of EU action at the local level for more effective development cooperation; calls for the next MFF to fund decentralised cooperation programmes, such as the partnership for sustainable cities, and improve financing access for local and regional authorities in partner countries; emphasises the need to boost economic security by strengthening supply chain resilience, securing critical materials and technologies, diversifying strategic partnerships and enhancing EU industrial capabilities for a stable and competitive economy;

~~Amendment 52~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 53~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;

53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue digital, climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect democracy, human rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness, promote the Union’s values and safeguard its interests, and bolster the Union’s preparedness and resilience against threats;

~~Amendment 53~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 56 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

56 a. Recalls, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation, the alignment with and observance of the principles of humanitarian law and human rights law, and the right to individual and collective self-defence, enshrined in the UN Charter, in implementing the Union budget;

~~Amendment 54~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 57~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, the European External Action Service and the Union’s bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

~~Amendment 55~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 57 a (new)~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

57 a. Stresses that underfunding the European External Action Service jeopardises the EU’s relations with third countries; underlines that volatile interest rates and rising financing costs for EU delegations require flexible solutions, such as linking the non-salary expenditure ceiling to inflation rates; highlights the need to maintain the current structure of the network of EU delegations;

~~Amendment 56~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 59~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Amendment~~

~~59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;~~

59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable and secure IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;

~~Amendment 57~~

~~Motion for a resolution~~

~~Paragraph 66~~

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;

91a. Stresses the importance of parliamentary scrutiny of the implementation of the Union budget under the MFF and in compliance with sectoral legislation; underlines, in that context, that agreements allowing for the participation of specific third countries1a in EU programmes should allow for full parliamentary scrutiny, through a consent procedure, of the participation of a specific partner country in a specific EU programme; underlines that this is of particular importance where the participation is not part of a single international agreement on political relations between the Union and the third country;

__________________

1a These specific countries include members of the European Free Trade Association that are members of the European Economic Area, acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, European Neighbourhood Policy countries, and like-minded third countries, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

~~Pursuant to Article~~The 8rapporteur ofdeclares ~~Annex~~under Ihis toexclusive ~~the~~responsibility ~~Rules~~that ofhe ~~Procedure,~~did ~~the~~not ~~rapporteur~~receive ~~for~~input ~~opinion~~from ~~declares~~any ~~that~~entity ~~she~~or ~~received~~person ~~input~~to ~~from~~be ~~the~~mentioned ~~following~~in ~~entities~~this orAnnex ~~persons~~pursuant into ~~the~~Article ~~preparation~~8 of ~~the opinion,~~Annex ~~prior~~I to the ~~adoption thereof~~Rules inof ~~committee:~~Procedure.

~~Entity and/or person~~

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

~~EEAS~~

~~DG INTPA~~

~~CoR rapporteur of the report on EU-Africa~~

~~Search for Common Ground~~

~~UNICEF~~

~~Concord~~

~~The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.~~

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

~~INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION~~

Date adopted

Result of final vote

~~+ : 45~~

~~- : 17~~

–:

~~0 : 6~~

Members present for the final vote

Petras Auštrevičius, Jordan Bardella, Dan Barna, Wouter Beke, Robert Biedroń, Adam Bielan, Ľuboš Blaha, Marc Botenga, Helmut Brandstätter, Sebastião Bugalho, Danilo Della Valle, Özlem Demirel, Elio Di Rupo, Loucas Fourlas, Michael Gahler, Alberico Gambino, Giorgos Georgiou, Bernard Guetta, Hana Jalloul Muro, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Marion Maréchal, Costas Mavrides, Vangelis Meimarakis, Sven Mikser, Francisco José Millán Mon, Hannah Neumann, Leoluca Orlando, Kostas Papadakis, Tonino Picula, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Mounir Satouri, Andreas Schieder, Alexander Sell, Villy Søvndal, Davor Ivo Stier, António Tânger Corrêa, Marta Temido, Hermann Tertsch, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Reinier Van Lanschot, Roberto Vannacci, Hilde Vautmans, Harald Vilimsky, Nicola Zingaretti, Željana Zovko

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Wouter Beke, Paolo Borchia, Markus Buchheit, Borys Budka, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Elena Donazzan, Matthias Ecke, Christian Ehler, Sofie Eriksson, Jan Farský, Sigrid Friis, Niels Fuglsang, Alexandra Geese, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Bart Groothuis, András Gyürk, Niels Flemming Hansen, Eero Heinäluoma, Ivars Ijabs, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Adam Jarubas, Fernand Kartheiser, Seán Kelly, Rudi Kennes, Sarah Knafo, Michał Kobosko, Ondřej Krutílek, Eszter Lakos, Morten Løkkegaard, Yannis Maniatis, Eva Maydell, Marina Mesure, Jana Nagyová, Ville Niinistö, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mirosława Nykiel, Daniel Obajtek, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Jüri Ratas, Julie Rechagneux, Aura Salla, Elena Sancho Murillo, Jussi Saramo, Paulius Saudargas, Benedetta Scuderi, Diego Solier, Anna Stürgkh, Marcin Sypniewski, Beata Szydło, Dario Tamburrano, Filip Turek, Yvan Verougstraete, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig, Auke Zijlstra, Nicola Zingaretti

Substitutes present for the final vote

Pernando Barrena Arza, Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, Vasile Dîncu, Jan Farský, Viktória Ferenc, Mircea-Gheorghe Hava, Evin Incir, András László, Yannis Maniatis, Marjan Šarec, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Matej Tonin, Pekka Toveri, Matthieu Valet, Thomas Waitz, Lucia Yar

Mohammed Chahim, Paulo Cunha, Radan Kanev, Marion Maréchal, Georg Mayer, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Oliver Schenk, Irene Tinagli, Zala Tomašič, Francesco Torselli, Marie Toussaint, Dimitris Tsiodras

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

~~Jüri Ratas, Kristian Vigenin~~

Grégory Allione, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Vasile Dîncu, Marcos Ros Sempere, Alexandre Varaut, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Key to symbols:

~~PPE~~

Beke Wouter, Brejza Krzysztof, Bugalho Sebastião, Farský Jan, Fourlas Loucas, Gahler Michael, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Jukneviciene Rasa, Kalniete Sandra, Kohut Lukasz, Kolár Ondrej, Kovatchev Andrey, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Meimarakis Vangelis, Millán Mon Francisco José, Ratas Jüri, Stier Davor Ivo, Tonin Matej, Toveri Pekka, Zovko Zeljana

~~Renew~~

~~Austrevicius Petras, Barna Dan, Brandstätter Helmut, Guetta Bernard, Sarec Marjan, Vautmans Hilde, Yar Lucia~~

~~S&D~~

Biedron Robert, Dîncu Vasile, Di Rupo Elio, Incir Evin, Jalloul Muro Hana, Maniatis Yannis, Mavrides Costas, Mikser Sven, Picula Tonino, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Schieder Andreas, Temido Marta, Vigenin Kristian

~~Verts/ALE~~

~~Neumann Hannah, Satouri Mounir, Søvndal Villy, Van Lanschot Reinier, Waitz Thomas~~

~~ESN~~

~~Sell Alexander~~

~~Blaha Lubos, Papadakis Kostas~~

~~PfE~~

~~Bardella Jordan, Bzoch Jaroslav, Ferenc Viktória, László András, Tânger Corrêa António, Tertsch Hermann, Valet Matthieu, Vannacci Roberto, Vilimsky Harald~~

~~The Left~~

~~Barrena Arza Pernando, Botenga Marc, Della Valle Danilo, Demirel Özlem, Georgiou Giorgos~~

~~ECR~~

~~Bielan Adam, Gambino Alberico, Maréchal Marion, Târziu Claudiu-Richard, Tynkkynen Sebastian~~

~~Verts/ALE~~

~~Orlando Leoluca~~

~~Key:~~

~~+ : in favour~~

~~- : against~~

~~0 : abstentions~~