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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on ~~Culture~~Employment and ~~Education~~Social Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital C~~

Citation 11 a (new)

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;

– having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2025 on the European Social Fund Plus post-20271a,

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 protect fundamental rights and the rule of law, foster cohesion and equality, avoid fragmentation in the single market and boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

______________

1a Texts adopted, P10_TA(2025)0027.

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital E a (new)~~

Citation 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ea. whereas culture contributes to the EU’s main strategic priorities as it enhances European resilience and serves as a safeguard for democracy, particularly in increasingly polarised societies; whereas, beyond its democratic and social benefits, culture also drives economic competitiveness and fosters innovation1a;

– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on access to decent and affordable housing for all1a,

~~_________________~~

______________

1a According to the European Parliamentary Research Service, each euro invested in common EU action supporting or complementing existing funding for the creative and cultural sector could potentially generate a return of up to EUR 11 of GDP.

1a OJ C 456, 10.11.2021, p. 145.

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G~~

Citation 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 24 November 2020 on tackling homelessness in the EU1a,

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, given these challenges, it is essential to safeguard programmes that promote fundamental values, strengthen social cohesion and foster cultural resilience, which are crucial for reinforcing European unity and solidarity in times of uncertainty and growing fragmentation;

______________

1a OJ C 425, 20.10.2021, p. 2.

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G a (new)~~

Citation 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ga. whereas the benefits of learning mobility include gaining the knowledge and skills needed for personal, educational and professional development, and building a strong sense of citizenship and an understanding of common values across Europe and beyond;

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments1a,

______________

1a OJ C C/2024/4224, 24.7.2024, ELI:http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4224/oj.

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

~~Recital G b (new)~~

Citation 11 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

~~Gb. whereas the role of a pluralistic and independent civil society, at the Member State and EU levels, is fundamental for the democratic resilience of our societies;~~

– having regard to its resolution of 18 June 2020 on the European Disability Strategy post-20201a,

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1a OJ C 362, 8.9.2021, p.8.

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 2~~

Citation 11 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;

– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2022 towards equal rights for persons with disabilities1a,

2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s core values and political aims, adding tangible value for all people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results that aim for inclusiveness, sustainability, transparency and excellence; calls for a more coherent approach to the funding of culture and youth, reducing fragmentation and ensuring better alignment with the Union’s strategic priorities to maximise its impact;

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1a OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p.13.

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph~~Citation 11 ag (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11a. Calls on the Commission to establish a large-scale, long-term coordinated funding programme for research, development, innovation and deployment in the field of language technologies at the EU level, tailored specifically to Europe’s needs and demands1a and fostering EU competitiveness and tech sovereignty;

– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the EU Strategy for Gender Equality1a,

~~_________________~~

______________

~~1a Such as those put forward in its resolution of 11 September 2018 on language equality in the digital age (OJ C 433. 23.12.2019, p. 42).~~

1a OJ C 456, 10.11.2021, p. 208.

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 13 a (new)~~

Citation 11 h (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Underlines that culture and European cultural heritage are central to Europe’s values, identity, democracy and strong societies, not only fostering creativity but also strengthening communities, supporting the economy, enhancing well-being and playing a crucial role in Europe’s resilience, security and sovereignty; stresses that Europe should remain a cultural power and export European culture throughout the world;

– having regard to the special report of the European Court of Auditors of 26 May 2021 entitled ‘Gender mainstreaming in the EU budget: time to turn words into action’,

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 13 b (new)~~

Citation 11 i (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13b. Points out that the EU has solid well-known EU programmes promoting culture, sport and youth, which people easily associate with the EU; emphasises the importance of Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe, with brands like the European Capitals of Culture, the European Heritage Label and Culture Moves Europe; strongly calls for these programmes to be maintained and reinforced in the next MFF;

– having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2022 towards a common European action on care1a,

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1a OJ C 47, 7.2.2023, p.60.

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 14~~

Citation 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2021 entitled ‘Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy’ (COM(2021)9778),

14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget plays an important role in fostering societies, reducing inequalities, supporting and developing education and training systems, boosting workforce skills and adaptability through reskilling, upskilling, and vocational education and training (VET), and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy, leading to economic growth; stresses that targeted support for education and training institutions is fundamental in order to fill labour shortages and address the competitiveness challenges Europe is facing;

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph~~Citation 1419 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14a. Stresses that, through a targeted budget, the EU can create more interconnected educational environments that fuel innovation and opportunities for all in the global, knowledge-based, highly competitive economy; highlights the powerful complementarity between innovation and education, which increases when researchers and learners from all backgrounds can participate in educational mobility programmes; insists, therefore, that the new MFF must adequately support the EU programmes that facilitate mobility and offer opportunities in order to boost innovation and address the competitiveness challenges Europe is facing;

– having regard to the Liège Declaration of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘Affordable, decent and sustainable housing for all’,

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph~~Citation 1419 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14b. Highlights the key role of the flagship programme Erasmus+ in providing opportunities for educational mobility, learning, cultural exchange and personal and skills development, equipping all beneficiaries, including VET students, to thrive in the modern economy, while promoting European values and fostering active citizenship across the Union; calls for continued and increased funding for Erasmus+, including for individual grants, to maximise its reach and impact across all regions and socio-economic backgrounds;

– having regard to the La Hulpe Declaration of 16 April 2024 on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights,

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 14 c (new)~~

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14c. Emphasises that sport is a key factor in overcoming inequalities and promoting social cohesion and a healthy lifestyle for all European citizens, regardless of background or ability and that it is, at the same time, an important economic driver; reiterates that Erasmus+ already plays a key role in sports with a modest budget, having funded over 1 400 sports organisations since 2021 and supported more than 2 000 mobility opportunities for coaches and staff in 2023; calls, therefore, for increased funding for sport in the EU budget, including increased support for the grassroots level and self-standing initiatives, with a particular focus on people with physical or mental disabilities;

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 is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities (Union values); whereas the Union’s aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples; 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;

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 14 d (new)~~

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14d. Recognises the European Solidarity Corps as a key initiative inspired by EU values, which fosters youth engagement, social resilience and preparedness in response to societal and humanitarian challenges; highlights the fact that participation in the programme equips young people with valuable skills, easing young people’s transition into employment; calls for increased and sustained investment in the European Solidarity Corps to meet growing demand, expand its reach and ensure broader accessibility for all young people, and underlines the high absorption capacity of the programme;

C. whereas spending through the Union budget, which is primarily the instrument for social and territorial cohesion, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and the priorities and strategies of the Member States, and in accordance with their economic and social development, may contribute to mitigating the asymmetric impacts of the single market, offsetting the risk of inequalities and boosting the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 15~~

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries;

E. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;

15. Insists that the Union budget should increase support for important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative sectors and industries; underscores, in this context, the significant role of the cultural and creative industries, which contribute approximately 4 % of the EU’s GDP and employ over 8 million people1a, therefore significantly enhancing job creation, social cohesion and innovation; underlines that investments in these sectors can foster social integration and promote cultural diversity;

E. whereas dedicated funding for protecting and promoting rights and values as enshrined in the Treaties, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the applicable international human rights conventions is important; whereas the Union budget, and in particular cohesion policy funding, such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), bolstered by NGEU, as well as the SURE instrument, have been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity; whereas to make up for these shortcomings, cohesion policy de facto became the first-choice source of emergency funding to address any challenge or unforeseen event during the previous term, which resulted in constant changes to the regulatory framework and eroded the policy’s strategic focus;

~~__________________~~

~~1a European Commission, ‘Cultural and Creative Industries’, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cultural-and-creative-industries_en.~~

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph~~Recital 15E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15a. Recalls that Creative Europe is the only EU funding programme dedicated exclusively to supporting the cultural and creative sectors and industries, also protecting freedom of artistic expression and facilitating access to culture; stresses that culture plays a crucial role in fostering social cohesion and contributing to a united and resilient Europe in the face of global challenges and crises; highlights the fact that investing in the Creative Europe programme generates strong returns in terms of employment, economic growth and competitiveness; strongly believes that Creative Europe should remain a standalone programme with a distinct budget line and a reinforced budget;

Ea. whereas the ESF+ is the only EU fund primarily focused on social policies, and is therefore unique and strongly effective in achieving social inclusion, together with cohesion policy; whereas the ESF+ aims to support the Member States and regions in achieving high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, as well as inclusive and cohesive societies aiming to eradicate poverty; whereas the ESF+ is the primary instrument for strengthening the social dimension of the EU by supporting the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, its action plan and its headline targets;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph~~Recital 15E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15b. Stresses that the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme is key in order to enhance civic engagement and participation and defend fundamental rights; calls for the programme’s budget to be increased in the next MFF to meet the growing demand for civic engagement and democratic participation initiatives and the development of communities in the EU, which provides citizens with a stronger incentive to be involved in educational projects, culture and historical remembrance;

Eb. Whereas the EU budget, and in particular cohesion policy and the ESF+, have played a fundamental role in reducing social, economic and territorial disparities and inequalities and in building a more social and inclusive Europe – in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights – by supporting the most vulnerable groups; whereas despite progress made, convergence has been uneven across the regions and socio-economic disparities persist with challenges such as poverty, inequality and lack of opportunities;

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 33~~

Recital E c (new)

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;

Ec. whereas one child in four is still at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU1a; whereas the European Child Guarantee aims to prevent and combat child poverty and the social exclusion of children by guaranteeing effective and free access to high-quality early childhood education and care, education and healthcare, and effective access to healthy nutrition and adequate housing;

33. Underlines that, in a society of rapid technological change and information overflow, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, encourage online hate speech, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity to ensure the long-term stability of the Union; points to the importance of ensuring quality education programmes that bridge the digital divide and help all citizens to acquire digital literacy and media literacy skills in order to develop informed views concerning digital technologies, AI, data and responsible media use; stresses the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives to strengthen Europe’s resilience and technological autonomy, protect and empower users online, and promote Europe’s values of transparency, the rule of law and innovation;

_________________

1a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240719-1.

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 33 a (new)~~

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

33a. Recognises the fundamental role of free, pluralistic and independent media and journalism, both in supporting European democracy and in making European citizens resilient to foreign interference and disinformation operations; stresses the need to move towards a more integrated European media and audiovisual area; stresses the need for the new MFF to support collaboration and technological innovation in the media sector and to promote the development of AI-driven solutions based on shared European values; calls for a reinforcement of actions and new initiatives to protect media freedom and to support independent journalism and media, in particular those covering European affairs;

F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, and the consequences of climate change have been more frequent and intense, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 37 a (new)~~

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

37a. Highlights the crucial role of education in addressing global challenges and underscores the importance of Erasmus Mundus as a vital instrument of the EU’s external action, as by fostering international academic cooperation and exchanges, Erasmus Mundus enhances the EU’s global influence, strengthens ties with partner countries and equips future leaders with the skills and knowledge to address global challenges, thereby reinforcing the Union’s resilience and its capacity to lead in global affairs;

G. whereas the context in which the Commission is preparing its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically in a challenging economic and social landscape, as well as the exacerbating climate and biodiversity crisis, and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 461

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;

46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, preserving and fostering the Union’s common culture and cultural heritage, youth participation in cultural and civic life, and European integration, and enhancing citizen engagement; stresses that culture and education are essential in reinforcing democratic resilience, promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;

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 enshrined in the EU Treaties, while tackling the growing challenges it faces, managing its debt sustainably, preparing and responding to shocks and crises and adjusting to evolving spending needs, all while ensuring social, economic and territorial cohesion and solidarity among its Member States in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the La Hulpe Declaration;

Amendment 22

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 46 a (new)~~

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

46a. Demands improved monitoring of the projects financed by the programmes, to ensure that the beneficiaries and their projects respect EU values, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, and guarantee respect for these values, and to ensure that the beneficiaries do not commit any professional misconduct;

2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, all being equally and mutually valuable as per the TFEU, adding tangible value for the people in all regions of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 533

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;

53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes implement youth mainstreaming, pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect fundamental rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support youth engagement and cultural development, strengthen competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats; strongly believes that the next MFF is a defining moment to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to children’s rights, ensuring that they are not treated as a secondary issue but as a core pillar of EU policy and that child-focused investments are mainstreamed into EU policies for maximised impact and enhanced budgetary efficiency;

3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become more effective, democratic, accessible, transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law, while enhancing the enforcement of EU legislation, social and environmental conditionalities, and the Union’s fundamental rights and values; stresses that the EU budget must include social conditionality, with the social dimension of EU spending becoming a cross-cutting criterion for all policy areas, including the development of a methodology for tracking social expenditure;

Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 593 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

59a. Stresses the important role of the European Schools system and its contribution to the creation of the European Education Area, with its mission of becoming a beacon for high-quality multilingual and multicultural education in Europe; recalls that Parliament set out a number of recommendations for an in-depth assessment and future-proof reform of the European Schools system in its resolution of 12 September 20231a; stresses the need for the European Schools to be endowed with an increased financial allocation in the next MFF to enable them to undergo the necessary reform, improve their governance and administrative efficiency and respond positively to the challenges ahead;

3a. Calls for the EU’s long-term budget to fully harness the development potential of each country through public investment, by supporting and modernising productive and strategic sectors, investing in and boosting the efficiency of public services, creating jobs with rights and promoting full employment, combating poverty, social exclusion and inequality, conserving and restoring ecosystems, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and seeking to forge external relations rooted in solidarity, cooperation, mutual respect and peace;

~~_____________~~

1a European Parliament resolution of 12 September 2023 on the system of European Schools: state of play, challenges and perspectives (OJ C, C/2024/1757, 22.3.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1757/oj).

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;

4. Underlines that a leaner, more efficient MFF requires more robust resources, spent as closely as possible to people and local administrations, as well as parliamentary accountability;

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges and geopolitical context facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience

Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion, and resilience and technological development

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

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;

6. Is convinced that boosting social, economic and territorial cohesion is indispensable in order to face challenges linked to eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, creating quality jobs, improving quality of life and well-being, enhancing the Union’s strategic autonomy and supporting the Union’s innovation capacity, as well as a sustainable, fair and inclusive social Europe, and that these are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy, environment and society; stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be aligned with the Member States’ development needs;

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;

7. Acknowledges the importance of maintaining the central role of economic, social and territorial cohesion; underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness, investment and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of climate change; insists on the importance of combating discrimination; highlights the fact that the availability and universal access of all people to quality public and essential services are necessary conditions for ensuring equal opportunities, improving employment levels, improving living and working conditions and fighting poverty and social exclusion; calls for EU programmes to give priority to projects that promote and uphold the creation of jobs; is concerned that a lack of quality job opportunities, including decent working conditions, quality services and high costs of living, increase the risk of poverty and social exclusion and further exacerbate discrepancies among regions and Member States; highlights that rising job insecurity, platform work and non-standard forms of employment contribute to economic instability and increased social vulnerability; encourages, for the next MFF to reinforce programmes aimed at enhancing labour protections, supporting collective bargaining and ensuring fair wages and social security coverage for all workers;

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7a. Highlights the fact that the main objective of the EU’s economic policies must be to preserve and develop the European social and economic model, with a dignified life for all people, social justice, quality jobs, a strong and reliable social welfare system and a cohesive society where no one is left behind, targeting the groups that are in the most vulnerable situations, as well as universal access to public services, in particular to education, healthcare, sustainable mobility, preserving the environment for future generations and implement the EU’s long-term targets regarding climate neutrality and sustainable development in a fair way; underlines that cohesion policy should continue to be a key pillar of the MFF post 2027, with an allocation that is not lower than the current share, shaping a more resilient and competitive Europe and avoiding fragmentation and dilution into broader strategic priorities; underlines that the competitiveness of the European economy must be pursued with these overriding social objectives in mind; calls for significantly increasing the budget for cohesion policies, including for the ESF+ within the MFF framework;

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7b. Takes the view that companies that fail to meet the highest social and labour standards – particularly those whose organisational model is based on precarious employment relationships or which close down and dismiss workers for no apparent reason – should be barred from accessing funds from the EU budget; considers that access should be barred to groups of companies established in tax havens and actively contributing to tax avoidance, evasion schemes and money laundering;

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role and gather additional resources in order to support EU long-term competitiveness, as well as social, economic and territorial cohesion, leaving no one and no region behind; underlines that new own resources can contribute to filling the remaining gap;

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;

9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage public and private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs, including the social economy, to access funds more readily when they contribute to social and environmental objectives benefiting society at large; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified and extended;

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;

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, sustainable, decent and affordable housing for all and, latterly, dual-use defence projects; stresses that the EU needs a coherent, integrated public investment policy that is able to address the multiple challenges that Europe is now facing; underlines that this integrated policy needs to be built around cohesion policy, as the EU’s principle tool for social, economic and territorial cohesion;

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

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;

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

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

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 next MFF must include much greater funding for sustainable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable, affordable and accessible transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to projects that enhance social and territorial cohesion, to rural areas and less connected and developed regions, and cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that investment in this infrastructure should be subject to criteria and targets aimed at economic cohesion and meeting social needs;

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

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. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims; stresses that economic, social, and territorial cohesion, higher skills and innovation levels, as well as environmental sustainability are essential conditions for competitiveness; recalls, in this context, that the Semester process is based on delivering the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through the upward social convergence framework, and does not exert pressure on wages and collective bargaining;

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Stresses the importance of a stronger and just Social Europe that supports employment policies, the creation of quality jobs that result in equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market, decent working conditions, fair wages, as well as social protection and inclusion;

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Underlines that a more competitive, sustainable and socially inclusive economy with reduced inequalities helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs and provides financing for high quality services, thus enhancing people’s standard of living and well-being in the long run; insists that a self-standing, strong and reinforced ESF+ must continue to be the key and primary instrument for supporting the Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Union; urges the Commission, in line with the two general objectives of the ESF+ and to reflect their importance equally, to raise earmarking for social inclusion beyond the current 25 % and earmarking for food aid and basic material assistance for the most deprived persons to 5 %, in response to rising living and food costs; expresses strong concerns over attempts to split or merge the ESF+ with other funds, since that would create serious risks for the implementation of its objectives; insists that the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, its action plan and its headline targets must be safeguarded and promoted, and it should continue to promote quality employment, but also contribute to the eradication of poverty, create better opportunities for all, with special attention paid to young people, children and people in vulnerable situations, as well as better health and mental health outcomes; emphasises that, through programmes such as the ESF+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget plays an important role in supporting social inclusion and social mobility, lifting people out of poverty, enhancing the right to education and training, including non-formal and informal learning, boosting workforce adaptability through vocational education and training reskilling and upskilling, especially in the context of the twin transitions and the changing economic climate, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern and digitalised economy; stresses the need to support the commercial sector, particularly traditional trade, with a view to modernising the sector, and to support the cooperative sector with a view to safeguarding its social function; stresses that reskilling and upskilling should mostly be prioritised in regions in need; underlines the need for the European Competitiveness Fund also to prioritise upskilling and reskilling in order to future-proof the EU’s workforce;

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors that are important for a resilient society where the Union is already a world leader, such as care, research and innovation, tourism and the cultural and creative industries, and to invest in sectors and industries that are essential to strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy and the digital and green transitions and contribute significantly to the EU’s competitiveness, while respecting social conditionalities;

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

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;

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, without negatively impacting existing social protection and rights, by investing in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced clean industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and resource efficiency, clean and affordable energy and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries while creating green jobs within the EU;

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16a. Considers that, to this end, the EU must engage in a comprehensive political debate to define the type of industrial policy needed at EU level, the role of public investments and how to link this policy to European upward social convergence, economic security, strategic autonomy, as well as decarbonisation objectives and environmental protection; considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own integrated values and political aims in a holistic and broadly comprehensive approach;

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;

18. Highlights the vital role of EU programmes in the employment and social fields, in particular the ESF+, the European Globalisation Fund, the Just Transition Fund, the Social Climate Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), in supporting the Union’s social and territorial cohesion and fostering economic resilience; warns that inflation impacts the real value of projects and may jeopardise their implementation; recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised, reinforced cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities and social partners at all levels; underlines that an increased budgetary allocation for the Just Transition Fund could provide more robust support to regions and workers in the twin green and digital transitions, but could also mitigate negative social consequences, such as, inter alia, unemployment, energy or transport poverty; underlines that cohesion policy must remain a long-term policy, based on the objectives set out in Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; expresses its concern that the Union’s cohesion policy, including as provided for by the ESF+, is often used as an emergency response tool; calls, in this regard, for the Union budget to provide enough flexibility to cover possible emergency situations in a fast and effective way without undermining the policy objectives agreed at the onset; insists that the post-2027 MFF must significantly enhance investment in sustainable, decent and affordable housing, including through cohesion funds, InvestEU and the EIB, to support Member States in addressing these structural challenges;

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;

19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change, depopulation, growing social inequality, the cost of living and housing crises, social inclusion and poverty, including child poverty, and target the regions and people most in need; emphasises the lack of policy responses to the impact of demographic challenges, with an ageing population because of declining fertility rates, and extended life expectancies; calls for favourable treatment for the Union’s and the Member States’ expenditures aimed at countering demographic decline;

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19a. Calls for adequate funding to eradicate poverty and social exclusion, particularly in marginalised communities and less-developed regions; underlines the need to increase financial support for a just green and digital transition, the creation of high-quality jobs and support for the most deprived people by strengthening funding for organisations and social services addressing basic needs such as food aid, emergency housing and essential healthcare; highlights the fact that the Just Transition Fund has contributed to initiating the changes needed for the restructuring of the local economies in regions dependent on fossil fuels; stresses, however, that the objective of a fair and just transition will not be achieved by the end of the current programme and emphasises the need to continue post 2027; underlines the crucial role played by the SURE instrument to protect workers and mitigate the severely negative socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses the need to support short-time work schemes during periods of asymmetric shocks, building on the experience of SURE; calls for a reinforced SURE mechanism, as it believes that supporting such employment-protection measures in times of crises can stabilise public expenditure dedicated to employment policies and just transition measures to mitigate the immediate impacts on jobs of the necessary transformation of the EU economy, and for a European industrial policy for quality jobs and the reinforcement of the EU’s economic and social resilience; calls on the Commission to assess the number of quality jobs created in the affected regions;

Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19b. Highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis driven by, for example, rising rents, housing speculation, mass tourism and insufficient social housing, which is exacerbating social inequalities and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income households, young people as well as older people, and other vulnerable groups, pushing them into precarious living conditions and homelessness; underlines, therefore, the importance of addressing housing insecurity; believes that all Member States must invest a sufficient amount of their ESF+ resources into tackling homelessness with a view to its eradication by 2030, and asks the Commission to propose significant earmarking for this;

Amendment 47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19c. Welcomes the Commission’s plan to address the European housing crisis and the nomination of a Commissioner responsible for housing, including the use of EU financing for socially inclusive and sustainable housing systems; stresses that, in line with the political guidelines of the new Commission, tackling the housing crisis and homelessness, for instance, by applying the housing-first principle in Europe, is key and calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States, within the framework of the next MFF, to assume a stronger role in supporting housing policies that would guarantee the right to sustainable, decent and affordable housing for all through investment and regulatory measures; calls, therefore, for the EIB to expand its investments beyond social housing and energy-efficient renovations, supporting a broader range of projects that promote sustainable, well-planned and quality housing developments for all;

Amendment 48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19d. Stresses, furthermore, that the green transition requires investment in households that cannot otherwise access the benefits of the transition, in particular by providing support for the renovation of worst-performing buildings;

Amendment 49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19e. Points out that, at the end of 2023, around 20 million children were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is roughly one quarter of all children in the EU; repeatedly demands that the ESF+ include a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee to ensure that every child in the EU has effective and free access to high-quality early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, at least one healthy meal each school day, healthcare, effective access to adequate housing and healthy nutrition; stresses the importance of ensuring increased access to affordable and high-quality childcare facilities across the EU to support children’s early development and enable parents, particularly women, to make flexible career choices; insists that all Member States should allocate at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources to the European Child Guarantee and at least 10 % should be allocated by those Member States with a higher portion of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion; insists that this effort constitutes a central component of the review of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the upcoming anti-poverty strategy; calls for a strengthening of efforts to support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee with increased earmarking for all Member States that dedicate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources to support the targeted actions and structural reforms to support quality youth employment, vocational education and training, in particular traineeships and apprenticeships, and the transition from school to work, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second-chance education;

Amendment 50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

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 just transition, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions; insists that the twin transitions must be socially fair and just, based on meaningful and effective social dialogue ensuring the anticipation and effective management of changes in the world of work with job-to-job transition plans for all sectors;

Amendment 51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

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;

23. Underlines that reinforcing the industrial sector will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed to help certain industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; highlights, in this regard, the need for strong support for decent working conditions, skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning as ways to improve the EU’s workforce and labour market adaptation; stresses that the transition must be just, leaving no one behind, including those indirectly affected by it, and requires investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent, as well as increased support for vulnerable households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund; draws attention to the measures taken under cohesion policy for social and territorial cohesion and for stimulating sustainable growth and underlines that cohesion policy should continue to be a key contributor to supporting a socially just transition;

Amendment 52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

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 both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability, ethical and social risks, as well as serious environmental challenges and which already greatly impact the world of work; 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, use and benefit from them;

Amendment 53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

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

Amendment 54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

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, 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, health threats and healthcare workforce shortages are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

Amendment 55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

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; considers, at the same time, that defence spending cannot be at the detriment of social and environmental spending, and also should not lead to a reduction in funding for long-standing Union policies that have proved their worth over time, such as cohesion policy;

Amendment 56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; stresses that the long-term financing of key preparedness investment must be significantly increased in the next MFF; underlines that funding for emergency needs should not weaken funding for the EU’s long-term objectives; calls, therefore, on the Commission to protect the budget allocation of the ESF+ so that it can be used for its main objectives and beneficiaries, and to propose a financial reserve instrument that enables the EU to respond rapidly and in a flexible manner to social emergencies and crises, complementing the ESF+ and other cohesion funds;

Amendment 57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;

32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research, in the resilience of public health systems in the Union and to tackle healthcare workforce shortages; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period and increase the budget for health;

Amendment 58

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, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, including reducing healthcare workforce shortages, eradicating poverty, reducing 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;

Amendment 59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation; recalls that a democratisation of the budgetary process must ensure the full involvement of Parliament; recommends the meaningful involvement of social partners, regional and local authorities and civil society, which must be guaranteed in the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of funds at all levels, including technical assistance (under the Technical Support Instrument), with consistent financial resources allocated for capacity building, in order to empower social dialogue both at European and national level, in order to enhance social partners’ potential and the role of social dialogue, including in neighbourhood policies, enlargement and development cooperation;

Amendment 60

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;

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, especially the partnership principle; 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;

Amendment 61

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, the rights of persons with disabilities and the inclusion of marginalised groups, support the European Social Model through the implementation of the principles under the European Pillar of Social Rights and through reinforcing competitiveness and social rights, enhance social fairness and the lawful implementation of legislation and collective bargaining and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats and crises, including healthcare preparedness, by investing in healthcare workforce capacity building and development; calls for a stronger integration of social innovation across EU programmes to foster inclusive economic growth and develop new models of service delivery that address demographic change, digitalisation and labour market transformations;

Amendment 62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

55. Welcomes the development of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;

55. Underlines that Article 8 TFEU provides that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality’; recognises the importance of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; reiterates the need to further develop and improve the EU’s gender tracking methodology; calls for links to be established between the targets included in the upcoming gender equality strategy and the MFF as a key vehicle to implement the strategy, and for consistent and sustainable budgeting for all gender-related activities in the next MFF in line with the mainstreaming commitments; underlines the need for improved collection, reporting and evaluation of comparable gender-disaggregated data and the development of horizontal EU definitions in order to facilitate gender impact assessments in Union policy areas; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;

Amendment 63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

55a. Calls for the principle of economic, social and territorial cohesion to be defined in the post-2027 MFF as a horizontal principle in the EU’s long-term budget, making an assessment of the impact on cohesion across and within Member States of all expenditure, policies or actions a requirement, with the aim of promoting effective convergence in economic and social progress;

Amendment 64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

56a. Recalls that, in line with Article 33(2) of the Financial Regulation, programmes and activities under the next MFF should be implemented in order to achieve their set objectives while respecting working and employment conditions under applicable national law, Union law, International Labour Organization conventions and collective agreements; stresses the importance of this principle and expects the Commission to make concrete proposals on how the principle should be applied to all spending programmes under the next MFF;

Amendment 65

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. Recalls that an effective European public administration is of key importance; 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, high quality delivery, also through technical assistance and enforcement, as well as the protection of the financial interest of the Union, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances; appreciates the high-quality work performed by the agencies working in the area of employment, social affairs and inclusion – Eurofound, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Training Foundation and the European Labour Authority; recalls the particular mandates of these agencies and the specific composition of their management bodies based on the tripartite principle, thus including representatives of national authorities and social partners; stresses the importance, autonomy and added value of these five agencies in their field of expertise; reiterates the need to equip these agencies, at a level commensurate with their assigned tasks, with a sufficient number of staff, employed in a stable manner and with sufficient material resources;

Amendment 66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;

60. Stresses that the next MFF and the relevant sectoral programmes must be designed so as to ~~make~~simplify EUthe ~~programmes~~access ~~more~~of ~~accessible~~beneficiaries to funds, especially SMEs and ~~user-friendly,~~civil ~~harmonise~~society organisations, in particular by harmonising rules on accessing and applying for funds, wherever possible including on reporting and other cross-cutting measures, such as fraud, and cut unnecessary red tape in accessing funding, and thus must be implemented as close to people as ~~possible;~~possible ~~underlines~~and ensure that ~~application~~beneficiaries ~~procedures~~are ~~should~~consulted beon ~~simplified~~the sodesign ~~that,~~of ~~for~~the ~~example,~~simplification ~~small-scale~~measures; ~~and~~highlights ~~voluntary~~the ~~organisations,~~necessity ~~citizens~~of prioritising women, children, young people, older people, persons with disabilities, families and ~~self-employed~~persons ~~people~~in ~~are~~vulnerable ~~also~~situations, ~~able~~advocating targeted measures to ~~apply~~combat ~~successfully~~unemployment ~~for~~and ~~Union~~precariousness; ~~funding,~~reiterates ~~using~~its acall ~~bottom-up~~to ~~approach;~~allocate sufficient resources to achieve its objective of combating child poverty;

Amendment 2667

Motion for a resolution

61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;

61. Calls for genuine simplification and harmonisation where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each ~~programme,~~programme; asconsiders, ~~well~~however, asthat spending programmes under the next MFF must be based on ~~its~~Union ~~potential~~policy ~~transformative~~and ~~effect;~~the Treaty objectives and principles; insists that cohesion policy should be maintained as a separate MFF sub-heading;

Amendment 2768

Motion for a resolution

~~Paragraph 64 a (new)~~

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

64a. Considers that, in certain areas, programmes under the next MFF need adequate and automatic mechanisms for adapting grants to actual inflation levels at regular intervals, in order to avoid a substantive loss of purchasing power over time for the final beneficiaries (as happens, for example, with the individual grants under Erasmus+ and the Melina Mercouri Prize);

62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

~~Amendment 28~~

62. Insists that a more efficient budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line should be provided for each EU programme, in particular for the larger programmes merging different policy objectives; considers that, while detailed budget breakdowns enhance accountability, transparency and budget control, they cannot justify or compensate for the merging of funds with distinct purposes; notes that this is in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; underlines, therefore, that a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line is necessary to enable proper accountability, including better control by the co-legislators of the objectives and governance of the programmes, and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment 69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7764

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

77. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates; stresses that EU programmes are an investment in the future of young Europeans and directly benefit citizens; underlines that any competition between the programmes and the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs sends the wrong message to citizens;

64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context under pressure, for instance, because of climate change, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on ensuring an in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF to allow for a faster and more effective response to emergencies, as well as to invest more in rebuilding better and while not compromising the specific objectives and amounts allocated for funds and programmes, particularly in terms of social, economic and territorial cohesion;

Amendment 70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 65

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;

65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of specific funds and tools designed to tackle emergencies and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus and respond to evolving needs and emerging crises; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;

Amendment 71

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;

66. Underlines that, within the framework of co-decision, Parliament and the Council may, on a case-by-case basis, include an in-built flexibility reserve in a programme, and warns that this in-built flexibility reserve is not relevant for all programmes; notes that in such cases the mobilisation of this reserve should be decided through co-decision via, at least, a delegated act;

Amendment 72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity and to endow the MFF with flexibility linked to evolving needs; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds already allocated for other investments are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

Amendment 73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;

69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include special instruments to ensure solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve), to provide support for redundant workers in the event of major restructuring events (the continuation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that the amounts earmarked for strengthening these instruments should not be the result of a reduction in other funds or programmes; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;

Amendment 74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 70

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

70. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, and decommitted appropriations, which should be re-entered in the original programmes’ budget envelope in order to deploy their full potential, fulfil their objectives and reach as many beneficiaries as possible;

Amendment 75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level;

72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aimed at territorial and upward social convergence;

Amendment 76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

74. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes as it is built based on a centralised Member State-level approach with single national plans; warns that centralised Member State-level programming through single national plans undermines subsidiarity, contradicts the multilevel governance approach and the partnership principle, and would not be the most efficient or inclusive method for delivering Union spending on long-term policies; highlights that strict performance metrics cannot be used as efficiently for certain objectives, such as employment and social policy priorities;

Amendment 77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;

75. Points out that integrating lessons learnt from the RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, respecting the ordinary legislative procedure, namely institutional codecision, for each regulation, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outcome, or sometimes outputs in the definition of performance, and ensuring the availability of data relevant for performance measurement, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; underlines the need to build on the specificities of cohesion policy while preserving its cornerstone principles of long-term and structural measures and reforms;

Amendment 78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

75a. Stresses the role of technical assistance in ensuring the maximum quality of projects, as well as additionality of investments, and in enabling the timely implementation of expenditure; recalls, in this regard, the essential role of concentrated technical knowledge as provided, for example, by the EIB advisory hub;

Amendment 79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 81

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

81. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to design a sound and durable architecture that enables sustainable management of all non-discretionary costs and liabilities, fully preserving Union programmes and the budget’s flexibility and response capacity;

81. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to design a sound and durable architecture that enables sustainable management of all non-discretionary costs and liabilities, without reducing the amounts allocated to programmes and funds and while preserving the budget’s flexibility and response capacity;

Amendment 80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 84

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

84. Reiterates the need for sustainable and resilient revenue for the Union budget; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to meet both known and unforeseen needs and ensure the long-term financing of the EU budget, which is essential to sustain the Union’s initiatives benefiting all Member States and to prevent any further burden on workers and people hit by the transitions;

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

The rapporteur for the opinion declares under ~~his~~her exclusive responsibility that heshe did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

~~19.3.2025~~

31.3.2025

Result of final vote

Members present for the final vote

Nikolaos Anadiotis, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Laurence Farreng, Gabriela Firea, Mario Furore, Sunčana Glavak, Catherine Griset, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Lara Magoni, Nikos Pappas, Hristo Petrov, Giusi Princi, Emma Rafowicz, Sabrina Repp, Diana Riba i Giner, Nela Riehl, Manuela Ripa, Sandro Ruotolo, Marco Squarta, Zoltán Tarr, Zala Tomašič, Ivaylo Valchev, Annamária Vicsek, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski

Maravillas Abadía Jover, Grégory Allione, Nikola Bartůšek, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Rachel Blom, Andrzej Buła, Estelle Ceulemans, Leila Chaibi, Henrik Dahl, Johan Danielsson, Marie Dauchy, Mélanie Disdier, Elena Donazzan, Gheorghe Falcă, Chiara Gemma, Niels Geuking, Isilda Gomes, Alicia Homs Ginel, Sérgio Humberto, Irena Joveva, Martine Kemp, Katrin Langensiepen, Miriam Lexmann, Marit Maij, Idoia Mendia, Maria Ohisalo, João Oliveira, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Dennis Radtke, Liesbet Sommen, Villy Søvndal, Pál Szekeres, Georgiana Teodorescu, Romana Tomc, Jana Toom, Raffaele Topo, Brigitte van den Berg, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Petar Volgin, Jan-Peter Warnke, Séverine Werbrouck

Substitutes present for the final vote

~~Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Isilda Gomes, Bernard Guetta, Maria Guzenina~~

Borys Budka, Andi Cristea, Klára Dobrev, Estrella Galán, Rudi Kennes, Pierfrancesco Maran, Benedetta Scuderi, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig

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

~~Georgios Aftias~~

Salvatore De Meo

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION