Sittings · Document

Draft report (2024/2107(INI)) 2025-02-07

Ninth report on economic and social cohesion

Committee on Regional Development

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Amendment 1

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Urban Agenda for the EU of 30 May 2016,

Or. en

Amendment 2

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Citation 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Territorial agenda 2030 of 1 December 2020,

Or. en

Amendment 3

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Citation 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the URBACT initiative for sustainable urban cooperation, established in 2002,

Or. en

Amendment 4

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Citation 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the study entitled ‘The future of EU cohesion: Scenarios and their impacts on regional inequalities’, published by European Parliamentary Research Service in December 2024,

Or. en

Amendment 5

Sandro Gozi

Motion for a resolution

Citation 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2021 ‘Towards a stronger partnership with the EU outermost regions1a’,

_________________

1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0368_EN.html

Or. en

Amendment 6

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2018 on Cohesion Policy and the Circular Economy (2017/2211(INI)),

Or. en

Amendment 7

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on cohesion policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change,

Or. en

Amendment 8

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 20 May 2021 on reversing demographic trends in EU regions using cohesion policy instruments,

Or. en

Amendment 9

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2023 on possibilities to increase the reliability of audits and controls by national authorities in shared management,

Or. en

Amendment 10

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),

Or. en

Amendment 11

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Citation 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the report entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness – A competitiveness strategy for Europe’, published by the European Commission on 9 September 2024

Or. en

Amendment 12

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Citation 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EEA Report No 1/2024 - European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA),

Or. en

Amendment 13

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Regulation (EU) 2025/XXXX of the European Parliament and of the Council of [INSERT DATE] on the Border Regions’ Instrument for Development and Growth in the EU (BRIDGEforEU) [INSERT FOOTNOTE ONCE PUBLISHED IN OJ],

Or. en

Amendment 14

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– Taking account of the Commission communication ‘Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions’ of 3 May 2022;

Or. pt

Amendment 15

Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool for investment in economic and social development across the EU under its multiannual financial frameworks for the periods of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027; in accordance with Article 349 TFEU, the outermost regions of the European Union enjoy a special status owing to their specific structural, economic and social characteristics, including their remoteness, insularity and economic dependence. In order to ensure effective application of the principles of economic, social and territorial cohesion, it is imperative to allow the French outermost regions to benefit from the cohesion fund, with eligibility criteria tailored to their specific needs;

Or. fr

Amendment 16

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool for investments in sustainable economic and social development across the EU, and significantly contributes to the fight against climate change, SDGs and Green Deal objectives, under its multiannual financial frameworks for the periods of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027;

Or. en

Amendment 17

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool for investment in economic, social and environmental development across the EU under its multiannual financial frameworks for the periods of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027;

Or. fr

Amendment 18

Elena Nevado del Campo, Maravillas Abadía Jover

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool for investment in economic, social and territorial development across the EU under its multiannual financial frameworks for the periods of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027;

Or. es

Amendment 19

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A a. whereas cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool for investment in economic and social development, aiming to reduce territorial disparities;

Or. en

Amendment 20

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas cohesion policy has fostered economic and social convergence in the EU, notably by increasing the gross domestic products of central and eastern European Member States, from 43 % of the EU average in 1995 to around 80 % in 2023; whereas the 9th Cohesion Report highlights that, by the end of 2022, cohesion policy supported over 4.4 million businesses, creating more than 370 000 jobs in these companies; whereas cohesion policy constituted, on average, around 13 % of total public investment in the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 21

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas cohesion policy has fostered economic and social convergence in the EU, notably by increasing gross domestic products across the continent; whereas the 9th Cohesion Report highlights that, by the end of 2022, cohesion policy supported over 4.4 million businesses, creating more than 370 000 jobs in these companies; whereas cohesion policy constituted, on average, around 13 % of total public investment in the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 22

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas cohesion policy has fostered economic, social and territorial convergence in the EU, notably by increasing the gross domestic products, for example, of central and eastern EU Member States, which went from 43 % of the EU average in 1995 to around 80 % in 2023; whereas the 9th Cohesion Report highlights that, by the end of 2022, cohesion policy supported over 4.4 million businesses, creating more than 370 000 jobs in these companies; whereas cohesion policy constituted, on average, around 13 % of total public investment in the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 23

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B a. whereas the implications of climate change can have the biggest impact on all European regions, bringing more drastic changes to the life of people and livelihood of regions especially in less developed regions, mainly located in the southern and eastern parts of Europe; whereas climate change thus is the biggest external threat to Europe’s cohesion in the future;

Or. en

Amendment 24

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B a. whereas despite the success in creating economc, social and territorial convergence, cohesion policy in 'more developed' areas, and areas that have fallen into development traps, has not had the same impact in maintaining upward convergence;

Or. en

Amendment 25

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas cohesion policy generates a significant return on investment, and each euro invested between 2014 and 2027 will generate EUR 1.3 of GDP by 20301a;

_________________

1a European Commission: Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Durán Laguna, J., D’Apice, P., Grzegorzewska, M., De Franceschi, F. et al., Ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, Durán Laguna, J.(editor), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Or. pl

Amendment 26

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas between 2021 and 2027, cohesion policy will have invested over EUR 140 billion in the green and digital transitions, to help improve networks and infrastructure, support nature conservation, improve digital skills and foster job creation;

Or. fr

Amendment 27

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 28

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas the goal of a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050 at the latest should be coupled with the goal of a fair and just transition; whereas air and water pollution, availability of water risk, as well as energy poverty generally remain too high in many less developed regions;

Or. en

Amendment 29

Marcos Ros Sempere, Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Hannes Heide, Matthias Ecke, Rosa Serrano Sierra

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas Cohesion Policy is at the heart of EU policies and is indispensable for delivering social, economic and territorial balances in the single market; whereas cohesion policy goals are mandated by the Treaties;

Or. en

Amendment 30

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas despite the widely acknowledged and proven positive impact of cohesion policy on social and economic convergence, significant challenges remain, marked notably by development disparities at sub-national level, and by the impact of climate change, in terms of demography but also in terms of economic development, in particular in least developed regions;

D. whereas despite the widely acknowledged and proven positive impact of cohesion policy on social and economic convergence and harmonious and sustainable development of all EU regions, significant challenges remain, marked notably by development disparities at sub-national level, and by the impact of climate change, in terms of demography but also in terms of green and sustainable economic development, in particular in least developed regions;

Or. en

Amendment 31

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas despite the widely acknowledged and proven positive impact of cohesion policy on social and economic convergence, significant challenges remain, marked notably by development disparities at sub-national level, within regions and in regions caught in a development trap, and by the impact of climate change, in terms of demography but also in terms of economic development, in particular in least developed regions;

Or. en

Amendment 32

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas despite the widely acknowledged and proven positive impact of cohesion policy on social, economic and territorial convergence, significant challenges remain, marked notably by development disparities at sub-national level, and by the impact of climate change, in terms of demography but also in terms of economic development, in particular in least developed regions;

Or. en

Amendment 33

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas cohesion policy is fundamental for a well-functioning and thriving internal market as by promoting the development of all regions in the EU, and especially the least developed ones, it allows them to participate economically in the internal market, which benefits all regions of the EU, even those that do not directly receive funds from cohesion policy;

Or. en

Amendment 34

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas the provision of essential services such as healthcare, education, and transportation must be reinforced through an extraordinary plan ensuring minimum service standards in all regions, with a particular focus on rural and remote areas;

Or. en

Amendment 35

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas disparities remain in the speed of the digital transition and connectivity across Europe especially in rural and remote areas;

Or. en

Amendment 36

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit and the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; however, cohesion policy should not be repeatedly used as an emergency response tool unless its financial package is updated accordingly, otherwise its long-term goals may be undermined;

Or. pt

Amendment 37

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit and the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but is not designed to be and cannot be the "go-to" emergency response funding mechanism;

Or. en

Amendment 38

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Sérgio Gonçalves, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy is a long-term, structural policy with the capacity to strengthen resilience and prosperity, it has also has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit and the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 39

Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 40

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy and EU sectoral policies have repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit and the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine;

Or. fr

Amendment 41

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions, including the outermost regions, to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit and the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine;

Or. pt

Amendment 42

Elena Nevado del Campo, Maravillas Abadía Jover

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit, the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and natural disasters;

Or. es

Amendment 43

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas cohesion policy has repeatedly and efficiently helped regions to respond effectively to emergencies and asymmetric shocks such as the COVID-19 crisis, Brexit, energy and the refugee crisis caused by unprovoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 44

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 45

Marcos Ros Sempere, Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Hannes Heide, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas Covid-19 pandemic has delayed the implementation of the structural funds and that a considerable number of projects financed with RRF funds have drawn for the most part from the projects that were in pipeline of investments for Cohesion Policy;

Or. en

Amendment 46

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas housing and energy prices are rising, realizing the need for cheaper, state owned housing and accelerated deep renovation to fight energy poverty and promote energy efficiency;

Or. en

Amendment 47

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F. whereas despite measures already taken for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods, the regulatory framework governing the use and administration of cohesion policy instruments and funds should be further simplified, with the objective of reducing the administrative burden, not only for the relevant authorities but also for the beneficiaries;

Or. pl

Amendment 48

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F. whereas despite measures already taken for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods, the regulatory framework governing the use and administration of cohesion policy instruments and funds should be further simplified, requiring the establishment of one-stop digitalized service centers to streamline procedures and enhance stakeholder trust, with the objective of reducing the administrative burden, not only for the relevant authorities but also for the beneficiaries;

Or. en

Amendment 49

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F. whereas despite measures already taken for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods, the regulatory framework governing the use and administration of cohesion policy instruments and funds should be further simplified and interoperable digital tools better used and developed, with the objective of reducing the administrative burden, not only for the relevant authorities but also for the beneficiaries;

Or. en

Amendment 50

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. fr

Amendment 51

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 52

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. pt

Amendment 53

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F a. Whereas the low absorption rate of the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy funds, currently at just 6%, is not due to a lack of need from Member States or regions, but rather stems from delays in the approval of operational programs, the transition period between financial frameworks, the prioritization of NextGenerationEU by national managing authorities, limited administrative capacity, and complex bureaucratic procedures; Whereas Member States and regions may not rush to absorb all available funds, as they anticipate a possible extension under the N+2 or N+3 rules;

Or. en

Amendment 54

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F a. whereas it is of utmost importance to formulate any future cohesion policy with a strategic impetus that is being followed during the whole funding period, which could however be reassessed and adjusted in the midterm of the funding period depending of new changed circumstances;

Or. en

Amendment 55

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F a. whereas economic disparities can be mitigated by introducing 'no-tax areas' in the most disadvantaged regions to attract investments and create job opportunities, ensuring a fairer distribution of economic growth;

Or. en

Amendment 56

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas radical modifications of the regulatory framework, from one programming period to the next, contribute to insecurity among the authorities responsible, gold-plating of legislation, increased error rates (and the accompanying negative reputational and financial consequences), delays in implementation and, ultimately, disaffection among beneficiaries; in that context, the European Court of Auditors and Member States' courts of auditors need to be more deeply involved, at every stage of the process, in the design and management of cohesion policy operational programmes, as partners, with a view to reducing the number of less positive audits, which increase bureaucracy and administrative burden with the only objective of protecting national and regional administrations;

Or. pt

Amendment 57

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas radical modifications of the regulatory framework, from one programming period to the next, contribute to insecurity among the authorities responsible and beneficiaries, gold-plating of legislation, increased error rates (and the accompanying negative reputational and financial consequences), delays in implementation and, ultimately, disaffection among beneficiaries and the general population;

Or. en

Amendment 58

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas radical modifications of the cohesion regulatory framework, from one programming period to the next, contribute to insecurity among the authorities responsible, gold-plating of legislation, increased error rates (and the accompanying negative reputational and financial consequences), delays in implementation and, ultimately, disaffection among beneficiaries;

Or. en

Amendment 59

Maravillas Abadía Jover, Elena Nevado del Campo

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ga. whereas the EU faces significant climate-related risks, in particular drought, extreme heat and forest fires, with southern Europe being the most affected; whereas droughts severely affect agriculture, leading to reduced crop yields, soil degradation and water scarcity, especially in the Mediterranean region;

Or. es

Amendment 60

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G a. whereas Member States should comply with the Charter of Fundamental rights, non-discrimination, the principles of Rule of Law, and the European code of conduct on partnership when utilizing cohesion policy funding;

Or. en

Amendment 61

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G a. whereas regional authorities need more flexibility in fund management, allowing direct funding access to local stakeholders to address urgent territorial needs effectively;

Or. en

Amendment 62

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ga. whereas there is sometimes competition between cohesion funds, emergency funds and sectoral policies;

Or. fr

Amendment 63

Maravillas Abadía Jover

Motion for a resolution

Recital G b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Gb. whereas Europe’s coastal regions and islands are particularly vulnerable to growing climate risks, such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather events such as storms and floods;

Or. es

Amendment 64

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H. whereas demographic changes vary significantly across regions, with the populations of some Member States facing a projected decline in the coming years and others projected to grow; whereas demographic changes also take place between regions, generally observed as exoduses from rural to urban areas within Member States;

H. whereas demographic changes vary significantly across regions, with the populations of some Member States facing a projected decline in the coming years and others projected to grow; whereas demographic changes also take place between regions, generally observed as gendered exoduses from rural to urban areas within Member States wherein women are leaving rural areas in greater numbers than men, leading to significant gender imbalances in some areas;

Or. en

Amendment 65

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 66

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. pt

Amendment 67

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H. whereas demographic changes vary significantly across EU regions, with the populations of some Member States facing a projected decline in the coming years and others projected to grow; whereas demographic changes also take place between regions, generally observed as exoduses from rural to urban areas within Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 68

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H. whereas demographic changes vary significantly across regions, with the populations of some Member States facing a projected decline in the coming years and others projected to grow; whereas demographic changes also take place between regions, generally observed as movement from rural to urban areas within Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 69

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H a. whereas a stronger focus is needed on internal areas suffering from depopulation and inadequate services, requiring targeted measures to encourage young people to remain through entrepreneurship projects, high-quality agriculture, and sustainable tourism;

Or. en

Amendment 70

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H a. whereas urban areas are burdened by new challenges resulting from the population influx to cities, requiring the necessary housing development, as well as facing new environmental protection and energy saving requirements;

Or. en

Amendment 71

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H a. whereas considering the aging population is crucial in order to ensure justice amongst the generations and, by that, strengthen participation especially for young people;

Or. en

Amendment 72

André Rougé, Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Recital I

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I. whereas particular attention needs to be paid to rural areas, as well as areas affected by industrial transition and regions that suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as the outermost regions, the northern sparsely populated regions, islands, mountainous areas and cross-border regions;

I. whereas particular attention needs to be paid to rural areas, as well as areas affected by industrial transition and regions that suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as the outermost regions, particularly those affected by double insularity and climate change, the northern sparsely populated regions, islands, mountainous areas and cross-border regions;

Or. fr

Amendment 73

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Recital I

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 74

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital I

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I. whereas particular attention needs to be paid to rural areas, as well as areas affected by industrial transition and EU regions that suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as the outermost regions, the northern sparsely populated regions, islands, mountainous areas and cross-border regions;

Or. en

Amendment 75

Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Maravillas Abadía Jover, Elena Nevado del Campo

Motion for a resolution

Recital I

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I. whereas particular attention needs to be paid to rural areas, as well as areas affected by industrial transition and regions that suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as the outermost regions, sparsely populated regions, islands, mountainous areas and cross-border regions;

Or. es

Amendment 76

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Klára Dobrev

Motion for a resolution

Recital I a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I a. whereas the EU cohesion policy should contribute, in view of the rising housing prices which were up by 48% between 2010 and 2023 and rent by 22% in the same period, to an affordable housing market in the EU, especially for low-income households, urban residents and young people;

Or. en

Amendment 77

Raffaele Topo

Motion for a resolution

Recital I a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ia. whereas effective implementation of the Urban Agenda for the EU can enhance the capacity of cities to contribute to cohesion objectives, thereby improving the quality of life of citizens and guaranteeing a more efficient use of the EU’s financial resources;

Or. it

Amendment 78

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital I a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I a. whereas brain drain disproportionately affects less developed regions and if left unaddressed, the phenomenon will have long-term and permanent effects on the future of the European Union;

Or. en

Amendment 79

Sandro Gozi

Motion for a resolution

Recital I a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I a. whereas the geographic specificities and location of outermost regions require specific policy measures in all relevant EU legislative act, in accordance with Article 349 TFEU;

Or. en

Amendment 80

Elsi Katainen, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Recital J

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has a strong impact on the employment, economic development and opportunities, and general well-being of the population living in regions bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia; whereas this war leads to an unprecedented number of people seeking shelter in the EU, placing an additional burden on local communities and services;

Or. en

Amendment 81

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Recital J

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has a strong impact on the employment, economic development and opportunities, and general well-being of the population living in regions bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and these regions therefore need special attention and support; whereas this war leads to an unprecedented number of people seeking shelter in the EU, placing an additional burden on local communities and services;

Or. pl

Amendment 82

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital J

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has a strong impact on the employment, sustainable economic development and opportunities, and general well-being of the population living in regions bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia; whereas this war leads to an unprecedented number of people seeking shelter in the EU, placing an additional burden on local communities and services;

Or. en

Amendment 83

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital J a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J a. whereas the pandemic and the current geopolitical tensions have confirmed the need to work towards a renewed Economic Governance Framework, including the Stability and Growth Pact, and to introduce a golden rule for Cohesion Policy investments that do not deviate from the respect of the Paris Agreement’s objectives, including the co-funding of the Structural and Investment Funds;

Or. en

Amendment 84

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Recital J a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas 79% of citizens who are aware of EU-funded projects under cohesion policy believe that EU-funded projects have a positive impact on the regions1a, which contributes to a pro-EU attitude;

_________________

1a Flash Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ awareness and perceptions of EU Regional Policy for 2023, Ipsos European public affairs, survey commissioned by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and coordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication, 2023;

Or. pl

Amendment 85

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Recital J a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J a. whereas the unique situation of Northern Ireland requires a bespoke approach building on the benefits of PEACE Programmes examining how wider cohesion policy can benefit the process of reconciliation;

Or. en

Amendment 86

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Recital J b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Jb. whereas overall awareness of EU-funded projects under cohesion policy has decreased by 2 percentage points since 20211a, and therefore greater decentralisation should be pursued in order to bring cohesion policy even closer to the citizen;

_________________

Or. pl

Amendment 87

André Rougé, Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists that the regional focus, place-based approach and strategic planning of the cohesion policy, as well as its decentralised programming and implementation model based on the partnership principle and multi-level governance, are key elements of the policy, and determine its effectiveness; is firmly convinced that this model of cohesion policy should be continued as the EU’s main investment instrument for reducing disparities, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion and stimulating regional and local sustainable growth, and as a key contributor to EU competitiveness and just transition, as well as helping to cope with challenges ahead; is nevertheless dubious about the merits of multi-level governance, which can create less clarity for this policy and contribute to an inter-regionality that is removed from the principles of European integration based on free cooperation between sovereign nation states and not on cooperation at a sub-national level from region to region;

Or. fr

Amendment 88

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists that the regional focus, place-based approach and strategic planning of the cohesion policy, as well as its decentralised programming and implementation model based on the partnership principle, shared management and multi-level governance, are key elements of the policy that can be tailor-made on the ground, and determine its effectiveness; is firmly convinced that this model of cohesion policy should be continued as the EU’s main long-term investment instrument for reducing disparities and the backwardness of the least favoured regions, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion and stimulating regional and local sustainable growth, and as a key contributor to EU competitiveness and just transition, as well as helping to cope with challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 89

Marcos Ros Sempere, Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Hannes Heide, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists that the regional focus, place-based approach and strategic planning of the cohesion policy, as well as its decentralised programming and implementation model based on the partnership principle and multi-level governance, are key elements of the policy, and determine its effectiveness; is firmly convinced that this model of cohesion policy should be continued as the EU’s main investment instrument for reducing disparities, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion and stimulating regional and local sustainable growth, and as a key contributor to EU competitiveness and just transition, as well as helping to cope with challenges ahead; stresses that cohesion policy has used a model based on reforms and performance since its foundation;

Or. en

Amendment 90

Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists that the regional focus, place-based approach and strategic planning of the cohesion policy, as well as its decentralised programming and implementation model based on the principle of partnership and involving social partners and civil society organisations, are key elements of the policy, and determine its effectiveness and any reflection on the development of the cohesion fund; is firmly convinced that this model of cohesion policy should be continued as the EU’s main investment instrument for reducing disparities, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion and stimulating regional and local sustainable growth, and as a key contributor to EU competitiveness and just transition, as well as helping to cope with challenges ahead;

Or. fr

Amendment 91

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists that the regional and local focus, place-based approach and strategic planning of the cohesion policy, as well as its decentralised programming and implementation model based on the partnership principle and multi-level governance, are key elements of the policy, and determine its effectiveness; is firmly convinced that this model of cohesion policy should be continued as the EU’s main investment instrument for reducing disparities, fighting climate change, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion and stimulating regional and local sustainable growth, and as a key contributor to the Green Deal and Paris Agreement objectives, EU competitiveness and just transition, as well as helping to cope with challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 92

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. pl

Amendment 93

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 94

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 95

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. fr

Amendment 96

Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 97

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 98

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 99

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Underscores that the European continent is warming faster than the rest of the world and that the risks posed by climate change will grow more intricate and challenging to address over and calls on investing more in climate mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as emergency preparedness;

Or. en

Amendment 100

Marcos Ros Sempere, Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Hannes Heide, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Recognises that the recovery plans linked to RRF funds are complementary to, and do not exclude the Cohesion Policy programmes. It notes that the RRF funds are committed to economic development and economic growth without focusing on economic, social, and territorial cohesion between regions;

Or. en

Amendment 101

Raffaele Topo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1a. highlights the need to step up coordination between the initiatives of the Urban Agenda for the EU and cohesion policy instruments, fostering an integrated approach that takes into account territorial specificities and emerging challenges;

Or. it

Amendment 102

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Emphasizes that Cohesion Policy is the backbone of the European project, embodying solidarity and regional convergence, demonstrating to citizens the EU’s tangible impact, and serving as a key tool in addressing Euroscepticism;

Or. en

Amendment 103

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Underlines that all regions must continue to be eligible to benefit from cohesion policy and that cohesion policy should stand first and foremost in its own right as a positive example of EU solidarity;

Or. en

Amendment 104

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 b. Considers that climate risks disproportionately affect vulnerable populations due to socio-economic factors further hampering the ability of vulnerable groups to recover from disasters;

Or. en

Amendment 105

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 b. Strongly opposes the centralization of EU funding programs, including those under shared management, such as the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy;

Or. en

Amendment 106

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 c. Underlines that the EEA Report No 1/2024 - European Climate Risk Assessment warned that the bloc is unprepared for the effects of climate change even if the world manages to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set down in the Paris Agreement; highlights that if decisive action is not taken now, most climate risks identified (in the assessment) could reach critical or catastrophic levels by the end of this century, according to same report; calls for the Member States and the Commission to urgently take measures to bring the EU on track to deliver its full contribution to achieve the objectives as agreed at the Paris Climate Summit;

Or. en

Amendment 107

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 d. Reminds that the climate change affects underdeveloped regions disproportionally; therefore calls for at least 50% of climate related spending in the new funding period and highlights the need to increase efforts to fight climate change and enhance climate mitigation particularly in those regions; emphasises that cohesion policy must support a strong climate mainstreaming in all sectors and ensure that all EU funding programmes and projects are embedded in strategies that support ambitious climate objectives; highlights the importance that regional environmental strategies are linked with ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target of achieving a climate neutral EU by 2050 at the latest;

Or. en

Amendment 108

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 e. Reiterates the need to urgently strengthen EU policies regarding mitigation and adaptation to climate change, also in the light of the growing trends of extreme weather events occurred in these last years and months in the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 109

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 f. Stresses that Cohesion policy framework is not an emergency instrument and should preserve its strategic impetus and long-term vision together with a strong regional dimension and territorial approach; reiterates the long standing position of the Parliament that new priorities require fresh funding; underlines in this context the urgent need for putting in place new Own Resource as envisaged in the Inter-institutional Agreement and the new Own Resources Roadmap;

Or. en

Amendment 110

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is convinced that cohesion policy can only continue to play its role if it has solid and strengthened funding; underlines that this implies that the future cohesion policy must be provided with a robust funding in regard to the post-2027 financial period; stresses that it is necessary to provide funding that is ambitious enough to allow the cohesion policy to continue to fulfil its role as the EU’s main investment policy, while having additional financial capacity in retaining the flexibility to meet potential new challenges; additional emergency support should however not undermine or threaten the strategic approach of the whole funding period;

Or. en

Amendment 111

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is convinced that cohesion policy can only continue to play its role if it has solid funding; stresses that it is necessary to provide funding that is ambitious enough to allow the cohesion policy to continue to fulfil its role as the EU’s main investment policy, while retaining the flexibility to meet potential new challenges; underlines that this flexibility to respond to unforeseen challenges should not undermine the strategic vision of cohesion policy and its traditional role as a long-term investment policy;

Or. en

Amendment 112

Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is convinced that cohesion policy can only continue to play its role if it has solid funding; stresses that that for the post-2027 programming period, it is necessary to provide a substantial increase in funding to allow the cohesion policy to continue to fulfil its role as the EU’s main investment policy, while supporting new priorities such as housing or climate change adaptation and retaining the flexibility to meet potential new challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 113

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is convinced that cohesion policy can only continue to play its role if it has sufficient and solid funding; stresses that it is necessary to provide funding that is ambitious enough to allow the cohesion policy to continue to fulfil its role as the EU’s main investment policy and that hijcaking cohesion policy for other ends such as defence is unacceptable;

Or. en

Amendment 114

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is convinced that cohesion policy can only continue to play its role if it has solid funding; stresses that it is necessary to provide funding that is sufficiently ambitious and easy to access to allow the cohesion policy to continue to fulfil its role as the EU’s main investment policy, while retaining the flexibility to meet potential new challenges;

Or. fr

Amendment 115

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Emphasises, however, that cohesion policy is not a crisis instrument and calls for the scope of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to be extended, or for a separate crisis instrument to be formed, in order to develop an appropriate instrument capable of responding adequately to future natural disasters or health emergencies; the same time, stresses that cohesion policy aims to create future-proof investments that enhance resilience, enable preparedness for crises related to climate change, and support efforts to build back better;

Or. en

Amendment 116

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Insist that cohesion policy should be in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the EU's climate commitments; and that all actions are consistent with supporting gender equality, workers' rights , democratic principles, the rights of disabled people, childrens' rights and human rights;

Or. en

Amendment 117

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Considers that, in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, the Cohesion Policy budget must be maintained at a minimum allocation of 30%, as is the case in the current MFF 2021-2027, to ensure its key role in reducing regional disparities and reinforcing economic, social, and territorial cohesion across the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 118

Marcos Ros Sempere, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Hannes Heide, Nora Mebarek, Matthias Ecke, Sabrina Repp, Rosa Serrano Sierra

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Reiterates the need for a more ambitious Post-2027 Cohesion Policy in the next MFF 2028-2024, funded with new EU own resources, that addresses its fundamental objectives: to resolve regional disparities, in order to guarantee citizens' “right to stay” in their territories, especially in rural and urban areas;

Or. en

Amendment 119

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Underlines the importance of the next EU multiannual financial framework and the Mid-term review of cohesion policy programmes 2021-2027 in shaping the future of the cohesion policy;

Or. en

Amendment 120

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Proposes therefore that next MFF needs to be more responsive to unforeseen needs, including by sufficient margins and flexibilities from the outset;

Or. en

Amendment 121

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Considers it necessary to reinforce respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights in the implementation of cohesion policy;

Or. en

Amendment 122

Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Emphasizes the need for adequate parliamentary control for any emergency funds and instruments;

Or. en

Amendment 123

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Calls for Cohesion Policy, if it remains the primary EU instrument for addressing emerging crises and new political priorities, to receive the largest share of funding in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, ensuring it can effectively fulfill its strategic role in promoting stability, resilience, and balanced development across the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 124

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Stresses that delays in the multiannual financial framework (MFF) negotiations together with the programming of the RRF funds on which Member States focused more, lead to considerable delays in the programming period 2021-2027; stresses the importance of a timely agreement in the next framework therefore;

Or. en

Amendment 125

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Calls for the upcoming MFF to ensure that cohesion policy continues to receive at least the same level of funding as the current period in real terms; furthermore calls for cohesion policy to remain a unique heading in the new MFF;

Or. en

Amendment 126

Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Underlines that cohesion policy has to be implemented in line with the principle of good governance and should contribute to the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law in the European Union;

Or. en

Amendment 127

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 c. Stresses that cohesion policy should be protected from statistical shocks that may alter the elegibility of regions by changing the average EU GDP, for example statistical shocks caused by enlargement;

Or. en

Amendment 128

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 c. Urges that the co-financing rate be determined at the NUTS 3 level to more accurately reflect local development levels and budgetary capacities, which may be overlooked in NUTS 2-level assessments;

Or. en

Amendment 129

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify, strengthen synergies and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, by opposing any form of top-down centralization reform of cohesion policy, but building on the existing and well-established shared management and strategic framework, in order to strengthen continuity and confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising and multiplying the impacts of the funds; stresses therefore the importance of strengthening the single audit principle, further expanding of SCOs (simplified cost options), and reducing duplicating controls and audits that overlap with national oversight for the same project and beneficiary;

Or. en

Amendment 130

Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, in order to strengthen confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds; supports, in particular, a completely renewed approach to risk management, which includes the principles of proportionality, prevention and the ‘right to make mistakes’ for managing authorities that have a proven track record in the sound management of ESI funds;

Or. en

Amendment 131

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, in order to strengthen confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds; administrations, which are very often small, must be technically empowered with a view to improving the administrative management of those funds;

Or. pt

Amendment 132

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, in order to strengthen confidence among users and supporting the establishment of digitalized one-stop service centers to increase accessibility and efficiency, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds;

Or. en

Amendment 133

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, in order to strengthen confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds; special attention should be paid to SMEs; their administrative, regulatory and reporting obligations should be reduced without delay;

Or. en

Amendment 134

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify, and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, making cohesion policy funds more flexible and enabling beneficiaries to foster local development in order to strengthen confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds;

Or. en

Amendment 135

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Calls for further efforts to simplify and streamline the rules and administrative procedures governing the cohesion policy funds, taking full advantage of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and building on the existing and well-established shared management framework, in order to strengthen confidence among users, thus encouraging participation of a broader range of actors in projects supported and maximising the impact of the funds;

Or. en

Amendment 136

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 137

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Calls on the Commission to propose further measures to prevent and avoid double funding including specific recovery measures and to accelerate ongoing work to ensure interoperability of data-mining tools and making their use mandatory for all Member States once the technical background is there in line with the agreement reached during the negotiations of the Recast of the Financial Regulation; moreover stresses the need to enhance transparency and detailed knowledge of the final beneficiaries and final recipients of the funds, with the aim of to reducing corruption risks and conflicts of interest of PEPs (politically exposed persons) benefiting from the process;

Or. en

Amendment 138

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Acknowledges that while some simplification measures have been introduced in the 2021-2027 programming period, Managing Authorities and beneficiaries continue to face excessive administrative burdens; Warns that red tape may prevent municipalities and regions with limited administrative capacity—those most in need of Cohesion Funds—from fully accessing Cohesion Policy; calls for the 2028-2034 Cohesion Policy framework to introduce simplifications at both EU and national levels, ensuring a single set of rules across all funds in order to facilitate access for beneficiaries and maximize Member States absorption rates;

Or. en

Amendment 139

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Calls for enhanced involvement of local and regional authorities in defining and implementing the cohesion policy’s priorities, ensuring that their specific needs and perspectives are adequately reflected; calls for the establishment of mechanisms to facilitate direct access to cohesion funds for local and regional authorities to improve efficiency and responsiveness in addressing local challenges; emphasises the need for a specific agenda for cities, which have their own unique challenges, particularly in terms of sustainability and long-term urban development;

Or. en

Amendment 140

Gabriella Gerzsenyi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Emphasizes the respect for the rule of law to ensure Union resources are used in a transparent, fair and responsible manner with sound financial management; urges the Commission to strengthen its cooperation with Member State authorities at all levels to avoid decommitments, unrealised projects and any political manipulation of fund allocation; thus stresses the need to introduce a 'smart conditionality' mechanism and increase the share of direct funding accessible to final beneficiaries;

Or. en

Amendment 141

Matthias Ecke, Sabrina Repp

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Calls for the Common Provision Regulations (CPR), the programmes and the budget negotiations to be finalised at least one year before the start of the new funding period so that Member States can develop their national funding strategies in good time to ensure a successful transition to the next funding period as well as the continuation of existing ESIF projects;

Or. en

Amendment 142

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Stresses the need for greater flexibility in the management of cohesion funds, allowing local authorities and stakeholders direct access to resources for more effective policy implementation;

Or. en

Amendment 143

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 b. Stresses the need for complementarities and synergies between different funding tools as well as between cohesion policy and other relevant policies; highlights that cohesion policy can contribute to competitiveness by building solid foundations of infrastructure, including transport, digital, educational, and social sectors; emphasises the importance of fostering communities through culture, making regions more attractive for young people, fostering local talent, and tackling brain drain, especially in areas facing depopulation;

Or. en

Amendment 144

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 b. Emphasizes that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) plays a key role alongside Cohesion Policy funds in supporting rural areas; stresses that if the EAFRD remains under the Common Agricultural Policy, its design must align with the rules of Cohesion Policy funds to boost synergies and facilitate multi-funded rural development projects;

Or. en

Amendment 145

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 b. Considers that a new approach on audit and controls should be enshrined in the next Cohesion Policy, introducing preventive controls executed at the beginning of the budgetary perspective to detect and eliminate the possibility of repeating potential errors in subsequent years of implementation;

Or. en

Amendment 146

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 c. Believes that the existing system of National Contact Points (NCPs) that exist under various direct management programmes should be embedded into the programming at national and regional level of cohesion and rural development programmes so as to ensure that there are synergies in capacity building between central and shared management programmes operating in the same territory and on the same policy;

Or. en

Amendment 147

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 c. Emphasises the importance of simplification in cohesion policy and links this to the proposal to extend the mandate of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) to the area of cohesion policy, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in fund management;

Or. en

Amendment 148

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 d. Calls for the continuation of the Urban Initiative and for more direct access to EU funding for cities, regions and urban authorities in the new programming period;

Or. en

Amendment 149

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 e. Highlights the importance of upholding the Partnership Principle and the European code of conduct on partnership in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU cohesion policy and to set up a strong cooperation between regional and local authorities, NGOs and stakeholders, including environmental NGOs; stresses that this process should take into account the gender perspective as well;

Or. en

Amendment 150

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 f. Suggests that a revised European Code of Conduct should be integrated directly in a Common Provision Regulation to ensure its binding nature, and calls on the Commission to explore measures to enhance Parliament’s oversight and monitoring powers on Partnership Agreements and Programmes;

Or. en

Amendment 151

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 g. Recalls the importance of a stronger gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting in cohesion policy that represent a real benefit to the distribution of funds;

Or. en

Amendment 152

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 h (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 h. Recalls that, in line with Article 11.2 TEU, EU institutions must maintain an open, transparent and structured dialogue with civil society organisations and representative associations; stresses in particular in this regard that access to structural funding is a prerequisite to ensure public participation, without which it would not be possible for citizens to have their voice channelled at the EU level through their representative associations, sustain a regular dialogue with EU institutions contributing to democratic participation in policy making, establish an open and wide-ranging dialogue, ensuring that the diversity of views and concerns are taken into account with equal access for public interest as compared to commercial interest, exercise a monitoring role on the implementation of EU policies and legislation, including the use of EU funds, or act as checks and balances to the rule of law; recalls the commitment of the Commission in its political guidelines to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues and upholding human rights; reminds that this entails that, while the Commission should not mandate NGOs to pursue certain activities or support specific positions or policies, it remains fundamental that civil society organisations, through EU funding, can engage in an “open, transparent and structured dialogue with EU institutions” as enshrined in article 11 TEU through activities such as advocacy activities, demonstrations, or judicial actions and that these should remain eligible in the relevant funding programs and have sufficient dedicated funding available;

Or. en

Amendment 153

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 i (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 i. Highlights the important role of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in protecting the financial interests of the Union; calls for full implementation and correct application of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017; underlines furthermore that cohesion policy must not contribute to misuse of EU funds or further deterioration of the Rule of Law and democracy in Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 154

André Rougé, Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions greater flexibility, already at the programming stage, in order to cater for their particular needs and specificities; finds it necessary to consider moving away from a rigid thematic concentration that is uniform across all regions, and for the EU to take greater account of the specific geographic, insular and climate characteristics of the outermost regions (ORs), in order to propose, where appropriate OR by OR, the adjustments requested by the political and economic actors in those regions whenever necessary, in particular by supporting agricultural standards tailored to the prevailing tropical and subtropical climate realities of these regions, which give rise to differences in sunshine and rainfall compared with the European continent; takes into account, furthermore, the fact that the climate change to which the ORs are now overexposed is driving extreme climatic events, such as droughts and cyclones, and that this therefore justifies flexibility in the programming of funding;

Or. fr

Amendment 155

Rody Tolassy, André Rougé

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions more flexibility, already at the programming phase, in order to enable them to promote strategic investments in local and regional administrations. These investments aim to strengthen a system that is essential to the implementation of the programmes, taking into account the needs and specificities of each territory; finds it necessary to review the current approach in order to make the thematic concentration more flexible, thus avoiding an application that is rigid and uniform across all regions;

Or. fr

Amendment 156

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 157

Ľubica Karvašová, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 158

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions greater flexibility, already at the programming stage, in order to cater for their particular needs and specificities; suggests that the thematic concentration, needed to achieve EU climate goals, should, in general, not be interpreted in a too rigid way within a Member State, staying in line with the place-based approach;

Or. en

Amendment 159

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions greater flexibility, already at the programming stage, in order to cater for their particular needs and specificities; finds it necessary to preserve a thematic concentration with even higher contribution to climate related objectives in order to keep policy strategic orientation toward achieving EU climate targets;

Or. en

Amendment 160

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions greater flexibility, already at the programming stage, in order to cater for their particular needs and specificities;

Or. en

Amendment 161

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give regions greater flexibility, already at the programming stage, in order to cater for their particular needs and specificities, emphasizing the need to involve the economic and civil actors; finds it necessary to consider moving away from a rigid thematic concentration that is uniform across all regions;

Or. en

Amendment 162

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Underlines the importance of the Interreg programme for cross-border regions over the past 35 years; points out that more than one third of EU citizens live in border regions and emphasises the important role of Interreg A in contributing to the development of these regions and overcoming cross-border obstacles, including building trust across borders, developing transport links, identifying and reducing legal and administrative obstacles and increasing the provision and use of cross-border public services, among others;

Or. en

Amendment 163

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Calls for greater decentralization of decision-making to the local and regional levels; Insists on the full participation of local and regional authorities at every stage of EU shared management programs, from preparation and programming to implementation, delivery, and evaluation; Emphasizes that local and regional authorities are vital partners in delivering the EU’s political agenda on the ground, as they manage over 50% of total public investments carried out by governments;

Or. en

Amendment 164

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Calls for enhanced involvement of local and regional authorities, economic and civil actors in implementing the cohesion policy`s priorities keeping in mind that the economic and social development can only be accomplished with a good cooperation between all the actors, emphasises the need for a specific agenda for cities and metropolitan areas that have their own particularities and needs;

Or. en

Amendment 165

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Stresses the crucial role that investments in high quality public services have on building social resilience and coping with economic, health and social crises; furthermore, believes that funding should be more geared towards investment in people, as EU regions’ economies can be boosted by an effective mix of investments in innovation, human capital, good governance and institutional capacity;

Or. en

Amendment 166

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Draws attention to the fact that cohesion policy has shown in the recent past its ability to address unforeseen events, with flexibility and reactivity; stresses that it should not, however, deviate from its main objectives, namely from its long-term investment nature and should not be repurposed as a general EU spending power to deal with upcoming challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 167

André Rougé

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to recognise that European fisheries standards are not properly applicable in Mayotte and French Guiana owing to the smaller size of the local fleets, and that specific fishing standards must therefore be established for these ORs;

Or. fr

Amendment 168

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Calls for a clear demarcation between cohesion policy and other instruments, in order to avoid overlaps and competition between EU instruments, ensure complementarity of the various interventions, and increase visibility and readability of the EU support;

Or. en

Amendment 169

Marta Wcisło

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Calls for further developments enabling better absorption of cohesion funds, including increased co-financing levels, higher advance payments, and faster investment reimbursements;

Or. en

Amendment 170

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4a. Calls on the Commission to develop solutions enabling the more flexible use of funds, including the possibility of financing the development of dual-use products;

Or. pl

Amendment 171

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Urges the introduction of ‘no-tax areas’ in economically disadvantaged regions as a tool to attract private investment and create sustainable employment opportunities;

Or. en

Amendment 172

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Klára Dobrev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 b. Calls for a cohesion policy that contributes to solving the housing crisis in the EU; highlights the need to foster adequate reforms to widen the investment in housing, going beyond the two current possibilities (energy efficiency and social housing) and promoting a EU stock of public housing at the Union level; stresses that long-term social investment is needed in order to spur economic growth, as high housing prices put disproportional burden on low income households, limit disposable income and spending in high-value sectors like technology, lead to talent shortages and exacerbate economic and regional inequality; furthermore, insists on expanding the URBACT initiative to include housing affordability;

Or. en

Amendment 173

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 b. Endorses the Draghi report's call to focus EU efforts where they deliver the greatest added value, ensuring full adherence to the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle; Considers that this approach will reinforce regional autonomy, allowing local and regional authorities to shape EU policies and objectives in line with their specific needs, characteristics, and capacities, while safeguarding the Partnership Principle;

Or. en

Amendment 174

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 b. Stresses the need for a financially robust Interreg programme and calls for doubling the funding for Interreg A in the next programming period, given the need to boost cooperation across borders after it suffered a slowdown related to COVID-19 restrictions and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 175

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 c. Underlines the particular need to enhance cross-border cooperation among public services and especially emergency services, as these obstacles can unnecessarily cost lives; underlines the role of the Interreg programme as the main EU instrument for tackling the persistent cross-border obstacles facing emergency services, and proposes a more prominent focus on emergency services in these programmes;

Or. en

Amendment 176

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 d. Calls for a proposal for a framework convention template for bilateral/multilateral agreements on cross-border emergency cooperation, preferably covering all possible types of emergencies; encourages the Commission to explore the option of proposing new EU legislation (or amending the existing legislative framework) to bridge, at least partly, existing legislative disparities in border regions where intergovernmental agreements are not in place;

Or. en

Amendment 177

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 e. Stresses the need to focus on preparedness and to move from requests for assistance towards the automatic cross-border provision of emergency services; in this regard, encourages the creation of permanent cross-border structures like Euroregions, and cross-border functional areas to ease emergency service provision across borders; underlines the potential of using Interreg A to support cross-border functional areas through integrated instruments (e.g. Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) and Community Led Local Development (CLLD)), and calls for their further simplification to enable their easy use in cross-border context;

Or. en

Amendment 178

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green, digital and demographic transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process; underlines the need to invest in infrastructure projects that enhance connectivity, particularly in sustainable, intelligent transport, as well as in energy and digital networks, ensuring that all regions, including remote and less-developed ones, are fully integrated into the Single Market and benefit equitably from the opportunities provided by it;

Or. en

Amendment 179

Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Joachim Streit

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process; therefore emphasises the need to support the development of Green industries, fostering the local specificities and traditions to increase the resilience of the economic environment and civil society to future challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 180

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process if not accompanied by structural developments; underlines the need to reconcile making the EU sustainable and climate-friendly with ensuring the EU's common economic prosperity by boosting our competitiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 181

Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process; calls for that reason, for a European strategy that provides for harmonious growth in the EU, meeting respective regions' specific needs;

Or. pt

Amendment 182

Ľubica Karvašová, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process; is however strongly committed to pursuing the green and digital transitions as it will create opportunities to improve EU’s competitiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 183

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Hannes Heide, Sérgio Gonçalves

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process; underlines the need to strengthen democratic capacities and youth participation to counteract these disparities;

Or. en

Amendment 184

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; recognises that high income areas can statistically mask the economic problems within a region; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process;

Or. en

Amendment 185

Rody Tolassy, André Rougé

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present significant challenges and require the use of automated and easy-to-implement investment tools to achieve the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a spreading ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process;

Or. fr

Amendment 186

Gabriella Gerzsenyi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions are essential for sustainable development; although present significant challenges to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion and to EU competitiveness; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process;

Or. en

Amendment 187

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Acknowledges that the green and digital transitions present challenges, but at the same time, opportunities to the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion; is aware of the risk of a widening of regional disparities, a deepening of social inequalities and a rising ‘geography of discontent’ related to the transition process;

Or. en

Amendment 188

Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Is concerned about the growing number of regions in a development trap, which are stagnating economically, and are suffering from a sharp demographic decline and limited access to essential services; insists that in the future, the classification of regions should include complementary indicators such as demography, youth unemployment, access to affordable housing, education and health, in order to adjust co-financing rates and ensure equal access to basic services; calls on the Commission to authorise, in the future framework of cohesion policy, 100% EFSI funding for projects aimed at strengthening essential services, in particular the construction of social housing and schools, but also the improvement of medical provision in rural areas, in order to ensure fair and attractive development for all EU regions and to realise the right of every European to remain and live well at home;

Or. en

Amendment 189

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Urges, for the cohesion policy to remain consistent with a push towards increasing innovation and completing the EU Single Market, in line with the conclusions of the Draghi report on European competitiveness; underlines, in the context of regional disparities, the problem of the persisting innovation divide, and advocates for a tailored, place-based approach to fostering innovation and economic convergence across regions and reducing the innovation gap; calls for a stronger role for local and regional innovation in building competitive Research and Innovation ecosystems and promoting territorial cohesion; points to new EU initiatives such as Regional Innovation Valleys and Partnerships for Regional Innovation, that aim to connect territories with different levels of innovation performance and tackle the innovation gap;

Or. en

Amendment 190

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Stresses the importance of more sustainable mobility solutions throughout the EU, including the TEN-T policy; calls on the Commission to promote smart and green mobility; is of the position that only smart and sustainable mobility solutions should be eligible of EU funding;

Or. en

Amendment 191

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 b. Calls to strengthen the polluter-pays principle, DNSH principle, and promote decarbonisation in both mobility infrastructure and economy to contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives;

Or. en

Amendment 192

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Is convinced that cohesion policy needs to continue to foster the principle of just transition, addressing the specific needs of regions, while leaving no territory and no one behind; calls for continued financing of the just transition process, with the Just Transition Fund fully integrated into the Common Provisions Regulation and endowed with adequate financial means for the post-2027 programming period; emphasises the need to assess the impact of the Just Transition Fund on the transformation of eligible regions and refine its approach in the new MFF based on the findings, while ensuring it remains part of cohesion policy;

Or. en

Amendment 193

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Is convinced that cohesion policy needs to continue to foster the principle of just transition, addressing the specific needs of regions, while leaving no territory and no one behind; in that regard stresses that cohesion policy should be kept up in all regions - less developed, transition and more developed; calls for continued financing of the just transition process, with the Just Transition Fund fully integrated into the Common Provisions Regulation and endowed with adequate financial means for the post-2027 programming period;

Or. en

Amendment 194

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 195

Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 196

Emmanouil Fragkos, Antonella Sberna, Nora Junco García

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Believes that there must be increased access to EU funds for all EU border regions that are primary entry points to strengthen their border management; considers that additional support needs to be provided for regions facing disproportionate numbers of illegal entries; strongly supports initiatives for technical and financial assistance to the local authorities in order to ensure security adequate services are in place for the protection of the local communities; underlines the importance of EU support aiming to the exchange of best practices between regions that face similar challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 197

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Emphasizes the need for a realistic and balanced approach to the Just Transition that guarantees economic, social, and environmental sustainability; acknowledges that while environmental goals are important, they must be pursued alongside concrete measures to ensure the economic and social well-being of affected communities. This approach should focus on creating sustainable jobs, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that the transition does not harm workers;

Or. en

Amendment 198

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Stresses that the Rule of Law Conditionality is an overarching conditionality, recognising and enforcing respect for the rule of law, also as an enabling condition for cohesion policy funding; considers it necessary to reinforce respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights in the future Cohesion policy programmes;

Or. en

Amendment 199

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Requires furthermore that the existing EU Solidarity Fund should foresee an increase in the pre-financing, be less bureaucratic and more easily accessible;

Or. en

Amendment 200

Emmanouil Fragkos, Antonella Sberna, Nora Junco García

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 b. Underlines the importance of targeted access to funds for these regions in order to strengthen their capacity in countering the illegal entries;

Or. en

Amendment 201

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

7. Underlines the need to distinguish between and unravel the connection between cohesion policy and EU economic governance; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach;

Or. en

Amendment 202

Matthias Ecke, Sabrina Repp

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; emphasizes that a link with the European Semester should only be considered if the role of the European Parliament within the Semester is significantly strengthened; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 203

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; emphasizes that making the allocation of EU funds dependent on indirectly related circumstances can undermine the objectives and effectiveness of cohesion policy; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 204

Emmanouil Fragkos, Antonella Sberna, Nora Junco García

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for guidance, incentives and assessment of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 205

Marcos Ros Sempere, Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Hannes Heide, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions and cities in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 206

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the EU regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 207

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to fine-tune the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; calls for a process of reflection on the concept of macroeconomic conditionality and for the possibility to be explored of replacing this concept with new forms of conditionality, to better reflect the new challenges ahead;

Or. en

Amendment 208

Nora Mebarek

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Underlines the need to improve the relationship between cohesion policy and EU economic governance, while avoiding a punitive approach; stresses that the European Semester should comply with cohesion policy objectives under Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; calls for the participation of the regions in the fulfilment of these objectives and for a stronger territorial approach; reiterates its opposition to macroeconomic conditionality which is a double penalty for regions and beneficiaries of the ESI Funds, who cannot be held responsible for Member States’ budgetary deviations;

Or. en

Amendment 209

Maravillas Abadía Jover

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7a. Calls for cohesion policy, in order to tackle the growing climate risks particularly affecting the regions of southern Europe, to integrate water as a vector for cohesion between regions by supporting comprehensive and forward-looking adaptation strategies at national, regional and local level that include water management, resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness, and calls for water stress to be considered a criterion for allocating cohesion funds;

Or. es

Amendment 210

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Calls for conventional macroeconomic indicators and the GDP to be complemented with new indicators in order to address the new European priorities such as the European Green Deal or the European Pillar of Social Rights and to better reflect the ecological and digital transitions and the wellbeing of people; calls for an impact assessment and a territorial dimension to be considered to allocate Cohesion budget in order to take into account the diverse economic, social and territorial situation in the different Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 211

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the European Semester fully upholds the Partnership Principle by reinforcing national consultation mechanisms that actively involve local and regional governments throughout the preparation and adoption of Country-Specific Recommendations; considers that this approach would ensure investment and reform priorities are tailored to effectively address the specific local needs;

Or. en

Amendment 212

Matthias Ecke, Sabrina Repp

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Concerned about the Commission’s plans to apply a performance-based approach to the European Structural and Investments Funds; expresses serious doubt about ideas of linking the disbursement of ESIF to the fulfilment of centrally defined reform goals, even more so, if the reform goals do not fall within the jurisdiction of the regional level;

Or. en

Amendment 213

Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Considers that the country reports published annually in the context of the European Semester should now include an in-depth assessment of the impact of investments and reforms resulting from the European Semester process on local and regional governments, and report thereon to the Commission and the European Parliament;

Or. en

Amendment 214

Nora Mebarek, Sérgio Gonçalves

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 b. Calls on the Commission to generalise territorial impact assessments to ensure that its new legislative proposals take due account of local and regional realities; to this end, suggests that the Commission draw on innovative tools such as the RegHub (Network of Regional Hubs), developed by the European Committee of the Regions and which collect data on the impact of European policies in the regions;

Or. en

Amendment 215

Rody Tolassy, André Rougé

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Stresses the role of cohesion policy instruments in supporting regions and local areas that are coping with demographic evolution, including, among others, challenges related to depopulation, ageing, brain drain, skills shortages and workforce imbalances across regions; it is imperative to ensure not only an adapted legislative framework but also sufficient financial means to ensure the success of local development projects. It is therefore proposed that the funds allocated to projects supported by cohesion policy systematically take into account the funding of project owners in order to enable them to respond effectively to these challenges. This includes the establishment of targeted financial mechanisms to facilitate access to the necessary resources and the planning and implementation of projects, as well as to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the actions undertaken;

Or. fr

Amendment 216

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 217

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 218

Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke, Sérgio Gonçalves, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Stresses the role of cohesion policy instruments in supporting regions and local areas that are coping with demographic evolution in supporting people’s effective right to stay, including, among others, challenges related to depopulation, ageing, gender imbalances, brain drain, skills shortages and workforce imbalances across regions;

Or. en

Amendment 219

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Stresses the role of cohesion policy instruments in supporting different regions and local areas that are coping with demographic evolution, including, among others, challenges related to depopulation, ageing, brain drain, skills shortages and workforce imbalances across regions;

Or. en

Amendment 220

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Notes the role of cohesion policy instruments in supporting regions and local areas that are coping with demographic evolution but recalls its objective is to foster territorial, social and economic cohesion;

Or. en

Amendment 221

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Highlights that the 2023 demographic instruments mark a significant step forward, offering concrete solutions and a coordinated approach to tackling demographic challenges; stresses that the Talent Booster Mechanism, through a series of pilot projects, is currently supporting 20 regions struggling with workforce decline, youth outmigration, and low levels of higher education attainment; calls on the Commission to expand this support to all 46 affected regions to ensure a comprehensive response to demographic challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 222

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Stresses the need to address housing as a new priority within the cohesion policy framework, recognising its significance for both regions and cities; emphasises that while cohesion policy can play a supportive role, it should not be the primary funding instrument; calls for a more comprehensive approach in the new MFF, ensuring coherence in regional and urban development policies, and recognising that housing development is inherent to the expansion of other essential public and social infrastructure;

Or. en

Amendment 223

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Highlights notably the importance of the re-localisation of food and feed production and processing, where the opportunities offered by the cohesion policy and regional environmental strategies can support this re-localisation; stresses the importance of local and regional production and consumption and the need to support education and skills in this regard;

Or. en

Amendment 224

Sandro Gozi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Reiterates its longstanding call on the Commission to duly consider the impact of every newly proposed legislation on the outermost regions, with a view to avoid disproportionate regulatory burdens and adverse effects on the economies thereof;

Or. en

Amendment 225

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Recognises that significant inequalities persist within regions; calls on the Commission, Member States and Regional Authorities to tackle intraregional inequalities by directing funds to areas that are lagging behind within regions;

Or. en

Amendment 226

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 b. Recognises the need to incorporate a more nuanced approach at the European level to measuring which regions are most in need of cohesion policy funding; calls on the Commission to explore the use of alternative metrics such as disposable houshold income, or the economic development index at NUTS3 level;

Or. en

Amendment 227

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic and demographic difficulties, aiming at, among other things, improving the provision of services, fostering economic diversification and job creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities;

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic and demographic challenges; reiterates the need for improving the provision of services, transport and digital connectivity of these regions, fostering their economic diversification and job creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, fighting poverty, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities; underlines the need to prioritise the development of strategic sectors, such as renewable energy, sustainable tourism and digital innovation, tailored to the economic potential and resources of each region, as a means to enhance resilience and long-term competitiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 228

Elena Nevado del Campo, Maravillas Abadía Jover

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. es

Amendment 229

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic and demographic difficulties, aiming at, among other things, improving the provision of services, fostering economic diversification and green jobs creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities; recalls the importance of strong rural-urban linkages as well as a particular support of women in rural areas;

Or. en

Amendment 230

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic and demographic difficulties, aiming at, among other things, improving the provision of services, fostering economic diversification and job creation, ensuring adequate funding for infrastructures that meet the specific needs of the territories and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities;

Or. en

Amendment 231

Gabriella Gerzsenyi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 232

Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Maravillas Abadía Jover, Elena Nevado del Campo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic and demographic difficulties, aiming at, among other things, maintaining and improving the provision of quality services, ensuring their connectivity and adequate communications, fostering economic diversification and job creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities;

Or. es

Amendment 233

Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting specific solutions for regions with long-standing and serious economic difficulties or severe permanent natural and demographic handicaps, aiming at, among other things, improving the provision of services, fostering economic diversification and job creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities;

Or. en

Amendment 234

Fredis Beleris

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recognises the importance of supporting and funding specific solutions for regions with severe and permanent economic, geographical and demographic difficulties, aiming at, among other things, improving the provision of services, fostering economic diversification and job creation, and helping them respond to challenges such as rural desertification, population ageing, depopulation, loneliness and isolation, as well as insufficient healthcare and education opportunities;

Or. el

Amendment 235

Kathleen Funchion

on behalf of The Left Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 236

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Underlines that towns, cities and metropolitan areas have challenges of their own, such as considerable pockets of poverty, housing problems, traffic congestion and poor air quality, generating challenges for social and economic cohesion created by a inharmonious territorial development; calls for deepening of the links with functional urban areas, englobing smaller cities and towns, so that economic and social benefits are spread more evenly across the entire territory;

Or. en

Amendment 237

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Underlines the need of stronger involvement of civil society in decision making process, as well as the promotion of bottom-up approaches in order to address local and regional needs at its best; urges therefore the Commission to enhance a bottom-up approach in the upcoming simplification of the cohesion policy by ensuring a proper consultation and involvement of LRAs, NGOs, and SMEs;

Or. en

Amendment 238

Ľubica Karvašová, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Reaffirms the importance of Article 349 TFEU to continue supporting the development of outermost regions which still belong to the poorest regions in the EU; underlines their great potential to further develop key sectors as blue economy, sustainable agriculture, renewable energies, space activities, research or eco-tourism;

Or. en

Amendment 239

Jacek Protas

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Emphasizes the need to address regional disparities by ensuring an effective right to stay, preventing depopulation, and fostering inclusive development through access to essential services, education, healthcare, transport, and digital connectivity;

Or. en

Amendment 240

André Rougé, Rody Tolassy

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce advances on revenue for European funds, accompanied by a European guarantee, so as to prevent structural projects from collapsing prematurely due to a lack of resources;

Or. fr

Amendment 241

Elena Nevado del Campo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9a. Recognises at the same time the need to promote regional connectivity as an enabling condition for endogenous growth in regions, especially border regions, islands and outermost regions;

Or. es

Amendment 242

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Calls for an extraordinary action plan to secure the provision of essential services across all regions, ensuring that rural and underdeveloped areas receive the necessary infrastructure to promote balanced development;

Or. en

Amendment 243

Fredis Beleris

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9a. Stresses the need for sufficient budgetary resources to be allocated to remote and island areas facing severe demographic difficulties for the post-2027 programming period;

Or. el

Amendment 244

Sandro Gozi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Recalls that Interreg programmes provide a key role in promoting regional integration and coopeation between outermost regions and their neighbours;

Or. en

Amendment 245

Sérgio Gonçalves, Marcos Ros Sempere, Hannes Heide, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Emphasises the need for a tailored approach for the outermost regions (ORs), as defined under Article 349 of TFEU, which face unique and cumulative structural challenges due to their remoteness, small market size, vulnerability to climate change, and economic dependencies; underlines that these permanent constraints, including the small size of the domestic economy, great distance from the European continent, location near third countries, double insularity for most of them, and limited diversification of the productive sector result in additional costs and reduced competitiveness, making their adaptation to the green and digital transition particularly complex and costly;

Or. en

Amendment 246

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Acknowledges that performance-based mechanisms can be instrumental in making the policy more efficient and result-orientated but cautions against the one-size-fits all imposition of the model in the context of the new 2028-2034 framework; in this context, calls on the European Commission to take into due consideration the specificities of different spending sectors and the heterogeneity of the needs of the final beneficiaries, especially in projects related to research and social dimension;

Or. en

Amendment 247

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Emphasises on reversing the trend of depopulation in rural and remote areas, offering opportunities and incentives for young people to remain in or return to these;

Or. en

Amendment 248

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Calls on the Commission to support the Member States and regions affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine through tailor-made tools under the cohesion policy, as well as supporting them to make the most of the possibilities offered by the cohesion policy funds, including Interreg, in a flexible way, to help cope with the detrimental socio-economic impact of the war on their populations;

10. Calls on the Commission to support the Member States and regions affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular those regions located on the EU’s external border and directly neighbouring Ukraine, Belarus or Russia, by redrawing the public aid intensity map, through tailor-made tools under the cohesion policy, as well as supporting them to make the most of the possibilities offered by the cohesion policy funds, including Interreg, in a flexible way, to help cope with the detrimental socio-economic impact of the war on their populations;

Or. pl

Amendment 249

Waldemar Buda

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Stresses the strategic importance of strong external border regions for the security and resilience of the EU; calls on the Commission to support the Member States and regions, particularly the eastern border regions affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, through tailor-made tools under the cohesion policy, as well as supporting them to make the most of the possibilities offered by the cohesion policy funds, including Interreg, in a flexible way, to help cope with the detrimental socio-economic impact of the war on their populations;

Or. en

Amendment 250

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 251

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Calls on the Commission to support the Member States and regions affected by Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine through tailor-made tools under the cohesion policy, as well as supporting them to make the most of the possibilities offered by the cohesion policy funds, including Interreg, in a flexible way, to help cope with the detrimental socio-economic impact of the war on their populations and territories;

Or. en

Amendment 252

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Underlines that cross-border areas, often face specific challenges, including border areas at the EU’s external borders bordering aggressor countries, and the ETC programmes help to overcome these challenges by providing funding and support for joint projects and initiatives; in this regard, reiterates its support for the new BRIDGEforEU regulation and stresses the need to increase funding for INTERREG programmes in the future funding period;

Or. en

Amendment 253

Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Emphasises the need to adapt cohesion policy to the new geopolitical reality by developing a new approach to regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and candidate countries like Ukraine and Moldova; underlines the hardships of Member States’ regions with no cross-border potential; calls for significant investments in those regions, as well as regions bordering candidate countries, to strengthen connections and support their EU integration;

Or. en

Amendment 254

Marcos Ros Sempere, Sabrina Repp, Sérgio Gonçalves, Raffaele Topo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Matthias Ecke, Hannes Heide

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Highlights the need to create a EU permanent emergency fund not linked to cohesion policy to tackle the economic, social and territorial consequences of natural disasters, ensuring that cohesion policy is not used for this purpose, and it can be fully used for its primary objectives;

Or. en

Amendment 255

Fredis Beleris

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10a. Calls on the Commission to strengthen checks on European funding for cross-border and territorial cooperation between Member States and third countries, for the effective and proper functioning of the cohesion policy;

Or. el

Amendment 256

Isabelle Le Callennec

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10a. Calls on the Commission to support the ORs and to tailor cohesion policy to their specific characteristics;

Or. fr

Amendment 257

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Highlights the added value of territorial cooperation in general and cross-border cooperation in particular and welcomes the new Regulation on BRIDGEforEU; emphasises the importance of small-scale and cross-border projects in bringing people together and enhancing innovation, technology transfer, common solutions, and synergies; stresses the need for effective implementation on the ground and calls on the European Commission to encourage Member States to actively support awareness-raising campaigns in bordering regions to maximize the impact of cross-border cooperation;

Or. en

Amendment 258

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Calls for a better access to funding to enable investments in the local energy transition, including energy efficiency, decentralised distribution of energy and a strong focus on renewable energy and sustainable circular economy;

Or. en

Amendment 259

Fredis Beleris

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10b. Stresses the importance of ensuring the smooth integration of future Member States for the effective and proper functioning of the cohesion policy in the post-2027 programming period;

Or. el

Amendment 260

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 c. Highlights the enormous potential of empty and old buildings when sustainably renovated; highlights the less use of resources when doing so and the need of cohesion policy to support energy efficient renovation in order to save resources and ensure housing for all; emphasizes in this context the preservation and transformation of historically and socio-economically relevant buildings also to strengthen the cohesion particularly amongst the villages and their residents; calls for removal of legal obstacles in the current cohesion legislative package which are barriers to investments into increase of the publicly-owned housing stock, such as Article 7, paragraph 5 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1058;

Or. en

Amendment 261

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 d. Recalls the importance of a stronger gender mainstreaming in Cohesion policy framework and highlights the specific role of women, in particular in remote areas, as they play a major role in civil society and sustainable economic growth and at the same time face difficulties in accessing the labour market, as well as equal pay, public services such as health and mental health and childcare; emphasizes the role of young women in particular in rural areas and the tendency of their precarious role in rural societies;

Or. en

Amendment 262

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 e. Draws attention to unemployment and youth unemployment in particular in many regions, rural areas and Member States, and highlights therefore the need of accessibility to transportation and education as well as inclusion of young generations, in particular from low-income households;

Or. en

Amendment 263

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 f. Welcomes the inter-institutional agreement reached on the BRIDGEforEU regulation that shall provide a legal framework on EU level and unlock an economic potential of cross-border areas and support communities on the ground by enhancing cross-border cooperation through joint EU projects; in that regard calls for more focused and tailored support for border areas in the new funding period with an earmarked allocations or at least 1% of an overall cohesion policy budget;

Or. en

Amendment 264

Tamás Deutsch

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Recalls the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle, meaning that no action should hamper the convergence process or contribute to regional disparities; calls for a stronger integration of this principle as a cross-cutting principle in all EU policies, so that they support the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion, as set out in Articles 3 and 174 TFEU; reiterates that the territorial impact assessment of any EU legislation should be strengthened, while the territorial aspects of sectoral policies should be reinforced; insists that promoting cohesion should also be seen as a way of fostering solidarity and mutual support among Member States and their regions; underlines that future EU enlargements should be conducted with a view to avoiding placing undue burden on cohesion policy, enlargement must in no way come at the expense of investment in the EU's current regions;

Or. en

Amendment 265

Krzysztof Hetman

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Recalls the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle, meaning that no action should hamper the convergence process or contribute to regional disparities; calls, at the same time, for an even more determined approach and transition towards the principle of ‘supporting cohesion’ wherever possible as a cross-cutting principle in all EU policies, so that they support the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion, as set out in Articles 3 and 174 TFEU, and for a more thorough assessment of the impact of legislation in this regard; insists that promoting cohesion should also be seen as a way of fostering solidarity and mutual support among Member States and their regions;

Or. pl

Amendment 266

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Recalls the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle, meaning that no action should hamper the convergence process or contribute to regional disparities; calls on the Commission to issue specific guidelines on how to implement and enforce this principle across EU policies; calls for a stronger integration of this principle as a cross-cutting principle in all EU policies, so that they support the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion, as set out in Articles 3 and 174 TFEU; insists that promoting cohesion should also be seen as a way of fostering solidarity and mutual support among Member States and their regions;

Or. en

Amendment 267

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 268

Marta Wcisło

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Calls for establishing a financial framework, as part of the cohesion policy, which would include aid instruments for border regions at the eastern border of the European Union in countries bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 269

Francesco Ventola, Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Giuseppe Milazzo

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Calls for greater consideration of subsidiarity in the design and implementation of EU policies, ensuring that national and regional authorities retain the necessary flexibility to tailor solutions to their unique challenges;

Or. en

Amendment 270

Ľubica Karvašová, Ciaran Mullooly, Sandro Gozi, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Dan Barna

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue their efforts regarding communication and visibility of the benefits of cohesion policy; welcomes the launch of the multi-lingual version of the Kohesio platform;

Or. en

Amendment 271

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Believes that the European Committee of the Regions should be involved in the Territorial Impact Assessments (TIAs) and rural proofing to be carried out by the Commission as it shapes new EU multiannual programmes;

Or. en

Amendment 272

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Considers Territorial Impact Assessments (TIAs) the most effective tool for ensuring that policies uphold the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle and do not exacerbate regional disparities;

Or. en

Amendment 273

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. Emphasises that digitalisation has helped in many ways to address immediate challenges arising from the pandemic, in particular during lockdown periods, in the fields of public services, online shopping etc.; considers that further digitalisation continues happening on full speed and under competitive market conditions; calls on the Commission to monitor closely these developments and to ensure full compliance with the Union acquis, in particular as regards social and workers' rights;

Or. en

Amendment 274

Dan-Ştefan Motreanu

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. Emphasizes that the EU’s key competitors have recently implemented large-scale place-based policies and stresses the need for a place-based approach across all relevant funding instruments, particularly those enhancing the Union’s industrial competitiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 275

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 c. Notes with concern the severe drop in recent years of adequate level of national funding of Member States towards their poorer regions; recalls the importance of respecting the EU rule on additionality; calls on the Commission to ensure that national authorities duly take into account internal cohesion while drafting and implementing Structural and Investment Funds’ projects;

Or. en

Amendment 276

Rasmus Andresen

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 d. Calls on the European Commission to explore different options for consolidating the Funds, including through reintegrating a revised EAFRD within the Common Provisions Regulations;

Or. en