opinion parliamentary committee draft, 24 February 2026
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]
Document EMPL-PA-785132 · (COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD))
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Grégory Allione
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Text 307 paragraphs
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3) To regain and reinforce its competitive edge, it is essential that the Union revives the innovation cycle by developing its disruptive innovation capacity and investing in emerging, cutting-edge and strategic technologies with significant economic potential. To ensure its autonomy in the global economy, the Union should guarantee its technological and industrial leadership in strategic sectors, starting with critical raw materials supply chains, to develop and manufacture strategic technologies in Europe, as well as mitigate risks affecting its security and resilience emanating from critical external dependencies. This can be done by addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, in a proportionate manner and without crowding out private funding, considering the high investment needs for delivering on Union priorities, including for decarbonisation and the digital transition. Greater emphasis should be put on leveraging private sector participation by improving the use of risk-sharing mechanisms between Union funds and private investors, to ensure an efficient use of public funding. This will build upon and further amplify the impact of the progress achieved on the Savings and Investment Union, which will provide the necessary regulatory landscape for private investments to thrive. The use of any additional national resources is without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. | (3) To regain and reinforce its competitive edge, it is essential that the Union revives the innovation cycle by developing its disruptive innovation capacity and investing in emerging, cutting-edge and strategic technologies with significant economic potential as well as in related skills development of the workforce. To ensure its autonomy in the global economy, the Union should guarantee its technological and industrial leadership in strategic sectors, starting with critical raw materials supply chains, to develop and manufacture strategic technologies in Europe, as well as mitigate risks affecting its security and resilience emanating from critical external dependencies. This can be done by addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, in a proportionate manner and without crowding out private funding, considering the high investment needs for delivering on Union priorities, including for decarbonisation, digital leadership and the need to ensure a just transition. Greater emphasis should be put on leveraging private sector participation by improving the use of risk-sharing mechanisms between Union funds and private investors, to ensure an efficient use of public funding. This will build upon and further amplify the impact of the progress achieved on the Savings and Investment Union, which will provide the necessary regulatory landscape for private investments to thrive. The use of any additional national resources is without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) This requires that Union funding offers support to businesses and projects along the entire investment journey. This journey encompasses all stages of developing and manufacturing strategic technologies, products and services in Europe, from applied research, through all forms of innovation, scale-up, industrial deployment, to manufacturing and market deployment, including the necessary investment and operational costs support, infrastructure and skills. The investment journey is not linear as all stages feed each other, and ideas for new products or services might arise at any stage. European funding needs to cater for this non-linear reality with increased flexibility of providing support preserving predictability for funding. | (4) This requires that Union funding offers support to businesses and projects along the entire investment journey. This journey encompasses all stages of developing and manufacturing strategic technologies, products and services in Europe, from applied research, through all forms of innovation, scale-up, industrial deployment, to manufacturing and market deployment, including the necessary investment and operational costs support, particularly for infrastructure and skills. The investment journey is not linear as all stages feed each other, and ideas for new products or services might arise at any stage. European funding needs to cater for this non-linear reality with increased flexibility of providing support preserving predictability for funding. |
Or. en
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Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) This also requires that Union funding facilitates the creation and expansion of innovative and industrial ecosystems, where different actors interact in a synergetic way. Successful ecosystems feature intensive and agile interactions and collaboration between small and large companies, universities research institutions, infrastructure providers, investors as well as public authorities. Without such collaborations within and between individual innovation and industrial ecosystems, innovation potential stays unexploited. | (5) This also requires that Union funding facilitates the creation and expansion of innovative and industrial ecosystems, where different actors interact in a synergetic way. Successful ecosystems feature intensive and agile interactions and collaboration between small and large companies, universities research institutions, infrastructure providers, investors as well as public authorities and higher and vocational education and training providers. Without such collaborations within and between individual innovation and industrial ecosystems, innovation potential stays unexploited. |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10) The Commission should ensure tight coordination and synergies between all Union founding sources in the MFF. For this purpose, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be tightly linked to the ECF: to ensure that the European industry leverages research results funded by the Union to further innovate and produce in Europe. In order to foster synergies, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate in a specific and dedicated part and ensure coherence with the ‘Competitiveness’ component, Part II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ of the Regulation (EU) [XXX]10 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]11 in accordance with the committee procedure set out in this Regulation. Besides, the ECF shall ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Innovation Fund, notably when developing work programmes. | (10) The Commission should ensure tight coordination and synergies between all Union funding sources in the MFF. For this purpose, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be tightly linked to the ECF: to ensure that the European industry leverages research results funded by the Union to further innovate and produce in Europe. In order to foster synergies, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate in a specific and dedicated part and ensure coherence with the ‘Competitiveness’ component, Part II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ of the Regulation (EU) [XXX]10 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]11 in accordance with the committee procedure set out in this Regulation. Further, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate, in a specific dedicated part, skills development and related investment activities and ensure coherence with the Union of Skills. Besides, the ECF shall ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Innovation Fund, notably when developing work programmes. |
| 10 OJ L.., p | 10 OJ L.., p |
| 11 COM(2025) 543 | 11 COM(2025) 543 |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (11) In order to foster synergies between actions under the ECF and the Innovation Fund, the work programmes of the ECF should ensure coherence with the priorities and types of actions that could be funded under the Innovation Fund. Together, the ECF, Horizon Europe, and the Innovation Fund will provide coherent support to the Union competitiveness. | (11) In order to foster synergies between actions under the ECF and the Innovation Fund, the work programmes of the ECF should ensure coherence with the priorities and types of actions that could be funded under the Innovation Fund. Together, the ECF, Horizon Europe, Union of Skills and the Innovation Fund will provide coherent support to the Union competitiveness. |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (19) Infrastructure is an essential enabler for European competitiveness. Investments in infrastructure are a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the EU's single market, the green and digital transition and for increasing the Union’s resilience and security. For example, the trans-European transport network fosters sustainable forms of transport, promotes improved multimodal and interoperable digital and transport solutions, thereby contributing to a smooth functioning of the internal market. The trans-European networks for energy are key for a genuine Energy Union to enable the Union’s energy and climate objectives by connecting Union countries’ electricity and clean energy networks to ensure our energy independence and competitiveness. For this, the development of cross-border interconnectors, domestic transmission and distribution grids is essential. The ECF support will work in coherence and complementarity with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). It is essential for Europe’s competitiveness to provide for synergies between the development of trans-European networks in energy and transport with strong cross-border impact supported by CEF, and investment support for the decarbonisation, modernisation and expansion of transport, energy and digital infrastructure under ECF. | (19) Infrastructure is an essential enabler for European competitiveness. Investments in infrastructure are a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the EU's single market, the green and digital transition and for increasing the Union’s and its citizens’ resilience and security. For example, the trans-European transport network fosters sustainable forms of transport, promotes improved multimodal and interoperable digital and transport solutions, thereby contributing to a smooth functioning of the internal market. The trans-European networks for energy are key for a genuine Energy Union to enable the Union’s energy and climate objectives by connecting Union countries’ electricity and clean energy networks to ensure our energy independence and competitiveness. For this, the development of cross-border interconnectors, domestic transmission and distribution grids is essential. The ECF support will work in coherence and complementarity with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). It is essential for Europe’s competitiveness to provide for synergies between the development of trans-European networks in energy and transport with strong cross-border impact supported by CEF, and investment support for the decarbonisation, modernisation and expansion of transport, energy and digital infrastructure under ECF. |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (20a) Investments in social infrastructure, in particular affordable housing, early childhood education and care, health and long-term care and inclusive education and training including vocational education and training (VET), are strategic enablers of the Union’s long-term competitiveness. Such investments support higher labour-market participation, particularly for women and facilitate upskilling and reskilling at scale. They are therefore essential to address persistent labour and skills shortages, enhance productivity, and ensure that the green and digital transitions translate into sustainable growth and quality employment across the Union. |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (21) The competitive strength of the Union lies in its people. The Competitiveness Compass identifies promoting skills and quality jobs as a horizontal enabler. The European Council Conclusions highlight that “following the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 on a Union of Skills, further efforts should be made to enhance the acquisition, recognition and retention of skills across the EU, from the building of basic skills to engaging in life-long learning, reskilling and upskilling, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan”. A strong dialogue is part of this. Human capital is key to the prosperity of the Union, its economic resilience and unique social market economy. It is essential to foster prosperity, including high quality jobs, by boosting productivity growth, making Union industries more competitive and innovative, attracting additional investments, and supporting a dynamic single market and enhanced economic security. The ECF should contribute to the Union of Skills12 by supporting the development of a skilled workforce equipped with the specific skills needed in the strategic investment areas of the Fund, through life-long learning, education, training projects and apprenticeships, and the creation of attractive quality jobs accessible to all and by accompanying ECF investments with skills investment to alleviate skills shortages in the given strategic sector of the ECF and indicate when it is included. This includes a Skills Guarantee that should enable workers in sectors undergoing restructuring to upskill and reskill, in line with relevant national, regional and/or sectoral transition strategies. The ECF should support skills intelligence, upskilling and reskilling, and foster public-private partnerships between universities, VET providers, businesses, in particular SMEs, social partners and applied research institutes. The ECF could also support activities of University Alliances, also in cooperation with employers, to improve their delivery on innovation and the development of skills and talent. | (21) The competitive strength of the Union lies in its people. The Draghi and Letta reports and the Competitiveness Compass identify promoting skills and quality jobs as an essential horizontal enabler. The European Council Conclusions highlight that “following the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 on a Union of Skills, further efforts should be made to enhance the acquisition, recognition and retention of skills across the EU, from the building of basic skills to engaging in life-long learning, reskilling and upskilling, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan”. A strong dialogue and partnerships between higher education and VET providers, social partners and industry are a part of this. Human capital is key to the prosperity of the Union, its economic resilience and unique social market economy. Investing in large-scale upskilling, reskilling and training of the workforce combined with accompanying enabling measures such as advisory services and outreach, mentoring or training, mobility and care allowances are essential to foster prosperity, including high quality jobs, by boosting productivity growth, making Union industries more competitive and innovative, attracting additional investments, and supporting a dynamic single market and enhanced economic security. The ECF should contribute to the Union of Skills12 by supporting the development of a skilled workforce equipped with the specific skills needed in the strategic investment areas of the Fund, through accessible and quality life-long learning, education, training projects and apprenticeships, and the creation of attractive quality jobs accessible to all and by accompanying ECF investments with skills investment to alleviate skills shortages in the given strategic sector of the ECF. This includes a Skills Guarantee that should enable workers in sectors undergoing restructuring to upskill and reskill, in line with relevant national, regional and/or sectoral transition strategies. The ECF should support skills intelligence, upskilling and reskilling, and foster public-private partnerships between universities, VET providers, businesses, in particular SMEs, social partners and applied research institutes. The ECF could also support activities of University Alliances, also in cooperation with employers, to improve their delivery on innovation and the development of particularly digital and green skills and talent. |
| 12 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The Union of Skills, COM(2025) 90 final, 5.3.2025. | 12 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The Union of Skills, COM(2025) 90 final, 5.3.2025. |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (27) Chronic underinvestment in the European tech sector is one of the main reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Union, as compared to our global competitors. Moreover, European sovereignty in digital technologies and infrastructures has become key for our resilience, security and for democracy, as highlighted in the 2025 State of the Digital decade report which also underlined the remaining significant gaps to reach Union’s 2030 goals, notably for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space technologies, semiconductors, 5G and digital skills. | (27) Chronic underinvestment in the European tech sector is one of the main reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Union, as compared to our global competitors. Moreover, European sovereignty in digital technologies and infrastructures has become key for our resilience, security and for democracy, as highlighted in the 2025 State of the Digital decade report which also underlined the remaining significant gaps to reach Union’s 2030 goals, notably for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space technologies, semiconductors, 5G, and digital skills development. |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (32) To improve public health and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union, it is crucial to tackle the rise of communicable and non-communicable diseases through targeted health promotion and disease prevention strategies and continued investments, including into the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. Such action, coupled with fostering effective, accessible, and resilient health systems, can significantly boost workforce productivity by improving population health and alleviating labour shortages, while also supporting health systems that drive innovation. Leveraging health data is essential in those efforts, enabling informed decision-making. Moreover, fostering innovation by solidifying the evidence-based path from medical breakthroughs to marketable solutions is key to enhancing Union competitiveness and also beneficial to reinforcing supply security. | (32) To improve public health and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union, it is crucial to tackle the rise of communicable and non-communicable diseases through targeted health promotion and disease prevention strategies and continued investments, including into the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. Such action, coupled with fostering effective, accessible, and resilient health systems and strengthened occupational health and safety, can significantly boost workforce productivity by improving population health and alleviating labour shortages, while also supporting health systems that drive innovation. Leveraging health data is essential in those efforts, enabling informed decision-making. Moreover, fostering innovation by solidifying the evidence-based path from medical breakthroughs to marketable solutions is key to enhancing Union competitiveness and also beneficial to reinforcing supply security. |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (39) The ECF should also support the policy goals of a safer, more secure Europe that is better prepared against security threats, in particular by enhancing European industry competitiveness and strategic autonomy, including maritime and customs security, critical energy and transport infrastructure and civil preparedness. To address increasing security and hybrid threats like terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, climate disasters and attacks on critical infrastructure, the ECF should support Europe’s efforts to increase its threat awareness, build resilience and boost security investments, and promote preparedness by design across relevant sectors. | (39) The ECF should also support the policy goals of a safer, more secure Europe that is better prepared against security threats, in particular by enhancing European industry competitiveness and strategic autonomy, including maritime and customs security, critical energy and transport infrastructure and civil preparedness. To address increasing security and hybrid threats like terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, climate disasters and attacks on critical infrastructure, the ECF should support Europe’s efforts to increase threat awareness and prevention, build resilience and boost security and civil protection investments, and promote preparedness by design across relevant sectors. |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (41a) As a key horizontal enabling condition, an appropriate amount of each policy window’s dedicated financial envelope should be allocated to actions supporting skills development. |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (45) To promote the resilience of the Union economy, notably by reducing strategic dependencies, the ECF should enable Union preference for support to manufacturing and developing strategic technologies and sectors located in the Union, notably for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, in line with Union law and its international commitments. It is essential that European funding contributes to the uptake of strategic technologies developed in the Union and funded through European funding. To support the development and manufacturing in the Union of strategic technologies funded by the Union, the ECF should allow to condition its support through control restrictions, asset transfers restrictions and supply restrictions to the use of specific products and technologies. | (45) To promote the resilience of the Union economy, notably by reducing strategic dependencies, the ECF should enable Union preference for support to manufacturing and developing strategic technologies and sectors located in the Union, notably for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, in line with Union law and its international commitments. It is essential that European funding contributes to the uptake of strategic technologies developed in the Union and funded through European funding. To support the development and manufacturing in the Union of strategic technologies funded by the Union, the ECF should allow to condition its support through control and participation and performance restrictions, asset transfers restrictions and supply restrictions to the use of specific products and technologies. |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (49) The ECF should support a diverse set of policies contributing to competitiveness, while providing a harmonised baseline set of eligibility criteria to provide policy steer and ensuring a sufficient level of protection of economic and security interests by focusing Union support on recipients in the Member States, including Overseas Countries and Territories. Where necessary, the ECF should establish specific eligibility conditions for strategic sectors and technologies, including underlying value chains, critical Union infrastructures and specific capabilities. | (49) The ECF should support a diverse set of policies contributing to competitiveness, while providing a harmonised baseline set of eligibility criteria to provide policy steer and ensuring a sufficient level of protection of economic, social and security interests by focusing Union support on recipients in the Member States, including Overseas Countries and Territories. Where necessary, the ECF should establish specific eligibility conditions for strategic sectors and technologies, including underlying value chains, critical Union infrastructures and specific capabilities. |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (51) For financial instruments and the budgetary guarantee to effectively crowd in private money, implementing partners need to be closely associated. This ensures policy steer and alignment, as well as project pipeline generation. The experience and lessons learnt with the implementation of the InvestEU Programme emphasise the importance of investment guidelines in creating this buy-in and providing the necessary predictability and visibility to the implementing partners and investors, in order for them to set up their organisational capacity and originate the pipeline of investments, while allowing the necessary flexibility to ensure an adequate policy steer during implementation. Investment guidelines should include detailed description of the policy areas of intervention and investment focus with a view to ensuring additionality and incentivise crowding in private and public investment in support of the Union’s policy objectives and strategic projects. The investment guidelines should be prepared in consultation with implementing partners to benefit from their market knowledge, and enable them to invest in Union priority areas and incentivise them for more risk taking. To cater for evolving needs and developments, the investment guidelines may be reviewed in the context of the MFF mid-term review. | (51) For financial instruments and the budgetary guarantee to effectively crowd in private money, implementing partners need to be closely associated. This ensures policy steer and alignment, as well as project pipeline generation. The experience and lessons learnt with the implementation of the InvestEU Programme emphasise the importance of investment guidelines in creating this buy-in and providing the necessary predictability and visibility to the implementing partners and investors, in order for them to set up their organisational capacity and originate the pipeline of investments, while allowing the necessary flexibility to ensure an adequate policy steer during implementation. Investment guidelines should include detailed description of the policy areas of intervention and investment focus with a view to ensuring additionality and incentivise crowding in private and public investment in support of the Union’s policy objectives and strategic projects. The investment guidelines should be prepared in consultation with the investment committee and implementing partners to benefit from their market knowledge, and enable them to invest in Union priority areas and incentivise them for more risk taking. To cater for evolving needs and developments, the investment guidelines may be reviewed in the context of the MFF mid-term review. |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (53a) The ECF work programmes will include skills development and related investment activities in a specific dedicated part. |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 57
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (57) Multistakeholder consultations, including those of researchers and industry, the social partners, as well as investors, end-users and civil society, from SME, small to large organisations, should contribute to the priorities of the ECF. Those consultations should be structured via advisory boards including the ECF Stakeholder Board whose task should be to provide insights and advise the Commission on policy trends, on investment needs, and on the implementation of the ECF from the perspective of project promoters, with the aim to ensure that feedback from stakeholder communities is reflected in the design of work programmes. | (57) Multistakeholder consultations, including those of researchers and industry, the social partners at cross-industry and sectoral level, as well as investors, end-users and civil society, from SME, small to large organisations, should contribute to the priorities of the ECF. Those consultations should be structured via advisory boards including the ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board whose task should be to provide insights and advise the Commission on policy trends, on investment needs, and on the implementation of the ECF from the perspective of project promoters, with the aim to ensure that feedback from stakeholder communities is reflected in the design of work programmes. |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 58
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (58) Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) are a state aid instrument and industrial policy tool assessed by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b), TFEU22 . They contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, the green and digital transition and competitiveness and resilience of the Union industry and economy. IPCEIs make it possible to bring together knowledge, expertise, financial resources, and economic actors throughout the Union and create positive spillover effects for the entire Union. IPCEIs also allow to crowd-in private investments in high-risk projects that are essential to bring breakthrough innovation closer to industrial deployment and infrastructures projects of great importance to the Union with open and non-discriminatory access. Given the commonalities of objectives pursued, the ECF will foster synergies between Union funding and IPCEIs by supporting specific projects integrated within IPCEIs, based on their contribution to Union strategic priorities, such as the resilience of the Union, and on the ability of ECF financing to broaden participation, notably of SMEs, or broaden Member State coverage, as well as increase Union added value. | (58) Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) are a state aid instrument and industrial policy tool assessed by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b), TFEU22 . They contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, the green and digital transition and competitiveness and resilience of the Union industry and economy. IPCEIs make it possible to bring together knowledge, expertise, financial resources, and economic actors throughout the Union and create positive spillover effects for the entire Union. IPCEIs also allow to crowd-in private investments in high-risk projects that are essential to bring breakthrough innovation closer to industrial deployment and infrastructures projects of great importance to the Union with open and non-discriminatory access. Given the commonalities of objectives pursued, the ECF will foster synergies between Union funding and IPCEIs by supporting specific projects integrated within IPCEIs, based on their contribution to Union strategic priorities, such as the resilience of the Union, civil resilience and preparedness and skills development of the workforce and on the ability of ECF financing to broaden participation, notably of SMEs, or broaden Member State coverage, as well as increase Union added value. |
| 22 Communication from the Commission, Criteria for the analysis of the compatibility with the internal market of State aid to promote the execution of important projects of common European interest C/2021/8481 (OJ C 528, 30.12.2021, p. 10). | 22 Communication from the Commission, Criteria for the analysis of the compatibility with the internal market of State aid to promote the execution of important projects of common European interest C/2021/8481 (OJ C 528, 30.12.2021, p. 10). |
Or. en
Amendment 19
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 79
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (79) However, access to finance is an important barrier for SMEs, especially for start-ups and scale-ups, as they often rely on external financing to support their growth plans. SMEs face further barriers to innovation and growth that do not affect larger firms to the same extent, for example the lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of access technology infrastructure, difficulties in protecting intellectual property or accessing export markets and value chains in order to develop their internationalisation activities. | (79) However, access to finance is an important barrier for SMEs, especially for start-ups and scale-ups, as they often rely on external financing to support their growth plans. SMEs face further barriers to innovation and growth that do not affect larger firms to the same extent, for example the lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of capacity for the provision of workforce skills development, lack of access technology infrastructure, difficulties in protecting intellectual property or accessing export markets and value chains in order to develop their internationalisation activities. |
Or. en
Amendment 20
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 80
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (80) Evidence shows that direct financial support to SMEs is not enough on its own to support their scaling-up and that they need and benefit from dedicated advice at Union level. Providing advice on Single Market rules, innovation and access to finance contributes to Union competitiveness. Moreover, business support at local, regional and national level is diverse and should also connect less developed and outermost regions. Existing Union initiatives such as the Enterprise Europe Network, European Cluster Collaboration Platform and European Digital Innovation Hubs have helped bridge this gap. Accordingly, an ‘EU for Business Network’ shall be established, building on the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and other networks, to simplify and streamline advisory and partnership services. | (80) Evidence shows that direct financial support to SMEs is not enough on its own to support their scaling-up and that they need and benefit from dedicated advice at Union level. Providing advice on Single Market rules, innovation and access to finance contributes to Union competitiveness. Moreover, business support at local, regional and national level is diverse and should also connect less developed and outermost regions. Existing Union initiatives such as the Enterprise Europe Network, European Cluster Collaboration Platform and European Digital Innovation Hubs have helped bridge this gap. Accordingly, an ‘EU for Business Network’ shall be established, building on the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), SME Envoy Network and other networks, to simplify and streamline advisory and partnership services. |
Or. en
Amendment 21
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 81
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (81) The ECF will support SME’s access to finance and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union SMEs via two main avenues: First, in addition to the EU for Business Network, the ECF will also conduct additional cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs. Second, the ECF policy windows should include dedicated SME actions targeting SMEs in strategic sectors, such as bonus systems to encourage SME participation, with a view to fostering SME innovation, growth and scaling-up. Special support may be granted for access to and the availability of finance for SMEs and small mid-cap companies across all sectors of the economy, including micro-finance, support for social enterprises. Furthermore, a flexible financial toolbox under the ECF should ensure that SMEs could receive the type of support that best fits their needs along their investment journey. | (81) The ECF will support SME’s access to finance and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union SMEs via two main avenues: First, in addition to the EU for Business Network, the ECF will also conduct additional cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs. Second, the ECF policy windows should include dedicated SME actions targeting SMEs in strategic sectors, such as bonus systems to encourage SME participation, with a view to fostering SME innovation, growth and scaling-up. Special support may be granted for access to and the availability of finance for SMEs and small mid-cap companies across all sectors of the economy, including micro-finance, and support for social enterprises. Furthermore, a flexible financial toolbox under the ECF should ensure that SMEs could receive the type of support that best fits their needs along their investment journey. |
Or. en
Amendment 22
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (11) ‘Investment journey’ means the continuum of public and private financial support and policy support mechanisms provided to recipients across its entire development chain, including a comprehensive series of activities involved in the allocation of financial resources and provision of support to foster innovation and economic growth. This journey includes, but is not limited to, the initiation from fundamental and applied research phases, progressing through stages of scaling up, industrial deployment, and advancing to the culmination in full-scale manufacturing and industrial maturity and internationalisation; | (11) ‘Investment journey’ means the continuum of public and private financial support and policy support mechanisms provided to recipients across its entire development chain, including a comprehensive series of activities involved in the allocation of financial resources and provision of support to foster innovation and economic growth. This journey includes, but is not limited to, the initiation from fundamental and applied research phases, progressing through stages of scaling up, industrial deployment, and advancing to the culmination in full-scale manufacturing and industrial maturity and internationalisation as well as skills development; |
Or. en
Amendment 23
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 20
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (20) ‘Stakeholders' means individuals, groups, or organizations that are affected by and can be involved in the programme implementation; | (20) ‘Stakeholders' means individuals, groups, or organizations that are affected by and can be involved in the programme implementation including the social partners and relevant civil society organizations; |
Or. en
Amendment 24
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 21
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (21) ‘Infrastructure’ means all physical and virtual elements necessary for the provision of services and economic activities, including networks, grids and assets, as well as mobile assets linked to infrastructure, fostering decarbonisation, resilience, efficiency, digitalisation, and interoperability; | (21) ‘Infrastructure’ means all physical and virtual elements necessary for the provision of services and economic activities, including networks, grids and assets, as well as mobile assets linked to infrastructure, fostering skills development, decarbonisation, resilience, efficiency, digitalisation, and interoperability; |
Or. en
Amendment 25
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) delivering technological, economic and environmental impact from the Union's investments, including by developing disruptive and incremental innovation, and emerging, cutting-edge, dual-use, and strategic technologies with significant economic potential, including by developing and accelerating their manufacturing and industrial deployment; | (a) delivering technological, economic, social, employment and environmental impact from the Union's investments, including by developing disruptive and incremental innovation, and emerging, cutting-edge, dual-use, and strategic technologies with significant economic potential, including by developing and accelerating their manufacturing and industrial deployment; |
Or. en
Amendment 26
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f) developing Union cross-border and critical infrastructure key to the Union’s competitiveness, and strategic independence in particular energy and transport, digital and security, defence and space infrastructure as well as social infrastructure and related data and services; | (f) developing Union cross-border and critical infrastructure key to the Union’s competitiveness, and strategic independence in particular energy and transport, digital and security, defence and space infrastructure and social infrastructure in particular addressing affordable housing, early childhood education and care, health and long-term care, and inclusive education and training including VET, as well as related data and services; |
Or. en
Amendment 27
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (g) strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs and small mid-cap companies established in the Union and their ability to grow and scale up, in particular by improving their access to finance, including private investment, micro-finance and support to social enterprises as facilitating access to Union funding, through faster, simplified and harmonised procedures; reducing and ensuring a proportionate reporting burden; | (g) strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs and small mid-cap companies established in the Union and their ability to grow and scale up, in particular by improving their access to finance, including private investment, micro-finance and support to social enterprises and facilitating access to Union funding, through faster, simplified and harmonised procedures; reducing and ensuring a proportionate reporting burden; supporting entrepreneurial and business skills; |
Or. en
Amendment 28
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (h) addressing shortages of skills critical to all kinds of quality jobs in strategic sectors for EU competitiveness, through both horizontal and specific skills investment, contributing to the availability of skills in future emerging technologies, and by pursuing to accompany investments with skills investment and indicate when it is included; | (h) addressing shortages of skills critical to all kinds of quality jobs in particular in strategic sectors for EU competitiveness, through the provision of skills development and both horizontal and specific skills investment, including targeted upskilling, reskilling and vocational education and training of the workforce, contributing to the availability of skills in future emerging technologies, and by pursuing to accompany investments with skills investment; |
Or. en
Amendment 29
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (k) ensuring a just transition to a sustainable, decarbonised and digital economy that is fair and supporting workers and communities. | (k) supporting measures to ensure a just transition to a sustainable, decarbonised and digital economy that is fair, inclusive and which contributes to quality employment and job creation thereby supporting workers and communities particularly in transition affected regions. |
Or. en
Amendment 30
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) For support to Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation, the specific objectives of support to decarbonisation of European industry, including SMEs and energy intensive industries, clean tech manufacturing and its supply chains, and contributing to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-, water- and resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient economy. This includes the uptake by industries of decarbonisation technologies and other solutions for their industrial processes and activities, as well as the decarbonisation of energy supply, promotion of energy efficiency, the uptake of renewable and clean energy solutions, the development of energy system flexibility, the uptake of lead markets for clean products , the development, resilience, integration and digitalisation of the energy and transport infrastructures and systems, boosting smart mobility and sustainable alternative fuels, as well as boosting the sustainable blue economy, the development of innovative nature-based business models and demand side solutions for clean and decarbonised buildings, transport and industry, and production ramp up contributing to Europe’s strategic autonomy. | (a) For support to Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation, the specific objectives of support to decarbonisation of European industry, including SMEs and energy intensive industries, clean tech manufacturing and its supply chains, and contributing to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-, water- and resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient economy. This includes the uptake by industries of decarbonisation technologies and other solutions for their industrial processes and activities, as well as the decarbonisation of energy supply, promotion of energy efficiency, the provision of skills development particularly measures to support workers in the just transition, the uptake of renewable and clean energy solutions, the development of energy system flexibility, the uptake of lead markets for clean products , the development, resilience, integration and digitalisation of the energy and transport infrastructures and systems, boosting smart mobility and sustainable alternative fuels, as well as boosting the sustainable blue economy, the development of innovative nature-based business models and demand side solutions for clean and decarbonised buildings, transport and industry, and production ramp up contributing to Europe’s strategic autonomy. |
Or. en
Amendment 31
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) For support to health, the specific objectives of fostering innovation and competitiveness of the health sector while ensuring supply security and the industrial capacity and capability to manage future serious cross-border threats to health; improving and protecting public and population health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life span through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, and by strengthening innovation and resilience of health systems. | (1) For support to health, the specific objectives of fostering innovation, competitiveness and skills development of the health sector while ensuring supply security, and the industrial capacity and capability to manage future serious cross-border threats to health; improving and protecting public and population health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life span through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, and by strengthening innovation and resilience of health systems. |
Or. en
Amendment 32
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) For support to the agriculture and food security, the specific objective of fostering the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and rural and coastal areas and their role in the transition to a climate-neutral climate-resilient, water-smart, nature-positive economy and the protection of natural resources biodiversity while contributing to long term food security in the Union. | (4) For support to the agriculture and food security, the specific objective of fostering the competitiveness, sustainability, skills and resilience of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry sectors and rural and coastal areas and their role in the transition to a climate-neutral climate-resilient, water-smart, nature-positive economy and the protection of natural resources biodiversity while contributing to long term food security in the Union. |
Or. en
Amendment 33
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) For support to Digital Leadership policy, the specific objectives of fostering innovation and competitiveness of digital sector for a competitive and secure Union and bringing its benefits to citizens and society, public administrations and businesses across the Union. This shall include, but not be limited to, supporting the entire digital value- and supply-chains and activities including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, in particular along the following dimensions: Achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies, including through technology transfer and innovation, and through cutting-edge infrastructures such as AI-powered digital twins; Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union; Enabling the power of digital for businesses and citizens by deploying advanced digital applications and services, infrastructures, capacities and capabilities and by reinforcing interoperability across the Union, Including support to digitalisation of companies, including SMEs, small mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups; Supporting the digital transformation and interoperability of public and private sectors through the rapid uptake of AI, the wallet technologies, such as EU Digital Identity Wallets and trust services established pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and the forthcoming European Business Wallets and other digital innovative solutions. Support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme. | (c) For support to Digital Leadership policy, the specific objectives of fostering innovation and competitiveness of digital sector for a competitive and secure Union and bringing its benefits to citizens and society, public administrations and businesses across the Union. This shall include, but not be limited to, supporting the entire digital value- and supply-chains and activities including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, in particular along the following dimensions: Achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies, including through technology transfer and innovation, and through cutting-edge infrastructures such as AI-powered digital twins; Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union; Enabling the power of digital for businesses, and citizens by deploying advanced digital applications and services, infrastructures, capacities and capabilities, and the provision of digital skills development of the workforce and by reinforcing interoperability across the Union, Including support to digitalisation of companies, including SMEs, small mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups; Supporting the digital transformation and interoperability of public and private sectors through the rapid uptake of AI, the wallet technologies, such as EU Digital Identity Wallets and trust services established pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and the forthcoming European Business Wallets and other digital innovative solutions. Support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme. |
Or. en
Amendment 34
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) For support to EU defence industry. the specific objectives of promoting defence industrial readiness of the Union and its Member States through the strengthening of the competitiveness, responsiveness and ability of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, fostering an innovative EU defence ecosystem; Collaborative research and development of defence products and technologies, including disruptive technologies for defence; Cooperation throughout the life-cycle of defence equipment, in particular in defence procurement and for the development of European defence projects of common interest; Adjustment of industry to structural changes. | (2) For support to EU defence industry. the specific objectives of promoting defence industrial readiness of the Union and its Member States through the strengthening of the competitiveness, responsiveness, skills development and ability of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, fostering an innovative EU defence ecosystem; Collaborative research and development of defence products and technologies, including disruptive technologies for defence; Cooperation throughout the life-cycle of defence equipment, in particular in defence procurement and for the development of European defence projects of common interest; Adjustment of industry to structural changes. |
Or. en
Amendment 35
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3) For the implementation of EU space systems and space policy, the specific objectives of developing, maintaining and operating space systems, providing cutting-edge space-based information, data and services supporting Union policies, notably in the area of security, defence, sustainable growth, environment protection and climate resilience, global engagement and strategic independence; Maximising the socio-economic benefits of space-based activities, in particular by fostering the development of an innovative and competitive Union space economy and supporting the development of a genuine Single Market for space activities, including collaborative research and innovation for space products and technologies and support to SMEs; Enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of all outer space activities; Promoting the role of the Union as a global actor in the space sector. | (3) For the implementation of EU space systems and space policy, the specific objectives of developing, maintaining and operating space systems, providing cutting-edge space-based information, data and services supporting Union policies, notably in the area of security, defence, sustainable growth, environment protection and climate resilience, global engagement and strategic independence; Maximising the socio-economic benefits of space-based activities, in particular by fostering the development of an innovative and competitive Union space economy and supporting the development of a genuine Single Market for space activities, including collaborative research and innovation for space products, skills development and technologies and support to SMEs; Enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of all outer space activities; Promoting the role of the Union as a global actor in the space sector. |
Or. en
Amendment 36
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) For support to civil industrial security, the specific objectives of strengthening the competitiveness and responsiveness of the European civil security industry, in the application areas of security, resilience of critical and dual-use infrastructures, technologies including critical energy infrastructure, and solutions for the control of goods and persons at borders, the protection of borders, maritime security, customs security and civil preparedness against security threats, as well as reinforcing the capabilities of the relevant end-users in the civil security sector. | (4) For support to civil industrial security, the specific objectives of strengthening the competitiveness and responsiveness and skills development of the European civil security industry, in the application areas of security, resilience of critical and dual-use infrastructures, technologies including critical energy infrastructure, and solutions for the control of goods and persons at borders, the protection of borders, maritime security, customs security and civil preparedness against security threats, as well as reinforcing the capabilities of the relevant end-users in the civil security sector. |
Or. en
Amendment 37
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. An appropriate amount of each policy window’s dedicated financial envelope shall be allocated to actions supporting skills development. |
Or. en
Amendment 38
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The Commission and Member States shall, in a manner commensurate to their respective responsibilities, facilitate coordination and coherence between European Competitiveness Fund and national and regional partnership plans on common competitiveness priorities in selected key areas and projects deemed of strategic importance and of common European interest. | 2. The Commission and Member States shall, in a manner commensurate to their respective responsibilities, facilitate coordination and coherence between European Competitiveness Fund and national and regional partnership plans on common competitiveness priorities in selected key areas and projects deemed of strategic importance and of common European interest, including the provision of skills development, in particular measures to support workers in the just transition. |
Or. en
Amendment 39
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – point a a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (aa) activities that do not comply with applicable obligations in the fields of environmental, social and labour law established by Union law, national law, collective agreements or by the international environmental, social and labour law provisions; |
Or. en
Amendment 40
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) participation and performance restrictions requiring participating entities to be established, use facilities, or perform activities in the Member States, and where appropriate other eligible countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these participation and performance restrictions; | (a) participation and performance restrictions requiring participating entities to be established, use facilities, perform activities or provide employment in the Member States, and where appropriate other eligible countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these participation and performance restrictions; |
Or. en
Amendment 41
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) transfer restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding, during or within 5 calendar years after the end of an action, to not directly or indirectly transfer all or certain operations, results or related access and use rights, including granting of licences, from an eligible Member State or associated country to an ineligible third country. Otherwise, Union funding may be reduced and may be fully or partially recovered. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these transfer restrictions; | (b) transfer restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding, during or within 5 calendar years after the end of an action, to not directly or indirectly transfer all or certain operations, results or related access and use rights, including granting of licences, from an eligible Member State or associated country to an ineligible third country. Otherwise, Union funding shall be reduced or shall be fully or partially recovered. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these transfer restrictions; |
Or. en
Amendment 42
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The members of the ECF Strategic Stakeholders Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations or for expressions of interest, or both, whichever the Commission finds more appropriate, and taking into account the need for balance in sector, organisation type, including private investors, and size, expertise, gender, age and geographical distribution. The term of members the Board shall be limited to four years, renewable once. Members of the Board should act with integrity and probity. | 2. The members of the ECF Strategic Stakeholders Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations or for expressions of interest, or both, whichever the Commission finds more appropriate, and taking into account the need for balance in sector, organisation type, including representatives of the cross-industry and relevant sectoral social partners at Union level, representative SME organisations and private investors, and size, expertise, gender, age and geographical distribution. The term of members the Board shall be limited to four years, renewable once. Members of the Board should act with integrity and probity. |
Or. en
Amendment 43
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board, informed by an observatory on emerging technologies, shall advise on the overall direction for the ECF, advise on long-term competitiveness trends, advise on areas of market failures and suboptimal investment situations that could be addressed in the implementation of the ECF, and advise on the identification of strategic portfolios of projects within and across activities of the ECF, for which it may be composed in different policy-oriented configurations. | 4. The ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board, informed by an observatory on emerging technologies, shall advise on the overall direction for the ECF, advise on long-term competitiveness trends, on areas of market failures and suboptimal investment situations and on skills development particularly measures to support workers in the just transition that could be addressed in the implementation of the ECF, and advise on the identification of strategic portfolios of projects within and across activities of the ECF, for which it may be composed in different policy-oriented configurations. |
Or. en
Amendment 44
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 6
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. The composition of the Investment Committee shall ensure that it has a wide knowledge of the sectors covered by the ECF and a wide knowledge of the geographic markets in the Union, and shall ensure that the Investment Committee as a whole is gender-balanced. | 6. The composition of the Investment Committee shall ensure that it has a wide knowledge of the sectors and financial instruments covered by the ECF in particular regarding social and skills investment, microfinance and social economy enterprises and a wide knowledge of the geographic markets in the Union, and shall ensure that the Investment Committee as a whole is gender-balanced. |
Or. en
Amendment 45
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) actions and associated budget from ECF as well as actions set out in the specific dedicated part of the work programmes indicated in paragraph 2; | (a) actions and associated budget from ECF as well as actions set out in the specific dedicated parts of the work programmes indicated in paragraphs 2 and 2a; |
Or. en
Amendment 46
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. The work programmes under this Regulation shall integrate, in a specific dedicated part, skills development and related investment activities supporting the objectives of this Regulation and their dedicated budget, ensuring coherence with the Union of Skills. |
Or. en
Amendment 47
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. The investment guidelines set out by the Commission shall define in more detail the scope of intervention in support of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3. The investment guidelines shall be prepared in close dialogue with the potential implementing partners. | 5. The investment guidelines set out by the Commission shall define in more detail the scope of intervention in support of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3. The investment guidelines shall be prepared in close dialogue with the investment committee referred to in Article 14 the potential implementing partners. |
Or. en
Amendment 48
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing; | (b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs, small mid-cap and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing; |
Or. en
Amendment 49
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions. | 3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions in particular regarding skills investment and development including measures to support workers in the just transition. |
Or. en
Amendment 50
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (fa) provision of advice and support to companies, particularly SMEs and small mid-cap companies, concerning skills development and investments in particular skills intelligence, just transition planning, targeted upskilling and reskilling and the use of public-private partnerships with inter alia VET and higher education providers; |
Or. en
Amendment 51
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. | 1. The ECF shall finance activities and investments that strengthen the Union’s skills base, in particular in the strategic sectors, ensuring the availability of a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the general and specific objectives established in Article 3. |
Or. en
Amendment 52
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1a. Support for skills development shall include: | |
| (a) building strong partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational education and training (VET) providers, applied research, workers’ representative organisations including trade unions and businesses especially SMEs, to identify and develop pathways for the provision of the skills, training and accompanying enabling measures required for an agile, innovative and competitive economy and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. | |
| (b) measures for large-scale targeted upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, accessible high-quality training and accompanying enabling measures, in particular in strategic sectors, including support for a European Skills Guarantee to assist workers affected by value chain transitions to transition towards quality jobs in strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market thereby contributing to a socially fair and inclusive transition. |
Or. en
Amendment 53
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1b. The Commission and Member States shall ensure effective coordination, complementarity and synergies with actions supported under other Union instruments in the area of skills development, in particular those financed through cohesion policy. |
Or. en
Amendment 54
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4 and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5. | 2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4 (2), point (b), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5. |
Or. en
Amendment 55
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2) , and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5. | 2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point c, and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5. |
Or. en
Amendment 56
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) Improving and protecting health, including cross-border health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life course through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, with a special emphasis on communicable and non-communicable diseases, including mental health, degenerative health, autism, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases, including those related to pollution, sexual and reproductive health and enhancing international health initiatives and cooperation. | (a) Improving and protecting health, including cross-border health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life course through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, with a special emphasis on communicable and non-communicable diseases, including mental health, occupational health and safety, including psychosocial health, disabilities, degenerative health, autism, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases, including those related to pollution, sexual and reproductive health and enhancing international health initiatives and cooperation. |
Or. en
Amendment 57
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point f
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f) Fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy sector in the Union, including in the areas of health biotech, biobased materials and products, valorising farm and forest residues, carbon negative products, biomanufacturing and biochemicals, in particular by supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting, and scaling-up of bioeconomy innovations; by accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of bio-based materials from agriculture and forestry and bioeconomy solutions; by strengthening emerging value chains; by building a skilled workforce, by providing access to finance and other support for SMEs, startups, scale ups and innovators. | (f) Fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy sector in the Union, including in the areas of health biotech, biobased materials and products, valorising farm and forest residues, carbon negative products, biomanufacturing and biochemicals, in particular by supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting, and scaling-up of bioeconomy innovations; by accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of bio-based materials from agriculture and forestry and bioeconomy solutions; by strengthening emerging value chains; |
Or. en
Amendment 58
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (fa) building a skilled workforce, by providing access to finance and other support for SMEs, startups, scale ups and innovators; |
Or. en
Amendment 59
Proposal for a regulation
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point b
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems, including advanced digital skills, and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, creating an attractive ecosystem for disruptive innovative companies, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as emerging industry leaders in the digital sector to remain, grow and thrive within the Union, supporting them in scaling up, expanding their markets, including through procurement, and contributing to the Union’s digital sovereignty, with a focus on addressing the complexity of the technological value chains, standardisation, the security of supply of advanced digital technologies, infrastructures, and services, needed capacities, including manufacturing, production capacity, and advanced digital skills both in the private and public sectors. | (b) Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems, including advanced digital skills, and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, creating an attractive ecosystem for disruptive innovative companies, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as emerging industry leaders in the digital sector to remain, grow and thrive within the Union, supporting them in scaling up, expanding their markets, including through procurement, and contributing to the Union’s digital sovereignty, with a focus on addressing the complexity of the technological value chains, standardisation, the security of supply of advanced digital technologies, infrastructures, and services, needed capacities, including manufacturing, production capacity, and targeted upskilling, reskilling and advanced digital skills for workforces both in the private and public sectors. |
Or. en
Amendment 60
Proposal for a regulation
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point e
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools. | (e) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, particularly the social partners, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools. |
Or. en
Amendment 61
Proposal for a regulation
Article 80 – paragraph 2 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) Research and innovation, scale-up, SME support, skills development, and manufacturing actions; | (a) Research and innovation, scale-up, SME support, skills development in particular in civil protection and preparedness, and manufacturing actions; |
Or. en
Annex: declaration of input 4 paragraphs
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he included in his draft opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft opinion, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) |
| SMEunited |
| European Commission |
| Bureau Sud – Aix-en-Provence |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.