MEPs on the employment and social affairs committee (EMPL) at the European Parliament highlighted the need for all member states in the EU and not just those in the Eurozone to be able to take part in the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP). This necessity was highlighted in an opinion submitted by Csaba Sógor (EPP, Romania) and adopted (34 votes for, 7 votes against, 0 abstentions) on Thursday 7 June.
MEPs are therefore proposing to amend article 4 on the SRSP’s general objective by highlighting the fact that the programme helps member state outside of the Eurozone to take part in this zone. In the recitals, it clarifies the programme’s scope and clearly indicates the fact that it aims to promote a greater convergence between member states within the Eurozone but also between those that are not yet part of it.
MEPs also want to strengthen the link between the European Semester budgetary process and the SRSP, particularly during the application selection process. In anticipation of a very large number of applications, - similarly to the Commission (see EUROPE 11967) – MEPs are also, consequently, proposing to use the data from the annual Growth Survey in connection with the European Semester and the EUROPE 2020 Strategy objectives and then sift through this data
MEPs also consider that the SRSP could prove to be an important tool for supporting the objectives in the European pillar of social rights. It should be recalled that last March the Commission proposed to provide the programme with a budget of €80 million in addition to the €142 million planned for the 2017-2020 period. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)