EN

[pic] | IL-KUMMISSJONI EWROPEA |

Brussels, 19.10.2010

Brussell, 19.10.2010

COM(2010) 700 final

KUMM(2010) 700 finali

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW, LILL-KUNSILL, LILL-KUMITAT EKONOMIKU U SOĊJALI EWROPEW, LILL-KUMITAT TAR-REĠJUNI U LILL-PARLAMENTI NAZZJONALI

Ir-Reviżjoni tal-Baġit tal-UE

{SEG(2010) 7000 finali}

The EU Budget Review

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW, LILL-KUNSILL, LILL-KUMITAT EKONOMIKU U SOĊJALI EWROPEW, LILL-KUMITAT TAR-REĠJUNI U LILL-PARLAMENTI NAZZJONALI

{SEC(2010) 7000 final}

Ir-Reviżjoni tal-Baġit tal-UE

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

Id-deċiżjoni li ssir reviżjoni sħiħa u wiesgħa tal-infiq u r-riżorsi tal-UE ntlaħaq ftehim dwarha fl-2006[1]. Il-klima ekonomika nbidlet b'mod radikali minn meta ngħata l-mandat; u l-kriżi ekonomika globali poġġiet l-infiq pubbliku fil-qalba tad-dibattitu politiku fil-pajjiżi Ewropej. Madwar l-Unjoni Ewropea kollha qed isiru għażliet diffiċli. Il-prijoritajiet tal-infiq pubbliku qed jiġu sfidati b'mod li ma rajniex bħalu għal għexieren ta' snin.

Fl-istess ħin, l-infiq pubbliku kellu rwol ewlieni fil-proċess tal-irkupru. L-istimolu li ntlaħaq qbil dwaru fi tmiem l-2008 evitalna l-agħar tal-kriżi. L-għażla intelliġenti tal-miri fissret li l-istimolu ġie dirett lejn oqsma li jistgħu jagħtu l-frott fil-futur: lejn politiki li jsaħħu t-tkabbir, l-infrastruttura strateġika, il-prevenzjoni tal-qerda tal-kompetenzi u l-assi ta' importanza ewlenija mill-impatt tal-kriżi.

Din ir-reviżjoni għalhekk qed issir fi żmien fejn il-prijoritizzazzjoni, il-valur miżjud u l-kwalità għolja tal-infiq jinsabu fuq nett f'moħħ iċ-ċittadini. Hija ġiet wara proċess twil ta' konsultazzjoni u riflessjoni[2] li ppermetta li jiġu kkunsidrati ideat promettenti dwar kif il-baġit jista' jkun immirat l-aħjar sabiex jikseb l-għanijiet tal-UE, ikun ibbażat fuq il-politiki u jippromwovi l-istrateġija Ewropa 2020; dwar kif il-baġit jista' jagħti jagħti r-riżultati bl-aktar mod effettiv possibbli; u dwar kif nistgħu nerġgħu nħarsu mill-ġdid lejn l-aħjar mod kif nipprovdu r-riżorsi neċessarji biex jiġu ffinanzjati l-politiki tal-UE.

The EU Budget Review

L-infiq pubbliku huwa biss mezz u t-tkabbir għall-impjiegi huwa l-prijorità ewlenija tagħna, li nikkonċentraw fuq li jkollna aktar nies jaħdmu, li nżidu l-kompetittività tal-kumpaniji tagħna u li nibnu suq uniku miftuħ u modern.

The decision to undertake a full, wide-ranging review of EU spending and resources was agreed in 2006 [1]. The economic climate has radically changed since the mandate was given; and the global economic crisis has put public spending at the heart of the political debate in European countries. Throughout the European Union, difficult choices are being made. Public spending priorities are being challenged in a way not seen for decades.

Il-Kummissjoni għandha tippreżenta l-proposti tagħha għall-qafas multiannwali li jmiss qabel l-1 ta' Lulju 2011. Din ir-reviżjoni tippreżenta xi wħud mill-kwistjonijiet li qed jiffaċċja l-baġit tal-UE għall-qafas li jmiss u lil hinn. Kif l-UE għandha tqis sew l-impatt tal-kriżi ekonomika u fiskali u l-isfidi fit-tul bħat-tibdil demografiku, il-ħtieġa li jiġi indirizzat it-tibdil fil-klima u l-pressjoni fuq ir-riżorsi naturali. Kif il-kwistjoni mhix l-ewwel u qabel kollox dwar jekk għandniex nonfqu aktar jew inqas, iżda dwar kif insibu modi biex nonfqu b'mod aktar intelliġenti . Kif għandna nippreżentaw viżjoni ħolistika tar-riforma baġitarja, li tkopri kemm in-naħa tal-infiq kif ukoll dik tad-dħul tal-baġit.

At the same time, public spending has played a key role in the process of recovery. The stimulus agreed at the end of 2008 prevented the worst of the crisis. Intelligent targeting meant that stimulus was directed at areas which could pay off for the future: at growth-enhancing policies, at strategic infrastructure, at preventing key skills and key assets from being wiped out by the shock.

Li naqblu dwar it-triq li għandna nagħżlu hija sfida importanti għall-Unjoni Ewropea, iżda hija wkoll kisba importanti. Hija tkun tirrappreżenta sinjal qawwi li l-Unjoni Ewropea hija kapaċi tuża l-għodod li għandha għad-dispożizzjoni tagħha sabiex tagħmel differenza reali għaċ-ċittadini tagħha.

This review therefore comes forward at a time when prioritisation, added value and a high quality of spending are uppermost in the minds of citizens. It follows a long process of consultation and reflection [2] which allowed promising ideas to be floated about how the budget can best be targeted to secure the EU's objectives, be policy-driven and promote the Europe 2020 strategy; about how the budget can deliver in the most effective way possible; and about how to take a fresh look at the best way of providing the resources necessary to fund EU policies.

1. Liema lezzjonijiet mill-baġit ta' llum?

Public spending is a means to an end and growth for jobs is our overarching priority, concentrating on getting more people in jobs, boosting our companies' competitiveness and building an open and modern single market.

It-Trattat ta' Liżbona introduċa kuntest legali ġdid għall-qafas finanzjarju multiannwali. Huwa kkonferma l-ħtieġa li nipprovdu approċċ fuq tul medju għall-infiq tal-UE, kif ukoll il-prinċipju li l-UE hija ffinanzjata mir-Riżorsi Proprji. Dan ifisser li l-proċess ta' reviżjoni – filwaqt li ħares 'il quddiem – ibbenefika ħafna wkoll mill-esperjenza tal-perjodu ta' finanzjament kurrenti.

The Commission must present its proposals for the next multiannual financial framework before 1 July 2011. This review sets out some of the issues facing the EU budget for the next framework and beyond. How the EU must take account of both the impact of the economic and fiscal crisis and long-term challenges like demographic change, the need to address climate change and pressure on natural resources. How the issue is not first and foremost about spending more or less, but about finding ways to spend more intelligently. How we need to present a holistic vision of budget reform, covering both the expenditure and the revenue side of the budget.

S'issa, il-baġit tal-UE ta prova li huwa għodda effettiva sabiex jiġu rrealizzati l-aspirazzjonijiet tal-UE u jiġu implimentati l-politiki tagħha. Il-baġit tal-UE għamel differenza reali fil-ħidma biex jinkisbu aktar tkabbir u aktar impjiegi, biex jissaħħu r-riċerka, il-kompetittività u l-ħiliet u biex jiġi żgurat li l-Unjoni toffri appoġġ partikolari lil dawk li l-aktar jeħtieġu s-solidarjetà. Huwa ta appoġġ partikolari lill-proġetti ta' prijorità, inkluż dawk li jikkontribwixxu għall-istimolu meħtieġ wara l-kriżi ekonomika. Huwa saħħaħ is-sigurtà tal-Unjoni. Wassal ukoll l-għajnuna lil mijiet ta' miljuni mill-ifqar nies fid-dinja, aċċellera l-iżvilupp tal-ġirien tal-UE u ppromwova l-politiki tal-UE madwar id-dinja.

Agreeing the way forward will be a major challenge for the European Union, but also a major prize. It would represent a powerful signal that the European Union is equal to the task of harnessing the tools at its disposal to make a real difference for its citizens.

L-għan għandu jkun li l-baġit jintuża bl-aktar mod effettiv possibbli sabiex jinkisbu l-għanijiet tal-UE. Xi wħud mil-lezzjonjiet li għandhom jittieħdu sabiex isir progress lejn dan l-għan jinkludu:

1. What lessons from the Budget today?

- Sa mill-introduzzoni tagħhom fl-1988, l-oqfsa finanzjarji multiannwali tal-UE żguraw dixxiplina baġitarja stretta u prevedibbiltà fuq terminu medju tal-infiq tal-UE. Il-prezz biex inkisbet din il-prevedibbiltà kien li tnaqqset il-flessibilità. Is-snin li għaddew urew li l-qafas finanzjarju u l-programmi tiegħu mhux dejjem kienu kapaċi jirrispondu għall-imperattivi politiċi u t-tibdil fiċ-ċirkustanzi. Id-deċiżjonijiet tal-UE li tagħti għajnuna addizzjonali lill-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw meta l-prezzijiet tal-ikel żdiedu ħafna fl-2008, li tirrispondi għat-tibdil fil-ħtiġijiet ta' proġetti importanti Ewropej bħal Galileo u ITER minħabba l-perjodi twal li fihom jiġu implimentati u l-evoluzzjoni fl-ispejjeż tagħhom, li tikkontribwixxi għall-istimolu ekonomiku fl-2008-2009, jew li tirreaġixxi għall-kriżijiet globali bħat-tsunami kollha sabu quddiemhom l-inflessibbiltà eċċessiva tas-sistema kurrenti. Dawn ġew akkomodati biss b'diffikultà kbira, u kienu jiddependu fuq marġini mhux mistennija f'partijiet oħra tal-baġit. Anki fi ħdan il-programmi, l-ostakli għar-riprijoritizzazzjoni għamluha aktar diffiċli li tingħata l-prijorità korretta lil kwistjonijiet ġodda bħall-emerġenzi tas-saħħa pubblika, li jiġu ffukati mill-ġdid il-ħtiġijiet tat-taħriġ fid-dawl tal-kriżi jew li jiġi rifless it-tibdil fir-relazzjoni tal-Unjoni mal-ekonomiji emerġenti. Għalhekk, l-inabilità tal-baġit sabiex "jistenna dak li mhux mistenni" għandha prezz operazzjonali u reputazzjonali għall-UE.

The Lisbon Treaty has introduced a new legal setting for the multiannual financial framework. It confirmed the need to provide a medium-term approach to EU spending, as well as the principle that the EU is financed by Own Resources. This means that the review process – while looking ahead – has also drawn heavily on the experience of the current financing period.

- Żvilupp ieħor imprevist tas-snin li għaddew kien il-kriżi ekonomika u l-effetti tagħha fuq id-dibattitu dwar il-governanza ekonomika. Dan enfasizza l-interdipendenza tal-ekonomiji tal-UE u l-ħtieġa li jissaħħu r-regoli komuni. L-ewwel nett, l-użu tal-baġit bħala kollateral sabiex jappoġġja l-mekkaniżmu ta' stabbilizzazzjoni Ewropew wera użu innovattiv tal-baġit sabiex tiġi appoġġjata ħtieġa urġenti ta' politika, ikunu kemm ikunu stretti l-limiti imposti mil-limitu massimu tar-riżorsi proprji. Minbarra dan, ġie ssuġġerit li d-dħul tal-fondi tal-UE jista' jintuża sabiex jissaħħu sew il-miżuri preventivi u kif ukoll dawk korrettivi sabiex jiġi appoġġjat il-Patt ta' Stabbilità u Tkabbir.

So far, the EU budget has proved itself as an effective tool to realise the EU's aspirations and implement its policies. The EU budget has made a real difference to the task of delivering more growth and jobs, boosting research, competitiveness and skills and ensuring that the Union offers particular support to those most in need of solidarity. It has given particular support to priority projects, including contributing to the stimulus needed in the wake of the economic crisis. It has reinforced the Union's security. It has brought help to hundreds of millions of the world's poorest, accelerated the development of Europe's neighbours and promoted EU policies worldwide.

- In-natura tad-dibattitu li wassal għall-ftehim dwar l-aħħar qafas finanzjarju kellha wkoll konsegwenzi għall-abbiltà tal-baġit sabiex jagħti r-riżultati. Il-konċentrazzjoni fuq il-kwistjoni ta' "bilanċi netti" fissret li l-programmi kienu influwenzati mill-ħtieġa li tiġi mmassimizzata l-abilità li titqiegħed "bandiera nazzjonali" minn qabel fuq l-infiq. Dan ingħata prijorità fuq miżuri mfassla sabiex jittejbu r-riżultati, bħal djalogu ta' politika fuq skala kbira u ż-żamma lura tar-riżervi sabiex tiġi ppremjata l-effikaċja. Dan fisser ukoll li d-dimensjoni Ewropea – fejn l-UE tista' tagħti l-aktar valur miżjud – ma kenitx dejjem il-kunsiderazzjoni primarja. Id-dibattitu dwar il-"juste retour" għalhekk kellu impatt negattiv fuq il-kwalità tar-riżultati u naqqas il-valur miżjud tal-UE.

The goal must be to use the budget as effectively as possible to achieving the EU's objectives. Some of the key lessons to be learnt to further this objective include:

- Li jiġu stabbiliti programmi ġodda jieħu ż-żmien – partikolarment meta dawn ikunu bbażati fuq approċċ ta' sħubija sabiex jitqiesu l-ħtiġijiet u l-prijoritajiet lokali. Iż-żmien disponibbli bejn il-ftehim dwar it-testi legali u l-bidu tal-perjodu tal-finanzjament huwa kruċjali sabiex dan jiffunzjona sew. Fil-perjodu ta' qabel l-2007, il-ftehim tard dwar il-pakkett ta' finanzjament naqqas dan il-perjodu kritiku. Ir-riżultat kien li l-bidu veru tal-programmi ddewwem, u f'xi każijiet dan kompla jikkawża dewmien tul il-perjodu kollu.

· Since their introduction in 1988, the EU's multiannual financial frameworks have ensured strict budgetary discipline and medium-term predictability of EU expenditure. This predictability has come at the price of limited flexibility. The past years have shown that the financial framework and its programmes have not always been able to respond to political imperatives and changing circumstances. EU decisions to bring extra help to developing countries when food prices soared in 2008, to respond to changing demands in major European projects such as Galileo and ITER due to their long lead times and evolving costs, to contribute to economic stimulus in 2008-2009, or indeed to react to global crises such as the tsunami have come up against the excessive inflexibility of he current system. They have only been accommodated with extreme difficulty, relying on unexpected margins in other parts of the budget. Even within programmes, the obstacles to re-prioritisation have made it harder to give the right priority to new issues like public health emergencies, to refocus training needs in the wake of the crisis or to reflect the Union's changing relationship with emerging economies. So the budget's inability to "expect the unexpected" brings both an operational and a reputational cost to the EU.

- Id-dewmien fit-tnedija tal-programmi, il-kumplessitajiet li hemm imnaqqxa fis-sistema, approċċ deċentralizzat ħafna u l-impatt tal-kriżi finanzjarja fuq il-baġits pubbliċi nazzjonali wasslu għal utilizzazzjoni bil-mod tal-infiq tal-koeżjoni. Tfassil aħjar, teħid ta' deċiżjonijiet aktar rapidu, proċeduri ssimplifikati u armonizzati, definizzjoni aktar ċara tal-prijoritajiet f'kull livell u approċċ aktar flessibbli lejn il-kofinanzjament kollha ġew identifikati bħala rimedji potenzjali.

· Another of the unforeseen events of recent years has been the economic crisis and its effects on the debate on economic governance. This underlined the interdependence of the EU's economies and the need to strengthen common rules. In the first place, the use of the budget as collateral to support the European stabilisation mechanism showed an innovative use of the budget to support an urgent policy need, however tightly constrained by the ceiling of own resources. In addition, it was suggested that the receipt of EU funds could be used to reinforce both preventative and corrective measures to support the Stability and Growth Pact.

- L-impatt tal-infiq tal-UE jista' jiġi mnaqqas mir-regoli dwar il-programmi kkonċernati. Filwaqt li l-kontrolli għenu sabiex jiżguraw titjib kontinwu fil-ġestjoni finanzjarja tajba, l-inkonsistenzi bejn il-programmi u l-piżijiet amministrattivi għoljin it-tnejn li huma rriżultaw bħala ostakli għall-effikaċja. Il-kontrolli kellhom ukoll it-tendenza li jivvalutaw il-programmi fuq il-bażi tal-inputs minflok tar-riżultati, u dan inaqqas l-inċentiva għal riżultati effettivi.

· The nature of the debate leading up to agreement on the last financial framework also had consequences for the ability of the budget to deliver. The concentration on the issue of "net balances" meant that programmes were skewed to maximise the ability to put a "national flag" on spending in advance. This was given priority over measures designed to improve performance, such as macro policy dialogue and holding back reserves to reward effectiveness. It also meant that the European dimension – where the EU can bring the highest added value – was not always the primary consideration. The "juste retour" debate therefore had a negative impact on the quality of delivery and reduced the EU added value.

- Il-qafas finanzjarju eżistenti ħa l-ewwel passi fit-tnedija ta' approċċ ġdid għall-impatt li jista' jkollu l-baġit tal-UE. Jekk il-baġit tal-UE jista' jġib miegħu investiment minn sorsi pubbliċi u privati oħra, l-istess finanzjament jista' jikseb il-miri ta' politika tal-UE b'mod aktar effettiv. Dan l-approċċ irnexxa f'każijiet bħall-Faċilità Finanzjarja bi Qsim tar-Riskju, li tat spinta qawwija għall-investiment tan-negozju fir-riċerka b'riskju aktar għoli. Għalhekk, id-dominazzjoni tal-approċċ tal-għotjiet setgħet illimitat l-impatt potenzjali tal-baġit.

· Putting new programmes in place takes time – particularly when they are based on a partnership approach to factor in local needs and priorities. The time available between agreement on the legal texts and the start of a financing period is crucial to make this work well. In the run-up to 2007, the late agreement on the financing package squeezed this critical period. The result was that the real start of programmes was delayed, and in some cases this has had a knock-on throughout the period.

2. Il-Prinċipji għall-Baġit tal-UE

· The delays in launching the programmes, enshrined complexities in the process, a very decentralised approach and the impact of the financial crisis on national public budgets led to a slow uptake of cohesion spending. A better design, faster decision making, streamlined and harmonised procedures, a clearer definition of priorities at all levels and more flexible approach to co-financing have all been identified as potential remedies.

Il-baġit tal-UE għandu jkun ibbażat fuq serje ta' prinċipji ewlenin. Dawn huma t-testijiet li bihom għandhom jiġu evalwati l-għażliet. Permezz ta' dawn il-prinċipji, iċ-ċittadini Ewropej għandhom ikunu jistgħu jifhmu aħjar għaliex qiegħed hemm il-baġit tal-UE, u kif saru l-għażliet l-aktar importanti.

· The impact of EU spending can be hampered by the rules governing the programmes concerned. Whilst controls have helped to ensure a steady improvement in sound financial management, inconsistencies between programmes and high administrative burdens have both proved obstacles to effectiveness. Controls have also had a tendency to assess programmes on the basis of inputs rather than performance, reducing the incentives for effective results.

2.1. It-twettiq tal-prijoritajiet ewlenin ta' politika

· The existing financial framework has taken the first steps in pioneering a new approach to the impact the EU budget can have. If the EU budget can leverage investment from other public and private sources, the same funding can achieve the EU's policy goals more effectively. This approach has been successful in cases like the Risk Sharing Finance Facility, which has kick-started business investment in higher-risk research. So the domination of the grants approach may have limited the budget's potential impact.

Il-baġit tal-UE huwa strument ewlieni fit-tiswir u t-twettiq tal-politiki tal-UE għaċ-ċittadini u għall-atturi ekonomiċi u soċjali. Mhuwiex l-unika għodda li l-UE għandha għad-dispożizzjoni tagħha: bosta mill-għanijiet tal-UE jistgħu jintlaħqu permezz tal-liġi jew tal-koordinazzjoni tal-politika. Iżda huwa parti essenzjali mill-għażla ta' għodod li għandha l-UE.

2. Principles for the EU Budget

Fost il-politiki li jeħtieġu nfiq pubbliku sinifikanti, il-piż tal-infiq għandu jirrifletti l-prijoritajiet ewlenin ta' politika tal-UE. Huwa għandu jirrifletti wkoll id-direzzjonijiet ta' politika l-ġodda tat-Trattat ta' Liżbona, l-importanza mogħtija lil oqsma partikolari, pereżempju bħall-enerġija u l-klima, il-projjezzjoni esterna tal-UE u l-ġustizzja u l-affarijiet interni.

The EU budget must be grounded in a series of core principles. These are the tests against which options should be assessed. Through these principles, European citizens should be able to have a better view of what the EU budget is for, and how the key choices have been made.

Fuq kollox, għandu jkun imfassal bħala wieħed mill-aktar strumenti importanti sabiex tkun tista' titwettaq l-istrateġija Ewropa 2020 għat-tkabbir intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiv. Il-kriżi ekonomika u finanzjarja ħalliet warajha tnaqqis fit-tkabbir. Li niffaċċjaw b'mod effettiv l-effetti tal-kriżi u li nżidu t-tkabbir potenzjali fi żminijiet ta' konsolidazzjoni baġitarja ma jistax jinkiseb fuq il-livell nazzjonali biss, iżda jitlob ukoll rispons komuni fuq il-livell tal-UE. Il-baġit tal-UE jeħtieġ li jgħin il-proċess tat-tiswija tal-kapaċità għat-tkabbir billi jitrażmetti r-riżorsi lejn fejn ir-riżultati jistgħu jaslu aktar malajr, b'mod aktar wiesa', u b'mod aktar qawwi.

2.1. Delivering key policy priorities

2.2. Il-valur miżjud tal-UE

The EU budget is a key instrument for shaping and delivering EU policies for citizens and economic and social actors. It is not the only tool at the EU's disposal: many of the EU's objectives can be reached through law or policy coordination. But it is an essential part of the EU's toolbox.

Filwaqt li l-valur miżjud ta' proġett politiku ma jistax jiġi ridott għal karta tal-bilanċ, din tal-aħħar hija test ieħor ta' importanza kbira sabiex jiġi ġġustifikat l-infiq fuq il-livell tal-UE: jekk l-infiq fuq il-livell tal-UE joffrix soluzzjoni aħjar għaċ-ċittadini minn infiq fuq il-livell nazzjonali. Id-dimensjoni Ewropea tista' timmassimizza l-effiċjenza tal-finanzi tal-Istati Membri u tgħin biex jitnaqqas l-infiq totali, billi jiġu miġbura flimkien is-servizzi u r-riżorsi komuni sabiex jinkiseb il-benefiċċju mill-ekonomiji tal-kobor. B'konsegwenza ta' dan, il-baġit tal-UE għandu jintuża sabiex jiffinanzja ġid pubbliku tal-UE, azzjonijiet li l-Istati Membri u r-reġjuni ma jistgħux jiffinanzjawhom huma stess, jew fejn jista' jikseb riżultati aħjar.

Amongst the policies that require significant public spending, the weight of spending should mirror the EU's core policy priorities. It should also reflect the new policy directions of the Treaty of Lisbon, the importance given to particular areas, for example energy and climate, the external projection of the EU and justice and home affairs.

L-infiq tal-UE għall-2010 kien jammonta għal EUR 122,9 biljun. Dan huwa relattivament ftit meta mqabbel mal-baġits nazzjonali – u jikkonsisti f'1% tal-PDG tal-UE, meta mqabbel mal-infiq pubbliku globali li l-medja tiegħu hija ta' bejn 45% u 50% madwar l-UE. Oqsma kbar tal-infiq – bħal li jiġu pprovduti servizzi bħas-saħħa, l-edukazzjoni, is-sigurtà soċjali – huma d-dominju tal-baġits nazzjonali, kif għandu jkun, u jipprovdu servizzi li jirriflettu għażliet tas-soċjetajiet.

Above all, it should be designed as one of the most important instruments to help deliver the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The economic and financial crisis has left a legacy of weaker growth. Dealing effectively with the legacy of the crisis and increasing potential growth in times of budgetary consolidation cannot be achieved at the national level alone, but will also require a common response at the EU level. The EU budget needs to help the process of restoring the capacity for growth by directing resources where the rewards can come more quickly, more broadly and more strongly.

Iżda f'oqsma oħra, it-twettiq permezz tal-baġit tal-UE hija l-għażla razzjonali u l-aħjar mod biex jinkisbu l-għanijiet tal-UE. L-UE għandha 500 miljun ċittadin, u hija l-ikbar ekonomija fid-dinja. Dan joffri opportunitajiet reali sabiex jiġi sfruttat il-valur miżjud. Huwa jista' joffri ekonomiji tal-kobor u jippermetti l-immirar effettiv tal-prijoritajiet ta' politika u l-evitar ta' duplikazzjoni bla bżonn. L-iskala kontinentali tal-UE tista' tippermetti l-funzjonament tajjeb ta' politiki ewlenin, bħall-identifikazzjoni tal-eċċellenza fir-riċerka permezz tal-kompetizzjoni, fejn il-massa kritika meħtieġa ħafna drabi ma tkunx teżisti fuq il-livell nazzjonali waħdu. Hija tista' timla nuqqasijiet li jkun hemm minħabba d-dinamika tat-tiswir tal-politika nazzjonali, u l-aktar ovvju huwa l-indirizzar tal-isfidi transkonfinali f'oqsma bħall-infrastruttura, il-mobilità, il-koeżjoni territorjali jew il-koperazzjoni tal-UE dwar ir-riċerka - nuqqasijiet li altrimenti jagħmlu ħsara lill-interessi tal-UE kollha kemm hi. Hija tista' tiftaħ il-bieb għall-mobilizzazzjoni ta' firxa ħafna ikbar ta' riżorsi pubbliċi u privati minn dawk disponibbli fuq il-livell nazzjonali biss.

2.2. EU added value

Fi żminijiet ta' limitazzjonijiet baġitarji severi u fit-tul, il-koordinazzjoni bejn il-baġits tal-UE u nazzjonali għandha titqies bħala kruċjali sabiex tittejjeb il-governanza ekonomika, it-trasparenza u l-effiċjenza tal-infiq pubbliku.

Whilst added value of a political project cannot be reduced to a balance sheet, it is another key test to justify spending at the EU level: whether spending at EU level means a better deal for citizens than spending at national level. The European dimension can maximise the efficiency of Member States' finances and help to reduce total expenditure, by pooling common services and resources to benefit from economies of scale. As a consequence, the EU budget should be used to finance EU public goods, actions that Member States and regions cannot finance themselves, or where it can secure better results.

2.3. Baġit immirat lejn ir-riżultati.

EU spending for 2010 amounted to € 122.9bn. This is relatively small in comparison to national budgets – some 1% of EU GDP, compared to overall public spending averaging between 45 and 50% across the EU. Large areas of spending – such as providing services such as health, education, and social security – are rightly the domain of national budgets, delivering services which reflect societal choices.

L-identifikazzjoni ta' dawk l-oqsma fejn id-dimensjoni tal-UE tista' toffri iżjed mhijiex minnha nnifisha biżżejjed. L-infiq fuq il-politiki t-tajba jagħmel sens biss jekk iwassal għar-riżultati meħtieġa. Il-programmi tal-infiq għandu jkollhom impatt reali, bl-investiment iwasssal għal azzjoni - azzjoni li titkejjel f'termini tal-impatt reali, minflok milli f'termini tal-inputs involuti. Għandu jinstab l-aħjar bilanċ bejn il-prevedibbiltà u l-miri importanti tal-flessibilità, il-kundizzjonalità, il-ħlas fuq il-bażi tar-riżultati, u kif ukoll bejn is-simplifikazzjoni u l-kontrolli meħtieġa għall-ġestjoni finanzjarja tajba. Iżda għandu jkun hemm inċentivi u kontrolli biex jiġi żgurat li l-infiq iwettaq l-iskop reali tiegħu.

But in other areas, delivery through the EU budget is the rational choice and the best way to achieve the EU's objectives. The EU has 500 million citizens, and is the largest economy in the world. This offers real opportunities to exploit added value. It can offer economies of scale and allow the effective targeting of policy priorities and avoid unnecessary overlaps. Its continental scale can allow core policies to work well, such as the identification of excellence in research through competition, where the critical mass required often does not exist at national level alone. It can plug gaps left by the dynamics of national policy-making, most obviously addressing cross-border challenges in areas like infrastructure, mobility, territorial cohesion or EU research cooperation – gaps which would otherwise damage the interests of the EU as a whole. It can open the door to leveraging a much wider range of public and private resources than available at the national level alone.

2.4. Il-benefiċċji reċiproki permezz tas-solidarjetà.

In times of severe and long-term budgetary constraints, coordination between the EU and national budgets should be seen as crucial for the sake of improving economic governance, transparency and efficiency of public spending.

Is-solidarjetà hija waħda mis-sisien tal-Unjoni Ewropea, prinċipju ewlieni u sors ta' saħħa. Il-baġit tal-UE mhux l-uniku mod li għandha l-UE biex tesprimi s-solidarjetà, iżda huwa parti indispensabbli mill-approċċ tal-UE. It-tkabbir żied id-diversità ekonomika tal-Unjoni, u l-Unjoni għandha interess politiku, soċjali u ekonomiku li tgħin lill-partijiet inqas żviluppati tal-Unjoni sabiex jikkontribwixxu għall-miri globali tagħha: il-benefiċċji tal-istabbilità jgawdi minnhom kulħadd. Minbarra dan, hekk kif l-Unjoni Ewropea tipprova twettaq strateġija ekonomika sħiħa għat-tkabbir futur, is-solidarjetà titlob li tingħata attenzjoni speċjali lil dawk li huma l-aktar vulnerabbli u lil dawk li fuqhom ir-riforma tpoġġi piż partikolari. Iżda l-benefiċċji ta' din is-solidarjetà jgawdi minnhom kulħadd, permezz tal-potenzjal tat-tkabbir tas-suq uniku, permezz tal-effetti tranżnazzjonali tal-infiq tal-UE fil-livell nazzjonali jew reġjonali u permezz taċ-ċirku virtwuż fejn l-individwi u n-negozji jieħdu l-opportunitajiet miftuħa mill-UE kollha kemm hi. Il-PDG fl-UE 25 kollha flimkien huwa stmat li kien 0.7% ogħla fl-2009 b'riżultat tal-politika tal-koeżjoni matul il-perjodu 2000/2006 - jiġifieri dan huwa rendiment tajjeb fuq infiq li kien jammonta għal anqas minn 0,5 % tal-PDG tal-UE matul l-istess perjodu[3].

2.3. A results-driven budget

L-għanijiet kollettivi tal-UE sikwit jitolbu interventi kkonċentrati ġeografikament. Il-ħarsien tal-fruntieri esterni tal-Unjoni kontra l-immigrazzjoni illegali jaqa' b'mod naturali fuq l-Istati Membri li għandhom fruntieri esterni. L-infrastruttura li tinsab fi Stati Membri partikolari xorta waħda jista' jkollha benefiċċji kbar għall-Unjoni. L-azzjoni li tippromwovi l-ħarsien tal-ambjent jew tiġġieled kontra t-tibdil fil-klima tista' tkun lokali ħafna, iżda l-benefiċċji huma ħafna aktar mifruxa. F'dawn il-każijiet, l-investiment disponibbli fuq il-livell nazzjonali ħafna drabi jkun inqas minn dak meħtieġ sabiex tiġi stimulata l-azzjoni, iżda n-nuqqas li wieħed jieħu azzjoni jista' jwassal għal telf reali għall-Ewropa kollha kemm hi. Il-baġit tal-UE għandu jagħmel kontribuzzjoni għal dawn l-ispejjeż sabiex jippromwovi l-miri kollettivi tagħha.

Identifying those areas where the EU dimension can offer more is not in itself sufficient. Spending on the right policies is only worthwhile if it secures the desired results. Spending programmes must have a real impact, with the investment feeding through into action – action which is measured in terms of real impact, rather than in terms of the inputs involved. The right balance has to be found between predictability and the important goals of flexibility, conditionality, and payment on the basis of results, as well as between simplification and the controls required for sound financial management. But incentives and checks must be in place to ensure that spending fulfils its real purpose.

2.5. Finanzjament riformat tal-baġit

2.4. Mutual benefits through solidarity

Il-kwistjoni tar-"riżorsi proprji" hija parti importanti mir-reviżjoni tal-baġit. Sa mill-bidu tas-snin sebgħin, l-UE ġabret ir-riżorsi proprji tagħha li jiġu minn politiki komuni bħad-dazji tat-tariffa doganali komuni. L-awtonomija ta' dawn ir-riżorsi proprji ġiet gradwalment imdgħajfa u s-sistema kurrenti tal-finanzjament tal-UE evolviet b'mod mhux koordinat u rriżultat f'taħlita mhux ċara ta' kontribuzzjonijiet mill-baġits nazzjonali, korrezzjonijiet u tnaqqis. Il-konnessjoni bejn ir-riżorsi proprji oriġinali u l-politiki komuni tal-UE ntilfet, u dan għamel is-sistema anqas trasparenti u żied id-dubji dwar il-ġustizzja tagħha. Li nħarsu lejn is-sitwazzjoni mill-ġdid huwa essenzjali, sabiex il-finanzjament tal-UE jiġi riallineat mal-prinċipji tal-awtonomija, it-trasparenza u l-ġustizzja.

Solidarity is one of the foundation stones of the European Union, a core principle and source of strength. The EU budget is not the only way for the EU to express solidarity, but it is an indispensible part of the EU approach. Enlargement has increased the economic diversity of the Union, and the Union has a political, social and economic interest in helping the less developed parts of the Union to contribute to its overall goals: the benefits of stability accrue to all. In addition, as the European Union seeks to realise a comprehensive economic strategy for future growth, solidarity requires that special attention is paid to the most vulnerable and to those on whom reform places a particular burden. But the benefits of this solidarity are enjoyed by all, through the growth potential of the single market, through the transnational effects of EU spending at national or regional level and through the virtuous circle of individuals and businesses taking the opportunities opened up by the EU as a whole. GDP in the EU25 as a whole is estimated to have been 0.7% higher in 2009 as a result of cohesion policy over the 2000/2006 period – meaning a good return for spending accounting for less than 0.5 % of EU GDP over the same period [3].

3. Baġit għall-futur

The EU's collective objectives often require geographically concentrated interventions. Protecting the external borders of the Union against illegal immigration falls naturally on Member States with external borders. Infrastructure located in particular Member States can still have major benefits for the Union. Action to promote environment protection or tackle climate change can be very local, but the benefits are spread much more widely. In such cases, the investment available at the national level often falls short of what is needed to trigger action, but failure to act can come at a real loss to Europe as a whole. The EU budget should make a contribution to such costs to further its collective goals.

L-UE issa hija impenjata favur programm fundamentali ta' riforma ekonomika, sabiex tippermetti li jiġi sfruttat il-potenzjal tal-ekonomija tal-UE sabiex issib sorsi ġodda ta' tkabbir u toħloq impjiegi ġodda - l-istrateġija Ewropa 2020.

2.5. A reformed financing of the budget

L-Ewropa 2020 taħdem għal tkabbir intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiv, li l-ħames miri li ġejjin huma eżempju tiegħu:

The issue of "own resources" is an important part of the budget review. From the beginning of the1970s, the EU collected own resources deriving from common policies like the common customs tariff duties. The autonomy of these own resources has been gradually undermined and the current system of EU financing has evolved piecemeal into a confusing and opaque mix of contributions from national budgets, corrections and rebates. The connection between the original own resources and common EU policies has been lost, making the system less transparent and increasing doubts about fairness. A fresh look is essential, to re-align EU financing with principles of autonomy, transparency and fairness.

- Iżżid ir-rata tal-impjiegi tal-popolazzjoni bejn l-età ta' 20 u 64 sena għal mill-anqas 75%;

3. A Budget for the future

- Tinvesti 3% tal-PDG fir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp;

The EU is now committed to a fundamental programme of economic reform, to unlock the potential of the EU economy to find new sources of growth and create new jobs – the Europe 2020 strategy.

- Tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet tal-gassijiet b'effett serra b'mill-anqas 20% meta mqabbla mal-livelli tal-1990, u bi 30% jekk il-kundizzjonijiet ikunu tajba; iżżid is-sehem tas-sorsi tal-enerġija li jiġġeddu fil-konsum finali tal-enerġija għal 20%; u żżid b'20% l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija tagħha;

Europe 2020 pursues smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, exemplified by the following five targets:

- Tnaqqas ir-rata ta' dawk li jħallu l-iskola kmieni għal 10% u żżid is-sehem tal-popolazzjoni li għandhom bejn 30 u 34 sena li lestew l-edukazzjoni terzjarja għal mill-anqas 40% fl-2020;

– Increase the employment rate of the population aged 20-64 to at least 75%;

- Terfa' mill-anqas 20 miljun persuna mill-faqar.

– Invest 3% of GDP in R&D;

Il-Kummissjoni tikkalkula li meta jinkisbu dawn il-miri, meħuda flimkien, ir-riżultat jista' jkun żieda ta' 4% mal-PDG tal-UE u 5,6 miljun impjieg ġdid sal-2020[4].

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared to 1990 levels, 30% if the conditions are right; increase the share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption to 20%; and increase by 20% its energy efficiency;

Din il-ħidma tirrigwarda firxa wiesgħa ta' oqsma ta' politika. Hija titlob sħubija bejn il-livelli tal-UE, nazzjonali u reġjonali; u titlob ukoll immirar bir-reqqa sabiex jiġi żgurat li l-isforz ikun ikkonċentrat fejn jista' jkun l-aktar effettiv. Għandu jkun hemm ukoll attenzjoni speċjali għal fejn l-azzjoni jista' jkollha impatt bikri fuq it-tkabbir. Il-baġit tal-UE jista' u għandu jkollu parti importanti sabiex iwettaq din l-istrateġija, u għandu jkun il-bażi għal ġenerazzjoni ġdida ta' programmi ta' nfiq.

– Reduce the early-school leavers rate to 10% and increase the share of the population aged 30-34 having completed tertiary education to at least 40% in 2020;

Parti mill-impetu tal-Ewropa 2020 huwa l-ħtieġa ta' viżjoni globali għall-ekonomija u s-soċjetà tal-UE, fejn l-għanijiet jirrinforzaw lil xulxin u fejn l-azzjonijiet jistgħu jservu miri differenti fl-istess ħin. Dan ma jitlobx fond uniku – iżda jitlob grad għoli ta' koordinazzjoni. L-Ewropa 2020 teħtieġ soluzzjonijiet integrati, għalhekk l-istrumenti li jwettquha għandhom ikunu integrati huma wkoll. L-azzjonijiet ippreżentati aktar 'l isfel għandhom għalhekk jitqiesu bħala pakkett ta' miżuri, marbuta flimkien mill-qrib u li jaħdmu flimkien sabiex jipprovdu tkabbir intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiv.

– Lift at least 20 million people out of poverty.

3.1. Tkabbir intelliġenti

Taken together, the Commission estimates that when these targets are achieved, the result could be an extra 4% on EU GDP and 5.6 million new jobs by 2020 [4].

Fil-qalba tal-istrateġija 2020, hemm il-ħtieġa li tiġi appoġġjata t-trasformazzjoni tal-ekonomija Ewropea f'ekonomija bbażata fuq l-għarfien u l-innovazzjoni. Ħafna mix-xogħol meħtieġ sabiex tinħoloq il-kompetittività futura u jinħolqu l-impjiegi ta' għada jiffukaw fuq l-isforzi nazzjonali sabiex tissaħħaħ ir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni, tiġi mtejba l-edukazzjoni u jitneħħew l-ostakli għall-imprenditorija. Iżda l-Ewropa għandha vantaġġ kbir ħafna fl-iskala tagħha, u dan il-vantaġġ għandu jintuża għall-massimu: billi jiġi sfruttat il-potenzjal tas-suq uniku, u billi jintużaw il-fondi mill-baġit tal-UE sabiex jingħata kontribut għal kif is-settur pubbliku jimmobilizza l-fatturi li jwasslu għat-tkabbir.

This task touches on a wide range of policy areas. It requires a partnership between the EU, national and regional levels; and it also requires careful targeting to ensure that efforts are concentrated where they can be most effective. There should also be special attention paid to where action can have an early impact on growth. The EU budget can and must play a key part in delivering this strategy, and it should be the touchstone for a new generation of spending programmes.

Ir-riċerka, l-innovazzjoni u l-edukazzjoni

Part of the driving force of Europe 2020 is the need to have a global vision for the EU economy and society, where objectives reinforce each other and where actions can serve different goals at once. This does not require a single fund – it does require a high degree of coordination. Europe 2020 needs integrated solutions, so the instruments to deliver it should be integrated as well. The actions set out below should therefore be seen as a package of measures, closely linked and working together to secure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Ir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni huma l-muturi l-aktar sostenibbli għat-tkabbir tal-ekonomija u tal-produttività. Il-programmi kurrenti tal-UE għar-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni joffru benefiċċju kbir għas-soċjetà u valur miżjud ċar Ewropew u joħolqu massa kritika f'oqsma bħar-riċerka bażika. In-nefqa tal-UE fuq ir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni rduppjat fuq l-aħħar qafas finanzjarju multiannwali u sal-2013 se tkun tammonta għal madwar 7% tal-baġit tal-Unjoni[5]. Permezz tal-Kunsill Ewropew tar-Riċerka u l-Istitut Ewropew tat-Teknoloġija, l-UE stabbiliet approċċ ġdid għall-promozzjoni tal-eċċellenza fuq skala Ewropea u l-iffurmar ta' rabtiet bejn l-edukazzjoni, ir-riċerka u n-negozju li huma daqstant kritiċi sabiex il-kreattività tirriżulta fi tkabbir. L-infiq futur fuq ir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni għandu jkollu impatt saħansitra aktar b'saħħtu f'termini ta' tkabbir u ħolqien tal-impjiegi u f'termini ta' rendiment soċjali u ambjentali sinifikanti.

3.1. Smart growth

Sabiex jinkisbu l-miri tal-Ewropa 2020 f'dan il-qasam, il-Kummissjoni pproponiet Unjoni tal-Innovazzjoni. Fi żminijiet ta' limitazzjonijiet fiskali, l-UE u l-Istati Membri jenħtieġ li jkomplu jinvestu fir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp, u l-innovazzjoni. Jenħtieġ ukoll li jiżguraw li l-ostakli li baqa' sabiex l-imprendituri jwasslu "l-ideat tagħhom fis-suq" jitneħħew: ikun hemm aċċess aħjar għall-finanzjament, l-IPR ma jkunx għali żżejjed, l-istandards tal-interoparibilità jiġu stabbiliti aktar malajr, u jkun hemm użu strateġiku tal-baġits tal-akkwisti tagħna. Dan għandu jimxi id f'id mar-riformi sabiex jinkiseb aktar valur għall-flus, tiġi miġġielda l-frammentazzjoni u jiġi mmassimizzat l-effett ta' 'ingranaġġ'.

At the core of the 2020 strategy is the need to support the transformation of the European economy towards an economy based on knowledge and innovation. Much of the work needed to drive future competitiveness and create tomorrow's jobs centres on national efforts to boost research and innovation, upgrade education and remove barriers to entrepreneurship. But Europe has a huge asset in its scale, and this asset must be used to the full: by exploiting the potential of the single market, and by using funds from the EU budget to bring added value to how the public sector galvanises the drivers of growth.

- Enfasi fuq l-innovazzjoni . Il-finanzjament futur tar-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni għandu jikkontribwixxi direttament għall-ksib tal-Ewropa 2020, b'mod partikolari l-Unjoni tal-Innovazzjoni[6]. Huwa għandu jibni fuq il-ħidma tal-Programm tal-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni u jappoġġja proġetti innovattivi, partikolarment dawk li jinvolvu l-SMEs, li għandhom potenzjal ekonomiku ċar, sabiex jgħinu fil-konsolidazzjoni u t-tkabbir tal-bażi industrijali tal-Ewropa. Is-suċċess tal-Faċilità ta' Finanzjament bil-Qsim tar-Riskju (RSFF) wera li approċċi ġodda għall-għoti tal-appoġġ jistgħu jirnexxu fil-mobilizzazzjoni tal-investiment privat. Din il-faċilità użat baġit tal-UE ta' EUR 1 biljun sabiex timmobilizza EUR 16,2 biljun f'appoġġ għar-riċerka u l-iżvilupp madwar l-UE. Il-Pjattaformi Ewropej tat-Teknoloġija kienu strumentali biex jgħinu ħalli jiġu definiti prijoritajiet relevanti għall-indusrija għall-Programm ta' Qafas. Is-sħubijiet pubbliċi-privati nħolqu sabiex l-industrija tiġi involuta attivament u jkun hemm koinvestiment fi programmi tar-riċerka xprunati mill-industrija bħall-Inizjattivi Konġunti tat-Teknoloġija, li wrew kif kollaborazzjoni immaġinattiva tista' tuża kontribuzzjoni baġitarja żgħira tal-UE sabiex tiggalvanizza sforzi kbar Ewropej industrijali importanti. Il-firxa sħiħa tal-istrumenti għandhom jaħdmu flimkien, f'qafas strateġiku komuni, sabiex jilħqu dan l-għan.

Research, innovation and education

- Ħidma dwar sfidi imporanti tas-soċjetà . L-Ewropa għandha quddiemha firxa mingħajr preċedenti ta' sfidi tas-soċjetà, li jistgħu jiġu ffaċċjati biss b'qabżiet xjentifiċi u teknoloġiċi importanti. Il-prijorità għandha tingħata lill-għanijiet ewlenin tal-UE, u b'mod partikolari lil Ewropa 2020. Pereżempju, l-UE għandha tikkontribwixxi sabiex tirrimedja għal għexieren ta' snin ta' nuqqas ta' riċerka fil-qasam tal-enerġija, li ħalla lill-Ewropa lura f'termini tal-iżvilupp ta' provvisti domestiċi ta' enerġija u l-ħidma fuq l-isfida tat-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet. Se jiġu mnedija s-Sħubijiet tal-Innovazzjoni Ewropea sabiex jaċċelleraw ir-riċerka, l-iżvilupp u d-dħul fis-suq tal-innovazzjonijiet u sabiex jiġbru flimkien l-għarfien espert u r-riżorsi u jsaħħu l-kompetittività tal-industrija tal-UE

Research and innovation are the most sustainable engines of economic and productivity growth. The current EU programmes for research and innovation offer a high societal pay-off and clear European added value, bringing critical mass in areas like basic research. EU expenditure on research and innovation has doubled over the last multiannual financial framework and by 2013 it will amount to around 7% of the Union's budget [5]. With the European Research Council and the European Institute for Technology, the EU has put in place a fresh new approach to promoting excellence on a European scale and forging the links between education, research and business so critical to seeing creativity carry through into growth. Future research and innovation spending must have an even stronger impact in terms of growth and job creation and in terms of significant social and environmental return.

- Twettiq taż-Żona Ewropea tar-Riċerka . Huwa aktar importanti minn qatt qabel li tiġi mmassimizzata l-effiċjenza tas-sistema tar-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni Ewropea billi tinħoloq Żona tar-Riċerka Ewropea ġenwina, li fiha l-atturi kollha, kemm pubbliċi kif ukoll privati, jistgħu joperaw liberament, joħolqu alleanzi u jakkwistaw il-massa kritika sabiex jikkompetu u jikkoperaw fuq skala globali. Koordinazzjoni aħjar fuq il-livell reġjonali, nazzjonali u tal-UE tista' tagħmel iżjed sabiex tevita d-duplikazzjoni u tinkoraġġixxi l-aħjar prattika u l-ipprogrammar konġunt imsaħħaħ jista' jiżgura sinerġiji u kumplimentarità tal-livelli differenti ta' finanzjament. Dan jimplika li l-ostakli għall-mobilità tar-riċerkaturi jridu jiġu indirizzati.

To achieve Europe 2020's goals in this area, the Commission has proposed an Innovation Union. In times of fiscal constraints, the EU and Member States need to continue to invest in R&D, and innovation. They also need to ensure that remaining barriers for entrepreneurs to bring "ideas to market" must be removed: better access to finance, affordable IPR, faster setting of interoperable standards, and strategic use of our procurement budgets. This should go hand in hand with reforms to get more value for money, tackle fragmentation and maximise leverage effects.

- It-twessigħ tal-bażi tar-riċerka tal-UE . Filwaqt li jinħtieġ li l-appoġġ tal-UE jixpruna l-eċċellenza, huwa għandu wkoll jikkontribwixxi għat-twessigħ tal-bażi tar-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni billi jtejjeb il-kwalità tal-infrastruttura tar-riċerka madwar l-UE. Il-Fondi Strutturali għandhom ikunu sfruttati b'mod sħiħ sabiex tiġi żviluppata l-ġenerazzjoni li jmiss tal-infrastrutturi tar-riċerka bbażati fuq l-ispeċjalizzazzjoni reġjonali.

– Focussing on innovation. Future research and innovation funding must contribute directly to the achievement of Europe 2020, in particular the Innovation Union [6]. It should build on the work of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and support innovative projects, notably involving SMEs, with clear economic potential, to help consolidate and enlarge Europe's industrial base. The success of the Risk-sharing Finance Facility (RSFF) has demonstrated that novel approaches to providing support can be successful in leveraging private investment. This facility has used an EU budget of € 1 billion to bring an additional € 16.2 billion to support R&D across the EU. The European Technology Platforms have been instrumental in helping to define industry relevant priorities for the Framework Programme. Public-private partnerships have been created to get industry actively involved and co-invest in industry-driven research programmes such as Joint Technology Initiatives, which have shown how imaginative collaboration can use a relatively small EU budgetary contribution to galvanise major European industrial efforts. The full range of instruments should work together, in a common strategic framework, to this end.

- It-tkabbir tal-effiċjenza tal-implimentazzjoni permezz tas-simplifikazzjoni . Il-komunità xjentifika u tan-negozju lmentat minn piż amministrattiv eċċessiv u sejħet lill-Kummissjoni sabiex issib bilanċ aħjar bejn il-fiduċja u l-kontroll u bejn it-teħid tar-riskji u l-evitar tar-riskji. Minkejja l-progress li sar lejn is-simplifikazzjoni taħt il-programmi eżistenti, hemm aktar xi jsir. Miżuri b'potenzjal fit-tul għas-simplifikazzjoni huma l-aċċettazzjoni ġenerali tal-prattiki tal-kontabilità tal-parteċipanti inklużi l-ispejjeż medji, sett uniku ta' regoli għall-parteċipanti kollha li jkopri l-miżuri kollha ta' intervent u t-tnaqqis tan-numru ta' rati u metodi differenti ta' rimbors għall-ikkalkular tal-ispejjeż indiretti.

– Tackling major societal challenges. Europe is faced with an unprecedented range of societal challenges, which can only be tackled with major scientific and technological breakthroughs. Priority should be given to the EU's core objectives, and in particular Europe 2020. For example, the EU should contribute to remedy decades of shortfall in energy research, which has left Europe lagging behind in terms of developing domestic energy supplies and tackling the challenge of reduced emissions. European Innovation Partnerships will be launched to accelerate research, development and market deployment of innovations to pool expertise and resources and boost the competitiveness of EU industry.

- L-immodernizzar tas-sistemi tal-edukazzjoni fil-livelli kollha . L-eċċellenza għandha dejjem aktar issir il-prinċipju ewlieni għall-edukazzjoni. Neħtieġu aktar universitajiet ta' livell mondjali, li ngħollu l-livelli tal-ħiliet u li niġbdu l-ogħla talent minn barra. Għandha tiġi mnedija reviżjoni koordinata tal-programmi eżistenti ta' edukazzjoni u taħriġ sabiex jiġi żviluppat approċċ integrat fil-kuntest tal-inizjattiva ewlenija “Youth on the move”. Il-biċċa l-kbira tal-kompetenzi għall-politika tal-edukazzjoni u l-impjiegi tinsab f'idejn l-Istati Membri, iżda l-Unjoni għandha responsabbiltà speċjali għall-promozzjoni tal-mobilità u l-eliminazzjoni tal-ostakli madwar l-Ewropa. L-iskemi eżistenti tal-mobilità fl-edukazzjoni tejbu mhux biss il-ħiliet, l-għarfien u l-edukazzjoni tal-benefiċjarji, iżda stimulaw ukoll il-kompetizzjoni bejn l-universitajiet u s-sistemi edukattivi. Id-domanda bħalissa tiżboq b'ammont konsiderevoli l-provvista kurrenti – fejn l-Erasmus, fuq il-livell tal-universitajiet, huwa limitat għal madwar 5% tal-istudenti. Dawn il-programmi għandhom jiġu estiżi u l-allokazzjoni tar-riżorsi għandha tiġi marbuta b'mod aktar ċar mal-grad sa liema l-opportunitajiet għall-mobilità jkunu użati fil-prattika.

– Delivering the European Research Area. It is more vital than ever to maximise the efficiency of the European research and innovation system by creating a genuinely unified European Research Area, in which all actors, both public and private, can operate freely, forge alliances and gather critical mass in order to compete and cooperate on a global scale. Better coordination at regional, national and EU level can do more to prevent overlaps and encourage best practice and reinforced joint programming could ensure synergies and complementarity of the different funding levels. This implies that the barriers to the mobility of researchers need to be addressed.

L-infrastrutturi tal-futur

– Spreading the base of EU research. Whilst EU support needs to drive excellence, it should also contribute to broaden the base of research and innovation by helping to raise the quality of research infrastructure across the EU. The Structural Funds should be fully exploited to develop the next generation of research infrastructures, based on regional specialisation.

L-infrastruttura transkonfinali hija waħda mill-aħjar eżempji ta' kif l-UE tista' ssolvi nuqqasijiet u tipprovdi riżultati ta' valur aħjar. In-netwerks tat-trasport, tal-komunikazzjoni u tal-enerġija jġibu benefiċċji enormi għas-soċjetà kollha kemm hi. Iżda l-imperfezzjonijiet tas-suq jistgħu jfissru li proġetti b'valur miżjud għoli tal-UE jistgħu jonqsu milli jiġbdu lejhom l-investiment meħtieġ mill-kumpaniji privati. Ir-riżultat huwa piż għall-UE f'termini ta' kompetittività, solidarjetà, u l-funzjonament effettiv tas-suq uniku. Appoġġ finanzjarju mmirat fuq il-livell tal-UE jista' jgħin sabiex jingħataw spinta proġetti importanti bħal dawn, li ta' sikwit ikollhom potenzjal kummerċjali kbir fuq tul ta' żmien.

– Increasing the efficiency of delivery through simplification. The scientific and business community has complained about excessive administrative burden and has called upon the Commission to find a better balance between trust and control and between risk taking and risk avoidance. Despite progress made towards simplification under the existing programmes more needs to be done. Measures with a far reaching potential for simplification are the general acceptance of the accounting practices of participants including average costs, a unique set of rules for all participants covering all intervention measures and a reduction of the number of different reimbursement rates and methods for calculating indirect costs.

Pajjiżi bħall-Istati Uniti u ċ-Ċina issa qegħdin iniedu sforzi kbar ħafna u ambizzjużi ta' investiment fl-infrastruttura. Li nżommu l-kompetittività jfisser li l-Ewropa għandha interess strateġiku partikolarment qawwi f'infrastruttura effettiva, sabiex jitqiegħdu l-pedamenti għal tkabbir ekonomiku fit-tul. L-UE teħtieġ li toffri l-bilanċ tajjeb ta' politika sabiex tistimula l-modernizzazzjoni meħtieġa, u fl-istess waqt iżżomm l-istandards tal-infrastruttura eżistenti. Dan ifisser qafas kredibbli ta' politika għat-tul li jikkonvinċi lill-investituri sabiex jipprovdu l-finanzjament kbir ta' kapital fit-tul li huwa meħtieġ. Huwa jeħtieġ qafas regolatorju li joffri appoġġ u wkoll appoġġ finanzjarju mmirat bir-reqqa permezz ta' strumenti ta' finanzjament xierqa sabiex tingħata għajnuna lill-proġetti sabiex jibdew. Ir-riżultat ikun netwerk ċentrali Ewropew tat-trasport li jidderieġi l-flussi tal-merkanzija u tal-passiġġieri lejn modi ta' trasport aktar sostenibbli; broadband ta' veloċità għolja disponibbli f'kull parti tal-UE; u netwerk tal-enerġija kapaċi li jwettaq il-promessa tas-suq intern, li jikseb aċċess għal sorsi ġodda ta' enerġija u li jisfrutta teknoloġiji intelliġenti ġodda.

– Modernising education systems at all levels. Excellence must even more become the guiding principle for education. We need more world-class universities, raise skill levels and attract top talent from abroad. A coordinated review of existing education and training programmes should be launched to develop an integrated approach in the context of the "Youth on the move" flagship. Most of the competences for education and employment policy lie with Member States, but the Union has a special responsibility to promote mobility and eliminate barriers across Europe. Existing mobility schemes in education have not only improved the skills, knowledge and education of the beneficiaries, they also stimulate competition between universities and educational systems. Demand currently goes well beyond the current supply – with Erasmus, at university level, limited to around 5% of students. Such programmes could be extended and the allocation of resources linked more clearly to the extent to which the opportunities of mobility are used in practice.

Dan l-appoġġ jeħtieġ li jiġi mmirat lejn il-prijoritajiet ewlenin – it-tneħħija tal-punti ta' konġestjoni fuq l-assi strateġiċi tranż-Ewropej, l-inkoraġġiment tal-estensjoni tagħhom u l-bini ta' konnessjonijiet transkonfinali u intermodali. Kriterji stretti huma meħtieġa wkoll biex jintgħażlu l-aħjar proġetti: dawk li jistgħu juru li għandhom il-kapaċità tal-ġestjoni meħtieġa u li jistgħu jiġu mnedija f'perjodu ta' żmien raġonevoli, u li jissodisfaw il-kriterji tas-sostenibilità. Filwaqt li għal xi infrastruttura, bħat-trasport bil-ferrovija jew li jitwasslu n-netwerks għal komunitajiet b'popolazzjoni baxxa, dejjem se jkun meħtieġ l-investiment pubbliku, għal oqsma oħra l-abilità tal-proġetti sabiex jiġbdu l-finanzjament privat jista' jkun ukoll kriterju importanti. Ikun meħtieġ approċċ komuni bejn il-baġit tal-UE u dawk nazzjonali, il-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment u sorsi privati ta' finanzjament sabiex jiġu ddeterminati l-prijoritajiet għall-investiment u jiġi pprovdut l-impetu tajjeb għall-azzjoni. Dan jitlob li jkun hemm il-qafas regolatorju t-tajjeb fuq il-livell tal-UE, sabiex jinġabru flimkien ir-riżorsi min sorsi privati u pubbliċi. Għandha tingħata wkoll kunsiderazzjoni għal kif l-appoġġ jista' jinkludi proġetti li jmorru 'l barra mill-fruntieri tal-UE, għall-benefiċċju reċiproku tagħna u tal-ġirien tagħna.

Infrastructures of the future

3.2. It-tkabbir sostenibbli

Cross-border infrastructure is one of the best examples of where the EU can plug gaps and deliver better value results. Transport, communication and energy networks bring enormous benefits to society at large. But market failures can mean that projects with high EU added value can fail to attract the investment needed from private companies. The result is a cost for the EU in terms of competitiveness, solidarity, and the effective functioning of the single market. Targeted financial support on EU level can help to kick-start such important projects, which often hold great commercial potential in the long term.

L-integrazzjoni tal-politiki tal-enerġija u l-klima fiċ-ċentru tal-politika f'ekonomija effiċjenti fir-riżorsi

Countries like the United States and China are now launching huge, ambitious infrastructure investment drives. Maintaining competitiveness means that Europe has a particularly strong strategic interest in effective infrastructure, to lay the foundations for long-term economic growth. The EU needs to offer the right policy mix to stimulate the modernisation required, as well as maintaining the standards of existing infrastructure. This means a credible long-term policy framework which will convince investors to release the huge long-term capital finance required. It needs a supportive regulatory framework and carefully directed financial support through appropriate finance vehicles to help get projects off the ground. The result would be a European core transport network shifting freight and passenger flows towards more sustainable transport modes; high-speed broadband available in every part of the EU; and an energy network capable of delivering on the promise of the internal market, accessing new energy sources and exploiting new smart technologies.

Il-ħidma dwar l-isfida tal-effiċjenza tar-riżorsi, tat-tibdil fil-klima, u tal-ħolqien tas-sikurezza u l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija, hija wieħed mill-għanijiet ewlenin tal-istrateġija Ewropa 2020. Dan ma jfissirx biss li l-ekonomija tiġi organizzata sabiex tilħaq il-miri maqbula, iżda wkoll li jiġi xprunat l-investiment fit-teknoloġiji u s-servizzi aktar ekoloġiċi, li huma rikonoxuti li għandhom fost l-akbar potenzjal għall-esportazzjoni futura u għall-impjiegi futuri bħala industrija li diġà timpjega 3.5 miljun Ewropew[7]. Sabiex jinkiseb dan l-għan ambizzjuż, l-istrumenti kollha għad-dispożizzjoni tal-UE, inklużi l-istrumenti u s-sorsi finanzjarji innovattivi, jinħtieġ li jiġu mmobilizzati b'mod effettiv.

Such support needs to be targeted on key priorities – removing bottlenecks on strategic trans-European axes, encouraging their extension and building cross-border and inter-modal connections. Strict criteria are also needed to select the best projects: those that can demonstrate that they have the management capacity required and can be launched in a reasonable timeframe, and that they meet sustainability benchmarks. Whilst for some infrastructure, like rail transport or bringing networks to sparsely-populated communities, public investment will always be needed, for other areas the ability of projects to attract private financing could also be an important criterion. A common approach would be needed between the EU and national budgets, the European Investment Bank and private funding sources to determine the priorities for investment and to provide the right catalyst for action. This requires the right regulatory framework at EU level, to pool resources from private and public sources. Consideration should also be given to how support could include projects stretching beyond the borders of the EU, to the mutual benefit of our neighbours and ourselves.

Għażla waħda tkun li l-baġit tal-UE jiġi mibdul sabiex jinħolqu fondi ddedikati, fuq skala kbira, li jkunu maħsuba sabiex iwasslu l-investiment f'dawn l-oqsma. Il-Pjan Ewropew tal-Irkupru Ekonomiku wera kif kien possibbli li jiġu identifikati u appoġġjati proġetti strateġiċi tal-enerġija, u jiġu indirizzati r-riskju li l-kriżi tal-kreditu waqqfet dawn il-proġetti. Dan għen sabiex tingħata kredibilità lill-politiki fit-tul tal-UE dwar l-enerġija, u fl-istess ħin għamel lill-investituri aktar lesti li jipprovdu l-kapital għal proġetti li jieħdu fit-tul. Dan l-approċċ jista' jitmexxa 'l quddiem bħala għażla bbażata fuq programmi distinti. Madankollu, jista' jkun aktar effettiv li dawn il-prijoritajiet jiġu integrati fi programmi differenti, filwaqt li jiġi rikonoxxut li l-istess azzjoni tista' u għandha ssegwi għanijiet differenti fl-istess ħin. Il-prijorità ewlenija tal-miri ta' politika bħat-tibdil fil-klima u l-enerġija diġà turina li għandna nwettqu riprijoritizzazzjoni fi ħdan politiki bħar-riċerka, il-koeżjoni, l-agrikoltura u l-iżvilupp rurali – b'allokazzjonijiet politiċi ċari bbilanċjati mill-ħtieġa li jiġu evitati riġiditajiet ġodda. Dan għandu jkun akkumpanjat minn obbligu ċar trażversali li jiġi identifikat fejn il-programmi jkunu ppromwovew dawn il-politiki. Ir-riżultat għandu jfisser li l-UE tkun tista' tistabbilixxi b'mod ċar liema riżorsi jkunu qed jikkontribwixxu għal politiki bħall-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil fil-klima jew l-appoġġ għas-sigurtà fl-enerġija, irrispettivament mill-istrumenti li permezz tagħhom dawn il-politiki jitwettqu.

3.2. Sustainable growth

Il-Politika Agrikola Komuni

Mainstreaming energy and climate policies in a resource-efficient economy

Ekonomija tal-UE sostenibbli teħtieġ settur agrikolu b'saħħtu li jagħti l-kontribut tiegħu għal varjetà wiesgħa ta' miri tal-UE – inkluża l-koeżjoni, it-tibdil fil-klima, il-protezzjoni tal-ambjent u l-bijodiversità, is-saħħa u l-kompetittività, flimkien mas-sikurezza alimentari. Serje ta' riformi għall-Politika Agrikola Komuni raw l-appoġġ għall-bdiewa jsir dejjem aktar marbut mal-ilħuq ta' dawn il-miri u s-sehem tal-PAK fil-baġit globali waqa' b'mod sod u konsistenti fis-snin riċenti. It-tkomplija ta' din ix-xejra xorta waħda tħalli l-agrikoltura tirrappreżenta investiment pubbliku maġġuri – li jaqa' fuq spallejn il-baġit tal-UE, minflok fuq dawk nazzjonali.

Tackling the challenge of resource efficiency, climate change, and of delivering energy security and efficiency, is one of the core objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. This not only means gearing up the economy to deliver the agreed goals, but also kick-starting investment in the greener technologies and greener services recognised as having some of the greatest potential for future exports and future jobs as an industry which already employs 3.5 million Europeans [7]. To secure this ambitious goal, all the instruments at the EU's disposal, including innovative financial instruments and sources, need to be harnessed effectively.

Ir-riformi suċċessivi qarrbu l-agrikoltura tal-UE aktar lejn is-suq u għenu sabiex tiġi pprovduta s-sigurtà tal-ikel, ikun hemm ġestjoni aħjar tar-riżorsi naturali u komunitajiet rurali stabbli. Aktar minn terz tad-dħul tal-azjendi agrikoli għadu dipendenti fuq il-ħlasijiet mill-baġit tal-UE. Il-biedja tal-UE qed tkompli tkun fornitur kbir tal-ikel ta' kwalità għolja fi żmien fejn il-ħtiġijiet tal-popolazzjoni tad-dinja li qiegħda tikber malajr ħafna qed ikomplu jikbru. L-agroindustrija hija sors importanti ta' dinamiżmu fl-ekonomija tal-UE.

One option would be to reshape the EU budget to create large-scale, dedicated funds devoted to the delivery of investment in such areas. The European Economic Recovery Plan showed how it was possible to identify and support key strategic energy projects, and address the risk that the credit crunch brought such projects to a standstill. It helped to give credibility to the EU's long-range policies on energy, as well as increasing the willingness of investors to release capital for projects with long lead-times. This approach could be taken forward as an option based on distinct programmes. Nevertheless, mainstreaming these priorities into different programmes may be a more effective approach, recognising that the same action can and should pursue different objectives at once. The primacy of policy goals like climate change and energy would already point to a re-prioritisation inside policies like research, cohesion, agriculture and rural development – with a clear political earmarking balanced by the need to avoid new rigidities. This could be accompanied with a clear cross-cutting obligation to identify where programmes had promoted such policies. The result should mean that the EU would be able to set out clearly what resources were contributing to policies like tackling climate change or supporting energy security, irrespective of the instruments through which these policies are delivered.

Madankollu, hemm ukoll kwistjonijiet ċari li jridu jiġu trattati. L-allokazzjoni ta' ħlasijiet diretti hija bbażata fuq valuri ta' referenza li issa ilhom li saru aktar minn għaxar snin, u l-livelli ta' ħlasijiet diretti lill-bdiewa jvarjaw sew minn Stat Membru għal ieħor. Filwaqt li xi grad ta' varjazzjoni jista' jkun ġustifikat, hemm każ b'saħħtu sabiex il-livelli tal-ħlasijiet jitqarrbu progressivament lejn xulxin. Li nitbiegħdu mir-referenzi storiċi jevita wkoll kultura ta' dipendenza li tista' żżomm lura l-użu ta' inċentivi sabiex jiġi żgurat li jinkisbu r-riżultati. Dan iqajjem ukoll kwistjonijiet fir-rigward tal-pressjoni fuq id-dħul tal-bdiewa u fuq l-ispejjeż tal-produzzjoni, kif ukoll il-kwistjoni tal-immirar u l-prijoritizzazzjoni taż-żewġ kolonni tal-PAK.

The Common Agriculture Policy

Il-Kunsill Ewropew enfasizza f'Ġunju kif settur agrikolu sostenibbli, produttiv u kompetittiv jista' jagħmel kontribuzzjoni importanti għall-istrateġija Ewropa 2020, meta jitqies il-potenzjal tat-tkabbir u l-impjiegi taż-żoni rurali filwaqt li tiġi żgurata l-kompetizzjoni ġusta.

A sustainable EU economy needs a thriving agricultural sector making its contribution to a wide variety of EU objectives – including cohesion, climate change, environmental protection and biodiversity, health and competitiveness, as well as food security. A series of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy has seen support to farmers increasingly linked to delivering these goals and the share of the CAP in the overall budget falling steadily in recent years. Continuing the trend would still leave agriculture representing a major public investment – one falling on the EU's shoulders, rather than on national budgets.

It-tkomplija tar-riformi għandha sseħħ b'modi differenti:

Successive reforms have brought EU agriculture closer to the market and helped to deliver food security, a better management of natural resources and stable rural communities. Over one third of farm income relies on payments from the EU budget. EU farming continues to be a major supplier of high quality food at a time when the needs of a rapidly growing world population continue to grow. The agro-industry is an important source of dynamism in the EU economy.

- Immirar akbar tal-PAK fuq il-prijoritajiet aktar wiesgħa ta' politika tal-UE bl-ekoloġizzazzjoni tal-għajnuniet diretti sabiex jiġu appoġġjati prattiki ambjentali aktar eżiġenti u titjib pożittiv sabiex tissaħħaħ l-innovazzjoni u l-kompetittività fil-kampanja, flimkien mal-kunċett tal-konformità trażversali.

However, there are also clear issues to address. The allocation of direct payments is based on reference values now over a decade old, and the levels of direct payments to farmers vary considerably from one Member State to another. Whilst some variation can be justified, there is a strong case for progressively bringing payments levels closer together. Moving away from historical references would also avoid a culture of dependency which may hold back the use of incentives to ensure that results are delivered. This would also raise issues with regard to pressure on farmers' income and on production costs, as well as the question of targeting and prioritisation of both pillars of the CAP.

- L-iżvilupp rurali għandu jkollu l-għan li jrawwem settur agrikolu kompetittiv u innovazzjoni f'oqsma bħall-proċessi ta' produzzjoni u l-progress teknoloġiku; id-diversifikazzjoni ekonomika f'żoni rurali; il-priżervazzjoni tal-ambjent u r-riżorsi naturali; l-indirizzar tat-tibdil fil-klima, kemm il-mitigazzjoni kif ukoll l-adattament; l-għoti ta' għajnuna għall-ġestjoni tal-ilma u l-effiċjenza tar-riżorsi; u l-għoti ta' appoġġ speċifiku lil dawk l-aktar żvantaġġati fl-ekonomija rurali – inklużi dawk li qed jiffaċċjaw kwistjonijiet bħad-deżertifikazzjoni;

The European Council underlined in June how a sustainable, productive and competitive agricultural sector could make an important contribution to the Europe 2020 strategy, considering the growth and employment potential of rural areas while ensuring fair competition.

- Li nistrieħu fuq is-suq, flimkien mal-iżvilupp ta' forom ta' assigurazzjoni kompatibbli mal-"kaxxa l-ħadra" tad-WTO, u għodod oħra għall-ġestjoni tar-riskji marbuta mat-tibdil f'daqqa fid-dħul, flimkien ma' kundizzjonijiet kompetittivi aħjar fil-katina tal-provvista tal-ikel;

Continuing along the path of reform could be pursued in different ways:

- Sinerġija aħjar bejn l-iżvilupp rurali u politiki oħra tal-UE sabiex ikunu jistgħu jitwettqu politiki f'oqsma bħar-riċerka, l-impjiegi u l-infrastruttura tan-netwerk, inkluża l-integrazzjoni b'qafas strateġiku komuni u l-Programmi Nazzjonali ta' Riforma taħt Ewropa 2020.

– Further targeting the CAP on the EU's broader policy priorities with the greening of direct aids to support more demanding environmental practices and positive improvements to boost innovation and competitiveness in the countryside, in addition to the cross-compliance concept;

Ir-riforma tal-PAK tista' għalhekk issir bi gradi differenti ta' intenstità. Hija tista' tillimita ruħha għat-tneħħija ta' xi diskrepanzi li jeżistu bħalissa, bħal ekwità akbar fid-distribuzzjoni tal-ħlasijiet diretti bejn l-Istati Membri u l-bdiewa. Tista' tagħmel tibdil kbir fil-politika sabiex jiġi żgurat li din issir aktar sostenibbli, u tibdel il-bilanċ bejn l-għanijiet differenti ta' politika, il-bdiewa u l-Istati Membri, b'mod partikolari permezz tal-introduzzjoni ta' approċċ aktar immirat lejn il-prijoritajiet. Riforma aktar radikali tmur aktar 'il bogħod, u titbiegħed mill-appoġġ għad-dħul u l-biċċa l-kbira tal-miżuri tas-suq, u tagħti prijorità għall-objettivi ambjentali u tat-tibdil fil-klima minflok id-dimensjonijiet ekonomiċi u soċjali tal-PAK.

– Rural development should aim at fostering a competitive agricultural sector and innovation in areas like production processes and technological progress; economic diversification in rural areas; preserving the environment and natural resources; addressing climate change, both mitigation and adaptation; helping water management and resource efficiency; and offering specific support to the most disadvantaged in the rural economy – including those facing issues such as desertification;

3.3. Tkabbir inklużiv

– Reliance on the market, coupled with the development of forms of insurance compatible with the WTO "green box", and other tools for the management of risks linked to sudden shifts in incomes, combined with better competitive conditions in the food supply chain;

Il-politika tal-koeżjoni u l-Ewropa 2020

– Better synergy between rural development and other EU policies, to help deliver policies in areas such as research, employment and network infrastructure, including integration with a common strategic framework and the National Reform Programmes under Europe 2020.

Il-koeżjoni rriżultat bħala wieħed mill-modi l-aktar ta' suċċess għall-Unjoni sabiex turi l-impenn tagħha għas-solidarjetà, filwaqt li żżid it-tkabbir u l-prosperità madwar l-UE. Din il-politika għandha effetti pożittivi għal kulħadd: li ninvestu fl-ekonomiji tal-UE huwa ta' ġid għall-Istati Membri kollha. Hija tipprovdi investiment għall-immodernizzar, tiggalvanizza t-tkabbir fil-partijiet l-anqas sinjuri tal-UE u sservi ta' xprun għall-bidla fir-reġjuni kollha tal-UE. Hija żżid is-swieq u toħloq opportunitajiet ġodda ta' negozju għall-UE kollha kemm hi. Meta marbuta flimkien mar-riforma strutturali u l-istabbiltà makroekonomika, hija tista' tagħti kontribuzzjoni reali għat-tkabbir. Madankollu, sabiex jiġu assigurati dawn il-benefiċċji, il-finanzjament tal-koeżjoni għandu jkun immirat b'mod preċiż sabiex jiġi mmassimizzat il-valur miżjud tagħha. Dan jindika konċentrazzjoni dixxiplinata fuq l-għanijiet tal-Ewropa 2020, u konċentrazzjoni rigoruża fuq ir-riżultati.

Reform of the CAP could therefore be pursued with different degrees of intensity. It could restrict itself to ironing out some current discrepancies, such as more equity in the distribution of direct payments between Member States and farmers. It could make major overhauls of the policy in order to ensure that it becomes more sustainable, and reshapes the balance between different policy objectives, farmers and Member States, in particular by introducing a more targeted approach to priorities. A more radical reform would go further, moving away from income support and most market measures, and giving priority to environmental and climate change objectives rather than the economic and social dimensions of the CAP.

L-allokazzjoni tal-infiq tal-koeżjoni fl-2007-2013 għall-objettivi tal-istrateġija ta Liżbona wriet il-benefiċċji li jintużaw varjetà ta' strumenti finanzjarji sabiex jinkisbu objettivi globali ta' politika. Għall-perjodu li jmiss, l-istrateġija Ewropa 2020 tipprovdi kemm sett ċar ta' prijoritajiet komuni kif ukoll qafas ċar għall-identifikazzjoni tal-prijoritajiet ta' finanzjament. L-Ewropa 2020 tippermetti konċentrazzjoni ħafna akbar milli fil-passat. Jistgħu jiġu stabbiliti prijoritajiet ċari li jipprovdu tkabbir intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiv, b'ħidma fuq: l-appoġġ għal impriżi ġodda; innovazzjoni; it-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet; it-titjib tal-kwalità tal-ambjent tagħna; l-immodernizzar tal-universitajiet; l-iffrankar tal-enerġija; l-iżvilupp tan-netwerks tal-enerġija, it-trasport u t-telekomunikazzjoni b'interess komuni tal-UE; l-investiment fl-infrastruttura tar-riċerka; l-żvilupp tal-kapital uman; u l-inklużjoni attiva fil-ġlieda kontra l-faqar.

3.3. Inclusive growth

Ir-rabta espliċita tal-politika ta' koeżjoni u l-Ewropa 2020 tipprovdi opportunità reali kemm biex jiġu megħjuna l-ifqar reġjuni fl-UE sabiex ilaħħqu mal-oħrajn kif ukoll sabiex il-politika tal-koeżjoni tkompli tiġi żviluppata f'waħda li tiffaċilita t-tkabbir għall-UE kollha. Il-Programmi Nazzjonali ta' Riforma joffru l-mezz it-tajjeb sabiex niżguraw li l-infiq tal-koeżjoni tal-UE u l-prijoritajiet nazzjonali tar-riforma u l-infiq qed jaħdmu flimkien b'mod effettiv.

Cohesion policy and Europe 2020

Il-politika ta' koeżjoni għandha ssir waħda ta' importanza ewlenija għall-objettivi ta' tkabbir intelliġenti, inklużiv u sostenibbli tal-istrateġija Ewropa 2020 fir-reġjuni kollha. Dan jista' jkun mutur b'saħħtu għall-politika, li jirrinforza l-obbligazzjonijiet tat-Trattat li tissaħħaħ il-koeżjoni ekonomika, soċjali u territorjali tal-Unjoni, sabiex jiġi aċċellerat il-proċess tat-tnaqqis tad-disparitajiet bejn il-livelli tal-iżvilupp fir-reġjuni differenti. Bħal-lum, ir-riżorsi tal-Komunità għandhom ikunu ffukati fuq l-ifqar reġjuni u Stati Membri f'konformità mal-impenn tal-Unjoni għas-solidarjetà. L-appoġġ tal-politika ta' koeżjoni huwa importanti wkoll għall-bqija tal-Unjoni – sabiex jiġu ffaċċjati kwistjonijiet bħall-esklużjoni soċjali jew id-degradazzjoni ambjentali (pereżempju f'żoni urbani), jingħata appoġġ għar-ristrutturar ekonomiku u l-bidla lejn ekonomija aktar innovattiva u bbażata fuq l-għarfien, jinħolqu l-impjiegi u jissaħħu l-ħiliet. Attenzjoni partikolari trid tingħata lil dawk ir-reġjuni li għadhom ma lestewx il-proċess tagħhom li jlaħħqu mal-oħrajn. Sistema sempliċi u ġusta ta' appoġġ ta' tranżizzjoni tevita x-xokk ekonomiku dovut għal tnaqqis f'daqqa fil-finanzjament.

Cohesion has proved one of the most successful ways for the Union to demonstrate its commitment to solidarity, while spreading growth and prosperity across the EU. The policy has positive effects for all: investing in the economies of the EU benefits all Member States. It provides investment for modernisation, galvanises growth in the least prosperous parts of the EU and acts as a catalyst for change in all Europe's regions. It increases markets and creates new business opportunities for the EU as a whole. When coupled with structural reform and macroeconomic stability, it can make a real contribution to growth. However, to ensure these benefits, cohesion funding must be accurately targeted so that its added value is maximised. This points to a disciplined concentration on the objectives of Europe 2020, and a rigorous concentration on results.

Numru ta' aġġustamenti għall-ipprogrammar strateġiku kurrenti huma meħtieġa sabiex jiġi miżjud il-valur miżjud tal-UE tal-ipprogrammar strateġiku, permezz ta' koordinazzjoni aktar mill-qrib bejn l-Ewropa 2020 u l-Politika ta' Koeżjoni. Din il-koordinazzjoni titlob gwida aktar ċara fuq il-livell Ewropew, proċess ta' negozjar aktar strateġiku bejn l-imsieħba fuq il-livell lokali u reġjonali, l-Istat Membru u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea, u segwiment xieraq tal-progress li jkun sar. Ir-riżultat għandu jkun sentiment komuni li l-Ewropa 2020 qed tmexxi l-politika fil-livelli kollha, li lkoll għandhom responsabbiltà għall-azzjonijiet li għandhom jittieħdu bi sħab mil-livelli tal-UE, nazzjonali u reġjonali.

The earmarking of cohesion spending in 2007-2013 to the objectives of the Lisbon strategy has shown the benefits of using a variety of financial instruments to pursue overarching policy objectives. For the next period the Europe 2020 strategy provides both a clear set of common priorities, and a clear framework for identification of funding priorities. Europe 2020 allows a much greater concentration than in the past. Clear priorities could be fixed to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, with work on: support for new businesses; innovation; reducing emissions; improving the quality of our environment; modernising universities; energy saving; the development of energy, transport and telecommunication networks with a common EU interest; investment in research infrastructure; human capital development; and active inclusion to help the fight against poverty.

Aktar konċentrazzjoni u koerenza

The explicit linkage of cohesion policy and Europe 2020 provides a real opportunity to both continue to help the poorer regions of the EU to catch up, and to develop further cohesion policy into an important enabler of growth for the whole of the EU. The National Reform Programmes offer the right vehicle to ensure that EU cohesion spending and national reform and spending priorities are working effectively in tandem.

Sabiex jiġi mmassimizzat l-impatt tal-infiq fil-futur, se jkun meħtieġ li jiġi żgurat li l-Istati Membri u r-reġjuni jikkonċentraw ir-riżorsi tal-UE u nazzjonali fuq prijoritajiet maqbula tal-UE. Dan jista' jinkiseb billi jiġi identifikat numru limitat ta' prijoritajiet ta' importanza Ewropea, marbuta permezz tal-Istrateġija Ewropa 2020 mal-objettivi ta' politika settorjali. “Menu” bħal dan ta' prijoritajiet tematiċi marbuta direttament mal-Linji Gwida Integrati u l-proġetti ta' importanza ewlenija tal-Ewropa 2020 jiġu ppreżentati fl-istrumenti legali għall-koeżjoni, li jirriflettu wkoll l-abilità tal-politika ta' koeżjoni sabiex tindirizza l-ħtiġijiet differenti (bħal minn infrastruttura kbira f'xi reġjuni għal proġetti żgħar immexxija mill-komunità f'żoni urbani foqra). Prijoritajiet trażversali, bħall-innovazzjoni, ikunu obbligatorji. Reġjuni aktar żviluppati jistgħu jintalbu jallokaw l-allokazzjoni finanzjarja sħiħa disponibbli għal żewġ prijoritajiet jew tlieta, filwaqt li r-reġjuni anqas żviluppati jistgħu jiddedikaw ir-riżorsi tagħhom għal firxa kemxejn aktar wiesgħa ta' prijoritajiet.

Cohesion policy should become a standard bearer for the objectives of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth of the Europe 2020 strategy in all regions. This can be a powerful driver for the policy, reinforcing the Treaty obligations of strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion, so as to accelerate the process of reducing disparities between the levels of development of the different regions. As today, Community resources should be focused on the poorest regions and Member States in line with the Union's commitment to solidarity. Cohesion policy support is also important for the rest of the Union – to tackle issues like social exclusion or environmental degradation (for example in urban areas), to support economic restructuring and the shift to a more innovative and knowledge based economy, and to create jobs and improve skills. Particular attention needs to be paid to those regions which have not yet completed their process of catching up. A simple and fair system of transitional support would avoid an economic shock due a sudden drop of funding.

Koerenza u koordinazzjoni akbar ma' strumenti oħra tal-UE li jwettqu l-politiki tal-UE f'oqsma li jinkludu t-trasport, il-komunikazzjoni, l-enerġija, l-agrikoltura, l-ambjent u l-innovazzjoni jkunu essenzjali. Il-benefiċjarji tal-appoġġ tal-UE għandhom jiġu offruti sett konsistenti ta' programmi li jikkumplimentaw lil xulxin, u jippermettu "speċjalizzazzjoni intelliġenti", minflok jiġu ffaċċjati b'numru kbir ta' skemi li parzjalment jiddupplikaw lil xulxin u regoli differenti. Armonizzazzjoni akbar ta' regoli ta' eliġibbiltà u implimentazzjoni tkun pass importanti lejn twettiq aktar integrat tal-politiki tal-UE fit-territorju.

A number of adjustments to the current strategic programming are needed to increase the EU added value of strategic programming, through closer coordination between Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy. This coordination requires clearer guidance at the European level, a more strategic negotiation process between partners at local and regional level, the Member State and the European Commission, and a proper follow-up of progress made. The result should be a common sense that Europe 2020 is driving policy at all levels, that all have ownership of actions to be undertaken in partnership by EU, national and regional levels.

Qafas strateġiku komuni

Greater concentration and coherence

Sabiex tissaħħaħ l-integrazzjoni tal-politiki tal-UE għall-implimentazzjoni tal-istrateġija Ewropa 2020, u f'konformità mal-Linji Gwida Integrati, il-Kummissjoni tista' tadotta Qafas Strateġiku komuni, li jkun fih strateġija sħiħa tal-investiment li tittraduċi l-miri u l-għanijiet tal-Ewropa 2020 fi prijoritajiet ta' investiment. Huwa jkun jidentifika b'mod partikolari, ħtiġijiet ta' investiment fir-rigward ta' miri u proġetti ewlenin. Jenfasizza wkoll ir-riformi li huma meħtieġa sabiex jiġi mmassimizzat l-impatt tal-investiment appoġġjat mill-politika ta' koeżjoni.

To maximize the impact of cohesion spending in the future, it will be necessary to ensure that Member States and regions concentrate EU and national resources on agreed EU priorities. This can be achieved by identifying a limited number of priorities of European importance, linked through the Europe 2020 Strategy to sectoral policy objectives. Such a "menu" of thematic priorities directly linked to the Integrated Guidelines and flagship projects of Europe 2020 would be presented in the legal instruments for cohesion, reflecting also the ability of cohesion policy to address different needs (such as from large infrastructure in some regions to small community led projects in deprived urban areas). Crosscutting priorities, such as innovation, would be obligatory. More developed regions could be required to allocate the entirety of the financial allocation available to two or three priorities, while less developed regions could devote their larger resources to a slightly wider range of priorities.

Dan il-qafas jieħu post l-approċċ kurrenti ta' settijiet separati ta' linji gwida strateġiċi għall-politiki u jiżgura koordinazzjoni aħjar bejniethom. Huwa jkun ikopri l-azzjonijiet koperti llum mill-Fond ta' Koeżjoni, il-Fond Ewropew tal-Iżvilupp Reġjonali, il-Fond Soċjali Ewropew, il-Fond Ewropew tas-Sajd u l-Fond Agrikolu Ewropew għall-iżvilupp Rurali. Il-qafas jidentifika wkoll ir-rabtiet u l-mekkaniżmi ta' koordinazzjoni mal-istrumenti l-oħra tal-UE bħall-programmi għar-riċerka, l-innovazzjoni, it-tagħlim tul il-ħajja, u n-netwerks.

Increased coherence and coordination with other EU instruments delivering EU policies in areas including transport, communications, energy, agriculture, environment, and innovation would be essential. Beneficiaries of EU support should be offered a consistent set of programmes complementing each other and allowing for "smart specialisation", rather than being confronted with a multitude of partially overlapping schemes and different rules. A greater harmonization of eligibility and implementation rules would be an important step towards a more integrated delivery of EU policies on the ground.

Kuntratt ta' Sħubija tal-Iżvilupp u l-Investiment li jiffoka fuq ir-riżultati mistennija mill-appoġġ tal-UE

A common strategic framework

Fuq il-bażi tal-Qafas Strateġiku, l-Istati Membri jippreżentaw l-istrateġija tagħhom tal-iżvilupp fil-Programmi Nazzjonali ta' Riforma tagħhom, sabiex jiżguraw sens ta' responsabbiltà diretta għall-prijoritajiet tal-UE u l-livell nazzjonali u reġjonali Din l-istrateġija tkun tidentifika kif l-Istat Membru u r-reġjuni tiegħu jfittxu li jindirizzaw il-prijoritajiet u l-miri stabbiliti fl-Ewropa 2020, il-proġetti ewlenin u r-rakkomandazzjonijiet tematiċi u speċifiċi għall-pajjiżi. Jiddefinixxi wkoll il-bidliet pożittivi li għandhom l-għan li jiksbu bl-appoġġ tal-UE. Ir-riżultat tad-diskussjonijiet mal-Kummissjoni jkun Kuntratt ta' Sħubija tal-Iżvilupp u l-Investiment bejn il-Kummissjoni u l-Istat Membru li jirrifletti l-impenji tal-imsieħba fuq il-livell nazzjonali u reġjonali.

In order to strengthen the integration of EU policies for the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy and in accordance with the Integrated Guidelines, the Commission could adopt a common Strategic Framework, outlining a comprehensive investment strategy translating the targets and objectives of Europe 2020 into investment priorities. It would identify, in particular, investment needs in relation to headline targets and flagship projects. It would also highlight the reforms needed to maximise the impact of investment supported by cohesion policy.

Il-Kuntratt ikun jistabbilixxi l-objettivi li għandhom jinkisbu, kif il-progress lejn il-kisba ta' dawn l-objettivi tkun kwantifikata u mkejla u l-allokazzjoni tar-riżorsi nazzjonali u tal-UE bejn l-oqsma u l-programmi ta' prijorità. Il-Kuntratt ikun jistabbilixxi wkoll numru limitat ta' kundizzjonalitajiet, marbuta mar-riformi meħtieġa sabiex tiġi żgurata l-implimentazzjoni effettiva. Fejn relevanti, jidentifika proġetti strateġiċi li għandhom jiġu inklużi (pereżempju interkonnetturi ewlenin tat-trasport u l-enerġija). Dan jiddeskrivi wkoll il-koordinazzjoni bejn il-fondi tal-UE li għandhom jiġu applikati fuq il-livell nazzjonali.

Such a framework would replace the current approach of separate sets of strategic guidelines for policies and would ensure greater coordination between them. It would encompass the actions covered today by the Cohesion Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the European Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The framework would also identify linkages and coordination mechanisms with other EU instruments such as programmes for research, innovation, lifelong learning, and networks.

Ir-riżultat ta' dan l-approċċ ikun li l-tiġi marbuta l-allokazzjoni potenzjali inizjali tar-riżorsi bejn l-Istati Membri u r-reġjuni – għażla politika dwar kif għandha tiġi espressa s-solidarjetà – ma' mekkaniżmu effettiv li jiżgura li l-livell tal-appoġġ huwa akkumpanjat mill-kisba tal-miri u l-għanijiet.

A Development and Investment Partnership Contract to focus on the results expected from EU support

It-titjib tal-kwalità tal-infiq

Based on the Strategic Framework, Member States would present their development strategy in their National Reform Programmes, in order to ensure strong ownership of EU priorities and national and regional level. This strategy would identify how the Member State and its regions seek to address the priorities and targets established in Europe 2020, the Flagship projects and thematic and country-specific recommendations. It would also define the positive changes they aim to achieve with EU support. The result of the discussion with the Commission would be a Development and Investment Partnership Contract between the Commission and the Member State reflecting the commitments of partners at national and regional level.

Il-kapaċità istituzzjonali tas-settur pubbliku fil-livell nazzjonali, reġjonali u lokali hija ta' importanza ewlenija għall-iżvilupp, implimentazjoni u monitoraġġ b'suċċess tal-politiki meħtieġa sabiex jintlaħqu l-objettivi ta' Ewropa 2020. L-assorbiment mingħajr intoppi tar-riżorsi tal-Komunità jiddependi wkoll b'mod kritiku fuq il-kapaċità teknika u amministrattiva tal-awtoritajiet pubbliċi u tal-benefiċjarji li jkunu qed jipparteċipaw. It-tisħiħ tal-kapaċità istituzzjonali u amministrattiva jista' jkun il-bażi tal-aġġustamenti strutturali u jsaħħaħ it-tkabbir u l-impjiegi – u fl-istess waqt itejjeb b'mod sinifikanti l-kwalità tal-infiq pubbliku. L-allokazzjoni tar-riżorsi finanzjarji għandha għalhekk tqis il-kapaċità tal-Istati Membri u r-reġjuni sabiex jutilizzaw dawn ir-riżorsi u l-ħtieġa li jiġi rrispettat il-prinċipju tal-kofinanzjament u l-addizzjonalità, filwaqt li tirrikonoxxi l-pressjoni fuq il-baġits nazzjonali.

The Contract would set out the objectives to be achieved, how progress towards the achievement of these objectives will be quantified and measured and the allocation of national and EU resources among priority areas and programmes. The Contract would also establish a limited number of conditionalities, linked to the reforms needed to ensure effective delivery. Where relevant, it would identify strategic projects to be included (e.g. key transport and energy interconnectors). It would also describe the coordination between EU funds to be applied at national level.

Il-politika tal-koeżjoni jista' jkollha rwol importanti f'dan ir-rigward billi tiffinanzja l-miżuri ta' kapaċità istituzzjonali, tippromwovi r-riforma amministrattiva, u tinkoraġġixxi kultura orjentata lejn ir-riżultati. Dan jista' jissaħħaħ permezz ta' faċilitajiet ta' assistenza teknika ffukati li jappoġġjaw lill-Istati Membri u lir-reġjuni sabiex iħejju, jimplimentaw u jimmonitorjaw programmi kbar ta' investiment f'oqsma bħall-infrastruttura tan-netwerk jew l-ambjent.

The result of such an approach would be to link the initial potential allocation of resources between Member States and regions – a political choice about how to express solidarity – with an effective mechanism ensuring that the level of support is matched by the achievement of targets and objectives.

Teknika oħra sabiex tittejjeb il-kwalità tal-infiq tkun l-introduzzjoni ta' xi forma ta' kompetizzjoni kwalitattiva fost il-programmi għall-finanzjament tal-koeżjoni. Dan jista' jfisser li jitwarrab sehem limitat tal-finanzjament tal-koeżjoni f'riżerva tal-prestazzjoni miftuħa għall-Istati Membri u r-reġjuni eliġibbli kollha. Din tiġi allokata fuq il-bażi tal-progress li jsir mill-programmi nazzjonali u reġjonali lejn l-objettivi tal-Ewropa 2020.

Improving the quality of expenditure

Il-ħiliet it-tajbin għall-ħaddiema ta' għada

The institutional capacity of the public sector at national, regional and local level is key for successful development, implementation and monitoring of the policies needed to reach Europe 2020 objectives. The smooth absorption of Community resources also critically depends on the technical and administrative capacity of the participating public authorities and beneficiaries. Strengthening institutional and administrative capacity can underpin structural adjustments and foster growth and jobs – and in turn significantly improve the quality of public expenditure. The allocation of financial resources should therefore take into account the capacity of Member States and regions to effectively utilise these resources and the need to respect the principles of co-financing and additionality, as well as recognising the pressure on the national budgets.

Ħaddiema b'ħiliet akbar u aħjar huma ċentrali għal ekonomija Ewropea mibnija fuq l-għarfien. Aktar u aktar impjiegi se jkunu jistrieħu fuq ħiliet ogħla. L-azzjoni tal-UE għandha għalhekk tkun iffukata fuq il-kisba tal-objettivi tal-2020, fuq taħriġ għall-ħtiġijiet tal-ekonomija ta' għada. L-investiment iffukat jista' joffri valur miżjud sinifikanti sabiex jinkoraġġixxi l-adattabilità u t-tagħlim tul il-ħajja, b'mod partikolari billi jgħin l-istrateġiji nazzjonali għar-riforma tas-sistemi tal-edukazzjoni u t-taħriġ u għat-titjib tal-kapaċità istituzzjonali.

Cohesion policy can play an important role in this respect by financing institutional capacity measures, promoting administrative reform, and fostering a culture geared to performance and results. This could be deepened through focused technical assistance facilities to support Member States and regions in preparing, implementing and monitoring large investment programmes in areas such as network infrastructure or environment.

Il-Fond Soċjali Ewropew diġà jappoġġja t-taħriġ għal madwar disgħa miljun Ewropew kull sena. Huwa jirrifletti bilanċ fil-politiki ekonomiċi tal-UE – dimostrazzjoni prattika ta' kif l-UE attivament tippromwovi l-inklużjoni flimkien mat-tkabbir. Huwa juża l-esperjenza transkonfinali sabiex iwassal appoġġ għal gruppi soċjali jew oqsma ta' politika li kieku jirċievu ftit jew xejn appoġġ, flimkien ma' enfasi fuq approċċi innovattivi għall-impjiegi, it-taħriġ u l-inklużjoni soċjali.

Another technique to increase the quality of spending would be to introduce some form of qualitative competition among programmes for cohesion funding. This could mean setting aside a limited share of cohesion funding in a performance reserve open to all eligible Member States and regions. It would be allocated on the basis on progress made by national and regional programmes towards Europe 2020 objectives.

Il-Fond Soċjali Ewropew jista' jiġi ffukat mill-ġdid fuq il-kisba tal-objettivi tal-2020. Inizjattiva Ewropea komprensiva dwar l-impjiegi tista' ttejjeb il-ħiliet, il-mobilità, l-adattabilità u l-parteċipazzjoni fis-soċjetà permezz ta' inizjattivi konġunti fil-qasam tal-edukazzjoni, l-impjiegi u l-integrazzjoni. Element ieħor ta' importanza diretta għall-UE huwa l-integrazzjoni tal-minoranzi bħar-Roma u l-immigranti, fejn l-azzjoni sabiex jiġu żgurati l-inklużjoni soċjali u d-drittijiet legali għall-immigranti huma marbuta mill-qrib mal-approċċ tal-UE dwar il-migrazzjoni kollha kemm hi. Fl-istess waqt, l-importanza tal-impjiegi u l-ħiliet għall-viżjoni tal-UE għall-ekonomija tindika l-ħtieġa kemm għal viżibilità akbar kif ukoll għal volumi ta' finanzjament prevedibbli fi ħdan il-qafas komuni strateġiku ta' koeżjoni deskritt aktar 'il fuq.

The right skills for tomorrow's workforce

Setturi ta' appoġġ impoġġija taħt pressjoni

A workforce with more and better skills is central to a European economy built on knowledge. More and more jobs will rely on higher skills. EU action should therefore be focused on securing the 2020 objectives, training for the needs of tomorrow's economy. Targeted investment can offer significant added value in encouraging adaptability and lifelong learning, in particular by assisting national strategies for reforming education and training systems and for improving institutional capacity.

L-iskala u l-profil divers tal-ekonomija tal-UE jfissru li inevitabilment, ikun hemm żminijiet fejn il-benefiċċji li jgawdu l-ħafna jħallsu għalihom il-ftit. Eżempju ta' dan jista' jkun ftehim tal-kummerċ li jiftaħ swieq ġodda sinifikanti għall-esportazzjonijiet tal-UE, iżda li jfisser tibdil sinifikanti fil-klima kompetittiva għal setturi partikolari. Il-Fond Ewropew tal-Aġġustament għall-Globalizzazzjoni diġà pprovda eżempju tajjeb ta' kif dawn l-effetti negattivi lokalizzati jistgħu jiġu ffaċċjati, u fond estiż jista' jsir permanenti sabiex jgħin ħalli jtaffi l-impatt ta' ċertu taqlib maġġuri fuq il-ħaddiema ta' Stat Membru. Il-funzjonament ta' dan il-Fond jeħtieġ ukoll li jiġi ssimplifikat sabiex isir aktar reattiv għall-bidliet fiċ-ċirkustanzi ekonomiċi.

The European Social Fund already supports training for some 9 million Europeans each year. It reflects a balance in EU economic policies – a practical demonstration of how the EU actively promotes inclusion alongside growth. It uses cross-border experience to bring support to social groups or policy areas that would otherwise receive little or no support, as well as a special focus on innovative approaches to employment, training and social inclusion.

3.4. Ċittadinanza

The European Social Fund could be refocused on securing the 2020 objectives. A comprehensive European Employment initiative could improve skills, mobility, adaptability and participation in society through joint initiatives in the area of education, employment and integration. Another strand of direct importance to the EU is the integration of minorities such as the Roma and migrants, where action to ensure social inclusion and legal rights for migrants is closely linked to the EU approach to migration as a whole. At the same time, the importance of jobs and skills to the EU's vision for the economy points to the need for both greater visibility and predictable funding volumes within the common strategic cohesion framework described above.

Bosta programmi differenti ta' nfiq tal-UE jikkontribwixxu b'modi differenti għall-konsolidament taċ-ċittadinanza tal-UE. Kull darba li ċittadin jara effetti konkreti tal-azzjoni tal-UE – minn għotjiet għall-mobilità sar-riżultati ta' proġetti lokali ta' koeżjoni – dan jgħin sabiex jiddimostra l-vokazzjoni tal-Unjoni sabiex isservi ċ-ċittadini tagħha. Programmi li jappoġġjaw id-diversità kulturali jgħinu sabiex juru kif l-integrazzjoni Ewropea tista' tolqot liċ-ċittadini b'varjetà enormi ta' modi.

Supporting sectors put under pressure

L-azzjoni tal-UE f'dan il-qasam tkopri d-dimensjoni tad-"drittijiet", bħall-promozzjoni tad-drittijiet fundamentali u l-valuri tal-UE. L-azzjoni tista' tinkludi l-iżvilupp tal-UE f'żona tal-ġustizzja sabiex jiġu eliminati l-ostakli għall-funzjonament tajjeb tal-proċedimenti ċivili transkonfinali u r-relazzjonijiet bejn l-impriżi u l-konsumaturi, jiġu promossi r-rikonoxximent reċiproku u l-fiduċja reċiproka fil-proċedimenti kriminali, u jissaħħaħ l-aċċess għall-ġustizzja madwar l-UE.

The scale and diverse profile of the EU economy means that inevitably, there are times when the benefits enjoyed by the many come at the cost of the few. An example might be a trade agreement that opens up significant new markets for EU exports, but which means a significant change in the competitive climate for particular sectors. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund has already provided a good example of how such localised negative effects can be tackled, and an extended fund could be put on a permanent footing to help cushion the impact of certain major disruptions on the workforce in a Member State. The functioning of this Fund needs also to be simplified to become more reactive to changes of economic circumstances.

Programmi aktar speċifiċi kulturali u ta' ċittadinanza jgħinu wkoll sabiex l-Ewropej jitħejjew sabiex jegħlbu l-ostakli kulturali u jużaw l-opportunitajiet tal-ispazju Ewropew b'mod sħiħ. Programmi differenti li jimmiraw għall-promozzjoni tal-koperazzjoni kulturali u l-wirt kulturali tal-Ewropa, l-interazzjoni taċ-ċitadini u l-involviment taż-żgħażagħ fis-soċjetà Ewropea jistgħu jiġu integrati fi programm wieħed viżibbli li jippromwovi l-unità fid-diversità Ewropea u jistgħu jibbenefikaw mill-ġestjoni konġunta.

3.4. Citizenship

Ir-respnsabbiltajiet tal-UE lejn iċ-ċittadini tagħha huma wkoll murija fil-Fond tas-Solidarjetà tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan ippermetta lill-UE sabiex tiddimostra l-impenn kollettiv tagħha sabiex tgħin fir-rispons għal sitwazzjonijiet ta' kriżi. Sa mill-2002, l-UE kienet kapaċi tagħti aktar minn EUR 2,1 biljun sabiex tappoġġja lill-Istati Membri u lir-reġjuni milquta minn diżastri naturali. Madankollu, l-esperjenza tindika xi limitazzjonijiet u dgħufijiet importanti fil-funzjonament tal-Fond. Il-ħeffa li biha l-għajnuna mill-Fond titpoġġa għad-dispożizzjoni, it-trasparenza tal-kriterji għall-mobilizzazzjoni tal-Fond u l-limitazzjonji tiegħu għal diżastri ta' oriġini naturali huma kollha kwistjonijiet li jridu jiġu indirizzati. Pereżempju, il-Fond mhux iffinanzjat fuq bażi permanenti u ma jistax jgħin biex isegwi bosta tipi ta' diżastri maġġuri. Kontribuzzjoni tal-baġit tal-UE tista' wkoll tgħin sabiex jitneħħew in-nuqqasijiet fis-sistema li jwaqqfu lit-timijiet tal-protezzjoni ċivili tal-Istati Membri milli jiġu mibgħuta malajr fejn ikunu meħtieġa, u tgħin l-iżvilupp ta' netwerk tal-protezzjoni ċivili effettiv – eżempju tal-koperazzjoni tal-UE li jista' jagħmel differenza reali għal dawk li huma fil-bżonn kemm fl-UE kif ukoll barra minnha.

Many different EU spending programmes contribute in different ways to the consolidation of EU citizenship. Every time a citizen sees the concrete effects of EU action – from mobility grants to the results of research to local cohesion projects – it helps to illustrate the vocation of the Union to serve its citizens. Programmes which support cultural diversity help to show how European integration can touch citizens in a huge variety of ways.

Qasam importanti ieħor ta' relevanza diretta għaċ-ċittadini huwa l-infiq fuq politiki li huma ċentrali għal-libertà, is-sigurtà u l-ġustizzja. Dawn huma politiki fejn hemm interess komuni ċar f'funzjonament tajjeb. L-appoġġ għal ġestjoni effettiva tal-fruntieri, għall-iskambju tal-informazzjoni u l-għarfien espert sabiex il-ġustizzja tiġi applikata b'mod effettiv, jew sabiex jiġu implimentati l-politiki dwar l-asil u l-migrazzjoni, huma ta' benefiċċju għall-Unjoni kollha kemm hi. L-enfasi fil-perjodu ta' programmar li jmiss se jkollha tkun fuq il-ġestjoni tal-fruntieri esterni (inkluż l-SIS II/VIS u s-sistema futura ta' dħul/ħruġ), il-politika tar-ritorn, l-asil u l-integrazzjoni tal-immigranti legali. Dwar dawn il-kwistjonijiet, il-qsim tal-piż fost l-Istati Membri, l-appoġġ għall-ħidma tal-amministrazzjonijiet nazzjonali u l-ġbir flimkien tar-riżorsi huma prijoritajiet sabiex jinstabu mezzi ekonomikament effiċjenti sabiex niżguraw li dawn il-politiki jitwettqu b'mod effettiv.

EU action in this area also covers the "rights" dimension, such promoting fundamental rights and EU values. Action could include developing the EU as an area of justice to eliminate obstacles for the good functioning of cross-border civil proceedings and business-to-consumer relations, promoting mutual recognition and mutual trust in criminal proceedings, and fostering access to justice throughout the EU.

3.5. Appoġġ ta' qabel l-adeżjoni

More specific cultural and citizenship programmes also help preparing Europeans to overcome cultural barriers and use the opportunities of the European space to the full. Different programmes aiming at promoting cultural cooperation and Europe's cultural heritage, citizens' interaction and the involvement of young people in European society might be integrated into one visible programme promoting European unity in diversity and could benefit from joint management.

L-appoġġ finanzjarju għal integrazzjoni aktar mill-qrib permezz tal-proċess tat-tkabbir jgħin lill-UE sabiex tikseb l-objettivi tagħha f'numru ta' oqsma li huma ta' importanza ewlenija għall-irkupru ekonomiku u t-tkabbir sostenibbli, inkluża l-enerġija, l-infrastrutturi tan-netwerk, il-ħarsien tal-ambjent u l-isforzi biex jiġi indirizzat it-tibdil fil-klima. Jgħin ukoll sabiex jiġi żgurat li l-pajjiżi kandidati u l-kandidati potenzjali jkunu mħejjija għal kollox għall-adeżjoni eventwali, inkluż billi jinkoraġġixxu lill-pajjiżi sabiex jikkonsolidaw il-prijoritajiet tal-UE marbuta mal-objettivi tal-Ewropa 2020 fil-prijoritajiet nazzjonali tagħhom. Għandu għalhekk ikompli jkun wieħed mill-għodod sabiex jiġi promoss it-tkabbir b'suċċess.

The responsibilities of the EU towards its citizens are also shown in the European Union Solidarity Fund. This has allowed the EU to demonstrate its collective commitment to help respond to situations of crisis. Since 2002, the EU has been able to grant more than € 2.1 billion to support Member States and regions hit by major natural disasters. However, experience points to some important limitations and weaknesses in the operation of the Fund. The speed with which aid from the Fund is made available, the transparency of the criteria for mobilising the Fund and its limitation to disasters of natural origin are all issues to address. For example, the Fund is not funded on a permanent footing and cannot help follow all kinds of major disasters. An EU budget contribution could also help to plug gaps in the system which prevent Member States' civil protection teams from being deployed quickly where they are needed, and help the development of an effective civil protection network – an example of EU cooperation that can make a real difference to those in need both inside and outside the EU.

3.6 L-Ewropa Globali

Another important area of direct relevance to citizens is spending on policies central to the delivery of freedom, security and justice. These are policies where there is a clear common interest in successful delivery. Support to effective border management, to the exchange of information and expertise to apply justice effectively, or to implement policies on asylum and migration, benefits the Union as a whole. The emphasis in the next financing period will have to be on management of external borders (including SIS II/VIS and the future entry/exit system), return policy, asylum and integration of legal immigrants. On these issues, burden sharing among Member States, support to the work of national administrations and pooling of resources with the EU budget are priorities in order to find cost-effective ways of ensuring the effective delivery of these policies.

L-Ewropej jistennew li l-UE tippromwovi l-interessi tagħha u teżerċita l-influwenza tagħha fuq ix-xena internazzjonali Kwistjonijiet bħat-tnaqqis tal-faqar, l-immigrazzjoni, il-kompetittività, it-tibdil fil-klima, l-enerġija, it-terroriżmu u l-kriminalità organizzata jistgħu jiġu ffaċċjati biss f'kuntest internazzjonali. Fl-era tal-globalizzazzjoni, huwa essenzjali li l-aġenda interna tal-kisba tat-tkabbir sostenibbli u l-impjiegi fl-Ewropa tkun ikkumplimentata minn aġenda esterna. Minbarra dan, naturalment, is-solidarjetà għandha dimensjoni esterna: l-UE hija ġustament kburija li hija l-akbar donatur tal-iżvilupp u umanitarju fid-dinja – fejn l-UE u l-Istati Membri tagħha jipprovdu madwar 55% tat-total dinji – hija attur ewlieni fil-ġlieda kontra l-faqar, u hija konxja ħafna mill-importanza tal-Miri tal-Millenju għall-Iżvilupp għall-istabbilità, is-sigurtà u l-benesseri ta' partijiet kbar tad-dinja.

3.5. Pre-accession support

L-istess regoli japplikaw għall-użu effettiv tar-riżorsi tal-UE internazzjonalment u kif ukoll fi ħdan l-Unjoni nnifisha: ħarsa intelliġenti lejn fejn l-azzjoni kollettiva tista' tagħti valur aħjar minn kollezzjoni ta' azzonijiet nazzjonali; koerenza bejn il-programmi ta' nfiq u l-politiki ewlenin; u ħarsa ġdida lejn il-mekkaniżmi tat-twettiq u l-istrumenti li qed jintużaw.

Financial support for closer integration through the enlargement process helps the EU to achieve its objectives in a number of areas which are key to economic recovery and sustainable growth, including energy, network infrastructures, the protection of the environment and efforts to address climate change. It also helps to ensure that candidate countries and potential candidates are fully prepared for eventual accession, including through encouraging countries to consolidate EU priorities linked to Europe 2020 objectives into their national priorities. It should therefore continue to be one of the tools to promote successful enlargement.

L-applikazzjoni ta' dan l-approċċ se tkun iffaċilitata mill-istrutturi l-ġodda għar-relazzjonijiet esterni taħt it-Trattat ta' Liżbona, bl-opportunità li jintużaw l-għodda differenti tal-politika esterna tal-UE b'mod kreattiv, u li noperaw fi ħdan qafas strateġiku fit-tul.

3.6 Global Europe

Il-projezzjoni tal-valuri u l-interessi tal-UE globalment

Europeans expect the EU to promote its interests and exert its influence on the international stage. Issues such as poverty alleviation, migration, competitiveness, climate change, energy, terrorism and organised crime can only be tackled in an international context. In the age of globalisation, it is essential that the internal agenda of securing sustainable growth and jobs in Europe is complemented with an external agenda. In addition, of course, solidarity has an external dimension: the EU is rightly proud to be the world's largest development and humanitarian donor – with the EU and its Member States providing around 55% of the total worldwide – a champion of the fight against poverty, and is acutely conscious of the importance of the Millennium Development Goals to the stability, security and well-being of large areas of the globe.

L-istabbiliment tas-SEAE jagħti lill-UE l-għodod li teħtieġ sabiex ittejjeb l-abbiltà tal-UE li tipprojetta l-interessi tagħha madwar id-dinja, b'mod konsistenti mal-importanza ekonomka u politika tagħha. L-abbiltà tal-UE sabiex timmira l-istrumenti tagħha b'mod effettiv teħtieġ viżjoni strateġika ċara, ir-relazzjoni korretta mal-pajjiżi terzi msieħba, u strumenti mfassla tajjeb. L-istrumenti jridu jkunu kapaċi biżżejjed li jirrispondu għall-bidliet fil-prijoritajiet u jkunu adattati għal ċirkostanzi differenti. Xi wħud mill-kwistjonijiet globali ewlenin li qed tiffaċċja l-Unjoni llum jeħtieġu attenzjoni partikolari. Pereżempju, l-UE u l-Istati Membri tagħha se jkun jenħtiġilhom li jwettqu l-impenji tal-finanzjament tal-klima. Dan jimmerita riflessjoni separata li se tkun influwenzata mill-progress tan-negozjati u se jkun meħtieġ li tiġi żgurata l-koerenza u l-viżibilità tal-kontribuzzjoni tal-UE għall-isforzi internazzjonali; l-effikaċja; u li l-ekonomiji tal-kobor jkunu possibbli fil-ġestjoni tal-ħlasijiet. Għandu jkun inkluż ukoll jekk ir-rwol tal-baġit tal-UE għandux ikun ikkumplimentat minn strument separat li jġib flimkien kontribuzzjoni kollettiva tal-UE stabbli u viżibbli. Eżempju ieħor huwa l-migrazzjoni, li tiffaċċja l-ħtieġa li tiġi kkalibrata b'mod effettiv l-azzjoni fl-UE u barra mill-fruntieri tagħha.

The same rules apply to the effective use of EU resources internationally as inside the Union: an intelligent look at where collective action can deliver better value than a collection of national actions; coherence between spending programmes and key policies; and a fresh look at the delivery mechanisms and instruments being used.

Rispons għal sitwazzjonijiet ta' kriżi

Applying this approach will be facilitated by the new structures for external relations under the Lisbon Treaty, with the opportunity to use the different tools of EU external policy creatively, and to work within a long-term strategic framework.

Huwa partikolarment importanti li tittejjeb l-abbiltà tal-Unjoni sabiex tirrispondi għal kunflitti jew diżastri fuq skala kbira. Il-kontribuzzjoni essenzjali tal-UE għad-dimensjoni tas-sigurtà aktar wiesgħa tar-relazzjonijiet esterni tindika l-ħtieġa li nibnu fuq l-għodod kurrenti bħall-Istrument għall-Istabbilità, l-azzjonijiet tal-PESK u l-Missjonijiet tal-Osservazzjoni tal-Elezzjonijiet. Ir-rapidità li biha jaslu fuq il-post, il-flessibiltà u l-abilità li l-azzjoni tiġi mmodulata skont it-tibdil fiċ-ċirkustanzi politiċi huma kollha komponenti essenzjali.

Projecting the EU's values and interests globally

L-għajnuna umanitarja tal-UE hija waħda mill-fornituri bl-aktar profil għoli u l-aktar effettivi tal-għajnuna ta' emerġenza. Madankollu, il-fażi tal-għajnuna ta' emerġenza għandha tkun segwita aktar malajr u b'mod sostanzjali minn azzjonijiet ta' żvilupp sabiex ikun hemm rikostruzzjoni minn sitwazzjonijiet ta' kriżi u biex tiġi żviluppata aktar reżiljenza għall-futur. Dan qed jinżamm lura min-nuqqas ta' flessibilità fil-baġit. Il-baġit tal-għajnuna umanitarja kellu jagħmel użu mir-Riżerva ta' Għajnuna ta' Emerġenza f'kull sena tal-perjodu ta' finanzjament preżenti, u dan juri kemm qed isiru domandi qawwija f'dan il-qasam tal-baġit.

The establishment of the EEAS gives the EU the tools it needs to improve the ability of the EU's to project its interests across the world, in line with its economic and political importance. The ability of the EU to target its instruments effectively needs a clear strategic overview, the right relationship with third country partners, and well-designed instruments. Instruments need to be sufficiently responsive to changing priorities and adapted to different circumstances. Some of the key global issues faced by the Union today need particular attention. For example, the EU and its Member States will need to be able to deliver on climate finance commitments. This deserves a separate reflection which will be influenced by the progress of negotiations and will need to ensure the coherence and visibility of the EU contribution to international efforts; effectiveness; and permit economies of scale in the management of disbursements. It should also include whether the role of the EU budget should be complemented by a separate instrument to bring together a stable and visible collective EU contribution. Another example is migration, which faces the need to calibrate effectively action inside the EU and beyond its borders.

Il-Ġlieda kontra l-Faqar

Responding to crisis situations

Bħala Ewropa mibnija fuq il-valuri, il-ġlieda konta l-faqar globali hija wieħed mill-għanijiet ewlenin tal-UE. L-għajnuna għall-pajjiżi l-anqas żviluppati tagħmel impatt reali fuq sfidi bħall-aċċess għall-ikel, is-saħħa, l-edukazzjoni u l-ilma nadif, u wkoll l-adattament għat-tibdil fil-klima. L-UE hija fuq quddiem nett fl-isforzi sabiex jinkisbu l-Għanijiet ta' Żvilupp tal-Millennju sal-2015. L-impenn kollettiv tagħha sabiex tiddedika 0.7% tad-DNG sal-2015 għall-għajnuna uffiċjali għall-iżvilupp jirrikonoxxi r-rwol importanti li l-azzjoni tal-finanzjament estern għandha fl-objettivi tagħna. Huwa jimplika żieda sostanzjali fil-volum globali tal-għajnuna għall-iżvilupp.

It is particularly important to improve the Union's ability to respond to large-scale conflicts or disasters. The EU's essential contribution to the broader security dimension of external relations points to a need to build on current tools like the Instrument for Stability, CFSP actions and Election Observation Missions. Speed of deployment, flexibility and the ability to modulate action in line with changing political circumstances are all essential components.

Billi hemm evidenza ċara li l-politika tal-iżvilupp fil-livell tal-UE tista' toffri valur miżjud għoli, il-livell tal-UE għandu jilgħab il-parti tiegħu f'din iż-żieda. Il-politika tal-UE għall-iżvilupp diġà toffri dimensjoni globali – meta mqabbla mal-konċentrazzjoni tal-Istati Membri fuq numru limitat ta' msieħba – u għal ħafna pajjiżi msieħba, hija l-unika preżenza sinifikanti tal-iżvilupp li jaraw. Permezz tal-azzjoni tagħha, l-UE hija kapaċi li timplimenta sett ta' objettivi konsistenti u koerenti madwar id-dinja. Għalhekk, f'termini ta' preżenza, skala u enfasi tal-operazzjonijiet u l-piż politiku, l-intervent tal-UE joffri benefiċċji sinifikanti fuq l-azzjoni nazzjonali. Huwa joffri potenzjal kbir għal tqassim aħjar tax-xogħol bejn id-donaturi, u jippromwovi ekonomiji tal-kobor importanti u punt ta' kuntatt wieħed għall-benefiċjarji. Huwa jġorr ukoll il-piż u l-leġittimità assoċjata ma' azzjoni komuni tas-27 Stat Membru.

The EU's humanitarian aid is one of the most high-profile and effective suppliers of emergency assistance. However, the phase of emergency aid should be more quickly and substantially followed by development actions to rebuild from crisis situations and to develop more resilience for the future. This is held back by the inflexibilities in the budget. The humanitarian aid budget has had to access the Emergency Aid Reserve every year of the present financing period, pointing to the heavy calls being made in this area of the budget.

L-esperjenza turi li implimentazzjoni effettiva, ta' kwalità għolja teħtieġ sforz partikolari f'termini ta' koordinazzjoni tad-donaturi u arranġamenti ta' governanza. Ir-rwol tal-UE bħala d-donatur primarju globali jagħtiha vuċi fi kwistjonijiet bħall-governanza, il-koperazzjoni reġjonali, l-iżvilupp ekonomiku u l-infrastruttura li ma jkunux possibbli jekk l-Istati Membri jkunu qed jaġixxu flimkien. Wara l-adozzjoni tal-Kunsens Ewropew dwar l-Iżvilupp fl-2006[8], sar progress fil-ġbir flimkien tar-riżorsi mid-donaturi kollha Ewropej tal-għajnuna sabiex jiġu evitati d-duplikazzjonijet u jkun hemm konċentrazzjoni fejn hu meħtieġ. Iżda l-frammentazzjoni tal-għajnuna għadha hemm, u tikkawża ineffiċjenzi b'konsegwenzi kemm finanzjarji kif ukoll politiċi. Jekk jissolvew dawn in-nuqqasijiet, ikun hemm gwadanji sostanzjali fl-effiċjenza għall-Istati Membri – li huwa stmat li jaslu sa' EUR 6 biljun fis-sena[9] – jiġi ffaċilitat ix-xogħol tal-amministrazzjonijiet tal-pajjiżi msieħba, u l-UE tiġi megħjuna sabiex tuża l-influwenza tagħha b'mod sħiħ. Prijoritajiet ewlenin oħra jinkludu l-bilanċ tajjeb bejn il-prevedibbiltà fil-livelli tal-għajnuna għall-pajjiżi msieħba u l-ħtieġa għal livell ta' flessibilità xieraq, sabiex ikun jista' jkun hemm adattament għal sitwazzjonijiet il jinbidlu bħal tibdil kbir fil-prezzijiet tal-ikel u l-ħtieġa li jiġu pprovduti programmi effettivi ta' rikostruzzjoni ta' wara d-diżastri.

Poverty Alleviation

Il-fondi fiduċjarji tal-UE, bħall-Fond Fiduċjarju tal-Infrastruttura UE-Afrika ġew maħluqa, u dawn jgħaddu r-riżorsi mill-Kummissjoni u l-Istati Membri b'tali mod li dawn jistgħu jintużaw flimkien mal-kapaċità tas-self tal-BEI u l-banek tal-iżvilupp tal-Istati Membri, u dan iwassal għal effett ta' multiplikazzjoni importanti. Dawn jistgħu jiġu esplorati aktar.

As a Europe built on values, combating global poverty is one of the EU’s core goals. Assistance to least developed countries makes a real impact on challenges like access to food, health, education and clean water, as well as adapting to the consequences of climate change. The EU is at the forefront of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Its collective commitment to dedicate 0.7% of GNI by 2015 to official development aid recognises the important role external financial action plays in reaching our objectives. It implies a substantial increase of the overall volume of development assistance.

Prijoritajiet addizzjonali huma li jiġi żgurat li l-politika tal-iżvilupp tal-UE tagħti kontribuzzjoni b'saħħitha u diretta għal titjib sinifikanti fil-governanza f'pajjiżi msieħba u li jkompli jissaħħaħ l-impatt reali tal-għajnuna. Dan jinkludi enfasi akbar fuq proġetti li għandhom valur miżjud Komunitarju akbar, u ftehimiet ta' sħubija li huma ċari, iffukati u orjentati lejn ir-riżultati. L-esperjenza fir-rigward tas-sistemi finanzjarji differenti li japplikaw għall-Fond Ewropew għall-Iżvilupp u l-Istrument tal-Iżvilupp u l-Koperazzjoni llum qajmet kwistjonijiet importanti f'termini ta' effiċjenza, flessibilità u proċedura demokratika, li jitolbu aktar analiżi.

Since there is clear evidence that development policy at EU level can offer high value added, the EU level should play its part in this increase. EU development policy already offers a global reach – compared to Member States' concentration on a limited number of partners – and for many partner countries, it is the only significant development presence to be seen. Through its action, the EU is able to implement a consistent and coherent set of objectives across the world. So in terms of presence, scale and focus of operations and political weight EU intervention offers significant benefits over national action. It offers a big potential for a better division of labour between donors, promoting important economies of scale and a single contact point for beneficiaries. It also carries the weight and legitimacy associated with 27 Member States acting together.

Minbarra dan, l-UE jenħtiġilha tikkunsidra kif jista' jiġi żviluppat approċċ aktar sofistikat għat-tibdil fin-natura tal-imsieħba, bħal pajjiżi bi dħul medju u l-ekonomiji emerġenti, fejn il-kwistjonijiet tal-koperazzjoni f'oqsma inklużi s-sħubija ekonomika, dik ambjentali u dik soċjali qegħdin isiru dejjem aktar importanti, flimkien ma' dawk tal-iżvilupp.

Experience shows that effective, high quality delivery needs a particular effort in terms of donor coordination and governance arrangements. The EU's role as the primary global donor gives it a voice on issues such as governance, regional cooperation, economic development and infrastructure not possible for Member States acting alone. Following the adoption of the European Consensus on Development in 2006 [8], progress has been made in pooling resources from all European aid donors to prevent overlaps and bring concentration where necessary. But fragmentation of aid remains, causing inefficiencies with both financial and political consequences. Tackling these weaknesses would bring both substantial efficiency gains for Member States – estimated at up to € 6 billion a year [9] – facilitate the work of partner country administrations, and help the EU to use its influence to the full. Other key priorities include the right balance between predictability in aid levels for partner countries and the need for an appropriate degree of flexibility, to adapt to changing situations such as major changes in food prices and the need to deliver effective post-disaster reconstruction programmes.

Relazzjonijiet mill-qrib u effettivi mal-iqreb ġirien tal-UE

EU trust funds such as the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund have been created, which channel grant resources from the Commission and Member States in such a way that they can be blended with the lending capacity of the EIB and Member State development banks – bringing an important multiplier effect. These can be explored further.

Il-viċinat tal-UE, b'madwar 300 miljun persuna, jirrappreżenta opportunità importanti għall-UE. Sabiex tiżgura l-prosperità u l-istabbilità tagħha fit-tul u tipprova l-abilità tagħha li tassumi r-responsabbiltajiet tagħha bħala attur globali, l-UE jenħtiġilha li tippromwovi b'mod effettiv il-valuri tagħha u tappoġġja l-iżvilupp ekonomiku qrib tal-fruntieri tagħha. L-appoġġ finanzjarju jista' jkun għodda importanti sabiex titwettaq politika tal-viċinat effettiva. Hawnhekk, l-enfasi għandha tkun fuq li jiġu pprovduti inċentivi kredibbli ta' riforma u koperazzjoni lill-ġirien tal-UE, kemm jekk dawn ikollhom perspettiva fit-tul ta' adeżjoni mal-UE u kemm jekk le. Għandu jingħata appoġġ speċifiku partikolarment fil-kuntest ta' ftehimiet ta' kummerċ ħieles profondi u komprensivi u l-allinjament mal-acquis tas-suq uniku. Oqsma qrib tal-acquis u tal-prijoritajiet strateġiċi tal-UE stess – bħall-enerġija, il-migrazzjoni u l-kontrolli fuq il-fruntieri, u l-protezzjoni ambjentali – għandhom jiġu prijoritizzati, b'enfasi partikolari fuq il-bini tal-kapaċità - u tal-istituzzjonijiet.

Additional priorities are to ensure that EU development policy makes a strong and direct contribution to significantly improving governance in partner countries and continuing to improve the real impact of aid. This includes an increased focus on projects showing strong Community added value, and partnership agreements that are clear, focused and result-orientated. The experience with respect to the different financial regimes that apply to the European Development Fund and the Development and Cooperation Instrument today has raised important issues in terms of efficiency, flexibility and democratic procedure, which require further examination.

Il-viċinat diġà kien wieħed mill-eżempji l-aktar qawwija ta' ħidma flimkien bejn il-baġit tal-UE u l-Istituzzjonijet Finanzjarji Ewropej sabiex jimmobilizzaw investiment massimu għall-iżvilup soċjali u ekonomiku. Impenn ta' EUR 117 mill-baġit tal-UE għall-mekkaniżmi ta' kombinazzjoni ġew segwiti min investiment ta' EUR 7 biljun mill-Istituzzjonijet Finanzjarji Ewropej. Dan l-approċċ għad jista' jiġi żviluppat aktar.

In addition, the EU needs to consider how a more sophisticated approach to the changing nature of partners can be developed, such as middle-income countries and emerging economies, where cooperation issues in areas including economic, environmental and social partnership are becoming increasingly important, alongside development ones.

3. 7. Infiq amministrattiv

Close and effective relations with the EU's closest neighbours

Fil-qafas finanzjarju kurrenti 5,7 % tal-baġit huwa użat għall-infiq amministrattiv. Dan ikopri mhux biss l-ispejjeż tal-persunal, l-IT u l-binjiet għall-Istituzzjonijiet kollha iżda wkoll l-ispejjeż meħtieġa biex wieħed jaħdem fi 23 lingwa. Issa li l-Istituzzjonijiet differenti fil-biċċa l-kbira lestew ir-reklutaġġ mill-Istati Membri l-ġodda, in-numri tal-persunal għandhom jistabbilizzaw. Fil-fatt, sa mill-2007, il-Kummissjoni ilha topera politika ta' tkabbir żero, u qed tiffaċċja prijoritajiet ġodda permezz ta' riallokazzjoni ta' persunal eżistenti u ma titlob l-ebda persunal addizzjonali minbarra għall-konsegwenzi tat-tkabbir. Il-Kunsill, il-Parlament u istituzzjonijiet oħra talbu xi postijiet addizzjonali marbut mat-Trattat ta' Liżbona. It-tnedija tas-SEAE inizjalment se titlob postijiet addizzjonali bħala appoġġ għar-reklutaġġ ta' diplomatiċi tal-Istati Membri għalkemm fuq perjodu ta' żmien il-proċess kollu għandu jfittex li jkun newtrali mil-lat baġitarju.

The EU's neighbourhood, with some 300 million people, represents an important opportunity for the EU. To secure long-term prosperity and stability and to prove its ability to assume its responsibilities as a global player, the EU needs to effectively promote its values and support economic development close to its borders. Financial support can be an important lever to deliver an effective neighbourhood policy. Here the emphasis should be on providing credible reform and cooperation incentives to the EU's neighbours, whether or not they have any long-term perspective of EU accession. Specific support should in particular be provided in the context of deep and comprehensive free trade agreements and the alignment with the single market acquis. Areas close to the acquis and to the EU's own strategic priorities – such as energy, migration and border controls, and environmental protection – should be prioritised, with a particular focus on capacity- and institution- building.

Parti mill-ħidma sabiex jiġi definit il-pakkett li jmiss tal-qafas finanzjarju għandha tkun tiftixa rigoruża għal żieda fl-effiċjenza u l-prestazzjoni fir-riżorsi amministrattivi. Dan jimplika li għandu jiġi eżaminat kif ir-razzjonalizzazzjoni u l-użu ta' proċeduri, għodod u riżorsi jistgħu jillimitaw l-ispiża tal-azzjoni għall-istituzzjonijiet u l-aġenziji tal-UE. Pereżempju, il-Kummissjoni għadha kif nediet analiżi importanti tal-użu tagħha tal-IT, maħsuba sabiex issaħħaħ il-prestazzjoni u tipprovdi ffrankar. Dan jista' jwassal għal iffrankar komuni permezz tal-iżvilupp ta' sistemi tal-IT komuni jew kondiviżi għall-istituzzjonijiet kollha. Koperazzjoni interistituzzjonali simili tista' ġġib magħha benefiċċji f'oqsma bħat-traduzzjoni jew il-ġestjoni tad-dokumenti. Qasam ieħor huwa t-tfassil tal-programmi tal-infiq infushom, fejn i-piż amministrattiv kemm għall-Kummissjoni kif ukoll għall-imsieħba għandu jkun kunsiderazzjoni imporanti. Fl-istess ħin, il-Kummissjoni se tkompli tirrialloka l-persunal sabiex tiffoka fuq il-prijoritajiet, tnaqqas l-ispejjeż fissi u żżid in-numru ta' dawk li jaħdmu fuq il-politika. Il-Kummissjoni se tirrevedi n-nefqa amministrattiva tagħha – u dik tal-aġenziji – bħala parti mill-preparazzjoni tagħha għall-qafas finanzjarju li jmiss sabiex jiġu identifikati modi kif jiġu ffaċċjati sfidi ġodda mir-riżorsi eżistenti, inkluż li jinstab il-bilanċ it-tajjeb bejn li jiġu implimentati l-programmi b'mod effettiv u li jiġu limitati l-ispejjeż amministrattivi.

The neighbourhood has already been one of the strongest examples where the EU budget and European Finance Institutions have worked together to leverage the maximum investment to social and economic development. A € 117 million commitment from the EU budget to blending mechanisms has been followed by a € 7 billion investment from European Financial Institutions. This approach could be developed still further

Globalment, se jkollha tiġi eżerċitata dixxiplina stretta mill-istituzzjonijiet kollha tal-UE sabiex jiġi żgurat li n-nefqa amministrattiva tinżamm limitata fil-futur.

3.6. Administrative expenditure

4. Baġit li Jagħti r-Riżultati

In the current financial framework 5.7% of the budget is used for administrative expenditure. This covers not only staff costs, IT and buildings for all the Institutions but also the costs of working in 23 languages. Now that the different Institutions have largely completed recruitment from the newer Member States, staff numbers should level off. Indeed, since 2007, the Commission has been operating a policy of zero growth, dealing with new priorities through redeployment of existing staff and asking for no extra staff beyond the consequences of enlargement. The Council, the Parliament and other institutions have requested some additional posts linked to the Lisbon Treaty. The launch of the EEAS will initially require additional posts to support the recruitment of Member State diplomats although over time the whole process should seek to be neutral from a budgetary point of view.

Infiq immirat tajjeb huwa indispensabbli iżda mhux biżżejjed. L-infiq irid ukoll isir b'mod li jkun imfassal biex jagħti r-riżultati. Biex l-investiment tal-pubbliku fil-baġit tal-UE jrendi, il-ġenerazzjoni li jmiss ta' programmi finanzjarji trid tiġi mfassla mill-ġdid sabiex l-effikaċja tkun fuq nett fuq l-aġenda.

Part of the work to define the next financial framework package must be a rigorous search for increased efficiency and performance in administrative resources. This implies examining how rationalisation and common use of procedures, tools and resources could limit the costs of action by the institutions and the agencies of the EU. For example, the Commission has just launched an important analysis of its use of IT, designed to enhance performance and produce economies. This could lead to common savings by developing common or shared IT systems for all the institutions. Similar inter-institutional cooperation could bring benefits in areas like translation or document management. Another area is the design of spending programmes themselves, where administrative burden for both the Commission and for partners should be an important consideration. At the same time, the Commission will continue to redeploy staff to focus on priorities, reduce overheads and increase those working on front line policy. The Commission will review its administrative expenditure – and that of the agencies – as part of its preparation for the next financial framework to identify ways of meeting new challenges from within existing resources, including finding the right balance between delivering programmes effectively and holding down administrative costs.

4.1. L-użu tal-baġit sabiex jiġi mmobilizzat l-investiment

Overall, a strict discipline will have to be pursued by all EU institutions to ensure that administrative expenditure is contained in the future.

L-impatt tal-baġit tal-Ue jista' jiġi mkabbar aktar ma jkun jista' jintuża sabiex jimmobilizza kemm fondi u kif ukoll finanzjament f'appoġġ għal investimenti strateġiċi bl-ogħla valur miżjud Ewropew. Strumenti finanzjarji innovattivi jistgħu jipprovdu fluss ġdid u importanti ta' finanzjament għall-investimenti strateġiċi. In-norma għall-proġetti b'potenzjal kummerċjali fit-tul għandha tkun li l-fondi tal-UE jintużaw fi sħubija mas-setturi privati u bankarji, partikolarment permezz tal-Bank Ewropew għall-Investiment (EIB), iżda wkoll ma' msieħba oħra inklużi l-banek tal-iżvilupp fl-Istati Membri u l-Bank Ewropew għar-Rikostruzzjoni u l-Iżvilupp (EBRD). Dan jitlob koordinazzjoni mill-qrib mill-bidu nett bejn l-esperti tekniċi tal-Kummissjoni u tal-banek: il-loġika ta' dan l-approċċ hija li l-proġetti huma appoġġjati abbażi ta' applikazzjoni kompetittiva mill-promoturi tal-proġetti, b'enfasi fuq il-valur miżjud tal-UE.

4. A Budget Delivering Results

Il-BEI għamel kontribuzzjoni maġġuri għar-rispons Ewropew għall-kriżi ekonomika. Issa huwa se jkollu rwol ewlieni fir-riforma tal-ekonomija Ewropea f'oqsma bħat-teknoloġija ħadra, l-infrastruttura u s-sigurtà tal-enerġija. Dan jista' jindika l-ħtieġa li jiġi ottimizzat l-użu tal-kapital tal-BEI, inkluż żieda fl-użu tal-mekkaniżmi tal-qsim tar-riskju sabiex tiġi permessa mobilizzazzjoni akbar tar-riżorsi tal-Bank u sabiex tiżdied is-saħħa tal-azzjoni tal-Bank. Il-Kummissjoni u l-BEI diġà rnexxielhom jiżviluppaw b'suċċess numru ta' strumenti finanzjarji komuni. Li jinġiebu flimkien l-għotjiet mill-baġit tal-UE u s-self tal-BEI u istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji oħra għamilha possibbli li jiġi ttripplat l-impatt finanzjarju tal-infiq estern tal-UE billi ġibed ammonti ħafna ikbar ta' investiment minn istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji. Dan għandu jiġi estiż sabiex isir in-norma f'oqsma ta' potenzjal kummerċjali fit-tul, b'regoli ġodda li jirregolaw l-istrumenti mħallta.

Well targeted spending is indispensable, but not enough. Spending also needs to be delivered in a way which is designed to bring results. If the public's investment in the EU budget is to pay off, the next generation of financial programmes needs to be reworked to put effectiveness at the top of the agenda.

B'mod ġenerali, il-programmi ta' nfiq jenħtieġ li jkunu sensittivi għall-ħtiġijiet tal-finanzjament privat – bħal f'termini ta' żmien meħtieġ u l-proċeduri diffiċli – preċiżi f'dak li jridu jiksbu, u deċiżi dwar meta l-UE għandha tirtira min proġetti li jkunu qegħdin jilħqu l-vijabbiltà kummerċjali. L-UE għandha tkun aktar lesta li tħares lejn sorsi ta' dħul miġbura minn utenti tal-infrastruttura bħal ħlasijiet marbuta mal-użu bħala mezz kif jiġu limitati l-ispejjeż fit-tul għall-kontribwenti. B'mod simili, aktar ma jiġu internalizzati l-ispejjeż esterni, aktar jiġi ġġenerat dħul sabiex jikkontribwixxi għall-investimenti meħtieġa sabiex jinkisbu miri strateġiċi bħall-aċċellerazzjoni tad-dekarbonizzazzjoni tal-ekonomija. L-istrumenti finanzjarji għandhom ikunu ffukati fuq li jindirizzaw imperfezzjonijiet identifikabbli tas-suq filwaqt li jqisu l-istat tas-swieq finanzjarji nazzjonali, l-ambjent legali u regolatorju u l-ħtiġijiet tal-benefiċjarji.

4.1. Using the budget to leverage investment

L-istrument finanzjarju l-ġdid għall-implimentazzjoni tal-baġit irid ikun intelliġenti, integrat u flessibbli. Huma jistgħu jindirizzaw ħtiġijiet differenti ta' politika iżda bl-użu ta' strumenti konsistenti. Il-liġijiet tal-finanzjament huma essenzjalment l-istess, indipendentement mis-settur involut: il-kumpaniji u l-proġetti fi stadji differenti ta' żvilupp jeħtieġu l-ekwità, jew dejn, jew taħlita tat-tnejn. Il-firxa ta' strumenti finanzjarji tal-baġit tal-UE meħtieġa hija essenzjalment ta' żewġ tipi u tista' tiġi pprovduta permezz ta' żewġ mekkaniżmi ġenerali li jintużaw mill-programmi ta' nfiq differenti, Mekkankiżmu tal-Pjattaforma tal-Ekwità tal-UE u Mekkaniżmu tal-Pjattaforma tal-Qsim tar-Riskju tal-UE (inklużi l-garanziji). Meta wieħed iħares lejn l-għażla tal-garanziji tas-self bħala waħda mill-għażliet għall-istrumenti finanzjarji innovattivi, l-implikazzjonijiet tal-mobilizzazzjoni ta' flus oħra mal-baġit tal-UE għandhom jiġu analizzati bir-reqqa sabiex jiġi rrispettat il-limitu massimu tar-riżorsi proprji, partikolarment fid-dawl tal-iskemi eżistenti ta' garanzija. Użu aktar ġenerali tal-baġit tal-UE bħala strument sabiex jiġi ggarantit is-self u l-bonds ikun jitlob li jittieħed kont xieraq tal-kapaċità li jiġu sottoskritti dawn il-garanziji.

The impact of the EU budget can be magnified the more it can be used to leverage both funding and financing to support strategic investments with the highest European added value. Innovative financial instruments could provide an important new financing stream for strategic investments. The norm for projects with long-term commercial potential should be that EU funds are used in partnership with the private and banking sectors, particularly via the European Investment Bank (EIB), but also with other partners including development banks in Member States and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This requires close upstream coordination between the technical expertise of both the Commission and the banks: the logic of such an approach is that projects are supported on the basis of competitive application by the project promoters, with a focus on EU added value.

4.2. Bonds ta' proġetti tal-UE

The EIB has made a major contribution to the European response to the economic crisis. Now it will play a key role in reforming Europe's economy in areas like green technology, infrastructure and energy security. This may point to a need to optimize use of EIB capital, including an increased use of risk sharing mechanisms to permit a higher leverage of the Bank's resources and enhance the Bank's reach. The Commission and the EIB have already successfully developed a number of common financial instruments. Blending between grants from the EU budget and loans from the EIB and other financial institutions has made it possible to treble the financial impact of EU external spending by attracting huge multiples of investment from financial institutions. This should be extended to become the norm in areas of long-term commercial potential, with new rules to govern blended instruments.

Il-potenzjal tal-istrumenti innovattivi tal-finanzjament u ċ-ċirkostanzi partikolari tal-ekonomija Ewropea llum ġew flimkien fl-idea tal-bonds tal-proġetti tal-UE. L-ekonomija tal-UE hija dipendenti ħafna fuq l-infrastruttura, f'oqsma bħall-enerġija, it-trasport u l-ICT. L-objettivi tal-Ewropa 2020 għall-modernizzazzjoni tal-ekonomija Ewropea se jitolbu investiment kbir ħafna[10]. L-UE diġà tista' tgħin proġetti bħal dawn billi tipprovdi direzzjoni strateġika konsistenti għall-investituri li jieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet għal ħafna snin fil-futur, u billi tipprovdi l-qafas finanzjarju tajjeb. Iżda wara l-kriżi finanzjarja, l-investituri għadhom qed jibqgħu lura. Il-proġetti ta' interess strateġiku ewlieni għall-UE qed isibuha impossibbli li jakkwistaw l-investiment meħtieġ. Il-baġits nazzjonali mhumiex f'pożizzjoni li jieħdu f'idejhom il-finanzjament ta' dawn il-proġetti, u fil-fatt qed ifittxu soluzzjonijiet alternattivi sabiex iġorru responsabbiltà akbar għall-infrastruttura. It-tidwim tal-proġetti jista' jċaħħad lill-UE mill-benefiċċji ekonomiċi u oħrajn mill-infrastruttura, u joħloq riskju ta' soluzzjonijiet aktar għaljin fil-futur.

In general, spending programmes need to be both sensitive to the needs of private finance – such as in terms of lead time and burdensome procedures – precise as to what they want to achieve, and hard-headed about when the EU should step out of projects reaching commercial viability. The EU could be more open to looking at revenue streams collected from users of infrastructure such as tolls as a means to limit the long-term costs to taxpayers. Similarly, the more that external costs can be internalised, the more revenues can be generated to contribute to the investments needed to achieve strategic goals like accelerating the decarbonisation of the economy. Financial instruments should be focused on addressing identifiable market failures taking into account the state of national financial markets, the legal and regulatory environment and the needs of final beneficiaries.

Il-bonds tal-proġetti tal-UE jkunu mfassla sabiex isewwu dan in-nuqqas, sabiex jagħtu kunfidenza biżżejjed biex proġetti importanti ta' investiment jiġbdu l-appoġġ li jeħtieġu. Il-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment u l-istituzzjonijiet il-kbar l-oħra diġà qed jagħmlu kontribuzzjoni kbira permezz tas-self dirett tagħhom u l-BEI b'mod partikolari rrispondiet għall-kriżi bi tnaqqis kbir fl-iskala tas-self. Iżda d-daqs tal-isfida tal-infrastruttura huwa tali li l-UE jenħtiġilha tgħin sabiex jiġi utilizzat finanzjament privat.

The new financial instruments for budget delivery must be smart, integrated and flexible. They can address many different policy needs, but using consistent instruments. The laws of financing are essentially the same, regardless of the sector involved: companies and projects in different stages of development need equity, or debt, or a combination of both. The “tool-kit” of EU budget financial instruments required is essentially twofold, and could be delivered through two general mechanisms to be used by the different spending programmes, an EU Equity Platform Mechanism and an EU Risk Sharing Platform Mechanism (including guarantees).When looking at the option of loan guarantees as one of the options for innovative financial instruments, the implications of leveraging the EU budget need to be carefully analysed in order to respect the own resources ceiling, notably in the light of existing guarantee schemes. A more general use of the EU budget as an instrument to guarantee loans and bonds would need to take proper account of the capacity to underwrite such guarantees.

Dan jista' jinkiseb bl-użu ta' approprjazzjonijiet mill-baġit tal-UE f'appoġġ għal proġetti sal-punt meħtieġ sabiex tissaħħaħ il-klassifikazzjoni tal-kreditu tagħhom, u b'hekk jiġi attratt finanzjament mill-BEI, istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji oħra, u investituri privati tas-suq tal-kapital bħal fondi tal-pensjonijiet u kumpaniji tal-assigurazzjoni. Il-garanziji tal-UE u/jew il-BEI jinħarġu favur strumenti speċjali mwaqqfa mis-settur privat sabiex jiġbdu finanzjament tas-swieq kapitali għall-proġett. Il-proġetti li jibbenefikaw minn din il-faċilità jkunu jridu juru li hemm interess strateġiku tal-UE, u fl-istess ħin jissodisfaw ċerti kriterji għall-vijabbiltà. Għalhekk, l-appoġġ ma jistax jiġi preallokat fuq l-Istati Membri jew setturi iżda jmur lejn dawk il-proġetti li jirnexxilhom jiksbu finanzjament xieraq mis-settur privat. L-iskala taż-żmien għall-ħlas lura jkun jiddependi fuq stima tal-ammont ta' żmien meħtieġ biex il-proġett jilħaq il-vijabbiltà.

4.2. EU project bonds

4.3. Proġetti fuq skala kbira

The potential of innovative financing instruments and the particular circumstances of the European economy today come together in the idea of EU project bonds. The EU economy is heavily dependent on infrastructure, in areas like energy, transport and ICT. The Europe 2020 objectives for modernisation of the European economy will require huge investment [10]. The EU can already help such projects by providing a consistent strategic direction for investors taking decisions for many decades to come, and by providing the right regulatory framework. But in the wake of the financial crisis, investors remain reluctant. Projects of key strategic interest for the EU are finding it impossible to secure the investment required. National budgets are not in a position to take over funding of such projects, and indeed are looking for alternative solutions to shoulder a greater responsibility for infrastructure. Delaying projects could deprive the EU of the economic and other benefits from the infrastructure, and risk higher-cost solutions in the future.

Teżisti kwistjoni partikolari li tirrigwarda proġetti ta' skala kbira li jeħtieġu kontribuzzjonijiet ta' bosta biljuni ta' Euro fuq perjodi twal. L-UE qed tikseb esperjenza konsiderevoli ta' proġetti bħal Galileo, ITER, u GMES. Dawn il-proġetti huma rikonoxxuti li għandhom importanza strateġika, u jista' jkollhom potenzjal kummerċjali fit-tul. Huma jeħtieġu kollaborazzjoni tranżnazzjonali biex jaħdmu. Madankollu, huma wkoll suġġetti għal infiq li jista' jaqbeż dak ippjanat b'ammont sinifikanti u l-governanza tagħhom ftit li xejn hi adattata għall-ġestjoni diretta mill-istituzzjonijiet tal-UE. L-inċertezzi baġitarji ftit li xejn huma kompatibbli mal-mod kif huwa ppjanat il-baġit tal-UE Approċċ alternattiv ikun li l-promoturi tal-proġetti jwaqqfu struttura ta' appoġġ bħala entità separata, bl-interess attiv tal-Uesabiex tiġi żgurata governanza effettiva, u li għaliha l-baġit tal-UE jkun jagħmel kontribut stabbli fil-forma ta' kontribuzzjoni annwali fissa mingħajr preżunzjoni li l-UE tħallas kwalunkwe flus li jkunu jonqsu.

EU project bonds would be designed to plug this gap, to give sufficient confidence to allow major investment projects to attract the support they need. The European Investment Bank and other major financial institutions already make a major contribution by their direct lending, and the EIB in particular has responded to the crisis with a major increase in the scale of lending. But the size of the infrastructure challenge is such that the EU needs to help to unlock private finance.

4.4. L-inċentivizzazzjoni tal-użu tar-riżorsi

This could be achieved by using appropriations from the EU budget to support projects to the extent required to enhance their credit rating, and thereby attract financing by the EIB, other financial institutions, and private capital market investors like pension funds and insurance companies. The EU and/or EIB guarantees would be issued in favour of special vehicles set up by the private sector to attract capital market financing for the project. The projects benefitting from such a facility would need to demonstrate an EU strategic interest, as well as meeting certain criteria for viability. As such the support could not be pre-allocated across Member States or sectors but would flow to those projects that manage to attract appropriate private sector financing. The timescale for repayment would depend on an assessment of the length of time required for the project to reach viability.

Il-baġit tal-UE jista' jkun aġent qawwi favur ir-riforma – kif rikonoxxut fid-dibattitu kurrenti dwar l-użu tas-sanzjonijiet u l-inċentivi finanzjarji sabiex jiġi żgurat ir-rispett tal-Patt ta' Stabbilità u Tkabbir. Għalhekk, hemm kull raġuni biex din l-influwenza tintuża fi ħdan programmi li jiżguraw twettiq effettiv. L-ideat ippreżentati hawn fuq fir-rigward tal-politika tal-koeżjoni jistgħu jiġu applikati f'kuntesti oħra u jixterdu għal oqsma oħra ta' nfiq, u jiddefinixxu sett speċifiku ta' miri li fuqhom ikun jiddependi l-ħlas tal-fondi. Approċċi oħra jinkludu t-twarrib ta' riżerva għall-UE kollha fil-programmi kollha, jew li r-rati tal-kofinanzjament jiġu mmodulati skont il-prestazzjoni. F'dawn il-każijiet kollha, ikun essenzjali li jiġi żgurat trattament ġust tal-Istati Membri kollha, u t-trasparenza u l-awtomatiċità.

4.3. Large scale projects

Dan jitlob approċċ differenti u għodod differenti. Il-programmi għandhom jipprovdu għad-definizzjoni ta' objettivi speċifiċi, li jistgħu jitkejlu, li jistgħu jinkisbu, relevanti u b'limiti taż-żmien u kif ukoll għal indikaturi xierqa tal-prestazzjoni. Kriterji ċari ta' evalwazzjoni huma meħtieġa sakemm sistema ta' inċentivi tkun tista' tiffunzjona tajjeb, u hija meħtieġa wkoll evalwazzjoni sistematika u msaħħa. Applikati b'mod sistematiku u mingħajr dewmien, l-evalwazzjonijiet jista jkollhom rwol ewlieni fl-isforz globali sabiex jiġi mmassimizzat il-valur miżjud tal-infiq tal-UE.

A particular issue arises for large scale projects requiring multi billion Euro contributions over long periods. The EU is gaining considerable experience of projects like Galileo, ITER, and GMES. These projects are acknowledged to have major strategic importance, and could have long-term commercial potential. They need transnational collaboration to work. However, they are also subject to significant cost overruns and their governance is not well-suited to the direct management of the EU institutions. The budgetary uncertainties are hardly compatible with the way in which the EU budget is planned. An alternative approach would be for the project promoters to set up a support structure as a separate entity, with the active interest of the EU to ensure effective governance, and to which the EU budget would make a stable contribution in the form of a fixed annual contribution with no assumption that the EU should make up any shortfalls.

4.5. Struttura li tirrifletti l-prijoritajiet

4.4. Incentivising the use of resources

L-istruttura tal-baġit hija minnha nnifisha għodda importanti għall-komunikazzjoni u l-implimentazzjoni tal-iskop tal-infiq u l-objettivi li għandhom jiġu milħuqa. Hemm benefiċċju ovvju f'baġit li huwa fl-istruttura, u wkoll fil-bilanċ, jirrifletti l-prijoritajiet politiċi tal-UE. L-istruttura kurrenti għamlet xi progress f'dik id-direzzjoni, iżda pass ieħor ikun jew li jitnaqqas in-numru tal-intestaturi għall-minimu jew li l-baġit jiġi organizzat madwar l-istrateġija Ewropa 2020. L-ewwel alternattiva tista' tikkonsisti fi 3 intestaturi: Infiq intern, Infiq estern u Nfiq amministrattiv. It-tieni alternattiva tindika li tliet sottointestaturi jieħdu post l-Intestatura I – III kurrenti u jkopru politiki fejn iċ-ċentru tal-gravità jaqa' taħt it-tliet kurrenti tat-tkabbir intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiv, flimkien mar-raba' sottointestatura “interna” dwar il-politiki taċ-ċittadinanza. Dan ikun ikkumplimentat minn żewġ intestaturi finali, waħda li tkopri l-politiki esterni (l-Intestatura IV kurrenti) u oħra li tkopri l-amministrazzjoni.

The EU budget can be a powerful agent for reform – as recognised in the current debate about using financial sanctions and incentives to ensure respect for the Stability and Growth Pact. So there is every reason to use this influence within programmes to ensure effective delivery. The ideas set out above in respect of cohesion policy could be applied in other contexts and spread to all areas of spending, defining a specific set of targets on which disbursement of the funds would depend. Other approaches include setting aside an EU-wide reserve in most programmes, or modulating co-financing rates to performance. In all these cases, it would be essential to assure fair treatment of all Member States, transparency and automaticity.

4.6. It-tul tal-QFM

This requires a different approach and different tools. Programmes should provide for the definition of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed objectives as well as for appropriate performance indicators. Clear evaluation criteria are needed before an incentive system can work fairly, as well as systematic and enhanced evaluation. Applied systematically and in good time, evaluations can play a pivotal role in the overall effort aimed at maximising the added value of EU spending.

Qafas finanzjarju multiannwali jippermetti konsistenza u prevedibbiltà fit-tul. Huwa jiggarantixxi wkoll dixxiplina baġitarja u l-funzjonament tajjeb taċ-ċiklu baġitarju. Madankollu, kull qafas huwa r-riżultat ta' deċiżjonijiet politiċi li jenħtieġ li jirriflettu t-tibdil fil-preferenzi politiċi.

4.5. A structure to reflect priorities

L-aħħar tliet oqfsa finanzjarji ġew konklużi għal perjodu ta' seba' snin. Il-Parlament Ewropew[11] flimkien ma' xi wħud mill-parteċipanti fil-konsultazzjoni pubblika kienu tal-fehma li dan it-tul ta' żmien kellu jitnaqqas għal ħames snin. Raġuni ewlenija kienet sabiex it-tul jiġi allinjat mat-terminu tal-Parlament Ewropew u mal-mandat tal-Kummissjoni. Perjodu ta' ħames snin jippermetti lil kull Kummissjoni sabiex tipproponi u lil kull Parlament biex jinnegozja qafas, anki jekk dawn ma jilħqux jaraw l-implimentazzjoni tal-qafas. Perjodu ta' ħames snin iġib miegħu wkoll xi vantaġġi f'termini tal-abbiltà li jiġu riflessi ħtiġijiet ġodda, u xi żvantaġġi f'termini ta' perjodi ta' żmien meħtieġa għall-ippjanar: perjodi itwal mhux biss jippermettu lill-programmi sabiex jagħmlu tibdiliet iktar profondi, iżda jista' jkun li huma aktar kompatibbli max-xejriet tal-investiment tas-settur privat. Għażla oħra mmirata fuq id-dati speċifiċi kkonċernati tkun perjodu ta' seba' snin b'reviżjoni maġġuri wara ħames snin, li jippermetti riallokazzjoni finali mmirata speċifikament lejn l-Ewropa 2020. Dan espliċitament jevita li jippreġudika l-futur.

The structure of the budget is itself an important tool for communicating and delivering on the purpose of the spending and the objectives to be reached. There is an obvious benefit in a budget which in structure, as well as balance, reflects the EU's political priorities. The current structure made some progress in that direction, but a further step would be to either reduce the number of headings to the minimum or organise the budget around the Europe 2020 strategy. The first alternative could consist of 3 headings: Internal expenditure, External expenditure and Administrative expenditure. The second alternative would point to three sub-headings replacing the current Headings I – III and covering policies where the centre of gravity falls under the three strands of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, in addition to a fourth "internal" sub-heading on citizenship policies. This would be complemented by two final headings, one covering external policies (current Heading IV) and another covering administration.

Madankollu, l-aktar soluzzjoni attraenti tista' tkun perjodu ta' għaxar snin, iżda b'reviżjoni sostanzjali f'nofs il-perjodu (“5+5”). Taħt dan l-approċċ, ikun hemm opportunità għal riprijoritizzazzjoni maġġuri. Il-limiti massimi globali u l-istrumenti globali ewlenin ikunu ffissati għal għaxar snin. Iżda d-distribuzzjoni tar-riżorsi fi ħdan l-intestaturi, u l-prijoritizzazzjoni fi ħdan il-programmi u l-istrumenti, tibqa' miftuħa għal rivalutazzjoni. Approċċ wieħed ikun li dan jiġi ffaċilitat permezz ta' żamma ta' riżervi u marġini sostanzjali fil-partijiet kollha tal-baġit.

4.6. The duration of the MFF

4.7. Nirrispondu għat-tibdil fiċ-ċirkostanzi

A multiannual financial framework allows long-term consistency and predictability. It also guarantees budgetary discipline and the smooth functioning of the budgetary cycle. However, each framework is the fruit of political decisions which need to reflect changing political preferences.

Wieħed mill-kompromessi l-aktar diffiċli li jridu jinstabu fil-baġit huwa dak bejn il-prevedibilità u l-flessibilità. Iżda huwa ċar li l-baġit kurrenti rriżulta inflessibbli wisq sabiex jiffaċċja l-pressjoni tal-iżviluppi. Ħtiġijiet pressanti sabiex l-UE tirrispondi għal żviluppi esterni miz-tsunami u l-Lvant Nofsani, segwiti mill-ħtieġa qawwija ta' reazzjoni għall-kriżi ekonomika, kixfu n-nuqqasijiet tal-approċċ kurrenti. Meta l-immirar tajjeb huwa daqshekk kruċjali għall-infiq effettiv, u meta t-tibdil fiċ-ċirkostanzi qed jimponi tibdil fil-prijoritajiet, huwa ċar li r-riġidità tal-baġit tagħmel ħsara għall-kwalità tal-infiq. Huwa ġust li l-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill jeżerċitaw l-iskrutinju xieraq tal-bidliet fid-direzzjoni tal-infiq. Iżda l-grad sa liema jista' jsir it-tibdil, u l-proċeduri li bihom dan l-iskrutinju jiġi eżerċitat, it-tnejn jeħtieġu riforma. L-esperjenza tissuġġerixxi li s-soluzzjoni ovvja taż-żieda fil-marġini ma rriżultatx bħala possibbli quddiem pressjonijiet biex jiġi riallokat l-infiq. Għaldaqstant, jista' jintlaħaq ftehim dwar perċentwal fiss – pereżempju 5%, bħala figura obbligatorja. Din iċ-ċifra tista' wkoll tiġi stabbilita għal livell aktar baxx għall-ewwel ħames snin tal-perjodu finanzjarju u għal livell għola għall-ħames snin li jibqa' tal-perjodu finanzjarju, jew tkun tiżdied minn sena għal sena. Dan jagħti l-possibiltà li prijoritajiet ġodda jitqiesu aħjar fl-okkażjoni tar-reviżjoni ta' nofs il-perjodu. Mezzi oħra sabiex tiżdied il-flessibilità jinkludu:

The last three financial frameworks were concluded for a period of seven years. The European Parliament [11] as well as some of the participants to the public consultation have taken the view that this duration should be brought down to five years. A major reason was to align the duration with the term of the European Parliament and Commission's mandate. A five year period would allow each Commission to propose and each Parliament to negotiate a framework, even if they would not see the framework implemented. A five year period would also bring some advantages in terms of an ability to reflect new needs, and some disadvantages in terms of planning lead-times: longer periods not only allow programmes to make deeper changes, they may also fit in better with the investment patterns of the private sector. Another option targeted on the specific dates in question would be a seven year period with a major review after five years, to allow a final reallocation targeted specifically on Europe 2020. This would explicitly avoid prejudging the future.

- Flessibilità fir-riallokazzjoni biex isir it-trasferiment bejn l-intestaturi f'sena partikolari, sa limitu speċifiku;

However, the most attractive solution may be a ten year period, but with a substantial mid-term review ("5+5"). Under this approach, there would be an opportunity for a major re-prioritisation. Overall ceilings and the core legal instruments could be fixed for ten years. But the distribution of resources within headings, and the prioritisation within programmes and instruments, could be left open for re-assessment. One approach would be to facilitate this through the retention of substantial reserves and margins in all parts of the budget.

- Possibiltà li marġini mhux użati jiġu trasferiti minn sena għal oħra - għal darba oħra sa limiti maqbula;

4.7. Responding to changing circumstances

- Il-libertà li l-infiq isir fil-biċċa l-kbira tiegħu lejn il-bidu jew lejn l-aħħar fi ħdan il-pakkett multiannwali tal-intestatura għal azzjoni kontroċiklika u rispons sinifikattiv għal kriżijiet maġġuri;

One of the most difficult balances to strike in the budget is the balance between predictability and flexibility. But it is clear that the current budget has proved too inflexible to meet the pressure of events. Pressing needs for the EU to respond to external events from the tsunami and the Middle East, followed by the compelling need to react to the economic crisis, showed the shortcomings of the current approach. With proper targeting so crucial to effective spending, and changing circumstances imposing changing priorities, the rigidity of the budget clearly damages the quality of spending. It is right for the European Parliament and the Council to exercise proper scrutiny of changes in the direction of spending. But the extent of the changes possible, and the procedures by which this scrutiny are exercised, both need reform. Experience suggests that the obvious solution of increased margins has not proved possible in the face of pressures to pre-allocate spending. Therefore a fixed percentage – such as 5%, could be agreed as an obligatory figure. Such a figure could also be set at a lower level for the first 5 years of the financial period and at a higher percentage for the remaining years of the financial period, or be set to increase year on year. This would give the possibility to take new priorities better into account at the occasion of the mid-term review. Other means to increase flexibility include:

- Żieda fid-daqs, jew fil-firxa, tal-Istrument tal-Flessibiltà eżistenti u r-Riżerva tal-Għajnuna ta' Emerġenza, u amalgamazzjoni possibbli bejniethom.

– A reallocation flexibility to transfer between headings in a given year, within a specific limit;

Il-ftehim ta' flessibiltà kurrenti ta' 0,03% miftiehem b'maġġoranza kwalifikata għandu wkoll jinżamm bħala miżura ta' sikurezza importanti li tippermetti devjazzjonijiet limitati mil-limiti massimi previsti.

– A possibility to transfer unused margins from one year to another – again, within agreed limits;

Dawn il-bidliet kollha għandhom jakkumpanjaw mod ta' ħsieb differenti. L-enfasi għandu jiġi trasferit minn allokazzjonijiet finanzjarji permanenti u predeterminati għall-użu ta' riżorsi skarsi tal-UE għal investimenti strateġiċi ta' tul limitat, u li jiġi mistenni li li wieħed jirċievi l-fondi jkun jiddependi fuq il-prestazzjoni.

– Freedom to front or backload spending within a heading's multi-annual envelope, to allow for countercyclical action and a meaningful response to major crises;

4.8. Simplifikazzjoni u mminimizzar ta' piżijiet amministrattivi mhux neċessarji

– Increasing the size, or widening the scope, of the existing Flexibility Instrument and Emergency Aid Reserve, and possibly merging them.

Il-konsultazzjoni pubblika tat messaġġ ċar li l-proċeduri ta' implimentazzjoni u r-rekwiżiti ta' kontroll huma kkumplikati wisq u jistgħu jkunu diżinċentiv reali għall-parteċipazzjoni fil-programmi tal-UE. L-UE għandha responsabbiltà li tiżgura li l-fondi jintefqu tajjeb, iżda tista' wkoll tieħu serje ta' miżuri li jnaqqsu l-piż amministrattiv għar-riċevituri tal-fondi, u tnaqqas l-ispejjeż amministrattivi tal-UE – u b'hekk tagħmilha possibbli li parti akbar mir-riżorsi jiġu diretti lejn l-iskop aħħari:

The current 0.03% flexibility arrangement agreed by qualified majority should also be maintained as an important safety valve allowing limited deviations from the foreseen ceilings.

- L-UE għandha regoli finanzjarji komuni fir-Regolament Finanzjarju tagħha. Iżda r-regoli u l-proċeduri implimentattivi jistgħu jvarjaw konsiderevolment minn strument ta' politika għal ieħor. Għandu jintlaħaq qbil dwar sett ċar ta' prinċipji komuni sabiex id-differenzi jitnaqqsu għal dak li hu strettament neċessarju. Li jintrabtu flimkien strumenti differenti f'qafas ta' implimentazzjon komuni huwa mod tajjeb kif il-punt ta' interazzjon taċ-ċittadini, in-negozji, partikolarment l-SMEs, u l-gvernijiet jiġi megħjun permezz tal-baġit tal-UE.

All these changes should accompany a different mindset. The emphasis should shift from permanent and pre-determined financial allocations to using the scarce EU resources for strategic investments of limited duration, and expecting that the receipt of funds is dependent on delivery.

- Il-proposta riċenti tal-Kummissjoni sabiex jiġi revedut ir-Regolament Finanzjarju fiha miżuri ambizzjużi sabiex jiġu stabbiliti regoli finanzjarji ssimplifikati. Dan għandu jiġi investigat aktar sabiex ikun jista' jipprovdi għal proċeduri eħfef għal għotjiet iżgħar (limiti minimi jistgħu jiġu stabbiliti f'livell ogħla għal proġetti żgħar bħal dawn), u għal użu akbar ta' ħlasijiet ta' darba, u wkoll għal skemi bbażati fuq il-prestazzjoni.

4.8. Simplifying and minimising unnecessary administrative burdens

4.9. Niżguraw ġestjoni finanzjarja tajba

The public consultation has conveyed a clear message that implementation procedures and control requirements are too complicated and can be a real disincentive to participation in EU programmes. The EU has a responsibility to ensure that funds are well spent, but it could also take a series of measures to reduce the administrative burden for recipients of funds, and to cut EU administrative costs – allowing more of the resources to be directed at the end purpose:

L-infiq pubbliku jitlob kontroll effettiv, effiċjenti u proporzjonat. Huwa għandu jipprovdi l-assigurazzjoni neċessarja għaċ-ċittadini u r-rappreżentanti tagħhom fil-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill li l-baġit tal-UE qed jintefaq tajjeb. Iżda hemm punt fejn il-piż tal-kontrolli jħassar l-effikaċja tal-programm. Approċċ aktar modulat għall-kontrolli mitluba fl-Istati Membri differenti, u fehim komuni tar-riskju tollerabbli ta' żbalji f'oqsma differenti ta' politika, it-tnejn li huma jgħinu sabiex jintlaħaq il-bilanċ korrett.

– The EU has common financial rules in its Financial Regulation. But implementing rules and procedures may vary considerably from one policy instrument to another. A clear set of common principles should be agreed to reduce differences to the absolutely necessary. Linking different instruments together in a common implementation framework is a good way to help the interface of citizens, businesses, especially SMEs, and governments with the EU budget.

Fi żminijiet riċenti, il-Kummissjoni ddedikat ħafna attenzjoni sabiex iżżid l-effikaċja tas-sistemi ta' ġestjoni u kontroll, b'objettiv li tinkiseb Dikjarazzjoni ta' Assigurazzjoni mingħajr kwalifika mill-Qorti Ewropea tal-Awdituri. Ir-riżultati huma pożittivi iżda jista' jsir aktar, b'mod partikolari permezz ta' ħidma mal-Istati Membri li jimplimentaw parti importanti mill-baġit f'ġestjoni maqsuma mal-Kummissjoni. Is-sistema li l-ħlasijiet jiġu bbażati fuq dikjarazzjoni tal-ħlasijiet mill-Istati Membri, minflok milli fuq l-infiq tal-benefiċjarji – kif użat illum għall-infiq tal-PAK – tagħmel il-proċess tal-kontrolli aktar lokali u tippermetti aktar allinjament mal-proċeduri nazzjonali eżistenti. Din tkun proċedura aktar ċara u regolari miċ-ċentralizzazzjoni tal-kontrolli fuq il-livell tal-UE. Hija tista' tkun marbuta ma' dikjarazzjonijiet ta' assigurazzjoni affidabbli nazzjonali sabiex tiġi ssottolineata r-responsabbiltà tal-awtoritajiet pubbliċi li jiġġestixxu riżorsi tal-UE.

– The recent Commission proposal to revise the Financial Regulation contains bold measures to put in place simplified financial rules. This should be looked at further to allow for lighter procedures for smaller grants (thresholds could be set at a higher level for such small projects), and more use of lump sum payments, as well as performance-based schemes.

Li jiġi miżjud l-ammon ta' fondi mgħoddija permezz ta' strumenti finanzjarji jkun ifisser tibdiliet profondi fil-mod kif il-Kummissjoni tiġġestixxi n-nefqa tal-baġit tagħha. Il-Kummissjoni se tiddelega dejjem aktar id-dmirijiet tal-implimentazzjoni tal-baġit u tikkopera ma' istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji ewlenin bħall-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment (BEI)[12]. Dan joħloq il-ħtieġa li jiġu allinjati aspetti ċentrali tat-tfassil u l-ġestjoni tal-istrumenti finanzjarji, sabiex jinstab il-bilanċ it-tajjeb bejn approċċ komuni fir-relazzjonijiet tal-Kummissjoni mal-imsieħba tagħha fil-finanzjament, b'ħarsien tal-interessi finanzjarji tal-UE, u li tinżamm il-flessibilità meħtieġa fuq il-livell tal-implimentazzjoni sabiex jiġi żgurat li l-politiki jitwettqu b'mod effettiv. Dan iġib ukoll viżibilità politika akbar, effiċjenza amministrattiva permezz tas-simplifikazzjoni, rappurtar u monitoraġġ simplifikat, u fl-aħħar nett evalwazzjoni eħfef minn strument għal ieħor.

4.9. Ensuring sound financial management

5. Il-Baġit tal-UE bħala għodda sabiex tiġi appoġġjata l-governanza ekonomika

Public spending requires effective, efficient and proportionate control. It must provide the necessary assurances for citizens and their representatives in the European Parliament and the Council that the EU budget is being well spent. But there is a point when the burden of controls negates the effectiveness of the programme. A more modulated approach to the controls required in different Member States, and a common understanding of the tolerable risk of error for different policy areas, would both help to secure the right balance.

L-isforz għat-tkabbir u l-impjiegi fl-Unjoni Ewropea jitlob approċċ sħiħ. Dan jinsab fil-qalba tal-istrateġija Ewropa 2020. L-istabbiltà makroekonomika u r-riformi strutturali mhumiex alternattivi, iżda imperattivi li jirrinfurzaw ukoll lil xulxin. Huwa għalhekk naturali li ssir konnessjoni bejn il-baġit tal-UE u t-tisħiħ tal-governanza ekonomika.

In recent years, the Commission has devoted much attention to increasing the effectiveness of management and control systems, with an objective of achieving an unqualified Statement of Assurance by the European Court of Auditors. The results are positive but more can be done, in particular by working with the Member States who implement an important part of the budget in shared management with the Commission. The system of basing payments on a declaration of payments by Member States, rather than on expenditure by beneficiaries – as used today for CAP expenditure – would make the process of controls more local and allow more alignment with existing national procedures. This would be a more straightforward and regular procedure than centralising controls at EU level. It could be linked to reliable national statements of assurance to underline the accountability of public authorities handling EU resources.

Il-Kummissjoni stabbiliet varjetà ta' miżuri maħsuba sabiex tiġi rriformata l-governanza ekonomika u sabiex din issir aktar effettiva[13]. Hija se timxi 'l quddiem b'dawn il-kwistjonijiet fil-kuntest tad-dibattitu dwar il-governanza ekonomika wara l-Kunsill Ewropew ta' Ottubru.

Increasing the amount of funds channelled through financial instruments will mean profound changes in the way the Commission manages its budget expenditure. The Commission will increasingly delegate budget implementation tasks and cooperate with key financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) [12]. This creates a need to align core aspects of the design and management of financial instruments, to secure the right balance between a common approach in the Commission’s dealings with its financing partners, safeguarding the EU’s financial interests, and leaving the flexibility required at implementation level to ensure that policies are delivered effectively. This would also secure higher political visibility, administrative efficiency through simplification, streamlined reporting and monitoring, and finally easier evaluation across instruments.

6. Inqisu t-Tkabbir

5. The EU Budget as a tool to support economic governance

It-tkabbir futur inevitabilment se jkollu impatt fuq il-baġit tal-UE, kemm f'termini ta' żidiet potenzjali fid-dħul kif ukoll f'termini ta' impenji għall-infiq. Filwaqt li l-Istati Membri l-ġodda se jżidu l-PGD kumulat u joħolqu opportunitajiet ġodda għall-espansjoni ekonomika, huma se jsiru eliġibbli wkoll għall-fondi strutturali u għal fondi oħrajn. Iż-żmien li fih isiru l-adeżjonijiet jiddependi fuq kemm il-kandidati jistgħu jissodisfaw il-kriterji neċessarji malajr. F'dan il-kuntest, il-Kunsill Ewropew ta' Diċembru 2006 impenja ruħu li ma jistabbilixxix miri għal dati tal-adeżjoni sakemm in-negozjati ma jkunux waslu biex jintemmu. Għalhekk, il-qafas finanzjarju l-ġdid ma għandu jantiċipa l-ebda deċiżjoni politika dwar it-tkabbir futur li se tkun ibbażata fuq kemm pajjiż ikun lest għas-sħubija. Ladarba jintlaħaq qbil dwar l-adeżjonijiet u jiġu kkonfermati d-dati, il-qafas finanzjarju għandu jiġi aġġustat sabiex iqis il-ħtiġijiet ta' nfiq li jirriżultaw mill-eżitu tan-negozjati tal-adeżjoni.

The drive for growth and jobs in the European Union requires a complete approach. That is at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy. Macroeconomic stability and structural reforms are not alternatives, but dual imperatives which also reinforce each other. It is therefore natural to make a connection between the EU budget and the reinforcement of economic governance.

7. Riforma tal-finanzjament tal-UE

The Commission has set out a variety of measures to reform economic governance and make it more effective [13]. It will take these issues forward in the context of the debate on economic governance following the October European Council.

Bħan-naħa tal-infiq tal-baġit, l-istruttura tan-naħa tal-finanzjament evolviet b'mod konsiderevoli matul iż-żmien. Il-kontribuzzjoni bbażata fuq id-DNG ħadet importanza li qiegħda tikber u issa tirrappreżenta tliet kwarti tal-baġit. Numru kbir ta' korrezzjonijiet u arranġamenti speċjali ġew introdotti matul iż-żmien, kemm fuq in-naħa tad-dħul, kif ukoll fuq in-naħa tal-infiq (xi wħud minn dawn il-mekkaniżmi jintemmu awtomatikament fl-2013). In-negozjati tal-baġit riċentement ġew influwenzati b'mod qawwi mill-fatt li l-Istati Membri ffokaw fuq il-kunċett tal-pożizzjonijiet netti bil-konsegwenza li ġew iffavoriti strumenti b'pakketti finanzjarji preallokati ġeografikament, minflok dawk bl-akbar valur miżjud għall-UE.

6. Taking account of Enlargement

Il-konsultazzjoni dwar ir-reviżjoni tal-baġit uriet li dawk interessati huma kritiċi ħafna dwar is-sistema kurrenti ta' finanzjament tal-baġit tal-UE. Is-sistema kurrenti hija perċepita bħala waħda li mhix faċli biex tifhimha u li hi kumplessa żżejjed, li mhix ġusta biżżejjed – partikolarment fir-rigward tal-korrezzjonijiet – u li tiddependi wisq fuq riżorsi li huma perċepiti bħala nfiq li għandu jiġi mminimizzat mill-Istati Membri. Bl-eċċezzjoni tad-dazji tad-dwana li jiġu mill-unjoni doganali, ir-riżorsi eżistenti ma juru l-ebda rabta ċara mal-politiki tal-UE.

Future enlargements will inevitably have an impact on the EU budget, in terms of both potential increases in revenue and in spending commitments. While new Member States will increase the cumulated GDP and create new opportunities for economic expansion, they will also become eligible for structural and other funds. The timing of accessions is dependent on the speed with which candidates can meet the necessary criteria. In this context, the December 2006 European Council committed to refrain from setting any target dates for accession until negotiations are close to completion. Consequently, the new financial framework should not pre-empt any political decision on future enlargements which will be based on a country's readiness for membership. Once accessions are agreed and dates confirmed, the financial framework should be adjusted to take account of the expenditure requirements resulting from the outcome of accession negotiations.

Għandu jkun enfasizzat li dan mhux argument dwar id-daqs tal-baġit – huwa dibattitu dwar it-taħlita korretta ta' riżorsi. L-introduzzjoni progressiva ta' riżorsa ġdida tiftaħ il-bieb għat-tnaqqis jew l-eliminazzjoni, gradwali jew immedjata, ta' riżorsi oħra.

7. Reform of EU financing

Saru proposti għal riforma tan-naħa tal-finanzjament minn akkademiċi, gvernijiet, organizzazzonijiet mhux governattivi u mill-Parlament Ewropew. Il-Parlament adotta rapport fl-2007 li janalizza s-sistema kurrenti tar-riżorsi proprji u ssuġġerixxa firxa wiesgħa ta' riżorsi proprji possibbli ġodda[14].

Just like the expenditure side of the budget, the structure of the financing side has evolved considerably over time. The GNI-based contribution has taken on a growing importance and now represents three-quarters of the budget. A large number of corrections and special arrangements have been introduced over time, both on the revenue and expenditure side of the budget (some of these mechanisms end automatically in 2013). Budget negotiations have recently been heavily influenced by Member States' focus on the notion of net positions with the consequence of favoring instruments with geographically pre-allocated financial envelopes, rather than those with the greatest EU added value.

L-introduzzjoni ta' fażi ġdida fl-evoluzzjoni tal-finanzjament tal-UE tista' tinkludi tliet dimensjonijiet marbuta mill-qrib ma' xulxin – is-simplifikazzjoni tal-kontribuzzjonijiet tal-Istati Membri, l-introduzzjoni ta' riżorsa proprja waħda jew aktar u t-tneħħija progressiva tal-mekkaniżmi kollha ta' korrezzjoni. Filwaqt li jiddaħħlu t-tibdiliet, għandhom jinżammu elementi essenzjali tas-sistema ta' finanzjament tal-UE: finanzjament stabbli u suffiċjenti tal-baġit tal-UE, rispett għad-dixxiplina baġitarja u mekkaniżmu sabiex jiġi żgurat baġit ibbilanċjat.

The consultation on the budget review has shown that stakeholders are very critical about the current system of financing the EU budget. The current system is perceived as opaque and too complex, lacking fairness – notably with regard to corrections – and relying excessively on resources which are perceived as expenditures to be minimized by the Member States. With the exception of customs duties stemming from the customs union, existing resources display no clear link to EU policies.

Simplifikazzjoni tal-kontribuzzjonijiet mill-Istati Membri

It should be underlined that this is not an argument about the size of the budget – it is a debate about the right mix of resources. The progressive introduction of a new resource would open the door for other resources to be reduced, phased out or dropped.

Meta mqabbla mar-riżorsa proprja bbażata fuq id-DNG, ir-riżorsa proprja kurrenti bbażata fuq il-VAT ftit li xejn għandha valur miżjud. Sabiex tirrikrea bażi tat-taxxa komparabbli, hija tirriżulta minn kalkolu matematiku minflok ma tgħaddi direttament miċ-ċittadin għal għand l-UE. Għalhekk, hija tikkontribwixxi għall-kumplessità u l-opaċità tal-kontribuzzjonijiet. It-tmiem tar-riżorsa bbażata fuq il-VAT fil-forma kurrenti tagħha tissimplifika s-sistema tal-kontribuzzjonijiet b'mod parallel mal-introduzzjoni ta' riżorsa proprja ġdida.

Proposals for a reform of the financing side have been made by academics, governments, non-governmental organisations and the European Parliament. The Parliament adopted a report in 2007 analysing the current system of own resources and suggesting a whole range of possible new own resources [14].

L-introduzzjoni progressiva ta' riżorsa proprja waħda jew aktar ibbażata fuq il-politika :

The introduction of a new phase in the evolution of EU financing could include three closely linked dimensions – the simplification of Member States' contributions, the introduction of one or several new own resources and the progressive phasing-out of all correction mechanisms. As changes were phased in, essential elements of the EU financing system should be retained: a stable and sufficient financing of the EU budget, respect for budgetary discipline and a mechanism to ensure a balanced budget.

Riżorsi proprji ġodda jistgħu jieħdu post ir-riżorsa proprja bbażata fuq il-VAT b'mod sħiħ u jnaqqsu l-iskala tar-riżorsa bbażata fuq id-DNG, meħuda direttament mit-teżori nazzjonali. L-introduzzjoni ta' riżorsi proprji ġodda tkun tirrifletti l-bidla progressiva tal-istruttura tal-baġit lejn politiki li huma eqreb lejn iċ-ċittadin tal-UE u li għandhom l-għan li jipprovdu benefiċċji pubbliċi Ewropej u valur miżjud tal-UE ogħla. Hija tkun tista' tappoġġja l-kisba ta' għanijiet ta' politika importanti tal-UE jew internazzjonali, pereżempju fir-rigward tal-iżvilupp, it-tibdil fil-klima jew is-swieq finanzjarji – u tkun marbuta mill-qrib magħhom.

Simplifying the contributions from Member States

Il-kriterji li ġejjin jidhru pertinenti meta wieħed iħares lejn riżorsi proprji ġodda possibbli:

Compared to the GNI-based own resource, the current VAT-based own resource has little added value. To re-create a comparable tax base, it results from a mathematical calculation rather than passing directly from the citizen to the EU. As such it contributes to the complexity and the opacity of the contributions. Ending the VAT-based resource in its current form would simplify the system of contributions in parallel with the introduction of a new own resource.

- Huma għandhom ikunu marbuta aktar mill-qrib mal- acquis u l-objettivi tal-UE sabiex jiżdiedu l-koerenza u l-effikaċja tal-baġit tal-UE kollu kemm hu fil-kisba tal-prijoritajiet ta' politika tal-UE. F'dan ir-rigward, huwa importanti li wieħed iżomm f'moħħu l-Artikolu 2.2 tad-Deċiżjoni tar-Riżorsi Proprji[15] li tgħid li " Dħul li jiġi minn kull ħlas ġdid introdott fil-qafas ta’ politika komuni għandu jikkostitwixxi riżorsi proprji mdaħħla fil-baġit ġenerali tal-Unjoni Ewropea ."

Progressively introducing one or several policy-driven own resources:

- Huma għandhom ikunu transkonfinali fin-natura tagħhom, ibbażati fuq sistema li tkopri s-suq intern kollu.

New own resources could fully replace the existing VAT-based own resource as well as reducing the scale of the GNI-based resource, taken directly from national treasuries. The introduction of new own resources would mirror the progressive shift of the budget structure towards policies closer to EU citizens and aiming at delivering European public goods and a higher EU added value. It could support – and be closely linked to – the achievement of important EU or international policy objectives, for instance in relation to development, climate change or the financial markets.

- Għandu jkollhom bażi armonizzata sabiex jiżguraw applikazzjoni ugwali tar-riżorsi proprji madwar l-Unjoni.

The following criteria seem pertinent when looking at possible new own resources:

- Jekk ikun fattibbli, id-dħul minn riżorsa ġdida għandu jinġabar direttament mill-UE b'mod indipendenti mill-baġits tal-UE.

– They should be more closely linked to the acquis and the objectives of the EU to increase the coherence and effectiveness of the entire budget in the achievement of EU policy priorities. In this respect it is important to keep in mind Article 2.2 of the Own Resources Decision [15] which states that "revenue deriving from any new charges introduced within the framework of a common policy shall also constitute own resources entered in the general budget of the European Union."

- Huma għandhom jiġu applikati b'mod ekwu u ġust, u ma jħarrxux il-kwistjoni tal-korrezzjonijiet.

– They should be cross-border in nature, based on a system covering the whole internal market.

- Għandu jitqies l-impatt kumulattiv fuq setturi partikolari.

– They should have a harmonised base to ensure an equal application of the resource throughout the Union.

- Huma għandhom ifittxu li jevitaw responsabbiltà amministrattiva qawwija ġdida għall-UE f'termini ta' ġbir.

– If feasible, the proceeds of a new resource should be collected directly by the EU outside national budgets.

Il-Kummissjoni tikkunsidra li l-lista mhux eżawrjenti li ġejja ta' mezzi ta' finanzjament jistgħu jkunu kandidati possibbli għal riżorsi proprji li gradwalment jieħdu post il-kontribuzzjonijiet nazzjonali, u jħallu piż iżgħar fuq it-teżori nazzjonali.

– They should be applied in an equitable and fair way, and not exacerbate the question of corrections.

- It-tassazzjoni tal-UE fuq is-settur finanzjarju

– The cumulative impact on particular sectors should be taken into account.

- Id-dħul tal-UE mill-irkantar taħt is-sistema tal-Kummerċ tal-Emissjonijiet tal-Gassijiet b'effett serra

– They should seek to avoid a heavy new administrative responsibility for the EU in terms of collection.

- miżata tal-UE li tirrigwarda t-trasport bl-ajru

The Commission considers that the following non-exclusive list of financing means could be possible candidates for own resources to gradually displace national contributions, leaving a lesser burden on national treasuries:

- VAT tal-UE

– EU taxation of the financial sector

- Taxxa tal-enerġija tal-UE

– EU revenues from auctioning under the greenhouse gas Emissions Trading System

- Taxxa fuq id-dħul tal-kumpaniji tal-UE

– EU charge related to air transport

Kull waħda minn dawn il-mezzi ta' finanzjament għandha l-karatteristiċi partikolari tagħha u għandha vantaġġi u żvantaġġi[16]. Fid-dawl tal-kummenti riċevuti, il-Kummissjoni se tressaq proposti bħala parti mill-proposti globali tagħha dwar il-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali li jmiss.

– EU VAT

Ħidma dwar il-mekkaniżi ta' korrezzjoni

– EU energy tax

Il-Kunsill Ewropew ta' Fontainebleau tal-1984 stabbilixxa l-prinċipji bażiċi wara s-sistema: li “ l-politika tal-infiq hija fl-aħħar mill-aħħar il-mezz essenzjali li bih tiġi solvuta l-kwistjoni tal-iżbilanċi baġitarji”, u li “kull Stat Membru li jsofri minn piż baġitarju li huwa eċċessiv fir-rigward tal-prosperità relattiva tiegħu jista' jibbenefika minn korrezzjoni fiż-żmien xieraq .” Infiq imsaħħaħ għat-tkabbir u l-impjiegi, l-enerġija, it-tibdil fil-klima u l-projezzjoni esterna tal-interessi tal-Ewropa jnaqqsu l-ħtieġa li jinżammu mekkaniżmi ta' korrezzjoni. Il-kompożizzjoni tan-nefqa tal-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali li jmiss u riformi oħra tas-sistema tar-riżorsi proprji se tiddetermina jekk il-mekkaniżmi ta' korrezzjoni humiex ġustifikati fil-futur.

– EU corporate income tax.

8. Konklużjonijiet u l-passi li jmiss

Each of these financing means has its particular characteristics and presents advantages and disadvantages [16]. In the light of the comments received, the Commission will submit proposals as part of its overall proposals on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

Din ir-Reviżjoni tal-Baġit tippreżenta l-ideat tal-Kummissjoni dwar l-arkitettura u l-iskop tal-baġit tal-UE. Hija tippreżenta viżjoni ta' baġit riformat impenjat li tassew jagħmel differenza: din se tkun l-ambizzjoni tal-Kummissjoni għall-proposti li se tagħmel għall-qafas finanzjarju l-ġdid is-sena d-dieħla. Dawn l-ideat huma bbażati fuq il-konvinzjoni li sal-2020 l-UE trid tkun ħadet passi deċiżivi biex tgħin lill-UE ssir soċjetà intelliġenti, sostenibbli u inklużiva. Sabiex nagħmlu dan, irridu nqiegħdu l-ekonomija Ewropea fit-triq it-tajba, sabiex nieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet il-kbar biex nittrasformaw l-infrastruttura tagħna, biex niksbu l-ħiliet li neħtieġu għall-futur, biex nasserixxu r-rwol ta' tmexxija globali tagħna, u biex inwaqqfu lid-diverġenzi li qed jiżdiedu fis-soċjetajiet tagħna milli jimminaw l-istabbilità fit-tul tagħha. Il-baġit tal-Unjoni għandna nħarsu lejh bħala wieħed mill-għodod komuni li huma għas-servizz ta' objettivi komuni. Fi żmien ta' pressjoni qawwija fuq il-finanzi pubbliċi, ma nistgħux inħarsu lejn il-baġit tal-UE u dawk nazzjonali bħala li qegħdin f'kompetizzjoni, iżda li qed isegwu l-istess objettivi fil-livelli li jistgħu jagħtu l-aħjar riżultati.

Tackling the correction mechanisms

Il-baġits ta' għada għalhekk iridu jkunu ffukati fuq li jagħmlu impatt reali fuq it-twettiq tal-miri tagħna. Huma jridu jirrikonoxxu l-ħtieġa li nadattaw ruħna għal dinja li qed tinbidel malajr ħafna. Huma jridu jkunu ddixxiplinati fil-konċentrazzjoni tagħhom fuq ir-riżultati. Iridu jirriflettu l-ħtieġa għas-solidarjetà fit-twettiq tal-aġenda komuni tagħna. U jridu jiġu pprovduti bir-riżorsi tagħhom b'modi li ċ-ċittadini tagħna jifhmuhom u jirrikonoxxuhom bħala razzjonali u ġusti.

The 1984 Fontainebleau European Council set out the core principles behind the system: that "expenditure policy is ultimately the essential means of resolving the question of budgetary imbalances", and that "any member State sustaining a budgetary burden which is excessive in relation to its relative prosperity may benefit from a correction at the appropriate time." Reinforced spending for growth and jobs, energy, climate change and the external projection of Europe's interest would reduce the need to maintain correction mechanisms. The composition of expenditure of the next Multiannual Financial Framework and other reforms of the own resources system will determine whether correction mechanisms are justified in the future.

Il-mod li bidh il-baġit tal-UE jiġi implimentat jista' jiġi ssimplifikat u jsir aktar effettiv. Hemm ħtieġa għal aktar flessibilità sabiex il-baġit ikun jista' jirrispondi għat-tibdil fiċ-ċirkostanzi, u fl-istess ħin jappoġġja l-investimenti fit-tul. Fi żmien ta' limitazzjonijiet fiskali, strumenti finanzjarji aktar innovattivi jistgħu jintużaw sabiex il-baġit ikun jista' jwassal aktar, u sabiex l-impatt u l-firxa ta' proġetti ta' prijorità għolja tal-UE jstgħu jiġu rrealizzati.

8. Conclusions and Next Steps

L-immodernizzar tal-baġit tal-UE għandu għalhekk ikun iffukat fuq l-għażla tal-miri, fuq l-immassimizzar tal-benefiċċji minn kull ewro li jintefaq, u fuq it-tqegħid tal-baġit fil-kuntest tal-modi l-oħra li bihom l-Unjoni Ewropea, l-istituzzjonijiet tagħha u l-Istati Membri tagħha, jistgħu jqiegħdu lill-Ewropa fi triqtha lejn it-tkabbir u l-impjiegi għall-futur.

This Budget Review sets out the Commission's ideas on the architecture and purpose of the EU budget. It sets out a vision of a reformed budget committed to making a real difference: this will be the Commission's ambition for the proposals it will make for the new financial framework next year. These ideas are based on the conviction that by 2020 the EU must have taken decisive steps help the EU become a smart, sustainable and inclusive society. To do this, we need to put the European economy on the right track, to take the big decisions to reshape our infrastructure, to give us the skills we need for the future, to assert our global leadership, and to prevent increasing divergences in our societies from undermining its long-term stability. The budget of the Union must be seen as one of the common tools we have at the service of common objectives. At a time of intense pressure on public finances, EU and national budgets cannot be seen as in competition, but as pursuing the same objectives at the levels which can deliver to best effect.

Fix-xhur li ġejjin, il-Kummissjoni se tittraduċi l-ideat u l-opinjonijiet ippreżentati f'din ir-Reviżjoni tal-Baġit fi proposti konkreti. Il-Kummissjoni hija ħerqana għal djalogu mal-Istituzzjonijiet l-oħra u ma' dawk li l-interessi tagħhom huma involuti dwar l-ideat u l-għażliet ippreżentati f'din ir-Reviżjoni. Dawn id-diskussjonijiet se jipprovdu input għal proposti f'Ġunju 2011 għal Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali li jkopri l-perjodu ta' wara l-2013. Dan se jinkludi proposta għal regolament li jistabbilixxi l-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali u deċiżjoni qafas dwar ir-riżorsi proprji. Fit-tieni nofs tal-2011, il-Kummissjoni se tagħmel il-proposti leġiżlattivi meħtieġa sabiex jiġu implimentati l-politiki u l-programmi meħtieġa biex l-ambizzjonijiet tal-Unjoni Ewropea fis-snin li ġejjin ikunu jistgħu jiġu rrealizzati.

Tomorrow's budgets must therefore be focused on making a real impact on realising our goals. They must recognise the need to adapt to a rapidly-changing world. They must be disciplined in their concentration on results. They must reflect the need for solidarity in pursuing our common agenda. And they must be resourced in ways which our citizens can understand and recognise as rational and fair.

[1] ĠU C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 15 (Dikjarazzjoni Nru 3).

The way in which the EU budget is delivered can be simplified and made more effective. There is a need for greater flexibility so that the budget can respond to changing circumstances, while at the same time supporting long term investments. At a time of fiscal constraint more innovative financial instruments can be used to make the budget go further, and to increase the impact and range of high priority EU projects that can be realised.

[2] Websajt ta' konsultazzjoni:http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/library/issue_paper/summary_consulation_doc_final_en.pdf

The modernisation of the EU budget must therefore be about targeting, about maximising the benefits from every euro spent, and about setting the budget firmly in the context of the other ways in which the European Union, its institutions and its Member States, can put Europe on the path to growth and jobs for the future.

[3] Dan jinkludi kemm il- baġit tal-UE kif ukoll il-kofinanzjament nazzjonali.

In the coming months the Commission will translate the ideas and options set out in this Budget Review into concrete proposals. The Commission looks forward to a dialogue with the other Institutions and with stakeholders on the ideas and options outlined in this Review. These discussions will feed into proposals in June 2011 for a new Multiannual Financial Framework covering the period after 2013. This will include a proposal for a regulation laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework and a draft decision on own resources. In the second half of 2011, the Commission will make the legislative proposals required to implement the policies and programmes needed to drive forward the European Union's ambitions for the years ahead.

[4] Stima tas-servizzi tal-Kummissjoni bbażata fuq l-analiżijiet li ġejjin: "Quantifying the potential macroeconomic effects of the Europe 2020 strategy: stylised scenarios" (European Commission Economic Papers n°424. September 2010) u "Macroeconomic effects of Europe 2020: stylised scenarios" (ECFIN Economic Briefs 2010 n°11).

[1] OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 15 (Declaration No 3).

[5] Il-Programm ta' Qafas kurrenti ġie stmat li jiġi miegħu 900 000 impjieg u li jżid 1% mal-PDG tal-UE.

[2] Consultation website:

[6] L-Unjoni tal-Innovazzjoni - COM(2010) 565, 6.10.2010. Proġetti ewlenin oħra tal-2020 f'dan il-qasam jinkludu l-Aġenda Diġitali u l-politika industrijali.

- http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/library/issue_paper/summary_consulation_doc_final_en.pdf

[7] Ir-rapport tal-Kummissjoni għall-konferenza ta' livell għoli dwar il-kompetittività tal-industrija (April 2010):

[3] This includes both EU budget and national co-financing.

[8] "Il-Kunsens Ewropew" (ĠU C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1).

[4] Commission services' estimate based on the following analyses: "Quantifying the potential macroeconomic effects of the Europe 2020 strategy: stylised scenarios" (European Commission Economic Papers n°424. September 2010) and "Macroeconomic effects of Europe 2020: stylised scenarios" (ECFIN Economic Briefs 2010 n°11).

[9] "Aid Effectiveness Agenda: Benefits of a European Approach" (HTSPE f'isem il-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Ottubru 2009).

[5] The current Framework Programme has been estimated to bring 900,000 jobs and to add 1% to the EU's GDP.

[10] Bħala eżempji: sal-2020, huwa stmat li huma meħtieġa EUR 500 bn għall-implimentazzjoni tal-programm TEN-T u bejn EUR 38 – 58 bn u EUR 181 – 268 bn sabiex jinkisbu l-miri tal-Kummissjoni għall-broadband. Fis-settur tal-enerġija, huwa stmat li l-ammont meħtieġ għan-netwerks tad-distribuzzjoni u l-grids intelliġenti huwa EUR 400 bn, li l-ammont meħtieġ għan-netwerks tat-trażmissjoni u l-ħżin huwa EUR 200 bn oħra, u li EUR 500 bn huma meħtieġa sabiex tiġi mtejba l-kapaċità ta' ġenerazzjoni eżistenti u tiġi miżjuda kapaċità ta' ġenerazzjoni ġdida, partikolarment fl-enerġija rinnovabbli, bejn issa u l-2020.

[6] Innovation Union - COM(2010) 565, 6.10.2010. Other key 2020 flagships in this area include the Digital Agenda and industrial policy.

[11] Ir-Riżoluzzjoni tal-25 ta' Marzu 2009 dwar ir-reviżjoni ta' nofs il-perjodu tal-qafas finanzjarju 2007-2013 [INI/2008/2055 – P6_TA(2009)0174].

[7] Commission report for the high level conference on industrial competitiveness (April 2010):

[12] L-istrumenti finanzjarji mhumiex se jkunu implimentati esklussivament permezz tal-BEI, iżda l-BEI se jkollu rwol katalitiku ewlieni sabiex jiġbed sorsi pubbliċi u privati oħra ta' finanzjament.

[8] 'The European Consensus" (OJ C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1).

[13] It-tisħiħ tal-koordinazzjoni tal-politika ekonomika għall-istabbiltà, it-tkabbir u l-impjiegi – Għodod għal governanza ekonomika aktar b'saħħitha tal-UE – COM(2010) 367.

[9] "Aid Effectiveness Agenda: Benefits of a European Approach" (HTSPE on behalf of the European Commission, October 2009).

[14] Il-Parlament Ewropew, Report on the future of the European Union's own resources (2006/2205(INI) Rapporteur A. Lamassoure).

[10] As examples: until 2020, €500bn is estimated to be needed for the implementation of the TEN-T programme and between €38-58bn and €181-268bn to achieve the Commission's broadband targets. In the energy sector, €400bn is estimated as the need for distribution networks and smart grids, another €200bn on transmission networks and storage, and €500bn to upgrade existing and build new generation capacity, particularly in renewable energy, between now and 2020.

[15] Id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2007/436/KE, Euratom (7 ta' Ġunju 2007).

[11] Resolution of 25 March 2009 on the mid-term review of the 2007-2013 financial framework [INI/2008/2055 – P6_TA(2009)0174].

[16] Ara d-Dokument ta' Ħidma tal-Persunal.

[12] Financial instruments will not be implemented exclusively through the EIB, but the EIB will play a key catalytic role in attracting other public and private sources of finance.

[13] Enhancing economic policy coordination for stability, growth and jobs – Tools for stronger EU economic governance - COM(2010) 367.

[14] European Parliament, Report on the future of the European Union's own resources (2006/2205(INI) Rapporteur A. Lamassoure).

[15] Council decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom (7 June 2007).

[16] See Staff Working Document.

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