Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Change 1

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

AddedP10_TC1-COD(2024)0275

RemovedOn 22 October 2024, the RESTORE proposal (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction, COM(2024)0496 - 2024/0275(COD)) was referred to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) for a joint procedure under Rule 59 of the Rules of Procedure. This proposal is a response to the catastrophic floods that affected certain Central and Eastern EU countries and to the wildfires that ravaged several Portuguese regions in September 2024. At the end of October, only a few days after the publication of the proposal, the unprecedented torrential rains in Eastern Spain that claimed a chilling number of human lives and resulted in enormous material losses, came to underline the urgency of an EU response to climate-induced catastrophes.

AddedPosition of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 17 December 2024 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE)

RemovedThe co-rapporteurs would like to first express their deepest solidarity with the citizens and regions recently affected by the devastating recent natural disasters, who have experienced immense suffering and loss. They would also like to commend the efforts of first responders, humanitarian organizations and local authorities in providing immediate relief. In the face of these disasters, the co-rapporteurs support all diligent action of the Parliament towards people and territories affected. They want to underline that they have done their utmost to ensure that the proposed measures, which aim to support the Member States and regions in their reconstruction efforts and to provide affected citizens with the basic material assistance they need, reach the ground as soon as possible.

Added(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) 2024/3236.)

RemovedThe co-rapporteurs also underline the importance of implementing a “build back better” principle, which should result in the construction of sustainable and resilient infrastructure that is better able to withstand any possible future natural disasters. Care must be taken, however, the application of this principle must be implemented without any additional administrative or legal burden for territories, citizens and local authorities already affected by a disaster, and who are already trying to rebuilt and restore affected places.

RemovedThe Parliament also underlines that Cohesion policy must remain a long-term policy, based on the objectives set up in articles 174 and 175 of the TTFEU. The Parliament is concerned that the Union's cohesion policy, including as provided for by the ERDF, the Cohesion Fund and the European Social Fund+, is often used as an emergency response tool, and underlines that this approach represents a risk for the longer-term policy and investment objectives of cohesion policy