The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Considers that there is a need for more resources to be allocated to the functioning of the Eurogroup and to the analysis of the comparative economic performances of the Member States;

2. Expresses its concern on the reduction of resources allocated to the PRINCE initiative 01, which is at odds with the results of the EMU@10 project;

3. Welcomes the provision of the Guarantee Fund, but notes with concern that the substantial reduction of budget headings 01 04 05 and 01 04 11may have a detrimental effect on policies favouring SMEs;

4. Notes the changes in the international economy, which create new opportunities for SMEs at the global level and calls for more SME involvement in international projects through subcontracts concerning activities within their expertise; suggests that preparatory action provide a basis for a European strategy for SME involvement in projects with third countries;

5. Underlines the necessity for reinforced European action aiming at harmonisation of business models and data exchange standards between SMEs along the supply chain of one or more interrelated industry sectors; considers a pilot project to be appropriate for accelerating the pace of integration of digital innovation among European SMEs;

6. Reiterates that sufficient funding must be set aside for a financial contribution to the functioning of the three Lamfalussy level 3 committees, as well as for international accounting standard setting, in particular to the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation, including the International Accounting Standards Board, and its European voice through the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group;

7. Welcomes the agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross-Border Financial Stability; calls for sufficient funding and full commitment in regard to its implementation at EU level; in this respect, recommends conducting a study and developing a common toolbox of procedures for crisis prevention, management and resolution at EU level;

8. Considers that the important reduction (70 posts) of human resources and the decrease (by 0,9 %) in commitments towards competitiveness, industrial policy, innovation and entrepreneurship (budget heading 02 02) send the wrong signal;

9. Calls for appropriate funding for targeted projects that would facilitate access to finance for SMEs; suggests that a pilot project be promoted for training and coaching SMEs to obtain financing; considers that particular attention should be attributed in this project to the exchange of experience and knowledge between SMEs across Member States;

10. Deplores the significant reduction of budgetary resources for taxation policy, which is a crucial area for the good functioning of the internal market;

11. Expresses its concern for the significant decrease (by 15,4 %) of budgetary support to protect the financial interests of the European Union against fraud and corruption;

12. Notes that an estimated EUR 40 billion are lost every year due to VAT fraud; calls for a pilot project to explore the potential of reducing carousel fraud and other shortcomings in the VAT payment cycle; considers that such a pilot project should, in particular, explore the possibility of moving the point of taxation from the invoicing to the settlement stage, using an automated intra-EU VAT-collection system;

13. Takes the view that the decrease in human resources could have a negative impact in the quality of European statistics;

14. Stresses the need for funding to support consumer and SME organisations in better representing their interests by enabling them to hire experts to advise them on the various Commission initiatives and comitology (Lamfalussy level 3 committees) consultations in the area of financial services.

Amendments proposed on this opinion