10. Expresses its serious concern about the significant structural delays in the start-up of the cohesion policy programming periods, resulting from delay in the adoption of Operational Programmes, including through the carry-over procedure; notes that this delay may increase the pressure on payments, especially in 2017 and 2018, and thereby add to concerns over the regrettable backlog in payments, amounting to ca EUR 25 billion for the 2007-2013 programming period; notes that even though – when seen in a wider context – the situation in the cohesion policy is better than in rural development or fisheries, this concern remains as, for ...[+++]several Member States, a significant number of programmes have yet to be adopted; stresses that these delays may undermine the credibility of the EU budget and the cohesion policy, its effectiveness and sustainability, challenging national, regional and local authorities’ capacity to finalise implementation of the 2007-2013 period and to plan effectively and implement the ESIF for the 2014-2020 period; welcomes the recent efforts of the Member States and the Commission in this respect, but calls on the Commission to do its utmost to make sure that all remaining Operational Programmes are adopted without further delays, since the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision necessary to use unallocated 2014 resources, and the accompanying Draft Amending Budget, have already been approved by Parliament;

The report pointed out that, despite the profits earned since 1990, EDF had not paid corporation tax and that moving the provisions linked to the RAG concessions up would wipe out in one go the accumulated tax and accounting deficit.

Tax incentives to corporate investors may take the form of income tax reliefs and/or tax reliefs on capital gains and dividends, including tax credits and deferrals.

There is no problem and no controversy among the parties, the possibility for foundations to build -up reserves and carry-over funds.

European political foundations should be permitted to accumulate reserves and carry over funds.

11. Points out that the Lisbon targets will only be reached if a culture of entrepreneurship is fostered in Europe; with this in mind, considers that the importance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is vital to growth and employment; firstly, asks for measures to facilitate the quick setting-up of new companies by using new technologies and allowing tax deferral schemes; secondly, calls for a simplification of the regulatory environment; thirdly, calls for ways to reduce the cost of capital for SMEs and to facilitate access to venture capital; points out that developments regarding capital requirements in the context of the Basle II negotiations should be monitored closely and encourages the European Investment Fund to step up its efforts ...[+++]as far as credit guarantee schemes are concerned; furthermore encourages the Member States to make genuine efforts to implement the promises made in the SME-Charter;