A. whereas the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and its widespread negative impact were caused, inter alia, by a lack of application of appropriate, high-quality financial services regulation for increasingly complex markets and products; whereas in recent years an ambitious reform agenda for the EU financial sector has been launched to strengthen financial regulation and supervision, restore financial stability and make the financial system more resilient to shocks, limit risks to taxpayers and better serve the needs of investors and the funding needs of the real economy; whereas, while the outlook for growth in Europe has improved, full ...[+++] recovery has not yet been achieved;

4. Welcomes the Commission's initiative of reprogramming where possible resources not yet spent from the Structural Fund appropriations in some Member States in favour of SMEs and youth employment, in line with Parliament's priorities; considers that this could result in a major boost to EU economic recovery and achievement of growth and employment objectives and asks to be kept duly informed on the implementation of this initiative at national level, its expected impact on growth and jobs, and its possible impact on the 2013 budget;

32. Stresses that cohesion policy has long proved its added value as a necessary investment tool to deliver growth and job creation effectively by accurately addressing the investment needs of the regions, thus contributing not only to the reduction of the disparities between them, but also to economic recovery and the development of the Union as a whole; also considers the Structural Funds a crucial instrument - in view of both their financial size and the objectives pursued - for accelerating economic recovery in the EU and delivering the growth and employment objectives enshrined in the Europe 2020 Strategy; welcomes, therefore, the ...[+++] Commission's initiative of reprogramming where possible EUR 82 billion of unallocated Structural Fund moneys in some Member States in favour of SMEs and youth employment, in line with Parliament’s priorities for 2013; notes that, according to the Commission, EUR 7.3 billion in EU financing has in this context been targeted for accelerated delivery or reallocation; asks to be kept duly informed on the implementation of this initiative at national level, its expected impact on growth and jobs, and its possible impact on the 2013 budget;

33. Stresses that cohesion policy has long proved its added value as a necessary investment tool to deliver growth and job creation effectively by accurately addressing the investment needs of the regions, thus contributing not only to the reduction of the disparities between them, but also to economic recovery and the development of the Union as a whole; also considers the Structural Funds a crucial instrument - in view of both their financial size and the objectives pursued - for accelerating economic recovery in the EU and delivering the sustainable growth and employment objectives enshrined in the Europe 2020 Strategy; welcomes, th ...[+++]erefore, the Commission's initiative of reprogramming where possible EUR 82 billion of unallocated Structural Fund moneys in some Member States in favour of SMEs and youth employment, in line with Parliament’s priorities for 2013; notes that, according to the Commission, EUR 7,3 billion in EU financing has in this context been targeted for accelerated delivery or reallocation; asks to be kept duly informed on the implementation of this initiative at national level, its expected impact on growth and jobs, and its possible impact on the 2013 budget;

Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment has been substantially amended several times .

8. Recalls that nationally competent authorities are obliged to carry out an environmental impact assessment in respect of planned activities belonging to a category listed in Annex I of Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC, and that the selection of projects listed in Annex II of Directive 85/337/EEC must be made on the basis of transparent screening and criteria;