27 Amendments of Martina DLABAJOVÁ related to 2020/0006(COD)
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries or industries with products that are impacted by the transition to EU climate neutrality. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned, and by laying down the foundations for the transition towards climate neutrality and creating new employment opportunities for those affected by this transition. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy without cutting into the ERDF and ESF+ budget.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States and certain regions within those Member States that rely heavily on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities or industries with products that are impacted by the transition to EU climate neutrality, which need to be phased out or which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States, at the same time leading to an increased risk of energy poverty. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States committed to the Union's 2050 climate neutrality target, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity starting position of Member States in the energy transition process as well as their capacity to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards EU climate neutrality by 2050.
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economyprimarily focus on mitigating negative economic and social impacts of the transition and contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, while taking into account economic, social and energy characteristics of each Member State. Investments in transitional energy sources such as natural gas shall be eligible for support if such investments lead to a substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and allow for the use of renewable gas as a sustainable alternative. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity and smart mobility, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. __________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Many sectors other than the energy sector will undergo serious transformation with significant implications to their labour force. The automotive and vehicle production industries will be one of those hit hardest by the transition. In order to avoid significant work loss as a result of decreased or disrupted production, regions which depend heavily on the automotive industry should be eligible for JTF resources. While Europe is stepping up efforts to manufacture batteries locally as well as manufacturing low-pollution vehicles, the re-skilling and upskilling of automotive industry workers should go hand-in-hand with investment into transforming the automotive sector. As the share of automotive employment in the manufacturing sector is above 20%, in more than 14 regions across the EU, this would ensure that regions that are overdependent on the automotive industry are safeguarded in the increasingly likely event of a decline in the sector.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, focusing on skills and qualifications that are compatible with the transition to a sustainable and digital economy, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, as well as providing job-search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour market.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification and modernisation of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment in SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and employment. In this regard, particular attention should be paid to SMEs operating in regions with higher unemployment rates. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate- neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. All investments shall be made without prejudice to the energy efficiency first and polluter pays principles. __________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should, after a thorough consultation process with local authorities and representatives, identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach aminimise the negative social impact while contributing to EU climate-neutral economy by 2050, notably as regards the conversion, modernisation, or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities. or industries with products that are impacted by the transition to EU climate neutrality. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved and monitored by the Commission.
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories or economic activities facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050 and the Union's 2030 target.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions, economic operators and people to address the social, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards an EU climate- neutral economyand circular economy by 2050’.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States that are committed to the Union's 2050 climate neutrality target. The JTF should prioritise regions heavily dependent on solid fossil fuels, with greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities or industries with products that are impacted by the transition to EU climate neutrality.
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 17.588 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act.
Amendment 243 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall exclusively support the following activities:
Amendment 266 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy;charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energy, including storage technologies to enable alternatives such as sustainable mobility, including freight transport in urban areas, or building renovation, among others.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) investments related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of gas, provided that it is used as a bridging technology replacing coal, lignite, peat, oil shale and delivers significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. These investments should allow for the use of renewable gas at a later stage.
Amendment 288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) investments in district heating;
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) ensuring security of energy supply;
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d c (new)
(dc) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructure for affordable clean and smart mobility contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction and to the diversification of mobility solutions;
Amendment 302 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) investments in digitalisation and digital connectivity; in particular investments facilitating the transition towards a circular economy and climate neutrality, including using digital technologies and data in agriculture, farming, forestry and food industries, in particular for the upgrade of broadband in rural and remote areas.
Amendment 357 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 372 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of solid fossil fuels;
Amendment 415 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) a justification for identifying the territories or economic activities as most negatively affected by the transition process referred to in point (a) and to be supported by the JTF, in accordance with paragraph 1;
Amendment 459 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Territorial just transition plans shall be publicly available.
Amendment 462 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. Where a JTF priority supports the activities referred to in points (h), (i) or (j) of Article 4(2), data on the indicators for participants shall only be transmitted where all the data relating to that participant, required in accordance with Annex III are available, while ensuring strict data protection rules.
Amendment 467 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission concludes, based on the examination of the final performance report of the programme, that there is a failure to achieve at least 675% of the target established for one or more output or result indicators for the JTF resources, it may make financial corrections pursuant to Article [98] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] by reducing the support from the JTF to the priority concerned in proportion to the achievements.
Amendment 472 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State and conduct stakeholder consultation in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.