64 Amendments of Tiziana BEGHIN related to 2023/0081(COD)
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Regarding external aspects, , in particular regarding emerging markets and developing economies, the EU will aim to ensure functioning global value chains and promote collaborative efforts among countries by seeking win-win partnerships for sharing best practices, technology transfer, and joint research and development initiatives, in the framework of its Global Gateway strategy, which. Such partnerships contribute to the diversification of ithe EU’s raw materials supply chain as well as to partner countries’ efforts to pursue twin transition and develop local value addition., and could accelerate the net-zero transition across industries
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) To fulfill those commitments, collaborating with third countries, the Union should envisage consumer awareness and demand campaigns aiming to shift consumer preferences towards sustainable products and services. Raising consumer awareness about the environmental impact of products, promoting sustainable consumption patterns, and providing clear information about the carbon footprint of goods and services in the Union trade partnerships could also drive the demand for low- carbon alternatives;
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The higher energy prices after the unjustified and unlawful military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, gave a strong impetus to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal and reinforce the resilience of the Energy Union by speeding up the clean energy transition and ending any dependence on fossil fuels exported from the Russian Federationird countries. The REPowerEU plan35 plays a key role in responding to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. That plan aims to accelerate the energy transition in the European Union, in order to increase the use of renewable energy and to reduce the Union’s gas and electricity consumption and to boost investments in the deployment of energy efficient and low carbon neutral solutions. That plan sets inter alia the targets to double solar photovoltaic capacity by 2025 and to install 600 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity by 2030; to double the rate of deployment of heat pumps; to produce 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen and e-fuels, from power-to-gas (P2G) to power-to-liquid (P2L), by 2030; and to substantially increase production of biomethane. The plan also sets out that achieving the REPowerEU goals will require diversifying the supply of low carbon energy equipment and of critical raw materials, reducing sectoral dependencies, overcoming supply chain bottlenecks and expanding the Union’s clean energy technology manufacturing capacity. As part of its efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in power generation, industry, buildings and transport, the Commission proposes to increase the target in the Renewable Energy Directive to 45% by 2030 and to increase the target in the Energy Efficiency Directive to 13%. This would bring the total renewable energy generation capacities to 1236 GW by 2030, in comparison to 1067 GW by 2030 envisaged under the 2021 proposal and will see increased needs for storage through batteries to deal with intermittency in the electricity grid. Similarly, policies related to the decarbonisation of the road sector, such as Regulation (EU) 2019/631 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 will be strong drivers for a further electrification of the road transport sector and thus increasing demand for batteries. _________________ 35 Communication of 18 May 2022 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, REPowerEU Plan, COM/2022/230 final, 18.05.2022.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In addition, the Communication on the Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net- Zero Age42 sets out a comprehensive approach to support a clean energy technology scale up based on four pillars. The first pillar aims at creating a regulatory environment that simplifies and fast-tracks permitting for new net-zero technology manufacturing and assembly sites and facilitates the scaling up of the net-zero industry of the Union. The second pillar of the plan is to boost investment in and financing of net-zero technology production, through the revised Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework adopted in March 2023 and the creation of a European Sovereignty fund to preserve the European edge on critical and emerging technologies relevant to the green and digital transitions. The third pillar relates to developing the skills needed to make the transition happen and increase the number of skilled workers in the clean energy technology sector. The fourth pillar focuses on trade and the diversification of the supply chain of critical raw materials. That includes engaging in partnerships with other countries, international organizations, or industry associations to develop joint strategies, share information, and coordinate efforts to enhance supply chain resilience, creating a critical raw materials club, working with like-minded partners to collectively strengthen and map supply chains and, implementing traceability systems and transparency, diversifying away from single suppliers for critical input, encouraging investment in downstream activities, and engaging in market research. _________________ 42 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age, COM/2023/62 final, 01.02.2023.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Council Decision 2014/115/EU approved in particular the amendment to the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement (the ‘GPA’)46 . The aim of the GPA is to establish a multilateral framework of balanced rights and obligations relating to public contracts with a view to achieving the liberalisation and expansion of world trade and to encourage its member countries to adopt green procurement policies that prioritize sustainable and environmentally-friendly goods and services. For contracts covered by the European Union’s Appendix I to the GPA, as well as by other relevant international agreements by which the Union is bound, including free trade agreements and the Article III:8(a) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1994 for procurement by governmental agencies of products purchased with a view to commercial resale or with a view to use in the production of goods for commercial sale, contracting authorities and contracting entities should not apply the requirements of Article 19 (1) point (d) to economic operators of sources of supply that are signatories to the agreements. _________________ 46 Council decision 2014/115/EU of 2 December 2013 on the conclusion of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Government Procurement, (OJ L68, 7.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30a) The WTO GPA promotes the use of international standards and guidelines in government procurement. By aligning procurement practices with internationally recognized standards, such as those related to greenhouse gas emissions or sustainable product certifications, governments could drive the adoption of net-zero industry solutions and create a level playing field for suppliers.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Regarding external aspects, in particular regarding emerging markets and developing economies, the EU will aim to ensure functioning global value chains and promote collaborative efforts among countries including by seeking win-win partnerships for sharing best practices, technology transfer and joint research and development initiatives, in the framework of its Global Gateway strategy, which. Such partnerships contribute to the diversification of its raw materials supply chain as well as to partner countries’ efforts to pursue twin transition and develop local value addition. This shall be done in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and with the Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation EU 2017/821).
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The higher energy prices after the EU´s sanctions due to the unjustified and unlawful military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, gave a strong impetus to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal and reinforce the resilience of the Energy Union by speeding up the clean energy transition and ending any dependence on fossil fuels exported from the Russian Federationird countries. The REPowerEU plan35 plays a key role in responding to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. That plan aims to accelerate the energy transition in the European Union, in order to increase the use of renewable energy and to reduce the Union’s gas and electricity consumption and to boost investments in the deployment of energy efficient and low carbon neutral solutions. That plan sets inter alia the targets to double solar photovoltaic capacity by 2025 and to install 600 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity by 2030; to double the rate of deployment of heat pumps; to produce 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen by 2030; and to substantially increase production of biomethane. The plan also sets out that achieving the REPowerEU goals will require diversifying the supply of low carbon energy equipment and of critical raw materials, reducing sectoral dependencies, overcoming supply chain bottlenecks and expanding the Union’s clean energy technology manufacturing capacity. As part of its efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in power generation, industry, buildings and transport, the Commission proposes to increase the target in the Renewable Energy Directive to 45% by 2030 and to increase the target in the Energy Efficiency Directive to 13%. This would bring the total renewable energy generation capacities to 1236 GW by 2030, in comparison to 1067 GW by 2030 envisaged under the 2021 proposal and will see increased needs for storage through batteries to deal with intermittency in the electricity gridof some of the renewable energy sources in the electricity grid, as well as to strenghten the energy distribution capacity at local level. Similarly, policies related to the decarbonisation of the road sector, such as Regulation (EU) 2019/631 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 will be strong drivers for a further electrification of the road transport sector and thus increasing demand for batteries. _________________ 35 Communication of 18 May 2022 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, REPowerEU Plan, COM/2022/230 final, 18.05.2022.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘net-zero technologies’ means renewable energy technologies66 ; electricity and heat storage technologies; heat pumps; grid technologies; renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies; sustainable alternative fuels technologies67 ; electrolysers and fuel cells; advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle, small modular reactors, and related best-in-class fuels; carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies; and energy- system related energy efficiency technologies. They refer to the final products, specific components and specific machinery primarily used for the production of those products. They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. _________________ 66 ‘renewable energy' means ‘renewable energy’ as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 67 ‘sustainable alternative fuels’ means fuels covered by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport, COM/2021/561 final and by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport COM/2021/562 final.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The net-zero transformation is already causing huge industrial, economic, and geopolitical shifts across the globe, which will become ever more pronounced as the worldgovernments, industries and the civil society advances in its decarbonisation efforts. The road to net zero translates into strong opportunities for the expansion of Union’s net-zero industry, making use of the strength of the Single Market, by promoting investment in technologies in the field of renewable energy technologies , electricity and heat storage technologies, heat pumps, grid technologies, renewable fuels of non- biological origin technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, fusion, small modular reactors and related best-in-class fuels, carbon capture, and utilisation, and storage technologies, and energy-system related energy efficiency technologies and their supply chains, allowing for the decarbonisation of our economic sectors, from energy supply to transport, buildings, agriculture and industry. A strong net zero industry within the European Union can help significantly in reaching the Union’s climate and energy targets effectively, as well as in supporting other Green Deal objectives, while creating jobs and growth.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) To meet the 2030 climate and energy targets, energy efficiency needs to be prioritised. Saving energy is the cheapest, safest and cleanest way to meet those targets. ‘Energy efficiency first’ is an overall principle of EU energy policy and is important in both its practical applications in policy and investment decisions as well as for social innovation. Therefore, it is essential to expand the Union’s manufacturing capacity for energy efficient technologies, such as heat pumps and smart grid technologies, that help the EU reduce and control its energy consumption.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Union’s decarbonisation objectives, security of energy supply, digitalisation of the energy system and electrification of demand, for example in mobility and the need for fast recharging points, require an enormous expansion of electricity grids in the European Union, both at transmission level and at distribution level. At transmission level, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems are needed to connect offshore and onshore renewable energies both between Member States and between the EU and third countries; while at distribution level, connecting electricity providers and managing demand-side flexibility builds on investments in innovative grid technologies, such as electric vehicles smart charging (EVSC), energy efficiency building and industry automation and smart controls, advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) and home energy management systems (HEMS). The electricity grid needs to interact with many actors or devices based on a detailed level of observability, and hence availability of data, to enable flexibility, smart charging and smart buildings with smart electricity grids enabling demand side response from consumers and the uptake of renewables including through energy communities and energy sharing initiatives. Connecting the net-zero technologies to the network of the European Union requires the substantial expansion of manufacturing capabilities for electricity grids in areas such as offshore and onshore cables, substations and transformers.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) ‘net-zero regulatory sandbox’ means a scheme that enables undertakings to test innovative net-zero technologies, excluding nuclear fusion, in a controlled real-world environment, under a specific plan, developed and monitored by a competent authority.
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) To achieve the 2030 objectives a particular focus is needed on some of the net-zero technologies, also in view their significant contribution towards the path to net zero by 2050. These technologies include solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, onshore and offshore renewable technologies, battery/storage technologies including flywheels and gravity storage systems, heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, sustainable biogas/biomethane, carbon capture and storageutilisation technologies, and grid technologies. These technologies play a key role in the Union’s open strategic autonomy, ensuring that citizens have access to clean, affordable, secure energy. Given their role, these technologies should benefit from even faster permitting procedures, obtain the status of the highest national significance possible under national law and benefit from additional support to crowd-in investments.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) business support services, including but not limited to corporate tax declaration, local tax laws, labour law with a particular focus on SMEs.
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In 2020 the European Commission adopted an EU strategy for energy system integration. It set out a vision on how to accelerate the transition towards a more integrated energy system, one that supports a climate neutral economy at the least cost across sectors. It encompasses three complementary and mutually reinforcing concepts: first, a more ‘circular’ energy system, with energy efficiency at its core; second, a greater direct electrification of end-use sectors; third, the use of renewable and low-carbon neutral fuels, including hydrogen and e-fuels from power-to-gas (P2G) to power-to-liquid (PtL), for end- use applications where direct heating or electrification are not feasible, not efficient or have higher costs. Considerations related to energy system integration refer to solutions for fully integrating all the electricity generated by renewable energy installations into the wider energy system. This means, for instance, adopting technical solutions that allow for the integration of surplus electricity generated by renewable electricity installations, including through storage in its various forms and demand- side management.
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) While the development of net-zero strategic technologies is fundamental to achieve carbon neutrality, nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration, such as biological carbon sequestration through rewilding initiatives, also have great potential in helping the EU achieve its climate goals and should be supported and further researched.
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) it puts into place measures to attract, upskill or reskill a workforce required for net-zero technologies, including through apprenticeships, in close cooperation with social partners; and ensuring equal opportunities for individuals from different backgrounds, including gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; it also puts into place measures to prioritize the health and safety of the workforce by implementing appropriate measures to mitigate workplace hazards and ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv a (new)
(iva) it encourages sustainable practices throughout its supply chain including collaborating with suppliers and ensuring similar environmental standards and best practices. It may also include criteria such as responsible sourcing of raw materials and the use of sustainable transportation methods.
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to obligations provided for in Union law, Member States shall grant net-zero strategic projects the status of the highest national significance possible, where such a status exists in national law, and be treated accordingly in the permit-granting processes including those relating to environmental assessments and if national law so provides, to spatial planning.
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Commission and Member States may provide administrative support to net-zero strategic projects to facilitate their rapid and effective implementation, including by providing:
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) At the same time, net-zero technology products will contribute to the Union’s resilience and security of supply of clean energy. A secure supply of cleanand affordable energy which is a prerequisite for economic development, as well as for public order and security while safeguarding the economic sustainability of welfare systems and improving citizens’ health especially through better air quality. Net-zero technology products will also yield benefits to other strategically important economic sectors, such as farming and food production by securing access to clean energy and machinery at competitive prices, thus contributing sustainably to EU food security and to providing an increasing outlet for bio- based alternatives through circular economy. In the same way, the fulfilment of the Union’s climate ambitions will translate both into economic growth and social well-being.
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In addition, the Communication on the Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net- Zero Age42 sets out a comprehensive approach to support a clean energy technology scale up based on four pillars. The first pillar aims at creating a regulatory environment that simplifies and fast-tracks permitting for new net-zero technology manufacturing and assembly sites and facilitates the scaling up of the net-zero industry of the Union. The second pillar of the plan is to boost investment in and financing of net-zero technology production, through the revised Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework adopted in March 2023 and the creation of a European Sovereignty fund to preserve the European edge on critical and emerging technologies relevant to the green and digital transitions. The third pillar relates to developing the skills needed to make the transition happen and increase the number of skilled workers in the clean energy technology sector. The fourth pillar focuses on trade and the diversification of the supply chain of critical raw materials. That includes creating a critical raw materials club, working with like-minded partners to collectively strengthen supply chains and diversifying away from single suppliers for critical input, , in accordance to Regulation (EU) … / … [add footnote with publication references of the Critical Raw Materials Regulation]. _________________ 42 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age, COM/2023/62 final, 01.02.2023.
Amendment 254 #
Article22a Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships 1. Without prejudice to existing trade, preferential and investment agreements between the Union and the third countries, the Commission shall enter into Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships with third countries; 2. Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships shall have the following objectives: - foster collaboration among companies, industry associations, research institutions, and governmental organizations, - facilitate trade among participants, including by favouring necessary investments within the Union and in third countries, - encourage collaboration along the global supply chain to determine emissions reduction holistically, by engaging suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders to implement sustainable practices, promote transparency, and improve the environmental performance of the global value chain, - engage in policy advocacy to support the development and implementation of supportive regulations, incentives, and frameworks within Partner countries, supporting the net-zero transition and creating a favourable business environment for sustainable industrial practices, including for SMEs, - establish transparent reporting mechanisms to track progress and partners' accountability, - enhance resilience and sustainability of the supportive value chains, and guaranteeing a level playing field.
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Council Decision 2014/115/EU approved in particular the amendment to the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement (the ‘GPA’)46 [1]. The aim of the GPA is to establish a multilateral framework of balanced rights and obligations relating to public contracts with a view to achieving the liberalisation and expansion of world trade and to encourage its member countries to adopt green procurement policies that prioritize sustainable and environmentally frienly goods and services. For contracts covered by the European Union’s Appendix I to the GPA, as well as by other relevant international agreements by which the Union is bound, including free trade agreements and the Article III:8(a) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1994 for procurement by governmental agencies of products purchased with a view to commercial resale or with a view to use in the production of goods for commercial sale, contracting authorities and contracting entities should not apply the requirements of Article 19 (1) point (d) to economic operators of sources of supply that are signatories to the agreements. _________________ 46[1] Council decision 2014/115/EU of 2 December 2013 on the conclusion of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Government Procurement, (OJ L68, 7.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30a) The WTO GPA promotes the use of international standards and guidelines in government procurement. By aligning procurement practices with internationally recognized standards, such as those related to greenhouse gas emissions or sustainable product certifications, governments could drive the adoption of net-zero industry solutions and create a level playing field for suppliers.
Amendment 279 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) Households and final consumers are an essential part of the Union’s demand for net-zero technologies final products and public support schemes to incentivize the purchase of such product by households, in particular for energy poor and vulnerable low- and lower middle-class income households and consumers, are important tools to accelerate the green transition. Under the solar rooftop initiative announced in the EU solar strategy52 , Member States should for instance set-up national programmes to support the massive deployment of rooftop solar energy. In the REPowerEU plan, the Commission called Member States to make full use of supporting measures which encourage switching to heat pumps. Such support schemes set up nationally by Member States or locally by local or regional authorities should also contribute to improving the sustainability and resilience of the EU net-zero technologies. Public authorities should for instance provide higher financial compensation to beneficiaries for the purchase of net-zero technology final products that will make a higher contribution to resilience in the Union, especially when used in energy communities and energy sharing initiatives promoted or participated in by public authorities . Public authorities should ensure that their schemes are open, transparent and non-discriminatory, so that they contribute to increase demand for net- zero technology products in the Union. Public authorities should also limit the additional financial compensation for such products so as not to slow down the deployment of the net-zero technologies in the Union. To increase the efficiency of such schemes Member States should ensure that information is easily accessible both for consumers and for net-zero technology manufacturers on a free website. The use by public authorities of the sustainability and resilience contribution in schemes targeted at consumers or households should be without prejudice to State aid rules and to WTO rules on Subsidies. _________________ 52 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions : EU Solar Energy Strategy, COM(2022) 221 final, 18.05.2022.
Amendment 288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) The Commission should also assist Member States in the design of schemes targeted at households and consumers to build synergies and exchange best practices, as well as to facilitate the diffusion of energy communities and energy sharing initiatives. The Net-Zero Europe Platform should also play an important role in accelerating the implementation of the sustainability and resilience contribution by Member States and public authorities in their public procurement and auctioning practices. It should issue guidance and identify best practices on how to define the contribution and use it, providing concrete and specific examples.
Amendment 301 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 5
Article 28 – paragraph 5
Amendment 311 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. The Platform shall be composed Member States, representative of the European Parliament and of the Commission. It shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.
Amendment 314 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Member States can provide support from cohesion policy programmes in line with applicable rules under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council57 to encourage the take up of net-zero strategic projects in less developed and transition regions, in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, through investment packages of infrastructure, productive investment in innovation, manufacturing capacity in SMEs, services, training and upskilling measure, including support to capacity building of the public authorities and promoters. The applicable co-financing rates set in programmes may be up to 85% for less developed regions and up to 60% or 70% for transition regions depending on the fund concerned and the status of the region but Member States may exceed these ceilings at the level of the project concerned, where feasible under State aid rules. The Technical Support Instrument can help Member States and regions in preparing net-zero growth strategies, improve the business environment, reducing red tape and accelerating permitting. Member States should be encouraged to promote the sustainability of net-zero strategic projects by embedding these investments in European value chains, building notably on interregional and cross border cooperation networks. _________________ 57 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159).
Amendment 332 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) A European Sovereignty Fund financed by EU common debt would provide a structural answer to the investment needs. It will help preserving a European edge on critical and emerging technologies relevant to the green and digital transitions, including net-zero technologies. This structural instrument will build on experience of coordinated multi-country projects under the IPCEIs and seek to enhance all Member States’ access to such projects, thereby safeguarding cohesion and the Single Market against risks caused by unequal availability of State Aids.
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) To overcome the limitations of the current fragmented public and private investments efforts, facilitate integration and return on investment, the Commission, and Member States should better coordinate and create synergies between the existing funding programmes at Union and national level as well as ensure better coordination and collaboration with industry and key private sector stakeholders including SMEs. The Net-Zero Europe Platform has a key role to play to build a comprehensive view of available and relevant funding opportunities and to discuss the individual financing needs of net-zero strategic projects.
Amendment 350 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) At the same time, the unpredictability, complexity and at times, excessive length of national permit- granting processes undermines the investment security needed for the effective development of net-zero technologies manufacturing projects. Therefore, in order to ensure and speed up their effective implementation, Member States should apply streamlined and predictable permitting procedures. In addition, Net-Zero Strategic Projects should be given priority status at national level to ensure rapid administrative treatment and urgent treatment in all judicial and dispute resolution procedures relating to them, without preventing competent authorities to streamline permitting for other net-zero technologies manufacturing projects that are not Net- Zero Strategic Projects or more generally. Such positive discrimination should occur particularly for projects carried out by SMEs.
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) Given their role in ensuring the Union’s security of supply for net-zero technologies, and their contribution to the Union’s open strategic autonomy and the green and digital transition, responsible permitting authorities should consider Net- Zero Strategic Projects to be in the public interest. Based on its case-by-case assessment, a responsible permitting authority may conclude that the public interest served by the project overrides the public interests related to nature and environmental protection and that consequently the project may be authorised, provided that all relevant conditions set out in Directive 2000/60/EC, Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EC63 are met and in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/85263a. _________________ 63 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25). 63a Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13–43)
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) In order to reduce complexity and increase efficiency and transparency, project promoters of net-zero technologies manufacturing projects should be able to interact with a single national authority responsible for coordinating the entire permit granting process and issuing a comprehensive decision within the applicable time limit. To that end, Member States should designate a single national competent authority. Depending on a Member State’s internal organisation, it should be possible for the tasks of the national competent authority s to be delegated to a different authority, subject to the same conditions. To ensure the effective implementation of their responsibilities, Member States should provide their national competent authority, or any authority acting on their behalf, with sufficient personnel and resources. Where a Member State lacks sufficient resources to comply with this provision, the Commission shall offer technical and financial support.
Amendment 363 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) In order to ensure clarity about the permitting status of Net-Zero Strategic Projects and to limit the effectiveness of potential abusive litigation, while not undermining effective judicial review, Member States should ensure that any dispute concerning permit granting process is resolved in a timely manner. To that end, national competent authorities should ensure that applicants and project promoters have access to a simple dispute settlement procedure and that Net-Zero Strategic Projects are granted urgent treatment in all judicial and dispute resolution procedures relating to them while ensuring full respect for the rights of defence.
Amendment 370 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) Net-zero technology manufacturing projects undergo lengthy and complex permitting procedures of 2-7 years, depending on the Member State, technology and value chain segment. Considering the size of required investments – in particular for gigafactory- size projects which are needed to reach the expected economies of scale – inadequate permitting creates an additional and often detrimental barrier to increase net-zero technology manufacturing capacity in the Union. In order to provide project promoters and other investors with the security and clarity needed to increase development of net-zero technologies manufacturing projects, Member States should ensure that the permit-granting process related to such projects does not exceed pre-set time limits. For Net Zero Strategic Projects the length of the permit- granting process should not exceed twelve months for facilities with a yearly production output of more than 1 GW, and 9 months for those with a yearly production output of less than 1 GW. For all other net-zero technology manufacturing projects, the length of the permit-granting process should not exceed eighteen months for facilities with a yearly production output of more than 1 GW, and twelve months for those with a yearly production output of less than 1 GW. For net-zero technologies for which the GW metric is not relevant, such as grids and carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and usageutilisation (CCU) technologies, the upper limits of the aforementioned deadlines should apply. For the expansion of existing production lines, each of the aforementioned time limits should be halved.
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
Recital 56
(56) In addition, given the importance of Net Zero Strategic Projects for the Union’s energy supply certain administrative restrictions should be partly lifted or simplified to speed up their implementation, without prejudice to ensuring fair and transparent process.
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Net-zero regulatory sandboxes can be an important tool to promote innovation in the field of net-zero technologies and regulatory learning. Innovation needs to be enabled through experimentation spaces as scientific outcomes need to be tested in a controlled real-word environment. Regulatory sandboxes should be introduced to test innovative net-zero technologies in a controlled environment for a limited amount of time It is appropriate to strike a balance between legal certainty for participants in the Net- Zero regulatory sandboxes and the achievement of the objectives of Union law. As Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes must in any case comply with the essential requirements on Net-Zero technology laid out in Union and national law, it is appropriate to provide that participants , who comply with the eligibility requirements for Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes and who follow, in good faith, the guidance provided by the competent authorities and the terms and conditions of the plan agreed with those authorities, are not subject to any administrative fines or penalties without prejudice to any due compensatory damages rightfully claimed by third parties including individuals, local communities and SMEs. This is justified as the safeguards in place will, in principle, ensure effective compliance with Union or Member State law on the Net- Zero technology supervised in the regulatory sandboxes. The Commission will publish a Guidance for Sandboxes document in 2023 as announced in the New European Innovation Agenda to support Member States in preparing the net zero technology sandboxes. Those innovative technologies could eventually be essential to achieve the Union’s climate neutrality objective, ensure the security of supply and resilience of the Union’s energy system, and consequently enter the scope of strategic net-zero technologies.
Amendment 406 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 71
Recital 71
(71) The Union should aim to diversify international trade and investments in net- zero technologies and to promote globally high social and environmental standards should be done in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and in close cooperation and partnership with like-minded countries. Similarly, stronger research and innovation efforts to develop and deploy net-zero technologies should be pursued in close cooperation with partner countries in an open but assertive approach.
Amendment 416 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the framework of measures for innovating and scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies in the Union to support the Union’s 2030 target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % relative to 1990 levels and the Union’s 2050 climate neutrality target, as defined by Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, and to ensure the Union’s access to a secure and sustainable supply of net-zero technologies needed to safeguard the resilience of the Union’s energy system and enhance its ability to bring health, social and economic benefits for its citizens, as well as to contribute to the creation of quality jobs.
Amendment 497 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘net-zero technologies’ means renewable energy technologies66 ; electricity and heat storage technologies; heat pumps; grid technologies; renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies; sustainable alternative fuels technologies67 ; electrolysers and fuel cells; advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle, small modular reactors, and related best-in-class fuels; carbon capture, utilisation, and storagecarbon capture and utilisation technologies; and energy- system related energy efficiency technologies. They refer to the final products, specific components and specific machinery primarily used for the production of those products. They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. _________________ 66 ‘renewable energy' means ‘renewable energy’ as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 67 ‘sustainable alternative fuels’ means fuels covered by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport, COM/2021/561 final and by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport COM/2021/562 final.
Amendment 558 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ‘net-zero strategic project’ means a net-zero technology manufacturing project located in the Union that complies with the criteria set out in Article 10. CCS and nuclear-based technology projects cannot be considered net-zero strategic projects;
Amendment 579 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point q
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point q
Amendment 586 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
(qa) ‘Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies’ means a range of technologies and applicationd through which CO2 is captured and used either directly (i.e. not chemically altered) or indirectly (i.e. transformed) into various products, including synthetic fuels, chemicals and building aggregates, increasing its circularity and potentially reducing its concentration in the atmosphere.
Amendment 630 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Project promoters shall be allowed to submit any documents relevant to the permit-granting process exclusively in electronic form.
Amendment 707 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
In exceptional cases, where the nature, complexity, location or size of the proposed project so requires, competent authorities may extend the time limits referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 by a maximum of 12 months before their expiry and on a case-by-case basis.
Amendment 711 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Where competent authorities consider that the proposed project raises exceptional risks for the health and safety of workers or of the general population, and where additional time is necessary to establish that adequate safeguards are put in place, they may extend those time limits by a further 69 months, before their expiry and on a case-by-case basis.
Amendment 866 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) relevant evidence related to the fulfilment of the criteria laid down in Article 10(1) or (2);
Amendment 923 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 1003 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16
Article 16
Amendment 1008 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Amendment 1030 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17
Article 17
Amendment 1080 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18
Article 18
Amendment 1204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) the tender’s contribution to resilience, taking into account the proportion of the products originating from a single source of supply, as determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council72 , from which more than 650% of the supply for that specific net-zero technology within the Union originates in the last year for which data is available for when the tender takes place. _________________ 72 Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).
Amendment 1291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The additional financial compensation granted by authorities in accordance with paragraph 1, due to the application of the criteria referred to in Article 19(2) (b) (c) and (d) shall not exceed 15 % of the cost of the net-zero technology final product for the consumer. In the case of subsidizing schemes for a specific product, appropriate market surveillance must be put in place in the Member State with an adequate sanctioning mechanism against operators introducing an unjustified increase in costs to final consumers.
Amendment 1310 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter V – title
Chapter V – title
V Enhancing skills for quality job creation and social innovation
Amendment 1326 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) develop learning programmes, content and materials for training and education of citizens and communities aiming to promote sustainable consumption patterns, raise consumer awareness and provide clear information about the environmental impact of products, as well as facilitate social innovation towards more sustainable consumer choices and behaviors.
Amendment 1553 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – table 1
Annex I – table 1
1. Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies 2. Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies 3. Battery/storage technologies 4. Heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and geothermal energy technologies 5. Electrolysers and fuel cells 6. Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies 7. Carbon Capture and storageutilisation (CCSU) technologies 8. 8. Grid Grid technologies 8a. Low carbon building and insulation technologies .