Activities of Dan NICA related to 2022/0164(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (debate)
REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (debate)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/241 as regards REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, Directive 2003/87/EC and Decision (EU) 2015/1814
Amendments (14)
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) Since European Union is committed to tackling energy poverty and protecting vulnerable consumers to meet basic energy supply needs, everyone should have access to essential energy services in order to guarantee basic levels of comfort and health, a decent standard of living and health, including adequate heating, hot water, cooling, and lighting. The Commission shall assess how the measures outlined in the RepowerEU chapter may better contribute to address the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Versailles Declaration of 10-11 March 2022 of the Heads of States and Governments invited the Commission to propose by the end of May a REPowerEU plan to phase out the dependency on Russian fossil fuel imports, which was subsequently reiterated in the European Council Conclusions of 24-25 March 2022. This should be done well before 2030 in a way that is consistent with the EU’s Green Deal and the climate objectives for 2030 and 2050 enshrined in the European Climate Law. Regulation (EU) 2021/241 should therefore be amended to enhance its ability to support reforms and investments dedicated to diversifying energy supplies, in particular fossil fuels, thereby strengthening the strategic autonomy of the Union alongside an open economy. Support should also be given to reforms and investments increasing the energy production and efficiency of the Member States’ economies. Furthermore, in its Versailles Declaration of 10-11 March2022, the European Council called for reducing EU strategic dependencies and invited, inter alia, the Commission to present options to address rising food prices and the issue of global food security as soon as possible.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The REPowerEU chapter should include new reforms and investments contributing to the REPowerEU aims and thereby tackling, in a comprehensive manner, the crisis effects determined by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. In view of the social impact of persistently high and volatile energy prices and in recognition of principle 20 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, particular emphasis should be given to measures addressing and preventing forms of energy poverty, in particular through measures benefitting vulnerable households, low-income households and people affected by energy poverty. Furthermore, that chapter should contain an outline of other measures, financed from sources other than the Recovery and Resilience Facility, contributing to the energy-related objectives outlined in recital (3). The outline should cover measures whose implementation should take place between 1 February 2022 to 31 December 2026, the period during which the objectives set by this Regulation are to be achieved. As regards natural gas infrastructure, the investments and reforms of the REPowerEU chapters to diversify supply away from Russia should build on the needs currently identified through the assessment conducted and agreed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), established in the spirit of solidarity as regards security of supply and take into account the reinforced preparedness measures taken to adapt to new geopolitical threats. Finally, the REPowerEU chapters should provide an explanation and a quantification of the effects of the combination of the reforms and investments financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the other measures financed by other sources than the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) Member States shall maintain and extend the already existing production capacities and to develop means, instruments and investments that will secure energy independence as soon as possible, in order to avoid any potential cuts on energy supplies.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21 c – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 21 c – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) addressing internal and cross- border interconnectors and energy transmission bottlenecks, where appropriate, as identified in Annex I and supporting zero emission transport and its infrastructure, including railways,
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) For the allocation of the maximum financial contributions stemming from the new revenue for the REPowerEU chapters, the Commission should propose updated indicators to the methodology set out in [Annexes I / II /II] to take into account of the new geopolitical situation and changed circumstances Such indicators could take into account, among others, the percentage of households at risk of poverty with arrears on utility bills of the EU-27.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 – subparagraph 1
Annex V – section 2 – point 2.12 – subparagraph 1
The measures referred to in Article 21c (1) and (2) are expected to effectively contribute towards the Union’s security of supply for the Union as a whole, notably through a diversification of energy supply or reduction of dependence on fossil fuels before 2030.’, increasing storage capacities or towards the Union’s2030 objectives of renewable energy and energy efficiency. In particular, the targets for energy storage will enable the EU to become independent from gas power plants, which are currently used in case of renewable energy shortfall.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Recent geopolitical events have affected prices of energy and construction materials and have also caused shortages in the global supply chains. These developments may have a direct impact on the capacity to implement some investments included in the recovery and resilience plans. To the extent that Member States can demonstrate that such developments make a specific milestone or target, either totally or partially, no longer achievable, such situations may be invoked as objective circumstances under Article 21. Moreover, to the extent that Member States can demonstrate that the developments from the Russian military aggression against Ukraine increased the level of importance of certain components in respect to others, the related adjustments in terms of reforms and investments, and related milestones and targets, may also be invoked as objective circumstances under Article 21 to tackle the crisis effects due to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine without undermining the overall balance and level of ambition of the recovery and resilience plans, in line with the Facility objectives, including the REPowerEU objectives. These developments cannot constitute objective circumstances for revising reforms, as reforms are generally not cost dependent. In addition, no request for amendments should undermine the overall implementation of the recovery and resilience plans.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Recent geopolitical events have affected prices of food, energy and construction materials and have also caused shortages in the global supply chains and an imminent food crisis. These developments may have a direct impact on the capacity to implement some investments included in the recovery and resilience plans. To the extent that Member States can demonstrate that such developments, due to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, make a specific milestone or target, either totally or partially, no longer achievable, such situations may be invoked as objective circumstances under Article 21. These developments cannot constitute objective circumstances for revisWhere the Member State shows that the developments from the Ukraine crisis increased the level of importance of certain components ing reforms, as reforms are generally not cost dependent. In addition, no request for amendments should undermspect to others, adjustments should be performed, both in terms of reforms and investments, to tackle crisis effects, under the provisions of Article 21 without undermining the overall balance and level of ambition of the recovery and resilience plans, in line with the Facility objectives, includineg the overall implementation ofREPowerEU objectives. Member States should also ensure that proposals to amend their recovery and resilience plans respond to challenges stemming from recent geopolitical events.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)
Recital 22 a (new)
(22 a) It should be possible for a Member State to make a reasoned request to amend the recovery and resilience plan within the period of implementation, where objective circumstances, including the crisis caused by Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine justify such a course of action. Where the Commission considers that the reasons put forward by the Member State concerned justify such an amendment it should assess the new recovery and resilience plan within two months. The Member State concerned and the Commission should be able to agree to extend that deadline by a reasonable period if necessary. The Council should approve the assessment of the new recovery and resilience plan by means of an implementing decision, based on a proposal by the Commission, and which it should endeavour to adopt within four weeks of the adoption of the proposal.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 b (new)
Recital 22 b (new)
(22 b) Due to the increased inflation rate and the changes generated by the war in Ukraine on the market, in particular the energy costs, the Commission should show more flexibility and allow Member States to optimise and revise their national plans in order to integrate that impact in the objectives and investments plans.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation EU 2021/241
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1 a. In Article 13, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: 1. Subject to the adoption by 31 December 2021 by the Council of the implementing decision referred to in Article 20(1), and when requested by a Member State together with the submission of its recovery and resilience plan, or when requested by a Member State together with the submission of the REPowerEU chapter, the Commission shall make a pre- financing payment of an amount of up to 13 % of the financial contribution and, where applicable, of up to 13 % of the loan as set out in Article 20(2) and (3) and of 13% of the resources allocated according to Article 21a. By derogation from Article 116(1) of the Financial Regulation, the Commission shall make the corresponding payment within, to the extent possible, two months after the adoption by the Commission of the legal commitment referred to in Article 23.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Regulation EU 2021/241
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) 2021/241
Article 21b – paragraph 2
Article 21b – paragraph 2
(2) Payments shall be made in accordance with Article 24 of this Regulation and subject to available funding, considering that payments of financial contributions stemming from the resources allocated according to Art. 21a shall be made by 21 December 2027.