Activities of Maria GRAPINI related to 2021/0205(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
Sustainable aviation fuels (ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative) (debate)
Sustainable aviation fuels (ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative) (A9-0199/2022 - Søren Gade)
Amendments (17)
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Over the past decades, air transport has played a crucial role in the Union's economy and in the everyday lives of Union citizens, as one of the best performing and most dynamic sectors of the Union economy. It has been a strong driver for economic growth, jobs, trade and tourism, as well as for connectivity and mobility for businesses and citizens alike, particularly within the Union aviation internal market. Growth in air transport services has significantly contributed to improving connectivity and cohesion within the Union, including its regions, and with third countries, and has been a significant enabler of the Union economy.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) From 2020, air transport has been one of the hardest hit sector by the COVID-19 crisis. With the perspective of an end to the pandemic in sight, it is expected that air traffic will gradually resume in the coming years and recover to its pre-crisis levels. At the same time, emissions from the sector have been increasing since 1990 and the trend of increasing emissions could return as we overcome the pandemic. Therefore, it is necessaryimperative to prepare for the future and make the necessary adjustments ensuring a well-functioning air transport market that contributes to achieving the Union’s climate goals, with high levels of connectivity, safety and security.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The air transport market is subject to strong competition between economic actors across the Union, for which a level playing field is indispensable. The stability and prosperity of the air transport market and its economic actors relies on a clear and harmonised policy framework where aircraft operators, airports and other aviation actors can operate on the basis of equal opportunities. It is essential to ensure air connectivity within the Union by stakeholders from the Union. This to avoid dependence on third country stakeholders and safeguard air transport business and jobs, but also to retain an air transport and infrastructure security in line with the Union security. Where market distortions occur, they risk putting aircraft operators or airports at a disadvantage with internal or external competitors. In turn, this can result in a loss of competitiveness of the air transport industry, job opportunities for workers, and a loss of air connectivity for citizens and businesses.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) A key objective of the common transport policy is sustainable development. This requires an integrated approach aimed at ensuring both the effective functioning of Union transport systems, compliance with labour and social regulations, and protection of the environment. Sustainable development of air transport requires the introduction of measures aimed at reducing the carbon emissions from aircraft flying from Union airports. Such measures should contribute to meeting the Union’s climate objectives by 2030 and 2050.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Communication on a Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy10 adopted by the Commission in December 2020 sets a course of action for the EU transport system to achieve its green and digital transformation and become more resilient. The decarbonisation of the air transport sector is a necessary and challenging process, especially in the short term. Technological advancements, pursued in European and national research and innovation aviation programmes have contributed to important emission reductions in the past decades. However, the global growth of air traffic has outpaced the sector’s emissions reductions. Whereas new technologies, such as electric- or hydrogen powered aircrafts, are expected to help reducing short-haul aviation’s reliance on fossil energy in the next decades, sustainable aviation fuels offer the only solution for significant decarbonisation of all flight ranges, already in the short term. However, this potential is currently largely untapped. _________________ 10 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future (COM/2020/789 final), 9.12.2020.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Sustainable aviation fuels are liquid, drop-in fuels, fully fungible with conventional aviation fuel and compatible with existing aircraft engines. Several production pathways of sustainable aviation fuels have been certified at global level for use in civil or military aviation. Sustainable aviation fuels are technologically ready to play an important role in reducing emissions from air transport already in the very short term. They are expected to account for a major part of the aviation fuel mix in the medium and long term. Further, with the support of appropriate international fuel standards, sustainable aviation fuels might contribute to lowering the aromatic content of the final fuel used by an operator, thus helping to reduce other non-CO2 emissions. Other alternatives to power aircraft, such as electricity or liquid hydrogen are promising technologies that are expected to progressively contribute to the decarbonisation of air transport, beginning with short-haul flights.
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32 a (new)
Recital 32 a (new)
(32 a) Aircraft operators and fuel suppliers under this Regulation should fulfil their due diligence obligations and identify, address and mitigate human rights and environmental impacts. These rules should apply to all companies operating in the EU internal market and ensure sanctions for violations and legal support for affected parties in third countries.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on sustainable aviation. This concerns the uptake and supply of sustainable aviation fuels. , duties for aircraft operators and Union airports as well as providing a regulatory framework.
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
— ‘Union airport’ means an airport as defined in Article 2(21) of Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council13 , where passenger traffic was higher than 1 million passengers or where the freight traffic was higher than 100000 tons in the reporting period, andich is not situated in an outermost region, as listed in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; _________________ 13 Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on airport charges
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Amendment 299 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – title
Article 6 – title
6 Obligations of Union airports to provide the infrastructure at Union airports
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Aircraft operators under this Regulation shall fulfil their due diligence obligations, in particular by ensuring labour, social and environmental standards along the global value chains. In their annual reports to the Agency, aircraft operators shall provide information on the progress made and report violations.
Amendment 367 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Fuel suppliers shall fulfil their due diligence obligations by ensuring, in particular, labour, social and environmental standards along all global value chains. In their annual reports to the Agency, they shall provide information on the progress made and report violations;
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(1 a) If member states are unable to impose sanctions for violations by aircraft operators based on international agreements, the Commission shall submit suitable proposals for safety precautions in good time to ensure fair competition among all aircraft operators. These can be initiatives at ICAO level or renegotiations of existing Community agreements with third countries.
Amendment 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) The assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts generated by the production of sustainable aviation fuel on other sectors of society and the economy.
Amendment 414 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
(f b) comparison of the CO2 reduction potential of sustainable aviation fuels with other measures in the aviation industry.
Amendment 415 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The information according to a) to h) will be included by the Commission in its reporting obligation in accordance with Article 14 of this Regulation.