14 Amendments of Luke Ming FLANAGAN related to 2018/0209(COD)
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Union environmental, climate and relevant clean energy policy and legislation have delivered substantial improvements to the state of the environment. However, this is clearly insufficient; major environmental and climate challenges remain, which if left unaddressed, will have significant negative consequences for the Union and the well- being of its citizens.
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), established by Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council6 for the period 2014 to 2020 is the latest in a series of Union programmes over 25 years which support the implementation of environmental and climate legislation and policy priorities. It, all of which have been clearly lacking in scope, ambition and implementation. This Programme was positively assessed in a recent mid- term evaluation7 as being on track to be effective, efficient and relevant. The 2014- 2020 LIFE Programme should therefore be continued with certain modifications identified in the mid-term evaluation and subsequent assessments. Accordingly, a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (the ‘Programme’) should be established for the period starting 2021. _________________ 6 Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 614/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 185). 7 Report on the Mid-term Evaluation of the Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)(SWD(2017) 355 final).
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Pursuing the achievement of the Union's objectives and targets set by environmental, climate and related clean energy legislation, policy, plans and international commitments, the Programme should contribute to the shift towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low- carbon and climate-resilient economy, to the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of those objectives in other policies. A problem yet to be acknowledged by the Commission, however, never mind being addressed, is the very real negative environmental effect that major trade deals such as TTIP, CETA, Mercosur etc. that it is currently negotiating/completing will have, the increased global transport of goods those deals will inevitably bring. At the very least those potential impacts must be independently studied and quantified, then balanced against the expected benefits of those trade deals.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Programme should contribute to sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Union environment, climate and relevant clean energy legislation, strategies, plans and international commitments, in particular the United Nations 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development8 , the Convention on Biological Diversity9 and the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change10 ("Paris Agreement on Climate Change"). _________________ 10To this end, comprehensive independent studies must be commissioned into the environmental impact of 'fracking', with a view to assessing whether the negative effects make this a viable option under the Paris Agreement. _________________ 10 OJ L 282, 19.10.2016, p. 4. OJ L 282, 19.10.2016, p. 4. 8 Agenda 2030, Resolution adopted by UN GA on 25/09/2015. 9 93/626/EEC: Council Decision of 25 October 1993 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity, (OJ L 309, 13.12.1993, p. 1).
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The transition to clean energy, including through domestic production and use, is an essential contribution to the mitigation of climate change with co- benefits for the environment. Actions for capacity building supporting the clean energy transition, funded until 2020 under Horizon 2020 and including the above- mentioned domestic energy production via solar/wind etc., should be integrated in the Programme since their objective is not to fund excellence and generate innovation, but to facilitate the uptake of already available technology that will contribute to climate mitigation. The inclusion of these capacity building activities into the Programme offers potential for synergies between the sub-programmes and increases the overall coherence of Union funding. Therefore, data should be collected and disseminated on the uptake of existing research and innovation solutions in the LIFE projects, including from the Horizon Europe programme and its predecessors.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The impact assessments of the Clean Energy legislation estimate that the delivery of the Union's 2030 energy targets will require additional investments of EUR 177 billion annually in the period 2021- 2030. The biggest gaps relate to the investments in buildings decarbonisation of buildings (energy efficiency and small- scale renewable energy sources), where capital needs to be channelled towards projects of a highly distributed nature. One of the objectives of the Clean Energy Transition sub-programme is to build capacity for projects development and aggregation, thereby also helping to absorb funds from the European Structural and Investment Funds and catalyse investments in clean energy also using the financial instruments provided under InvestEU.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Halting and reversing biodiversity loss, including in marine ecosystems, requires support for the development, implementation, enforcement and assessment of relevant Union legislation and policy, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 202022 , Council Directive 92/43/EEC23 and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council24 and Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council25 , in particular by developing the knowledge base for policy development and implementation and by developing, testing, demonstrating and applying best practices and solutions on small -scale enterprises, or tailored to specific local, regional or national contexts, including integrated approaches for the implementation of the prioritised action frameworks prepared on the basis of Directive 92/43/EEC. The Union should track its biodiversity-related expenditure to fulfil its reporting obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Requirements for tracking in other relevant Union legislation should also be met. _________________ 22 COM(2011) 244 final. COM(2011) 244 final. 23 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 24 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 Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35).
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Directive 2000/60/EC established a framework for the protection of the Union’s surface waters, coastal waters, transitional waters and groundwater. In this regard a comprehensive and independent study is needed to establish the impact on such waters of 'fracking' for oil. The objectives of the Directive are supported by the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources27 which calls for better implementation and increased integration of water policy objectives into other policy areas. The Programme should therefore support projects which contribute to the effective implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC and of other Union water legislation that contributes to achieving a good status of the Union’s water bodies through applying, developing and replicating best practices, as well as through mobilising complementary actions under other Union programmes or financial sources. _________________ 27 COM(2012) 673 final.
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The improvement of governance on environmental, climate change and related clean energy transition matters requireswill not succeed without buy-in and the total involvement of civil society. This can be achieved by raising public awareness, by consumer engagement, and by the broadening of stakeholder involvement, including non-governmental organisations, in consultation on and implementation of related policies.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Programme should prepare and support market players for the shift towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy by testing new business opportunities, upgrading professional skills, facilitating consumers' access to sustainable products and services, engaging and empowering influencers and testing novel methods to adapt the existing processes and business landscape. To support a broader market uptake of sustainable solutions, general public acceptance and consumer engagement should be promoted. It should also include a drive at Union level in both production and consumption towards a more climate-friendly plant-based diet, with a parallel reduction in both production and consumption of meat.
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) TSubject to fully complying with all its rules and regulations, the Programme should be open to third countries in accordance with the agreements between the Union and those countries establishing the specific conditions for their participation;
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) TSubject to fully complying with all its rules and regulations, third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. Third countries may also participate on the basis of other legal instruments. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorizing officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
(6a) 'fracking' shall be defined as the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc. so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas;
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. TSubject to fully complying with all its rules and regulations, the Programme shall be open to the following third countries: