11 Amendments of Daniel BUDA related to 2023/0199(COD)
Amendment 8 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) There is a need to support critical technologies in the following fields: deep and digital technologies, clean technologies, and biotechnologies (including the respective critical raw materials value chains), in particular projects, companies and sectors with a critical role for EU’s competitiveness and resilience and its value chains. By way of example, deep technologies and digital technologies should include microelectronics, high-performance computing, quantum technologies (i.e., computing, communication and sensing technologies), cloud computing, edge computing, and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity technologies, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity and virtual realities, including actions related to deep and digital technologies for the development of defence and aerospace applications. Clean technologies should include, among others, renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non- biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storage; energy efficiency; hydrogen and its related infrastructure; smart energy solutions; technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination; advanced materials such as nanomaterials, composites and future clean construction materials, and technologies for the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials, and carbon-negative road construction support technologies. Biotechnology should be considered to include technologies such as biomolecules and its applications, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies vital for health security, crop biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology, such as for waste disposal, and biomanufacturing. The Commission may issue guidance to further specify the scope of the technologies in these three fields considered to be critical in accordance with this Regulation, in order to promote a common interpretation of the projects, companies and sectors to be supported under the respective programmes in light of the common strategic objective. Moreover, technologies in any of these three fields which are subjects of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU should be deemed to be critical, and individual projects within the scope of such an IPCEI should be eligible for funding, in accordance with the respective programme rules, to the extent that the identified funding gap and the eligible costs have not yet been completely covered.
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Strengthening the manufacturing capacity of key technologies in the Union will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce. However, labour and skills shortages have increased in all sectors including those considered key for the green and digital transition and endanger the rise of key technologies, also in the context of demographic change. Therefore, it is necessary to boost the activation of more people to the labour market relevant for strategic sectors, in particular through the creation of jobs and apprenticeships for young, people, industrial placements to help develop young persons’ practical skills and public- private sector cooperation, and for disadvantaged persons, and in particular, for young people not in employment, education or training. Such support will complement a number of other actions aimed at meeting the skills needs stemming from the transition, outlined in the EU Skills Agenda.45 _________________ 45 Communication on a European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, COM(2020) 274 final.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) A Sovereignty Seal should be awarded to projects contributing to the STEP objectives, provided that the project has been assessed and complies with the minimum quality requirements, in particular eligibility, exclusion and award criteria, provided by a call for proposals under Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe programme50, the EU4Health programme51 , the European Defence Fund or the Innovation Fund, and regardless of whether the project has received funding under those instruments. The process for verifying the eligibility and evaluation criteria should be transparent and fair. These minimum quality requirements will be established with a view to identify high quality projects. This Seal should be used as a quality label, to help projects attract public and private investments by certifying its contribution to the STEP objectives. Moreover, the Seal will promote better access to EU funding, notably by facilitating cumulative or combined funding from several Union instruments. _________________ 50 Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the Digital Europe Programme (OJ L 166, 11.5.2021, p. 1). 51 Regulation (EU) 2021/522 establishing a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health, EU4Health Programme (OJ L 107, 26.3.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) A new publicly available website (the ‘Sovereignty Portal’) should be set up by the Commission to provide information on available support to companies and project promoters seeking funds for STEP investments. To that end, it should display in an accessible and user-friendly manner the funding opportunities for STEP investments available under the EU budget. This should include information about directly managed programmes, such as Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe programme, the EU4Health programme, and the Innovation Fund, and also other programmes such as InvestEU, the RRF, and cohesion policy funds. Moreover, the Sovereignty Portal should help increase the visibility for STEP investments towards investors, by listing the projects that have been awarded a Sovereignty Seal. The Portal should also list the national competent authorities responsible for acting as contact points for the implementation of the STEP at national level. There could also be an interactive aspect to the Portal to enable users to introduce their project specifications and receive personalised advice.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The Portal must be available in all the official EU languages to ensure that the information is accessible to all Member States;
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) practical guides to facilitate access to programmes and funds;
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
(2) The annual report shall include consolidated information on the progress made in implementing the Platform objectives under each of the programmes and funds. That report should provide a comprehensive and transparent analysis of how financial resources have been allocated and used to achieve the objectives set. In addition, it should provide a detailed analysis of the economic, social and environmental impact of projects and initiatives supported by the STEP platform, as well as information on job creation, innovation, technological development, emission reduction and other co-benefits of the objectives of the Platform.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
(3a) The annual report should be accompanied by recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the STEP platform, based on the conclusions and observations made during the implementation of the programmes;
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) 2021/1058
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e (new) – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e (new) – subparagraph 1
when they contribute to the specific objective under PO 1 set out in Article 3(1), first subparagraph, point (a)(vi) or to the specific objective under PO 2 set out in point (b)(ix) of that subparagraph, in less developed and transition regions, as well as more developed regions in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017.
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) In Article 92b, the following subparagraph is be added: ‘By way of derogation from Article 65(2), expenditure from REACT-EU resources shall be eligible for a contribution from the ESI Funds if it has been effected by a beneficiary and paid by 31 December 2024.’
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘By way of derogation from Article 60(1) and the first and fourth subparagraphs of Article 120(3), at the request of a Member State, a co-financing rate of 100 % may be applied to expenditure declared in payment applications during the last accounting year for one or more priority axes in a programme supported by the ERDF, the ESF or the Cohesion Fund.’