BETA

19 Amendments of Eugen FREUND related to 2015/0148(COD)

Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
(3) The European Council confirmed that a well-functioning, reformed EU ETS with an instrument to stabilise the market will be the main European instrument to achieve this target, with an annual reduction factor of 2.2% from 2021 onwards, free allocation not expiring but existing measures continuing after 2020 to prevent the risk of carbon leakage due to climate policy, as long as no comparable efforts are undertaken in other major economies, without reducing the share of allowances to be auctioned. The auction share should be expressed as a percentage figure in the legislation, to enhance planning certainty as regards investment decisions, to increase transparency and to render the overall system simpler and more easily understandable. However, those orientations decided by the European Council may not be sufficient to fulfil the EU's commitments taken during the COP21, therefore an annual reduction factor of 2.4% is advisable.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
(4) It is a key Union priority to establish a resilient Energy Union to provide secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy to its citizens. Achieving this requires continuation of ambitious climate action with the EU ETS as the cornerstone of Europe’s climate policy, and progress on the other aspects of Energy Union17. Implementing the ambition decided in the 2030 framework contributes to delivering a meaningful carbon price and continuing to stimulate cost-efficient greenhouse gas emission reductions. Regrets that the carbon price signal is right now too weak to induce low carbon investment in EU for industries. Whereas the EU is facing a serious investment leakage to third countries, whereas on the other hand a number of undertakings have been pursuing strategies focusing on short-term financial returns at the detriment of innovation, investments in R&D, employment and skills 'renewal; whereas production innovation has a positive effect on employment growth in all phases of the business cycle of industries; whereas involving workers in innovation and strategy definition is the best way to guarantee economic and environmental success. __________________ 17 COM(2015)80, establishing a Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) The auctioning of allowances remains the general rule, with free allocation as thea transitional exception. Consequently, and as confirmed by the European Council, the share of allowances to be auctioned, which was 57% over the period 2013-2020, should not be reduced. The Commission's Impact Assessment18 provides details on the auction share and specifies that this 57% share is made up of allowances auctioned on behalf of Member States, including allowances set aside for new entrants but not allocated, allowances for modernising electricity generation in some Member States and allowances which are to be auctioned at a later point in time because of their placement in the Market Stability Reserve established by Decision (EU) 2015/… of the European Parliament and of the Council19 . __________________ 18 SEC(2015)XX SEC(2015)XX 19 Decision (EU) 2015/… of the European Parliament and of the Council of … concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme and amending Directive 2003/87/EC (OJ L […], […], p. […]).
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) Earmarking is a key element in order for ETS Phase IV to finally trigger a virtuous circle. The Member-States should spend at least 80% of the auction revenues on climate actions listed in this Directive, and undertakings which receive free allocations in excess should use this resource exclusively on low carbon investment in the installations.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Whereas the increase of the CO2 price would drive an investment shift to cleaner sources and processes, it has also potentially adverse effects on employment and purchasing power of the European citizens. The EU should monitor the social effects of CO2 price in order to avoid more inequalities and to incentivise job creation.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Whereas financial support for regions and sectors which depend on carbon-intensive activities will be essential to implementing a just transition in Europe. The impact of the energy transition on these regions and sectors has to be better assessed and taken into account especially considering the future of those workers who will be affected.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)

Article 6

Paragraph 2
(2a) In article 6 paragraph 2, two new subparagraphs are added: (f) all legal requirements on social responsibility and reporting in order to ensure equal and effective implementation of environmental regulations and ensure that competent authorities and stakeholders, including workers representatives and representatives of the civil society and local communities, have access to all relevant information ( as laid in the Aarhus Convention and implemented in EU and national legislation, including Directive 2003/87/EC); (g) an obligation to publish every year comprehensive information in respect of combating climate change and compliance with EU directives in the field of environment, safety and health at work; this information should be accessible to workers' representatives and to the representatives of civil society from local communities in the vicinity of the installation;
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Article 9 paragraph 2

Article 9 paragraph 3
Starting in 2021, the linear factor shall be 2.24%.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) paragraph 3 is amended as follows: Member States shall determine the use of revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances, within the frame set hereafter. At least 80% of the revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances referred to in paragraph 2, including all revenues from the auctioning referred to in paragraph 2, points (b) and (c), or the equivalent in financial value of these revenues, shall be used for one or more of the following:
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b b (new)

Article 10

Paragraph 3 (a)
(bb) In paragraph 3, the point (a) is modified as follows: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including by contributing to the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund, to the Adaptation Fund as made operational by the Poznan Conference on Climate Change (COP 14 and COP/MOP 4) and to the Green Climate Fund; to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to fund research and development as well as demonstration projects for reducing emissions and for adaptation to climate change, including participation in initiatives within the framework of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan and the European Technology Platforms;
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b c (new)

Article 10

Paragraph 3 (b)
(bc) In paragraph 3, the point (b) is modified as follows: to develop renewable energies to meet the engagements of using 30 % renewable energies by 2030, as well as to develop other technologies contributing to the transition to a safe and sustainable low- carbon economy and to help meet the engagements to increase energy efficiency by 40 % by 2030;
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point d c (new)

Article 10

Paragraph 5b
(dc) A new paragraph 5b is added: The Commission shall publish every two years on the basis of a harmonised information from Member-States the impact of the ETS carbon price on the purchasing power of the citizens. On this basis, the Member-States are invited to compensate the impact of the ETS carbon price on the purchasing power of households in situation of energy poverty.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 349 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point c

Article 10a

Paragraph 5
In order to respect the auctioning share set out in Article 10, the sum of free allocations in every year where the sum of free allocations does not reach the maximum level that respects the Member State auctioning share, the remaining allowances up to that level shall be used to prevent or limit reduction of free allocations to respect the Member State auctioning share in later years. Where, nonetheless, the maximum level is reached, free allocations shall be adjusted accordingly. Any such adjustment shall be done in a uniform mannerapplied so that the 10% best performers of each sector or sub-sector are not impacted.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 449 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point f

Article 10a

Paragraph 8 last subparagraph
The last subparagraph of paragraph 8 is modified as follows: Allowances shall be set aside for the projects that meet the criteria referred to in the third subparagraph. Support for these projects shall be given via Member States and shall be complementary to substantial co-financing by the operator of the installation. They could also be co- financed by the Member State concerned, as well as by other instruments and programmes such as EFSI and H2020. No project shall receive support via the mechanism under this paragraph that exceeds 15 % of the total number of allowances available for this purpose. These allowances shall be taken into account under paragraph 7. Monetisation of allowances shall start only in 2022 and be made gradual throughout Phase IV.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 508 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
3. Other sectors and sub-sectors are considered to be able to pass on more of the cost of allowances in product prices,not at risk of carbon leakage and shall not be allocated allowances free of charge for the period up to 2030 at 30% of the quantity determined in accordance with the measures adopted pursuant to Article 10a.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 536 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6

Article 10b

Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. A border adjustment mechanism is put in place by the 1st January 2021 in conformity with international trade rules and in particular WTO rules to create a level playing field between European producers under ETS and extra- European producers for imports as well as for exports ; this border adjustment mechanism is applicable only for products and goods concerned by the ETS and with countries which have no equivalent and comparable system aiming at giving a price to CO2; for that very reason it's a temporary measure designed to vanish when a global CO2 price is adopted. The Commission should integrate the climate change policy and the ETS in particular in its negotiations of free trade agreements with other countries. The Commission has to engage discussions with others countries to articulate the ETS with other systems which give a price to CO2 with the target to make them compatible in order to create a level playing field.
2016/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 562 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6

Article 10 c

Paragraph 2 (b)
(b) ensure that only projects which contribute to the diversification of their energy mix and sources of supply, the necessary restructuring, environmental upgrading and retrofitting of the infrastructure, clean technologies and modernisation of the energy production, transmission and distribution sectors, as well as energy efficiency and energy storage are eligible to bid;
2016/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 717 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
(7a) The following Article 10e is inserted: Article 10e Just Transition Fund A Just Transition Fund is created as of 2021 as a complement to the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund; it is funded through the pooling of 2% of the auctioning revenues. The revenues of these auctions would remain at the EU level, with the goal to use them for cushioning the social impact of climate policies in regions which combine a high share of workers in carbon-dependent sectors and a GDP per capita well below the EU-average. These auctioning revenues aimed at just transition can be put to use in different ways: - Creating redeployments and/or mobility cells - Education/Training initiatives to re-skill or upskill workers - Support in job search, including paid time-off to search for jobs - Social protection measures - Subsistence allowances - Business creation - Monitoring and pre-emptive measures to avoid or minimise the negative impact of restructuring process on physical and mental health. The core activities to be financed by a Just Transition Fund being strongly related to the labour market, social partners should be actively involved into the fund management – on the model of the ESF committee – and the participation of local social partners should be a key requirement for projects to get funding.
2016/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 752 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 20 a (new)
(20a) A new Article 25 (1) (c) is added: Robust carbon accounting rules and measures shall be put in place to ensure that the ETS is in line with the Paris Agreement (especially article 6 paragraph 2) which enhances cooperation among governments on climate change mitigation, including market-based approaches, through provisions to facilitate cross-border transfers. The Commission has to put in place border carbon adjustment and transparency for reporting carbon content for the products under ETS in order to prevent double- counting of emissions reductions.
2016/06/29
Committee: ITRE