35 Amendments of Paul TANG related to 2014/2153(INI)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU’s prosperity and security require a rational, highly efficient use of energy and a stable, affordable and sustainable energy supply;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU’s external energy bill represents more than EUR 1 billion per day – EUR 400 billion in 2013 – and more than one fifth of total EU imports; whereas money spent on importing fossil fuels contributes little to investment, jobs or growth in the Union, and therefore redirecting this money towards domestic investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart infrastructure would stimulate the construction, automotive and high-tech industries and their downstream suppliers, creating high-quality, high- skilled jobs which cannot be exported or delocalised;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas in the context of the crisis in Ukraine a reduction in natural gas consumption through greater energy efficiency and a greater renewables share of heating supply, together with, in the short term, the issue of ensuring a reliable natural gas supply is, are more important than ever;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas from the experience of 2006 and 2009, when Russia cut off gas supply to Ukraine, it is clear that the disruptions experienced in some of the central and eastern European Member States evidenced the risks existing to security of energy supply; whereas these disruptions show that measures taken so far to interconnect European energy markets, increase energy efficiency and deploy renewable energy sources have been insufficient to eliminate Europe's reliance on Russian gas;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. Whereas the conclusions from the European Council meeting of 22nd May 2013 called for priority to be given to phasing out environmentally or economically harmful subsidies, including for fossil fuels;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the European Parliament has asked for a binding EU 2030 energy efficiency target of 40 % implemented by means of individual national targets;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas the European Parliament has asked for a binding EU 2030 target of producing at least 30 % of total final energy consumption from renewable energy sources, implemented by means of individual national targets;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L c (new)
Recital L c (new)
Lc. whereas the European Parliament has asked for a binding EU 2030 target of reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 % compared with 1990 levels;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L d (new)
Recital L d (new)
Ld. whereas the European Parliament has asked for binding targets for minimum cross-border transmission capacity
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas better interconnection levels for electricity and gas will increase energy security, contribute to a higher integration of renewable energies, foster price convergence and increase benefits for consumers, while balancing supply and demand between the Member States;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas, alongside investment in transmission networks, investment in distribution networks is at least as crucial, certainly in view of the increasing decentralisation of the future energy landscape and the fact that 90% of the renewable energy generated is coupled with distribution networks;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas an energy security strategy must include actions to moderate energy demand and equally effective actions to overcome major and imminent disruptions, as well as solidarity and coordination mechanisms to protect and strengthen energy generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure and interconnectors; whereas this infrastructure must be capable of handling variable renewables, and be built into a fully integrated and well-functioning internal energy market as an essential part of an Energy Union with diversified external supplies and routes;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. Whereas the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050 finds that decarbonisation of the energy sector and a high renewables scenario is cheaper than a continuation of current policies, and that over time prices of energy from nuclear and fossil fuels will continue to rise, whereas the cost of renewables will decrease;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that equal energy security, affordable energy, competitiveness and sustainability in a fully integrated energy market constitute the main pillars for the creation of an Energy Union, which can be achieved by pooling resources, connecting networks, ensuring unified energy market regulation and establishing unified negotiating positions vis-à-vis third countries;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that the increasing uptake of renewables requires changes in the energy market structure to be made with a view to adapting markets to this reality and achieving greater market integration, in particular in increasing flexibility and improving interconnections between member states;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the importance of recognising Energy Efficiency as "the first fuel", emphasising the great unrealised potential for reducing energy demand in Europe;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the EU is not yet on track to meet its commitment of saving 20 % of energy (371 Mtoe) by 2020, and that over one third of reduced energy consumption is actually attributable to lower levels of economic activity; therefore emphasizes that stronger measures need to be put in place to speed up energy efficiency actions and asks the Commission to propose new and strengthened measures to ensure that the 2017 National Energy Efficiency Action Plans deliver and to urgently come forward with a clear ambitious and binding policy framework for 2030;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Acknowledges that the role of local authorities of European cities in increasing energy efficiency through better urban planning, cogeneration, modernisation of district and individual heating systems, increasing the use of cleaner public transport, encouraging more active travel models and renovation of buildings is also undoubtedly an importa, developing and implementing Smart Cities-solutions and supporting urban electro-mobility; adds that resource and energy efficient constribuction to energy independenceand renovation of buildings is also a crucial step in securing energy independence and a sustainable and secure energy system;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls also on the Commission to update existing Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Directives to ensure a renewed focus on energy efficiency in consumer products;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Reminds that regarding energy security, planning and balancing demand and supply; measures on the demand side are as important as measures on the supply side, those measures can be, amongst others, the optimal use of the smart distribution net, smart appliances, demand side management focussed on consumer benefits and micro-generation of renewable energy combined with local storage of energy;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Underlines the increasingly important role of energy from renewable sources for securing energy supply in the European Union in the long term; Draws the attention to the fact that the production costs of renewables have considerably dropped during the last years
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that a long-term strategy for developing indigenous energy sources should be further promoted in the EU, with a particular focus on renewable and sustainable energy sources; emphasises that increased indigenous energy production must not increase nor prolong European dependence on fossil fuels;
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that any energy source that might contribute to energy security in the Union should be taken into account andEurope faces a fundamental energy transition towards a sustainable energy model; Therefore energy efficiency and energy from renewable sources should be taken into account with absolute priority when it comes to the financing of new projects and be developed in full compliance with environmental requirements; with a view to meet Europe's two degree climate target
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. ConsiderUnderlines that nuclear energy, w entails hicgh is carbon-neutral, continues to be a significant alternative for electricity productionenvironmental risks and uncertainty over decommissioning costs; notes that the choice of whether to use nuclear energy remains the competence of Member States; calls on the Commission to phase out subsidies for the construction of new nuclear energy plants as a strong political signal and commitment to a sustainable energy model
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that nuclear energy, which is carbon-neutral, continues to be a significant alternative for electricity production; notes that the choice of whether to use nuclear energy remains the competence of Member States; is still produced and used in many member states, notes that the choice of whether to use nuclear energy remains the competence of Member States, however points out that regarding safety and security, the EU should set the highest standards as to avoid accidents and disasters as much possible, despite the knowledge that there is no such thing as a zero risk nuclear power plant;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Emphasises that a more decentralised energy system can facilitate small-scale energy generation and therefore empower consumers to be more involved in the energy market and control their own energy use;
Amendment 533 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the importance of increased flexibility of the system to improve energy efficiency; calls on further efforts to be put on the development of additional sources of flexibility such as energy storage technologies and demand-side responsiveness;
Amendment 584 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Acknowledges that capacity remuneration mechanisms in the EU electricity market might be necessary in certain circumstances; stresses the need for a coordinated approach on European level to avoid inefficiencies or overcapacity in the European market; stresses the fact that alternative solutions such as better interconnectivity and flexibility resources needs to be explored before;
Amendment 596 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Believes that one of the most important factors of the completion of a transparent, well-functioning and fully integrated gas and electricity market is the full implementation of the Third Energy Package; Calls on the Commission to increase its efforts to enforce the implementation of the third energy package;
Amendment 617 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Stresses the importance of a high and efficient utilisation of the already existing energy infrastructure; Therefore urges the Commission to improve its actions as regards to tackling congestion and bottlenecks in the European energy system;
Amendment 621 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the European Council’s proposal for a minimum level of electricity interconnection between Member States of 10 % by 2020 and 15 % by 2030 and asks for the establishment of gas interconnection targets too; points out that the European Parliament has underlined the need for these targets to be binding;
Amendment 669 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Emphasises the need to optimise the use of energy infrastructures that are already built in order to reduce investment costs; calls on Member states to increase their interconnection capacity to achieve, at least, an optimal level of integration of the EU energy market and to adapt their national networks for the increments of interconnection capacity to be effective.
Amendment 684 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Notes that ACER plays a pivotal role in ensuring the proper and efficient functioning of a truly integrated Internal European Energy Market; reminds the Commission of ACER's difficult budgetary situation and encourages the Commission to ensure that ACER receives the necessary resources to effectively fulfil its duties;
Amendment 814 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49 a. Stresses the need for a strong and proactive role for the European Parliament with regards to the development, implementation and review of governance systems in relation to Energy Security, the Energy Union and the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework; underlines that energy policy is a shared competence between Member States and the European Union institutions; stresses in this regard that all proposals impacting European energy policy are to be decided upon using the ordinary legislative procedure and that any attempt to circumvent this procedure would constitute a breach of the Lisbon Treaty;